tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643092331729126387.post8970099586207712734..comments2024-03-28T12:15:10.659+00:00Comments on More than Writers: On clinging, releasing and relinquishing by Joy Lentonauntyamohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08213728883228063200noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643092331729126387.post-87736402366815039232016-03-22T15:37:09.496+00:002016-03-22T15:37:09.496+00:00Helen, I wonder if God desires us to seek our aliv...Helen, I wonder if God desires us to seek our aliveness mainly in Him as a spiritual thing? As we listen, rest, abide, yield and obey His voice we slowly become more confident about moving forward and leaving what needs laying aside behind us. May you continue to explore new ways of living and writing more fully and freely, letting go of old patterns of insecurity and embracing all you can be by His grace. I'm convinced He has some glorious things waiting for you, my friend! Blessings. :) Joy Lentonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03486637586238798088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643092331729126387.post-49826038887081530552016-03-22T12:48:54.247+00:002016-03-22T12:48:54.247+00:00Amen to that, Joy. My word for this year is 'a...Amen to that, Joy. My word for this year is 'alive' and I found myself stopped and staring at your words, ' God wants us to be open to trying new ways of living more fully and freely by His grace.' I want to live fully and freely. <br />Thank you, my friend. Helenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05559604728716256864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643092331729126387.post-45919556572704020792016-03-21T11:54:57.625+00:002016-03-21T11:54:57.625+00:00This comment has been removed by the author.Joy Lentonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03486637586238798088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643092331729126387.post-62356591372477377032016-03-21T11:54:45.702+00:002016-03-21T11:54:45.702+00:00Veronica, I'm sorry to hear of the end of an e...Veronica, I'm sorry to hear of the end of an era for you at your beloved church. The way you've described how God is already affirming His loving care for every season is heartening in the midst of your sadness. You will always carry the memories and connections made there in your heart and mind. And God will use them to build a new foundation for the future. Thank you for sharing your experiences and reminding us that God always has tasks and blessings ready for us to receive in His due time. Joy Lentonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03486637586238798088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643092331729126387.post-85824144269915890372016-03-21T11:28:55.128+00:002016-03-21T11:28:55.128+00:00This is very apposite a day after the final servic...This is very apposite a day after the final service at my beloved Mennonite church. It's hard to let go of so much history, but as I read from Ecclesiastes in the service yesterday, there is a time for everything: a time to plant, and a time to pluck up. And God has blessings and tasks for us elsewhere.Veronica Zundelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04248292370623296757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643092331729126387.post-34185439933327425212016-03-20T16:25:58.650+00:002016-03-20T16:25:58.650+00:00I love the way toddlers "exude a sense of fre...I love the way toddlers "exude a sense of freedom" and feel sad about how swiftly we can lose it as adults. And your words here help to explain why it happens. Fear is a real stumbling block for so many of us because our brains try to work out all the what ifs of a situation before going forward. It helps protect us from overly hasty decision making but can also stifle spontaneity and creativity. Letting go of perceived control can be hard to do and it's likely to be a lifelong lesson for all of us. Thanks for following me over here, Mary! Have a blessed, restful weekend. Joy Lentonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03486637586238798088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643092331729126387.post-50525511275973859122016-03-20T16:11:42.321+00:002016-03-20T16:11:42.321+00:00Then life of a toddler can teach us so much. They ...Then life of a toddler can teach us so much. They exude a sense of freedom that when we get older we lose. Or they seek the help of others when they need it. In my mind, it seems they do not carry fear with them like we tend to do. The lesson of letting go when I need help is one that can be hard even though I know God is willing to share the burden with us. I will be learning this lesson for the rest of my life but am blessed that I know God and His deep love and grace. Praying your weekend is blessed.Mary Geisenhttp://www.passagethroughgrace.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643092331729126387.post-20893355248829090812016-03-18T21:38:13.650+00:002016-03-18T21:38:13.650+00:00Deborah, you hit the nail on the head here. Yes, y...Deborah, you hit the nail on the head here. Yes, yielding and surrendering to God's ways is a daily decision we take. Our faith gets stretched in the letting go. The longer we journey with the Lord the more we can look back and see how He has led and guided us. And that gives us hope, trust and reassurance for today and future days. Thank you for reading and being inspired by these words! Joy Lentonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03486637586238798088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643092331729126387.post-46265266181865329362016-03-18T21:30:28.874+00:002016-03-18T21:30:28.874+00:00A wonderful inspiring post Joy! I know sometimes G...A wonderful inspiring post Joy! I know sometimes God uses challenging situations in my life to encourage me to let go. Why do we find it so hard to relinquish control even to One we trust? I guess it's a daily decision :) Thanks for your wise words. Deborah Jenkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11156120348177986321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643092331729126387.post-65467918619774491832016-03-18T21:30:22.887+00:002016-03-18T21:30:22.887+00:00A wonderful inspiring post Joy! I know sometimes G...A wonderful inspiring post Joy! I know sometimes God uses challenging situations in my life to encourage me to let go. Why do we find it so hard to relinquish control even to One we trust? I guess it's a daily decision :) Thanks for your wise words. Deborah Jenkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11156120348177986321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643092331729126387.post-66572441980298847862016-03-18T18:32:39.592+00:002016-03-18T18:32:39.592+00:00I'm glad you can relate to this, Lynda. A new ...I'm glad you can relate to this, Lynda. A new direction can be welcome at times. Much depends on whether we eagerly anticipate the change or if circumstances initiate it for us. Abraham is certainly a great example of stepping out in faith. Would that we could all be as obedient as he was!Joy Lentonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03486637586238798088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643092331729126387.post-40664791217722270442016-03-18T18:27:04.784+00:002016-03-18T18:27:04.784+00:00It isn't easy to do, is it, Fiona? Fear seems ...It isn't easy to do, is it, Fiona? Fear seems to have such a grip on us sometimes. But it's certainly worth entrusting ourselves to God, maybe feeling the fear and doing it anyway! He's the only One who can offer us "perfect freedom and security." Joy Lentonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03486637586238798088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643092331729126387.post-58153650381144659102016-03-18T16:29:57.694+00:002016-03-18T16:29:57.694+00:00Thank you for this Joy. I think I have a tendency ...Thank you for this Joy. I think I have a tendency to hold on to things that are familiar when sometimes God calls us to step out in faith in a new direction. Like Abraham. Bless you for sharing. Lynda Alsfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12260944221255162533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643092331729126387.post-87149104773122532032016-03-18T15:25:53.162+00:002016-03-18T15:25:53.162+00:00So often we let fear get in the way of our relatio...So often we let fear get in the way of our relationship with God and his plans for our writing. Thanks for encouraging us to relinquish those fears and to entrust ourselves to our heavenly Father, who offers perfect freedom and security.Fiona Lloydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01803986871462903904noreply@blogger.com