Tag: #fiveminutefriday

Kids/Parenting, Link-Ups

Future

Michelle

Today, I am linking up at Five Minute Friday. Every Friday, a community of writers and bloggers come together to write for five solid minutes on a prompt. No overthinking, no editing, no worrying about grammar — just write…

Today’s prompt is: FUTURE

And…GO!

Most days, when I think about the future, my breathing gets more rapid and shallower. My heart beats a little faster, and my brain goes into overdrive.

I begin to worry — have I prepared my kiddos well-enough for all that they will face? Do I have enough funds in reserve for ‘what-ifs’? Am I praying enough? Am I loving enough? Will my example prove to be a good one for these two humans that are more important to me than my own life?

Typically, I don’t stop there.

Recently, I made a decision to go back to school — again. I have my Bachelor’s degree. I also have an MBA. Now, I’m going to get my teaching certificate. Dude…am I crazy? I must be.

I begin thinking about the student loans I already have for my MBA, and I get a little anxious when I think about the possibility of taking out more loans.

How will I help my own kids when they begin their college tours if I’m still paying for my own student loans?

Sigh…you can see where my thoughts go when I think of the future — money…finances…budget…

Why does money cause me so much anxiety and stress? Am I alone in this? Surely not. Surely there are others who stress out about finances too.

I don’t necessarily need or want to be wealthy; I just want to be able to be comfortable without having to worry about meeting the needs of my family.

I am excited for the future of my children. I know they have bright and amazing things ahead of them. They are both so kind and smart.

STOP

Have a great weekend, friends!

Link-Ups, Series, Soul Relationships

Focus

Michelle

Happy Friday, friends! It’s been a while since I’ve participated in the five minute friday community. But when I saw the word for today is ‘focus,’ I knew I had to share a few words with you all.

The premise for five minute friday is that you are given one word and you write for five minutes solid. No stopping…no correcting grammar. You can learn more here at Kate Motaung’s blog.

Merriam-Webster defines focus as: the subject on which people’s attention is focused; a main purpose or interest.

Focus is my word for 2016. I am going to focus more on what matters. I’m going to make my focus the intangibles of life.

Focus

As I sit here in Starbucks, I’m finding it difficult to focus on this post. It’s loud. No more are the days when you can sit in the coffee shop and have some elevator music playing softly in the background. Nope…now it’s loud…and distracting…and not relaxing in the least.

Aside from the music, it is FREEZING in here. I can’t even begin to relate to you just how cold it is. My fingers are having difficulty typing. Because my hair is pulled back today, my neck continually feels the breeze, coming from where, I’m not exactly sure. And I’m trying to get my hood to stay up, but it won’t.

It’s distractions like this that the enemy uses to derail our focus…our thinking…our attention. He wants to get us thinking about something other than God’s Word or His plan for our lives. The enemy wants to make us ‘busy.’ Because if he can make us busy, he can get us sidetracked in our goals and dreams.

See, that’s where I’m trying to focus more this year. How can I be a better steward of what God has given me? How can I focus more on what He wants from me and for me?

And a shiver just went through my bones. As I’m trying to get my thoughts in line. As I’m trying to decide the right words to say to you to help you find your focus.

Do you want to get in better shape?

Do you want to read more?

Do you want to earn more money?

Do you want to have more quality time with your family?

Then ask yourself this: is what I’m doing RIGHT NOW going to bring my desire into focus or will it cause it to be blurry? Will it cloud my vision? Or is it in line with my mission?

 

Link-Ups, Series, Soul Relationships

Friend

Michelle

This post was originally published on April 25, 2014…

Hey Friends! Here we are, at another Friday (already?). So, I’ve been doing some thinking…scary, I know. I’m going to start writing more frequently. There for a while, I was writing almost daily and it has slowly trickled off. But, as I’ve said before…I need to write like I need to breathe. And sometimes, it’s not much…but just taking the time to sit down and get all of the thoughts out of my head and onto paper (21st Century translation = computer screen).

Today, as with all Fridays, I’m linking up with Lisa-Jo Baker for her Five Minute Friday writing challenge. Today’s prompt is Friend…ready? GO!

It’s funny to think of the word friend. Sometimes, I think that I haven’t got a friend in the world, and then other times, when I take a long-hard look around, I realize I’m blessed with an overwhelming supply of friends.

Those who encourage me with the things they say or do.

Those who lift me up when I’m having trouble lifting myself up.

Those who pray for me when I feel I don’t have the strength or stamina to pray for myself.

Those who remind me of the song of my life and sing it back to me when I forget it’s chorus or the verses.

Those who let me know that it’s okay (and perfectly normal) to yell at my children on occasion. (Side note: thank God for His grace and mercy that I don’t stay in ‘that place.’)

Those who push me to do more. To be more. To love more. To forgive more – even when I feel I. Just. Can’t. Forgive. Again.

Those who love me when I feel I’m at my most unlovable.

Those who have care and compassion for me when I’m hurting.

I have several girlfriends who fit some or all of the above. And I’m so grateful for each and every one of them.

I know that you, my dear reader, have this person or people in your life that do these things for you. Oftentimes, it’s the person we would least expect it to be. In my case, it’s my children.

I know that I can’t share all of my personal woes and life struggles in detail with my children, but they have been my best friends lately.

They remind me that I’m their superhero. I’m their mom. I’m their first friend. And I hope to be their best and last friend they have.

His Word, Kids/Parenting, Series, Soul Relationships

dream

Michelle

I wonder if many people give weight to their dreams anymore.

Or if we are too jaded and cynical because of the world around us to even dare to dream. And then furthermore, to actually pursue those dreams.

I can say that my dreams have changed over the years. Where I once dreamt of things like wealth and living comfortably and having a nice car, nowadays, I dream more about what kind of legacy I’m leaving for my children.

Am I giving them the encouragement to chase their dreams?

Am I providing them the right environment to dream?

Do they have a good foundation to fall back on when their dreams don’t come true? And then to dream new dreams?

Dream

As many of you know, I’m a single momma to two amazing kids. While this road has been challenging and rewarding, I also dream about becoming a wife. Not just any wife, either.

No, I want to aspire to be the woman/wife/mother that Proverbs 31 describes. Yes, I know it’s a long shot, but hey, a girl can dream, right?

I dream of being the wife that makes her husband glad to come home.

I dream of being the mother that her kids know is their safe haven.

I dream of being the woman that inspires other women to never give up.

But mostly, I dream of being the daughter of the King that He would have me to be.

I dream of living a life that gives Him the glory and the praise.

Even if it means re-evaluating my dreams.

Until next time…dream on, dreamer.

 

linking at christianmommyblogger.com
His Word, Kids/Parenting, Series

Fear

Michelle

Today we are talking about FEAR.

Fear has two definitions:

Forget Everything And Run

or

False Evidence Appearing Real

Do Not Fear

Did you know that there are 365 bible verses that tell us, ‘Fear Not’ or ‘Do Not Be Afraid’?

That’s one verse for every. day. of. the. year.

I don’t know about you, but I think God may be trying to tell me something.

Like I don’t have to fear what the future holds – He is already there.

I don’t have to fear whether or not He will provide – He always has and He always will.

I don’t have to fear what will become of my children. I just have to turn them over to Him and He will work all things out for their good.

I don’t have to fear the war.

I don’t have to fear my enemies.

I don’t have to fear the unknown.

I just have to trust Him.

I have to trust Him that it will all work out according to His plans and His will for my life.

I have to trust that I am where I’m supposed to be.

I have to demonstrate faith and hope for my children that the God of the Universe is there for them and loves them.

So, for the foreseeable future, I will choose to define fear as False Evidence Appearing Real.