Welcome to Five Minute Friday. The task is to write for five minutes on a specific prompt word from your mind and heart. Then, post and encourage others who have braved the exercise by linking up at Kate’s spot on Facebook at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com. That’s the fun part!
To entice you to check us out, I’ve also been sharing some of the experiences my fellow writers have shared as chronicled in Five Minute Friday: A Collection of Stories Written in Five Minutes Flat. This week, I hope Mary’s words inspire you to join our writing club.
“Community, friendship, and sister-ship define the Five Minute Friday for me. I first joined the community in 2013. I will never forget that first attempt. Lisa Jo Baker [the founder] came by and asked if I understood the rules. I wrote two sentences on the topic and then went on to other topics, newbie mistake. The next week with a try-again-attitude, I wrote my first Five Minute Friday post in June 2013 about the in-between. I miss some Fridays, but ever since, I love to participate. It is a highlight of my week, communing with women [and some men] over a one-word prompt. The creativity and love shared keep me coming back.”
So, the timer is set for five minutes . The word for the week this week is INFLUENCE … so here goes. {clock starts now}
I think there are two ways to look at today’s prompt … what influences {and influenced} you and how do you influence others.
Each of us have a different story. There are literally hundreds who have influenced me during my lifetime — too many to name or single out. But they all had something in common. They impacted my life by investing in me and showing me how to live. There were teachers, mentors, certainly my wife, my kids, close friends — including my Best Friend, Jesus.
Because of them, I have a duty to influence others the same way. It’s not because I’m special or have something special to peddle. It’s to shine the Light of God in the everyday. I try to do that through this venue and other social media.
Throughout it all, it’s the influence of Jesus that has chiseled my life. I just try to show what He has done for me to others.
I don’t know how much influence … STOP
… I have, but that’s unimportant. If one life is changed, impacted or influenced by my Jesus, I am happy!
THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: Pain and suffering is inevitable but misery is optional.
The Light 
It was never really what I said
but rather, how I said it.
I could speak wehere others led,
passing words without an edit.
And this is fine, if words are good
for faith and hope and love,
but my tone and heart made them food
that made mindful of Him Above.
Original words from my soul
are few and far between;
a pastiche of derivative, my whole
original oeuvre’s a dream.
But channeling words with faithful intent…
my writing life will have been well-spent.
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Amen. Hope you’re having a good (better) day!
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.. I If one life is changed, impacted or influenced by my Jesus, I am happy!
Amen and very well said. That is what it is all about .. introducing the world to Jesus!
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Amen. That IS what I try to be about. Have a blessed weekend.
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