Five Minute Friday – Two Trees

This week’s word prompt ‘Tree’ immediately brought to mind…two trees which have impacted and affected all men.

Tree of Knowledge of Good & Evil	Tree from which the Cross of Christ  was Hewn
Adam	Jesus Christ
Disobedience	Obedience
Desired to be like God	Denied Himself
My will be done	Thy Will be done
His life brought death to all men	His death brought life to the many
His sin brought separation from God	He endured separation from God, bearing man sin and brought reconciliation
Sin reigned	Grace reigned and abounded much more
Sin nature our inheritance	Free Gift – Justification to all who believe
Transgression and death reigned	He broke the reign of sin and death
Condemnation	Righteousness
Separation from God	Eternal life with God
Created in God’s image	God Incarnate
Defeated	Victory
Succumbed to temptation	Tempted but did not sin
Faithless	Faithful
Works	Rest
Sinful	Sinless
Bad news	Good news

It’s another Saturday morn and I wanted to participate in Lisa-Jo Baker’s FiveMinute Friday writing challenge.  Head over to her website “Lisa Jo Baker Tales from a Gypsy Mama”.  Be sure to read some of the entries from other writers.  I can promise you that you will be blessed.

Five Minute Friday – Truth Be Told

 

LORD, the truth be told,

          I’ve been struggling

                   with fear and doubt

Try as I might

          I can’t control the future

                   or guess what will happen tomorrow

In my fear

          I’ve gotten my eyes off of You LORD

Forgotten

that You are able

          that You have a good and perfect plan

                   which You are working out in my life

I’ve lost sight of the fact

          that You walk with me always

both in the peaks and valleys of my life

You use all circumstances

          To help me grow and change

You expose my sin

          So that I will confess and repent

You buff out that which is displeasing to You

and reveal conduct unbecoming a Christian

Help me walk by faith

          May I not doubt Your goodness

                   or Your ability to accomplish what concerns me today

May I remember that with each step I take

          You are with me

You alone know what my future holds

          You are perfectly able to direct my path

Help me to keep my eyes on You Lord

          Not my circumstances

                   Not the people that surround me

Help me to trust You

          Tenaciously

                   Unswervingly

                             to the end

It’s another Saturday morn and I wanted to participate in Lisa-Jo Baker’s FiveMinute Friday writing challenge.  Head over to her website “Lisa Jo Baker Tales from a Gypsy Mama”.  Be sure to read some of the entries from other writers.  I can promise you that you will be blessed.

His Treasure Gems of Love from Your King by Sheri Rose Shepherd – Some Mixed Emotions

When the opportunity to read and review Sheri Rose Shepherd’s newest book, His Treasure Gems of Love from Your King, was presented I was excited at the prospect of reading her work.  I’ve heard some of her conference messages and found Sheri to be a very compelling speaker.

Based on her writing, I would say that Sheri has a love for the Lord and heart for women.  She desires that the women will grasp the love that God has for them and the blessings that come to a woman who loves the Lord, increasingly trusts and obeys Him. 

I found many of the Treasures to be very encouraging, convicting and healing as they touched tender spots where I have emotional wounds that need the Lord’s healing.   

Sheri’s love and passion for the Lord comes through in her writing.

I also want to share how I struggled with this book.  My struggle is with the style or genre of this book as if God is speaking to the reader.  I would have felt more comfortable if instead the writer was praying to God.  It’s easy to not accurately represent God, because we see Him through our own unique perspective that is colored by our life and experiences.  I also felt like the sovereignty and holiness of God was somewhat lacking.  The focus seemed to be on the person to whom God was talking and less focused on God.  As portrayed, God seemed to be gently trying to persuade the beloved child or daughter and was seldom revealed as God, the absolute Authority to Whom we will give an account.  I would have also appreciated if scripture references had been given that would line up to the words God was speaking.

I would like to thank Tyndale House Publishers for providing a complimentary copy of this book. 

Five Minute Friday – Reflections on Grace

Grace is one of my favorite words.  First and foremost it makes me think about God and His all-encompassing grace for all areas of my life.  Most importantly in saving me and covering my sin...no removing my sin as far as the east is from the west! 

Below are some of my reflections of God’s grace…

A – Amazing Grace, Abundant Grace

B – Bountiful Grace

C – Continuous Grace, Compassionate Grace, Covering Grace

D – Daily Grace, Dying Grace

E – Effective Grace

F – Forgiving Grace, Faithful Grace

G – God’s Grace, Greater Grace, Gentle Grace

H – Healing Grace

I – Infinite Grace

J – Justifying Grace, Joyful Grace

K – Kind-hearted Grace

L – Limitless Grace, Loving Grace, Living Grace

M – Matchless Grace

N – Necessary Grace, Need Grace

O – Overwhelming Grace, Obedient Grace…the grace to obey

P – Powerful Grace, Pursing Grace, Perfect Grace, Patient Grace

Q – Quintessential Grace

R – Redeeming Grace, Reconciling Grace

S – Saving Grace, Sustaining Grace

T – Triumphant Grace

U –Undeserved Grace

V – Victorious Grace

W – Wonderful Grace, Wooing Grace

X - …

Y – Yonder Grace

Z – Zealous Grace

It’s another Saturday morn and I wanted to participate in Lisa-Jo Baker’s FiveMinute Friday writing challenge.  Head over to her website “Lisa Jo Baker Tales from a Gypsy Mama”.  Be sure to read some of the entries from other writers.  I can promise you that you will be blessed.

A Good Word - Psalm 139:17 & Jeremiah 29:11