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One word. Five minutes to write about it. This is the idea behind Five Minute Friday and this is today's free-writing post.
moment of silence
only a moment
in the moment
defining moment
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We talk about having defining moments in our lives, but it occurred to me as I was considering this prompt that those defining moments didn't just drop into our laps out of nowhere. We've been preparing for them. Even if we didn't know that's what we were preparing for. Because every time we make a choice, do the right thing (or not), learn a life lesson or a skill, make a mistake, or endure something painful, those are the the moments that can define our next steps. Maybe "living in the moment" is the ability to pay attention to the present and find something good in it to take with us to the next moments in our lives.
My usual practice of searching out some quotes netted me a collection of wise snippets that had the same idea. That maybe the defining moments aren't accompanied by fanfare or a tension-filled soundtrack, but are the daily decisions and choices we make that establish who we are and prepare us for the bigger decisions.
We all have defining moments. It is in these moments that we find our true characters. We become heroes or cowards; truth tellers or liars; we go forward or we go backward. ~ Robert Kiyosaki
In your life's defining moments there are two choices - you either step forward in faith and power or you step backward into fear. ~ James Arthur Ray
The moment we win a victory, overcome an obstacle, turn our lives around, choose a new life path, or receive healing may be the defining moment; but so often the hard work of faith and perseverance and obedience led us there; and every time we know that God has been faithfully leading and preparing until the moment we SEE the miracle!
Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would." And his servant was healed at that moment.
~Matthew 8:13~
Jesus turned and saw her. "Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed at that moment.
~Matthew 9:22~
Then Jesus said to her, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed at that moment.
~Matthew 15:28~
I suspect that the centurion, and the two women who needed healing, did not come to Jesus on a whim and a momentary hope that maybe he could help. They had suffered and wrestled, and whatever they knew of Jesus, they had decided that he had the power and authority to grant their request and believed not only that he COULD, but that he WOULD. And God already knew their need and had prepared a victory for them; and he was delighted to answer their prayers of faith.
Have you been waiting for a defining moment? For something to happen that will change the outcome for you? Maybe you have been preparing for it. Maybe it's been prepared for you. God's work in us is our real defining moment, and he is ready, every moment, to hear our prayers and answer them.
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We must not allow the clock and the calendar to blind us to the fact that each moment of life is a miracle and mystery. ~ H. G. Wells
(By the way, this is a metalcore band, so maybe this music isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I like it. Just wanted to let you know before you listen!)
I like awkward moments. They are full of tension and suspense. Anything's possible or, at the very least, they are the source of some electric sizzle. ~Donna Lynn Hope
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This >>> "Maybe "living in the moment" is the ability to pay attention to the present and find something good in it to take with us to the next moments in our lives." That is a powerful sentence. Every moment matters. Every choice. Every circumstance.
ReplyDeleteEvery moment matters. That's how I would like to live, but too often I treat this moment like it doesn't. I can do better. Thanks for stopping by and adding to the conversation!
DeleteDefining moments don't exist
ReplyDeletein the years we live,
but we superstitiously persist
to find reason to freely give
significance to one bright day,
bad omens to another.
Perhaps this is the hidden way
we realize we'd 'druther
turn away from slogging years
that brought us to the place we are.
Perhaps we live constrained by fears
that we're beneath a boring Star
that requires steady labour
to bestow a promised favour.
Maybe our tendency to separate our days into "good moments" and "bad moments" isn't all that helpful to us after all. Good thoughts. Thanks for stopping and commenting!
DeleteSo good!! I tend to think that God sees our whole and we see moments. In other words, He’s not surprised that I’ve arrived in this moment, but I usually am.🌸 It’s comforting to me that in every moment I face He’s already there and I’ve been prepared by His guidance.
ReplyDeleteThat's a wonderful way to look at it, because God is outside of time and we're not. Thanks for stopping by and sharing this thought with me!
DeleteI can understand why you like that song while I can say definitively it is NOT my style. :) But I like that ... that God's work in us is our defining moment for where we are. Good. FMF15
ReplyDeleteI knew it was a little outside the lines for some folks! Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
DeleteKym, this is great. I love your insights and heartwarming encouragement here.
ReplyDeleteVisiting today from FMF#13
Thank you! Glad you stopped by, and glad I found your link-up again - I missed when it moved somehow!
DeleteGood food for thought.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.
Girl, I need to take your course on how to write something of meaning and depth in for Five Minute Friday. My little ditties do not compare!! This was such a thoughtful essay. I have had a number of painful defining moments but wouldn't change them. Even PC's cancer diagnosis this year and surgery this summer reminded me how precious he is to me and what a blessed life we have together - despite the crazy. The H.G. Wells quote spoke to me. Thank you for sharing it and your own wise words.
ReplyDeleteHealth scares do remind us what's really important and to treasure the time, don't they? I admit it takes longer than five minutes to do these posts - I usually look at the prompt and quickly come up with a couple of little phrases, and let that roll around in my brain while I do other things, so that when I sit down to write, I've had some time to work on the ideas. So maybe the actual typing out my thoughts is around five minutes, but I thought ahead, and then took some time to find the specific quotes and verses and add them. Thank you so much for taking the time to read and add your kind comments to the conversation.
Delete