Well, I’m sitting here at my desk typing to fill you in on what’s been happening in my little corner of cyberspace. It’s been an interesting few months for hubby & I, but before we go any further grab yourself a cuppa, a treat & get comfy.

I’m having a cup of Blueberry Delight tea today with a gf White Choc & Lemon Shortbread, it’s a lovely cool day in our Summer with a fresh sea breeze blowing in from the east. The birds are chirping & all seems well in this part of the world or is it?

Life has actually been somewhat hectic for us since last July, as many changes have come into play which have changed the usual status quo & we’re now in recovery mode, emotionally & physically.

Have you noticed other people’s decisions can impact our Life?

Last year many major changes started to happen in both sides of our family, there were life changing surgeries, declining health for some & events that seemed unbelievable to be happening to our family.

And over the past couple of weeks one family member’s health severely declined needing an urgent trip to Emergency. And it’s been quite an intense time since. But to make a very long story short we waved goodbye to them yesterday,  as they’ve decided to start a new chapter of their life in a different location many hours away.

This decision has impacted many in the family, as this member has been a central figure in my husband’s family for a very long time (for many their entire lives). There’s many emotions rippling through the family at the moment, joy for their new adventure, concern for their continuing health outcome & yes grief.  As the long road trip will not be possible for many in the family to visit. These emotions reflect how much this person is loved within the family & what the emotional impact has been.

Change can be Challenging 

Do you find change challenging? I definitely do in this season of my life but in my earlier adult years I used to welcome change with open arms. However since several major personal traumas hit out of left field, I’ve become wary of sudden & unexpected change.

I always find that my instant go to when the sudden & unexpected happens is to seek Sanctuary. 

While our home here for hubby & I is a wonderful place of sanctuary from the outside world (as shared in We all need Sanctuary!) there’s two particular areas within our home that when I enter those rooms my entire body instantly relaxes. For they’re little personal sanctuaries for me.

One is our bedroom, as I have created a very serene & comfortable space for our important sleep time. The other is my study, where I’m sitting now, it’s my space which entirely reflects my decorating style & contains little mementos that are precious to me.

For example I have a bookcase that contains family photos of my daughters, grandchildren & great grandsons with framed special messages of love from them that I’ve received over the years. Some of those are heart inspired artworks created by tiny hands. Other’s are love crafts given by adult children.

There’s also a place of solace at the waterfront that I like to go (at the end of our street), to spend precious time with the greatest Sanctuary of all overlooking the waters of the bay & the Blue mountains beyond.

The Greatest Sanctuary

What I’ve learned over the years is that although I don’t necessarily like change, it’s inevitable. For change is around us every minute of every day, we can’t stop it nor would we want to stop certain change that life depends upon on planet Earth.

As we need the changing seasons to sow seed for harvest. We need difficult times to change for the better. We need healthier outcomes for those who are unwell. We need new life arriving as the aged depart & we need children to grow into adults. We need many things that are constantly changing.

However, in amongst all of this change we also need a Sanctuary of unchanging comfort. We need a place where we can be confident that no matter what change happens around us for better or worse an assured sameness exists. There is that place & that place is open to all!

That place is a person & He never changes, He is the same yesterday, today & for eternity. His name is Jesus Christ. For we are told in the following scripture;

“Jesus Christ is [eternally changeless, always] the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 AMP

And He is my first & greatest Sanctuary.

As we’re told in God’s Word, the Bible, that the Holy Spirit comes & dwells within believers now. In other words instead of a temple made by human hands where God’s Spirit (the Holy Spirit) dwelt among His people in Old Testament times. Since Jesus’s sacrifice & death on the Cross, His Resurrection & Ascension back to the Father in New Testament times, the Holy Spirit’s dwelling place is now within His true believers (shared Here).  

For we’re also told in the following scriptures;

“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise…” Ephesians 1: 13 NKJB

&

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is within you, whom you have [received as a gift] from God, and that you are not your own?” 1 Corinthians 6: 19 AMP

So for me it’s about being mindful to dwell in that place where the Holy Spirit dwells within & allowing His supernatural peace that passes all understanding to flourish in that Sanctuary of my Life.

Do I constantly dwell in that place? I must admit, I’m still a work in progress as at times I tend to jump into my humanity & get concerned about this & that…as we do. But I’m soon reminded whose I am & humbly dwell in that inward Sanctuary with the Holy Spirit through prayer & His Word, for God the Father is loving & full of compassion & forgiveness!

Do you have a special sanctuary my friend? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below.

Until next time,

Jennifer

You’re most welcome to join me in The Reading Nook

or in Prayer

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© 2026 Jennifer M. Ross, All Rights Reserved. Photo by Lisa from Pexels at  pexels.com

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