The Secret Garden Chronicles-Day 12- Come Aside and REST

It's kind of a gray, cloudy, windy, raw day...so I don't know how long I'll be able to sit out here in the Secret Garden today.  But I came armed with a cup of hot tea and am wearing my favorite flannel shirt and sweat pants; so hopefully I can endure this long enough to commune with the Lord and hear what He wants to say to me and US today.

The two doves just flew in and landed in the tree above me, so the "cloud of witnesses" is gathering again...and God's Holy Spirit is present.

Note how the leaves are really starting to open up on this wild black cherry tree, and it is beginning to blossom. Soon I won't be able to see the birds in this tree at all...but I will have beautiful shade to sit under! God is so good.

This morning we read in our devotional time from the book of Mark 6:30-34, and in these verses the disciples have just returned to Jesus after going on their first preaching tour (see Mark 6:7-13), and when they told Jesus all that they had done and what they had taught (vs. 30), He said to them in verse 31:

"Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place

and REST awhile."

As I read this it was as if the Lord was speaking to me directly..."Rest awhile..."

Now don't get me wrong, I haven't recently been out on any "preaching and teaching tour", but I did retire from a position in ministry as an administrator from a large church a little over a year ago.

And also, my hubby was a pastor for many years, and he retired from full time pastoral ministry several years ago.  We still have our home Bible Study meeting in our home each week, with a very small congregation, so I guess one could say that we are still in the ministry.  

And then there is the fact that for the past several years we have been co-caregivers for my mother-in-law every weekend, and just recently she has gone to live in a nursing home not far from us.  So I guess for the first time in many years my hubby and I are finally beginning to realize that we can sit down and truly rest (retire), and not feel guilty about it.  Yet, when we try to let ourselves dream about getting away for a little trip somewhere, we find ourselves still reluctant to actually make any plans.  Part (a major part) of the reason is financial...we did not retire on a big retirement plan...rather on an extremely tight fixed income...so we know there will not be any long trips or cruises in our future.  

Therefore, the kind of "rest" that Jesus is calling me to do is what I am doing right now....

coming before His Presence with a sense of awe and gratitude for the marvelous things He has done, and for His continued daily care for us in every way.  He has blessed us with good health, sound minds (well...that could be debatable), a wonderful family, a strong home, and a beautiful secret garden in which to spend time in meditation, prayer, and praise!

This daily respite from the mundane routine of housework, cooking, running errands, etc., is like a refreshing balm, soothing my mind and soul with peaceful interludes of joy and grace.  Enjoying these few moments each day is like a breath of fresh air...

Psalm 23:1-3 says:

"The Lord is my Shepherd,

I shall not want.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside the still waters.

He restores my soul; 

He leads me in the paths of 

righteousness for His name's sake."

Lord, I give You praise today, for just these few moments of REST.  My soul is refreshed

and my heart and mind are restored to a sense of contentment in You alone.  Whatever the future may hold...I know that Your 

"Goodness and mercy shall follow me 

all the days of my life...

And I will dwell in the 

house of the Lord forever!"

(Psalm 23:6)

Amen

Some of the other ways hubby and I relax and rest is by taking little rides or walks in the area.  We live in a national forest, so there is always something marvelous to see.  This morning we were excited to see this flock of wild turkeys near the Salt Springs Marina:

Aren't they magnificent?

What are some ways that you find rest from your labors and stresses in life? We don't have to take long trips or pay lots of money for theme parks or other attractions to relax and enjoy life.  Just take a look around where you live and discover some of the natural beauty that God has provided for your enjoyment free of charge!  You may be surprised at what you will find!!  Take some time and 

"Come aside and rest!"

BE STILL AND KNOW...Updated and Recycled

Dear Friends, as most of you know, my new "One Word" for 2017 is "REST".  Today I was thinking about a certain song, "Jesus I Am Resting, Resting"...and was reminded that I had included it in a previous post some time ago.  So, after researching through my archives, I discovered this post, written on 4/22/2015, which includes a link to that song.  Apparently my need for "REST" is not new at all.  It appears that this is a recurring theme throughout the history of my blog posts through the years.  So, rather than write a new post for today, I thought you might like to go back in time with me and see how the Lord has been teaching me throughout the years.  When you get to the link for the song "Jesus, I Am Resting, Resting", please be sure to turn on your sound, click on the link and sit back and enjoy that song with the pictures... It is is very calming and "restful" .

Here is the original post:

"Be still and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth!"

Psalm 46:10

It is curious how often I come back to this verse in my thinking...in prayer time...in times of devotion and worship.  I don't believe it is ME doing the prompting in this process...it is coming from another source directly connected to me...God.  Yes, God is directly connected to me...by blood...the blood of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, which was shed for me...and by Spirit...His Holy Spirit...Who came to live within my heart when Jesus left the earth and sent Him to dwell here in His place.

In case you've missed it somewhere along the way, my "business" IS working in God's Kingdom...as a Church Administrator for a large historic church in an active modern community...and also as a semi-retired minister's wife with many years of experience in varied types of ministry.  So I should KNOW about serving God...and I should KNOW God Himself up close and personal.

Sounds like a lot going on there...and yes, there is! All too often I get so caught up in the busyness of this world...and even in the business of working in God's Kingdom in this world...that I forget to listen to the prompting of God's Holy Spirit reminding me to "Be Still...and KNOW that I AM God!"

If you read my previous post "The Food That Satisfies", I talked about how we can get so fraught with running to and fro in search of more spiritual food that we are literally starving for the living "Bread of life",  in the person of Jesus Christ Himself, and missing that deeper personal walk with Him.  So many people in today's Christian society seem to have the "bigger is better" philosophy of worship and church ministry.  We get caught up in the hype of bright lights, loud music, multi-sensory activities that boggle our minds and create an emotional pseudo- spiritual experience that makes us "feel good", but may leave us feeling dissatisfied with those quiet moments of inner reflection.  We tend to forget how important it is to our personal spiritual growth to spend some quality AND quantity time alone with God away from the noise and clutter of corporate "worship".

Jesus invited His disciples to

"Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while,"

(Mark 6:31)

right when they were in the height of their new and exciting ministry...(you can read more about this in the whole sixth chapter of Mark)...

He had sent them out (vs. 7) "two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits...", and they (vs. 13) "cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them."

and it says in verse 31:

"For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat."

They were so caught up in the miracles and the excitement of their new-found ministry that they barely had time to eat or sleep...so Jesus Himself took them on a little "retreat" away from the crowds for a little while...so that they could set apart some time to

(Sign courtesy of Ben's Country Woodshop)

I am not trying to be critical of today's modern style of worship...but what does concern me is that I see so many trying so hard to be super spiritual that they lose sight of the One Who has it all...God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit...Three in One...Blessed Trinity...

We need to purposely set aside time to "Be Still...and KNOW that I AM God"....and to "Come aside and rest awhile..." with Jesus.

Here is a modern version of an old hymn that I love and seems to fit here: 

"Jesus, I Am Resting, Resting"    

Take a few moments...or as long as you can...and rest in Him...Find out the greatness of His loving heart...and be at peace.  Amen.

Here is another post on a similar subject you might appreciate: My Open Window Wasn't Really Open

And Another: Driven Into The Wilderness.