The Whispering Spot

By Jeanna’ Mead A continuation of words written by another… Sometimes something I read hits me so deeply that I have to write too. This is what I read in a YouVersion devotional: --- ## The Whispering Spot (excerpt from devotional) When I first toured the Capitol more than two decades ago, our guide revealed a secret that wasn’t really a secret: the whispering spot.

He stood on one side of Statuary Hall while our tour group stood on the other side. Then he spoke in a whisper, and sure enough, we could hear the echo of his voice all the way across the room as if he were mere inches away. When I look through the Bible, I see whispering spots everywhere. - For Jacob, it was Bethel. - For Moses, it was a burning bush. - For Samuel, it was the tabernacle at Shiloh. - For David, it was the cave of Adullam. - For Elijah, it was Mount Carmel. - For Daniel, it was an upstairs window facing Jerusalem. - For Jonah, it was the belly of a whale.

When I survey Scripture, I see God showing up in strange places, at strange times, in strange ways. And I don’t think anything has changed. God still turns appointments into divine appointments. He still uploads desires, opens doors, and inspires dreams.

He still speaks through promptings and people and pain. And just as he did for Moses, He can turn any patch of ground into holy ground. Listening doesn’t happen by default; it happens by design. You have to seek solitude, seek silence. You have to ruthlessly eliminate distractions.

You have to turn some voices down or tune them out altogether. Why not turn off the radio and talk to God during your commute? Or fast from social media? Or take a silent retreat? Your whispering spot will be as unique as you are, but you need to find a time and place to hear the still, small voice of God.

Do you have a “whispering spot” in your life? If not, where might that spot be? If you do, how has God whispered to you there? --- ## Here Are My Words. My Whispering Spot. Last night, my Riven spent the night with me. We dug through treasures — because my hope chest collapsed and I had to take everything out.

As we looked through pictures of me as a child holding dolls, I placed my mom’s childhood doll into Riven’s hands… and then Mema’s. I felt a rush of generational love sweep over us. Then I showed her the thimble I found years ago underneath my bed — years after Mema danced into glory and after changing beds twice.

That tiny thimble was a sign from God: Remember where you came from. Remember who you are. He’s been whispering to me. He’s been getting close enough that I can read His lips. He keeps placing devotionals and scripture into my hands. He uses anything and everything to get my attention.

I just shake my head and say: “Okay Jesus, what are You telling me?” And right away: “Who raised you? Who inspired you? What would Mema do?” And damn if I don’t start thinking about prune cake, pinto beans, and her open invitation to anyone and everyone.

I can make all kinds of excuses and then I hear her whisper: “So what?” So what?! There it is. There’s the whisper. - So what if I mess up? - So what if my scars show? - So what if I’m walking without grace? - So what if my home isn’t fancy? - So what if my paint needs another coat? - So what if some people think I’m bat-shit crazy? - So what if my words aren’t always pretty? - So what if people don’t talk to me anymore? - So what if it’s hard to start over?

There’s no reason to act ugly. And no reason not to get up and dance to this song inside my soul. That’s how the Spirit whispers to me: - through music - through memories - through moments - through treasures passed down > “I’m going to do a new thing. > Do you not perceive it? > I will make streams in the desert > and a way in the wilderness.” I’m listening.

I’m reading His lips. I’m going to do what He’s telling me to do. So what if it’s crazy? Jesus made me that way. And God made sure I was raised by a woman who talked sense into me over and over again. Now I have to whisper those stories to Riven… and write them for people like you to read.

It’s a whisper in your soul.

If you want: 🌙 Create a “Whispering Spot” theme section Just say “Zip everything” or “Build the archive.” By Jeanna’ Mead Every girl, young and old, has to face her own reflection Twirl around and stare it down What’s the mirror gonna say? In this crazy world we live in right now, there is a filter for just about everything we can imagine that will portray us in the best possible light for others to see, to admire, to compare, and so on and on.

We can make ourselves look younger, slimmer, taller, absolutely breathtaking with a few simple clicks of our phone or computer. Some of us even have the talent and time to do it in real life- using tools and makeup to enhance our God-given looks and reshape and define bits and pieces to perfection.

There’s a little catch, though, because that make up does wear off, it washes away and then the mirror tells the real story which may not be quite the same as the reel story. There is something else to think about,too, as we are tempted to use filters and makeup to change the way we appear - God sees our hearts.

He sees everything, every little thing we try to disquise, every little scar we cover up, every spot we try to wish away, or scrub off, or hide behind and yet He looks at us and whispers, Has anybody told you that you are beautiful? You might agree if you could see what I see Cause everything about you is incredible Let that sink in for a moment here … sink deep into your soul and hold it there .

He created you- just the way He wanted you to be and, in His eyes, in His hands, you are incredible, His masterpiece, His beloved daughter. You should have seen me smile the day that I made you beautiful for Me…. Do you ever stop and think about that?

That He had to have smiled as He shaped you just so, placing the dimple in your cheek, the curve in your lip, the exact color of skin He wanted you to have? This amazes me as I ponder the miracle of each life, the way each and every person is created fearfully and carefully down to the smallest detail..

And all the while,He is smiling with pride and joy and love. Such love that my heart hums these words, too IF it’s true that beauty lies in the eye of the beholder I want my life and what is inside to give HIm Something to behold I want a heart that is captivating I want to hear my Father saying Has anybody told you that you are beautiful / It is like the scripture, 1 Peter 3:4 says so perfectly, “You should clothe yourself instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.”{ The beauty of the heart doesn’t wear off, wash off or needs to be concealed and it shines through everything just the way God intended it to.

T;hat is why it is so important to show our real beauty to others, to show who we are and how God made us to be - precious, beloved daughters hand made one at a time just because He felt like the world would be much better with us in it. Close your eyes Look inside Let me see the you that you have been trying to hide Long ago, I made you so very beautiful So I ought to know You are beautiful for Me Beautiful for Him.

Without all the extra fluff, without the mirror making up our minds for us, without the voices of the world shouting in our ears, we hear the words of our Creator say to each of us- You are beautiful for Me

“You Are Beautiful for Me” By Jeanna’ Mead