Tag: five minute free write

To Rejoice is Greater than to Rush

Five Minute Friday / Misc.10 Comments
Five Minute Friday: RUSH

When will the kids grow up? When is our ministry going to take off? When are we going to get to go out on a date together again?  These thoughts come in waves as I rush from one event to the next always wishing the next more comfortable phase would usher itself in while I’m scrambling to catch up to the chaos of the one that came before. I want the fruits of my labors like yesterday, and I really wish we could just get a hurry up on this harvest we’re waiting for. Oh, and when is it okay to rest? Here I am again waiting, wishing, and whining.

Photo by Kelly Rockhold Photography

In this rush which seems far too routine to me, I wonder what I am missing. I don’t have to search long to find my answer.

Rejoice evermore.
Pray without ceasing.
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

It really couldn’t be more clear than that. While the present may not be savory, it can be sanctifying. I can daily find reason to rejoice rather than rush to the next better thing. The King of the Universe reigns also over my days. I fail never to have the opportunity to commune with him as friend with friend. And I happen to believe that this encouragement to give thanks in every thing is good advice for today, tomorrow and this season and the next one. Actually, forever because I’m told it’s God’s will concerning me, and I know He won’t change His mind on that matter. I want to see what this looks like in daily practice. Do you?

While the present may not be savory, it can be sanctifying.

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Savoring the Secret Spaces

Misc.11 Comments
Five Minute Friday: SECRET

I do a considerable amount of social media sharing as well as blogging here as time and will permits. I post photos of my kids, and offer my opinions and thoughts on some topics — though I try to stay away from the most controversial ones. I have always considered myself an extrovert (though I would say that I have become content more and more with being at home either by myself or with my family). But my preference is still to be connected, caring and sharing, learning and loving together with others who love the Lord or those who are yet to meet Him. I also tend to be an over-sharer!

These days, however, I am learning to savor the secret moments with Jesus. I planned to share with you all my thoughts and feelings as the anniversary of Ezra’s delivery drew near. Instead, I prayed and cried and listened to worship music while reading my Bible and journaling all the surprising thoughts that came on the fifth anniversary. He comforted me, reminding me of the truths of His word and the hope of heaven we have because of His sacrifice. I felt treasured and loved, and that moment was all mine. It was sacred and secret and so incredibly sweet. Even telling you about it now steals away some of the beauty it seems.

Photo by João Silas on Unsplash

I didn’t get around to blogging out all the things that came up in my heart on that day or really any days of the last month or two. I’ve fallen behind on blogging publicly, but I have been writing for myself. I’ve been writing prayers and hopes and dreams in communion with my Savior who offers no judgment — only guidance and discernment dished out by a loving Father. I’m lapping it up in the secret spaces, so thankful for the moments that are all mine. My time with Him doesn’t need to look like anyone else’s or have to be perfectly filtered and framed to be precious. I don’t even have to share it because there’s always enough of Him to go around.

Communion with Jesus doesn’t have to be filtered and framed to be precious.

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I’ve realized I have little to offer this internet world and all that can be said has likely already been said. But little is much in God’s kingdom, so I think I’ll keep coming back. I’ll share with you bits and pieces of what happens in the secret, sacred spaces. And I’ll always encourage you to find Jesus each and every day in the moments you get to keep as your own. Seek out that secret, sacred time with Him and don’t accept any lousy substitute. And don’t share it all either. Keep some of that sacred goodness for yourself. It will keep you coming back for more.

Don’t accept any substitute for sacred communion with Jesus.

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My Obedience, God’s Provision

Five Minute Friday / Misc. / Missional Living7 Comments
Five Minute Friday: PROVIDE

Yesterday, I attended a parent-teacher conference at my daughter’s school. While we waited for it to begin, I walked around hand-in-hand with my little girl as she proudly showed me where she eats her lunch, plays with her friends, and sits in her class. We observed art and poems created by students, and I marveled at how many of them proclaimed the glory of God — mind you, we live in a Hindu country. In another place, I saw encouragement for teachers to love their students patiently and unconditionally while being lead in teaching by the Holy Spirit.

I stood there in awe of God’s provision. I wasn’t looking for this school when we moved to this area. Nor had I any knowledge of who God had waiting for us in the homes surrounding our church plant or the Gospel-needy neighbors who would soon become my friends. He has provided far for our family in far greater ways than I ever anticipated.

Photo by Aditya Saxena on Unsplash

What really amazes me about this — and it shouldn’t because it is a Biblical concept — is that when I wasn’t trying to put all my ducks in a row, God ordered my steps. My husband followed the Lord’s direction coupled with His provision to decide where to plant our church, and I just went along with it. Based on that, we picked a home knowing not much else than its general location and basic amenities. In what may be perceived at an almost naive level, we trusted God to take care of everything else. We could only do that — it was all too much for us to think about on our own.

Yet, how wonderful it has all turned out. Often, I wonder what may have happened if I tried to find the home or the school first and structure everything around my own misplaced priorities. How there would be a family without a church, a young man wanting to serve God with no training of godly influences, a young lady with no believing friends or family. I’m thankful for a real-life assurance that what the Bible teaches is true. When we structure our lives around building our God’s kingdom and live in reckless obedience, He is faithful to provide each and every one of our needs. Trust and obey. There’s no other way.

Structuring our lives around building God’s kingdom, we trust Him to provide for each of our needs.

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Following Jesus is the best life, friends. Don’t miss it while you’re chasing your dreams and building your kingdom. How many times I’ve made this mistake, and God has certainly been gracious — but I’ve seen the benefits first-hand now, and there is no going back.

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.    Matthew 6:31-33

 

 

Extraordinary Beauty in Your Ordinary Life

Marriage / Misc. / Missional Living / Motherhood23 Comments
Five Minute Friday: BEAUTY

God can use the ordinary moments in your life to glorify himself by conforming you into the image of his Son. That is precisely what he intends to do.

Gloria Furman

A mother weeping over a wayward child, love spilling onto a soaked pillow.
A wife overcoming exhaustion to minister to her husband when he returns home downtrodden after a long day.
A missionary drinking tea with the locals, struggling in her second language.

 

There’s beauty in the ordinary though it may not always be obvious outside of your Instagram feed. God does miracles on ordinary days and uses ordinary people to accomplish His will in the world. He transforms brokenness into bellowing declarations of His majesty — it’s the kind of business He’s best at. He brings glory to Himself and beauty in our lives as He shows off who He is by making us more like Him.

beauty

Beauty is dying to self and humbling ourselves before a holy God even if it is manifested in wiping noses and matching socks. The most glorious moments of our lives are often the hardest to live out because the most beautiful story ever told required blood, death, and sacrifice, and we are called to retell that story each day in both the miraculous and the mundane.

Beauty is dying to self and humbling ourselves before a holy God even if it is manifested in wiping noses and matching socks.

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When we look around, we may only see the mess, but we trust that the God that makes all things new, brings life out of death and shines light into the darkness is at work to redeem it all. We keep our eyes on Him — a miraculous display of transformative power. Little by little, we being to resemble Him in the smallest of ways as this transformative power touches each part of our lives. Is there anything more beautiful than that?

Tell me something beautiful God has done in your life this week.

Talk to me in the comment section below!

Linking up with: Five Minute Friday

Gospel Rich in an Impoverished Land

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Five Minute Friday (a few days late!): PRIVILEGE

My heart is often heavy and I feel insecure about our position of wealth among those around us who have much less. I worry about the way we decorate our home, what we eat each day, or how we spend our money on other things. I am generally satisfied with our discipline with money, but I still find myself feeling guilty over my privilege while others around me struggle to make ends meet.

While I am certainly open to ideas of how to meet the needs around me in productive ways, I have also been comforted by the words my husband has spoken to me time and time again: “People won’t resent us if we share our wealth with them.” It’s amazing to me how he can get right down to my deepest fear even if it was not even close to being clearly communicated. I fear being resented.

Photo by Niels Steeman on Unsplash

I know I can’t control the feelings of others towards me, but I do believe there is wisdom in this advice. I’ve since found great joy in inviting others into my home to watch our “Internet TV,” eat desserts made in my “foreigner-style” oven, and even wash clothes in my washing machine. Children particularly enjoy our abundance of toys and books. My son’s school has even borrowed some Dr. Seuss books for the last few weeks! I try not to show up empty handed when visiting friends, and I try to offer up my best even when unexpected visits occur.

Yes, we have inherent privilege in terms of financial wealth. But it occurs to me that we also have a greater privilege. We have Gospel privilege — a privilege many in this world do not have. And this is the why of it all — much more than materially wealthy, I am spiritually wealthy. I have received the immeasurably precious gift of the Gospel and will inherit eternal life.

More than materially wealthy, I am spiritually wealthy as a recipient of the Gospel.

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So while I share any material wealth I acquire as I follow God’s urgings to give and to open my home, I am also impressed to share my spiritual wealth. Not in an effort to not be resented because, as it appears, many resent me for telling them a truth that is hard to hear because of what accepting our message would mean in this culture. Rather, I share my gospel privilege so that others may be rich like me — Gospel rich.

I share my wealth so others may be rich like me — Gospel rich.

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