ANYMORE

This post was written for Five Minute Friday

Word prompt--ANYMORE

Five minutes to free-write about it

-------------------------------------------------------

At first, when I saw this week's prompt, all I could think of were the many people and things that are not in my life anymore, and the many things I cannot do anymore. I even lamented that the beautiful little plant in the picture does not flower anymore. It hasn't in several years--not even when I put it out on the balcony in the summer.

But then, when I searched my mind for something positive I could associate with the word, two things surfaced. This morning I was surprised by a text from someone who had been an important part of my life and who I wasn't expecting to hear from anymore, and even better than that, and the greatest positive anymore possible, was the thought that "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1, NIV. What can be better than that?

P.S.

 

For those of you who asked--no, not Norman Rockwell. Box says Susan Brabeau.

(Love, love, love the expressions on the faces--including the dog's, haha.)

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

 

PERSEVERE

This post was written for Five Minute Friday

Word prompt--PERSEVERE

Five minutes to free-write about it

-------------------------------------------------------

...they were at their wits' end. Then they

cried out to the LORD in their trouble, 

and he brought them out of their distress. 

(Psalm 107:27b-28, NIV)

It's been a couple of weeks since I last participated in the FMF challenge, and probably this doesn't really count as participating either, since the words are not my own. It's a poem I came upon during my quiet time, as I pondered what to write, that seems to say it all. 

I'm sharing it in hopes that it will encourage someone else, as it did me, to persevere and keep on keeping on as we make our way down the path we are currently trudging along.

Are you standing at "Wits' End Corner,"

      Christian, with troubled brow?

Are you thinking of what is before you,

      And all you are bearing now?

Does all the world seem against you,

      And you in the battle alone?

Remember--at "Wits' End Corner"

      Is just where God's power is shown.

Are you standing at "Wits' End Corner,"

      Blinded with wearying pain,

Feeling you cannot endure it,

      You cannot bear the strain,

Bruised through the constant suffering,

      Dizzy and dazed and numb?

Remember--at "Wits' End Corner"

      Is where Jesus loves to come.

Are you standing at "Wits' End Corner"?

      Your work before you spread,

All lying begun, unfinished,

      And pressing on heart and head,

Longing for strength to do it,

      Stretching out trembling hands?

Remember--at "Wits' End Corner"

      The Burden-Bearer stands,

Are you standing at "Wits' End Corner"?

      Then you're just in the very spot

To learn the wondrous resources

      Of Him who fails you not:

No doubt to a brighter pathway

      Your footsteps will soon be moved,

But only at "Wits' End Corner"

      Is the "God who is able" proved. -- Antoinette Wilson

(Taken from Streams in the Desert, May 23 and available on Amazon.)

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

 

MOTHER'S DAY FLOWERS

Mother's Day flowers and a view of the almost full flower moon.

PROVE

This post was written for Five Minute Friday

Word prompt--PROVE

Five minutes to free-write about it

-------------------------------------------------------

Back in the day, when I was young, challenges made me thrive. I loved nothing better than proving people wrong who said something could not be done--especially if they said I couldn't do it.

I remember a time back in high school when it was time to take the college entrance exams. Academics had never been my forte--especially math--and my math teacher tried to convince me to wait another year before taking the exams because if I took them now with the rest of my classmates, I would not be able to pass. 

What that did was spur me on to prove her wrong. I studied so hard for those exams that even though I soon forgot most of what I had crammed into my brain, I was not only able to retain it long enough to pass, but to do so with surprisingly high grades and become one of a very few girls from our school to be accepted by the most prestigious college on the list.

Now, however, in my senior years, I seem to have lost that drive. Even though the Word tells me that I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13), and exhorts me to not grow weary or give up (2 Chronicles 15:7; Galatians 6:9), I am weary. Very weary.

There are issues looming large that threaten to defeat me. Even though my faith is in the Lord, and I know how the story ends, there are still moments when I almost believe the lies.

But God! At a moment when I was feeling particularly overwhelmed, this song popped into mind that provided me with just the little push I needed to keep on keeping on.