Five Minute Friday: In Between

This morning I come to you in a pre-caffeinated, box-surrounded, jammie-wearing state.  But lest you think I am all ascatter, I had an actual intterupted night of sleep and time in God's Word.  I can't think of anything that is better to fuel the heart, mind and soul!

I'm joining with a band of fearless writers who brave the keyboard, the clock and the unknown that lies ahead from the prompting of Lisa-Jo Baker (you can find all the details there).  We throw out breadcrumbs before us as a trail to blaze instead of behind us as a way safely back.  Let's see where this word adventure will take us today.

In case you are wondering about all this talk of adventure and the unknown, I'm reading Begin, the first of the Growly books by Phillip and Erin Ulrich - and LOVING.  EVERY.  WORD!  Annie Barnett's illustrations are magical and set the stage for my imagination.  You need to get this book.  Okay, enough of this unsolicited advertisement.

So here we go!

IN BETWEEN

It's where I'm living right now.  Sure I have a new address and can't find my way sure in the dark, but there is still the old tie.  There is still the running back and forth, wrapping up the fine print of the past two years in someone else's house that we tried to call home.  Now we call this new place home, but it hasn't quite settled in to the bones and fallen easily off the tongue.  That moment when "time to go home" comes out without thinking about a route or all that waits for you there.

In between is where we should be living every day.  We are in this fallen world for but a breath that seems like half of an eternity, but it's not.  It's just a short time that stretches on and on and has past in a blink of the eye.  Anyone with a little knows the saying the days are long, but the years are short.  It's like that.

In this middle ground is where all the work is done; the packing and unpacking of possessions, valuables, TRUTHS!

Time

Your turn!  Come join us here:

Behind the Scenes: Life Around the Train Tracks

What little boy isn’t consumed with the notion of motion?  Cars, trucks, planes, boats, slides, roller coasters, bicycles, skateboards…..

If it can be pushed, pulled, driven or thrown there is a special place for it in a boy’s heart.

This road weary mama has a few too many miles under her seat to be quite as enamored most days.  Don’t get me wrong.  I love a good vacation or going to visit family and friends.  I like new and I love familiar.

Adventure has a different spin in this family.  Today we make our 9^th move.  That little guy is making his third!  We are staying in the same area, but it is a big move nonetheless.

So what you couldn’t see in that first photo was the packed boxes and workers installing thermostats that were missed during construction.  In the midst of chaos, there is always room to pack your imagination and playfulness.  Like Thomas the Tank Engine, it can be really useful.

Today I’m linking up with my dear friend Crystal to let you in on what happens behind the scenes in my life.

Listen - Five Minute Friday

Today I’m writing for five minutes with Lisa-Jo.  No editing, no backtracking, no overthinking – just wild writing.  That’s a good thing because I don’t have much faculty for any other kind at this point.  I’ve been moving from one house to another all week and this has been my first chance to get on here.

We’d love for you to join us.  Set your own timer for five minutes; write like the wind, then link up with the rest of us.  Here’s the truly great and important part.  Be sure you visit at least the person who linked up before you and leave a little comment love on their post.  If you want your own extra bit of encouragement, turn off your captcha or other little comment hula hoops.  It just makes the world a happier place.  Here we go:

Listen

I try to listen – intently at times.  The sound just doesn’t seem to be there when I go searching for it.

Other times, the silence around me can be the most refreshing part of life.

How do I replace the noise with what will be meaningful, life-giving… life changing?

The hum of the computer is the only sound, interrupted by the shuffling, clicking sound of these keys.  It’s kind of nice.  I haven’t heard it in a while.

Another sound I haven’t heard for a while is the rustle of the pages in my Bible.  I think that needs to be the next sound I hear – even before posting this.

What I really need is to adjust my tuner, much like a radio that is not quite on the station.  There is just too much static to find the rhythm and dance with the music.

Time

Review: Praying God’s Word for Your Life

Kathi Lipp has released her newest book, Praying God’s Word for Your Life.  This edition follows the same principles and format as last year’s release Praying God’s Word for Your Husband.  Both are available and make excellent companion volumes.

Praying God’s Word for Your Life begins with 3 short chapters on how to use the book, preparing your heart for prayer, and the reasoning behind praying scripture.  You might think it needless to tell Christians how and why to pray, but I found these chapters to be both insightful and encouraging.  They were also a bit challenging, but reassuring that I could do this – and do it better than I currently am.

After this point you are free to read as you choose.  The table of contents clearly identifies different general areas of our lives that we will want to cover in prayer for ourselves.  These range from finances to work, relationships to anxiety.  Within each chapter are more specific topics.  For example, the first of these, “When You’re Overwhelmed” (I read this one many times this week) breaks down into having too much to do, balancing work and life, and life’s trials.

Multiple scriptures are provided with a prayer.  You can take these words as a jumping off point and tailor them to your own needs.  I was struck by her expression and how many of these were completely novel approaches to issues I have in my own life.  I love being able to pray specifically for needs, but sometimes I can’t quite come up with the words that seem to pinpoint the matter.  Many verses used were ones that I would not have thought to apply, yet were perfectly suited.

I was left with the question, how much of scripture have I not considered to be applicable to my life?  This vast resource that has been given to me to guide me into abundant life has gone untapped.  The Word is living and active, yet I am seeing it as primarily fixed.  Quite a paradigm shift, but one I want to fully embrace.

This book will stay close at hand as a reference for frequent use.  At the very end is a list of all scripture references used throughout.  It is striking to see how widespread encouragement and help can be found from beginning to end in the Bible.  Is that really surprising?

In the chapter concerning Parenthood, Kathi Lipp suggests praying the entire book of Ephesians, Romans, or Galatians over your children.  What an amazing concept!  If she is listening, I would love for that to be the next offering.  I think Praying God’s Word for Your Children would be welcome any day on my bedside table.

I wish I had a copy to give to one of you, but I am not letting this one go.  Put this on your reading list today.  Have a wishlist for the bookstore?  Move this to the top of your queue.  You will be blessed by every page and your life will be affected in a mighty way.

Disclaimer:  I was provided an early copy of this book by the publisher for review.  As always, all opinions are my own.  This post contains affiliate links.

For the Love of a Pencil with a Sharp Point

A couple weeks ago, my friend Lizzie wrote a list of interesting tidbits about herself as a birthday post.  You should check it out.  One of her items that received strong response from a kindred spirit on Facebook was about writing.  This wasn’t the deep need to get the words out of her head and heart out there in a blog or a book – she’s done both.  No.  This was about the displeasure of dull points on pencils - #33 on the list.

I was immediately struck with a thought.  I knew of an instrument that would satisfy Lizzie’s love of a sharp point.  You know me, if I know something I think you need to know I’ve gotta tell you about it.

So here it is!  The Staedtler Mars 780 lead holder – quite a mouthful and not your standard yellow #2!

Click photo to purchase your very own!

A drafting pencil, paired with leads, and a lead pointer!  These are not for the faint of heart.  It is a learned skill to use that sharpener there.  Many lengths of lead have fallen prey to its inner workings.  Worth it, though, if you need a perfect line.

You can have your own super-duper sharpener by clicking.

Excessive?  Obsessive?

Not if you are a designer.  Maybe not if you even have a deep, deep affection for a good writing instrument with the perfect lead and perpetually precise end.

Disclaimer:  This post contains affiliate links.