Five Minute Fridays: Whole

Let your words and your story breathe today. Take five minutes and just write without criticizing your words, yourself or your story. Just write without worrying if it’s just right or not.

1. Write your words without editing them.
2. Tell your readers you’re linking up here and invite them to come and share their unedited stories too.
3. And most importantly, go visit, read, and compliment the person who shared right before you.

Today's prompt: WHOLE...

GO.

Jennifer Knapp wrote a song called Whole Again. (Please note I'm not interested in condemning or commending the artist. I've enjoyed her music for years. Just focus on the lyrics today, not on the person who wrote them.)

It's a very open, vulnerable, truthful song. It begins with the phrase "Daddy, daddy, do you miss me? The way I crawled upon your knee? Those childish games of hide-and-seek seem a million miles away..." Sometimes I feel like I've gotten old enough in my faith, I've gone out on my own, and I turn around and ask "Is there still room upon that knee?"

The chorus says, "If I give my life, if I lay it down, can You turn this life around, around? Can I be made clean by this offering of my soul? Can I be made whole again...?"

The answer of course is yes. God is the Father who is always there with open arms, ready to take back his wandering child. You may be spread out in many different directions, but God can take all the pieces and make you whole again.

STOP.

Not a very long post today, I found myself getting caught up singing the song. :) I guess that's what I love about Musical Mondays...

I couldn't find a non-live version of the song. :( The song on the cd is quicker, with drums etc. But this one will do. (now I feel like pulling out my Rocky's old Kansas cd and listening to the whole thing... :)

Daddy, daddy do you miss me.
The way I crawled upon your knee.
Those childish games of hide and seek
Seem a million miles away.


Am I lost in some illusion.
Or am I what you thought I'd be.
Now it seems I've found myself
In need to be forgiven.
Is there still room upon that knee?


If I give my Life, If I lay it down
Can you turn this Life around, around
Can I be made clean
By this offering of my soul.
Can I be made whole again?


Have I labored all for nothing.
Trying to make it on my own.
Fear to reach out to the hand
Of one who understands me
Say I'd rather be here all alone.


It's all my fault I sit and wallow in seclusion.
As if I had no hope at all,
I guess truth becomes you
I have seen it all in motion
That Pride comes before the fall.


If I give my Life, If I lay it down
Can you turn this Life around, around
Can I be made clean
By this offering of my soul.
Can I be made whole again?


Can I offer up this simple prayer.
Pray it finds a simple ear.
A scratch in your infinite time.
Not withstanding my fallings
Not withstanding my crime!


If I give my Life, If I lay it down
Can you turn this Life around, around
Can I be made clean,
By this offering of my soul.
Can I be made whole again?

Five Minute Fridays: Still

1. Write for 5 minutes flat for pure unedited love of the written word. Just write, and don't worry about if it's just right or not.

2. Link back here and invite others to join in.

3. Get a little crazy with encouragement in the comments of the five-minuter who linked up before you.


It’s a great way to catch your breath at the end of a long week.

Today's prompt: "Still."

GO.

"Be still, and know that I am God." A very-often quoted verse from Psalms. It comes almost at the end of Psalm 46, in the midst of the author describing storms and earthquakes and turmoil.

"Be still" also appears in Exodus 14: "Moses answered the people, 'Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.'” This is just before God parts the Red Sea for the Israelites to walk through on dry ground.

We often try to fight our own battles. We think we're strong enough. We think we know what to do. So we plow on, making more of a mess than we started with...

"God is our refuge and strength" begins Psalm 46. Are you facing a struggle or trial today? Are you pushing through life in your own power? Stop. Stand firm. Be still. The Lord will fight for you.

STOP.

Five Minute Fridays: Wonder

Today's Five-Minute-Friday topic is "Wonder". I kind of already wrote a post a few weeks ago for this topic... so I don't think I'm going to do another one.

But this post continues to be on my mind...



--------------------------------------------
Want to participate in Five-Minute-Fridays? Let’s just write and not worry if it’s just right or not. Here’s how we do it:

1. Write for 5 minutes flat with no editing or tweaking.

2. Link back here and invite others to join in

3. Go and tell the person who linked up before you what their words meant to you. Every writer longs to feel heard.

It’s a great way to exhale at the end of a beautiful week.
--------------------------------------------
I was doing so good at blogging frequently, then I kind of fell off the radar this week. I've got some ideas for posts rattling around in my head, so hopefully the next time I have a bit of free time I'll get those thoughts out for you!

In the meantime, here's a song that came to mind when I heard the word "wonder":

Why Do I - FFH
I find myself alone again
Staring at the stars You made
You threw them into place and then
Said it all was great

That You would choose to make me just amazes me
But You have told me follow and believe, so...

Why do I, why do I, why do I ever wonder why
Why You love me
Why do I , why do I, why do I ever wonder why
With all the ways You've shown me
Just how small I am and how tall You are
And where I was before, and I say
Why do I, why do I , why do I ever wonder why

I find myself awake again
Thinkin' bout eternity
How I am just a grain of sand and that
You have a plan for me

That You would chose to love me just amazes me
But You have told me "hold on and believe", so...

Five Minute Friday: Home

GO.

Home is something we take for granted. A home is different from a "house." The word "home" has a sense of emotion, belonging, more than just a roof over our heads. When we moved into this house a year and a half ago, we knew it would be a place we'd stay for awhile (at least 3 years or we'd have to pay the homeowners credit back! ;). But how do you make a "house" a "home"?

By being there. If your home is just a place to sleep at night, it's just a house. You need to hang out there, play games, run in the yard, invite people over.

By keeping it clean. Most people feel uncomfortable when walking into a messy house. Granted, it does feel "lived in", but if there are dirty dishes all over the counter and dust bunnies in every corner, it makes both you and your guests feel a little tense.

I could spend more than 5 minutes on this topic, but I'll stop there for today.

STOP.

I wrote another post recently about point #2 above.

Want to participate in Five Minute Fridays? Just write for 5 minutes and not worry if it’s just right or not.

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. Get a little crazy with encouragement for the five minuter who linked up before you!

Five Minute Friday: Backwards

Ok, time for a new blogging meme (what's a meme you ask? click here!). This one comes to us from The Gypsy Mama, who I found through In the Whisper (who also participates in this meme).

Got five minutes? Let’s write. Let’s write in shades of real and brave and unscripted. Let’s just write and not worry if it’s just right or not.
1. Write for 5 minutes flat for pure unedited love of the written word.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. Get a little crazy with encouragement for the five minuter who linked up before you.

Today's topic? "Backwards."

GO!
Even though I only worked two days a week at FCCS, I loved being part of activities whenever I could. Spirit Week came the last week in January, and I showed up on Wednesday of that week completely forgetting it was Backwards/Clash Day. The week before I had thought long and hard about what I would wear for that awesome day... for nothing. BUT. I was wearing a long-sleeve, zip-up hoodie, so I was able to turn it around backwards for the day. Elementary school is so much fun.

I've really enjoyed my time at FCCS this year and am glad the opportunity came up for me to join that team. A year ago I never would have thought I'd be a part-time-working-part-time-stay-at-home-mom. But I love it. I love being able to get out of the house and interact with other people twice a week. I love being able to leave my daughter with my best friend and let her get interaction with another person too. I love being able to use my skills and talents to better another group. I can't wait to see what this next year brings!

Well that kind of got off topic, but oh well, at least it got me writing! :)
STOP!