A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away. A time to search and a time to quit. A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace [Ecclesiastes 3:5-8 NLT].

QUOTE: Even seasonal situations can bring with them lessons that last a lifetime (Mandy Hale).

Ecclesiastes 3:5a A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.

 What makes the bible fascinating are the stories and analogies used to help us understand the message God is trying to share with us.

This verse refers to clearing the vineyards of stones to prepare the soil. When sowing seeds we don’t want the rocks. If we look at our heart as the vineyard, there is a time to clear all obstacles or anything that stands in the way of our relationship with the Lord. We always want to clear those stones out of our soil.

However, there is a time when we do want to gather the stones, such as when they were used to build structures like fences, winepresses, and walls. We want to embrace the stones of the spirit, such as peace, love joy, and patience. We also want to transform our thoughts to become more like God.

This verse is a pair of contrasts: between tearing down-scattering stones and building up-gathering stones; then, there is encouragement-embrace and a time for holding back-refrain. If we are being guided by the Holy Spirit we will know how to respond.

Ecclesiastes 3:5b A time to embrace and a time to turn away.

We see a contrast of loving and nurturing relationships, which is are something that the Lord desires us to have. We are to have relationships with other believers and non-believers. For sure we want to embrace people that support and uplift us, and we want to embrace them (reciprocal). We want to nurture relationships with ourselves, spouses, family, and friends.

Then, there are times when we need to let go of some relationships. People who drain us, hurt us, or abuse us; we need to refrain from embracing them. This “letting go” seems to be a challenge for some women, but the Lord gives permission to let this person go. This doesn’t mean that we don’t love and care for them from a distance. Sometimes to protect your mind and maybe even your life; there needs to be some people released from your life.

Ecclesiastes 3:6a A time to search and a time to quit searching.

This shows us that there is a time for us to look for solutions, use our creativity, come up with ideas, and solve problems. Then, the contrasting side shows us there is a time when we need to let go and let God be God.

We need to let God bring us solutions, let God give us more creativity, let God give us powerful ideas, and let God provide the answers. We can beat our heads against the wall and work ourselves to exhaustion, or we can allow the Holy Spirit to lead us and guide our steps.

Ecclesiastes 3:6b A time to keep and a time to throw away.

There is a time to keep some (empowering) thoughts you have in your head and there is a time to throw away those (disempowering) thoughts. There is a time to have some (awesome) people in our life and there is a time to throw away those (awful) people who should not be in your life.

There is a time to hold on to good memories and there is a time to throw away those bad memories. You get it. God is giving you permission, girlfriends, to do some house cleaning in your mind, in your business, in your relationships, and your life.  Whatever is good KEEP IT, this is from God where there is no goodness THROW IT AWAY because this is from the enemy.

Ecclesiastes 3:7a A time to tear and a time to mend.

What this shows us is there may be habits or actions that we need to tear out of our lives. Like negative self-talk, ungodly thinking, jealousy, greed, or pride. You name it, there are so many things that we do that sabotage our lives and our relationship with the Lord. Any of those destructive habits need to be torn out of our lives.

Then we need to mend or repair by bringing stellar habits, actions, and thoughts into our lives. Like speaking the Word of God over yourself, understanding the love of God for YOU, and knowing who God says YOU are.  Bring in thoughts and habits that will help to mend or repair something that is broken. We have been given everything we need to mend. Embrace the power of the Holy Spirit and stay in the Word.

Ecclesiastes 3:7b A time to be quiet and a time to speak.

There are times when we should pick our battles (as the saying goes). We’ve all heard the saying: “don’t say anything unless it’s nice”; well, this could be very true concerning what you say about yourself. This topic is exactly what this entire book is about how and what to think and speak. There is a time when we should just shut our mouths when we are about to speak something against who we really are in Christ.

It’s a discipline to know when to keep silent and when to speak, and this involves controlling our thoughts and words. As we have learned, we cannot do this on our own. Only through the Holy Spirit can we control our tongues. But we need to control our thoughts by renewing our minds through the Word. The time to speak is when we speak the Word of God over our lives.

Ecclesiastes 3:8a a time to love and a time to hate

This teaches us that we are to love the things that God loves and hate the things that God despises.

This doesn’t mean people, but we are to hate sin and evil. Such things may include lying, stealing, pride, deceit, and arrogance; we should hate these things.

Truth, giving, humility, honesty, gratefulness; we should love these things. Discernment about when it is time to love and when it is time to hate comes with knowing who God truly is and knowing WHO GOD SAYS YOU ARE and thinking like God thinks (Stellar Thinking).

Ecclesiastes 3:8b a time for war and a time for peace.

There is a time to fight for things that you love. There is a time to fight for things that you value. There is a time to fight for what is right. There is a time to fight for what is godly. There is a time for all-out war when fighting the battle of your mind.

Then there is a time for peace.  There is a time to value the things that God values. There is a time to do what is right. There is a time to love the things that God loves which will bring peace.

A SEASON FOR EVERYTHING: There is always a time in every season to be Godly. There is a time when you simply let go and let God fight your battles. There is a time especially when it comes to your mind that it is time for war. There is peace in our minds and hearts when we embrace the fact God has given us a SEASON AND A TIME FOR EVERYTHING.

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DAILY ACTION STEP
Say to yourself out loud
I AM WHO GOD SAYS I AM
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FRIENDLY REMINDER: take out your journal and write down your thoughts, takeaways, and progress for this week! 

TAKEAWAY GEMS

• There is a season for every activity.
• There is a season to scatter and gather stones.
• There is a season to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing.
• There is a season to search and a time to give up.
• There is a season to keep and a time to throw away.
• There is a season to tear and a time to mend.
• There is a season to be silent and a time to speak.
• There is a season to love and a time to hate.
• There is a season for war and a time for peace.

QUESTIONS TO “THINK ON”

1. What life seasons have you experienced?
2. What did you learn through these seasons?
3. Of the seasons mentioned above; which seasons do you love, and which season do you fear?

ACTION STEP: A SEASON FOR FUN!! Schedule time each day to do something outside for an attitude adjustment! This can be a multitude of activities from walking, running, hiking, biking, skiing, gardening, or simply sitting in the sunshine. Try to enjoy nature around you every single day if you can. Being in nature provides a closer connection to the Creator and does wonders for us emotionally, mentally, and physically. GET OUTSIDE!

WEEKLY SCRIPTURES

DAY 1: He replied, The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. [Acts 1:7]

DAY 2: He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars [Daniel 2:21]   

DAY 3: A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away. A time to search and a time to quit. A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace [Ecclesiastes 3:5-8]

DAY 4: Don’t brag about tomorrow, since you don’t know what the day will bring. [Proverbs 27:1] 

DAY 5: You made the moon to mark the seasons, and the sun knows when to set. [Psalm 104:19] 

DAY 6: Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom. [Psalm 90:12]

DAY 7: Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered, how fleeting my life is [Psalm 39:4]