Today I join the Gypsy Mama for Five Minute Friday with the prompt, Grow. Writing briefly from the overflow of the heart. For fun, for love of the sound of words, for play, for delight, for joy and celebration at the art of communication.
For only five short, bold, beautiful minutes. Unscripted and unedited. We just write without worrying if it’s just right or not. Won’t you join in the fun!
I lay on a towel over the damp leaf hewn lawn with my camera this week. Take pictures looking up from this vantage point, see things differently behind the lens. Join in on a prompt at the High Calling to challenge photography skills. And I think about how my friends would laugh if they saw me on my back like this.
But really, I think about all the things I have done that have challenged my comfort zone since I started this blogging journey just three months ago. The way I have learned a myriad of new things about technology, joined in on my first Twitter party, wrote unexpected stories because someone gave a prompt, converse with all kinds of wonderful people that I never knew existed.
The way to grow involves a willingness to risk.
Like heroes of the faith D.L. Moody, Mother Theresa, Billy Graham and Rwandan Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini. These men and women who lay down their reputation, comfort and security to grow the Kingdom, and in the process grow themselves.
The everyday heroes that welcome children from other countries, take the risk and adopt, give generously to help grow others.
Without being willing to risk, we fail others as well as ourselves. Miss opportunities; divert call when we stay comfortable.
And most of my married life has been this way. My husband lays down his degree in architecture to pursue ministry as a vocation. How we let go of careers to go to seminary, join Youth With a Mission as missionaries without the security of a paycheck. Move to places we have never seen before. God uses it all to point us to destiny, fulfill his purposes, grow us from the inside out.
I am so grateful that when we say yes to Him, when it doesn’t feel comfortable or certain, we grow in ways we never dreamt or imagined.
What risks are you taking to grow?
Risks you wouldn’t believe, Shelly. God has me growing in ways I never would have imagined 20 years ago … all for His glory. I’m glad you moved in next to me again this week. I like your blog and as a budding photographer, am definitely going to check out High Calling … so thank you for that!
In His Name,
Felecia
I thought we were next to each other before. Thanks so much for your encouragement. Hope you will come back! And yes, check out the High Calling – wonderful people there. So thankful for the Gypsy Mama offering the link so we could meet!
“God uses it all to point us to destiny, fulfill his purposes, grow us from the inside out.”
This is the best kind of growth! Thanks for sharing!
Sometimes painful and uncomfortable but I agree, looking back it has been the best kind of growth yielding what sustains in difficulties now. Bless you!
Hi Shelly, this is my first time to your blog. I came over from 5 Minute Friday. You have a beautiful blog and a warm spirit. I so enjoyed what you shared.
You said it perfectly when you said, “Without being willing to risk, we fail others as well as ourselves. Miss opportunities; divert call when we stay comfortable.”
Welcome to blogging. I’ve been doing it for many years. I hope we’ll get to know each other better online! Many of my online blogging friends I’ve had the opportunity to meet off line. It’s a joy to connect. I hope you will find the same experiences as I’m sure you will.
Blessings to you!
Lisa
Lisa, thanks so much for your warm welcome and encouragement. It is a pleasure to meet you. Just overwhelmed by the lovely people I have met through blogging and I hope to meet many face to face like you have experienced. Opens up a whole new world. Blessings!
Excellent! Yes I have grown in my journey with blogging my one year annivisary is just around the corner. I had no idea what I was in for. I have been blessed every step of the way.
I love that you took the turn with the word risk and growing. Perfect! Because when we take risk we grow in ways we never dreamed.Blessing
I would have never dreamed that this journey would be this enriching. So nice to meet you and happy early blogging anniversary!
I feel this exact same risk when I create a new post. A gulp before I hit publish…this linking up to others is scary in its newness to me as well, as well as wonderful as it has opened me to people, writing, experiences I would have never gotten a view of. Great post!
Yes, I gulp too! Echo everything you said. Nice to meet you through Five Minute Friday.
I so relate to your post…I have been blogging only months…way out of my comfort zone…every time I post…I still cringe a bit…but I will stay until He says otherwise…yes..saying yes…even when uncomfortable…God meets us with His grace….
Blessings to you….
Roseann, yes and amen. Listening and obeying His voice is where I want to be. The only and best place to be.
I love that….growing is taking risks. Taking the risk is hard and often painful. I too gulp after I hit publish on a post. I often find that the posts that were the hardest to write minister the post. When I get out of the way, and allow Him to speak. Thankful He is with me through the painful process of growing.
Barbie, I agree. I just celebrated three months of blogging by posting my most popular post from the archives. It was one of most difficult to write; brought back lots of memories but obviously it hit a chord with readers.