Celebrate the Season

Roy and I have always lived in a climate where we could celebrate the seasons, but never so much as our current location near Boone, North Carolina. When we moved here a little over three years ago, we were told that this beautiful little mountain town, tucked into the heart of Appalachia, was a tourist attraction in every season. But Fall is busiest and most beautiful with its colorful leaves amid the rolling Blue Ridge. Local hotels compete for tourists from all over the world with the following message on their marquees:

“Leaf Peepers Welcome Here!”

Yes, Starbucks’ pumpkin lattes warm our tummies. Apples hang heavy on the trees. And farm machinery slows traffic to a crawl. Clocks fall back, days get shorter, and crisp winds blow under Friday night lights. There are lots of reasons to celebrate the season.

Old Testament Seasons

A group of about a hundred folks and I have read through the Bible chronologically using the YouVersion Bible App this year. As of today, we’ve made it all the way through the Old Testament. Woot! While reading Joel’s four chapters, I noticed a recurring cycle that plagued Israel from Moses to Malachi.

1. God gives Israel a godly leader & promises blessing.
2. Israel obeys & God blesses.
3. Godly leader dies.
4. Israel disobeys God.
5. God disciplines Israel.
6. Israel cries out for relief.
7. God forgives, gives Israel another godly leader, & promises blessing again

…And the cycle begins again. Israel obeys until their leader is gone, and then they forget God and sin. Punishment comes until they cry out for mercy, and God sends someone else to remind them that He’s their only hope. The Old Testament is full of Israel’s changing seasons.

The New Testament—Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection—is sort of like Hawaii. One, long season of grace. The Eternal King, the final Godly-Leader, God and Man, will reign forever on David’s throne.

Fall Season Struggles

But our Eternal King hasn’t yet set up His eternal Kingdom on earth. Autumn, with its shorter days and longer darkness, reminds me that I live in a body that still struggles with the Fall. My old nature (sinful tendencies) tries to shove King Jesus off the throne of my heart. Paul shared similar frustrations in his letter to the church in Rome:

“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” Romans 7:15

I tend to pull away from people. I’m more selfish and tend to get impatient more quickly. I break the speed limit (yes, that’s sin) to get home quicker. So how do we celebrate even the dark seasons?

Joel’s Answer For Today

“‘Even now,’ declares the Lord, ‘return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.’” Joel 2:12-13 (emphasis added)

Twice, the Lord calls us to return to Him. How does one return to the Lord?

1. Fasting – try fasting from food (a specific kind of food if you can’t go without food entirely) for a specified time; and use mealtimes to read God’s Word, study, and pray.
2. Weeping/Rending the heart – journal, pray, read God’s Word until your heart is broken by what breaks God’s heart.
3. Mourning – Mourning is a sober remembrance of someone who died. In this context, it’s mourning my old self. When I’ve truly put to death my old way of life—been crucified with Christ and my sin with Him—then I’ll feel the weight of loss as it’s transforming me. It’s good to reflect on the changes my new life brings, mourn the losses one-by-one while celebrating the miraculous freedom won through the Holy Spirit.

“For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.” Romans 6:6-8

Celebrate This Fall Season!

How do we celebrate no matter if we’re enduring the dark days of struggle or the yummy lattes of Fall? By practicing a life FULL of Jesus as Savior and King! Living by His power and abiding in His presence!

So whether this season of shorter days and yummy lattes brings you closer to Jesus or poses unique spiritual challenges, be encouraged with one of Paul’s final blessings to the Romans:

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 (emphasis added)

Watch for exciting stuff in upcoming newsletters:

• October news about BULGING Israel Tour! CLICK HERE for more info.
• November book review – Christmas biblical novel!
• eShort Prequels to Isaiah’s Legacy coming to Book Lover newsletters:
  • December 2
  • January 6
  • February 3