Changing Seasons
Rikki Permenter, MAMFC, Th. M.
He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knows his going down.
Psalm 104:19
The seasons are starting to change. The air feels different. Spring is on its way. The world works on seasons. Most of the world has winter, spring, summer, and fall - around here its more like deer hunting, crawfish, swimming pool, and football. While the weather’s seasons may be hard to notice since it's usually between 70 and 90 degrees most of the year, there are other seasons in your life worth looking at, too. Examples of these other seasons are the seasons of parenting, the seasons of work or retirement, the seasons of college life and singleness, and the seasons of service and ministry.
God has ordained seasons of service and ministry in your life. At different points in life, he will equip you for different types of service and ministry. No one ministry is usually meant for a lifetime. Our spiritual gifting fluctuates and are based on our life experience and equipping. Some seasons God has specific ministries for you to start and some seasons he has specific ministries for you to stop. Some seasons of life you will be the most equipped to teach a children’s Sunday school class - some seasons of life that may be the last thing you feel you’re equipped for.
What season of ministry and service are you in right now? What ministry is God calling you to start and what ministry is God calling you to stop? Just like you fluctuate - others will, too. Whenever God calls you to stop a ministry He will bring someone up behind you to fill in and keep the other one going - if that is part of His plan. When he calls you to start a ministry He will give you the place to do it. Take a minute to evaluate your season of ministry and service and identify what he has specifically equipped you to do right now. Are you doing it? If not, take this as a sign - its time to start!
This article can be found in print in the monthly Baptist Association of Southeast Louisiana newsletter.
