What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?

What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?
Remember: "When God closes a door, He always opens a window!" You never know what might be out there waiting for you!

Friday, February 3, 2017

The Secret Garden Chronicles-Day 11-Seeking God's Face

When I sat down in the Secret Garden today,  my first thought was to look at the "Be Still and Know that I Am God" sign that my son posted in the garden for me..and as I gazed upon it, I prayed:

"Lord, help me to do just that--to be still--to focus 
my thoughts totally on You,
and not on anything else."

And then this little bird flew up into the treetop above me, and he caught my attention because I didn't recognize what kind of bird he was.  All I could see was that he was tiny and had a brown head and light underbelly.  I tried to focus my camera on him, but it wouldn't come in clearly...possibly because of the leaves moving in the breeze all around it, or also because the bird kept moving from one tiny branch to another...



So in my frustration I said something out loud, like, "Why can't you be still so I can see you?  Okay, I guess you don't want me to take your picture today!" and with that, I turned off my camera and tried to re-focus my thoughts on the Lord, and what He would say to me today.

I opened my Bible, and it fell open to Psalm 27, probably because that is where my marker was from this morning's devotions.


And my eyes went directly to verses 7-10.  

7.  "Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice!
Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.

8.  When You said, "Seek My face," 
my heart said to You,
"Your face, Lord, I will seek."

9.  Do not hide Your face from me;
Do not turn Your servant away in anger;
You have been my help;
Do not leave me nor forsake me,
O God of my salvation.

10.  When my father and my mother forsake me,
then the Lord will take care of me."

And I thought to myself, "That sounds like me trying to see the face of that little bird a few minutes ago!"  How often do we cry out to the Lord, and even beg Him, "Listen to me!  Hear my voice when I cry out to You!"

It also reminded me that apparently I was having a bad dream last night, and my husband had to wake me up because I was crying out in my sleep.  I'm not sure what that was all about...I vaguely remember that something or someone was making me upset and afraid, and I started to cry out...one of those anxiety dreams that happen when we aren't even consciously aware that we are anxious about anything, but our subconscious knows and we cry out-- to GOD for help!!

Anyway, the Lord responds to our cries...even those that come from somewhere deep within us that we dare not express outwardly...and He says, lovingly and tenderly, "Seek My face."  
And we look up again with our whole heart and mind and say, sometimes with tears streaming down our face, 

"Your face, Lord, I will seek."

About this time, as I was reading this passage, I looked up, and that little bird had flown up to the tip-top of a dead tree, 


and perched there for all the world to see.  It was as if he was saying,


"Here I am! 
You said you wanted to see me more clearly?
Here I am...
focus in on me now!
Take a good look!"


And I thought about the Lord, and how often we get frustrated because we can't quite see Him or hear His voice, and it is because there is so much of the world in the way...the noise of the crowds, and the debris of too many conflicts, anxieties and just junk, causing our view of Him to become out of focus.  But when we seek His face alone...we find that He is right there in plain view, waiting for us to zoom our lens of faith and trust onto His glorious face.


"I would have lost heart, 
unless I had believed that I would see 
the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  

Wait on the Lord;
Be of good courage,
and He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the Lord!"
Psalm 27:13-14



Sometimes we just need to learn to WAIT on the Lord,
and stay tuned in to His Voice and His Face, 
because He has promised to never leave us or forsake us. 

"Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting."
Psalm 139:23-24
Amen.

16 comments:

  1. It looks like it may be an Eastern Phoebe from what I can see! I have one that comes here often. What a beautiful day to sit and seek! :)

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    1. Thank you for confirming what the bird is. I forgot to mention that at the end...I believe you are correct...that is what I was thinking as well! Yes, it was a beautiful day. You need to come up some day when you aren't working and sit and seek with me. Come early so we can enjoy the whole day without a lot of distractions!! I love you sis!!

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  2. Thank you, Pam, for sharing this today. Psalm 27 is one of the Scripture memory challenges that I've done with Do Not Depart. As I read down over it I could still remember the feelings I had when I memorized it. I was going through a rough time and when I came to verse 13 I could remember that emotion deep within me when I said I would have lost heart unless, I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Thank you so much, my friend.

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    1. You are such a blessing to me. (((hugs))) to you from me. Thank you.

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  3. As I was reading your post a scripture I read this morning during my study time came to mind...Colossians 3:2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

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    1. Oh, thank you Mary! That is a wonderful verse...and so perfect with these thoughts. I love how God does that, don't you?

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  4. Waiting. Patience. Yes. Beautiful photos and beautiful words.

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    1. Ah, Terri! I know you are learning about patience and waiting right now! Praying all will go well in these next few weeks as you make this major transition to a new home and life! Praying for you each day!

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  5. I thought of how God sent a dove to land on Jesus when he was baptized. Yes, this really touched my heart and mind, Pamela. Everything was created by God and for His purpose, he used this tiny bird and He uses your post to encourage others.

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    1. Yes, I love how God has used birds throughout history to send a message of hope and comfort and promise to His children. Yes, everything has been created with a purpose...and we are blessed to be able to see His hand in all of His creation. Thank you.

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  6. We are too often like that little bird who wouldn't sit still for the picture; we say we want to be still in God's presence, but distracting thoughts invade and we find, instead of settling into His rest, we are flitting to and fro. This certainly emphasized your message that God really wants us to stay still before Him and stay focused on Him.
    Blessings, Pam!

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    1. Thank you Martha Jane...for seeing that Picture from both perspectives. I so agree...I am that little bird all too often...that is why God is taking me through this experience I do believe!!

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  7. Pam, It is challenging to be still, to be quiet, and to WAIT on the Lord. Even when I'm still physically, I may not be still in my mind. God can give us so much when we're still before Him and focused too. Hmm...it takes DILIGENCE to be still at times in communing with the Lord.

    Blessings!

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    1. Ah...Your WORD for the year...yes, it does take diligence to be still and focus on the Lord when there are so many things vying for our time and attention. But shutting off the TV, Phone, Computer and just being still before the Lord can be so peaceful. I think that is what I like best about my garden...no electronics allowed there!!!

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  8. These are beautiful words to live by.

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    1. Seeking God's face always will keep us in the center of His will.

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