Tanner's prompt for today is Mercy.
"Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." -Hebrews 4:14-16
According to Dictionary.com, "mercy" is "compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm." Think about that in the context of this passage from Hebrews. The author is going on and on about our high priest, Jesus, and how perfect he is. He was tempted just as we are, yet never sinned, not once. He has the power to destroy us for our weakness. And yet...
"...draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy..."
We shouldn't avoid Jesus because of his perfect obedience and his hatred of sin. We should draw near to him, so that we may receive mercy. We can be confident that we will find it there. We don't have to worry. There's no doubt. He understands us, and despite that, or perhaps because of that, he loves us.
The God of the universe looks at every one of our sinful, broken souls and says, "I love you. I choose you. I will heal you."
It's mercy, plain and simple.
Stay tuned for... the next time I write in my blog, since I'm out of writing prompts!
Sunday, June 7, 2020
Friday, June 5, 2020
Writing Prompt #16: Sadness
Tanner's prompt for today is Sadness.
I loved the Harry Potter series as a kid. I'm less of a die-hard fan now, but it's still a great story, and it's really a story built on sadness. In the very first chapter, we learn that the main character's parents were murdered by an evil wizard, leaving him an orphan at just one year old.
Harry really starts to process this in the third book, when he encounters dark creatures known as dementors. These creatures force him to relive the moment his parents died - over and over and over again. He hears his mother's screams. He hears his father's panic. And the first few times he meets dementors, he's powerless against them, overwhelmed by the memories. He passes out.
Instead of accepting defeat, Harry decides to fight back. He goes to a trusted teacher and asks for help. Professor Lupin teaches him a spell called the Patronus Charm. This spell only works if you are able to focus hard on a very happy memory. Then, a silvery protector emerges from your wand and charges the dementors, making them back down.
An interesting conclusion can be drawn from this part of Harry's story: overwhelming happiness can defeat overwhelming sadness. It's certainly not that simple, but that doesn't mean that's an untrue statement.
The devil wants us to be overwhelmed by sadness. He wants us to focus hard on it and think of nothing else. But God shows us a different way. He shows us overwhelming joy.
It can be hard to focus on the positive, but Harry's story gives us a clue about that as well: he didn't conquer the dementors alone.
Also, fun fact: Lupin gave him a lot of chocolate.
Stay tuned for June 7th: Mercy.
I loved the Harry Potter series as a kid. I'm less of a die-hard fan now, but it's still a great story, and it's really a story built on sadness. In the very first chapter, we learn that the main character's parents were murdered by an evil wizard, leaving him an orphan at just one year old.
Harry really starts to process this in the third book, when he encounters dark creatures known as dementors. These creatures force him to relive the moment his parents died - over and over and over again. He hears his mother's screams. He hears his father's panic. And the first few times he meets dementors, he's powerless against them, overwhelmed by the memories. He passes out.
Instead of accepting defeat, Harry decides to fight back. He goes to a trusted teacher and asks for help. Professor Lupin teaches him a spell called the Patronus Charm. This spell only works if you are able to focus hard on a very happy memory. Then, a silvery protector emerges from your wand and charges the dementors, making them back down.
An interesting conclusion can be drawn from this part of Harry's story: overwhelming happiness can defeat overwhelming sadness. It's certainly not that simple, but that doesn't mean that's an untrue statement.
The devil wants us to be overwhelmed by sadness. He wants us to focus hard on it and think of nothing else. But God shows us a different way. He shows us overwhelming joy.
It can be hard to focus on the positive, but Harry's story gives us a clue about that as well: he didn't conquer the dementors alone.
Also, fun fact: Lupin gave him a lot of chocolate.
Stay tuned for June 7th: Mercy.
Wednesday, June 3, 2020
Writing Prompt #15: The Unknown
Tanner's prompt for today is The Unknown.
I've spent a lot of my life going into "the unknown." I left private school for public school. I left the state to go to college. I moved to Florida. I moved to Oklahoma. I used to be okay with the unknown.
That last unknown backfired, and I found myself longing for the "known." I wanted my old friends, my old home, my old life. I am so blessed that I was able to return to it. Living in Wisconsin as an adult is not the same as being a college student here, but there are many familiar aspects.
I don't know that I'll ever venture into that dramatic of an "unknown" again. But I do try the unknown on a fairly regular basis even now. I feel comfortable trying new things and seeking out new experiences when I am surrounded by friendly faces. It may be "the unknown," but I am not going through it alone, and that makes all the difference.
Stay tuned for June 5th: Sadness.
I've spent a lot of my life going into "the unknown." I left private school for public school. I left the state to go to college. I moved to Florida. I moved to Oklahoma. I used to be okay with the unknown.
That last unknown backfired, and I found myself longing for the "known." I wanted my old friends, my old home, my old life. I am so blessed that I was able to return to it. Living in Wisconsin as an adult is not the same as being a college student here, but there are many familiar aspects.
I don't know that I'll ever venture into that dramatic of an "unknown" again. But I do try the unknown on a fairly regular basis even now. I feel comfortable trying new things and seeking out new experiences when I am surrounded by friendly faces. It may be "the unknown," but I am not going through it alone, and that makes all the difference.
Stay tuned for June 5th: Sadness.
Monday, June 1, 2020
Writing Prompt #14: Breathe
Tanner's prompt for today is Breathe.
In a break from tradition, instead of me talking about this, I'm going to direct you to some other articles from this weekend. I'm doing this because the word "breathe" has an entirely different context today due to the recent death of George Floyd. Some of his last words were "I can't breathe." I am heartbroken over his death and the needless deaths of many other African Americans. I wish there was something I could do. One thing that I feel able to do is directing my readers to other articles that give more information, so you can be informed and possibly called to action. So, here you go.
This first article is called "Three videos piece together the final moments of George Floyd's life."
https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/01/us/george-floyd-three-videos-minneapolis/index.html
Next up is "This is how loved ones want us to remember George Floyd."
https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/27/us/george-floyd-trnd/index.html
My next link includes live protest coverage in Milwaukee and Madison.
https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2020/06/01/live-protest-coverage-milwaukee-and-madison/5306204002/
And finally, I think these words from President Obama are very helpful.
https://medium.com/@BarackObama/how-to-make-this-moment-the-turning-point-for-real-change-9fa209806067
If you have any other links with information that might be useful, please share them in the comments or on Facebook. Thank you.
Stay tuned for June 3rd: The Unknown.
In a break from tradition, instead of me talking about this, I'm going to direct you to some other articles from this weekend. I'm doing this because the word "breathe" has an entirely different context today due to the recent death of George Floyd. Some of his last words were "I can't breathe." I am heartbroken over his death and the needless deaths of many other African Americans. I wish there was something I could do. One thing that I feel able to do is directing my readers to other articles that give more information, so you can be informed and possibly called to action. So, here you go.
This first article is called "Three videos piece together the final moments of George Floyd's life."
https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/01/us/george-floyd-three-videos-minneapolis/index.html
Next up is "This is how loved ones want us to remember George Floyd."
https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/27/us/george-floyd-trnd/index.html
My next link includes live protest coverage in Milwaukee and Madison.
https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2020/06/01/live-protest-coverage-milwaukee-and-madison/5306204002/
And finally, I think these words from President Obama are very helpful.
https://medium.com/@BarackObama/how-to-make-this-moment-the-turning-point-for-real-change-9fa209806067
If you have any other links with information that might be useful, please share them in the comments or on Facebook. Thank you.
Stay tuned for June 3rd: The Unknown.
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