For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV
I live in Minnesota, usually thought of and referred to as a frozen tundra. Which is entirely accurate for about half the year. But truly, this is the land of four distinct seasons. Our summer, autumn, winter, and spring seasons are each beautiful in their own unique ways, and living here for them all helps me see the Lord.
Summer here is hot. Humid. The bugs come out (especially the dang mosquitos) but so do the birds. Loons can be heard calling sweet and strong across our many enormous lakes. In the summer people flock “up north” to cabin country, gather in backyards for cookouts and bonfires, and meet up in neighborhood parks and pools. The sun sets glorious, the sun rises early, and the days between are sticky with heat and melted popsicles.
Autumn blazes a trail of glory in the now red and orange forests of maple, birch, oak, and elm. The early morning sparkling drops of dew return to still-green blades of grass when the air turns chilly again. Sweaters make their return, pumpkins sit on porches, and orchards open for apple picking. We pray for the harvest and the farmers, rake leaves off lawns, and relish in the return to school and routine. Some of us also rejoice at the return of pumpkin spice everything. 😉
Winter here can be harsh, but it can also be beautiful. I, for one, love it. The bite of the wind, faced while wearing a parka, boots, mittens, and a knit hat. The crunch and glitter of freshly fallen snow. Hot cocoa and lit fireplaces, shoveling each others’ driveways, and kids building snowmen and sledding the day away.
Spring is a welcome respite from the bitter winter, with warmth returning to the undercurrents of the breeze. Annuals and planted bulbs burst through dull earth, and everything seems to sigh as it thaws. Blossoms open slowly on flowering trees, rain washes away the dust and refreshes the gardens, and we pull on galoshes and raincoats to stay dry. The sun seems to shine a little brighter, warming front porches and our hearts.
His glory is on display in each and every season — if we just remember to look for it. And when we look, when our eyes stay open to seeking His glory, we remember that Jesus came for us all — all the time. In the grey days of November. In the summer heat of August. In the slushiness of March and the blossoms of May. When we’re looking for Him and when we’re running from Him. When our hearts are soft and open, and when they’re hard and closed.
In all seasons of the year and of our lives, Jesus comes for us. He welcomes us wholly at any time, in any space, in all of our seasons.
Be reminded that you can see the Lord in all seasons with our brand new(in)courage Seeing God in Every Season 18-Month Agenda Planner!This planner provides the classic DaySpring planner features, including a durable laminated cover and tabs, a lay-flat design with continuous spiral, an interior pocket page, and generous space for noting your plans. Ooh, and we LOVE the checkboxes on the weekly lined pages!
The notes section will help you write down quick thoughts to come back to, the fresh and beautifully designed tear-out prayer cards will encourage your heart (or the heart of a friend!), and three pages of adorable stickers you can write on to help personalize your planner with extra color and joy!
In addition to those fantastic features, each month of our planner also includes a story from (in)courage! Yep, each week has a Scripture to focus on, and every month includes a selection from a story by an (in)courage writer, sharing what God was up to in her life and heart during that particular season.
You can scan the QR code beside each excerpt or visit incourage.me/everyseasonto read the full devotions! But here, we’ll give you a sneak peek:
JULY : If God cares so wonderfully for flowers… He will certainly care for you. Luke 12:28 NLT
That day, a bouquet of July ditch flowers was my teacher. I needed to re-learn something I had re-forgotten: God uses ordinary things to show us His extraordinary kindness. – Jennifer Dukes Lee
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SEPTEMBER: I thank my God every time I remember you. Philippians 1:3 NIV
Teachers are amazing, imperfect, profoundly important people — who need our prayers. “Bless this school year and bless each person who wears the beautiful and noble badge of Teacher. Amen.” – Becky Keife
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NOVEMBER: I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. Psalm 9:1 NIV
November is the perfect in-between month. A time to prepare and putter in the kitchen. A time to gather in and come together. A time of expectation of what’s yet to come and thankfulness for what has been. – Anna E. Rendell
This new 18-Month Agenda Planner will truly help you embrace each season. The pages will meet you right in the middle of your busy schedule with encouragement, truth from God’s Word, and space to keep you organized.
AND for a limited time (just two more days), buy the planner and receive a Gold Prayer Board Snap-In Planner Accessory for FREE! The perfect combination for staying organized and inspired this year!
The (in)courage 2024-25 Planner Features:
- Spiral bound, lay-flat design, laminated cover
- 3 pages of super-cute stickers
- 6 perforated tear-out notes to share hope
- Weekly Scripture to focus on during your quiet time
- Monthly devotion by an (in)courage writer
- 18-month planner (July 2024 – December 2025), 248 pages
Get your new planner + FREE prayer board today!
I was so happy with last year’s planner I already ordered and received this one. In those weeks where there is almost too much to do, I just need to look at the top of the page and read the printed verse. It helps put things in perspective. It also is a reminder of how I am connected to all of you and what this site means to me. Thank you everyone.
Had a REALLY hard/bad day yesterday and could use some prayers!
Dear Anna…I enjoyed reading your story today as I live on the East Coast and always wondered what it was like out where you are. It sounds lovely and I do remember to look out my window when I get up to see what wonders God has left me today. I always praise him for many things. Took me awhile to do this as I am in a very complicated situation for over a year now and sometimes that just stays in my mind, but the more I read your stories and use my (in)courage books and journals, the better I feel and just know I need to be patient and things will come to a conclusion when God is ready. I have learned a couple of positive things from Him and my Holy Spirit and of course, I try to follow Jesus’s path, but as human beings, we sometimes make mistakes and I do if I knew it was a mistake, I pray for forgiveness. Thank you again for your story. Have a great day. Here in the East we struggle this year with one day it is 50 and the next day it is 80. We are all over 75 years old and our bodies have difficulty adjusting to this and we never know what to wear so right now we still can’t put our winter clothes away until the weather stabilizes. Your friend………………………………Betsy Basile
Anna,
Planers are great help to busy people. Bible verses also aid & remind us to keep our focus on God in busy seasons. Right now it is rainy outside. But some days it can be cool & colorful on the Smokey Mountains.
Blessings 🙂