July 13, 2016

How To Build A {New} Life: Take Notice of the Light

"Rest isn't inactivity. Rest, to me, is a place of total trust."   ~Bill Johnson
So good, right? And that is where I have been lately (and why I am not sitting in this chair quite as much!)

Still - you know how I love freewriting and my Five Minute Friday tribe... and also this: God showed up and showed off in such a unique way this week, I couldn't NOT write about it... even if just for five minutes!


The One Word Prompt for the FMF this week is: BUILD

{GO}

I don't know how many of you may know or remember that my One Word for 2016 is Change.  Let's just keep that in mind as we move forward here today.
I have dreaded it... I have fought it hard, only to lean in in surrender and learn to anticipate it, drenched in hope.

I have preached it time and time again --how kicking against it is fruitless but how embracing it with arms wide open makes for a harvest of goodness.

But I have not always lived it.
I am still learning...

For months now, I have noticed an unusual amount of Dragonfly sightings.  So much so that I have told both my girlie and my Honey that I need to look into what they mean. But I get home and I forget all about it.

There is an abundance of them surrounding me - sometimes one at a time in a parking lot or in flight around my car. Sometimes I find --wait for it, a 'beauty' (group) of them along a walk down through the Canyon or up around the orchards. But never have I encountered them like I did a few days ago!

On Monday, change came at us full force and stormy... a bit unsteady and spinning.


It's funny how quickly wind can gust and swirl to bring about a long awaited flight... freedom longed for and yet, not like this. A text and a heart shattered... with just a bit of new life pushing up to break new ground... just a tiny ray of hope, ready to see the light.

How we build a new life is to take notice of the light. We sow and we pray and we wait... letting only love and grace water down deep... When we want to worry, we choose peace.  When we are tempted to fear, we let hope stir instead. When all that is around us is seemingly dark, we look to the light and we wait... we rest... we trust.

Life can be fragile and delicate and in the middle of the day --as hearts were tender and tears fell free... as plans were altered and boundaries set... I sat in the garden to pray.

My head was bowed and my lips silently moving as I cried out to God for healing and hope... and I caught a glimpse of shadows dancing and I opened my eyes to find three dragonflies circling me and landing in our garden.  Every few minutes they would take to flight and surround me, only to return to rest amongst the flowers.  








They had my full attention and I held my breath for fear that they would leave. After nearly twenty minutes, I took a chance and ran inside to grab my camera and I leaned in close.  

So much beauty. So much grace.
(Her, and them.)


As Light reflects and shines through their wings, Light Himself shines and my heart is captured in this moment of ridiculous wonder.

Such detail. So much fragility and strength.

I sit on the patio and let them play in the garden and draw my attention and my hope and after an hour or so, I head inside to dig in to what they mean.

What does a Dragonfly symbolize or represent?



Because it was such an emotional day and I have learned to pay attention to details and blessings even on hard days... I looked up the meaning online and wouldn't you know it, Dragonflies symbolize ‪‎Change‬They represent a Renewal ‬and Resurrection‬ after a time of hardship... They can also mean ‪‎Freedom, Transformation, and Light‬

Because, of course...right? 
Just of course!

{STOP}

They stayed literally until the sun went down.  Hours and hours, just resting in the Garden... and the fact that there were three of them (and three of us) was not lost on me.  The fact that they came - having never been there before --or, I am sad to report, since-- was not lost on me!

Some may call it a coincidence or try to explain it away. 

But I know better!

God speaks to us in many ways... and on a very hard day --he set to flight a 'beauty' of dragonflies to capture my attention and encourage my heart.  

A promise of New Life... Change, long awaited for... Light breaking through... Hope arising... Renewal and Resurrection after hardship... Freedom... Transformation... Light!

And all I can do is give thanks for the beauty all around... even in the midst of the broken and messy.

We count gifts and we pray... and we give thanks for all the ways He surrounds us - on bright happy sunny days, as well as on the dark and stormy ones, too!

And still... always...
We remember to:




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: "BUILD"
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 writers and communities listed and linked below :

#FreshMarketFriday... how adorable is that?














Kelly Chripczuk for #SmallWonders 

Holly Barrett for #TestimonyTuesday


Kelly Balarie for #RaRaLinkUp

Holley Gerth for #CoffeeForYourHeart














Lori Schumaker for #MomentsofHope


Jennifer Dukes Lee for #TellHisStory









20 comments :

  1. Oh my goodness! I'm so glad you posted this. I myself have wondered what they mean since our (my Husband and I) last encounter with them. We were at a hotel pool and they came buzzing around us and sat at the edge of the pool staring at us...then they would fly up to us and then go back to the edge. That was the first time I ever came so close to dragonflies. We were close enough to see the wings and details of their body. My Husband and I talked about God in that moment and how He created those insects with such precision and beauty. It was a moment that wasn't lost on me and since then I have been thinking about the significance. Coincidentally, there were also three dragonflies that day.
    Blessings to you!

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    1. Oh my goodness, I love this! You know - since I posted this, I have heard from so many people who have encountered dragonflies in a similar way!? I also was sent this YouTube video by two gals who I don't know anything about - but they also felt like God was speaking to them about or through Dragonflies... He is just so creative! Check it out if you are interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqsP9Jn1mPY

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  2. Incredible pictures Karrilee and I love the thoughts you share here. I have never seen a dragonfly that close...wow! The details on them are amazing. Our Creator is always working even when we may not see it. How blessed a feeling when God reveals His presence! May we learn to take notice even in the smallest of things as we trust Him. I hope you have a wonderful week and may God bless you and yours!

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    1. Amen! Thanks so much, Horace! Praying blessings right back to you, friend!

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  3. Extraordinary pictures. Extraordinary friend. And the God who makes us all. I am blessed by my visit today. Praying for continued encouragement as your encounter change.

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    1. Oh sweet friend! It's so nice to see you here! I love it when you stop by! xoxo

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  4. There is SO MUCH beauty and truth in both your pictures and your message Karrilee! I agree, that that rest is a total place of trust, and I can remember the times I've let myself sink into that place. I feel like you just revealed a secret piece to the puzzle of how to rest when everything around is in turmoil, and nothing is predictable...that has been my life for the past 2 1/2 years. I'm going to be thinking about this for some time! So happy to read this before turning in for the night:) Crystal~

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    1. Isn't that the real challenge, Crystal? To tap into that Rest even --or especially!-- in times of chaos and busyness!

      Praying you let the truth sink in and encounter Rest on a whole new level - no matter what your circumstances look like on the outside! (I'm also praying that you will encounter a dragonfly or two of your own... as a reminder and a sign!) Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  5. THIS: "As Light reflects and shines through their wings, Light Himself shines and my heart is captured in this moment of ridiculous wonder." Oh friend, this is so so good! Love the photos. And learning what the dragonfly means....love that too!

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    1. Thanks so much, friend! I know I owe you a Vox... soon! Soon! xoxo

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  6. Popping in from Five Minute Friday.

    I love this: When we are tempted to fear, we let hope stir instead. SO good, so true.

    Thanks for sharing!
    Jen at ymjen.com

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    1. Right? Now... if I can just remember to DO that (first!)... Thanks so much for stopping by, Jen!

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  7. Today is my first visit to your blog. I have absolutely no idea how I found you...obviously through a link party, maybe Coffee for Your Heart. Anyhow, your blog is beautiful, inspiring, and uplifting, and I am definitely going to be a repeat visitor.

    Your photos are stunning! Dragonflies are so beautiful, and you have captured them perfectly. I really had no idea they were associated with change.

    I can understand where you are coming from in resisting change. My daughter got married last year, and though I adore my son-in-law, the inevitable changing of my relationship with my daughter was not something I adjusted to well. I blogged about that this week on Coffee for Your Heart and a few other sites.

    Blessings,
    Patti @ Embracing Home

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    1. Oh Patti... you have made my day! I love it when new people stumble on over and find themselves at home! You are welcome here, any time!

      Dragonflies are breathtaking and I am always so amazed at how detailed they are! I know I shouldn't be... God is super detailed and He takes his time in making things beautiful!

      I have an Only girlie and my heart knows what you are saying! Praying for you and her and your SIL in this season of transition! Off to read your post!

      Please do come back and visit!
      Blessings!

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  8. GORGEOUS dragonflies! Thank you for sharing your heart!

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    1. Thanks so much for stopping by, Ellen! God is pretty amazing in how creative and detailed He is, isn't He?

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  9. God is so good! I love how He speaks to us exactly when and how we need Him to. So thankful for you sharing this inspiring truth! Have a blessed weekend!

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  10. This post.
    Beautiful. The words. The pictures.
    I'm soaking in all the hope you have shared here. The presence of God is active in your words. I am so thankful for His gift to you in that difficult day. My heart aches that yours was broken. I'm sorry, friend. I am praying with you and believing in the "new" that God is creating for you. It will be amazing, I'm sure!
    Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful hope with us at #MomentsofHope, my friend! You are a blessing!
    Lori

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    1. Lori, my friend, you are too sweet! Thank you so much... For stopping by, for the prayers, the support! It is all so appreciated!

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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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