GRACEFUL (FIVE MINUTE FRIDAY)

IMAGE SOURCE

GO

A GRACEFUL FLIGHT, BALLET IN THE SKY.

Who doesn't delight at the sight of migratory birds in flight like the Trumpeter Swans.  Up there in the sky, which they have conquered, like no human machinery has, they fly on heavenly wings.  They seem to have mastered the power to grace the sky.

 Like a ballet dancer who has spent so many years in training and discipline, perfected movements on her toes, like flying in the sky, captures the stage.  I believe that they are so like the graceful movements of the swan, in flight or in repose on placid lakes.

My word for today was taken from 1 Corinthians 9:24-27.  It is the runners verse for the prize.  He has to submit to discipline to hone his muscles and stamina.  He spends hours upon hours in the gym.  He diets to meet the nutrition to become healthy and able.  He uses time wisely for rest and for practice.  And in the race his sight is on the prize.

To me, that sounds like the preparation the migratory birds have to go through in their own particular way to endure the temperatures, days of unwavering flight, sustained by their instincts and powerful muscles.  To complete the package, they stay graceful in flight with a formation akin to ballet dance. Ballet in the sky.

In my previous post, I wrote about this season in my life, where I was carried by our Lord to His altar of grace.  He has honed my patience, humility and strength through this season.  And it is comparable to bird migration.

It is one thing to discipline ones self for this race called life and another to do it by being graceful.  But we can never do it without God, without His word, without prayers.

STOP

DESKTOP NEXUS

 I COR. 9:24-27 (kjv)

²⁴ Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
²⁵ And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
²⁶ I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
²⁷ But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Joining FMF community with the prompt-GRACEFUL 

Thankful to find community of writers writing a word prompt Fridays, where there are no grammar and writing skills needed.  Just pen/type thoughts without over thinking nor editing..... for 5 minutes or less.  

If you haven't joined yet, please do.  And don't forget to read what the others are saying with the One-Word-Prompt GRACEFUL.

With Lisa @ A WOK ON THE PRAIRIE

With Pam @ WRITING APPLES OF GOLD 

With Shelly @ REDEMPTION'S BEAUTY 

With Michelle-Lyn @ A LIFE SURRENDERED


And here's the beautiful song to score this post:
(With thanks to Sister Lidia, my worshiper friend)

YOUR GRACE STILL AMAZES ME 

NOTE:  THE OTHER ENTRIES HERE ARE ADDED AFTER THE STOP SIGNAL.  FINDING IMAGES TO PASTE AND OTHER LINKS TO SUPPLEMENT THE POST TAKES TIME.

Feasting at His Table

IMAGE SOURCE CREDITS

 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, “Come, gather for the great supper of God,

Revelations 19:17

put more weight over the cotton slacks to erase the crease.  Wets the wash cloth and rubs it over the stubborn areas.  Then press some more until it stood.  This is one thing of all household chores I am not so inclined to.  Yet press on I did.  I want to make it as neat as I can, thinking of the morrow which was the first day of work for Mike.  He must look his best to face the new boss and the new workaday world.  He's long been missed in this group of citizens, the regular earning middle class.

Over a long period of time, I prayed for this spring.  A time where God lays down His sacrifices for the invited to partake.  It was between me and my God.  Hubby's energy and appetite for a regular job was lost for quite some time.  He considered himself retired.  But I know deep inside me that he longs to provide.  It is his delight.  God designed it.

I toiled on for the many seasons like watching the flip of each calendar page, ushering in new moons by new moons.  Scrimped to meet the tight string of necessary sustenance.  Moonlighted and volunteered to welcome well needed resources to the dead of  some nights.  And I continued my plea.

Over this while, obedience to God was foremost.  One needs to be intentional not to brandish this deficiency at the face of the deficient one.  So God had to provide strength and patience all the days of the toil years.  In fact He overfilled me with humility akin to the design of Eve.  I must be a willing, capable and able helper as well as a suitable one.

Oh no, never perfect.  I grumble inside.  But I have to pray for the sun to slow down while it boils down the drain.  Don't let me see the orange sky, the silhouettes, and soft shadows.... while the furnace is still ablaze.  For good measures, God gives.  Take note, with zipped lips at that and a smile.  Allelluia!!  "NOT ABOUT ME, LORD BUT ALL ABOUT YOU!" (Max Lucado)

Where is the feast, my Lord?  I want to be invited. I hope this migrant to the prepared table would find it, knowing that thirst and fatigue would soon sit in, cut the flight and may miss what was there to take.

Then I began to share my desires to a trusted friend, who prayed with me.  We prayed for each other.  We put our needs before Him together.

Until one lunch break, I got a vision.  It was my quiet time.  The office is off-lights.  Others were napping while I was in our pantry, sitting still to hear His voice.  He told me to submit Mike's resume to this firm.  I broke down in tears.  I felt insuficient.  I know I have a prayer warrior on my side and I crumbled further into pieces.  She speaks of tearing down walls like Jericho's walls.  And indeed, some walls fell down.

I did submit that resume before Mike even knew of it.  So no matter what will come, one thing is for sure it is God's.  It was meant to be for a taxi driver position but God had another plan.  The owner wanted him as a supervisor.  His plans are the best always.  There it was beneath my nose while I was knocking at another door farther away.

We are on tiptoe here, this is new ground. A new feeder has materialized-new mercy upon the hands wide open to feed from.  And I am a happy guest at this table.  

It was not I who was at the right time at the right place, God put the time and the place in my path and to complete the grace, He made daylight my sight.

The gathering at the great supper is meant to be the feast of Jesus Christ's victory against His enemies, our enemies.  Or it could be interpreted as our partaking of His Flesh & Blood for redemption. 

I just want to post about partaking at His regular table, His daily mercies, His sustenance, provisions and protection..... and count my blessings.

I wish we could be hovering directly over some feasts of God's, and be invited to come over and be ready.  Yet not every feast can be attended.  They are intended as God intends them. 

Would this be the meaning of how the early birds catches the healthy worms?  Being at the right time and the right place?

As for the great supper of God, every believer will be gathered there..... as "He prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies, He will anoint our heads with oil, our cup will overflow." Psalm 23:5 (paraphrased).


Happy to count blessings with Jen.

~ The sun slowing down while the furnace was hot inside

~ Invitation to the Feast (where grace flows rivers)

~That still voice (being heard when the din dies down)

~For doors that are open even when we are facing the wrong one (more often close)

~For renewed strength and fresh hope (what a difference they make)

~For transformation into a little bit of the Ruby woman (even just a grit size of it)

~For the smiles when words aren't necessary

~For people who suddenly come into my life and impact me forever

~For humility, patience, stability of character

~For the definite acceptance of youngest in a sought at job

~For a new grandson coming this September month.

~For a full piggy bank ready to give away for church fund raising


~For people safe and nothing destroyed in an earthquake of  09.01.12

~People rising back from the floods

~For a dear friend's recovery

~For the prayer companions and warriors

~just adding this song on the list (which is a song dedication by my dear Sister Lidia), so fitting to the post, MY THANKS TO YOU, MY SISTER IN CHRIST. (09.06.12)

CARRIED TO THE TABLE

~and counting