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:

http://www.south-florida-plant-guide.com/wild-coffee.html

 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:

"Blessed Quietness" 

(Click Here to listen to this song) 

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!!