Every year depending on what part of the country one lives there are 4 seasons.  In the winter, everything lays dormant, hibernating, preparing and getting ready to bloom.  In the spring, things start to grow and develop.  The ground is ready for planting and the weather is comfortable.   Then it hits summer, the things that are planted, are in full bloom, and it seems all you can do is endure the heat and try to make the best of a hot situation.  Then we hit fall.  The weather returns to a comfortable temperature and the colors of the  trees are at there peak as it prepares to shed the leaves of the spring.  The trees go through a natural pruning process in the fall.  The things that are dead, are dropped to the ground to be put in bags and thrown away never to return. 

As I think about this hot summer evening and evaluating where I am in the midst of the seasons in my life.  I feel like I'm in the winter season.  I've been resting and now I'm waiting to spring forth.   I'm ready for new things in my life.   However, it seems to me that the winter will never end.  I begin to realize that there is nothing I can do to rush the season.  I just have to take it one day at time. Then there are those moments when I feel like I'm at the beginning of spring.  I begin to enjoy the new things that are happening, things seem to be progressing then all of sudden there is a winter storm that comes from no where.  It wasn't expected, and it stays around for days on end.  My question is why is it so hard to just have life happen?  To know that ultimately God has a plan for my life.   I just need to be prepared to receive it, I must be obedient to what He is requiring and I must be willing to do the work that He asks of me.  I don't know that I have the answers to the questions but I do know that 
Isaiah 40:31, 
"They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."
My question is how long must I wait?   I guess in reality as long as it takes because my life is in God's hands.    I don't know about you, but waiting is very hard, but necessary in this journey.   So as I encourage myself in this winter season of my life, I want you to also be encouraged.   I want you to know this day, that you are not alone.  We all go through the seasons of life. 

What's your season?

When we think about transformation many of us desire for it to happen immediately.  However, just like the butterfly transformation takes time.  The transformation of an egg to a full grown butterfly can take anywhere from one month to a year.  It’s not until my mentor gave me this quote,”Just when the caterpillar thought it was over it turned into a beautiful butterfly,”  at one of the lowest moments in my life, I realized that I was merely just in the cocoon turning into a caterpillar. 
    Purpose of the Word of God

• When the egg of the butterfly turns into the caterpillar the only thing that it does is eat.  Its mother has made sure that she has place this new life on the right leaf so it has enough to eat.  Purpose.  Which is a great example for us that there are times when we need to just stop and eat the word of God. 

    Purpose of Growth

• The caterpillar eats until it is full and then it begins to go through a process of metamorphosis which is what happens when the butterfly is starting to develop and grow.  This is the time that one would begin discerning one’s purpose. 

    Purpose of Preparation

• The caterpillar begins to shed skin and then one day the butterfly emerges. Again you     would think when she emerges she would be ready to take off but the wings are stuck     together.  We may think were ready to move forward, but God isn’t finish with us yet.  He is still preparing us for what is ahead.The wings take about 4 hours to fill with blood and then it is ready to go into the world.    ​

    Purpose of Reproducing

• In the cycle of life the butterfly begins the process of reproducing itself.  It is interesting to me that the butterfly desires to create more like themselves.  We as Christian should be in the habit of recreating others to follow Christ.  Sharing the Gospel and all we have been through.  Then the kingdom will begin to expand. 

What I’m saying is that we all have Purpose.  When God begins to reveal our Purpose it may take time to be transformed and to come out of the darkness/wilderness one has been in to move forward. But just as the Word states, “ Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform [it] until the day of Jesus Christ:  Philippians 1:6.  As my grandma would say God isn't finish with me yet.  Be encouraged!

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