Five Minute Friday: Stuff on My Mind (Ramblings)

Photo by Marie M on Unsplash

Today I am participating in Five Minute Friday, where a group of writers get together and free write about a one-word prompt for 5 minutes. Today's word is "stuff."

As the year is drawing to a close, I have lots of stuff on my mind.

This has been a year of change. We moved again. Moving is hard. You’d think it would get easier the more you do it, but it really doesn’t.

Each time we move, we have to find new doctors, hair stylists, dentists, etc. We also have to find new friends.

I make new friends every place we go and usually keep a few good ones after we leave. Some stay close, and some drift away. I know God has a purpose for each of them.

This move has been hard. Each time I think I have a new friendship figured out; it seems to not go the way I planned. I can sense the Lord leading me to look to Him for comfort, reassurance, and all the things we often look to people for. I am trying.

Other stuff on my mind is what do I do at this point in my life? I am speaking career-wise. I think I always want that solid confirmation, or somehow, I have gotten to the point where I need the solid confirmation. I have taken lots of chances, and seem to keep circling the same mountain, but with not the amount of success I would like.

Maybe that’s the point. My success doesn’t look like everyone else’s success, and if I had the same amount of perceived success as others (in the world’s eyes), how would we all fit?

I am a mom. I love being a mom. I love taking care of my family, and household. How to be content with just that? The mere fact that I am sitting here typing out these words suggests that I should lend myself to writing in some way. But then I feel the guilt about giving attention to this, so there’s always this tug-of-war between being a good mom, writer, minister, etc.

So, this is the stuff going on in my thoughts today. As we wrap up 2024, I pray to feel more settled in my own skin. I want lasting friendships, God-ordained relationships, and to love and nurture my family, and anything else He leads me to do with as much intensified zeal as I can muster. Even if I just need to rest for a bit. Let me rest in resting, Lord.

What stuff is on your mind?

My prayer today is that we continue to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Him, King Jesus. Please guide us, Lord. Thank you for the Holy Spirit who lives in all who believe.

Beth

Five Minute Friday: Talent

Talent. We’ve all got talent. It is just easier to see in some people than in others.

In some people it is like a flower in full bloom; on display with a vast array of colors. But with others, it takes a little more work, like panning for gold, mining for diamonds.

Interestingly the flower will grow on its own, with no effort from the flower. The seed is planted and the flower sprouts.

Sure you need water and sunshine to make it grow. But even the earth does that.

But the gold and the diamonds are buried and you have to dig through dirt and rock to find them.

Writing is often a talent that is discovered while mining through some stuff. We dig through layers on the inside and pull out treasures God has placed in our hearts.

Talent.

Growing in Grace

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.-2 Peter 3:18


Sometimes I just sit and reflect on my life, and how far God has brought me. I think people see where I am not and don't know where I started. And I think it is important for people to hear where we started, because they may have some of the same struggles we have dealt with. They will know they are not alone.

I can remember when I first rededicated my life to the Lord. That is what it looked like to me then, that I came back to Him. But it was actually Him coming and finding me first. Shortly after, while I was going to the community college in my hometown, I went to a Baptist Student Union event with the college at Ridgecrest, NC. I remember being there with the other students, and kids were sitting with their Bibles open intent on the words inside. I remember thinking, wow, how are they like that? How are they so absorbed in what is in there, and what God is saying? Why I am not like that?

Later, when I went to Bible school, I didn't even know where all the books of the Bible were. I had to turn to the Table of Contents at the beginning and look at the numbers and turn there. I couldn't pronounce places in the Bible. One time this guy in the kids class I was volunteering with, corrected my pronunciation of Capernaum. He was a second year student, so yeah. LOL.

I have been journaling since I rededicated my life in 1994, and I have had it in my heart for a long time to write devotionals. In 2007/2008, I began trying to share my thoughts publicly on a website called CafeMom. Some of it nobody read, probably because I didn't have much to say at that point. But eventually I had a few good (God) things to say. In 2009, I began this blog, and have been writing online ever since.

Occasionally I look around and try to compare myself to others because I might not be as successful as other people. And then, occasionally, I have moments like this morning, and I reflect on how far I have come. And it hits me, boom. Jesus has been teaching me. And I have been getting to know Him more and more and more.

I said all this to say that if you are just starting out in your walk with the Lord, and you don't know what is going on, and you feel like everybody is more spiritual than you, don't give up. Just keep listening to the love and prompting in your heart. He is faithful. And if you don't know Jesus yet, today is the day. It will be the best decision you ever make. He loves you beyond anything you will ever experience in this world.

Writing with Your Children at Christmas

I don't know about everybody else, but I am tired.  I imagine a lot of homeschoolers are tired at this time of the year and ready for a little break.  Christmas is a wonderful time to slow down and try to make things more fun at home (if we are not already!) 

Writing with your children can be extra fun at this time of the year.  It doesn't have to be structured, or even graded...you just need a little writing prompt to start.  It is a good time to practice.

As I was preparing for writing this post, I did a little brainstorming of my own.  One thing that came to mind was that movie, A Christmas Story. In the movie, Ralphie is asked to write a "theme" about what he wants for Christmas.  This could be a starting point for your little ones too.

To practice writing this month, you and your children could brainstorm a list of ideas or "writing prompts" and write about a new one everyday.  When they are finished, put all the writing together and make a little book.  At the end of the year, you will have a writing sample, something to demonstrate progress from year to year, and maybe a little keepsake.

Ideas for writing prompts:

What I Want For Christmas

Why Christmas is Special to Me

My Favorite Christmas Movie

My Favorite Bible Verse at Christmas

What I Want to Bake with My Mom at Christmas


Before you even get started, you might create a book, so that each day's writing can just be recorded in the book.  One fun idea that comes to mind is to cut out a construction paper Christmas tree.  Cut the front and back of the book out of green construction paper and fill the pages in between with regular writing paper shaped like trees.  It is your child's project.  Let them make it their own.

If you need help with writing prompts, just google "Christmas writing prompts."  Another option for writing ideas is to read Christmas stories and have your child write a response to their favorites.  There are so many things you can do with writing at Christmas.


Many blessings to you and Merry Christmas!

~Beth

"And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”-Luke 1:31-33