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A Vote of Confidence

Oct30

This post is a part of the Five Minute Friday link up. We write for just 5 minutes without heavy editing and see what happens. Today’s prompt is “vote.”

When I was in junior high school, I ran for Student Body President. I’m not sure what I was thinking because I wasn’t one of the popular girls. And you know that’s what you had to be in order to win.

I don’t remember what my platform was, or if I even had a platform. But I remember some of my posters: “For Pete’s Sake, Vote Stephanie Allan for President!” and then this cute little bird that my artist sister drew in the corner saying “Who’s Pete?”

Clever, right?

Well, as you imagine, I didn’t win. I don’t even remember who won, but I think it was a guy. Go figure. This was the 70s after all. Feminism hadn’t made its way down to the junior-high level yet.

I’m not bitter. But the loss certainly didn’t do anything for my flagging confidence. Junior high (now known in most places as middle school) is tough enough without having poll proof that you don’t have enough friends.

In just a few days, America will hold an election of pretty great importance. Early voting numbers have set records in some places. Honestly, I don’t have confidence in either major party candidate. But I voted, and I didn’t vote for who was most popular, unlike any school election I’ve ever seen.

But this I know, my confidence is not in my government. Boy would I be in bad shape if it was. My confidence is in my Creator. The God of the universe who raises up kings and brings down kingdoms. No matter who wins this particular election, my eternal salvation is not at stake. I will continue to know nothing before you except Christ and Him crucified as Paul said to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 2:2.

So yes, do your civic duty and go vote. But put your vote of confidence in Christ.

It’s Your Choice

Sep25

This post is a part of the Five Minute Friday link up. We write for just 5 minutes on a one-word prompt without heavy editing and see what happens. Today’s prompt is “yours.”

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Boy is it ever easy to get sucked into the shallow thinking and arguments of the world around us. What I really want people to get is that the choice of whether or not to go to those places is completely theirs.

I used to tell my kids this all the time: You have no control over how someone reacts to something you do, but you can totally control your own reaction. If you choose to get mad at small offenses, then that’s your choice.

If you choose to engage in reckless rhetoric or intentional shaming or hurtful speech, that’s your choice.

If you make the decision to be more like Jesus in all that you do, think and say, that’s your choice as well.

What you need to know, though, is that each and every choice has a consequence. Will you be a peacemaker or will you contribute to the vitriol?

Romans 12:18 in the Common English Bible says, “If possible, to the best of your ability, live at peace with all people.”

To the best of your ability.

That’s huge. Because there are some things we can’t control. The weather, the stock market, our kids’ decisions. Other people. But we can control our tongues, and we can control our reactions.

Ah yes, you might say, but easier said than done. Granted. But if you are submitted to the lordship of Christ, then that control is given over to him as well. And he is able.

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photo by Aaron Burden from UnSplash

Not The Same Old Refrain

May8

This post is a part of the Five Minute Friday link up. We write for just 5 minutes on a one-word prompt, without heavy editing, and see what happens. Today’s prompt is “refrain.”

Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night with the lyrics of an annoying song running through your head? It’s nearly impossible to get them out, isn’t it?

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Just like some of the words we’re so used to hearing in our own minds.

“You’ll never amount to anything.”

“Nobody really likes you.”

“You’re so dramatic!”

“That bad thing you did years ago? Yeah. You’ll never be forgiven for that.”

All of these things are lies coming from the Father of Lies. And they need to be replaced by a new refrain, “He has loved you with a steadfast love. He will never leave you nor forsake you. God so loved the world (that includes you) that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

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When the same old refrain starts running through your head, replace it with a new one. You are loved. You are valuable. You are a child of the king. Royalty! There is a place reserved for you in heaven. As far as the east is from the west, so far have your sins been removed from you. And He remembers them no more. You have been given gifts by God to be used for His glory.

And that amounts to a lot!

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“Another Saturday Night and I Ain’t Got Nobody”

Apr17

This post is a part of the Five Minute Friday link up. We write for just 5 minutes on a one-word prompt without heavy editing and see what happens. Today’s prompt is “another.”

I don’t think Sam Cooke, the writer of “Another Saturday Night,” had our current situation in mind when he wrote the song. If you’re not familiar with it, the lyrics go on, “I got some money ’cause I just got paid. How I wish I had someone to talk to. I’m in an awful way.”

My husband’s 76-year-old mother with COPD lives with us, so we have been strict about anyone coming in the house who doesn’t already live here. We make an exception for my sister-in-law who has taken on the task of buying her groceries. That means that my sons and my grandson have not been here in at least 3 weeks.

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My mother in law feels badly that we’re making these sacrifices of having long-distance relationships during this time because of her, but that’s just what you do with a loved one. You do what’s necessary. You exercise caution. You spend another Saturday night (or Thursday, or Monday. Really, any night will do) watching a movie or doing a puzzle or playing a game. You turn to virtual venues like FaceTime or Zoom or Facebook Messenger or Google Meets to do what you need to get done.

Zayne and I have tried virtual story time with Nana, but he’s not much to sit in one place for very long. He just looks at the phone, looks at his dad and says, “I ready go Nana’s house.”

Breaks my heart.

But it’s not forever. Even though he’s used to spending 5 days a week here since he was 5 weeks old, he won’t forget we exist. I hope.

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Hang in there, bud. We’ll be back together again soon.

Who are you missing in your time of sheltering in place?

 

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What Do Now?

Apr3

This post is part of the Five Minute Friday link up. We write for just 5 minutes on a one-word prompt and see what happens. Today’s prompt is “now.”

I have a 26-month-old grandson who was an early talker, so by now, he’s really got a grasp on the English language. When he was coming to our house 5 days a week (which he’s not now thanks to the stay-at-home orders and the job losses of both his parents) he would often finish doing something, or just tire of the activity he was engaged in, and he would come to me and say, “What do now?”

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It was so cute. He got that from us because we would often say it to him when he looked like he was moving on from whatever he was doing.

It occurs to me that we’re often like that with God. We always want to be doing something. But in this time of pause in the world, it seems like we shouldn’t be asking that question. Maybe the right question to ask is not “what should I be doing?” but rather “Who am I becoming”?

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