Graphic by Kerry Messer

 

#TheLoft

 

To Participate:

1. Be creative. We provide the topic. You feel free to use words, photos, video, audio, your family pet, whatever, to communicate on the weekly topic.

2. Listen twice as much. If you leave one link, visit two.

3. Be a community. Include #TheLoft graphic and/or hashtag in your post and social media so we can find each other.

4. Write like Jesus would write. We are a Christian link-up. Offensive or inappropriate posts will be deleted. No questions asked.

5. Be pertinent. Our heart is to build community and intimacy, and our means to do that is to build each link-up around a single topic. Please make sure your post is on topic.

6. Link-Up. Each Wednesday morning at 5am EST, the link goes live, and for 6 glorious days you can link up your post on that week’s topic. The linky will close at 5pm EST on Monday.

 

 

This Week’s Topic: Choose a Verse ~ (choose any verse in the Bible and write about it. what it means to you, how God has used it in your life, a picture, a video, a poem…anything pertaining to that verse.)

I could not pick one verse, because there are three verses that are close to my heart in the bible that I would love to write about today. They are from the book of Philippians, chapter 4 verses 4-7:

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Why did I choose to write about these verses?

When I traveled 5,267 miles from London to Phoenix, Arizona on my own when I was 18 years old, I embarked on the adventure of a life time. Arriving at my motel room, I took off my very heavy rucksack (filled with my possessions that would support me for 4 months) and slumped down on the bed.

I began to cry.

Alone. Thousands of miles away from my family. In a new place. Strangers everywhere. The unknown stretched before me. I felt uncertain. Afraid. Oh so very alone.

Breathing in slowly, I noticed that there was a bible tucked neatly in a gap of a side table. I did not bring mine all this way because, to be honest, I was not sure if I was allowed to bring one along on the volunteer programme I had enrolled on. (Looking back, I realise I could have brought my own bible and it would not have been a problem.)

I reached for the bible and opened it up and my eyes were directed to those three beautiful, comforting verses. God spoke to my heart. In my moment of loneliness, He was there. My eyes kept looking upon them over and over again.

Rejoice!

The Lord is near.

Do not be anxious about anything.

In every situation (yes, including this one), by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving let my requests be made known to God.

God’s peace which surpasses all understanding (yes, including my own limited understanding), will guard my heart and mind in Jesus.

These hope-filled verses are such an amazing truth that can be held onto in all situations and circumstances. God is very much near to us. We can bring our prayers to Him. Although He may not answer them in the ways that we, in our limited understanding, would like, He will give us His peace through whatever circumstance we find ourselves in. Our heart and our mind is guarded in Christ. We are protected. We are comforted. We are loved.

In that moment, my loneliness was replaced by His awesome presence in my heart and mind. My fear was replaced by the hope that I have in Jesus Christ. I could give thanks because I had made it halfway across the world and had an amazing opportunity in front of me. I could be honest and open in prayer before God.

He knows me more than I know myself. He is faithful and true. I know that I can trust Him in all things.

These verses are still so close to my heart. I have a natural tendency to be anxious. But I know that I do not need to be anxious about anything because I have a God who is near, who hears my prayer and who freely gives me His peace. There is such a need to rejoice in that truth!

What more could I want in this life, than the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord? (Philippians 3:8).

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Next Week’s (September 23) Topic: What Are You Reading? (share what book or books you are reading or have read that really lit your fire and why. are there books that have made a difference in your life? if you have a ‘library’ in your home, share some of the books that you have.)

I hope you will plan to join us each week at The Loft Link-Up.

Now, it is time to link-up!!

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