June 12, 2015

The World Wide Interwebs... Connected for Good! - A Five Minute Friday Post

I got lured away by Voxer last night after the Twitter party... but here I am, coffee in hand, praying this whole One Word Prompt feels a bit smaller, and bigger, all at the same time!

{I can't say it enough, really - I love my tribe! The gathering happens on Twitter on Thursday nights and then  we write our hearts out and hit publish all over the interwebs on Thursday and Friday (and sometimes on Tuesdays!) It's where we encourage and uplift... where we share prayer requests and praise reports... where we talk food and friends and we find support and kindred hearts and we are reminded that life is good and God is good and we are not alone... and then we all write for five minutes flat, a flash mob of wordsmiths letting our hearts and our fingers do the talking tapping and we hit publish before we can second guess it all away. We'd love to have you join us!}

This is Five Minute Friday and our Word Prompt for the day is: WORLD


{GO}

I'm a small town girl.  

It's easy to get overwhelmed and lost in this big ol' world.

It's easy to fade to the back, to shy away, to bow out and just stay in the shadows.  To not stand up, speak up, or shout out.

Sure. That is easier.

Until it is not.



It's been a few years now that God has awakened me to the reality of how little ol' me can join together with the masses and we really CAN change the world.

Every little bit counts.  
It counts! 
It all counts.

We have seen it time and time again... how every little offering can turn into over $600,000, or a Community Center in South Africa, or a classroom in Iraq*, or a van, a generator, classrooms and computers, and a house in Kenya... we've seen little given by many, turned into paid medical bills in the States, launching of new ministries and movies, bread and fish (or hotdogs - true story!) miraculously feeding the crowds...

We fall for the lie that we are too small and the world and all its' problems is just too big and we get pulled back to the fringes and lulled back to sleep.  

"It's all just too much." we say.
"What can we do?"
"The needs are so overwhelming."

But we forget...


We forget that we are all connected and we are part of One Body with One Lord and oh my goodness y'all - when we partner up - we can and DO change the world!

With the gift of the interwebs and smart phones and how we are all connected...

We support and encourage, we come alongside, stand by, and hold up each other. 

We do it together, and we see how it can get done!  

Just last night, as I sat face to face with My Honey, catching up on our day apart, my phone was buzzing with texts from friends on the East Coast, a Voxer message from a friend in Costa Rica, and facebook and twitter notifications from all over the world... friends spread out far and wide, doing the work. Hands on... and here I am, in my little small town, doing small work... but it counts, too - and when we partner together - it all adds up and it changes the world all around us - both near and far! 

So whether you have money to give, or prayers to offer up, or a plane ticket to buy to get your hands and your feet and your heart all mixed up and broken right in the midst of it all... **whatever you have to bring... lift it up and let it go... release the gifts you have been given and then let Him take them and gather them and draw them all up and just watch and see what kind of changes... what kind of differences -- He will make - right in front of you in your real life, yes! But also through you around the globe!

We stand tall and bow down and sing out and dance with abandon together, all across the world wide webisphere... and holding hands, side by side, in real life. 

Heart to heart, spirits connected, remembering that we are one, as He is One. 

And together... together we really can change the world!

{STOP}

When we purpose to lift our vision higher... beyond our own limitations, may we catch hold of the invitation to be more... not to DO more, for the sake of doing... but to remember that we are called to be World Changers!  Let us remember that we are stronger together and when we are willing, every small offering can be transformed to a world changing gift.




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 "WORLD"

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

** - Where my Five Minutes were up. Grace, please.

* Those classrooms in Iraq

Yeah... my friend Colleen Mitchell is partnering with Preemptive Love and building classrooms that will provide space for 100 children whose families have been displaced by ISIS to attend school and learn and play in safety and peace.  

Read Colleens' heart and words HERE... and remember, every little bit adds up big and changes the world!

20 comments :

  1. "Be the change we wish to see in the world." Our small acts can add up. We really can make a difference. Your words remind me of my FMF post from last Friday where I talk about words as offering to God. I am a small town girl. But I love how I'm connected all over the world through the world wide web too. I'm so very thankful for all of you. We are holding hands. We are all indeed part of the body of Christ. I missed being with you all last night too. Love ya friend!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Amen, my friend! (I got your Vox... it was good to hear your voice again! I will try to get back to you this weekend!)

      Delete
  2. Anonymous10:15 AM

    Yes, thanks for the rallying cry. We have more influence than ever before through the wonders of social media. Good to read your post today.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Beautiful post, Karilee! We truly are the hands and feet of Jesus as we join together and all do our part! Blessings to you, Tasha (Joining from FMF)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's so true... and I don't know about you, Tasha - but I can forget that too often! So thankful we are surrounded with opportunities to remember!

      Delete
  4. "Whatever you have to bring." God has been speaking to me about that over and over again over the last few years. Since I got sick I've lost the ability to "do" as much as others, and that often gets me down. But I can write. I can pray. I can be encouraging. And that matters! If I do my little bit and you do your little bit and someone else does hers, it all comes together to create this beautiful thing, a tidal wave of love and truth flowing from God through us.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Amen, Marie! I think there is always something that can hold us back or stop us up... sickness or health issues are visible and I am sure frustrating... I know even simple comparison can keep me from doing sometimes! So thankful that it ALL matters... it all counts! I love that visual... a tidal wave of love and truth! Reminds me of the painting I painted a couple of weeks ago!

      Delete
  5. Yes! I love that you and I are so very much alike. ...and "together you and I CAN change the world!" 😘

    ReplyDelete
  6. All of our small work does add up to be the "big" thing that does make a difference. Timely reminder of our significance and part in this world. Beautiful! Have a relaxing weekend! Hugs!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Mary! Praying for you as you transition into what is next, my friend! xoxo

      Delete
  7. Anonymous10:01 AM

    Yes we can change the world, together!! So grateful for the way the interwebs has pulled us all together in a way that wasn't possible just a few years ago. Just to think that we would have never connected without it! And look at all the good we can do when we all combine our small resources into one big resource. Love how God uses everything at His disposal in every era!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Amen! I think of that often... how God has used the internet for just so much good! (And how I personally have benefitted from it!)

      Delete
  8. I always want to do one of those Five Minute Friday prompts but... I don't know if I could stand to NOT edit it before publishing! LOL!

    Very beautiful thoughts about how small actions have big impacts!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's a whole new level of vulnerability, for sure... but it also offers a lot of freedom and grace! I highly encourage you to jump right in and play along!

      Delete
  9. I'm over here shouting a great big AMEN! LOVE it. LOVE you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kindred... and so in tune - with each other and with Him! Love love love - right back to you, my friend!

      Delete
  10. Thanks for commenting on my FMF Post! I loved how I was able to share my trip last year with the world. I love your post on the world.

    When I was little I used to tell people I wanted to change someones life and make a difference in the world somehow when I grew up. I was never sure how I was going to do that but I've always kept that thought in my mind and hope in someway my blog is doing that.

    Also I have had your post to comment on up all week and just now getting to it! Fail!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Karrilee,
    somehow in the flurry of last Friday I never got to leave my comment for you.
    :) I love that you are showing that what we view as a small difference is still a difference. It only takes one kind spark to start a flame that becomes a passionate fire of kindness flooding the internet all the way across the Atlantic Ocean to sweet schoolgirls in Iraq. It has to start somewhere.
    Bravo!
    And Happy Birthday since it's been a week since you commented.
    Love,
    Tammy

    ReplyDelete

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

Blog Archive