It’s Friday, which means it’s time for another Meet Me At This Moment for Five Minute Friday post! I spend the last hour of Thursday chatting it up with a group of authentic and inspiring Five Minute Friday bloggers on Twitter (#fmfparty). One minute past midnight EST Friday, Lisa-Jo Baker gives us a single word prompt and we all write a blog post centered around that word. We write for five minutes, and five minutes only! In the words of Lisa, this is “unscripted. unedited. real.” You meet me at this moment in time…my thoughts and opinions, my joys and sorrows, my dilemmas and dreams. And I receive one of the greatest gifts ever…a regular outlet for processing and expressing my thoughts without constantly editing myself. This is my life, my perspective, unfiltered.
The word of the week is ORDINARY.
I’m quieted. I’m silenced in all your extraordinaire.
I’m momentarily paralyzed by your God-sized dreams, your god-sized living on the computer screen. But I am not you, and you are not me, for God has a plan that is unique and special, only for me.
And I begin comparing and thinking this God-sized dream I’m not willing to share is just too big. That it’s not worth dreaming. That it might be so God-sized it’s not even possible. And that leaves me in a place of defeat before I’ve barely begun.
For if I compare myself to you, you seem bigger. You seem better. You have it all together. You know where you’re going. You’re on your way.
And I sit in this silence.
For although He made me quiet, my heart beats loud and I have much to say. Things to say that you, and you, and you can’t possibly say.
For this path? It’s mine. And the God-sized dream, between me and God.
My heart wants to believe it true, but my mind? It tells me no way. That brain that over-processes and wonders if this mystery will ever be unfolded? No way, just no way. The world? It tells me no way, that’s ridiculous, far off daydreaming. My overpacked life? No way I can ever make it happen. And the Twitter stream? No way, nothing but a face in the sea of success.
But my God? In the quiet, He says yes. In the quiet, it’s ok. Between you and Me, we’ll keep it this way. I’ll lead. You follow. Sit and be near. For you see the worlds’ works, but My way is better. This journey is for you. For you are not ordinary. You are extraordinary.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. Romans 8:28-30
Amy
SPECIAL NOTE BEYOND THE FIVE MINUTES: Holley Gerth, author of You’re Made for a God-Sized Dream, is leading a group of women that are publicly acknowledging and pursuing their God-Sized dreams. I follow Holley’s blog quietly, and admire her very much. The day Holley’s God-Sized blog series launched, I stayed up really late reading everybody’s posts, and I was stunned, but inspired by their willingness to share such big and bold dreams with the world. Although I know with clarity my own God-Sized dream, I am not bold enough nor confident enough to share it publicly. I pray I will be bold and courageous as I continue down the path to my God-Sized dream, that I will follow Him each step despite my human fears and doubts, and that I will rest in peace knowing His plans are to give me hope and a future.
ANOTHER SPECIAL NOTE JUST PRIOR TO LINKING-UP! I published this post, went to link-up at Lisa-Jo’s site, and read that Holley’s book is released TODAY!!!! I have some serious goose bumps knowing I wrote this post and did not realize today was her big book release day! A big congratulations to Holley, and I’m knowing God has His arms wrapped around all these God-Sized dreams more than any of us can fathom. Truly, this has been a God moment for me today. Thank you Lisa-Jo Baker for the prompt, thank you Holley Gerth for the book, and thank you all for joining in this stream of consciousness.
This is very attention-grabbing, You’re a very professional blogger. I’ve joined your rss feed and look ahead to looking for extra of your fantastic post. Also, I’ve shared your site in my social networks!
Beautiful and I feel the same when I start to look at everyone’s dreams and compare, I am defeated before I even start… Thank you for sharing!
That is beautiful! I have some God-sized dreams too that I dare speak out loud. We will pursue our dreams together. God is the One who places the desires of hearts within us, right? Bless you!
My sweet friend… a thousand times YES! This is me… this is so many… all of us with our own voice… our own story… our own piece of a Dream that weaves together and gives Him Glory! I LOVE this! I will be praying for you as you pursue that God-sized Dream of yours… (and I enjoyed our rare ‘quiet time’ at the FMFParty last week too!)
Dear Amy,
Keep going forward one step at a time…most of us feel inadequate…I know I do, but I keep reminding myself that my adequacy is from God (2 Cor. 3:4-5)…what I love about Holley’s book is the focus on our relationship with God being primary and not about the dream so much in the big picture.
Your dream matters…keep close to Him 🙂
Cheering you on 🙂
Sweet Dolly, I think we’d be fast friends if we lived closer. Your perspective always seems to compliment mine just right. Thank you for your support and kind words.
Struggling with those same thoughts from time to time, but yes, He has something to say uniquely through you. Comparison is futile, and I’m sure you know that! Everything here is beautiful.
Tresta, I’ve been thinking about your comment “comparison is futile.” What an obvious statement, but how easy it is to fall into the trap of comparison. There’s always someone further along the path or on a different path, but our path is our own. Thank you for reminding me of such simple truth.
beautiful. I love those tender moments with the Lord!
Thanks for posting this, being brave & embracing yourself, your dreams & your God!
Also, thanks for pointing me to Holly & her book. Had never been to her site before & will def check it out & the book!
Grace, glad I could point you to Holley Gerth! I have her other book “You’re Already Amazing” in my stack of to-reads for 2013, but haven’t gotten to it yet! So much reading to do, so little time. Next up will be her God-Sized Dream book. Thanks for stopping by and for your kind words.