Thursday, October 15, 2020

Healing Places


"Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise."   ---Jeremiah 17:14


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Healing places; you have some, right? Places where God speaks and soothes and heals your heart (and mind), especially from our Country's present chaos?

My front porch is my favorite healing place, but oh dear. Summer blazed for months then September blew-in all icy. Some days I lasted just 6 or 7 minutes and I don't like hurry-up anything, especially healing which always requires time.


Well, we had an extra patio table in the backyard so I carried it upstairs. Moved a bookshelf away from the window and sat the table there.


(In this tiny house almost never can I rearrange, a favorite thing, so this proved exciting. My first 'years' in Heaven? I'll rearrange furniture constantly to make up for this.) ツ

Anyway, now I have an all-weather healing place which nearly feels like sitting outside, especially if I slide down the top window glass.

But October's being gorgeous and often I'm back outside on the porch with Jesus, healing in the sun and swaying leaf shadows, especially since the passing of Sam The Cat.

Other healing places?

Our local cafe. For the first time since long ago March, Amy's returned to normal days and hours! I thanked her for this and now I sit staring out at the autumnal scene, bubbling over with gratitude.

Here at my computer. Seriously, those music reaction Youtube videos? No politics there, no good vs. evil, just delight while watching young folks visibly overwhelmed by music I loved in the 1970's. Just exclamations of what we all have in common. Oh, and Tessie, of course! Every single morning she inspires me.

Downstairs at the red couch. The Holy Spirit and I watch Youtube videos or movies or 1970's tv series and bask in a sweet normal.


Anyway, you get it. And perhaps my healing places sound silly, but wherever a person gets healed is important--and nothing to apologize for.

I hope you, also, have special healing places. Oh, not hiding-till-it-all-goes-away rooms, nope! But rather, places to pause, heal and recharge for service to others. 

The world needs you, us, you know: 

If it’s ever so small the part you take,
The world has need of you.
Be it big or little the effort you make,
The world has need of you.
If it’s only a thought you give by the way,
If it’s only love’s a word you pause to say,
It’s a part that nobody else can play,
The world has need of you.

By your smile you can change another’s life;
The world has need of you.
By a word you can bring peace out of strife,
The world has need of you.
Then life your head and never say die;
Count every blessing, stop every sigh.
Get busy… don’t let a chance slip by,
The world has need of you.

by Evelyn Whitell


.... and the world needs us to be healed. Made whole. God needs us to spread His love in the specific, creative ways He designed for us since Time's beginning--

-- for such a crazy time as this.




"Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who susta
ins me."   --- Psalm 54:4

Actively seeking healing is important, for when we just pile hurt upon hurt? Eventually it'll all topple over into a meltdown and then we'll need major help, much time away, time in which we could have aided others.



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And as I shared at Facebook today:

How incredible to follow the Holy Spirit to the right place at the right time wearing the right shirt!

Kirstie Alley (yes, the actress) wrote this at Twitter:
"I was sitting in a tiny restaurant a few minutes ago. My friend died recently, another has cancer & I hit the wall tonight. I was just so sad & trying not to cry. So weak.Then I looked up & this girl had her back to me with this on her shirt. My sadness vanished. I got a miracle."



(It reads, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7)


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Prepper hint:

When you bring home flour, rice, dried beans, corn meal, etc., freeze them first for 2 or 3 days so to kill any insects or their eggs.


My autumn daisies.


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And oh! Look what Chewy.com sent us in memory of Sam The Cat--flowers! Seriously, they are a remarkable pet supply company.


(And while I'm at it, this table area is yet one more healing place, especially during sunny winter afternoons.)

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Ooooo.... Wonderful old suspense movie alert! Mirage, with Gregory Peck. You can watch it free here at Youtube.

Highly recommended.


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"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ... Matthew 6:14,15

5 comments:

  1. I am so sorry about Sam. I lost my beloved 14 year old Boston Terrier on Sept 1 so I know how much it hurts. They fill a place in our heart and our home. Hugs. I so hope you are right about animals in heaven. : )

    I also wanted to tell you how much we enjoyed the Prodigious T S Spivet. Thank you!

    I am thinking about my healing places... one is needed today

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  2. I'm glad you have so many places you can go in your home to be refreshed and renewed in mind and spirit. My world has shrunk significantly and I pretty much only have my little trailer, but it does make me happy to sit here and read blogs, knit and watch videos.
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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  3. Since reading this, I have been thinking about all the "healing places" the Lord has given me. Some of them are in the here and now, but others are in my memories. There are days when I remember my grandparents in their old farmhouses, keeping busy in their old-fashioned ways. We are blessed to have access to God's healing--anytime and anywhere! Debra, I have always loved your dining room with the light shining in your window. And I'm happy you've been able to create another special spot for yourself upstairs.

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  4. Debra - I am so sorry about Sam. I've been through this before and know how devastating it can be. (Hugs)

    Thank you so much for sharing the poem that you did - I'm going to copy it into my new journal. I love it (the poem I mean .. well, really I love my new journal too. lol)

    Angela - I'm so sorry also for the loss of your dog. (Hugs)

    Pam - Yes to the places we can go in our memories for healing as well. I think of my childhood and my being so blessed to have such a good one that I am so grateful to have had.

    Have an awesome day, friends!

    Debi

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  5. Angela--oh! I'm so very sorry you lost your own furry friend. My condolences to you and may God continue to heal your heart as only He can. And thanks so much for letting me know you enjoyed the TS Spivet movie! I love it when others come back and tell me they watched one of my recommendations. God bless you much and may you discover a very special healing place and find all peace and healing there.

    Betsy--your new home is so cozy and perfect for healing time with God. Do you have an outdoor place to roam and think there, as well? We're already at cool tempteratures here, alas, so yeah, I'm extra thankful for that table I placed upstairs before the window.

    Pam--yes! I love visiting those places in my memory, also. Lots of memories of my own grandparents as well as our farm of recent years. Seems like in my mind I walk around out there--how nice to do that and not have to do any of the work! :) Thanks for your nice words about my dining room. That entire side of the house gets sun all day long and I've always felt grateful for that.

    Debi--thanks so much for your condolences, my friend. This week finds me feeling much healed and more able to smile over the memories of Sam. I'm so glad you liked the poem! A friend's grandmother gave it to me upon a post card 45 years ago as an encouragement and the words have often returned to me and proven a help, especially if I'm tempted to grab onto some self-pity. Always shakes me out of it!

    Thanks so much, Everyone! Blessings, Debra

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Thanks for your comments-- I love to read what you are thinking! If you are unable to comment, please contact me at gladone4@protonmail.com. Oh, and please be kind. Thank-you.