Welcome to our weekly Five Minute Friday blog link-up!Â
I apologize for the delayed post this week . . . I think this is only the second time in five years that I haven’t published a Five Minute Friday post on Thursday night!Â
I was blessed to co-host a writers gathering with about 30 local women at a friend’s house last night, and I was so busy preparing all the food yesterday that I completely forgot to schedule this post! I only realized it when I arrived at my friend’s house for the gathering, and when I got home around 11:30pm last night, the internet wasn’t working at my house . . . so . . . here we are! Better late than never, I suppose!Â
It’s been a fun season of gathering in person with writer friends. Last week I drove to Baker Book House in Grand Rapids, Michigan to celebrate the release of Susie Finkbeiner’s latest novel, All Manner of Things.Â
If you’re looking for a great summer read, grab a copy of All Manner of Things from Baker Book Store or wherever books are sold!
I asked Susie if she’d be willing to guest post for us in celebration of her book release, and she said yes! 🙂Â
In honor of Susie’s new book, this week’s FMF writing prompt is: WELL
Here’s Susie:Â
The well of my heart is deep. I imagine it often, seeing all the way to the bottom. Is it dark in the depths? I’m not sure. But when it’s empty, it’s a frightening thing to see/hear/know/experience.
Too often, I put a cover on that empty well of my heart. Is it to protect myself? Because I’m afraid? I’m not sure why I hide it away from my Father. Maybe I’m ashamed that I’ve let it go dry. But I claim fullness when what I’m doing is sucking mud unsuitable for sustenance. Because of pride/fear/insecurity, I dehydrate myself.
My well is unwell.
You see, the well of my heart is deep, but God’s grace is sufficient to fill it up. HIs Spirit speaks and refills me with truth, love, power, mercy. And when He does this, I am well, in the sense of okay, all right, satisfied, fulfilled, healthy.
It is well.
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Want to hear more from Susie?Â
Listen to our video conversation here:Â
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Susie Finkbeiner is a novelist from West Michigan. She is the award-winning, bestselling author of The Pearl Spence Series (Kregel).
Her newest novel All Manner of Things released in June 2019 with Revell.
She is also the author of My Mother’s Chamomile (WhiteFire, 2014) and Paint Chips (WhiteFire, 2013).
Susie is a wife, mother of three, and avid reader. She enjoys time with her family, coffee dates with her good friends, and quiet moments to read and write.
Connect with Susie on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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Join the link-up with your own five minute free write below! Then visit your link-up neighbor to read their post and leave an encouraging comment.Â
“Sucking mud unsuitable for sustenance”….how often do I settle for the mud? And why? That sentence really struck me this morning. I want the well of my heart filled – to full and overflowing – with living, thirst-quenching water!!
I’m at the bottom of a pit,
held hard-hostage by disease
which tries to purloin every bit
of a half-remembered life of ease.
The walls around are dank and cold;
no Hobbit would live here;
and there’s the smell of something old,
a deep and well-forgotten fear.
Perhaps this place will be my grave
and no-one listens to my cries,
but it’s far better, now, to save
my breath, and ditch the long goodbyes.
But above there’s still a circle, blue,
a sign to keep my faith in You.
This is my first time participating in FMF however I’m having the hardest time getting the link to my post to work. It keeps saying the post doesn’t exist but it does. I clicked my archives and it’s definitely there. I feel silly so any help you can offer will be appreciated. Thanks!
I figured out the problem. Thanks for hosting this linkup.