Contentment, Faith, Five Minute Friday scribblings

Place: Finding Our Heart Place

Jeanne Takenaka

+Jeanne Takenaka @JeanneTakenaka

Our Five Minute Friday prompt this week is—PLACE. This largely unedited “rough draft” form of writing stretches this perfectionist, in the best of ways. We write for five minutes on a given word. If you’re interested in learning more about 5-Minute Fridays, check out the Five Minute Friday website. Or, click on the link at the bottom of this post. As you read my simpler Friday posts, I hope you’ll join in the conversation!

PLACE

If only it was as easy to set up house for my insides as it is for my outside self.

I’ve moved a few times in my life. In each location, I’ve set up a place to live, a place that filled me in one way or another. That opened itself to a husband, and eventually two boys.

Marrying my husband provided a place for love. A place where I’m offered daily reminders and illustrations of God’s love for his children.

There’s still a place somewhere in me that is searching for home.

We are such complex, layered creatures. God didn’t make us one-dimensional. He’s created each of us uniquely. Which lends itself to each of us facing unique wounds.

I’ve sought to heal those restless places within me through seeking acceptance, approval, affirmation. At times, I’ve compromised who I really was in order to gain one of these things.

All the while, God had a special place for me to come and rest. He’s already given me (and each of his children) a place of acceptance. When our wandering hearts can settle into the truth of His word, into the reality of His love? That’s when our hearts find their place.

God is the One who fills us.

He is the One who loves us perfectly.

He is the One who heals those wounds within each of us.

When we accept His love, we begin to find our place in the reality of His eternity. We grow in contentment and confidence because we know to Whom we belong.

We know our place in His heart.

Cherished.

Loved.

Accepted.

When I live in this truth, my outside and my inside are filled.

What about you? When has your wandering heart found its home? Where has been your favorite place to live and why?

Click to Tweet: Where do wandering hearts find Place?

Today I’m linking up with the Five Minute Friday community—Place

Published by Jeanne Takenaka

Award winning aspiring novelist, Jeanne Takenaka, writes contemporary inspirational fiction that tackles real life issues with a heart to draw women closer to God and those around them. She lives near the mountains in Colorado with her amazing husband and two exuberant boy-men. She loves being God’s girl—always learning about His grace, hanging out with friends and enjoying a great cup of coffee. When she’s not writing you can find her with a camera in her hand, looking for #alittlebitofpretty in her days.

34 thoughts on “Place: Finding Our Heart Place”

    1. You’re right, Anita. It is too easy to think other things will fill our heart needs in this life. I’m thankful Jesus is always with us, refining us and filling those voids in our hearts.

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  2. Beautiful post and pictures, Jeanne.

    Your question reminds of, of all things, a line from a Rambo movie which I thought was stupid the first time I heard it:

    “What you call hell, he calls home.”

    Now I know how profound a truth it is.

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    1. Andrew . . . Rambo. I’ve never been linked with him before. 😉 There is truth in that saying. I’m thankful our eternal home will be a place where we know we belong. I’m praying for you today, friend.

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  4. Such a beautiful piece, Jeanne!
    I have moved more than twenty times and it’s really hard for me to call a place “home”. But lately I’ve discovered that small things can make a big difference and ultimately the people are the factor that make us feel at home or not. And what a privilege to know that the Lord has prepared our ultimate home. Have a blessed weekend!

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    1. Katha, you’re right. I feel like I’m more “home” when there are people in my life who fill some of those empty spaces. And I agree. That home God has prepared for us will be amazing. I hope your weekend is wonderful too!

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  5. Oh Jeanne, yes and Amen! Our world is so full of in the moment convincing idols to pull us from Him. Thank you for your vulnerability. I am thankful for Five Minute Friday and being connected with writers who are “of one mind”.

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    1. Yes, Julie. There are so many idols that try to snag the attention and devotion of our hearts! I’m grateful God pierces through the distractions and reminds us that He is the One worthy of our attention and worship. That He is the One who fills and heals and accepts us.

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  6. I am so thankful that God is not found in an actual, physical place. (Though, of course, he is…) But that he is with us, no matter where we are – both physically and spiritually. Thank you, as always, for starting my Friday morning with a powerful devotion, Jeanne!

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    1. Annie, I agree. It’s pretty amazing that God is omnipresent. He is with us wherever we are, rather than confined to one physical place. He is pretty amazing that way. 🙂 I hope your Friday is a good one!

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  8. Your post reminds me of a Switchfoot song called ‘Restless’ which describes that restlessness we will always feel until we are home! In the meantime, life can be content when our purpose is to grow in our identity in Christ while here, and this naturally creates our purpose that makes the world a better place knowing we are “cherished, loved and accepted.” Amen!

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    1. Lynn, I love how you introduce me to new songs. 🙂 Yes, I think you’re right. There is a certain restlessness within each of us that will only be satisfied when we meet Jesus face to face. Yes, when we remember our identity is in Christ, and we seek to know Him more, that can bring a settledness to our hearts as we walk out our days here. Thank you so much for being here today.

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  9. I like your quote:
    We know our place in His heart.
    Cherished.
    Loved.
    Accepted.
    When I live in this truth, my outside and my inside are filled.

    Very peace-filled, Jeanne! From your neighbor #40 at #fmf.

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  10. Jeanne,
    I love the image I get when I think of my heart “settling into the Truth of His Word – into the contentment of His love.” I think about just nestling myself into a big overstuffed armchair – one that just swallows me up and holds me securely. So true that having our heart settled into His Truth…anchored there….gives us a sense of place and home until we finally reach our heavenly home. Loved this!
    Blessings,
    Bev xx

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    1. Bev, I love your visual. Like you, I’m glad God offers a sense of place as we cling to His truth. There is truly hope in knowing we have a heavenly home, isn’t there? Thank you for being such an encourager!

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  11. Oh Jeanne,
    like a fresh breath of mountain air first thing after sleeping all night in the woods, your post just hit those dry places within me and assured me of what He has already done! Thank you, dear, dear friend. You’ve ministered to me today.
    “me too!”
    Love,
    Tammy
    (#52 this week)

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    1. You make me smile so big, sweet friend. God has a way of ministering to us, doesn’t He? Thanks so much. There have been many times when I’ve thought “me too!” when I’ve read your words. Sending you a big hug!

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  12. This is the second post I’ve read about God filling us up, about Him being our place in a world of wandering. I’m thinking I need to dwell on this.

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    1. Ahhh, Marie. Yes, when God keeps showing me a recurring theme in what I’m reading I stop and take notice too. 🙂 I hope He speaks some amazing things to you. I’m thankful for you, friend!

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  14. I walk around every day looking for the solid piece everyone else seems to have. There’s healing and wholeness in the acknowledgement, in saying it aloud. Here we wake up to exactly what you wrote: He takes out our holey heart and replaces it with His, as many times as needed. Love your journey, Jeanne.

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    2. Christina, I have days when I’m looking for/scratching my head trying to figure out what everyone else has that I’m missing. 🙂 And I love, that when we share openly with God, He hears us, and continues His work in us. And for the record, I love your journey too!

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  15. Oh Jeanne, here I am thinking hard. I think I have been searching for that place for a long time. I have not actually been where I chose to be…yet. I have often gone where the wind took me. I have been planted here and there by circumstances which I sometimes did choose. Still there are some that were the result not of my choosing. I think I rebelled against those places the most. The ones that were thrust upon me. Now I kind of miss them. God has taken me full circle from frustration to appreciation.
    Thanks for another beautiful post.

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    1. Kelly, I’ve been planted by circumstances before too. We have choices in those times, don’t we? It’s always interesting how God works in and transforms our hearts in those places. I love your description of God taking you full circle from frustration to appreciation.

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  16. Beautifully written, Jeanne. My favorite parts of your post are:

    “We grow in contentment and confidence because we know to Whom we belong.”

    and

    “We know our place in His heart.
    Cherished.
    Loved.
    Accepted.
    When I live in this truth, my outside and my inside are filled.”

    The more I understand who I am in Christ, the more confident and content I become and the easier it is for me to stand my ground against the lies about my value and worth that Satan throws at me. Thanks so much for sharing. 🙂

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