From 145 South turn left at Rosebud Road. After some 3 miles turn right on Midway. St. Stephen's Church is on the left.

Even though everyone doesn't experience a change in their surroundings in the seasons, we all have something in common and that's The Seasons of "Life". In this day of high speed highways and technology we can find ourselves rushing through life and not enjoying The Seasons fo "Life" that God intended for us to enjoy. We can get so focused on tomorrow, next week, next year and retirement that we don't enjoy the seasons we're in NOW!

Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 3:1- "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven. "Each moment in time, each phase of life, God has a purpose for it. Many of us can create problems for ourselves by either hanging on to the past or being so focused on the future, that they don't enjoy the current time. It's God's Woll to enjoy each season of life for what it is either good or bad. In Ecclesoastes 11:7-8 it tells us "Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun: But if a man lives many years, and rejoices in them all; uet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.

1.Youth is like "Spring Time" - A season of preparing.
It's a time to enjoy life. - Ecclesiastes 11:9-10 - Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth; and walk in the ways of thine heart and in the sight of all thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgement. Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.

It's a time of innocence. - Deuteronomy 1:39 - Moreover your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall posses it.
It's a time to imagine what life should be. As youth we think "It's not fair" or "get use to it". - Ecclesiastes 9:11 - I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.
It's a time for parents to instill good habits - Proverbs 22:6 - Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it. - Youth has its season.

2. Manhood or Womanhood is like "Summertime" - A time to move forward establishing a new life of your own choosing. - Genesis 2:24 - Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall be one flesh.
How to be a wife. - Ephesians 5:22-24 - Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church; and he is the saviour of the body. Therfore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
How to be a husband. - Ephesians 5:25-31 - Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word. That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be hold and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man every yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church; for we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
A time to start a family - Psalm 127:3-5 -Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the had of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

It's a time of strength. - Ecclesiastes 9:10 - Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
And a time of achievement and satisfaction. - Ecclesiastes 5:12 - The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, wheere he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.
But it's a time we must remember that unless
God is The Center of This Season we will not succeed. - Psalm 127:1-2 - Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep they city, the watchman waketh but in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
3. Maturity is like Fall - A time of provision.
Our strength fades but it's replaced with skill and wisdom.-
Proverbs 20:29 - The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.
We man not work harder but we work smarter. This can be the most fruitful time in our life.
It's a time to stand on and be mature in what we know. - Colossians 1:9-12 - For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with knowledge of his will in all wisdom and sprirtual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God: Strengthened with all might, according to his glorioous power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness: Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inh3eritance of the saints in light: It's time to pass on what we've learned. - Hebrews 5:12-14 - For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
When we're young we focus on ourselves and as we grow, we focus on spouse and family, but this season we broaden our concerns. - Philippians 2:3-4 - Let nothing be done though strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let esteem each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
We raise our eyes and see there is more to life than we imagined. - Galations 6:10 - As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

4. Elderly is like "Wintertime" - a season of preservation.
Strength might be gone, but it doesn't mean life is over. True strength is not the body. It is in the spirit. - II Corinthians 4:16-18- Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring your into rememberance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church. Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you.
It's a time of loss. Loss of family, friends and work, but for those in the Lord, it's a time of honor. - Proverbs 16:31 - The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.
Wisdom and understanding come to the aged because of their time in younger days. - Job 12:12 - With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.
It's a time to share our experiences to those we'll leave behind. - Titus 2:1-8- But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, tachers of good things; Tha they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children. To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.
It's a time to endure. - For we made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end; It's not a time to be complacent because there is still things to do and there is "not much time left". - Hebrews 6:10-12- For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. Ad we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who throug faith and patience inherit the promises.
Enjoy the season. The season of the year and the season of your life. I have learned that the more I focus and enhoy theseason I am in, good or bad, the better the next season is, when I enter it. It's in the season we're in now, that prepares us for the one, I assure you that you won't enjoy the next one. ENJOY! - Lord Bless You ALL!

Lord help us to stop and enjoy each moment and time that You have given us. Help us to understand You have given us each moment to enjoy, learn, and teach us about Your Love for us. May our eyes, ears, and spirit be focused on You each and every moment in life. In Jesus' Name. Amen.