Promise-A Late Five Minute Friday

What a busy time of year it is! I have made a promise to myself to keep with our FMF community each week and so here I am, better late than never. I could've gone in many different directions with last week's prompt. These are just some of my thoughts I wrote out yesterday.

Promise....

We count on it. We count on those to come through and make good on their promise. When they don't, our apple cart is turned upside down and we're left wondering, "Now what do I do?"

Sometimes it's like that with God. We think a promise means one thing and we take it literally. I recall the one about "Honor your mother and father that your days may be prolonged in the land your God gives you." (Exodus 20:12, NASB)

That doesn't always play out the way we expect. There are children, no doubt, who have loved and honored/respected their parents and for what appears to be no reason, die before their own mom and dad. I don't know why.

STOP

"If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:15 (NASB)

I thought of the above verse because each of us has to decide what to do with the tough stuff when real life doesn't live up to our expectations. It is very hard when life doesn't make sense. I am equally challenged and wrestle when tragedy strikes. I have to decide though, who and what am I going to side with. I know I don't see everything. I know God is BIGGER than everything I see and experience at any given moment. I really don't like all the moments though and so I struggle;so do we all. Will we fulfill our promise to follow after Him?

To see what others are doing with their promises and God's check out www.fiveminutefriday.com

Practice

I liked this week's prompt for simply a time to reflect upon what it is so natural to put into practice, that which we've seen modeled to us through our mother's. However, what is it we truly want to practice and in turn become while setting an example for others to follow?

Practice

Monkey see. Money do. What we practice, sticks like glue!

Mom's Day-we celebrate and commemorate the women who gave us life. They carried us for nine months, nursed us, changed our diapers, carried us in their arms and raised us up.

Did they always do their best or what was best? Most intend to. Some make better choices than others.

We watch. We take notes and can take after them in more ways than one.

What if their words are hurtful? 

What if they are neglectful or even abusive? 

What if they just can't handle money? 

What if our stories don't match the Brady Bunch? 

What if?

STOP

Philippians 4:8-9 Finally brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things and the God of peace will be with you." (NASB)

To see what others have put into practice, check out www.fiveminutefriday.com

Opportunity-Five Minute Friday

This can excite us or push us to our limit. No matter what, it is always good to have options and know there may be more than we realize at hand.

Opportunity........

the right time, the right place

set of circumstances 

makes it possible to do something

what we see as impossibility

can be a God given opportunity

rivers in the desert

open doors we never knew existed

any day, any time

we are usually desperate

looking for a way, the way

then the phone call, the knock on the door

or a new person to talk with

it can lead us places we never dreamed

even in a dungeon, dark and deep

can come something from nowhere

and lead us into higher places

I think of Joseph

from field to Potiphar's house

to jail to the palace

Absolutely amazes me

STOP

I Corinthians 2:9 "but just as it is written,'Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him." (NASB)

To see what others have done with this week's opportunity check out www.fiveminutefriday.com