I finally made it (back) to the Twitter party for the Five Minute Friday community! Oh how I have missed hanging out and (re)connecting!
This is a Five Minute Friday post, which simply means I set a timer and free write for five minutes flat on the one word prompt of: STEADY.
{GO}
This is a Five Minute Friday post, which simply means I set a timer and free write for five minutes flat on the one word prompt of: STEADY.
{GO}
I can't believe the word prompt.
I laugh at the first thought that rolls over my heart and I want to dismiss it... to pretend I didn't hear it. And then I laugh at the realization that lately I am steady in theme if not in much else around here!
The first two sentences my heart hears:
It's the steady rhythm of His heart that we must tune our ears to. Like the rolling in and out of the Tide, His heart pulls at us and offers us Rest.
You see, it's the worlds metronome that is blaring loud and it can drown out the sound of His heart. It beats too fast... too rushed and chaotic, and our heart tends to try to keep up without even realizing it. But it's the methodical rhythm of rest... of breathing in deep and exhaling slow that our souls long for the most...
--It's the still small sound of His heart beating for us that calls us to Come Away with Him!
But my mind goes to Rest automatically in this season... and yet I want to talk of other things! I long to write in this space of something other than Sabbath but it seems God is rather bossy about it all right now.
If you look around, you will discover Rest is a theme everywhere these days! (Or maybe it's just synchronicity!) I really think Rest is a theme coming from Heaven right now and I really think it's something He wants us to not only grasp --but to practice!
You know... like, for real!
It can seem so foreign to our Western culture that it's hard to actually do. It is going against the grain to slow on purpose... in the midst of everyone and everything racing by in a blurred rush. But I believe we are being called to set our souls to the rhythm of rest and to allow the heartbeat of heaven to be the thing that drives us forward.
Life, as Ann with no fanciful 'e' likes to say, is not an emergency!
Oh but how we can live like it is!
However, just think of what we miss when we rush through our days and multi-task our way through the time we've been given! Maybe much is produced on the outside... but at what cost?
I've been giving in to this season of Sabbath and I'm learning to be thankful for it (yet again!) I'm remembering that Jesus Himself went away and allowed Himself some down time... some one on one time with the Father... and He leads the way to where we want to go and in how we want to live!
He is our example and let me tell you, I have never known Him to be in a hurry! Have you?
No. It's been my experience that, if anything, He takes His own sweet time to get to where He is going and although often times I feel as though He is late... He assures me that He is always, always, right on time!
So Set Your Soul to the Rhythm of His Heart that Beats for You
Steady -but Unrushed!
Strong -but not Overbearing.
Sure -with no Shadow of Turning.
His heart beats to the sound of Love and rolls in and out like the Tide --ever pulling us closer... resetting and re-syncing us to have hearts that beat like His.
Lean in and listen... you just may here the coming in of the tide, and the beating of His heart! Enter in to His Rest!
{STOP}
I know, you guys! I want me to write about something else too!
My Honey and I enjoyed a few days at the ocean shore and this is always the best way for me to reconnect with His heartbeat and to slow and Sabbath!
The hugeness of the ocean and the smallness of me in comparison always reminds me that whatever 'problems' I face, they are tiny in His loving and capable nail scarred Hands! It was such a blessing to breathe in that salty sea air and simply sit in silence... drinking Him in!
Praying you can find a moment to close your eyes, slow your heart from slamming around, and breathe Him in. May you hear hints of waves crashing and seagulls singing and may you feel His presence, thick --all around you!
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: "STEADY"
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 communities linked below:
A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, THE LORD SPOKE TO ME AND THROUGH ME REGARDING SABBATH REST AND I TURNED MY 31 DAYS SERIES INTO AN EBOOK ON AMAZON. IF YOU ARE FINDING YOURSELF IN NEED OF REST (WHICH --WHO ISN'T, REALLY?) CHECK OUT THIS SHORT, DAILY DEVOTIONAL 31 DAYS OF RESTING IN GOD ...IT'S EASIER/HARDER THAN YOU THINK!
YOU CAN PURCHASE IT BY CLICKING HERE OR GRABBING IT FROM THE SIDE BAR TO THE RIGHT IF REST IS SOMETHING YOU KNOW YOU NEED, BUT JUST KEEP PUTTING OFF!
A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, THE LORD SPOKE TO ME AND THROUGH ME REGARDING SABBATH REST AND I TURNED MY 31 DAYS SERIES INTO AN EBOOK ON AMAZON. IF YOU ARE FINDING YOURSELF IN NEED OF REST (WHICH --WHO ISN'T, REALLY?) CHECK OUT THIS SHORT, DAILY DEVOTIONAL 31 DAYS OF RESTING IN GOD ...IT'S EASIER/HARDER THAN YOU THINK! YOU CAN PURCHASE IT BY CLICKING HERE OR GRABBING IT FROM THE SIDE BAR TO THE RIGHT IF REST IS SOMETHING YOU KNOW YOU NEED, BUT JUST KEEP PUTTING OFF!
Your title pulled at my heart strings and I new I was in for some beautiful writing. So good...so, so good.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, sweet friend! It's a message that just won't leave me!
DeleteI love your writing (I think you already know that!) but this week the graphics you made also just filled my heart! Love these!
ReplyDeleteOh I'm so glad! I was hoping they would pull the reader in and offer a bit of rest! (It's so good to see you, my friend!)
DeleteYou are beginning to sound like a broken record!!!!!!!! You know I'm kidding, right? Just keep resting and breathing in. Grandma-hood is right around the corner and your rest may be over for 17 or so years. LOL.
ReplyDeleteGah... I know? ;) (And I rebuke that comment, in Jesus' name!) hehe (I also know you impart much wisdom, so I will continue to press in --while I can!)
DeleteKarrilee, your words are a balm of refreshment. I've been seeing the theme of rest a lot lately, too. I think God is trying to tell me to come apart, take a break from all the voices and activities calling to me from social media and elsewhere. Come apart and rest and move at a slower pace. That's what I need to do.
ReplyDeleteBlessings to you!
Oh Gayl, I'm so glad to hear that this was confirmation for you, too! I pray you are able to clear your calendar a bit and enter in to His rest! xoxo
DeleteRest is certainly a theme He is putting in my heart as I begin retirement. I'll need to spend some time reading what you .ave learned as I pursue a season-hopefully a life-of rest
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on Retirement! That is an exciting transition! I will be praying for Rest and for vision for what is next, as well!
DeleteThank you! Thank you! Thank you! (for following His leading for this post)
ReplyDeleteLOL! You're welcome! You're welcome! You're welcome! ;) (As usual... this was as much for me than anyone else!) #Preachingtomyself
DeleteKarrilee, beautiful. I love the picture of God's heart pulling at us and offering us Rest. He always knows what's best for us. Now to listen and let Him tug my heart toward His.
ReplyDeleteHe's just so romantic in how He woos us!
DeleteI'm enjoying rest this summer (as much rest as one can enjoy with a ten-month-old around!). My rest involves serving others and not worrying about me or my writing or my blog. Believe it or not, I DO find it restful (it's getting easier to let go each week ;) ).
ReplyDeleteOh yes... I'm right there with you, friend!
DeleteThis is a beautiful post. I agree, the world is so fast-paced and it's easy to get caught up in that, desperately trying to keep up. It's so important to take time to slow down and rest and let God set our pace.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad I went back and read this post friend! Rest is such a gift and we so often forget to take time to do it, don't we? His heart does indeed beat to the sound of love.
ReplyDelete