Poem

Enable, that’s the word of the week provided for us by Miss Kate. To enable is to give (someone or something) the authority or means to do something.  My question today is, how best to enable?  What can we do to enable others to get or have or become whatever it is needed?

How best to enable

It’s but a moment
Takes just a couple of seconds,
Help me.

But in that help me
Might come some baggage.

A help me always
Requires a giving
A showing of need.

Sometimes, just sometimes
That’s a very hard thing to do.

I had a friend
Years past, Who lived
Close to the pocketbook.

Things were hard, but
Asking for help, harder.

I never understood this
This reticence to
Ask for help.

Until, older age and pain
Crept in, and asking for help. Hard.

That admitting of weakness.
That internal feeling of
Shame, and regret, and sorrow.

So I ponder
How do we enable
the asking of help?

While ensuring the
Continuation of dignity?

I admittedly have
No solid answer, but
I’m learning.

That conversations matter,
The taking time to listen.

Or even the taking time
To explain the why,
Or even to not explain.

Sometimes, the offer made
is all that is needful.

Without the expectation
that only you,
Can meet a need.

Sometimes the best way
to enable.

Is while listening
just lend a hand
without explanation.

And perhaps we will learn
how best to enable.

Scriptural basis

Exodus 17:12

When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset.

Galatians 6:2

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

John 15:13

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Matthew 5:16

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Miss Kate has once again given us a word prompt for the week.   Observant has a couple of different meanings.   First to be quick to notice things.  Second is adhering strictly to the rules of a particular religion, especially Judaism.  To be an observant believer could also be described as being a devout believer.  These two definitions fit well with each other don’t you think?   What does it mean to be observant?

What does it mean to be observant?

The question is asked.
An eyebrow raised in expectation.
What does it mean to be observant?

To be observant is
Noticing the details.
Not just the large, but
Also the small. It is to
Pay attention.

But not only to pay attention
but to consider what
such an observation means.

A filled laundry basket
at the bottom of the stairs.
Noticed.
But it is truly observed
if it’s simply left there?

A neighbour sighs
Long and deep
Noticed.
But it is truly observed
If you don’t query why?

The 10 commandments
written down.
Noticed.
but if you ponder them not
Are they truly observed?

A group of children
circled round a singleton
Noticed.
Is observation truly seen
if you don’t watch for a few minutes?

A baby bunny
huddled in a corner.
Noticed.
But if you don’t look it over carefully
Are you being observant?

How many times in life
do you see, but
don’t truly observe?
Observation acts.
It doesn’t merely notice.
Think you not?

What does it mean to be observant?

Scriptural Insight

James 1:16-27

²⁶ If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. ²⁷ Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Exodus 34:11-12

¹¹ “Observe what I command you this day. Behold, I will drive out before you the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. ¹² Take care, lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land to which you go, lest it become a snare in your midst. 

Proverbs 23:26

My son, give me your heart,
    and let your eyes observe my ways.

Have you observed the vast variety of courses you can take through SchoolhouseTeachers.com?   From Preschool through adulthood, the choices will delight your mind. 

During the Hey, Mama! We’ve Got Your Back Sale, new members may use code: SUPPORT at checkout (2/22–3/31) to pay only $39 (reg. $49.97) for a Quarterly Ultimate Membership. New members who sign up before 3/31 will receive the newly released Four Pillars Tote Bag. Take the whole family on a picnic with this roomy, insulated bag! (Sorry, no refunds. New members only. Color is publisher’s choice.)

A conversation I had with a friend the other day has been sitting on my mind.  I have no true answers for her beyond what I have been counselled myself.  Some of the thoughts I’ve been having spilled out in this poem as I pondered the Five minute Friday word Fix.   The question I ask myself is how does one fix what is not broken?

Fix what is not broken

How does one fix it?
The thing that can’t be broken.
A tie that binds securely?
If it can’t be broken
How does one fix it?

A friend the other day
Mentioned troubles with a
Spouse.
About sometimes he didn’t
Come home to the house.

Marriage is forever
A bond twixt God and man
A man and woman
Forever will Hold
Each other hand.

So how does one fix it?
This thing unbroken is?
A tie securely binding
A woman and her man.

Through prayer and
Supplication.
And through a
fresh perspective see.

Making choice
on showing love
Even when one’s heart
is dour.
Shows the hand of God
‘Til it becomes a shower.

It’s difficult I know
When so easy all around
The unbroken is
Tossed and declared
to be unbound.

Bonds securely tie us.
Remembering sometimes pain.
Remembering too
I hope, the joy
that you had gained.

There are no easy answers.
In this dark world
we’re in.
Pain sometimes bids
us Sin.

Change thou
Your perspective.
Pray hard for
One’s spouse.

Pray too that you can
Show the love
That you once felt
And notice as you go
The love you have been dealt.

How to fix
What is not broken
is a difficult thing to do.
But through time,
God’s care, and work.
It is possible to do.’

Scriptural Inspiration

Malachi 2:14-15

“But you say, ‘Why does he not?’ Because the LORD was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant.”

Song of Solomon 8:6-7

“Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the LORD. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, he would be utterly despised.”

Genesis 2:24

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”

Ecclesiastes 4:12

“Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

Mark 10:9

“Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

The Five-minute Friday word of the day is Fresh. Wow… what a challenge because what IMMEDIATELY comes to mind is perhaps not something I should write on. 🙂  So what can I write on instead?   That’s the challenge.  Ah, I know… Fresh Perspective… isn’t that an idea I can work with? 

Fresh Perspective

A glass of milk
Fresh from the fridge.
I stop and pause
For just a smidge.

Fresh ideas this
morning poured.
Considering science
Not a moment bored.

The Cosmological
Argument
Proof indeed that
God exist.

Or consider how
Without God.
Life is meaningless
Nothing abound.

Apologetics
Searching hard.
Questions to ask
Come by the yard.

Can one see
The truth in this?
That Jesus really
Did exist?

The questions
race through my mind.
Which to share?
How to be kind?

Fresh perspective
Comes to me.
Ask it now
A bit softly.

Taking note
Not to hurt
A questing heart
Let’s not be curt.

And so my heart
Which still does ache.
Takes new breath
For goodness sake.

Hope restored
A brand new year,
Let’s see where
Fresh perspective veer.

Where Ideas Spring From

So one of the things I like with SchoolhouseTeachers.com is that it comes with a subscription to RightNowMedia.   It was funny, I also get a subscription through my church but it seems they are different.   I dunno though as I haven’t exhaustively researched.  All I know, when I look up apologetics with one account, I see different stuff with the other.   Go figure. 

Anyways, it’s an amazing resource and I’ve been going through their Apologetics courses and some of them are short and sweet, and their thoughts easily remembered.  This morning I was listening to Reasonable Faith Defenders. 13 lessons, about five minutes each.  With questions.  Simple to remember questions that help questing hearts think.  

YES!!!!!!!!!   Five minute Friday is back again!   I know I know, it was only a one week break… or was it two?   But Miss Kate listed the Five minute Friday at 10 p.m. tonight with the word Time.  I happily started my post and then suddenly my hubby was home from work… 1.5 hours later.  What a lovely nap I had!  I guess God knew better eh?  But my post, Tick Tock, stayed nicely in my head so when I woke up properly it was there to write.

Tick Tock

Do you feel it running?
Tick Tock
Tick Tock
Do you hear it running?
Tick Tick Tock

Time marches on
Slowly, surely
Second after second.
Waits for no one
Tick Tick Tock

Take a moment to
consider how
Time is not ours to hold
It’s all held by God.
Tick Tick Tock

Not ours to hold
But every moment planned
As it, hmm, like maybe
today is meant for more.
Tick Tick Tock

Salvation, will it be
Today? Will you see
the beauty in each moment?
Tick Tick Tock

Time is found
within it, wisdom
Choices to make
God chooses our path
Tick Tick Tock

And how knows
as God orders our days
That perhaps, this situation
was meant for us.
Tick Tick Tock

It gives pause
As you look and see
How much control
God exerts with moments.
Tick Tick Tock

Scriptural Inspiration

2 Corinthians 6:2

2 For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

Ecclesiastes 3:11

11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

Proverbs 16:19

9 In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.

Proverbs 90:12

12 Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Ester 4:14

14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

Col.4:5-6

5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.