Today is the day we begin to consider our current season. Look at the examples of the women of Bible and their season or seasons. Many of them were in one season in the beginning of their story and ended up in a different season by the end. Take Esther for example, she was in a very challenging winter season, her people were being threatened, the enemy was after her and because of her strong faith and dedication to God, she moved right through them all in her story to an amazing autumn harvest celebration (we still see today in the celebration of Purim) and saving her people, and being queen. There are so many stories with great examples of various seasons. Do any of these seasons feel like a season you might be in today?

Which one of the four key elements for preparing the soil do you think is the hardest and why?

Joy is not a place you arrive at, it is a garden you tend to daily. Preparing for the Seasons - 1. Consult the Guidebook [Bible] Daily 2. Consult, Communicate, and Trust the Master Gardener 3. Don’t listen to the Enemy, Know the Guidebook 4. Have Faith and Trust in the Plan Created for you by the Master Gardener 5. In every season find JOY and Thanksgiving in the ever-growing garden These are backed up by scriptures in today's lesson. I know that we will focus on them all, but which one seems to be one you will begin to really focus on more during the next six weeks?

This is a little longer lesson today (2 pages for the examples) because this is key in every season. The enemy is big into planting weeds in your path and this one needs to be called out and exposed so we can squash that weed. The lie is that small blessings are not really blessings or that we were not worth or faithful enough for big blessing's. Plus, those small blessings should not be celebrated it was just a mistake or a coincidence. Well, our Guidebook shows us that some of the greatest work the Master Gardener does in our lives is in the simple, small blessings He gives us along the way and each one is amazing and warrants rejoicing and celebrating. Our obedience, faith, appreciation and stewardship over the small things leads to bigger things. Some of the most faithful and obedient people in the Guidebook were given tiny things to show that anything the Master Gardener gives us is a blessing and just as important as the big things. A gift is a gift. After you read the examples, can you see that we need to be looking for the small blessings more and more? He has joy for us in the whispers, the tiny clouds, the almond blooms, and the subtle steps leading us to Him and growing us step by tiny step. 🙌🙌🙌

Bless all who participate in this Bible study!