Day 31: Enjoy

There are various things that I enjoy and savor.
Among them are early morning walks.
Sunrises.
Trader Joe’s roasted plantain chips.
The warmth of a cup of tea.
The softness of a scarf on winter days.
The peal of a child’s laughter.
A letter in the mail from a loved one.
The fact that in my family we typically say goodbye multiple times before truly ending telephone conversations.
And the wonder of all this is God is the One “who richly provides us with all things to enjoy” (1 Timothy 6:17, HCSB). 
May He, our generous God, be our greatest joy.

³ Send your light and your truth; let them lead me.
Let them bring me to your holy mountain,
to your dwelling place.
⁴ Then I will come to the altar of God,
to God, my greatest joy.
I will praise you with the lyre,
God, my God” (Psalm 43:3-4, CSB).

This post is for Day 31 of the 31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes Writing Challenge. The theme of my series is, “Season,” (which, at this point in the challenge, is loosely) based on the definition, “make (wood) suitable for use as timber by adjusting its moisture content to that of the environment in which it will be used.” Thank you for joining me on this journey by reading one, some or all of the posts. To find the Table of Contents with links to other posts in the series, click here. Blessings.

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Day 30: Memory

Memory is not a thing we can touch but “a concept that refers to the process of remembering.”* One of the problems with us humans is that we remember things we would be better off forgetting and forget the things we desperately need to remember. For example, too often we can remember without effort and with strong emotion, the wrongs done to us; we struggle to forgive and forget that we are in dire need of God’s grace and forgiveness every moment, and He offers both freely. Forgiveness does not mean reconciliation in all human relationships. Reconciliation is not always possible but the process of forgiving others frees us and we can get to the place in our healing where the memory of the event is not accompanied by the same pain as when the wound was first inflicted.

This post is for Day 30 of the 31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes Writing Challenge. The theme of my series is, “Season,” (which, at this point in the challenge, is loosely) based on the definition, “make (wood) suitable for use as timber by adjusting its moisture content to that of the environment in which it will be used.” Please click here to find the Table of Contents and links to other posts in the series.

*The information about memory cited in the post is from the article, “How Human Memory Works” by Richard C. Mohs.

Day 29: Practice

Practice: to do or perform often, customarily, or habitually. There are any number of things that each of us practice daily. Some we have done so often, we can perform them almost instinctively, without stopping to consider if it is a practice that still serves us well. Perhaps it is time to take inventory of our daily practices. What are the practices you engage in each day? Dedicate time to list each one. Prayerfully consider if there are any that need to be eliminated, for example, complaining and other practices that do not nurture your spirit. Also, consider if there are others missing from the list that you need to add, for example, gratitude. Interestingly enough, the practice of gratitude can reduce complaining.

This post is for Day 29 of the 31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes Writing Challenge. The theme of my series is, “Season,” (which, at this point in the challenge, is loosely) based on the definition, “make (wood) suitable for use as timber by adjusting its moisture content to that of the environment in which it will be used.” Please click here to find the Table of Contents and links to other posts in the series.

“Let the peace of Christ [the inner calm of one who walks daily with Him] be the controlling factor in your hearts [deciding and settling questions that arise]. To this peace indeed you were called as members in one body [of believers]. And be thankful [to God always]” (Colossians 3:15, AMP).

Day 27: Better

Is it possible to want better and yet be grateful for what you have and where you are in your current season? Or is wanting better, wanting more, indicative of discontent? Discontent is “lack of satisfaction with one’s possessions, status, or situation.” I believe it is possible to be deeply grateful to God for where you are and what you have in your current season, but have an equally deep knowing that your Father God has more in store for you. And He is pleased when we seek Him for His best for our lives, while we hold Him as our deepest desire, knowing that if we should suffer the loss of everything and have only Him, He is enough.

This post is for Day 27 of the 31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes Writing Challenge. The theme of my series is, “Season,” (which, at this point in the challenge, is loosely) based on the definition, “make (wood) suitable for use as timber by adjusting its moisture content to that of the environment in which it will be used.” Please click here to find the Table of Contents and links to other posts in the series.

Day 26: Accept

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved” (Ephesians 1:3-6, NKJV).

Rejection is painful. Whether it is the rejection of a manuscript, a gift, or an idea, it can hurt when what we offer is rejected. And when we cannot separate the thing we have to offer from who we are, the rejection of what we offer feels like a rejection of ourselves and has a deep impact on our self-worth. That is why it is critical how we define ourselves. That we know the true source of our worth.

Our true worth lies in whose we are. In the fact that even before He made the world, God chose us in Christ Jesus, to be holy and without blame before Him in love. He chose to adopt us in to His family through Jesus Christ and it give Him great pleasure to do so. “He made us accepted in the Beloved.”

Before anyone ever rejected you, you were already accepted by God in the Beloved. May this truth be the foundation on which you build your life and the healing balm that is poured over every wound.

This post is for Day 26 of the 31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes Writing Challenge. The theme of my series is, “Season,” (which, at this point in the challenge, is loosely) based on the definition, “make (wood) suitable for use as timber by adjusting its moisture content to that of the environment in which it will be used.” Please click here to find the Table of Contents and links to other posts in the series. Bonus: Click here for the lyrics of the hymn, “Accepted in the Beloved.”

Wait: Day 25 & FMF

How do you wait in difficult seasons?
With fingers crossed, hoping for the best?
Eyes on the clock?
Stomach in knots?
Feet tapping?
Or resigned to whatever comes?

“Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord,” said the Psalmist David (Psalm 27:14, NLT). How could he wait patiently for the LORD and be brave and courageous? He knew God to be his light and salvation, his fortress, protecting from danger (Psalm 27:1, NLT) . He set his focus on God and had high expectations of Him. And with God’s help, so can we.

This post is for Day 25 of the 31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes Writing Challenge and the weekly Five Minute Friday link-up. The theme of my series is, “Season,” (which, at this point in the challenge, is loosely) based on the definition, “make (wood) suitable for use as timber by adjusting its moisture content to that of the environment in which it will be used.” Click here to find the Table of Contents and links to other posts in the series, and here to learn about Five Minute Friday.

Day 24: Different

When you look at yourself, do you see nothing but ordinary?
Nondescript?
Average?

When you see something about you that is different,
do you devalue your difference?
See it as weird?
Something to be hidden?
Something to be altered to resemble standards not made for you,
you who are a citizen of the Kingdom that lasts forever?

This eternal Kingdom is ruled by the King who will never be dethroned.
Remember who you.
Remember whose you are.
You are different.
Own your difference.

“For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of Light [live as those who are native-born to the Light] (for the fruit [the effect, the result] of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn [by experience] what is pleasing to the Lord [and letting your lifestyles be examples of what is most acceptable to Him—your behavior expressing gratitude to God for your salvation]” (Ephesians 5:8-10, AMP).

This post is for Day 24 of the 31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes Writing Challenge. The theme of my series is, “Season,” based on the definition, “make (wood) suitable for use as timber by adjusting its moisture content to that of the environment in which it will be used.” Please click here to find the Table of Contents and links to other posts in the series.

Day 23: Need

God is our greatest need. We are dependent on Him for every breath we inhale and exhale. The resources we use are His. The gifts we have are His. As He tells us through the Apostle James, ^“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of lights [the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens], in whom there is no variation [no rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [for He is perfect and never changes] (James 1;17, AMP).

God is our greatest need. And yet, we need each other. Not in the same way we need God but we need each other. And this need is His doing. He has so purposed it that we develop in the context of our relationships.  Iron sharpening iron. Each a member of Christ’s body. Each with a special purpose and function. God is our greatest need. But we need each other. He designed it to be so.

This post is for Day 23 of the 31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes Writing Challenge. The theme of my series is, “Season,” based on the definition, “make (wood) suitable for use as timber by adjusting its moisture content to that of the environment in which it will be used.” Please click here to find the Table of Contents and links to other posts in the series.

Day 22: Sense

Humans have five basic senses.

Taste.

Smell.

Hearing.

Touch.

Sight.

They influence how we experience the world.

They influence the decisions we make.

And they can be corrupted.

Impaired.

Both in the natural and spiritual realms

They can also be redeemed.

And our process of sharpening these senses in the realm of the spirit will deepen our intimacy with our Father and influence our day to day lives.

This post is for Day 22 of the 31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes Writing Challenge. The theme of my series is, “Season,” based on the definition, “make (wood) suitable for use as timber by adjusting its moisture content to that of the environment in which it will be used.” Please click here to find the Table of Contents and links to other posts in the series.

Day 21: Person

You know that one person can make a difference. History is replete with examples and so is the Bible. You have no doubt that one person could make a difference. What you question is, “Can I make a difference?” The answer is a resounding, “Yes!” ELOHIM created you to make a difference. Given you all you need to make a difference. And you make a difference in more ways than you know. For example, with every prayer of intercession. With every act of kindness. With every act of obedience. You matter. And you are making a difference.

This post is for Day 21 of the 31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes Writing Challenge. The theme of my series is, “Season,” based on the definition, “make (wood) suitable for use as timber by adjusting its moisture content to that of the environment in which it will be used.” Please click here to find the Table of Contents and links to other posts in the series.