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!!