Tag Archives: 31 days of five minute free writes

Remember ~ 10/31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes

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Remember: “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) / Pixabay

I have a hard time remembering some things these days.  What I had for lunch. Where my keys are. Why I came into the room.  My biggest challenge though, is to remember to forget!

My younger sisters have pointed out that while I’m forgetting day to day things of the present;  my memories of our past are becoming keener (a sign of aging, they proclaim). Don’t tell them, but I’m really ok with that! To remember the happy times we’ve spent with family and friends serve as a reminder of how blessed we are!

My remembering the past doesn’t stop with vacations and holidays however, I can relive words I should’ve never spoken, moments I let loved ones down, actions that were anything but Godlike, and chances I missed to do the right thing as if they happened yesterday.  They play,  through my mind like an old home movie, frame by frame reminding me of my unworthiness. Ever happen to you?

There’s no doubt we’re going to mess up in this life! And mess up again. And. Mess. Up. Again. Enter Jesus! He took all our sins; each one nailed to the cross. Because of His grace, we need to remember to forget!  Not forget so that we don’t learn from our mistakes but rather forget in such a way that we live as God intends: FORGIVEN! Remembering times and people of the past is truly a gift but, remembering all our sins of the past is a burden we’re not meant to carry because Jesus. Already Did.

 

 

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Plan ~ 9/31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes

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I am continuing with 31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes which means I’m writing for five minutes on a prompt each day in October.  I’d love for you to follow along with me on this journey or better yet, join in at http://www.fiveminutefridays.com

Time starts now!

“You can make many plans, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail.” Proverbs 19:21 (NLT)

It’s been almost a year since we moved into our new house.  To prepare I had to sort, pack, toss, and  give away.  Our 115 year old house needed to be torn down. We moved into temporary quarters and stayed there until our new house was finally ready.  Needless to say it required a lot of plan making!  Some plans were easy; others more complicated.  But through it all we had the goal of finally living in a beautiful, new house to keep us going.

I like to make plans. No, I actually LOVE to make plans.  Being spontaneous is something I wish I was, but alas I’m more comfortable knowing what to expect.  Going through the new house process was stressful.  It was fun.  It was frustrating.  It was slow at times and I had moments where I thought it would never happen.  But, here I am sitting at my new table, in my new dining room, in my new house. Plans came together, a dream came true, and our life changed!

Yes, I like to make plans…. I’m so good at it I sometimes think I know what’s best and I tell God step by step just what I need to do or where I need to be.  Did you get that? I tell God MY plans! Friends, you know what happens when I try and be God’s day-planner, don’t you?  Things. Fall. Apart!

Letting go of the plan isn’t easy for me (it could require a planner intervention), but I’m learning that God’s plan for my life and your life is far better than any we make ever could be.  When God’s plans come together not only does life change but LIVES change and instead of falling apart, things and people come TOGETHER! This planner thinks that sounds like a dream come true!

Time’s up!

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Truth ~ 8/31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes

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I am continuing with 31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes which means I’m writing for five minutes on a prompt each day in October. I’d love for you to follow along with me on this journey or better yet, join in at http://www.fiveminutefridays.com

Time starts now:

“when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, 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 4:21-22a, 23-24 (NIV) / Pixabay

I’ve been accused of stretching the truth from time to time.  Not in a bad way but to make a story more exciting or entertaining. A word here. A phrase there. Soon, my tale takes on a new life. From then on, it changes with each new telling and its sometimes difficult to remember the story in its original form.

We can make the stories of our own lives like that, too.  The parts we share with others on social media, in the work place, at church for that matter, tend to be the enhanced versions. A name dropped here. A fashion label there. We let the world see the embellished form of ourselves; the more exciting and entertaining versions and soon, we forget who we really are. Have you been there? I think we all have.

The older I get the more I value those around me that I can tell the truth about myself to.  Those friends who see me at my worst. Family who love me despite my shortcomings. A church family who prays for me when I am weak. Exposed. Vulnerable. Real. Being who I am in my original form is scary.  It’s uncomfortable. But it’s also freeing!

The truth is:  God never intended for us to hide behind fig leaves or anything else.  He formed us just exactly as He wanted us to be and knew it was good. No. Embellishing. Needed. So, let’s take off our masks, get reacquainted with our authentic selves, and introduce them to the world.  After all, sharing the truth is the greatest story we can ever tell!

Time is up!

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Hold ~ 7/31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes

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I am continuing with 31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com

where I’m writing for five minutes on a prompt each day in October.  I’d love for you to follow along with me on this journey or better yet, join in!

Time starts now!

“If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” Psalm 139:9-10 (NIV)

There’s a line in the song “Sound a Dream Makes” by Gordon Mote that says: “Just when you think a quiet house is where the story ends, your baby has a baby and the dream begins again.” It’s so true!  I am now a “MiMi” and I love every minute of it…well, almost every minute. It’s hard to watch the bumps and bruises, the needed discipline, learning the hard way, and the disappointments all over again.  I just want to hold my grandsons’ hands to keep them safe and let them know I’m always here when they need me!

Do you know something?  That’s what God wants us to know about Him too!  No matter where we are or what we’re going through, we can find comfort in the fact that we’re not alone.  Bumps and bruises?  You bet!  Disappointments? Part of life for sure. But, as much as I cherish my precious grandchildren (and I do); God treasures each one of us so much more!

Feeling those little hands cradled in mine causes my heart to overflow with love and I don’t want to let them go. Unfortunately, as much as I want to, I can’t be with my grandchildren every step of the way; but I know someone who can.  God is waiting for them (and you and I) to reach out and hold tightly to His hand that will “guide”, “hold fast”, and with unending love never let us go.

Time’s up!

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Trust ~5/31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes

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“When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You. In God, whose word I praise, in God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid.” Psalm 56:3 (NASB) / Pixabay

While traveling along this journey we call life, I often veer off in the wrong direction; especially during  times of trial! My initial reactions usually include hand wringing, imagining all sorts of horrible endings, whining….well you get the picture and it’s not pretty.  It’s certainly not a picture of trust.

Trust for me has always been a rocky road.  While I “know” that I can put my trust in God’s plan, I somehow bump right over the peace that trusting God brings and land directly into the pit of despair I bring on myself!  Fears: real and imagined, stall me right in my tracks.

I wish I could say that I have my path all mapped out toward a life where I’m no longer afraid and that trusting God is how I now navigate each situation that arises, unfortunately I can’t.  What I can say however, is how grateful I am that I’m headed in the right direction following the only One who can get me to where I’m truly meant to be!

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Poem of Hope ~ 4/31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes

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I’ve had a bit of writing anxiety lately which has caused me to literally avoid looking at my lap top. (Out of sight. Out of mind. Or so I thought.)  I’ve found though, that writing is a part of who I am and I really miss it, so…. I have decided to join in on the 31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com

Each day in October I’ll write for five minutes on a given prompt.  This is mostly an unedited style of writing  that I’m sure will challenge this “recovering perfectionist”; but hopefully in a good way! Please pray that I won’t quit, I’ll have fun, and that I’ll learn more about myself, writing, and my relationship with God. I’d love for you to follow along with me on this journey! Better yet, join in!

Time starts now!

“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) / Pixabay

 

The world it seems

Is going wrong.

The weak are bullied

By the strong.

 

It makes us weary

It’s hard to cope

But through it all

We must have hope.

 

Do we sit

And wonder why?

Wring our hands,

Let out a sigh?

 

It’s way too easy

To whine and mope

But through it all

We must have hope.

Time! (Sorry, this rule follower is going to break the five-minute rule and finish)

Pointing fingers

Yelling loud,

Only serves

To anger the crowd.

 

It may feel impossible,

The end of our rope

But never forget

Jesus Christ is our Hope!

 

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Create ~ 3/31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes

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I’ve had a bit of writing anxiety lately which has caused me to literally avoid looking at my lap top. (Out of sight. Out of mind. Or so I thought.)  I’ve found though, that writing is a part of who I am and I really miss it, so…. I have decided to join in on the 31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com

Each day in October I’ll write for five minutes on a given prompt.  This is mostly an unedited style of writing  that I’m sure will challenge this “recovering perfectionist”; but hopefully in a good way! Please pray that I won’t quit, I’ll have fun, and that I’ll learn more about myself, writing, and my relationship with God. I’d love for you to follow along with me on this journey! Better yet, join in!

Time starts now!

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” Revelation 4:11 (NIV)

Today is the first day I’m joining my dear friend, Robin in leading an after school Author’s Club at our local Elementary School!  We hope to create an enthusiasm for writing through literature, art, and well…..writing!  It’s exciting and inspiring to watch young students discover their own creative side!

With this on my mind, I happened to look out my window and in that small rectangular opening to the outside world I was amazed at all that God had created!  Within the parameters of my view I saw plants, bees, spider webs, birds, the breeze, and a sliver of blue sky.  All these creations working together just as God designed them to be and do!

You and I were also created to be and do.  It’s my prayer that just as our students will put together skills they’ve been given and nature works in harmony to accomplish what it has been created to do; you and I will pursue the purposes we have.  If we can do that, just think of all the ways God can use us to create a better world!

Times up!

 

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Tell ~ 2/31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes

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I’ve had a bit of writing anxiety lately which has caused me to literally avoid looking at my lap top. (Out of sight. Out of mind. Or so I thought.)  I’ve found though, that writing is a part of who I am and I really miss it, so…. I have decided to join in on the 31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com

Each day in October I’ll write for five minutes on a given prompt.  This is mostly an unedited style of writing  that I’m sure will challenge this “recovering perfectionist”; but hopefully in a good way! Please pray that I won’t quit, I’ll have fun, and that I’ll learn more about myself, writing, and my relationship with God. I’d love for you to follow along with me on this journey! Better yet, join in!

Here I go….Time Starts Now!

 

“Tell your children about it in the years to come, and let your children tell their children. Pass the story down from generation to generation.” Joel 1:3 (NLT)

What do your hands tell about you?  Mine have become wrinkled and covered in age spots.  My fingers are not as straight or limber as they used to be.  It’s not surprising though, these hands have worked, nurtured, loved, disciplined, applauded, and wrung in worry.  They tell the story of my life.

There are hands however, that have saved my life!  The hands of Jesus.  Pierced by nails as he hung on the cross dying for my sins.  Those precious hands tell the story of salvation and the greatest love there is!

My hands won’t ever tell a story like that, but I can! Lately,  I’ve been thinking a lot about the kind of witness I am to all God has done in my life.  I need and hope to be more willing to share  my journey of Grace with others.  Hands down, it’s the most important story I have to tell!

Times up!

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Worship ~ 1/31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes

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I’ve had a bit of writing anxiety lately which has caused me to literally avoid looking at my lap top. (Out of sight. Out of mind. Or so I thought.)  I’ve found though, that writing is a part of who I am and I really miss it, so…. I have decided to join in on the 31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com 

Each day in October I’ll write for five minutes on a given prompt.  This is mostly an unedited style of writing  that I’m sure will challenge this “recovering perfectionist”; but hopefully in a good way! Please pray that I won’t quit, I’ll have fun, and that I’ll learn more about myself, writing, and my relationship with God. I’d love for you to follow along with me on this journey! Better yet, join in!

Here I go….Time Starts Now!

“Shout to the Lord, all the earth; break out in praise and sing for joy! (Psalm 98:4 NLT) Pixabay

I have a donkey living next door to me.  We’ve named him Jedediah.  The first time he broke out with his bray made me jump and he continues to startle me each time he lets loose!  With his head lifted high and ears extended, he opens his mouth and literally screams at the top of his lungs; sometimes for several minutes.  It can happen anytime in the day or night and Jedediah doesn’t care who it might disturb.

I think worship should be like that!  At any time, day or night, we should lift our heads, extend our arms, and break out with shouts of praise for all to hear about what God has done for us!  Unfortunately, I often am the opposite of Jedediah and hesitate to worship like this for fear of bothering those around me or more than that, of embarrassing myself. Maybe you’re like that too. I hope to become more like Jedediah in the future and put a little more “hee haw” into my worship and let my praise be a joyful noise for all to hear!

Times Up! Whew! That went by fast!

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