FREE

Five Minute Fridays often bring me a sense of thanksgiving.  I am able to reflect on blessings that I often overlook.  Today is no different.  My word is FREE and today I feel free.

Ecclesiastes 3 reminds us that there is a time for every activity under heaven.  I'm sure you know the reference:

a time to be born, a time to die; 

a time to tear down and a time to mend; 

a time to weep, a time to laugh 

and a time to be silent and a time to speak.  

My new spin on this scripture is that there is a time to enjoy life, a time to experience freedom.  Often parenting feels like a struggle, at least for me.  It's hard to find time for myself and to truly enjoy the things I want to do.  I love being with friends, talking, laughing, weeping and listening.   But it is rare for us to get to do that as women.  Hence, a positive aspect of teenage parenting.  As our children get older, they need us less.  We are able to leave them at home more, we are able to seek out those friendships that our hearts desire.  There is some freedom found in parenting teenagers.  So in the midst of the angst of raising a teen age daughter, I find myself thankful that at this stage of life, I am able to step out on my own.

As I think of freedom, I am also reminded of the freedom I have from the bondage of sin.  Again, back to Ecclesiastes.  Freedom.  God gives us this incredible freedom to live live that is pleasing to him.  In verse 14 it says,

14  I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.

Nothing I do can add to my freedom- no amount of good parenting, determined prayer life; accolades from peers... no nothing can add to what Christ has already done for me.  On the flip side, nothing I do- gossiping about others; a lazy spirit or unwillingness to help someone in need... no nothing can take away from what Christ has already done for me.  If that isn't true freedom, I don't know what is.

  

HOPE

There is power in words.  They invoke emotion.  Maybe that is why I blog... words have meaning in my life and often I can't get them out in conversation, so I blog.  I'm following Five Minute Friday's word prompt.  

You can snag the details here: 

 http://katemotaung.com/2015/06/25/five-minute-friday-dream/

HOPE-  definition: noun- a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. 
              definition: verb- want something to happen or be the case.

Is it possible to desire one word to be both a noun and a verb in your everyday life?  As I write this, I can think of things I hope for... a well balanced checkbook; a clean kitchen when I get home.  But I also find things I want to happen.  I hope to rest well tonight.  I anticipate a good dinner with friends. I hope my daughter makes decisions that will benefit her life.  

As I write, I am reminded, that I have both hope (noun) and hope (verb) in my life.

"My Hope is Built on Nothing Less"

by Edward Mote, 1797-1874

1. My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus' blood and righteousness;

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

But wholly lean on Jesus' name.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;

All other ground is sinking sand.

2. When darkness veils His lovely face,

I rest on His unchanging grace;

In every high and stormy gale

My anchor holds within the veil.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;

All other ground is sinking sand.

3. His oath, His covenant, and blood

Support me in the whelming flood;

When every earthly prop gives way,

He then is all my Hope and Stay.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;

All other ground is sinking sand.

4. When He shall come with trumpet sound,

Oh, may I then in Him be found,

Clothed in His righteousness alone,

Faultless to stand before the throne!

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;

All other ground is sinking sand

I especially like the 3rd verse.  

"When every earthly prop gives way, 

then is all my HOPE and stay." 

How comforting to know this hope: to know that THE HOPE is a verb is also my hope that is a person... a living, breathing, walking, talking person.  

FAVORITE

So this week, I am cheating.  I thought I would spend this five minutes reminding me of who I AM. Since I don't know if I will ever share my blog with another soul, it seems like the blogs are more introspective.  So here is the list I found online.  I am only going to commit 5 minutes to this so... if it is abruptly stopped, you know why.  

color- RED

movie- LES MIS

song- tough one but right now, FLAWLESS by Mercy Me

drink- LE CROIX ORANGE WATER

store- GROCERY STORES

flower- PINK CARNATIONS

restaurant_ MEXICAN- El Campesino

tv.show- SURVIVOR

book- BIBLE

candy- HERSHEYS WITH ALMONDS

celebrity- ???

fun spot- TABLE ROCK STATE PARK

accessory- NEW RING WITH PHILLIPIANS 4:5 ENGRAVED

hairstyle- SHORT

car-???

ice cream- COCONUT

fruit- ???

state- TN

music video, 

cartoon,

brand of shoes, 

donut, 

season- AUTUMN 

relative MOTHER

teacher- MRS ROUSE- KINDERGARTEN

magazine, 

game, 

joke, 

website, 

cookie- OATMEAL WITH CHOC CHIPS

number- 13

actor, 

cereal- SHREDDED MINI WHEATS.

Whew I did it.  There is nothing spiritual or life giving about this blog of a list.  It is the real me... somewhat boring, but specifically designed by God for his purposes.