Benefitting from the Seasons of Life

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Ecclesaistes 31-14
Page 465
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4 Facts About the Seasons of Life

• 1. Frequently beyond my control (v.1)
• God controls the times the seasons. He
  makes unmakes kings. Dan.221 (TEV)

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4 Facts About the Seasons of Life

• 1. Frequently beyond my control

• Some changes are elected

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4 Facts About the Seasons of Life

• 1. Frequently beyond my control

• Many transitions are surprises

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4 Facts About the Seasons of Life

• 1. Frequently beyond my control

• Many transitions are surprises
• Non-events the expected didnt happen

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4 Facts About the Seasons of Life

• 1. Frequently beyond my control

• Many transitions are surprises
• Non-events the expected didnt happen
• Sleeper transitions slowly build up

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4 Facts About the Seasons of Life

• 1. Frequently beyond my control

• Many transitions are surprises
• Non-events the expected didnt happen
• Sleeper transitions slowly build up
• Double whammies multiple,
  simultaneous changes

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4 Facts About the Seasons of Life

• 1. Frequently beyond my control
• 2. Include both good bad times (v.2-8)

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4 Facts About the Seasons of Life

• 1. Frequently beyond my control
• 2. Include both good bad times
• 3. Often confusing (v.9-11)

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4 Facts About the Seasons of Life

• 3. Often confusing

• Understanding usually follows experience

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4 Facts About the Seasons of Life

• 3. Often confusing

• Understanding usually follows experience
• To learn to live by faith, not explanations

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4 Facts About the Seasons of Life

• 3. Often confusing

God does everything just right on time, but
people can never completely understand what Hes
doing. v.11 (NCV)
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4 Facts About the Seasons of Life

• 1. Frequently beyond my control
• 2. Include both good bad times
• 3. Often confusing
• 4. God has a good purpose for it (v.11a)

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4 Facts About the Seasons of Life

• 4. God has a good purpose for it

We know that all that happens to us is working
for our good, if we love God are fitting into
His plans. Rom.828
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Seasons of a Marriage (by Norm Wright) Seasons
of Expectations Season of the 20s 30s Season
of Mid-Life Season of Empty Nest Open
Season Season of Role Reversal Lifes Final Season
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Natural Developmental Cycle for Relationships
Stages Mother/Infant
1. Uniting we Bonding
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Natural Developmental Cycle for Relationships
Stages Mother/Infant
1. Uniting we Bonding 2.
Differentiating me or you
Self-awareness
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Natural Developmental Cycle for Relationships
Stages Mother/Infant
1. Uniting we Bonding 2.
Differentiating me or you
Self-awareness 3. Separating me vs.
you Mobility Drive
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Natural Developmental Cycle for Relationships
Stages Mother/Infant
1. Uniting we Bonding 2.
Differentiating me or you
Self-awareness 3. Separating me vs.
you Mobility Drive 4. Accepting
you me Separation Anxiety
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Natural Developmental Cycle for Relationships
Stages Mother/Infant
1. Uniting we Bonding 2.
Differentiating me or you
Self-awareness 3. Separating me vs.
you Mobility Drive 4. Accepting
you me Separation Anxiety 5. Partnering
we (you me) Psychological Birth
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Natural Developmental Cycle for Relationships
Stages Parent/Teen
1. Uniting we
Family Central 2. Differentiating me
or you Questioning 3.
Separating me vs. you
Self-assertion 4. Accepting you me
Reconnecting 5. Partnering we (you
me) New Cooperation
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Natural Developmental Cycle for Relationships
Stages Husband/Wife
1. Uniting we
Honeymoon Period 2. Differentiating me
or you Expressing Differences 3.
Separating me vs. you
External Focus 4. Accepting you me
Renewed Intimacy 5. Partnering
we (you me) Teammates
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Natural Developmental Cycle for Relationships
Stages Member/Leader
1. Uniting we
Unity of Vision 2. Differentiating me
or you Disagreements 3.
Separating me vs. you
Individual Agendas 4. Accepting you
me Servants Heart 5.
Partnering we (you me)
Interdependence
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Philippians 21-5
Page 815
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Natural Developmental Cycle for Relationships
Stages Mind of Christ (v.5)
1. Uniting we
2. Differentiating me or you
3. Separating me vs.
you 4. Accepting you
me 5. Partnering we
(you me)
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Natural Developmental Cycle for Relationships
Stages Mind of Christ
1. Uniting Oneness
we in Christ (v.1) 2.
Differentiating me or you
3. Separating me vs. you
4. Accepting you me
5. Partnering we (you
me)
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Natural Developmental Cycle for Relationships
Stages Mind of Christ
1. Uniting Oneness
we in Christ 2. Differentiating
Avoid Divisive me or you
Thoughts (v.2) 3. Separating
me vs. you 4.
Accepting you me
5. Partnering we (you me)

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Natural Developmental Cycle for Relationships
Stages Mind of Christ
1. Uniting Oneness
we in Christ 2. Differentiating
Avoid Divisive me or you
Thoughts 3. Separating
Avoid Personal me vs. you
Agendas (v.3a) 4. Accepting you me
5. Partnering we (you
me)
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Natural Developmental Cycle for Relationships
Stages Mind of Christ
1. Uniting Oneness
we in Christ 2. Differentiating
Avoid Divisive me or you
Thoughts 3. Separating
Avoid Personal me vs. you
Agendas 4. Accepting Value
Differing you me Perspectives
(v.3b) 5. Partnering we
(you me)
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Natural Developmental Cycle for Relationships
Stages Mind of Christ
1. Uniting Oneness
we in Christ 2. Differentiating
Avoid Divisive me or you
Thoughts 3. Separating
Avoid Personal me vs. you
Agendas 4. Accepting Value
Differing you me Perspectives
5. Partnering
Serve Others we (you me) Needs
(v.4)
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Questions to Make the Most of Each Season

• 1. What can I enjoy in this season of life?
  (v.12a)

However many years a man may live, let him
enjoy them all. Eccl.118
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Questions to Make the Most of Each Season

• 2. How can I help others in this season of life?
  (v.12a)

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Questions to Make the Most of Each Season

• 2. How can I help others in this season of life?
  

• The secret to happiness is service

If your first concern is to look after
yourself, youll never find yourself. Matt.1039
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Questions to Make the Most of Each Season

• 2. How can I help others in this season of life?
  

If you wait for perfect conditions youll never
get anything done. Ecc.114
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Questions to Make the Most of Each Season

• 3. What can I be grateful for in this season of
  life? (v.13)

Give thanks in all circumstances that is Gods
will for you. 1 Thess.518
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Questions to Make the Most of Each Season

• 4. What can I learn in this season of life?
  (v.13)

• Life is a faith test

This happened that we might learn to trust, not
in ourselves, but in God. 2 Cor.19
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Questions to Make the Most of Each Season

• 4. What can I learn in this season of life?
  

• Faith is best learned thru experience

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Questions to Make the Most of Each Season

• 4. What can I learn in this season of life?
  

• Life here is preparation for eternity

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Questions to Make the Most of Each Season

• 4. What can I learn in this season of life?
  

Our ends are joined by a common link With one
we sit with one we think. Success depends on
which we use Heads I win, tails I lose.
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Questions to Make the Most of Each Season

• 1. What can I enjoy in this season of life?
• 2. How can I help others in this season of life?
• 3. What can I be grateful for in this season of
  life?
• 4. What can I learn in this season of life?
  

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