How Can the Calendar's Seasons Give Us Life Lessons?

 

How can the calendar's seasons give us life lessons

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

 Seasons can teach us how to withstand the challenges of life. We go through transitions, but they don’t always bring circumstances we like. Bue we can learn from these seasons when we follow the Lord’s directions for nourishing our hearts.

How can the calendar’s seasons give us life lessons?

SPRING

Spring bursts with freshness and new growth. Bulbs like tulips and daffodils raise their tender heads through the soil. Trees sprout young leaves and grow longer branches. But Spring also can form frequent thunderstorms and hard rain beats the blooms to the ground.

In our spiritual development, we may be enjoying fresh vision from Scripture, the beginning of a Bible study, or discipling a baby Christian. When the thrill of new spiritual adventures wanes, we can feel useless and beat up like the crushed petals.

After hard rain, flowers absorb the moisture and perk back up. When we face the wind of despair after a spiritual victory, this is when we should refuse to give up. If we continue to soak up living water into our souls, we will not be crushed.

We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair (2 Corinthians 4:8 NKJV).

SUMMER

Summer brings rising temperatures. The spring shoots are gone, but summer blooms abound with color. Some can resist the hot sun and drier weather such as lantana and marigolds. As the months pass, the summer flowers that can survive the sun’s blaze begin to fade. We can get weary of daily watering and the beauty we enjoyed at the beginning of the season no longer brings joy.

Our life’s summer season may be our daily routines. The opportunities we enjoyed earlier grew to full bloom. We enjoyed the next step we took, but the temptation to become accustomed to the spiritual garden that sprouted can sneak in like weeds. Day to day lifestyle becomes dry, and boredom beats us down like the hot summer sun attacks plants.

This is when we should remember that our Father is faithful, and we need to keep our eyes on the prize of following Him. The Holy Spirit continues to work through the ordinary.

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart (Galatians 6:9).

AUTUMN

Autumn is a time of transition as the plants wither and fade, and the trees stop producing chlorophyll. This causes the leaves to die, change color, and fall to the ground. But the dead leaves transform into beautiful colors that we enjoy. We would like to hold on to this beauty, but because the plants are dead, they must be released or new germination will not occur in the spring.

We can become so attached to accomplishments or places of knowledge with God that we want to stay where it is comfortable. We don’t want to let go of what is familiar. But to expand and receive new levels of inspiration, we must follow the Creator’s leading and release the previous cycle we enjoyed. We can’t go forward if we hold on to the present.

This is the time to step out in faith and obey the Lord’s leading for a direction we may not have been before.

Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; Do not spare: Lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes (Isaiah 54:2).

WINTER

Winter is a time where everything looks empty. The trees are bare, and the flowers have disappeared. But despite appearances, the forest is not dead. Inside the trees, the next harvest is asleep waiting for nature’s call to wake up and sprout again.

This could be the time we feel the Spirit is silent. We pray, study, and read but feel empty. But our time is not wasted or dead.

As we remain faithful to feed our souls with the holy Word no matter what emotions tell us, the Spirit inside us stirs to bring new discovery when the time is right.

Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6).

We have all probably experienced these different phases in our spiritual journey. We can learn to recognize the signs of weariness, boredom, and emptiness. This is when we need to keep abiding in Christ so we will grow an abundant harvest that provides joy and beauty to the generations who come after us. We can leave a legacy of lessons learned for others to follow.

PRAY FOR STORM VICTIMS

We don’t want to forget about those in the path of Hurricane Helene. The deadly weather ravaged the southeast United States with a vengeance. Helene is a storm that can also be like some of those we go through in our lives. We experience tragedies as this one has caused. We need to remember that God is not the author of disaster. This is a natural force of weather patterns from a fallen earth.

We do need to pray for the recovery efforts and for those who have lost loved ones and property. God is the Lord of abundance and life. When we turn to Him He is there to restore, renew, and revive.

What revelation have you gained from the seasons of your life? Share your thoughts.

How Can the Calendar’s Seasons Give Us Life Lessons? (click to share on X)

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Condemning Thoughts Cause Mental Bondage - Excerpt from New Book Sustaining Life’s Victories

 

Condemning thoughts cause mental bondage - How to sustain life's victories

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

Do you struggle with guilt and shame? Do thoughts plague your mind with accusations of past sins or missed opportunities? These attitudes can place us in a soulish prison that we can’t escape on our own. Condemning thoughts cause mental bondage. We need God’s help.

Condemning thoughts can cause us to shy away from talking to God or reading our Bible. I have done this many times. Whenever I would do something wrong, I would wallow in remorse and not feel worthy to approach God’s throne. But this is when we should be running into His arms.

We aren’t worthy to approach His presence in ourselves. But we are worthy to approach Him because of Jesus. Jesus makes us worthy.

We can never clean ourselves up enough to deserve what God did. If we could clean ourselves up and become worthy, we wouldn’t need God. He is the One who does the cleaning, so He is the One we need to run to when we fall down and get dirty.

We can come boldly into God's presence. He has already cleansed us from our sin nature. What we do now is to see ourselves through His eyes—a forgiven saint. The only thing that needs cleansing is our minds. We learn to see ourselves through God’s eyes.

For several years, I have had the privilege of connecting with Lighthouse Bible Studies and contributing to their online magazine, Refresh, and some of their Bible study compilations.

On September 30, the newest book Sustaining Life’s Victories, will launch and is available for pre-order now.

My contribution’s title is “The Prison of Condemnation is Empty.”

The article shares three strategies we can use to unlock the jail cell of condemnation we may have allowed to lock around our minds.

I know you will be blessed by this book that contains stories from a multitude of talented authors. We know our Lord gives us victory over sin and guilt. But once we are free we must sustain that victory. This book provides personal illustrations and messages from God’s Word to show us how to dwell in peace and grace.

Christ gave us His identity to free us from guilt and shame. 

Join the conversation and share how you sustain life’s victories. How has God helped you?

Do you struggle with guilt and shame? Do condemning thoughts plague your mind with accusations of past sins or missed opportunities? Sustaining Life’s Victories provides strategies to live a victorious life. (click to share on X)

 

 

 

 

 Image by Monika from Pixabay 

 

6 Ways the Bible Teaches us to Live Successfully

 

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

King Saul was an example of a man who began his national leadership submitted to God. He enjoyed victories in war while he followed the Lord. But when his true character was revealed, jealousy of David drove him to the point of madness where he even tried to kill David. His selfishness was the downfall of his reign and it cost him his life and the lives of his sons as well.

In contrast, David is called a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). David sinned terribly on more than one occasion, yet he always repented. He never blamed anyone else for his failures, rather he took the consequences that the Almighty laid out.

David won multitudes of battles because he listened to the Lord’s guidance before he pursued an enemy. He is an example to us that seeking divine vision is the path to success.

These 6 Biblical Principles Will Teach Us How to Live a Successful Life

1. Seek the Lord Above All Else

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (Proverbs 9:10 NIV)

To receive the Holy Spirit’s power in our lives, we must deny any power we think we may have. The first step toward a blossoming life is submission to His authority.

We sometimes equate humility with putting ourselves down. But humility and meekness are not weak traits. Jesus was described as meek and lowly of heart, a place where we can find rest for our souls (Matthew 11:29). Yet He was a tower of strength to combat Satan, sin, and religious hypocrisy.

We exhibit strength when we acknowledge we need wisdom from a source greater than we are.

 2. Avoid Foolish and Ignorant Disputes

Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. (2 Timothy 2:23)

Arguing does not change the issue nor does it alter a person’s mind. Only the Holy Spirit can transform a person’s thinking. We don’t want to listen to this kind of negative talk so much that we are influenced into absorbing a divisive mindset. Spending time in needless discussions takes us away from the focus of our goals.

3. Be Willing to Accept Advice

The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:9)

We cannot learn and grow if we think our opinion is the only one that matters, or if we think we already know so much that we don’t need to listen. When a person is full of pride, they have no ears for anyone else’s voice.

Learning and listening to others takes denying our flesh. Sometimes it hurts. We may feel like we have crawled upon the altar of criticism, but a loving instructor corrects with love and bandages any wounds that occur during teachable moments.

We should examine advice we receive to discern the intent. Some advice is not godly or does not fit our situation. But we can listen and graciously thank the giver of words for their time and concern.

4. Stay Focused on the Goal

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. (Philippians 3:12)

James 1:5–8 tells us that a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. We cannot flourish in our goals and dreams if our mind is divided on the direction we need to go. Once we receive spiritual insight, we should stay focused on that and not allow other influences to sway us.

Satan sets traps for us when he knows we seek a holy objective. A mind full of dreams will not be accomplished without opposition.

5. Stay Out of Regret

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. (Isaiah 43:18-19)

No matter what has happened in our lives, our Father promises to restore and rebuild if we adhere to His ways (Joel 2:25). His mercy endures forever, and He is able to turn our disasters into diamonds. But He can only do that if we use His Word for healing of our damaged souls and depend upon His mercy. 

6.  Remember Where Success Comes From

 Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God…otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. (Deuteronomy 8:11a-14).

 After all the miracles and provision Jehovah had given the Israelites, they fell into sin and worshipped gold instead of God. They didn’t heed His warnings and the prosperous lives they enjoyed for a time ended in captivity.

Greed, lust for power and worldly pleasures have turned scores of people away from the Lord from the beginning of time until now. God knows human nature and that must be why He warned the Israelites about the consequences of forgetting Him.

The Ultimate Guide

A prosperous person is one that fulfills the will of the Father. Jesus told His followers that the key to abundant life was in seeking God, not possessions (Matthew 6:33). Once our affection is in the right place, He will meet our needs.

Bookstores abound with guides on how to plan our lives, but the only one that never fails is the Creator’s plan. The Bible is our guide in how to live the Lord’s way. When we rely on the source of our success, we can be fruitful, joyful, and peaceful.

Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. (Joshua 1:8 NIV)

 What other principles have helped you live successfully? Join the conversation and share your thoughts.

The Bible is our guide in how to live the Lord’s way. When we rely on the source of our success, we can be fruitful, joyful, and peaceful. (click to share on X)

This post is an excerpt from an article that first appeared on Crosswalk.com. 

 Image by Jackie Matthews from Pixabay

5 Remedies for Fear

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

I could say, “Have you ever been afraid?,” but that would be a silly question.

Of course, we have all faced fear at some time in our lives. The news we hear daily from various sources promotes anxiety.

The “what-if’s” can plague our souls. World events and political division can create chaotic thoughts of disaster.

Fear is an enemy to our mental stability and physical health.

Here are 4 effects of fear:

1. Fear paralyzes and disrupts decision making. When we are not thinking clearly, we grasp at whatever sounds good at the moment and act impulsively.

2. Fear divides. Political climates, social media, and news reports all contain various opinions. Escalated emotions can lead to fights and violence either physically or verbally.   

3. Fear overrides hope. When we look at circumstances through the lens of discouragement, we see no resolution to the problem.

4. Fear defeats success. When dread is the prominent thought, there is no room for productivity or creativity. With no hope for the future there is no motivation for growth.

God tells us time after time in His Word to fear not. Of course, He knows the frailty of our humanness and He knew we would face situations that cause alarm. That’s why He gave us His Word as our weapon to combat fear.

King David faced hopeless situations more than once. When he and his men experienced the loss of their families, David’s response was to encourage himself in the Lord (1 Samuel 30:6).

Another psalmist wrote, Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God. (Psalm 43:6 NKJV)

The Lord’s promises don’t depend upon a nation’s economy, political climate, or a leader’s decisions. His Word stands true no matter what happens in the world around us.

We can learn from David’s example and encourage ourselves in the Lord by following these 5 remedies to the agitation that can plague our souls:

1. Prayer – stay in fellowship with God. Not just to ask Him to take away the afflicting thing, but to fellowship with Him in praise and thanksgiving for who He is—the Almighty, the Omniscient, the King of the universe.

2. Provision of God – He provides for our needs so we shouldn’t panic when prices soar, or supply chains are slow or empty for a time (Philippians 4:19).

3. Protection of God – He gives us His angels to guard and protect us (Psalm 91).

4. Power of God – He is able to do abundantly more than we can ask or think as long as we depend on the power that dwells within us (Ephesians 3:20).

5. Promises of God –God tells us He will never leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6).

Living in anxiety and worry will not make any problem go away. Trusting the Lord means walking with Him and depending upon Him for answers. Standing on these Scriptures in faith puts the power where we need it.

As we learn to live in the identity Christ gave us, we will be able to resist the devil’s tactics more easily because we will be able to recognize that none of this dismay comes from God. 

Join the conversation and share your thoughts.

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The Lord’s promises don’t depend upon a nation’s economy, political climate, or a leader’s decisions. His Word gives us remedies for fear that stand true no matter what happens in the world around us. (click to share on X)

 

 

 

 

Why Are We So Easily Deceived by Temptation?

 

Why are we so easily deceived by temptation?

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

Why are we so easily deceived by temptation?

Sin attracts us when we are deceived into thinking something that appeals to our senses is good. The danger lies in not recognizing if a desire is right or wrong.

Our Age Doesn’t Determine Our Usefulness in the Kingdom of God

 

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

As years pass we face the temptation to look behind us and evaluate where we have been. This can be a good thing if we use our past as an opportunity for learning and setting goals. What we shouldn’t do is let this lead us to regret and feeling like we wasted too many years and chances for growth.

No matter what we left behind, our physical age doesn’t determine our usefulness in the kingdom of God.

Light Shines in the Darkness at the Paris Olympics

 

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

The atrocity that appeared in the Opening Ceremony at the Olympics has caused a worldwide outrage. I am glad to see that some, even in secular media, have criticized this parody against Christianity.

However, others, such as our own First Lady Jill Biden, praised the activities. She even questioned how the United States could top such an outstanding performance when America hosts the Olympics in 2028.

While degenerate behavior was applauded, light shone and continues to shine in the darkness at the Paris Olympics.

We have cousins in France who are missionaries. For weeks they have been preparing for this world famous event. Teams have talked to people on the streets, prayed with them, and given them places to rest, get water, and have shelter.

These saints went out among the citizens of France because the country needs Christ.

We shouldn’t be surprised at the kind of behavior that was exhibited during what should have been a celebration of a sporting event.

The spirit of antichrist has been on the earth for centuries (1 John 2:18). Current signs tell us we are living in the last days before Christ’s return.

I heard one reporter state that Christians were too tolerant when this type of behavior was displayed against them. I suppose he meant that Christians should retaliate like other groups do.

But we are not called to attack hate with hate. Romans 2:4 tells us the goodness of God is what calls people to repentance.

We are assigned to overcome darkness with light. Not with physical weapons because this is not a physical war. These types of happenings have roots in demonic spirits (Ephesians 6).

The devil hates God and all those who follow Him.

After Peter’s confession that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God, Jesus told His disciples what the church was supposed to do.

Prevail against the gates of hell.

And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever your loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 16:18–19)

This isn’t intended to give us the picture of defending a closed door while the devil tries to get in.

The gates of hell will not prevail means we attack his domain. The gates of hell will not be able to stand against the kingdom of heaven. We go after him and his cronies in the spiritual world.

We are to use our spiritual authority to combat evil forces.

We do this by spreading the gospel of the Savior which is what the missionary teams are doing there now. If you would like to read about some of the results, you can ask to join their Facebook page, Pray4Paris.

We fight evil by not hiding from the political arena, rather we change governmental powers by voting for policies that defend our Constitution.

Jesus loves those drag queens that mocked Him. He loved those who delivered Him to the cross. He loves the prostitutes, the drug addicts, the hypocritical church members, the evolutionist, and those who are hung up on their good works.

The Son of God died for all of us (John 3:16).

Because what we do is not what sends a person to hell. Rejecting Christ’s sacrifice for sin is what separates a person from God.  

But His sacrifice must be received. If drag queens, or anyone, continues to shun the conviction of the Holy Spirit until their hearts are so hardened they are beyond repentance, Romans 1:18–32 says that the Lord gives them over to their depraved mind.

While all this darkness spread throughout the venue, light shone at the Paris Olympics as the message of forgiveness and love was proclaimed throughout the city.

New believers have been welcomed into the heavenly realm. Questions have been answered and seeds planted.

This is how we attack the dominion of evil. Christ’s light and love cannot be put out.

Please pray for the events in Paris. Pray for deception everywhere to be recognized so souls can turn to the Lord.

If you would like to know more about receiving Christ into your life, the page on this blog Knowing God will tell you how. 

Join the conversation and share your thoughts.

While degenerate behavior was applauded by some, light shone and continues to shine in the darkness at the Paris Olympics. (click to share on X)

 

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