Welcome to the last FMF writing prompt link-up of 2019!
It’s been such a joy to continue serving this community over the past year. Thank you for being here! I hope these weekly writing prompts have been a blessing to you as you continue to practice your craft and grow as a writer.
If you’re new to Five Minute Friday, click here to learn more about the link-up.
This week’s writing prompt is: BIRTH
Sometimes the story is so familiar, we can glaze over it.
But what if we paused to pay attention to the details, to read each sentence as if it’s the first time we’ve ever heard what happened?
Our family has been slowly reading through the book of Luke this season for our evening family devotions, and tonight we got to the passage about how John the Baptist leaped for joy in his mother Elizabeth’s womb when Mary went to visit Elizabeth while pregnant with Jesus.
He leaped for joy while still in the womb.
Then Elizabeth asked, “And why is it granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Luke 1:43, ESV)
Did she really acknowledge Jesus as Lord before He was even born?
My husband pointed out that these remarkable details preceding Jesus’ birth highlights the power of the Holy Spirit.
And one of my favorite aspects of this chapter: The way Mary says, “May it be to me as you have said” (Luke 1:38), and the way Elizabeth affirms, “And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
May we be people of faith, who accept and believe the promises of the Lord, and may the wonder of His birth never cease to amaze us.
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When the angel came to Mary
to say what’s going on,
one might have thought her wary,
but she just said, “Rock on.”
Liz chimed in to brightly add
that belief was sure a blessing
and the privilege that both now had
would be vital in impressing
the whole wide world with the will
of the whole wide Holy Lord,
when on that day the earth stood still
and all Creation stirred
to the babe who leapt for joy
in the earthly womb of God’s employ.
“.. what if we paused to pay attention to the details, to read each sentence as if it’s the first time we’ve ever heard what happened?” This was my heart’s desire this year and I was amazed at the difference it made for me. May you and yours have a blessed Christmas!
P.S. And thank you for all you do to provide this community of encouragement and friendship!
Kate, I re-read the devotional, 31 Days of Christmas, a book I wrote every Advent season and I try to stay amazed at each and every intricacy of our Jesus’ birth!
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but the world should be saved through Him.” John 3:16-17
These two Bible verses show us that God loves us and that He does not want anyone to perish. The birth of Jesus is a miracle in itself that brings us hope and eternal life. We have God’s word that He did not send Jesus to judge the world, but we are saved through Jesus.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Help us to comprehend the love you have for us. Thank you for sending your Son Jesus so that we will have eternal life.
Amen