Some of My Favorites... or Where I Find Joy.

I don't know if you noticed, but it seemed that I had a lot of words last week!

By the time Thursday night came around and I was looking at a full weekend ahead, I decided to step away from the computer and give myself (and all of you) a little break. But here we are on Monday morning and you know I have some words saved up! I promise I won't spill out too many! In fact, I am linking up with Five Minute Friday - so that means a timed free write that keeps me brief (-ish!) 

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

 What? You knew my Hydrangeas would make it in here somehow, right?

{GO}

Favorites... oh my! Y'all? You know I can't pick any?
I mean, sure... I get the concept... but I just have so many!

I suppose I could list a bunch of random things that are my favorites right now, but you know that list would change in a few weeks' time.

Maybe I will start with this... this is where I find my Joy. (And finding and holding on to Joy? Well... you know... that is my favorite!  You see what I did there?) 

Anyway, this is where I am finding my Joy lately, and it will come as no surprise!


























You see? If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook or Twitter, well - you know I have lots of favorites (from cups to books to music...) but my most favorite way to start my day right now is also where I am finding my Joy:

It is simply sitting on my patio, with a cup of coffee, and a timer set for five minutes of quiet.  If I have more time, I will open a book or three, or write in my journal. 

I have favorite people (my girlie, my Honey, my friend Jennifer and Amy and Tenielle... you get the idea!) but my most favorite people are the Father, Son, and Spirit and those three Guys? Well - for real... spending time with them makes me better... and in the (somewhat) cool morning air, I sit and commune with them and that is where I find my joy.

My schedule can be full and frantic, or loose and leisurely... but if I spend just five minutes, breathing in, slowing down before I head right in to the bossy day - I re-center, I re-focus, I re-claim the Joy that is mine for the taking simply because I am His.

And oh my, I am sorry to tell you, but it's true...
I am His favorite. 
He tells me every day. 

But here's the kicker... you can be His favorite too!
The real deal is this:
You already are!
You already ARE His favorite, too!

And if that doesn't bring you Joy, well then -I'm not sure what will!

{STOP}

Among my many 'favorites' He is tops... and when I remember this, He reminds me of all of His favorites. That list is long, my friend, and makes me feel a bit better about not being able to choose!  I can assure you that you are on that list... by name! 

He is so for you... so in love with you... so intimate and involved.  He longs to spend time with you and to refresh you with His Love, His Joy, His Peace!  

The most amazing thing is He can do it in five minutes flat, (with a timer set, breathing in and out, simply turning your attention toward Him.) You will find Him waiting... ready to fill up and pour out and send you on your way!

If you haven't yet tried this, I encourage you to set aside five minutes today or tomorrow, and sit down, close your eyes, turn your attention to the quiet and the stillness, and wait.  Lean in and listen... I'd love to hear what He speaks to your heart!

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 "FAVORITE"



{The FMF lowdown: 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!}

P.S.  I'm also linking up with these lovely writers:

The Community over at #SmallWonders 

Karen Deschenes Courcy for #TuesdayatTen

Laura Boggess over at #ChasingTheBlueFlower

Holly Barrett for #TestimonyTuesday

Kelly Balarie for #RaRaLinkUp