Appointed Times

This past week was a treasure for our family.

It was a break.  It was time away.  It was togetherness.  It was silliness and laughter and uninterrupted days of nothing but TIME.

I love it that God appoints times of joy.  Pain is unavoidable.  Hardships come and some days we our burdened with heartache.

But God says in Ecclesiastes chapter 3....

For everything there is an appointed time,

and an appropriate time for every activity on earth:

A time to be born, and a time to die;

a time to plant, and a time to uproot what was planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal;

a time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh;

a time to mourn, and a time to dance.

A time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones;

a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to search, and a time to give something up as lost;

a time to keep, and a time to throw away;

A time to rip, and a time to sew;

a time to keep silent, and a time to speak.

A time to love, and a time to hate;

a time for war, and a time for peace.

We will have difficulties and trials.  But why should those times get all of the attention?  They are hard enough to endure.  This passage talks equally of times of joy and gladness!

This past week we checked several off of this list:

We built up.
We healed.
We laughed.
We danced.
We gathered.
We embraced.
We spoke.
We loved.
We enjoyed peace.

Pictures will come in waves over the next few posts.  We were blessed to spend our vacation with 2 other families who we love dearly.

This time was so completely precious to us.  Not one moment was wasted.

Thank You Father for appointed times of fun.  Somehow the enemy likes for us to disconnect You with blessings and laughter and silliness.  It is a lie.  Every good thing comes from You.  Fun was your idea.  I believe You light up to see Your children laugh and play and enjoy leisure.  We thank You for every moment we had together.  Thank You for seeing us there safely.  Thank You for amazing weather.  Thank You for showing Yourself in the stunning creation that surrounded us.  Thank You for memories that will last.  Thank You for love that abounds.  Thank You for friends that are true.  Thank You for all of it.