After {Five Minute Friday}

Every Friday Lisa Jo Baker gives a prompt and many bloggers like myself take that prompt and write for just five minutes.  It is a wonderful community and if you blog I encourage you to try it.  Writing for five minutes is the perfect way for me to ease back into blogging after an very unexpected gap of three weeks.  In that three weeks much has happened, mostly illness, Easter, and company.  But also, my sweet sister-in-law started her own blog.  Anyway, today's prompt is After!  And here I go:

After
After illness.  After the exhaustion of caring for sick little ones.  After the whole house seems to be falling apart.  How do I pick up the pieces?  How do I care for us all better so one virus doesn't seem to make me lose three weeks. 

After Easter.  After my Lord Jesus died.  How did they pick up the pieces?  Life had changed forever, in a way so much more significantly than the illness at my house.  Jesus died for sins, rose from the dead, and sent the Holy Spirit.  And the early believers transitioned from Judaism to Christianity.

So how do I keep my eyes focused on Him who I cannot see? Instead of on earthly things like the messes and to dos?  And know when to quit doing when the work never ends?  I don't know.  Maybe we can figure it out together.

And my five minutes are up.

I wanna go HOME {Five Minute Friday}

Yeah! It is Friday!  It has been an odd week in Cincinnati with a snow day in the middle of the week, so it feels more like Tuesday than Friday.  But I will take it :)  So, since it is Friday it is time for Five Minute Friday where a whole bunch of us all write about one word, given to us by Lisa Jo Baker.  It is all about encouragement and acceptance, not editing or over-thinking.  The only thing is we can only write for five minutes.

And this week the prompt is: HOME

Home, what can I say about home?  As a kid I was raised in a Navy house.  I think this really changed my attitude about home.  I didn't move as often as some Navy kids, but still to me home is people not a place or a house.  Home is being with family.

I will admit that for a while I thought of my grandparent's house as home.  A great big Victorian home in Montana.  But, that got too big and too hard to maintain.  They sold it and moved to the town where my aunt lived.  And then for sure, there was no physical place to call home.

Now still, even though it is no longer the Navy moving us around, I haven't lived for more than five years in one place.  I am ready to call Cincinnati home.  But really, deep down, I know that God has not called us to call earth our home.  As Christians, our real home is in heaven.  And that is the home I should be longing for.  And indeed I do.

STOP

But our citizenship is in heaven – and we also await a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform these humble bodies of ours ³⁰  into the likeness of his glorious body by means of that power by which he is able to subject all things to himself.
Philippians 3:20-21 NET Bible

Ordinary {Five Minute Friday}

It is Friday and I am posting my Five Minute Friday with Lisa Jo Baker.  Actually on Friday this time, instead of Sunday.  Must mean something is going right this week.  This is the time where we all come together and type for just five minutes on a prompt word.  No over thinking, no editing, just come as you are and everyone is welcome.  And this week our prompt is:

Ordinary

GO

Ordinary.  Am I just an ordinary girl?  Of course, so why is it that I don't want to feel ordinary?
My heart desires to be special.  Unique.  Individual.  And of course I am that too.  How can that be?
How is it that both can be so true?  We are all special, unique and individual.
Yet, Jesus.  My Lord and God.  The Bible says he was ordinary.  Well, at least he appeared ordinary.  Yet He was divine.  He was content to give up heaven and live on earth as an ordinary man.  To save us from our sins.  But I struggle with ordinary.  With ordinary tasks.  Ordinary life.
When I think about it, I am convinced that to earthly eyes there is much ordinary.  Cooking, cleaning, little ones to watch, care for, grow up.  But spiritually there is no ordinary.  Spiritually we are on a great adventure with God.  Because He is not ordinary.  We just have to keep our spiritual eyes open and looking at Him to see our lives as He does.
Extraordinary.

Stop

He had no stately form or majesty that might catch our attention,

no special appearance that we should want to follow him.
Isaiah 53:2b

Five Minute Friday...on Sunday

I think it goes without saying that life has been a little busy if I miss the Five Minute Friday Twitter Party and I don't get to my Five Minute Friday post until Sunday night.  Let's just say that hubby is out of town, I am writing resumes and looking for a job.  Oh, and Miss Froggie had water spilled all over her laptop.  Which means I am sharing this one with her.  All that adds up to very little time left over with a computer to write on.  Thanks for hanging in there with me.

So, the prompt for this week is: What Mama Did
GO

What Mama Did
My Mama was a Navy wife.  To me that means she did it all.  Sometimes with Dad gone for six months or more at a time.  She ran the daily round, got it all done, packed us up and moved us to a new town all by herself.  Friends called her Donna Reed.  I think that is because we had family dinner and she always had a smile on her face.

But, you don't really know what Mama did until you have been with her on a trip!  Trips with Mama require a vacation from your vacation!  Also meticulously planned with activities that each person would enjoy.  And the only "down" time was the time it took to drive there in a car!  And oh the vacations we took.  By the time I started college I had been to all but three of the United States.  And I had been to France and Italy!  Sometimes it helps to have a dad in the Navy...an excuse to visit.

We drove across country, went spelunking, hiking in Yellowstone, swimming in the ocean on both coasts.  Train trips, car trips, and airplane rides.  Only boat trips were left to dad.  That is what my Mama did.

Beloved {Five Minute Friday}

I always enjoy writing for the Five Minute Friday link up with Lisa-Jo Baker.  And this week is no exception.  Every week we write for 5 minutes flat on a prompt word.  No over-thinking, no worries about editing or typos.  One of the reasons I love it is because of all the friends I write with and how accepting and encouraging they are.  If you have blog you should join us next week.  This week the word is:

BELOVED

Beloved.  Don't we all just long to feel beloved.  That most important person in the world to someone special.  Cherished and adored.  And in the wake of Valentine's Day, it is especially clear whether feel beloved or not.

Usually I do not think of Valentine's Day as a religious holiday.  And yet this year it fell right after the beginning of lent.  And so I am struck that even with my beloved husband and children and family, none of them are the ones who love me best.  It is as I tell my Jujube,  "I love you so much, but Jesus loves you more."

Why is that so easy for me to tell my children and so hard for me to really feel.  To really accept that I am Jesus' BELOVED?  I know he must of loved me very much to leave heaven and die for me.   I relate to him as friend, servant, disciple.  But BELOVED?  What an intimacy that implies.  Oh how I want more and more intimacy with Him.  I am reminded of what I recently read in Luke 20 in the Message.  "Those who are included in the resurrection of the dead will no longer be concerned with marriage nor, of course, with death.  They will have better things to think about, if you can believe it.  All ecstasies and intimacies then will be with God."

All I can do is stand amazed and hope you feel BELOVED by him as I do this weekend.

Bare {Five Minute Friday}

It is Friday and after having a blast at the #FMFparty twitter party, I'm writting along with many others on the one word prompt that Lisa-Jo Baker picked for us and I'm linking up with them again.  The beauty of it is that it is midnight I only have 5 minutes and I'm told not to edit or over-analyze.  Often in these times it seems God speaks more clearly, at least to me.  Tonight I am one handed and joined by baby.  So here it goes:

BARE

Jesse Bear what will you wear in the morning? Jesse Bare what will you wear at night?

You can't go outside, you have bare feet.  "Silly mommy, I don't have bear feet.  I have Jujube feet".

Oh, the things the word bare brings up in me.  Mostly silly fun things.  And yet I know, there will be a time when I am laid bare before Him!  And He was laid bare for me on the cross.

Why is it that as kids being bare is silly and fun, no cause for shame at all?  But as we grow, age, mature, being bare is uncomfortable, embarrassing, shameful, painful? 

What is it that I am covering up?  I know I cannot really hide anything from Him.  But I am often successful at hiding things from myself.  At least temporarily.

I came into the world bare and I will return to Him bare.  I might as well get comfortable that way.  But oh, He will cover me.  And that will be the day.

Blessed ⁸  are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 
Romans 4:7 NET Bible

Afraid {Five Minute Friday}

It is Friday, so I am linking up again with Five Minute Friday over at Lisa-Jo Baker's website.  We write for just five minutes about a prompt that she gives us.  No over thinking, no editing. Just my style.  And this week's word is AFRAID.

GO

Afraid.  Am I afraid?  Do I even allow myself to think about my fear?  Isaac and Jacob called you the Fear.  Yet, I am not usually afraid of you.  Maybe I should have more fear of the Lord.  And less fear of the world.  Fear of what happens if I do go back to work.  And what happens if I don't. 
Fear of relationships, pain, and ...

And, I guess the rest of my fear comes from protecting my pride.  Not exactly something to be proud of.
Does that come from years of making sure that no one sees when I am afraid?
And how to I cease striving and just let You make me into what you want me to be?

 

Maybe I am too afraid to let go?  Things for me to meditate on in Your presence.

Again

It is Friday again already.  And while I can't believe it the last Friday in January, I am super excited to link up again with Lisa-Jo Baker for Five Minute Friday.  This is where we all link up our posts on one word.  We have just five minutes to type about whatever word Lisa-Jo chooses.  No editing, no over thinking.  And this week it is:

AGAIN
Again I fix breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Again I wash the dishes.
Again I try to tidy the house, nurse the baby,  pick up the kids.
Again I work to settle the arguments.
It seems I get nothing lasting done.

Much like my prayers.  Again I failed you Jesus.  Again my tongue ran wild.  Again I did what I did not want to do.  Again you gave me grace.  Again you pay the price.

And then, my Jujube answers the question.  Who is your favorite super hero?
He says "Jesus, Jesus is my super hero"
And He is mine too.
It seems maybe Jesus and I are getting something lasting done.

Cherished

Every Friday I link up with some wonderful ladies and type for just five minutes about a word that Lisa-Jo Baker chooses for us.  And this weeks word is Cherished.

GO

Cherished.  What every little girl longs to be.  Cherished.  Noticed.
Look at me.  Watch me.
Look at me twirl daddy.  Do you like my dress?  How about my make-up?
Let's have a fashion show.
We grow up.  We learn that not everyone cherishes us.
We become wary of showing our sparkle to just anyone.

But our daddy in heaven, He watches. And waits for it.
Did you see me daddy?
Yes daughter.  And you are so beautiful.
And I cherish you.
You are altogether beautiful, my darling! There is no blemish in you! (Song of Songs 4:7 NET)

STOP

 For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. He has chosen you to be his people, prized above all others on the face of the earth.  (Deu 14:2 NET)

Dive

Well, it's Friday again.  And you know what that means.  It's time to link up with Lisa-Jo Baker and Five Minute Friday!  We take one word and write for just five minutes.  No over thinking, no editing. And today's word is DIVE

GO

Dive.  Dive in.  Take the plunge as MOPS says this year.  But am I really willing?  To dive I have to take my feet off the ground.  I have to jump.  Jump in head first.  I should be able to.  I like adventure.  I get bored with routine.  But, I like controlled adventure.  Like a good roller coaster or a scary movie.  I know how its going to end.

Of course, really we know how this life is going to end too.  Jesus already won when he stayed on the cross and conquered death.  He is good and He will rule over all.  This physical life it is just about whose side I am on.  His or not. 

O why is it that I find it so hard?  Why does momentary suffering and pain bother me so much?  The Bible says that I am to count it all joy.  To consider myself blessed to suffer for Christ.  Sometimes I am not sure if I suffered for Christ, or for my own selfish self-centeredness.  Or some of both.

But the memory keeps me here.  Not willing to dive in.  Not willing to risk again.  Not moving forward in growth.  And so He waits.  Because He is full of grace.  He has time for me to get brave enough to try again.  He is Good.  And in the end He will perfect the thing He started in me.

STOP

Thanks for stopping by today for Five Minute Friday.

Doors of Opportunity

Lisa Jo at The Gypsy Mama gives us a prompt at midnight every Friday night and then we write for just 5 minutes.  No editing, no over thinking.  And we all get together for a twitter party at #FMFParty for a couple hours before the prompt is given. But we took the month of December off.  And oh how I have missed it.  I am so glad it is back.

Today's prompt is: Opportunity

Opportunity
Wow.  What a word to write about now.  Just now while the baby us crying and wants to nurse and I'm typing with one hand?  Do I get twice as long with one hand?

Opportunity.  What we all want for our kids.  What I want for myself this year.  But only God can give the opportunities that matter.

The opportunity to share with another abut Christ.  To disciple a child.  To effect eternity.
I'm tempted to focus on the opportunities of this world instead of His kingdom.
But Lord, let me instead focus on Your Son and the opportunities You are bringing for me to share in Your Work.

Stay the course

Now, set your timer, clear your head, for five minutes of free writing without worrying about getting it right.

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..
Oh and Ahem, if you would take pity and turn off comment verification, it would make leaving some love on your post that much easier for folks!
OK, are you ready? Please give us your best five minutes on:::

Stay…

GO

Stay.

Stay.  That is what God told me to do.  Why is that so hard?

Stay.  Remain in me.  Work through the tough stuff.  Don’t run away.

I want to run away.  In my own power, I would run away.  Not face the fire.  Not walk through the high waters.

But in His power I stayed.  Hard to believe that staying power is so hard to come by.

But He has enough of it.  He stayed on the cross when He had the power to come down.  He could have run away from my sin but He stayed.  Nothing He could ask me to stick with could be harder than dying on the cross, being separated from God and winning the war against Satan.

Try as I might I still sin against Him and my neighbor while I try to walk through the fire or through the high waters.  As Paul says I do exactly the thing I do not want to do.

And when my eyes stray from Him, staying the course that He has made for me is impossible.  I do not want to fail my babies. 

Must keep my eyes or Him and stay on this race He made just for me.

Quiet

Now, set your timer, clear your head, for five minutes of free writing without worrying about getting it right.

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

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

3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..

OK, are you ready? Please give us your best five minutes on:::

Quiet…

GO

 

Quiet, Ahh, Quiet
Lord, that quiet place
I must quiet my soul, cease my striving and know that you are God.
And it may take a full five minutes just to quiet all the thoughts rambling around in my head.
Paper and pen helps to get the me out of my head so I can hear YOU.
And oh, You reward those who seek You. It is worth the effort.
And effort it is. I am frequently so busy with the urgent that I put off the most important.
Lord, teach me to have a still quiet spirit before You even the midst of a chaotic world

Dig deeper

Now, set your timer, clear your head, for five minutes to just write without worrying if it’s just right or not.



1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..
Oh and Ahem, if you would take pity and turn off comment verification, it would make leaving some love on your post that much easier for folks!
OK, are you ready? Won’t you please give me your best five minutes on:

Roots

Roots for the graceful oak tree.  Roots that seek out the living water so I can bear much fruit. Roots that hold me secure in the place God has planted me.   Roots are not as fancy as the leaves and the branches.  If I was deciding where to put my energy I would place it all in flowers.

 But God knows that I must have roots to last through the dry spells.  And if water is readily available at the surface the trees and I will not expend the effort to dig deeper.  To try harder.  So, wisely He presses me.  Makes me go through longer and longer testing, stressing me so the roots are deep and strong, and I am secure in Him.

Isaiah 61:3
to strengthen those who mourn in Zion,

by giving them a turban, instead of ashes,

oil symbolizing joy, ⁷  instead of mourning,

a garment symbolizing praise, ⁸  instead of discouragement. ⁹ 

They will be called oaks of righteousness, ¹⁰ 

trees planted by the Lord to reveal his splendor. ¹¹

Finding my Voice

Now, set your timer, clear your head, for five minutes to just write without worrying if it’s just right or not.

Five Minute Friday

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..
Oh and Ahem, if you would take pity and turn off comment verification, it would make leaving some love on your post that much easier for folks!
OK, are you ready? Won’t you please give me your best five minutes on:


Voice
Then…I used to sing in chorus and choir. But I would frequently lose my voice. My voice coach wondered if I had vocal nodules. Something like calluses on the vocal cords. And I did. I had to go two weeks without speaking. And relearn to talk in a way that was not damaging to my voice.

Now again I look for my voice, for but this time not my oral voice. This time I seek to establish my blogging voice. And instead of a voice coach I look to God to coach me.

Now, set your timer, clear your head, for five minutes to just write without worrying if it’s just right or not.



1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..
Oh and Ahem, if you would take pity and turn off comment verification, it would make leaving some love on your post that much easier for folks!
OK, are you ready? Won’t you please give me your best five minutes on:::

Look…

Take a good look.

What is the Lord trying to make me see? 

I think He is telling me to look carefully and really see all the gifts He has given me.

A husband, four kids two girls two boys.

Health, jobs, vehicles, more.

Seasons, trees, fall leaves, oceans, mountains still more.

Other women willing to invest in me.

Time a very precious gift.  The one I squander the most.

Jesus.  His death to allow a relationship with Him.

Grace.  SO much grace the Lord has given me.

And I can be new every morning.

Gratitude.  I will look.  Look at what has been given to me.  So I don’t miss it.  So I can say thank you.  So, in the noticing the gifts I have been given I can give thanks and have the joy that He intended.

5 minute Friday

Joining in on Five Minute Friday, where you write for 5 minutes about a specific topic. No thinking or editing. Just writing for 5 minutes. Here is mine for the word Race!


Racing.
Me racing around all the time. Trying to get things done.
Race the three year old to preschool. Race home and try to get as much of the house clean as possible before the baby wakes up. Race after the 3 year old while he is playing at the park. Race the 7th grader to gymnastics. Race to Walmart with 10 year old while 7th grader is at gymnastics. Race home and try to get dinner on the table before everyone is starving.
Running running all day long.
Praying I finish the race God has set out for me.
That I slow down enough to spend time with Him
Slow enough to enjoy the baby before he’s not a baby any more.
Slow enough to get to know each of my children well before they are grown and gone.
Slow enough to be intentional and in the moments that He has given.