And so – we write for five minutes, our words tumbling out – no editing, no polishing – just flat out on a one word prompt! We gather all our beautiful thoughts here in our Five Minute Friday community and then love on each other as only we can do! Click here to learn all about it.
Home is where the Five Minute Friday community gathers so please join us at Kate Motaung’s for our Friday fun!
BREAK
GO…
Life is about waiting. We are in constant motion but in the motion is the “wait”. The times we are unsure of our next steps, when our jobs are uncertain, when retirement is around the corner. We are waiting for that next thing, next step, next possibility.
But have you ever thought that the waiting is a call to restore, renew and refresh? A time to step back and take a break- a real break. God calls us to be still in our waiting, to lean on Him, to rest in His promises. In this slowing down, He asks us to take a break from pushing so hard and from constantly pursuing the answer to our questions and instead allow Him to lead the way.
but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31
My life is in a period of waiting. Next steps are on the horizon but the the way is fuzzy as if covered in fog. I am called to wait-wait on the Lord and His plan. I am called to let His strength renew and restore.
[Tweet “In the waiting, we break from normal and allow God to be our strength.”]
Let’s allow God to enter our waiting and fill the break from normal with His peace and strength.
Blessings friends!
Mary
STOP
Keep reading for new Retreat information…
And now… drum roll please!!!! New information about the First Ever Five Minute Friday Retreat!!!
Registration for the first ever Five Minute Friday Retreat will open at 9pm EST on Thursday, April 16th!
Click here for more details about the retreat, and click here for ticket info on the registration form.
In a nutshell, here’s what you need to know:
Tickets for the whole retreat are $180.
This includes two nights of accommodation, Friday dinner, Saturday breakfast, Saturday lunch, and Sunday breakfast. Cost of transportation and Saturday dinner are not included in the ticket price.
Tickets for Saturday only are $45. Day visitors are welcome from 9:30am-4pm on Saturday.
The day visit ticket includes a morning discussion, a special presentation, lunch, and an afternoon session.
There are 25 retreat tickets and 10 day visitor tickets available. Tickets will be sold on a first come, first served basis.
** No refunds are available for cancellations. You may sell your own ticket to another person if you purchase a ticket and are unable to attend.
Oh and can I say how excited we all are??!! We can’t wait to meet in real life in August and share hugs, stories and life!
“we break from the normal and allow God to be our strength” The waiting can be so hard but He never fails to teach us during that time of being still. So grateful for the strength that He is! Visiting from The Weekend Brew today.
It is so hard to truly break from normal and let our body rest as well as our mind. Praying that as we walk toward Easter this week we are reminded in many quiet moments of the strength and love of God. Blessings!
Hello Mary, I really love this verse. Sometimes we need to retreat for a break to refresh, restore and renew. Just to spend some quiet times alone with the King.
Thank you for sharing this thoughtful reminder.
God Bless
Thank you for being here! I have been enjoying your prayer devotions over at your blog. Blessings as we walk the path to the cross this week. May we find Jesus in our every step.
I love this verse and turn to it often in our dance ministry. We have it framed with a painting of a bald eagle soaring. Linked up behind you at the Weekend Brew.
God bless,
Laurie
Thank you Laurie! I imagine your dance ministry is a blessing to many. So glad you stopped by. Hope your weekend was blessed.
I love this, Mary! I have been learning – over the past year or so – the importance and power of waiting… of resting… of leaning in to the silence, trusting that He is there – even when it feels or seems like He is not speaking! Praying for you, sweet friend!
Thank you Karrilee! The waiting is not bad when you know God is there with you. I am starting to feel a little of “on the edge of my seat” for what is next. I know it will be amazing. Have a blessed weekend! Hugs!
Great post! Waiting has become a spiritual practice for me–you say it so well here:
“In the waiting, we break from normal and allow God to be our strength.”
I’ve been popping into #FMF parties, but still a wall flower in terms of actually writing –however, you lovely ladies are inspiring me to give it a try sometime when I’m not consumed in writing my regular blogs..
Thank you!
We would love to have you write with us but know that just joining us here to encourage and read is enough. I appreciate your encouragement and thoughts today. Praying this weekend for all that in our waiting, we truly break from the normal and allow God to fill us with His peace and rest. Happy Weekend!
What a great reminder Mary that the time we spend in waiting is and should be a time for us to restore our strength. This is just what I needed to hear today. I am in a time of waiting but now I can view it as a time I get to spend with Him to be restored and refreshed,
I reflect on renewal and rest frequently-probably because I feel so tired. God reminds me often that turning to Him for my restoration is all I need whether in the periods of waiting or busyness. I’m praying for all today that we look to God for provision and thank Him in advance for all He will do. Love you friend!
Wait–that’s something I’ve been doing a lot of lately (and I’m not a good waiter). God has definitely been with me through the wait–leaving grace notes and little reminders that he is near when he seems far, calling loudly when we think he’s quiet.
I love how God tucks little grace notes into your waiting space. Knowing God is always near holds us in the waiting and comforts us when we think we are alone. It is so good to see you here. Just think-our school year is moving toward the end! 🙂 Happy weekend!
What a great post Mary! The wait sure is hard and we think, “but I should be doing SOMETHING!”. It’s sooo important to just be still and drink in His rest.
I also have the disease of do more and fill my time. God reminds me often that taking a break even if it is just mentally will give Him the time to renew my soul. So glad you stopped by. Happy weekend!
Awesome perspective on the word break. I think you are right…those times are meant for us to take a break! Waiting can be so hard. Wasn’t that long ago I was in a place of waiting too?
So you know how it feels too! I am so glad that in the waiting God’s presence is all I need for restoration and renewal. Thank you for stopping by! Blessings!
Oh, yes, my friend. I want to be wrapped up in His peace-giving, strong arms!
I am going to take the image of God’s peace-giving, strong arms with me as I head into school for the day before Spring Break! 🙂 May His peace reign and fill the day for all of us. Happy Friday friend!
First…SUPER excited about our break in August, with the #fmfretreat. How fun will that be? 😉
Second…oooooh Mary, that waiting is HARD! I’ve been struggling with this in the last year, and still am. I feel both a restlessness and contentment, and I have no idea what the future holds. But I know God is with me, and His plans are better. And when I can’t stand the waiting any longer, He gives me a break and gives me a glimpse of His plans.
Waiting seems to be the word of the year or last couple of years for me. The best part is that God has assured me that better things are to come and He has great things planned for me. I do love how He breaks into the time of waiting with His rest and peace. Happy weekend and here’s to 133 more days till FMF Retreat! 🙂
I’ve often found that if the way is fuzzy, then if I actively wait for God, His path becomes crystal clear. It’s scary when that happens, but also exciting to see what He wants me to do. Thank you for sharing tonight. 🙂
Hugs,
Melinda
Scary and exciting don’t seem to belong together, but when you mention the name of God in the middle of that-it makes perfect sense. May the fuzziness become clear as we all make our way to Jesus in our lives. Blessings!