December 12, 2014

Prepare - A Five Minute Friday post


Last night I had plans to be gone... a Christmas party, complete with food and drinks and karaoke.  Yeah, if you know me at all, you know that you'd have lost me at karaoke. I love music - but I have mercy and know that I am not, um, 'gifted' like that! Blend in in a group - sure... find a way to somewhat harmonize, OK... but it would take a LOT of drinks to make me think this would be a fun way to spend the evening with strangers.  Oh - we went last year and didn't participate... it was fun to watch for awhile, but then the other guests started to notice that we were not playing along!  We had already discussed how we would probably sneak out a little earlier this year, but my Honey was tired from a long week at work and had a few other things on his mind to accomplish so we skipped it and stayed in. Still, I stayed 'unplugged' and didn't party it up for #fmfparty. I hate to miss it because it is always so much fun!  Anyway - this morning, here I sit... ready to write, so let's get to it:

Our Word Prompt is: PREPARE

{GO}

Prepare... oh yes, we are all quite familiar with this word --especially during this time of year! There is a LOT that needs attention... an unusual amount of Bossy Lists, errands to run, gifts to buy... there are just a lot of preparations that need to get done! 

And yet...


I wrote about it awhile ago --about how more than anything else, what we really need is to prepare Him room... 


...to slow and focus and breathe in deep.  You remember a month or so ago, how God was speaking to me through The Lord's Prayer and He said that when we Hallow His Name, He hollows out more room in our hearts for Him. When we call Him Holy, He makes us holy... He does the work... He prepares the room.  He went on to show me that when I hallow His name, He comes in, and swells within me.

Just Wow.

And I had never seen that before, or thought of it that way, and even now as I sit here... I realize, is this not what He did for Mary?  He drew close to her, and she called Him Holy... and He swelled within her. Of course, quite literally with Mary - but He is the same yesterday, today, and forever and I believe with all of my heart that when we slow and breathe and just say His Name... He rushes right on in.  He desires to fill us.



So in all of our preparing, He is desiring for us to partner with Him... to say His name and call it Holy... to sing about Adoring Him and about the Silent Night and the O Holy Night and in all of that singing and saying and hope building up... once again, He is doing the work.  He is preparing us as we prepare for Him.

So yes... do all your preparations... wrap the gifts and sign the cards (or don't... we're all about Grace here, my friends!) but in all of your doing... don't forget to light the candle and say a prayer and remember and make His Name Holy...




{STOP}

Yes... that! Let's do that! Merry, merry Christmas, my friends! In all of our doings this year, let us remember to Prepare Him Room!




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 "PREPARE"


Oh ...the fine print: if you don't know what FMF is!  Five Minute Fridays have been hosted by Lisa Jo Baker.  This week we start gathering over at Kate Motaung's.  FMF 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 10pm Thursday night (EST.)  I'm loving the community of amazing bloggers and the creativity that flows from these magical Five Minutes!

P.S. - Today is the LAST day to enter to win the Christmas Giveaway
(Winner announced on Saturday!)

26 comments :

  1. I love it. We call Him holy and He "swells" in us. Thanks so much for sharing. ;)

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    1. It's powerful, right? I know it has stuck with me and caused me to take little breaks through out my days and simply Hallow His Name! Thanks for stopping by!

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  2. Yes let's prepare him room! Loved this post. Glad you had some "unplugged" time at home with your hubby. I'm going to try and do my best to prepare for his coming.

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    1. Thanks Tara! I think preparing Him room is one of the easiest things we do during the holidays - it's just that it takes intention and it's not as loud or bossy as so many other things! ;)

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  3. Hallow His name and let Him hollow out room in your heart. Oh, friend, so much loveliness here to process. I will read this a couple of times today.

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    1. Colleen... who doesn't want that, right? More room in our hearts for Him to dwell? It's easier than we think!

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  4. Thanks for a new way of looking at preparing Him room. Great insight.

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  5. That's beautiful! Thank you for sharing this today. It's a very different perspective from anything I'd ever thought about...

    Anastasia Rose
    walk-in-the-rain-with-me.blogspot.com

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    1. Don't you just love a new perspective around the holidays - or anything that can become so familiar? So glad you stopped by, Anastasia Rose! Merry Christmas!

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  6. Amen! Thank you for the beautiful image of Christ swelling within me as I call Him holy and make room for Him :)

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    1. Amen! I hope you, like me, will keep seeing that image and feeling Him swell within you! Merry Christmas, Sarah!

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  7. Anonymous6:06 PM

    I love thinking on these things - thank you

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    1. Amen! And He loves it when we think on these things so it's a Win-Win! Thanks for hanging out in my little corner of the blogosphere!

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  8. A little bit of grace goes a long way especially during this busy holiday season. Merry Christmas! Thanks for sharing.

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  9. Love this - and the reminder that He is the doer - we just need to make space and prepare for him. There is so much grace in just coming to adore him.

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    1. Doesn't that just help take that pressure right off? That HE is the doer of it all... love the freedom and grace in that! Love that we come and adore Him together, my friend!

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  10. Very good! I love the way you put it, that He will hollow out room for us. What an amazing God! Thanks for the encouragement and motivation this morning to make prepare room for Him in this busy season!
    -Miranda at http://rahabtoriches.com/

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    1. Amen, Miranda! Who doesn't want to give Him more room in our hearts? So glad you stopped by! Merry Christmas!

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  11. "prepare Him room" one of my favorite carol verses, Karrillee! I love the thoughts you put forth in this post. Beautiful thoughts to ponder and savor. Thank you. Blessings on your Christmas!

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    1. Thanks so much, June! So glad you stopped by! Merry Christmas!

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  12. Anonymous11:59 AM

    Amen and a big yes for preparing Him room. My heart is wide open this season and ready for Jesus. The busy is all around me and I'm participating in quite a bit too but preparing room in our heart to call Him holy is where I'm at. Blessed you linked up with The Weekend Brew. I love seeing your beautiful face there! :)

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    1. Amen, Mary! Hearts wide open... it's always a pleasure to link up over at The Weekend Brew! It's such a lovely gathering there! xoxo

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  13. The words "Let every heart prepare Him room." came to my mind also when I read the prompt for this week. Oh, how I need to do this every day! I hope you are having a lovely advent, friend!

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    1. Yes - let's do this every day: Prepare Him room! Amen, my friend!

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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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