This past Wednesday, the #31 Days of Five Minutes Free Writes Challenge came to a close.
I learned so much by participating. I did not write 31 days of posts, however. I fell short, but even though disappointed in myself, I still count my participation as a victory.
I faced a lot in October, but God saw me through all of it. Now, I turn my attention to a season of thankfulness.
Do you hate how commercial Christmas music blares from radios so early in the season? I do not like think about Christmas until I go through a season of thankfulness. I want to focus on how Christ’s blessings reign in my life.
Although, I am closing this challenge; I am also renewing it for November by continuing to write posts for the Write 31 Days challenge until I finish all the word prompts. I will tie the entries that I missed into an new series on Developing a Spirit of Thankfulness in Times of Turmoil.
What do you do when you struggle with feelings of failure and falling short? I try to remember that I am forgiven.
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I wrote this post for the 31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes and the Write 31 Days 2018 challenge.
You can learn more about the 31 Days of of Five Minute Free Writes 2018 by clicking on the icon below:
The 31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes is annual tradition inspired by the Write 31 Days challenge, which takes place every October.
You can see other blog posts by visiting my introductory page: 31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes: A Faith Journey.
In other personal news, I am also busy teaching on Outschool. It is a great help for homeschoolers looking for enrichment classes. I am teaching creative writing. Plus, I offer a virtual after school book club experience for teens. The club starts in two weeks.
You can view my profile here. I will be adding more classes for the spring. I hope you will stop by and check out my classes. Do you know a child who loves to write and read? Be sure to share my profile with his/her parents.
Now on to our weekly linkup. First, please follow me on your social media. I love to hear from you:
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Next, lets review last week’s linkup.
Last Week’s Top Clicked
Last week, Rebecca’s post made the top clicked. This week another posts by her proved just as popular. I think it was the title that drew us in. We all struggle in our prayers life, and Rebecca offered hope in her writing this week. I thoroughly enjoyed this post. I know you will too.
My Favorite Post
Time Management Tools and Resources I Actually Use
By
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Now, it is time to link up to the Literacy Musing Mondays hop!
Linkup Rules:
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- We also want to be loving community by supporting one another. Please make a point to do this this week! Visit the two posts before yours and at least one other blogger’s post of your choice! I want to see lots of clicks on everyone’s posts. Remember it is also nice to follow them on their social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook.
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BettieG says
November 7, 2018 at 10:35 pmDear Mary,
I am so looking forward to reading your posts as you finish the series and tie it all in with Thanksgiving. When I pause and look up towards Jesus, He stirs such a thankfulness in me, right in the middle of the storms. Thank you for sharing your heart on the journey. I continue to keep you and your family in my prayers.
Create With Joy says
November 6, 2018 at 4:25 pmMary, isn’t it amazing how the enemy always wants us to focus on the things we didn’t do rather than the things that we accomplished? For an entire year+ before the Lord increased my ministerial opportunities He had me focus on the word steadfast – every single time I opened my Bible that word popped out of me in Scripture (at first, I thought I must be reading one of those new-fangled translations, because I really had never noticed that word before!) As I look back now, I truly believe He had me study that word because it is so easy to get discouraged and sidetracked when we don’t live up to our expectations and/or we start to compare ourselves to others – but the Lord doesn’t condemn us for not measuring up (that’s the voice of the adversary) – He encourages us to keep our eyes on Him and to run the race He has set before us with endurance – ie, He calls us to be steadfast.
We all have so many things to be thankful about – thank you for your friendship and for creating this wonderful community where we can connect each week! 🙂
Create With Joy recently posted…Inspire Me Monday – Week 355
Gayl says
November 5, 2018 at 3:56 pmMary, I am looking forward to your upcoming posts. You’re awesome for being able to write as much as you did in October with all that you were dealing with. I pray God’s blessings upon you, dear sister! xo
Donna Reidland says
November 5, 2018 at 2:14 pmIt’s hard sometimes to give ourselves permission not to finish something on time. I know in my case that unwillingness sometimes turns things into a burden instead of a blessing. Glad you just enjoyed the ride. 🙂 I also enjoyed Marva’s post on her time management tools. Thanks for sharing.
Donna Reidland recently posted…“A Prayer for Times of Trouble” November 5
Rebecca Jones says
November 5, 2018 at 1:39 pmI finished up the Challenge and had left over posts, so I rewrote them to use this month. One of them is in the link. I started early, glad I did. I too, as all of us probably have had. lots of other stuff going on. Romans 3:23 about falling short of His glory has been reinforced in us, the enemy of our souls likes that we feel condemned, Jesus is not doing that. Romans 8:1, not receiving His grace is really how we fall short.
Laurie says
November 5, 2018 at 1:30 pmHow wonderfully appropriate – you are teaching students to write! Congratulations. Sounds like the perfect job for you!
Laurie recently posted…Marine Corps Marathon Race Report
Barbara Harper says
November 5, 2018 at 10:01 amDon’t worry about not finishing the challenge by the prescribed date. I’ve done that in past years. I had one friend who chose to write for Write31Days just during week days through the month, so she ended up with 20-something.
I so agree with you about not wanting to rush past Thanksgiving to get to Christmas.
When I struggle with feelings of failure and falling short, I remember, like you said, that I am forgiven. I also remind myself that I am not God. Only He can do everything perfectly.
Barbara Harper recently posted…Don’t Plug In: Abide
Rebecca Hastings says
November 5, 2018 at 10:00 amI love the honesty with which you share your journey! It is a victory my friend. I am so grateful for you.
Michele Morin says
November 5, 2018 at 9:43 amI love hearing more about your teaching.
And I completely agree with you about Christmas music. There’s a time for it, and I love it, but I want to celebrate the season of gratitude first.
Michele Morin recently posted…Beloved Differences Bring Us Together in Hope
Maree Dee says
November 5, 2018 at 9:13 amMary, I look forward to your new series, “Developing a Spirit of Thankfulness in Times of Turmoil.” May you have a blessed day. Maree
Maree Dee recently posted…How to Be Christlike When Hated – Grace & Truth Link-Up