Category: Five Minute Fridays

Lonely Can Be a Lovely Word


But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. 
(Luke 5:16 NIV)



Sometimes I want to be lonely–without company, cut off from others, not frequented by human beings. Some may say this is sad.  But in my loneliest times, I have found God or He finds me. 

When alone, solitary companionship occurs. God alone fills my deepest desires, comforts me in grief, strengthens my emotional being. So maybe I desire solitude–a privacy to be with my thoughts, to be with God.

Jesus sought the lonely places for prayer. He rested from company.  

Once in awhile, maybe quite often I am looking for that quiet day where I can walk in the lonely woods–to cry if I need to–to hum a tune–to sit still listening to . . . 

the gurgling brook
the rushing fountain
the muffled voices
the siren and traffic in the distance

and I am reminded that I am never too lonely.

I just step out of the woods and I am in the midst of the human race
ready to engage, to understand, to embrace, to listen, 
to do what human beings do–
alleviate
each other’s loneliness.




Posted on by kelrohlf 15

Rhythm: Movement or Variation Marked by Regular Recurrence

I hear the tumult of the raging seas
    as your waves and surging
tides sweep over me.
But each day the Lord pours
his unfailing love upon me,
    and through each night I sing his songs,
    praying to God who gives me life.
(Psalm 42:7-8 NLT)




Rhythm is different than routine. Routines can be broken, neglected or demanding. Rhythm ebbs and flows in increments and seasons. Being off beat frustrates, but rhythm holds you close, it just happens.

I lose interest in clapping to a song, because I can’t keep count. Yet I get caught up in a rhythm and sway along. Then I lose the rhythm by explaining and defending it.

Day flows into day, month after month adding to the years. The rhythm is always there, but I find it hard to keep up with. This happens because I treat it like a routine that I think I can manage. 

Caught off guard, I remember that a rhythm rocks and wakes and gets my attention like waves splashing and crashing into me. Let the rhythm wash over me. I want to be in the midst of it to revel in its crashing, splashing waves.




Linking up with:

Posted on by kelrohlf 13

Comfort: Contented Well-Being


You got me when I was an unformed youth,
God, and taught me everything I know.
Now I’m telling the world your wonders;
I’ll keep at it until I’m old and gray.

God, don’t walk off and leave me
until I get out the news
Of your strong right arm to this world,
news of your power to the world yet to come,
Your famous and righteous
ways, O God.
God, you’ve done it all!


    Who is quite like you?
You, who made me stare trouble in the face,
Turn me around;
Now let me look life in the face.


    I’ve been to the bottom;
Bring me up, streaming with honors;
turn to me, be tender to me,
And I’ll take up the lute [or fiddle] 
and thank you
to the tune of your faithfulness, God.

(Psalm 71: 17-22 The Message)

Comfort comes in the company of good people. Like today, my friend Kelly and I gathered on her screened porch with collage supplies. She invited me. I accepted her invitation. We made room for our magazines, glue and dreams.

Early in the week, she told me about the Facebook study hosted by the Winsome Woman. We are reading through and discussing You’re Made For a God-Sized Dream by Holley Gerth. In the book, we were invited to make a vision board that visualizes our dream. (By the way, this is an open invitaion, click here to join the study.)



From the comfort of our chairs, with warm conversation and comfortable silences, we thumbed through magazines, ripped out images. One of us would say, “Look at this!” or “I think this fits your dream.” Each of us looking out contentedly for the other’s well-being. Wanting deeply to make sure we don’t lose sight of God or his dreams.

We lingered all morning into lunch (Black bean and sweet potato burritos, apple slices and cornbread slathered with peach preserves–comfort food.)




Kel’s Dream



Kelly’s Dream



With visions of our dream before us, we poured over the images and words, asking each other what they meant. And the comfort of knowing we were together made the difference today. Gave us the courage to take one more step toward God’s dream for each of us and for both of us.

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Posted on by kelrohlf 19

Jump: Leap of Faith

 
It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him.
(Hebrews 11:6 The Message)
 
 
 
 
Jesus
Understands
My
Purpose.
I
Need not second
Guess.
 
Tomorrow,
Always and
Now:
Depending on Jesus,
Enables
Me.


 
 
 
 
 
Linking up with:
 
 

Posted on by kelrohlf 3

Here: At This Point

But as for me,
the nearness of God is my good;
I have made the Lord GOD my refuge,
That I may tell of all Thy works.
(Psalm 73:28 NASB
 
 
 

 
 
 
here
close by
snug
 
near
close by
hug
 
share
close by
shrug
 
your
burdens
unto
Me
 
 
 
 
 
Linking up with:
 
 

 
Posted on by kelrohlf 14