Table: Five Minute Friday

Prompted but unscripted, a "free write" for five minutes with no edits, no re-writes. Every Friday (or Thursday night if you're at the Twitter party), we receive the week's prompt and write. Sometimes silly, sometimes serious, and usually spontaneous, this community has grown so much and now means a lot to me! Join us, it's so much fun! Here's the link to Kate's page.

Go!

Table.
"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."
We just had a prompt last week on the word "dwell". As I've been journeying through the Psalms one chapter at a time for the last three months, it's difficult not to call a Psalm to mind when I hear a word.
Psalm 23 especially has been sung in many versions and with many flavors.

As a high-school choir student, I had the opportunity to participate in the honors event "All-State Chorus and Orchestra" twice. One of the two years we sang "The Lord is my Shepherd."
Here is a youtube version of a choral group performing that song.

That version may put you to sleep, especially if you never sang in choir. It's nostalgic for me. Especially singing the praises of God with 1,000 high school students, most of us from public schools.

My journey in the Psalms has been in the 40s and 50s recently. And so many of the chapters focus on "no matter what comes against me, the Lord will prevail." And that my eyes should be on Him.


So as I think about what my mind "dwells" on or "feasts" on, I see that life is a Table. Before me are many things that I can feed on. I have a myriad of choices. Some sweet, some savory, some salty, some bitter, and all will taste different. They will all affect me differently. There will be things I have no choice but to swallow it quickly. (Brussels sprouts, anybody?)
Other things I can delight in and savor. We need a balance of all of these things. Just like our emotions. Without sadness, we do not appreciate "joy" nearly as much. And in contrast of fear and anger, the peace and love of God would not be so brilliant or appealing.


I'm pretty sure my time is up for tonight. When my time is up on earth, I know whose banquet table awaits me. I want to be sure that I'm not wasting time at this table, though. It's bad manners to sit and play with my food. ;)

~Tammy

And, for a livelier version of Psalm 23, here's Keith Green. Another childhood LP favorite!

Dwell: 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!

The prompt this week is Dwell.

Last weak, the prompt was Weary. They're tied together for me. Where am I choosing to dwell? If I'm tired or weary, am I dwelling there? Or am I choosing to stop there for the moment and then move on?

The definition of dwell or dwelling is this: live in or at a specified place; think, speak, or write at length about (a particular subject, especially one that is a source of unhappiness, anxiety, or dissatisfaction.)

Well. There you have it. "Especially one that is a source of unhappiness, anxiety, or dissatisfaction."
Don't we often dwell there? Our imperfections, failures, or the mistakes of others and how we are affected by them?
I don't want to live there. I don't want those to be the walls of my home.
I've been singing a song at church, but it's been in my heart and mind all through the week for the last month as well.

"You unravel me with a melody, you surround me with a song
of deliverance from my enemies, until all my fear is gone.
I'm no longer a slave to fear, I am a child of God.
I'm no longer a slave to fear, I am a child of God.
From my mother's womb, you have chosen me. Love has called my name.
I've been born again into your family Your blood flows through my veins.
Bridge: You split the sea, so I could walk right through it
My fears were drowned in perfect love
You rescued me, so I could stand and sing
I am a child of God"

A slave is imprisoned. Not allowed to leave. We are not slaves. We should not dwell in fear, but in the House of the Lord.
Psalm 23:5-6
"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever."

I grew up singing the "surely goodness and mercy" song. I need to revisit where I am going to dwell. I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Every day I must choose where I want to be, where I want to stay, where I want to dwell. I have a choice, but I have to choose.

Time's up! :)
~Tammy

P.S. Please include your linkup # on Kate's site or your url so I can find you. Especially if I haven't met you often on Five Minute Friday!

Weary: 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!

This week's prompt is Weary.
With winter on the horizon and one less hour of daylight, naps are a natural tendency. Our bodies want to hibernate if we live in climates where the four seasons still exist.

What a blessing it has been to have been traveling through the book of Psalms for the last 2 1/2 months. For it is in the Word of God that I find strength to overcome weary thoughts and attitudes.

I equate the word weary with discouraged. Battling the loss of strength, hope, and vigor is a difficult task indeed. We face physical challenges, emotional challenges, mental, social and spiritual challenges. We can easily become weary if we look to those ups and downs to satisfy us within.

Psalm 42 gives some hope and perspective: (I have substituted the word "weary" for the word "discouraged")

¹ As the deer longs for streams of water,
    so I long for you, O God.
² I thirst for God, the living God.
    When can I go and stand before him?
³ Day and night I have only tears for food,
    while my enemies continually taunt me, saying,
    “Where is this God of yours?”

⁴ My heart is breaking
    as I remember how it used to be:
I walked among the crowds of worshipers,
    leading a great procession to the house of God,
singing for joy and giving thanks
    amid the sound of a great celebration!

⁵ Why am I weary?
    Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
    I will praise him again—
    my Savior and ⁶ my God!

Now I am deeply weary,
    but I will remember you—
even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan,
    from the land of Mount Mizar.
⁷ I hear the tumult of the raging seas
    as your waves and surging tides sweep over me.
⁸ But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me,
    and through each night I sing his songs,
    praying to God who gives me life.

⁹ “O God my rock,” I cry,
    “Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I wander around in grief,
    oppressed by my enemies?”
¹⁰ Their taunts break my bones.
    They scoff, “Where is this God of yours?”

¹¹ Why am I weary?
    Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
    I will praise him again—
    my Savior and my God!

Many of the link-up writes will most likely include Isaiah 40:29-31 or Galatians 6:9. I wanted to include something else that would bring new life in the light of those amazing promises. They are valid and hope-filled, but tonight, I encourage you to see that whether your life is full of affirmation or condemnation from others, if your hope is in God, then your identity and value and worth will be centered for eternity. You will not need the affirmations nor will you be devastated by the condemnations.
Is God your rock?
Psalm 43 continues with the same chorus, and states that God is the source of all my joy!!!

¹ "Declare me innocent, O God!
    Defend me against these ungodly people.
    Rescue me from these unjust liars.
² For you are God, my only safe haven.
    Why have you tossed me aside?
Why must I wander around in grief,
    oppressed by my enemies?
³ Send out your light and your truth;
    let them guide me.
Let them lead me to your holy mountain,
    to the place where you live.
⁴ There I will go to the altar of God,
    to God—the source of all my joy.
I will praise you with my harp,
    O God, my God!

⁵ Why am I weary?
    Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
    I will praise him again—
    my Savior and my God!"

I pray you are lifted up by God tonight and encouraged and hopeful. For He is the lifter of your head. 

The first song that popped in my head begins with the lyrics
"Oh soul, are you weary and troubled?"
The chorus?
"Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus"

Just as He's been saying. Look to Him. :)
~Tammy

P.S. Please list your url or your linkup number if you'd like me to read your post. I'm not on bloglovin so I don't always know how to find you! :D

 

Dance: 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!

Dance! There are so many movies, so many songs! No matter who you are, the word Dance is not a static word. It moves you. If you grew up in my Mom's church, dancing was not a celebration of God. If you read the account of David dancing before the Lord, unashamed, you see that He was concerned about God before others.

There are two focuses on dance. Ourselves, or the One who dances over us. I love to watch talented dancers perform their skill with grace and athletic gifting! Though I love dancing, I'm not as graceful or talented as many I have seen. Still, when I offer my dance to God in worship, He delights in it. Why? Because it's a gift. From me. To Him.

So, I've got two different songs/videos for you tonight. If you need a quiet moment to soak in His amazing love for you, then watch this one. The first line is "You dance over me while I am unaware. You sing all around and I never hear a sound."

If you've been burdened and you need to be lifted up and break free and dance? Then this is the one for you! (Shackles by Mary Mary)

And finally, if you can handle a little country music, here's LeAnn Womack. "I hope you dance."

You see, God truly rejoices over us with singing.
The Lord your God is with you,
    the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
    in his love he will no longer rebuke you,    but will rejoice over you with singing.”(Zephaniah 3:17)

"They will come home and sing songs of joy on the heights of Jerusalem.
    They will be radiant because of the Lord’s good gifts—
the abundant crops of grain, new wine, and olive oil,
    and the healthy flocks and herds.
Their life will be like a watered garden,
    and all their sorrows will be gone.
¹³ The young women will dance for joy,
    and the men—old and young—will join in the celebration.
I will turn their mourning into joy.
    I will comfort them and exchange their sorrow for rejoicing.
¹⁴ The priests will enjoy abundance,
    and my people will feast on my good gifts.    I, the Lord, have spoken!” (Jeremiah 31:12-14 NLT)

Heaven is just around the corner. Don't keep it to yourself! :)

Love,
Tammy