There was a time when I often linked up for Lisa Jo's Five Minute Friday and I sadly got away from the practice. And so to commemorate Lisa's passion, love and dedication I am linking up with her last hosting of Five Minute Friday. She is passing the torch to Kate Motaung. You can read more about Five Minute Friday and the changes here.
FMF prompt is : Begin
I am not always happy about the changes that come with beginnings. I like predictability, routine and comfort. But beginnings are inevitable.
I typically look at them as endings. I am what some may call a pessimist. But God has been stirring things inside my soul, changing me from the inside. Like only a Heavenly Father can.
So I will try to focus on the beginning, not the ending.
I guess you could say I will begin with beginnings.
There comes a time in ones life where they must choose.
Will I go down this dark and dreary path looking like a life of acceptance and apathy?
Or
Will I choose this hard path?
The one where I wake up everyday and choose joy & freedom!
The one where complacency is no longer acceptable.
The one where the seemingly mundane is beautiful.
The one where I take a step of faith, put myself out there and serve.
Because believe me, those things are hard.
It's easy to roll over and feel sorry for yourself; it's hard to fight against the enemy of your soul.
Today I begin.
I begin to choose joy when everything seems bleak.
I begin to choose freedom when the enemy's lies get a foot hold.
I begin to choose stepping out of my comfort zone when I want to stay in my shell.
I begin to choose to see the beauty in the day in and day out drum of life.
I begin to choose prayer and gathering and ministry over shutting myself in.
What will you begin on this Friday?
great post jimmie lee:) i see you tend toward the pessimistic like i do. blessings as you learn to have courage in the middle of change. sometimes i love it. but if i have to work very hard for it? well i'm a bit burned out on that:(
ReplyDeleteVisiting from 5MF. Enjoyed your post. Thank you for the reminder to examine my attitude and thoughts as new beginnings approach (also an end-mourner instead of beginning-celebrator at times).
ReplyDeleteGlad you found encouragement her Krista! Thanks for stopping by :)
DeleteI'm with you! I like predictability. I agree that it's easier to wallow in misery, even though that has never helped a situation OR my attitude toward it.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your conviction to choose joy. I recently read something about that on Facebook. At the time it reminded me of a good friend, and now your post reminds me again. "Joy is not about happy feelings. It's a settled assurance about God. A quiet confidence in God. And a determined choice to praise God in all things." -Kay Warren, Choose Joy
Stopping by from FMF. Have a blessed weekend!
It has taken me a long time to learn what joy really means. I struggle with the joy of the Lord verses thinking if I wasn't a 'happy go lucky; person then I didn't have joy. I am glad that I SO wrong!
DeleteThanks for stopping by Melissa :)
Lovely post. Every beginning is a choice. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteLoved this post. It stirred much that has been going on in my own heart. I,too, am resistant of changes.
ReplyDelete"It's easy to roll over and feel sorry for yourself; it's hard to fight against the enemy of your soul"---yes, and yes, and yes.
Great post! Stopping in from Five Minute Friday.
-Bethany @ dandelionpie.com
So glad that you found some encouragement here Bethany!
DeleteThanks for stopping by!