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!

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

The Secret Garden Chronicles- Some Proverbs and Blessed Quietness

Such a lovely afternoon in the garden...very chilly, but the sun was shining and it was so peaceful.  Hardly a sound to be heard anywhere...even the birds were rather hushed.  Our temperatures are supposed to go down to freezing tonight (here in Florida, where it shouldn't be doing that this late in the "winter"), and perhaps the birds are already getting settled into their nests for the evening to keep their eggs/babies warm.  I didn't even see the chickadees flying about as usual.  Perhaps they are already in the birdhouse where I can't see them.


This morning I took a walk about the neighborhood in the freezing cold...wearing my hoodie with a jacket over that and my sweat pants and gloves...it was very cold and windy...but it felt so good to be out and about in the stillness of the early morning.  I took a few pictures...had to take my gloves off to do so and my fingers about froze!  I know you folks up north think I'm a wimp....and I am sure you wish you could be out taking pictures of flowers instead of being trapped inside behind snowdrifts.  We are thinking about you here and praying for you as you wait for the snow to melt so you can get back to your normal routines.
Here are some of the pictures I took this morning.  I share these with you to encourage you that Spring IS coming soon:

 Beautiful dogwood tree blooming

 This is a "wild coffee tree"...with these lovely red berries! Also known as:

 More dogwood and a few azaleas blooming alongside the neighborhood pond

 Lots of lily pads on the pond.  The water is up a bit since we had some good rain this week finally! Praise God!



My wisteria vines in my yard are now blooming!  I love this beautiful flower! Isn't it gorgeous?

Okay, enough of this. I do hope you enjoyed this little tour around my neighborhood.  Perhaps it gave you some joy seeing God's beauty...and some HOPE in the promise of spring!

As I sat in the garden this afternoon my attention was drawn to the Book of Proverbs.  I thought I would share a few of my favorite Proverbs...but not all of my favorites....that would take a long time! These are just a few highlights.  Not including Proverbs 31, as that is my most favorite and deserves a more in depth look at another time.

So here we go.  These are some words of wisdom from God's Word to us.  I hope you will think about each one and how it applies in your own life:

Proverbs 16:3
"Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established."

Proverbs 16:9
"A man's heart plans his way,
but the Lord directs his steps."

Proverbs 16:20
"He who heeds the word wisely will find good,
And whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he!"

Proverbs 16:24
"Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,
sweetness to the soul and health to the bones."

Proverbs 17:22
"A merry heart does good like a medicine.
But a broken spirit dries the bones."

Proverbs 22:6
"Train up a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not depart from it."

Proverbs 24:3-4
"Through wisdom a house is built,
and by understanding it is established.
By knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious 
and pleasant riches."

After reading the Proverbs in the peaceful garden I started to sing this old hymn:

by Manie P. Ferguson

Joys are flowing like a river,
Since the Comforter has come;
He abides with us forever,
Makes the trusting heart His home.

Refrain:
Blessèd quietness, holy quietness,
What assurance in my soul!
On the stormy sea, He speaks peace to me,
How the billows cease to roll!


Bringing life and health and gladness,
All around this heavenly Guest,
Banished unbelief and sadness,
Changed our weariness to rest.

Refrain

Like the rain that falls from Heaven,
Like the sunlight from the sky,
So the Holy Ghost is given,
Coming on us from on high.

Refrain

See, a fruitful field is growing,
Blessed fruit of righteousness;
And the streams of life are flowing
In the lonely wilderness.

Refrain

What a wonderful salvation,
Where we always see His face!
What perfect habitation,
What a quiet resting place!

Refrain



I hope you can find some of this "Blessed Quietness" in your soul today!

Blessèd quietness, holy quietness,
What assurance in my soul!
On the stormy sea, He speaks peace to me,
How the billows cease to roll!


Be blessed my friends!!

21 comments:

  1. I realize you may be chilled there but oh what a beautiful group of photos you so graciously have shared with us. You have beauty all around you and the fragrance must be something.
    You have some lovely property in which to have your peaceful secret garden and precious time with the Lord. Your verses are wonderful. I love Proverbs 16:9 ~ so true and I'm thankful it is God who directs my steps.
    I've been missing you past posts just so busy, but it was sweet looking back and catching up with you.
    I loved seeing your Bible and note book well used.

    God bless you, dear lady ♡

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  2. I realize you may be chilled there but oh what a beautiful group of photos you so graciously have shared with us. You have beauty all around you and the fragrance must be something.
    You have some lovely property in which to have your peaceful secret garden and precious time with the Lord. Your verses are wonderful. I love Proverbs 16:9 ~ so true and I'm thankful it is God who directs my steps.
    I've been missing you past posts just so busy, but it was sweet looking back and catching up with you.
    I loved seeing your Bible and note book well used.

    God bless you, dear lady ♡

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  3. Thank you, Debbie, for visiting with me and catching up like "old friends". Yes, we are blessed to live here in the forest with so much natural beauty around us. I give thanks to the Lord every day for His bounteous blessings. However, I have found that beauty can be found everywhere if we open our eyes to see...God's fingerprints are all over His magnificent canvas in every place of the earth. And He has put this here for our pleasure...and to draw us upward to worship and know Him. We are truly blessed as we allow Him to direct our steps. Thank you again for your comments and visit today. God bless you richly...and keep you warm!

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  4. I can't believe these icy winter temps stretched all the way to Florida, Pam. We are absolutely freezing here in Georgia today, and waiting as patiently as we can for the real spring to begin.
    Your photos so cheered me this morning - what a beautiful greeting for the day - as were the wise words from Proverbs. Have a gorgeous and blessed day, my friend!

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    1. Thank you Martha Jane! It was 32 degrees here this morning...I just came in from a walk...had to break the ice on the bird baths. But the sun is shining and it promises to be a beautiful cool day.

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  5. It was 27 here this morning and I am praying it didn't harm the flowers and blooms on the trees. Have a good day!

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    1. It was 32 here! I just came in from a very brisk walk! I noticed my wisteria flowers are drooping. I hope they will spring back when the sun warms them up a bit.. Have a good day too!! Spring is coming!!!

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  6. Beautiful pictures, Pam...and thank you so much for sharing some of your favorite Proverbs with us. I love how Proverbs 16 directs our thoughts to how we can have a blessed life! And one of my favorite hymns is Blessed Quietness. Thank you so much for sharing it.

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    1. Thank you Dianna...yes, Proverbs 16 is full of very good "wisdom". I am glad you know the hymn Blessed Quietness. I don't think too many people know the hymns anymore, and it is such a great loss! I hope your day is filled with joy. It was a chilly 32 here this morning...I hope we didn't lose too many blossoms...but the sun is shining and it is warming up rapidly. Praise God!

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  7. Beautiful photos! For sure, it got cold last night here in Florida but at least I didn't have to shovel snow to get the garbage can to the curb this morning. I love to see those blossoms of spring! Have a blessed day.

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    1. Thank you Melanie!! It is still a bit brisk outside, but the sun is shining and it is gorgeous! Yes, very thankful that we don't need to shovel the snow or slip on the ice! However, when you move to Tenn. you may have a little change in the climate from time to time! But I know you will LOVE it!!!

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  8. Blessings to you too! I'm ready for this cold front to move on out!! Beautiful flowers and even more beautiful words. I also have many favorite passages from Proverbs and you shared many of them here!

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    1. Isn't it wonderful when we belong to the same family...the family of God? We have the same "favorite passages from Proverbs" and other books of the Bible because that is where we grow in faith and learn Who God is...and how much He loves us!! We are blessed beyond measure!! The sun is shining...it will be warm tomorrow I am sure!

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  9. Pam, as I type this comment, I'm listening to the beautiful, soothing hymn you shared. Being quiet is truly a gift, particularly when storms--literal or metaphorical--rage around us. Spring has come to Florida and is coming to Iowa too. Plants are SLOWLY awakening. Today's wind is likely making the upper 40s feel a tad colder. I'm learning to be content no matter which season I'm in, rather than constantly longing for another season.

    Blessings!

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    1. What a wonderful state of mind to be in...Like Paul, "I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content." Philippians 4:11 NKJV that is the secret to peace of mind! Trusting God no matter what the circumstances! Praying you will soon be enjoying some lovely spring days!

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  10. Beautiful flowers.... and scripture. It's cold in East Tennessee, too. Sorry I've been so slack in visiting.... I'm trying, but it seems I'm going backwards some days.

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    1. No need to apologize! We are here to support one another, and not to be a burden to one another! Some times we just have to let ourselves rest and not be stressed over what we can and can't do. I am just thankful for your friendship...and it transcends time and space...so please don't fret!!! And enjoy each day as the Lord would have you spend it!

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  11. I love your pictures,especially of the Dogwood tree. We planted one in our backyard last spring. I long to see it with blooms on its branches. Today is the 16th. Spring should be here in four days. I say should be. We will have to wait and see. Blessings.

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    1. I am sure your dogwood will be blooming soon. Be sure to take a picture of it when it does! Yes, Spring IS coming. But remember the groundhog...he said it would be a long winter, and he was certainly right! But spring will come...so just relax and enjoy each day no matter what! The Lord is with us in cold and warm...sunshine and rain. Praise God!

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