“There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.” C. S.Lewis
“So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Isa. 41:10
Getting rid of clutter is not easy. But, as we step into being new — we need to make space in our hearts — to let go of the old.
Letting go involves looking at what you’re holding on to and asking why. Sometimes, it’s time to say goodbye to what once gave you comfort, so you can face the place of empty and surrender yourself to what your heart truly longs for.
To be new.
To be the beloved.
It’s what Jesus is whispering to me—
Yes. I know.
I have more than this.
For you.
{my images are free goodies for you to enjoy & share}
How We See Ourselves
Last week, I shared I’m working on some new projects. What makes them new for me is that I’m learning to live from my heart — and not so much from my head.
When I live in my head, I am often stuck, fearful of stepping out into the unknown.
But God’s whispers are calling me to step out and say yes today. Imperfectly.
God’s calling me to be new in the way I see myself: as someone beloved — instead of trying to please others or waiting to be new.
Is God calling you to see yourself differently? Is he inviting you to let go of some old habits, roles that we’ve put on ourselves or others have placed on us?
Do you sense, in the quiet moments, God is prompting you to be His beloved in practical ways?
The Company You Keep
God says “You are a new creation.” 2 Cor. 5:17
This is not a conditional statement. We are new — not because we can do x, y, or z.
Newness doesn’t come by the things we can accomplish or attempt — or the things we hold onto. In our closets, our hearts or our home.
Newness is something we experience because of the person we are with.
You know, that feeling you get, when you take a friend — or someone you’re falling in love with — to an old favorite place — whether it be a restaurant, the ocean, or a walk along a trail you’ve always walked and enjoy alone?
Suddenly that place becomes new. Life becomes new.
Newness is the company that you keep.
Listen. God’s Words For You
This takes a lot of faith to be new. Jesus understands making new changes is both what we want and it’s also what we resist. Jesus knows becoming new is a journey — taken with small and sometimes big steps one day at a time.
We may even doubt if becoming new is possible in our circumstances. But as long as we stay close to Jesus and listen to His words — He will provide just the one word we need to fill us today.
Jesus whispers, “I am making all things new.” Rev.21:5
“So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Isa. 41:10
The question is will we welcome Jesus in? Will we surrender to the change He longs to have us experience with him?
What One Word in today’s scripture speaks to you today?
Today, I am so excited to share a Soul Mocha Video recorded with Kathi Lipp, author of Clutter Free: Quick & Easy Steps to Simplifying your Space, to talk about de-cluttering and how it connects to our stories.
This was recorded last year during our Finding Spiritual Book Club, but I didn’t want you to miss this! Enjoy! Click to watch the video below.
If God is prompting you to de-clutter your home as a practical way of letting go of the old, so you can begin a new journey, I know you will enjoy this special treat!
During a season in my life when stress and anxiety reached an all-time high, I began to de-clutter my house. De-cluttering led to some of the biggest life-changes I ever experienced, as I shared in my book Finding Spiritual Whitespace.
Jesus wants us to make room for our lives today. Jesus wants us to have whitespace. In the closet. On the shelves. In our hearts and in our homes.
Let’s give ourselves permission to explore who we are as the beloved.
Let’s say goodbye in order to say hello to be the beloved. Clutter free your heart and your home.
How is God calling you to declutter your life?
What One Word in today’s scripture speaks to you today?
Pull up a chair. Click to comment. We’re kindreds on this journey.
* Who can you share today’s encouragement with? Please pass on and share.
For more encouragement, get a copy of Finding Spiritual Whitespace: Awakening Your Soul to Rest.
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#OneWordCoffee Link Up
Soul Writing With Jesus — Together
This new #OneWordCoffee Wednesday series inspires us to create space in a simple way, to be present, hear God’s whispers, to be refreshed & renewed. ?
Every Wednesday, I’ll invite you to stop, pause, & reflect on a One Word prompt.
Share how One Word speaks to you: 1. Simply post a comment (or) 2. Write a blog post, link up on Wednesdays. Visit the post before yours to comment and encourage. Please use the #OneWordCoffee badge (click here) in your post& link back (or) 3. Tag photos #OneWordCoffee on Facebook or Instagram inspired by your one word.
#OneWordCoffee ☕️ A simple invitation to create a new rhythm for your soul. Stop and hear God’s whispers. Let’s swap some stories together.
Next Wednesday 4/6/17 Writing Prompt: any word that speaks to you Optional prompt: declutter
April’s Writing Prompt: any word that speaks to you Optional prompt: “new” is our theme this month
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21 Comments
Thank you for that beautiful meme, Bonnie. I’ve sent it to someone I love dearly, who is facing an awfully hard road ahead right now. Praying it encourages her to lean into our Heavenly Father’s Love.
For me watching heartache unfold from afar, where my physical arms can’t reach: it’s a call to let go in trust. Oh how hard that is. I want to make it all better, but I can’t. I can’t even be with her physically. Today, in Moms’ worship at church I sung a song about climbing up on the lap of Jesus to be embraced and instead of singing “I”, I sung her name. Her loss is too deep for words, but I know my Abba Father reaches deeper still.
Your words are timely. Thank you.
anna, i’m so glad you could share it with your friend. i’m so sorry for her pain but i’m so thankful God’s put her heart on yours as you sung. may God’s one words touch you both today.
This year I’ve lost so much home, car ,and a job. I’ve been living with my mom and the grief and loss at times have been so painful I would go to my room and howl into my pillow to stifle the sounds of grief. I’m waiting for the “NEW” to come. Yesterday Jesus gave to me through someone a used car. I am so very very grateful because now I can get around a little easier. I’m trusting that next I will get a job and then a home. So my word for today is “will” a positive reminder that Jesus can and will help and hold me. I slipped back into my old ways yesterday and today I am reminded that I just don’t fit there any more, so maybe the grief has paid off and I am being created new. Thanks. Anna if you read this , what you shared is beautiful, you have a way with words. I’ll be praying for you. God Bless
hi kimberly, i’m so sorry that this is a hard journey right now. Lord Jesus, give kimberly your ressurrance, as she continues to look for a job and a home. open up a way for her and give her strength to take one step today on that path. amen.
Peaceful words and a sweet community for a Wednesday. Thank you.
thank you for taking a sip of #OneWordCoffee together. lovely to hear your voice, michele.
I rarely have just one word jump out at me and today was no different.
I connected with “I am”. “I am with you. I am your God”.
And I connected with “I will”. “I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you”.
Then God allowed me to see what wasn’t there….”If you”. If you trust enough, try enough, be strong enough. There is not a thing I have to do to experience who He is and receive His help.
“I am and I will”. Because of that I can rest. Because of Him, “I can” whateve He calls me to do.
God’s whispers for you are more than one word… and it’s beautiful. thx for sharing, char!
[…] & Bonnie Gray […]
“I” … There is so much strength, deliverance, peace and confidence when “I – me” is changed to “I – the Lord” .. where I am weak and unable, He is the I Am… Oh, the hope and newness that come into every situation where He is “I”. ?
so sweet to enjoy #OneWordCoffee together! have a beautiful day.
Wonderful discussion!! What a wonderful way to move into “Spiritual Whitespace”. Decluttering my heart and home. God ‘holds me’..always. Thank you Kathi and B
so good to hear it spoke to your heart, barb!
I need to add goals this year to declutter spiritually, physically, and emotionally.Doing so will draw me closer to Him in the long run. I want to be a better Christian, parent, and spouse. This discussion helps me to focus on drawing closer to Him in these areas.
“Hold” speaks to me. I am letting go of old roles others try to hold me in so I can experience being the beloved in THIS life, the one I am living. These days, in my journey to see myself as the Beloved, I am asking, thanks to Brennan Manning, “Am I letting Jesus love me?” What a journey it is to meditate on THAT question throughout the day!
I’m sitting on the porch of an amazing B&B reading this. Tears. I’m on a mini retreat with your book and a few others. My Word is “new”. This post is all I’ve been feeling, sensing. I’ve been waiting for new. My mom died nearly 2 years ago. I help my dad & step dad plus work & marriage. This is a first for me as I’ve really never been alone. I know God has been speaking to me, leading me to this very place. A place of new. Thank you so much for this.
I was filled with glee when I saw you posted this, even if it was a previous thing – it is good for everyday living! I totally agree with Kathi about pouncing on the thing that makes us fearful instead of ignoring it. There was this one dreaded drawer we had that was the ____junk drawer___ and I hated to look in it. I made it thinking it would help, to just go back and grab whatever later, but it got so bad I never wanted to go and look in it for the thing I was looking for haha! Here is a tip that helped: When you go in a room where things are overwhelming, only pick 1 thing to grab to put away. Don’t pressure yourself to do the whole thing unless you have lots of free time and no distractions. If you are a mom with kids like me, just pick 1 thing every time you go in that room or open that drawer. Also one thing that helped my kids (because we all need help focusing at the Weyerbacher household!) is to make a tote or box specifically designanted for “things that need to be put away” (toys, a sock, etc) and make it just for the kids. A parent or kids too, can help toss the random items in that are misplaced and then when it is full (or the living room looks clear haha) then let them know everytime they walk by the tote/box they need to pick out 1 item to put away in its rightful place. The reason I really encourage these tips is because I have multiple people in my home that get anxious when they are overwhelmed, whether with homework or tasks. In order to accomplish things, being a homeschool mom, I have had to change the way I teach or approach my family about certain things. Thanks again Bonnie, for sharing this and for sharing your heart!!! I really love what you both had to say in the video, Kathi sounds amazing too.
[…] post has been written for Bonnie Gray’s #OneWordCoffee Scripture […]
Wow, always so amazing how God works! I’ve been called to slow down instead of receiving my identity (ego) in the things I do. And it has been tough! But I know God is calling me into this space, to get rooted in my identity in Him, and that I am worthwhile regardless of what I do. And my past is my story that one day can be used by Him, instead of hidden in shame, and to loose control so in full trust. So definitely on a transformation path and with the guidance of a Christian counselor. Yes, this is ‘new’ for me, and letting go of the old thinking, (and all the ‘doing’ that filled my time) and be transformed by Him, renewing me inside out. So, I’d say ‘renew’ is my word!
You are loved! I know it’s three words but it’s been on my heart. I wrote a blog post today with these 3 words…wonderful lessons for us all.
These are beautiful words and an encouraging video, thanks for sharing with us Bonnie! 🙂
thanks again, bonnie for calling me back to peace and traveling light. i love that CS Lewis quote (am working toward a welcome home series of posts) and i love it that we can know we’re not home yet but will be someday. will listen to your podcast after i unpack this afternoon up your way – redwood christian park conf. center. looks like a lovely place to unpack everything!! xx