Read the winners of our March Writing Challenge

Devotionals on Changing Seasons

We challenged members of the Southern Christian Writers Conference to write a devotional based on the the theme of "changing seasons." We loved all the interpretations of the theme we received, and are pleased to recognize these winning writers:

1st place: Terri Jones

2nd place: Darcy Hicks

3rd place: Cindy Egger

Honorable mention: Ellen Kolman 

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Here are the winning devotionals.

Happy reading!

"Ordinary Days Become Ordained Days"

by Terri Jones

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-2

February 2008. I pulled up to my dad’s house. Turned off the car and sat there thinking about what I wanted to say to my dad and how I wanted to say it. “Lord, I know my dad need to know you personally. Please open a door for me to share You with him,” I prayed. I slowly open the car door, put on my sweater and grabbed my Bible from the front seat. I sat in his dimly lit living room across from him. The oxygen tank had a distracting hum as we visited. After about an hour of catching up I said good-night and left. As I am driving away, I felt the tug of the Lord, go back and share with him. To my own deep regret, I did not go back.

Several hours later sitting at my desk. The busy work day ahead of me as I am looking over my calendar for the day. My cell phone rings. It’s my brother. “Hey Steve,” I answered. The brief silence brings a sense of worry to my heart. When his voice began to shake as he spoke my worry became a reality. “Hey, listen, I got a call this morning. Dad’s neighbor found him unresponsive. He is being transported to the hospital by ambulance.” All I could say is, “okay, I am on my way. Where am I going?” It didn’t take me long to get three miles down the road to the hospital where I paced the floor waiting for the ambulance to drive the 11 miles from dad’s house.

I will never forget my first look at him. The doctor matter-of-factly gave us the news. “He’s probably not going to survive this. We would like to put him on a vent and let the machine breathe for him. Please understand he may not be able to come off. It would be wise if you began to make arrangements.”

I stepped outside, knelt down and sobbed. “Why didn’t I go back to talk to him last night? Why?” What if he does die? I failed him. Oh God, please don’t let him die.”

For the next week, we sat in his room in ICU watching him lay there, wondering what was going to happen to him. The days rolled into each other – the sun coming up and going down. Losing all track of time. My mind consumed with questions. Feelings of helplessness and sometimes hopelessness. We would try to talk about arrangements, but we just couldn’t. There was something inside both my brother and I that would not let us go there. In looking back, I believe the Lord was giving us hope and strength we didn’t recognize at the time through the prayers of our Church family.

The doctor came in on Friday morning with the news they were going to try to wean dad off the vent, but he was not very hopeful. “Please prepare yourselves,” he said as gentle as he could. We watched his body so closely as they turned off the vent and made some adjustments with the tubes. Steve and I on opposite sides of the bed holding his hands. He had movements in his throat as if the tube was choking him. The nurse slowly and carefully removed the tube. Slowly his eyes began to open. His eyes were widening and he was looking around. He slowly began to speak. He surprised everyone that day.

I quietly stepped out of the room, walked outside and knelt again and sobbed. This time thanking and praising God that my dad had time, but who knew how much time.

The next day dad was moved to a regular room. We were grateful and praising God. Before dad would be transferred to a progressive care facility, he would place in faith in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. Dad lived another year before God would call him home.

I’m often reminded that God’s redemptive love goes deep. What had the potential to be hopeless forever, God used to give my dad time. That’s how much God loved my dad. And that’s how much he loves you and I. What great grace and mercy!

Father in heaven, your grace and mercy are without measure. Your redemptive love is free for all who will put their faith in you. Help us Lord to share you with boldness. We know not the time or season you have determined. You have ordained our days and you know the number.

"Seasons Change but Jesus Never Does"

by Darcy Hicks

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 (CSB)

My husband and I recently traveled with our son to the Tennessee mountains for spring break. With our youngest son in high school and our three older kids living their own lives, vacation looks very different than when we had four young kids clamoring for their favorite seats in the minivan. I couldn’t help but think how much easier things were traveling with one “almost adult” child. There were no fights about seating arrangements or what activities to do or where everyone was going to sleep. And while it sure makes travelling less stressful, it made me realize how quickly things change.

Our kids are roughly 12 years apart from our youngest to oldest and each one is currently in a different season of life. This means my husband and I are also in a new season of life as we learn how to navigate relationships with our young adult children and also start planning for retirement.

If I am honest, it can be a bit overwhelming at times. Just when I think I have hit my groove in a certain season, a new one comes around the corner. When that happens, I feel like a newbie all over again. It causes some increased anxiety as I recognize I don’t have any idea what I am doing or how to handle this new phase or issue of life that I am facing.

But what God is teaching me through this is that while change is always constant in our lives, He is not. Hebrews tells us that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (13:8, CSB). Regardless of our circumstances or what season we find ourselves in, His character never changes.

I can rely on God’s character of goodness, mercy, love, and kindness towards me. Scripture is full of stories of God’s faithfulness towards His people. Starting in Genesis where He shares His plan to redeem us through Jesus (Genesis 3:15) and ending in Revelation where He promises to wipe away every tear and death will be no more (Revelation 21:4).

Nehemiah describes God as forgiving, gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in faithful love and never abandoning His people (9:17). James describes God as the “Father of lights who does not change like shifting shadows (1:17, CSB, italics mine).

So even when it feels like life is going awry and we don’t know how to handle a new season of parenting, our career, or our relationships, we can lean into Jesus because He never changes.

Father, thank you for all the seasons of life you give us. Each new development or season serves a purpose and is meant to draw us to you. You are faithful, true, holy, and loving. Help us to turn to you in every season, whether it be in joy or tears, knowing you will sustain us because you never change. Amen.

"Changing Seasons"

by Cindy Egger 

How amazing it is to live in the south and experience one of the magnificent wonders of the Lord, the changing of the seasons. Each of our seasons presents itself in it's own unique way revealing the beauty of God's creation. We have the reminder of the Glory of God in our beautiful and fragrant Spring flowers. He is revealed to us in the Summer as the warmth of the sun's rays warm our skin. In the Fall we anxiously await the changing colors of the tree's leaves as their beauty is displayed across the mountains and hillsides. Winter reminds us of our time of waiting and restoration as the cycle of life prepares to repeat itself. The tree branches are bare as they drop their beautiful foliage. The flower's seeds and bulbs are tucked underneath the soil, dormant until their time of beauty is revealed again in the Lord's perfect timing. The Sun's warmth is diminished by the dropping temperature and the onslaught of the northern wind.

These seasons on full display for us to experience are similar to the emotional seasons we experience. The beauty and comfort of Spring, Summer and Fall remind us of the peaks and joys of life. The harsh conditions and difficult circumstances of Winter are reminders of our valleys and trials.

All four seasons can be unpredictable at times, our emotional seasons are as well. We have all experienced the sudden shift of a life's circumstances. It was the beginning of a season of happiness, a time of laughter, a time when our hearts danced in celebration. What joy we experienced as we anticipated our growing family. I remember the moment the unexpected news came. A phone call, like many have experienced, with news that shattered our world. The unexpected season of great weeping and mourning pierced our lives. In my pain and despair I cried out to the Lord with my desperate prayer. He gave me the comfort and peace that only He can give in my season of brokenness.

My prayer of Restoration:

Dear Lord I come before you now, I need your comfort and your grace,
I need to feel your loving touch as it falls upon my face.
I need to crawl upon your lap and feel your healing hand,
I am so sad and hurt Lord, I need your strength to help me stand.
My heart is torn and broken it is tender to the touch,
I know you are beside me Lord, you've promised me that much.
Please give me strength and courage when things do not go as planned, 

remind me there are many things I will never understand.
Remind me you are here with me, you see my pain and my tears,
you hold me in your arms, comfort me, and calm my fears.
Please give me godly wisdom, to completely trust in you,
because of your great love for me, I know you'll see me through.
I thank you now for loving me, I've felt your warm embrace,
being in my Father's arms, there is no better place.
It's time to climb down from your heavenly lap, and go about my day,
thank you for reminding me you are the only way.
I thank you for the peace that only you can give Lord,
Thank you for filling me with your spirit, I know I will be restored.
Amen

Ecclesiastes 3:1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens......

Ecclesiastes 3:4 …. a time to weep, a time to laugh, a time to mourn, and a time to dance....

"Through Every Season: God Loves Me"

by Ellen Kolman

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 (NKJV)

As a young mother I struggled with many issues stemming from my dysfunctional childhood. This led to many insecurities about my ability to rear emotionally healthy, confident children. I began to pray about being a Godly parent. I asked God to help me love my children the way He loves us. Every day I continued to struggle with my issues, but God was faithful. Through His Word, prayer, and Godly older women He put in my life, God helped me in wonderful ways.

One early spring, I was thinking about the life of a daffodil. It begins in the dark covered in dirt, then the warmth of the sun lures its fresh green leaves out of the dirt as it reaches for the light. After more sunlight and rain, the daffodil is in full bloom and dances in the wind, but eventually it curls up brown and dry, returning to the earth again.

I thought, God loves the daffodil when it is covered in dirt, when it is in full bloom dancing in the wind, and even when it is curled up brown and dry. If God loves the daffodil the same throughout every phase and season of its life, how much more does He love me in my phases and seasons?

This was a life changing realization. Seasons change, children grow up, mothers mature, but God never changes. He is always here and always faithful.

“God is faithful, by whom you were called into fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our
Lord.” I Corinthians 1:9 (NKJV).

Thank you, Lord, for your steadfast love and care for me and my family through every trial and victory. Thank you for your faithfulness through every season of life. Amen.

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We love celebrating the wonderful works of our authors. Congratulations to everyone who submitted to March's challenge (ALL of the devotionals were excellent!), and we can't wait to read what you create for us next month. Stay tuned soon for the announcement of the April writing challenge.