Thursday, March 3, 2016

News: Five Minute Friday

We're linked up at Kate's place for Five Minute Friday. A word-prompt five minute free-write with no edits. (Though I'm known to pause the timer so I can copy and paste some verses into my post.)

This week:

News

Go!

So, I began in August going through Proverbs with some friends. I posted daily on Facebook. Then in September, a Psalm a day. We began at Psalm 121 and went through Psalm 150. In October, we began at Psalm 1 and just recently finished through Psalm 120. (We did each stanza of Psalm 119 at a pace of 23 days?) Where to head next?
God led me to Ephesians.
Here's the link to the Facebook page I created. (Daily Encouragement-tammysincerity) 

I was elated to hear that the prompt this week was news. Here's the post from Sunday:

Ephesians 2:13-17
Reconciliation! Good news! Peace!
13 But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.
14 For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. 15 He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. 16 Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.
17 He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near.


It's easy to be caught up in the temporary news being thrust at us about politics and human suffering and forget that we are to be the Light of the World and the Salt of the Earth and "Go ye therefore, teaching the Good News!"
Mark 1:1-3 reads, " The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
“I will send my messenger ahead of you,
    who will prepare your way”—
“a voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
    make straight paths for him."
 
If the Gospel is the Good News, and we can share it, why don't we?

Just know that Heaven rejoices more over one sinner who was lost than 99 who are righteous. You can affect change just one life at a time. :) Be a joy, a light, and share hope. It's needed now more than ever!!

~Tammy

P.S. Please include your linkup so I can find you (or your URL).





25 comments:

  1. Amen! The only news worth passing on is the good news that despite all the yuck in the world, we have a gracious, loving, forgiving, all-powerful, mighty Savior.

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    1. Anita,
      so right you are! "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
      -2 Corinthians 4:17-18

      Eternity is the only news that matters. I'm soooo grateful for your voice in the darkness.
      Love,
      Tammy

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  2. Amen! Luke 2:9-11 comes to mind as well -- "An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord." Good news that will cause great joy.

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    1. Kate,
      oh I am so thankful you shared that one too! :) And thankful you prompted News this week. The Holy Spirit has been weaving all the posts together in an amazing way though we were all writing from different places!
      Love,
      Tammy

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  3. Yes that's why we are here as digital evangelists to spread the good news.

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    1. :) Thanks Deborah. Fun to think of ourselves as digital evangelists. Even sending a text message of encouragement to a friend who comes to mind can be our way of spreading Good News. It communicates that they are loved and valued. How our enemy must hate our love! :D
      Love,
      Tammy

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  4. One life at a time, YES!

    #1 this week.

    http://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2016/03/your-dying-spouse-126-my-rock-and-roll.html

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    1. Andrew,
      and your life. You've reached many more than you think. By praising your Savior in the intense torture of your diagnosis? You are indeed a messenger of the Good News. That there is something more awaiting you and it's praiseworthy and makes life valuable. That no moment is wasted. Even the awful ones count in the grand scheme!
      Love,
      Tammy

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  5. I see our thoughts went in similar directions again, Sister. :) Yes, let's be one-at-a-time life-changers and live and share the good news. Great post, and I love how the timing worked out for you and what you're currently studying. :)

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    1. Jeanne,
      God is so good to us. He reinforces and affirms and confirms if we're just attentive enough to notice.
      It's happening at my workplace as well. He was leading me to want to have corporate prayer together once a week in the morning and laid it on another teacher's heart as well and that teacher sent out a group email announcing it. (Oh the privilege of teaching at a Christian school where we're allowed and encouraged to pray!)
      :)
      Thanks for your friendship and your words.
      Love,
      Tammy

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  6. Oner person at a time. If we can just get a grip on how simple it can be. Just an outflow of our daily lives. Just one person we invest in, become involved in, start to truly love. Makes all the difference.

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    1. :) Thank you Summer, yes. He's been showing me it's not about numbers to be successful in God's kingdom. And it's in HIS time, not my own. All I have to do is be a good listener and available to Him and His leading.
      Thanks for the comments!
      Love,
      Tammy

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  7. Yes let's share joy and hope indeed. Even if it's one person at a time. Prepare the way of the Lord. I'm in the lucky 13 spot this week.

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    1. Tara,
      and I'm lucky to be your friend and get your feedback and read your posts every week. You DO share hope and joy. Oooooh, Easter's coming! He is RISEN indeed!!!!!!!!!
      Love,
      Tammy

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  8. We do have good news through Jesus and His word! Love all the scripture! I think us reflecting on His word and His good news, it can transform our lives so that we will be able to make a difference in this sad world. visiting from #29

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    1. Kristina,
      thanks for the visit and for your linkup so I can come see your five minute offering as well! Oh so true, that His words bring life.
      Love,
      Tammy

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  9. Love this! There's so much bad news in the world and people so desperately need to hear the good news we have to share. (#38)

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    1. Carly,
      Amen! Now that I've read your post, your words are even clearer. I hope others read your post too!
      Love,
      Tammy

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  10. #27 and Jesus is still telling us "Go tell them the GOOD NEWS!"

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    1. Susan,
      yes, yes He is! :D
      Love,
      Tammy
      (and Easter is only 3 weekends away!)

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  11. Thank you Tammy! Your posts are always so uplifting and right on time! #61

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    1. Oh Tondra,
      truly you bless me with your encouragement! Thank you for helping me to know that God is using me. :)
      Love,
      Tammy

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  12. Beautiful words! I appreciate your encouragement for us to go out and spread the Good News. Thanks for spurring me on! Blessings!

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    1. Julie,
      thank you. I've always heard 'write what you know'...and this is what I'm walking, so it's what I'm sharing. :D Glad to be iron sharpening iron. Thank you for sharing your blessings!
      Love,
      Tammy

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  13. Amen, sistah! This right here is some good advice! :-)

    Lynette
    ~#74 this wk

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