Joining Kate for a 5-minute free write called Five Minute Friday. This week's prompt: Gift.
GO:
Life truly is a gift. And after experiencing loss, the preciousness of the gift shines through even brighter.
I am currently 32 weeks pregnant with my rainbow baby, whom I have nicknamed Chickadee.
32 weeks pregnant is not all pleasant.
I am getting more and more tired, yet finding it hard to get comfortable enough to sleep.
My emotions are all over the place.
Everything I eat gives me heartburn.
I wake up a million times a night to pee.
My hips are starting to ache, and by the end of the day my feet and ankles are swollen and sore.
And all of this is a beautiful gift!
I love the blessing of each and every discomfort and pain and difficulty because each one is due to the precious little gift that is growing in my womb. I will gladly take every one of these and more knowing that each day Chickadee is making Mommy uncomfortable is another day she is here on earth with me, growing and getting bigger and stronger and closer to being a squirmy little screaming bundle of joy in my arms.
I thank and praise my gracious loving Father for the beautiful gift of third trimester discomforts!
STOP
Showing posts with label viewpoint. Show all posts
Showing posts with label viewpoint. Show all posts
Friday, June 5, 2015
Saturday, December 20, 2014
Five Minute Friday: Adore
I've been battling first-trimester exhaustion and morning sickness lately, so haven't had as much time to write. Trying to get back into the swing of things now that I'm officially on vacation for Christmas - yay!
Topic of the week over at Kate's: Adore
GO:
Oh, come let us adore Him. Oh, come let us adore Him. Oh, come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.
When you hear the word "adorable" what is the first thing you think of? Sweet puppies, cute kittens, squishy newborn babies? When the shepherds and wise men went to adore Jesus, he was probably pretty adorable by that understanding of the word.
I bet you don't think about blood, or gore. You don't think about nails being driven into human flesh, or someone being spat upon. You don't imagine a spear being driven into someone's side. Or if you do, you might want to see a psychiatrist!
When we look at what the word adore actually means; love or respect deeply, worship, venerate, cherish, revere; we see that the word applies just as much to the crucified Christ as it does to the baby in the manger. Jesus, who took on flesh at Christmas time as an adorable baby, lived the perfect life so that He could be our atoning sacrifice. He was despised, rejected, beaten, tortured, and ultimately killed in a horrific manner, all in my place. In your place. In our place.
If that isn't worthy of adoration, I don't know what is.
STOP.
Saturday, November 8, 2014
FmF: Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Joining 5 minute Friday for 5 minutes of free-writing on the word: TURN
GO.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.
Yesterday my boss started a meeting with a devotional (I work in a Christian workplace) about trusting. It said we often fail to trust because we want answers, we want to feel in control, and we want to know what is coming next. It also said the Holy Spirit in our hearts can help us turn to Jesus and think trusting thoughts.
It definitely hit close to home, because one of my biggest struggles these past 7 months has been finding the balance between faith and action. I tell myself I trust God, but I long for and search for answers. I say I trust God, but I also look for another doctor who I can trust. I want to TRUST God, but I want to DO something to avoid future pain.
My prayers today have turned 180. I am not praying for answers or action plans today. I am praying that the Holy Spirit would help me to turn my eyes upon Jesus.
GO.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.
Yesterday my boss started a meeting with a devotional (I work in a Christian workplace) about trusting. It said we often fail to trust because we want answers, we want to feel in control, and we want to know what is coming next. It also said the Holy Spirit in our hearts can help us turn to Jesus and think trusting thoughts.
It definitely hit close to home, because one of my biggest struggles these past 7 months has been finding the balance between faith and action. I tell myself I trust God, but I long for and search for answers. I say I trust God, but I also look for another doctor who I can trust. I want to TRUST God, but I want to DO something to avoid future pain.
My prayers today have turned 180. I am not praying for answers or action plans today. I am praying that the Holy Spirit would help me to turn my eyes upon Jesus.
Monday, October 27, 2014
Day 25: Enjoy
Day 25 (Ok, so it's not actually, but I'm trying to catch up here!) of 31 days of healing. Joining Kate with a 5-minute free-write on the word ENJOY
GO:
Sometimes it takes great courage to enjoy life. When it seems like there is nothing left to bring joy. When it feels like you are at the bottom of a well, surrounded by cold, wet, hard stones and left in darkness while the world carries on around you in light and warmth and comfort above your head.
Yet even in the bottom of the well, God has called us to rejoice in all things. There is joy to be found even at the bottom of a well if we look to our savior.
One of my favorite prayers comes from the Valley of Vision:
Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly,
Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision, where I live in the depths but see Thee in the heights;
hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold your glory.
Let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up, that to be low is to be high, that the broken heart is the healed heart, that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit, that the repenting soul is the victorious soul, that to have nothing is to posses all, that to bear the cross is to wear the crown, that to give is to receive, that the valley is the place of vision,
Lord, in the daytime the stars can be seen from the deepest wells, and the deeper the wells the brighter the stars shine; let me find Thy light in my darkness, Thy life in my death, Thy JOY in my sorrow, Thy grace in my sin, Thy riches in my poverty, Thy glory in my valley.
Amen,
GO:
Sometimes it takes great courage to enjoy life. When it seems like there is nothing left to bring joy. When it feels like you are at the bottom of a well, surrounded by cold, wet, hard stones and left in darkness while the world carries on around you in light and warmth and comfort above your head.
Yet even in the bottom of the well, God has called us to rejoice in all things. There is joy to be found even at the bottom of a well if we look to our savior.
One of my favorite prayers comes from the Valley of Vision:
Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly,
Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision, where I live in the depths but see Thee in the heights;
hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold your glory.
Let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up, that to be low is to be high, that the broken heart is the healed heart, that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit, that the repenting soul is the victorious soul, that to have nothing is to posses all, that to bear the cross is to wear the crown, that to give is to receive, that the valley is the place of vision,
Lord, in the daytime the stars can be seen from the deepest wells, and the deeper the wells the brighter the stars shine; let me find Thy light in my darkness, Thy life in my death, Thy JOY in my sorrow, Thy grace in my sin, Thy riches in my poverty, Thy glory in my valley.
Amen,
Friday, October 17, 2014
Day 17 and FMF: Long
Joining up with Kate here for another five-minute Friday free-write on Day 17 of 31 Days of Healing
Prompt word of the week: Long
GO:
This week was long. Very long. Getting home from work late every day long. Falling asleep myself as I put June Bug to bed last night at 7:30 long. I am grateful for the weekend.
Time is a funny thing. It is so subjective. Some things seem to last so long, and others seem to go by in the blink of an eye, even when really they take the same amount of time.
When I think back on my time on bed rest, the days felt so long to me. Part of that was being in bed all day left me forced to leave business behind. But I think it was also a gift that God gave me. He knew even when I didn't that I would have to say good-bye to my precious baby soon. I believe He gave me that time on bed rest and made the days seem long to give me the time I needed to prepare my heart for what was to come.
As I've said before, I spent a lot of the time on bed rest praying, reading scripture, and meditating on the truths of the gospel. I also spent a lot of time online, doing research, trying to find out what kinds of journeys I could be in for.
While I long for the day I will hold my babies in heaven, I am thankful for the gift of those long days on bed rest with my Mikayla and my God.
STOP.
Prompt word of the week: Long
GO:
This week was long. Very long. Getting home from work late every day long. Falling asleep myself as I put June Bug to bed last night at 7:30 long. I am grateful for the weekend.
Time is a funny thing. It is so subjective. Some things seem to last so long, and others seem to go by in the blink of an eye, even when really they take the same amount of time.
When I think back on my time on bed rest, the days felt so long to me. Part of that was being in bed all day left me forced to leave business behind. But I think it was also a gift that God gave me. He knew even when I didn't that I would have to say good-bye to my precious baby soon. I believe He gave me that time on bed rest and made the days seem long to give me the time I needed to prepare my heart for what was to come.
As I've said before, I spent a lot of the time on bed rest praying, reading scripture, and meditating on the truths of the gospel. I also spent a lot of time online, doing research, trying to find out what kinds of journeys I could be in for.
While I long for the day I will hold my babies in heaven, I am thankful for the gift of those long days on bed rest with my Mikayla and my God.
STOP.
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Day 14: Away
Well, on day 14 of 31 Days of Healing, Kate's prompt was actually quite appropriate because I was literally away, so I'll do 2 posts today to make up and get back on track.
5 minutes on the word AWAY.
GO:
My babies have gone away. Nothing can bring them back.
But my God is still here. He has always been here. He will always be here. My God will never go away. I might feel like God is distant, or I am distant from God, but really He is always near and it is only my perspective that changes.
My love for my babies will never go away. His love for me will never go away.
"I love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living, my babies you'll be!" ~Robert Munsch
STOP
but never stop. Never stop going to the heavenly father with prayer and petition and thanksgiving. Never stop remembering. Never stop loving.
5 minutes on the word AWAY.
GO:
My babies have gone away. Nothing can bring them back.
But my God is still here. He has always been here. He will always be here. My God will never go away. I might feel like God is distant, or I am distant from God, but really He is always near and it is only my perspective that changes.
My love for my babies will never go away. His love for me will never go away.
"I love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living, my babies you'll be!" ~Robert Munsch
STOP
but never stop. Never stop going to the heavenly father with prayer and petition and thanksgiving. Never stop remembering. Never stop loving.
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Day 2: Point of View
I'm back for day 2 of the 31-day writing challenge, and decided to also join Kate Motaung doing a five-minute free-write on the topic: View.
GO:
Why is it so easy for us to fix our view on the past, dwelling on what has already taken place, mulling over the "what if"s and the "if only"s. Wondering if maybe things could have, should have, would have been different if...
It's also easy to fix my view on the future, giving in to anxiety and dwelling on fears of the unknown. Fears that history will repeat itself and I will be asked to give up a baby too soon again.
Why is it so hard sometimes to view everything through the proper lens? The glasses that God wants us to put on?
Instead of wondering about and lamenting the past, I should be focusing on what I can and should be doing right now. Spending time in the word. Building relationships. Worshiping. Fishing for men. Making disciples.
Instead of worrying about and fearing the future, I should be looking toward eternity. Remembering always that this life is not the end, and my treasure must not be found here where moth and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal and death snatches away life and seems to have the last laugh. Instead I should be building up treasure in heaven where moth and rust do not destroy and thieves cannot break in a steal and where LIFE has swallowed up death in a final and decisive victory.
Lord, grant me your point of view.
STOP
GO:
Why is it so easy for us to fix our view on the past, dwelling on what has already taken place, mulling over the "what if"s and the "if only"s. Wondering if maybe things could have, should have, would have been different if...
It's also easy to fix my view on the future, giving in to anxiety and dwelling on fears of the unknown. Fears that history will repeat itself and I will be asked to give up a baby too soon again.
Why is it so hard sometimes to view everything through the proper lens? The glasses that God wants us to put on?
Instead of wondering about and lamenting the past, I should be focusing on what I can and should be doing right now. Spending time in the word. Building relationships. Worshiping. Fishing for men. Making disciples.
Instead of worrying about and fearing the future, I should be looking toward eternity. Remembering always that this life is not the end, and my treasure must not be found here where moth and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal and death snatches away life and seems to have the last laugh. Instead I should be building up treasure in heaven where moth and rust do not destroy and thieves cannot break in a steal and where LIFE has swallowed up death in a final and decisive victory.
Lord, grant me your point of view.
STOP
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