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! We are always looking for new friends so come and join us. We gather Thursday evenings at about 8:30 PM EST on Twitter and you can find us using #fmfparty.
FIND
GO…
As I begin writing these words, I feel it is going to go deep, quickly. You see I am in this place of change. Somewhere between a full time and retired teacher. My life looks pretty much the same on the outside, but the inside tells me that something has changed. I see my teacher friends all heading back to school and I find myself wondering where I am supposed to go.
What’s next and how will I know when I find it? A big question that does not have a big answer. I am learning that is okay.
[Tweet “God’s answers will lead me in finding my what’s next and He is all I need.”]
I am learning that my job right now is to stay true to what God calls me to and sometimes that means I am in a holding pattern. But staying still does not mean staying stuck. I look to the future and I work on getting my feet wet. I stick my toe into the water, but I am not quite ready to step completely out of the boat. God is teaching me that He will be right there with me, every step of the way. He is leading me toward a brave faith and this process will help me to find my what’s next.
As we seek God, He seeks what is best for us and He graciously loves it when we find the answers that He has been putting in our path all along. Stepping out of the boat toward brave faith is my leap to finding my what’s next.
How will you find yours? Will you take a chance on God to help you find the answers?
STOP
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.So glad you joined me here and I love seeing everyone of you. Matthew 7:7-8
In grace and peace,
Mary
Linking with:
Susan #DanceWithJesus
so excited to glimpse pieces of the new journey that He’s got you on. He has a plan love. He will lead you and guide. So thankful for your voice and for you 😉
Your words mean so much to me. Thank you for coming by to tell me this. Some days feel like nothing is happening and I am stuck without a future to look forward to but God pulls me up and reminds me that this is not the case at all. Encouragement from people like you make all the difference. Hope you are well! Love and miss you!
I found it interesting to write about the word ‘find’ but then as I thought more about it the concept was easy. Searching some special verses and then sharing my thoughts. Yours were good too.
I am so glad you stopped by today, Sharon. I’m also glad you joined in the FMF fun that we have every week at Kate’s. I’ll be popping over to read yours now. Blessings!
Dear Mary, a few weeks ago, I wrote in my journal”Lord what is my Next Big Step”
you see your longing for what is next is good and purposeful.
I pray the Lord opens your eyes and leads you right where you need to be.
Blessings to you friend.
Please your email, I sent you a message.
God bless you
Thank you for affirming my words, Ifeoma. I believe that praying boldly is needed but listening and being ready os also part of the process. Thank you for your prayers. They are needed and cherished.
I did email you back with a response. Let me know if you didn’t get it.
I think that God is calling you to Montana. 😉 I love this posr and your bravery, Mary. I know God is going to lead you exactly where he wants you to be. And it will be a beautiful journey. I can’t wait to read all about it!
You are so sweet! I just was reading someone else’s blog and she was describing Montana and it sounds wonderful! Thank you for your kind words and for affirming my bravery. I need to hear that often. You are a treasure my friend.
‘Holding pattern’. This made me think of that moment, when an archer has the arrow loaded, the bowstring taught, and breathes out. A still moment, just before releasing the arrow. That moment of pause between one action and the next can make all the difference where the arrow lands. I know you are in God’s hands… he will take you safely through.
I love your archery analogy because I am preparing myself by pulling back the arrow and hopefully soon I will be ready to release the arrow toward my next steps. I appreciate you reminding me that I am God’s hands because that is the only place I want to be. Weekend blessings!
Mary, you are seeking so I am confident you will find exactly what the Lord has for you. But it may just be the “simply Tuesday” stuff for a while and that’s okay. Set your heart and mind to enjoy the small. A walk in the park. A bouquet of fresh flowers. A good cuppa tea. Sit in the library for 4 hours! Don’t rush – move slowly through the journey. It’s all gonna be good because you belong to a very good God! xo I think I’m 32 at Kate’s today, seems her site is down.
Your words mean so much to me today as I’m trying to wrap my brain around all the changes in my life. You speak with such wisdom and I really appreciate it. I love how you say to move slowly through the journey because I am hearing this from some other people in my life too. I guess I am not good at sitting still. So glad you stopped by here today and praying your weekend is blessed.
We have to believe that regardless of the changes that occur that God will always remain the same.
Absolutely! God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. So glad you stopped by. Have a great weekend!
We are on the same page today with our FMF posts! After 13 years of homeschooling, I find myself without a “job,” and I’m trying to find my place. But as you know, God is faithful and He will reveal the path for you in His timing. Sometimes it’s just hard for us to submit to His calendar when we want to know everything right now!
Stopping by from FMF. Have a great weekend!
There is a sense of impatience that I admit is part of my personality but you are right in saying that God will reveal His path in His timing. I might add that it will be amazing when it happens because God works the plan just for us and for our good. I’ll be hopping over to your place now to read yours. Thank you for stopping by and for understanding.
i’m there in the journey of blind trust with you. Scary and unknown yet I know if I keep taking faithful steps forward, God will keep guiding me in His right direction.
Amen! The key is what you said in taking faithful steps forward. I believe that we are called to continue to have vision about the future even when we are in a holding pattern. God doesn’t want us to sit and do nothing. So glad you stopped by because I know you understand exactly how I am feeling. Happy weekend.
Oh, Mary- I know this feeling. I had to quit my full-time teaching job because of a health issue with one of my kids and I miss it! All of my teaching friends are getting their classrooms ready and I can’t even look at my old room without tearing up. I’m blessed to have a good, part-time job in Children’s Ministry, now, but the teaching thing never quite leaves your blood. I love your words and your attitude, friend. I read this line twice: “But staying still does not mean staying stuck.” Praise God that He is always moving us – even when it seems like things are still. May God give you much peace and comfort during this season. Great post! Happy Friday 🙂
Thank you for sharing this piece of you with me today. Being a teacher is one the best jobs anyone could ever have and even though it was time to retire, a big piece of me is still in the classroom. You have encouraged more than you know but sharing this and affirming for me that staying still does not mean staying stuck. I know God is working hard behind the scenes and for now I need to be still. Hugs to you and happy weekend!
Mary, I quoted that Matthew verse too! God does have this amazing way of walking with us and knowing when we need to get out of the boat. God walks with us every step of the way!
Hi Tara! Great minds think alike right? God is amazing and all He is planning will be exactly the right thing when I discover it. I always love seeing you here. BTW-for some reason, all of your comments were sitting in spam. Some people’s comments go there because of their email addresses I think. I retrieved the first one and here it is! Have a beautiful weekend!
Mary, I love this line: “But staying still does not mean staying stuck.” So true! I can’t wait to see what God has in plan for you this next season!
Thank you Asheritah! I appreciate your enthusiasm. Being in a holding pattern can be difficult especially when you see everyone else around you doing what they are supposed to be doing. It is always good to see you! 🙂
I’m not a patient waiter. But I’m always learning that if I seek God, he will help me find the answers (or be happy with the answers that I knew were there all along but just didn’t think it was for me). He will help you find his will because you are actively looking. May the Holy Spirit comfort you in the ‘waiting room’.
I understand about being impatient and I think it is even harder for more right at this time because all my friends are back at school. I feel like my identity is gone and that I am not doing enough. However, I have had many people tell me that rest is exactly what I should be doing. It is hard but I am working to honor God in His plan and not my own. Thank you for being here and for your encouragement.