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God's Words For US
by Cecelia Lester
“a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build.” Ecclesiastes 3:3 (NIV)
I believe the first part of this verse belongs to God’s activity. It is His job to decide whether He heals a person or takes that person home to be with Him. I just noticed in this section of the verse what we think is a negative action is mentioned first.
In the second half, the negative again comes first. Yes, there is a time to tear down. Right across the street from our home sits a Community Garden spot. In March of 2014, the house that stood there caught fire and burned quite a while before anyone noticed it. As the weeks and months passed, it became an eyesore as the property owner went through the decision-making process about the future of the property. Our city has a program to raze old abandoned houses due to the danger they pose to the neighborhoods.
Sometimes, a park will appear where a house once stood. Habitat for Humanity will receive empty lots and will work with certain families to construct new homes. These families cannot afford the cost of an expensive abode but who dream of having their own residence.
God has the last say in all the options we have. We had what was once a garage removed from our backyard. This one act opened up our yard to some very interesting possibilities. We never know what God can do with what we have to do to improve a circumstance.
”a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,” Ecclesiastes 3:4 (NIV)
God allows us times of sadness—a time to weep. The January 2015 attack on Charlie Hebdo and the November 2015 bombings in Paris causes intense emotional times for France, nay the world.
At other times, He gives us special times when we laugh with our family or friends a family joke, a remembrance of something humorous. Even in the times we mourn.
God gives us times of mourning. Last Friday, I attended a funeral for one of the men I saw on visitation. He had an illness from which God chose quickly to relieve him. This gentleman wrote stories for his grandchildren. He was 98 years old. On Tuesday, this week, my visitation partner and I visited those on our list. When we went past the entrance to the retirement home, I felt rather sad because we could not see him but I know he is in heaven. That makes my memory of him a good memory.
Another gentleman from our church lived there until God took him home. He once told a story about when his wife came to our country from her native England. He has arranged ahead of time for a clergyman near Ellis Island to marry them shortly after she got off the ship. When he told her his plan, she responded with, “NO WAY, I brought bridesmaids dresses.” When he told that story to us, it was like hearing her tell it again. It brought back fond memories of his departed wife.
God does give us a time to weep but He also counters those times with times of laughter. We have times we mourn but we also have times of glee when we almost dance.
“a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to keep from embracing.” Ecclesiastes 3:5 (NIV)
Solomon speaks here of God’s actions. He broke apart the Hebrew nation scattering the 12 tribes of Israel and, at the same time keeping into two kingdoms. One of those tribes survived and even that tribe was scattered for several generations. In May 1948, Jewish people, returning to the “homeland,” created the modern state of Israel.
When Christ Jesus returns to earth, He will gather His people back into the New Jerusalem.
As God’s children, we receive instruction to love one another, even our neighbors, as much as we love ourselves. We sometimes show that love by hugging or embracing one another. However, there are times we are not to show our agape love in this way. We may have to perform some type of work for another—snow removal, raking leaves, washing windows, washing dishes, or cooking a meal. We still have love but it is a working love.
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Cecelia Lester has been serious about her writing for over two decades..
She composes Christian essays and posts them to her blog quietspirit-followingmyking.blogspot.com/
She has served in a faith-based organization, Grace In Action by writing two newsletters and searching for possible grants.
In July 2017, she published her first book, 'Times of Trouble Bring Rays of Joy.'
She and her husband of 54 years live in central Indiana. They have one grown son.
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