To EVERYTHING there is a season

It was a pleasure to have Margaret Hutchins, founder of our homeschool support group organization, come and share with us about her journey and how to extend God's grace to yourself in the varied seasons of life.  She related the fact that just after starting the support group, multiple close family members became ill and then died in a very short time frame including grandparents, her step-father and then her mother.  In the craziness and heartache of that season, it seemed a very inopportune time to have started an organization, and yet, God had ordained it for her that in her time of need, she had support from other women that helped carry her through this very difficult time.  She reinforced the fact that we need each other and should bear one anothers burdens which also includes allowing others to step in and help bear your burdens.  This requires humility, vulnerability (to allow others to see/know your needs) and grace with yourself to know and accept help, accept that sometimes you can't do it all or that even if you feel like you can do it, allowing others to step into your life and be helpful extends a blessing to them and allows God to bless you.  Sometimes we forgo God's blessings because we aren't willing to humble ourselves to allow others to bless us.  It also robs them of being a blessing.

    She talked about how important it is to sow God's Word into our children.  It is the Holy Spirit's job to convict and bring them to GOD but our job to teach them good disciplines and habits of faith and to seek GOD so that His Word and these habits will not return void in their lives but will surely be used of GOD to draw them to Himself.
   Finally, Margaret shared with us how our lives reflect the varied seasons.  As with plants, we need nutrients/soil (God's Word), light and water (Jesus) and oxygen (Holy Spirit) and we go through seasons - planting seeds, growth, fruitfulness and dormancy.  In every season we need to be fertilizing with God's Word in our lives and when seeds are being planted in us, not to worry about fruitfulness or growth - just fertilize and that will come.  When we are growing, that is exciting, but don't be anxious about the rate of growth because all plants grow at a different rate- keep fertilizing and trust God for the fruitfulness.  When we are being fruitful, be thankful for the season, keep fertilizing and trust God for the increase and the grace for the busyness of that season knowing that dormancy, rest is coming.  During dormancy/rest, don't worry about fruit/growth - God is still at work, just fertilize with His Word and your communion with Him.

   One of the things she reiterated is that all of us are different and rather than trying to be like someone else (what they accomplish, how they homeschool. how clean their house is) rest in how God made you and remind your children too when they wish things were different that this is how God made you and He saw fit to give them to you and vice versa. So, we should rest in God's gifts of each other and learn from one another and if our kids want to do things differently than we have, they are free to do that as they grow independent. :)

    So, I encourage you all to rest today in what God gives, how he created you, and what season you may be in right now - and find joy in it because whether you feel fruitful or in a dark winter of the soul, GOD has not forgotten you. He is at work and is faithful to complete His work and is more zealous over producing good in and through you than you are even yourself!  Also, if you are struggling, broken hearted, overwhelmed -- please reach out to someone and let them pray with you, help you and bear your burden with you.

Great is Thy Faithfulness

“Great is Thy faithfulness,” O God my Father, There is no shadow of turning with Thee; Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.
	“Great is Thy faithfulness!” “Great is Thy faithfulness!”   Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—     “Great is Thy faithfulness,” Lord, unto me!
	Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest, Sun, moon and stars in their courses above, Join with all nature in manifold witness To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
	Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide; Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlF-U1WFmF4 Story behind the hymn http://gaither.com/news/%E2%80%9Cgreat-thy-faithfulness%E2%80%9D-story-behind-hymn