Fall Foliage And A Lesson I Learned
By Pam Helm
It was the last weekend in October and the fall foliage here in Connecticut was at its peak. Being on staff at the Young Adult Fellowship Bible Study meant also leading the retreats. As we always did twice a year, a group of approx 40 adults between the ages of 20 and 35 piled into cars and drove to Woodstock, CT for a serious "get away" to study God's word and have a bit of fun and fellowship. The weekend weather was picture perfect!
Each morning I woke up earlier then everyone else so that I could have some time alone with God before the daily activities started. My bible studies over the past few weeks seemed to have been based around the fact that God ordains all things and each has a purpose. I have always loved how God seems to tie lessons together me through sermons, quiet times, bible studies and life situations. One of by studies was based on the book of Esther plus I had just returned for a Focus on the Family Women's Conference in Philadelphia, PA called "Renewing the Heart" where the book of Esther was discussed as well. Read Esther 4:12-17
The verse "And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" had been something that I daily pondered. God placed Esther right where she was for a reason, He ordained her to be the queen at that time in order to save a nation.
So picture this... I was sitting by the lake being quiet before the Lord when a leaf caught my eye. I sat and watched it as it floated downwards from the sky. It twisted and turned as it gently descended to the ground. Then I watched another leaf as it tossed and turned and than another and another.
Here is what God revealed to me... God ordained that leaf to fall to the ground at that particular time. Out of all the leaves of the Fall season, He called that specific one to fall at that specific time. Before it was even created, God knew exactly what color it would be and its size and shape. He even knew exactly when it would fall and how many times it would twist, toss and turn... and He knew where it would land. What an amazing thought! Then the wind blew and a bunch of leaves began to fall. All of them where falling at different speeds, with different twists and turns and God knew each one of them. Then I thought of how many Fall seasons I had been apart of – never mind before I was born and after I leave this earth. God ordains them all!
As I sat in ah of this new revelation, God showed me His sense of humor because one leaf landed on my knee. I felt God say to me, Oh Pam, if I know this leaf, if I have ordained it to be here at this time, to be this color, and I know how many tosses and turns it will take and where it will land… how much more do I know the tosses and turns of your life and where you will land. I sat with tears in my eyes at the awesomeness of our Heavenly Father.
Where are you in life? Are you single? Married? Divorced? Widowed? Do you have health problems? Wherever you are in life know God has ordained you to be where you are at this very moment in your life for a reason. He has called you and ordained you to handle the circumstances you are in. He has a purpose and a plan. God knows every intimate detail of your life.
The lesson I learned is that God knows and cares about every twist and turn
and He knows where you and I will land.
God has called you and me “for such a time as this!”
It was the last weekend in October and the fall foliage here in Connecticut was at its peak. Being on staff at the Young Adult Fellowship Bible Study meant also leading the retreats. As we always did twice a year, a group of approx 40 adults between the ages of 20 and 35 piled into cars and drove to Woodstock, CT for a serious "get away" to study God's word and have a bit of fun and fellowship. The weekend weather was picture perfect!
Each morning I woke up earlier then everyone else so that I could have some time alone with God before the daily activities started. My bible studies over the past few weeks seemed to have been based around the fact that God ordains all things and each has a purpose. I have always loved how God seems to tie lessons together me through sermons, quiet times, bible studies and life situations. One of by studies was based on the book of Esther plus I had just returned for a Focus on the Family Women's Conference in Philadelphia, PA called "Renewing the Heart" where the book of Esther was discussed as well. Read Esther 4:12-17
The verse "And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" had been something that I daily pondered. God placed Esther right where she was for a reason, He ordained her to be the queen at that time in order to save a nation.
So picture this... I was sitting by the lake being quiet before the Lord when a leaf caught my eye. I sat and watched it as it floated downwards from the sky. It twisted and turned as it gently descended to the ground. Then I watched another leaf as it tossed and turned and than another and another.
Here is what God revealed to me... God ordained that leaf to fall to the ground at that particular time. Out of all the leaves of the Fall season, He called that specific one to fall at that specific time. Before it was even created, God knew exactly what color it would be and its size and shape. He even knew exactly when it would fall and how many times it would twist, toss and turn... and He knew where it would land. What an amazing thought! Then the wind blew and a bunch of leaves began to fall. All of them where falling at different speeds, with different twists and turns and God knew each one of them. Then I thought of how many Fall seasons I had been apart of – never mind before I was born and after I leave this earth. God ordains them all!
As I sat in ah of this new revelation, God showed me His sense of humor because one leaf landed on my knee. I felt God say to me, Oh Pam, if I know this leaf, if I have ordained it to be here at this time, to be this color, and I know how many tosses and turns it will take and where it will land… how much more do I know the tosses and turns of your life and where you will land. I sat with tears in my eyes at the awesomeness of our Heavenly Father.
Where are you in life? Are you single? Married? Divorced? Widowed? Do you have health problems? Wherever you are in life know God has ordained you to be where you are at this very moment in your life for a reason. He has called you and ordained you to handle the circumstances you are in. He has a purpose and a plan. God knows every intimate detail of your life.
The lesson I learned is that God knows and cares about every twist and turn
and He knows where you and I will land.
God has called you and me “for such a time as this!”
