Congratulations, friends! We survived the week!

This week’s Five Minute Friday prompt is just perfect. You know the drill: on Fridays, we “just write, without worrying if it’s just right or not.” It’s like a get out of (grammar) jail free pass. Amen.

Want to play along? Today’s prompt is COMMUNITY.

To love at all is to be vulnerable.
Love anything, and your heart will certainly
be wrung and possibly broken.
If you want to make sure of keeping it intact,
you must give your heart to no one,
not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round
with hobbies and little luxuries;
avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe
in the casket or coffin of your selfishness.
But in that casket — safe, dark,
motionless, airless– it will change.
It will not be broken; it will become
unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.
~ C.S. Lewis

I need community, need the friendship and camaraderie it can offer. We all need to know we’re not alone. My heart beats for connection, but it’s a slippery slope to tread. Community can build us up or tear us down. Choosing to make yourself vulnerable can be a scary step, especially for those who have been hurt before. Even so, I choose to open myself up to others in this space, to share my heart in hopes that you might find authentic connection with another, a genuine community.

I’ve seen the power of community this week. Friends uniting for a common purpose, drawing hearts and minds close to cover a need in prayer. When the body of Christ works together as it should, Christ Himself is present, and His power and grace abound.

“For where two or three have gathered together in My name,
I am there in their midst.” ~ Matthew 18:20

When we gather in community here — on a regular basis or just by happenstance — we welcome Christ to our table. As we share small bits of ourselves and our lives, something beautiful happens. The Holy Spirit begins weaving the body of Christ closer together, drawing hearts and minds into community for a purpose greater than ourselves. I’m so privileged to be part of the amazing community of believers, strangers drawn in and made one in the love of Christ Jesus.

I am so grateful for every single reader-friend and every stranger who happens into this space. We have a chance to connect in a way that is real and necessary, to reach across the miles and share common hopes, dreams, prayers, hurts.  I hope and pray you will find friendship and camaraderie here, that you will sense my desire to know you better, pray with you, laugh with you, and find a kindred spirit in this place.

You are welcome here.

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

How can I pray for you today, sweet friends?

Please feel free to leave a comment below, connect with me
on Facebook or Twitter, or send an email to
{graceformymess} at {gmail} dot {com}.

Linking up with Lisa-Jo at The Gypsy Mama