Houston Trinity News

Friends,

Fall arrived at 1:19 pm today. Did you feel it? I was out about that time, and I am not sure I felt it either. It was still 94 degrees with high humidity. Not very fall like weather. Regardless, the Autumn Equinox arrived this afternoon.

I have been giving a lot of thought to seasons over the last several weeks. Seasons of our lives, seasons of the year, seasons of discontent. You can probably name a few more if you think about it for a moment. The beauty of seasons is that they are constant, but they change. They are constant: Fall has arrived as it does every year. They change: Fall will turn to winter then to spring and summer then back to fall. The seasons of life change as well as the seasons we live in.

As I thought about the changing seasons this past week i was reminded of the story of Nebuchadnezzar and his magicians in the Book of Daniel. Nebuchadnezzar has had a dream and calls his magicians, wise men and sorcerers together for an interpretation. They are unable to interpret the dream, so all of the wise men of Babylon are sentenced to death. That sentence included Daniel and his buddies who were in Babylon as well. Daniel goes to Nebuchadnezzar to ask for a little time to interpret the dream. It is given and he goes back to his buddies to help. They are unable, but God gives the interpretation to Daniel in a vision. Upon receiving the vision, Daniel praises God for his wisdom and power. He says of God “He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, (Daniel 2:21-22 NRSV)

As our Psalmist in Psalm 79 offered praise from the middle of the rubble that was left of Jerusalem, Daniel offers praise for the wisdom and power of God. We should offer praise now, as well. We are in the middle of a tough season in this world. A season where love seems to be overshadowed by hate. Where empathy seems to have been replaced by apathy. Where our thoughts for others have turned to only thoughts of ourselves. But praise God. He changes times and seasons. He gives wisdom and knowledge to the discerning. Stand up for the ways of Jesus and these seasons will change.

God bless you. See you Sunday

Psalm 91:1-6,14-16(NRSV)

¹ You who live in the shelter of the Most High,

who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,

² will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress;

my God, in whom I trust.”

³ For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler

and from the deadly pestilence;

⁴ he will cover you with his pinions,

and under his wings you will find refuge;

his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.

⁵ You will not fear the terror of the night,

or the arrow that flies by day,

⁶ or the pestilence that stalks in darkness,

or the destruction that wastes at noonday.

¹⁴ Those who love me, I will deliver;

I will protect those who know my name.

¹⁵ When they call to me, I will answer them;

I will be with them in trouble,

I will rescue them and honor them.

¹⁶ With long life I will satisfy them,

and show them my salvation.