Something about the cooler temperatures and the changing season just puts many of us in a reflective mood. That makes autumn a perfect time to hear what God’s saying amidst the sound of leaves crunching and the scent of pumpkinflavored coffees. To get you started, here are seven Scriptures that can help you grow deeper in your faith this fall.
“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.” —Psalm 19:1 (KJ2) The sky on a clear fall day can be the most incredible shade of blue— especially against the background of changing leaves. One glance gives us a clue that we’re a part of something bigger than ourselves. Take some time to enjoy the wonder of His work.
“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.” — Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NKJV) Whether it’s leaves changing in your backyard or you changing your clock for Daylight Saving Time, autumn reminds us that nothing stays the same forever. Change is one of the few constants in life, but that’s okay. God has perfect timing, and He has a purpose that stretches into eternity.
“How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you.” — Psalm 31:19 (NIV) God doesn’t just give us a few blessings. He pours out an abundance of good things on our lives. Fall offers the perfect time to reflect on His goodness toward us. His blessings really are new each day (Lamentations 3:22-23).
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” —Galatians 6:9 (NIV) Fall is a season of harvest, so it’s good to remember that we always reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7). Sometimes, we get discouraged and wonder if the seeds we plant will ever sprout. Fall assures us that harvest day is coming, so we have to stick with the work.
“Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.” —James 5:7 (NKJV) Patience may be a virtue, but it’s never easy. This agricultural illustration with a fall flavor reminds us that we have to develop patience. God will work out His plan in His timing. We can trust His work, even when He’s not working on our timetable.
“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” —Isaiah 40:8 (NAS) Dried leaves crunch beneath your feet, and the grass is a sad shade of brown. The air turns crisp—maybe even cold. It’s the annual transition from the life of spring and summer to the hibernation of fall and winter. But while seasons shift, we serve a God who never fails. He stands forever—and new pages on the calendar can’t change that.
“I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.” —Psalm 9:1 (NIV) Article excerpt from www.crosswalk.com
The sanctuary fills with noise as people greet each other and look for their favorite seat. A family who has never visited before enters through the side doors. This family is on a mission to find a church where they feel like they can fit in, worship, and grow spiritually. Doesn’t sound like an unusual problem—does it?
The difference? This family has a child with autism.
Your church can be an environment where children with autism and other disabilities are welcome.
Autism strikes one in eighty-eight children, making it the fastest growing disability in our world today. The statistics make people scratch their heads and debate the cause. But when a child with autism enters your church, it’s not about statistics anymore.
Families with autistic children strive to make minor things work every day and make sacrifices most people are unaware of. Their goal is to build understanding with those who come in contact with their children. Some situations can be adjusted, while others just have to be given up.
One environment where children with autism and other disabilities should always be welcome, though, is church. Here are four ways you can be a blessing to these precious families:
1. GAIN UNDERSTANDING
The key to ministering to this kind of family is to seek to understand what you don’t know. Get to know them and their child personally. Each child will be remarkably different; there’s really no “one-size-fits-all” approach. Learning how the child’s autism affects their daily routine will help you apply that to their needs in the church building.
Are they highly sensitive to bright lights and noise? See if the acoustics or lighting can be turned down.
Does the fabric on your pews bother the child? Offer to add a softer, removable chair cushion in the sanctuary that the child can use each Sunday.
Small things can make a big difference.
2. A SAFE HAVEN
Some autistic children are able to sit through a church service, while others have a harder time making it to the final “amen” without needing to leave. It becomes hard for families to stay in church, and sadly, many give up entirely. A few accommodations could make all the difference.
Create a room in the church the child can be taken. Choose a room of the church that’s:
Far enough from the sanctuary so overlapping noise isn’t a big problem.
Filled with things like CDs, art supplies, musical toys, and books.
Equipped with a soft piece of furniture (a love seat or large chair) to help with sensory issues.
Been checked by the parents for any issues that may aggravate the child’s autism (fluorescent lighting, creaking cabinet doors, etc.).
This room will be an excellent “Plan B” for those times when the worship service isn’t tolerable for the child. If the child ends up using the room very often, though, the parents will get weary. This is where your church’s ministry can go a step further.
3. A TEAM APPROACH
Helping watch the child will be one of the greatest blessings you can give the parents. It gives them a break and allows them to worship as a couple.
Ministry Team: You could create an autism ministry team, complete with a list of adult workers who are trained to watch the child and someone to lead the effort. Training is as simple as gathering information from the parents and working together in pairs, which provides more physical help and confidence. Make sure all the workers know the parents’ cell phone numbers in case the child is overwhelmed and it just won’t work out. Some days are like that.
Buddy System: Some children have a milder case of autism and will fit into children’s programs, but with personal supervision. This is a case where a buddy system with older teens and college students would help. They would take turns staying with the child, going wherever they go. The buddy may even go into the worship service and sit with the child’s family, should they need help at that time.
4. REDUCING PROBLEMS
Sometimes families encounter problems within a church body simply because autism can be misunderstood, causing fear and poor reactions. Ignorance is the root much of the time. This can be prevented by making the church aware of the disability and inviting members to get acquainted with the parents and, at their discretion, their child.
You can do this through an email, letter, or announcement in the weekly bulletin. It might help to include things like:
Autism information
Particular ways autism affects the child, e.g., sensory sensitivities, obsessions, reactions to change, food allergies, etc.
A request for parents to talk to their children about autism and how to be kind and when interacting with the child
Sometimes including someone with special needs requires special attention. But isn’t that what Paul taught us in 1 Corinthians 12:22–26? All churches can learn new things as we stretch to learn how to relate to autism and other disabilities. After all, each child with a disability represents a family who needs to come to God through Jesus Christ, so they can know and worship the God who makes them whole.
Do you know a family with special needs in your church? Will you reach out to them this week?
On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are not presentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.1 Cor. 12:22–26 NIV
Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers
to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills,
repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication. According to the
Centers for Disease Control, autism affects an estimated 1 in 59 children in
the United States today.
We know that there is
not one autism but many subtypes, most influenced by a combination of genetic
and environmental factors. Because autism is a spectrum disorder, each person
with autism has a distinct set of strengths and challenges. The ways in which
people with autism learn, think and problem-solve can range from highly skilled
to severely challenged. Some people with ASD may require significant support in
their daily lives, while others may need less support and, in some cases, live
entirely independently.
Several factors may
influence the development of autism, and it is often accompanied by sensory
sensitivities and medical issues such as gastrointestinal (GI) disorders,
seizures or sleep disorders, as well as mental health challenges such as
anxiety, depression and attention issues.
Indicators of autism usually appear by age 2 or 3. Some associated development delays can appear even earlier, and often, it can be diagnosed as early as 18 months. Research shows that early intervention leads to positive outcomes later in life for people with autism.
Monday – Wash Day: Lord, help me wash away all my selfishness and vanity, so I may serve you with perfect humility through the week ahead.
Tuesday – Ironing Day: Dear Lord, help me iron out all the wrinkles of prejudice I have collected through the years so that I may see the beauty in others.
Wednesday – Mending Day: O God, help me mend my ways so I will not set a bad example for others.
Thursday – Cleaning Day: Lord Jesus, help me to dust out all the many faults I have been hiding in the secret corners of my heart.
Friday – Shopping Day: O God, give me the grace to shop wisely so I may purchase eternal happiness for myself and all others in need of love.
Saturday – Cooking Day: Help me, my Savior, to brew a big kettle of brotherly love and serve it with clean, sweet bread of human kindness.
Sunday – The Lord’s Day: O God, I have prepared my house for you. Please come into my heart so I may spend the day and the rest of my life in your presence.
