SEASONS OF LIFE: Lesson 20 supplement

There’s an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth:

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 The Message (MSG)

A right time for birth and another for death,

A right time to plant and another to reap,

A right time to kill and another to heal,

A right time to destroy and another to construct,

A right time to cry and another to laugh,

A right time to lament and another to cheer,

A right time to make love and another to abstain.

A right time to embrace and another to part,

A right time to search and another to count your losses,

A right time to hold on and another to let go,

A right time to rip out and another to mend,

A right time to shut up and another to speak up,

A right time to love and another to hate,

A right time to wage war and another to make peace.”

Scripture Memorization

“Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37: 4

“Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let Your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” 1 Chronicles 4:10

The Study

Understand the season: like the seasons of nature–winter, spring, summer, and fall–so are the seasons of life. The opportunities for personal growth are specific to the season. The opportunities of one season are not always available in another. Each season prepares you for the next.

Prepare for the season: It is our human nature to hang on to some season, even when God is ready to move us to another season. New seasons takes us to the unfamiliar and uncomfortable which create many emotions. So how do we prepare for the season that is to come?

Here are excerpts from my presentation, Prepare your heart for the season: Christmas in Excellence. I believe the principles here apply to any season or holdiay that we embrace. Women, we truly need to take time to prepare our hearts to bless.

As Galatians 5:22 says so well, we need more of His spirit that bears “… love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” It is only in His strength that we are able to generously give and to bless our family this Christmas season.

There are three principles we need to remember as we prepare for this season:

Keep it simple

The first Christmas was simple. Luke 2: 4-7 (NKJV) Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

It was a humble, simple, first Christmas.

This simple Christmas has had an incredible impact on the world.

This simple Christmas brought a simple gift of faith, but provided an extravagant love. An unconditional love that only God could provide to a lost world: A Savior, the Messiah, was given to us that first Christmas.

God sent us one gift, His only Son, in a humble stable in one little town called Bethlehem, and One Star guided the shepherds and wise men to the holy presence of the Messiah, Jesus. As you prepare, let this, too, be your approach. Make a simple plan, write down and run with it EARLY. Keep in mind the first Christmas by applying a theme of simplicity and referencing the number one.

Consider this.

Buy only One new Decorative piece each year to make it easy on the budget.

Buy One gift for each one you love.

Decorate one Christmas tree that will be the centerpiece of your celebration.

Light one scented candle that brings the holiday fragrance to your home, the light that will bring remembrance of the star that shone so bright that 1^st Christmas.

Bring elegance to your home

Elegance reflects the excellence that so much enjoyed by your family. An element of elegance over the holidays is choosing decorations that are simple, neat and appealing to the eye.

Maybe it was because I had a houseful of men that I saw the importance of elegance. Because I desired to be the one to bring it into their lives. I wanted them to treasure and value this attribute in me because Elegance shows and celebrates the true beauty and femininity of a woman.

Proverbs 31:28 says “Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also.”

When we present and prepare our home, our food, and our gifts elegantly, we are making our children aware that all good things come from God. They will ultimately be good stewards of what they have, because they will become increasingly aware that everything is on loan to them from God. Your children will know this season is special.

Prepare your heart

Spend time with God. Scripture tells us to “pray without ceasing” 1 Thessalonians 5:17.

I used to think I had to be at home, at church, in a quiet place at least, to pray. But opportunities are all around us. This season while you wait in those long lines to purchase your favorite coffee drink or a loved one’s gift, pray.

Read God’s Word daily. Knowing God’s word and putting it in your heart is another way we can prepare our hearts for the Season. The Bible will allow you to know God’s character, God’s promises for you and your family, and God’s instructions on how to live and to pursue a life of excellence – one that is holy.

Have A willing Heart to let God use you. All God asks of us is to be thankful and to be obedient to His call on our Lives. When you choose to live God’s way and walk in obedience to Him, Your life will have purpose and you will experience fulfillment. Lets look at scripture to see how Mary, the mother of Jesus, prepared for that first Christmas.

“ The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
the power of the Highest hover over you;
Therefore, the child you bring to birth
will be called Holy, Son of God.”

And Mary said, (Listen to this ladies) Mary says….

“ Yes, I see it all now:
I’m the Lord’s maid, ready to serve.
Let it be with me
just as you say.” (scripture: Luke 1)

We women need to be A willing vessel to bring about His purpose in Your world. All God asks of us is to be thankful and to be obedient to His call on our lives. When you choose to live God’s way and walk in obedience to Him, it is here that your heart will be prepared to bless your family this Christmas season.

No matter if you are preparing for a delightful holiday season or just a random season that comes dancing into your life. You can apply these principles: keep it simple, bring elegance to your home by possessing the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit (1 Peter 3:4) and prepare your heart.

Purpose for the Seasons: As women, we often have an innate need to be able to do and be many things. But recognize that there is an order to maintain and a specific season in your life to do it. Each season offers great knowledge, wisdom, and opportunity for us to be educated for what lies ahead . Don’t miss any season in your life, as that will also be an opportunity missed. There will be many opportunities knocking on your life’s door. Draw from your foundation of faith, family, and community to assist you in making a decision on what opportunity to embark upon.

Complete page 95-100 Excellence with Simple Elegance: The Study. Both books can be purchased easily by clicking widget Bonnie’s Books http://www.bonnieliabenow.com