REWIND

This post was written for Five Minute Friday

Word prompt--REWIND

Five minutes to free-write about it

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This may sound silly, but today's word prompt stumped me, and I wound up cheating by reading some of the other posts before writing mine.

My first thought was of being able to turn back the clock, but I don't think that's what rewind means, and my thought was confirmed as I read Kate's post about precious memories she wished she could revisit.

Back in the days when we had tapes and video cassettes (I still do, LOL), rewinding them enabled you to go back and re-listen to or re-watch something that was on a previous portion of it. You could re-experience it, but not actually change it.

So I guess, more than being able to rewind and revisit a certain memory (though that would be nice too), what I've often wished was that I could turn back the clock and have a chance to do things differently, knowing what I know now. But you know what? I wonder if, given another chance, I really would do things differently.

The truth is that every day is a gift that brings with it the opportunity for a new beginning. It's like being given a clean, new, blank page to write on. And yet, even though I now know the things I wish I would have known back then, I still do things I regret and wish I had said or done differently.

I do have to agree with what Dixie wrote in her post though, that every experience was part of God's purpose and plan, and that it led me to where I am today. I am so grateful for His unconditional love, longsuffering patience, and that He never gave up on me. I am so thankful that some of my greatest regrets were the very things that led me to Jesus. Had it been otherwise, would I ever have felt a need for His saving grace?

CAPACITY

This post was written for Five Minute Friday
Word prompt--CAPACITY

Five minutes to free-write about it

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This week's prompt is a very appropriate one for me as I struggle to accept that my capacity really is finite. 

The dictionary defines capacity as the maximum amount something can contain or produce, and that's where I'm at right now. Much as I wish it were not so, in order to do what's most important on my list of priorities, there are other things I would also like to do that I have to say no to. That has been something really, really hard to come to terms with.

The other day I was looking for a book in my Kindle library and was shocked to see how many of the books in it have never been read. There is also a large box of unread books in my closet that were all purchased with the intent to read. Yet I keep borrowing books from the library. The thought crossed my mind that given the present season of life I'm in, there is probably no way I could read all of what I already have before reaching the end of my journey so why do I keep borrowing more? 

And so I've done some soul searching and a lot of praying and asking the Lord to help me reorder my priorities. One thing He made clear is that I need to let go of the idea that I can change the things that currently need changing in my circumstances through my own efforts. That is something only He can do. My part is to trust in His provision and strive for more balance in my life, and that is what I've been trying to do.

Last week I made two major decisions that surprisingly relieved a lot of unnecessary stress. The first was to return my pile of borrowed library books, sort through what I already have, and read the ones I still want to read before borrowing any more.  I also took a couple of days off and, with some trepidation, put everything on hold that I had thought couldn't be put off, so I could complete a project dear to my heart that I had started a year ago. Much as I'd wanted to get it done, I kept putting it off because I felt overwhelmed by everything else on my plate and was convinced there was no time for anything else. What a lie that turned out to be

Nothing terrible happened as a result of my taking the time off, and all it took were those couple of days to finish my project (a children's picture book about my great-granddog, Oliver) and get it published on Amazon. I'm still pinching myself to make sure it really did happen that fast after all the many months of procrastinating and feeling frustrated at not being able to find the time to get to it. I think there's a lesson there to be learned.

If you are interested in checking out my book, here is the link to it. 

SAME

This post was written for Five Minute Friday

Word prompt--SAME

Five minutes to free-write about it

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This week's prompt made me think of how often I automatically respond, "same old, same old," when people ask me what's new. In fact, I even did it today while catching up with a friend over the phone.

It is true that most of my days are filled with the same old, same old grueling schedule that leaves little to no time for anything else. However, I cling to the hope and anticipation that it won't always be this way. 

Meanwhile, I know that even though I may not be able to control the same old, same old grind facing me each day, I can change the way I experience it by changing my perspective. And so every morning during my quiet time, after I thank God for the gift of a new day and for watching over me and protecting me while I slept, I ask Him to give me strength to make it through my day, and show me new ways of looking at the things I need to do and better, more creative ways of doing them. Then it won't be the same old, same old anymore, even if it is. Does that make sense?

CHOICE

This post was written for Five Minute Friday

Word prompt--CHOICE

Five minutes to free-write about it

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Whenever the topic of choice comes up, my mind immediately conjures up all the poor choices I made when I was young that led me to where I am today. Why is that?

I'm sure that somewhere along the way I must have made good choices too, but those memories seem to lie hidden way beneath the surface of wherever my memories are stored.

I do, however, vividly remember one good choice I made. The very best choice of all, which was the choice to turn my life over to Jesus and accept His gift of salvation. It was a choice I could only have made by the grace of God and through His relentless pursuit of me.

I was on a very dark path which I thought was the right one, and where I was quite content to be, even persuading others to embark on it as well. But that was one misguided choice the Lord prevented me from following through with to its disastrous conclusion. 

I am thankful beyond words that God did not leave me where I was, convinced that I had all the answers and that the lie I believed in was the truth. I am so grateful that He interceded and opened my eyes to the folly of my ways.

My five minutes is up, but if you are interested in knowing the details of that improbable rescue, you can read about it in my memoir, Sincerely Wrong: An Improbable Journey.

COVER

 

This post was written for Five Minute Friday

Word prompt--COVER

Five minutes to free-write about it

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Two things popped into my mind when I saw this week's prompt, COVER. 

The first was Peter's exhortation to us in 1 Peter 4:8 (NLT) -- Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.

The other was a song I've been hearing on the radio a lot recently -- "Yes, Jesus Loves You, and I'm Trying" by Jason Gray. 

 

It seems I needed this reminder that God loved us so much--all of us--even those I find most irritating and annoying--that He sent Jesus to die for us on the cross so we could be forgiven of our sins and redeemed by the covering of His blood. It reminds me to look at the log in my own eye instead of the speck in the eye of a friend (Matthew 7:4). It reminds me that none of us is perfect and people's flaws and failings (my own included) do not determine our identity.

Before today, I had just focused on the first couple of verses of this song, which I could totally relate to because the words echoed how I feel about certain others in my life. However, when I looked up the rest of the lyrics before writing this post, I was surprised by the last verse, which gives it quite a different twist. 

It’s like the song says it begins right here with the man in the mirror
If I hope to love my neighbor well 
‘Cause I’ve lived long enough to learn the faults I find in others 
Are the same things I don’t like about myself 
My shame goes on parade when I need someone to blame
But grace whispers my name 
God help me speak these words into the parts of me I’m hiding 
“Yes, Jesus loves me, yes Jesus loves me, oh yes, Jesus loves me, and I’m trying.”

REVERSE

This post was written for Five Minute Friday

Word prompt--REVERSE

Five minutes to free-write about it

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Oh how I wished I could reverse the time I woke up this morning. What a shock to see that it was already 12:30 PM.  I don't recall ever having overslept that late before. Not even back in my college days.

There was so much I had planned to try and cram into my day, and now half of it was already gone. Since there was no way to reverse the hours lost, I chose to reverse my thinking instead and put my trust in God and His alternate plan. 

Looking at my life in retrospect, I must admit that even in those times when it did not seem to be the case, His track record for having had a better plan than mine has been 100 percent. And so it turned out to be today as well.

I've been trying to reverse some of the damage I've done to my body by exercising and eating healthier, but I still don't get anywhere near enough sleep, and I think God allowed today's deep sleep to happen to show me how important it is to get enough rest, and what a huge difference it can make.

When I looked in the mirror while brushing my teeth, I was surprised to see how much bigger and brighter my eyes looked. That was certainly an unexpected reversal of what I had come to believe was normal. Not only that, but I had more energy, a little spring to my step, and my pain level was surprisingly diminished as well. 

This gives me hope that if I make a habit of getting a good night's sleep to the rest of my efforts, some of my other issues may be reversible as well.

THROUGH IT ALL

This post was written for Five Minute Friday

Word prompt--THROUGH

Five minutes to freewrite about it

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The first thing that popped into my mind when I saw this week's prompt was an old song, Through It All, written and composed by Andraé Crouch.

 

Life can be rough, and I've had my share of highs and lows, but even in the darkest valley, Jesus has always been right there with me, through it all.

One of the darkest storms I ever experienced was a near death experience over seven years ago when I went to the Emergency Room feeling short of breath and wound up intubated, heavily sedated, and hooked up to a ventilator, with acute heart failure and double pneumonia. 

There was some speculation as to whether or not I would be able to pull through, and I am convinced that were it not for God's grace and the strong, unwavering faith of the army of prayer warriors  who battled the forces of darkness surrounding me and fought the fight for me, I would not be here today.

Some of the most important lessons the Lord has ever taught me took place during those 27 days I spent in the hospital and the lengthy recovery period following. Not only did He work through this experience to reveal Himself as Jehovah Rapha, healer of my physical body and emotions, but He also taught me about love, friendship, and the power of intercessory prayer.

While still in the hospital, I felt inspired to write Oil Of Myrrh, a testimony to God's goodness, and the way He worked in my life through what started out looking like an insurmountable event. A free PDF is also available by double clicking on the image of the book cover on my sidebar.

THANKFUL THURSDAY

Feeling thankful for technology and livestream that enabled me to virtually attend my grandson's graduation from Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey yesterday and even get some halfway decent photos.

They even had an electronic commencement program from which I was able to glean that he achieved highest honors in his engineering degree.

I am also thankful for all the great photos my daughter-in-law sent me, like this one I've included here as well.

A BEAUTIFUL GARDEN

This year we celebrated Mother's Day at my grandson's house.

He has a beautiful garden full of different colored roses, sweet smelling peonies, wild daisies, and many other bushes and flowers I don't know the names of.  

I was particularly intrigued by the holly bush full of blue and turquoise berries. I never knew that's what holly berries look like before they turn red in winter.

The trees were full of birds chirping away as they flitted from branch to branch, and it was such a beautiful day I enjoyed just sitting on the deck and taking it all in. 

I watched my daughter and my future granddaughter-in-law bonding as they picked flowers to turn into Mother's Day bouquets.

Making the bouquets.

SOMEDAY

This post was written for Five Minute Friday

Word prompt--SOMEDAY

Five minutes to freewrite about it

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Someday never seems to come.

I still have not caught up on all the things on my to do list I expected to have completed someday, or sorted through the boxes cluttering my bedroom floor, or read the books in a growing pile waiting to be put into a bookcase. 

There are goals I have set and resolutions I have made, all with good intentions of achieving; and books and blog posts I've started to write, still hoping they will someday get done.

As I draw closer to the end of my journey in this world, however, there is one someday I can be absolutely certain will come to pass. I know that someday I will pass through the gates to my eternal home where Jesus Himself will wipe away every tear, and where "there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain" (Revelation 21:4). What a wonderful someday that will be.

You too can have that someday assurance (see below).

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Because of Adam and Eve’s sin in the Garden of Eden, we are all born with a sin nature that separates us from God. Because of it there is a great gulf that separates us from Him, and there is no way we can cross it through our own efforts. There is only one path that can lead us to eternal life, and that is through the blood Jesus shed on the cross to redeem us of our sins. 

Jesus came to earth to die on the cross so we could be forgiven of our sins and set free to spend eternal life in Heaven with Him, enjoying the fellowship we were created to enjoy with the Lord before sin entered the world. This gift of salvation is a free gift that can only be received by grace through faith. It cannot be earned by good works. And as much as it is not God's will for anyone to perish, He will not impose His will on you or force you to accept it. The choice is yours. 

Jesus stands at the door of your heart, knocking and waiting for you to answer. I pray that you would open the door before it is too late, and accept His invitation to enter your life, forgive your sins, and make you a new creation. 

Life is brief, and none of us is promised another day—or even another moment, for that matter. Tomorrow may be too late. 

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Romans 3:23, NIV) 

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23, NIV) 

Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. (John 14:6, NLT) 

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16, NIV) 

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. (Ephesians 2:8-9, NLT) 

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. (Revelation 3:20)