A change of seasons brings cleansing to the soul.
Witnessing fall in Wisconsin on our farm has always been a taste of heaven on earth. A true gift from God. Witnessing His masterpiece being painted before our very own eyes, ever changing, shaping molding, so much of what He does to each of us. But the inevitable always seems to happen, despite my prayers to God on extending the beauty of autumn to last longer than any of the seasons. I struggle seeing the emptiness in the woods such a lonely sight. The leaves have let go and fallen to the ground- all hope gone or so it seems. Most years I skip past this season of nothingness in hopes of soon getting to see the snow fall and to fully enjoy the beauty and fun the winter snow brings, but this year something is so very different in my heart, a stirring I have felt Him working inside of my self-seeking nature. There is a overwhelming sense of clarity fills my soul and mind this fall that I haven't been able to process till this year, a breaking down perhaps some of my self pleasing sinful nature. Simplistic and beautiful even in the death of a maple leaf. Watching the once vibrant succulent green leaf bleed out,
would once make my heart dispair, this year it does not. There it falls to a death of a brown lifeless, and what seems to be useless ground clutter or so I once thought. But there is so much purpose even for the leaf on a tree in God plan. Leaves form a natural mulch that helps suppress weeds and fertilizes the soil as it breaks down. A beautiful purpose God created for a maple leaf. 
If He has plans for a maple leaf can you imagine His plan for us? In Genesis 1:27 we read, So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. We are created for a purpose, each of us He has a plan for. We are called to something so much bigger than ourselves and our earth pursuits of greatness. This season of being still for me is far from easy. I thank God He has never stopped chasing me, no matter how self seeking I become. Jeremiah 29:11 we read For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. I have been resting in Him, reading His word more than ever, praying for many others that are hurting in this season of life. I have also been praying for my eyes to be open to see His plan for me, to have a heart that seeks to serve Him and others in this world in so many beautiful ways, what once felt like a to do list is now coming from Him as a opportunity list. How beautiful is His never ending pursuit for us, not by anything we have done to deserve it, but just pure grace.While entering into to this season of Thanksgiving I am ever so thankful to have a Savior who leaves the 99 to pursue me, who pursues each and every one of us. Take moment if you can and rest in that love and find joy even in a tough season of life that you are never too far gone for His grace.
