Tag Archives: #fmf

Vacation or Planted?

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It’s Friday again!  Boy the weeks fly by, especially for those of you on summer break!  You always read about the lazy days of summer but somehow, they seem to rush by way too quickly.  Today’s prompt at  http://www.fiveminutefriday.com is “Vacation”.  Pretty appropriate isn’t it?  I hope you’ll click over and see what the other talented writers have to say on the subject!

“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)/ Pixabay

For me, it usually began in mid-May:  the countdown leading to the end of the school year.  There was something reassuring about those tiny numbers I’d written in the corner of each day’s lesson plan.  They somehow made it seem possible that I’d make it to the end; and believe me, some days it definitely felt more possible than others!

Despite my doubts, without fail each year the textbooks were counted and put away, final grades got added to report cards, walls carefully stripped of their decorations, and with a last glance over my shoulder I’d drag myself out the door not sure I could even make it to my car.

We’ve all been there. Life is busy and complicated and stressful! Whether it’s parenting, your career, caring for someone, an illness, or a million other things; our souls become drained and parched as if a drought has left us shriveled and burned up. What we desperately desire at that point is a vacation! A chance for respite to rest, recharge, and renew. Each year, summer break dangled that chance in front of me but somehow, despite several weeks off and an annual trip to the sea, the days always flew by and summer vacation just never seemed quite long enough to restore my drained soul.

Looking back, I now realize that it wasn’t the length of my vacation that was the problem; it was the depth that left me still feeling withered. I sought refreshment in a slower schedule with days of sleeping in, lingering, and doing less; when instead, I should have been seeking to be refilled by spending more time with God and His Word.

“Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again.  But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again.  It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” ” John 4:13-14 (NLT)

These days, when I get the urge to pack my bags or my thoughts head off in search of a place of replenishment, I’m learning to stop and remind myself where it is I need to be planted. Vacations are wonderful, but they only last until real life calls us back. Living day to day, deeply rooted in the hope of Jesus, the Living Water, helps us not only thrive in the midst of real life, but also eternally. And that my friends, is what truly satisfies the soul!

 

 

What If ~ Five Minute Friday

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The prompt today is “If”.  My first thought was to just type: “What if……” and let you fill in your own thoughts to finish it, but alas, some rhymes started popping into this head of mine and this short poem was born.  If you’re intrigued to read what others wrote about “If”, click on over to http://www.fiveminutefriday.com 

“For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13 (NLT) / Pixabay

What If

What if that something we doubt we can do
Really could be done;
Because we stopped believing
We’re too old or we’re too young?

What if that great idea
We’re so afraid to start,
Could change lives forever
When from our fears we part?

What if instead of passing by
We reached out to someone new,
And through our actions they would learn
“Love thy neighbor’s” really true?

“What if, I can’t, Not me, I’m scared”
Convince us we’re alone.
It’s easier not to try at all
Than to step out on our own.

What if we stopped looking within
At all the ways we’re weak,
And remember Christ will strengthen us
If Him we’ll only seek.

So my friends, let’s make a trade
“What if’s” for His “I can’s”
There are no limits on what we can do
When we trust in our God’s plans.

 

Ocean Sojourner ~ Five Minute Friday

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“You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds, O God our savior. You are the hope of everyone on earth, even those who sail on distant seas. You formed the mountains by your power and armed yourself with mighty strength. You quieted the raging oceans with their pounding waves and silenced the shouting of the nations. Those who live at the ends of the earth stand in awe of your wonders. From where the sun rises to where it sets, you inspire shouts of joy.” Psalm 65:5-8 (NLT)

Ocean Sojourner

She beckons me from my mountain home
To her sandy shore. 
And whispers leave your troubles behind 
Find respite here once more. 
The rhythm of the waves will play 
In time with the beat of your heart. 
A chorus’ll join in from high above 
As seagulls sing their part. 
Remember the flavor of her salty kiss
Blown in on the tides that rise.
The caress of her warmth upon your skin
Shining down from clear blue skies.
A taste of Heaven here on Earth
Peace found that is so sweet.
The cleansing of your soul achieved
Where land and water meet.
Come she calls and I’ll sojourn there
Until it’s time to roam
Leaving the ocean renewed again
To return to my mountain home.

Joining http://www.fiveminutefriday.com writers today with the prompt “ocean”.  I love living in the mountains but the ocean calls me and touches me as no other place. My trips to the beach are more than vacations they are retreats. I feel whole somehow while I’m there. As I was writing this poem I thought about how we’re not only sojourners as we travel but we’re really sojourners here on earth – we are here temporarily~ Heaven is beckoning us to not only come but to stay!  True peace, respite, and renewal are only found through Jesus who made it possible for us to become whole once and for all and able to be permanent residents with him! (No suitcase required!)   Now that inspires “shouts of joy”!

 

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Secret Recipe ~ Five Minute Friday

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Today’s prompt is “Secret” and I’ve got a few, buuuutttt….I think I’ll keep them to myself for now and instead tell you about my search for a secret recipe.  If you’re intrigued by knowing about others’ secrets click on over to  http://www.fiveminutefriday.com 

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” Philippians 1:6 (NLT) / Pixabay

There are memories of childhood we love to revisit and one that is vivid for me is a very special cookie.  I’m not talking about any old cookie.  No, I’m talking about a large, soft, melt in your mouth, sugar cookie!  What made these even more special was we knew they were “Adult Cookies” and so when we were actually allowed to have one, in addition to how delicious they were, my sisters and I also felt quite grown up!  What I realized later in life was that because they were so tasty and we didn’t get them often, my mom and grandma didn’t want to have to share them with us kids and so the “Adult” cookie came to be. These delicious creations were found in a little Ohio town where they were made and sold.  You had to get there early to be lucky enough to purchase some; but when you bit into the cake like disc and the sugar crunched between your teeth, you knew the trip was worth it! 

Several years ago I decided I’d like to try to recreate this childhood delicacy and so my search for the recipe began.  Finding sugar cookies made with unexpected ingredients was my goal because, like I said, these were not your everyday cookies.  Try as I might and as good as they all were, I didn’t find one that measured up. 

As I travel back and forth to visit my family in Michigan, I pass the quaint town that was home to Adult Cookies, so I just decided to stop one day and ask around  to see if I could track down the recipe.  Like any small town, people were friendly and enjoyed chatting, until that is, I asked about the cookies.  My inquiries were met with silence and cold stares.  What I discovered was, even after all these years, the recipe was and IS a well kept secret and so to my dismay, my search for the perfect combination of ingredients continued.

My life kind of feels like my secret recipe search right now. I’m trying to discover just the right mixture of things that will come together to produce the best version of the “Adult Me”! I’m deciding what too much of is included in my days and what those missing ingredients are that when added, will make my offerings to those around me sweeter. I haven’t found the exact recipe yet, but I’m learning that it takes patience, perseverance, a little heat, and a whole lot of the unexpected thrown in to create something special. I’m so grateful I don’t have to do this search on my own!  The One perfecting my “recipe” and yours, is the most important element in the mix! 

My recipe search? After a lot of trial and error, I’ve finally made cookies that are fairly close to those that I remember as a child. The secret ingredient? I’m pretty sure it’s the love they are made with! And isn’t that the truth in the recipe of our lives? God loves us so much that He won’t leave us “pretty close” to who we’re meant to be. No, He will continue to stir us up until we are exactly the divine creation He planned.  And that, my friends, is NO secret!

Include ~ Five Minute Friday

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Writing today with the Five Minute Friday crew on  the prompt “Include”. Lot’s of things ran through my mind when I found out that was the word we’d be writing to.  It will be interesting to see what develops!  You’ll find lots of “Include” inspiration if you hop over to Kate’s site at:
http://www.fiveminutefriday.com

Setting the timer now:

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2 (NIV) / Pixabay

On the first day of every school year I began my introduction in the same way.  I let the children know that their teacher was just a little (or a lot) crazy….different; and of course, I was telling them the truth.  Because that’s how I felt, my teaching career was spent trying to create classrooms with a family atmosphere. A place where once the children walked through the door they’d sense that they were loved, encouraged, and safe.  A place that would include and embrace each of our uniquenesses.  Some years were easier than others. Hard as I tried, there were times when a child just didn’t fit in. And honestly, there were times I didn’t fit in either.

Agonizing one day, over what to do to help a child feel accepted, it occurred to me (thanks Holy Spirit) that as Christians, we’re not to include ourselves into the world.  We’re supposed to feel left out, off-kilter, EXCLUDED! What a relief that realization was to this “different kinda gal”.  It’s so easy to answer the invitation to become just like everyone else; especially in this social media driven society. It’s uncomfortable to stand out and feel alone.  But, here’s the Good News!  We aren’t by ourselves! We are included in the family of God; a safe place where we are encouraged to become more like Him and loved every step of the way.

I never found one answer to helping all my children but I have found The One who offers to include “crazy me” in all His plans and a place where I fit in just perfectly.  How about you?

 

Adapt ~ Five Minute Friday

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I was looking through old photos this week and when I learned that the Five Minute Friday prompt was “Adapt”, I thought this picture was perfect!  This is my first school picture as a teacher circa. 1982. Oh the hair!!! Keep reading to see how I’ve had to adapt and if you want to read more, hop on over to http://www.fiveminutefriday.com 

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21 (NIV)

Time starts now…..

Teaching was my dream but when I arrived in rural West Virginia for my first job, where there was no stop light, no fast food, and no one I knew; I planned to teach for one year and then move on to a bigger and better place.  Little did I know back then, that God had other plans.  36 years later, I’m here to tell you that this naive city girl had a lot to adapt to in her new life! A life I hadn’t planned on. A life I wasn’t really prepared for!

Isn’t that just the way of life though?  We’re moving along with a dream and a plan in our heart and then…..SURPRISE! God has different ideas (and a sense of humor!).  If anyone had told “young me” that I’d live a life in the country where I would know the breed of a cow by looking at her (or would even know it was a her), would come to find the smell of manure familiar and not unpleasant, or eat eggs, meat, and vegetables that didn’t come from a store but rather from hard work, I’d have told them they were crazy! And yet, Here. I. Am.

God brought me and left me here because He knew this IS my “bigger and better” place! I always say that I’ve learned much more than I’ve ever taught . It wasn’t always easy, (I’m sure I whined more than a little to God) but I can’t imagine living any where else now.  I’ve found love, kindness, beauty, and yes, purpose…..my life is a living testimony that God’s purpose DOES prevail!  And oh! Guess what?  I now have to adapt to city life when I go home for a visit. I’m truly a country gal at heart and blessed beyond measure that God exchanged my plans for His!

 

 

Stuck ~ A Five Minute Friday Poem

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Five Minute Friday is always challenging.  Getting a prompt and trying to write to it for five minutes and leaving it basically unedited.  HaHa! Those of you who know me or read many of my posts know that this ole perfectionist has a hard time with that!  Even though I’m a rule follower, I often exceed the five minutes and I usually edit.  Writing a poem for Five Minute Friday poses even a greater challenge!  It’s a challenge I enjoy, however!  I hope you enjoy whats developed today.  If you want to read more about “Stuck” click over to http://www.fiveminutefriday.com

“So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.” John 8: 36 (NLT) / Pixabay

Stuck

Like a carousel round and round,
Getting no where fast.
Or in a chair, back and forth
Each rock the same as the last.

Like words of a song over and over,
Whirling in your mind.
Or hands of the clock that do not move
Because someone forgot to wind.

Like tires in snow buried deep.
They spin instead of go.
Or a traffic jam when you don’t have time
And cars are moving slow.

Like life at times for all of us,
When it seems we’re sinking deep.
Or when we sense a calling
But we’re too afraid to leap.

Like when our hearts are frozen
Paralyzed with fear.
Or when we need a helping hand
But a hand is no where near.

Let’s face it friends, we can all feel stuck
And long to be set free.
We tire of struggling on our own
So fall on bended knee.

When we call upon our Savior
We’re no longer stuck alone.
He’ll guide us to His sweet release.
He won’t leave us on our own.

Like living water flowing free,
Refreshing to the soul.
Or a healing touch that let’s us move
On legs that’ve been made whole.

So when you’re feeling trapped in life
Finding no way out of the muck.
Reach for the Lifeline from above.
And TRULY get unstuck.

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The Other Side ~ Five Minute Friday

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It’s time for me to bring my Five Minute Friday writing and my poem a day goal together again.  This week’s prompt is “other”. Think of all the possibilities!  To read the ideas of “others” on this prompt click over to http://www.fiveminutefriday.com

“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Galatians 6:9 (NLT) / Pixabay

The Other Side

When you’re talking over coffee and the words become hotter than what’s in the cup:

Listen to the other side.

When you’re hurt because a friend who’s always been there seems to have forgotten you:

Remember there’s always the other side.

When you’re blinded by all the bad being shared everywhere you look:

Discover the good in the other side.

When someone is lost in the dark and too afraid to go on:

Shine the light to the other side.

In a world where so many don’t know their way and are clinging to the edge:

Be the bridge to the other side.

When you feel that to listen, remember, discover, shine, and be,  are just too much to bear, don’t grow weary. You’re never alone:

Jesus is on the other side!

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Love’s Release ~ Five Minute Friday

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I’m doing double duty today.  Not only is it day three of the Poetry challenge; it’s also Friday!  Today’s prompt is “Release” in celebration of the release of Kate Motaung’s (the founder of Five Minute Friday) book called “A Place to Land”! I’ll tell you more about this wonderful memoir very soon. So here’s my attempt at once again, joining Poetry and Five Minute writing together.  To read more great posts on “Release” go to http://www.fiveminutefriday.com

“For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.” 1 Peter 1: 18-19 / Pixabay

R oll away your stone of doubt.

E xit your tomb of fear.

L oosen your hold on crippling guilt.

E scape the chains of the world and

A ccept the hope and freedom of

S weet forgiveness,

E ternally ours through the One, who out of love, paid it all.

I Don’t Want to Settle ~ Five Minute Friday

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It’s that time again! I am linking up with the talented writers over at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com 

The prompt today is “Settle”.

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed – or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42 (NIV) / Pixabay

I didn’t settle down to write today until supper was cooked and the mess cleaned up. My day just got in my way.  There were phone calls to make, laundry to finish, and preparations for the Sunrise Service at our church to be made.  Before I knew it, the sun had set and I hadn’t even turned on my laptop.  I’d planned to write after lunch but despite my best intentions, I was distracted by my to do list.

I’m here to tell you my prayer life isn’t much different. I begin my day with the best of intentions: coffee, devotions, and prayer.  The reality is more like: coffee, Facebook, and more coffee.  When I finally do settle down to spend time in prayer, my day gets in my way!  In the midst of my gratitude is my grocery list.  Smack in the middle of my confessions are the contacts I need to make. One minute I’m naming my  joys and the next, I’m naming jobs that need to be done.

Sound familiar? Jesus had come to visit Mary and Martha.  Mary settled in next to Him but the Bible tells us Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. There was food to cook, dishes to wash, and guests to serve. So, just like me, Martha’s day got in the way of her spending time with Jesus. Maybe you can relate, too.

Martha asked Jesus for help with her to do list.  He gave her so much more! He gave her Himself!  He’s inviting us today to also let go of those things that worry and upset us and choose the Only thing we need! I don’t want to just settle for distracted prayer. I want to, like Mary, choose what is better!  How about you?

Time’s up!

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