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!

Thursday, June 15, 2017

The Secret Garden Chronicles-Singing Praise with the Birds

"Thus says the Lord:
"Stand in the ways and see,
And ask for the old paths,
where the good way is,
and walk in it;
Then you will find rest for your souls..."
Jeremiah 6:16

This morning I sat down on the front porch, not the Secret Garden because the bench is too wet from all the rain, and realized that it had been a month since I had written in my little Secret Garden Journal.  I've been a little "out of it" for the past several weeks, and am just now beginning to feel like my mind and body are starting to work again in sync with each other!  (I know, that is debatable at all times).  But I do feel better and stronger...and just want to praise the Lord for His love and kindness and healing power!

As I sat there on the porch, listening to the birds singing their praises to God, their Creator, I couldn't help but start singing as well.  And since we live out in the forest...and our nearest neighbors aren't real close (and the closest ones are away from home right now anyway), I just opened up and belted it out...and it felt so good to sing, I kept singing and singing and singing...kind of like the energizer bunny who kept going and going and going...


This little bunny sat out in the yard and kept eating his breakfast...not minding my singing at all.


And this sweet little wren sat up in the sycamore tree next to the porch and listened in...until she saw me looking at her and then she flew away...or maybe it was the singing...Anyway...

The first song that came to my mind was "Jesus, I Am Resting, Resting..."   You may not be familiar with that old hymn...I talked about it once or twice before here,  and here is a video of the song:



Here are the words that brought such peace and comfort to my heart today:

"Jesus, I am resting, resting
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.
Thou has bid me gaze upon Thee,
and Thy beauty fills my soul;
For, by Thy transforming power,
Thou hast made me whole.

Refrain:
Jesus, I am resting, resting
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness 
of Thy loving heart.

Oh, how great Thy loving kindness,
Vaster, broader than the sea!
Oh, how marvelous Thy goodness
lavished all on me!
Yes, I rest in Thee, Beloved,
Know what wealth of grace is Thine,
Know Thy certainty of promise,
And have made it mine.

(Refrain)

Simply trusting Thee, Lord Jesus,
I behold Thee as Thou art,
And Thy love, so pure, so changeless,
satisfies my heart;
Satisfies its deepest longings,
Meets, supplies its every need,
Compasseth me round with blessings;
Thine is love indeed!

(Refrain)

Ever lift Thy face upon me,
As I work and wait for Thee;
Resting 'neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus,
Earth's dark shadows flee.
Brightness of my Father's glory,
Sunshine of my Father's face,
Keep me ever trusting, resting;
Fill me with Thy grace."

(Refrain)


From this beautiful song I just kept going through my old hymnbook and sang several more songs...I won't write all the words for you...you can look them up for yourself...but here are the ones I sang today:

"May the Mind of Christ, My Savior"

"Fill Me Now"

"Blessed Quietness"

"Be Thou My Vision"

"Open My Eyes That I May See"



It gave me such joy to sit and sing all of these songs out loud.  There is something very freeing about opening up our hearts and voices and just singing out praises to God...we don't have to wait for Sunday to do that!  Just pick up an old hymnbook or other praise songbook and start singing...it really changes something inside of us when we do this.  At least it does for me...and I imagine it does for you as well.  No wonder the birds never stop their singing!  They offer up their songs to God all day long...and so should we!!



17 comments:

  1. There is something so healing and joyful with singing. I'm glad you were able to do that! Lovely hymn. I had never heard it before. Have a blessed day.

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    1. Yes, there is...especially when we are singing to our Savior! Thank you for joining in with me! Have a blessed day my friend.

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  2. Pam: From time to time, God gives me a song to sing. The words go through my mind and into my heart. This happens at different times. Sometimes, I need His peace or other times, He feels I need a blessing. I love your picture of the rabbit and of the wren. Blessings and Peace.

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    1. Thank you Cecilia. I believe that God does this for all of His children from time to time...He fills our hearts to overflowing and it comes out in song and praise. A wonderful way to communicate with our loving Savior. Thank you for joining in the chorus today!

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  3. Beautiful song, I don't believe I've heard it. I love to sing out loud, my poor hubby when we drive any length of time, I turn on the gospel radio station and sing with them, he says he enjoys it, but I think he just don't want to hurt my feelings.
    Love all your photo's.

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    1. Ha ha! I understand that...my hubby and I used to sing together when traveling to pass the time, but now we kind of enjoy "silence".

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  4. Pam, I'm happy to read that you're beginning to feel more like yourself. Surgery (any kind!) takes time to recover from and get back to life as usual. Singing really does our heart and spirit a world of good. Some times I need those reminder about the power of singing our praise to our Lord.

    Blessings!

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    1. Yes...I am glad to be starting to feel more like myself again. And singing is something I've always loved...but I just don't do it much anymore. This today was very therapeutic! Both spiritually and physically!

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  5. I haven't done much singing since we quit leading contemporary worship at our church about this time last year. You have inspired me to get my guitar and songbook back out and start really singing His praises, loudly and often!
    So looking forward to our VBS this coming week; there will be lots of singing and praising with the children, and I can't get enough of that.
    Blessings, Pamela!

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    1. Oh I know what you mean... I LOVE To sing with the children at VBS and other times. They know how to get all excited with the music when it is geared toward them. Such a blessing. Yes...even if you strum your guitar and sing at home...it lifts the spirits and rejoices the heart. Or go sing for some old folks at a nursing home...or wherever people love to sing. Music is the language of the soul!

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  6. Out of that list of songs, I only know the last two! I like to sing through the old Cokesbury songbook! I think I know every song in it! I really miss singing those old hymns. I miss our times of all singing around the piano/or organ with the family!

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    1. I have an organ! Come play and sing with me! I wish we could both play the organ! At least you had lessons...so you could do better than I!

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    2. Doris, I have Cokesbury songbooks...come and sing! We don't need the organ or piano!

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  7. There's that one red bird reminding me to be still and know that He is God. A recurring symbol in my life.

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    1. Yes, Sandi, I know what you mean! That's why I put him there again...to remind me as well!!! :)

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  8. Beautiful. I know the Heavens were listening to your songs!!

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    1. Thank you Terri! "Let Heaven and Nature sing" is my theme!!

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