March 13, 2014

From Crowd to Community - Five Minute Friday



What a crazy full week! I would normally say busy - but it was filled with so much goodness, it didn't really feel busy! (Plus - you know - we found SUNSHINE, ya'll!) 

Oh but - first - the fine print: if you don't know what FMF is!  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 10pm Thursday night (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 - The Word Prompt is: CROWD

{GO}

I don't know if you have missed it or not (somehow) but I am doing Lent for the first time ever and I don't really know any of the rules or rituals that go with it. I jumped on board with The Love Idol Movement and then prayed and heard the most ridiculous thing... God whispered that what He wanted me to give up, the Love Idol He wanted me to lay down... was Self-Doubt.  I've written about it for a couple of weeks now and so I will not go on (and on and on!) but let me say - the timing of it all felt a little bit like a set up!

I mean - Hello? God - don't you know that I am going to a - gasp - WRITER'S conference? I mean, honestly!? Is that not breeding ground for this Idol of mine?  Still... I laid it down and I was determined to not pick it back up.

I went to Allume last year... I loved it. I loved it more after I was back in the safety of my Comfort Zone and back behind a screen.  It was good... but hard... for all the Self-Doubty reasons that one could think of! 

But this time? This was a conference closer to home... and I knew I would have some of my tribe there... (but I knew that at Allume too - and it's not like this Idol of mine wasn't working hard at reminding me of that!)

Still - we pulled up to the first night of the conference and found this gorgeous church: 

Newberg Friends Church

My Honey, ever supportive and loving and taking care of me, parked the car and planned on waiting in line with me... hoping to ease my fears. 

But here's the deal... I didn't really have any fears? I wasn't having all the feelings and it turns out - I honestly didn't pack Self-Doubt, and Hestitation didn't make it into my bags either.  I felt ready and eager and at peace... joyful even.

I'm not sure My Honey believed me when I said I was fine.  Yeah - these Idols have been in my back pocket longer than he has been at my side.  I wasn't nervous about the Crowds and the people that I didn't know... the people I was hoping to meet... the 'networking' that should be happening! I came expecting Community - not a Crowd, and when Self-Doubt doesn't interrupt, Expecting is an amazing companion! (I highly recommend him!)

So - the gift that God gave me? As we rounded the corner and approached the line for Registration, I heard someone say my name.  It was my sweet friend Renee, who had flown in and didn't know anyone (other than me) and we both just praised God right then and there because He is just so good!

Me & Renee at the end of the amazing Faith & Culture Writers Conference

So, Renee and I got to sit together that night, and at the main meetings on Saturday as well.  It gave us time to hear each others' stories and get to know each other, live and in person.  We both had a history of shutting down a bit in the midst of a crowd - but there is no need to shut down in the midst of Community!

{STOP}


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 "CROWD"  


I loved that God set us up like that... giving us a friend to help ease us in to the crowd! 










31 comments :

  1. Anonymous8:56 PM

    What a sweet post and blessing in the crowd!! Can't wait to get to Allume and experience the same!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Amen Holly! You will LOVE it! If God opens that door - I will see you there!

      Delete
  2. I needed these exact words tonight for my heart! God bless you sweet friend!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Girl... one day... one day we will share words in person over coffee and relaxed time! I just know it!

      Delete
  3. Love this! And wow that you got to taste sweet victory over this idol so soon, what an amazing gift! I've got that self-doubt thing going on too, and I can't imagine it being replaced by expectation! How wide and long and deep and high is His love!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh Heather... I am so praying that at the end of 40 days - this Idol will be long gone! Thanks so much for stopping by! I always love to see you cutie face in my comments!

      Delete
  4. Sometimes it is so scary to be alone in the crowd. I am glad your friend was there.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Paula - I am too! I was honestly not afraid, which was so surprising to me! And still - what an honor to find a friend before ever going in to the conference! Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  5. I love when God shows up like that right when we need Him the most and there is no doubt. That’s the best! And I love this, "I came expecting Community - not a Crowd, and when Self-Doubt doesn't interrupt, Expecting is an amazing companion!” I needed these words tonight. I’ve got some things coming up I’m not really ready to take on that I feel God leading me to do. I don’t fee ready. Satan was pulling hard today making sure I knew that I was not ready. But I have to remember God is ready. Always. And willing. Always. Blessings to you and thank you for your words tonight. xoxo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Meredith, I am praying for you friend! You can do it - I am even betting that you ARE ready... He has already equipped you, and you are #preapproved!

      Delete
  6. Karrilee- thanks for sharing your words on the FMF! What an amazing blessing to show up and have a friend be there to walk through things with you (I'm sure she was thinking the same thing). And you are right, that church is beautiful ;) http://thesimplysaidmom.blogspot.com/2014/03/five-minute-friday-crowd.html#more

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Shannon - first off, thank you sweet friend for RTing and sharing my posts! That blesses me every time! Oh and that church! The inside was just as gorgeous!!! Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  7. Anonymous5:49 AM

    I loved the title of your post even before I clicked to read it, but Karrilee, the post is beautiful! I love the contrast between crowd and community, and I'm so glad you had fun at your conference and you left Self-Doubt at home.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah yes - Kim... the title was good! LOL! (As if I thought of it on my own?) Is that not what we have found, though? In the midst of the entire interwebs... in the midst of crowds of writers... right here with Lisa-Jo... a Community that blesses! Love you, friend!

      Delete
  8. What a beautiful reminder that sometimes we haul around stuff in our back pockets that we absolutely. don't. need. I love the photos and the fact that you had a wonderful time connecting with other writers. One of these days, I'll make it to a conference like Allume ;).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I highly recommend it! Allume is great... as was the FCWC! There are so many great conferences for writers and the community really is amazing! Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  9. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. (I couldn't leave a typo - haha)

      So... yeah. I would tell you to get out of my head, but since it is usually something I need when I meander in here, I digress. :)
      I'm going out on a limb tomorrow to attend something all by my lonesome. I was (sort of) invited, but I am pretty sure it was an accident on the sender's part. You see, I used to be a member of a ministry team. Long story short, I recently resigned, and I don't think this organization got the memo. Therefore, I was placed on the event distro list. I'm not sure if I'm more nervous about being solo, or about the possibility of running into an individual from the former ministry team who will be appalled that I'm there. Shew. So many ways to pray! -

      Delete
    2. LOL... can't leave a typo! Girl... we are kindred and there is just no getting me out of your head - because He is in both of our hearts and oh my how He is busy at work in there! I am praying for you tomorrow and I can not wait to hear how it goes! Praying you are able to leave Self-Doubt behind and walk in the fact that you are Preapproved, my friend!

      Delete
  10. You are definitely NOT alone in the self-doubt category. Your story resonates so much. Happy to hear you are finding some peace and that God is helping you in this area, Karrilee!

    Christy @ A Heartening Life
    www.ahearteninglife.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Christy - I always love it when you stop by here, friend! Self-Doubt is sneaky and when God told me to lay it down, I really thought it was impossible... but it's not! My prayer is that I do not pick it up again when Lent is over! Hopefully by then, it will not fit at all! ;)

      Delete
  11. Thanks for stopping by my blog. I am glad I jumped over to read your take on Crowd as well. What a great post. Self-doubt is a big struggle and your story so encouraged me!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brenda - so glad you stopped by! This whole Preapproved in Christ thing? It makes laying down Self-doubt that much easier! I highly enourage it!

      Delete
  12. Karrilee! I just love you!!! Thank you for sharing your journey, so honestly, so vulnerably. What a gift it is to your readers/ your friends to see God so obviously at work in you. Let this be a reminder to you to continue to kick self-doubt and hesitation to the curb and walk in the truth that God is laying before you.
    So much love!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Becky... girl, I just love you right back! Loved your post today too, my friend! Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  13. I know I already told you this but I love this!! Laying down self doubt!! Something I struggle with often. Thank you for being open- makes me remember I am not alone! Love you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you friend! I think we all need the reminders that this self0doubt that follows us around is not part of the Abundant Life that He has offered us! ...and you are not alone, at all... ever!

      Delete
  14. Anonymous6:28 PM

    All idols are hard to lay down but I know for me self doubt is one of the hardest. What an encouragement your words are? Just to know that you were able to lay it down make me truly trust that I can too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OH Amy... you can! You really can! I never thought it possible, but when He calls you to leave it - there is so much freedom in unclinching those fists! Love you friend!

      Delete
  15. from crowd to community... those are beautiful, striking words. thanks for sharing them and a bit of your journey as well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Richelle - is that not what we truly most want when entering a crowd? To find Comminuty right in the midst of it? Thanks so much for stopping by!

      Delete

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

Blog Archive