{"id":3399,"date":"2017-10-05T21:55:33","date_gmt":"2017-10-05T21:55:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/?p=3399"},"modified":"2017-10-05T21:56:04","modified_gmt":"2017-10-05T21:56:04","slug":"changing-seasons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/2017\/10\/05\/changing-seasons\/","title":{"rendered":"Changing Seasons"},"content":{"rendered":"

Perhaps you have noticed that things all around us are changing. Depending on how long you\u2019ve been alive, I am sure you have taken note of just how much the world in which we live has changed since your childhood. Some things have changed for the better and some things have changed for the worse. Whether it\u2019s the seasons of life, the seasons of leadership, or the seasons of the year, change is an inevitable part of our lives.<\/p>\n

I recently visited my deceased mother\u2019s only living sibling in West Virginia the other day. He is 93 years old and full of stories of the family. Many of them were stark reminders of just how much things have changed. The drive past my grandmother\u2019s house drove the point home even more. The memories that were etched in my mind from 414 Thorn Street in Princeton were a far cry from the house that is now home to a business. One of my great memories is of the old radio encased in a beautiful wooden case that stood five to six feet tall. Outside of the \u201cparty line\u201d phone, that radio was the only connection in that house to the outside world. Today, we have computers, laptops, tablets, cell phones (aka cameras), smart televisions; we have connections around every corner!<\/p>\n

That connectivity can be a powerful thing when I want something delivered to my front door quickly. It can be great when I want a picture of my grandmother\u2019s house as it stands now. But that same technology can be a roadblock to my spiritual growth. It can become detrimental if I allow myself to get caught up in all the traps and apps it has to offer. Our children are especially vulnerable to the dangers of a never-ending connection opportunity. Check out the Social Butterflies pages for some sobering statistics on some of those repercussions of change.<\/p>\n

If we allow ourselves, we can easily get caught up in all the ugliness around us. I am reminded of Daniel when he learned that he and his friends were going to be killed because none of the magicians could tell Nebuchadnezzar what he had dreamed or what it meant. Daniel and his three friends prayed earnestly. In answer to their prayers, God revealed the dream and its interpretation to Daniel. In verses 20-22 of chapter 2, Daniel declares this praise to God: \u201cPraise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. 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, and light dwells with him. I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you; you have made known to us the dream of the king.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wow! Did you catch some of those declarations in light of our current situations? \u201cHe changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others.\u201d He will reveal \u201cdeep and hidden things.\u201d A death sentence moved Daniel to prayer. Prayer moved God to reveal understanding and light. God\u2019s revelation moved a king to see Him as the true God. Prayer is the key<\/b> to overcoming the evils of this world. Prayer is the key for the safety of our children (and grandchildren) in the midst of chaotic connectivity. Speak life to your children through blessings. Create open lines of communication with them.<\/p>\n

Just as the seasons of time change, so do the seasons themselves! Summer is gone and Fall is here. Leaves are beginning to change colors and provide a vivid display of God\u2019s artistry. Eventually, however, even those leaves will begin to fall away and strip the trees to empty branches. When you look at those bare branches, you must remember that they are only bare for a season. They hold the promise of new life. As we journey through these next few months, take the opportunities to give freely and to give thanks for all that He has given to us. Ask God to reveal the mysteries of girls in your church or community who might need a mentor who can help rewrite their stories. In everything you do, declare that it a season of prayer!<\/p>\n

Photo Credit: Laban West<\/p>\n

\"\"Authored by Irvina Parker<\/p>\n

Irvina is serving her fourth term as the director of Girls\u2019 Ministries. She and her husband David reside in Oklahoma City where he serves as president of the IPHC Extension Loan Fund. Irvina has been employed at the GMC since 1974 when she began working part time in Women\u2019s Ministries while attending college. She graduated from Emmanuel College with her Associates Degree and Southern Nazarene University where she received her Bachelor\u2019s Degree in Elementary Education with a concentration in English. Irvina worked in World Missions for about 25 years, some of that part-time while raising their children. During that time, she also served in conference-level leadership of both Women\u2019s and Girls\u2019 Ministries.<\/h5>\n
David and Irvina are active members at River of Life PHC where they have attended for more than 40 years and have served in numerous roles and ministries. Their adult children, Ryan and Jennifer, are both married and have provided them with the thrill of being grandparents. Ryan and his wife, Jessica, are parents to Aubrey and Tristan. Jennifer and her husband Shane are parents to Jasper. Irvina enjoys traveling, photography, scrapbooking, stamping, snow skiing, and spending time with all of her family.<\/h5>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"excerpt","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":3400,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","filesize_raw":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20,27],"tags":[728,729,251],"class_list":{"0":"post-3399","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-childrens-ministries","8":"category-girls-ministries-childrens-ministries","9":"tag-changing-seasons","10":"tag-girl-talk","11":"tag-girls-ministries","12":"entry"},"title_es":"Temporadas cambiantes","content_es":"

Tal vez usted ha notado que las cosas a nuestro alrededor est\u00e1n cambiando. Dependiendo de cu\u00e1nto tiempo has estado vivo, estoy seguro de que has tomado nota de cu\u00e1nto el mundo en el que vivimos ha cambiado desde tu ni\u00f1ez. Algunas cosas han cambiado para mejor y algunas cosas han cambiado para peor. Ya se trate de las estaciones de la vida, las estaciones del liderazgo, o las estaciones del a\u00f1o, el cambio es una parte inevitable de nuestras vidas.<\/p>\r\n

Hace poco visit\u00e9 al hermano vivo de mi difunta madre en Virginia Occidental el otro d\u00eda. Tiene 93 a\u00f1os y est\u00e1 lleno de historias de la familia. Muchos de ellos eran recordatorios de cu\u00e1nto han cambiado las cosas. El paseo por la casa de mi abuela llev\u00f3 el punto de casa a\u00fan m\u00e1s. Los recuerdos que se grabaron en mi mente desde la calle 414 Thorn en Princeton estaban muy lejos de la casa que ahora es el hogar de un negocio. Uno de mis grandes recuerdos es de la vieja radio envuelta en un hermoso estuche de madera de cinco a seis pies de alto. Fuera del tel\u00e9fono de la \"l\u00ednea del partido\", esa radio era la \u00fanica conexi\u00f3n en esa casa con el mundo exterior. Hoy en d\u00eda, tenemos computadoras, laptops, tabletas, tel\u00e9fonos celulares (tambi\u00e9n conocidas como c\u00e1maras), televisores inteligentes; tenemos conexiones alrededor de cada esquina!<\/p>\r\n

Que la conectividad puede ser una cosa poderosa cuando quiero algo entregado a mi puerta r\u00e1pidamente. Puede ser genial cuando quiero una foto de la casa de mi abuela tal y como est\u00e1 ahora. Pero esa misma tecnolog\u00eda puede ser un obst\u00e1culo para mi crecimiento espiritual. Puede ser perjudicial si me permito quedar atrapado en todas las trampas y aplicaciones que tiene para ofrecer. Nuestros ni\u00f1os son especialmente vulnerables a los peligros de una oportunidad de conexi\u00f3n interminable. Echa un vistazo a las p\u00e1ginas de Social Butterflies para obtener algunas estad\u00edsticas sobre algunos de esas repercusiones del cambio.<\/p>\r\n

Si nos permitimos, podemos f\u00e1cilmente quedar atrapados en toda la fealdad que nos rodea. Me acuerdo de Daniel cuando \u00e9l supo que \u00e9l y sus amigos iban a ser asesinados porque ninguno de los magos pod\u00eda decirle a Nabucodonosor lo que hab\u00eda so\u00f1ado o lo que significaba. Daniel y sus tres amigos oraron con seriedad. En respuesta a sus oraciones, Dios revel\u00f3 el sue\u00f1o y su interpretaci\u00f3n a Daniel. En los vers\u00edculos 20-22 del cap\u00edtulo 2, Daniel declara esta alabanza a Dios: \"Alabado sea el nombre de Dios por los siglos de los siglos. sabidur\u00eda y poder son suyos. Cambia los tiempos y las estaciones; \u00e9l deposita reyes y levanta otros. \u00c9l da sabidur\u00eda a los sabios y conocimiento a los discernidores. \u00c9l revela cosas profundas y ocultas; \u00e9l sabe lo que est\u00e1 en tinieblas, y la luz mora con \u00e9l. Te doy gracias y te alabo, Dios de mis antepasados: Me diste sabidur\u00eda y poder; me has dado a conocer lo que te pedimos; nos has dado a conocer el sue\u00f1o del rey.<\/p>\r\n

\u00a1Guauu! \u00bfCaptur\u00f3 algunas de esas declaraciones a la luz de nuestra situaci\u00f3n actual? \"\u00c9l cambia los tiempos y las estaciones; \u00e9l deposita a los reyes y levanta a otros \". \u00c9l revelar\u00e1\" cosas profundas y ocultas \". Una sentencia de muerte movi\u00f3 a Daniel a la oraci\u00f3n. La oraci\u00f3n movi\u00f3 a Dios a revelar comprensi\u00f3n y luz. La revelaci\u00f3n de Dios movi\u00f3 a un rey a verlo como el verdadero Dios. La oraci\u00f3n es la clave<\/b> para superar los males de este mundo. La oraci\u00f3n es la clave para la seguridad de nuestros hijos (y nietos) en medio de la conectividad ca\u00f3tica. Di vidas a tus hijos a trav\u00e9s de bendiciones. Crear l\u00edneas abiertas de comunicaci\u00f3n con ellos.<\/p>\r\n

As\u00ed como las estaciones del tiempo cambian, tambi\u00e9n lo hacen las estaciones. El verano se ha ido y el oto\u00f1o est\u00e1 aqu\u00ed. Las hojas est\u00e1n comenzando a cambiar colores y proporcionan una exhibici\u00f3n viva del arte de dios. Eventualmente, sin embargo, incluso esas hojas comenzar\u00e1n a caer lejos y tira de los \u00e1rboles a las ramas vac\u00edas. Cuando miras esas ramas desnudas, debes recordar que solo est\u00e1n desnudas por una temporada. Ellos tienen la promesa de una nueva vida. Mientras viajamos a trav\u00e9s de los pr\u00f3ximos meses, aproveche las oportunidades para dar libremente y dar gracias por todo lo que \u00c9l nos ha dado. P\u00eddale a Dios que revele los misterios de las ni\u00f1as en su iglesia o comunidad que podr\u00edan necesitar un mentor que pueda ayudar a reescribir sus historias. \u00a1En todo lo que hagan, declaren que es una temporada de oraci\u00f3n!<\/p>\r\n\"\" Autor de Irvina Parker\r\n

Irvina est\u00e1 cumpliendo su cuarto mandato como directora de Ministerios de Ni\u00f1as. Ella y su esposo David residen en Oklahoma City, donde se desempe\u00f1a como presidente del Fondo de Pr\u00e9stamos de Extensi\u00f3n de IPHC. Irvina ha estado empleada en el GMC desde 1974 cuando comenz\u00f3 a trabajar a tiempo parcial en Ministerios de la Mujer mientras asist\u00eda a la universidad. Se gradu\u00f3 de Emmanuel College con su grado de Asociados y Southern Nazarene University donde recibi\u00f3 su Licenciatura en Educaci\u00f3n Primaria con una concentraci\u00f3n en Ingl\u00e9s. Irvina trabaj\u00f3 en Misiones Mundiales durante unos 25 a\u00f1os, parte de ese tiempo parcial mientras criaba a sus hijos. Durante ese tiempo, tambi\u00e9n sirvi\u00f3 en el liderazgo a nivel de conferencia de Ministerios de Mujeres y Ni\u00f1as.<\/h5>\r\n
David e Irvina son miembros activos de la PHC River of Life donde han asistido durante m\u00e1s de 40 a\u00f1os y han servido en numerosos papeles y ministerios. Sus hijos adultos, Ryan y Jennifer, est\u00e1n casados \u200b\u200by les han proporcionado la emoci\u00f3n de ser abuelos. Ryan y su esposa, Jessica, son padres de Aubrey y Tristan. Jennifer y su esposo Shane son padres de Jasper. Irvina disfruta de viajes, fotograf\u00eda, scrapbooking, estampado, esqu\u00ed en la nieve, y pasar tiempo con toda su familia.<\/h5>","author_name":"","jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2017\/10\/Changing-Seasons.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4T9u2-SP","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3399","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3399"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3399\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3400"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3399"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3399"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3399"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}