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

Slow- Five Minute Friday

It was easy to think of an acrostic for this one. It brought nuggets to mind for chewing on. I hope you enjoy the read.



Stop,
Look and listen
Outside your
Window and wonder about the wonders


I showed a book called "Best in Snow" to second graders this past week. I asked them, "What does the author want you to do or think?" Each page mesmerized them as it clearly depicted the finest details of ice and snow outside our windows and into the woods. The close up shots were magnificent. The children ooo'ed and ahh'ed.

Take time. Slow down and look at the beauty God has created for us. It is lavished on all throughout the world and it is free. Actually, the only think it will cost us is our time to gaze in awesome wonder. How Great Thou Art!

STOP

Check out the children's book Best in Snow by April Pulley Sayre

Check out what others may be doing to slow down.

Weak- Five Minute Friday

I haven't done an acrostic in awhile, so I thought of one for today. I hope you enjoy the read and find some nugget of truth worth taking away.


Worried and trying to

Eat the whole elephant 

At one time

Kills our joy and any chance of overcoming 

We get weak in the knees when we look at a whole problem and all the what ifs at once. It wears us down and can immobilize us. My dad used to say, "You're trying to eat the whole elephant at once. You have to take it one bite at a time."

When I have followed that advice, it has helped. 

One day at a time, step by step, the grace is there.

It's not there for the next twenty or thirty years or steps ahead. I want it to be, but it's not.

When I recently went back to the gym after not working out for so long, I was weaker. Yet little by little, I get stronger each time.

STOP

"So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34 (NASB)

To see what others are thinking this week check out www.katemotaung.com

Safe-Five Minute Friday

What in the world will I post for this one? What a word to be faced with early in the morning. Our world is anything but a safe place to live, in spite of numerous efforts to make it so. Here is what flowed this morning.

safe

better safe than sorry

don't take a chance

don't go out, better safe at home

yet this world is not our home

what would we do different if.. 

we lived with that premise 

in the forefront of our minds daily?

what would I do different?

I like my plan A

I like smooth sailing

It's less chaotic, but.....

it doesn't stretch me as much

I don't get the thrill of giving 

one hundred and ten percent

only to wait and see how 

it turns out in the end

The NE Patriots weren't safe 

for the first half or so

They made it back home though

STOP

"Aslan is a lion-the Lion, the great Lion."

"Ooh," said Susan. I'd thought he was a man. Is he-quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.".....

"Safe?" said Mr. Beaver... "Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you."

CS Lewis The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe