Five Minute Friday :Good

Back on the horse with Five minute Friday. The prompt is GOOD.

GO

God is Good, all the time. All the time, God is good.

I remember the first time I heard this and said this, in my church back home in Kuwait. Pastor Jerry used to say this all the time, not because it was a new catchy Christian phrase, but he truly meant it. It was evident in his life and in the life of the church.

God has been good even before I knew it. His goodness has seen me through the past so many years. From getting me through school, university, helping me choose the right life partner, pregnancy, delivery and 3 amazing boys. 

When life brings its challenges I usually, only , see those challenges. The good things He did, fades off in the background. Its like a sight issue... things in front begins clear and those behind gets blurry. 

So, the only way to get my vision in the right order was to switch. Good things in the front and challenges at the back. Keeping my eye focussed on gratitude and thanksgiving (do these words mean the same or are they different?). That was the foremost way for me to get on the path He wants me to. Once I am there, Scripture and loading the doubts and fears on Him follows. 

Sounds like a good sound plan. But its a challenge in itself to keep that "good plan". He mostly provides strength for that too. Did you think you could do anything in your own strength? Kiss that good bye! 

His strength, His way , His plan. Now that sounds good.

STOP

Tree

I had a friend who lived in the outskirts of Eindhoven in a village called Valkenswaard. There were huge fields behind their house and her parents owned a plot shared with other people to garden and grow produce.I think like a small square, like allotments. On my way back once , we passed through this field which captivated me. One big flat green field with this huge tree heavy with growth, like a cloud. For a few seconds thats all I saw , and that image stuck. We would pass through that field many times more, after that and I would stop talking and savor the moment.

These past two weeks have been rough in many ways and accumulated to a pressure cooker moment and let off steam yesterday. A whiplash from a silly accident. Cant imagine how two stationary cars at a red light can cause an annoying whiplash. A foot slips and the car behind me bumps into mine. I have excellent knifes, thanks to my Mums and Tots Bible study group as a housewarming gift, and twice in the span of two week, I cut my finger. Deep. And you can't find a band aid at that moment. Even Sesame Street band aids. Falling off the stairs on our newly renovated ,painted, smooth stairs caused bumps and bruises. One time that I was thankful for being a not so slim person.

Being the month of November, with its fair share of Christmas events and fairs to bake for, preparing for our trip to India to celebrate my brothers wedding, seems all exciting. These are things I have been waiting for all year. Dreaming about the family events ,fun and family times at the wedding of the year.  To bake Christmas cakes and decorate them. And it all seems too much suddenly.Even though I only work 13 hours a week, its quite intensive working with kids with special needs. And the driving within the Eindhoven ring to drop the kids off school and to the daycare at two ends of Eindhoven, at peak hours is quite straining .I imagine viewing satellite images , and the government suspecting, why this sky blue Ford Fiesta  goes round the ring road constantly. I remember a certain person saying,"Don't burn both sides of the candle". Well, I haven't quite reached there, but close.

And thats when, after reading the word of the day, "TREE"  sparked the image of that tree immediately. A place of solitude and rest for the body,mind and soul.The study I did long ago,"A passionate life" says," We need to learn when it is our pruning time. Pruning is not automatic for the branch. Left on its own, the branch would continue to grow, increasing in size , but decreasing in strength, endurance , and health until it would be  unable to hold the fruit it is intended to bear. From abiding we grow. From growing we bear fruit. From bearing fruit we are cut back.  Healthy growth must be cut off in order to make more for future growth.

I haven't gone to that tree in years, but I got my share of that view at Cell group yesterday.

I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother.....
                                                                                             Psalm 131:2


I am joining Lisa Jo Baker and hundreds of other women, on the weekly Five minute Fridays. A word uttered by Lisa Jo and women write their share of unedited five minute worth in this space.

View

Swinging over from Lisa Jo Baker weekly five minute Friday.

Go

Two days ago, I became an aunt. For the first time. So far away from family, I get to see this new nephew of mine through Facebook. Quite a view from here. I tell, the new mother, whatever I can remember about the early days, on holding a new born, on burping , on using Vaseline to smear the bottom so black poop wont stick and hurt the sensitive skin, on the marvelous rush of energy during  the first few days and the pop in that balloon a few days later.

I remember my 'early days' with my boys. And look at them now, on how we have grown through the years. Mothering through trial and error. And they still live, strong and sound, with intact fingers and toes, although a  tooth less before the first year.

I look at them out of the corner of my eye, when they play by themselves, talking to their toys and creating a world of their own. Making sure they don’t see me looking. Occasionally, I get to film this, and watch it a few hundred times watching their mouth, eyes and hands. How a tiny squiggly  looking fetus can be transformed into this complete being, with personalities different and same in ways from their earthly maker. I picture them, growing up to be men of character, compassion, loving their wives and fathering their children. I imagine how their tiny hands, grow out ,into hands of wisdom and care.

I look down from my barely 5 foot view, and see them growing, talking, and thinking. 

I look forward to gazing up from my barely 5 foot view , to the compassion filled, wisdom and knowledge filled, God men we have had the privilege of raising. Walking proudly, with a son on each side protecting their mama. Now, that’s a view I prayerfully look forward to.

STOP

Brave

 Every week Lisa Jo Baker picks a word for a community of women to write their Five minutes worth.

And did you know there’s a whole community of writers that connect online before the prompt goes live on Friday nights? They use the Twitter hashtag #FMFParty and are about the most encouraging group around.

Are you interested to try this out? Here is a guide:

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..

GO

The beginnings to this blog was just for me. To write out the musings that filled my head, that needed an outlet. And once in a while, I put it on Facebook. Thinking at least 10 times about it. Don' t I want others to read my post?  What would they think about me?Am I baring my soul to the world? It's hard enough to open up and pour out to one close person . Imagine to interent world out there! Once in a while when I come across the "overview" page to my blog, I am amazed , or rather shocked to see the number of page views or the number of people who visited the blog. Even for an extrovert like me , it's a scary step to take. Being brave.

It's a choice to step out and open up, praying that this would help them a tiny bit. 

Over the past year, I have been amazingly , tremendously blessed by reading the stories of women around the world, their blogs, their podcasts. I havent communicated with them, but it's like I know their heart, I know their deepest secrets. The furrows in my grey matter are increasing the God way.

So, it was natural for me to involve the women I know here into this "gold". I wanted them to experience the same relief, the same awe. AGLOW Eindhoven and (in)courage conference was part of that. I took my church directory and added the email addresses of all the women from that thin green directory. And I waited in expectation. I expected all 50 or so women to respond and come and drink in this blessing. A step too much in "bravery" , a step out of God's plan. All He said was "invite". He definitely didn't give me the blue prints to their life. Its when no one but one turned up, I realized I took it a step further from what he asked me to. All He asked me was to "invite". He would do the rest. And this did not include them actually coming. This was a seed, He was intend on watering and letting it take root. 

He has been assuring me and encouraging me to continue. To continue to write and invite. And confirmations in ways, where people come and tell me, they could connect with a particular blog post, thanking me for putting words to their confusions and random strangers with their blessings in my comment box. That's His way of giving me a power boost , His way of pouring and mixing the fertilizers for proper growth upward and slowly. His proper dosage of "brave".

STOP

Here

Making friends comes natural to me. I am an extrovert. But being an expat in an expat world with expat friends slightly changes that extrovert nature in me.

When I came to the Netherlands to join Bobby, everything was new here. But since Bobby was part of a church with his own set of friends, they became my friends too. And one such friend is Lingwei. We had an automatic connection, felt like we knew each other for years. We loved stationary and she was the only person I know and still know, who will be excited with me in a stationary store. Books, pens and papers and even paper clips excited us. She is Chinese but lived here most of her childhood. So she was'nt going anywhere. But then she met Matt, and long story short, she married him and moved with him to the U.S. That rocked my world. I had other friends here but she was my best friend. We kept in touch and send each other a book where we would write each other special things and paste photos... and even send each other pretty stationary things.  After her, I was very cautious about making friends, knowing very well, they are here for a short time or would leave suddenly. It went completely against my character to be "Hi/Bye/how are you ?"type of friend. Years went by, and I learnt that I could not just stay that way. That friends come and go, but they remain dear and valuable, even if we speak once in a blue moon, and is vital to your seasons of life.

Here is where I am and here is where I need to impact others and be impacted by others. So, I commit to new friends and give them all I have. And they bless me and my family more than I can imagine. They are part of what makes life interesting and meaningful. We can't say no to community. Even for an introvert.

Here is where I have learnt to nuture and value the relationships in my life.Here is where I have learnt many times on how to accept them they way they are because they love me the way I am.

I am so blessed to have a select set of really close women, whom I love and can go crazy on them. Can corner them and force them to tell me whats wrong. Can just laugh ridiculously for no reason. Make special "death by chocolate " dates. Who just know you need a hug without words. And also blessed with select few who are so far away, yet freshly close to my heart.

As I prepare my heart, yet again to say good bye to one crazy lady, who hates it when food touches each other and spends at least 5 minutes separating them on her plate, who introduced me to this space on blogosphere and the world of Pinterest without her knowledge, who calls me "friend " with so much love and kindness in her heart, I continue to learn new things about her, continue to be blessed by her words and actions and continue to behave as if she is going to be here forever. This friendship is not going to end because of geographical distance. Friend, you are stuck with me for life. Here and there.

Beloved

Five minutes and more for My Beloved this Friday.

My Elijah turned 3 this week and I can barely contain myself with emotions. I can spend time looking at him, hearing his words put into long sentences, asking whether I like his drawing, and his endless requests for juice in the big boys cup and apples in the green bowl. I went through his pictures of the last year, and notice how he has grown. The baby look a little faded.His eyes bright and curious as ever.He didn't like much of hugging or snuggling early on, but now hugs me tight when he comes into our bed at 4 a.m. A strong willed child, I call him. 

Beloved Elijah,I pray you grow up to be a kind and compassionate man. Filled with His knowledge and wisdom.  And remember that by your name, "Yahweh is your God".

And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Luke 2:52

                                                                                                 

Bare

    Life seems to run smoothly when you have everything and are not in want. And that is indeed a gift from God.But, one tends to end up taking things for granted. As if being born in a Christian family was just there all the time. Jesus was in the picture all the time, except that with age I need spiritual glasses to see Him more clearly. Went to Sunday school, did the rights things(most of the time), part of church and various ministries. Its like getting dressed for work and Mondays are unbearable. God being a gentle Father, as we would like to see that face of God at all times, we choose to not remember that He is a wrathful God against any sin. Scores of people have dropped dead because they went away from God. Consider, Ananias and Sapphira, who were members of the early church and dropped dead when they lied about giving money. We would have dropped dead a hundred times by now, we godly Christian people. Salvation and His love was given to us , passed down by our Christian family, we never had to suffer to get it. I was not  persecuted to denounce my faith nor was I evangelizing in dangerous countries. Do I really know how much it cost for me to be saved? To live a life of luxury? 

We dress up and put make up to look good, to feel good. To cover up blemishes, to hide those baggy areas. I come to God , crossing off "quiet time" in my "To -do List ", sitting on the couch, with my feet up, with a cup of tea. Failing to realize, that I have entered Holy Ground. Removing my shoes and crawling to His presence, because He is the Great I AM. He sees our bare nakedness.The condition of our soul.Not our costumes or accomplishments or what we think we are. .And I am great material to "drop dead".

I am shaken and brought to my senses when I read Jesus' Words at the end of the Sermon on the Mount.

Not everyone who says to me "Lord, Lord,"will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, " Lord. Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?" Then I will tell them plainly," I never knew you. Away from me, you evil doers!" 

Again

My Five minutes for this Friday.. rather... the weekend

GO

Again.....

There are certain things that need to be done again and again. I love it when I finish five loads of laundry, ironed and put away. the sense of accomplishment is mind blowing. The sense that my house is in order fills my eyes with tears of joy. And then, I am back to square one. This week I had another 5 baskets of laundry because I pushed it away for 2 weeks. Not wanting to get up to the attic laundry area and fold and iron the washed and dried clothes from two weeks ago.  All our cupboards were empty of everything.  I had to force myself to go upstairs and start this process all over again. So I took my laptop and put on the latest Grey's Anatomy and finished two baskets. And while I watched and forgot what I was doing, I put in a few loads of laundry too. Today another basket was done, another load was put in, while I watched BBC Casualty and Holby City. The kids were away at a friends place after church. I had the time and I couldn't make any excuses.

We all have to do those repetitive mundane things to keep going. As Elizabeth George puts it, We are an assignment from God to our family. We may not like many of the things we need to do, but we better find a way to do it, and the find some joy in it, because we have a family. I am blessed with a family to care for and to cherish.(and clean toilets, do laundry, cook meals.....)

Looking forward to seeing you next week Mr. Laundry.

STOP

Dive when He says GO

Joining Lisa Jo Baker this Friday.....

A new Year to change things, to try new things, and to attempt to never repeat mistakes from last year. Thinking about all these on the first day of year, has suddenly caught me diving into the 11th day of this new year. The past 11 days have been a blur. The next 354 days can very well turn into a blur if I dont wait and take a few steps back on that diving board.

This write up started Friday, dragged into Saturday after attending the monthly AGLOW for Women and now here I am on a sunny but cold Sunday afternoon after a wonderful all Age Service to finish out my Five minute Friday.(This is not anymore a Five minute write up or Friday! :)).

The AGLOW speaker spoke on the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and something that we are all entitled to as the children of God. These are meant to be used in situations that requires the use of these gifts. So that means I can ask for the gift of tongues and prophesy, if He wants me to use it.

And this mornings All Age Epiphany service had us flying from Eindhoven to India to Ireland and finally to Nigeria and back home. Exploring the ways Jesus' Words reached the people. With adults and children from these parts of the world showing us our story, we  learnt how we became who we are because of our ancestors accepting Christ through St. Thomas in India, St. Patrick in Ireland and Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther in Nigeria. And the service ended with a short video clip of a recent scene(2010) taking place in Papua New Guinea on how a multitude was waiting for a plane to land, so they could receive their first New Testaments in their native language. The joy and tears of receiving this gift was unforgettable. And we have Bibles of various versions, one for women with special study notes, a few children's bible lying around in every room. The preciousness caught hold of me strongly.
Our ancestors did the diving so that we could enjoy the benefits of knowing Him and be saved from damnation. And we take it all for granted.

I can choose to make resolutions to lose weight, de-clutter the house, finish 15 books this year....
but I choose to be grateful for this free gift of salvation and become more like Him. I may not be able to reach out and go on mission trips, but I can be a helpful, listening friend. I can cook a meal, or fold laundry for an overwhelmed new mum. I can dedicate at least 30 minutes of my time building my relationship with people. I can pray for them at all times. I can pray for those unsaved in my family. I can pray that HE will show me how to be His instrument ..... wherever He wants me to be and do whatever He want me to do....

I choose to dive  when He says GO.

Stay

Back from a short break..... right into my Five minutes.

You know how it goes. Join me if you can. Say a word or two. Have a read.

GO

I have heard dog owners say"stay""sit" "heel".People comment in light conversation," You are really busy, doing so many things". So I take stock, to see what I am busy with. Usual routine stuff. It does feel that way. But it isn't. I seem to be increasing it to a factor of 5 in my head.

Last weeks word "roots"meant more to me than just the word. Where are my roots? India? Kuwait? or now here, the Netherlands? Are we meant to stay here? How long? Can we buy a house? Can we agree on a house? Is this the best place to raise my kids? Am I doing what He wants me to?

In every quiet time, there is a time to keep silent. Keep still. And listen. A season to hear and listen. And so, the voice says "Stay". In all the words that keep swirling like a hurricane in my mind, this one leaves the swirl and hits somewhere. This one makes sense. And how do I know? It doesn't allow me to move on. Or be the one swirling along. Such is the power of the soft voice.

So I sit still and wait.

Be still, my child........

STAY

STOP

Look

It's Friday... and here I am .. as hundreds of women will be.... Five Minute Friday hosted by Lisa Jo Baker. Whats the word?

LOOK

GO

Autumn break was supposed to be "look around the house and do what is required". Well its Friday now and I have just begun to look around at the things that I planned to do since Monday.
What happened?
Well, I was taking the kids out to play areas and for play dates... thats what happened? So I wasn't wasting time.

Can I look around and clear up areas that need clearing up in the next three day, before I start work,again?
Yay! Of course I can!
There will always be "clear up lists"and I dont have to "clear up" the entire 3 days.
The autumn break was for me too and not just for the kids.

Thankfully , not that bad!

Rest is as important to the body and mind as  is a "junk cleared house".

So thats what I am just about to do.
Look around to where my eyes dare go. Clear up. Choose my rest moments wisely.
Its not the end of the world, when stuff hasn't been cleared up.
Enjoy your weekend!

STOP

The welcoming gift

Every Friday, the word is released. It appears on our screen, as we wait for the word, welcoming it to hook on to our hearts and mind. I usually ponder over it throughout out the day and finally write it at the end of the day, or even sometimes Saturday. Today I awoke at 6 am , because I wanted to know what that word was. And swore I would write my 5 minutes worth as soon as I saw it. No pondering, no thinking, no editing, no back spacing , no tracing back and reading it a million times to check the sentence structure... Five minutes of pure unstoppable pouring.

 Welcome to this weeks Five minute Friday....

Welcome

GO

Those with open hearts usually have an open house. My first experience was when I was doing my Masters. And I entered the open doors of one of our campus churches. I knew quite a few from back home. Acquaintances were  renewed. This couple invited me with open arms into the service 9 years ago.The church was very welcoming. But their home(the couple's), was an open house for students to come in. A place to relax, a place to pour out burdens and struggles, a place to savor her wonderful cooking when one was homesick. Some of us even slept there. When one was sick, we went there and she would care for us. Sometimes, because of exhaustion we slept  in their room. Her poor husband would sleep on the couch.

Some who received more would trample on their love and guidance, some betrayed their trust, some left and never kept in touch. 

But they still continued to pray, guide and love us. They couldn't keep the hurt long enough. That wasn't how they were built. They were built to welcome and care, and give. Their arms were meant for hugging and caring.

They have been spiritual mentors for many. Many still keep in touch. Many still call for guidance. Many have learned to care for others through them. They helped many to recognize their purpose and their gifting. They helped guide many, when it was time to decide on a life partner.

Five minutes isn't enough to pour out here on what they mean to us, what they meant to me.

Their open house, set my heart right with God. Their open arms taught me the true meaning of the open arms nailed to that cross. 

They welcomed us in to their home and into their heart.

Jerry and Blessy, I love you guys and its been an honor to know you. 

STOP

(We meet every year when I am in India, and we call, on and off. She usually starts off,blasting me for not calling sooner, and then just begins to pour out her love.)

How it all began

It's been more than a year since I started this blog(September 18,20..)I had to stop and look back at the date to my first entry and it said September 18, 2010. How did two years just go by?

Recovering from the previous line..Phew!

I have been tempted to join Lisa -Jo in the "31 days to Write your story". But the commitment to do that this time was too much of a choice to make. But I had to put in at least a post. To settle the ramblings of my mind during my 30 minute quiet shower at 10 pm. (Note: This usually doesn't happen at all.The shower , I mean.)

How did it all start?

I loved to scribble as a child. It even extended to walls and furniture. Once, after an intense disciplining moment by my mother, the scribbling appeared to stop for a few days. During a cleaning day, when my mom pushed the couch away from the wall to hoover that area, she found out why I had stopped scribbling. The wall behind the couch was scribbled to the maximum. I had to vent it out, apparently.

My brother and I 

I signed my silly signature in every book I had. I labelled them by letters and numbers just like in a library. And I poured over my diary. Which was always locked in my study table. My brother faithfully broke open the lock everyday to read it. I think, I realized he was reading it when he couldn't stop rolling with laughter as he told my mom that I was in love with "Prince Eric" from Disney's Little Mermaid. (Gees.. was I immature or what?). So I stopped writing. And picked it up only in university. But then again carrying all of it from one place to another,  one university to another, proved to be heavy luggage in addition to all the other things I collected over the years.

Then, before I got married, I decided to put an end to all the university diaries with its silliness, secrets and worries by burning them in our "out house" in India where the wood burned. New beginnings... and also to make sure no one read it. I now wonder what the need was to burn it... Dramatics was in high fashion in those days.

I chose not to write anywhere for a long time and it clogged my mind with all the things I wanted to put down on paper. I wasn't the writer in the family. My brother wrote poems and stories. Not me. I barely could get through school. My family called my school education the "continuing saga" . I was forever stationed at my study table.

Blogs came into existence , and I casually read those of friends and strangers and swore that I couldnt possibly convert the ramblings into writing. So, two years ago, I had to vent it out somewhere. And found this space at the right moment to birth.

That stopped after a few posts and rose again when I met this wonderful person in my church called Tracey from "Control the Chaos" then and "Intend to Live" now.  She rekindled that fire that shook those ramblings live again and needed to be written.

I found "Five minute Fridays" through Tracey and this proved to be the best thing ever to systematically and casually, without hesitance, without thinking, to put my thoughts to the screen. And so began my journey with  up's and down's, but oh so joyous!

I am not a writer. But here I am.

Five Minute Friday:Grasp

Five minutes is all I have.... and thats the purpose.
Unedited writing, timed for 5 minutes only.
GO
Michelangelo's painting to me always showed how we strive to reach Him, yet we are not there yet.

A perfect day would start off at 6 am, before the kids could wake up. A " quiet time " true to its name, to enjoy His presence. Time for a shower. Pack lunch bags and work bags.7 am: wake up the kids and finish breakfast by 7:30. Get ready by 7:45. Leave for "drop off's" at day care and school 5 minutes before 8 am. Thats why its called a perfect day. This hardly ever happens. And usually involves nagging ,countdowns, and the live time teller. And of course , something is always forgotten. Especially the quiet times and showers.

No wonder, I cant reach Him.

I am just going in circles and not moving forward.

But Jesus closes that gap between me and the Father and pulls me in with a rope of grace and mercy.Speaking to Him on my behalf.

I can not grasp the idea of the need He has to have a relationship with us. Us? He wants to be our Father. If we love our earthly Father how much more our Maker loves us.

Last night, when we were in our Cell group, a friend explained what our Father does, when we sin, or disobey Him. He first wants to be in a relationship with and enjoy our presence and then discipline us. Thankfully He doesn't strike us down dead at the first instance. Oh! How we could have the privilege of actually walking in the cool of the evening in the garden conversing with our Father.

We still can. In the midst of daily routines.And that I can grasp.

STOP

Graceful

That time of the week.Now, set your timer, clear your head, for five minutes of free writing without worrying about getting it right.

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..

Graceful...

GO

Graceful is a better word than super mum.

A skillful, creative mum is graceful with the things she does. 

Even graceful when its dinner time. Spin to a great tune in your head when a kiddo has split milk. Hopefully a graceful mum can calm down and brace herself for some knee to floor bonding.

A graceful mum has wise words on her lips and an encouraging word at all times. 

A graceful mum also has a listening ear.. and not trot into a quick advice mode.

A graceful mum plans the day to avoid chaos and confusion in the household. 

Gracefulness also needs to make its entry when everything goes topsy turvy on an unplanned day. (Those do exist you know...)

A graceful mum teaches her children independence and responsibility.

But a graceful mum definitely places the bags gently on the school ground  when all her children dump theirs on her.She isn't a donkey!

A graceful mum speaks with a stern steady voice, with a pinch of gentleness and a splash of love  when disciplining her children.

Gracefulness .. oh .. gracefulness... every time and everywhere we go.... how do we wear it on our hearts ?

It all starts with His grace and that is definitely sufficient for us.

STOP

Stretch

Five Minute Friday:
Stretch
The same rules ,the same fun. Write away for 5 minutes. And watch what comes out of the mind and heart.

GO

Part of my self betterment plan is to lose weight and have a nutritious and a healthy life style.  So I started the Game on Diet and is almost done with week 4. The end of the first run. Part of it is 20 minutes of exercise everyday. Now that was a big stretch for me. Nevertheless, I braved it out with Jillian Michaels 30 day shred. It has 3 levels and I am still stuck on Level 1. One of the circuits had this squat type of exercise that stretched my thigh muscles like I have never used it before. Wasn't walking enough was what I thought. I couldn't bend beyond a certain position and that left me with terrible muscle pain. Walking down the stairs was hard. But I knew I had to continue daily in order to tone my muscle and get used to it. The pain would eventually, most likely in the first week itself go away. And it did. I just had to continue and brave on.

Stretches are good. God has this funny way of doing it once in a while to see how far we would go for Him. It doesn't kill us but it sure does change us. For the better.

STOP

Beyond me

What's today? Its Friday. Its time for Five minutes of unplanned, quick , unedited writing.

GO

His love for me, irrespective to what I do or don't do... is beyond my understanding.

Not knowing what the next day.. let alone the next moment will carry.. is past my mothers intuition.

Nothing is possible, or attainable with my skills alone.

Knowing that He alone knows best and that I need to wait for His best to be revealed is beyond my human patience.
     The Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right Psalm 84:11

Remembering God's Word at times of need is beyond the number of furrows on my  brain.

Do not be afraid or discouraged , for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you;he will neither fail you nor abandon you. Deuteronomy 31:8

He is beyond the understanding that I have of Him.

So beyond my understanding yet close to me and in me.

STOP