I have no idea what I’m going to write about with this week’s Five Minute Friday prompt. Let’s hope something comes to me soon!
But yes, here we are once again… that time of the week many of us gather to let our creativity (or lack of for me tonight) flow through our fingers as we free-write on a one-word prompt. We gather and encourage at Kate Motaung’s place. I invite you to try it on your own, and visit Kate’s to read all the posts!
Here we go…
This week’s word:
–HAVEN–
GO.
haven :: any place of shelter and safety; refuge
I said to my husband on our way home tonight, “There seems to be so much bad stuff going on right now.”
And there is.
A cousin was killed in an accident last week.
A former co-worker died last week.
An acquaintance about my age is in the hospital in a medically-induced coma after experiencing a cardiac arrest days ago. Her kids are my kids’ ages.
Today a couple we know is dealing with the death of their 20-week old unborn child.
Friends of ours are battling all kinds of cancers, diseases, and sicknesses, and one has just months to live.
We all have tough stuff we’re walking through, or helping another through, don’t we?? I know I’m not the only one. (I don’t write these out to gain sympathy. I write them to share that I might understand if you’re experiencing something similar.)
It all has nearly overwhelmed me this week. My stomach gets worked up in knots, and my head and heart pound louder than normal.
And all I can do is pray.
The best thing I can do is pray.
And when I do, I’m reminded Who’s in control. I remember God is faithful. The knots untie, and the pounding stops.
It’s then when become calm. As I hand concerns over to the One Who can handle them, and I lift those I care for to my God.
It’s then when I feel safe once again.
It’s then when trust and faith take over.
It’s then when I return to my haven.
STOP.
Prayer and reading God’s Word is what keeps me focused on God and the good. I’m praying for you, too, tonight, my friend.
Where is your haven??
Bless you!
Julie
Words always don’t come easy, but it’s still okay when they don’t.
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It does often feel like the world is full of so much bad stuff. But you’re so right…prayer can bring us to our true haven; God. I’m over in the #8 spot this week!
Hi Tara! I’ll be over to visit you soon. Thanks for being here and for your words. Always appreciate you and your heart!
Absolutely right, Julie…the best thing you can do is pray! Tennyson said that by prayer is the whole world bound ’round the feet of God with golden chains (it’s close to the end of “The Death of Arthur”, the last poem in the “Idylls of the King” cycle).
I really love that image. That our prayers hold us close, BOUND, to God…and He to us!
#2 at FMF this week.
http://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2016/06/your-dying-spouse-163-saving-strawberry.html
I love that image too, Andrew. I’m so glad you shared it… gives me a great perspective with all that’s going on in the world today. BOUND to God. Love it! I’ll be over to read yours too! Continuing to pray for you, Barbara and the pups!
What a good reminder, Julie! I, too, have been aware of so much grief and heartache all around me lately. Thanks for pointing us to the one who holds us all in His hand!
SO many amen’s to this, Julie. xo #19 at Kate’s
Amen, Julie! He always makes us feel at peace when everything else around us is just plain awful. Thanks for visiting my blog again. Hope you have a good weekend
you sound like me sometimes julie…more often than i would like! “all i can do is pray?”…whoops, “the best thing i can do is pray!” i think that way too often.
“The best thing I can do is pray.”
You’re so right, Julie. God has been teaching me all about the power of prayer and how important it is to jump to it as my first response. Because jumping to prayer means I’m jumping to Him instead of to my own plans and efforts. There I find safety and perspective, as you share with us here. May we all be a little quicker to pray!
Wonderful thoughts once again, Julie, even if it didn’t feel as if the words came easily this week! So glad you shared. I always appreciate your God-focused perspective. So sorry to hear of all the hardship and suffering so close to you, though. Praying now for God’s peace to pass understanding. Thank you for sharing!
Oh, Julie! I’m so sorry for all of your losses. I’m praying right along with you. May the Holy Spirit enable and equip you to provide mortal comfort and haven for those around you who need haven so badly.