Five Minute Friday: Thrill

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I return today to this weekly writing practice of Five Minute Friday: Five minutes on a weekly prompt, no editing, just free-flowing words and stream-of-consciousness. And a supportive writing community hosted by Kate Motaung – head over to fiveminutefriday.com to learn more.

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It’s the moment just before toppling over the edge of the first incline of a roller coaster. The feeling when seeing your words in print for the first time. The positive pregnancy test. Being asked out by the cute boy you’ve been crushing on since the semester began. Knowing you have a whole weekend ahead of you with nothing on the schedule. Anticipating a long-awaited vacation. Being considered for an opportunity you only dreamed was possible.

Thrill is excitement, and also involves risk. The thrill of the roller coaster starts with standing in line and refusing to turn around when you finally glimpse just how high that first hill is. It’s risking saying “yes” and getting your heart broken. Or submitting a manuscript or business proposal that may be rejected. Isn’t thrill part of how we know we’re alive? So what has thrilled you lately? What would thrill you? What’s the small step you could take today, the risk to undertake, to know more of the adventurous thrill life is meant to hold?

Rest for Weary Women’s Ministry Leaders + Podcast guest

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I was honored to be featured on two great resources recently: an article at The Gospel Coalition and as a guest on Christine Chappell’s Hope+Help podcast. I’m including the links to both below.

As a women’s ministry leader, you’re an event planner, a teacher, a mentor, and a counselor. You’re on call when a woman is in crisis. You’re meeting with new moms, empty nesters, and women of every life stage in between. You’re developing discipleship programs to reach single, divorced, widowed, and married women. You’re planning Bible studies that are accessible for women whether they’re at home full-time or in the workplace. And added to all these ministry demands, you have your own responsibilities and cares.

The idea of rest isn’t new to you. You’ve probably encouraged other women to follow rhythms of rest, and you may have even organized a retreat on the topic. You’ve likely pointed women in your church to Jesus’s promise of rest in Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” But do you follow your own counsel?

As a ministry leader, you likely have more people leaning on you and looking to you for care than you have people who are caring for you. This reality can subtly reinforce the false belief that your needs are less important than those of the women you serve. But in your role’s unique demands on your time, energy, and inbox, you’re “heavy laden.” Christ’s invitation to rest is for you, not just for the women you serve. So how can you practically look to Christ for rest amid ministry demands? [to read the rest of the article, click here]

To listen to my podcast with Christine Chappell on “Hope + Help for Soul Refreshment”, click here.

How to Rest: Remember the Lord’s Goodness

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Isn’t this good news for your soul this weekend? We can expect God’s gracious and compassionate welcome into the rest he has prepared for us, regardless of how frantic or hurried we’ve been throughout the week. Come join me on the journey of rest by reading along in my 31-day devotional, Rest: Creating Space for Soul Refreshment.

This meditation is taken from Day 18, based on Isaiah 30:18 (NIV):

Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion.

How to rest: identifying unbelief

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I can identify with all of these reasons why it’s hard for me to rest. Which one resonates most with you?

The good news is the promise that in repentance and rest is our salvation, in quietness and trust is our strength (Isaiah 30:15). God meets us in our unbelief as we turn to him, and he gives us the strength we need … to rest and find strength in the quietness of his gracious, compassionate presence. I’d be honored if you would accompany me on this journey of exploring rest further by reading my book on the topic and following along by subscribing to my website where I’ll be posting further reflections over the coming weeks and months.

The Beginning of Rest

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And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation. 

Genesis 2:2–3

Excellent stories have compelling beginnings. The story God tells in the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, has a very good beginning. There is nothing, and then there is everything. Over six days, God speaks the entire cosmos into being—it is the most productive workweek imaginable. But what happens next is striking. God stops. Into his pattern of daily work, he weaves an entire day of rest. It’s a holy pause. 

Did God stop because he was tired? The work of creating an entire universe exhausted him, and he needed to catch his breath? Absolutely not. This is the God who needs “neither slumber nor sleep” (Ps. 121:4), who is all-powerful and all-creative, who possesses a well of infinite resources and strength from which to draw for all eternity. No, God rested because he knew the creatures he had made in his image—including you and me—would need rest. 

[To read the full article, click here to be redirected to P&R Publishing’s blog.]

My book is now available at Amazon in print, audible, or kindle editions.

Hello again!

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It’s been a minute since I’ve written in this space. (Since January of last year, to be precise.) I have been encouraged in a handful of conversations over the past few weeks about writing. So I’m going to dive in yet again.

I love to write. I’ve always loved words. Their power to capture my imagination as I was whisked away to fictional worlds like Green Gables and Narnia as a child. The way finding the words for experiences and emotions swirling within me helped me to process them. Isn’t trauma often marked by the loss of words? We hit a wall where even words can’t seem to find us and show us a way out.

I’ve been there before, but that’s not the reason for my absence in this season. I’ve been engaged in a new writing project that I’m thrilled to be able to announce, as it will be released in early October. It’s a book about something I need – and that you need – and that, in fact, we were created to enjoy.

R E S T

Wherever you are, take a moment and notice how the idea of “rest” makes you feel.

Wistful? (What you wish had more time for in your busy schedule)

Nostalgic? (You fondly remember a season in the past when you had time for such a “luxury” – maybe before kids, or before entering adulthood, or before you began the climb on the corporate ladder)

Guilty? (I know I should be resting more, but I just can’t figure out how to make this happen.)

Peaceful? (Yes! Rest helps me savor life; remember what’s good and beautiful.)

There is no wrong answer, by the way. As I write these words, I can identify with all of them. I do wish I’d make more time in my life for regular rest and that I’d live out of the grace of resting (wistful). I remember life before kids, when I did have more semblance of control over my schedule and could more easily “step away” from responsibilities (nostalgic). And oh my goodness, on the eve of completing this book about rest, I can feel so guilty for not practicing what I write (guilty). But what I’ll choose to land on is this sense of well-being that comes as I take a few moments to stop and notice the still-bright-summer-evening, to savor today’s pace that was a break in this busy week (peaceful).

It’s the absence of rest in my life that drew me to engage in writing about rest. But more about that later. Without further ado, I present to you my next book: Rest: Creating Space for Soul Refreshment. It’s part of a 31-Day Devotional Series published by P&R, with series editor Deepak Reju. Stay tuned for more details … and for now … take a moment to R E S T.

Five Minute Friday: Doubt

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I return today to this weekly writing practice of Five Minute Friday: Five minutes on a weekly prompt, no editing, just free-flowing words and stream-of-consciousness. And a supportive writing community hosted by Kate Motaung – head over to fiveminutefriday.com to learn more.

Dear Doubt,

I used to view you as an enemy of faith and faithful ones. You were sent to oppose and destroy those who believed. While acknowledging that yes, sometimes, this is still what happens,* this is not your intended purpose.

You are a missive that comes into my thoughts and is dangerous only if not attended to properly. I learned through seasons of doubt in college and again in my late 30’s, that a faith worth having must be able to (and will) withstand doubt’s power. Faith will be changed, of course, and it will emerge stronger for having withstood doubt. A faith after doubt will be more secure in what matters, and less sure of what’s not essential.

You are not the enemy of faith I once held you to be. So I will not fear you nor suppress you when you come, yes, often unbidden. I will bring you to the Light and let God answer the questions you bring, and give peace for the ones that will stay unanswered this side of heaven.

Signed,

A doubt-filled one held secure by The Faithful One

*I’m thinking of all of the deconstructionism happening in our current day and age.

Five Minute Friday: Simple

/ Heather Davis Nelson / Leave a comment
  • I return today to this weekly writing practice of Five Minute Friday: Five minutes on a weekly prompt, no editing, just free-flowing words and stream-of-consciousness. And a supportive writing community hosted by Kate Motaung – head over to fiveminutefriday.com to learn more.

Simple: it’s what I find myself longing for even more this time of year, and even more so this particular year than before. As life has returned to “the new normal” after the pandemic, I feel like I wasn’t ready for the rush of Christmas to begin. The last few years we’ve had a collective forced simplification of the holidays. I’m thinking of Thanksgiving meals eaten outdoors, Christmas gatherings limited due to illness and caution about preventing illness, and just an across-the-board less full calendar.

Enter 2022 and I’ve felt like life is roaring back to the pre-pandemic level of activity and busyness and – yes – stress that can accompany all of the joyful holiday activities.

Last year, Advent was intentionally more simple in our home. A friend had asked me “what aren’t you going to do for Advent?” and that guided me into intentional simplification.

This year, I forgot to make space for simple. So in the interest of sticking to my five-minute limit, and my desire to be honest even (especially?) while “in process” – I’m ending here with a few questions for you:

What are you doing to choose “simple” for your Advent season?

Or, perhaps, what aren’t you doing so that you make space for simple to find its quiet way back to the place where we reflect in hushed wonder at the newborn babe sent to save the world?

Resting & Abiding

/ Heather Davis Nelson / 6 Comments

As I took my over-eager gentle giant of a “puppy” on a morning walk today, he pulled and strained as usual. He was eager to explore the falling leaves and the group of runners and all of the hundreds of enticing dog-scents. I kept saying, “Stay with me. Stay with me. STAY WITH ME,” as I tugged his leash. I was trying to keep him near and out of the path of danger (the large trucks barreling down the road to their construction sites).

As I heard myself, I almost laughed out loud because I am so similar to my curious yet oft-misguided pup. In my relationship with God, I want to run off and explore – to chase whatever seems most compelling in the moment – and it can lead me off course straight into the path of danger. God gently reminds me in the words of John 15 of His instruction to abide. To stay with Him, not wander away. It’s so simple, and so difficult.

photo credit: https://stillnessofthemorning.wordpress.com

I think of another scene from a few days ago. It was cold outside, there were sick kids at home and a cheerful fire in the fireplace. I was settled in a comfy armchair with my Bible and journal. And where was our pup? Resting at my feet. Curled up on the hearth and quite content to stay with me. I didn’t have to instruct him repeatedly. In fact, I didn’t have to say a word. It’s what he chose.

Isn’t that so like our hearts? I’ll speak to mine. I’m content to rest and abide, to sit and learn at Jesus’ feet when protected from the distractions that too easily catch my mind and can lead my heart to stray. How can I practice the rest of abiding? For me, this means choosing to regularly go to spaces where I can focus on listening more carefully to His still, small voice. It means quieting the noise without – metaphorically and literally! It means coming away to be with Jesus, away from the demands and requests of others and my own internal distractions. It means turning off my devices, or silencing them. It means tuning in to Him through prayer, God’s Word, the Spirit, and His beautiful creation. It means heeding His words to “Stay with me!” when I find myself wandering away. And the result? It’s a soul-rest that I was created for – at the feet of Jesus, calm and at peace.

Five Minute Friday: Root

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Where I live, we’re fully in the swing of fall routine, although the weather still feels like summer. In the mornings, the geese calls mix with the lingering music of birdsong, reminding me of the seasonal transition we are approaching from summer to fall. I want writing in this space to be part of my rhythm of this next season, and the one after, and the one after that … so I’m back for “Five Minute Friday” after stepping out for the last few crazy weeks of summer schedule-becoming-school-starting.

  • Five Minute Friday: Five minutes on a weekly prompt, no editing, just free-flowing words and stream-of-consciousness. And a supportive writing community hosted by Kate Motaung – head over to fiveminutefriday.com to learn more.

I think of the weeds I try to uproot in our backyard garden. The ones that are small are much easier to remove because the roots are shallow. But the ones I’ve missed somehow, perhaps because they disguised themselves for awhile, staying hidden in the foliage and blooms, those will take more effort. Their roots have become larger, entangled. And they’re more dangerous to the blossoms in which they’re entwined.

How similar the process of allowing Jesus, my heart-gardener, to uproot the sins in my life! The ones I see and notice small, those are more easily uprooted. But the ones that are more subtle, perhaps they’re the ones that are more dangerous. They’ve entwined themselves into my heart and my life, sometimes even masquerading as “fruit.” Those root systems – well, they can take years to uproot, even decades. My work? It’s to allow the Gardener of my Heart to do His work, painful though it might be. To abide more deeply in His Word, listen more carefully to His Spirit, walk towards the light of community even when it feels painful or blindingly too bright. It is here where the weeds of my life are exposed as what they are – lifeless distractions at best, life-choking deceptions at worst. It is here where sin can be uprooted, and the roots of my heart find space to go deeper into the live-giving Love of Christ.

My work? It’s to allow the Gardener of my Heart to do His work, painful though it might be. To abide more deeply in His Word, listen more carefully to His Spirit, walk towards the light of community even when it feels painful or blindingly too bright.

– Heather Nelson