WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

 

CAPACITY

This post was written for Five Minute Friday

Word prompt--CAPACITY

Five minutes to free-write about it

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Who would have thought these wildflowers on my balcony still had the capacity to keep blooming even when the temperatures have dropped considerably, we've been having frost warnings, and they stopped getting watered after I brought the rest of the plants inside.

I'm guessing there are many of us who don't know what we have the capacity to do until we are faced with the very thing we fear, make it safely to the other side, and "I can't" becomes "I did it.".

Such is what happened to me several years ago as a result of faulty reasoning and a decision driven by fear that led to a far scarier outcome (almost two weeks on a ventilator) that I almost did not pull out of, and that could have been avoided had I not been so afraid. But God was good, and not only spared my life, but He also used the experience to teach me valuable lessons I might not have learned otherwise. (If you are interested in reading about it, you can click on this link to my post entitled Do Not Be Afraid.) 

The two things I learned the hard way through this experience were to trust God instead of my own intellect, and to turn my fears over to Jesus and lean on His strength instead of my own whenever I don't feel I have the capacity to handle something I am about to face.

A third thing as well. Life is so much less stressful when I remember to do the above two.

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Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.  (Isaiah 41:10, NLT)

Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall. (Psalm 55:22, NLT)

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. (1 Peter 5:7, NLT)

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13, NLT)

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. (Proverbs 3:5-6, NLT)

Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble. (Psalm 119:165)

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

 

REAL

This post was written for Five Minute Friday

Word prompt--REAL

Five minutes to free-write about it

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All I can think of right now is how upset I feel, and that I have no one but myself to blame.

One of my constant prayers is for the Lord to make me supersensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, and most of the time I listen when I feel one, but yesterday I did not.

Yesterday I went for a much needed haurcut. I booked ahead online, and the person I really wanted to see did not have anything available. I didn't want to have to wait any longer as I had already put off getting the cut for way too long, so I booked with someone else. 

It was someone I had wanted to try because of the good reviews I'd read about him--including one about a mom who had brought in her daughter who was really upset with the haircut she had gotten, and how he had been able to fix it for her and make it look real good. 

As I was filling out the form, I felt a check in my spirit, but I did not listen. I did not believe it could be real. Why would it be, when I had really wanted to try him before, but back then he wasn't available, and now he was?

When I got to my appointment, I explained what I wished my ideal haircut could look like, but also that I realized it was not possible because of all the cowlicks I have. So just the best he could do without leaving me with cowlicks sticking up on my head. 

I also requested that it would be something I could just wash and let dry without having to do any styling.

The end result was a real delight. It looked beautiful and too good to be true. He had been able to achieve a look that no other stylist had been able to do. When my daughter came over for lunch, she too said how good it looked. But would it be real?

I was starting to have some faint misgivings. To me, the proof of a good harcut is what it looks like in the morning after I have slept on it. That's when I can really see if it is real or not.

Well, alas, as the picture shows, it was not real at all. What was real, was the check in my spirit prompting me not to make the appointment with him, and to wait until I could get one with the other stylist. 

Lesson learned the hard way.

EXPLAIN

This post was written for Five Minute Friday

Word prompt--EXPLAIN

Five minutes to free-write about it

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I can't explain how the plague of lanternflies that were swarming my windows, balcony, and outdoor plants suddenly disappeared without a trace (literally overnight).

Or how this dying spider plant I put out on the balcony to speed up the process... 

...miraculously rallied, despite becoming infested by said lanternflies.

Nor can I explain how my very good friend who has been sober 26 years, loves the Lord, and has the strongest faith of almost anyone I know, has gotten derailed and seems to be headed off the deep end. Or why another friend's son who seemed to be doing so well suddenly OD'd.

Five minutes are not enough to tell it all.

God's thoughts are not our thoughts, or His ways our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). But of one thing we can be sure. Even when nothing seems to make sense, we can trust that He is in control and weaving everything together according to His perfect purpose and plan. 

My questions were not answered with any explanations,  but this little poem showed up in my devotional as I pondered these things during my quiet time.

Overheard in an Orchard

Said the Robin to the Sparrow:

    "I would really like to know

Why these anxious human beings

    Rush about and worry so."

Said the Sparrow to the Robin:

    "Friend, I think that it must be

That they have no Heavenly Father

    Such as cares for you and me."

(Elizabeth Cheney)

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

 

WOW!!

Watching the super moon emerge from behind the trees was a sight to behold. All I can say is wow! (It would have been perfect for Friday's FMF prompt "thrill.") 

THRILL

This post was written for Five Minute Friday

Word prompt--THRILL

Five minutes to free-write about it

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Love the picture Kate chose to go with this week's FMF prompt. The dog looks so happy. I wonder what's thrilling him (or her) the most--the view, the feel of the wind blowing in his face, or maybe both?

What would give me that same feeling? 

Definitely not gliding down a mountain full speed like Kate, or jumping out of planes and off high bridges like my granddaughter. Even just the thought of going on a roller coaster gives me chills rather than thrills.

What does give me a thrill though is the awesomeness of God's creation. The majesty of a sunrise or sunset, a double rainbow in the sky, the colors of spring and fall, a beautiful bird or butterfly. 

(Short break here as I went into my archives to look at my sunset pictures and pick a couple of my favorites to share with you all here.)

How can anyone look at these skies and doubt the existence of God?

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Those who live at the ends of the earth stand in awe of your wonders. From where the sun rises to where it sets, you inspire shouts of joy. (Psalm 65:8, NLT)

The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftmanshup. (Psalm 19:1, NLT)

For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. (Romans 1:20, NLT)

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY