Friday, September 4, 2015

Yes: Five Minute Friday

Another week, another chance to write on a one-word prompt for only five minutes. We set timers, type quickly, and let it flow without criticism. Then, we link-up our posts so we can read others' posts and they read ours and we have a community that grows from one word each week.
Five Minute Friday.

Go!

"Yes"

Jesus loves me, This I know
For the Bible tells me so
Little ones to Him belong
They are weak, but He is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me
Yes, Jesus loves me
Yes, Jesus loves me
The Bible tells me so.

Jesus loves me, This I know
As He loved so long ago
Taking children on His knee.
Saying, "Let them come to Me."

Jesus loves me still today
Walking with me on my way
Wanting as a friend to give
Light and love to all who live.

Jesus loves me! He who died
Heaven's gate to open wide
He will wash away my sin
Let His little child come in.

Jesus loves me! He will stay
Close beside me all the way
Thou hast bled and died for me
I will henceforth live for Thee...


It's urgent on my heart to write today about somebody else. Somebody who said "yes" to Jesus and all that it has entailed for him.


Saeed Abedini is currently imprisoned in Iran for the crime of Christianity. He is my age. He has a wife and two children. They have been married for about the same number of years and the children are close to the ages of my own.
This could have been my husband.

Saying yes to Jesus means saying no to many things. For Him, "are you a Christian?" is a "yes" he did not back down from. How brave would we be in the same circumstances? When you walk faithfully with Jesus, is there any answer but "yes" that we could offer? When you breathe His strength to get through the most difficult days, is there any other answer but yes?

I long to see Jesus' eyes. To gaze into them, though it terrifies me all the sin He will see in mine, I know His love is so merciful.

Join me, please, in praying for Pastor Saeed. Soon the Iranian President will be here in the United States for United Nations meetings. God can be glorified in the midst of the ugliness. You can click here and sign a letter to the Iranian President on behalf of Pastor Saeed, or you can even compose your own in the form and it will be sent on your behalf.

In the darkest prison, in the foulest hole,
Saeed is waiting, his hope still full.
The prayers of saints lift him each day
and to our Jesus still he prays.
His wife and children wait in Boise,
the enemy's schemes are loud and noisy
like Paul and Silas, he waits in chains,
but ever trusts in Jesus' name.
#PrayForSaeed

Lord, please let my faith be strong when I am tested. Let me not deny you because of fear or desire for what feels "safe" or comfortable. Let me say "yes" to you first, instead of myself.
Amen.

~Tammy
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13 comments:

  1. Tara UlrichSeptember 4, 2015 at 9:54 AM

    Great post! Praying for Saed and his family. I wonder if I would be able to be as strong in my faith as he has been. Yes, Jesus loves us. (I'm surprised that more of us didn't think of that hymn with the word prompt) I'm parked in the #15 spot this week. Have a wonderful Labor Day weekend.

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    1. TammysinceritySeptember 4, 2015 at 7:11 PM

      Thanks Tara! You too. :)
      May your weekend be full of "yes" moments.
      Love,
      Tammy

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  2. SusanSeptember 4, 2015 at 9:54 AM

    Tammy, I pray for Saeed on a regular basis. He and Asia Bibi. They said the hardest YES. How much more can we pray for them. YES, Lord. xoxoxo FMF #54

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    1. TammysinceritySeptember 4, 2015 at 7:11 PM

      Thanks Susan.
      My parents have been to the rallies as they live in the Boise area and have seen his wife. God is truly her strength!
      Love,
      Tammy

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  3. AndrewSeptember 4, 2015 at 10:45 AM

    What an uplifting post, Tammy - giving us something to remind us of how much we're loved...and the chance to do something good.

    You're truly a blessing.

    http://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2015/09/your-dying-spouse-52-i-want-to-live-fmf.html

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    1. TammysinceritySeptember 4, 2015 at 7:12 PM

      Andrew,
      thank you. We are lights and must continue to bear that light for the dark to find the source of the light, which is within us.
      You are also a blessing. Great post this week!
      ~Tammy

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  4. AnonymousSeptember 4, 2015 at 7:07 PM

    It is truly a tragedy what is happening to Pastor Saeed and his family. Our church has been praying for him regularly. I pray that if me and mine were ever in that situation that we would have the courage to say yes as he has. https://homeskoolmom.com (gotta figure out how to log in on WP without the dot wordpress.com :)

    Jesus loves me was my hubby's grandad's favorite hymn. He sang it as he went to his eternal reward last November. We sang it Sunday at church for the first time since then and I just couldn't do it. My husband and I were both choked up. He was an amazingly humble man and was loved by everyone he knew.
    God bless!

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    1. TammysinceritySeptember 4, 2015 at 7:15 PM

      Christy,
      thank you. I am so encouraged by those who already know and are committed to praying for him!
      I'm so sorry for your loss.
      It's amazing how hymns can move us so deeply. What a tribute to his faith and legacy!
      Thanks for visiting me too. :)
      Love,
      Tammy

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  5. AnonymousSeptember 4, 2015 at 7:13 PM

    What a beautiful post, Tammy. And yes, it's not always easy to mean our "yes" when it comes to being called one of Jesus' own. Pastor Saeed is an inspiration to me. Thanks for reminding me about what his yes has cost. And the importance of praying for persecuted Christians around the world.

    Missed you last week friend! (I was at our church's women's retreat, and didn't do much visiting among the FMF crowd). :)

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    1. TammysinceritySeptember 4, 2015 at 7:17 PM

      Jeanne,
      always an honor to hear from you. I missed you as well. It seems the last few weeks I've been a Friday morning participant rather than the early crowd on Thursday night. But, two weeks ago was a God interrupt, last week I was hosting a party, and this week I was painting my classroom until 6pm and we ate at 7pm and I actually forgot it was Thursday until this morning. :D
      (3 days of solid painting, but it's ready for students. We begin class on Wednesday!)
      I can't wait to read your post!
      Love,
      Tammy

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  6. Joy LentonSeptember 5, 2015 at 12:56 PM

    Tammy, you offer us such a thoughtful post. Yes, Jesus loves me.. but how much do we love Him? Is it enough to say yes at the risk of imprisonment or even death? Maybe none of us could answer those questions until we face such a situation as Pastor Saeed is in. And then only by the grace of God. Thank you for reminding us of the true cost of discipleship. It's a humbling thought. Joining you in prayer.

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    1. TammysinceritySeptember 5, 2015 at 12:59 PM

      Joy,
      oh I thank you for your prayers. We can unleash the armies of heaven with our prayers! One of my new favorite songs is "Who can stop the Lord Almighty?"
      Looking forward to reading your post as well.
      Love,
      Tammy

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  7. Ruthie GraySeptember 6, 2015 at 12:12 PM

    Hi, friend! Wow, what a truly moving, POWERFUL post! And this: "When you breathe His strength to get through the most difficult days, is there any other answer but yes?" You are right, there is no other answer, save yes.
    I clicked and signed the petition. Your desire to glorify the Lord above all else is so evident, Tammy. Keep shining! :)

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