The fall season quietly teaches me about living life in harmony with the Spirit of God. All of life ultimately points its finger to the One who made it. Fall does it in a splash of color and chill.
Leaves
Cooler temperatures usher in the change. Swaying trees show off the golds, oranges and reds of the season. Their beauty masks the fact that these brightly colored leaves are in the process of dying.
Day after day the new colors brighten.
Unable to process the sunlight, the leaves pass from being workers, to resting in a blaze of color. Finally, the life cycle complete, they flutter and dance in the air to the ground.
Just like the leaves, we all start out healthy and vigorous. Our society honors youth and ability, but what about the older years? In this country, the elderly are seen as too dependent, a bother. Often ignored, the aged are not held in any honor.
But the Lord shows me that aging is beautiful.
Harvest
The foods of the fall season include corn, pumpkins and cranberries. These are plants that are sown in the spring, but cannot be harvested before the fall.
Vegetables like tomatoes and beans can be picked all summer long, but not these crops. Through the spring and summer, they grow and thrive, waiting to mature.
Sometimes, the good things we expect take time to happen. Like the fall harvest, there may be a wait.
Seeing other people reach their goals can make me chafe and wonder where my blessing is. But like a patient farmer, I can wait. The answers will come; the goodness will be there. In it’s own time.
Jackets and Coats
When the weather gets cooler, it’s time to put on the jackets and coats, mittens and scarves. When the sun was strong, no layers were needed. But now, the winds blow and the temperatures drop. Added clothing creates a defense, keeping us warm and protected.
When our life circumstances get hard, we need protection too. Job losses, divorce and financial challenges are just some of the hardships we face. Some will be hurt by harsh words. What will protect us from these cold winds?
The Lord gives the gift of friends, family, and faith to keep all warm in the cold weather of life.
No one gets through life without troubles, but we are not alone. Our protection comes from God, and from his gifts of support.
The Lesson
Reflecting on the fall season has led me to discover the love and care God has for all of us. I see the beauty in all phases of life, the virtue of patience, the gift of protection given in the hard times, all on display every morning I wake and move through my day.
The trees are calling to come and walk among them again. If I stay vigilant, I know I’ll learn so much more about the love of God, through his beautiful creation.
Linking today with: Sharing His Beauty
Linking today with: Sharing His Beauty
I love the way you see lessons in everything. Beautiful Fall leaves are a gift before the cold of winter
Hi Joyful! Isn’t the Lord so creative in his gifts? To give us such blazing colors before the white of snow and the crystal of ice? That’s a good thought, thank you!
I’m glad you like the idea of seeing God in everything. I don’t do it all the time, but I hope to get better at it. He is there, just waiting for me to notice.
Happy Monday!
Ceil
The last photo is so cute!
Greetings, RW & SK
Hi RW and SK! So nice to meet you today, thank you for your visit.
That last photo was sort of irresistible, I agree he is so cute. Almost too cute for the subject matter, but I’m glad you liked the choice.
Heading over to say ‘hi’!
Ceil
Dead Ceil
And if fall did nothing else, I think its beauty is soooo much needed in a world that idolizes youth, productivity and busyness. Like the picture of the leaves, our hearts needs such beauty to make us more fulfilled.
Blessings XX
Mia
Hi Mia! I know my heart just loves the leaves…it’s my favorite thing about fall. But all of the scenes pull me out of myself, and help point me to the Creator where my real awe should be. It helps to fight all the negative pulls, like busyness and overwork.
Good to see you today, Mia! Have a wonderful Monday
Ceil
Love this girl!! Fall is my favorite season and I love seeing biblical perspectives on seasons
Much love!
Hi Heather Leigh! Fall is my favorite season too. All those colors and smells, and of course the hot tea and pumpkin bread. It is fun to know that God speaks to us in all the seasons. I think I just see it more easily in Fall.
Thank you for your visit today and your constant encouragement to me. I really appreciate it. Have a blessed Monday!
Ceil
What a beautifully expressed post, Ceil. Once again you show the relation between nature and our walk with the Lord! The Lord gave me something similar that I still need to write down and then I will post it one day on the blog…either the end of this week or sometime next. (((hugs)))
Hi Dianna! Oh thank you for your kind words. I’m so glad you liked what you read. And you have some of the same ideas? Can’t wait to read them. These seasons really do inspire, don’t they?
I pray we will never stop being inspired by the works of The Lord!
Happy Monday to you my sweet blog-friend,
Ceil
Hi Ceil,
I totally agree that we can learn so much through creation, and am reminded that there is a time for everything, the wait can actually make us stronger and able to fight against ‘reasoning’. I love the autumn and even the dead leaves have nutrients in them for the soil. When I look at God’s creation on this planet I have to say ‘It is a fool that says ‘There is no God’ ‘.
Hi Brenda! Ooooh, I didn’t think about the dead leaves being fertilizer for the soil, I love that! Thank you for that great insight!
I am right with you about creation being a sure sign of God. Even our own bodies, so fearfully and wonderfully made. We are surrounded in his glory.
Thank you for your enlightening comment today Brenda!
Monday Blessings,
Ceil
Good Monday morning, Ceil…
Lovely thoughts and breathtaking pictures, my friend…
I have always loved autumn for many of the same reasons.
It reminds me so of the seasons of life itself…
Spring is birth…all is new, and young and green…
Summer is our youth…we are able to live and learn and celebrate long days and long nights of work and play…
Autumn is exactly as you said…it is middle age…time to slow down and the just be…our days get shorter and we relax more…we seem to be aging, but that is masked by the vibrant beauty of our leaves…we have knowledge and experience that allow us to feel at peace with what our lives hold…
Winter is our aged years…our life is almost complete. We stay indoors and feel at peace. We enjoy the coziness of home…yet we have som much beauty to share…so much knowledge to impart…we have peaceful snowfalls and at times, when we are confused…we have raging blizzards..
Some may feel that spring and summer are the most beautiful seasons…
But as you pointed out, my friend, fall and winter as well have sooo much beauty to share with us…if only we take the time to notice.
What a blessing God gave to us…
Oh Billie Jo, this is just beautiful. I love your take on the seasons. So inspired and so inspirational. Thank you for your thoughtful comment today. I can especially connect with the ‘blizzards’ and how we need to stay home (in our souls) and feel the warmth and protection God can give. I LOVE that image.
The season really are one of the greatest gifts we have. Ever changing but ever the same. I love that too!
I hope you have a blessed day, my friend, as you have blessed me.
Ceil
The fall seems to bring me to a place of serenity. To see the wonder of His hand and feel His presence. This was a wonderful post Ceil and I am so happy that we are friends and Sister in Christ Jesus! God bless!
Hi JR! I’m right with you, I love Fall. It makes me feel so reflective. I’m so glad that you like what you read here. Isn’t God so good? He brought us together too. Such grace!
Monday Blessings
Ceil
Hello, Ceil. What a cozy blog you have here. Have a lucky week.
Hi Vanessa! Thank you for your visit today. I’m glad you like the look of the blog. I do love fall!
I tried to get to your blog, but can’t seem to find it. I hope you will return here and leave me your blog address. I’d love to visit!
Have a good week too!
Ceil
Absoulety right on with this post. Thanks for sharing. Couldn’t of said it better. Blessings
Hi Linda! So glad you liked this post today! I love reflecting on the season of Fall. As a matter of fact, I am getting ready to get out and take a walk. Who knows what I’ll learn?
Blessings to you and your family my friend,
Ceil
Ceil, these are such good lessons you’ve gleaned from this season.
Hi Wanda! Thank you for your lovely comment. God’s lessons are all around me. Sometimes I see them, sometimes I don’t. I pray to be more aware of his movements in my life.
Happy Monday!
Ceil
Beautiful thoughts, Ceil. Brought tears to my eyes as I sit here watching the falling leaves and reading the wonderful message God gave you to share.
Hi Pam! Thank you for your visit, I know you are so busy settling in to your new place. It is wonderful how we can serve each other in blogging, isn’t it? I am so touched that this post meant so much. Thank you for telling me.
Monday Blessings,
Ceil
Ceil,
This is lovely and what I needed to read today. I am going through a time of struggle and have been needing that warm winter coat.
Thank you for once again, sharing and letting your light shine.
Wishing you a blessed day.
xoxo
Hi Jennifer! I hope God will lead you to the people and places that will be your defense against the cold. You are such a wonderful person, I know that the Lord will not refuse you his grace and support.
I’ll be praying for you as always.
Ceil
Good Morning, I must be a pumpkin
It has taken a long time to get to the meat. And you have to love all the seeds. And let’s not forget the pie’s…
I loved this Ceil, that little one in the huge coat made me smile!
Thanks for joining my apron giveaway, I will be drawing the winner’s name in a few days. But this was hard for me because I wanted to give an apron to everyone.
Blessings Always, Roxy
Hi Roxy! Thank you for your blessings, I love that. And I’m glad you liked the post too. That poor little kid…probably can’t move!
I am looking forward to the apron give-away, your sewing is so wonderful. I can imagine you would want to gift all of your friends, you are so generous that way. But we’ll all understand that you’d be sewing forever if you had to do that!
Monday Blessings to you my friend!
Ceil
Yes, there is beauty in all stages of life
Thank you for sharing it so beautifully. I love how the Lord teaches us through His creation and through the changing seasons.
May you have a blessed Monday, dear Ceil. Hugs!
Hi Stephanie! It appears we love the same thing then…although I do see him more clearly in the Fall, I should challenge myself to address his message in each season, like Bille Jo did.
Hugs right back to you my friend!
Ceil
Ceil, this was such a lovely lesson! I really like how you took each thing and really expanded it into a wonderful spiritual application. As an *autumn leaf* myself right now, I loved the lesson that aging is beautiful.
GOD BLESS!
Hi Sharon! Thank you for your encouraging comment today. I am an autumn leaf too, believe that. And we all do have such worth and beauty in the eyes of the Lord.
Monday Blessings to you, my good friend!
Ceil
“But the Lord shows me that aging is beautiful.”
Those are words I need to hear, Ceil. I know them to be true, but now that *I* am the one doing the aging, I find them harder to believe for myself.
So thanks for sharing this!
Hi Lisa! Well, you and Sharon and me should all go out and celebrate our ‘leaf-i-ness”! It is sometimes hard to see the beauty in aging, but we are! And we have a lot to give, to our children and to each other.
Aren’t we blessed to know each other through our blogs?
Hope you have a wonderful Monday!
Ceil
Hello Sweet friend!
I think I have finally figured it out…… You like to walk, don’t you?!
No elk yet, but they have seen many….. Thanks for the prayers!
I do too. There is just something about the stillness and the peace of the Lord when taking a walk. That is the one time, you can truly pour out your heart unto the Lord and if you listen carefully, you might even hear back from him. God created such amazing beauty for us to enjoy. His workmanship is simply astonishing, isn’t it?
And in answer to your question from your last post, YES I am seeking and hearing and staying in peace to see what the Lord has for me….. It’s so quiet in here, I think I could hear a pin drop.
Take Care,
Amy
AMY!! How are you doing? Sounds like you are enjoying the peace and quiet and all the pins dropping. It sounds like it’s cold too.
I do love my walks. I went out on one today, and I just get so much ‘thinking’ done. Great ideas for posts, praising the Lord…it’s all so good!
Take care around those elk, ok?
Ceil
Hi Ceil, Thank you for your positive sharing – good to read, true words and lessons to learn – God Bless – Nita
Hi Nita! I’m so glad you liked what you saw here, and yes, there are so many lessons to learn. I’ll be learning my whole life…at least I hope so!
Have a wonderful Monday
Ceil
Ceil, love your post. It can be hard waiting on the Lord. But sometimes we learn that the waiting can be a gift in itself. It just takes some perspective to see it sometimes. Blessing, my friend.
Hi Kim! Thank you, I am so glad you liked it, and told me too. It’s so nice to hear. Waiting, yeah…I’m not very good at that. I have been waiting on the Lord to help my husband with the job thing, but man, it’s a long haul. I can’t wait to look back on this time and have that perspective you mentioned.
So nice to see you today!
Ceil
A lovely post, Ceil.
Thank you for sharing.
God is everywhere and that is something to be very grateful for.
Hi Margie! Thank you for coming over today, and making a comment too. God is indeed everywhere. I want to see him more and more in my life. This blog site helps me to be more aware. I love it!
Monday Blessings!
Ceil
Hello Ceil! What a lovely post! This is well-written, and I really enjoyed it. Thank you for stopping by and commenting on my blog. Nice to meet you.
Hi Daisy! Thank you for coming over to see the blog today! I hope you’ll come by often, and we can get to know each other better.
Your comments are really encouraging for me. I appreciate it!
Ceil
What a beautiful reflection, Ceil! I think October is my favorite color
Hi Patty! I’m glad you liked the post today. I used to like the red leaves the most, but one I’m a yellow girl.
Hope you had a good Monday
Ceil
Yes, yes, yes! Such a wonderful analogy for a fall day. I love every aspect of it. So very true. Thank you for sharing this with us today. I needed to hear these words today. Blessings be upon you today dear friend.
Hi Pamela! Thank you so much for your supportive comments! I really appreciate your encouragement. And I’m glad it helped you. That’s the best thing ever. So kind of you to tell me that!
Hugs!
Ceil
I really enjoyed reading this! I”m totally into God’s Creation….a true Naturalist by Spiritual temperament so this resonated with me!! thanks for sharing!!
Hi Faith! Thank you for your visit and comment. I really love nature myself. It really helps me focus outside of myself. I need to do that more
I’ll be your newest follower,
Ceil
Evening Ceil, A beautiful message! I guess one could say, God made us like the seasons………because we “go through” different seasons in our life. Yes, we are “green” when young but become full of “color” (wisdom) with age! Blessings~~~Roxie
Hi Roxie! That’s really true, because we all go through different seasons in our lives. And sometimes many times! I hope I can be that ‘full of color’ person as I age. Great reflection, thanks!
I am enjoying following your renovations. You and your husband are a real team
Have a happy Tuesday!
Ceil
A great reminder again today, Ceil. The beauty of the autumn leaves reminds us that, even in dying, there can be beauty.
Hi Linda! And that is such a beautiful thought, isn’t it? Leave it to our God who makes aging and dying so beautiful. He thinks of everything. How blessed we are.
Thank you for your visit today! Have a great Tuesday
Ceil
Your post is filled with Words of wisdom, hope and safety … No matter where we are in our walk, We can be safe knowing that Fathers arms are strong enough! The ups and downs – injured bodies, hurt minds or unfulfilled dreams – He is there, containing, healing and comforting! The sweetest Little child covered in the warm coat … oh boy, such a cuteness captured! And the middle Picture in your header … Is that a painting you have on your wall – I do admire the softness of tones, the perspective and the mild and warm feeling!
Hi Nina! The middle photo in the header was taken during a visit to Ettore “Ted” DeGrazia’s home and studio just outside Tucson, Arizona USA. I really love his art. You should ‘google’ him and check out his works. He uses very muted, and very bright colors too.
I took more shots while I was there, and hope to use them on the blog sometime. I think he’s brilliant. I do get a sense of quiet and reflection from his works…although he was not like that himself!
Thank you for your comments about the blog post. Our God loves an sees beauty in all of us in every stage of our lives. I need to do the same.
Have a great day, Nina! I always appreciate your visits!
Ceil
What a lovely post, Ceil! My latest deals indirectly with the “aging is beautiful” concept. I love the way you pull that idea together with waiting for the harvest and with relying on God’s protection. Sweet!
Hi Janice! I loved your post on the old desk of your Mom’s. You did a fabulous job, it looks beautiful.
You ‘harvested’ that desk, didn’t you? We are all here to rescue each other and to see the beauty and protection in every moment.
Good to see you!
Ceil
Wonderfully analogies with quite a lot to think about. It’s a shame that our society doesn’t see the beauty in aging. when I was a younger Christian I was always drawn to the “beauty” of the older women in the church. They always had so much wisdom, were full of faith and encouraging. There are different seasons in our life to be sure, thanks for reminding us that the “fall” of our lives can be a thing of beauty as well.
Hi Maryann! We should all see every age as beautiful, we are all going to experience them at some point, God willing.
How lovely that you were drawn to the older women in your church. I am sure they treasured your friendship. It is such a rare thing to find someone encouraging these days, what a joy! Well, you are encouraging to me, and it brings me joy too.
Have a blessed evening,
Ceil
Ceil, I’m planning on going out in a blaze of glory like the autumn leaves. I’m gonna dance in the wind the entire way
Hi Nan! That sounds beautiful…and fun! I know that you would dance, I bet your are a good dancer now
Thank you for your visit, and constant support. I really appreciate you, my blog-friend!
Ceil
Beautiful, Ceil! I love how God speaks to us through nature. To everything there is a season… We may be getting older, but hopefully growing in His grace. And besides, we’re all babies in eternity-years!
God bless,
Laurie
Hi Laurie! That’s a good point, we are babies in the view of eternity! I love that, thank you!
And so many of us love nature…it really helps to move the focus away from myself and to the Creator. I pray my appreciation for what he has done fills me with his grace.
Have a blessed evening Laurie!
Ceil
My favorite season is fall, but I agree, there is beauty in all the seasons. There is much to be learned too, as you shared. Thanks so much for this wonderful reflection. Good things to think about!
Hi Karen! Thank you for your visit on such a busy day for you! I am glad you liked the post; there really is so much knowledge and wisdom in creation. The inspiration is endless.
Hope you had a fun day!
Ceil
Hi Ceil – I love these wonderful metaphors of this time of year. Thank you. What lovely thoughts. Enjoy your week!
Hi Deb! I’m so happy you liked the post today! Thank you for taking the time to come here and comment too. I really appreciate your support
I hope you and your knees are doing well in this transition of seasons. And that you will have a good week.
Blessings to you,
Ceil
Wonderful thoughts and insights on Autumn and the love of God. Loved the photos too! : )
Hi Cathy! I am so glad you liked this post, and the photos too. They were fun to pick out
I appreciate your joining the blog today! I look forward to getting to know you better.
Peace!
Ceil