Hi friends! Welcome to this week’s edition of the Five Minute Friday link-up!
Each week we gather around a single word prompt to freewrite for five minutes flat. Learn more here.
This week’s FMF writing prompt is: BEHOLD
Setting my timer for five minutes and . . . GO.Â
I recently asked for prompt suggestions in the Five Minute Friday Facebook group for us to use for the last two link-ups of 2021. One suggestion was “behold,” and I immediately thought of the most adorable video a friend sent me two years ago on Christmas Eve.
The video showed their then two-year-old daughter repeating after her dad as he recited Isaiah 7:14. I wish you could see it yourself because it’s just too cute, but you’ll have to imagine:
“Behold!” (Two-year-old: “Dee-dode!”)
“The virgin . . .” (“Va vojin!”)
“Shall conceive . . .” (Sa conceive!”)
“And bear!” (“and baywer!”)
And so it goes, until the best part:
“Immanuel!” (Two-year-old: “Lelallulol!”) 🙂
As I re-watched the video on my phone and laughed all over again, I couldn’t help but also think how many wonders there are to behold in this single verse of Scripture:
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” ~ Isaiah 7:14, ESV
First of all, the fact that it was prophesied so many decades before it even happened is just amazing to me.
Secondly, a virgin. A virgin became pregnant!
Thirdly, His name. Immanuel. God with us.Â
This Christmas season, may we all pause to behold the glorious wonders of the Son of God becoming flesh and making His dwelling among us.
God with us.
Immanuel.
Behold the wonder.
STOP.Â
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UPCOMING SCHEDULE:Â
Please note:
We will have a regular link-up next week, December 17th, which will be the final FMF link-up of 2021.
I will be taking my annual two-week break from the link-up during the weeks of December 24th and 31st.
We’ll be back, Lord willing, with the first link-up of 2022 the week of January 7th.
ALSO: The next 4-week Writing Accountability Group starts on January 5th!
CLICK HERE TO SAVE YOUR SPOT IN THE
JANUARY WRITING ACCOUNTABILITY GROUP
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Join us for some five-minute freewriting fun by sharing your work below, then visiting your link-up neighbor to read their post and leave an encouraging comment:Â
Behold ye now the miracle
at life’s hard other end,
when a dying heart is full
to go, among her friends,
when a dog’s attended
by others of her kind,
a grace by God intended
to calm and ease her mind.
In these still watches of the night
we stay, to stroke her head,
but colder noses have the might
to make the fell death-bed
a place to start the pilgrimage
and cross, with God, the Rainbow Bridge.
She’s not in pain; just tired, and surrounded by love.
Her name is Megan The Tank (she’s a BIG Aussie).
Heartwrenching, but so beautiful. So much like our lives here on this broken earth.
I was there not long ago and your words did not just bring me back to that moment, but beyond it to the goodness of a God that gives us our furry friends.
Peace and love, my friend.
Nikki, I’m so sorry for your loss…and thank you so very, very much for your kind and thoughtful words.
Behold, behold the Lamb that was slain from the foundation of the world. Behold, your King, your God, your Strength, your Hope. Look at Him! Lift up your eyes and look at Him. Behold His beauty. His mercy. Behold Him. Period.
He alone is your salvation, your deliverance. Looking to self or others will always lead to death. Turn your gaze upward and behold the Lord Jesus Christ.
Pause. Look up. Just. Be. STILL, quiet your mind and heart. Sense His presence, because He is with you. His very name is Emmanuel. God with Us. Just be.
And with one giant inhale and exhale, HOLD Him in your thoughts and heart and mind. Hold Him there. Gaze upon His beauty. His mercy. His goodness.
What is your need today? Forgiveness? Behold your Redeemer. Peace? Behold The Prince of Peace. Hope? Behold the God of all hope. Comfort? Behold the Comforter. Oh yes, behold Him alone!
Oh look up weary one, just be and then hold him. And you will find yourself held.
No matter our circumstances we can see, from the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophesy, that our God is with us to overcome them. Immanuel, God with us.
There’s almost nothing better than a children’s Christmas pageant and most of the time they tell and demonstrate the story so much better than we adults do, especially in the wonder department! Love this, Kate!
Beautiful Kate! There is so much in that one single verse of Scripture!