FMF: Jan 17 Effort A paradox is like a mustard seed and so is faith. Even faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains. Your faith gives you access to the eternal. Your faith carries you through mountains of doubt, loss and pain. Your faith calms the heart and strengthens the soul. Being rooted in his word is a reflection of how the soil loves the tree. Colossians 1:9
The power of faith is that it can break mountains of doubt, loss, and pain. Mustard seed is the tiniest seed of all seeds. Jesus used its impossible size to illustrate how big our God is. Angels laugh (cheer) to hear of your song of faith. The sound of faith is a small quake that rumbles beneath mountains and quietens the soul.
Actions: I will make a plan and use a daily time plan to maximize my time, be flexible and kind to myself and others- no judgment, just do.
Jan 10 Satisfied 1. Take our eyes off the impossible circumstances or the mountain of trouble. 2. Refocus on our possible God who has made all things possible in Christ Jesus, which means I'm capable of walking in the Spirit. 3. Faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains even through doubt and pain.
Strategy 1: Pray by faith, not by feelings- just pray. Strategy 2: Pray, looking forward not back. God's plan is active and healing. Strategy 3: Pray by saying how you feel and asking for understanding, peace, and a spirit reconciled to God. Strategy 4: Create a deliberate prayer time. Declutter first by removing time-wasting activities such as YouTube, TV, etc. Strategy 5: Make a prayer list and pray specifically. Strategy 6: Know that the consequences of sin are real and sometimes lasting. It is possible to walk through my circumstances and not be overwhelmed.
“Two things I ask of you, Lord; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.”
It all boils down to contentment, doesn’t it?
Lord, make me content in You alone. Verse posted by Kate Motaung
2 responses to “Fmf January 2025”
Cindy
I love that you’ve created a “satisfaction plan”! Strategy 2 and Strategy 4 are definitely ones that challenge me. Thank you for the reminders! God bless, your Five Minute Friday neighbor, Cindy
The night sky frolics under silvery moonbeams in stillness, dreams come.
Dreams dance in joyous leaps, skating on imaginative trails, night treasures.
Night recedes behind the stars, no thought to pending troubles- tomorrow sleeps.
celestial alignment rare one/25/25 an eventide view Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, be on the lookout tonight or now, depending on where you are.
President Donald J Trump was fond of the campaign stump. Mover, shaker, and policymaker, Unlike President Nixon, the Quaker.
Pale Season of Titivated Lace (rewrite of Winter’s Lace)
Vibrant blooms ignite against a blank canvas beneath brooding, iron-gray skies.
Amaryllis gazes out from the window; a periwinkle winks back, whisper-warm.
Across a stark alabaster landscape, autumn falls silent; pansies persist.
Bleak and bitter, yet in defiance, Narcissus lifts its radiant face.
A small ray of sunshine, burnishing a crepuscular gloam, Wendy’s Gold rises.
Lucille’s Squill emits its whimsical scent As the season turns.
Write an imaginative landscape poem without using snow, snowy or wintry terms- atmospheric implication, art of resistance.
a brief magic moment nighttide meets at winter's gate light concatenates
#haiku #HaikuSaturday #haikuseed
A magical moment, the sun stands still- winter begins -
with a brisk, cold chill. #haikusaturday #poems
Christmas Eve Night Prelude to a noiseless world Daybreak the fun begins
Wintry winds whistling Autumn's last dance- a graceful genuflection #haiku #HaikuSaturday
In sparkled light, night recedes behind the stars tomorrow sleeps, harboring dreams once ours. or On silvery threads, dreams dance with joyous leaps. Dreams dancing on silvery threads are for keeps.
Imaginative Sheer trails appear laced with ice feathers, Puck's in the wind searching for sky treasures.
Tiered January sky, nothing leaves a mark. Eagles hitch a ride, ready to embark.
More verses: WIP
Imaginative Imaginative trails appear laced with ice feathers, Puck's in the wind searching for sky treasures.
Sheer January sky, nothing leaves a mark. Eagles hitch a ride, ready to embark.
In sparkled light, night recedes, tomorrow sleeps
Dreams dance on silvery moonbeams while tomorrow sleeps.
Molecules and particles testing each other, establishing sanditon boundaries.
Sandillion is an old way to quantify something as numerous as grains of sand.
Sarah and Hagar Twelve sons from each A Lion and a wild donkey, battle for supremacy in the Middle East
Sandillion boundaries seismic shifting, waiting to erupt, in the Middle East, Russia and Ukraine.
The bad and the ugly of Territorial boundaries, where is the good?
Molecules and particles testing each other, establishing sanditon boundaries.
Sandillion is an old way to quantify something as numerous as grains of sand; Sanditon establishing boundaries, particles and molecules.
In sparkled light, night recedes behind the stars tomorrow sleeps, harboring dreams once ours.
In sparkled light, night recedes- tomorrow sleeps
Dreams dancing on silvery threads are for keeps. Short form:
Night recedes in dancing dreams, tomorrow sleeps in sparkled light.
(WIP) #HaikuSaturday Show more
original the night sky frolics under silvery moonbeams in stillness, dreams come.
dreams dance in joyous leaps, skating on imaginative trails, night treasures.
night recedes behind the stars- no thought to pending troubles, tomorrow sleeps. ---- the night sky frolics under silvery moonbeams in stillness,
dreams dance on silvery moonbeams, tomorrow sleeps-
seasonal leaves grounding roots, true friends- the rings inside
As autumn falls silent under evening's snow, sheltered seeds don winter's coat below. Sleeping silently beneath winter's breath, trees fold into a counterfeit death.
A magical moment when the sun stands still, winter begins with a brisk, cold chill.
Wintry winds whistle ceaseless threnodies, glistens frosty precip amenities. Amidst frigid fields, icicles drip. Cardinals swoop midstream for a sip.
Mice tucked warmly under subnivean snow, moonbeams prance across a snowlit plateau. Betwixt two of astral stars, the moon hangs bright, eerie wolf howls echo through the night.
Playful trickery, a spring bud pops its head. Winter snaps and tucks it back to bed.
Emmanuel is born to the Father's delight - Israel's long awaited hope. The Word sang a poignant story, a pure melody.
It was a melodious tune for those with a heart to hear. The whispered melody arrived as soft as the tiny beats of hummingbird wings.
The dawning light of a new beginning altered our precepts, arousing a sanguine hope in a song-less world.
The morning light hummed as angels sang the Troubadour's song of man's redemptive story.
Picture & Poem by rbrontebrown
WIP Emmanuel was born to the Father's delight. Israel’s long-awaited hope. The Word reveal its melody.
It was a soft, melodious tune for those with hearts to hear. Its whispered melody arrived as soft as the tiny beats of a hummingbird’s wing.
(Wip) It was a soft, melodious tune for those with hearts to hear. Its psithuric melody whispered softly as whispered wings.
The dawn of a new beginning altered our precepts, arousing a sanguine hope in a songless world.
The morning light hummed. Angel marveled. the Troubadour arrived. of man's redemptive story.
Haiku version
Anticipation, to the Father's delight, Emmanuel is born
The dawning light of a new beginning slates our thirst.
Arousing a sanguine hope for the coming year.
A salubrious optimism laced with intent, tempered.
Suffering: Fear and darkness abide side-by-side, hiding the old crone of despair.
Cohorts of hatred entrench themselves against the light.
Incoherent thoughts rattle the brain, searing the heart.
Death grins from the abyss, as the human soul withers.
Yet, darkness recoils at the light.
The old crone flees, abandoning despair.
Defeated, Death returns to the abyss.
Light enters, dispelling darkness.
Love’s glow lights the way, sparking hope.
Life, light, and love embrace the soul.
What specific events or experiences led to the presence of fear and darkness?
How can love specifically counteract despair and the influence of death?
What does the journey from darkness to light look like for those who struggle with despair?
Drugs and confusion act as cohorts. summoning dementia to rattle the brain, Stirring perturbation pərdərˈbāSH(ə)n/, darkness settles in. Darkness cannot extinguish light. shrinks away [recoils/ flees]from light. The old crone gags (gags) in despair
A dawning light hums, the eternal once wrapped in clay, has set Terra free. (resurrection)
The Troubadour sings, illuminating darkness with salvation's song,
His message rings true. A gift of grace freely given honoring choice.
The song of the church is the gospel story of God's eternal plan.
The harvest complete, the church caught up, Israel will once again have a hand in redeeming Man.
Santa's toys And Christmas morn can Never replace Thankful hearts And God's grace #AcrosticAdvent #AcrosticAdventChallenge #poetry #acrosticpoem #Santa #WinterIce
Anticipation. To the Father's delight, Emmanuel was born
The Eastern Star shone through the night illuminating the way.
The Word sang a melody for my heart to hear, poignant and pure.
For those with ears to hear, it was soft and gentle.
Akin to the beats of hummingbird wings, arrived a whispered message.
A songless world yearned for echos of the Troubadour’s aria.
Prophecies of old fulfilled, arousing a sanguine hope, for redeeming mankind.
An Angel announced the King's arrival. He dwelt with us.
The dawning light of a new beginning slates our thirst.
November 29: Trade Can we trade our despair, anxiety, and disappointment for rest and peace? Impossible, you may say, but not so. God made the impossible into I'm possible through Christ Jesus. Paul had to learn the art of contentment. I call it art because every art project begins messy and is a work in progress. Rest and patience come from knowing the God who has it figured out and knows how He will accomplish what he promised he would do. Paul's contentment came from knowing God and recognizing his limitations. His strength, understanding, compassion, and grace are infinite. In our measure world, He is immeasurable.
November 22 Fighting through loss, seeing with clarity is part of the mystery of chosen-ness. Proverbs 27:17 -As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. It is difficult to let God heal our wounds, to let God sharpen us for the battles of this world, to cry, and to let him catch every tear. Proverbs 56:8-You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. Knowing God bottles your every tear means your hurt is not lost.
Love hurts but with hope, love heals. Hope lies beyond our regrets and loss. Hope restores the heart and clears the way for renewed dreams. Hope rests on the foundational truth of Jesus Christ. When we've lost our way, hope shines a light. It dispels the darkness of despair. The heart responds. Hope carries the vital healing power of frankincense and myrrh. Its soothing components restore our faith and love. Hope heals!
November 15: Void-a feeling of want or hollowness.
Can grace fill the void when current circumstances leave us feeling empty?
It is not the things or objects but the memories tied to a moment in time that fleshes out echoes of the past with family and friends. Raise a child correctly; when they are old, they will find the truth again. It is a beautiful promise that I have not yet seen. Hindsight can dredge up loss, and old hurts with family and friends.
Imagine God holding a ribbon of time, the beginning in one hand and the end in the other. He surveys all time simultaneously. This time-ribbon has its beginning, its seasons, and its end. We are wonderfully made and placed in this ribbon of time to know Him. We have "the wondrous works of him who is in perfect knowledge" (Job 37:16) and sees all. Psalm 131 is a picture of a heart at rest before God, free from not knowing and yet, trusting His plan even if we cannot see.
Let grace fill our void when circumstances leave us feeling empty. God has chosen us for this time.
The voids in our life are redeemed by God. He makes everything beautiful in its time. Every sorry or harm we suffer will be redeemed by God. Ecclesiastes 3:11
Long version: Time is always moving forward to its finality. As a fixed entity (having a beginning and an end), time has a purpose which is unchangeable and set for a season of salvation to measure man's free will. Hebrews 6:11. Omnipresent. Page 94- There is no place, no time where God is not. He is immeasurable by our standards and our limited knowledge. But that does not mean he is unknowable.
We are wonderfully made and placed in this ribbon of time for the purpose of knowing Him. God has ordained my days perfectly. Herein lies the paradox of my human limits and God’s sovereignty to bring about eternal results in my life and the life of others. Page 15- We cannot measure God’s thoughts or His ways. Knowing the Lord brings about an awe-inspiring fear and amazement that it draws us closer to God. When we experience this type of awe, we become less individualist, less self-focused, and less materialistic. Sovereignty Page 145. We only have a glimpse of Him. He is knowable.
"Because we are created in God’s image, we possess both the right to life and the responsibility to protect it. No other human has the right to take life from us, because God is the origin and the giver of life.” [None like Him by Jen Wilkins, p. 47.] We are guardians of life giving to us by God. Page 43-45- God is self-existent and creative down to the last straw. I see His creativity in his wondrous works all around me (Job 37:16). We have it in us to reflect His creativity. Psalm 131 is a picture of a heart at rest before God, not knowing and yet, trusting His plan even what we cannot see or understand. His plan is incomprehensible, yet I am included in it. Psalm 145:3 Page 31
God has chosen us for this time. Only God is Self-Sufficient so we can rely on Him. He is immeasurable, immutable and is therefore a rock that I can stand on. He is not bound by my limited understanding; I can trust His immanence. The voids in our life are redeemed by God. He is eternal. Page 72.
Application: Can grace fill the void when current circumstances leave us feeling empty?
It is not the things or objects, but the memories tied to a moment in time that fleshes out echoes of the past with family and friends. Raise a child correctly; when they are old, they will find the truth again. It is a beautiful promise that I have not yet seen. Hindsight can dredge up loss, and old hurts with family and friends.
Imagine God holding a ribbon of time, the beginning in one hand and the end in the other. He surveys time simultaneously. This time ribbon has its beginning, its seasons, and its end. We are wonderfully made and placed in this ribbon of time to know Him. We have "the wondrous works of him who is in perfect knowledge" (Job 37:16) and sees all. Psalm 131 is a picture of a heart at rest before God, free from not knowing and yet, trusting His plan even if we cannot see. The voids in our life are redeemed by God. He makes everything beautiful in its time. Every sorry or harm we suffer will be redeemed by God. Eccles 3:11 Let grace fill our void when circumstances leave us feeling empty. God has chosen us for this time.
Paraphrases or references are marked by page numbers from None Like Him by Jen Wilkins.
Cain refused to worship God but offered his effort as an offering. God cursed the ground when Adam sinned, but Cain knew the ground was cursed, yet he offered his self-effort instead of accepting grace. Only God saves and offers forgiveness. Our efforts always fall short.
November 8: Look towards Trees whisper in the wind as the gentle river flows downstream before the coming storm—a girls' retreat and back porch sharing. We listen. Leaves whistle one last time in a psithurism wind before letting go. As sienna hues blanket the ground, we count our blessings with each falling leaf.
Even with the coming seasonal changes, we are to enjoy the present. Yet, knowing as the seasons shift, storms will come. Here is where we trust the Lord to bring in the beauty of each moment as we walk through life's changes.
leaf-whistles, needles oscillate in a psithurism wind
Proverbs 10:30 The righteous will never be uprooted 2 Corinthians 6:18 ESV And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”
November 1: Unexpected. Being chosen by God through the Holy Spirit is elusive and mysterious. What does it mean to be selected by the Chooser?
Chosenness is a mystery worth pursuing, with a surprising destination. Our pilgrim’s progress is fraught with perils. We hold on to our pain, hurts, and losses, which keep us looking inward and not upward. Yet, we are chosen for a holy, special, and particular purpose. We discover this purpose by building a relationship with the Chooser.
This concept may seem antithetical to a humble heart, but elitists view themselves above everyone else. If they could, they would dictate every aspect of your life. But not so with God the Father. He gave you free will to discover who He is. First, all creation is an expression of Him. His spirit reveals more of Who He Is. And the Father chose to set us free from spiritual bondage to live in the freedom of His promises.
11 responses to “Unexpected- The Mystery of Chosenness”
carolapv
Amen. We are blessed to live in relationship with God.
There is really something
’bout a psithurism wind,
and the blessing it can bring
when you know you’ve sinned.
The restless rustling, trees in leaf,
speak of soft eternity,
and you can hold to the belief
of sternness and of mercy,
for these must always be combined
that forgiveness finds its meaning;
stern alone is brutal-blind,
and lone mercy is dreaming,
but put together like they is,
and the result is a catharsis.
restless rustling, speak of soft eternity, sternness and mercy…lovely description with contrast and alliterations. The Spirit of God does whisper to our souls.
Loved both the short and long version of your post–and Andrew’s sonnet posing the question “There’s a God-shaped hole inside of me, and I think this may sound odd, but could perhaps might there just be a me-shaped hole in God?”
October 25/ Weight Momentary light affliction produces a weight in glory. God's plan for my life is the posture of my heart: Micah 6:8, "Be joyful always, pray continually, and give thanks, do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly." Truth: My prayers have not been answered with my daughter but with my ex-son-in-law. I'm still prayer for her. Restoration of relationships has not happened, but centering my identity on God will make me a different person who reflects Jesus. Our troubles in this life are real with consequences that are long lasting. My heart still hurts, and so does God's heart when a child strays. I trust God with her.
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4: 17-18
October 18: Undecided
Undecided on your value or salvation or your purpose in life. It is about the journey and learning to walk and trust Jesus. Growing in Christ is an ongoing process of defeats, failures, and successes. My past achievements helped me see that I can move forward, even when I don't want to or know how to advance. As we grow into our identity and mature, we gradually become more Christ-like as we learn to walk in the Spirit's power.
In writing my testimony, I've learned that God's plan for my life is about the posture of my heart. Philippines 4:6, rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks. Micah 6:8 - do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly. I hold on to the truth that being more Christ-like is a process and that current sin would not invalidate my profession of faith or my walk with the Lord. As a teenager, I would rededicate my life if I felt burdened or unworthy. Confession is necessary, not rededication for God's favor. God's favor is not earned. The Lord is pleased with me on account of His great name.
Whether God answers my prayers, I must find my identity in Him. (Queen Esther).
Excerpt from my ministry letter to my support team while serving overseas (1981): Consider for a moment a person who has died and committed a grave sin, a hideous crime. My reaction would be to say this person ought to be punished. But how do you punish a dead man?
Romans 6:23 says that the wages of sin is death. Where is justice to be found? Sin carries with it the penalty of death. God gives us an answer. In Romans 6:11 it says to consider yourself dead to sin but alive to God. This has helped me to understand the depth of my forgiveness. No punishment can be rendered to a dead man in Christ. God has chosen to direct his wrath on His Son, Jesus. There is none left for me. Christ's death on the cross is enough to pay the full price for my sin. Romans 8:1, Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. God longs to be gracious to me and waits on high to have compassion on me (Isaiah 30:18-21.)
The Lord is pleased with me on account of His great name. I first came to trust that I was valued by God which led to my salvation experience. I am totally approved of, accepted and love by Him on account of His great name.
October 13 -Flee Things to flee from: empty philosophies that ensnare the mind or ideas that trap or boastfulness that leaves you blind to reality, or seeking to serve self. The world tells you it is okay to be or do things that Jesus never said. Jesus never said to follow your own heart. The heart is wicked and deceptive. Jesus never said to be true to yourself. He said to be His disciple, ''deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Me.'
Jesus never told people to believe in themselves. He said, "Believe in me, for I am the way, the truth, and the light."
Jesus never said to live with your Truth. He said, 'I am the Truth, and you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.' Live His Truth.
The world says as long as you are happy, that is all that matters. Jesus said, "What profits a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul."
How to flee: How do we (I) hold every thought captive to reflect God's glory and walk confidently in our (my) new identity as a new creature in Christ? 2 Corinthians 10:5: "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."
Oct 4 - two/ The Wise and Foolish Builders Matthew 7:24-27 "Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
The wise man built his house up the rock, and when tough times came, he stood fast. The man who trusts in the Lord will be like a tree planted by the waters that extends its roots by a stream. It will not fear when the heat comes, but its leaves will be green.
The foolish man, in contrast, built his house upon the empty philosophies of this world. He sought power and praise, indulged in cheap entertainment, selfies, and clicks, doing whatever he wanted. But when trials and troubles came, disappointments and loss, his world crashed, a stark contrast to the wise man's secure foundation.
All the religious and political systems cannot fill the heart. Man is designed to know God, and that is a journey of utmost importance that every person must take. The choice to know God or to reject Him is a significant one that shapes our lives.
Women teach women. Men and women have different roles in the church. God expects men to take the leadership role in the church, which means pastors are men.
But does that mean women are excluded from teaching, or a ministry. May it never be! Mary sat at Jesus' feet to learn. Women are not excluded from ministry, as missionaries (Lottie Moon), Sunday School teachers, authors and more. The Bible in both the Old and New Testaments shows the importance of women in the scriptures and their role in sharing the gospels (Deborah stepped in a time of war, when the general would not). Understanding what God expects of men and what both will be held accountable for goes beyond this one concept of who is the preacher.
Scripture verifies scripture and teaches a more profound principle that tells us something about God Himself. God never explained to Job why he allowed Satan to test him. He revealed Himself to Job. Job could only shut his mouth and marvel. God doesn't explain why men are the head of the church and the family but-
God ordained it upon Adam, not Eve.
I have learned, Know God and Know Truth. Take it to Psalms 23 and rest in the Him.
With the last harvest winter comes, the weary soul find rest.
@Blue_Owl #HaikuSaturday Grace
Winter grants Fall's wish for an encore flower dance, frost procrastinates.
Summer's warmth lingers. Harvest-in, farmer's delight- Sweet whispers of thanks.
Winter winds whistling Indian Summer's last stance Bowing gracefully Posted Haiku Foundation for Early Harvest Aug 2022
Indian Summer Harvest-in, farmer's delight- Sweet whispers of thanks.
The Last Harvest By RL Brown
Wind rustles the leaves Trees shimmer yawning deeply Anticipation
Autumn equinox, the balance of light and dark, time juncture converts.
Turn your face eastward. Fall moon on the horizon blazing aureate hues.
(short version) Face eastward Harvest moon rises radiating aureate hues
Extravagant colors! A migratory birds last song. Light wanes for evening.
Nature's splendor yields a harvest of abundance, Thankfulness expressed.
Inner autumn calls, time to embrace season’s change. The wind howls for rest.
Light narrows yet shines. Truth displayed for all to see, God’s bountiful grace.
Counterfeit death nears. The last harvest, winter comes. Weary souls find rest.
frozen heart a kind touch melting point
When your soul has lost the fear of God’s design, you travel the road of fools.
When your soul’s meaningful purpose is lost, you search for your significance.
When you separate your soul from your heart, you fall into depths of despair.
When your soul is empty, you fill it with things.
When your soul yearns for love, you sacrifice your character.
But...
When your soul listens for God's whisper, you discern the words of the fool.
When your soul is filled with meaning, you find your purpose.
When your soul is linked to Jesus, you are filled with understanding.
When your soul is full, you pour out God’s wondrous love.
When your soul is loved, you stand your ground.
Truth-
Jesus is the solid rock, immovable and perfect.
God’s design is for you to know HIM.
Friendships are the threads woven into the tapestry of one's life.
September20-Matter
Iridescent threads Shimmering in sunlight Woven in my heart. I imagine God showing me a tapestry of my life in heaven. Family and friends who have shaped my life will be like shimmering sunbeams woven throughout. The iridescent lines of friendship will burst forth in a prismatic array of colors, revealing the depths of God's love.
As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. Proverbs 27:17
Book by Jennie Allen, Find Your People: Building a Deep Community in a Lonely World.
Page… God has set a time and a place to love people, and others love you in ways that draw you toward Him. Your inner circle is gone due to friends (or you) moving away, busyness, or not maintaining relationships. The ache of loneliness is real. This is a reminder of the importance of maintaining relationships. What steps can be taken to keep these connections? The time to reach out and build is now, beginning with the people in front of you. Find friends you are willing to be transparent with and accountable to, with a shared purpose of serving each other. One person cannot be everything. Find your sage friend, the encourager, the challenger, and the fun one. Be each other's core group by building a community through the network of friendship.
Page 49. "It will take deliberate intention to return to the kinds of relationships that God had in mind for us to enjoy: Proximity, Transparency, Accountability, and Consistency." It will take trust and practice. It will take learning to ask the right questions, learn to listen and learn to listen with the Holy Spirit's ears.
Page 129. "Pride is our insistence that our opinion is Bible truth...our good works...our virtue." Page 135. "Truth in love is the safest place to be." Page 218. Remember, this is a learning process, and we will make mistakes. "A friend says she tries to react to patterns, not one-offs. Everyone messes up unless it is habitually."
Page 165. "Bearing one another's burdens means to get close enough to get up under that burden alongside you." In the movie The Forge, Isaiah is handed a sword to hold, but after a few minutes, it becomes too heavy to carry alone. His arm begins to shake. Then, his brothers step forward and offer their support with two fingers. He can hold it up without shaking.
Page 217. How to build, strengthen and preserve old and new friendships: Ask real questions Listen to everything, the whole message Tell each one what you are grateful for in them Talk about Jesus Do fun stuff together.
September 6- Youth
3 responses to “September FMF Preserve, Build and Renew”
Iron sharpens iron … I just met with my friend who sharpens me. We encourage each other. We are very different, but our desire to trust God more is the same. We don’t get to meet very often, but I write down the things I loved or I was challenged by our meeting and I can go back and review. Yes, I need to focus more on my friends who sharpen me and stay in touch! Thank you! FMF#3
I’ve started a new Bible Study group called Radical Mentoring. We are reading Find Your People by Jennie Allen as a way to understand a biblical prespective of discipleship. We watch the movie, The Forge, together last week.
Morning stillness Rhythmic movement Zephyr and leaf
#HaikuSatuday #haikuchallenge My brother passed away on July 28. His funeral was at the Biloxi National Cemetery on August 16. At the end of his funeral, a gentle southern breeze blew during the final prayer.
Signs of the time, policies align a shift in the fault line. Is America given another chance to redeem herself? November's vote will tell.
Wind rustles the leaves Trees shimmer, yawning deeply Anticipation
Rustling leaves Yawning trees Anticipating fall
seasonal leaves grounding roots, true friends- the rings inside
the night sky frolics under silvery moonbeams in stillness, dreams come
night recedes behind the stars- no thought to pending troubles tomorrow sleeps
cool breeze comes summer seeds fall waiting to be reborn
Summer's heat softens with autumn golden hues, coming stillness.
Usually, We lose when we argue with the Truth. Hebrews 4:12
We lose defending ourselves to those who love to gossip. Proverbs 20:19
We lose to those who love to have their ears tickled with empty philosophies. Colossians 2:8
You lose arguing with a narcissist. Proverbs 21:4: “Haughty and arrogant eyes and a proud heart, The lamp of the wicked [their self-centered pride], is sin [in the eyes of God].”
You lose when we say an empty prayer inviting Jesus into your heart but have not confessed and repented of your sins and turned from your old self. You must become a new creature in Christ. Repentance is an about-face, not two-face. Revelation 3: 20, Upon confession and repentance, Jesus enters in. 2 Corinthians 5:17
Salvation is on the inside, and baptism is on the outside.
Signs of the time, policies align a shift in the fault line. Is America given another chance? !! Chronicles 7:14
Defeat vs Victory, What does that look like?
Morning stillness Rhythmic movement Zephyr and leaf
My brother passed away on July 28. His funeral was at the Biloxi National Cemetery on August 16. At the end of his funeral, a gentle southern breeze blew during the final prayer. 1 Corinthians 15:55, "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” The verse continues, “The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ”.
Scene 3 Marriage of Ruth and Boaz Ruth represents all Gentiles and is a picture of the future church. She left her country to follow Naomi and converted to Judaism. When Jesus died on the cross, He died for all mankind, Jews and Gentiles. Jesus' Jewish disciples were to preach His message of salvation to everyone. The church age began. We are saved by grace and adopted in. At the rapture, the church age ends, and God deals with both Israel and rebellious men.
Scene 2 The Lord is with Abraham. The Lord said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?" "The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly great. I will go down and see if they have done according to their outcry; I will know." The two angels turned and went toward Sodom. God is omniscient and knows the heart of every person there. God was there for the victims of Sodom and Gomorrah. He heard their outcry. The angels turned toward Sodom and Gomorrah to give the people one last chance to repent. And yet- God would save the five cities for the sake of ten righteous. But there were not even ten righteous in Lot's family. Abraham bargained for Lot's family, which is why he stopped at ten. Revelation 6:10 The martyrs cry out, "How long, O Lord, holy and true until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" As Revelation reveals, Sodom and Gomorrah are testaments to God's future judgment of man's sins. When the rapture occurs and the Holy Spirit is removed, men will face God's judgment. Some will be like those in Sodom, some will die in disbelief, and others will still give their lives to stand for Jesus Christ, beginning with the 144,000 thousand from every house of Israel. God hears the victim's outcry and will restore all that is lost. If not here, then in heaven, where he will wipe away their tears. The stories of the old are sometimes pictures or prologues of future events, giving us discernment.
The Scene 1: I Kings 18:20-40 Eliha vs the the prophets of Baal How long will you falter between two opinions? The God of Eternity vs the god of humanity.
One man, Elijah, stood against 450 prophets of Baal. Until the oblation hour, the prophets of Baal called on the god of their imaginations to act. Elijah taunted them. At three o'clock in the afternoon, Elijah called upon the Lord. Through Elijah's prayer, the fire of the Lord fell. Next scene: Jesus is hanging on the cross; it is three o'clock, the oblation hour. Jesus cried, 'It is finished,' and the wrath of God for mankind fell upon Him. Elijah was the prologue of what God was going to do on the cross. Revelation reveals God's judgement.
Revelation 3:15-18, I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm hot nor cold- I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
How long will we vacillate between the God of Eternity or the god of our own making? We have God's Word and now are in the church age, with Revelation as the epilogue. Note: My pastor's sermon was much better at drawing the comparison.
Tolerate and tolerance do not equate in today's world. God's command to preach the Truth of the Gospel is clear: do not add to or take away God's Word. If you fail to preach about hell and eternal separation from God, then there is no true love, respect, or need for the free gift of salvation. If you preach God is love, and there is no hell, then there is no fear of judgment—who needs God?
God warns us as Christians from our Jewish beginnings through our Christian heritage not to add or take away anything to HIS Word. Scriptures contain the path to salvation-true salvation, the path to understanding God, gave us free will to worship Him-the one who created it all. You can't remove Romans 1 from understanding God's love or Galatians 5:19. It is our path to God- to understanding the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit- the one God, Father, Son, and Spirit. God says to spread the message with tolerance, love, and understanding of the lost.
The Spirit draws and brings conviction to the lost, but we are commissioned to go and tell-not leave them in darkness or on the wrong path. Deuteronomy 4:2, Proverbs 30:5-6, and Revelation 22:18-19:
How many will be in hell because I was being tolerant and not straightfordward with the Gospel? I will know when I stand before Jesus.
"The Bible consistently emphasizes love as the foundational Christian virtue. Love is not merely tolerating someone; it is actively seeking their well-being. It is desiring the best for another, regardless of their beliefs or actions. Love is not blind to sin or wrongdoing but seeks redemption and restoration. Furthermore, the Bible presents truth as absolute and unchanging. It is not merely one perspective among many. While we are called to engage with those who hold different beliefs with gentleness and respect, we cannot compromise on biblical truth. To tolerate error is to dishonor God." This is from Grace Filled Moments/FMF post. https://www.gracefilledmoments.me/2024/08/01/fmf-tolerate-the-illusion-of-tolerance/
6 responses to “FMF Post August”
Sandra K Stein
“How many will be in hell because I was being tolerant and not straightfordward with the Gospel?” — very convicting.
Amen. Strong words for strong facts. We cannot accept the Gift of Jesus without knowing how badly we need it. Conviction, then salvation. So many skip the conviction part … Thank you for the reminder! FMF#6
Amen. Exactly. Nothing to add, except that it is difficult but necessary to tell others that you can’t get the good stuff without giving up the bad stuff, pride, arrogance, entitlement, etc. If you aren’t humble and know you NEED Jesus, then it’s all foolishness to you. I’ve had a few people say to me, “I don’t need saving.” Pretty arrogant … I’m still praying for them. ~ blessings!
temperature rising the sun's playful banter evening's delight
Evening's warm hues cast a spell of tranquility.
brewing storms turbulent waters troubled horizon
“Enchanted Pool” by T Watchman John-18th century
The Lie said to the Truth, "Let's take a bath together, the water is very nice. The Truth, still suspicious, tested the water and found out it really was nice. So they got naked and bathed. But suddenly, the Lie leapt out of the water and fled, wearing the clothes of the Truth. The Truth, furious, raced out of the pond to get her clothes back. But the World, upon seeing the naked Truth, looked away, with anger and contempt. Poor Truth returned to the pond and disappeared forever, hiding her shame. Since then, the Lie runs around the world, dressed as the Truth, and society is very happy-because the world has no desire to know the naked Truth. Painting: “Enchanted Pool” by T Watchman John-18th century Copied and pasted author anonymous
Poison ivy, poison oak, who cares? Itching everywhere. Gloves on, reading a book.
Butterfly wings shimmering in the sunlight, a refractile kaleidoscope or Refractile kaleidoscope shimmering sunlight- butterfly wings
evening shadow on crisscrossing paths, uninterrupted
a rhythmic beat slow slow quick quick slow sandy footprints
slow, slow, quick-quick slow light dances on the water footprints in the sand
a rhythmic beat slow slow quick quick slow lover's cadence
Yes, Flowers Have Favorites, too!
Fuzzy bees that run the world, busy beats, their wings uncurled. Orchard bees seek apple trees, guided by a fragrant breeze. Bees create a honey treat- of lavender so pure and sweet.
Fragrant flowers spread their scent, whiffs, and swirls in spring’s advent. Flowers mixed with pollen threads, blooming hues of blues and reds. Golden pearls spread all about, gathered by a little scout.
Tiny dancers run the world, silent beats, their wings impearled. Butterflies from all around follow scents that hug the ground. Dancing feet atop a bloom, search for nectar to consume.
Clustered flowers, vivid hues Yellows, reds but no blues, Flower seeds secure their worth, stretch their roots in fertile earth. Coneflowers and scattered seeds- paired best with butterfly weeds.
Nature’s treeswifts guide the world, Hums and beats, their wings unfurled. Hummingbirds need constant fuel. Trumpet flowers attract this jewel. Forward, backward, upside down. These dashing fliers zip around.
Golden flowers, brilliant blooms Entice birds with shiny plumes. Blazing Star to Geranium, Coral Bells to Delphinium. Flower meadows, patchwork plots, Scattered seeds in local lots.
brontebrown2 
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