Tag Archives: Five Minute Friday

Twitter, Journaling Bibles, and Weather

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I am linking up for the Five Minute Friday. The FMF is hosted by Kate Motaung on her blog Heading Home. Today’s prompt is “first.”

Tonight was the first FMF Twitter of the new year. I missed these people so much, They are so indeed my people. I love our conversations. I love how we always love on each other and support each other. We prayed for early contractions to cease. We talkd about food, and Christmas breaks and car break downs and journaling Bibles and so much more.

I think I might try a new first for me; trying a journaling Bible. I am no artist, but as a FMF friend reminded me, you were created by a creator so you are a creative. So I think I want to try my hand at a journaling Bible soon. Have you tried a journaling Bible yourself?

The weather here is suppose to shift this weekend. It is to get below zero; with windchill they are talking negative 30 degrees below zero. A first for this winter. We have been spoiled with such great weather. Luckily it is suppose to return to above average temperatures again next week.

There are so many firsts that we experience in our lives. Tonight I am typing a blog post using a brand new keyboard for my Ipad…and am loving it. Another new first. Firsts come throughout the ages of our lives. Firsts come in the first time we ride a bike with no training wheels. Firsts come in a new tooth or our first tooth or our first words. First comes in moving and getting our first real job. Firsts happen all the time, don’t they.

And in all of these firsts, I find joy and peace and most especially hope. So I will continue to “embrace” all the firsts in my life.

#Fuzzy

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I am linking up for the Five Minute Friday. The FMF is hosted by Kate Motaung on her blog Heading Home. Today’s prompt is “CHOOSE YOUR OWN PROMPT” What?!?! I decided to ask my friends for help. One suggested “gift” which was already a prompt. Another suggested “rebirth” which I liked but felt was hard to write on. I looked at my bookcase and the first word that jumped out at me was “peace” which I wrote about already this week. Then another friend tweeted #fuzzy and I told her to try again but in a turn of events, I decided “fuzzy” was the word.  Write for five minutes; unedited.


I am wrapped up in my favorite fuzzy blanket listening to Jimmy Fallon on television. Earlier I followed and tweeted along with the FMF Twitter party while working on my Christmas cards and wrapping a few presents for Moms’s Christmas party at the nursing home tomorrow. I sipped a yummy McDs Eggnog shake while doing all of this multitasking.

Then waiting patiently for the word prompt to be announced, I quickly changed into my pjs and fuzzy black and white slippers. Kate announced the prompt and we were all a little shocked. Pick your own word prompt…kind of like one of those “Choose Your Own Adventure” books. Like waiting for our word prompt or just simply waiting in life, we are reminded that waiting is never easy. And during the season of Advent, we patiently or maybe not so patiently wait for the birth of this promised Messiah.

During this season, I love to lay on my couch wrapped in my fave fuzzy blanket with my Christmas tree lights glowing and looking at all of my beloved Nativities. Did you know St. Francis of Assissi created the first Nativity/crèche because he felt like the reason for the season was being lost? Nativities for me remind again and again of the true reason for the season; celebrating Jesus who comes as the light of the world.

These nativities help us tell and retell this sacred story that is so much more than a story. Was baby Jesus wrapped in a warm fuzzy blanket or did Mary put him in a fuzzy sleeper days and/or weeks after his birth? The truth is Jesus was no ordinary infant; he was an extraordinary baby who came to bring grace and peace to a world especially in need of that grace.

                  
 My fave Christmas song (I shared it a 
few weeks ago, but I love it so much and
 wants to share again)

A Brave Book-Loving Prayer Warrior Community

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I am linking up for the Five Minute Friday. The FMF is hosted by Kate Motaung on her blog Heading Home. Today’s prompt is “Reflect” Write for five minutes; unedited.

It is almost hard to believe that is already Advent and then Christmas and then a new year will soon be upon us. And as the new year approaches, many of us find ourselves reflecting on the past year. It has been a great year: meeting new blog friends InRL, starting a tradition of a sister’s trip to Nashville, a youth gathering, and so much more!

I learned what it means for me and my friends to be brave through the words of Annie Downs. learned to savor our Tuesdays because in the words of Emily P. Freeman “It is Simply Tuesday.” I have continued to show love to my friends and family because in the words of Jen Hatmaker we shower each other with love “For the Love.” I have listened to those who have been “Searching for Sunday” and searching for God. And along the way, I have learned too that I am indeed a writer myself. (Thanks Kate, Charity, and Ann!)

For the last several weeks, I have been reflecting on my life and what I have to share. I have sensed a call from God to write a book titled “Chasing our Untils.” I have created an outline and need to simply begin writing. I wonder where this will take me.

Not only has this been a year of joy and happiness, I have also experienced sadness. My friend Laura is now reunited with her husband Rod in heaven. My heart breaks for their daughters but I find joy in knowing that they are not alone and surrounded by so much love. There are so many struggling with cancer and at times, I want to shout “This is enough God!” Yet I know that, even in the midst of sadness, God promises to never leave us or forsake us “Weeping may come for the night, but joy comes with the morning.”–Psalm 30:5

*I am so thankful for the Five Minute Friday community. I have found kindred spirits. I have found a community that has blessed me in more ways than I could ever imagine. We have cried together, laughed together, and even prayed together. We have shared about our love of all things Gilmore Girls, chocolate, and even our love of bacon! We have participated together in the Write 31 Days challenge. I am so blessed by each of you…and as I reflect on this past year, you all are one of the biggest gifts! Love you all so dearly!

During this season of Advent, may you take time to wait, watch, and reflect on the past year and remember Emmanuel “God with us” who, in the words of Eugene Peterson “takes on flesh and blood and moves into our neighborhood”

There is a Season

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I am linking up for the Five Minute Friday. The FMF is hosted by Kate Motaung on her blog Heading Home. Today’s prompt is “Season” Write for five minutes; unedited.

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.”–Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Growing up on the prairies of North Dakota, I have always loved living in an area of the world where we experience four distinct seasons. I love in the spring watching new animals and new life come to fruition. In the summer, it is my joy to watch farmers especially my family tend and care for the land. In later summer/early fall, I love watching the grain, sunflowers, corn fields come even more to life. Then as Fall gives way watching as those fields are harvested. Then in the winter months, everything is covered in white as the snow covers the ground. This year, it is unseasonably warm and there is like no snow on the ground. It was 40 degrees yesterday!

Each of these seasons has their role in caring and stewarding for the land just like our lives have different seasons too. Seasons of life and death; seasons of joy and sorrow, seasons of war and peace. This week has been a week of death; a season of death that came way too early. My seminary friend Laura lost her battle with cancer earlier this week. My heart breaks for her daughters who have now lost both parents to cancer. It just doesn’t seem fair. In fact, it rather sucks!

Laura was an incredible woman who always turned to Christ even in the last moments of her life. * She continued to teach even until those last moments. “Be gentle with yourselves while you are grieving and tell those that you love that you love them and know that you are loved.” Those words from her are a reminder of this season of waiting and trusting in Emmanuel who comes as the light in the midst of the darkness. “The light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it.”

So during this season of Advent, may we take time to dwell and wait for the birth of Emmanuel “God with us” who promises to never leave us or forsake us. May we tell those that we love that we love them and treasure the time we share together. May we simply remember the true reason for this season..”For God so loved the world that God gave God’s only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send God’s Son into the world to condemn the world, but to give eternal life.”

*This is where my five minutes stopped.

Room at the Table

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I am linking up for the Five Minute Friday. The FMF is hosted by Kate Motaung on her blog Heading Home. Today’s prompt is “Table” Write for five minutes; unedited.

Wednesday morning, I sat in big comfy chairs with my dear friend Chris as we caught up on life and enjoyed a hot beverage; coffee for her; a peppermint bark latte for me at our fave coffee shop. I love these moments as we gather around a table together. The table may not always be visible but it’s always there.

Last night, after worship, we gathered downstairs around tables and indulged in some pie. It was so fun to sit and visit and give thanks for this community of faith. I love that every week we gather around the holy table.

Today, many of us gathered with friends and family around tables filled with turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, and tons of dessert. Now some of my family is sitting watching football while others are sitting around the table chatting about life etc.

The table is one of my fave places to gather. It is lonely to gather there by myself, but the more people who gather around my table the better. I love what Shauna Niequest says in her book “Bread and Wine.” The book is all about table fellowship and community!

At seminary, we would gather around the table and keep pulling up chairs so more and more people could sit at one table together. It’s one of my fave memories from seminary. There was always always more room at the table.

I picture all of you; knocking on my door, and continually adding more chairs to my table. There is always enough room. There is always room at the table! And I would be delighted to pull up a chair for each and every one of you!

Dwelling in Advent

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I am linking up for the Five Minute Friday. The FMF is hosted by Kate Motaung on her blog Heading Home. Today’s prompt is “Dwell.” Write for five minutes; unedited.


“One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.” Psalm 27:4

Dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. These words make me think of my friend Laura, and Andrew and all of those who have lived their lives sharing God’s love with the world. I am so thankful that my friend Laura has dwelt here in this place all of her days and will continue to dwell there until she takes her last breath and God asks us to lay Laura’s mat at his feet.

But as I am reminded of those who dwell in the house of the Lord, I also think of those places that I do not want to dwell either. I do not want to dwell on the news that only seems to be bad news. I would much rather dwell in those joy-filled happy spaces. I do not want to dwell on the evil in the world. There is so much I do not want to dwell on.

Yet as Thanksgiving draws near and Advent is soon upon us, I find myself in a place that I want to dwell. Advent is my most favorite time of the year! I love waiting and watching for this precious Christ child to come. I love sitting and dwelling in this space…this deep breathe of fresh air that reminds me of what comes in this infant; this unlikely son born to an unlikely women in a dirty stable in Bethlehem. This one who comes simply as the light in the midst of the darkness. This one who is Emmanuel–“God with us!”

During the days of Advent, I find that this is a place that I want to dwell as I reflect on the true reason for this season. With all the lights off, Christmas lights twinkling all around me, cup of hot cocoa in my hand, my favorite music playing in the background, I simply dwell in the peace of this season. 
Go Fish-More Than A Story 
(One of my fave Christmas songs. And hopefully you’ll forgive me
 for posting a Christmas tune before Thanksgiving!)

A Weary World Rejoices

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I am linking up for the Five Minute Friday. The FMF is hosted by Kate Motaung on her blog Heading Home. Today’s prompt is “Weary.” Write for five minutes; unedited.


Sometimes the word prompt hits me straight in the gut and heart, this week is one of those weeks were the word describes exactly how I have been feeling this week.

I am weary, friends! I am weary of so many around me being diagnosed with cancer. I am weary after October and Write 31 Days. I am weary of the world around me; full of such darkness and pain. I am just simply weary.

This week has been especially weary for myself and so many who love my friend Laura especially her daughters. Laura and I met at Wartburg Theological Seminary. She was one of the senior class presidents when I began at WTS. From day one, she was one of the most welcoming and gracious people in my life. She blessed my life in so many ways and I am so thankful to have been touched by her love and friendship.

Laura lost her husband Rod to cancer 11 years ago this month. And Laura has been battling sarcoma cancer for the last several years. Rod and Laura have two daughters. Last Friday, Laura was taken to the emergency room where they found a 4 cm mass on her brain. Yesterday they updated her Care pages and shared how the cancer has spread. As a family, Laura’s daughters and the rest of her family made the decision to move her into hospice care. Laura transitioned to hospice care today. And my friends, my heart continues to be weary…weary for Laura and Rod’s daughters who will lose two parents to cancer.  My heart is weary…weary from shedding tears for this dear friend. My heart is breaking and it just doesn’t seem fair.

*And I know my friend, her family and all those who have been touched by her love and friendship and more are weary too. I know we cannot make sense of any of this right now. We, Laura’s mat-carriers are weary, but we will continue to pray for her. I also am reminded of Jesus’ own words “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest!”

I know that rest will come soon. But for now, I am clinging to the promises of hope found in the birth of our Savior who comes as light in the midst of darkness, hope in the midst of sadness and so much more. As we soon prepare for Advent and the coming of this holy child, I find myself quietly singing these words from the song “O Holy Night”; “A thrill of hope; the weary world rejoices. For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices! O night divine, the night when Christ was born; O night, O Holy night, O night divine.”

God knows that we are weary and sent God’s son into the world for each and every one of us. And for that we can trust in God’s love for each of us and know that in due time….

Our weary world rejoices! (Rejoices that pain and crying and death will be no more)

*This is where my five minutes ended. As you can tell, this word prompt hit home for me this week.

Life’s a Dance; The Time of My Life

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I am linking up for the Five Minute Friday. The FMF is hosted by Kate Motaung on her blog Heading Home. Today’s prompt is “Dance.” Write for five minutes; unedited.


One of my all-time favorite movies is the movie “Dirty Dancing.” (“Nobody puts Baby in a corner!”) I think especially of the scene when Patrick Swayze’s character Johnny Castle is trying to teach Baby how to do a lift. They dance in the lake to help her feel the movement of the dance. At the end of the movie, my favorite is the very end when the song “Time of my life” is playing and Baby finally leaps into Johnny’s arms.

I am not a great dancer, but I do love me a good dance party! I remember when I was a teenager and my mom and her good friend Karen were teaching me to dance. My dance partner was my sister Andrea’s huge stuffed dog named “Wrinkles.” I held onto Wrinkle’s hands and my Mom’s friend Karen taught me how to dance a two step. As we listened to the music, she would show me which way to move with my partner. Too bad my partner was not a real human though.

Dancing also makes me think about the many songs that are out there about dancing. The first one that popped into my head was an old school John Michael Montgomery song “Life’s a Dance.” The words to this song always make me think about how life really is a dance. The words go like this “Life’s a dance, sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow; don’t worry about what you don’t know; life’s a dance, you learn as you go!”

Oh how true…life is indeed a dance! Life is a dance…and sometimes that dance happens in the sunshine, but sometimes that dance happens in the rain. I am reminded of the quote where it says “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s learning to dance in the rain.”

And knowing that life is a dance, I choose to dance the night away; having the time of my life just like Baby and Johnny did in that final scene in Dirty Dancing!

You’re Just Going to Have to Give Me Grace, Friends!!

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This is Day 30 of 31 in my Write 31 Days series: 31 Stories of God’s Grace. I also am linking up for the Five Minute Friday. The FMF is hosted by Kate Motaung on her blog Heading Home. Today’s prompt is “Bacon.”  (Yes you read that right!) Write for five minutes; unedited.

Friends, I am sorry but you are just going to have to extend grace to me tonight. Throughout the 31 days of October, I have left my Fridays open so that my series and the FMF prompt would work together. But tonight I am at a loss,friends…tonight’s prompt of all things is BACON!

Now I’m not someone who hates bacon. In fact, I rather enjoy bacon, but I am not sure how I can tie together grace and BACON! I could write about how we say grace before we eat a meal…before we eat some bacon. “Come Lord Jesus be our guest, let this “bacon” to us be blessed.” I could write about how bacon is a gift of grace when we are trying to eat healthy. Sometimes you just have to sidestep and indulge in something unhealthy.

But that seems a little far fetched, so tonight, I am asking you, my readers and friends to extend that grace that I have been talking about all this month. A grace that is always given to us by God and is always and ever enough! Have my 31 Stories of God’s grace blessed you and changed you? Will they help you more freely offer grace to others…like me tonight? I hope and pray that is so.

So I am going to continue this post by sharing some of my thoughts about BACON. I am a girl whose mother often made breakfast for dinner which we later dubbed “brinner.” A yummy brinner would include some yummy scrambled eggs, a piece of toast, and some super crispy bacon.

I also love BLT’s! They are one of my favorite things in the summer months. There is something so incredibly tasty as I bite into that sandwich with its juicy tomatoes dribbling down my chin and  crispy bacon that crunches as I bite into that sandwich. (I seriously am licking my lips and craving a dedicant BLT now!)

So, may you enjoy some bacon this week (and the next time you eat some bacon, remember this Five Minute Friday prompt in the midst of my 31 Days series and how we need to extend grace to one another!)

Click Here to Head to My 31 Days Landing Page

Joy Comes With The Morning

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This is Day 23 of 31 in my Write 31 Days series: 31 Stories of God’s Grace. I also am linking up for the Five Minute Friday. The FMF is hosted by Kate Motaung on her blog Heading Home. Today’s prompt is “Joy.” Write for five minutes; unedited.


“Weeping may come for the night, but joy comes with the morning!” –Psalm 30:5

This has become a  favorite verse in my life. It really began to appear in my life after the 2010 Haiti Earthquake. My friend Renee, her husband Ben and Ben’s cousin Jon were in Haiti when the earthquake struck. I was in Gettysburg PA as a small group leader for the Diaconal Ministry formation event. Eventually we received the news of Ben’s death. My small group was to lead  worship that night we found out Ben had lost his life in the earthquake. As people entered into worship, we had Ben’s version of  Psalm 30 playing through the loudspeakers.

Ever since this song has become one of my favorites. It also is such a beautiful joy filled promise! Even in our darkest times, God finds a way to eventually show us light; to show us God’s grace at all times and in all places. God’s grace shines the light even in the most gut wrenching places. We just can’t always see it or find it.

Our lives are full of brokenness, sadness, celebrations, and joy. It is during those times when it feels like it is going to be night forever when God especially offers God’s grace. God knows when the morning and that joy will return.

For me, the joy has come in seeing my mom live a joy- filled faith-filled life. The joy has come in seeing a new relationship form where it once was broken. That joy has come in seeing friends finally get pregnant again after trying for so very long. I have seen that joy come in God’s grace being offered again and again and again!

If you are feeling like it is a long dark dank night, please know and trust in the promises of Psalm 30. That night soon will come to a close and you will be awakened to God’s grace as the sun begins to rise and a beautiful sunrise is spread out for your eyes to see.

“Weeping may come for the night, but joy comes with the morning!”–Psalm 30:5

Mourning into Dancing–Ben Larson

Click Here to Head to My 31 Days Landing Page