Earlier this week, rain brought a joyful relief too many Californians that are just fed up with this year’s dry and lingering summer. They stepped out into a morning with crisp fresh air, a cool breeze and the wet dew dripping ground. The surrounding misty mountains gave a climatic view of God’s awesome, creative majesty. Although, the temperatures are forecasted to rise and fall in the coming weeks, the cooler temperatures are much appreciated by everyone.

With the seasons change to fall, most women, cannot wait to put on those fashionable boots, warm fall sweaters and trendy scarfs. The fall and winter holidays are already on the minds of families who are busy making preparations for Thanksgiving and Christmas. For most people the holiday season brings with it the joyful warmth of human kindness, thankfulness, giving, love and hope. In this happy season, how wonderful it is to be surrounded by those you love, your families and friends; to enjoy the abundant blessings, given by God and shared with each other.

This past weekend our clocks were turned back and the one hour of extra sleep was welcomed. Everyone will now be adjusting to the darker nights and brighter mornings; awakened by the cheeping birds at the earlier dawn light.  The early darkness can bring a gloomy depression for those who dread the seasons change. Even psychologists, who tend to give a name for any ailment be it physical or mental, dubbed the depression that is related to change in seasons as: S.A.D.; Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Many people dread the change of the season.  People go into survival mode in an effort to make it through one of the harshest seasons of the year. The fall and winter weather wreaks havoc in the East, where as we in the West we are predicted to endure an El Niño. Many struggle with the finances and feel like penniless paupers who are weighted down with guilt because they have nothing much to give others. Remember, families are still trying to recover from the loss of a job, the loss of a home or even medical expenses that make their lives heavy with worry and weariness. For many, this season brings nothing but heartache as they muddle through in grief and loneliness. Some must endure their first Thanksgiving or Christmas without a beloved husband, wife or close family member.

Whether rich or poor, happy or sad, God reaches out to us in every season of our lives.  The seasons may change but God is unchanging, dependable and faithful in every season of our lives. Ecclesiastes 3:1 explains: To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven. Furthermore in Romans 8:28, we are told: And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purposes. So let us not be sad or burdened but fully trust in the Lord.

We must never forget that we should never lose the urgency for the lost; which is easy to do when we place our eyes on our own hard circumstances or get caught up in our own selfishness, covetousness or riches.   Ask the Lord to show you how to willingly minister to others so they can come to know Jesus Christ this holiday season.

The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved

Jeremiah 8:20

C. Wren