Heart Choices: 2015-01-18 -->

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What Feeds My Soul


What feeds my soul? That is the question posed by Bonnie Gray of Faith Barista as she begins her Spiritual Whitespace book club. I've read her book Finding Spiritual Whitespace: Awakening Your Soul to Rest. It's the kind of book I will read and reread.

All week I pondered this question in anticipation of this post. What feeds my soul?

1. My morning quiet time feeds my soul.


Over the years I've learned that the best use of my time in the early morning is to spend it reading my Bible and praying. It has become a priority for me.  It's like water in the desert. His Word has sustained me through the hard times as well as the good times. Even though I must get up very early to have time before work, it's so worth it to me. I love it when I'm reading a Scripture I've read many times before but the Holy Spirit opens up my eyes to understanding in a new way.

2. Music feeds my soul.

I'm amazed at how busy I can get and somehow forget to turn on music. When I stop and do this, it makes such a difference. Yes there are times when I need the quiet and still. But there's nothing like listening to soft piano music to quiet my soul. The sounds of David Nevue often fill my home. The sounds of classic hymns fill my soul with worship. Many of the newer Christian music often energizes me. I often exercise on my treadmill to the sounds of Mandisa and Toby Mac singing their Good Morning song. But I also love my 60's music. Sounds of Motown, Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons, and many others remind me of my high school years. I had to laugh as only yesterday my husband turned on the DirectTV channel to 60's revolution. As I was getting ready, their sounds filled the air as I rocked out.

3. The sound of the ocean surf feeds my soul.


I grew up on the water. My house was located across the street from the canal. Boat yards lined my street. Clam boats were tied up within my line of sight from my bedroom. The smell of salt air is very familiar to me. Now I live in the desert of Phoenix and I miss the ocean. But how thankful I am when I get to travel to California or back east to Florida or New York. In the meantime, I listen to the sound of the surf on my computer. It's not quite as good but still feeds my soul.

4. The smiles and laughter of children feed my soul. 

I think I'm still a child inside. I love the sound of laughter and I get plenty of that each day at work. When I step on to the grounds of our school, I can't tell you how many times I'm greeted by a child sticking their head out of their mommy's car window shouting, "Hi Miss Debbie". This totally feeds my soul. Children express their emotions so easily. Over the years, I learned to hold my emotions in but I'm learning through the eyes of children. I laugh more when I'm with them. Recently I had the opportunity to see a student who now goes to a different school.  She lives in the same general area of town as I do so she asked her mom when she could see Miss Debbie. Her mom reached out to me and we made a date to meet on a Saturday. As I waited for her at a local restaurant, she spotted me and ...came running. Her hugs lasted so long as she told me how much she missed me. How can this not feed my soul?

5. Feeling loved feeds my soul.


I've been through lots of ups and downs in my life. My mom used to tell me as a teenager that I was in love with love. I think she was right. I had to learn the hard way as most do. My husband and I have been married for 30 years. I'm so thankful that we're in a place in our marriage where we appreciate and love one another. It hasn't been easy at times but we stuck together through the hard times. I know I am loved by God. That changes everything for me. Earthly people may let you down but He never does. Knowing Him through Jesus feeds my soul like nothing else can. My perspective on life and people changes as I view them through His eyes.



I'm linking up with Bonnie of Faith Barista for Beloved Brews Thursdays. I am a day late but decided to go ahead and post.

So now I ask you. What feeds your soul?

Blessings and love,

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