It's Transition Time

CBN.com - It’s transition time. All over the Kingdom of God and throughout the Church the word of the
hour is “transition”. We keep hearing that but what does it mean. Are we all in transition? If so, is your
transition going to spill over and affect my transition?

It does seem as if God is telling the whole Christian body to take a few steps forward. In those steps, we’ll
probably step on each others feet. I imagine there’s going to be more than a few of us pushing and
shoving. Some of us are going to want to move forward. Others will want to stand still or move
backwards.

Let’s face it; God’s will is always changing us. He is always transforming us and molding us to be
something different than we are. In the Word, God even refers to Himself as a potter and we are His clay.
It’s an easy image to see. A lump of clay is shaped into a vessel and then refined in the fire until it is
becomes purified and hardened. Only then is worthy of use.

Change is never comfortable but it is a fact of life and it is the will of God. We are changed as we grow in
age and maturity. We are changed when we accept Christ into our hearts. We are changed as we move
deeper into a relationship with God and accept His will in our lives.

God is refining us in His furnance. God is molding us into vessels that glorify Him. This time of transition
is going to make us feel uncomfortable but it is God’s will. We all have certain things in life that we want
and even have planned for. Some of those plans will undoubtedly be disrupted. Don’t fret.

Here’s what the Bible says:

"You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail." (Proverbs 19:21)

God’s purpose is going to happen no matter what you and I plan. We need to be patient with each other as
never before. In other words, we’re going to have look and act like Christians. We’re going to have to
bear one another’s burdens and be willing to overlook each others faults. We’re going to have to learn to
let those very real hurts and offenses go quickly. We’re going to have to react out of love instead reacting
out of spite. It’s not going to be easy. God’s Word says He is returning for a Church without spot or
wrinkle. How will we ever be that Church without going through the fire of refinement? We must press in
and through.

If transition is the word of the hour, humility is the path to peace. If we act out of humble hearts we will
demonstrate to ourselves and to God that we are the people He wants us to be. Only then will Jesus be
glorified and only then will the world see a group of loving and united believers fulfilling their destiny.
Now is the time of harvest. Don’t be discouraged. Don’t be frightened. Be encouraged!! It’s promotion
time!! But we must enter in like never before. We must be servants towards each other.

Here are our marching orders. Here is the blueprint to live a life worthy of our calling. Here is the way to
walk by faith and not by sight:

Philippians 2 says,

"Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship
together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and sympathetic? Then make me truly happy by agreeing
wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one heart and purpose.
Don't be selfish; don't live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better
than yourself. Don't think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and what they are
doing. Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had."

5 Life Transitions
Everyone Goes
Through
Here are five life transitions that we can all identify with and expect to
come in time.

Shutterstock.com
5 Life Transitions Everyone Goes Through
Change is inevitable. Just when you think you’re getting comfortable transition occurs.
Life is a rollercoaster of ups and downs, a ride of love, laughter and tears. Whether
you’re preparing for a new baby, about to make a career leap, taking care of your
parents, or emerging from the ashes of depression, life is always prodding and pulling
on us to grow. There’s something about life where it refuses to keep you in a stagnant
place. Either you will get complacent or life will force you to make a directional change.
There’s a learning curve to preparing for the sometimes sudden transitions in life, but
expecting change will come is half of the battle. The worst thing we can do is get
complacent and comfortable, because that usually means life is coming to shake things
up. Here are five life transitions that we can all identify with and expect to come in time.

"Leaving the nest."

Every baby eagle comes into this world surrounded by the comfort and protection of a
nurturing nest. The baby eaglets' parents provide for them, bring food, and keep
predators away. But then something awful happens. The parents begin to turn that once
cozy, spacious nest into a prickly, tight space that forces them to leap out and spread
their wings. Everyone goes through this same transition of letting go and venturing into
the unknown. The process of soaring only happens when we take a leap a faith and
jump out of the familiar.

"Self Discovery."
Finding out who you are is an important life-changing step. Every person has to be
introduced to their true selves. It’s the heart of your deepest desires, the divine patterns
in your life, and relationships that help show us who we are. This life transition thrusts
us into a new reality of who we are and causes the trajectory of that person to emerge.
The discovery of who you are is a revelation we each must find for ourselves.

"Marriage and Family."

To marry or not to marry, that is the question. Every person makes the decision to either
start a family or live in singleness. Marriage and family is a life transition that we all face
and have to decide what that means for us. Will our faith dictate our answer? Will we
carve out our own path or go against the grain? Deciding to join your life to someone
else’s and bring new lives into the world is a major life transition.

"Finding purpose and your life work."

What on earth am I here for? We all go through a phase in life where we desire to
answer this question. Giving life a sense of purpose, guidance, and direction brings
about greater meaning to our individual lives. Healthy, holistic living involves walking
purposefully in your unique divine calling.

“The comfort zone challenge.”

All good comfort zones must come to an end. Life will never let you get too comfortable
and just when you think you have everything all figured out, you will be confronted with
something that challenges your coveted, familiar comforts. Don’t fight back, but instead
give in. Learn to channel the anxiety of change into productive energy that propels you
into the next level.

5 Types of Transition
Posted: November 28, 2011 in Relationships, Spiritual Growth
Tags: circumstances, discernment, life change, Transition

1
Ever feel like you are in between? Like you are not where you were, but not where you want to be? Haven’t we all? It

seems like most of our lives our spent in transition. Transition can be simply defined as the process of moving from one

point to another. In a sense we are always in transition, but there are concentrated times of specific types of transition

that can be especially hard to discern or endure. Moving from one place to another in your house or on your block is quite

different than moving from one place to another across the country or the world. So I’m taking about the more major

transitions that can cause us to ask serious questions. Identifying the primary purpose of the transition that you are facing

can cause you to face it with confidence and gain the most from your transition. So here are some categories of transition

that may help you understand what you are going through.

1. Personal Growth Transition: primary focus of this transition is learning and developing your gifts and overcoming

weakness. Examples of personal growth transition: a student who enters college to prepare for the work world or a

worker who is being trained and prepared for leadership within the company or beyond. Sometimes we know that we are

being trained, but we don’t know why. That is okay. During a growth transition it is especially important to focus on

trying new things, learning from experiences, and finding out who you are. These times can be enjoyable, but they can

also be frustrating because we have not yet arrived at our destination. We all grow all the time, but in special seasons of

concentrated personal growth, it helps to know that this too will pass and you will soon be on to things that really make

you come alive.

2. Positioning Transition: primary focus of this season is on relocation, either physically or positionally in term of spheres

of influence or favor. There can be lots of frustration leading up to the acceptance of a positioning transition because the

feelings you have for the relationships that are changing can be difficult to navigate. It may be hard to accept that you no

longer have influence where you did formerly. But hope lies in the fact that you are called to a particular place to influence

particular people for a particular time. This is the time to be thankful for the past and fully embrace the future. You have

to believe that better things are ahead.

3. Philosophical Transition: you read a book, have a discussion with a friend, or listen to a sermon and your mind is

suddenly exposed to new ideas. Faced with this new information, you are forced to accept or reject the new paradigms

and either incorporate the new philosophy in to your life, or remain with previously held philosophies. This happens all

the time, but I believe that there are special seasons in which we are supposed to get down and dirty and really wrestle

with ideas that have consequences. That we need to get off the fence and put our money where our mouth is.

Philosophical transitions, though they begin internally, can lead to all sorts of other transitions. They can pull you toward

the people with whom you live and work or they can pull you away. There are times when these transitions happen so

subtly that you wake up one day and realize that you no longer see eye to eye with your longtime partner or collaborator.

Sometimes one party is right and the other is wrong, but other times both parties can be right, just different. Ideas are

powerful and they affect or lives in profound ways, so choose your ideas wisely!

4. Relational Transition: a shift in your relationships, developing favor with new people, losing influence with old friends.

As I mentioned before, a philosophical transition can cause this shift as well as many other factors. Some relationships are

meant to come and go for specific purposes in our lives. Other relationships are more long term. Relationships that last

will inevitably change. Some relationships have more responsibility attached to them than others. For example, in a

marriage, relational transition should not be taken lightly. All relationships are eternal, meaning that although someone

may come and go in your life, your impact on one another will remain. Do the best you can with the relationships that are

available to you. Use wisdom to know when to be intentional and pursue relationship and when to let go and move on.

5. Circumstantial Transition: family needs, crises, unavoidable and unplanned things happen. We must be realistic in

understanding that life is altered for a time, or even for the rest of your lifetime. The sooner we can come to grips with the

reality of our circumstances, the better we can seek wisdom in the pursuit of our dreams. A circumstantial transition can
even cause undiscovered treasures within you to rise to the surface. It can cause new desires and passions to spring up.

Your circumstantial transitions are not accidental. It is imperative to trust in One who has knowledge to see beyond what

is happening to you right now.

We must take care in interpreting our current transition so that we can avoid getting bogged down in worry, fear,

stubbornness, broken relationships, or unnecessary distress. For example, if you are in a personal growth transition and

you don’t realize it, you may give up to early, concluding that it is a relational transition away from the person from whom

you need to learn. We cannot allow our comfort level to determine the transition, rather we must learn to judge them

objectively. Let’s be people who understand the times and know what to do about them.

What, if any, transition(s) are you facing right now?

Spiritual Seasons and Their

Meanings
Four Seasons
God is so orderly that He divided the year into four quarters and we know those times as seasons: Winter,
Spring, Summer and Autumn (Fall). Only here in America, do we call it Fall. Everyone else calls it
Autumn.
God promised us seasons to indicate the order of nature. But did you know that every person goes through
four seasons as well? Did you know that every church goes through four seasons? Did you know that
your marriage goes through seasons? Seasons affect all of us and everything we do.

We fail when we look for snow in the summer and flowers in the winter. We must be realistic and look

forward to the right things during the right seasons.

What Seasons Tell Us

Seasons dictate to us how we dress. As hot as it has been this summer, how many times did you wear
your fur coat or gloves or earmuff.

Seasons dictate to us what activities we engage in. During the summer I suppose you went to the beach, to
the park or to other outdoor events.
Seasons dictate to us what we eat. Oh, how we love those watermelons in the summer and hot dogs and
hamburgers on the grill at cook-outs.

Seasons have a lot to do with our moods and our attitude. If you usually in a better mood when you are in
a season that you really like.

"To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven." (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

Seasons Affect Every Aspect Of Our Lives

The seasons are not the same all over the world. The seasons occur depending on where you live
geographically. The seasons change in our lives depends greatly on where we are spiritually. There is a
way to chart the seasons in nature, and there is a way to chart our own spiritual seasons.

There is a natural cycle of the calendar year. However, you will be disappointed if you try to parallel your
spiritual life with natural seasons of winter, spring, summer or fall.

Natural Seasons
A natural season is one of the four major divisions of the calendar year resulting from the yearly
revolution of the earth around the SUN. Spiritual seasons depend on our personal relationship and how
our lives revolve around the SON.

The seasons are so harmonized so that while each season has its own characteristics, one season could not
operate on its own without the aid of the other three seasons. The rainy season is meant to bring forth rain,
and the season of harvest is meant to bring forth abundant crops.

This winter scene is beautiful, but nobody wants to have winter all year long.

Winter
WINTER is the season with the shortest days and the lowest average temperatures. It has the coldest
weather with snow and ice. Winter is a time or inclement weather when people regard themselves as
vulnerable. (Matthew 24:20; Mark 13:18; Acts 27:12; 2 Timothy 4:21; Titus 3:12) Winter is the season
we associate with short days and limited sunlight. Winter is a time when you might feel cold and
uncomfortable. Any farmer will tell you, winter is not a time to plant but to beginning planning what to
plant during the next season.

SPIRITUAL WINTER
Our spiritual winter is a time of darkness. The trees are barren and the flowers have withered and died.
Spiritual winter is the most uncomfortable time for many Christians, We might feel that God has deserted
us during our Spiritual Winter, but this is the time to curl up in God's lap for warmth and intimacy. There
He will give you directions for planting new crops in spring;
the next season. It is also the time to exist on what has been stored from previous harvests.

Winter is the time for evaluation, planning and preparation. It is the time to shovel snow and ice from the
driveway of your mind. It is the time to learn to navigate the icy roads as you go about your
business. It is the time when praise should be an automatic habit for it will keep your heart warm before a
holy God.

Spiritual winter is like the Sabbath. During spiritual winter, it is normal to feel like God is not hearing our
prayers or speaking to us. We may feel like we are having a "wilderness" experience. Our inclination is to
pray harder or more or anything but to remain; but must remain in the season of rest. We may feel like our
ministry is unfruitful and assume it is dying. But during winter, there is no fruit bearing and it is a time or
spiritual rest. In winter, reflect on God and God's faithfulness to you and maintain an attitude of reverence
before God.
Winter is the time to PLAN for the upcoming seasons.

Oh, the beautiful of spring flowers that are plentiful only in the spring.

Spring
SPRING Spring marks the transition from winter into summer. According to the Bible, spring is the time
when kings go off to war. (2 Samuel 11:1; 1 Chronicles 20:1) Spring is the time for romance with avid
descriptions of buds and blossoms. (Song 2:11-14; 7:11-13) Spring brings new leaves and blossoms on
the trees.

SPIRITUAL SPRING
Spring is the time to plant and carry out the instructions gleaned from your winter experience. From
having spent time with God, you will have the spiritual and physical energy to break up your fallow
ground.

Spring is the time to come out of the darkness of winter. You will see the first signs of vigor and life
returning to the earth. Solomon said, “Lo, the winter is over; the rains are over and gone.” (Song of Songs
2:11)

Flowers will push through the damp soil; frogs will croak in the barely thawed ponds; and you will enjoy
the feel of the first warm breeze upon you face.

Spring reminds us of the eternal cycle of death and rebirth and renewed life. Spring is the re-emergence of
life. It indicated a balance of growth and decay; youth and maturity, innocence and experience.

During springtime, look for the leading of God in new activities and ventures into new opportunities. On
the personal level, these can be activities like new ways of doing your daily devotions or new
relationships with encouraging saints. Regarding ministry, springtime can bring new ministry, more
attendees or new ways of serving God. Be careful not to invest too much of yourself in all these new
things because, just like a fruit tree, not every blossom will lead to fruit. These temporary blossoms serve
to pollinate other blossoms. They are also signs to show us that it is springtime.

Summertime is such a wonderful time of the year, but there are three other seasons to enjoy.
Summer
Summer marks the warmest time of year with the longest days. Summer is usually hot and dry. (Psalm
32:4) People shed their heavy coats and stay outside longer than usual. They enjoy the sun on the beach
and the shade in the park. They go on vacation to get away to experience new places and new people in a
new environment.

Summer is a time of spiritual development and fruit bearing. Applied to your personal spiritual
development, you might find yourself learning to study scripture better, having deeply significant
devotions where you feel God's presence more regularly. Applied to your ministry, you might find God
giving you strategic insights, you seem to be more effective in your ministry or you have a new sense of
anointing. On the other hand, Satan will attempt to divert you; to cause you to put your energies into non-
fruit bearing activities. Some of these activities could be attempts to maintain some of the temporary
blossoms that were never intended to bear fruit.

SPIRITUAL SUMMER
Summer is the time to water what has been planted during the spring. It is also time to weed out what
shouldn't be there. Summer is the most dangerous season because of the heat (natural and spiritual). Be
extra careful during this season.

Summer is a time of both growth and of stillness; of hard work in the fields and of relaxing in the cool of
the day. Summer is a time for both work and play.

Everything seems to come to life after a long winter and spring. We find ourselves in a world filled with
creatures and plants and shimmers of heat as we work in the sun or have backyard cookouts. It is time to
enjoy the sounds of children playing in the yard as well as the sound of the ice cream truck in the
neighborhood.

Summer is the time to pause and reflect. It is the time to play, relax and enjoy some leisure time after you
have planted your seeds. It is a time to plow up and cultivate the soil.

In summer the flowers are in full bloom. The fruit is ripe and ready to be picked. It is during this spiritual
season, that we develop the fruit of the Spirit. We read in Galatians 5:22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self–control.”
Are these qualities exhibited in your life?

Enjoy and embrace the season you are in because it will change. Be ready to accept the season
that you are about to enter.

Autumn, or Fall, has leaves in beautiful colors.

Autumn
Autumn or Fall marks the transition from summer into winter when the arrival of night becomes
noticeably earlier. If what has been done properly in the previous seasons, then autumn is a time of
harvest for crops.

Fall is a time of maturity. The leaves are turning colors of gold, red and orange in preparation for the
winter. This is the time of harvest. As we grow in our Christian walk, we enter the fall of our spiritual life.
Our walk with the Lord should be closer during this season.

SPIRITUAL AUTUMN OR FALL

Provided you have been diligent during the previous seasons, autumn is the time of harvest. Autumn is
the time when you will see evidence of your hard work. It is a time of harvesting and storing up for the
winter.
Without the ability to accurately discern the season you are in, you will miss many opportunities. If you
miss one season, you will have to wait until the cycle comes around again unless God reorders your
seasons. With an awareness of the season you are in, you will be able to step into new spiritual truths and
a greater ability to flow in the power of God.

Autumn, with its colorful trees is the transitional season having both the abundance and the limitation of
our everyday lives.

Autumn helps us see the passage of time; that is, where we have come from and where we need to go.
This is the season filled with anticipation. And if we have been obedient in the other seasons, we will reap
a harvest in due season. (Galatians 6:9)

Autumn is a season of fruition and reaping. It is a season of thanksgiving and celebration of abundance
and goodness of the earth. It is a season of encouragement as we witness the changes in God’s earth.

Autumn is the time to resume old routines. Autumn brings the last of the warmthand comfort before the
cold of winter,. It is a time of both beginnings and endings. Children go back to school, and for some it is
their first day in elementary school, high school or college. Vacation time is over for most people who
work.