Five Minute Friday

No ordinary day

/ Joy Lenton / 20 Comments

When we think about our lives, it is hard sometimes to rise above the mundane activities that shape and define our days.

Yet, even as we go about routines, our hearts can be lifted to places beyond the immediate.

Our eyes can be opened to more than we see.

Our hearts can be touched by glimmers of God’s grace.

And seemingly ordinary moments become a meeting place between heaven and earth.

God whispers close.

We hear Him and know we are in a Holy encounter.

Even with feet rooted firm to earth.

There is more to our lives than the surface and superficial dictate.

With receptive minds and hearts we can be ready for extraordinary moments in an ordinary day.

Today, I am joining in with Lisa-Jo Baker for Five Minute Friday as we write freely, letting words spill as they will, with no worry about over-thinking, marinading or perfection.

The prompt is:‘Ordinary’

START….

‘No ordinary day’

This is no ordinary day

in some extraordinary way

death is dying…

And because of You we are made brand new

because of Your great Love we’re redeemed, restored,

forgiven, healed, children of God above

because of Your grace we have everything we need

to run with joy this earthly race

Ordinary doesn’t begin to describe who we are anymore

each one unique, special, precious, gifted and adored

ordinary people made extraordinary by Your sacrifice

and our response to how You lay down Your own life

Clouds hung heavy and curtain was torn in two

from top to bottom, signalling our lives

are made certain  of spending  eternity with You

We have…

hope for today

blessings always

peace beyond measure

Your favour to treasure

We are…

never alone or forsaken

with sin, shame and guilt all taken

by Your death and dying

so we can dry our tears, still our fears

as we rest in all You are supplying

©JoyLenton2013

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no ordinary day poem image pin

Out of shadows

/ Joy Lenton / 16 Comments

Welcome to my first Five Minute Friday post here. I’ve been writing them for some time over at Words of Joy.

It’s a challenging creative writing exercise where we write freely, as it comes, pouring out words in 5 minutes flat in response to a one word prompt, with no over-thinking or editing. Then we link back, and read the post next to us to encourage one another.

I have found that memories often rise deep from a well within, and a degree of soul-searching occurs. Most of my attempts lean toward the poetic. Such is today’s offering.

The prompt is:‘She’ 

START…

‘Hope rising’

SAMSUNG

Some days she is shadow

mere wraith

going about her ways

drifting

as grey smoke

insubstantial, barely there

floating

between colours vibrant

alive and bright

while she moves silent,

unseen

out of mind and sight

dull, invisible

energy quenched

nothing left

except vapour

and mist disappearing

when One calls

her name

His Light  piercing

the gloom

of sadness and shame

she’s dwelt in

for too long

now…..

He beckons her

to an open door

she hears a new song

as hope rises

phoenix bold

from the ashes

of her life

and fire ignites

her heart once more

©JoyLenton2013

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5-minute-friday-1

Linking here with Lisa-Jo Baker for Five Minute Friday.

You are very welcome and warmly invited to join in.

I have written about coming out of the Shadow-lands I have inhabited for many years.

Shadows can be painful issues from the past that still spread a stain on the present and cloak us in invisibility, making us feel disconnected from ‘real life’.

They are also the deep places of suffering and struggle, whether with depression, sadness, shame, pain or sickness, whereby we are unable to live as freely as we desire.

But they are not our permanent home.

There is always hope with God in our lives.

“but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” ~ Isaiah 40:31