March 24, 2017

Embrace the Season You're In... a Five Minute Friday post

Yep... you guessed it... we had plans last night so I missed out on the #fmfparty, but we were in need of a night out with friends and it was good four our souls to be intentional in growing some friendships.  I'm here now.  You know what they say... Better late than never, right?

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


{GO}

I remember back when the Lord first started coaxing me to "Embrace Change" --I was not a fan.

It seemed everywhere I went, I would see that phrase or hear Him whisper it to me in the dark of night or in the face of impending change.  

I was used to digging my feet in and resisting... 

I was used to kicking against the goads, thank you very much.  

I wanted things to stay the same... 
to stay seemingly safe and secure... 
small and secluded, even. 


But God, right? 

I was like Paul, resisting the way He was guiding me, at every turn.  

He lovingly reminded me that if there is life in something, Change is just part of the process.

As He wooed me out into the Light... out into the wide open spaces of wanting to walk on water and do crazy red parts like heal the sick and raise the dead, I began to see the wisdom and the freedom in actually just giving in... 
Giving in to trust... 
Giving in to faith...
Giving in to change.

But He actually wanted more than just a giving in and giving up... He wanted me to EMBRACE Change.  To not only accept it but to go looking for it... to be open to it and to anticipate it.  



He began to stir up in me a (dreaded) sense of wonder and adventure and an ever-decreasing Comfort Zone.

He began to show me the value of fully embracing whatever Season you are in.  Here's the deal: We are constantly changing, growing, bearing fruit, being pruned... we move from one Season to another --sometimes they overlap a bit, and sometimes one must come to a full complete stop before the Next unfolds before us.  But when we learn to lean in and to embrace the Season we are in, we learn to lean in and embrace the Savior who goes with us!

Whatever Season you are in --whether it is good or hard... this too shall pass, right?

I have been saying yes more often than no... I have been embracing Change and the more I do it, the more it becomes my new normal and the more normal it is, the more grace I have --for myself, and for others-- when it comes to change.  

Sometimes we have the luxury and burden of planning for the change ahead, but often times Change comes for us and we are blindsided and unaware --we can feel unprepared and unsure*... even a little unsteady by the shock of it all.


But God... He knows what lies ahead and He sees from a different perspective... from the beginning AND the end and He knows... and, here's the other thing:

You guys... 
  HE CAN BE TRUSTED!

I promise you, He can be! 
And also there is this little Truth
that He keeps whispering to me...
He's better than you think!

{STOP} 

I hit my Five Minute Mark at the * but I wanted to finish my thought!

So I wrote about Saying Yes and letting go of Comfort Zones earlier this week HERE and also shared a bit about the importance of Soul Care HERE... both of these truths have helped me to let go and lean in more often... to be able to Embrace Change with a bit more grace and a lot less kicking and screaming! 

His way is better... it's just always so much better!




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: "EMBRACE"
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:










Kelly Balarie for #RaRaLinkUp


LORI SCHUMAKER FOR #MOMENTSOFHOPE













Barbie Swihart for #Glimpsesofhisbeauty
















Jennifer Dukes Lee for #TellHisStory













Holly Barrett for #TestimonyTuesday

What about YOU, sweet reader?  Do you tend to kick against the goads and resist change, or have you learned the art of leaning in and letting go? I'd love to hear in the comments below!

26 comments :

  1. "Change is just part of the process." Oh, thats good! I hate change, and resist it.

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    1. LOL! I can tell you, friend... it's futile. Embrace Change and so much of the tension just slips away! If we want Life... we get Change! #sorrynotsorry xoxo

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  2. I struggle to embrace change too, especially when I don't know how it will turn out. I want to stay small and plat it safe. But I have also found that there is freedom and amazing blessings to be found in embracing what God has for us even when it's not what we would have chosen. As you say it all comes down to whether we trust him. Visiting from FMF#10.

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    1. Trust is the key to so much of our Freedom, isn't it? Thanks so much for stopping by, Lesley!

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  3. Yep! THIS: "Here's the deal: We are constantly changing, growing, bearing fruit, being pruned... we move from one Season to another --sometimes they overlap a bit, and sometimes one must come to a full complete stop before the Next unfolds before us. But when we learn to lean in and to embrace the Season we are in, we learn to lean in and embrace the Savior who goes with us!" Love how you are embracing life in this season. I'm in the 6 spot this week.

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    1. Thanks so much, friend... and thanks for the prayers, too! xoxo

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  4. I don't embrace change, karrilee. I prefer to embrace paper money, large denominations, nonconsecutive serials.

    This is a great post, and yes, seeing change as a God-driven adventure is the way to go!

    #1 at FMF this week.

    http://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2017/03/your-dying-spouse-288-being-ok-with.html

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    1. LOL! Well yes... if we are talking 'change' --I'm with you! I'd much rather embrace the larger denomination paper money kind! ;)

      Bless you, brother! It's always an honor to see you here, friend!

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  5. "Change comes for us..." Yeah. xo

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  6. OH!!! Yes, these Truths are hard and yet...so vital to growing into His image, being able to walk with Him daily, and being a light in this world. Thank you, thank you.

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    1. Amen, Linda! Hard and Vital... thanks so much for stopping by, friend!

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  7. Some changes are welcome (spring after winter), but most are not. Years ago when every member of my immediate family moved within a year's time, one thought that sustained me was from the hymn, "Be Still Me Soul": "In every change, He faithful will remain."

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    1. Yes! Even in the hard changes, He can be trusted! (and Hallelujah for Spring!) Thanks so much, Barbara!

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  8. Every time we resist change we make it difficult to see the beauty and opportunity it holds for us.
    Life is in seasons and phases....to do well in each process we should embrace it.
    Thanks for the wisdom-packed post.God Bless

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    1. Every situation or circumstance holds Opportunity within it, right? So good! Thanks so much for stopping by, Ifeoma!

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  9. Karrilee, I so dislike change as well. And yet ... the changes He brings are often best for us. And no matter if the changes are planned, expected, or should blindside us, God can still be trusted. So grateful to be reminded this morning!

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    1. Amen! He CAN still be trusted... it's just sometimes we forget, right? ;) Thanks so much for stopping by, Joanne!

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  10. One of my most favorite words! I always tried to be conscious of this as a mother because people would say it passes so quickly. How true! Great encouragement:)

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    1. It DOES pass so quickly! I love that saying, the days are long but the years are short! It's so true! Thanks so much for stopping by, Crystal!

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  11. Karrilee,
    A good word for me today, my friend! Leaning into the season - even when it's tough. I've got some more leaning to do! Thanks so much for sharing this hope at #MomentsofHope!
    Blessings and smiles,
    Lori

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    1. Praying for you Lori... leaning in is good -but it always forces us to give up control and trust that when we lean, He will catch us! (He will! I promise He will!) xoxo

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  12. Great post my friend. I've had one season after another or so it seems. I'm still on the journey to fully embracing all of the change in my life, but it's getting easier! Have a blessed week.

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    1. So good to hear, my friend! It really does get easier --maybe not the change itself, but the leaning in to it and trusting! Love you!

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  13. Fantastic post. I write about "Embracing the Unexpected" not because I have it master but because I am constantly learning how. Today I find myself needing to embrace a place I don't want to go back to but need to. Thank you for your encouraging words.

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    1. Maree, I am praying for you today! It doesn't matter if He is urging us forward into the unknown, or sometimes taking us back to familiar ground --He goes WITH us and walks beside us... and He can be trusted to work all things together for our good! So glad you stopped by today and found encouragement!

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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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