We can give thanks through every season we experience in our lives.

A time to give birth – we can thank the Lord for the opportunity to birth new life whether the new life is a little human being or a dream He has placed in our hearts.

“Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart.” ~Psalm 37:4 NASB

A time to die – we can thank the Lord for the opportunity to witness the promotion of one of His godly ones who has gone home to be with Him forever. It is a rare privilege to witness someone’s final graduation from earth to heaven.

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones.” ~Psalm 116:15 NASB

A time to plant – just as we plant seeds in the soil, we can plant God’s Word, the beauty of His character, and splendor of His ways in our heart and in our mind. And we can thank Him for His transformational power.

“So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” ~Isaiah 55:11 NASB

“Remain in Me, and I [will remain] in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself without remaining in the vine, neither can you [bear fruit, producing evidence of your faith] unless you remain in Me.” ~John 15:4 AMP

A time to uproot what is planted – sometimes man plants processes and procedures that are pure evil. I have been reading Lily’s Promise by Lily Ebert. Lily shares her experiences in Auschwitz-Birkenau, and these evil treatments definitely needed to be uprooted from Germany and other European countries in the mid-1900s.

We can thank the Lord for Lily’s testimony as an overcomer.

“Do not be overcome and conquered by evil, but overcome evil with good.” ~Romans 12:21 AMP

A time to kill – we can partner with the Lord and thank Him for conquering our carnal nature.

“[Jesus] said to all, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever will lose his life for my sake, will save it.” ~Luke 9:23-24 WEB

A time to heal – we can thank the Lord for the healing of our body, our soul and our spirit.

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” ~Psalm 34:18 NASB

“Many hardships and perplexing circumstances confront the righteous, but the Lord rescues him from them all.” ~Psalm 34:19 AMP

A time to tear down and a time to build up– non-suburban dwellers know there are ample opportunities to tear down old fences, chicken coops, etc., then we build new fences, chicken coops, etc. Likewise, we can tear down negative thought patterns and beliefs and replace them with positive thought patterns based on the truths in God’s Word. We thank the Lord for the power of His Word.

“We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ.” ~2 Corinthians 10:5 AMP

A time to weep – to weep for dear ones who have died; for dreams that go unfulfilled; for countries that error in their ways (example: Hitler in Germany). We can give thanks to the Lord for being a God of comfort.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” ~2 Corinthians 1:3-4 WEB

A time to laugh – young children bring joy and laughter to our heart and home, and animals bring laughter in their cuteness and antics.

One of my favorite animal memories: upon hearing a noise in the backyard, I peeked out the window and saw our Labrador puppy sitting in our toddler’s plastic car (in the driver’s seat!), and the cat was sitting on the car’s roof. (It was so funny to see!)

Thankfully, I was able to get one photo before they spotted me, jumped from the car and ran to the back door. I still laugh about their antics when I remember this event though it has been years ago.

We can give thanks to the Lord for times of laughter.

“A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.” ~Proverbs 17:22 AMPC

A time to mourn and a time to dance – a dear friend of our family recently passed away. It was heartbreaking! Yet, our family is celebrating two weddings and the birth of a new grandbaby.

“Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep.” ~Romans 12:15 WEB

A time to throw stones – in ancient times, people took up stones to kill other people that had wronged them.

God hid Jesus from those who wanted to stone Him.

“So they took up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus, by mixing with the crowd, concealed Himself and went out of the temple [enclosure].” ~John 8:59 AMPC

Jesus addressed a crowd who wanted to stone a woman caught in adultery.

The religious leaders wanted to test Jesus, so while He was teaching, the leaders brought a woman caught in adultery, proclaimed the Law said she must be stoned to death, then asked, “What do you say?”

Jesus answered the leaders, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her. They listened to Him, and then they began going out, conscience-stricken, one by one, from the oldest down to the last one of them, till Jesus was left alone, with the woman standing there before Him in the center of the court.”

“When Jesus raised Himself up, He said to her, ‘Woman, where are your accusers? Has no man condemned you?’ She answered, ‘No one, Lord!’ And Jesus said, ‘I do not condemn you either. Go on your way and from now on sin no more.’” ~John 8:7b, 9-11 AMPC

We can give thanks to God for delivering us from evil men.

A time to gather stones – “We have been gathering stones, but not for the purpose of death (as they were used in stoning in ancient times). We have been gathering stones for the purpose of living and remembering. Jesus is our hope; and our confidence and hope are increased when we remember who our God is, what he has done for us, who we are in Jesus, and His faithfulness to act in the future as He has done in our past.” [SA]

A time to embrace – many people use hugs or handshakes when greeting someone, and the Bible speaks about two experiencing warmth together. We can thank the Lord for our friends and loved ones.

“If two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one keep warm alone?” ~Ecclesiastes 4:11 WEB

A time to shun embracing – there are times when displays of affection seem inappropriate. The British royal family frowns upon open displays of affection, deeming it unprofessional and inappropriate. The exception to their embracing ban is the royal kiss on the couple’s wedding day.

A time to search – Jesus told many parables. One parable He shared is about the woman with the lost coin in which Jesus communicates the Father’s heart of love for all of us. We can thank God for His amazing love for us.

“What woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost!’ In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” ~Luke 15:8-10 NASB

A time to give up as lost – There will be a time when people refuse Truth, choosing instead – lies, deception and lust.

“See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.” ~Colossians 2:8 NASB

“Preach the word; be urgent in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort with all patience and teaching. For the time will come when they will not listen to the sound doctrine, but having itching ears, will heap up for themselves teachers after their own lusts, and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn away to fables.” ~2 Timothy 4:2-4 WEB

We can thank the Lord for the spirit of discernment which enables us to discern between good and evil.

A time to keep – All nations are in God’s hands.

“Behold, the nations are like a drop in a bucket, and are regarded as a speck of dust on a balance. Behold He lifts up the islands like a very little thing. All the nations are like nothing before Him. They are regarded by Him as less than nothing, and vanity.” ~Isaiah 40:15, 17 WEB

“I tell you, don’t swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God; nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet.” ~Matthew 5:34-35b WEB

We can give thanks to God for being the King of all kings and the Lord of all lords.

 A time to throw away –Jesus addressed the religious leaders’ lust for money and called them to a relationship of intimacy through prayer.

“Jesus entered into the temple of God and drove out all of those who sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the money changers’ tables and the seats of those who sold the doves. He said to them ‘It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of robbers!’” ~Matthew 21:12-13 WEB

We can thank God for His house of prayer.
A time to tear apart and sew together – In ancient times, leaders would tear their clothes when they were very upset about something, especially when an evil act was against God Himself.

Paul and Barnabas tore their robes when the people of Lystra called them gods (after seeing a man’s legs healed) and brought animals to sacrifice before them.

“But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard about it, they tore their robes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting, ‘Men, why are you doing these things? We too are only men of the same nature as you, bringing the good news to you, so that you turn from these useless and meaningless things to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything that is in them.” ~Acts 14:8-11, 14-15 AMP

We can give thanks to God for the opportunity to give Him all the glory, honor and praise.

 A time to be silent – Jesus was silent before His accusers until they invoked God’s name, then He answered their question regarding His identity.

“The high priest stood up and said to Him, ‘Have you no answer? What is this that these testify against you?’ But Jesus stayed silent. The high priest answered Him, ‘I adjure you by the living God that you tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God.”

“Jesus said to him, ‘You have said so. Nevertheless, I tell you, after this you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power [God], and coming on the clouds of the sky.” ~Matthew 26:62-64 WEB

We can give thanks to God for sending His Son, Jesus Christ, as the living sacrifice for our sins, and reconciling us to Himself.

 A time to speak – In times of persecution, we do not need to worry about what we will say for God will give us His words of truth to speak.

“When they lead you away and deliver you up, don’t be anxious beforehand, or premeditate what you will say, but say whatever will be given you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.” ~Mark 13:11 WEB

We can give thanks to God for the grace to endure trials and persecutions, and for anointing us to speak His Words of Life to our false accusers.

A time to love and a time to hate – we are to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength; we are to love our neighbor as ourselves; we are to hate sin, but love the sinner. We are to love the widow, orphan, and the poor. We can thank God for His love, then we can allow His love to flow through us to those around us.

A time for war – wars and rumors of wars. Carnal men love power and control which leads to war of who will be in control of what land, its resources, and its people.

A time for peace – The Lord desires for all men to be at peace with one another.

“Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, I give to you. Don’t let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.” ~John 14:27 WEB

“Finally, brothers, rejoice! Be perfected. Be comforted. Be of the same mind. Live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.” ~2 Corinthians 13:11 WEB

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” ~Philippians 4:6-7 NASB

“The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace.” ~Psalm 29:11 NASB

Thank you, Lord, for Your incredible peace!

Ecclesiastes 3

There is an appointed time for everything.

And there is a time for every event under heaven—

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.”

~Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NASB

Prayer for this Season

“For this cause I also, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which is among you, and the love which you have toward all the saints, don’t cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might which he worked in Christ.” ~Ephesians 1:15-20a WEB

Recommendation:

A Time and Season for Everything under the Sun – Strength with Dignity

The Powerful Testimony of Jesus Christ – Strength with Dignity

References:

Abbott, Shari. [SA] Won’t Get Fooled Again – Stones in the Bible. Published by Reasons for Hope Jesus. Retrieved November 9, 2022, from Won’t Get Fooled Again-Stones in the Bible » Reasons for Hope* Jesus (reasonsforhopejesus.com)

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