There is a comfort we find when among familiar surroundings and people. We can be ourselves without worrying if we will be accepted or not. Familiar is the word prompt for #FiveMinuteFriday.
I love when my family gets together. There is familiarity because of what we have been through together. Each person is different, but we have a common bond which is love. We don’t all see eye to eye by a long shot, but that doesn’t seem to matter when we let love lead.
[bctt tweet=”Love is powerful and covers all.” username=”GaylWright”]
I am at peace when I take a walk around my property or in the woods by our house. Many thoughts swirl around in my head, but as I walk alone I can take time to sort through things. The familiarity of the front porch views with the trees, sky and foothills brings comfort.
What happens when we are in unfamiliar surroundings or with unfamiliar people?
It would be easy to feel uncomfortable and anxious if we let feelings of inferiority creep in. Instead, we can remember who we are in Christ and have confidence to speak to others. Sometimes they feel just as unsure as we do and only need to hear a kind word in order to open up.
[bctt tweet=”My prayer is that whether things are familiar or strange that I would be authentic and real. ” username=”GaylWright”]
I want to reach out with the love of Christ. As I share my gifts with others, it brings blessings to my life, too. And maybe by stepping out of my comfort zone as I follow God, the unfamiliar will become familiar.
Wherever I am, the Lord is with me. He will give strength and grace, and I can be confident rather than anxious.
Isaiah 40:28-31
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
I’m linking up with: #FiveMinuteFriday , #InspireMeMonday, #Glimpses, #LMMLinkup, #MomentsofHope, #TrekkingThru, #TellHisStory, #porchstories, #CoffeeforYourHeart, #HeartEncouragement, #TuneInThursday
Beautiful post and photos, Gayl! <3 LOVE says it all… xo
Thank you, Bette! Yes, love does say it all. 🙂 Blessings and love! xo
Dear Gayl,
These are precious thoughts about family time, and your beautiful woods there too! But this is really speaking to me today: “And maybe by stepping out of my comfort zone as I follow God, the unfamiliar will become familiar.” When a new season is thrust upon us, it can feel so unfamiliar! But the Lord is already there, and He is what will make it all become familiar as I walk with Him there. Thank you so much for these encouraging thoughts today, my friend! Love & Hugs to you! xoxo
Thank you, Bettie! Yes, and today I’ve had to step out of my comfort zone a little, but I’m being obedient to God and I can see Him at work. And, yes, He is already there where he calls us. That is so comforting. So glad you stopped by. Much love to you with many blessings! xoxo
Gayl, I enjoyed reading your post. You make some great observations about we can be peaceful when we are in familiar surroundings and with familiar people. And how it so easy to become anxious when we are confronted by the unknown and unfamiliar. But if we can just persist, and trust God, eventually the unfamiliar does become familiar. Thanks for posting.
I am visiting from FMF community, #25,http://thestonescall.com/2017/11/24/recognizing-divine-midst/
Anne, thanks so much for visiting! Yes, if we just keep trusting God things become more familiar. It’s comforting to know He is faithful and we can trust him. Blessings to you!
Loved this quote, “My prayer is that whether things are familiar or strange that I would be authentic and real. ” I’ll raise my teacup to that! Visiting from FMF (#44 this week).
Thanks, Pearl! I know that God will help us to be authentic and real. Would love to share a cup of tea with you. 🙂 Blessings to you!
THIS: ” I love when my family gets together. There is familiarity because of what we have been through together. Each person is different, but we have a common bond which is love. We don’t all see eye to eye by a long shot, but that doesn’t seem to matter when we let love lead.” I’m in the 14 spot this week.
Yes, we must always let love lead. Thanks so much for visiting, Tara! Blessings to you! xo
Love this, Gayl!
I don’t have ‘physical’ family besides Barbara, but I find that FMF has become my family, in that I can hear all these sweet and gentle voices that go along with the thumbnails on the linkup page…and it’s like coming home.
Thanks, Andrew! I’m glad you enjoyed the post. 🙂 We are so blessed to have you as a part of the Five Minute Friday community! Your words are very much needed. Blessings to you and Barb!
My prayer is like yours, Gayl! Authenticity is lacking in this sociel media saturated world.
You are so right, Anita. It’s very lacking but so needed. Blessings to you!
Great thoughts, Gayl, and I’m finding myself becoming more cautious, more anxiety-prone as I get older. Where I would once have forged into new surroundings, I think twice now, and wonder if I’ll get lost. No matter how I “feel” going into the situation, I want to find my comfort in our unchanging God so that familiarity or surroundings are not nearly as important.
Thank you, MIchele! I actually think I am more willing to “explore” now than when I was younger. I think maybe I was just so tired being a mom of 7 and was so cautious about what “might” happen. But through circumstances and experience as I grow older, I’m learning more and more to find comfort in Him.
Blessings to you! Thanks for your comments. Love and hugs! xo
Gayle, beautiful post! I am joining you in praying that I would always be found authentic and real.
Thank you, Joanne! May God answer our prayers. Blessings to you!
Gayle, I love this thought that in the familiar and unfamiliar we reach out with the love of Christ.
Thank you, Debbie! Yes, He will enable us to do just that! Blessings to you!
Wow, what a beautiful area you live in!
Thanks, Melissa! Yes, we love it! Blessings to you!
I love this reminder that through God the unfamiliar should loosen it’s grip of fear and inadequacy. I’m one of those that operates best with those I know and when I feel safe – but God has given me a somewhat nomadic life and only through Him have I been able to handle it. So why then, after all these years, do the doubts still creep in? May we each remember that God is familiar with EVERYTHING!
Carol, I think we all struggle with doubts now and then. It’s nearly always easier to operate in the familiar, but God will give us strength and be with us. And thanks for the reminder that God is familiar with everything! 🙂 What a comfort!!!
Blessings to you!
Gayl, I always enjoy your perspective, and where have I been that I missed this new blog design??? Love it!
Thank you so much, Crystal! So glad you visited today. 🙂 I’m glad you love the new blog design. I still need to play with it a little more. This one gives me more options so I’ll be experimenting some. 🙂
Blessings to you!
I love this, Gayl. So thought-provoking. And the photos just really add to it too.
Thank you so much, Amy! I’m glad you stopped by today. Blessings to you!
Where I am, He is. I loved reading that even though I know it.
It’s comforting to read it, isn’t it? Even though we know it. How blessed we are!
Blessings to you, Rebecca!
A balm of peace found right here! I’m ready for the piece of German chocolate cake. LOL
So glad you found it peaceful here. 🙂 I told you to come on over and you can have a piece. 🙂 LOL There’s still quite a bit left. 🙂
Blessings to you, Susan! Love and hugs! xo
We are blessed to have the best kind of familiarity with our family. The kind, as you describe, that doesn’t always agree but always loves.
Yes, that is the best kind, isn’t it? Love makes such a difference and we can enjoy family time so much because of it. Blessings to you! Thanks for visiting, Debby.
Gayl we have so much in common! I would love to go walking with you. This is my love language too. I pray you had a happy thanksgiving and may God’s peace keep you daily.
Meg, it would be so fun to take a walk with you! I’m sure we’d have so much to talk about…. We did have a nice Thanksgiving and I hope you did, too. May God bless and give you peace, too! xo
Gayl, I so appreciate this post. It takes a little bit of brave for me to walk into an unfamiliar situation. But, when I do so with God, it’s not as daunting. 😉 And you’re right. Sometimes what is unfamiliar at first becomes familiar and comfortable. Great post!
Thanks, Jeanne. It does take bravery to enter and unfamiliar situation. But it really does help to know that God is with us wherever we go and He gives us the courage we need to keep going.
Blessings to you!