Today I join this writing community for Five Minute Friday with the prompt, Relevant. Writing briefly from the overflow of the heart.
Just five minutes of writing. No editing, no over-thinking, no back tracking. This challenges me to walk in freedom. I challenge you to do the same. Cozy up in your own place and write for just five minutes. In your journal, on a napkin, at your laptop right in front of you now. Just. Write
This life of faith, it is like dog chasing tail for me some days. How He speaks, then I receive His promises with joy . . . until the next trial. Then it is if I have dementia, forget what He said just yesterday and circle around, go to scavenge truth once again.
And as I read yesterday, in the company of friends seated in a circle, about the life of Mary I see how her life is relevant to my life today. The way the angel came to her with that radical good news. The news about how she would carry the Savior of the world inside her.
How her first response is confusion upon hearing the message. (Luke 1:29-34) She asks why and how could this be?
We do this don’t we? When circumstances show contrary and we can’t see beyond them. Ask why?
Why me?
You want me to do what?
How?
All those years of abiding, knowing the sweetness of His presence, and then something comes from outside the paradigm of our understanding. It is like the brain empties and we have to fill it again, remember who He is, who we are, what the truth says.
This questioning, it provides clarity. We reason, ponder, struggle with what we don’t understand and wait.
Like Mary waited those nine months to give birth to the ultimate gift and hope for the world. The way she waited all those years for others to know what she held in her heart. Kept the promise deep inside knowing she would follow her own son one day.
I hold His promises like this too.
Revelation, it comes like mudslide. This questioning lies in the streams of expectancy. Because when we question Him, we expect to hear an answer. And the answer comes in abiding. It is like water to a thirsty soul.
Like Mary, I pray that my response to Him will echo, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.”
What a great post.. how that first paragraph resonates with me
Hard to admit but it is so true. Thankful for grace and unconditional love otherwise I would be in a heap on the floor somewhere most days! Thanks for visiting.
nice piece…and i always think of the cultural signifigance of someone so young getting pregnant out of wedlock…esp back then….yet still she accepted…
Thanks Brian. She could’ve said no. Something we probably don’t think about much. And I wonder how I would have responded in that same scenario. We have a lot to learn from her.
Are you attending the Relevant Conference in Pa. right now? Christian women who are bloggers?
Our older daughter is there. Just wondering—you never know.
Really wanted to go but I found out about it too late and they were full. Have been tweeting with friends who are there. So sad I am missing it. Hopefully next year! Send me her blog address!
The Kitchen Mission and The Schell Cafe. She is absolutely enjoying every minute!
Vicki Kessler = Mia
“and the answer comes in abiding..like water to a thirsty soul” My favorite sentence in your piece which sums up the truth. You summed up “The Question” for me, and for others, will we take the time to abide and hear from the Lord? May I wait upon Him and His voice alone!
the word abiding as the answer, the beginning of hearing for Mary, came in our small group discussion. Rich conversation and prayer time flowing in the gifts of the spirit. Your teachings always inspire us to go deeper, see clearer, live richer. Thanks Beth!
I love how God’s Word is always relevant to us. We just have to open our hearts to it.