August 22 #FMF - Change

So, the previous week's #FMF prompt was "Change". Not sure what direction I'm going to go with this one. Let's see what happens.

5:00 begins now -----

Change is certain. People change. Lives change. Jobs change. Everything changes.

When we begin our lives, we are as ready for change as we will ever be. From that point on, sudden changes become harder and harder to accept. But all along, even if you find a way to never change, underneath it all, you are still changing.

You grow. You learn from your mistakes. You find better ways to do things. You witness change all around you and you see how change affects others, both positively and negatively. You absorb some of those changes and you implement them, even when you aren't aware you are changing.

None of us are the kids we used to be in high school. I doubt many of us are upset by that. When change comes naturally, it brings with it hope for a better tomorrow.

It's my personal spiritual belief that the reason we are here on this Earth is to prepare us to become the perfect spiritual beings we are going to be in heaven. We learn to purify our hearts and cleanse our souls of sin and evil influences.

Where would we be without change?

Catching up on #FMF - Five Minute Fridays

Well, it seems I have a little catching up to do but that was expected, wasn't it? After all, I knew coming into this self-willed commitment that I wouldn't be "all in". And isn't that how it should be when it comes to our communications with those outside of our immediate family? As I said when I started this, the consequences of failing to post my Five Minute Fridays on Fridays every Friday are quite tolerable. Because the consequences are zero. The benefits of doing it on whatever day I find the time to do it, however, are measurable. Priorities - God, family, others, self. More of Him, less of me.

Time is already ticking, so let's get on with it.

August 15th's #FMF prompt was TELL. I remember seeing this come across my Facebook timeline and I also remember that inside my head, I heard my brain sigh a little. It wasn't  a "haaaa" sigh. It was more of a "ooooooh" sigh. Because the word TELL is such a powerful word. So much to say about TELL.

5:00 starts now ------

Some have said that if those in your past wished you to write good things about them, they would have treated you differently. It's your story. Whatever has happened to you is part of you and to keep it a secret out of "respect" for others is a personal decision that you have to make. Yet, it is also a sacrifice because no one understands how the events of your past have changed you. And no one knows how the telling of your story can change the lives of others. If it brings embarrassment to others, perhaps it is because personal responsibility is tough to manage. You might get push back from others for telling your story. You might be accused (as I have) of passing out "guilt trips". What you tell others should be your story and how it has affected you. Keep it personal to you and your motives clean.

What if the apostles had refused to tell the story of Jesus for fear of offending the Jews? We all know that the apostles not only spread the news of Jesus, but they also did so under extreme duress. The consequences of telling the story of Jesus cost them their lives. But they told anyway.

What story do you need to tell?

My First Five Minute Friday - "Fill"

Over the past several months, I've followed the blog of a friend of mine, Sweet Mrs. Amy Boyd, and every Friday she posts a Five Minute Friday. I took the time a while back to read a little more about Five Minute Friday and sighed heavily knowing that I am NOT the kind of person who has the time to commit to spending even five minutes every Friday talking about things I can't prepare for in advance. Woe is me, right? Well, I thought about it a little more this morning and I realized that if I fail, I at least tried, and that is the kind of person I am. But to fail to try is actually NOT the kind of person I am. After all, who am I obligated to if I fail? What are the consequences?? Answer: there are none.

So, here is my very first Five Minute Friday, compliments of Amy Boyd.

The word that I am to write about this week, for five minutes straight without stopping or editing, planning ahead or worrying about grammar, is "Fill". Five minutes starts now.

My life has been a vessel. When I was young, my life was filled with elements from my home life, my school life and my church life. Words and phrases were dropped in like marbles in a vase to linger at the bottom. Memories wash around inside of me, both good and bad, to remind me where I came from and who I am supposed to become. Books I read helped mold my intellect and the culture of my upbringing helped shape my morals. Until now. Until last year when I was emptied completely of my past and made ready to be filled with what I choose to fill it with. Love, peace and goodness. Trust and assurance. Security and hope. Happiness. Faith in God and His promises. The Holy Ghost. Salvation. Smiles. Laughter. Kisses and dances and music and freedom.