Month: February 2022

A Time for Everything

/ Karen / 6 Comments

“There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven—”

Ecclesiastes 3:1 NASB

Timing is of the utmost importance in our lives. Solomon, the son of King David, outlines examples in Ecclesiastes using parallelism and juxtaposing two contrasting ideas in each line.

What does that look like? Let’s examine verses 2-8:

A time to give birth and a time to die;
A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.
A time to kill and a time to heal;
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to weep and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn and a time to dance.
A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.
A time to search and a time to give up as lost;
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear apart and a time to sew together;
A time to be silent and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate;
A time for war and a time for peace.

Solomon’s beautiful poetry captures the very essence of life. No matter the year, month, or day, one of more of these lines will apply to each time.

What are we to learn from Solomon’s wisdom? The beauty of these truths is encouraging as we sojourn through life. We may have times of pain, but there are also times of joy. Times of destruction but times of rebuilding. Times of despair but times of hope.

Whatever painful time you may be experiencing right now, be encouraged. Its anthesis — its opposite– will also come. Remember how Habakkuk cried out to God for justice from the Chaldeans who were destroying Judah?

Then the Lord answered me and said,
‘Record the vision
And inscribe it on tablets,
That the one who reads it may run.
For the vision is yet for the appointed time;
It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail.
Though it tarries, wait for it;
For it will certainly come, it will not delay.‘

Habakkuk 2:2-8 NASB

Take heart in the knowledge that God is in control of everything. His justice and truth will ultimately conquer the evil in our world. But the key is God’s timing, a crucial point which generally escapes our understanding.

Let’s learn from Solomon’s wisdom. Life may be full of vanities, but our toil in the Lord is never in vain.

I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime;  moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor—it is the gift of God. 

Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 NASB

Which of these lines in Ecclesiastes relates to your life today?

The Byrds recorded the lyrics to the song, Turn, Turn, Turn in 1965. It’s a beautiful song that records the words in verses 2-8. Do you remember it?

A Time for Everything by Karen Jurgens copyright 2022 All Rights Reserved.

The Author of Love

/ Karen / 6 Comments

This post was originally published in February, 2021, and was updated in February, 2022.

Who is the author of love? On Valentine’s Day, the world may claim it’s Cupid. But as Christians, we know who is the real author is—Jesus Christ.

cupid

What are the characteristics of love?

4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails. 

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NASB

On Valentine’s Day, most of us have someone special on our minds. The day lends a unique opportunity to express our appreciation in a way that demonstrates devotion to our loved ones.

What about exchanging valentines with Jesus?

valentines-day-1955238_1280

God gave us His valentine when He sent Jesus into the world.

16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 

John 3:16-17 NASB

Jesus signed his valentine in red from the Cross.

valentines-cross

8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 

Romans 5:8 NASB

How much does He love us?

15 Can a woman forget her nursing child And have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you. 16 Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands.  

Isaiah 49:15-16 NASB

Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Matthew 10:29-31 NKJV

Let’s rejoice in His love!

9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 

1 John 4:9 NKJV

I will extol You, my God, O King;
And I will bless Your name forever and ever.
2 Every day I will bless You,
And I will praise Your name forever and ever.
3 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;

Psalm 145:1-3a NKJV

How will you celebrate your love for Jesus during this Valentine’s month?

The Author of Love by Karen Jurgens copyright 2021 All rights reserved