February 5, 2015

KEEP - A Five Minute Friday Post


I was so ready for a party, ya'll! And then... well, I pretty much missed it (other than the Cilantro talk, and gleaming a few travel tips!) and yet, just knowing that we are all in one accord here... writing and thinking on the same word, and letting God show up and speak up through our words... yeah. We are not alone. That always helps, doesn't it?

(It's Five Minute Friday... in case you actually DON'T know the drill and you're new around here! Read on to learn what it is, but know that what it is is Awesome! A flash mob of writers who pour our love and encourage and uplift... who take five minutes and write brave, whatever starts flowing... unedited and published real quick like, without over thinking it!  We'd love to have you join us!)

Here is our Word Prompt for the day: KEEP

{GO}

Keep.  Maybe it's because Valentine's Day is just around the corner, maybe it's because it was a cold rainy day, or maybe it's just the year-round Romantic in me, but I love, love, LOVE that the Lord keeps us... This blessing has it all and after a hard day or a long day (or days and days of fog!) this blessing is what reminds me that, really - I have all that I need!  It reminds me that God KEEPS us... that He shines His face upon us... that He is gracious to us, and He gives us peace.   
"The Lord bless you, and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine on you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance on you,
And give you peace." (Num 6:24-27)

What else is there?

I especially love this verse in The Message:


Oh my goodness, yes!

May God look you full in the face...

Does that not just stir you up and make you want to Swoon just a little?  That the God of everything can turn His gaze and look us directly in the eyes... that He can keep us.



He can keep us from things and He can keep us for things.

He has a plan and a purpose and sometimes, I don't know about you - but sometimes, what I need the most on any given day is a reminder that I am kept.

That no matter what things may look like or feel like here, right now in another realm that I most often cannot see, He is holding me close, and looking me full in the face.

Sometimes, when I remember that - I wonder if that revelation alone is not what causes the rest of that verse to be true!  For what more can we want? What more do we have need of, than a loving God who shines on us, who pours out Grace, who doles out Peace, who keeps us and claims us and calls us His own?


{STOP}

Prosperous indeed!

Once again... that one felt a bit like a fight to pull out, but there it is!  Rest in knowing that you are KEPT, my friends!




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 "KEEP"


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!

Also Linking up with InspireMeMonday


28 comments :

  1. Love this Karrilee...especially the part about He is holding me close, and looking me full in the face...
    Visiting from FMF
    Blessings!
    Cindy

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    1. Yes... isn't that just the best thought? --The best reality! Thanks so much for stopping by, Cindy!

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  2. "Rest in knowing that you are kept..." I love that quote. I left a comment on another blog regarding those verses in Numbers. It's become a "staple" in our house, if you will, that we bless the head of each child as they bed down for the night. I'll admit - at first I felt a little awkward about it. What if my kids grow to think this is weird?

    ...until last Monday night. My husband and I were meeting with a couple from our accountability group and we were running a little late. A dear friend was home, getting the kids in bed for us, and we both see a text message come across our phones. Our oldest - the 11 year old - had snatched Dad's iPad and sent us both a message with those verses. She remembered it word for word and wanted to bless us, tell us good night and to be safe driving home.

    Well, it all seemed a lot less silly when I saw that those words meant something to her, as well. That she "kept" them safe and knew how to use them. That she trusted God enough that if she spoke those words over us that He would continue to keep us...

    And that's pretty awesome! :)

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    1. Oh man - that IS pretty awesome! Ya gotta love it when you see that it is really sinking in and making a difference! So looking forward to JT, Roomie! xoxo

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  3. Oh my stars!! Needed this today! Just love the message version of these verses!! What a great promise to lean on!!

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  4. You pulled it out and did it quite well!

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    1. LOL! Thanks Susan! You know the ones that are just WORK... yeah... those are often the ones that preach to ourselves the most, right?

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  5. I love being 'kept by God'. What a comforting reminder that I don't have to face this world alone. Amen.

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  6. What a perfect message for me - the not so brave one, but the KEPT one.

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    1. AMEN! Brave is so much easier when we remember that we are Kept! ;)

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  7. "He can keep us from things and He can keep us for things." I love that! What a great verse too. On a side note, I am TRYING to get into twitter. Just a little bit. I appreciate you following and I did see your cilantro post last night ;)

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    1. It's just so true, right? He keeps us FROM things sometimes, and He keeps us FOR things always! Yeah for joining in on Twitter! Baby Steps... it's a whole new world! I honestly didn't think I would like it because, well - I love words and Twitter is bossy with how many you can use! But I have made some of my best connections via Twitter (or - more accurately - Twitter Parties!)

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  8. thank you my sweet freind for the reminder that He has me even in the middle of my season of uncertainty. He will hold me close and look full in my face. I love it......and love you !!1

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    1. Honestly Amy... I think He has you ESPECIALLY in the middle of your season of uncertainty! Love you, friend!

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  9. Good, deep stuff here. I can just picture Christ holding my face between His hands and telling me to look at Him when I've had a bad day or if I'm pitching a fit. It's beautiful.

    Cilantro, however, is not beautiful. :)

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    1. Is that not the BEST picture? His hands, lovingly cupping our faces... pulling our gaze to fall into His?

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  10. I am thankful for your post, Karrilee. "Kept" and "Sustained" are two of my favorite words. I can never tire of hearing the truth that He keeps us. Praise His Name. Visiting from FMF.

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  11. You are kept too my friend!! I love that verse from Numbers too. I use it often as a Benediction. I pray that for so many including YOU!! And I love The Message translation even more. It does totally make me swoon!! :)

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    1. Thanks so much Tara! So thankful for you, friend! (You owe me a Vox telling me all about your trip!) Yes - this God of ours... He is swoon-worthy!!! xoxo

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  12. Beautiful truth today, friend! Love how we went similar directions with KEEP. I appreciate The Message translation of that verse too. So thankful we ate kept by Him! Blessings!

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    1. Yes - I loved that we both used Numbers, because of course! Thankful that we are both kept!

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  13. Oh, oh, oh. I just adore this. Full in the face! I will be repeating this to myself all day. And then keeping us from things and for things? Kapow. You just nailed this one, friend. Glad you fought for the words.

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    1. LOL... I love you so! I'm glad I fought for the words, too! Those hard fought words... they often preach to us, as much or more than they do to the readers, yes?

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  14. I love how you remind us God keeps us and loves us. I love the verses you choose to go with this post. It fits so well and is a great reminder of his promises.

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    1. It's such a great reminder, right? One we ALL need from time to time! Thanks so much for stopping by Amanda!

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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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