Two Steps Forward, One Step Back... -A Five Minute Friday post.

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Hello, sweet readers! It feels like it has been forever! I have been keeping up with our first-ever, year-long, bible series on Colossians but other than that -I have not been sitting in this chair (or --to be honest-- writing in my journal!) much at all lately! But Autumn is almost here and that always means a season of restarting and resetting routines! And that goes along well with our One Word Prompt, so let's go!

This is a Five Minute Friday post... which simply means I set a timer and free-write for five minutes flat on the one-word prompt: BACK

{GO!}

I see the prompt and --yet again... I laugh. This time, however, I realize right away that the laugh is to cover the pull toward tears.  

I see "Back" and I feel the pull backward... 

In this season, in a few areas of our life, we are witnessing and feeling the whole, "Two Steps Forward, One Step Back"... but some days it feels like WAY more than just one step.

I can really pick among many things to focus on but really --the most urgent and back and forth pull is all around my sweet sister and her beloved husband, Jack.  

Many of you may remember that he battled Stage 4 Breast Cancer awhile ago. He lived a full and healthy cancer-free life for several years however we found out a few months back that cancer returned. 

A Random List of Last Fives... -A Five Minute Friday post.

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Another post already? I know... but I accidentally saw the One Word Prompt even though I had no plans of writing again so soon.  Once I saw the word, however, I realized I had just been wanting to do a lighter post --something less heavy and more fun and this will work perfectly! So... let's go!

This is a Five Minute Friday post... which simply means I set a timer and free-write for five minutes flat on the one-word prompt: FIVE

{GO!}

I have been missing those What I Learned link-up posts and how lighthearted and fun they were! Coming out of a long hard season, I wanted to follow Emily P. Freeman's lead and write some lists, so let's see what Last Fives come to mind after hitting the timer...

A Random List of Last Fives...

The Middle Matters... a Five Minute Friday post (and Book review post --because, of course!)

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August? It's already August? If you subscribe to the monthly NewsyLetter then you may have just read about how I feel like we JUST fell into the rhythm of lazy summer days and it's already August? (Not that I'm actually complaining because if you have been around this little corner for long at all, you know Fall is my favorite!)

This is a Five Minute Friday post... which simply means I set a timer and free-write for five minutes flat on the one-word prompt: MIDDLE

{GO!}

I have said it several times: Whenever Lisa-Jo Baker writes something, I'm gonna get my hands and my head and my heart all around it. (And more than likely, I'm gonna share it and tell all my friends to read it, too!) So it was no real surprise to find myself on the Launch Team for her latest book, The Middle Matters. I've been on all of her launch teams to date... I knew that going in this book was different in that it is a collection of essays and they are all based on the Middle --of life, of parenting, of marriage, of --you know, our middles!?

I love Lisa-Jo because she is real... she is honest and open and she just tells it like it is. She is full of grace and love and she makes room at any given table and scooches over on any given couch. Her message rings loud and clear: You are welcome here.  

There is something that is so needed for voices like hers --for hearts like hers-- in our world right now! She is an InCourager (--ya see what I did there?) and a Champion and, gah! We need more people to be people that love well and follow hard after Him (while being Oh So Real about our messy lives!)

I have found myself in the middle of oh so many things right now... 

Cup Your Hands & Position Your Heart... Willing - A Five Minute Friday post.

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Oh, Summer! (Am I right?)

Let's just get to it! This is a Five Minute Friday post... which simply means I set a timer and free-write for five minutes flat on the one-word prompt: WILLING

{GO!}

I'm tempted to just wait... I mean... it's Thursday afternoon and I know a 'new' word will be released tonight. I already wrote two posts this week because --at least for a couple of things-- I'm letting my calendar boss me around.  Honestly - the only reason that is true is that I have felt, shall we say, uninspired as of late.  So while my heart is willing --my flesh is weak and I just haven't set aside time to sit in this chair and tap out words consistently for a while now.

Mostly, I'm totally ok with that.

I've been busy being present in my actual life and

while it is not easy or fun a lot of the time right now,

it is vital and it is a priority and I have no regrets...

well --other than these two:
#1. I miss Y'all tons! ...and

#2. This is how I process.

For real... writing here in this space helps me to unpack the things God has whispered to me along the way and gives me perspective and insight and hope that I may miss if I just try to keep it to myself! So here I sit... willing... and waiting... and remembering how my OneWord for this year is a Do-Over (or Do-Better) word and, My oh My...

Joy is a promise He just
keeps on giving me...

When Questions Still Linger... A Five Minute Friday post.

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Hey there, Sweet Readers! Can you even believe that July is almost upon us? Slow Down Summer... Gah! We need to savor all of your long days and warm nights and the slower way of unwinding!

Let's just get to it! This is a Five Minute Friday post... which simply means I set a timer and free write for five minutes flat on the one-word prompt: QUESTION

{GO!}

Oye, with the Questions, right? 

I mean... they can seem to be on an endless loop

that never slows to a stop

or gives room for answers!

Listen, I think we are all 'prone to wander...' 

and we are all prone to wonder... 

to question and ask over and over...

to overthink or second-guess or obsess...

to fear and worry and doubt... 

to forget that God --as He likes to remind me

from time to time-- doesn't actually answer to us!

It Is Well... A Five Minute Friday post.

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Hey there, Sweet Readers! My, have I missed you! Something about when it rains, it pours... and yet, we're still here! This community is consistently where I run in good times and in hard times, and even though I haven't sat in this chair or tapped out words in a while I've been longing to carve out time and space to sit with you once again! 

So let's dig in... This is a Five Minute Friday post... which simply means I set a timer and free write for five minutes flat on the one-word prompt: WELL

{GO!}

I see the Word Prompt and my mind (and heart and soul) goes to:

"It Is Well..."

And it is... even (or especially!) when it doesn't look or feel like it! 

It IS well...  we know this to be true but even still, we find we need the reminder over and over and over again!

Because --as with many things... many truths...-- we tend to forget what we already know!

It's easy to allow this world... the enemy who roams around seeking whom he may devour... --it's easy to accidentally listen to the lies and let them slither right on in to our hearts and heads and before we know it, we are letting our emotions (or the manipulation of our emotions due to above-mentioned enemies' lies!) boss us around and dictate what we believe!

Yeah... 

Let's stop doing that!  

It does no good and bears fruit we do not want!

Promises... A Five Minute Friday post.

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Hello, Friends! Life is full --busy! Let's just be real... it's busy and it's busy with all kinds of bossy and not so fun things to deal with --and yet... His Peace is Present and we remind ourselves and each other to Just Breathe... and to --well... you'll see!

This is a Five Minute Friday post... which simply means I set a timer and free write for five minutes flat on the one-word prompt: PROMISE

{GO!}

My immediate thought?

"All God's Promises are Yes & Amen!"

I don't know about you... but for me? I needed that reminder this week!

To be honest... I need it more often than I'd care to admit! I mean... I am, after all, the one who wrote an entire series/book on Truths I know but sometimes forget!

I belong to a great group on facebook for writers and every Tuesday there is a prayer thread... I shared some of what was going on over the last week or so on that thread and was reminded that I am not the only Crazy Faith girl over there!

Man, you guys... we NEED each other! 

We need the Word and the Lord
and the Body all at the same time! 

Practice what you Preach... A Five Minute Friday.

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Hey there, Sweet Readers! This is a big weekend around here because we have my Dad's birthday, my girlies' birthday, and Mother's Day all within a couple of days! This, of course, means at some point: Cake! This week we also dealt with a big move and some (more) unwanted news... which brings us to the One Word Prompt this week!  This is a Five Minute Friday post... which simply means I set a timer and free write for five minutes flat on the one-word prompt: PRACTICE

{GO!}

My first thought --especially after this week, Y'all-- comes on the heels of last weeks' 'Opportunity' and it is this:

"Practice what you Preach!"  

I mean, last week we talked about counting it all joy and then this week -Y'all... our family got slammed! 

So, of course --of COURSE the word prompt is Practice! Because it's so much easier to talk about than it is to do, right? It's so much easier to say something or encourage others to do something than it is to actually follow through and put it into practice ourselves!

For the last couple of years, it seems we've been preaching to ourselves more so than to anyone else! 

An Opportunity for Growth... A Five Minute Friday post.

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Hello, friends! My, how I am missing the #fmfparty community over on Twitter on Thursday nights. However that is the evening of our small group meetings now and as much as I miss Y'all --you know how I value some eye to eye, face to face, kind of connections! Still... I haven't given up hope to somehow make them both work (--at least once in a while!) Until then... This is a Five Minute Friday post... which simply means I set a timer and free write for five minutes flat on the one-word prompt: OPPORTUNITY

{GO!}

Oh, Opportunity!  

I see the word and realize this can go in so many different directions! 

We've been in a strange, long season of waiting in the In-Between... keeping our hearts in His hands and allowing our eyes to scan the horizon for any new opportunities coming our way! We've been patient (mostly!) and willing to wait for whatever is next --while still pursuing HIM more than we pursue anything or anyone else!  

To be honest, we've been saturated with His goodness and graced with an abundance of peace -but, Y'all!- we are growing a little weary... 

Learning a New Dance... -A Five Minute Friday post.

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Hey there, sweet readers! I hope you had a great Easter! I've been meaning to sit in this chair and write, but alas --Spring has sprung here and that means the return of Patio time and, Oh My Heart... I lose track of time out there! Plus somehow we found ourselves out of town over the weekend. Still... I'm back now and ready to write!

This is a Five Minute Friday post... which simply means I set a timer and free write for five minutes flat on the one-word prompt: TOUCH

{GO!}

I see the word and I laugh... just a little at first,

but then the Ah Ha giggle starts to build.

Because... Gah!

It's been a LONG time since I was a young new Mama...

and a LONG time since I mothered a toddler...

and a LONG time since I reached the end of the day

so dog-tired and completely drained...

and a LONG time since I had had my fill of touch

by 2pm and what I wanted most was just for

no one to even think of pulling on me

until the sun rose on a new morning!

Right? Anyone remember those days?
(Anyone living them right now?)

Fast forward some 20+ years and here we are!

Right back to All those Feels!

Next! (Tag You're It!) ...A Five Minute Friday post.

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Hey there, friends! I'm not even gonna small talk... let's just get into it, alright? This is a Five Minute Friday post... which simply means I set a timer and free write for five minutes flat on the one-word prompt: NEXT

{GO!}

Today is Good Friday... 

I already pondered a bit on facebook about how on Good Friday, in the shadow of the Old Rugged Cross, nothing felt or looked or could be fathomed to be Good at all! 

It was dark and doubtful and full of Fear... 
and Saturday comes in Silence... 
full of confusion and chaos 
and the quiet is almost always just too much... 
but then comes Sunday 
with all its celebration and salvation
and we see that what looked like the end,
was not the end... 
but in fact, 
a new beginning!

I almost titled this, "Thank You, Next!" but had a check.
I knew it was the name of a song and thank goodness I looked up the lyrics
(--so you don't have to! Just trust me on this... it was only funny in my mind until I read the words!) 
But the sentiment of the thought still rings true!

Jesus rose from the dead
and that was NOT the end!
It is Finished, yes... 
but it is like He was saying,
"Next! Tag! You're It!"
as He ascended back to on High!

Leading with No Lack of Humility... A Five Minute Friday post.

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Hello, Sweet Readers! We are officially entering what is known as Holy Week and I pray you are giving yourself a little room to breathe... to rest and reflect on what Easter really means and on how, way back then, the next few days changed --well, they (read: HE!) changed everything!

This is a Five Minute Friday post... which simply means I set a timer and free write for five minutes flat on the one-word prompt: LACK

{GO!}

Today is Palm Sunday...

I see the word prompt and I immediately envision Jesus sitting on the donkey, entering the gates and going into Jerusalem.

What constantly strikes me while reading familiar portions of Scripture is how Jesus never just does something... 

He is always saying more with His actions than He does with words only.  Everything He does --almost always really, but especially starting with this day-- has layers and layers of meaning!

Nothing He does during this Holy Week should be glossed over or ignored!

In biblical times, a donkey symbolized Peace and Humility while a horse symbolized War and Power! And an unridden colt? Those were considered ideal for royal use!

So Jesus riding a donkey entering the city gates, on this particular time and day of the Passover festival... well, it was a visual example that He came to change things up and He planned on being a different kind of king!

An Offer We Can't (or Shouldn't!) Refuse... a Five Minute Friday post.

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I know!? I wrote TWO posts in one day, PLUS the monthly newsletter for subscribers already this week... but I've managed to miss #fmfparty for too many weeks and months to keep track and I haven't written a Five Minute Friday post for a couple of weeks so --here I am! Sitting in the chair... right? #WritersGonnaWrite

This is a Five Minute Friday post... which simply means I set a timer and free write for five minutes flat on the one-word prompt: OFFER

{GO!}

My first thought upon seeing the One Word prompt was,
"I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse."

Which, of course, made me laugh because --well because,
God... You're SO FUNNY!


You may or may not know that --even though I've never actually watched (any of) The Godfather(s)... God often quotes a line or two from that movie to me to get a point across!

I referred to my favorite Godfather quote He whispers to me over and over a few weeks ago on the blog.  
You can read that one HERE.

But here's the thing about the quote above about making us an offer we can't refuse... We CAN...

We CAN refuse it, but
Oh, how He hopes we won't!