Once

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“Now rescue your beloved people. Answer and save us by your power.” Psalm 60:5 (NLT)

Once

I once took a girls’ day out shopping for granted….
Now, I don’t.

There was once a time I didn’t know that gathering with family would be considered risky…
But now, I do.

I believed the privilege of going to church was guaranteed, once….
Now, I don’t.

Wearing a mask everywhere I went, once seemed impossible….
But, now I do.

Hugging was once the way I greeted my friends….
Now, I don’t.

Once, I had no idea how much I could miss “normal”, everyday life….
But now, I do.

I once assumed that grocery store shelves would always be full….
Now, I don’t.

I couldn’t comprehend how very lonely a holiday could be, once…
But now, I do.

Oh, how easily, I once regularly overlooked the simple joys of life….
Now, I don’t.

Once, I had never prayed for the end of a pandemic….
But now, I do.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

 

These random thoughts about the last months came as a result of the prompt, “Once”. I’m writing today with others at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com and with #write28days over at http://www.anitaojeda.com so “once” you’re finished here, why don’t you click on over to read others’ offerings. Wishing you all a Happy Valentine’s Day! Remember God Loves You and that I appreciate you taking your time to stop in. 

Waiting for the Sunrise

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“I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.” Psalm 130:5-6 (NIV)

Waiting for the Sunrise 

Early bird? Not me! But even so, there are many winter mornings I sit in my chair with my coffee, still waiting for the sunrise. The mountains out my front window keep the sun’s rays at bay until later than most places. And so I wait. I watch. Then, about half way through my second cup, the sun rises over the ridge and I welcome the day with those first bright beams breaking through the gray, early morning and transforming ordinary things into a palette of reflected light.

“As evening approached, Joseph, a rich man from Arimathea who had become a follower of Jesus, went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. And pilate issued an order to release it to him. Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a long sheet of clean linen cloth. He placed it in his own new tomb, which had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance and left. Both Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting across from the tomb and watching.”
Matthew 27:57-61 (NLT)

Just a short while ago things were going so well. They thought they knew what the future would hold. But then, everything changed. And now? These followers of Jesus were sad, scared, and didn’t know what to do next. And so, with darkness closing in, there they sat… watching, waiting, and longing for the Light. Sounds very familiar to me, how about you?

Waiting. Not one of my favorite things, especially when waiting in the dark. We all know about that, don’t we? Seasons of life change just like seasons of the year, and we can find ourselves, without warning, in the midst of bleak days where all we can do is watch, wait, and long, too.

“Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb. Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint. Then the angel spoke to the women. ‘Don’t be afraid’ he said. ‘I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He has risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying.’ ” Matthew 28:1-6 (NLT)

Just a short while ago things weren’t going well. They thought they knew what the future would hold. While the Marys and the world waited in the darkness, the mountain of rock couldn’t hold Him back and The. Son. Did. Rise! And in that moment everything changed for them.

I’m sure you’ll agree that this world can plunge us into unexpected darkness. We’ve been living there for about a year now, haven’t we? Here’s the thing: when we welcome the Light into our days everything changes for us, too.  Our circumstances might not be different, but how we see them will be. The Light shows us the Way. He shows us the Truth. He offers us a life transformed, one where we ourselves become a palette of reflected Light. The wait is over! The light shines in the darkness, not just today, or tomorrow, or for only a season, but my friends, the Son Rise is for evermore.

“Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, ‘I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.’ ” John 8:12 (NLT)

Doing double duty with this post and joining http://www.fiveminutefriday.com and  http://www.anitaojeda.com for #write28days both using the prompt “Sunrise”. Lucky you! There’s double the great writing to read. Just click on over and see what the “Sunrise” brings! As always I am more than grateful for your presence here with me in my ponderings. You are a true gift! 

January Share Four Somethings

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My goodness, this month flew by! The days just kind of blur one into another and I easily lose track. That’s why I want to be dedicated to joining each month and share “Four Somethings” at http://www.heathergerwing.com .  (You can, too!) I didn’t do too well last year (well, last year was a weird one, wasn’t it?) Anyway, I hope to do better in 2021. So here we go:

January Share Four Somethings

“So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NLT)

Something Loved

Since retiring, I’ve been trying to add new recipes to my menu each week. Whether main dish, side dish, or dessert cooking new things brings me joy and I’m especially happy when something in a meal is a big hit. This month’s most loved thing to tickle the tastebuds was Sloppy Joe Soup. Not only did my recipe “guinea pigs” enjoy it, they also have asked me to share it with others. Now, that’s a sign they really did love it! And what’s not to love? Easy, simple ingredients, and great taste; not to mention a wonderful dish on these cold, winter evenings. It’s found a place in my recipe book for sure. One of my love languages is most certainly cooking, so for this gal, having something loved from my kitchen is truly a gift!

“Well then, what shall I do? I will pray in the spirit, and I will also pray in words I understand. I will sing in the spirit, and I will also sing in words I understand.” 1 Corinthians 14:15 (NLT)

Something Read/Said

 This past Christmas I continued a new tradition I began in 2019 of having a Community Prayer Tree in the small park across from my house. As the prayer requests came in, I hung them on the tree and then each day in December I prayed over each one. It has become a very meaningful experience for me. This year there were so many heartbreaking situations and honestly, I wondered if I was “the one” to be lifting them up. Since then I’ve decided to learn more about God’s plan for us in prayer, so I’m doing a search in His Word to hopefully (with His help) gain wisdom before next year’s tree is set up. That’s where my something read/said comes in. Years ago, I read and loved the “Yada Yada Prayer Group” series by Neta Jackson. And in God-wink fashion, my books were just recently returned to me after being shared for years. Perfect timing right? I took the hint and once again am reading them. It didn’t take me too many pages to know that I will be encouraged by the words in these books, too.

“I want to learn how to worship You, Jesus. I want a bigger faith. I want to learn how to pray. And, yes, I want to know what You created me for…”
~The Yada Yada Prayer Group, Book 1

 

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21 (NIV)

Something Treasured

Oh. My. Goodness! To say that this treasure is priceless is an understatement! This is our very first ever, letter from a grandchild! I am a BIG fan of real mail! For as long as I can remember I’ve sent cards and letters regularly to those I care about or am thinking of. So of course, I write to the boys, sending pictures I’ve drawn for them with simple messages of love from “MiMi and Pop Pop”. Never did I expect a handwritten note so soon, (5 years old!) but that’s exactly what I found when I opened the envelope. There may have been a few tears shed…. For now, this treasure is hanging on the fridge, but eventually it will find its place in the pages of my Bible where all treasure is found!

“Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.” Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NLT)

Something Ahead

Who knew practicing something could be so much fun? Learning to use my new camera has brought me so much enjoyment! I’ve always been an observant person but now, I see potential photos everywhere, which isn’t always good, especially when driving the WV mountain roads I do! There’s so much beauty in the everyday that we miss, but looking through my lens I’ve found it in so many unexpected places. Now, I can’t get enough, so I’m looking forward to finding an online photography class to help me use my camera to its fullest (right now I am only at the elementary level). So, with a little more knowledge and a lot more practice, I hope there will be many more photos ahead so I can share God’s beauty with others!

January has been a month of being full: full of good food, God’s Word, love, and beauty. Now, that’s a month to celebrate! What about you? What did January have to offer? I’d love for you to share your “Four Somethings” with me in the comments. And as always, you being here with me is something I celebrate everyday! God bless and I pray February brings us all much joy!

A Fixed Heart~Five Minute Friday

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“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” Colossians 3:1 (NIV)

Last year, my sister had to have heart surgery.  A faulty valve was interfering with its blood flow and rhythm to the extent that it would begin to effect her health. As amazing as it still seems, robotics were used to fix my sister’s heart and remarkably, she was able to leave the hospital just a few days later! With rehab and exercise, I’m happy and thankful to say that she was completely released a few months ago and now can go on with her life knowing her heart is as it should be. Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a robotic fix to keep our spiritual hearts working as they should?

“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives.”
Jeremiah 17:9-10a (NLT) 

I don’t know about you, but what flows from my heart into my mind or across my lips is NOT always what I want God to find there! Sometimes the rhythm keeps time with the cadence of angry thoughts, it can pound with worry and fear, or pulse in other unhealthy ways. If we let it, this world will interfere with the effectiveness of our heart for God. David understood this heartsick feeling as he pleaded:

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”Psalm 51:10 (NLT)

 David knew exactly where to take his broken heart. He cried out to the only One who could bring restoration: God, the Great Physician. Long before robotics, He perfected the Way to fix our faulty heart situation:

“He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By His wounds you are healed.” 1 Peter 2:24 (NLT) emphasis mine

“If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.” Romans 10:9-10 (NLT) emphasis mine

No, we aren’t able to repair our hearts on our own. (I know. I’ve tried. How about you?) Amazingly, it takes the flow of Jesus’s blood to fix OUR hearts and release us to live a new life! Of course, we still must do our part to keep our hearts beating for God. With daily exercise in things like faith, forgiveness, kindness, thanksgiving, patience, prayer and most of all, love, we can be assured that one day, our hearts will be just as they should be!

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Matthew 5:8 (NIV)

 I’m joining the wonderful group at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com today writing to the prompt “fix”. Click on over to read other offerings or to learn more about joining in on the fun! I am humbled and grateful you’ve stopped in to read my ponderings here. You are always a blessing to me! 

 

 

 

 

 

A Fresh Look

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“For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 (NLT)

A Fresh Look

Each figure is now carefully wrapped and packed away.  There was a moment though, that I considered leaving my Nativity Scene out for the year. I love its simple beauty and the sense of peace it brings to the room (and to me). As I lingered with Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, and the rest, I began to question if with time, the things that make the Nativity special might begin to disappear? Would passing it day in and day out blind me to its significance? Is it possible that the scene that means so much, could become commonplace, simply blending in with the other decorations around it? The decision became clear. I  put it away so that when I open the box next year, I’ll get a fresh look, piece by piece, at the familiar display of God’s love .

As often happens when lingering, I began to wonder. Has Jesus Himself become commonplace in my life, blending in with everything around me?  Because He’s near day in and day out, am I failing to recognize the magnitude of all He’s done and is doing? Is my excitement for being a Christian neatly packed away where others can’t see it, only to come out with the Christmas decorations? I’m not sure I want to answer these questions. How about You?

“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm–neither hot nor cold–I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”
Revelation 3:15-16 (NIV)

Something we tend to have in common is how easily we can get so wrapped up in our own lives that we lose sight of our life in Christ. That’s when our “deeds” become tepid at best. Some translations of the above verse say, “–I am about to vomit you out of my mouth.” I think we can all agree that spitting and vomiting are not the reactions we want others, and especially God, to have to us! So, how do we turn up our temperatures?

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” Romans 12:9-11 (NIV)

The simple beauty of the Nativity reminds us of God’s gift of love, but I think by taking a fresh look, we can also use it, piece by piece, to help us display that love to others. May we remember to be like:

Joseph, who was devoted,
Mary, having sincere love,
The Wisemen, honoring another above themselves,
The Shepherds, who served their masters,
The Angel, sharing spiritual fervor and zeal,
All the while, like those in the stable long ago,
keeping our attention on the One at the center of it all,
Jesus.

“Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7 (NLT)

This post was written to the prompt “Fresh” that was shared at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com Many others have joined in and you can read their offerings by clicking the link! Who knows? You might even get a fresh perspective on things! If you are reading this, I want you to know how much it means to me that you are here and I pray you leave encouraged. 

 

 

 

 

 

Traveling With a Whiny Child

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“This is my command-be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD our God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 (NLT)

Traveling With a Whiny Child

child:  It must be time! Are we almost there?

Father: No, we’ve a bit further to go.

child: I’m hungry!

Father: I’ll feed you.

child: I’m thirsty!

Father: I’ll give you my water.

child: Where are we going, anyway?

Father: Don’t worry; I’ve got it all under control and know where we’re headed.

child: But, what if I don’t like it when we get there?

Father: I’m taking you to the best place for you.

child: This road is scary! It’s narrow, bumpy and I don’t like the curves! Isn’t there a short cut?

Father: This road is definitely the only Way to get where we’re going. You’ll see.

child: Well, we might get there faster if I was in the driver’s seat!

Father: I think you know what would happen if you try to steer.

child: I’m tired! This trip is too much for me. Maybe you could take my sister or brother?

Father: Sit back and rest. This is your journey. I promise, with Me you will make it.

child: Father, are we there yet? It’s taking much longer than I wanted it to.

Father: My child, we’re right on time.

“Jesus replied, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’ ” John 6:35 (NLT)

“Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:8 (NLT)

“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide fo the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.” Matthew 7:13-14 (NLT)

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5 (NLT)

“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 (NLT)

“But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years like a day.” 2 Peter 3:8 (NLT)

Today’s post was written to the prompt “Time” as part of Five Minute Friday.  You can read the work of others on the same topic at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com You’ll be glad you spent the “time”, I promise! Thank you for taking time from your schedule to stop in here.  It means so much to me! Happy New Year and God bless!

 

The Rest of the Story

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“And that’s the way it was with us before Christ came. We were like children; we were slaves to the basic spiritual principles of this world. But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.” Galatians 4:3-5 (NLT)

The Rest of the Story

Lend me your ear
I’ll begin where it starts.
To tell you why Christmas
Lives in our hearts.

Young Mary and Joseph
Faced such a plight
But Joseph loved Mary
And did what was right.

In those days Caesar Augustus
Issued a decree
So Joseph and Mary
Had to leave Galilee.

On top of a donkey
Mary rode night and day
Arriving late to Bethlehem
They needed a place to stay.

The innkeepers said, “No,
There’re no rooms around here.”
So Joseph led Mary
To a stable that was near.

The time soon came
For the baby to be born.
She gave birth to a Son
Wrapping him in cloths she had torn.

Mary laid him in a manger
A very meager start
But she treasured every moment
And kept them in her heart.

Now my friends, you might imagine
This concludes my little tale.
But it’s really the beginning of
God’s love for us that will never fail.

“but the angel reassured them. ‘Don’t be afraid!’ he said. ‘I bring you good news that will bring great joy for all  people. The Savior – yes, the Messiah, the Lord – has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David.’ ” Luke 2:10-11 (NLT)

“God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love-not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 1 John 4:9-10 (NLT)

The prompt at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com was “Conclude”. As we approach the conclusion of 2020 and look back on such a crazy year, let’s not forget that God’s still writing our story with a love that we cannot comprehend! Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and as always I’m so grateful you’ve taken your time to stop in.  God Bless and here’s to a little less adventure in 2021!

Beyond Tomorrow~Five Minute Friday

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“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 (NIV)

Beyond Tomorrow

As a beginner at photography I’m learning many things; one of the most important being that the lens will only focus on what is directly in front of me, making that which lies beyond, difficult to see. The above picture is a good example. I was looking far off across the street hoping to capture the Christmas Prayer Tree amongst the branches, but as it turns out, the branches in the foreground are about all you can see.

We’re kind of like that, too aren’t we?  Our desire is often to see through today into tomorrow or even further but….ultimately, we can’t see any further than what’s right in front of us in the here and now. Even as one who likes control, I’m certain it’s a good thing we can’t. Just imagine if Mary could have seen the big picture of being baby Jesus’ mother!

“When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” Luke 2: 17-19 (NIV)

What would life have been like for Mary if in that moment she’d been able to see beyond the stable, star, and shepherds? The joys of that night and many others would have surely been blurred by the pain, heartache, and agony to come.

And what about us? We think we desire to know what waits down the road, to “look through the branches and see the tree.” But consider how our lives might have been different had we seen that each day was leading us closer to a pandemic or any of the other challenging things we all face in our lives, for that matter. Would we be able to live each day to the fullest, appreciate the present, or find joy as we waited for the future to come into view? I don’t know about you, but I think catching a glimpse of all that lies beyond today, or even this very moment, would turn me  into a portrait of worry and fear! That’s why I love how The Message shares Jesus’ words of instruction with us about this very thing:

“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.” Matthew 6:34 (The Message) 

Mary had no idea what waited up ahead as she traveled to Jerusalem or when she made her way up the path to Golgotha, but she did know one very important thing. She knew she wasn’t facing the future alone.

“The angel went to her and said, ‘Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.’ ”
Luke 1:28 (NIV)

We my friends, have the very same assurance!

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and they will call him Immanuel which means ‘God with us’.”
Matthew 1:23 (NIV)

Yes, we can only see life as if through my beginner’s lens. What is far off is fuzzy, hard to make out, but we can do our best to zoom in on what is right before us. Only a small portion of the picture is visible to us now and that’s the way it is supposed to be. But someday? Someday, everything will come perfectly into focus so that we can behold the complete picture and finally see beyond tomorrow and on into eternity!

“For now, we can only see a dim and blurry picture of things, as when we stare into polished metal. I realize that everything I know is only part of the big picture. But one day, when Jesus arrives, we will see clearly, face-to-face. In that day, I will fully know just as I have been wholly known by God. 1 Corinthians 13:12 (The Message)

** Seeing beyond tomorrow takes on new meaning as our Five Minute Friday writing group is mourning the loss this week of our great encourager, Joe Siccardi who’s passing no one saw coming. Interactions with Joe always ended with his words, “Keep looking up!” That’s the lesson isn’t it? As long as we’re looking Up we don’t need to worry about what tomorrow holds because we know Who holds it! Please join me in praying for Joe’s family at this most difficult time.

To read more selections about the prompt “Beyond” click over to http://www.fiveminutefriday.com and please know that I never take for granted your being here.  It means more to me than you can know!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grief~Sit in the Light~Five Minute Friday

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“For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the LORD. So live as people of light!” Ephesians 5:8 (NIV)

Sit in The Light

Welcome to my view this morning. I know, it’s not even Thanksgiving yet and normally, I wouldn’t have a tree up this early; but this year is anything but normal! I don’t know about the weather where you are, but yesterday just felt heavy. The dark, dreary sky was there when I opened the blinds and remained until I closed them again. The day seemed to hold a hope of rain, but even that didn’t come. Dark, dreary, deferred hope…..sounds an awful like life these days.

Guess what? I just wanted to sit and wallow in my own gloom. Disappointment, grief, frustration, fear, stress, exhaustion….we are all experiencing things that have us feeling downhearted and that’s exactly where I was. So, searching for a little joy, I decided to put up a tree and this morning, here I am sitting in the light. Can you see where this might be going?

“Why am I so discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again-my Savior and my God!” Psalm 43:5 (NLT)

“For God, who said, ‘Let there be light in the darkness.’ has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.” 2 Corinthians 4:6-7 (NLT)

I needed this tree to remind me and maybe it’s reminding you, that no matter what the day is like, what happens or doesn’t, or how dark it feels, we have The Light! He is our Hope, Joy, and our Power!

“Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, ‘I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have that light that leads to life.” John 8:12 (NLT)

I pray that you and I sit and walk in The Light this week. (No tree needed) And guess what? When we do, we can then BE the light for those in darkness around us!

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 (NIV)

Joining again this week with the others at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com writing to the prompt “Grief”. There is so much grief right now, even for those like me who’s life hasn’t changed that much as a result of the pandemic. These verses encourage me, I pray they do you, too. At this time of Thanksgiving and always, I’m ever so grateful for your presence here! 

Cancel ~ Five Minute Friday

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“Be still, and know that I am God!” Psalm 46:10a (NLT)

Hope is not Cancelled

As much as I loved teaching (and that’s a lot), I also loved the saying: “There’s no day like a snow day”! Receiving the early morning call notifying me that school was cancelled because of snow often led to a little celebratory dance that, if I do say so myself, rivaled any ever performed in an end zone! Those first moments were filled with anticipation about what I would do! Maybe I’d bake, watch movies, craft, or something else fun and relaxing. What I wouldn’t do was my normal housework or grading papers. There was just always something extra-special about the gift of an unexpected day at home!

Fast forward to 2020. We’ve had a few too many unexpected days at home, haven’t we? We find our normal life has been cancelled but there’s no celebrating and any anticipation has been replaced with anxiety as we wonder what we’re going to do.  Gather with family and friends? Take that trip we’ve been planning? Attend in-person church services? If you’re like me, these decisions and many others like them have taken the fun right out of my days and are anything but relaxing! That’s why I’ve had to remind myself of what I’m NOT going to do: give up hope!

“Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again – my Savior and my God!”
Psalm 43:5 (NLT)

“Let your hope make you glad. Be patient in time of trouble and never stop praying.”
Romans 12:12 (CEV)

These have felt like cold, dark days and winter hasn’t even arrived yet. It’s hard to find our way as we slog through all the conflicting information, daily number updates, and just everyday life in the midst of a pandemic; but…the storms of life don’t cancel our Hope! Yes, we’ve had unexpected days at home and yet, if we stop and look, there have been times when they’ve been a gift, too. We may not feel like dancing, but we can try and be patient, never stop praying, and praise Him again because… There’s no day like…well, today, to put our trust in God’s plan.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15:13 (NIV)

Today’s post was written to the prompt “Cancel” shared at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com I’m looking forward to clicking over and reading what others have written.  I know you’d enjoy it too! I never know where these prompts will take my little mind but it seems I always end up with a lesson I need. These are difficult times and like everyone else I find myself discouraged.  I hope the scriptures today will encourage you as they have me! Thank you for stopping in.  I appreciate it more than you can ever know!