Singing the blues

Here in the UK we seem to have an endless fascination with the weather.

Which way is the wind blowing? Will or won't it rain? 

Do I need a brolly? Better carry one just in case.

It's a great conversation opener and very much the topic du jour. 

On a day when we've had sheeting rain, clear blue skies and everything in-between it feels apt to be writing on the topic of 'Blue' for today's Five Minute Friday exercise.

START...

Life is threaded through with colour and hues that offer our eyes a different view.

There are so many days that shade neutral pale, indistinct amidst the gloom.

Interminable as sheeting rain cascading down our windowpane.

I find myself blazing angry-red, firing hot with searing heat and temper rays 

or surging strong into orange with surprising energy on better M.E days.

Many are spent in a dark, black tent of pain or grey-fog 

swirls of cognitive loss and discouragement.

The days I lean toward, the ones I prefer above all other are the royal purple patterned,

the sunny yellows and the glades of green, the calm of blue seen in heaven's canopy.

Aaahh, blue...

Blue is a bold rise of turquoise, a soft scene of aquamarine, a steal

of teal, a crisp, bright bolt of cobalt or a mellow azure light.

Blue means rest, coming apart to be a part of the calm of God's heart.

Blue means sweet soul-ease, still pools of peace to dip fretful toes into.

Blue signals less stress, less worry and hurry, expansive skies and less heart-sad cries.

Blue is contentment of warm sunny spells and a daily cloud-gift of God saying all is well.

Blue is indigo deep, mystical and magical as night softly creeps.

I won't let myself sink into 'the blues' today but appreciate

the nuances at play in the varied hues as they come my way.

STOP.

Well that was fun! It's good to write something less deep for a change.

Do stop by at Kate's place and check out the what other writers have to say about 'blue'. Who knows, you may be tempted to join in too.

An open door

May sounds like a portent, a promise, potential and permission given.

There's a beckoning, an urging and an invitation. New life is burgeoning.

The question is:Are we listening, and how will we respond?

As we enter this new month I'm reflecting on some timely words God gave me last night:

"Resist revisiting the past or feeling fearful about the future. All you have is Now. This moment matters.

There is grace for today; you cannot borrow from tomorrow. Rest secure in sensing My Presence at work right where you are"

These shape my response to the word 'door' for today's foray into five-minute-friday writing.

START:

Change alarms me, even as I crave alteration in my circumstances.

Somehow, a deep sense of loss hovers close and a sentimental clinging tight leaves me with closed hands and mind.

Just last week, I finally relinquished a seedy settee to make way for a supportive, comfy chair (with built-in massage facility, no less), and it was a big deal for me.

It was bought on-line, unseen, untested, untried, and still hasn't arrived... gulp!

The new chair will (hopefully!) bring some needful pain relief and yet.. I was so used to the old and I felt sad to lose it. 

Memories were written into every sinking crease and sag.

I'm reluctant to let go, although I have to. Life moves in circles and cycles. 

Without the letting go we are not free to embrace the new, next and better thing God has planned.

A door of opportunity stands open, always ajar, an invitation of grace.

And yet.. sometimes we cower with fear at the challenge it presents.

Maybe God is asking us to make room, make way for Him today ~ in life, in thought and heart.

Because He continually knocks at the door of our heart with wildly unceasing patience.

Waiting to be allowed in. Seeking to invade each space.

He alone knows what lies ahead and how He desires to bless us with His best.

He alone sees the end from the beginning, gives new birth, new life, new hope.

Will you join me, friends?

Will you say yes to Him today?

Open that door a crack and see His love flood in.

Be washed by waves of grace and mercy.

Because living with open mind, hands and heart is the best way for us, no matter how painful it can often be to open the door to the new.

STOP.

Being a giver

This is the season for giving thanks, gifts and resources ~ and getting too, as some might gleefully say.

This is the time to spend, spend, spend.. then ruefully pay, pay, pay.

As our circumstances have altered over the years, I have learnt to cut my cloth to suit my means. 

And that's been hard at times because I love to give gifts, especially to my loved ones, family and friends.

But it doesn't end or even begin with spending money, does it? Giving encompasses so much more.

The best form of giving is from the heart, willing, open, generous and sincere.

Thankfully, we all have myriad means at our disposal to give to others, no matter how limited our resources, health or energy may be.

We can give:

• Our time
• A listening ear
• Intercessory prayer
• A word of encouragement
• Friendship and fellowship
• Support, a hand to hold
• Cakes, cards and creative gifts
• Food parcels or vouchers

We can share:

• Ourselves, our stories
• Our time
• Our creativity and skills
• Our faith journey
• Our hope in Christ
• A cup of coffee or a meal

I'm sure you can think of many more things to give and to share. 

The ways and means are as endless and creative as our imagination will allow.

We can reveal the 'give-without-counting-the-cost' aspects of God's kingdom in the way we live and love, give and care for others.

Just search your heart, pray, and ask God what you have within you to give to others.

There are ways to be a giver all year round; it's not just for Christmas time.

And here's the thing:Some of those blessings you give out? Well, they may return to you with interest, because that's the sort of generous God we have.

He multiplies all things at His hands.

All gifts of grace are generously given in order to be returned unto others, and given back to us too in some mysterious, divine holy alchemy.

Our challenge is to be both generous, cheerful givers and gracious, humble, grateful recipients too. 

And to aim to reveal Jesus in all we say, think and do.

Which is the theme of the video below of 'Do Something' by Matthew West, taken from the album 'Into the Light'.

I'm linking here today with Kate for #FMF where we are writing brave and free with the prompt:'Give'. You are warmly invited and encouraged to take part.

Nothing muted here

It's been one of those weeks when thoughts don't flow freely and thinking feels more like a mud-dredging effort to mine for a few scattered gems than an easy, relaxed, effortless activity.

Life with M.E often brings brain fog and muddled (muddied) thinking as well as problems with focus and concentration.

Strangely, when words sit heavy for me and hard to find, it seems that poetry rises faster with more fluency than prose.

So this week's Five Minute Friday writing challenge lends itself well to verse, for better or worse!

Today's prompt is:'Red'

START..

Red Offering

You want me to wear red

that shout-out-loud, 'look at me'

noisy hot breath 

of anger and danger

can't I wear something 

more muted instead?

Red is...poured out, bleeding offering

on a cross of shame and suffering

death pooling, injury, wounding,

scarring, revealing scarlet thread

signalling loss and pain

And yet...there's a vibrancy 

a glow, shining brightness about it all

love's token of a heart aflame

grace revealing in Jesus name

a warming, birth of hope rising

with each petal falling 

from head, hands and feet

as offering for us all

to pass on to those we meet

Shout it loud...red is good

don't fade into crowd

be proud to take a stand

and a share of the sorrow 

and shame He bore

so you can bear the weight

of Love He brings to everything

with forgiveness threads spooling

onto ground weeping red

it's a cause to rejoice

for us all

©JoyLenton2013

STOP.

Linking here with Lisa-Jo Baker for Five Minute Friday where we write freely on a given topic, from the heart, as it comes, with no worry about perfection.

You are very welcome and warmly invited to join in.

Living in the upside-down kingdom

Welcome to the challenging creative writing exercise that is Five Minute Friday.

Here we watch words fall as they will and try to catch them on the way, pinning them to page before they are lost.

It's always a nice surprise to read back and see how we have been inspired in a limited time frame with a one word prompt.

Today's prompt is:'Last'


START...

Seen from above

Look up...

You may be drowning in a mountain of debt

living in a lonely tent of discouragement

worrying about how to survive today, never mind tomorrow

uncertain how to pray when sick, full of grief or sorrow

concerned about how your many needs can be met

Remember...

Nothing we see here is permanent

there is a way to live and love, even when

you feel drained and empty, dry with thirst

for in the upside-down kingdom the

 first will be last and the last first

as heavenly life seen from below

is very different viewed from above

Hold on...

Even when you feel you cannot last another day

for this too shall pass in time to come

and these circumstances won't always hold sway

Don't let the world make you weary 

and sad as you listen to its mournful

dreary tune in your head

Take hold...

of the promises in God's word

the ones you have received and heard

as He speaks to your heart.

You may feel you're at the end of your rope

bottom of the pile and out of hope

but He sees you by His side, forever loved, 

cherished, a winner - not disqualified

©JoyLenton2013

STOP.

Linking here with Lisa-Jo Baker and the other Five Minute Friday participants.

You are warmly invited to join in. 

All you do is set the clock, write for 5 minutes, join the link-up and read the post next to yours (and more if able) so that we can encourage one another. 

No worry about perfection, over-thinking or editing.

How we can feel insignificant when we're not

Welcome to Five Minute Friday, a great creative challenge where we write free flowing, as it comes, straight from the heart, in the space and time constraints of 300 seconds. No over-thinking, editing or worry about perfection.

It's a period of letting go and letting God inspire us!

I find that the one word prompt often stirs deep thoughts and poetry tends to spills forth.

Today's prompt is:'Small'


START....

You're not small

The world will try to tell you you're small.

Tiny. Insignificant. No mystery.

Yesterday's news. History.

Dirt on their shoes.

Shrinking into insignificance

like Alice and Gulliver

in a world of giants. A sea of faces.

No more noticeable than any other.

So we plead. We shout. Call out. Reveal our need.

And get pushed down. Pressed hard.

Ignored, we shrink back to wall.

My friend, you are not small at all

in your Creator's eyes.

He - delights over you with singing

rejoices at your birth

sees your end from your beginning 

and considers it all inestimable worth.

So much so He gave His life

for you and me

hung, suffered, died

on Calvary's tree.

Now risen, ascended on high

His Holy whispers from above
draws us gently nigh

to a heart heavy with Love

Overflowing with grace

mercy beyond measure

for His chosen people

His beloved. His treasure.

Don't feed into the world's lies.

Lift your head and see yourself

in God's eyes.

The new person 

He is shaping you to be

clothed in righteousness

royal robed child

of worth and dignity.

©JoyLenton2013

Joining here with Lisa-Jo Baker at the Five Minute Friday blog link up. 

The deal is to read and leave a comment on the post before your own to encourage one another. You are very welcome to join in.

To stay in touch with my posts you can subscribe by e-mail or find me here on Facebook.

How we can feel lonely but are never alone

Welcome to a space and place where there is friendship, companionship and sharing. Here, as I participate in Five Minute Friday, perfection is laid aside and words pour out freely with no over-thinking, editing or worry.

It's a great writing challenge that often stir deep waters from within as memory rises to the surface.

Today's prompt is:'Lonely'

START...

Lonely 

Lonely is a space to crawl into, away from noise and clamour of voices that shout too loud or whisper with hot-breathed closeness, singing a song she has no words for or ability to join in.

A seemingly safe and warm place where dreams dwell and longings lie in soft hushed sighs and tears flow free.

A life peopled by those meant to be family and all but a few are strangers to her heart. 

They push away and reject the essence of her personality and crush her fragile heart as rose petals falling to ground.

She looks hard in all the wrong places for love and acceptance, with resigned willingness to bend to another's idea of belonging and togetherness.

Though a stone sits heavy and sinks inside her as she tastes bitter waters rising.

There is no true belonging here.

Her heart empty with a God-shaped hole crying out for a Saviour.

He comes.

Hands open in offering.

He gives freely where others simply took.

He loves unconditionally.

He fills her heart to overflowing with a new song.

This is Jesus - her Heavenly bridegroom.

She will be His and belong to Him for all eternity.

She may feel alone sometimes, even in a sea of faces, but she is lonely no longer.

STOP

Linking here with Lisa-Jo Baker for Five Minute Friday. You are warmly invited to join in. Just write your piece, link up and visit the person next to you to offer encouragement and support.

To stay in touch with my posts you can subscribe by e-mail or find me here on Facebook.

When stories are woven by grace

Welcome to another foray into Five Minute Friday where we write freely and words are captured with no over-thinking, over-editing or worry about perfection. 

It is a great creative exercise, scary and strangely liberating all at the same time, and really challenges you as a writer.

Today's prompt is:'Story'

START..

Weaving a story

Image courtesy of freedigitalphotos.Net

Words must flow. A story begs to be heard. Ears are ready to receive even as heart quakes and hand shakes in the telling.

Pour forth your words as water. Only in the unstopping can we be free.

Life needs to be shared as gift for another wounded soul to see and receive.

Our offering becomes the opening of a door to their freedom.

Let loose the words, pain and shame of a story you didn't choose to be part of. 

And in the undoing, unravelling, relief will come.

We are the ones chosen to be glory revealers.

Our lives the tale of God's greater narrative on the earth.

A story of hope, healing, forgiveness, renewal and redemption.

With lives made new.

Slowly, tenderly, God draws all the messy, tangled threads together with warp and weft of His choosing.

Weaving the pattern He desires to make.

Where we see knots He sees new opportunities.

Making a thing of beauty.

A showcase of His grace.

And as we yield to the Author and perfector of our faith our chains fall loose. 

We can stand free.

A life washed clean, anointed and equipped by Love.

A story of restoration waiting to be shared.

Our stories woven into the fabric of eternity.


STOP

Linking here with Lisa-Jo Baker at Five Minute Friday. You are very welcome to join in as we aim to share and encourage one another by our words.


To stay in touch with my posts you can subscribe by e-mail, follow on Twitter or like my Facebook page.

Beauty in brokenness

Welcome to Five Minute Friday, a great creative exercise which yields surprising richness in a short space of time.

This is where we write from the heart as words pour out as water, spilling on to the page with no worry about over-thinking or perfection.

Today's prompt is:'Broken'

START...

Broken Image

Seeing a mirror image

flawed, imperfect

drowning in brokenness

where we see cracks

 you see courage

where we see flaws

you see a flood of forgiveness

where we see holes

you see opportunities to fill

our woundedness 

mirroring your own

as you took human flesh

our brokenness 

like your body

pierced and torn

wearing our darkness

corruption within

and now we lift eyes 

still hesitant to view

ourselves afresh in you

for you see 

beauty in ashes

hope in despair

joy in grief

perseverance 

through pain

and you bring 

restoration

of all we have lost

broken lives

minds and bodies

can be healed 

and made new

let love embrace

let grace repair

all broken places

we despair of 

ever being mended

seeing in the glass 

darkly here

until you lift the veil

reveal the glory

your light within

make us whole again

let us know that

renewal, hope

and healing is here

if we only look

away from ourselves

and up to you

the Mirror 

of our wholeness

©JoyLenton2013

STOP

Linking here with Lisa-Jo Baker and with Missional Women Faith Filled Friday.

You are very welcome and warmly encouraged to join in.

To stay in touch with my posts you can follow on Twitter, subscribe by e-mail, or find me here on Facebook.

Where I find a place to belong

Welcome to another Five Minute Friday writing exercise where we spill forth words in 5 minutes flat and watch them fall with no worry about perfection, over-thinking or marinading.

Today's prompt is:'Belong'

START...

Where I belong

Childhood didn't fit

 with illegitimate

writ large across my life

until they did the decent thing

 and became husband and wife

Mind and body abused,

unwanted, neglected and

used, so I escaped

into words

wrote out my heart

longing to belong 

Somewhere

as friends proved fickle

to this extrovert-shy 

child heart looking 

to be a part

one of the crowd

not stand-out alone

when face and form didn't fit

selection for a sporting team

and being accepted

remained a distant dream

I gave all I had

yet secret things

remained locked up

with feeling sad 

and bad in my own

and others' eyes

no athletic glory

nor academic prize

and yet I yearned

to be accepted

just as I am

Then a Voice 

whispered close

drew me in 

with cords of love

compassion

 and forgiveness 

for my sin

full acceptance

and understanding 

of everything

my life of pain 

and mess

Now unfurling 

as plant to sun

with tendrils of trust

leaning close 

to Father's heart

the One True Place

where I belong

in His embrace

lifted and held

each day by 

fresh outpourings

of love and grace

with fears 

of being an outsider

no longer holding sway

©JoyLenton2013

STOP.

Linking here with Lisa-Jo Baker for Five Minute Friday. You are very welcome to join in.

To stay in touch with my posts, poetic and otherwise, you can subscribe by e-mail, join with Google Friend Connect or like my Facebook page.

I've looked at clouds from both sides now

Welcome to another foray into Five Minute Friday where we write free flowing with words poured forth just as they come and no worrying about perfection. 

It's scary, challenging and exhilarating all at the same time.

Today's prompt is:'Beautiful'

START...

Clouds

Photo credit:Image courtesy of freedigitalimages.net

Clouds have fascinated me over the last few months. Since I have no scenic view from my window, eyes naturally veer upwards to drink in sky and trees.

They speak of unlimited horizons, open vista, potential cloaked in mystery and unknowing. 

Changing hours and seasons are mirrored there. Dawn and sunset set skies ablaze with suggestion of God's glory.

I am reminded of the Israelites being led by a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.

God hides his glory from us or eyes and frame would be seared by the sight.

Being housebound has meant that the relatively few times I exit the house are pregnant with possibility, cause for celebration.

I breathe in air like I've forgotten how to. I gaze longingly at flowers, leaves, trees and sky.

I want the freedom of a bird to soar high above the circumstances of my life.

Yet I remain rooted to the earth with all its attendant joys and sorrows.

God has made everything beautiful in its time and place, if only we have eyes to see and appreciate it.

I want eyes to see. I don't want to miss a thing of my internal or external world.

All is gift. All is beauty. Even if much lies concealed.

STOP

Linking here with Lisa-Jo Baker for Five Minute Friday. You are very welcome to join in.

To stay in touch with my posts you can subscribe by e-mail, join with Google Friend Connect or like my Facebook page.

Living in between this world and the next

Welcome to another foray into Five Minute Friday where we write straight from the heart, as it comes, letting words fall as they will without worrying about perfection.

Then we link up, read the post directly before ours, leave a comment and encourage our fellow writers in the process. Because that's what it's all about.

Today's prompt is:'In between'

START....

In between

In-between life and death 

lies despair and dying 

hopes crushed and crying 

And we have love and laughter

expectation of joy ever after

with family and friends 

when losing loved ones is not the end

Waiting for healing that doesn't always come

seeing grace revealing Jesus as God's Son

we try and we falter to live life aright 

in this topsy-turvy world of pain and sadness

 where you still shine your Light

So we continue believing all will be better

your goodness receiving in word, deed and letter

Our hearts yearn for more than eyes can see

as we cling to today for all we are worth

knowing tomorrow brings forth

new hope, life and birth

With the rising of each morning sun 

help us stay eager for the hope to come 

as to your hand we faithfully cling 

When all feels overwhelming 
keep us resting in the peace 
and calm only you can bring

to comfort our hearts as we linger 

in between this world and the next

Help us do our part 
by living faithful

to all things unseen

proclaiming your Truth with zeal and zest 
ushering in your kingdom to come 
with grateful hearts

as we finally enter your rest

©JoyLenton2013

STOP.

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" ~ 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

Linking here with Lisa-Jo Baker for Five Minute Friday. You are very welcome and warmly encouraged to participate.

To stay in touch with my posts (poetic and otherwise) you can link up with Google Friend Connect or subscribe by e-mail.

I would also love you to connect with me on Twitter or Facebook.