Five Minute Friday – Potential

write-4

Many new and experienced writers,
mostly women, join this write-a-long.
If you want to read what others have written
or join in the fun, click here.

Today’s prompt – Potential

Go

Whenever I hear the word potential . . .
I think ‘possibility’ and this song.

He Saw What I Could Be

A loser without direction, I drifted aimlessly
On the backside of a place called ‘Nowhere’ forgotten by humanity,
When they talked about potential, they did not refer to me
‘Cause everyone could clearly see, what I am I’d always be.

Chorus:
But He saw not what I was, He saw what I could be;
When He reached His hand to where I was,
He made a change in me.
For all He had to hope for was just a possibility;
Still He saw not what I was, He saw what I could be.

So now you know the reason I lift my hands so willingly;
If He hadn’t found be when He did, I’d still be lost as lost could be.
And although I’m far from perfect, I’m even farther still you see
From the life I lived just yesterday before the LORD found me.

Chorus:
But He saw not what I was, He saw what I could be;
When He reached His hand to where I was,
He made a change in me.
For all He had to hope for was just a possibility;
Still He saw not what I was, He saw what I could be.

For all He had to hope for was just a possibility;
Still He saw not what I was,
Still He saw not what I was,
Still He saw not what I was,
He saw what I could be.

At seventeen, when I repented
and the Lord forgave my sins and saved me
I was a protected, unformed, high school educated lump of clay
with only one desire, ‘to do what was right’.
I wasn’t even sure what ‘right’ was.
I did know that God was the answer to what right was.

God took that lump of unformed clay,
put it on the wheel of life
and gently He created a Wife, a Homemaker,
a Mother, a Teacher, an Encourage-er,
a Grannie, a hostess and
a Child of God.

Did I make mistakes, yes
Did I feel like I had failed, many times
Did I have regrets, unfortunately.

I did do one most important thing right.

I never left the right way.
the narrow way that leads to righteousness
I never rejected God’s word.
the Light unto my feet
I never let go of His Hand.
and He has always held mine.

Stop.

Published in: on October 1, 2018 at 11:02 am  Comments (1)  
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Five Minute Friday, Rain

write-4

Many new and experienced writers,
mostly women, join this write-a-long.
If you want to read what others have written
or join in the fun, click here.

Today’s prompt – RAIN

Go . . .

“Rain, Rain, go away. Come again another day.”

“April Showers bring May Flowers.”

“Into every life some rain must fall.”

“The rain falls on the just and the unjust.”

So many sayings about rain.
showing rain’s many faces
Gentle and warm
Torrential in a hurricane
Icy like sleet in a winter storm
Refreshing on a summer’s day

I welcome rain.
I love that ‘first’ rain smell.

Petrichor – “A pleasant, distinctive smell frequently accompanying the first rain
after a long period of warm, dry weather in certain regions.”

I love to listen to the sounds of rain on our RV’s metal roof.
I love rain’s friends – thunder and lightening
What a time they have playing in the heavens.
I find comfort in that ‘after rain’ promise from God.

Genesis 9:16
And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it,
that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God
and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth

Stop.

 

Published in: on September 8, 2018 at 1:00 am  Comments (2)  
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Five Minute Friday – Settle

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mostly women, join this write-a-long.
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Settle – to make a final decision about (something)

go

‘Settle’
the word brings to mind this scripture.

1 Peter 5:10
But the God of all grace,
who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus,
after that ye have suffered a while,
make you perfect,
stablish,
strengthen,
settle you.

This scripture is my heart’s desire:
to be complete in God’s eyes
to be consistent and reliable
to be strong by confessing my weakness
and allowing God’s strength support me
to be firmly founded upon the Rock.

As Christ instructs, a wise man builds his house upon a rock.

stop

Settle you –
Cause all to rest so evenly
and firmly upon the best and surest foundation,
that ye may grow together to a holy temple in the Lord:
in a word,
that ye may be complete in all the mind that was in Christ;
supported in all your trials and difficulties;
strengthened to resist and overcome all your enemies;
and after all abide,
firmly founded,
in the truth of grace.
Clark’s Commentary

Parts cut and pasted, italics mine,

 

Published in: on March 31, 2018 at 4:15 am  Comments (6)  
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Five Minute Friday – Routine

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mostly women, join this write-a-long.
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Routine –
commonplace tasks, chores, or duties as must be done regularly
regular, unvarying, habitual, unimaginative,
performed as a regular procedure rather than for a special reason

Go

When I try to meet with routine
instead of greeting with open arms.
I lay down and die.

No one knows how hard it is for me to have
a getup – dress-wash-make bed routine,
a weekly to do it list, or
time to stop and get ready for bed stuff.
I still have to think about doing all the little things;

I’ve thought:
“it is rebellion”
but I’m not a rebellious person
“when I feel like it, I will”
but some things just don’t come with feelings
“I’ll do it later”
I’ve been crowned duchess of procrastination.
“I’m not worth the effort”.
What kind of lie is that!

But as I read the definitions
I realize I was looking at the
regular… commonplace… ordinary…
as having little worth or benefit

What if I did none of the routine chores?
My life and I would look like chaos.

Big things,
Important things,
I see as being for the Lord.
I ask for His special help and grace
but for the little things
that need/should be done daily
“they are of little consequence”
“no one will know if I don’t”
“no one comes over so why bother to”

What does God’s word have to say?

Luke 16:10
He that is faithful in that which is least
is faithful also in much:
and he that is unjust in the least
is unjust also in much.

SELF!
Stand up
Dust off your clothes
Take a deep breath
Begin to routinely live for God’s glory today.

Colossians 3:23-24
Whatever you do [whatever your task may be],
work from the soul [that is, put in your very best effort],
as [something done] for the Lord and not for men,
knowing [with all certainty] that it is from the Lord [not from men]
that you will receive the inheritance which is your [greatest] reward.
It is the Lord Christ whom you [actually] serve.
Amplified Bible

Remind me, Lord.

stop

Scriptures and Picture added

Published in: on March 24, 2018 at 3:13 pm  Comments (12)  
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Five Minute Friday – Regret

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mostly women, join this write-a-long.
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Regret – feel sad, repentant, or disappointed over
(something that has happened or been done,
specially a loss or missed opportunity)

GO

Spice of Life afghan

I bought the special yarn,
for the first time and
started September 26, 2015.

Got side tracked . . .
Oh look a new pattern!

February 21, 2018 started again

part 4 done
part 5 started started 2/23

finished March 1, 2018 laid it out on the bed.

Whamo! It was so wonky.

Both ends have ten rows of dc,
the middle has many rows of patterns,
tension was not the same.
Easy rows were loose and
need to be learned rows tight.
To say the least,
I did not end up with a nice neat rectangle.

My regret – not reading the pattern more closely.
The designer warned about this happening.

I love the yarn.
I love the stitch definition.
So now I will rip it back to nice yarn cakes
and find a pattern that better fits my crocheting style.

I’ve never regretted a nap,
maybe I’ll join my friend.

stop

pictures added after time.

Published in: on March 2, 2018 at 2:43 pm  Comments (4)  
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Five Minute Friday – Why

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mostly women, join this write-a-long.
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Why

GO

Why is an automatic response.
A young child continually asks, “WHY?”
He doesn’t really want or understand
the elaborate explanation we give over and over
until we finally tire and say,
“Because I said so!”

So we are as a child,
when meet we something we don’t understand —
WHY?
Not because we are unbelieving.
Not even because we want an elaborate answer.
But because we need our Father’s attention.
We need to know we are not alone.
We need to know  are cared for and
we can trust the one who is holding our hands.

Until we hear those reassuring words,
“Because I said so, my child.”

stop

“For God Himself has said,
I will not in any way fail you
nor give you up
nor leave you without support.
I will not,
I will not,
I will not in any degree leave you
helpless nor forsake nor let you down;
nor relax My hold on you!
Assuredly not!”
Hebrew 13:5
The Amplified Bible

Published in: on February 17, 2018 at 12:14 am  Comments (5)  
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Five Minute Friday – Privilege

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mostly women, join this write-a-long.
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or join in the fun, click here

Privilege – a right or advantage gained by birth

Romans 8:15-17
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear;
but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit,
at we are the children of God:
And if children, then heirs;
heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ;
if so be that we suffer with him,
that we may be also glorified together.

Go

When I first read the word privilege
and looked up the meaning
I was concerned with the thoughts of entitlement,
better or less than another,
this is mine.

I let thoughts come and go through my mind all day.
Then as I read through some of the five minutes of others
“what a privilege . . .”
caught my eye.
and what I was trying to put down jelled.

I feel so privileged to be a child of God.

Not because I was special,
not because I had talents,
not because I was born in a certain place,
had special parents or
spoke English.

I could have had a completely different ethnicity,
I could have been born in a different country,
I could have had a different level of learning
and I could still be a child of God.

Because “for the LORD seeth not as man seeth;
for man looketh on the outward appearance,
but the LORD looketh on the heart.”
1 Samuel-16:7

Because I am a child of God,
the privileges I have are beyond measure.
I can call on His name in prayer;
and He hears.
I can crawl on His lap when I am afraid;
and I am comforted.
I can receive grace for each day;
and have strength for every situation.
I can love my neighbor as myself.
I can forgive,
because He first loved and forgave me.

Stop.

Leaning on the Everlasting Arms

What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
refrain
Leaning, leaning,
Safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
refrain

What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Leaning, leaning,
Safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Written by Elisha A. Hoffman, Cyril A. Mclellan, A Showalter •
Copyright © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc, Universal Music Publishing Group
Published in: on February 9, 2018 at 7:13 pm  Comments (1)  
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Five Minute Friday – Agree

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mostly women, join this write-a-long.
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Agree – to have the same opinion

Go

We agree, the Farmer and I
that the Road Trip we took in 2017,
the year of our 50th anniversary was perfect.

Did we always agree?
NO.
There were disagreements;
sometimes slightly or
not so slightly raised voices
and even louder silences.

Did we have a good time?
Yes!
We met people who became friends;
visited with people we knew who became dear friends;
sights we saw that we would visit again in a heart beat
and memories when dusted off shine with great brightness.

Road trips are like life:
bumps, pot holes and u-turns
scenic surprises and sunsets
(I don’t get up early enough to see many sunrises)
shared hopes, accepted flaws
and great love anyway.
We agree.

Stop

Amos 3:3
Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

Published in: on February 1, 2018 at 11:41 pm  Comments (11)  
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Five Minute Friday – Surrender

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mostly women, join this write-a-long.
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Surrendering is to
cease resistance and submit to authority.

GO!

Confession time.

This week I checked our bank account
and realized we were going to be short.
I won’t go into the details
but the short fall was because of decisions
I made over the past couple of months.

We are retired and are on a fixed income
(with some funds from part time jobs.)
I do most of the financial transactions.
I had a problem.
Solutions came to mind.

1. This month I worked more hours than usual
in my part time job;
I could ask for an early partial payment,
deposit the funds and go on my merry way.

2. I could fess up and ask the Farmer for funds
from our stash (he controls the stash)
and reimburse the stash when I get my regular payment.

Pride and covering verses humility and clearing.
We all have this decision occasionally.

To preserve my clearness before God
To preserve trust in my marriage
To preserve my self-respect

I surrendered to humility,
owned my weakness,
received pardon,
the funds needed and
with reinforced diligence continue to be the
distributor of the funds.

stop.

Proverbs_28:13
He that covereth his sins shall not prosper:
but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

Published in: on January 27, 2018 at 5:55 pm  Comments (4)  
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Five Minute Friday – Intentional

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mostly women, join this write-a-long.
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Intentional – done on purpose, deliberate

GO . . .

My Scripture reading this morning:

Matthew 15:36-37
And he took the seven loaves and the fishes,
and gave thanks,
and brake them,
and gave to his disciples,
and the disciples to the multitude.
Mat 15:37  And they did all eat, and were filled:
and they took up of the broken meat
that was left seven baskets full.

BRAKE looked bold and bright
have you had that happen?
Something you’ve read 1000 times
suddenly you see.

Christ intentionally broke the bread.
He had a purpose.
He saw a need.
The whole load was enough for one
or at the most a few
and probably not even crumbs would have remained.

But BROKEN,
how useful
how fulfilling
and how lasting
(some left for a later need.)

I am broken – intentionally by my Lord,
through circumstances of life,
sickness
loss
grief
disappointments
misunderstandings.
‘WHY’ my heart screams.
It is part of the intentional plan of my Father.

I am not designed to be solitary . . . alone,
hiding under my bushel,
but to shine and bring forth fruit.

We’ve all heard the saying:
squeezing brings forth what’s inside.
What if I’m never squeezed?
Nothing useful comes forth
and the fruit rots intact,
alone and useless.

Lord,
Help me daily accept the breaking.
Help me become useful for your intentional purpose.
Amen

Stop.

John 12:24
Verily, verily, I say unto you,
Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die,
it abideth alone:
but if it die,
it bringeth forth much fruit. 

As I was writing I remembered this picture taken in July, 2011
of the Farmer teaching the grandsons and a little friend to plant seed.

Published in: on January 19, 2018 at 2:41 pm  Comments (5)  
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Five Minute Friday – Expect


Joining with Kate at Heading Home

For five minutes of free writing.
“This is meant to be a free write, which means:
no editing, no over-thinking,
no worrying about perfect grammar or punctuation.
Just write.”

Today’s prompt- Expect

go

Expect –
regard as likely to happen
anticipate await

Oh, how often I have expected something to happen
birthdays,
Christmas,
a wedding,
the births of my five babies.

Many times
the happenings were beyond my expectations.
Most of the time, in fact,
they were happily beyond my expectations.

BUT
those times with hard results,
those times of heart rendering results
those times when my expectations were shattered.

What then . . .

This I recall to mind,
therefore I have hope.
Lamentations 3:21

I remember:
in the hard times – I was never alone.

in the heart rendering times = He healed my broken heart.

in the shattered times – He picked up the broken pieces,
set them back on the potter’s wheel
and created a new vessel fir His use,

I’ve learned to leave my expectations in God’s hands.

Psalm 62:5
My soul, wait thou only upon God;
for my expectation is from him.

There is none but him in whom thou canst safely trust; and to get his help, resign thyself into his hands; be subject to him, and be silent before him. . .
Clarke’s Commentary


We are on vacation and just visited Niagara Falls.
The Almighty God who created this,
can easily and faithfully take care of my expectations.

Published in: on June 10, 2017 at 9:57 am  Comments (5)  
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Five Minute Friday – Sing


Joining with Kate at Heading Home

For five minutes of free writing.
“This is meant to be a free write, which means:
no editing, no over-thinking,
no worrying about perfect grammar or punctuation.
Just write.”

Today’s prompt- Sing

go

Important ‘Sings’ in my life

First School School song I learned at 7 years old –
The Wise Man Built His House Upon A Rock

Cousins singing patriotic songs at the top of our lungs in the spare bedroom at Grandma and Grandpa Ripley’s house, I was 12 years old.

At a Sunday morning worship service my dad and I sang
I Don’t Know Who Holds Tomorrow, but I know who holds my hand. I was 16.

My Husband-to-be sang A Wedding Prayer at our wedding 50 years ago this June. He was in charge of the music, I was expecting a love song, I guess he knew what we would really need. I was 17.

Our children birthday’s – you weren’t a year older until Happy birthday was sung, loud and off key.

A little tune I made up for my first grandson, singing while I rocked him, You’re my special Alex! 18 years ago.

Too big for rocking now!

Singing has always been an important part of my life
in the good times and in the sorrowful ones
to express joy and to gain hope.

stop

 

Published in: on April 22, 2017 at 10:42 pm  Comments (2)  
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Five Minute Friday – Abandon


Joining with Kate at Heading Home

For five minutes of free writing.
“This is meant to be a free write, which means:
no editing, no over-thinking,
no worrying about perfect grammar or punctuation.
Just write.”

Today’s prompt- Abandon

GO

or for me Abandoned

When you are a small girl
and a trick is played onyou
and no says “that isn’t nice!”

You feel abandoned and alone

When you are a small girl
and you have received a promise
and it isn’t fulfilled
and no one explains why

You fell abandoned and alone

When yo are a little older
and you change schools
and everything is different and new and scary
and you dond’t fit in

You feel abandoned and alone

When you are a little older
and you are falsely accused
and you it it is your fault

You feel abandoned and alone

When you are older yet
and are critizied for your actions
and you haven’t leared how to do any different – yet

You feel abandoned and alone

Abandoned – having been deserted, forsaken , stranded

Many times in our life’s
during circumstances beyond our control
We do feel abandoned

But to to each of us there should come a time
to make sense of the feelings.

By learning You are good enough
By learning to speak up for yourself
By learning sometimes you do receive the reaction from a bad day
By learning to adjust to change
By learning the tools to be comfortable in socially
By learning all these situations will work for your good

By leaning on God’s teaching and guidance

Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes;
and I shall keep it unto the end.
Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law;
yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
Make me to go in the path of thy commandments;
for therein do I delight.
Psalm 119:33-35

By leaning on God’s promises

. . . for he hath said,
I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
So that we may boldly say,
The Lord is my helper,
and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
Hebrews 13:5-6

He maketh the storm a calm,
so that the waves thereof are still.
Then are they glad because they be quiet;
so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
Psalm 107:29-30

I will feel loved and safe.

Stop

Scriptures added after time.

Published in: on March 11, 2017 at 12:07 pm  Comments (1)  
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Five Minute Friday – Refine


Joining with Kate at Heading Home

For five minutes of free writing.
“This is meant to be a free write, which means:
no editing, no over-thinking,
no worrying about perfect grammar or punctuation.
Just write.”

Today’s prompt- Refine

Refine – to bring to a fine or a pure state; free from impurities

job-1

The Bible character, Job, comes to my mind
whenever I think of refining.
We know Job’s story,
A good man in God’s sight,
yet he was allowed to be tried
in every way, only sparing his life.

His losses beyond belief.
His wife, so completely filled with grief,
questions his faith.
His friends, after stony silence,
and sure that his actions somehow
caused all this tragedy,
advise him, but offer no comfort.

Job
alone in his pain
alone in his loss
alone in his grief

Job
alone with God
acknowledges God’s sovereignty
acknowledges God’s supreme wisdom
and, yes, acknowledges God’s love for him.

Job, as my example, in my hard places
(though when compared with Job’s are as dust)
I, too, will trust in God
who knows the way that I take
and promises He will never leave me or forsake me.

Job 23:1-10
Then Job answered and said,
Even to day is my complaint bitter:
my stroke is heavier than my groaning.
Oh that I knew where I might find him!
that I might come even to his seat!
I would order my cause before him,
and fill my mouth with arguments.
I would know the words which he would answer me,
and understand what he would say unto me.
Will he plead against me with his great power?
No; but he would put strength in me.
There the righteous might dispute with him;
so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.
Behold, I go forward, but he is not there;
and backward, but I cannot perceive him:
On the left hand, where he doth work,
but I cannot behold him:
he hideth himself on the right hand,
that I cannot see him:
But he knoweth the way that I take:
when he hath tried me,
I shall come forth as gold.

Published in: on January 20, 2017 at 1:15 am  Comments (2)  
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Five Minute Friday – Dot-to-Dot

Joining with Kate at Heading Home

For five minutes of free writing.
“This is meant to be a free write, which means:
no editing, no over-thinking,
no worrying about perfect grammar or punctuation.
Just write.”

Today’s prompt – Connect

Connect the Dot
We all have seen the game.
Remember simple dot-to-dot pages in school
and the wonderful ones in Highlights?
Now we can find elaborate sketches
involving 100’s of dots creating pictues in detail.

I consider at the beginning of this year:
How do I want my life to be seen at the end of 2017.

dot-to-dot-gingerbread-man

Will I be satisfied with just a mere out line of living?

with most days justed gotten through
with most days blessing just assumed
with most relationships just endured

dot2

Or could I with just a little more effort
find many dots during every day

by paying attention to the details
by filling in the lines of routine with gratitude
by reaching out with trembling finger tips

to find my Father say “Well Done’.

Published in: on January 6, 2017 at 2:54 pm  Comments (5)  
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