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Promised ~ Five Minute Friday

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Promised

“But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.” 2 Peter 3:13 (NIV) / Pixabay

We don’t have to look much further than our social media feeds, tv, or magazines to find lofty promises of a better life! Pills that will let us lose that extra weight WITHOUT dieting or exercise. Creams that will give us back the skin of our youth. Investments that are sure to make us wealthy. Books and classes that will reveal the solutions to our problems. It seems that all these promises have something in common: they can be ours for…..a price.

Now, I must admit that I have been quick to succumb to one or two of these tantalizing offers myself over the years and there’s nothing wrong with wanting to improve and be the best that we can be. But, here’s a question to ask ourselves: are we as quick to seek the promises of God to help improve our spiritual selves and be the best Christians we can be, as we are those worldly promises? I’m afraid my answer hasn’t always been “yes”.

“For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” 1 Timothy 4:8 (NIV)

God’s promises fill the Bible. He promises us rest, wisdom, strength, peace, forgiveness, and the list goes on and on. All these promises have something in common too, they are ours for….a price; but this price was paid when Jesus went to the cross carrying our sins. Wait, there’s more! God’s promises aren’t just for this earthly life but they continue into life eternal!

“And this is what he promised us – eternal life.” 1 John 2:25 (NIV)

Although younger skin, a fit body, or more money in the bank might be nice; the truth is they are all things I’ll have to work for to achieve, not things found through a quick fix infomercial. I’m continuing to learn, slowly but surely, that the temporary, worldly desires of my heart are nothing compared to what God desires for your heart and mine! And He’s already done all the work for us! All we have to do is accept His gift.  So, let’s try to eat a little less, apply some sunscreen, and spend more wisely to help us live our best physical lives. But more importantly than that, let us always feed on His word, apply his teachings, and spend time gaining His wisdom, so that our spiritual life leads us right into eternity just as He has promised!

The prompt this week at  http://www.fiveminutefriday.com is “Promise”.  I’ve already read a few other posts and are they ever good! I encourage you to click over and read for yourself.  I actually thought I’d stick to the five minute time limit this week, but nope….went over again.  Oh well, there’s always next week!

 

 

Lack ~ Five Minute Friday

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“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.” Psalm 118:1 (NIV) / Pixabay

What Do I Lack?

I don’t lack in clothing.
My cupboards are filled with food.
I don’t need more gadgets.
But, what about more gratitude?

I don’t lack the space
For nice, comfortable living.
Friends and family abound.
But, do I abound in thanksgiving?

I don’t lack in opportunity
For making the most of my days.
Time is mine to offer.
But, do I offer praise?

No, I don’t lack in life’s blessings
Neither contentment nor in love.
What I DO lack is always remembering
To thank God above!

Easter is a reminder that,
My many blessings cannot compare,
To the gift of Jesus upon the cross
With all my sins to bear.

The price he paid for each of us
Is one we can never pay back.
For no other reason than this alone,
In praise and gratitude to Him, we should NEVER lack!

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)

 

It took a while, but finally finished this poem for the link up at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com The many creative writers over there have also written to the prompt “Lack” this week.  I know you’ll enjoy reading their posts! Inspiration is just a click away!

 

 

 

 

 

Reward ~ Five Minute Friday

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Birthday Reflections

“You have let me experience the joys of life and the exquisite pleasures of your own eternal presence.” Psalm 16:11 (TLB) / Pixabay

I just celebrated my 60th birthday. Milestone birthdays like this one can be challenging; at least they have been for me. Maybe you, too.  As this big one approached, I found myself reflecting on my past significant birthdays:

Thirty:  This seems to be the first birthday we dread.  I think it’s because we feel as if we’re leaving youth behind and facing adulthood square in the face.  That was the least of my worries on my thirtieth birthday, though!  On the day I turned thirty I was almost two weeks overdue with our second baby, on bed rest, and my thoughts were not on myself but instead totally focused on that new little life.

Forty:  As difficult as it seems to turn thirty, becoming forty somehow feels worse! We think of our parents being forty, not us! I can honestly say I wasn’t looking forward to it at all! Then, the boxes began arriving…..Every old age gag available filled box after box. Black balloons, Oreos on a “40” plate, a giant ear with hair growing out of it! The list goes on and on.  My sister took a day I was dreading and turned it into a time of joy and laughter!

Fifty:  Ok, let’s face it, the big 5-0 is tough to handle! I had friends who crossed over to the dark side before me, so I was already hearing the horror stories of how your teeth and feet are the first to go. Our house was an empty nest, my internal thermometer was on the blink, and I felt adrift. Celebrating was not on my agenda but love changed my plans! My sneaky family orchestrated a huge surprise party and surprised I was!!! I laughed. I cried. I. Felt. Treasured. Suddenly, turning 50 didn’t seem so bad. Love changed that for me, too.

That brings us to yesterday….

Sixty:  You should know that I’d been struggling with the thought that I was going to be sixty. SIXTY! I can remember my grandma telling me two things that I now relate to: 1) The older you get, the faster time passes (so true) and 2) That even though her body looked her age, she still felt like a young woman on the inside (ditto!) It just seemed so weird to think that I could possibly be sixty years old but the more I began to think about my life and after a few pep talks and devotions that seemed written just for me, God reminded me that 60 years is a gift worthy of celebration! Life itself is a gift worth celebrating! And I’m living a great one! Yesterday was made so special by the wishes, messages, cards, and gifts that I received and to tell you the truth: sixty feels pretty good!

Looking back has a way of putting things into perspective and I have found that each decade has taught me a lesson about what it means to be not just alive, but alive in Christ! My thirtieth birthday came and went without anguish because my thoughts were focused on someone other than myself and isn’t that how we should live everyday?

“Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others.  Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.  Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.” Philippians 2:3-5 (NLT)

Facing forty seemed overwhelming but once laughter was added, suddenly I was able to find  the joy and the dread faded away.  Life offers us plenty to dread, but what we do with it makes all the difference, not just for ourselves but also for those around us. Counting our blessings has an amazing way of helping us focus on what’s most important!

“We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy.  And the other nations said, “What amazing things the LORD has done for them.” Psalm 126:2 (NLT)

Love. It changes everything!  We are called to love…our neighbor, ourselves, and even our enemies! On my fiftieth birthday love was a light in the darkness! What a great reminder that we are to be that same light of love in the world.

“Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.” 1 John 4:7 (NLT)

And finally, the lesson I’m learning right now as I type this: I am blessed to have been given the gift of these 60 years! Turning 60 isn’t something to regret, but something worth celebrating, something to embrace! It’s true for whatever year you’ve been gifted with!

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17 (NIV)

My birthday reflections have shown me that it isn’t the number of candles on the cake that we should count as important. What we’re going to do with the number the Giver has gifted us with is what really counts. Living out these birthday lessons by putting others first, finding joy in all situations, loving those we come in contact with, and recognizing that each day we’re given is a gift help us celebrate not our birth but our rebirth. The reward that awaits us as we live in Christ is the best present we can ever receive!  So with that in mind I say, Hello sixty! I can’t wait to see where you take me! And if it’s God’s will, look out seventy! Here. I. Come!

“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.” Colossians 3:23-24 (NLT)

I’m joining the writing community at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com today on the prompt “Reward”. I’m looking forward to reading what others have written  If you’d like to join me just click on over. You won’t be sorry!

 

 

His Mercy Rains and Rains ~ Five Minute Friday

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It’s raining over at  http://www.fiveminutefriday.com not really, but the prompt is “rain”. Grab your umbrellas! Here we go……

“Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance. Jude 1:2 (NIV) / Pixabay

It rained and rained and rained and rained. By afternoon: school was dismissed early. By evening: phone lines were dead and the electricity flickering. By nightfall:  we were without power and water was rising in the cellar. We awoke the next morning to an eerie hush that hovered heavy on the air. No birdsong. No traffic. No voices. Just the loud roar of rushing waters making their way down what had once been the road that lead in and out of our little town. In a matter of hours, life completely changed and from that moment on, time was defined as “before the flood” and “after the flood”.

When I left my classroom in the rain that day, I never imagined it would be weeks until I’d return. I’d called my mom to tell her we had a flood warning but not to worry. It never occurred to me that we’d be out of touch for what seemed an unbearable amount of time. Nothing could have prepared me for handing my nine month old son over to Army Reservists who’s all-terrain vehicle could make its way across mountains to take him to my in-laws’ farm where there was wood heat, when we had none. The flood of 1985 destroyed roads and farms, demolished homes, and swept away precious lives. It also taught me about community, perseverance, compassion, and God’s amazing grace!

We are rarely prepared for the storms of life. They come unexpectedly and often leave us in dark and seemingly unbearable places. It’s easy to feel engulfed. Even though many years have passed since that November flood, I’m reminded still today of the lessons I learned in it’s aftermath. While singing along with Chris Tomlin’s song “My Chains are Gone” one day, I got to the lines: “And like a flood, His mercy reigns. Unending love, amazing grace.” and I was overcome!   I know what a flood can do and these words reminded me that God doesn’t give his gifts of mercy, love, and grace like a light, spring rain but rather just like a flood: with all its power, abundance, and an outpouring that saturates our souls and fills us to overflowing. When we accept those gifts, time then becomes defined as “before Jesus” and “after Jesus”. And our lives? They are completely changed forever! Amazing!

 

 

Rush to Save

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Time Flies! Life moves at warp speed it seems.  We rush here. We rush there. But, what are we rushing after?  Join us today at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com to read all the thoughts on the prompt, “Rush”.

Back in the early 90’s (a time when bangs and plaid were obviously popular) my sisters and I got together on every Black Friday to shop till we dropped. Back then, it was the only time stores had big sales and so on Thanksgiving night we’d sit on the floor with all the ads spread out around us looking for the items on our Christmas wish lists. Once we knew where to find the lowest prices it was time to make our game plan which usually went a little like this: Donuts, shop, lunch, shop, cookies, shop, drop.(HaHa! Food played an important part in these shopping trips-extra energy, you know!) With little sleep, we’d rise bright and early Friday morning and having our checkbooks, coupons, and lots of coffee in hand, we’d rush out the door to find the best deals of the day!

The game plans to save have changed a little since the days of our sisters’ shopping trips.  Now, tents are set up outside stores as customers line up to be the first ones to claim their item at a lower price.  Some people drive extra miles to save a few cents on gasoline while others search the internet for coupon codes before they shop. We’re drawn to a “lowest prices of the season” sale like moths to a light and removing that sticker to reveal “30% off” encourages us to buy more since we’re saving so much!

It’s true. We are dedicated to saving these days and sometimes it makes it easy to get caught up in the latest and greatest deals the world offers, too. Buy this and you will look better, do this and you’ll finally feel like yourself, or try this and your problems will seem to disappear. Sound familiar? (Think slithery voice) Yes, the world tries to sell us on ways to save…..save ourselves, that is.

  “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved……For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:4-5,8-9 (NIV) 

So the next time we find ourselves flitting from one sales tactic of the world to another or making a game plan to save ourselves before we drop, we need to remember Black Friday. Not the day after Thanksgiving, but rather the Friday when darkness fell across the whole land as Jesus was crucified for you and me. When we rush to the One who saved us, we receive the best deal of our lives (it’s free), no one can beat His offer (His life), and His saving benefits are beyond compare (forgiveness of our sins).  And the best thing? There are no returns (we’re His eternally)! Let’s not let the world sell us on anything less!