Tag Archives: 31 days of five minute free writes

Day 16: Delight

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31 Days of Five Minute Friday Free Writes

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Corinthians 5:17

Day 16: Delight

It’s “leaf peeper” season here in the mountains and that’s just what I’ve been doing. What a most delightful day just sitting outside and “peeping” at the leaves. Golden yellow, bright orange, and deep red are replacing the green of just a few weeks ago.

Did you know (I was just reminded thanks to my very smart hubby) that the bold fall colors now adorning the trees are always present in the leaves? It’s only when the green producing chlorophyl begins to break down because of shorter days and colder temperatures, that the green fades giving way to the vivid autumn shades hidden within.

Did you also know that our true colors are waiting to be revealed too? We can be a little “green around the edges” in life thinking we can hang on in the world by our own effort, that we know  all we need to get by, or that this is as good as it gets and that’s enough for us. This way of life is bitter and short!

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
Ephesians 4:22-24 (NIV)

Just as chlorophyl deteriorates to expose the brilliance within, so must our “old self ” fade away. When we accept a life in Christ, His bold, bright light shines in and through us, revealing what God knew was there all the time. 

As in nature, showing our true colors is a process but, day by day, season by season, we will begin to look different to those who take a “peep.” Christ’s bright light and a bold love will show through. And when God looks upon us?

“For the Lord takes delight in his people;”
Psalm 149:4a (NIV)

Day 6/31: Crave

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31 Days of Five Minute Friday Free Writes

“Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!” Matthew 26:41 (NLT)

Day 6: Crave

If I were to tell you some things that I’ve been known to crave the list would include: Lay’s potato chips, Dunkin Donuts Iced Coffee Mocha, pumpkin pie, time alone, being with my grandsons, and a water view to name a few. There was one time though, that my craving got way out of control.

Many years ago my husband received a large container of chocolate covered almonds as a business gift.  As soon as I saw them I knew I was in trouble and so with all the strength I could muster I suggested that he hide them somewhere I was sure not to find them, otherwise I knew I would eat every single one of those delectable treats. And so he did as I asked.

The next morning once I was alone, I sat drinking my coffee when something came over me. I literally could smell those chocolate covered almonds! Soon they were all I could think about and the frantic search ensued. I was like a bloodhound on a recovery mission. Sniff! Every cupboard was opened. Sniff, sniff! Closets were rummaged through. Sniff, sniff, sniff! Dust bunnies under the beds were displaced as my arm reached as far under as possible. The longer I searched the more I desired what I couldn’t have and in the process, turned my whole house upside-down trying to satisfy my yearning. This is a perfect example of what James warns us about:

“Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away..”
James 1:14 (NLT)

The truth is, chocolate covered almonds aren’t the only craving that’s lured me with a scent of satisfaction. The world offers so much that promises to meet our longings, and when we catch a tempting whiff we’re drawn to seek them out. Maybe you know exactly what I mean. Whether it’s a desire for attention, companionship, escape, comfort, power, or anything we crave, our frantic pursuit of it can drag us away from what we know is best and turn our whole world upside-down. That’s exactly why Jesus taught us to pray, “lead us not into temptation.” (Matthew 6;13)

So what are we very human “bloodhounds” to do? Follow our “knows.” That is, Who we know, and what we know:

“So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” Hebrews 2:14-16 (NLT)

Day 4/31: Never

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31 Days of Five Minute Friday Free Writes

“Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and what for the LORD.” Psalm 27:14

Day 4: Never

I never thought it would happen, but here it is! I’ve been not so patiently watching and waiting and watching and waiting. Mixed in midst of all that watching and waiting there was also something else. Disappointment. This very plant was heavy with blue, pink, and lavender flowers last year, but not this season.

All summer my hydrangea grew bigger and rounder than its ever been before and didn’t stop until it covered one entire end of the flower bed. The crazy thing even encroached its way onto the sidewalk. While the dark green lush leaves outdid themselves filling the ample branches, not one single blossom formed on the entire bush, not one! I gave up and stopped watching.

Then, out of nowhere this small blossom appeared. It took its sweet ole time waiting until Fall to finally arrive. It certainly wasn’t the outcome I expected, but honestly? I think I appreciate that little flower more than I have any of the others.

This out-of-season late bloomer is a good reminder for us. We often find ourselves in times of waiting and watching for something to happen in our own lives or in the lives of those we love. Maybe you’re there now. There certainly are some things in my life that to me, seem a long time coming. 

We pray, we watch, we wait. We pray, we watch, we wait. And in the midst of all that? Disappointment, discouragement, helplessness, confusion, fear, anger can join in. When the answer doesn’t come when we want it to and it makes sense to us that it should, we begin to think it will never happen.

“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NLT)

Just because WE think it the right time for something, doesn’t mean God does. Have you ever had a “Garth Brooks moment”?  You know, “Thank God for unanswered prayers?” Or have you received a different answer that was different but much better than what you were expecting? The Bible tells us in Isaiah 55:8 that God’s thoughts and ways are nothing like ours. He knows exactly the what’s and when’s we need. 

There’s no doubt we’re encouraged to pray for the things on our hearts, but, we may have to wait for the right season to get an answer. What I’m learning though, is that in waiting we must keep watching with anticipation. Pray, wait, watch. Pray, wait, watch. Because as the NLT puts verse 8, God’s ways are “far beyond anything you could imagine.” I don’t know about you, but that tells me that we need to be on the look-out for those out-of-season outcomes we never thought could happen, just like a little hydrangea blooming in the Fall.

Day 20 ~ Tell ~ 31Days2019

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“They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, ‘All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” John 8:7 (NLT) Photo by Artem Beliaikin on Unsplash

Tell

Tattling is one of those things that teachers find extremely challenging. Some children seem to enjoy telling anyone who will listen about all the things that someone else has done wrong. The funny thing is, quite often the tattler will have recently done the exact thing he is now trying to get someone else in trouble for. Of course, that does not occur to the one telling the tale. All he has on his mind is seeing punishment handed down.

It seems to me, that adults today are becoming more and more like those students all the time.  Our news and social media feeds are full of people “telling on other people” they don’t agree with. And just like the offenders in the classroom, these adults have the goal of gaining followers who believe their tales, want to take part in judgement, and then inflict punishment on those they’ve targeted. Simply put, they point their finger in hopes of getting someone else in trouble.** But, we all know the old adage that says when one finger is pointed at another, three more are pointed back at ourselves!

“And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’  when you can’t see past the log in your own eye?” Matthew 7:3-4 (NLT)

Just recently I was talking with my mother-in-love about cleaning my house. She was trying to reassure me that our house always looks clean and I responded that she just didn’t look closely enough, to which she replied:

“If I want to see dirt, I’ll look at my own house!”

Isn’t that exactly what Jesus is telling us in the verses above? Don’t look for someone else’s dirt until you’ve cleaned your own house! And the thing about dirt is, we can dust one day and then the very next time the “Son” shines in, new specks are already showing up again!

“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet, God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.” Romans 3:23-24 (NLT)

The truth is, every one of us deserves to be in trouble, with or without the help of a tattletale, and the world has seeing our punishment handed down on its mind.  “Yet, God.”  Because of His grace our punishment isn’t simply handed down; but because Jesus’s hands were nailed down to the cross, it has been forgiven. Now that’s a tale worth telling!

This post is written as part of the 31 Days of Five Minute Friday Free Writes Challenge. You can read posts from other writers on the same topics over at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com I hope you know that I so appreciate you being here! God bless, Cindy

 

 

Day 19 ~ Strong ~ 31Days2019

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“Her children stand and bless her.” Proverbs 31:28a (NLT) / Pixabay

Strong

My image stares back at me as I stand in front of the mirror.  I gaze at the reflection. Are these too tight? Does this even go together? Is this outfit still in fashion? I worry way too much about the clothes that I wear! As I ponder upon that, I realize I’ve forgotten two very important things:

  1. “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.  Is not life more than food, and body more than clothes?” Matthew 6:25 (NIV)  And, that
  2.  I learned from my mom at an early age, about the most important things to wear.

My mom. She’s one of the strongest women I know! When my dad unexpectedly chose to leave our family, she was suddenly left to raise my two sisters and me by herself, at a time when single mothers didn’t have the rights and benefits they do today. That didn’t stop her from doing what it took to** assure that we had the best childhood possible. She worked hard and sacrificed much. Mom put our needs above hers and she always made sure we knew we were loved and cared for. Her example taught us that the most important things to put on don’t come from our closet.

“She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.” Proverbs 31:25-27 (NIV)

Yes, through the years of ups and downs, joys and sorrows, good times and bad, our mom has modeled for us her ensemble of incredible strength and dignity and she still wears them well today!   So, the next time we look in the mirror let’s not look at our clothes but rather what we’re clothed in. Strength, dignity, wisdom, faith, love!  With any of these we have no need to worry because one size fits all; they compliment each other; AND… they never go out of style!

This post is written as part of the 31 Days of Five Minute Friday Free Writes Challenge. You can read posts from other writers on the same topics over at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com I hope you know that I so appreciate you being here! God bless, Cindy

 

 

 

 

Active ~ Day 18 ~ 31Days2019

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“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you. Isaiah 26:3 (NLT) / Pixabay

Active

There’s a place I know that’s open just about 24/7. Songs play over and over there, stories are created, and conversations take place at all hours. The murky, dark corners are reserved for reliving and revealing fears and failures. It’s a busy and chaotic place! And…it’s my mind.

Having an active imagination is a good thing when playing with your children or grandchildren, planning lessons for your students, or brainstorming ideas at work, church, or home. But, when we (I) let that energy propel us to worry, anxiety, regret, and all those other bad “customers” who lurk about in the recesses, we find ourselves longing for the “bouncer” to come throw them out! And then, He does!

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 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 4:6-7 (NLT) *emphasis mine

This is the reminder I need!  Maybe you do too. My mind is open for business morning, noon, and night. Thoughts whirl and twirl like they’re in the middle of the dance floor. With some, I want to join and keep in step. Others…well, I’d rather sit those out. I’m learning that when we choose ** God to guard our minds, we can leave the noisy free-for-all behind and find instead a place of peace.

Philippians 4 goes on to say:

“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.  Think about things that are excellent and worth of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me-everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9 (NLT)

I chose these verses as my theme this month because it is my hope as I ponder on everyday life and write these posts, I do try earnestly to fix my mind on those excellent things and offer to you what I’m learning along the way. And if it resonates with you, we can together, encourage and remind one another to clean out those dingy corners where Satan likes to hide and let the Light bring peace of mind there instead. Then, gratefully we can be “open for the business” that God has for us and actively share with others all He has exceedingly done!

This post is written as part of the 31 Days of Five Minute Friday Free Writes Challenge. You can read posts from other writers on the same topics over at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com I hope you know that I so appreciate you being here! God bless, Cindy

 

 

Avoid ~ Day 16 ~ 31Days2019

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“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,” Acts 2:46 (NIV) / Pixabay

Avoid

There are lots of things we avoid. I would guess that some of the what I avoid, you do too. Things like snakes, bats, closed in spaces, the dentist, and others. Then there are those things that since moving to my rural, farming town I’ve had to learn to avoid the hard way: such as being stuck in a manure pile, an angry rooster, or eating raw ramps. And of course, there are those things I’ve learned to avoid by mistake, specifically swallowing a chicken bone, trusting my GPS, and brightly dying my hair the day before leaving on a trip with my friends.

On the flip side, we all have things we avoid that we shouldn’t. I’m thinking of things such as exercise, a yearly check-up (including the weigh in), ** cleaning out our closets, and getting together more often.

Why is it that most of us don’t make time to gather with friends and family anymore? Yes, we’re busy. But are we really too busy to find time to share a meal, have a game night, sit around and talk with those we care about or do we just no longer make it a priority?  I’m asking myself these same questions. Knowing there’s so much pain and suffering in the world today and time is short, shouldn’t we want to be with each other more rather than less?

“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25 (NLT)

Just imagine the difference it might make in our lives, our communities, our world if we’d come together more to support and be supported, to inspire and be inspired, to minister to and be ministered to. Or, to simply laugh and have fun. I think it’s about time to make a change. How about you? What if we stop looking at our phones and watching our T.V.’s as much, left work a little earlier, cleared a day on our calendar, and instead shared some of that time with friends and family? Let’s challenge each other starting today, to scratch gathering with one another off our “to avoid” list and begin making it a priority to “not neglect our meeting together”. Are you with me?

Now, who wants play a game of Yahtzee and have some popcorn?

This post is written as part of the 31 Days of Five Minute Friday Free Writes Challenge. You can read posts from other writers on the same topics over at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com I hope you know that I so appreciate you being here! God bless, Cindy

 

 

Reach ~ Day 13 ~ 31Days2019

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“For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building. 1 Corinthians 3:9 (NIV)

Reach

Standing at the corner of my house, I can almost reach out and touch our church. Yes, my next door neighbor is my church.  Our lawns connect. The church parking lot serves as a safe place for my grandsons to play and our driveway provides extra parking support when there’s more need than the lot can handle.

I love living side by side with my church! With just a few steps I can find myself within the walls of God’s house: a sanctuary of worship, a haven of peace, and an atmosphere of prayer. My close proximity also allows me to lend a helping hand to those who come and go (not that I’m THAT kind of neighbor who watches out the window, or….maybe I am!). And when we’re lacking something at the church, I can just run over and gather what we need from what I have at home.

Pondering what it means to have the church so close to me, I’ve realized that we are to be the church next door to those living around us, too!

“For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” Galatians 5:13-14 (NLT)

” ‘Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?’ Jesus asked. The man replied, ‘The one who showed him mercy.’ Then Jesus said, ‘Yes, now go and do the same.’ ” Luke 10:36-37 (NLT)

To share love and mercy, we must first reach out to others, finding ways to connect with them. We need to ready ourselves to offer a safe place and extra support when another’s life feels like more than they can handle. As we walk side by side with our brothers and sisters, our lives should be open doors leading them to God through our words and actions. Being close also allows us to be on the watch for ways we can reach out a helping hand and fulfill a lack or need.  Yes, we are the church to our neighbor and maybe the only church they will see. Let’s do everything we can to be sure they love living alongside us, too!

“Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or place to stay. God has given each one of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.  Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.”
 1 Peter 4:8-11 (NLT)

This post is written as part of the 31 Days of Five Minute Friday Free Writes Challenge. You can read posts from other writers on the same topics over at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com I hope you know that I so appreciate you being here! God bless, Cindy

 

First ~ Day 12 ~ 31Days2019

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“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.” James 1:2 (NLT)/steve_a_johnson / Pixabay

First

My first idea went by the wayside,
The next didn’t make sense at all.
The third had a hopeful beginning,
But then I hit a wall.

I paced and did some thinking
Kept looking at the clock.
You can be sure this isn’t the first time
I’ve been hit with a Writer’s Block.

I’ve heard if first you don’t succeed
Try again another day,
So let’s hope that when tomorrow comes
That darn block’s moved out of the way!

This post is written as part of the 31 Days of Five Minute Friday Free Writes Challenge. You can read posts from other writers on the same topics over at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com I hope you know that I so appreciate you being here! God bless, Cindy

Deep ~ Day 11 ~ 31Days2019

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“It was strong and beautiful, with wide-spreading branches, for its roots went deep into abundant water.” Ezekiel 31:7 (NLT)

There are lots of hard decisions to make in life but I never really expected one to be about a tree. We went back and forth, pros and cons, heart and logic, but in the end, hard as it was, we decided it had to come down.

A beautiful tree, it stood tall above our roofline and that was the problem.  Building a new house in its shadow was risky. A storm with a strong wind could topple the giant right onto our home, crushing everything underneath. It made sense to simply push it over. As it turned out, there was nothing simple about it! Our majestic pine had roots that ran wide and so deep that even with a backhoe bucket pushing with all its might, the tree held tight. With persistence and hard work, the towering conifer finally shuddered and fell, revealing an intricate and strong root system when it did.

There is a lesson for me, for us, in the example of our tree:

“But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water.  Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit. Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NLT)

The storms of life come at us, too. We can easily be blown off course, crushed in spirit, pushed to our limit! That’s why we need our hope and confidence to be grounded in God. ** Paul said it better than I ever could:

“I pray that from his glorious unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him.  Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.” Ephesians 3:16-19 (NLT)

As we ponder on these words today, let’s remember that though we may sometimes find ourselves trying to stand firm in the midst of a whirlwind buffeting our souls or that our peace has been tempest tossed: We are rooted in love! And not just any love, but an intricate love so strong and so deep that it nailed Christ to a tree that we may be made complete in Him. When we make the decision to accept His sacrifice, we can be confident that despite our circumstances we’re able to stand securely, spread His beauty, and live fruitful lives, no matter where it is we find ourselves planted.

This post is written as part of the 31 Days of Five Minute Friday Free Writes Challenge. You can read posts from other writers on the same topics over at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com I hope you know that I so appreciate you being here! God bless, Cindy