It's Friday - FIVE MINUTE FRIDAY (wooot!) - time to come join our writing fun. The rules are easy.
1. Write for 5 minutes on the prompt of the week - with no editing, no over thinking, no back tracking.
2. Link up over here and invite others to join in.
3. Please, please visit the person who linked before you. Encourage them in the comments. This is the best part - encouraging someone else to share their heart again. It's brave stuff, this raw writing ... share the love, friends.
This week's word:
BROKEN.
GO.
Broken is a tough place to be. In the midst of the breaking, and the re-breaking, and the start of the reassembling ... tough, tough. And when you're broken, shattered into a million pieces. Looking at your heart before you and wondering "how did I get here?" And wondering if it will ever be mended. Been there, done that. Yes, I have.
And then time passes, and the hurt sloooooowly starts to ease. And then one day, you take a little look out of your safe hiding place. And you see that what you thought was broken forever ISN'T. Somehow in the midst of the baby steps forward, and even the giant staggers backward, the broken has changed. To the best place of all - MENDED.
This Easter weekend, I am so thankful that Jesus was willing to be broken for all of us - that we might be mended, restored, redeemed ... for at this end of the brokenness is where we find the light.
Stop.
Friday, March 29, 2013
Friday, March 22, 2013
Remember (Five Minute Friday)
I used to look forward to Fridays, simply because it meant I had mastered survived another week of whatever landed on my plate that week - work, kids, house cleaning (well, not really DOING the house cleaning), etc. But now, with Five Minute Fridays, I also look forward to taking a bit of time to reflect on whatever Lisa-Jo has conjured up for our writing menu, and then setting my timer for 5 minutes to share what's on my heart. It's the REST I need at the end of a week of crazy. It's very simple, if you want to join in. Get the word of the week. Write for 5 minutes, no editing, no overthinking. Post, and then link up here, and then find the lovely person who linked before you, and go read their post. Leave them a bit of encouragement. As my 8 year old would say "easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy". Jump on in and write with us, won't you?
REMEMBER.
Go.
Do you remember when ... I love conversations that start that way. An evening with old friends reminiscing. When I was unpacking the umpteenth box from my move, I found this:
my graduation gift from one of my dearest friends. It's a compilation of pages and pages of this thing we once did that I had long forgotten about. We called it "the happy list" (or something like that). It was back in the days when email was just getting cool. And we would write a quick note. Just a list or paragraph of things that had brought joy that week. And we shared it around among ourselves and our friends and just added on as we went. She lovingly took that and made it into a book of cherished memories for me. So I can always remember when.
REMEMBER.
Go.
Do you remember when ... I love conversations that start that way. An evening with old friends reminiscing. When I was unpacking the umpteenth box from my move, I found this:
my graduation gift from one of my dearest friends. It's a compilation of pages and pages of this thing we once did that I had long forgotten about. We called it "the happy list" (or something like that). It was back in the days when email was just getting cool. And we would write a quick note. Just a list or paragraph of things that had brought joy that week. And we shared it around among ourselves and our friends and just added on as we went. She lovingly took that and made it into a book of cherished memories for me. So I can always remember when.
I've been working this year on finding things to be thanful for every day, and love the joy that brings - but I haven't been keeping such a tangible memory short list. With the smiles and laughs I got from re-reading these lists 15 years later, I think I will start it up again. And in another 15 years I will have 30 years worth of "do you remember when..." giggles to light up my day.
Stop.
Friday, March 15, 2013
Rest (Five Minute Friday)
It's Five Minute Friday. Where we come, drop our barriers for a few fleeting moments, and write what's on our hearts with no edits. (and let's face it, some weeks even those 5 minutes are hard to come by. But today I've been blessed to find them. so voila. I bring you this week's edition of "peek into my mind - or heart - or both" with a prompt provided by Lisa-Jo.
So set your timer for 5 minutes. Write whatever comes out - no edits, no over-thinking. Grammar, punctuation and typos are welcome and encouraged. Link up over here. Then read a post or two of a brave writer who linked before you, and leave a comment. Love on someone else for just a second. You'll totally make their weekend.
This week's prompt: REST.
Sometimes I wonder, do I really know what it means to rest? Single moms don't get a lot of time for that. But it's not about getting time. Other folks who aren't single moms have the same problem. It's about being intentional. Choosing to rest. What's that little prick I feel? The reference buried in the back of my mind? oh, yes. on the 7th day HE rested. And Jesus took time too. To rest. To reflect. To replenish. To seek His Father and know where to go. Jesus wasn't frenzied. Not frantic.
Hmmm. There's something to that, isn't there? He was intentional. I can choose to be intentional. Just like I seek out grace. Seek out wisdom. Choose joy. I can CHOOSE rest. And when I find it, it's amazing how much better I feel. How much longer my patience lasts with my littles. How much easier the hard challenges seem. Feel free to join in - choose a moment and rest. Don't wait for that moment to choose you - it won't. At least it doesn't choose me. So, I will choose it.
Stop.
So set your timer for 5 minutes. Write whatever comes out - no edits, no over-thinking. Grammar, punctuation and typos are welcome and encouraged. Link up over here. Then read a post or two of a brave writer who linked before you, and leave a comment. Love on someone else for just a second. You'll totally make their weekend.
This week's prompt: REST.
Sometimes I wonder, do I really know what it means to rest? Single moms don't get a lot of time for that. But it's not about getting time. Other folks who aren't single moms have the same problem. It's about being intentional. Choosing to rest. What's that little prick I feel? The reference buried in the back of my mind? oh, yes. on the 7th day HE rested. And Jesus took time too. To rest. To reflect. To replenish. To seek His Father and know where to go. Jesus wasn't frenzied. Not frantic.
Hmmm. There's something to that, isn't there? He was intentional. I can choose to be intentional. Just like I seek out grace. Seek out wisdom. Choose joy. I can CHOOSE rest. And when I find it, it's amazing how much better I feel. How much longer my patience lasts with my littles. How much easier the hard challenges seem. Feel free to join in - choose a moment and rest. Don't wait for that moment to choose you - it won't. At least it doesn't choose me. So, I will choose it.
Stop.
Friday, March 8, 2013
Home (Five Minute Friday)
Is it Friday already? Yes, yes it is. That means it's time to set my timer, spill out a few thoughts on whatever has been on Lisa-Jo's heart, and run headfirst into my weekend.
Here's how it works:
1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..
Oh and Ahem, if you would take pity and turn off comment verification, it would make leaving some love on your post that much easier for folks! (WOO-HOO - I just learned how to do this!)
Ready? The word of the week is
HOME
Go.
There's a well known saying in the world of Army life: "Home is where the Army sends us". I'm not an Army wife anymore, so I've adapted it - better fit to my world now as "Home is where the Father Leads Us".
The journey I've been on - the places I've been and the houses / apartments / dorm rooms I've lived in over the years - they've all done their part to change how I create a home in whatever place I land. But they key difference in the two thoughts above...
the Army sends us. the Father leads us. In the world of Uncle Sam, you don't get a choice - you listen, you read orders, you pack up (time and time again) and you plant yourself in the destination where the Army needs your husband's skill.
In the world of following Jesus, He calls you to where you should be to serve Him. BUT He doesn't MAKE you go. He extends an invitation - you choose to follow. He offers a choice, but you get to accept or reject it. [Can you imagine telling the Army - gee, thanks, but I'm not really into moving my kids to Fort-middle-of-nowhere-away-from-my-family-for-the-5th-time-in-10-years? They'd laugh at you as they put your stuff on the truck]
Jesus just holds out His hand, invites you to come along. Whispers in your ear "hey, check this out... what an adventure I have planned for you over here. Come along with me - you will be so glad you did." In the end, if we choose to follow, the home is right where He led us all along, but we're doing it with encouragement and joy instead of kicking and screaming.
Stop.
Here's how it works:
1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..
Oh and Ahem, if you would take pity and turn off comment verification, it would make leaving some love on your post that much easier for folks! (WOO-HOO - I just learned how to do this!)
Ready? The word of the week is
HOME
Go.
There's a well known saying in the world of Army life: "Home is where the Army sends us". I'm not an Army wife anymore, so I've adapted it - better fit to my world now as "Home is where the Father Leads Us".
The journey I've been on - the places I've been and the houses / apartments / dorm rooms I've lived in over the years - they've all done their part to change how I create a home in whatever place I land. But they key difference in the two thoughts above...
the Army sends us. the Father leads us. In the world of Uncle Sam, you don't get a choice - you listen, you read orders, you pack up (time and time again) and you plant yourself in the destination where the Army needs your husband's skill.
In the world of following Jesus, He calls you to where you should be to serve Him. BUT He doesn't MAKE you go. He extends an invitation - you choose to follow. He offers a choice, but you get to accept or reject it. [Can you imagine telling the Army - gee, thanks, but I'm not really into moving my kids to Fort-middle-of-nowhere-away-from-my-family-for-the-5th-time-in-10-years? They'd laugh at you as they put your stuff on the truck]
Jesus just holds out His hand, invites you to come along. Whispers in your ear "hey, check this out... what an adventure I have planned for you over here. Come along with me - you will be so glad you did." In the end, if we choose to follow, the home is right where He led us all along, but we're doing it with encouragement and joy instead of kicking and screaming.
Stop.
Welcome
Breaking news...
After several weeks of writing Five Minute Fridays over on Tumblr, I've shifted over here. No more chastisement for lack of a place to post comments. It should be noted Tumblr was a significant upgrade - prior to that I was posting on Facebook notes and then offering my friends the option to read itty bitty screen shots. (they were not so excited about the accompanying need for a magnifying glass) So we're moving up in the world.
Now you can comment if you want. (which is part of the joy of Five Minute Friday - leaving a little love for another writer). Or not, if you choose to read and move on.
And maybe, just maybe, I will post more often than Fridays once in a blue moon. Next up - writing this week's Five Minute Friday post.
[and maybe if I get coordinated orfind MAKE time, I will transfer my other posts over here too. Or link them through. Or something.]
After several weeks of writing Five Minute Fridays over on Tumblr, I've shifted over here. No more chastisement for lack of a place to post comments. It should be noted Tumblr was a significant upgrade - prior to that I was posting on Facebook notes and then offering my friends the option to read itty bitty screen shots. (they were not so excited about the accompanying need for a magnifying glass) So we're moving up in the world.
Now you can comment if you want. (which is part of the joy of Five Minute Friday - leaving a little love for another writer). Or not, if you choose to read and move on.
And maybe, just maybe, I will post more often than Fridays once in a blue moon. Next up - writing this week's Five Minute Friday post.
[and maybe if I get coordinated or
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