The Power of TOUCH

I read somewhere recently, -- probably in a devotion, I read a lot of them! -- that the power of TOUCH, can do a lot for someone that is hurting. Just a simple arm around the shoulders of someone who is hurting can do wonders for them. Or even just a hand on their shoulder!

Jesus was a "toucher". He used the "power of touch" over and over again while He was here on our Earth. There are numerous verses that tell of his healing touch ---

Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately he was cured of his leprosy. -- Matthew 8:3

He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him. -- Matthew 8:15

Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith will it be done to you"; -- Matthew 9:29

But Jesus came and touched them. "Get up," he said. "Don't be afraid." -- Matthew 17:7

Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him. -- Matthew 20:24

The list goes on and on. All throughout the Gospels, there are stories of how Jesus touched others, and how they came to Him to be touched. Of course, those of you that know Jesus are saying.... "Well, Jesus had the power to HEAL through His touch." --- Yes, this is true. But, I am telling you..... you ALSO have the power to heal through YOUR TOUCH! It may not be the same sort of "healing" that Jesus can do, but for someone that is hurting... your touch DOES have the power to heal, as well!!

In my opinion.... the best thing that you can do for someone that is hurting, is to give them a HUG. A hug gives the hurting person that "touch" that they so desperately need, and.... it also gives them a moment -- or a few moments, depending on how long the hug is! -- of feeling safe and secure. For just that moment... their worries and fears are taken away. THIS.... to me... is "healing".

This post was written totally by me, but the words are straight from GOD.

May you have a blessed day, and be sure to look for those who need your healing touch today!

Bucket List #64-66

#66 --- Visit Savannah and take a ghost tour at night --- I orginally wrote this list about 2 years ago, about the time the movie "The Bucket List" came out in 2007. As you can see from my list so far... I have not accomplished very many (IF any at all!) on my list. This one here, tho...  is one that I have "half-way" done. I have been to Savannah, but I have not done a ghost tour at night there. I DID go on one when I went to New Orleans with some friends, back in March of 2009. Now that I have done a ghost tour in "NOLA", I no longer want to do that in Savannah. I have been to Savannah once with Dtr. #2's Girl Scout troop. It was a VERY short visit, and the only sight-seeing thing that we did, was to go to Juliet Lowe's home for a tour and special activities, there. It was great fun, but now I want to go back and do "grown-up stuff"! I want to go there with Hubby and stay in a hotel in the riverfront area where we can walk to everything.

#67 --- Take a long road trip with a friend --- Like I said... I wrote this a few years ago. This is one of the things that I think I will have to "rethink". After going on that trip to New Orleans with 3 friends, I don't know if going on a LONG trip with even ONE friend is such a good idea! Maybe an overnight trip, but that's about it! I don't want to end up like "Thelma & Louise"!

#68 --- Travel west of Alabama --- When I made this list, I had not accomplished this yet. It took me 44 years.... but, I finally made it across the Alabama border into Mississippi in March of 2009, when I went to New Orleans!

Devotion this morning: "Plan B"

This summer, I have gotten WAY off track and out of my morning routine of praying and reading my daily devotions & scripture. School starts back, for the girls and I, in just over a week (YIKES!) and I have GOT to get back into a routine before then!

So.... I am happy to say that I have done well this morning and God is pleased with me because I kept my morning "coffee date" with Him and did not get side-tracked into something else.

I read a wonderful devotion this morning in my devotional book entitled:
Babes with a Beatitude - Devotions for Smart, Savvy Women of Faith
- by, Linda P. Kozar & Dannelle Woody.

Here is the devotion, as written in the book with MY thoughts written in blue ---- 

Plan B

Friends, this world is not your home, so don't make yourselves cozy in it. (I love that part!)

Don't indulge your ego at the expense of your soul.

Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute

their prejudices. Then, they'll be won over to God's side

and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives.

-- 1 Peter 2:11-12 MSG

When the moving men showed up an hour late, I was more than ready. Stacks of boxes were labeled and organized --- even color coded to match the rooms they were supposed to be deposited in when they reached the new home. And, of course, the labels matched the spreadsheet on my clipboard. I'd planned things down to the last detail. (This was me, 12 years ago, when we moved down here from the Atlanta area! My boxes weren't "color coded", but they were labeled with a number that corresponded with my list of boxes and their contents! Like, the author... I had planned this move right down to the very last detail!)

But, to my horror, the three men began picking up boxes randomly and stacking them on dollies. I tried to stop them, to explain the system, but the only one who spoke English was me. My best-laid plan was suddenly kaput! I wanted to cry, but I cried out to God instead. Lord, all my work was for nothing. This is so frustrating. Please help me!

Our attitude in times like this tells our new neighbors and our children a lot about our spiritual walk. I love how The Message interprets this verse. "Don't indulge your ego at the expense of your soul."

BEATITUDE CHECK: It's good to plan and prepare for things, but we must be flexible enough to know that life's little events don't always go according to our plans. Don't give in to times like this and let frustration show in ungodly ways. Your example of acceptance and kindness will go a long way to show others what Jesus ' personality is like. (I am doing MUCH better with being "flexible". I used to not be. I used to get VERY "out-of-sorts" when things didn't go just how I had them planned in my pretty, little head. But, I have learned to be much better about it and to "go-with-the-flow" as much as I can.)

I am so thankful that God is the God of second chances, and third, fourth, fifth, sixth......... well, you get the picture!

*** ON A SIDE NOTE ---- I feel better today. Your prayers must be working! Thank you! ~ I am still anxious to hear the results of my ultrasound, but I feel much better about it all and I am a lot less worried! I am feeling God's comfort and peace, which is the way that it should be.  

Bucket List #61-63

#61 --- Try snow skiing --- This something that Hubby & the girls all have done, but I have not. My girls - from what I hear. I have not actually seen them! - are quite good at it! This is just not something that I have ever had an interest in doing. Hubby grew up in the north, so he grew up having more opportunities to snow ski. My girls had the opportunity to learn by going on many, many Youth Ski Trips with our church youth group to the North Carolina mountains. Over the years that they have been going, they have gotten very good at it. Sometimes Most of the time, when they go, it is "fake snow"... but, they still have fun. Every year, when they get home from the ski trip, I hear them talk about it, and now I'd like to give it a try. Knowing my luck... I won't get the hang of it and be stuck on the "Bunny Slope" - I guess that's what they still call it. I have no idea! - and never graduate to the "Big People Slopes" - That's MY term for it, anyway! Maybe I can learn to snow ski when I accomplish #31 on my Bucket List - (Stay at a ski lodge with a huge picture window and a big fireplace) or #30 (See a huge snow!).

#62 --- Ride in or drive a corvette --- I don't really care about "owning" one. I just want to RIDE in one or DRIVE one! - Of course, it would have to be an automatic, because I don't know how to drive a "stick". That one's coming up a little farther down on my list, by the way!) I think Corvette's are beautiful cars, tho! Hubby has always wanted a yellow one. So, this one is for you, babe!

#63 --- Ride in a Limo --- Nope. Never ridden in one of these before, either. I would love to get all dressed up - Just once. Because that's probably all I could talk Hubby into! - and go somewhere really special with hubby and a group of friends! I'd love to sip champagne while I take my ride, too! And I would love for it to have a sunroof!! I would be the first one to stick my head thru it and wave to the world!!  --- OR ---- I just had another thought! It would be a blast if we took a limo up to Atlanta with a group of friends and attended a Jimmy Buffet concert!! That would be so much fun!! That would fulfill #32 on my list, as well!

Prayers would be appreciated

Please forgive me for not being the most interesting blogger to follow lately. I have not felt well since Friday. Every time I eat a meal, my food feels like it is STUCK, right below my rib cage! It is a VERY uncomfortable miserable feeling. My doctor is trying to figure out if it is my Gall Bladder. I had blood drawn on Monday to check my liver and my blood counts. They all came back fine, yesterday. So... right now, she is treating me for "Reflux". She took me off of all foods that contain FAT, because of the possiblity of the problem being my Gall Bladder. --- Do you realize how MANY foods that is??? -- A LOT!!

And if my problem IS Reflux, then... to avoid having problems, I basically have to avoid every food that I love!! ---- Chocolate, red sauces, spicy foods, garlic, onions, mints, alcohol, caffiene, citrus fruits, and even Ibprofren & asprin! --  What will I take when I have a headache?? UGH!!

Today, I have an appointment at the hospital for an ultrasound. Part of me WANTS them to find something, just so I know that there is really something wrong! But, of course.... part of me doesn't want them to find something, because it could be serious and that is scary. I won't know anything today. It will probably take a couple of days.

Of course, I can't eat or drink anything this morning before having the ultrasound, so I am STARVING and REALLY THIRSTY!!!

Please, please.... pray for me this morning and throughout this week, as I deal with the "unknown" and as I deal with trying to find out what IS going on inside my body. I would really appreciate it. I am a firm believer in the power of prayer! I know that it works!

Bucket List #58-60

#58 --- Take a long train trip somewhere --- Well, if I accomplish #4 on my list (Visit Italy) and do my "Dream Trip" there, then I can fulfill this dream, as well!! A train trip across Italy would be AMAZING! But, hey.... I'll take one anywhere as long as the view was pretty!

#59 --- Drive a jet ski --- I've ridden ON a jetski before, but never have driven one! I think it would be a lot of fun! I think I'd rather do it over calm water, tho... like a big lake. I can't see myself doing it over the rough waters of the ocean! YIKES!

#60 --- Try playing golf --- I KNOW! I KNOW!! ... I've heard it from so many people! .... "It's SO HARD!".... But, Hey! I want a chance to hit that little white ball as hard as I can and just SEE if I can get it in that tiny little hole! I'll probably hate Golf afterwords, but I would at least like to try it!

Bucket List #55-57

#55 --- Have the house of my dreams --- My dream house would be a two-story, with the Master on the main level. The downstairs would be an "open" floorplan, where the kitchen and eating area are open to the family room. I would also love to have a laundry room with a window and some counter space. I would want a 1/2 bath for guest and an office/craft room for me. The upstairs would have 2 bedrooms & 2 baths, with a loft area or bonus room. I would love for it to have a front porch, wide enough for rocking chairs and/or a swing. A basement in this "dream house" would be a welcome, too! I just want lots of room for my kids and grandkids! That is my dream! I love the "Craftsman" style homes. They are my favorite!

#56 --- Be part of a jury for an interesting trial --- I almost got to do this last year, but the people involved decided to settle out of court. Dang it! You probably think I am crazy for wanting to do this, but one time for one of my highschool classes (I think!), we got to go on a field trip to the county courthouse and sit in (briefly) on a trial. I was disappointed that we couldn't stay longer, because I got so involved with listening to the evidence being presented!

#57 --- Hike part of the Appalachian Trail --- I love to go hiking when the weather is cool. If it's too hot..... NO THANK YOU! Plus.... I'm afraid of snakes!! The trail is 2,179 miles long and goes from Georgia to Maine. WOW! It would be neat to hike just PART of it!