20 Mar 2020

Five Minute Friday [14] - Qurantine Writings


Lately, whenever I write, even if I don't plan it or mean to, all that seems to come out is "Jesus stuff". So, yeah. He's got a hold on me. And I'm just so glad that He won't ever let go.

Fear. Humans are so susceptible to it.
Danger. Everyone wants to keep their loved ones from it.
Death. There are so many questions about it.
Darkness. Many feel trapped by it.

Truth? Jesus.
Way? Jesus.

Life? Jesus.
Light? Jesus.


Earlier today, as I sat outside and wrote, the Autumn sun felt wonderful as it fell across my face and body. Thank goodness for the beautiful weather that is making quarantine a bit less daunting.

At first, I started with a blank page. Then, I scribbled down thoughts and bits and pieces in messy handwriting, filling up the page until it looked like chaos. Fitting.

I didn't know where the words were going. But in the end, the last word was Jesus.

Jesus. End and beginning. Infinite. Again and again. Alpha and Omega.

Our president said this week: "This too shall pass. We shall overcome. We are South Africans." And maybe words like that will give some people temporary peace. But for me, the only true peace I've ever known is found in Jesus. The true Overcomer.

See what I mean?

The answer. The place where I rest. The One I call out to.

Jesus.

13 Mar 2020

Five Minute Friday [13] - Puddles and Other Things


This time around I am just writing (perfectly honestly) whatever crosses my mind. I'm not sure I have the mental energy to try and "craft" anything, so welcome across the threshold and into my thoughts.

The week I've had has been full of challenges, both emotionally stressful ones and then just practical ones. Our bathroom basin started leaking all over the floor and one evening (when I hadn't realized yet that it was leaking) I bounded into the bathroom to energetically brush my teeth and I slid. Just...sliiiddd...into the unwelcoming (and quite hard) object that was our bath, which caused me to nearly tip forward into the cold, ceramic tub. I love the word ceramic, although I'm not quite sure why. But anyways, back to the sliding. So, I was sliding (yeah, I know I've mentioned that already) and in that moment I was all of sudden reminded of how for an entire year (I think it was maybe 2016) I was obsessed with the aesthetics of the art of professional ice skating. Sure, sliding (there's that word again- not quite as nice as ceramic, is it?) isn't ice skating, but that feeling of gliding through the air could maybe be compared to what one might feel as they dash across frozen water. In my opinion, ice skating is one of the most graceful looking sports.

BUT. Where am I sliding going with this? Well, I can't say I'm 100% sure if I can articulate it as it deserves to be articulated, but while I was merely sliding through a puddle, for a second, my mind imagined skating with skill across icy ground, the feeling of almost being in flight coursing through me. It was like being transported to a perfect alternative to what was actually happening.

I'd love it if I could slide through one of life's messy puddles and instead feel as if I was skating across it, tastefully dressed in something that shimmered ever so slightly, my face expressing serene concentration and confidence, my heart soaring with my body.

But no. Every puddle seems to land me on my behind or (as my example details above) into a bathtub, where I sit for a few moments, a tad dumbfounded, slightly insulted, and a bit bruised.

Yet, a peaceful feeling seems to come to me when I think of that. I know I can't ice skate beautifully (aeons and aeons away from it, in fact) and I know that I can't launch myself into the air and fly across the liquid, consolidated mess of my anxieties, fear, pain or doubt. I can't pull off really difficult seasons in this life as if they're nothing. I can't act like "I meant to do that" or "I've got things covered", because no, I don't.

But JESUS DOES.

And I can sit there on the ground, and point to Him. I can say, hey, He's my Saviour and yeah, I've slid through some puddles, I've fallen down, but guess Who picked me up? HIM. And He'll do it again. He'll be there for me. He knows I can't skate. But there is a great satisfaction in saying that there's nothing HE cannot do, and that I can have FULL trust in that. He gives me peace, no matter what covers or tries to block the path I'm walking upon.

So, yeah, I may land on the ground once in awhile. But I won't be there long. Because He will lift me up.

*This might have taken twenty minutes instead of five ;)

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The Lord upholds all who fall, and raises up all who are bowed down. / Psalm 145:14, NKJV

6 Mar 2020

Five Minute Friday [12] - You Will Be Filled



Go back to the mountains and the sea
The view that you watched as a younger you
And tell me how you can still see Me
In the painted sun or in how the clouds move

Be still as you feel the golden day breathe its last
I am the same now and always, I'm the same when each and every new day comes
I can use what is ahead and I can use your past
Just watch as I move things bigger than the fear to which you on your own succumb

I know the colours are fading now, but Who put them in the sky anyway?
I know your heart sorrows, but Who is the One Who makes joyful?
Turn to the God who first showed you love and sing your praise
I know you're empty but if you drink from Me you will be filled

-t.h.
written: 06/03/20

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Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! / Psalm 46:10, NKJV

That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height- to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. / Ephesians 3:16-19, NKJV

For You have made him most blessed forever; You have made him exceedingly glad with Your presence. / Psalm 21:6, NKJV

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A/N: So. Yup. Missed another scheduled post. But that's okay. 

Today, I'm nineteen. Nineteen and finding strength in every single one of the Lord's promises. Nineteen and praying that my faith never falters, but that it grows. Nineteen and remembering and looking at all He has done for me. I don't want to forget. I want to revel in it.

Because, I am not empty. I am filled.