Friday Randomness (Vol. 16)

Scripture speaking to my heart

"Let your adornment be what's inside--the real you, the lasting beauty of a gracious and quiet spirit, in which God delights." ~ 1 Peter 3:4

JOY-filled quote

"The brave who focus on all things good and all things beautiful and all things true, even in the small, who give thanks for it and discover joy even in the *here and now*, they are the change agents who bring fullest Light to all the world." ~ Ann Voskamp

Three Word Wednesday Featured Writer

This week's featured writer is Holly Barrett. I'm pretty sure I met Holly through the Five Minute Friday link-up. Holly encourages me with every post she writes. She is also a fabulous sharer. I love how every Wednesday she is encouraging others to join in for Three Word Wednesday. She does the same for many others too.

I'm only asking her a few questions but she was featured at My Freshly Brewed Life as Barbie's Inspired Blogger of the month in January so you can get to know here better here.

 

Me: What do you like most about Three Word Wednesday?

Holly: I love that it forces me to think in smaller bites. I have a lot of words and trying to boil even a title down to three words is hard for me! But TWW helps me really focus on the main point of my post.

Me: If there was only one message you could share with your readers, what would it be?

Holly: My life's message is about God's redemption. Not only the redemption He has worked in my life, which has been a lot! But about the redeemed life that He wants us to live. Jesus promised us an abundant life and so often we get too bogged down in the cares of the world. He wants us to walk in the redemption He has blessed us with.

Featured Link-up

Since Holly is our featured Three Word Wednesday writer I thought I'd also feature her weekly link-up.

Me: Tell us about your link-up, Testimony Tuesday.

Holly: One day while reading Luke 8, I was so struck by a man that Jesus healed who went home and told the whole town how much Jesus had done for him. Jesus continues to do so much for us today. So I thought it would be fun and encouraging to link-up our posts about what God is working in our lives every week. It helps me...and hopefully those who write and read...to be more aware of how God is working. And it gives Him all the glory!

A few favorite blog reads on my one word #Joy

From the amazingly beautiful Ann Voskamp ~ "The joy of the Lord is your strength and the person of Christ is your unassailable joy – and the battle for joy is nothing less than fighting the good fight of faith."

Satan was busy trying to steal my joy this week but then God sent a much needed reminder from Holley Gerth to my inbox: "Don’t let the enemy steal from God what is rightfully his—and that is you enjoying your life, embracing what he’s given, savoring each moment so that you "taste and see that the Lord is good.""

I was recently introduced to Duane Scott through Outside the City Gate and love his writing. His words were a blessing as I struggled with how to find beauty when life didn't seem beautiful.

A few other favorite blog reads

Messy. Brave. Love. You just have to read Our Sacred Scared by Glennon Melton. "When we love messy people well we start to love our messy selves more. And all that love makes us BRAVE. And eventually, Love beats fear. Love Wins." Love always wins!

I loved this week's #TellHisStory post from Jennifer Dukes Lee. God will give you enough strength for each day.

Looking for some more great links? Outside the City Gate gives you many to check out in their {post} Valentine's Link-Up, Sharing the Love.

My favorite, favorite blog read

Remember my friend Lauren who gave me the Sweet B mug? You don't want to miss Dear Day Ahead of Me, {I Am His}.

Video of the week

Glennon Melton captures my attention again with her video Life is Brutiful.

Favorite new song

Thank you for sharing with me, Elizabeth.

Fabulous encouragers

Shelly and Joan have continued to "do life" with me this past week. They are AMAZING! I've mentioned them the past two Friday's but this week I asked them, "Would you be willing to pick one post you'd most like to share with others and send to me?" Below are the two they picked. I really hope you will stop in for a visit and leave some comment love.

from Shelly ~ Traversing the Rockies and from Joan ~ Stop, Look and Listen

Notice how both are titled with three words? To my Three Word Wednesday friends, do you find three words everywhere now? Ann Voskamp's book One Thousand Gifts (which is sitting in front of me as I write)... three words!

I'm finding JOY in a deployment #JoyDare #1000 gifts

#119 ~ Dinner with my small group family.

#120 ~ A much needed hour long massage.

#121 ~ The massage therapist who gives me a hug because she sees how much it is needed.

#122 ~ A big bowl of fresh fruit. It was SUPER yummy.

#123 ~ Freshly made meatballs and spaghetti.

#124 ~ Friends who encourage and friends who show up.

#125 ~ A park full of ice-skaters. It was a moment when I allowed myself to remember there is beauty to be found in these winter months.

#126 ~ A new battery for my husband's car compliments of Team Fox Valley Glass.

#127 ~ A room full church leaders who pray for me and my husband.

#128 ~ The act of letting go and choosing to rest in Him.

#129 ~ My co-leader of the (in)Courage military wives page. She is all kinds of wonderful.