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.

A Psalm of Gratitude

In our devotions this morning we read the following inspirational post, written by Deborah A. Meister, in a little devotional book entitled "Living Faith".  In light of this past week's "issues" that have caused a lot of strife in our country, I thought her message was very healing and comforting.

"Every day I hear people complain about the lack of justice in one situation or another. Primarily, their objective focus is on righting a wrong or fighting for equality.  This psalm (referring to Psalm 146) reminds me that justice comes from the heart and not the mind.  God has not measured justice on a scale to judge our worthiness. The heart of God's justice cares deeply about the oppressed, the hungry and the captive soul.  The psalm begins and ends by praising God with a grateful heart.

 Gratitude gives birth to justice.  We praise God's faithfulness and thank God for the gift of life.  A grateful heart holds no resentment, anger or fear of being cast aside.  When we can let go of selfishness, God's justice will reign.  The oppressed will be free and the poor will be fed.  We can become instruments of peace and justice in the world."

The Scripture references for this devotional were Psalm 146:5-10, Isaiah 35:4-7, James 2:1-5, and Mark 7:31-37, if you would like to look them up and read them along with this devotional.  I will include portions of some of these scriptures here for you, as I found them especially beautiful and comforting today.

Isaiah 35

3.  "Strengthen the weak hands,

and make firm the feeble knees.

4.  Say to those who are fearful-hearted,

'Be strong, do not fear!

Behold, your God will come with vengeance,

With the recompense of God;

He will come and save you.'

5.  Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,

and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

6.  Then the lame shall leap like a deer,

and the tongue of the dumb sing.

For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness,

and streams in the desert." 

Psalm 146

1.  "Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord, O my soul!

2.  While I live I will praise the Lord'

I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

3.  Do not put your trust in princes,

Nor in a son of man, 

in whom there is no help.

4.  His spirit departs, he returns to his earth;

In that very day his plans perish.

5.  Happy is he (or she!) who has the God of Jacob for his help,

Whose hope is in the Lord his God,

6.  Who made heaven and earth,

the sea, and all that is in them;

Who keeps truth forever,

7.  Who executes justice for the oppressed,

Who gives food to the hungry.

The Lord gives freedom to the prisoners.

8.  The Lord opens the eyes of the blind;

The Lord raises those who are bowed down;

The Lord loves the righteous.

9.  The Lord watches over the strangers;

He relieves the fatherless and widow;

But the way of the wicked He turns upside down.

10.  The Lord shall reign forever..

Your God, O Zion, to all generations.

Praise the Lord!"

This post will be in place of the usual "Sermon Notes" for this week, as I was a bit under the weather this morning and unable to attend church. Not to give "TMI", but I tend to suffer from "IBS", especially when I allow stress to overwhelm my body.  I am not normally a person who appears to be filled with stress or anxiety, but sometimes I tend to internalize things that trouble my heart or mind or spirit, and sooner or later my body responds negatively. I, of all people, know how important it is to give all these things over to Jesus, and to let Him handle my stresses and hurts. But, being human, my head can't always control what goes into my heart...or vice versa...and when I begin to feel under attack from the enemy...whether real or perceived physical, or spiritual, it has a negative effect on my physical body as well as my emotional spirit.  So, when that happens, it is best to withdraw from the fray, get alone with God, rest, and by all means stay away from negative people/influences/media/etc. for a while and let God work His healing balm upon my heart and body.

Psalm 146 

1.  "Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord, O my soul!

2.  While I live I will praise the Lord'

I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

A New Author!! - A New Book Review!!

One of the greatest joys I've had in being a blogger has been meeting so many wonderful new friends!  What I am impressed with is the quality of people I have met...beautiful, inspiring, sincere, and gifted Christian women, who share their love for the Lord and His people through their writing and comments.  I started writing my blog as a result of frustration over wanting to write a book and not having the courage to move forward in that effort.  I still haven't gotten to that point of book authorship...but many of my new friends have taken the plunge and achieved their goals for the glory of God.

One such friend I am pleased and proud to introduce today is our friend Cecelia Lester, also known as "quietspirit" on her blog Following My King.  I have followed Cecelia for several years and have always appreciated her honest and forthright blog posts.  To quote her own statement on her blogpage,  "I have a mission statement that I try to follow in my life as well as my writing. "Quiet Spirit writes with the focus to minister to those who hurt, to them who search for God, and those who wish to have a closer walk with Jesus."   I must say that Cecelia has stayed true to her mission statement in every way.

Cecelia has recently published her first book, Times of Trouble Bring Rays of Joy...Thoughts of God and His Word, which can be purchased HERE on Amazon.com

This wonderful book is the result of Cecelia's journal writing during a difficult period in her life.  As she sought God's guidance for direction in her life, she began writing her thoughts and feelings as she worked through personal struggles, and this book is a reflection of what the Lord taught her during this time.  Cecelia writes that she "felt God was beside" her, guiding her hand as she wrote her thoughts on paper.  

The format of Times of Trouble Bring Rays of Joy is divided into six sections, each with several devotional journals that end with a place to reflect on your own personal thoughts as to how the Lord is speaking to you on this topic.  Cecelia shares thoughts on such subjects as Time Management, Strength, Humility, Compassion and Mercy, Faith, and Peace.  

I have found that reading these devotionals is a wonderful addition to my normal daily time of meditation and scripture reading. I appreciate being able to verbalize my own personal thoughts as I respond to the questions pertaining to each topic. 

Cecelia stated in her introduction that she hoped that the reader would "gain a greater knowledge of God and His Presence" as this book is read.  Yes, Cecelia, I can testify that I do feel Christ's Spirit in your writing...and I appreciate so much your insights as written through the direction of His Holy Spirit.  

Yes, Times of Trouble Brings Rays of Joy is a book well worth adding to my library and my daily devotional time.  Thank you, Cecelia!  Your gift of writing is a blessing to me! 

"The Battle Is The LORD'S"

Do you remember when you used to read Bible stories to your children...or when you first heard them read to you?  I wonder what stories stick out in your mind as the most significant or memorable?  For me, the one that stirs up the most powerful imagery has to be  "David and Goliath".  Therefore, I was thrilled when that happened to be the story referred to in my morning devotions today, from the book of I Samuel, chapter 17, verses 31-51.

Our normal practice each morning is that I read the daily devotional selected for the day from a devotional booklet, and then I read the accompanying scripture verses that go along with the story.  Did I mention that I read this out loud to my husband and anyone else who happens to be within earshot? Yep, that is what we do, weekdays and weekends.  Normally, I just read without much expression, trying not to be too loud in case someone is still sleeping in the house.  But today, I could not resist reading this whole passage rather loudly, using my best Deep, Gravelly, Ferocious giant voice for Goliath, and my equally STRONG, CONFIDENT and BRAVE voice for David.


Please read along with me:

The first scene is the young shepherd boy David convincing King Saul that he is able to go and fight this Philistine...see verses 31-39  I particularly like verses 36-37, where David says to King Saul:

"Your servant (David) has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God."

Moreover, David said, 

"The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear,

HE WILL DELIVER ME FROM THE HAND OF THIS PHILISTINE!"

The scene changes, and David approaches the giant with nothing but a sling and five smooth stones from the brook. (Verses 40-42)  Then the real excitement begins in verses 43-51:

So the Philistine (Goliath) said to David,

"Am I a DOG, that you come to me with sticks?"

And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

And the Philistine said to David, 

"Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!"

Then David said to the Philistine,

"You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin.  But I come to you in the NAME of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

THIS DAY the LORD will deliver you into my hand,

and I will strike you and take your head from you. 

And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know 

David meets Goliath (picture from internet)

THAT THERE IS A GOD IN ISRAEL!

THEN ALL THIS ASSEMBLY SHALL KNOW THAT THE LORD DOES NOT SAVE WITH SWORD AND SPEAR;

FOR THE BATTLE IS THE LORD'S, AND HE WILL GIVE YOU INTO OUR HANDS!"

David hurried and ran toward the army to meet
the Philistine
(photo from internet)

"So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.  

Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth.

So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone,

and struck the Philistine and killed him.  But there was no sword in the hand of David.

Therefore, David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it.  And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled."

Wow! You may be thinking this is a rather grisly story to begin my day.  I can only tell you that when you find yourself up against the giants of this life, whether they be the giants of illness, death, loss of home, mate, child, job...or the perceived enemies of insecurity, hopelessness, emptiness...whatever your huge giants may be, and no matter how small and insignificant you may feel...you can stand strong in the face of these giants because the little shepherd boy David showed us that:

"THE BATTLE IS THE LORD'S...AND HE WILL DELIVER YOU FROM THE HAND OF THIS PHILISTINE!"  

"And all the world will know that there IS A GOD IN YOUR ISRAEL"...

The place you call home, wherever that may be.

And as King Saul said to David in verse 37:

"Go, and the Lord be with you!"

A "Jesus Calling" Experience...

Today started out with an unusual experience.  My usual routine when I first get to work in the morning after my forty five minute ride through the forest and the city is to head straight to the ladies' room before I do anything else. (enough said!)  To reach the restroom in the church office where I work I must walk through the very well equipped library. This often leads to detours either going or coming, as I peruse whatever new or different books are facing me on the shelves, vying for my attention. Lately I've noticed a little book tucked neatly on the shelf just beside the restroom door and each time I pass it I think to myself, "I need to check out that little book...it seems to be calling me..."   The name of the book is, you guessed it, Jesus Calling,  by Sarah Young.
 I've heard a lot about this little devotional book, and have noticed that several of my Facebook friends often quote it in their posts for the day.  So I've been meaning to check it out for some time now, and always on my way in to the restroom I think of it as I see it there...but on the way out from the restroom I have always forgotten about it by the time I walk back through the library to my office to start my day.  Chalk it up to short term memory...or perhaps overloaded mind getting ready to face the work on my desk.

Today started out just that way. Except this time I made a point of telling myself (on the way into the restroom) to be sure and pick it up on the way out...and guess what I did?  I walked right past is again! I really did! I know, I can't believe that I did that myself!  Well, Jesus apparently wasn't going to take my ignoring Him that easily today.  As I started up my computer and opened up my work emails the very first email I looked at was from a dear lady who has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer and has just had surgery and is getting ready to undergo radiation treatments.  She is having to give up teaching her line dance classes that she holds at our church each week, and has been in a lot of personal turmoil throughout this whole process.  I have been communicating back and forth with her and assuring her of my thoughts and prayers as she endures this ordeal and basically trying to encourage her as best I can.  In her response to me this morning she asked me if I had a copy of the devotional book...you guessed it again...Jesus Calling by Sarah Young?  I was flabberghasted at her question and suddenly remembered that I had forgotten again to pick up that little book this morning as it "called out to me" from the bookshelf in the library!  I told her that I was just this morning planning to check that out from our church library and I thanked her for reminding me!  I said that I was going to march right back in there immediately and check it out before something else came along to distract me!  And so I did.

When I came back to my desk and looked at her next email response, she said, "You really need to have your own copy, and I am going to bring you one the next time I come back to the church."  I thanked her and was so blessed by her thoughtfulness for me when she is the one going through the trial right now...it truly amazed me.

Well, I had to wait until I came home tonight to start reading this little book that I checked out...and as I started to look it over more closely, I noticed the subtitle on the front cover under the title of "Jesus Calling"..."Enjoying Peace in His Presence."  Remember I was just talking about my  One Word for 2013: Presence (click on title for post)...and  again here: "Fill My Cup Lord", plus several in other places throughout the past year as I practiced “presence”

Seeking god’s

Presence

In the ordinary

And

Extraordinary

Places of my life

In 2013

As I started reading the introduction I further discovered that Sarah Young's "life changing verse has been "Be still, and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10).  (see page XIII, Introduction Jesus Calling).  Wasn't I just telling you all about that verse last week? (Click Here for THAT Post) .  The more I read into this little book, the more I knew that Jesus truly was calling me to come and seek His Presence within these pages.

And so here I am...sitting in my recliner, reading several different pages throughout the year, particularly some special dates, not wanting to read the whole book since I will soon have my own personal copy to treasure...and yet, I find that Jesus is calling to me from within these pages...I believe He is summoning me into His Presence yet again...and I am in awe.

Is Jesus calling YOU into His Presence today?  You don't have to read a special devotional book to enter into His Presence, but it helps.  I find that I am in His Presence in so many places every day...I only have to be aware of His calling me...and listening for His voice. Today was a pretty clear indication that He wanted my attention...what do YOU think?

The reading for today says:

"Leave outcomes up to Me. Follow Me wherever I lead, without worrying about how it will all turn out. Think of your life as an adventure, with Me (God) as your Guide and Companion. Live in the now, concentrating on staying in step with Me. When our path leads to a cliff, be willing to climb it with My help. When we come to a resting place, take time to be refreshed in My Presence. Enjoy the rhythm of life lived close to Me. You already know the ultimate destination of your journey: your entrance into heaven. So keep your focus on the path just before you, leaving outcomes up to Me." 

 Scripture readings: Psalm 27:13-14; Exodus 15:13 ~  Sarah Young, Jesus Calling, page 338

Pretty good stuff, huh?  Yeah...I'm glad I finally listened to "Jesus Calling"...

UPDATE: For the sequel to this little story, go to : "Opening Another Advent Window".  Be blessed, my friends!

What a Beautiful Way to Start the Day

 I just finished reading one of my blogger friend's blog from yesterday about praying with her spouse...here is the link so you can read it for yourself:  http://blog.martipieper.com/2010/08/pray-love-honor-and-pray.html%20

What a beautiful story...and I know it works. One thing I would add to Marti's thoughts about praying with her husband is that we,(my husband and I) always start our morning with our Bible and devotional reading together...this is with our morning coffee (his) and tea (mine). Starting the day with God's Word, prayer and sharing of thoughts and ideas is such a wonderful way to start the day, no matter what else is going on. Ending the day with prayer and "I love you" makes whatever happened during the day not as significant as the fact that we are together, We three are one...God, husband, and me. What could be better than that?

It is interesting that God led me to this today, as just last night when I was falling asleep, I was snuggled up against my husband's shoulder (armpit...doesn't sound as romantic, but technically that's where I was) and I had such an overwhelming sense of peace, calm, and comfort.  I thought to myself, this is what it will be like to rest in the arms of Jesus someday, perfectly at peace, assured of His Divine love, forgiveness and blessing...safe in the arms of Jesus.  But then, I had to stop and realize, "hey, I'm already there!"  Safe in the arms of Christ, perfectly at peace, assured of His Divine love, forgiven and blessed!  I don't have to wait for eternity to experience God's love and grace and peace...it happens right here and now...when I allow myself the  privilege of believing and accepting that forgiveness and peace.  It is a free gift, mine for the taking, anytime, anywhere, no matter what.

 Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."

I love what Paul wrote further in this letter to the church at Ephesus:

"For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from Whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man (woman), that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height, to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."   Ephesians 3:14-19

Oh sisters and brothers...it is my prayer today that you may also know this peace that comes from knowing Christ...that you may also experience the width, length, depth and height...and to know the love of Christ which passes ALL knowledge...and that YOU may be filled with all the fullness of God.   Amen.

Could there be any better way to start your day?