“He heals the brokenhearted
And binds up their wounds
[healing their pain and comforting their sorrow].”
Psalm 147:3 AMP
“When Life Gets Broken”
by Sandi Patty (with Heather Payne)
ABCs of Jesus’ Love
I have added an E Word:
Everlasting Love
“Long ago the Lord said to Israel:
I have loved you, My people, with an everlasting love.
With unfailing love I have drawn you to Myself.”
Jeremiah 31:3 NLT
Books
I am not always able to keep up with the abundance of books that promote hope, healing, and freedom, so I haven’t always read every one I post here and on the Books Page. Though many are on my long wish list. 🙂 I find many of them because I read about them on someone’s blog post. If you ever know of a book that is not listed and that supports this website’s mission, please let me know. 🙂
This month I’d like to recommend a book by an online friend:
Seeking Solace: Discovering grace in life’s hard places
“Seeking Solace speaks soul to soul with the intimate, confessional style of a memoir. Joy Lenton offers us a glimpse into her world with the aching immediacy and transparency of a poet. She shares her painful past and challenging circumstances to reveal how she has learned how to seek solace and find peace, and how you can do so too.
Her journey leads to discerning and discovering grace in life’s hard places. It’s a peek behind the scenes look at ‘Love, Life, Loss and Faith’ which leads to deeper understanding of how interlinked they can be. Here you have an open invitation to step into her shoes, picture yourself within these pages and see how they reveal hope for this life and beyond.” (Amazon Review)
You can find Joy at Words of Joy or at Poetry Joy. She writes about her journey of life and faith with the goal of helping others toward greater freedom in knowing who they are in Christ. And to reveal, as she shares words of joy and encouragement, how beauty can spring forth from brokenness and hope shines bright even in dark circumstances.
Hope Harbor
♥ Links That Inspire Hope and Healing ♥
♥ Vision 61 Ministries – Hope, Freedom, and Recovery of those who have been held captive by hurts, habits, addictions, self-destructive behaviors, etc.
♥ “My Child” – “Father’s Love Letter” (video) written out by Lynn Simpson with supporting Bible verses.
♥ 31 Days Healing From Abuse – Carly writes 31 blog posts in 31 days to share some of her experiences and the lessons she has learned. This is “primarily a story of who God is and his power to heal. The focus will be very much on that and on the healing process, not on the abuse itself. There will be no graphic details of abuse, in fact there will be very few details at all, only as much as is necessary to present a clear picture of the darkness so that you can see the impact of the light.” (Taken from the 1st blog post)
Nature Retreat
“The butterfly counts not months but moments, and has time enough.”
~ Rabindranath Tagore
➺ Dina’s City Wildlife Adventures – Beautiful photos of birds and nature
➺ Outdoor Photography – Stunning photos of birds, wildlife, wildflowers, and landscapes by Scott Simons. This is also a great place to learn more about photography.
➺ Wildlife Photography Journals – Amazing wildlife poses by Rich Steel
Quotes
❤︎ “There is far-reaching fruit that blossoms from the seeds of pain.” ~ Tiffany Parry
❤︎ “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” ~ Theodore Roosevelt
❤︎ “Circumstances may appear to wreck our lives and God’s plans, but God is not helpless among the ruins.” ~ Eric Liddell
Linking up with:
Freed to Fly 
I understand how hard it is to keep up with all the great books we come across. My TBR pile is quite high. Joy’s book sounds very inviting. Butterflies symbolize a lot for me currently in my faith journey so enjoy the pictures you shared. And can’t wait to dive into the photography links. I am a ‘just for fun’ photographer of mainly landscapes, flowers and tiny animals like the butterfly. I always appreciate what you post here, T. It grows and expands my world.
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Thank you, Lynn. I am a “just for fun” nature photographer, too. 🙂 And I love butterflies! They symbolize to me the freedom in the Spirit – freed to fly. 🙂 What do they symbolize to you currently in your faith journey? I really wish I could see more of them in nature. Three of these are from the Butterfly House here in Sioux Falls. Did you notice I included one of your blog posts in the Hope Harbor links? 🙂 May God fill you with much hope and strength for each day! Hugs!
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I always enjoy your monthly roundup, Trudy, and the quotes you include are my favorite part! “God is not helpless among the ruins.” How thankful I am for that! I hope you have a blessed day today! 🙂
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Thank you, Lois. I’m glad you enjoy it. I enjoy rounding them up. 🙂 I love quotes, too. I found that particular quote so comforting. No matter how big our ruins are, God is infinitely strong enough and willing to turn them into beauty, right? May He turn all our ashes into beauty! Hugs!
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Wow, Trudy. A great big potpourri for sure!
Delightful springtime reading …
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Thank you, Linda. “Potpourri.” I like that. 🙂 And I love springtime! May God bring new life also into our hearts! Hugs!
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Trudy,
Great finds..and Joy Lenton’s words always are wise and poetic…and I love the graphic about how as we find freedom, we can share it with others…love the butterfly photos 🙂
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Thank you, Dolly. I’m glad you enjoyed it. Yes, Joy’s words always are so wise and poetic. I love that graphic, too, Isn’t it just so true? May we find ever more freedom from shame and share that freedom in Christ with others! Hugs!
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This is a great selection of resources and photos, Trudy. Thanks for putting all this together. The photos of the butterflies are beautiful and I love the quotes, especially the Eric Liddell one.
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Thank you, Carly. Also for writing 31 days of blog posts for healing from abuse. I love your first-hand experience and insight into it. When I read the Eric Liddell quotes, I can’t but remember your post about the shattered pieces of stained glass fitted together to make beautiful pictures. God does that with our lives, too, doesn’t He? May He give us ever deeper healing and restore the shattered parts of our lives to beauty! Hugs!
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Thanks for including me among the greats. 🙂 And your photos are always so beautiful, Trudy. Those butterflies make me thing of all the new beginning promised this Spring. Hugs, friend.
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You’re welcome, Tiffany. Yes, you are among the greats. 🙂 That quote really touched me. It’s so true. I love spring and all its new beginnings! May all our pain blossom into fruits that glorify God and point others to the hope there is in Him! Hugs!
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Hi Trudy,
Phew no frogs! When you post your nature photos, I always squinch my eyes tight in case they encounter a frog 🙂 but what a delight that beautiful butterflies met me as I scrolled down your page! I’m so glad spring is on the way, aren’t you? Happy spring, my friend! xo
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Nope. No frogs, Valerie. Every time I think of posting one, I think of you, and I don’t do it. 🙂 Your frog phobia must be quite severe. That’s ok. I love butterflies and wish I had more photos of them. 🙂 Yes, I’m delighted that spring is on its way! This morning I had to stand at my bedroom window and soak in the robin’s refreshing morning call. Happy spring to you, too! May our hearts be renewed with life in the Spirit! Hugs!
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Thanks for your all your work pulling these great posts together! And your “E” Scripture: “Long ago the Lord said to Israel, ‘I have loved you, My people, with an everlasting love.
With unfailing love I have drawn you to Myself.’
Jeremiah 31:3 NLT” is one of my favorites! Thank you for reminding me of that today. And, I love the butterfly photos too!
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Thank you and you’re welcome, Bettie. Isn’t that verse just so comforting? I’m so glad it encouraged you today. I need the reminder, too, today, so thank you for drawing my attention to it again. May God help us to allow that verse to sink deeply into our hearts and memories! Hugs!
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Glad to find your beautiful spot here from #TellHisStory. Your photos are beautiful. We’re in full spring here and the blossoms and butterflies are all over. What a picture of the life and hope we have in Christ.
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Welcome, Lisa. Thank you. We don’t yet have blossoms and butterflies all over here, but I’m longing for it to come. Yes, they truly are a picture of the life and hope we have in Christ. May God fill us with hope in Him! Hugs!
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So many great links here as always, my friend! I love Sandi Patty. She was at a women’s conference I went to last year and that was the first time I ever saw her. Her entire family is adorable. Her daughter hosted the event. I absolutely love the butterfly pictures you shared. They are incredibly amazing creatures on so many levels. For some reason, they always remind me of hope. Thanks for all of these fun resources, Trudy!
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Thank you, Candace. I’m glad you found encouragement here. I’m not very familiar with Sandi Patty, but I sure love this song I found. It’s nice to hear more about her. Butterflies remind me of hope, too. The hope of the Holy Spirit in us giving us the freedom to fly. 🙂 May He give ever deeper healing and freedom to fly! Hugs!
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