31 Days of 5 Minute Free Writes 25: "Crash"

 

GO!  

I've had some great crashes in my life:

The crashing of a tiny preschooler's body against my leg, wrapping her arms around me for a hug. 

The thunderous crash of cymbals with the crack and rumble of drums on the marching field during halftime.

The crash of the waves at the gulf and the ocean.

I need some more of these crashes.

I think about the bad crashes going on in my life right now and wonder how I can pick up all these shards of what should have been and let God remold them into what can be.

Yesterday, I heard in several sermons the same theme:  No matter what the circumstances, God can be glorified.  I do not believe for one second that the Lord sent the crashes in my life (they are the results of mine and other's bad choices), but I've got to hang on to the hope that He can still make something out of it--out of me.

STOP!

 

31 Days of 5 Minute Free Writes 24: "Silence"

Job 7:11 - “Therefore I will not keep silent;   I will speak out in the anguish of my spirit,  I will complain in the bitterness of my soul."

 

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"Silence has lease."

"Silent Night, Holy Night."

The Sound of Silence.

Silent as the grave.

Silence.  It can be as refreshing as a long warm shower, or as deafening as a child's high pitched scream.  I am longing for silence, yet I'm bothered by the silence that is present.

When I want to sleep, I can't find quiet, silent rest, not even at night.  When I'm with friends and I try to join the conversation, the silence of the vacuum would only be disturbed if a cricket sound effect played in the background.  I am in a silent vacuum I can't get out of.

Some days I want the silence to hear myself think.  Sometimes there so much silence that what I'm thinking is too loud.  I'm longing for the silence that is light and rest, not the silence that is a clamorous darkness.

STOP!

 

31 Days of 5 Minute Free Writes 23: "Joy"

 

GO!  

I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart...

My pride and joy...

There's joy in the journey...

Happy, happy, joy, joy... (If you watched Ren and Stimpy in the 90's, you get that reference.)

And now we are so happy, we do the dance of joy... (If you watched Perfect Strangers in the 80's...)

"If satan can't steal your joy, he can't keep your goods." - Jerry Savelle

The joy of the Lord is my strength.  (Nehemiah 8:10)

I write these things that your joy may be full.  (I John 1:4)

The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace... (Galatians 5:22)

What is joy?  They say that joy and happiness aren't the same thing.  OK, technically they are not, but truly joyous people are happy and vice versa.  Sure, there's false joy and happiness--the kind designed to keep everyone else "up" and not bum them out.  But true joy?  Ah, true joy can't be squelched easily.  True joy is within; not simply without.

I think I'm going on a hunt.  I think I'll start hunting for daily things that bring me joy, that make me smile, that make me feel alive (if not but for a moment).  Walking around in a state of dark depression is like the walking dead, but eating brains won't help any. 

Lord, may I activate the fruit of joy that Your Spirit provides that I may awaken from this zombie-like existence.  Amen.

STOP!