​I can never get over the fact that doctors are always practicing medicine. 
Practice, practice, practice…
All of my children had at least a year of piano lessons, and with those came the obligation to practice. Contrary to their objections, they did live through their piano years and have come to appreciate the basic musical knowledge gained by the experience.

Practice makes perfect. That’s what the wordsmiths say. But as I think about the Christian walk I believe that God would desire us to practice what we preach not so we could be perfect, but that we would be faithful to Him.

The Pharisees thought they were practicing their religion so well that they fooled themselves in believing that fulfilling the letter of the law (in their estimation) was as good as perfect.

What God requires of us is perfection that mirrors Himself. Ain’t no way to get close to that! But in confession and repentance and by humbling ourselves so as to put on Christ’s righteousness, God can look on us and see His own reflection.

This is the faithful practice God loves.

From it develops a heart that is tender and responsive to the Holy Spirit.

In this practice our wayward thinking finds the plumb line of the Word of God. We begin to practice what He preaches.

Our lives begin to represent with more authenticity what God desires in His people: wholehearted obedience, love of mercy, walking humbly, doing justly, all for the sake of His Name.

This will fly in the face of worldly ideals.

This will not be understood by the un-regenerated person.

It is a calling to be different from the norm.

This time we have in this world is a preparation for the world to come. We are practicing what we believe for the heavenly country that is truly our home.

Keep your eyes on the prize of Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our faith.

******

This post is brought to you by the weekly prompt – Practice. You can find more posts on this word at the writer’s community called Five Minute Friday, hosted by Kate Motaung.

​Opportunity. It’s where timing and circumstances meet. A threshold to a challenge you never thought you’d have.

For me, this was my pink flamingo bathroom. A color scheme chosen by my predecessor involving pink, green, and a touch of blue. Florida, circa 1964. Yeah.

Don’t get me wrong. I love our home of 2+ years. But with every rental I’ve discover new opportunities for contentment, flexibility, and creative decorating I’d never before thought existed. In our 13 previous moves I had to re-imagine our possessions in new arrangements. Foregoing some of my favorite things at times, because of lack of space or impracticality. But when I saw this pink tiled bathroom ala flamingos, well…. I set my mind on how to make it go away.

Funny thing though, everyone I showed it to LIKED the quirky flamingos. They pointed out how unusual it was and that this theme may be making a comeback. Apparently, I was the only one who scorned these long-legged tropical birds in my powder room.

Quirky.
Stylistic.
Undeniably pink.
Was this really me? Did it need to be me?

I honestly didn’t have the energy to paint over the tile and the counter top. And though I would never have chosen this design, the tiles were still in excellent shape. They just needed to be loved.

So I searched through my various pictures and came across two I had used before in a bathroom with a beachy feel, circa 1890. The colors worked well and I could imagine the people in them spending a sunny day at a Florida beach. I began to recognize the space as my own.

I have since come to appreciate this distinctive pattern and embrace its depictions of a restful tropical place.

An opportunity is one, when you take the challenge. It’s when you cross the threshold from “I won’t” to “I’ll try.”

Many times would I walk past an opportunity and say, “Later, gator,” when God is nudging me to embrace the pink flamingos that come into my life.
​
What are the pink flamingo opportunities in your life right now?
 
 
*******
This post is brought to you by this week’s one word prompt from Five Minute Friday, hosted by Kate Motaung. Check out more responses at Five Minute Friday. We’d be glad to have you join us!