Day 4 - Hope

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, 'declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and an hope.

Hope for a Future in Writing

I am hoping for a future in writing. I am working at what I believe is God's plan for me, a future in writing. This week I didn't think I had a future in this writing challenge, though. I just couldn't get my posts and link-up right. The technology of it just wasn't working for me. I emailed the host, Kate M., to say that I was bowing out of the "connected" version of the challenge, even though I would keep writing and posting on my blog.

She didn't let me give up that easily. I got an email suggesting another route (you can read about that on the Day 3 post). She gave me hope and a future in this challenge. She didn't kick me to the curb because I made a few mistakes. Instead, I was encouraged to keep working at it. She gave me hope.

Isn't that what Jesus taught us. We always have a hope and a future in Him. We all have a plan prepared in advance, all we have to do is work the plan. 

Day 3 - Create

This is the October Free Write from Five Minute Friday, that's 31 days of writing with a new prompt each day. My first year and I've taken up the challenge at http://fiveminutefriday.com/community/.

Be Creative

I call this 31 days of writing a challenge because it truly is, for me at least. The writing, itself, is coming easier. The challenge came in creating the link so other participants could find my work to read. 

We are four days in and I just now figured out, with the help of a YouTube video, how to add links to my daily posts. I'm so excited and relieved. The video wasn't on exactly the same thing I wanted to do, but watching it opened my mind to applying what I already knew in a different way. I had to learn something before moving forward in my own method of creativity -- writing. I tested it and, yes, it works. This time it worked! I am hopeful as I move forward, still one day behind.

Being creative doesn't always come easy. We are not God. We can't just speak something into being. Don't laugh, I had to think creatively to figure out how to add a simple link on a blog page. This is something I do in emails almost daily. A blog is a different media for me, so I have to work at it.  Take paint and wood, for example, an accomplished artist paints a beautiful portrait, but building a table...hmmm, that might be a challenge.

A good challenge never hurt anyone. It makes one stronger, so I will continue to create and to learn. And I will thank God every day for the ability to do both for His glory.

October Free Write - Day 2 on Day 2, On Track Now

This is the October Free Write from Five Minute Fridays, that's 31 days of writing with a new prompt each day. My first year and I've taken up the challenge even though I'm starting late. http://fiveminutefriday.com/community/

Day 2 - Tell

Go Tell It on the Mountain

Acts 5:42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

I love that hymn. Isn't that what Jesus instructed us to do in the Great Commission. The apostles did it even through imprisonment, beatings, and shipwrecks. They told it in joy. Wait a minute, I can't even get through a day at work without losing my joy. What's up with that? My life, in every way that I can imagine, must be so much easier than that of any one of the apostles. Yet, they didn't give up, even knowing they would have the worst of it because of their undying faithfulness to Jesus. 

I want that undying faithfulness, perseverance, endurance, and patience (although, I can only imagine why they called it longsuffering). We might call it sticktoitiveness today, or perhaps dedication sounds more worthy of their calling. I don't want to get tired of telling It, the way I'm tiring of the everyday workplace work. 

They lived up to the challenge and changed the world by staying on course. They ran their race, they told us about It, the Good News of Jesus Christ, and because of it we have the gospels and other books of the New Testament. Oh, God would have accomplished His plan if they quit, but they didn't. I can only pray for the same sticktoitiveness, guided by the Spirit in Christ Jesus. I want to be available just in case He wants me to tell It.

31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes

This is the October 2017 Free Write from Five Minute Fridays, that's 31 days of free writing (no edits) with a new prompt each day. My first year and I've taken up the challenge even though I'm starting late. 
http://fiveminutefriday.com/community/

Hebrews 12:1-2 ...let us also lay aside every encumbrance..., and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus...

31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes
Table of Contents - Learning to Run My Race
(click the links below to read the post of the 


Day 31 - Rest

Day 30 - Refine

Day 28 - Connect

Day 27 - Overcome

Day 23 - Work

Day 20 - Discover

Day 18 - Share

Day 15 - Remain

Day 14 - Try

Day 13 - Invite

Day 12 - Write

Day 11 - Remember

Day 10 - Listen

Day 4 - Hope

Day 3 - Create

Day 2 - Tell

Day 1 on Day 2  - Worship

Yes, I believe writing is a form of worship. Yes, of course, I do.  Hymns were written before they were sung. I write prayers in my journal and I write of disappointment, grief, loneliness, gratitude, love, happiness, and praise, too. All of that is worship because I trust in God's love for me.

When I write a post, it is usually in response to some prompting from the Holy Spirit. Something that I'm supposed to write either for someone, for myself, or for God. It is a form of communication and it usually makes me happy and thankful to have the ability to put words on a page. Completing the task is the act of worship.

Yes, I believe writing is a form of worship, and I intend to keep worshipping, even on the days when the writing comes harder than others. Even on the days when the prompting is about something painful. I know that it is always for my good and works into God's plan. Oh, that's just another reason to worship.

Yes, I believe writing is a form of worship!

I Depend on the Holy Spirit

FMF - Word of the week is Depend. Check out FMF Writing Community here: http://fiveminutefriday.com/

John 14:16-17a (NASB) I will asd the Father,  and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth....

We through a baby shower for my daughter-in-law this weekend. What a wonderful event. We planned it, that is me, my two daughters and my daughter-in-law's best friend. it was all done through email, text messaging, and Pintrest. Wow! it couldn't have gone smoother. We met only one time on the Friday before the shower to finish up the desserts. 

We depended on electronics to communicate and coordinate on all the details and came together the morning of the shower, each with her own supplies and assignments. It was flawless and, as the "elder" of the group, I was taken by surprise that it all worked so well.

When we depend on the Holy Spirit and trust His direction everything will work well, too. This should never be a surprise. While we planned our baby shower, we depended on and trusted in the unseen Bluetooth, WiFi, and Internet technologies. Why should that be easier than trusting in the Spirit? Think about -- it shouldn't be.

Times up!