4/29/26
4/26/26
TIMING
Word prompt--TIMING
Five minutes to free-write about it
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Friday's prompt made me think of how important it is to be sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, and quick to obey before the moment passes.
Most times I do respond right away to spiritual promptings, but other times I don't, and the moment passes, and the opportunity is lost.
Just this morning, for instance, I was talking to someone at church and had a strong prompting to ask him a certain question, but it felt awkward and I didn't do it. Maybe there will be another opportunity, maybe not, but I'll never know what the Lord might have used that question to accomplish had I obeyed at that moment in time.
The same thing has happened in my writing. I'll feel prompted to write a post (especially on my other blog--At The Foot Of The Cross), but I'm in the middle of work or what I think is some other priority, so I just quickly scribble a note or two on a scrap of paper so I don't forget to do it later, but when later comes, the passion of the moment is gone, and if I do write something anyway, it does not have the impact it would have had, had I done it when I first felt led to do so.
Which made me think of a passage in the Old Testament (Numbers 14:1-45) about the consequences of missing God's timing.
The spies sent out to scout the land of Canaan brought back a negative report, and as a result, instead of trusting God, the Israelites disobeyed Him and refused to enter the Promised Land because they were afraid. Then, when God told them they would die in the wilderness for their unbelief, they tried to make up for their disobedience by setting out to fight their enemies even though Moses warned them not to do it because God was no longer with them.
They refused to listen, did it anyway, and as a result, they were defeated.
4/24/26
4/21/26
4/20/26
UNSCHEDULED
Word prompt--SCHEDULE
Five minutes to free-write about it
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Participating in Friday's prompt was on my schedule, but the day did not go according to plan. Instead, I spent a good part of it sitting in the garage waiting for my car to be repaired.
On Thursday, I had rolled my car window down and then not been able to roll it back up again. Not a good thing with all the rain in the forecast. Also not a good thing because, as I found out, it's the only window in a car that you have to be able to open and close in order for the car to pass inspection, and my inspection was almost due.
A friend had recommended this place. It's a new garage in town, which I had also received a discount coupon in the mail for, and it did not disappoint.
True to the sign, the people working there were very friendly, accommodating, and willing to go above and beyond.
They first took the door off to see what was preventing the window from cranking back up and see if they could fix it. Unfortunately, they could not. The very old mechanism (my car is 26 years old) was broken beyond repair and had to be replaced.
And so on Friday, instead of tackling the things on my schedule, I did things that were not. Like take pictures of my visit to the garage, and read a digital library book on my cell phone that I had not had time to read, and that was about to expire and get automatically returned.
The interior of the building was very clean and bright, and the waiting areas were very comfortable and had several amenities, such as a refreshment bar, with coffee, water, and snacks; a trolly with free pens, flashlights, squishy toys, key chains, and other items (I was not ablt to get a good picture of); and a most amazing children's area.
The children's area had games, books, a little table and chairs, and a red phone on the wall with a sign that said to pick it up and someone would bring you a lollipop.
I did not pick up the red phone and get a lolliop, but I did accept the gift of these squishy cars and flashlights for two of my great-grandsons.
4/14/26
4/7/26
4/3/26
DECLINE
This post was written for Five Minute Friday
Word prompt--DECLINE
Five minutes to free-write about it
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Look what I got in the mail.
Sandra from Diary of a Stay at Home Mom was celebrating her 20th blogversary with a special giveaway I didn't even know I had entered until she notified me that I was the lucky winner.
How could I decline such a delightful surprise?
If you are reading this post, Sandra, thank you so much. You made my day.
4/1/26
3/29/26
LAZY
This post was written for Five Minute Friday
Word prompt--LAZY
Five minutes to free-write about it
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My first thought was of a very old song, Those Lazy Hazy Days of Summer. I looked it up on YouTube to refresh my memory, and though the lyrics are less than edifying, the tune is very catchy, and now I'm having trouble getting it out of my head.
This week I cheated a bit by reading what some other people had written before writing my own thoughts, because to me, lazy means sitting around doing nothing, and I don't do that, but I do procrastinate a lot and am easily sidetracked as well.
What I discovered was that the word seems to mean different things to different people.
My master to do list is long and overwhelming, and though my spirit is willing, my flesh is weak (not my words, but definitely my thoughts). Even though I try to keep the daily list short, I still have trouble getting through it because of how easily I get sidetracked, and because I sometimes just freeze and waste a lot of time trying to just get started.
Jesus had an antidote for that -- "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Mark 14:38, NIV)
Through this post, I am committing to be more intentional and consistent about praying over what to include in the short to do list for the following day that I write out before going to bed each night, and praying for the Lord to enable me to resist the temptation to get sidetracked and help me stay on track.
3/25/26
3/21/26
HARMONY
This post was written for Five Minute Friday
Word prompt--HARMONY
Five minutes to free-write about it
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Yesterday was the first day of spring and this blog's 19th anniversary, but the day did not play out the way I had expected it to.
It was a very dreary day with lots of rain and a few thundershowers,
I don't know if any of you are affected by the weather and changes in barometric pressure, but I have always been very sensitive to both.
As a result, instead of writing the special post I had looked forward to doing, I allowed my aches and pains to seduce me into attending a pity party where my thoughts were out of harmony as to whether or not I should even continue blogging, take a break, or just say goodbye.
And then this morning, I woke up to a beautiful, blue sky day and wondered what all that had been about.
Things seem to look so much more harmonious (at least to me) when the sun is shining, and when I remember to keep my focus on the Lord, knowing that He is in control, that the clouds will pass, and that whatever lies ahead, Jesus is my good shepherd and is walking by my side (Psalm 23:4).
Catching sight of these tiny wildflowers in the grass of our courtyard gave my spirits an added boost, reassuring me that yesterday's gloominess, notwithstanding, spring really is here.
3/20/26
WHAT'S IN THE BOX?
I will try and post a proper post in the next couple of days--maybe as part of this week's FMF challenge, which I obviously didn't have a chance to write today either.
Anyway, several of you were wondering what was in the box I posted a picture of for Wordless Wednesday. The answer is, that's it.
I had ordered a battery from Amazon, and that's how it was delivered. One little battery rattling around a big old box with no padding or anything.
Happy First Day of Spring!
3/18/26
3/11/26
3/8/26
POLITE
Word prompt--POLITE
Five minutes to free-write about it
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At first, no thoughts came to mind, but after reading Gina's post where she mentioned being a New Yorker, and the memory it triggered of New Yorkers being considered rude, many thoughts started popping in--way too many to fit into five minutes--so this may wind up being a very disjointed ramble.
Why is that association so commonly made about New Yorkers? Is it because life is so much more rushed and stressful (or was, back in the day when I lived there)? Though I never considered myself a rude person, maybe I was.
When I relocated to Virginia, there was much I needed to learn. Like slowing down and not always being in a rush, being more patient, not being so pushy when I needed something done and the person who needed to do it did not go about it as fast as I thought they should, and not always trying to be at the head of the line. For sure the pace of life was much different in this neck of the woods, and it took some time to adjust my ways.
Totally unrelated, the prompt also brings to mind how what is considered polite in one culture may not be in another. Like, for instance, the habit of burping at the table. To us here, how rude. And yet in other cultures, a loud burp after the meal is considered a compliment to the chef, as well as a way of letting the other people around the table know you enjoyed the meal and feel happy and well fed.
One last thought. Though these days, for the most part, my focus is no longer so much on me as on trying to be gentle, kind, and considerate to the people I interact with, and on being sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit to guide me, there is a new challenge.
Though my heart's desire is to be an encourager and to speak and act in ways that honor Jesus, point others to Him, and that give Him glory, you would never know it if you heard me on the phone, screaming and yelling in increasing frustration at the robot on the other end as I try to get it to connect me to a live person. This seems to be a test beyond all tests. Please pray for me to be able to keep my cool and turn it into a testimony.
3/4/26
2/25/26
2/23/26
BURY
This post was
Word prompt--BURY
Five minutes to free-write about it
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Disclaimer: My brain is tired, and all I could think of for this week's prompt, BURY, was the above verse (John 12:24), and this song--"Glorious Day," so I can't claim to have written anything and was going to just skip, but then thought maybe the song would encourage someone. Hope it does.
I was buried beneath my shameWho could carry that kind of weight?It was my tomb'Til I met You
I was breathing, but not aliveAll my failures I tried to hideIt was my tomb'Til I met You
You called my nameThen I ran out of that graveOut of the darknessInto Your glorious dayYou called my nameAnd I ran out of that graveOut of the darknessInto Your glorious day
Now Your mercy has saved my soulNow Your freedom is all that I knowThe old made newJesus, when I met You, whoa, what a day
When you called my nameAnd I ran out of that graveOut of the darknessInto Your glorious dayYou called my nameThen I ran out of that graveOut of the darknessInto Your glorious day
I needed rescueMy sin was heavyBut chains break at the weight of Your gloryI needed shelterI was an orphanBut You call me a citizen of HeavenWhen I was brokenYou were my healingNow Your love is the air that I'm breathingI have a futureMy eyes are open
'Cause when you called my nameI ran out of that graveOut of the darknessInto Your glorious dayYou called my nameAnd I ran out of that graveOut of the darknessInto Your glorious day
2/18/26
2/14/26
BENEDICTION
Word prompt--BENEDICTION
Five minutes to free-write about it
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Wishing you this benediction from the Old Testament:
May the LORD bless you and protect you.
May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you.
May the LORD show you his favor and give you his
peace. (Numbers 6:24-26, NLT)
And this one from the New Testament:
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
(2 Corinthians 13:14, NLT)
And, a Happy Valentine's Day too!
2/10/26
2/7/26
LONGING
This post was written for Five Minute Friday
Word prompt--LONGING
Five minutes to free-write about it
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At the moment, what I am most longing for is a change in the weather. I long to be out and about again without fear of slipping on ice or being blown over by the wind.
On the other hand, I am grateful to have a warm apartment to shelter in, food in the pantry and freezer, and a comfortable bed to sleep in.
My heart and prayers go out to the homeless who have to face the elements without any of these basic blessings I too often take for granted. What to me is just a temporary inconvenience can pose life threatening risks to many of them. Thinking of that can quickly put things in their proper perspective.
2/3/26
2/1/26
COLD
This post was written for Five Minute Friday
Word prompt--COLD
Five minutes to free-write about it
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The big snowstorm we were supposed to get last weekend turned out not to be as big as we expected, and certainly nowhere near as big as what many of those of you living in other states got.
What started as snow turned to sleet, which created an icy mix that made it really hard to shovel off cars and sidewalks or plow off the road. The frigid temps we've had all week have not helped much at all. What little the strong sun rays managed to melt during the day, soon froze back up at the end of it, creating dangerous little patches of black ice.
It is cold! Brrrrr.
Whereas it has been a frusrating experience for those like me who feel trapped in our homes due to our paranoid fear of slipping and falling, it's been anything but for this little neighbor who discovered the snow in our courtyard was frozen so solid she could go ice skating on it.
I'm feeling very grateful that the power has not gone out, my apartment is cozy and warm, and for friends who have helped dig out my car, pick up my mail, and take me to the store.
1/28/26
1/26/26
THE BIG SNOW THAT WASN'T
For several days last week, we received daily weather alerts about the big snowstorm that was supposed to hit our area and dump 20" of snow on my neck of the woods.
It was supposed to start snowing during the night on Saturday, and I looked forward to waking up to the sight of a winter wonderland. Not so.
When I looked out my window in the morning, there was a good amount of snow on the ground, but not a trace of it on any of the trees.
The snowplow had made several treks around the parking lot during the night, but at some point the snow had become mixed with sleet so it looked like an icy mess. And yet there wasn't a trace of ice on the trees either.
I thought for sure I would be prisoner of my home for several days at least, since I am really paranoid about slipping and falling on ice. But maybe not. Even though the temperature was very cold, the sun's rays were strong and melted most of the ice on the road and sidewalks.
1/24/26
UNUSUAL
This post was written for Five Minute Friday
Word prompt--UNUSUAL
Five minutes to free-write about it
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We haven't had much snow this winter in my neck of the woods, but the last several days we have been on alert that a big storm is headed our way over the weekend.
This morning, on my way out, the sky looked eerie. The unusual combination of contrails and clouds intrigued me, so I pulled over to take some shots.
Whether we get the big storm that's supposed to dump 20" or more on us, or whether it winds up getting diverted and we get nothing at all, it feels like something ominous and unusual is about to take place. What it might be, I do not know. That will have to be the subject of another post.
Meanwhile, we could play a game of "what do you see?"
Among other things, I see a hand, a giant toothbrush, searchlights, a face, a cross, and part of a game of tic-tac-toe. How about you?
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