Hey everyone!
I’m *so* glad you’re back for another exciting week of Five Minute Friday! How’s everyone doing?
If you’re new in these parts, you can learn all about the fabulous Five Minute Friday community here.
Not only do we meet every week to write our hearts out and build each other up, have you heard the fun news?
We’re making a book!
[Tweet “Five Minute Friday is making a book of favorites! Send your submission by March 31st!”]
Susan Shipe from HopeHeartHome had the wonderful idea to compile a book of favorite posts that we’ve written over the years.
Find a favorite post that you’ve written for Five Minute Friday and send it to: hopehearthome<at>gmail<dot>com no later than March 31st.
All proceeds will be divided equally between two vital ministries in South Africa: The Vine School in Cape Town, and the Ten Dollar Tribe!
Read more from Five Minute Friday founder Lisa-Jo Baker!
[Tweet “Want to be part of the Five Minute Friday BOOK?! Learn more here!”]
I can’t wait to see the finished product!
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One more fun announcement: Remember that fabulous 30-day course we did last year with Crystal Stine, called Creative Basics?
Well, it’s back and better than ever!
If you missed Creative Basics the first time around, don’t miss it again!
Starting April 4th, the fabulous, knowledgable Crystal Stine will be sharing all her tips and secrets about creating amazing artwork and graphics to use online. This version includes daily video content to help walk you through each step. Doesn’t get better than that!
I learned *so* much when I did the course with Crystal last year. Such helpful content!
Register now for Creative Basics, starting April 4th!
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The Five Minute Friday prompt this week is:
[Tweet “Join us for another fun week of Five Minute Friday! The prompt is: SURPRISE!”]
Setting my timer for five minutes, and … GO.
I really shouldn’t be surprised.
I mean, I’ve known Him for so long, I guess I should know that He’s like this.
And yet time and time again, He blows me away with His goodness.
I pray with weak knees and feeble faith, presuming He’ll come through for me as He has in the past, but not seeing how.
I teeter on the brink of doubt, questioning whether the pay check will stretch into Friday, whether that sickness will subside, whether that friend will be okay.
And maybe that’s right where God wants me to be — toes curled over the edge of the Grand Canyon, straining my neck for a view of what’s below. What’s over the edge.
And He gets me every time.
He blows me away with the depth of His generosity, the grandeur of His glory, the vast expanse of His love.
I pray one thing, and He shocks me with exceedingly, abundantly more than all I could ask or imagine.
Over and over again, I am surprised by grace. Surprised by mercy. Surprised by love.
STOP.
And as a SUPER FUN SURPRISE this week, FMF founder Lisa-Jo Baker is joining us for Five Minute Friday! Be sure to stop by her place for old time’s sake. 🙂
[Tweet “What comes to mind when you think of the word, SURPRISE? Share with us in five minutes or less!”]
Related resource: Surprised by Motherhood, by Lisa-Jo Baker
This post contains affiliate links. Thanks for your support!
Don’t forget to send your favorite FMF post to hopehearthome<at>gmail<dot>com by March 31st, and sign up for the Creative Basics course with Crystal Stine!
Thanks for being here! YOU are what makes this community so great!
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I love this. I am always surprised, too! And then surprised by my surprise because duh! God is good. But while I want my faith to increase daily, I like being in such awe ( and surprise ) of his magnificence! I think you’re right…this is where He wants us!
I love how God always shows up, always surprises us when we least know how He’ll manage the “what now’s?” Of life. I loved your last line about how God surprises us with grace, mercy and especially His love. It’s such a comfort to know He’s got us, isn’t it, Kate?
Great post!
I don’t know why that is, Kate, but we all seem to forget His faithfulness. Just like those crazy Israelites in the wilderness. God is not like anything we know. We can never fathom His ways – he made us just so. Just so to trust Him that He is all we need. And He is full of surprises, so many good, good gifts!
Thanks for hosting each week, I’ve been away far too long. It’s good to be back, if only for this week!
Beautiful post, K8.
One thing that does not surprise me – your love and compassion for the members of this community. The consistency of your faith and grace is a beacon for me.
I always come here not really knowing what to expect and leave feeling so good! Such a nice surprise week after week!
Beautiful words and a reminder that in all things, he is always there!
I loved the word prompt as His surprises always bring such joy as He reveals more of Himself to us. Always good to be here on a Friday morning!
Isn’t He AMAZING!!! Love this: “He blows me away with the depth of His generosity, the grandeur of His glory, the vast expanse of His love.” Oh yes…He does me too. Thank you, LORD for blowing Kate away with your stunning answers to prayers, for Your unbelievable, indescribable love for us all!!!
BTW apologies for breaking the five-minute limit today in my post.
Love the way this is all coming together and the way the FMF community is coming together. It truly is a fantastic group of writers. But that shouldn’t surprise me as God is at the head of it and in the midst of it!!!
I loved this post. I dwell a lot (a LOT) on how tough the last year or so has been, but looking back I can’t even count the times and ways in which God has surprised me, even in the hardest moments. Thank you for your post, happy to be joining in the link up again this week.
Beautiful words, Kate! God’s goodness and His wonderful plans for each of our lives surprises me every day! My faith feels like a rollercoaster sometimes, but God is unwavering and His unconditional grace surprises me as well 🙂
Surprised by love… by mercy… by grace.
I think that is one of the reasons I love the miracle of turning water into wine at a wedding – the lavishness where none was really expected or needed.
May your breath always be taken away by amazing love, mercy and grace.
Same to you, Richelle! Thanks for being here!
Hey Kate, my link is all screwed up and I can’t fix it. Is there a way to remove the bad one and let me resend the good one? Thanks.
Thanks for the linkup! I am trying to get started with blogging and this prompt was my first blog post for me as I restart my blog. Thanks for the inspiration! <3
So glad you joined us, Jena! Hope it’s the first of many! 😉
“Maybe that’s right where God wants me to be.”
I’ve never considered this. Maybe God does indeed want us to be out there, right on the ledge, where we have no choice but to cast ourselves entirely upon His grace and goodness. In fact, I’ll be so bold as to say that there’s no “maybe” about it. I’ll be pondering what this looks like in my own life, where I might need to get closer to the edge. Thank you, Fearless Leader!
Yes, those “on the edge” moments are definitely when I find myself clinging and oh-so-aware of my need for the Lord. So glad you’re here with us again, Marie! Your presence is a gift.