The Secret Garden Chronicles: Moments of Grace ~ A Benediction - Updated

10/12/2018 Update:  This special sacred place shown below has continued to be in my mind and heart as we contemplate making another move in the (hopefully) near future. (The timing is totally in God's hands, however...whether it be sooner or later...it will be perfectly timed).  As people are little by little learning about our anticipated move, (Click HERE for more about that) some have mentioned that they hope I will have another "Secret Garden" at our new home.  Rest assured, I believe that I will have some type of "Secret Garden" wherever we go, even if I have to plant some trees and flowers to create it!  

Read here what I wrote last year and the year before that about the inspiration for such a place...

2/27/17 Update:  As I sat in the Secret Garden today I kept thinking about this place...the Methodist Youth Camp (now called the Warren W. Willis Camp), where I first learned how important it is to set aside a special time each day to reflect/meditate on God's Word and focus solely on the Lord.  We would start each day at camp at the "silver benches" on the lake shore, and have our morning devotions.  Read on for more about this...especially see the note at the end of this post with the picture of the cross on the lake.  

Here is the original post written on 1/9/2016:

"The Lord bless you and keep you;

The Lord make His face shine upon you,

and be gracious to you;

The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,

and give you peace."

Numbers 6:24-26

When I was a young girl...many moons ago, I spent several weeks each summer and many weekend retreats at the nearby Methodist Youth Camp, now known as the Warren W. Willis Camp, named after the director who served there for so many years. Upon my graduation from high school, I spent the entire summer there as a camp counselor...an experience that I count as the turning point in my life.  It was during that particular summer that I totally recommitted my life to Christ, and made some decisions regarding my future that forever changed the direction in which I was headed. Not long after that I met my husband and God subsequently led us into full time ministry, and the rest is history. (A long story for another time).

What has all of that information to do with the above verses from Numbers Six?  Well, let me tell you. The verses above are also known by Bible scholars as the "Aaronic Benediction", when the Lord spoke to Moses and told him to (in verse 23)

"Speak to Aaron (his brother) and his sons, saying,

'This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel."

This "benediction" became a way to bless not only the children of Israel, but countless followers of Christ throughout the ages.  In our youth group, we always closed our gatherings and meetings with this particular benediction, as we crossed our arms and joined hands in a circle with our entire group, so that we were one in our purpose and prayer and blessing.

This little ritual always stuck with me as being a very special moment...

to be blessed by the Lord...

to be kept by the Lord...

to feel His radiant face shining upon me...

to know His Gracious GRACE was being bestowed upon me...

to know the beauty of His Divine countenance beholding my face...

and to be given His PEACE, which passes all understanding.

Wow! What a glorious moment of grace! I didn't fully comprehend how precious that moment was at the time. I just recited the words from memory with the others, not realizing that speaking those words was an actual blessing being spoken upon my own life and purpose. God was literally blessing me with His face, His grace, His Divine Countenance, and His peace. How beautiful...How marvelous...Such amazing GRACE.

Perhaps you are in need of a Benediction of Grace spoken over your life right now. I invite you to speak these words out loud, to yourself, or as you join hands with another who may be in need of a blessing today. Practice praying these words and claim them for yourself.  God intended you to hear them and to allow His radiant face to shine upon you...to feel His grace and peace washing over you...and to be blessed.  Amen.

This lighted cross floats on the lake in front of the Warren W. Willis Camp.
I used to sit on the shore on the
Silver Benches (a place for morning devotions) and pray and read God's Word early every morning and again in the evening.  

New note 2017:  Such a peaceful, restful place. I believe this is where the inspiration for my Secret Garden actually began...now some almost 50 years later the seeds sown then have produced much good fruit in me today.  We never know just how significant something so simple can be in the life of a young person...never underestimate the power of God to perfect that which He has started!



Psalm 138:8 (NKJV)
The Lord will perfect that which concerns me;
Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever;
Do not forsake the works of Your hands.
Amen!

Back to the present (2018) Perhaps God may show me a new type of "sanctuary" where I can draw near to Him and hear His voice speaking to my heart at our new home.  I would love to have a place near the waterfront, where we could sit on the benches and spend time with the Lord. This would be a place not just for me alone, but for anyone who needs a place to depart from the world for a little while and find some peace and solace for their souls.  This is not a new idea...Click HERE for a little history on this "dream".  We had hoped to create such a place in our present home, and the Secret Garden was as close as we could get...but still not quite the whole big picture we have dreamed of.

(A beautiful place like this would certainly be amazing...but God knows where it will be..)

We don't know exactly what God has in mind in our next move, but we believe He has some very special surprises waiting for us when we get there. Won't you come along on this journey with us...especially as we pray for God's will and direction for our lives and home? Thank you, dear friends. Wherever we go, we pray it will be a place that will bring glory to God and peace to all who visit there.

Now you know another layer of the hopes and dreams we have in taking this step of faith.

I repeat this "Benediction of Grace" here and now:

"The Lord bless you and keep you;

The Lord make His face shine upon you,

and be gracious to you;

The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,

and give you peace."

Numbers 6:24-26
Amen.