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I know... I missed it again! But if it makes you feel any better, I didn't have ANY screens in front of me Thursday! I was battling a migraine and even though my heart was sitting in this chair, connecting with my tribe --my head was bossing me around in darker spaces, wanting to be horizontal and quiet. I'm feeling MUCH better today... so here I sit, windows wide open, sunshine streaming in, coffee by my side (of course!) and ready to write! Let's go!
Our One Word this week is RETURN! This is Five Minute Friday!
{GO}
Listen, sweet readers...
It's not like this is new news, but My Honey and I?
We are in a season of waiting... of living and lingering in the In-Between.
I wrote about it a couple of times over the last few weeks... And while we have been gifted Great Peace, living in the middle, in the Not-Anymore-but-Not-Yet spaces,
--it's not my favorite!
It would be easy --it may even feel more productive-- to give in to worry. To let our minds wander and our hearts get out of rhythm... to allow worry and doubt and fear to sneak right (back) in. BUT... What God is asking of us in this season of waiting is to simply Return to What We Know For Sure!
So the call is to go back and look over not only what the last clear thing He put on our hearts to do was, but also to remind ourselves of things that we know are Truth, with no shadow of a doubt! (It's just that sometimes we forget, right?)
I wrote a whole series on this! I wrote a book on Truths We Know... (It's just sometimes we forget!) a couple of years ago and man, I hate to admit how many times I need the reminder!
This is not a new reality for me. I know a lot of things... but often forget them in the day-to-day living! (You, too?)
However, there is so much comfort and assurance in reflecting back to the last time you heard His voice... on remembering the things that have been Spoken over you --into you... and the Truths that you KNOW that you know...
There is something so faith-building and grace-extending in getting back to the basics!
We never outgrow the need for the simple truth of the Gospel and how it shapes and saves us!
The truth of how He truly does lead us... how He is for us... how He is after our hearts more than anything else!
The truth that we are His and He is ours and that no matter what this world throws our way, He is our shield and buckler. I mean, right?
That is not a phrase I use often. (I know... you're so surprised!) However, it's something the Lord has been speaking to me softly lately.
A buckler is defined as a shield... so that sounds a bit redundant, doesn't it? God is purposeful when He repeats Himself though, and a buckler is a small shield that is portable and is sort of rounded to protect you all around.
{STOP}
I immediately think of Psalm 91 and while the NKVJ is what comes to mind, many of the other translations change 'buckler' to 'bulwark', 'rampart' or 'wall' - as in a protective barrier.
Last week during a prayer meeting, I had just a flash of a picture. I was sharing it with My Honey this morning and he said, "You mean like on The Incredibles?"
Hmmm... I hadn't thought of that, but yes!
Exactly like that!
This is basically what I saw:
I saw us walking along a path and we were in this Bubble. Arrows were unable to come in and we were protected.
Alrighty then!
That'll Preach, don't ya think?
So when/if you find yourself in a similar season of waiting, I encourage you to go back!
Return to what you know for sure!
Revisit the last time you felt the Lord speak to you or give you direction or an assignment.
Make sure you've done it, or do it again... or, like me, thank Him for the reminder and just get started on it now!
But even if you do this, and you've already done all that He's asked you to do... having done all, stand!
I mean, right?
Return to the simple basic Truths you know and camp out there! Let Him remind you that He is your shield and your buckler... that He can be trusted... that returning is not the same as going backward!
Just Breathe... and wait...
and return to the Truth
you know for sure!
I'm pretty sure you can start with something about Jesus loves me, this I know...
Our One Word this week is RETURN! This is Five Minute Friday!
{GO}
Listen, sweet readers...
It's not like this is new news, but My Honey and I?
We are in a season of waiting... of living and lingering in the In-Between.
I wrote about it a couple of times over the last few weeks... And while we have been gifted Great Peace, living in the middle, in the Not-Anymore-but-Not-Yet spaces,
--it's not my favorite!
It would be easy --it may even feel more productive-- to give in to worry. To let our minds wander and our hearts get out of rhythm... to allow worry and doubt and fear to sneak right (back) in. BUT... What God is asking of us in this season of waiting is to simply Return to What We Know For Sure!
So the call is to go back and look over not only what the last clear thing He put on our hearts to do was, but also to remind ourselves of things that we know are Truth, with no shadow of a doubt! (It's just that sometimes we forget, right?)
I wrote a whole series on this! I wrote a book on Truths We Know... (It's just sometimes we forget!) a couple of years ago and man, I hate to admit how many times I need the reminder!
This is not a new reality for me. I know a lot of things... but often forget them in the day-to-day living! (You, too?)
However, there is so much comfort and assurance in reflecting back to the last time you heard His voice... on remembering the things that have been Spoken over you --into you... and the Truths that you KNOW that you know...
There is something so faith-building and grace-extending in getting back to the basics!
We never outgrow the need for the simple truth of the Gospel and how it shapes and saves us!
The truth of how He truly does lead us... how He is for us... how He is after our hearts more than anything else!
The truth that we are His and He is ours and that no matter what this world throws our way, He is our shield and buckler. I mean, right?
That is not a phrase I use often. (I know... you're so surprised!) However, it's something the Lord has been speaking to me softly lately.
A buckler is defined as a shield... so that sounds a bit redundant, doesn't it? God is purposeful when He repeats Himself though, and a buckler is a small shield that is portable and is sort of rounded to protect you all around.
{STOP}
I immediately think of Psalm 91 and while the NKVJ is what comes to mind, many of the other translations change 'buckler' to 'bulwark', 'rampart' or 'wall' - as in a protective barrier.
Last week during a prayer meeting, I had just a flash of a picture. I was sharing it with My Honey this morning and he said, "You mean like on The Incredibles?"
Hmmm... I hadn't thought of that, but yes!
Exactly like that!
This is basically what I saw:
I saw us walking along a path and we were in this Bubble. Arrows were unable to come in and we were protected.
"Like a bird protecting its young, God will cover you with His feathers, will protect you under His great wings; His faithfulness will form a shield around you, a rock-solid wall to protect you." Psalm 91:4 The Voice
I don't know about you... but me? One Truth I know beyond the shadow of a doubt is that His faithfulness is a shield and a wall!
I have felt it... I have seen it --even though it is 'invisible'!
I have felt it... I have seen it --even though it is 'invisible'!
The next verse that pops into my mind and that I can now 'see' in Incredibles-fashion is Zachariah 2:5.
It's one of my favorites:
It's one of my favorites:
"For I,’ declares the Lord, ‘will be a wall of fire around her [protecting her from enemies], and I will be the glory in her midst.’”
Alrighty then!
That'll Preach, don't ya think?
So when
Return to what you know for sure!
Revisit the last time you felt the Lord speak to you or give you direction or an assignment.
Make sure you've done it, or do it again... or, like me, thank Him for the reminder and just get started on it now!
But even if you do this, and you've already done all that He's asked you to do... having done all, stand!
I mean, right?
Return to the simple basic Truths you know and camp out there! Let Him remind you that He is your shield and your buckler... that He can be trusted... that returning is not the same as going backward!
Just Breathe... and wait...
and return to the Truth
you know for sure!
I'm pretty sure you can start with something about Jesus loves me, this I know...
GRACE, FRIENDS! Y'all know I couldn't just STOP and not finish my thought! The Five minutes happened between the Go and Stop portions, as usual!
The Five Minute Friday community is the best gathering of Flashmob writers around! We wait for the one-word prompt and we throw caution and hesitation and editing to the wind, and we let our fingers fly and our feelings feel and we just wait and see what flows out in five minutes (or so! Because, grace!) and we hit Publish without second-guessing or backspacing!
Linking up with Kate Motaung and the #fmfparty Community today. Five Minute Fridays give 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 "RETURN"
The Five Minute Friday community is the best gathering of Flashmob writers around! We wait for the one-word prompt and we throw caution and hesitation and editing to the wind, and we let our fingers fly and our feelings feel and we just wait and see what flows out in five minutes (or so! Because, grace!) and we hit Publish without second-guessing or backspacing!
Linking up with Kate Motaung and the #fmfparty Community today. Five Minute Fridays give 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 "RETURN"
For more on Psalm 91,
I encourage you to check out
this 31 Days devotional book,
written by my friend
You can find it on Amazon HERE.
Also available on Amazon, the 31 Days of Truths We Know devotional mentioned in the post above. Each day, we will visit some of the Truths that we know... but sometimes we forget! We’ll lean in and let go, together... reminding each other that Truth is a Person - and whatever is coming at us, well--it has to get through Him first!
For more info, click HERE.
I'm also linking up with the lovely writer communities linked below:
Crystal Twaddell for #FreshMarketFriday
Our church is reading through the psalms together, and so often the psalmist does that. A crisis of some kind looms, and it doesn't *look* like God is doing anything about it. But the writer reminds himself of what he knows about God, through His Word and past experience, and ends up with hope. I don't know why we're so forgetful, but I am so thankful God is so patient and longsuffering.
ReplyDeleteYes and Amen and Thank God for it... His patience and willing to suffer, uh --long... with us and for us! LOL! Thanks so much, Barbara!
DeleteSuch good advice, Karrilee! Breathe and wait and return to what we already know to be true! I often need this reminder. Blessings to you! xo
ReplyDeleteYou and me both, Gayl! Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend! xoxo
DeleteWonderful advice and encouragment. Thank you!!
ReplyDeleteI think it is advice and encouragement we ALL need from time to time, right? Thanks so much for stopping by!
DeleteWaiting is so hard but you're right.....it's worth it. I don't like sitting in that inbetween place either. I'm in the 69 spot this week.
ReplyDeleteI think for better or worse, it makes me feel better knowing that I am not (ever) alone in that in between space... He is always shifting and moving and relocating us to where He wants us to be! Love you, friend! xoxo
Delete