Five Minute Friday--Connect

Now, set your timer, clear your head, for five minutes of free writing without worrying about getting it right.
1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back to Lisa-Jo and invite others to join in.
3. 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, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..

OK, are you ready? Please give me your best five minutes on: 
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Connect…

Connect... and all I can think is disconnect. My heart and my head cannot agree and my hands can't write/type what my head is thinking. 

Truth, I have been soaking in truth! Living in the Psalms and Proverbs trying to focus on what is true, what is honest, what is just, what is pure, what is lovely, what is of good report. Thinking on virtue and praise.  But I'm having a hard time convincing my heart. The heart is heavy and I can't break free. and I'm weary!

And I sit here and pray and my five minutes comes up blank because I can't connect the dots.

Truth.  I review my Psalms/Proverbs reading and my #SheReadsTruth notebook and I write/type...

Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary, and they shall walk, and not faint. 

Psalm 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

Psalm 73:26, 28 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works.

I Thessalonians 5:18 In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Psalm 42:5 Why are that cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me: hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

Proverbs 11:2, 16 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom. A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches.

Romans 12:9-12 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil, cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love, in honor preferring on another. Not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation, continuing instant in prayer.

Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

And I connect to the One who sustains me and I am refreshed! And when I don't have words, I go to His Words... He has the Words of Life.

Connected to the source of abundant life is where I need to be.

 

handwriting ... a lost art

I didn't start blogging because I am a writer. I've never had any interest in writing or publishing a book. I've never been very good at articulating my thoughts out onto paper. I've never been a diary writer or a journaler (although I've attempted it a couple of times).

I blog for community.

That being said, a blogger really should know a little bit about writing... and should really practice writing. With all the technology available these days it is very rare to see people actually writing with a pen and paper, putting thoughts down on paper, preserving a piece of themselves with handwriting.

Even handwritten notes and cards are an endangered species... but I'm working to bring that back with my handmade stationery.

Just the other day, I hand wrote a letter. It wasn't an easy letter to write. I had to apologize for something I had done, and I also had to make them aware of how I had been hurt by their actions.

But the writing of it, the actually using a pen-on-paper part, was very therapeutic.

When I sit down at the computer screen with a new post open in front of me, my mind goes blank. I think the Publish button intimidates me. But when I open my notebook and pick up a pen (which I've only done a handful of times), the words just start flowing because the chances of anyone seeing it is slim.

To tie into this, I want to share that I am a part of the She Reads Truth community... we just started a new reading plan on prayer last week... It's not too late to join in. and I determined that I was going to get something out of it this time. I joined in with the last reading plan, but that's all I did...just read it.

I saw others in the community sharing pictures of their journal, adding their thoughts to the Scripture read and the commentary in the reading plan, or just writing out a verse that really meant something to them. I determined that I was going to get in on that, so I went out and bought myself some fun colored pens.

And I started writing... just the Scripture this time, no commentary...

And as I wrote out the Scripture after I read it, it was amazing to me how my thoughts all came together, questions that I had on some of the verses I wrote, insight that came to me just by writing, even ideas for future blog posts!! Reading it AND Writing it really helps it sink into your mind!

I am so excited about what I'm going to learn just through the writing of Scripture!
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and because blogging is about community, I am linking up to these great blog parties...

When is the last time you hand-wrote a note or letter to someone?

Do you journal? With pen and ink or on the computer?

Are you part of the #SheReadsTruth community?

What is you favorite verse on prayer?

The Lord's Prayer

joining the Sunday Community and sharing some verses from the current She Reads Truth reading plan on prayer ...



Luke 11:1-13

And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, 

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. 
Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
Give us day by day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. 
And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;  For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?  And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.

I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.
And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.  For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?