Seasons for Your Soul

Forward A journey through the seasons of emotions takes courage. By simply looking into this book you have shown yourself to be brave enough to access the dimensions of life’s highs and lows. Life has its seasons, yet in the end, is it not a daily journey? How do we make sense of it all? In trying to find understanding I myself turn again and again to verse: finding a pattern, exploring feelings in an attempt to define my inner life in this world as concisely as possible. The Psalmists of the Bible seem to concur – apparently with God’s approval! What a Father is our God who is safe enough to let us cry out, implore and explore who we are! How deserving He is for us to praise Him, for it is in our deepest sighs and greatest highs that we will find Him always to be the Almighty, loving Heavenly Father. I pray you will join me in realizing - we are never alone in our journey. Each day you are encouraged - to feel - to experience God as real - and to journal your own thoughts so they may be revealed Join us in the journey! Psalm 73:23-25 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. Introduction “Seasons for Your Soul” is a 365-day devotional which includes my original poems, Psalms from the NIV Bible and reflective thoughts by Beth Sturges and Dianne Farmer who, as professional counselors, possess intuition for leading people to experience feelings they might not normally be aware of. The daily content has been kept to a minimum so that you are encouraged to read one page each day. The interactive portion is for you to explore your own thoughts. You are encouraged to try your own hand at poetry or just use it as a diary/journal of you own souls expression. In understanding poetry to its fullest, it is suggested that you read each poem more than once. Try reading them out loud: Taste the words. Feel the rhythm of the lines and rhymes. Absorb the concise thoughts and elements that poetry has to offer. The seasons are divided into 91 days each and are arranged beginning with summer and proceeding in order throughout a year. Each of the seasons contains poems, thoughts and scriptures that are reflective of the time. For instance, winter contains poems that delve into our feelings of loss and desire for better times yet to come in our lives much as spring offers a renewal of life spiritually, mentally and emotionally. You may want to start in the season that you are currently experiencing in the calendar year or finding the emotional place that you would like to be. The writers of the Psalms of the Bible also experienced the wide range of emotions within their souls and in creation that surrounded them. You are encouraged to find more spiritual nurturing and God’s truths within the Psalms by reading some or all of the 150 chapters in a Bible on your own. “But words are things, and a small drop of ink, Falling, like dew, upon a thought, produces that which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think.” Lord Byron Day 63 Summer This Place I love the beauty of this place, for it sits with me. It does not allege there is any cost, no notion of time seeming to be lost, just allowed to be, as it’s willing to stay close to me. What utter freedom, what absolute security, love in all its purity as I’m accepted and embraced, receiving the beauty of this place. ~~~~~~~~~ Psalm 143:8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. ______________________________ ______________________________ Day 52 Summer As you are permitted to push ahead, give yourself some permission to fail: not in the light that you’ll give up the fight but in trying, you couldn’t prevail. Such is the way of the heroes that give everything their all; so much is accomplished by way of endeavor that it matters not if they fall. ~~~~~~~~~ How are you thus inspired? ~~~~~~~~~ Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. ____________________________________ __________________________________ Day 38 Winter Out of the silent, compliant snow comes an unexpected, audible wave: A surge of sound that seems to surround, crying out to be saved. No longer content to lie beneath, but springing upward surging out of its sheath; brandishing fire with its flash and flame, knowing this time, truth will not be tamed. ~~~~~~~~~ Is there something under the snow of your life? What does your heart long to say? ~~~~~~~~~ Psalm 27:13 I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. ___________________________ ___________________________ Day 12 Fall Running in circles, bursting at the seams trying to make sense of what it all means. The only option I can’t seem to afford is the one of standing still - I too often push to the point of becoming, somehow, ill. ~~~~~~~~~ Psalm 119:37 Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word. _____________________________________ _____________________________________ Day 44 Spring It’s Gods very nature to love us and yet He finds us in every state, all the way from returning that love to one of intentional hate; so how does He deal with that which He chooses not to control? By presenting Himself just as He is and inviting every soul. ~~~~~~~~~ Loves emanates from every part of God. In what ways can you show your devotion to this Love? ~~~~~~~~~ Psalm 86:5 You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you. ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Day 91 Spring Remember the inviting porch and windows golden glow? The entreating, yet elusive house whose warmth you wanted to know? Well, you’ve come home from school, you’ve come home from war there’s someone standing on that porch or waiting in the door it’s someone who’s expecting you who couldn’t love you more – God’s harbor is a warm embrace it’s what you were searching for. ~~~~~~~~~ Psalm 84:3,4 Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself…. Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. About the Author Sheila Gagen is a published poet, songwriter and music educator. Her love of God and His nature inspire her to equate creation as a parallel for people and their inner life. Her poetry has been published in Ideals magazines. Her original songs have been distributed nationally and have been performed by local and international choirs. She makes her home in Indiana with her husband and two adult children. Visit her blog at www.faithfromtheheartpoetry.com for more poems and information including updates on other material she has available. Sheila’s elementary choral music is available from Alliance Publications, Inc. The website for ordering her music is - http://apimusic.org/composersb.cfm?ln=G Photos provided by Sheila Cox Gagen and Sarah Gagen.