Grace - OneWord365

It's almost the end of 2015 and I need to choose my word of focus for 2016. This year (as last year) my focus was prayer. I do believe I've grown in that though I've not made near as much progress as I'd have liked. I will continue to work on that, of course, but I can't have Prayer as my word for yet another year ... then it will really be a copout! :)

This time I have really been struggling to find a word of something I'd like to work on. Words that come to mind are: Grace - I'd like to extend grace more freely to those around me, as God extends grace to me; Discipline - I'd like to be more disciplined in many areas of my life, spiritual, health, relationships ... ; Wisdom - increasing my knowledge of God and His word and applying it in a glorifying way; Discernment - goes somewhat hand in hand with wisdom, "It is the ability to make discriminating judgments, to distinguish between, and recognize the moral implications of, different situations and courses of action. It includes the ability to “weigh up” and assess the moral and spiritual status of individuals, groups, and even movements. Thus, while warning us against judgmentalism, Jesus urges us to be discerning and discriminating, lest we cast our pearls before pigs (Matt. 7:1, 6)." ~http://www.ligonier.org/blog/discernment-thinking-gods-thoughts/ ... I want to further develop my strengths in that area.

But I think I've decided on Grace for this coming year. Maybe because I see in myself a rather strong lack of tact that I think I inherited (no disrespect intended to the dear one I inherited that from because she was also a woman filled with grace!) I think I am a rather discerning person and, on a number of recent Spiritual Gifts tests I've taken, discernment came up top either as #1 or in the top 3. But, I think because I have that discernment, I can sometimes be so quick to judge that I forget that I still need to extend grace. So, in 2016, my word will be Grace. I'm signing up with that on oneword265.com. Will you help me focus on this word? Will you hold me accountable?

Season - Five Minute Friday

So I'm a few days late. I relocated my computer which meant I didn't have easy access to my email which meant I missed reminders of Five Minute Friday (and then wondered why I was struggling ... this girl needs her weekly writing!)  So, today, this Tuesday, you get a Five Minute Friday.  The word we've been given is "season". Remember, we have 5 minutes to write on the given word, no editing, no revising, just freely writing.

Season

And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done. While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.”  ~Genesis 8:21-22

Here we have a verse of promise of seasons. An assurance from God of order and consistency. Great comfort in a world that seems chaotic! The intention of man’s heart is evil. You don’t need to tell me twice! Look at the evil that abounds in this world! Even, whether we dare to admit or not, in our own hearts! (No one can claim to be perfectly good and loving all the time … no one but God Himself!) And in the midst of this evil that tempts us to live in fear, to worry, to, well, to freak out! In the midst of all of this, we see an assurance from God – yes the heart of man is evil … but God’s isn’t! And as long as this earth endures, seasons will continue! We will have time for planting, time for harvest; time of cold, time of heat; summer and winter; day and night – literally … and figuratively – a night of the soul, a time of spiritual crisis, leading to redemption, to daylight and union with Christ!  Ah, it is so easy to succumb to fear in this season the world is in, this season of darkness. But the stress, the heartache! Why succumb! Reach for the light of day! Reach for the light of Christ and live in peace and confidence, knowing He holds all in His hands! This assurance from Genesis 8 is echoed in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. Don’t fear the season you are in, rest in the assurance and confidence you have in Christ!

Identity Crisis

Identity Crisis

She looks in the mirror,

“What do I see?

Some stranger’s face

staring back at me.”

Vaguely familiar

yet so very odd,

the mask she wears,

it’s just a fraud.

Trying to be someone

great or someone small

but, with the weight of that,

surprising she can stand at all.

More faces appear

“Be like me”, they insist,

“be like him, be like her”

Will she resist?

She tries to appease them,

her failure is great.

They get what they want,

but what they want, they hate.

She cries and she shouts,

“Just let me be me!”

One by one, they fade,

‘til just her face she can see.

This one is simply perfect

(though, of course, it is flawed)

this one she can love,

it was a gift from God.

Some days she still battles,

those faces and clamour,

but peace and relief surge

if she holds true to her demeanour.

Because in the end,

what matters is being true

to the character God made,

the incredible, unique you!

Almost (Write 31 Days, Day 31)

This is it! I made it! This is the last day of Write 31 Days 2015! What a great month it has been! I'm so proud of myself, and all the other writers who stuck with it to the end and accomplished their goals! :)

Today's word is "almost".

Almost

Almost is a word that, I think, often has negative connotations. Like “almost isn’t good enough”. You know? But I like to look at it more positively. I almost didn’t sign up for this Write 31 Days challenge … but I did! I almost didn’t complete this challenge … but I did (this last post is proof)! I almost didn’t stick with my new workout routines … but I’m going strong (with adaptations when my body is uncooperative). I almost slept in … but I kicked my butt out of bed and did what had to be done. I almost gave up on watching what I eat … but I didn’t. I’m still focussing on healthy eating.

And what about other things: you can almost ruin a friendship if you don’t bite your tongue, but, checking your words and actions, you build a friendship instead. You can almost make poor choices, but wisdom can keep you from folly.

And sometimes we need help: The young girl suffering from severe depression – she might almost commit suicide but a person who comes along side her at the right time can prevent tragedy and provide hope.

Sometimes almost is the best thing for turning lives around!

So maybe almost is “good enough”.

Picture credit: http://weheartit.com/entry/39513537

Love Song For Bacon (Write 31 Days, Day 30)

Today's word for Write 31 Days and Five Minute Friday is THE BEST! Seriously, what on earth could be better than bacon?! Am I right?! So, today, you get my "Love Song For Bacon". I hope you enjoy! :)

Love Song For Bacon

Sizzling over the fire

or on an electric stove

It’s music to my ears

from your fragrance

I will never rove.

Your bubbly copper colour

like gold mined fresh this morn’

it tempts with scented ecstasy

unyielding

beyond all scorn.

Aroma fills the home

wafting through the air

calls to all from corners far

time to partake

from your addicting fare

The breakfast table is incomplete

whenever your presence is missed

but come again for lunch

or sup’

and the chef? he shall be kissed!

My Prairie (Write 31 Days, Day 29)

Today's word is "sea". Most would probably think of the ocean when they see this word. Me? I think of my prairie. :) Specifically the chinook filled, Southern Alberta prairie. :)

Seas of gold unbroken

but for an occasional tree,

haven for the creatures 

of the heavens and the earth.

Wind, child of the skies,

laughing, singing, crying,

a constant game

of hide-and-seek.

Snow, cold, bold, bright,

hard and angry

a sheep in wolf's clothing

a wolf in sheep's clothing.

Wind frightens snow away

but not for long

it never learns,

keeps coming back.

Sun, warming, caressing,

like a mother to the skies and land

limits conflict, 

brings new life;

Sun, searching, eager

dries the land

burns it's creatures;

sorrowful, hides.

Comes Rain, cool, refreshing,

like a father to the land and skies,

provider, supporter,

helps new life grow.

Seas of gold unbroken

but for an occasional tree.

Hope (Write 31 Days, Day 28)

The word for this day is hope. And I've been really struggling with this one, trying to find the right words, or any words. I wanted my writing to be hope filled. But it just won't come. Instead, I stumbled across this poem I wrote some time ago where hope had seemed to disappeared. Thought I would share it here for this day of Write 31 Days.

I hear the silence and I despair

Where are the words that once came so freely?

Where is the peace that poured out of desperation?

Is there no need? Have I found a new source?

Where is the relief? The tears? The laughter?

When will I speak again?

I am muted by overload of thoughts.

Mouth opens, no sound can be heard.

Stutter, pen can’t move.

Where is the hope? The joy? The peace?

Why won’t it pour out of me?

When will the silence end?