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.
On the top bar {and I believe to the right if you’re not a follower yet} there is a “Contact Me” button. I hope it becomes your best friend as you navigate around the site. Use it to make your joys and concerns known as well.
So, let’s smile a little!
A good chunk of my social media presence starts right here. The posts are publicized on Facebook, Google+ and Twitter. So I’m thinking of going “live” periodically so you can see the face behind the fingers and I can get your input first hand.
The messages — while typically from Christian sources — have universal appeal. Today, I’ll share some words from Ray Lammie, a four time cancer survivor who spent 40 years of his life as a successful business executive and entrepreneur in a nationwide business. After retiring in 2006, Lammie pursued cancer support, business consulting, co-authored two books, organized numerous charity events and both played and managed amateur baseball. Among Ray’s most notable accomplishments was the launching of two Internet based projects, Thought for Today which targeted the business community with powerful, positive thought provoking thoughts and quotes, which later gave birth to the Faith Thought of the Day, a daily bible based devotional. Both were sent to recipients worldwide and were featured on several faith based websites. His inspirational and uplifting books were Random Thoughts on Life and Thoughts in Color and Black and White which were intended for people around the world in need of emotional encouragement. He died in 2009.
To godless men, God “speaks” through His actions. This is the point David is making in Psalm 29. At the time of Noah’s flood the voice of the Lord is over the waters (verse 3). When the fearful people of Israel were at the foot of Mount Sinai, the voice of the Lord is powerful (verse 4). In the ultimate future, the voice of the Lord is full of majesty (verse 4). There was a preview of this when, after Solomon dedicated the Temple, the priest could not enter the house … because the glory of the Lord filled the Lord’s house” (2 Chronicles 7:2,3).
Dear Lord, we come to You because You are the source for all that happens in our lives. We thank you for the many blessings we have received this week — some we unfortunately didn’t notice. Nonetheless, those blessings are ever-present in our lives. We thank You for healing. We thank You for slowing us down. We thank You for providing us our daily needs — no more and no less. We thank You for being with us, listening to us, walking with us on this journey. We thank You for the support of our family and friends … for seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary — sunrises, sunsets, flowers, kids laughing, adventures. We also know we can come to You with our concerns and they will be heard. We lift up those family members and friends who are battling various physical, emotional, financial, career or spiritual issues and ask not for Your healing (although that would be welcomed) and guidance but to keep reminding us we are not alone in our battles. In Jesus’ name, we pray for obedience to Your Will so Your Light shines through us. Amen.
I dream a lot, in fact, all I have to is close my eyes and those neurons in the grey matter go crazy. Most of the time, the slightly unconscious ramblings are action oriented {probably a compensation for me NOT being action oriented when conscious}. Rarely do I have nightmares.
So, let’s smile a little!
The Light 