“Worrying is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do, but it gets you nowhere.” Glenn Turner
“Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” Matthew 6:27 (NIV) / Pixabay
W hittles tirelessly away; making shards of my soul.
O verpowered by the width and depth of my fears.
R estricting peace, hope, and my very breath.
R eveals the “You of little faith” that I am.
Y ielding my illusion of control to God’s perfect plan is the only remedy.
Does anyone else find it crazy how discontent we are? We wish for our bodies to be different. We want a different job or house or car…..the list goes on. We wish for her life or her kids. It’s too hot or too cold. We’re too young or too old! I catch myself complaining way too much when I am living such a blessed life. Of course, there are challenges but no matter what circumstances we face, We. Are. Not. On. Our. Own. We need to take a lesson from Paul (note to self!) “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation……I can do all things through Him who strengthens me!”
“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Him who gives me strength. Phillipians 4:12-13 (NIV)
Discontent
(Inspired by waking up to snow on the Magnolia buds this morning)
Snow, snow
Go away!
It’s time to leave.
You’ve had your say!
Spring, Spring
Come right on in.
We’re more than ready
For you to begin!
Rain, rain
We’ve had enough!
Your mud and gloom
Makes doing things tough.
Summer, Summer
We need you fast!
Swimming pools, fireflies,
And days that last.
Heat, heat
You leave me weak!
Please give me a break
From sweat running down my cheek.
Snow, snow
Oh, how we’ve missed you!
Send us a downfall
Making the world seem fresh and new.
“Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path. Proverbs 23:19 (NIV) / Pixabay
What You Do
What is it that you do
When Jesus calls your name,
To step in deeper waters
Where you’ll never be the same?
What is it that you do
When He knocks at your door
Beckoning to enter in
And change your life once more?
What is it that you do
When God meets you on the road
Giving new direction
Offering help with your load?
What is it that you do
When you see Him on a tree
Realizing without a doubt
He died for you and me?
Answer yes!
Invite Him In!
Follow His lead! .
Repent of your sin!
That is what you do
When for Him you want to live.
He’s asking for one thing, my friend
Our hearts to Him we give
“Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” Isaiah 46:4 (NIV) / Pixabay
The Passing of Time
Time moves very slowly
as we anxiously wait;
Whether it’s news from the doctor
or a baby that’s late.
Minute by minute
the hands seem to stall,
when we listen for footsteps
or wish they would call.
Days linger so long
watching snow fall in the spring.
We yearn for warm sunshine
flowers, leaves, birds that sing.
Time drifts along languidly,
it sets its own pace.
We often wish it away
till in the mirror we see
our face.
I’m doing double duty today. Not only is it day three of the Poetry challenge; it’s also Friday! Today’s prompt is “Release” in celebration of the release of Kate Motaung’s (the founder of Five Minute Friday) book called “A Place to Land”! I’ll tell you more about this wonderful memoir very soon. So here’s my attempt at once again, joining Poetry and Five Minute writing together. To read more great posts on “Release” go to http://www.fiveminutefriday.com
“For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.” 1 Peter 1: 18-19 / Pixabay
R oll away your stone of doubt.
E xit your tomb of fear.
L oosen your hold on crippling guilt.
E scape the chains of the world and
A ccept the hope and freedom of
S weet forgiveness,
E ternally ours through the One, who out of love, paid it all.
Day 2 of the April Poetry Writing Challenge
“And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV)
The Ring
Polished facets capture the light
and sparkle
Exactly like the glint in your eye when you
asked again.
Its still new weight against
my skin
an ever-present reminder of the anchor you are
in my life.
Encircling my finger
unbroken
Just as the cycle of seasons we’ve weathered and
been renewed in.
Presented in a box
a pretty jewel.
But on my hand
a beautiful symbol
of…
Vows spoken in our youth but lived
across time,
Commitment ever renewed, withstanding
the ebb and flow of our story, and
Love evolved, strengthened, and protected
by Him,
who perfectly led me
to you.
I’ve been doing some crazy stuff lately and this ranks right up there, but even though I’m getting a late start, I am going to once again attempt to write a poem a day in April to celebrate Poetry Month. I’ll be the first to say that it’s unlikely that I’ll accomplish this goal, however I’m going to give it my best! And who knows? Crazier things have happened! (believe me!)
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIV) / Pixabay
Years
10 ~ Bike riding, marble playing, days of carefree fun!
20 ~ Nose in books, food on trays, late-night stories spun.
30 ~ Planning lessons, housework looms, a new daughter joins our son!
40 ~ Busy life, kids grow up, suppers on the run.
50 ~ Empty beds, who turned up the heat, career is almost done.
60 ~ By God’s grace I’m 59 and 60’s just plus one! (Boy, I hope it’s fun!)
It’s that time again! I am linking up with the talented writers over at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com
The prompt today is “Settle”.
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed – or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42 (NIV) / Pixabay
I didn’t settle down to write today until supper was cooked and the mess cleaned up. My day just got in my way. There were phone calls to make, laundry to finish, and preparations for the Sunrise Service at our church to be made. Before I knew it, the sun had set and I hadn’t even turned on my laptop. I’d planned to write after lunch but despite my best intentions, I was distracted by my to do list.
I’m here to tell you my prayer life isn’t much different. I begin my day with the best of intentions: coffee, devotions, and prayer. The reality is more like: coffee, Facebook, and more coffee. When I finally do settle down to spend time in prayer, my day gets in my way! In the midst of my gratitude is my grocery list. Smack in the middle of my confessions are the contacts I need to make. One minute I’m naming my joys and the next, I’m naming jobs that need to be done.
Sound familiar? Jesus had come to visit Mary and Martha. Mary settled in next to Him but the Bible tells us Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. There was food to cook, dishes to wash, and guests to serve. So, just like me, Martha’s day got in the way of her spending time with Jesus. Maybe you can relate, too.
Martha asked Jesus for help with her to do list. He gave her so much more! He gave her Himself! He’s inviting us today to also let go of those things that worry and upset us and choose the Only thing we need! I don’t want to just settle for distracted prayer. I want to, like Mary, choose what is better! How about you?
Time’s up!
It’s Friday! Yay! Time for another five minute free write. Today’s prompt is “routine”. Want to read more? Click on over to http://www.fiveminutefriday.com
Time starts now…
“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT) / Pixabay
I’m in a comfy pants routine! When I was teaching full time and flitting here and there with kids, wearing comfy pants was a luxury! An unexpected snow day or rare weekend with no plans allowed me to slip into those soft, stretchy, cozy pants for a bit! Now that I’m retired though, I find myself each morning (or afternoon…shhhhh) routinely reaching in the drawer, passing over the jeans, and pulling out my now well worn. comfortable, favorite easy to wear attire. IF I’m going to stay at home, that is! Although it seems socially acceptable these days, I have not adopted wearing comfy pants out in public. The mirror doesn’t lie! While soft and stretchy are great for relaxing, not so much for bumps, lumps, and rolls on a retired gal’s body! I just don’t want to run into someone I know and share those parts of me with them!
You know? I’m kind of the same with my Christian life; it’s great when things are easy and comfortable. Not so much when there are bumps in the road of my faith walk, lumps of regret for things undone caught in my throat, or guilt rolls over my heart like a boulder. The Bible doesn’t lie! I’m a sinner and I don’t always want others to see those parts of me, either.
Maybe something needs to change, though. Don’t worry! I won’t be wearing my comfy pants out and about anytime soon. But, I am learning that if we make sharing with others the shortcomings and challenges in our Christian life routine, we find those parts of us aren’t as different as we thought they were, and even better than that, we can begin to encourage one another to see ourselves and all our parts in another way: as becoming the new person in Christ, God intends for us to be!
Times up!
Now where are those comfy pants……….
I can’t believe it’s Friday already! And it’s Five Minute Friday at that! Today’s prompt is “regret”. Oh boy…….brings about a lot of stirring in my soul. Definitely something I continue to struggle with. Maybe you do too. I know there will be so many insightful posts that you can join me in reading today at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com
“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for Which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Phillipians 3:13-14 (NIV) / Pixabay
The Land of Regret
In the land of regret there is no peace,
No solace waiting there.
Instead you’ll find words not said, deeds undone,
Relationships beyond repair.
In the land of regret you’ll find no joy,
No celebrations to behold.
Just wasted time, a sense of loss,
Stories that remain untold.
In the land of regret love is lost,
Contentment does not abide.
But living there are mistakes we’ve made, hurt upon hurt,
And dreams we’ve had that died.
In the land of regret it’s easy to drown
In remorse, worry, and woe.
The devil tells us we’re doomed to stay;
An empty tomb shouts it isn’t so!
You see my friend, we have a choice to make
Of where we’d like to be:
Looking back to the past we cannot change or
Looking up to to the One who sets us free!
