Five minute Friday : Table

Right or wrong, our kitchen table isn’t always the place we come to eat. I generally come home and spread out my work at the table and use the dining room as an office. The great thing about my dining tables/office desks has been the memories of how I got them. Joel and I bought a new table together about a year ago. We had a good time together figuring out what table to get and have been pleased with the purchase  ( see the top left pic). This table replaced a table that we had for about 10 years. That table proved to be a blessing and a curse. Joel knew I wanted a table and so while I was away in Greece, he purchased the table (bottom right). He put the whole thing together by himself. I was so happy that we Had our first new table. It was functional and met the decor need I had at the time. But over the years , each of the chairs began falling apart. The screws would fall out onto the floor; then I would plead for joel to put them back together again, which he always graciously did.

that table reminds me of thoughtfulness, selflessness and care that has been a constant in my relationship with my husband. So blessed to have him in my life.

Five Minute Friday – What’s YOUR address?

Today, I pause for Five Minutes to write and reflect…the nice thing for you as a reader is that my five minutes of writing is probably less than a minute of reading.  I hope that these moments can encourage, entertain, or just allow you to get to know me better.  Join in if you like….connect with Kate Motaung to find out more. This is meant to be a free write, which means: no editing, no over-thinking, no worrying about perfect grammar or punctuation.

This week’s Prompt:  DWELL

Ready….Set….Write

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.  – Psalm 91:1

When I was younger, my pastor would spend the first weeks of each year in a different Psalm that coincided with the year.  (Psalm 91 was the series of sermons for 1991).  I will never forget the premise that he had that year was “What is your address?”  He used Psalm 91:1 as the central verse to remind us to set up our permanent dwelling abiding in the shelter and shadow of God.

 

It is there that we find

Peace 

Hope

Eternal Security

Protection from evil

Provision

Direction

Wisdom

Knowledge

Contentment

It is there that we escape

Doubt

Fear of man

Dissatisfaction

Lack of resources

 

As I think about my physical address and the home that I return to each day, I am reassured of the comfort it affords and how much more I want to make a DAILY CHOICE to seek my permanent emotional and mental DWELLing in the “Shelter of the Most High” and the “Shadow of the Almighty.”  What a greater comfort and peace awaits for me there!

 

 

 

 

 

Five Minute Friday: From Dancing to Weariness….and Hopefully Back Again

Today, I pause for Five Minutes to write and reflect…the nice thing for you as a reader is that my five minutes of writing is probably less than a minute of reading.  I hope that these moments can encourage, entertain, or just allow you to get to know me better.  Join in if you like….connect with Kate Motaung to find out more. This is meant to be a free write, which means: no editing, no over-thinking, no worrying about perfect grammar or punctuation.  Last week we danced, but today we show the weariness that sometimes accompanies and leads us to the dances in life.

I put on a good face because I don’t want to be a burden to others.  The smile.  The confidence.  The enthusiastic spirit.  Then.other.days…..I just let it out.  I become overwhelmed by the burdens and will begin to unload to anyone who pretends to listen.

I do this in cycles.  There are just some days where I the waves topple over and I can’t pretend that the weariness has not become more than I can handle.

The to-do list.  The worry.  The pain.  The insecurity.

B.U.T…I have a God, who promises…

28Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. – Matthew 11

God blesses me with friends and mentors who will listen to the weary cries for peace and the ability to escape.

Then I can get back on the mountain and begin the climb again.  This time, the burdens are still there, but they are easier to bear with the help of the Master burden bearer.

“Come Weary Saints” – Sovereign Grace

VERSE 1
Come, weary saints, though tired and weak
Hide away in the love of Jesus
Your strength will return by His quiet streams
Hide away in the love of Jesus

VERSE 2
Come, wandering souls, and find your home
Hide away in the love of Jesus
He offers the rest that you yearn to know
Hide away in the love of Jesus

BRIDGE
Hear Him calling your name
See the depths of His love
In the wounds of His grace
Hide away

VERSE 3
Come, guilty ones weighed down with sin
Hide away in the love of Jesus
The freedom you long for is found in Him
Hide away in the love of Jesus

VERSE 4
Come, hopeless hearts, do not despair
Hide away in the love of Jesus
For ten thousand joys await you there
Hide away in the love of Jesus

Didn’t even Know if I could Dance

Welcome to Five Minute Friday found by going to this site by Kate Motaung

This is meant to be a free write, which means: no editing, no over-thinking, no worrying about perfect grammar or punctuation.

Just write.  

Today’s prompt is DANCE

You have turned my mourning into dancing, Lord, now my feet are  filled with your praise.  You have clothed my spirit with a robe of JOY, you’ve cast my sorrow away.

I grew up listening to this fun song by Steve Green, but never really ever experienced the joyful part of dancing.  I know that pop culture tends to turn any good form of dancing into something that shouldn’t be a prominent part of a Christian’s life, but I think there is something to say about the exuberance and celebration that comes with dancing.  I grew up in a community where dancing was really prohibited in all forms and even our church worship tended to be extremely mellow.  We didn’t ever get “excited” about the words sung or show emotion when singing except for maybe the raised eyebrows and energy we could show on our faces.

With that being said, I came into my adulthood without ever really knowing if I could dance.  But in recent years, I have taken to demonstrating a few rhythmic moves.  Worship includes more than just a tap of the foot and when I hear a song on the radio (whether sacred or secular), I don’t mind being moved to MOVE a little.   I do have to admit that I don’t really have any moves for the dance floor; however, I will often take the opportunity to burn some calories and join in with friends as they raise their hands, shuffle their feet, and sing along to the melody.

“Dancing” and praising and showing the demonstration of the joy (for me personally in my Christian life) comes from being filled with a Spirit of celebration of the wonderful work of God and the way He has allowed me to overcome obstacles as well as be emotionally changed when I think of who He is, how He sent His Son, and the eternal life I now live through the risen Savior I serve.  (Last loooong sentence before the 5 minutes are up…..sorry that was probably not written effectively, but look past it to the message)

…now to enjoy my last sip of coffee and head to a wonderful Friday….dancing along the way.

 

 

Just Open the Book

#shereadstruth great reminders today of our position in Christ and the power that Scripture provides to us. No need to be a scholar or to feel guilt on days we can’t spend hours in the Word. Be willing to open it up, ask for The Holy Spirit to fill you with understanding, discernment, and knowledge and find the overwhelming comfort, instruction, hope, and guidance needed for each circumstance of life (great and small, simple or complicated)

Find the She Reads Truth devotional here