Seasonal Provision

In the late summer early fall, there are specific types of flowers in bloom that serve as a primary source of provision for a bee colony to over-winter.

Aster and Golden Rod are just two of the important flowers that serve as an important resource for honey bees to stock up for the winter with honey stores.

In Ohio, bees need 60-70 lbs of honey in order to survive through the winter months because they do not hibernate or even rest in a state of torpor but they are continually moving in order to keep the interior of the cluster at about 90 degrees fahrenheit.

These late bloomers are an essential part of the honey bees survival.  If the end of the summer is too dry, not allowing for enough nectar to be produced or if the temperature is too low during their development then the honey bee colonies can be left wanting.

If it weren't for these later sources of nectar and pollen, many species of insects would not continue to  flourish or have the needed nutrients to survive through to the next season, either due to lack of stores, like Apis melifera, or lack of energy to get them moving out of the colder regions.

These seasonal flowers provide specific proteins necessary for life itself.  The word of God spoken at just the right season in someone's life can provide lasting nourishment as well as provide the sweet nectar necessary for someone to be sustained through a dry season in their lives.

Isaiah 50:4

The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary.   Morning by morning he awakens; 

he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught.                                                                           

We are called to provide life giving nourishment to those who are weary.  As we commune with the Lord we can be that life sustaining provision for one another as we speak.

Unless we are in the word of God we will not have anything to give because we will not be receiving what we need.

How can we be seasoned with salt and full of grace in our speech if we are not talking to God ourselves on a daily basis by listening to Him in His word?

We want to have what we need to grow and mature but we also want to help others along their journey as well.

Isaiah 55:10-11

"For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 

so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; 

it shall not return to me empty, 

but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, 

and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

God does send specific people into our lives at specific times to speak very specifically into our present circumstance.

Proverbs 25:11

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.  

Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold 

is a wise reprover to a listening ear.  

Like the cold snow in the time of harvest 

is a faithful messenger to those who send him; 

he refreshes the soul of his masters.

We should want to be a faithful messenger or God's word to those around us.

We have power when we speak to one another.  We can choose to build up or tear down.

Proverbs 18:20-21

From the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach is satisfied; 

he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.  

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, 

and those who love it will eat its fruits.

We are called to love and encourage one another with our words not tear each other down.

Galatians 5:14-15

For the whole law is fulfilled in one word:  

"You shall love your neighbor as yourself,"  

But if you bite and devour one another,  

watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

As we seek to love God by abiding in Him and His word, we are equipped to love each other.  We become more sensitive to His leading in our lives and in the lives of those around us.

When it comes to encouraging each other I say do it freely!  Freely we have received, freely give!

Think of the impact that the church would have if we were all seeking out people to build up and encourage by our speech, giving them a word during a dry season in their lives.  This would prove to be life producing.

Father, thank you for speaking a better word over our lives.  You are so faithful to give us what we need in the season that we have need of it.  Help us know who, when and where to give words of encouragement to those around us.

Help us Lord to act from a place of mercy since we have been shown much mercy let us mercifully give encouragement to those that are closest to us that we think may not deserve it.  We don't deserve anything good but You gave it all to us!

We know Lord that Your lovingkindness leads to repentance so we ask that you empower us to speak when we feel like retreating, recognizing that Satan's plan is for the church to be weak.

Help us to not bite and devour one another by tearing each other down which would serve to leave the church at a disadvantage against the wiles of the devil.

We want to be the life building seasonal provision for someone's life during their dry season  so that we will all grow and flourish despite life's difficulties.

2 Timothy 4:1-5

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, 

who is to judge the living and the dead, 

and by his appearing and his kingdom: 

preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; 

reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.