Welcome to the latest installment of Five Minute Friday.
It’s a good time. Won’t you join us?
Each week (on Friday,) we hook up with Lisa-Jo Baker… She gives us a prompt, then we write. For five minutes flat.
No overthinking. No excessive editing. Just going with the flow.
It’s a great workout– and you don’t even have to leave your comfy chair.
Today’s Prompt: AGAIN
AND GO!
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I’ve always prided myself on being a “fast learner.” I love learning new things and when faced with a new job, challenge, or task, I dive right in, messing, tinkering, asking questions until I muddle my way through it and come to a final result or conclusion I am satisfied with.
Funny how that’s harder to do as a Christian.
As a Christian, sometimes I’m not exactly the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree. Not the sharpest tack in the drawer. Not the quickest bunny in the field… not the…
Well, you get the point. I don’t say these thing to be self-deprecating, but really, I struggle with catching on with some of the simplest commands God has given me.
“Love your neighbor as yourself.” Thought I had that mastered– then before I can stop myself, I think something rather-not-so-nice about someone who just hurt my feelings. DOH! Gotta hit the reset button. Ready? Annnnddd again…
“Trust Me.” Just when I think I have given my everything to Him, I find myself worrying or back in a situation that I am trying to control. Sigh… Annnnddd again…
“Don’t worry about tomorrow…” Oh for the love of all things covered in chocolate sauce!?! I’m here AGAIN?? Blessed. Let’s give ‘er another go… Â Annndd again…
Here’s the thing– being a Christian and walking with Christ is a process. We live in a fallen world. We are going to fail. We aren’t going to get it right the first time (if we did, our name would be Jesus and being a Christian would be a whole different ballgame.)
Fortunately, we can live in the process. We can embrace the process. We can hold fast to the hope that we worship a God of second chances. Well, and third chances. And fourth chances… And…
God never gives up on us. So I’m not giving up on Him. He’s still working on us… No matter how many times we gotta thwack ourselves in the forehead, sigh deeply and say “Ok, Father… Let’s give this another try… Annnndd AGAIN!”
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In what areas of your life do you find yourself needing to hit that magical Jesus reset button the most? What encourages you most about the truth that we worship a God of 2nd (and 3rd, 4th, 5th etc) chances? I would love to hear your thoughts… because it’s my hunch that we are all perhaps living this daily. 🙂
As usual, thanks for stopping by… Now if you will excuse me, I’m gonna go hit my Jesus reset button and give this being like Christ business another shot… Again– and again– and again!
Repetition on our way to heaven,
SGK
“They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand.” Nehemiah 1:10 NIV
