February 7, 2013

Five Minute Friday - BARE


Finally!  Finally, I made it back to the FMFParty and this community of kindred spirits... (I even gave up Bunco... although that had more to do with Juicing/not snacking, than it did with writing I suppose... that didn't stop me from talking all things Nutella, and bonding yet again!)

Five Minute Fridays are hosted by Lisa Jo Baker.  It is open to anyone, so to learn more about it - and to jump in yourself (the more the merrier!) or just to find a linky to see what everyone is writing about today - click HERE!  The idea is to simply write... for Five Minutes flat... no editing, no deep thinking - or at least REthinking, no spell check - just write! Let it flow! We all write using a prompt that Lisa posts at one minute past midnight Friday morning (EST.)  I'm loving the community of amazing bloggers and the creativity that flows from these magical Five Minutes!

So - here goes: Five Minute Friday - Bare

{GO}

I have found lately that this call to be Real... to be Transparent... to be Authentic... rarely does it get to be on my own terms, or in a place where it is always easy! No - it's EASY to be all of that when you are in the safety of people who already know you, or who at least already have an idea of who you are.  It's not quite so easy when He asks you to step up and be real to someone who has yet to really form a solid opinion of you!

On paper, or online, my life can appear Charming and Blessed.  It is.  However, those who truly know me, know that I don't always remember this.  Laundry piles up, crisis hits, hearts break, (Nutella jars mysteriously empty), and sometimes... sometimes I am called to give up coffee for days. I can give over to complaining and looking for excuses.  It is in the midst of that, when He most often likes to invite me to stand up and let others see me laid bare.

Here's the thing... it's in sharing the Real... the Hard... the I-Can't-Believe-I-Survived-That's, that testimony is given.  Hope is held up high when we bend low and allow our stories to be spread wide open... bare.

There is a grace that comes when we are bold enough to be weak... to show scars... to sit shoulder to shoulder, and wrap mercy around a soul and say, "Yes - this: I have lived through... and you will too! Let me show you how He lifted me up... how He held me through... how His love is enough... HE is enough!

{STOP}

He is calling us to be willing to be laid bare for others... not to everyone, necessarily... but for some.  We can do this... we can follow His lead and tap into His love and live a life open and bowed down. You never know the power of your story and how it can impact someone else!  I encourage you to be real... speak up when He leads, and watch and see the power of testimony at work and then listen with your heart!

~Karrilee~

Five Minute Fridays gives us the chance to dive right in and share what He puts on our hearts!
Click here to read what others have to say about "BARE ":
Five Minute Friday

12 comments :

  1. :) I just posted after you on the linky... new follower, would love a visit!! This is very much a similar theme to my post... only as a poem.

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  2. Amen, sweet friend! Love every. single. word. :) We just can't hide from Him--and we so need each other to be open and real. I love how you do that here. I pray you have a beautiful weekend.

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  3. Anonymous10:04 PM

    "bold enough to be weak"...very well worded, even though it goes against the grain. May we be made so bold by His Spirit even now...thanks for the reminder!!

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  4. Oh friend, I am thankful to be in a community of beautiful souls, laid bare before Him. So thankful for you!

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  5. I love visiting all of these blogs and seeing how God is at work in the hearts and minds of so many to be real, authentic, grace wearing, women of God in their telling and sharing of life and story and their place in His glory. Thank you for being an authentic voice in this community.

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  6. "Hope is held up high when we bend low"-love these words of yours, Karrilee!

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  7. I can't believe I survived that testimonies... so true!! Love this and love you!!! Beautiful words.

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  8. Perfectly said, Karrilee!

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  9. "There is a grace that comes when we are bold enough to be weak"...girl, you just get it.

    It's reason #459 why I love you so

    and p.s. I'm out of nutella. it's amazing I could write my 5MF at all! :)

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  10. Baring all. For Him!

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  11. Girl!!! I read this and almost cheered out loud - but then it's 7:30 in the mornign and I got dirty looks... but this made my heart soar - knowing what you posted over at my space last week... and knowing that God was speaking to you about authenticity and then BAAMMM!! One word and it all comes pouring out! YOU ROCK!!!!

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  12. This is such a great encouragement! To continue to be weak, to bare, to lay out the truth of what God has done in us for his glory! Thank you!

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Thanks so much for stopping by! I always love to hear your thoughts! Remember to: Speak Life - Be Love - Shine On!
~Karrilee~

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