It's Five Minute Fridays, where we write for fun, and/or for free therapy for five minutes. Then we post our unedited work (I correct typos), and we visit the person, who linked up before us.

Our gracious hostess is the encouraging Lisa-Jo, and she selects a word as the guest of honor for each week's writing party.

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons Flickr user Don McCullough

This week's Guest of Honor is "Song."

Start.

When does God give you a new song? Do you go up to some heavenly jukebox, stick in a prayer coin, and a song plays?

Psalm 40:1-3 gives a surprising answer. In Psalm 40:1-2, the psalmist complains and then calls out to God, and then God answers him, and puts his feet on solid rock.

All after the psalmist struggled in miry clay. Will he stay in the clay? Will we? It may feel at times like we will never get up out of the mud and place our feet on solid ground.

But we can take hope, because in verse 3, the psalmist declares that God has given him a new song to sing, a song of praise to our God.

A new song after the shifting sands and struggles. And it is true.

Some of the people I know in person, and online, who have gone through some of the darkest struggles, and made it through, sing the most beautiful songs.

They tell of how God rescued them, although at times, it seemed as if He had abandoned them. They point to where they were and where they are now because of God's work in their lives.

And when I hear their song, I want to sing along.

So may we be encouraged to know that we will have a new song to sing although our lives may seem song-less and full of sand right now.

STOP.

1 I waited patiently for the Lord;
    he inclined to me and heard my cry.
² He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
    out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
    making my steps secure.
³ He put a new song in my mouth,
    a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
    and put their trust in the Lord.- Psalm 40:1-3 ESV

Prayer:

May you wait patiently for the Lord, as you cry out to Him,

Knowing He will draw you out of the pit, and out of the miry bog,

and set your feet on a rock, so you can walk secure,

May He give you a new song to sing,

a song of praise that will cause many to see and

revere God and trust Him.

P.S. Lisa-Jo's word "Song" reminded me of a promise God gave me last year about giving me a new song to sing, Psalm 40:3. I am singing but I don't feel like I have the whole song yet, just parts...but I am grateful to be singing. Even if it is on and off....

Where do you find yourself along the continuum of Psalms 40:1-3?
What song are you singing today?

Please visit The Gypsy Mama and link up and/or read other entries. 

© Soul Stops/Dolly Lee 2013.

When I was a little girl, my younger sister and I "swam" in our apartment complex's rectangular pool. Back then, we couldn't swim, so we each wore an inflatable circle ("donut") around our waist.

I clung to the "donut" when I paddled over to the pool's deep end, where the downward sloping floor seemed far away.

The "donut" gave me the courage to go farther than I could on my own.

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons Flickr user J Jackson Photography

Likewise, a good friend can give us the support we need to go deeper and farther than we could on our own.

Well, when I joined Holley Gerth's God-Sized Dream Team, I was excited and a little scared. Holley, in her wisdom, advised us to get a buddy.

God knew I needed extra-support, so He graciously gave me two buddies: Kim and Melissa. Kim dreams of speaking at Allume one day, and Melissa dreams of starting a non-profit to help girls, and creating a conference for women.

Dear Kim,

Thank you for offering to be my buddy, and introducing me to Melissa. It has been a delight to deepen our friendship. I pray more people will discover your sense of humor coupled with encouraging and helpful advice at your blog, Too Darn Happy.

You have raised two daughters with your beloved Keith, and now you are pursuing your dreams. You joined Toastmasters, and you are faithfully taking steps toward your dream. I am so proud of you.

Having you as a buddy has been sweeter than eating warm-from-the-oven chocolate chip cookies.

Thank you for how you encourage me with your comments, e-mails, and whenever I read your blog.

It has been fun to read e-mails from you and Melissa. You and Melissa have been the best buddies.

Your friendship and prayers buoy me up and enable to keep going.

Likewise, I have been praying for both of you. I commit to praying for both of you every day this week.

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God." - Phil. 4:6 NASB

Love,

Your buddy Dolly

If you are reading this post, and you would like me to pray for you, please leave a note in the comments, or you can contact me via e-mail, and I will pray for you.

How has a buddy helped you? What is something you can do to help a friend today?

Linking with Holley Gerth and other dreamers (read more here...) at:

And wise Ann

It's Five Minute Fridays, where we write for fun, or for free therapy for five minutes. Then we post our unedited work (I correct typos), and we visit the person, who linked up before us.

Our gracious hostess is the encouraging Lisa-Jo, and she selects a word as the guest of honor for each week's writing party.

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons Flickr user StevenDepolo(Not our girl.)

This week's Guest of Honor is "Jump."

Start.

"Don't look down, just jump," my friend tells me.

It is my first zipline experience and I am sharing it with our daughter. I try not to let any fear show on my face because I know her young eyes are watching me.

If I freak out, then her fragile courage latched onto mine, will fail. I ask my friend to pray for us.

The camp instructor finishes hooking both of us into harnesses attached to ropes, which will hopefully keep us from falling to the dirt ground below.

The couple in front of us leap off together. Well, actually, the wife sat down, and scooted off the wood platform.

I contemplate doing the same. The moment arrives, and we each stand in front of a small wood door, placed about four or five feet apart.

A little bit of fear appears in her eyes. I tell her, I will count to three, then we will both jump.

Dear God, please help us.

1, 2, 3...I look at her, and say, "Jump."

Stop.

We both jumped, and we enjoyed it. It was a very short zipline and a perfect first time.

The shared fear then excitement brought us closer. Whenever God asks me to jump into the unknown, and we jump together, our relationship grows. My trust in Him increases.

What images or experiences does the word "jump" conjure up for you?

Thank you for being here. I always jump for joy when I hear from you.

Prayer:

May you jump into new adventures this weekend that draw you closer to loved ones and God.

May you experience how God jumps in delight whenever you turn to Him. May you discover the joy of jumping into God's loving arms, where He is always ready to catch you.

P.S. Please continue to pray for the people of Boston and Texas. Let God guide you on how best to serve.

Please visit The Gypsy Mama and link up and/or read other entries. 

© Soul Stops/Dolly Lee 2013.