In order so that I might not forget, he reiterated, “Lamont, you know, like Sanford and Son”.
In my usual early morning scurry, I turned my key to lock they front door as I left for work this past Wednesday morning. Imagine my surprise when I went to pull my key out of the lock, and noticed that it had broken in half—inside the deadbolt! Pinching at it precisely with my thumb and index finger, I grabbed at the broken piece of the key that was stuck inside the lock and successfully removed it from the keyhole. God forbid I leave it in the keyhole and some burglar see it and help himself to a home full of “stuff”.
Running late for work, again! . . . Ugh! It’s ALWAYS something! ~ Oh, well. On my trek to work I went.
Later that evening I stopped off at my friendly neighborhood Home Depot to grab a quick replacement key. As is customary in the life of Gracie, I grabbed a cart. You know—just in case! One never knows what one might need! (or want.)
Up and down the aisles I went, searching through bin upon bin upon bin of miscellaneous hardware items, closet organizers, paints, faux kitchens—well, you get the gist. I made my way to the lighting section and searched through beautiful lamps and other light fixtures. Wow~I want that one! I want that one, too! Ooo, how much does this one cost? Oh, a little too much . . . more than what I’d be willing to pay, or budget for.
“Excuse me,” I asked a clerk I just so happened to see at the end of the aisle in the paint department, “where do I get a key made?”
I held up my two broken pieces of key, as she replied, “Oh, that’s all the way down in Aisle 10, front of the store.”
I approached the key maker man, and as he was making my new key, I found myself sifting through a bin full of beautiful lanyards.
No, I really don’t neeeeed one, but they are “oh, so pretty!” There was a pink one with hearts, but too girly for me, I thought. There was a black one with little pink breast cancer ribbons and a little metal heart attached to it that read “HOPE”.
Dare I get the black one? I shudder as I think, “no, don’t . . . it might be an ‘omen’”. Hmm. So many decisions!
“Here’s your key, Miss. Can I get you anything else?” . . . “Umm, yes, do you know if you sell Armor All Wipes here? I know this is ‘home’ depot, but I just thought you might carry them.”
I hadn’t seen them in my earlier store exploration, but I really wanted them for my new car.
The store clerk said it was no problem for him to walk on down to see if he couldn’t find them for me since I hadn’t spotted them while perusing the aisle for my cleaning supplies. My cleaning lady was due to come clean that upcoming Saturday morning, and it’s a great thing that I remembered she had asked me for utility towels and Scrubbing Bubbles! (Thank goodness I grabbed myself a cart! ~ you see how that works!)
I waited for the clerk, and continued to sift through the bin full of lanyards. Ah, yes. I will take the black one with the pink breast cancer ribbons and the metal heart that reads HOPE for me, the pink one with hearts for my grandniece, Lexi, and the pretty purple paisley one for my niece, Jessie.
Ever since I’d purchased my new vehicle, I’ve been able to visit Jessie and Lexi, as it’s only a three-hour drive from Fort Lauderdale to Orlando. I don’t like to show up at their home empty-handed, and so I take with me little trinket-gifts with which to bless them. Hey, any little thing can touch the heart! Oh, speaking of heart . . . let’s get back to Lamont.
I quickly grabbed the three lanyards, threw them into my cart, and made my way towards Aisle 1, to see if I couldn’t help speed things up a bit. Perhaps the sales clerk had gotten interrupted and forgotten all about my waiting back by the key station for him.
As I made my way towards the helpful cashier, I ran into Lamont once again.
He approached me with a humble heartfelt, almost embarrassed smile. He said, “Miss, if it’s okay, I will take you up on that offer if that’s still okay with you?”
“Of course! It would be my pleasure. I’m just waiting on the clerk here so I can go to the cash register to check out.” I replied.
Earlier in my tour around the store, Lamont had approached me with his palms full of loose change. He told me he needed 86 cents with which to make his purchase of the one and only item he needed and for which he came to Home Depot.
I quickly let him know that I would be more than happy to assist, but that I never carry any cash, so I would make the purchase for him on my card.
He felt that it might be best for him to take a quick run around the store to see if he wouldn’t be able to find someone with a dollar, or the exact change with which to make his purchase.
I told him that if he wasn’t able to find someone to give him the money he needed, to find me, and I’d make the purchase for him.
That’s when he told me his name was Lamont.
In order so that I might not forget, he reiterated, “Lamont, you know, like Sanford and Son”.
This second time when I ran into Lamont, he shared with me that it was wire he needed for his weed whacker. He restated that he’d only needed 86 cents, since that was all he was short.
I let him know that I was waiting on the cashier, but would be more than happy to help him.
Off we went towards the cash registers, no Armor All wipes here!
As we walked he shared his story.
“You see, ma’am, I am here for work, but they laid us all off. I just spoke with my mother last night, but I couldn’t tell her that I was out of work. They were so proud of me when I got the transfer to Fort Lauderdale to work with the news station, and I just don’t have it in me to break the news to her. I’ve been out of work now for 13 weeks, and I just find little odd jobs here and there to bring me an income. That’s why I need this piece, for the Weed Whacker.
If I don’t get this, then I won’t be able to do that lawn job I was given. I’d hate to lose that opportunity. I need all the money I can get just so I can live and feed myself day-to-day.”
The tears streamed down his face as he spoke, and my eyes and heart were welling up with tears, too.
We were next in line now, and I first made my purchase, and then a separate one for Lamont.
Good Lord! I didn’t know that it would cost $26, but I cheerfully and willingly offered to purchase the item for him–and purchase it, I did!
Now that I knew his back-story, he could now save what monies he did have for food, if that’s what he so chose to spend it on.
He cried, and couldn’t thank me enough. I cried, too.
We bid our farewell as I walked off with my cart, and as I made my trek across the parking lot to my car, I couldn’t help but turn to see where he’d gone. Surely, he’d be walking out of the store by now. Had I missed him? I scoured the parking lot with my eyes, and there was no sight of Lamont.
I sat in my car after unloading and then walking my cart back to the cart corral.
Hmm, I wonder where he went . . .
I’ll never know what happened to Lamont, but I do know this . . . one act of kindness can touch a heart like nothing else.
It not only makes the person on the receiving end melt like butter on a hot summer day, but it also brings a smile to one’s heart when extending a helping hand to another fellow human being.
When you are out-and-about running your busy-self around, take some time to see if there’s not someone whom you can help with what to you seems teeeeeeny weeeeeny, but to someone else might be GIGANTIC and insurmountable a challenge.
Psalm 37:21 ~the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.
Proverbs 19:17 ~ He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
Proverbs 28:27 ~ He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.
Matthew 25:34-46 ~ Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed [thee]? or thirsty, and gave [thee] drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took [thee] in? or naked, and clothed [thee]? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done [it] unto me.
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did [it] not to one of the least of these, ye did [it] not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
Luke 6:38 ~Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
2 Corinthians 9:7 ~ Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, [so let him give]; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
Hebrews 13:2 ~ Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
1 John 3:17 ~ But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels [of compassion] from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
~♥~
~God’s Gracie Girl~ ✿
♥ •.¸.•´♥ ¯`♥(❀◠‿◠)♥.¸¸.•´¯`•.♥
Oh, and for your listening pleasure and enjoyment ~ here is a beautiful, powerful video:
Let us NOT take our health for granted . . . It is here one day, gone the next.
Recently I have been experiencing dramatic changes in my health, and this was the catalyst for my posting these healing scriptures.
I do hope you find comfort as you recite God’s Word aloud, in faith, believing that He is who He says He is ~ the great I AM.
He is our Healer, Redeemer, and the Lover of our souls. ~ ♥ ~
Let us give Him the glory, honor, and praise due Him. Amen? ~ A m e n !
(NOTE: You will see at the end of this list of Healing Scriptures, a category in the right-hand column titled, “PRAYER”. There are two links listed therein which will lead you to some audio for Healing Prayer, as well as prayers for stress, anxiety, fear, depression, suicide, nervousness, etc. It is my hope that you will enjoy them as much as I did!)
Exodus 15:26 He said, “If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you.”
Exodus 23:25 Worship the LORD your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you.
Deuteronomy 7:15 The LORD will keep you free from every disease. He will not inflict on you the horrible diseases you knew in Egypt.
Deuteronomy 28:1-14, 61 If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God: You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock–the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed. You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out. The LORD will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven. The LORD will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The LORD your God will bless you in the land he is giving you. The LORD will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the LORD your God and walk in his ways. Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they will fear you. The LORD will grant you abundant prosperity–in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground–in the land he swore to your forefathers to give you. The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. The LORD will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom. Do not turn aside from any of the commands I give you today, to the right or to the left, following other gods and serving them. The LORD will also bring on you every kind of sickness and disaster not recorded in this Book of the Law, until you are destroyed.
Deuteronomy 30:19-20 This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
1 Kings 8:56 Praise be to the LORD, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses.
Psalm 91:16 With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.
Psalm 103:3 Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits–who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases.
Psalm 107:20 He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.
Psalm 118:17 I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done.
Proverbs 4:20-23 My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body.
Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 53:4-5 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
Isaiah 55:11So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Jeremiah 1:12 The LORD said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.”
Jeremiah 30:17 But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’ declares the LORD, `because you are called an outcast, Zion for whom no one cares.’
Joel 3:10 Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weakling say, `I am strong!`
Nahum 1:9 Whatever they plot against the LORD he will bring to an end; trouble will not come a second time.
Malachi 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
Matthew 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
Matthew 8:2-3 A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cured of his leprosy.
Matthew 8:17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases.”
Matthew 18:18-19 “I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.
Matthew 21:21 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, `Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done.
Mark 11:23-24 I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, `Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Mark 16:17-18 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”
John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Acts 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
Romans 4:17-21 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead–since he was about a hundred years old–and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.
Romans 8:11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Galatians 3:13-14 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
Ephesians 6:10-17 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Philippians 2:13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
Hebrews 10:35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.
Hebrews 11:11 By faith Abraham, even though he was past age–and Sarah herself was barren–was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise.
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
James 5:14-15 Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.
1 Peter 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.
1 John 3:21-22 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.
3 John 2 Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.
Revelations 12:11 They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.
It is important to note that Jesus came to heal us of EVERY disease, whether it be a physical illness, an emotional or mental issue, but most importantly to heal our spiritual lives—that we may be set free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2).
Stand firm in your faith and in the belief that He is who He says He is
. . . and that His Word will not return void—ever! ; )
He is our Jehovah-Rapha!
\o/
Shout aloud all ye people!
and
Give Him Praise!
\o/
He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
~ Psalm 147:3 ~
~ ♥ ~
And for your listening pleasure . . .
Here is “Healing is in Your Hand” by Christy Nockel
just some stories from a 20-something to let other 20-something's know you're not alone if you're crying in your car, only buying boxed wine, or having the time of your life at the karaoke bar.
Romans 8:16-17: “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”
Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the Ancient Paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. Jeremiah 6:16
A blog reaching out to victims of abuse and others in need, providing insight about abuse, hope for the future, and guidance to see THE LIGHT that lead Secret Angel out of the darkness of her own abusive situation and helped her to not only survive but to overcome.
Gracie Creswell ~♥ 