HIDE

This post was written for Five Minute Friday

Word prompt--HIDE

Five minutes to free write about it

---------------------------------

There was a time in my life when I tried to hide many things. Now not so much. One of the benefits of growing old is that I no longer feel the need to impress anybody or worry about what they might think of me. I am who I am, and the only person whose opinion matters, is that of the God who created me and who knows my heart.

When I became a Christian, some 30 years ago, I kept hidden the fact that I had once been deeply steeped in New Age and occult practices, and that I had authored a book (actually more than one) on numerology. And then one Palm Sunday, our pastor challenged us to do something radical, and I did. I wrote a blog post entitled Sincerely Wrong, in which I spoke openly about these things for the very first time.

After writing that post, I became convicted that it was time to bring all the other things I didn't talk about into the open as well because, just mabe, there was someone out there who desperately needed to hear it.

I had always believed that the reason I kept certain things hidden, especially from my mother, children, and other family members, was because I was trying to protect them from being hurt, but now I realized that was only partly true. I did want to keep them from unnecessary distress, but if truth be told, the greater reason was fear of what they might think of me. And so I went on to write my memoir, Sincerely Wrong: An Improbable Journey. 

Writing the book was not an easy thing to do, because in order to give the whole story, I had to share things that I had never spoken about before. What I learned through the process though, is that hidden things have a way of eventually being exposed anyway, and when you are the one to bring them out into the open, they lose their power over you.

----------------------------------------------------------

For everything that is hidden will eventually

be brought out into the open, and every

secret will be brought to light.

(Mark 4:22 NLT)

-----------------------------------------------------------

P.S. TO MY FMF PRAYER POST

 

This post is for Ginny Hartzler, who wanted me to expound a little, and for the several others of you who had similar questions.

Draw the Circle is a 40-day Bible challenge I have done several times over the years, and recently felt led to do once again. Each day has a short Scripture, a true story of God's answer to prayer, and prayer prompts, to inspire and encourage us to pray bold, persistent prayers, believe God can do all things, and be observant to see how He is working,

Basically, I read the chapter for the day, write my prayers down in a journal, and then draw circles around them. There's nothing magical about the circles. It just helps me be more persistent.

Nobody joined me this time around. Seems like everyone I invited was too busy. But that's okay. I don't mind doing it on my own, and something new that was not available before, is a daily video you can sign up for that corresponds to the chapter of the day. The videos are short--only about two minutes each, and they are free.

I've enjoyed going back and reading the old journals I kept when I took this challenge before, and seeing how God has responded to those prayers. Many have been answered, although not all of them in the way I thought they would be, and some prayers I am still praying for. 

Well, I hope I've answered all your question.

Be blessed,

Sandy

I WONDER AS I WANDER

This post was written for Five Minute Friday

Word prompt--WANDER

Five minutes to free write about it

---------------------------------

The moment I saw this week's FMF prompt, the haunting melody and first few words of "I wonder as I wander" started playing in my mind.  It kept repeating itself over and over in continuous play mode as I tried in vain to recall the rest of the words, where I had heard them, or even just what type of song it was. Finally, I gave up and consulted Google.

According to Google, those words belong to an old Christmas hymn written by folklorist/singer, Jacob Niles (1892-1980). It was inspired by the garbled fragment of a song he heard a young girl singing about the wondrous gift of Jesus at an evangelical fundraising meeting he attended in Southern Appalachia.

I wonder as I wander, out under the sky,

How Jesus the Savior did come for to die

For poor on'ry people like you and like I.

I wonder as I wander, out under the sky.

When Mary birthed Jesus, 'twas in a cow's stall

Came wise men and farmers and shepherds and all,

And high from the heavens a star's light did fall;

The promise of the ages it then did recall.

If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing,

A star in the sky or a bird on the wing,

Or all of God's angels in heaven to sing,

He surely could have had it, 'cause he was the king.

Enjoy!

PRAYER

This post was written for Five Minute Friday

Word prompt--PRAYER

Five minutes to free write about it

---------------------------------

Several years ago I took Mark Batterson's Draw the Circle 40 day prayer challenge. For a while now there's been a stirring in my heart to do it again.

This week's FMF prompt gave me the nudge I needed, and today's devotional in my Streams in the Desert book clinched it. 

I've texted the original group of ladies who did the challenge with me to see if any of them want to join me again this time around, but even if no one responds, I'm all in.

MORNING

This post was written for Five Minute Friday

Word prompt--MORNING

Five minutes to free write about it

---------------------------------

Morning heralds a brand new day.

No matter how I may have been feeling the night before, mornings are full of hope and anticipation. A time of gratitude for the gift of a new day. A fresh page, a new beginning, one more chance to get things right.

God's mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23)