Seasons of Life / Our Offerings

Seasons of Life

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Saturday March 12^th Text Comes from:

Genesis 1:14

"God said, 'Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years.'"

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WORDS OF MINISTRY:

Seasons are an integral part of God's creation. We see evidence of the seasons all around, reminding us of the constant change and variety in the environment and the world. We experience these seasons in many ways. In the spring, the cold of winter fades into memory and temperatures warm.

Animals adopt new migration and behavior patterns, and birds fly to new destinations. Nature seems to come to life and plants are reborn, exploding with new colors. While the seasons impact our lives in many practical ways, they also remind us of God's sovereignty and command over space and time.

We understand this more clearly when we realize that the word in Genesis translated "seasons" means "appointed places or times." Seasons are God's appointed times and places when special things happen.

During this springtime, remember His promise that "I am the Lord, I do not change" (Malachi 3:6). You always can depend on Him. But He also wants you to remember that you will go through seasons during your life-seasons for planting, seasons for waiting patiently for the Seeds to mature, seasons for Reaping, times of change, times for growth and struggle, and many other kinds of experiences.

These are His appointed times for you. Yes, you might experience moments of difficulty, challenges when things don't make sense and days when you have questions. But through every experience, remember that you are only going through a season. God also has appointed times of blessing just for you. Don't be discouraged or give up before your breakthroughs come. Stay faithful, doing the things He's called you to do.

Keep believing.

Trust Him through all the days, years, and seasons of your life.

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Prayer: Father, thanks for Your appointed times in my life. I will keep Sowing Seeds with the resources You've given me. I trust in You. Use my life for Your Kingdom. In Jesus' name Amen

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Extended Reading: Genesis 1

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SUNDAY

Meaningful Offerings

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Sunday March the 13^th

Text Comes From: 2 Samuel 24:22-24

"'Let my lord the king take and offer up what is good in his sight'...However, the king said to Araunah, 'No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price, for I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God which cost me nothing.''

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Words of Ministry:

A plague came against Israel, and God told David to build an altar on Araunah's threshing floor. This man offered to let David take whatever he wanted. But David insisted on paying for this, for he would not give the Lord an offering that "cost me nothing." He knew that if the floor and oxen had been free, it would have had no real meaning as a sacrifice.

David was demonstrating an important spiritual principle: Give God something
that costs you something-make it meaningful. Many people want God's blessings, but they don't give Him first place in their lives. They spend little time with Him, do little for His Kingdom, and don't give meaningful offerings.

In contrast, think of the woman who brought a vial of perfume and wet Jesus'
feet with her tears (Luke 7:36-47). The Pharisees thought her actions were unacceptable, but Jesus was moved by her offering.

This woman was willing to invest expensive perfume to anoint Jesus' feet. It
was a sacrifice, and it was meaningful to her. We can see this principle in action in our own lives. The gifts we receive mean so much more to us when they're important to the giver.

Think about this in your relationship with God. He wants to bless you, but
He'll give His fullest blessings as He sees how wholeheartedly you're giving
your time, talent, and treasure.

Don't give God the crumbs from your table, but seek to give Him something that
costs you something. Make this a regular habit. As you give sacrificially to
Him, watch how He blesses you more and more.

 

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