Special Guest Speaker: Elaine Bickel
God's Grace Filled Seasons
A Women's Retreat at St. Paul's in Ogden, Utah
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh.
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Last Saturday (Oct. 4th) we spent some time together as friends in Christ. St. Paul's hosted a wonderful event and invited everyone to attend. Elaine Bickel was our special guest speaker, and wow... was that ever a treat. I had never met Elaine, but ever since St. Paul's announced her as the speaker I have not stopped hearing about her! She spoke to use throughout the day about the different seasons of our lives. Let me just say, there were a few times I was laughing so hard I was worried about what I was involuntarily going to do! She has a wonderful gift of seeing God's promises and miracles in every single part of daily life, and then sharing those promises and miracles with others.
Here is a link to Elaine's website for more information.
King Solomon (possible author of Ecclesiastes) has always fascinated me. Son of the great King David, he sure had some big shoes to fill. But he knew he couldn't do it alone, in 1 Kings 3:7-9 Solomon asks this of God:
" Now, O Lord my God you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among people you have chosen, a great people too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours? "
God grants this to him and Solomon lives his life and governs God's people using this God given gift. But just like us, Solomon and David were both sinners and made mistakes. Our loving Lord showed mercy on them, just as he does us each and every day through His son Jesus. Let us all follow Solomon's lead and ask God for what we desire, and take our worries and concerns to Him.
Thank you ladies of St. Paul's for putting on and inviting us all to your event, it was very uplifting. Also, thank you Elaine for sharing your time with us.
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