Thursday, March 20, 2014

Five Minute Friday - Joy

Five Minute FridayOn Fridays a bunch of brave writers gather here to all spend 5 collective minutes writing on a single prompt. It’s here that fear falls away, because scared is the new brave. There is safety in this community that rallies ‘round you – whether you’re having an utter confidence meltdown and are sure you can’t write anymore, a catastrophic parenting meltdown and are sure you can’t mother anymore, or just an epic almost Friday breakdown and are just not sure. These women – they’ve got you. This blessed, beautiful place where we open our hearts and let words and tears and the inner workings of our lives bleed and flow and dance across the virtual pages. Yes, this community opens wide and invites you in to share. Come and visit and read. You will be blessed.

This week: Joy

Go

When the thought first came down – the way it often does when God registers something in my heart – my initial reaction was, “really?” I supposed it should have been “yes!” Immediately, unhesitatingly yes. With all that I’ve been reading and learning and digesting and declaring. Declaring that I am ready and able to stand and do things for Him. But instead, I felt myself shrink inside a little. Hop to the side like a chickadee who has been disturbed in mid-peck. You want me to do what, Lord?

It may not seem like a large thing at all. Pray. Ask. Invite. And I was going to be praying anyway. Because He’d laid her on my heart and despite not really knowing her, I felt like I knew something, and it was Haiti after all so yes, I was going to be praying. But inviting? Asking? I don’t do that.

Because I’m not anyone at all. No big name. No platform to speak of. And I have always been a behind the scenes girl. I’ve got that part going on: stage manager, makeup artist, photographer, speechwriter, even coordinator. But no one was going to jump on board just because I invited them to join up and pray. And there it was: fear. Fear of being alone. Fear of someone laughing. Fear of someone thinking I was trying to be something I’m not. Fear of disappointing. Fear.

But fear does not come from above. It is not a gift from God. It is not a gift at all. Fear is a scene stealer, a soul quasher, a light banisher, and a dream exiler. And I knew deep down that I wasn’t supposed to be giving into it. At all.

So before I could change my mind, rethink it, justify it away, or allow the thought to drift, I threw the idea out to my online writing group: 192 Hours of Prayer for our friend and sister in Christ who was going on a mission.

I sat back after I hit enter and listened to the silence echo. I think we sometimes call that crickets. And then I wrote it again somewhere else. And then tweeted it. Figuring in all honesty that it I was going to fail at this, I might as go down as epically as possible.

Kaitlyn - who blogs at It Just Takes One
But then I heard it. That musical chime and buzz of my phone that lets me know a message has arrived. Then again. Then again. Because I put the fleece out and God responded. And I cried. Quiet tears of joy, but I cried. His call resonated through the hearts of the women I know and they started signing up. And sharing. And signing up. And getting more people involved. And then my mom. And my mother-in-law. And my auntie. And people who don’t even know her.

The Lord is doing this to bless her, cover her, and anoint her mission to Haiti with her team. But He’s also doing this so show me that He shows up. When you answer even the smallest thing; when you step out – even when you are afraid – and follow His lead, He will be there. And there is no greater joy than to be a vessel in His hands.

There is still room to sign up and pray.
Kaitlyn blogs at It Just Takes One and works at (in)courage while finishing up college in Alabama. She writes with the Five Minute Friday crew and is the organizer of the #fmfpartysnailmail - a growing group of Five Minute Friday writers who stay connected via encouraging cards and letters to each other. To learn more about Kaitlyn her journey to Haiti, click here. If you would like to sign up for a one-hour time slot to pray for her, please leave me a message in the comments. Right now, we have times from Saturday, March 22 through Thursday, March 27. Midnight to 5:00am and 2:00pm through 8:00pm. This is #192HoursofPrayer

Stop






How to Join 
Want to know about Lisa Jo Baker, how Five Minute Friday got started, and how to participate? All the details are here. No editing or second guessing. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community.

I'd love to connect with you some more - stop on by the Three Bees Facebook Page or connect with me on Twitter @3BeesBlueBonnet. Let's continue the conversation!

14 comments :

  1. This is amazing. Thanks so much for encouraging all of us to listen to His voice when He calls us to minister and move.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Jean Marie - it has been a privilege to watch this unfold! He blesses.

      Delete
  2. This is wonderful! I saw comments about it last night at #fmfparty but had no clue what it was about. I'll be happy to take a time slot! Just let me know!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Charlie - I love that you got connected and have grabbed a spot. Thank you for grace and for your prayers!

      Delete
  3. So proud of you - and thrilled to be joining with you! See? Thanks for obeying because now we all get to play a little part in praying for this trip and covering this amazing girlie and her team!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love this extension of community; this act of grace; this tangible gift of living out a lenten sacrifice for a friend; this lifting of and spilling our online life into real life. So good to be doing this together!

      Delete
  4. What a beautiful thing you are doing, Rebekah. You have such an amazing heart. It's this serving others, I know I do in quiet ways, that I'm waiting to hear God's voice clearer on. Your post reminds me of preparing for my trip to Guatemala and how grateful I was for those praying for me. I will lift Kaitlyn up in prayer. Bless you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Beth - for being such an encouragement and for joining us here. Grateful for quiet spaces and friends who come alongside.

      Delete
  5. Ok, now I'm sitting here bawling like a baby! Love this post...love the 192HoursofPrayer. Love Kaitlyn and her heart for this trip. Love you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for being part of the Holly! You've been right there cheering, encouraging, and sharing the whole time. You are one of the reasons I love this community so very much. Love you back!

      Delete
  6. This is beautiful and I would love to sign up for a time slot to pray. Thank you for your courageous obedience. What a beautiful inspiration! How do I sign up?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Casey - thank you for visiting and for your gracious offer to bless us by joining with us in prayer. not sure how best to connect with you, but if you tweet, find me at 3BeesBlueBonnet and let's get you signed up. Sat 4-8pm is open. Sun - Thurs, Midnight to 6am, and 4 to 8pm. Thank you!

      Delete
  7. I love you Rebekah !!! I love how you inspire, encourage and uplift just by being you. You don't even realize how much you do for the community that join with (so humble).

    ReplyDelete
  8. Amy - you are just so kind. I don't know what I would do without your encouraging smile that comes shining through your words every single time. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for the kindess of your comment. I pray your patience with the word verification. I've had such troubles with spammers lately. Thank you for grace. I look forward to reading all the comments and responding. I appreciate you!