Five Minute Friday: What a Friend!

I have a friend who has stuck by me from the very beginning of my life. In fact, he was there even before I was born. (Psalm 139:13-16)

This friend is always for me, always on my side. He does constant battle with my biggest Enemy on my behalf. (James 4:7, 8, 10)

He prays for me fervently, each time I ask, and even when I don't. And he has direct access to God! (Hebrews 4:14-16)

He loves me in spite of my sins and failures. When I have a bad day, he's there gently encouraging me. When I have a good day, he's there cheering me on. (Romans 8:37)

I have a friend who has promised to never leave me, no matter what happens. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

This friend carries me when I can't seem to take another step. (1 Peter 5:7)

He sings over me and delights in me! (Zephaniah 3:17, Psalm 18:19)

Do you know my friend? His name is Jesus, and He is the ultimate friend! He willingly gave his life so that I could be redeemed of my sins and enjoy eternal life in heaven with him.

"Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for his friends."  John 15:13

What a friend we have in Jesus!

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This is an entry for Five Minute Friday. Every Friday hundreds of writers join in this five minute writing exercise at Lisa-Jo Baker's blog, Tales from a Gypsy Mama.

We write for five minutes flat. All on the same prompt that Lisa-Jo posts on her blog. And we connect on Twitter with the hashtag #FiveMinuteFriday

No extreme editing; no worrying about perfect grammar, font, or punctuation.

Unscripted. Unedited. Real.

Have a blog? You can join in, too!

Broken... for you

 

This is His body, which was broken for you…

As I tore the bread from the loaf at today’s Good Friday service, these words – broken for YOU – took on new meaning. On this day so many years ago, Good Friday, His body was broken for me. Because I was broken.

We all enter this world broken. But because of Christ’s great sacrifice, we don’t have to stay broken.

He was broken, so we could become WHOLE.

In exchange for death, He gives us life. (Ephesians 2:4-5)

In exchange for our nothingness, He gives us abundance and fullness. (John 10:10)

In exchange for our hearts of stone, He gives us hearts of flesh. (Ezekiel 36:26)

 

In exchange for our sin and shame, He gives us hope and healing. (Isaiah 53:5)

Thank you, Jesus, for bearing my sins on that old rugged cross. I stand before you with nothing, empty hands raised to heaven in praise, and I offer you my heart.

 

Your body was broken for me, and for all who would someday become your children.

In your brokenness, we have found blessing.

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This is an entry for Five Minute Friday. Every Friday hundreds of writers join in this five minute writing exercise at Lisa-Jo Baker's blog, Tales from a Gypsy Mama.

We write for five minutes flat. All on the same prompt that Lisa-Jo posts on her blog. And we connect on Twitter with the hashtag #FiveMinuteFriday

No extreme editing; no worrying about perfect grammar, font, or punctuation.

Unscripted. Unedited. Real.

Have a blog? You can join in, too!

 

 

Five Minute Friday: Wonder

Time for another Five Minute Friday! Every Friday hundreds of writers join in this five minute writing exercise at Lisa-Jo Baker's blog, Tales from a Gypsy Mama.

We write for five minutes flat. All on the same prompt that Lisa-Jo posts on her blog. And we connect on Twitter with the hashtag #FiveMinuteFriday

No extreme editing; no worrying about perfect grammar, font, or punctuation.

Unscripted. Unedited. Real.

So here's my attempt at this week's Five Minute Friday. This week's word is...

Wonder...

You see it in the faces of little children as they gaze up at glimmering Christmas lights, reflecting like a sky full of stars in their eyes.

Wonder.

That same wonder led three wise men on a journey across treacherous desert terrain to a lowly stable where they gazed at another Light. A Light in the form of a tiny squirming bundle of new flesh, pink baby toes and perfectly formed baby fingers.

The Word became flesh.

Emmanuel. God with us.

I wonder how Mary felt the first time she looked into His face and knew in her heart He was the Savior of the world. How could she contain her awe? How could she keep the knowledge deep within her soul; how could she restrain herself from shouting to the world, “My son is God in the flesh! Do you hear me? He has come to save you!”

Instead she treasured everything in her heart, savoring the gems of truth delivered to her by the very angels of heaven. 

Jesus, give me eyes of wonder this Christmas. Help me to treasure You above everything, to gaze in awe at Your beauty and to remember Your sacrifice. You are THE gift of Christmas, and You deserve all my praise!