5 Minute Friday: FRIENDS

Joining up with Gypsy Mama again for 5 minute Friday.  A place where you write for 5 minutes with no editing, no researching, just writing.  This weeks topic:  Friends...

GO.

One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.  Proverbs 18:24

Do you have a friend who'll stick with you no matter what?  If you were to fall into sin, a deep pit, will your friends stand by you?  If a calamity befell you, would they be by your side with just an arm of support?  Or would they be like Job's friends who had all the advice in the world on how to deal with a situation?

I'd imagine out of a group of friends, there would be one of each kind.  At the end of the day, there may be one or two still standing by your side, but then again, you may be left standing all alone.  As the verse above in Proverbs tells us, we can have a friend who sticks closer than a brother.  Jesus is our Friend through it all.  He will not forsake us.  He'd be the one to tell us we really shouldn't wear that certain color top with our hair color.  A real friend.

So if you find yourself in a situation where your earthly friends have all but deserted you, look up, He is still there.  He will be the One who'll hold you up and be your support no matter what.

STOP.

Your turn now.  Here's what you do:
1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.

2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. Go a little overboard encouraging the writer who linked up before you.

Thankful Thursday...

'Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.' Colossians 4:2


I am again thankful beyond words to my Creator who has given me more than I could have asked or imagined.  We sing a song at church entitled 'How Can I Not Sing.'  The words are a testament to His goodness, in the good, as well as the bad seasons. 


The name of the Lord be lifted up, the name of the King be glorified.
Your banner above the earth is great, Your love for Your people deep and wide.


Beautiful Jesus, how can I not sing to You?
I will open up my mouth, to tell all that You have done.
What kind of love is this, that You gave Your only Son.
Beautiful Jesus, how can I not sing to You?


How can I not sing praise to Jesus who delievered me?
How can I not sing praise for my Redeemer rescued me?


Continuing to count one thousand gifts...
#101  2 WII remotes
#102  crisp, fall air
#103  BBQ and bluegrass, for a good cause
#104  A sweet, smiling baby (even when cutting 2 molars)
#105  a hard-working hubby, who at times thinks he's still a teenager
#106  the Dollar store
#107  peanut butter sandwiches
#108  friday night homegroup with good friends
#109  His healing touch
#110  His timely Word to me

Hemlines and Hairdo's

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.  Luke 19:10

She walks into church, right down to the front row, and sits down.  She is different.  Her dress looks like one of those baby doll tops--the ones you're supposed to wear with leggings.  She has earrings in places other than her ears.  Her hair is a rather odd color of green.  From what you can see, beyond the tattoo's, her skin is pale, almost translucent.  What do you do?  Ignore her?  Go out of your way to be overly friendly to her?  Sneer at her?

Better question, what would Jesus do?  From reading the Gospels, I can pretty much guarantee He'd go right down, put His arm around her, say 'Welcome', and sit down.  This was His kind of girl.  She is most likely hurting, lost, searching...for something only He can give her.  Since He's not here (in bodily form anyway), it's our place to go to her, put an arm around, Welcome, and sit down.  This would make me uncomfortable.  I'm not used to folks that look 'different'.  I live in the South, we pretty much all look the same. 

God didn't call us to be comfortable, He called us to reach out even in our unease.  Next time you have a visitor at church, one who doesn't look 'just right' or fit the church mold, try going out of your way to speak to them.  Make conversation.  Be interested.  It's not all about us, you know.
PS- thanks for the prayers, I think I've made it back among the living ;)

5 Minute Friday: GROWING

Joining up with Gypsy Mama for 5 minute Friday:  write for 5 minutes, no editing, no proofing, just write.  Today's topic:  GROWING

GO.

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These boys of mine are growing too fast before their mama's eyes.  The days of needing mama's help for everything is drawing to a close.  Bottles, diapers, late night feedings are all fading into a memory.  I must confess I am grateful to be rid of the middle of the night screaming sessions, but in a way I'll miss them.

The boy of my heart is growing into a fine young man.  He is 7, going on 17, and is in love with every animal he comes across.  He wants a lizard, I say how about a fish.  I can do a fish, I think.

The boy of my womb, the one they said would never be, is improving every day.  He walks without his walker, wears his braces, and charms everyone he meets.  This precious one I've prayed over, cried over, and handed over to the One who loves him even more than I do.

Last, the boy who entered this world six weeks early, a fighter, stubborn boy.  He is growing more independent every day.  Walking, opening every drawer he can reach, and just being all out nosey.  This will be our rounder....what a mess.

Each one different, each one the same in this mama's heart.  Growing....growing.....growing.

STOP.

Your turn:
1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.

2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. Go a little overboard encouraging the writer who linked up before you.

Thankful Thursday...

'Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.' Colossians 4:2

Devote yourself to being thankful.  What does that even mean?  I've been hitting copy and paste on the verse for several weeks now and the words just hit me today.  Devotion is a strong word. According to the dictionary it means:  dedicate; "give thought to"; "give priority to"; "pay attention to".  God is commanding us to give priority to being thankful.  Wow.

I must confess I do not always do this.  I usually give thought to what I don't have or pay attention to the problems in my life.  He calls me to dedicate myself to thankfulness.  Not just one day a week, but everyday.  I should intentionally give thanks daily, in all things.  He has commanded it, therefore, I am to follow it.  Help me Father to be thankful every minute of every day.

Continuing to count one thousand gifts....

#91  Rain, rain, and more rain on our thirsty ground

#92  technology to allow Sam to wear braces without physically wearing them

#93  my snuggie blanket I cover up with on the couch
#94  cold medicine, tylenol, aleve, and flexeril
#95  health insurance, even if it costs WAY too much
#96  new car batteries
#97  leftovers
#98  free babysitters when you need one
#99  work for my self-employed hubby
#100  Scrabble :)

Pressing On...

“You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he.  Isaiah 43:10

Thank you all so much for the prayers, I have felt each one that has went up on my behalf!  I am still feeling under the weather, but I know Satan would have me continue not to write if he had his way and I am not letting him get one up on me!
I wonder why it is hard to trust God with the things that happen in our individual lives.  I can trust Him in the global catastrophies, the sinful world we live in, or someone else's troubles, so why is it so hard to trust Him with our own problems?  I must propose it is because deep, deep down in the secret place of our heart, we really don't believe He cares about our individual struggles.  We have the head knowledge of how much He loves and cares for us, but somehow it has not sunk into our heart.
This is when spending time in His Word, prayer, and fellowship with other believers becomes SO important.  If we allow ourselves to give in to the desire Satan plants in our mind to think He doesn't have time or care for us, we can become isolated and be drawn into a web of fear and defeat.  This is the time it becomes a matter of choosing to believe Him and to let the things we know to be true about His character to guide our thoughts and lead us to victory.
So, this has been my struggle this week.  A tiredness I didn't even know existed came over me, my whole body ached, I was dizzy, and add a cold to the mix--I was done for.  Most of these symptoms are still here.  I have self-diagnosed myself (nurses love to do that) with the help of some labwork and the internet.  My auto-immune disorder has revved up and Satan has been trying to use it to drag me under.  But I am pressing on...I will not let him silence me.  I will keep typing as long as my fingers are able.

Blogging Break

Hello friends!
I have been a bit under the weather these past few days, but hope to be back in the blogging world later this week or next week!  I'll still be following all my fellow bloggers :)

Falls Like Lightning: A Review

I am prejudiced.  There, I said it.  Never thought I was until I got this book, Falls Like Lightning, to review.  How can you be prejudiced against a book?  It wasn't the book, it was the author, Shawn Grady.  He's a man, a fact which he can't help.  I have always overlooked books written by men as I thought, "How could a man write a book to resonate with a woman"?  I know, I know.  You've got Nicholas Sparks, Charles Martin, and so on, but I really had a prejudice against them.

I begrudgingly started reading this book and guess what?  The man can actually write.  And I liked it, really liked it.  The characters were real, even the woman.  It was thrilling, you could tell he came from a background of firefighting.  I can say, in all honesty, I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good, fast-paced read.  Even if it's written by a man!

I was given this copy to review by the publisher.

5 Minute Friday: JOY

Linking up with Gypsy Mama for 5 minute Friday.  The rules are simple:  take 5 minutes to write, unedited, about a topic:  JOY.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  James 1:2-3

GO.

When I saw today's topic, my first thought was of my friend Angie who was diagnosed with lung cancer this week.  Next, it was found to have metastasized to her brain.  She went from being whole to being completely broken in the span of one week.  Angie made poor choices earlier in life and was living in new found freedom from addiction.  She was helping others find the same freedom.  Now this.

Joy can be found in this place though.  The testimony of a race finished well is sometimes larger than what we can do in years of service for Him.  I pray we, as Angie's church family, can help her to finish her race and hear 'Atta girl' when she arrives home, whenever that may be.

I also think of my mother-in-law who left us way too soon.  Too soon for us, I'm sure she wouldn't come back, even if she could.  She left us with such a grace and joy, a testimony of a race well ran.  The hubby's experience can give dear Angie's son hope and maybe a glimpse of the joy his mama will experience.

We don't know the why's of cancer, death, or any other trial we face here on earth.  But we can consider it pure joy when we face such trials because our faith is in Him who is our Deliever.

STOP.

Won’t you link up with us?

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.

2. Link back here and invite others to join in.

3. Go a little overboard encouraging the writer who linked up before you.

Thankful Thursday...

'Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.'  Colossians 4:2

Our little corner of the world has been put under a moderate drought alert.  This is nothing new to us, we've been here before.  Rain will fall all around us, but we seem to part the clouds like the Red Sea.  We have a well, so we've been conserving for awhile.  I am not wasteful with the water because we've had our sinks spit muddy water at us before.  I am confident He's in the business of providing, so I don't consume myself with worry about it.

This talk of drought and dried up wells got me to thinking about the Water that will never run dry.  The Living Water we have access to at all times.  He is never put on drought alert because He's about used up.  He is a spring of Eternal Water and we never have to question if the Source will become dry.  I am so thankful for the Water available to me.  

Continuing to count one thousand gifts....
#81  medication for kids and hubby's when they are sick
#82  a new floor, now complete
#83  Good News Club
#84  the workers who take time to teach kids at the GNC
#85  birthdays
#86  ministry of my church family to one another in sickness
#87  His faithfulness in all things
#88  Living Water, a well never to run dry
#89  New bible studies
#90  spare passies, when the dog eats one

Undercover

'You are my witness, declares the Lord,  and my servant whom I have chosen so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am He.'  Isaiah 43:10

Did you know the church has more secret agents that the US intelligence agency?  We have more people who work undercover than the big city drug task forces.  Sad, but true.  If you ask someone, especially in my area of the country, if they are a Christian most would say yes.  But to look at their life you wouldn't know it.  They are living the Christian life undercover.  They are ashamed to live out what they claim to believe in front of the world.

When we were called by God into the Christian life, do you think He meant for us to keep Him to ourselves?  We are His witnesses to the rest of the world.  We have to live out our walk in front of others.  What does this look like?  Each one of us has a different kind of walk.  Some have been set free from addictions.  Others have walked the valley of sorrow.  While others have come from a background of abuse.  You may not have an extraordinary story, but you have a story just the same.

We have not been called to be super agents, but we have NOT been called to be secret agents either.  Don't follow the crowd.  Stick to your values.  Show kindness to all.  Share your Jesus stories with those around you.  Don't live your life in a way the Secret Service would envy!  Dare to live it out instead!

Make Me an Also

I don't know if any of you had the opportunity to attend the Beth Moore simulcast this past Saturday, but it was an awesome event.  The Holy Spirit was all over the 180,000 women (and a few brave men).  The air was thick with Him, pressing down, opening us, and filling us up with Himself.  It was a sweet time with some precious sisters!

Beth was teaching from Luke and Acts and I can't even begin to recap half of what she said, but I did want to share a few highlights that have stuck with me.  How the woman can see the things she does in Scripture is beyond me-it's got to be the Spirit, there is no other explanation.  She pointed out the fact Luke was a second generation Christian.  He did not see Jesus for himself, but he tells us in Luke 1 that he had thoroughly investigated Jesus and it seemed good to him also to write of his findings.  This is one case where you want to be an 'also'.  You don't want to be the forerunner, the leader, or the commander.  You want to be included in the crowd (of believers) as an also!

She also pointed out where Luke joined Paul in Acts.  I had no idea and would've probably never noticed it, but if you read Acts 16:8-10 the wording suddenly changes from they to we.  The previous 15 chapters were told from the viewpoint of they, then BOOM, there he is.  And he stayed with Paul until the very end of his life.  It is believed he penned Paul's final letter to Timothy.  Luke was Paul's BFF.  Who knew?  Maybe you did, but I hadn't a clue.

I love learning about the history of the church.  If I were rich, I'd go back to college and take Bible classes.  Until the money tree in the backyard starts producing, I'll have to settle for folks like Beth who have been led by the Spirit to teach those like me!

5 Minute Friday

Linking up with Gypsy Mama today.  The challenge:  sit down, write 5 minutes unedited, unscripted on the topic of In Real Life...

GO.

In real life I struggle with doubt, fear, anxiety, and insecurity.
In real life I wonder if He really cares about me or if He even hears me.
In real life I want to be used by Him, a vessel open and waiting to be filled.
In real life I long for my children to be thirsty for Him and His goodness.

Praise God I don't dwell in the land of real life.  I pitch my tent in the valley of His dwelling place.  I live in the vastness of His grace and mercy.  In this place, I am assured of my worth and His love.  Here, I can be free.  Free to live life in the here and now.  Not in the place of 'what-if' and 'why'.  I am safe and secure in the shadow of the Almighty, this is a place where I can live a real life.

Where are you dwelling today?  Is it in the real life the world throws in your face or are you living in the real life He has designed just for you?  I like it over here with Him. 

STOP.

Thankful Thursday...

'Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.' Colossians 4:2

Another Thursday has rolled around!  As always, I have much to be thankful for.  I don't want to take ONE thing, even the breath He has given me, for granted.  The blessings come when you stop and take notice of even the most simplest of gifts!  The dog hair on my floors because it means I have a house.  The icing on my chair because it means little hands smeared it there.  So thankful!

I am also thankful for the not so happy gifts:  Cerebral Palsy, financial struggles, poor health of family members.  These are also His gifts to me.  Chances He has given to allow me to grow and trust Him as never before.  Opportunity to let His light shine through me.  So thankful!

Counting one thousand gifts:
#70  retests for my second grader
#71  orange soccer jersey's
#72  google so I can learn how to do second grade homework
#73  willingness of strangers to serve Him alongside one another
#74  hardworking hubby who painted my house
#75  the flat head shovel the hubby used to get the tile off the kitchen floor
#76  cloud cover from TS Lee that has kept the temps down
#77  a clean refrigerator
#78  2 boys playing DS together and getting along
#79  boy #3 taking a nap
#80  the smell of fall

What are you thankful for today?

One More Hour

  Our local highschool football coach went into cardiac arrest 8 days ago.  He was given life again by his wife, EMS, and his Father.  He was on a local sports talk show this evening and he posed this question to his players:  If you knew you only had one hour left to live, how would you spend it?

My first inclination would be to say spend it with my family.  Doing nothing but being together.  But after giving more thought to it...is that how I would want to step into eternity?  No, I'd want to leave this earth shouting the name of Jesus and how great He is!  I'd want to shout the good news to all the people I've been afraid to share Jesus with.  I would go out in a blaze of glory...sprinting to the throne to finish my race well.

What about you?  How would you spend your final hour on this earth?  With family?  Doing something you've always been fearful of doing?  Or would you spend that one final hour with the only One who matters?

One Body, One Mind

All the believers were together and had everything in common.  Acts 2:44

What denomination are you?  What do you believe about church leadership?  What about speaking in tongues and other giftings?  These are questions Christians ask each other.  Can I just suggest, what does it matter?  If you believe that Jesus is the Son of God, who came to this earth in the form of man, lived as a man, was crucified on the cross for our sins, rose from the grave in three days, and is seated at the right hand of the Father until He comes again--that is all you should need to know about another believer.  Everything else is relative.  Some of it is legalism, some fanaticism, but if your core belief is truth, then you are brothers and sisters in Christ-regardless.

I think most of the problem with the current church and her tendency to laziness is dissension among believers.  "We can't be associated with this group because they are charismatic"  or "We can't fellowship with those believers because they are a different color or culture".  Is that what Christ intended when He established the early church?  I think not.  Everyone lived together, shared everything, and were in agreement in all things.  We've just made up a bunch of rules and made 'church' and the body of Christ so much more difficult than it needs to be.



Our Church serving together remodeling a member's home



This weekend, our local women's ministry is joining together with other ladies, from different denominations, colors, ages and are putting on an event for the Beth Moore Simulcast.  The three ladies who've headed it up have made the statement of how easy it has been to work together.  No dissension, just serving Him and His girls.  This is how the church should be.  What a breath of fresh air to see God's people serving with love for the Kingdom.  I pray we see more of this in the coming days!

5 Minute Friday

5 minutes of un-edited, un-planned writing on the topic of...REST:

GO.

Rest.  The picture above is one of complete trust and rest.  We are on the way to the beach and the weenie dog is curled up in my lap on a pillow.  She is at rest.  She is not concerned about the traffic flying by outside the truck windows.  She is not concerned about the tradition of blowing a tire EVERY time we go to the beach (tradition held true this trip also-on the way home).

What would it be like to experience rest this complete every day?  Do you realize this is how He intends for us to actually live?  Unconcerned about the world flying around outside our doors.  Completly trusting Him and His will for our lives.  Doing the work He has called us to do, living every day in the freedom and rest that He has given to us.

Do you claim this rest He has blessed us with?  I must confess that I don't, not usually.  I am looking around me, trying to figure out the best way to make life situations go my way...not resting in Him.  What about you?

STOP.

Thankful Thursday...

'Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.' Colossians 4:2

I'm giving my thanks a little late this week, but I'm thankful He doesn't judge me for that!  Gratitude can be uttered any time and I know He will receive it as the praise it's intended to be.  When you really start to look for the blessings in your life, He will deliver!  I have so much to be thankful for and I don't want to take anything He has given, good or bad, for granted. 

Continuing to count one thousand gifts...

#60  for the edit post button, so I can look back and see what number I am on
#61  my birthday (26 years old tomorrow-started going backwards @ 30)
#62  the hubby's birthday Saturday
#63  the fact the hubby will always be older than me
#64  lime green wrapping paper (that I discovered too late you could see through)
#65  big brothers
#66  college football
#67  the hubby's excitement over said football
#68  prayers of a community for one of their own
#69  coffee and real half & half
#70  community of women willing to serve one another

Are you thankful today?