Tag Archives: Story

Story ~ Five Minute Friday

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“When all I see is a cross, God, You see the empty tomb.”
Battle Belongs by Phil Whickham **Spectacular carving is done by Paul Weaver on display at Lehman’s Hardware. If you ever get a chance to see his display, do! It is AMAZING!

Happy Ending

I’m a happy ending kinda gal. Books and movies without one just aren’t for me. I want the underdog to prevail, problem to be resolved, dream to be realized, sickness to be cured, and love to never end. But guess what? That’s what I wish MY life were like too! But alas, as we all know, real life doesn’t always have a happy ending.  The plot of our lives often includes loss, unsurmountable challenges, failure, death, and broken relationships. Hardly the feel-good scenario I desire.

I know that like me, you can recount chapters in your life where the result was not as hoped or prayed for. They’re the ones we often don’t want to “reread.” I’ve been struggling for a while with a couple in my life that ended anything but happily. To be honest, I’ve been wondering why the Author would have written them this way. 

Then, as often happens, the plot thickens….

Sitting in church yesterday the Pastor began reading her chosen scripture: John 9:1-41. It was verse 3 that caught my attention. The disciples were questioning Jesus about a tragedy, an unhappy ending in a young man’s life. They wanted to know why he’d been born blind. It’s the kind of question I’ve been asking myself. Maybe you’ve wondered something similar too. They had their own theories but here is what Jesus said:

“It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.” John 9:3 (NLT)

“So the power of God could be seen.” As these words sunk in, I realized how that changed the young man’s challenging story. Then it hit me, how does MY story change if instead of saying those unhappy, disappointing, devastating endings “just aren’t for me,” I delve into those chapters to discover how God’s power was displayed in each of them? That’s just what I’ve been doing since then and while I didn’t realize it at the time, God’s might is written throughout it all.  It feels as if I can proclaim along with the man God healed, “But this I know, I was blind, and now I can see!” (vs. 9:25) 

There’s no doubt that our life stories will take twists and turns we wish it didn’t and we may  struggle to get through chapter after chapter, but, when we focus on the fact that the circumstances we find ourselves in can be used to show the world the power of God through us, it can change our outlook and the outcome completely. Yep, I DO love a happy ending! Don’t you?

God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”
James 1:12 (NLT)

“Open my eyes that I may see
glimpses of truth thou hast for me.
Place in my hand the wonderful key
that shall unclasp and set me free.
Silently now I wait for thee,
ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit divine!
Open My Eyes by Clara H. Scott

For more Five Minute Friday offerings click over to http://www.fiveminutefriday.com

Better ~ Five Minute Friday

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Linking up with the talented writers over at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com where the idea is to write for five minutes to a given prompt. I love writing to a prompt! Sticking to five minutes? Not so much.  I always try but usually don’t stop. But it’s the first post in 2019 and I’m ready to give it another go!

Time starts now!

The Better Story

“Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!’ ” John 20:27 (NLT)/ Pixabay

Rain had been coming down for what seemed like weeks.  It sure didn’t feel like it was only a few days before Christmas, but the calendar told a different story. Of course, there was lots I still needed to get done and in my attempt to check things off my list, I was rushing here and there. You know what can happen when you’re in a hurry, don’t you? Without warning my feet flew completely out from under my body and Wham! I found myself unexpectedly sprawled out on the wet sidewalk! Thankfully, nothing was broken so I slowly returned to my upright position.  Pain accompanied me each step of the way as I completed the stops I had yet to make. It wasn’t until arriving home and taking off my jacket that I realized my elbow had taken the brunt of the fall. The evidence was bright red on the sleeve of my shirt.

I didn’t have time for stitches! It wasn’t on my agenda! Still, there I was with my arm propped up on a shiny silver table while skilled hands kindly put me back together. It didn’t take long for bruises to appear, muscles to protest, and a sense of gratitude to set in; as I realized I’d been spared a worse fate.

I’m much better now! Dark purple splotches** have faded to yellowish-green and pain from many pulled muscles has diminished. Where stitches once were woven into my skin, a scar now remains. A scar that will to me, always serve as a reminder and a prompt to the story….”remember the Christmas when I not so gracefully laid spread out on the sidewalk and shed blood in an attempt to give my all to a to-do list?”

We’ve all had wounds that left scars to tell stories of our lives. But, isn’t it amazing that there is One whose wounds and scars save our lives?

“He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.” 1 Peter 2:24 (NLT)

Jesus shed his blood, gave his all, so that I could be healed. You could be healed. Because of God’s grace, Jesus took the brunt of the fall of man, spreading his arms out on the cross and taking our sins with him. Our dark splotches become white, our pain diminishes, and where we’d once been bound by sin, He now remains. His scars become ours to bear. They serve as a reminder to each of us to tell the story.  His story. The better story! The one with a happy ending. The story that fills us with such gratitude when we realize that we’ve been spared a much worse fate. It’s a story that’s meant to be shared again and again, because it gets better and better every time it’s told!

 

 

Story ~ Day 1 ~ 31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes

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This post is part of the October 2018 Edition of 31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes. I hope you”ll join me in seeing where each prompt takes us.
 P.S. Just so you know, I’m finding it difficult to stick to five minutes (**) and it may take me longer than the 31 days to finish all the prompts. Not easy for this rule follower!
You can read more 31 Days entries at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com

 

“Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story-those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,” Psalm 107:2 (NIV) / Pixabay

A Story to Tell

If you know me or have read enough of my ramblings here, you might guess that I love to tell a story and you’d be right!  With the tone of my voice, facial expressions, and just the right words, it brings me joy to draw a listener away from the real world and into the tale I’ve created for them. Focusing on the faces of those looking back at me with wonder, spurs me on; and before you know it, I’m not only speaking with my voice, but my hands have become involved in telling the story, too. Sometimes I can say more with my hands than I do with my mouth.  With a wave, a thumbs up, a fist, a clap: a storyteller’s hands can speak volumes and help bring what’s being said to life! Continue reading →

Scar Story

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“He bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24 NIV

Ever find yourself lying unconscious in the gutter? No?  I never expected to either! So imagine my surprise when I opened my eyes to find myself wedged between the tires of a car and the curb…literally lying in the gutter!  It was one of those moments that moved in slow motion and seemed like a dream or in this case a nightmare.  As I looked up from my undignified position a crowd of unfamiliar eyes stared down at me.   Sprawled on the pavement, one flip flop on, one off, my clothing askew, and a throbbing head made me want to disappear down the drain I was laying on!

I was a teenager on vacation and I’d fainted as we were walking along the sidewalk, souvenir shopping. I’d had too much……….not what you’re thinking…….sun. As it turned out, I had to get stitches in the gash near my eye. I still bear the scar on my face from that embarrassing adventure long ago that I’d rather forget.

Scars are like that. They stick with us. They tell the story of imperfect moments in our journey through life. Everyone’s are unique.  You NOW know that some of mine tell of accidents, some say I’ve survived health issues, and still others remind me of times I might not have used good judgement or paid close enough attention.

We don’t just display our scars on the outside, though.  Our story continues with the ones we wear on the inside, too. Maybe we’ve been “stabbed” in the back by a friend. Our heart’s been “pierced” by someone we love. Words have “cut” deep into our soul. Insecurity has “carved” its way into our thoughts. These scars can feel as if they’ll never heal. And they don’t if left on their own. Here’s the Good News for you and me….we’re NOT left on our own!

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3

What a comfort to know that God not only knows every hair on our head but also every hurt we endure. And just as He designed our skin to repair itself on the outside,  He takes our inward pain and layer by layer knits the damaged pieces into a place of strength.

There have been times I’ve wished my scars weren’t there, but as I’ve grown older I realize that inside or out; each bump, bruise, scrape, and gouge has been stitched together to create who I am today. It’s my scar story. A story that’s full of hurt, disappointment, and fear, but it doesn’t end there.  It’s also a story that tells of this girl’s healing through forgiveness, love and grace. Now THAT’S a story that will stick with you!  What’s your scar story?

If you want to read more about loving your scars, click on over to http://www.tsuzanneeller.com for #livefreeThursday wisdom.