Embrace-Five Minute Friday

It has been a fun and busy weekend so far. Thus here I am posting my Five Minute Friday on Sunday morning. I've had lots of time to mull this one over. I've seen and read some great articles which all reminded me of what and how we can embrace. I guess what it comes down to is a plaque I saw hanging in my friend's home.

How different our world would be if each of us practiced this. Whenever we meet someone new or encounter a challenging situation, if we maintained a mindset of finding something good in every person and every situation, I'm sure we would all be a lot happier and enjoy more peace. I hope you enjoy my poem for today.

embrace

Open your arms

Open your heart

Draw them or it closer

With a smile on our face

and a song in our heart

We welcome our loved ones this way

But when the unfamiliar comes

What about it?

Different faces from different places

How much and how many shall we embrace?

We all bleed red, we all need grace

We ought to welcome and reach out

to the least of these 

When circumstances change 

And things get turned upside down

Will I keep my smile or start to frown?

STOP

James 1:2 "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials." (NASV)

Matthew 25:37-40 

"Then the righteous will answer Him , saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe you? And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to you?

And the King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of mine, even, the least of them, you did it to me." (NASV)

To see what others are embracing, check out www.katemotaung.com

Friend-Five Minute Friday on a Sunday evening

It's been a busy weekend and so here I am posting on Sunday evening. I actually had the opportunity to make some new friends this weekend at a gathering, which helped me to broaden my perspective on friendship a little more. We never know when or where we can make a new friend, but how sweet it is to share that moment. I hope you enjoy the read for this week's prompt.

friend

Someone who is not so consumed with themselves

And yet comfortable and confident in their own skin

They listen and they want to know more about you and how you're doing

They're interested, but they are also interesting

They have interests to share

Yes, they share a moment, a memory, their presence and the gift of living, with you

And they will always come back to stop, rest, and reconnect

Like spring rains that come again in April or May

You can look forward to their visitation and drink

STOP

To see what others have posted for this week, check out www.katemotaung.com

A few More Thoughts....

After I had already made my Five Minute Friday post for this week's thought, I came across a trending news story from National Geographic. Rare photos were captured of a Gelada monkey in Ethiopia giving birth. It is a species that appears to be dwindling in numbers, but a photographer was able to witness first hand a new beginning. It gave me a new perspective on abandon as they give birth in seclusion.


It's rare for them to walk away

Appear to abandon their own

She's pregnant and now silent

She prefers to be alone

In seclusion something new will come forth

A mystery, hidden from all to see

No one to tell her "Now push" or "Breathe"

One may wonder how and where

When did this new creature come to be?

A sacred space, a quiet space

A holy moment of birth for a monkey

God knows, God calls, nature delivers

Newness and wonder preserved

She labored in secret

Her body twisted and twitched

Her new, little, life popped out

She cradled and cleaned

When it will happen we never know

Signs are sure to show

Abandon the normal group

Abandon for sake of delivery

Abandon for sake of of life

Let new beginnings spring forth

There is always that time


To see the photos captured check out Gelada Monkey Giving Birth

Abandon-Five Minute Friday

I recently got a letter from Joni Eareckson Tada who wrote, "The choice is ours." She was referring to  how we handle suffering and affliction in our lives. Joni explained it will either drive us closer to God  or away from Him. Anyone who's lived can tell you it's no picnic down here. Whether you are Alexander having a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day or someone who is experiencing one catastrophe after another, life can really get you down at times. So what will we do? What will I do with it?  Here are some thoughts about abandoning.

abandon....

Leave it.

Walk away.

Don't look back.

Move ahead.

Familiar or unfamiliar.

Comfortable or not.

Some leave family.

Some leave friends.

Some leave convenience.

No more comfort.

Some leave hope and faith.

What can I leave?

What should I?

Why and how?

Show me God.

I'm jumping out.

Don't leave me,

falling flat.

Abandon reason?

Abandon the norm?

Abandon the prickly forest,

the sin so entangling.

STOP

"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us." (Hebrews 12:1 NASB)

To see what others have abandoned check out www.katemotaung.com

Purpose- My Five Minute Friday

Hmmm. I've wrestled with this question more and more the older I get and I don't have any clear answers. The verse that comes to mind is found in Job.

Job 9:10-12 "Who does great things, unfathomable, And wondrous works without number. Were He to pass by me, I would not see Him; Were He to move past me, I would not perceive Him. 'Were He to snatch away, who could restrain Him? Who could say to Him, 'What are you doing?' " (NASB)

purpose

So many ways to define it

In a piece of PIE is the author's purpose

Persuade, Inform and Entertain

He/she did that on purpose

I know some who think that of others

When something goes wrong, 

they think another did it on purpose 

Just to hurt THEM

There are so many times I've wondered and questioned

"God, why? What's your purpose in that?"

I've spent too many moments wondering and asking

I haven't gotten any or many answers yet

In fact, I have more questions than answers now

I want to know a lot of why's, but.........

I'm not sure if I knew ALL the why's it would help

STOP

Romans 11:33-36 "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgements and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or became His counselor? Or who has first given to Him again? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen." (NASB)

To see what others have been wrestling with or what inspires their purpose, check outwww.katemotaung.com