“To everything there is a season.  A time for every purpose under heaven.”  Ecclesiastes 3:1

It was time for a new baby this week.  Titus John Virkler arrived on December 10^th at 12:43 pm.  He’s my newest nephew – my sixth nephew!  And I can’t wait to meet him.

God had great timing on this one.  Some might think it was just coincidence that little Titus was born at the end of 2012.  But I think God had a plan.

At the beginning of 2012, God called my Dad home to be with Him.  And while it’s been a difficult year, we’ve seen God’s grace and felt His comfort.  We’re all trying to imagine what it’s like to be in heaven at Christmastime!  I know there are theologians who might say that one day is no different than another once you get there, that every day is a joyful celebration of the Savior.  I’m sure it is.  But I don’t think God minds if we picture Dad’s first Christmas season in His presence!

So here we are at the end of 2012.  And God has given us a gift with this new baby.  A new member of the family who reminds us that while God in His providence takes away, He also gives.  He has seasons for our lives, times for every purpose under heaven.

This little guy has brought our family joy after a season of sadness.

And at this time of year, what a great reminder this is of another little baby whose birth brought joy not just to His family, but to the world.  A baby named Jesus who ended a season of waiting and darkness and became “God with us”.

To everything there is a season.  A time for every purpose under heaven.

And He changes the times and seasons.  He removes kings and raises up kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.    Daniel 2:21

Nevertheless, He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.   Acts 14:17

So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”  Matthew 1:22-23

Then I will give you rain in its season, the land shall yield its produce and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.  Leviticus 26:4