Happy Friday! Happy Five Minute Friday!

You might remember the task is to write for five minutes on a specific prompt word. The initiative is to take five minutes and see what comes out: not a perfect post, not a profound post, just five minutes of focused writing. Our prompt is diligently supplied by Kate Motaung. After we post, we link up on Facebook at fiveminutefriday.com. I hope to see some of you there. It’s a great place to mix and mingle and share ideas.

I’ve been sharing snippets taken from Five Minute Friday: A Collection of Stories Written in Five Minutes Flat. They are a testament to the value of the exercise. This week, I’ll share some perspective from Natasha. I hope she inspires you to check us out … and maybe join in?

“Five Minute Friday is a source of strength. Through this community, I have been loved and encouraged. I have made friends that hold a special place in my heart. This community has given me the courage to say the words, ‘I am a Writer,’ confidently.”

The prompt this week is MIDDLE. The timer has been set for five minutes, so it’s time to let the neurons out. GO…

Make no mistake about it. We are in the middle of a war — in society, in politics and in our spiritual life.

As a caveat, I do not believe the extreme right and extreme left — in all areas — but that doesn’t mean I don’t listen to them. I also do not believe it is my job to “save” anyone. It is my job to present the information I have learned and act as a conduit to allow the love of Christ to shine through me. I do not have all the answers, but I think I know where to point you.

With that as a backdrop, what I’ve witnessed over the years as I attempted to walk closer to the Lord, the attacks — personal physical and spiritual — ramp up. I’m sure you’ve experienced that as well.

I’m going to point out a couple of instances relative to my experience … STOP

… on the slanty side of the pulpit. I recalled John White’s reminder, “His (Satan’s) supreme object is to hurt Christ. You personally are of no interest to him. It is only as you relate to Christ that you assume significance in his eyes … Now that you are a Christian his interest in you has nothing to do with you as an individual so much as with your potential for Christ’s cause. Do not flatter yourself. To God you are very important. But to Satan you are nothing more than a potentially useful microbe.”

We see it all the time. As our walk with God solidifies, often things seem to go “wrong.” Our faith is attacked and challenged.

This week, I am scheduled to preach at Atkinson (ME) United Methodist Church. Today I woke up with a scratch throat and nasaly voice. A few years ago, when scheduled to preach for three successive weeks at  West Fayette (NY) Presbyterian Church, I found myself hospitalized with a very minor stroke. I’m not implying my words were/are resoundingly poignant, but I have learned through the years, the more obstacles when presenting issues of faith generally means the devil is working overtime to block the message. And these sudden illnesses appear to fit that pattern. Something I was/am presenting had/has Satan shaking.

It might just be the simple statement, May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer (Psalm 19:4).

We are in the middle of a war.

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: You lose hope when you don’t focus on the right thing.