I have not been able to make it to the party on Twitter for a LONG time... (I accidentally started a Thursday night Bible Study - ironically going through Lisa-Jo's We Saved You A Seat.) . Still - it will wrap up in a few more weeks and I can't wait to get back to the Tribe!
But until then, I will still play along in this little corner and over at the Link Up! Here we 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: SILENCE
{GO}
I know... with all my talking about and putting into practice REST, and with the season of life as an Empty Nester, and with the fact that I am an introvert, one would assume that Silence is my jam. (I know... but I can't stop saying it.)
And it IS!
Normally... I love me some Silence...
A little slow and quiet space to soak and to unwind...
to think and to pray...
to recenter and refocus and
to re-calibrate my heart to the rhythm of His.
It is my jam...
But then there are the times when the Silence is simply adding to the Noise in your head and for the love, Peace is elusive and the quiet can feel maddening, right?
My Honey and I? We are normally people of Peace.
We do like Bill Johnson says, and we protect our Peace.
We highly value it, and we are willing to fight for it and to set boundaries to make sure we have allotted space for it.
But how many know that when you are wrestling with something beyond your control, and there appears --at least on the outside-- to be no forward motion, no answers, no real resolution or healing... the silence can be deafening.
Often times, it speaks louder than words.
Silence when you are at peace is a gift... a welcomed respite.
But when you are in conflict it can feel loud and disruptive... shouting lies and half-truths at you in the dark.
When it is just adding to the noise in your head, you know it is time to break through it and find your Voice again.
You know it is time to inhale deep,
pray under your breath, and speak up!
Speak hope... Speak grace...
Speak forgiveness... Speak life.
Sometimes when we've wrestled with God in the quiet, we work things out in our heads and our hearts and think we're ready to just move forward from there.
However, often times, what is required is for us to go back to where our peace was lost and work our way forward from the past, using words and releasing hope and healing all the way through to the present...
That is how you let go of the chaos and grab hold of Peace.
That is how you find yourself at rest, relishing in the calm and the quiet once again!
But until then, I will still play along in this little corner and over at the Link Up! Here we 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: SILENCE
{GO}
I know... with all my talking about and putting into practice REST, and with the season of life as an Empty Nester, and with the fact that I am an introvert, one would assume that Silence is my jam. (I know... but I can't stop saying it.)
And it IS!
Normally... I love me some Silence...
A little slow and quiet space to soak and to unwind...
to think and to pray...
to recenter and refocus and
to re-calibrate my heart to the rhythm of His.
It is my jam...
But then there are the times when the Silence is simply adding to the Noise in your head and for the love, Peace is elusive and the quiet can feel maddening, right?
My Honey and I? We are normally people of Peace.
We do like Bill Johnson says, and we protect our Peace.
We highly value it, and we are willing to fight for it and to set boundaries to make sure we have allotted space for it.
But how many know that when you are wrestling with something beyond your control, and there appears --at least on the outside-- to be no forward motion, no answers, no real resolution or healing... the silence can be deafening.
Often times, it speaks louder than words.
Silence when you are at peace is a gift... a welcomed respite.
But when you are in conflict it can feel loud and disruptive... shouting lies and half-truths at you in the dark.
When it is just adding to the noise in your head, you know it is time to break through it and find your Voice again.
You know it is time to inhale deep,
pray under your breath, and speak up!
Speak hope... Speak grace...
Speak forgiveness... Speak life.
Sometimes when we've wrestled with God in the quiet, we work things out in our heads and our hearts and think we're ready to just move forward from there.
However, often times, what is required is for us to go back to where our peace was lost and work our way forward from the past, using words and releasing hope and healing all the way through to the present...
That is how you let go of the chaos and grab hold of Peace.
That is how you find yourself at rest, relishing in the calm and the quiet once again!
{STOP}
I have had a very people-y couple of weeks! Good, but busy! Add a bit of inner stress in trying to pray through some hard things and finding yet again that the Silence feels loud and invasive rather than welcomed and soft has been a wake up call for me that I needed, (--even if I didn't want it, right?)
It's funny how Silence can come to us as a Lovely Gift or a Heavy Burden, isn't it?
When Silence is a gift, it silences all the other noise in your head, instead of adding to it! When it's a burden, it adds chaos and conflict in to the mix!
I don't know about you, but me? I want it to come as a gift that I can open up slow and wrap around me... to soak in it a bit and let it do it's deep work of revival, breathing new life and new hope right back in to the hurt and healing places.
I am praying for you, sweet readers, to encounter a bit of Silence this weekend, all wrapped in ribbons and bows!
May it be a gift in the shouty world that surrounds us, and may it beckon us to slow... to recenter... and to Sabbath!
It's funny how Silence can come to us as a Lovely Gift or a Heavy Burden, isn't it?
When Silence is a gift, it silences all the other noise in your head, instead of adding to it! When it's a burden, it adds chaos and conflict in to the mix!
I don't know about you, but me? I want it to come as a gift that I can open up slow and wrap around me... to soak in it a bit and let it do it's deep work of revival, breathing new life and new hope right back in to the hurt and healing places.
I am praying for you, sweet readers, to encounter a bit of Silence this weekend, all wrapped in ribbons and bows!
May it be a gift in the shouty world that surrounds us, and may it beckon us to slow... to recenter... and to Sabbath!
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: "SILENCE"
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!
Beckon us to slow - I like that phrase. We so often need it!
ReplyDeleteAmen, Carol! Amen!
DeleteSo good!
ReplyDelete"But when you are in conflict it can feel loud and disruptive... shouting lies and half-truths at you in the dark."
Why do we wrestle with God when he is silent--or worse, make our own narratives?
Oh yes... making our own narratives or ascribing intent is the WORST (and yet we fall for it time and time again!)
Delete"But then there are the times when the Silence is simply adding to the Noise in your head and for the love, Peace is elusive and the quiet can feel maddening, right?" Exactly! But then we do appreciate the times that silence brings peace. :)
ReplyDeleteBlessings to you, dear Karrilee! xo
Yes and Amen! I think it all goes back to finding, holding, and protecting our Peace!
DeleteAs He does... ;)
ReplyDeleteI want it to come as a gift too. Oh and THIS friend: "But when you are in conflict it can feel loud and disruptive... shouting lies and half-truths at you in the dark." Those words couldn't be anymore truer. Soaking in some silence and savoring this beautiful gift.
ReplyDeleteLove you, friend! Praying you are feeling better!
DeleteWhat a brilliant angle from which to look at silence, Karrilee! I have never thought of it quite like that, but you are so right! Praying along with you for all your readers, but for you as well, my friend ♥ I haven't been here near as often as I would like. You home hear always inspires me and makes me smile ... I have missed you! Much too much noise in this head over here. I'm desperately in need of the silence - the kind wrapped up in a pretty bow ♥
ReplyDeleteBlessings and smiles,
Lori
I have missed you, as well! Life, man... I haven't been able to hang out in your corner much lately either! Praying in agreement for us all to have a gift of Silence, wrapped in ribbons and bows! xoxo
DeleteI am an extrovert but I need my silence too. Otherwise life would become too restless and senseless. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Blessings to you!
ReplyDeleteYes and Amen! Thanks so much Mari-Anna! Blessings right back to you!
Delete