Five Minute Friday – Grow

Welcome to this week’s edition of Friday Minute Friday!
This week’s theme is “grow“. To learn more about Five Minute Friday, please visit Kate’s blog for more details… Each week, a community of bloggers come together with the common goal is to spend five unedited minutes to write on a topic.

Growing Up in Christ

“Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church (Eph. 4:15).”

This summer, I know I need to be deliberate- if I want to see growth in

~  my love relationship with my Savior Jesus Christ.

~ the area of writing, and honing this gift God has given me.

~ the kind of relationships I have with other believers in Jesus Christ.

~ the treasure discoveries I make, as I study Jesus and His Word.

Growth Steps

If I want to grow, I must be deliberate.

So, I am taking steps. Because, I do want to see that growth.

Here is what I have been doing.

♦ Studying Philemon and Jude for the month of May (join us on Instagram and Facebook using the hashtag #GOScriptureWriting).

♦ Writing up a Scripture Writing Journal for a 6 week plan using the book of Ephesians (stay tuned its release date! My hope is to study it for the months of mid June/July – so )

♦ Keeping coloring books and utensils on hand, to keep me calm and focused on how to make the absolute best out of my days.

♦ Make writing a habit.

♦ Welcoming silence into my life. As an introvert with Dysautonomia, I know having that silence is a really important thing.

♦ Continuing to plug along in my exercise routine the best as I can. Some days, I have to skip a work out due to Dysautonomia/Pots. Other days, I have to journey at a slower pace. It is not about trying to lose weight, but see that growth as a person who faces health concerns that make exercise a difficult journey.

How are you pursuing deliberate growth in your life?

In Order…

In order to grow and become more like Jesus, I need to take proactive steps to make this summer one of tremendous growth – and – not a time of defeat and stunted growth.

I have no idea what this summer season holds in store for me. But, I do believe I am nearing a place of saying…

“I am ready. Whatever You will, Father. Let’s make this journey together! I am trusting You to get me through this, and to help me grow leaps and bounds as Your daughter and one who is following You as her King of Kings!”

Five Minute Friday – Find

Welcome to this week’s edition of Friday Minute Friday! This week’s theme is “find”. To learn more about Five Minute Friday, please visit Kate’s blog for more details… Each week, a community of bloggers come together with the common goal is to spend five unedited minutes to write on a topic.

Finding something can mean a variety of things. Whomever we are, we spend much of our resources finding something. In a world of temporaries and mental confusion, we spend much time and energy eagerly searching for our keys or phone. Or, we find ourselves searching out our purpose in life.

There is a search that is underway.

As we search, the goal is to…
find something.

What are you searching for? Whatever it is, make sure it is worth the effort. In Isaiah 55, we read these words.

“Wait and listen, everyone who is thirsty! Come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat!… Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your earnings for what does not satisfy?… Incline your ear [submit and consent to the divine will] and come to Me; hear, and your soul will revive; and I will make an everlasting covenant… with you (Isaiah 55:1-3, AMP).”

Today, I have been thinking about seeking God. In the book of Jeremiah, we are taught that when we seek Him wholeheartedly, that’s when we find Him. Like the verse in Amazing Grace…

I once was lost, but now am found.

This is the beauty that is discovered… that is found… as we put everything we are up for collateral. When we willfully entrust our heart, lives, and put our faith in Christ, beauty happens…

The beauty is in the transformation.

The beauty is in Christ.

In Christ, we are set free.

In Christ, we find life.

In Christ, we are truly found!

“You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13, NASB).”

“I tell you the truth: eternal life belongs to those who hear My voice and believe in the One who sent Me. These people have no reason to fear judgment because they have already left death and entered life. I tell you the truth: a new day is imminent—in fact, it has arrived—when the voice of the Son of God will penetrate death’s domain, and everyone who hears will live. You see, the Father radiates with life; and He also animates the Son of God with the same life-giving beauty and power…(John 5:24-27, VOICE).”

“Then Jesus turned to the Jews who had claimed to believe in him. “If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure. Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you (John 8:31-32, MSG).”

“Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see (Amazing Grace).”

Written by John Newton (1725-1807)

Five Minute Friday – Free

Welcome to this week’s edition of Friday Minute Friday! This week’s theme is “free”. To learn more about Five Minute Friday, please visit Kate’s blog for more details…

I have been praying for peace a lot lately. Amazing how God allows us to tap into His reservoir of peace.

‘And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.’ (Matthew 21:22, ESV)

God Said

When God says through His Word to not lean on our own understanding, to trust Him, and to experience His peace, He isn’t playing around. If only, we would listen… If only, I would finally listen.

The Scriptures mentioned:

Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
    don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
    he’s the one who will keep you on track.
Don’t assume that you know it all.
    Run to God! Run from evil! (Proverbs 3:5-6, MSG)

Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7, NRSV)

Learning to Pray

The other night, I couldn’t sleep. So, what happens? I rediscover prayer. The spiritual device I should be more attached to than anything in this world. More than a cell phone. More than a laptop. More than a pen. More than even my Bible. When I pray for peace, God delivers. God delivers every single time. It is like I have discovered this amazing tool. The only change in my life is, I am learning how freeing it is to pray before the God of the Universe. The Creator of my soul. My Savior and Redeemer.

Finally Set Free

He promises that He will set us free. And when He does, we are truly free. God stays true to His Word! I have wrestled with anxiety all my life, but I know praying for peace is the beginning of learning to walk toward the true freedom God has intended for me. I need to remember to keep praying for God’s peace to come over my spirit. I can’t let myself forget to pray for His awesome, surpassing-all-things peace.

‘[You] will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.’ (John 8:32, NASB)

Reflection

How are you experiencing freedom in Christ today?