Posts Tagged With: Five Minute Friday

Falling to Faith (Five Minute Friday)

Five Minute Friday
Hi friends! Yep, it’s Friday. (Can I get a whoot-whoot?!?) And Friday can only mean one thing ’round these parts.

Today is the day we link up with Lisa-Jo and rock out Five Minute Friday.

For FMF, Lisa gives us a prompt. Then we write. Uninhibited. For five minutes.

It’s as easy as that.

So let’s see what is in store for us today…

Today’s Prompt: FALL

AND GO!

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Fall. It’s not just a season… It’s a verb (you know, one of those words that shows action…)

It has positive or negative connotations. We can fall down the stairs. (And up the stairs. I’m so graceful, I’ve done both. In the same day.) We can fall in love. (Done that too.) We can fall short. (Yep, sounds familiar.) And we can fall to faith.

Falling to faith is a beautiful thing… I don’t mean it is exceptionally graceful or easy– but it sure is a wonderful feeling, even though it might take immense effort and get a little messy sometimes.

When we are in a tough spot… We can fall to faith.

When we are unsure of what to do next… We can fall to God knowing that He has got our back.

When the enemy of our soul is all up in our grill and wreaking havoc on our hearts– we can fall into Jesus’ arms for protection.

When we are overwhelmed… We can fall to His feet for rest.

When nothing seems to be going right… We can fall forward onto the One who is and was and is yet to come. He never changes.

When this world starts to suck us down… we can fall to the Father in faith.

Falling to Faith isn’t easy. But it sure is worth it.

STOP!

****

This post is straight from my heart today, dear readers. (Well, all my posts are, but this one from the deep places in my heart.) I would so appreciate your prayers for our little army family. Things are changing quickly as we prep to move across the country… and as a Mama of a 3-month-old, I am trying not to become overwhelmed… but really, that’s easier said than done :-) Regardless… I will continue to fall to faith.

Thanks for stopping by and may God bless you!

SGK

PS: How can I pray for you today? Let me know via leaving a comment, sending me a message on Facebook or dropping me an email at sharita{dot}knobloch{at}gmail{dot}com.

“When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.” ~Matthew 8:10 NIV

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Huh. Imagine that! (Five Minute Friday)

Hi friends! It’s Five Minute Friday time!

Each Friday, I link up with Lisa-Jo Baker. She gives us a prompt. Then we write. For five minutes.

Easy-peasy, right?

Let’s get to crackin’.

Today’s Prompt: IMAGINE

AND GO!
Five Minute Friday
***

If you would have asked me two years ago to imagine how today, May 31, 2013 would feel, I probably wouldn’t have even been close.

See, two years ago, my wonderful husband became a drill sergeant at Fort Benning. We heard that it was an extremely difficult assignment, (on step below deployment) but we were up for the task.

Now, two years later… We have come to the end of our time as a drill sergeant family “on the trail.”

And through it all, God sustained us.

My husband worked almost non-stop for 2 years, away from home more than he was here. But God kept us going. Huh. Imagine that.

I cried more tears from frustration that I want to admit, but God made our love grow deeper. Huh. Imagine that.

My Beloved has worked cold, hot, hungry, frustrated, exhausted for hours (ok DAYS) on end. But God gave him a heart of integrity and perseverance. Huh. Imagine that.

We prayed more than we ever have in our entire lives, and God heard our prayers. Huh. Imagine that.

This experience hasn’t been easy, but the my Beloved has trained hundreds of men, turning them from civilians to infantrymen soldiers. Through it all, God has helped our commitment, desire, level of patience and appreciation for each other grow richer than ever. Huh. Imagine that.

Friends, it doesn’t matter what you are going through. Remember when you are weary, worried, or worn, God is there. Stick with Him. Cling to Him. And when it is all said and done, you will see that He never left you, never forsook you.

And with inexplicable joy in your heart, you can say, “Thank you, Lord! Mission Accomplished.”

Huh. Imagine that!

****

Today, we praise the Lord for sustaining us– we are gleefully imagining the next season of our life as an U.S. Army Infantry family. When has the Lord surprised you in your life journey? I would love to hear all about it!

Imagining and Experiencing Victory in Him,
SGK

“God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!” ~Ephesians 3:20 MSG

We are down to hours of beginning a new, off the trail season of life. Thank you, Jesus for sustaining us!

We are down to hours of beginning a new, off the trail season of life. Thank you, Jesus for sustaining us!

Categories: Five Minute Friday | Tags: , , | 8 Comments

A Little View of Heaven (Five Minute Friday)

Five Minute Friday
Hey all! It’s Five Minute Friday time… Each Friday, I link-up with Lisa-Jo Baker, she gives us a prompt, and we write.

No profound strategizing and content mapping… Just write.

Ready?

Today’s Prompt: VIEW

AND GO!

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If  someone were to ask me my most prized possession (other than family/people in my life) my answer would be pretty easy.

It wouldn’t be our new-to-us car. It wouldn’t be my iPad or computer. It wouldn’t be a family heirloom passed down from my great grandma. It wouldn’t even be my wedding right.

It would be my 1000 gift list.

My “gift list” is inspired by Ann Voskamp’s book 1000 Gifts (imagine that, right?) and given to me by God.

It is my most prized possession because it gives me a little view of heaven.

As I flip through the 1893 gifts on my ever-growing list, I can feel my heart start to swell. I am overcome by the power, presence and love of God… And I can’t help but wonder if this isn’t the tiniest view of what heaven will be like someday.

According to my gift list, a view of heaven could be…

Inventing a new recipe… that works.

Baby girl discovering her voice and squeaking, squealing and cooing on the floor in the living room.

Praying with my Beloved.

New running shoes.

Puppy dog smiles.

Warm rainstorms.

Being prepared.

Frozen yogurt with a friend.

The list (obviously) goes on… and on.

So when this world is pulling me down or my eyes start to shift from being focused upward, all I have to do is find a quiet moment, pull out that little black journal… and then I get a little view of heaven.

STOP!

****

What “gift” is God giving to you today? I would love to see how you view heaven from an earthly perspective… Comment below– and thanks for stopping by :-)

Be blessed (and safe) this Memorial Day weekend! (And a huge shout out to my Beloved Brandon for his unwavering service to our country. Go America!)

Viewing God with Love,
SGK

“Your eyes will see the king in his beauty and view a land that stretches afar.” ~Isaiah 33:17

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Singing His Song (Five Minute Friday)

Five Minute Friday

Hey all! It’s Five Minute Friday… Time to link-up with Lisa-Jo Baker, see what prompt she has for us, and write, unhindered for 5 whole minutes.

Ready?

Today’s Prompt: SONG

And go!

****

The sound of summer raindrops hitting the sidewalk. A mourning dove welcoming the day. A baby kicking in the floor, cooing as she has recently found her voice.

They are singing His Song.

The timer going off in the kitchen when the casserole is done. The playful bark of the family pup running in the yard. The sweet silence of the house at 3am.

Here’s to singing His Song.

The gentle hum of tires on the interstate during a long anticipated road trip. The splash of water as a little one jumps into daddy’s arms in the pool. The squeak of the hotel bed as you flop back on it after a long day of traveling.

Yes, we are singing His Song.

The quiet low of cattle out in the pasture as the sun sets on the horizon. The crickets and frogs firing up as dusk turns to dark. The buzz of June bugs wings as they flit around the front porch.

They are singing His Song.

The moment of silence as I put my feet up and sink lower into a bathtub of warm water. The squeal of laughter that echos through the house as my husband woos me with his antics. The sweet and enthusiastic voice, with arms high and heart abandoned as we sing His praise in church… in our car… in the shower… in our heart.

Yes, my friends. We are singing His Song.

STOP!

****

Where or in what situations do you find yourself singing His Song the loudest? I would love to hear your thoughts!

Until Monday, sweet followers… Sing His Song loud and proud.

Singing for Him,
SGK

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.” ~Psalm 28:7

Categories: Five Minute Friday | Tags: , , , , , | 4 Comments

Finding Comfort (Five Minute Friday)

Hey folks.

It’s Friday.
Five Minute Friday
Which means we link up with Lisa Jo and write. For five minutes flat.

Today’s prompt: Comfort

And Go!

****

Comfort. Just the word brings warmth to my heart. I personally need comfort in all sorts of situations and can find it in so many different ways.

I’m guessing you can too.

It’s been an extremely rough week in new-mommyland for me. What started out as a 2-month check up for our precious baby girl bracing for 2 month shots and ended it in the words “beginning stages of failure to thrive.”

Needless to say… I about lost it. My world felt like it was crumbling. I felt like a failure– and the Enemy wanted to make sure that “reputation” as a mother stuck.

But, as usual, our loving, sovereign, comforting God had other plans.

Although my week was foggy and filled with stress, I knew God was in it somewhere. I just had to keep looking. Praying. Seeking His comfort, relying on His faithfulness that He had this planned long before Baby Charis arrived on this earth.

Fortunately, Baby Girl/s lack of weight gain looks like a milk production problem on my part. (Thank you Jesus– it’s fixable!) As we move forward to rectify this issue, I continue to find comfort in prayers, quotes from others, Scripture– all stemming from the God of all Comfort.

“God doesn’t ask us to be perfect– He just wants us to be simply faithful.” ~Linda Dillow, Calm My Anxious Heart

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in EVERYTHING, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And then the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” ~Philippians 4:6-7

“My kids don’t need to see a super mama. They need to see a mama who needs a Super God.” ~Ann Voskamp

“The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it.” ~1 Thessalonians 5:24

Yes. I have found comfort. I have found confidence. I have found courage…

It all stems from the Most Highest, Eternally Holy, Always Loving God.

****

Where and how do you find comfort? I would love to hear all about it.

Know you are loved, my friends. Thanks for stopping by!

Thankful to Worship a God of all Comfort,
SGK

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Go, Mama, Go!

Go, Mama, Go!

Categories: Five Minute Friday | Tags: , , , , , , | 16 Comments

If we are Called… Be Brave (Five Minute Friday)

Five Minute Friday
Greetings all!

It’s that time again– yeppers, it’s Five Minute Friday time. At the end of each “work week,” I link-up with Lisa-Jo Baker for this writing exercise of glory. She gives us a prompt. We write for five minutes. Without over thinking. Simply free and uninhibited.

I never know what is going to happen. (But these precious words from God rarely disappoint!)

So let’s get started and see what Jesus has to say via my fingertips today…

PROMPT: BRAVE

Andddd GO! 

****

Brave. Courageous. Daring. Hopeful.

No matter how you spell it– really it all boils down to faith. Because with faith– all things are possible– and we can brave the scariest of storms with Jesus at our side.

Because the one who calls you is faithful and HE will do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:24.)

If we are called to move to a new place… Be brave, knowing that Christ is with you.

If we are called to get married… Be brave, building your marital foundation on Him with the knowledge that He IS the solid rock.

If we are called into parenthood… Be brave, embracing the fact that none of us really know what we are doing at the beginning, but God will give us the wisdom and discernment we need to love and care for our little ones.

When we are called to share the gospel… Be brave, confident that He will show up and give you the words to say.

Friends, take heart and know that when we are called to (you fill in the blank here) we can be brave– ultimately by being faithful to the one who called us in the first place.

STOP!

In what life situations do you find yourself needing to be brave? How can you always make sure you fall back on your faith?

Be brave, my friends. Cling to the truth that He is sovereign over all and the One who calls you is faithful and He WILL do it!

Finding courage in Christ,
SGK

“I, even I, have spoken; yes, I have called him. I will bring him, and he will succeed in his mission.” ~Isaiah 48:15 NIV

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Yep. They are your friends. (Five Minute Friday)

Five Minute Friday
Greetings, folks!

It’s Friday, which ’round these parts can only mean one thing– time for a lil speed writing, heart-sharing Five Minute Friday.

For anyone who might be new, here’s the deal: Each Friday I link up with our favorite gypsy mama, Lisa-Jo Baker. She gives us a prompt, then we write. No over-thinking. We just write.

It’s pretty cool to see what Jesus comes up with sometimes when that timer goes off…  So let’s see what He has in store for us today.

Today’s Prompt: FRIEND

Ready? GO!

****

You know ‘em. You love ‘em. You hate to leave ‘em. And the good ones? Yep, sometimes they are hard to find.

They are your friends.

They are there in the joyous moments. They are there to wipe your tears. They hug you, love you, feed you, encourage you. They pray with you. They speak the truth in love when you won’t listen to anyone else. And you do the same for them.

Yep. They are your friends.

They might live on the same block… Or in a different time zone. You might see them every day… Or maybe only once a year. You might know them best for the memories you built together. Or maybe you look forward to the gut-splitting memories that are in the making.

Yep. They are your friends.

No matter where you go, what you do… Your friends are there– in real life, online, on the phone, or in spirit. They come is all shapes, sizes, colors, ages. A rainbow of diversity and love. What a beautiful gift, those friends.

And the one thing that bonds you together more deeply than eating an entire bag of chocolate together and swearing each other to secrecy? Your shared love of Christ.

You see, these friends aren’t just friends for now. But they are friends for a lifetime… And beyond. You keep each other rooted in Him, focused on Him, following Him.

And when you discover the sweet, irreplaceable experience that is having Jesus as your best friend… you discover a connection that will last from here to the other side of eternity.

Yep. THEY are your friends.

STOP!

****

What attributes do you look for in a friendship? In what ways do your friends lead you to Christ? How can you encourage them to turn to Him in all circumstances?

As I wrap up, I also want to thank YOU for reading… For supporting this ministry with prayer, encouragement, comments. Some of you I know personally, some are a name on a screen. But either way– if we are all striving to live for Christ with the limited time we have– you, sweet reader, are a friend.

Thanks for that. :-)

What a friend we have in Jesus,

SGK

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.” ~Proverbs 17:17 NIV

Categories: Five Minute Friday | Tags: , , , , | 4 Comments

Jump to Jesus (Five Minute Friday)

Five Minute Friday
Hello friends! Five minute Friday is back here at 7 Days Time.

As a recap: Each Friday (or whatever Fridays that I briefly have a free hand from baby girl) I link up with Lisa-Jo Baker. She gives us a prompt. We write. No planning, no overthinking, no excessive editing. Then link-up and share our posts with the online community. Good times.

That’s all there is to it. Simple. Yet potentially profound and a great writing exercise.

So before little girl says TIME’S UP before my stopwatch does, let’s get this party started.

Today’s Prompt: JUMP

AND GO!

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First thing to know, I don’t like heights. Never have, probably never will. Also, when I was younger, I wasn’t much of a risk taker. Play it safe was my theory. I didn’t want to be “that girl” to ever forget anything in class, I always wanted to do everything perfect.

Yeah. Bout that. You can about guess how well THAT went over. I mean, I survived and did well, but soon I found myself bored with playing it safe… I wanted more.

So I jumped into activities. I was from a tiny high school (um, 18 in my graduating class- I’m not kidding) so if you wanted to be involved in something, all you had to do was show up. I was super-NOT-athletic, but I did everything that didn’t involve a sports ball flying at my face. (Although my brief stint of cheerleading did land a few hits to the face.)

I jumped in… Over the next few years, it didn’t stop. I stayed involved. I found my worth in what I did.

And then… Something changed… Life fell apart… My activities no longer fulfilled me… And I was met with my biggest challenge ever… Faith.

Jesus got ahold of me around college graduation– and lemme tell you what, that was one jump I was terrified to make. It was worse than conquering any fear of heights or jumping off the trust fall in a leadership ropes course.

I didn’t want to fail. I had done everything “perfect” (ha!) up to that point. Faith was hard. It took work. I didn’t know what I was “supposed” to do to get it “right.”

Now, several years later, I know that He doesn’t care if we get it “right.” He just wants us to jump. Jump into faith. Jump into His arms knowing He will be there to catch us. Jump with joy for His salvation.

Yes. He wanted me to jump. So I did.  It changed my life. Yes, I jumped to Jesus– Have you?

STOP!

****

So what are your thoughts? Have you jumped to Jesus? When? How did it change your life? I would love to hear all about it– don’t be shy… Leave a comment below.

Well, readers, baby girl’s attention span is about to run out– so I must depart. Praying for your hearts this weekend– and I am so incredibly grateful that God continues to grow this ministry even with a new baby in tow. (He really CAN do all things!!)

Jumping for Joy,

SGK

“I’m thanking you, God, from a full heart, I’m writing the book on your wonders. I’m whistling, laughing, and jumping for joy; I’m singing your song, High God.” ~Psalm 9:1-2 MSG

Categories: Five Minute Friday | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Ordinary? Yeah, not so much… (Five Minute Friday)

Hello, hello, dearest readers. It’s once again Friday (I see a pattern developing here or something ;-) ) so it is time for Five Minute Friday… Each week, I pop over to Lisa-Jo’s place, link up with her and then we write (for 5 minutes) based on the prompt that she gives us.

It’s pretty easy. And fun. And a great way to get adrenaline pumping (and braincells firing) early in the morning.

Today’s prompt: Ordinary

AND GO!

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I am not ordinary.

Now, I don’t say that because I’m “special…” I’m really not. I’m just not ordinary. Not normal. Not typical.

And it’s a fun/challenging/neverboring way to live life. (Whoever created the idea of “ordinary” anyways? Seriously. Ordinary is so overrated.)

We all have our lil things that make us less than ordinary. For me? Let’s see… I am not ordinary because…

I am a certified auctioneer. (And have the diploma from Missouri Auction School to prove it.)

I created my Senior prom outfit out of duct tape. (That crap is sweaty, FYI– but economical. Only $32 to go to prom. Yes, please!)

I went to Citizen’s Police Academy during my 5th Senior year at K-State– just because I could.

I am a wife who is ok  with picking up and moving every few years to follow my beloved husband. (Thanks, army.)

But most of all– I’m not ordinary because I’m a follower of Jesus in a world that says “Me, me, me, it’s all about me!!”

And let’s be honest– Jesus Himself was far from ordinary. People scoffed at Him, hated Him, accused Him of being self-righteous, worshipped Him, slandered Him, loved Him… and yes, they even crucified Him.

Do you fit any of those not-so-ordinary descriptors? If so… Embrace it… Because Jesus calls us all to be extraordinary for Him. He digs it. Seriously. We can be not-so-ordinary for Christ even in our most ordinary daily tasks.

Being a Christian in both word and deed isn’t easy… But I tell you what friend– it sure it worth it.

So next time someone says to “Ug, why can’t you just be NORMAL?!?” Remember: It’s overrated. Ordinary living? Yeah, not so much. Jesus living is much more fulfilling.

STOP

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In what ways are you not-so-much ordinary? Do you embrace it or struggle with it? How has God called you to live for Him? I would love to hear from you! Leave your thoughts below in our faithful comment section.

Blessings of the not-so-ordinary kind,
SGK

“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering.” ~Romans 12:1 MSG

Categories: Five Minute Friday | Tags: , , , , , | 10 Comments

My Mama Did A Lot (Five Minute Friday)

Greetings, sweet readers!

Tis Friday. Five Minute Friday specifically. This is the time that we hook up with Lisa-Jo Baker and write. For five minutes. Just letting the words flow and our hearts go. (Yes, I sorta meant for that to rhyme. It might be one of those days…)

Five Minute Friday

As usual, Lisa has given us a prompt… and today’s is a smidge different– it’s not just a single word, but a phase. A whole bucketful of memories and lessons.

And now, I have a whole five minutes to capture everything my heart would like to say from the last 27 years. (This oughta be good. Oh boy.)

Today’s prompt: “What Mama Did” 

AND GO! 

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My Mama did… A LOT. Yeah, she fed us, clothed us, loved us… But that is only the beginning.

It’s impossible to even touch on what my Mama did (and is doing!) for me in my life in my nearly three decades on this earth in a measly five minutes. She did a lot. And still does a lot.

She gave me two younger siblings. A lil sister a year and a half after my birthday– one lil brother TWELVE years later. (SURPRISE!) She taught me what it means to “stand by your man” for nearly 34 years (and still going strong!)

She taught me to cook and the fine art of NOT getting “too creative” with the many spices in the cabinet. Mama introduced me to fried okra and corn bread dressing. She did laundry. Cleaned house. Worked outside the home. Filled the role of a farmer’s wife.

She fixed fence and defrosted baby calves in the bathtub during blizzards. She “went to town” to get farm supplies at a moments notice. Cut alfalfa in the 112 degree KS heat. Stood up for us. Disciplined us. (Yes, we needed it!)  She taught me when it was time to suck it up and move on… and taught me that sometimes, you just need a good cry.

My mama did a lot. She forever ingrained in me that a hot bath and chocolate will fix nearly anything. She sewed my prom dress and later our ring bearer pillow. She helped plan my wedding. She has thrown parties. She has encouraged me. She has brought me back to earth when I needed it. She celebrated the day I led my Daddy (her husband) to Christ.

She taught me to forgive. To move forward. To celebrate. To strive. To grieve.

My mama did a lot.

Now, my Mama is teaching me how to be a Mama. I’m four days away from the due date of our first baby. We are a thousand miles apart, but her encouragement and phone conversations keep me going. Now, we talk openly about Jesus and what He is doing in both of our lives. How we can be better wives and Mama’s ourselves with His leading.

I can only hope that in the next three (and more!) decades, our son or daughter will have a fraction of the incredible lessons and experiences that my Mama did for me written on their heart from my relationship with them.

My Mama taught me how to love like Jesus.

Yep. My Mama did a lot.

STOP!

****

Ok. No profound conclusion today… But I am awarding myself excessive pregnant lady bonus points for not sobbing through this entire post. (Seriously. That’s a Jesus miracle in itself.)

So today’s response: What did YOUR Mama do for you? Comment below.

A Daughter in many ways,
SGK

“…we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children.” ~1 Thessalonians 2:7 NIV

Categories: Five Minute Friday | Tags: , , , , , , | 11 Comments

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