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!

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Toni's Creative Adventures: The Garden Surprise



Good Morning Friends! It's time for another of 

Every two weeks our friend Toni, also known from her other blog   http://treasuresbytoni.blogspot.com/,
comes up with these fun memes for us to create our own adventures.  If you have a bent for creativity, why not join in the fun?  Just go to 
http://toniscreativeadventures.blogspot.com/ and copy and paste the outline to your page, and fill in the blanks.  Then be sure to let Toni know you've played along.  The more the merrier!


The Garden Surprise

1.   Walking through a public garden I came across the strangest and most beautiful ancient garden gate.  It was surrounded by lush and fragrant blossoms of every hue. 
Internet Photo

And beside the gate was this marvelous stone with the following inscription:

Internet Photo



"Pause, friend, and read before you enter here.

This vine-clad wall encloses holy ground.

Herein a mellowed garden dreams away the years,
Steeped in serene sweet light and muted sound.
Herein tranquility and peace abide,
For God walks here at cool of evening-tide.
Pause, friend, and strip from out your heart
All vanity, all bitterness, all hate;
Quench, for this hour, the fever of your fears,
Then, treading softly, pass within this gate,
There, where the ancient trees wait, hushed and dim,
May you find God, and walk awhile with Him."

Pearl Hiatt, Brookgreen Gardens, SC

2.   Truly in awe of what I could see, I stopped and pondered where it might lead.

3.   Could it possibly be meant to just be admired or is it possible to actually open the gate and walk through it to find that tranquil, peaceful place?  Could there truly be such a garden, where "the ancient trees wait, hushed and dim..."
Oh how marvelous if even, "for this hour" One could "quench...the fever of my fears"...Might I actually be able to "find God, and walk awhile with Him"? 
  

What did I have to lose?  The ancient stone suggests that "herein a mellowed garden dreams away the years.."   All that I must do is "pause...and strip from out my heart all vanity, all bitterness, all hate..."  and then just tread softly, and "pass within this gate"...and perhaps I may discover the beauty of spending a "cool evening tide", walking with my Lord.

And so I entered the gate and discovered this lovely bench, where I could sit a while and rest and contemplate the beauty of this place...


And I looked to my right as I sat down and noticed this lovely chalice filled with wine, and the bread...which was broken...for me?  
I know I heard  Him say, "Yes, child, for you...This is My body which is given for you...
Take and eat." 
And then He said, 
"Likewise, take the cup...This cup is the new covenant in My blood...shed for you...
Do this in remembrance of Me."


Oh! What joy and peace filled my heart...all my burdens and fears just melted away as I sat there in His Presence in this lovely garden...such comfort as I'd never felt before surrounded and enveloped me in a velvety mantle of love. It was difficult for me to even consider having to leave.  


4.   I'm so glad I decided to visit this garden today or I never would have known such peace could exist in this world. I learned something in that garden that I could take with me and remember anytime I found myself feeling alone or fearful...just take a moment to pause and draw near to the Lord...wherever I may be...and He will be there waiting for me....just through the garden gate of my heart and soul.

25 comments:

  1. Pamela, such a beautiful post! I wish I had a peaceful prayer garden like you have. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Thank you Carol. It doesn't have to be a big garden...just a corner somewhere peaceful...maybe indoors or on a porch...anywhere where you can "Be Still and Know that I am God!"

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  2. Absolutely beautiful adventure Pamela. I find myself wishing I could walk slowly through that garden and have Our Lord walking beside me. Thank you dear friend for participating.

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    1. Thank you, Toni. I love your Creative Adventures...they make me have to think a little harder to come up with a different approach to writing...and I never know just how it will turn out until I get to the end...God does the creating as I write it down...I love what He shows us!!

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  3. A wonderful adventure with lovely pictures to go along and open up the imagination.
    You brought it to life my friend.

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  4. Beautiful photography. These photos make me feel more restful.

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    1. Thank you, Barbara. I can't take credit for the first two, but the others are from right here where I live. So thankful for God providing such beauty to bring about this feeling of rest, peace, and renewal...but it is His Presence that accomplishes all of that...regardless of where we are. So thankful for His Presence that dwells within. Thank you for visiting here today. May you have a restful, peaceful evening!

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  5. What a wonderful, wonderful post! It is full of the beauty that surrounds us -It looks like a garden that God has smiled upon. xo Diana

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    1. I know that gardens where we spend time with the Lord most definitely have His smile of approval...anywhere we spend time with Him pleases him...whether it be a garden, a closet, or anywhere we take time to acknowledge His presence..He is there. Thank you for stopping in for a visit. Blessings to you today dear friend.

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  6. I thought I left a comment, but it isn't here.
    Anyway, this is a lovely story and the photos are perfect with it.
    You write wonderful things :)

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    1. I saw your other comment...it showed up in my email, but I don't know why it isn't here. Thank you for both comments. You bless my heart with your words of commendation...you who write so perfectly yourself...your treehouse story still lingers in my mind and heart. As I said on your post, I've always wanted to live in a treehouse! Something about that captures my imagination...I think ever since I saw "Swiss Family Robinson" as a child! Have a blessed day!!

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  7. You have such a way with words and with the photos to accompany your words. Beautiful.

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    1. Thank you, Terri. I love how God helps to weave His message in there when I really wasn't sure where I was going. I give Him the praise for bringing it all together.

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  8. This is lovely! Beautifully expressed.

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    1. Thank you Karen. I love it when God weaves our thoughts into words and makes it make sense.

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  9. Such a wonderful way you have painted pictures with words, Pam. Even without the pictures inserted I could still have closed my eyes and pictured everything. Thank you, Pam.

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    1. Ah! Thank you. I am so glad to hear that. I pray that we can each find that place of rest and peace in the garden of our souls every day...

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  10. Absolutely enchanting Pamela! Yes, we can find Him wherever we are, if we stop to look, but how I would love to walk with my Lord through the garden in the cool of the evening . . .
    Blessings!

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  11. Pam, thank you for this amazing peaceful pause. How amazing it would be to walk in the garden with Jesus and to simply absorb His presence.

    Blessings!

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    1. I believe we can do just that, anytime, anywhere...it's all a matter of the heart and soul being open to allow Him to walk with us...

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  12. This is such a great blog feature!

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    1. Thank you, Angela, and welcome to Closed Doors, Open Windows! I appreciate your visit here today, and hope you will come back time and time again! May your day be filled with joy and blessing!!

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  13. Pamela, where did you find those photos? That sign, the gate...so beautiful!

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  14. Peaceful prayer garden sounds absolutely divine and looks heavenly. Sometimes my prayer garden has to be wherever I am at the time. But praise His Holy Name that I can pray to Him anytime, anywhere. Hugs and blessings, Cindy

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