Blog | 5 Minutes for Faith

Drowning in the Storm

Written on June 2, 2011 by HeatherR in Blog

Matthew 14:29b-30 Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” (NIV)

In faith, my husband, Jason, and I walked into the storm.

The year 2005 brought change to our lives. With persistence, God tugged both of our hearts to move to Africa even though that was one place I never desired to go. We took a short-term trip to Kenya and Tanzania to understand how it would be to live and teach in Africa. Although the students were wonderful, the glimpse of what we saw included mob justice, street children and poverty.

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A Different Definition of Clean

Written on May 30, 2011 by Kimberly in Blog

“Is your room clean?”

My daughter answered my question with an enthusiastic, “Yes, mam.” I smiled and responded that perhaps we should go take a look at her room together. It only took one look to realize we had different definitions of the word clean.

Indeed, all of her stuffed animals were off of the floor. No clothes were carelessly flung here, there, and yonder. And, yes, even the bed was semi-neatly made. So imagine her surprise when I actually had an issue with the tiny scraps of paper and broken bits of toys and crayons all over her bedroom floor.

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Springtime Blessings

Written on May 28, 2011 by Deb in Deb, Devotional

Recently we have had birds try to build a nest in the wreath hanging on our front door. Each time I open the door there are tiny twigs on the porch from their failed attempts.

This reminded me of an experience we had a few years ago when our determined feathered friends were more successful. Day after day I would remove partially constructed nests only to open the door to new ones again and again and again.

Well, you can see who won! One beautiful morning, I opened the front door and found a completed nest and these three little eggs.

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Soul food for the sisterhood.

Written on May 25, 2011 by Staci in Blog

This week has been a blur of activity. A whirlwind of busyness. A virtual non-stop list of things and chores to do and accomplish. But you know what? I wouldn’t change a minute of it! Because it is all leading up to something I have been craving for some time now.

Soul food.

The gathering together of like-minded girlfriends who, for all of our vast differences and interests, are forever bonded by years of tried and tested friendship. Years that have brought changes, presented challenges, and caused us to up our game just a few more times than we might have liked.

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Forget Loving Your Enemies

Written on May 24, 2011 by DesireeR in Blog

A few weeks back, my small group at church was studying the book, Radical. I have a feeling many of you have either heard of or purchased it at some point. One of the many topics we discussed happened to be loving your enemies which comes from the Beatitudes where Jesus is talking to His disciples about how they should live.

Matthew 5:43
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[a] and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven.

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Forgive Us Our Trashbaskets

Written on May 22, 2011 by Deb in Blog

A few years ago, I received an email from a friend which contained a list of funny statements made by little ones. Don’t you just love the funny things they say!

I was especially tickled by one of the statements and remind myself of it often. It read, “And forgive us our trash-baskets as we forgive those who put trash in our baskets.”

Isn’t that great?! What a perfect visual image!

It is often much harder to forgive the trash that is tossed into my life than it is to deal with the trash I make myself. You know what I’m talking about, a little:

Unkind Word
Bit of gossip
Lie
Snub
Mess
___________

Somehow it’s easier to overlook my own trash, and to think that mine doesn’t stink quite as bad as the other guy’s garbage.

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Posing as a Paralytic

Written on May 19, 2011 by HeatherR in Blog

Hebrews 12:1 – Therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. (NIV)

Running is the only sport I can do with relative success, and I enjoy it. As I trot the neighborhood streets, I can withdraw into my own world without much care that an ice cream truck can drive two rounds before I run a block. Just kidding. Almost.

I don’t mind that I’m slow until I have to race.

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there is time

Written on May 17, 2011 by Rachel in Blog

I race into the kitchen, open the fridge looking for ideas for dinner. The little ones are running loops — through the kitchen into the dining room into the living room, the front hall, and back to the kitchen. I hear cries for mom, that would be me, from downstairs. And now, the tea kettle is starting to shrill, the tea kettle I put on for my now elusive late afternoon cup of tea on the front porch.

My heart is exhausted.

I was forgetting that there is time.

For everything there is a season,

and a time for every matter under heaven:

a time to be born, and a time to die:

a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted:

a time to kill, and a time to heal;

a time to break down, and a time to build up;

a time to weep, and a time to laugh;

a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

a time to gather stones, and a time to gather stones together;

a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

a time to seek, and a time to lose;

a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

a time to tear, and a time to sew;

a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

a time to love, and a time to hate;

a time for war, and a time for peace.”

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