Small: #FiveMinuteFriday

Source

If I believe what I say I believe then small is the new big in this Upside-down Kingdom I'm a resident of. But I'm struggling to find balance between the beautiful mundane and the big and loud. The comments, and the tweets, and the conference speaking. Verses the dishes, and the fresh bread, and the vacumed floors.

I believe our lives, our homes, our sinks can be an altar. And I believe our tweets, our blogs, our online personas can be the same. All of our lives is worship to someone or something...

And for the first time in a long time I'm truly believing that the small matters. That the mostly unseen things are what is truly big. Lasting. Eternal. And as I'm believing this, what the world calls "big" is happening. Relationships, invitations, projects. And is there a correlation? Between the everyday mundane beauty and the big "here is my life" public?

I write and am heard. I serve others and no one knows. And you can do booth. And I'm learning that we don't have to choose. That our lives can be big and small. Unknown and viral. Quiet and resounding.

So in a moment I'll wash the dishes and before the day is over I'll start on a project that may make everything come crashing down around my sweet little online personana. And I'll continue to walk the tightrope between big and small.

On Fridays I join a community of writers that write on a prompt and encourage one another. You can join us here.

How to Engage Your Neighbors: A Guest Post @MissionalWomen

Want to know a secret? I’m horrible at getting to know my neighbors. Sure I write about easy ways to connect with your neighbors but the truth is I’m really bad at it. There are a lot of reasons for this but I’ll share my top three: I’m an introvert, I’m scared, and it’s not easy. Do any of those resonate with you? If so I have a simple solution for getting to know your neighbors. I like to call it “front yard living room.”

My husband and I stumbled upon this strategy purely on accident. We moved to a home without a front porch. In our previous home we had enjoyed many evenings on the front porch either talking, watching a favorite show on our laptop, or enjoying drinks with friends. So instead of relegating ourselves to the back yard at this new home we simply set up our swing and fire pit in the front yard.

Little did we know that our little “front yard living room” would be a great way to meet with people and engage with neighbors on a less than friendly street. People are more willing to say hello when you’re lingering in the front yard and are harder to ignore. Also neighbors are more likely to engage in conversation with you in this approachable casual setting.

Are you ready to get to know your neighbors and engage your neighborhood on a regular basis? For my four simple steps for setting up your own “front yard living room:" Continue Reading at Missional Women >>

Garden - #FiveMinuteFriday

Source

Cool earth between my fingers. The grit under my nails. Here I go again. Planting seedlings. And I wonder how long will this time last? Will the earnestness to water, weed, and fertilize be only for a few days, weeks, or months? And what if it became years? This is the story of my life. In plants of course. Because certainly my spiritual life looks nothing like this...

This. This trying to start new disciplines. Again and again. And failing. And succeeding. And how long will any of it last? Will I fertilize regulalry? Will it all ever become closer to habbit and further from work? Chore. Remembering...

And I've gotten this far. It becomes easier to be diligent but still one missed day can lead you back to barren soil. And before you know it you've forgotten the smell of wet soil and earth beneath your nails. You are dry. You are longing for rain. But what you need more than that? A Caretaker.

And how I'm thankful that when I negelct my garden, the ultimate Caretaker comes. And He gives light and rain, breath and air.

Today I rise and reach to the Son. Like I did yesterday. A discipline, is this gardening.

Want to plant something tangible in your garden this year? How about an actual garden for 250 kids in South Africa? Learn more here.

On Fridays I join with a community of writers that writes on a prompt for five minutes and encourages one another. Join us here.