It’s writing time! Welcome to our weekly blog link-up, where we freewrite for five minutes flat on a single word prompt.
Learn more about the link-up and how it works here.
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This week’s FMF writing prompt is: REDEEM
Setting a timer for five minutes, and . . . GO.Â
As the world marks one year since the global pandemic was declared and news headlines seem to continually go from bad to worse, I’ve found myself wondering, “Can any good come from all of this?”
My heart aches for my Asian American friends who are living in fear because of the steep increase in hate crimes since the pandemic began, and now with the recent news of the horrific Atlanta shootings.
Others are still treading water after job losses, trying to make ends meet. Countless people are grieving the loss of loved ones due to COVID-19, and the deaths continue.
Can anything good come from all of this?
My only hope comes from the Word of God:
“But now, this is what the Lord says—
    he who created you, Jacob,
    he who formed you, Israel:
‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
    I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
    I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
    they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
    you will not be burned;
    the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the Lord your God,
    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior . . .”
~ Isaiah 43:1-3a, NIV
For those of us who have trusted in Christ as our Lord and Savior, our hope is not in this broken, decaying, temporary world. We have been purchased. Redeemed. Bought with a price. Rescued from darkness.
Our King is coming soon, and we will no longer have to fear hate crimes or viruses, poverty or death.
Our Redeemer lives.
STOP.
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Join the link-up with your own five-minute freewrite on the prompt, REDEEM, below, then visit your link-up neighbor to read their post and leave an encouraging comment:
I have died, and have returned,
in truth, not ‘how it seemed’,
and the man I’d been is burned
in the flame of me, redeemed,
for how can life resume its course,
when Heaven’s been in sight?
And how to live without remorse,
knowing all that was not right
in the life I chose to live
through all my earthly days,
but God, the maker, did forgive,
and made fade into haze
the yesterdays wallowed among
in favour of the Life to Come.
What had been hope is now certainty. Andrew, this causes me to cry and rejoice all at one time!
Susan, it was the greatest experience of my life…well-worth tears of joy, and laughter through them!
The word redeem is an action. Verb and in the context of being a Christian, it reminds me of the Lenten words referencer to the Bible – “I’ve been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb”. Jesus was as born into this world by the virgin birth of Mary and he paid the price for all of our sins when he was hung on the cross over 2000 years ago in Golgotha. Jesus gave up His life for each of us and though we cannot be perfect here on earth, Jesus believed each hand being is worthy of redemption, if we believe upon Him, seek forgiveness of any wrongdoing, and pickup our own cross and do God’s will in our life ves.
Deep meaning and infinite love when we think upon Jesus redeeming us despite our sinful ways as humans.
The word redeem is an action verb and in the context of being a Christian, it reminds me of the Lenten words referenced to the Bible – “I’ve been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb”. Jesus was born as man into this world by the virgin birth of Mary and he paid the price for all of our sins when he was hung on the cross over 2000 years ago in Golgotha. Jesus gave up His life for each of us and though we cannot be perfect here on earth, Jesus believed each human being is worthy of redemption, if we believe upon Him, seek forgiveness of any wrongdoing, and pickup our own cross and do God’s will in our life ves.
He lives indeed! Our Hope is in His Redemption!
Amen!