5 Minute Friday - Story

Writing with Lisa Jo and the girls for 5 Minute Fridays.....5 minutes, no edits or re-writes and love those that came before you. 

Topic: Story....GO

 

What's your story.....I wonder that more often these days when I look past what my eyes see. I know that the surface tells it's own story but I also know that is most usually a false one. That who we are and what our story is goes much, much deeper than that. My own seems like a strange novel where some days you think YES!!! And others it's like, who saw that coming ?!? Twists and turns and things I never dreamed. All shaping the story that is me. All being used by Him for His greater plan, the story of His children.... I think I'm nearing the end of this little chapter in my big picture. And as always it makes me hopeful. And also, thankful.

Stop.

Seeking

I made it.  This is it.....my thoughts this morning as I tried desperately to wake up..A year ago, God answered my prayers in a big way....I want to stand on my own two feet Lord....I need to be able to do this.  You have to help me....and He did.  I have gotten so bogged down as of late, that I have forgotten what it is I am called to do.  What He really requires of me.  I whispered prayers, asking for guidance yet again...and my answer came.....my verse this morning brought immediate peace.

Matthew 6:33

Good News Translation (GNT)

³³ Instead, be concerned above everything else with the Kingdom of God and with what he requires of you, and he will provide you with all these other things.

Be concerned with what tasks He has set for me each day, because all the rest is subject to change.  If I'm depending on my circumstance, other people, my job, relationships...there is going to come a time when they change or fall short or don't measure up to what I think I need.  When I keep my eyes on Him, He will supply all the rest.  And when I look back over the last year and a half, I know it's true.  I know He is there, I know He will handle it.  Sometimes it feels like He has forgotten, but His ways are not our ways, His timing, not like ours. 

So it's a new day...a new year, hopefully a new season.  Thankful.

Dear Weary Mom - Don't Blink

 

Linking up today at Hope For The Weary Mom...

 

Dear Weary Mom,

 

Don't blink....because it all goes by so very fast.  One day your worried about having the right kind of crayons for kindergarden and then next you are standing in the hallway at the high school watching your beautiful girl have her senior portraits done.  Where did the time go?  That stuck with me all day.  So much worry about how in the world am I ever gonna make it through 13 years of school...but we did.  And so as I have that old familiar knot in my stomach thinking...how are we ever gonna get through college....guess what? He will make a way.  He always has, He always will.  What He spoke so heavily to my heart yesterday was be still and just rest...I have grown so very weary.  So the afternoon was spent with me and my two not so little ones looking at pictures of their entire lives, laughing at school pictures gone horribly wrong and even looking at SLIDES of when I was a little girl.  Showing them who they look like and where they came from..that they are part of a family and always will be.  No matter what they face.  Same goes for us the moment we become His child.  He is the One in charge, and we are the children, looking to Him to have the answers.  Thankfully, He actually does!!  So today sweet mama, rest in the comfort that He's got this.  He's got you, me, them and everything else in between.  We are not alone.  Sounds like a good day for pictures and ice cream.  Thankful.

Behind The Scenes - It's Only Hair

Linking up with Crystal Stine and the girls for Behind The Scenes.....

 

 

PAHLEEEEEEASE Mom!   I have told her time and time again that no she may not color her beautiful hair...her response was to ask can't she please bleach her brothers hair.....I shake my head and think yes, in the midst of trials and finding a new way to breathe, this is the beauty, the treasure....laughter, togetherness and just normal everyday teenager sillies.  These two amazing souls wrapped up in flesh and blood have been my reasons to get out of bed, to eat, to put one foot in front of the other, to just keep going when otherwise I am not sure that I could have summoned the energy. 

 

And I see them growing and becoming stronger and loving more fiercely than I believe any of us could have had we not had this trial to face, this bend in the road.....The beautiful love and appreciation that we have found for each other in our weakness has made us all softer, more able to see the pain in others and give comfort we might not have otherwise been able to because sometimes if you haven't been given something, how then, can you give it in turn?

 

So as I walked into the bathroom and saw the precious opposing looks that I have seen on their faces since they were old enough to keep up with each other, I smile......some things never change.  Some things are constant....especially a Father's love. Thankful.

Perfect 10 - Number 3

Number 3 God’s Name should be, NEVER spoken in jest,

This one is pretty simple. Do not use the Lord's Name in vain. Period. There is power in the Name above all names. He is God. Our Saviour. Jesus. When we use it in a way that defies the reverence of Who He is I believe we grieve the Holy Spirit.....something we are commanded not to do. It's about honoring the most precious Name we can call on. 

You've Got A Friend

Proverbs 18:24

Good News Translation (GNT)

²⁴ Some friendships do^[a] not last, but some friends are more loyal than brothers.

I'm humbled to say that in my life I have this.  It makes me blessed.  I have those in my life that have seen me at my worst and bend down to pick me up for the umpteenth time and say... let's get you cleaned up...they have loved me through the ugliest things a person can imagine, we have been bound by what has destroyed others, they have seen me make a fool of myself, make bad decisions, make worse decisions to try and fix my bad decisions, laugh with me, cry with me, be quiet with me, open the door at 11 pm at night to sit on the steps and wipe my tears, been a safe place, fed me, let me take a nap when I couldn't handle one more thing, let God speak through chicken nuggets and tater tots, texted me if only to say I love you and we will begin again tomorrow......They are family to me.  They know ALL my junk and still choose to love me.  Because love is a choice.  People will always let you down, even if they don't mean to or don't even know they have done it.  And I am learning that sometimes the grace I tend to withhold from someone else is the very grace that was extended to me at some point in time, by God, by others.  So it makes me grateful today to know that in my life, God has blessed me with the ones who say wow, you totally bombed...wanna go get coffee?  Not to discount the actions or the consequences, but to simply state that regardless of the actions or the consequences, I'm here.  I'm not leaving you.  We will walk this together.  Thankful.

Monday....

Job 19:25

Good News Translation (GNT)

²⁵ But I know there is someone in heaven
who will come at last to my defense.

It's a miserable to feel defenseless.  To feel like your hands are tied, and as if you have no voice,no say, no way of defending yourself.  The last few weeks have brought me to this place.  I have had to remind myself over and over again that it is He who is in charge of me, my reputation and my defense.  Because when I attempt to do these things in my own strength, I am sure to get it wrong.....

The quiet that used to terrify me is a bit uncomfortable, but not like it used to be.  I have been fighting Him bringing me back here.  Unsure of its purpose and all I could do was remember what and why He brought me here the last time....I didn't think I could stand up under that again.  So here I sit, and I have learned to wait just a little more graciously I suppose, maybe not, but the alternative is really not an option.  And there are times when He needs to get my attention.  There is one verse that will make me stop, make me cry, make me know that He is right here..It's the very first verse He gave to me so very long ago.  1999.  It was as I took my very first step into this journey that is His calling on my life...He's calling me into that again I know.  And it scares the ever lovin' crap out of me.  So today, as He whispered it to me yet again, I'll share it with you.  Sometimes He has to take us back to the beginning, back to where we started, to remind us of how far we have come.  Trust Him today.  Nothing else.  And when you can't see a hands length in front of you and you don't know which way to go, then just worship Him.  He sees you.  He hears you.  Thankful.

Jeremiah 29:11(NIV)

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.