August 29, 2016

There is No Shadow of Turning... What It Looks Like To Be Loyal.

Remember in the olden days (read: a month ago) when I used to write on Thursday or Fridays for Five Minute Friday? Yeah... me, too! Aiming to get back on track this week, friends! Feeling like I can almost catch my breath again!

This is Five Minute Friday (- a five minute timed free write) and our One Word Prompt for the day is:LOYAL



My first thought when I saw this One Word Prompt was, well, listen...

As in, for real...

Listen: 


Lauren Daigle - Loyal                                                  

{GO}
                                               
We never tire of this message... of how much He loves us and of how He is always running towards us... straight on, all in... ever for us and after our heart! 

For the Word tells us so...
"For God is sheer beauty, all-generous in love, loyal always and ever." ~Ps 100:5 The Message
It says in James that there is no shadow of turning.

It says in Hebrews that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

You are the apple of his eye and the reason that He came.

We can't escape it, really... how He is so romantic!



I love how that verse in Psalm 100 reads in The Passion Translation, (because, of course!) 

Check it out:
"For the Lord is always good and ready to receive you. He's so loving that it will amaze you --so kind that it will astound you! And he is famous for his faithfulness toward all. Everyone knows our God can be trusted, for he keeps his promises to every generation!" 
Always good and ready to receive you...
So loving that it will amaze you...
So kind that it will astound you...
Everyone knows our God can be trusted...

Come on!

I don't know about you --but for me... through all the ups and downs, the calm shorelines and the stormy seas... He has been loyal, faithful, and true!  When I feel like I am free falling and headed straight for danger, He proves Himself over and over in how He holds me in the palm of His hands... in how He is all in and over the top for me.

He's that way for you too, my friend! I promise you it is true!

I read a facebook status from my friend Karina, who lives in Baton Rouge, and she stated that despite the pain and sadness of the last couple of weeks, she has experienced the goodness and the faithfulness of God like never before! 

What a testimony!  

Here's the thing: 
We must pray... and give... and serve... and do our part. We must remember that we are Jesus with skin on and that we are called to LOVE as He loved, in order to live as He lives.



We are called to follow His lead... and when we need a reminder or an example of what Loyalty looks like, we need look no further than to our King!

Our Lord who lives and loves and Who is constantly for us... shining bright, with no shadow of turning, is the best and brightest example! 

I read somewhere that the language in James was referring to a sundial and how at the suns highest peak at noon - there is no shadow on the dial.  That is how our God is... always at His highest power... always shining brightly and giving off light, chasing away shadows and lies for me and for you. 

He is always coming for us... coming through for us... standing with us... reaching out for our hearts... 

He is ever loyal and true... longing to call us Bride and sing songs of love over us.

Lean in, sweet reader... 
Can you hear Him singing?


{STOP}

As I listened to the song above by Lauren Daigle again, this verse made me not only think of my friend Karina and so many others in Louisiana and all over the world who feel like their world is shaking, but it reminded me of how I have felt that way as well --...but God!

But God... He always comes through! 

He is loyal. His love remains unshaken!

"When my world shakes

Your love remains unshaken

So constant, so perfect, unwavering
When my world falls
Your love remains unfailing
So constant, so perfect, unwavering..." 
                                                (Loyal, by Lauren Daigle) 




Linking up with Kate Motaung and the #fmfparty Community today.  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: "LOYAL"
The FMF lowdown: The gathering happens on Twitter on Thursday nights & then we write our hearts out & hit publish all over the interwebs on Thursday & Friday (& sometimes on Tuesdays!) It's where we encourage & uplift... where we share prayer requests & praise reports... where we talk food & friends & we find support & kindred hearts. It's where we are reminded that life is good & God is good & we're not alone... & then we all write for five minutes flat, a flash mob of wordsmiths letting our hearts & our fingers do the talking tapping & we hit publish before we can second guess it all away. We'd love to have you join us!

I'm also linking up with the lovely writer community linked below:

#FreshMarketFriday... how adorable is that?








Kelly Chripczuk  for #SmallWonders 

Holly Barrett for #TestimonyTuesday


Kelly Balarie for #RaRaLinkUp

Lori Schumaker for #MomentsofHope

Barbie Swihart for #Glimpsesofhisbeauty
















Jennifer Dukes Lee for #TellHisStory












Oh... and there is this: Dayspring is launching the #EncouragementDare on August 30th and I am honored to partner with them on this campaign. You know how we are all about Speaking Life and encouraging one another around here! I invite you to join me in taking the Dare with me!  DaySpring.com is going to make it super fun and super easy to encourage friends and family by providing us with all the tools and resources we need to help us reach out and spread kindness in real life and all around the interwebs!

10 comments :

  1. So happy to know in a society where loyalty it rate, God always remains loyal to us. Thanks for sharing.

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  2. THIS: "I don't know about you --but for me... through all the ups and downs, the calm shorelines and the stormy seas... He has been loyal, faithful, and true! When I feel like I am free falling and headed straight for danger, He proves Himself over and over in how He holds me in the palm of His hands... in how He is all in and over the top for me." Our God does have a loyalty beyond any other (didn't someone write about that this week?) I've been thinking a lot about the people in Louisiana too. Packaged a box full of school supplies to send that way today. Love you friend! I'm in the 8 spot this week.

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    1. I love that you sent a box of supplies! Love you too, Tara!

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  3. You never cease to amaze me with the brilliance and wisdom that come through your 5 minute posts and your bright and true inspiration that's Biblically grounded is so deeply nourishing! I needed to read this today to fill my half full cup! So rich and filled with light and love and reminders!! Blessings, so nice to visit as I'm just getting back to writing again after a bit of a summer break! Sending you blessings Karrilee, I look forward to a wonderful fall season ahead and visiting again!

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    1. Oh Kathy... I have been writing less this summer as well but it wasn't so much a planned vacation (swoon... how I long for one of those!) but more of a running out of time! I am actually reading my own book on rest and - go figure! - it is ministering to me right where I am at! God is funny like that! I am looking forward to Fall as well - for many reasons, one of which is hopefully a return to more consistent writing (and reading)! Thanks for stopping by, friend!

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  4. Hi Karilee! I am new to blogging. I cannot tell you how much you inspire me everytime I read your posts! I adore Psalm 100:5. It is a new "life verse" for me. Thank you for sharing and encouraging, and inspiring. I keep coming back here to your blog as God is stretching me in my new writing adventure! Blessings always!!

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    1. Becky, my friend... WELCOME TO THE BLOGOSPHERE! I am so glad you are here, and pouring out what God tells you to! I love that verse in The Message - but then reading it in The Passion... oh my! What's not to love, right? Isn't that what we truly long for? Someone to be ever loyal? So good! I am happy to hear that you find inspiration here! You are welcome, any time! (I'm off to browse around your little corner, too!)

      Blessings right back to you!
      xoxo

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  5. This has always been such a hard concept for me to grasp because love is not something that was ever modeled to me as a child. I always picture God as a disciplinarian, constantly disappointed. But now that I am a mom I am starting to see some glimpses of how unconditionally he really loves us.

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    1. Oh friend... I hear you! I think even those who were raised with great examples of Love tend to fall for the lie of God as an angry judge. Becoming a parent taught me so much about God's unchanging Love... parenting an infant... a toddler... (ahem... a teen!) each season teaches me more and more about the loyal All In Love of our Good, good Father! Praying you are experiencing more of the same!

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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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