Busy Days

I've been so busy I forgot to post a post today! Been getting ready for Christmas, shopping, practicing for our Christmas cantata...

I'll let you figure out which one is me.

My son is one of the narrators...he did a great job! These pictures were from our Dress Rehearsal Thursday night. Our performance will be Sunday morning at church.

Also been watching the birds in "Still Waters Pond", when I can sit still long enough to relax and enjoy them...

 This white egret has been coming back quite often to pat the water with her foot and stir up the minnows or whatever it is she is fishing around for...

 I think she got a leaf here...probably not what she wanted...unless it has some tasty bugs on it...

 And these two are still hanging around...looking quite proud of themselves...

 Maybe we need a caption contest for them...

And even though this is a bit blurry, it shows that there are two male Wood Ducks and two females...so they must be traveling together...

So, what do YOU do to relax in between all the Christmas activities that are going on?  I know that in the New Year I am going to be more intentional about spending more time with the Lord, hopefully outdoors as weather permits...I'd like to get back to writing like the "Secret Garden Chronicles" I used to do again.  This time it will be from a new perspective...I really haven't established the "secret garden" yet here in this new home...but there are plenty of places to sit and meditate on God's Word and spend time in prayer and pondering what the Lord is speaking to me at that moment.  

That's my goal for the New Year...I know I need to get back to that "place" in my walk with the Lord. This past year has been just too busy to concentrate for any length of time, and I miss that daily communion with the Lord. 

How about you? Perhaps you can also be looking for that special spot where you can spend time alone with the Lord and be more intentional about what His message is for you each day. Maybe we can encourage one another in our pursuit of being still before the Lord... and then perhaps we can each write about our experiences...just a thought.  I know that with all that is going on in our world and nation today, we need to spend more and more time in prayer and in reading God's Word and spending time with the Lord. We need to strengthen our armor  (Ephesians 6:10-18) as the battles are getting harder.

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

Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV)

The Armor of God

10 "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people."

Yes, this is what I know I need.  I hope you will join with me in this pursuit of growing in Christ in the New Year.  Maybe we can remind each other to keep looking up!

In the meantime, enjoy your Christmas with your loved ones and family...and keep Christ is Christmas in every way that you can.  I may not have too much time to write over the next week, so just be safe and be blessed!

An Evening Meditation: Sunset on Golden Pond

 I looked out our window this evening and noticed the glorious sun going down behind the trees, so I jumped in the car and drove down the road a little ways to a little pond where I could get a better view of the sunset on the "golden pond".  I was almost too late, but thank the Lord, still right on time for His marvelous majesty on display!

"O Lord, our Lord,

How excellent is Your name in all the earth,

Who have set Your glory above the heavens!

Psalm 8:1

"Bless the Lord, O my soul!

O Lord my God,

You are very great;

You are clothed with honor and majesty,

Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment,

Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain.

He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters,

Who makes the clouds His chariot,

Who walks on the wings of the wind,

Who makes His angels spirits,

His ministers a flame of fire."

Psalm 104:1-4

"May the glory of the Lord endure forever;

May the Lord rejoice in His works.

He looks on the earth, and it trembles;

He touches the hills, and they smoke;

I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;

I will sing praise to my God 

while I have my being.

May my meditation be sweet to Him;

I will be glad in the Lord."

Psalm 104:31-34

Amen

I Will Rise - A Morning Meditation

This morning as I took an early walk, I headed to my favorite spot in the neighborhood...you guessed it, the little pond around the corner from our house.  It was another foggy morning and I knew it would be a beautiful time to spend with the Lord as the sun rose above the waters.  What I didn't know was that one of the nearby neighbors had left their radio playing loudly when they went back home from their weekend at their cottage.  Thankfully, they left it tuned into a Christian radio station, and when I stepped onto the dock, this is the song that was playing:

What a perfect background music for my morning meditation with the Lord:

I Will Rise

Chris Tomlin

There's a peace I've come to know

Though my heart and flesh may fail

There's an anchor for my soul

I can say "It is well"

Jesus has overcome

And the grave is overwhelmed

The victory is won

He is risen from the dead

And I will rise when He calls my name

No more sorrow, no more pain

I will rise on eagles' wings

Before my God fall on my knees

And rise

I will rise

There's a day that's drawing near

When this darkness breaks to light

And the shadows disappear

And my faith shall be my eyes

Jesus has overcome

And the grave is overwhelmed

The victory is won

He is risen from the dead

And I will rise when He calls my name

No more sorrow, no more pain

I will rise on eagles' wings

Before my God fall on my knees

And rise

I will rise

And I hear the voice of many angels sing,

"Worthy is the Lamb"

And I hear the cry of every longing heart,

"Worthy is the Lamb"

And I hear the voice of many angels sing,

"Worthy is the Lamb"

And I hear the cry of every longing heart,

"Worthy is the Lamb"

And I will rise when He calls my name

No more sorrow, no more pain

I will rise on eagles' wings

Before my God fall on my knees

And rise

I will rise

I hope you enjoyed this morning meditation. It was really a special time with the Lord  for me.  Praying it was also meaningful to you.

 (Note: The Eagle and "Angel Cloud" pictures are from previous posts in the past, but I thought the pictures fit the message.  All other pictures are from this morning's meditation on the dock)

What Do You See Outside Your Open Window?

When I woke up this morning I looked outside my open window and this is what I saw...the glorious sun coming up through the trees...

Very bravely I took off running to the neighborhood pond to see the sun coming up over the water.

I was not disappointed in my early morning jaunt...

Lamentations 3:22-23 (NIV)

22 

"Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,

    for His compassions never fail.

23 

They are new every morning;

    

Great is Your faithfulness."

This was a beautiful way to start the day.  Following this time of prayerful meditation and rejoicing in the awesomeness of God displayed, my son and I headed out for his dental appointment to have his wisdom teeth extracted.  Everything went well...he'll be a little sore and looking like a chipmunk for a few days, but the deed is done and hopefully he will feel a lot better in the future!

So, dear friends, what do YOU see outside your open window?  I've had this question posted at the bottom of my blogger profile for all these years.  I don't know how many people have ever read it...or even if they have answered the question...but it is something to think about.  What DO you see when you look outside?  Do you see birds, trees, flowers, or perhaps you live in the city and you see other buildings, people, traffic...or maybe you live on a farm...and you see animals, cows, horses, dogs, cats? 

I know one of our blogging friends sees a beautiful church building from her apartment window...another sees the bay of the ocean...some see mountains...perhaps others see a river or a lake?  Maybe you see glorious sunsets or sunrises? I sometimes see bears or deer...glad I didn't run into any of the bears this morning on my little jaunt. God was watching over me. 

Whatever you see, I hope it causes you to pause and pray and thank the Lord for His mercy and goodness and beauty, whatever it may be.  Take a moment in the morning and look out your window...and let me know what you see, okay?  That should be fun!  Maybe that should be the theme for our Friday Foto Friends this week...just a thought.

Anyway, have a blessed and glorious day, evening, or whatever time it may be in your part of the country/world.  It's always so interesting to see and hear about your world.  God bless you every one!!

You Are Now Entering The Secret Garden - Updated 1-21-2018 One Year Later

I can't believe it has been a whole year since the creation of "The Secret Garden".  I was looking at these pictures earlier today, and marveling at how green and lush everything was at this time last year...and that we were wearing shorts and t-shirts!!  Not so this past week! We had several days of freezing temperatures (yes! here in Florida!)  And the picture that I will show you at the end of these original pictures will show you how the garden looks today.  

Original Post 1/22/2017:

You are now entering The Secret Garden...

Welcome!

"Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,

and into His courts with praise.

Be thankful to Him, and bless His name,

For the Lord is good;

His mercy is everlasting,

and His truth endures to all generations."

Psalm 100:4-5

This sign and the Welcome sign above were lovingly created for the Secret Garden by my sign-maker son!

For those of you who have been following this story, you will be happy to see that "The Secret Garden" is truly becoming a reality.  God has been blessing this sacred place...yes, I call it "sacred", because it has been "set apart for the worship or service of a deity" (definition of sacred according to the Merriam Webster dictionary), and in this case, the "deity" is none other than God Almighty, Our Lord and Creator.  And most definitely this beautiful secret garden is a place of worship and praise to our God, as well as a place of service, or ministry to His children.  I am His child, and the Lord ministers to me in this place as He speaks to me through His Word, His creation, and His Holy Spirit. Not only me, but to anyone who wishes to come to this place and sit in His Presence for prayer, meditation of His Word, and/or encouragement between friends.  That is my prayer and desire for this "Secret Garden".... may it honor and glorify God in every way.

So that being said, let me take you on a tour of the newest additions to the garden....
Oh, Hello Mr. (Mrs.?) Chickadee!  Welcome to The Secret Garden...

I believe she has already taken up residence here!  How amazing is that???  And I was concerned that because I could not put any bird feeders into the Secret Garden, due to the bears that roam nearby, that I wouldn't have much bird activity to observe....guess I was mistaken!!!

"Look at the birds of the air,

for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns;

yet your Heavenly Father feeds them.

Are you not of more value than they?"

Matthew 6:26

Perhaps we will one day welcome a family of chickadees to the garden!

 Oh wait! This same chickadee flew over to the other birdhouse and deposited more seeds into this one as well!  Could she have two nests?  Two families?  Hmmm...we will have to watch these interesting developments...

"But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you;

And the birds of the air, and they will tell you;"

"Who among all these does not know 

that the hand of the Lord has done this,

in Whose hand is the life of every living thing,

and the breath of all mankind?"

Job 12: 7, 9-10

"Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth;

Break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises."

Psalm  98:4

"How lovely is Your tabernacle, 

O Lord of hosts!

My soul longs, yes, even faints 

for the courts of the Lord;

My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

Even the sparrow has found a home,

and the swallow a nest for herself,

where she may lay her young...

even Your altars, O Lord of hosts,

My King and my God.

Blessed are those who dwell in Your house;

They will still be praising You."

Psalm 84:1-4

(Jan. 2017) Meanwhile, back at the workshop, my two wonderful sons are finishing up the bench that was the inspiration for this marvelous Secret Garden project...

 Here they are putting on the crowning glory to the bench..."Mom's Secret Garden".... and I am in awe...

and then they placed it in the garden....

 and I am overwhelmed with the beauty of it all....

 Here's my "sign-maker son", who created all of the signs for the garden, including the "crown" for the bench...

And here I am with my other wonderful son, who found this bench in the dumpster and restored it for my Christmas surprise gift...setting the wheels in motion for the creation of this beautiful space....

"It is good to give thanks to the Lord,

and to sing praises to Your name,

O Most High;

To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning,

and Your faithfulness every night,

On an instrument of ten strings,

on the lute,

and on the harp,

with harmonious sound.

For You, Lord,

have made me glad

through Your work;

I will triumph in the works of

Your hands.

O Lord, How great are Your works!

Your thoughts are very deep."

Psalm 92:1-5

Thank you for joining me in this visit to The Secret Garden. I do hope you will come often and enjoy the peace and beauty of this sacred place...and give praise and glory to God.

Back to the future:
1/21/2018, one year later:

Yikes! What a difference a freeze makes!

All those lovely ferns were bitten by the frost...but actually the frost has done me a favor.  The ferns were getting too overgrown and I didn't know how I was going to thin them out...and God took care of it for me! And they will grow back in no time at all with a little rain and warm temperatures...which we had today!

This reminds me of the story in John 15:1-8, about the "Vine and the Branches"...

Jesus said in verses 1 -2:
"I AM the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away, 
and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, 
that it may bear more fruit."

Verses 4-5
"Abide in Me, and I in you.
As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, 
unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, 
unless you abide in Me.
I Am the vine, you are the branches.
He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit;
for without Me you can do nothing..."

This year  (2018) my "One Word" in Renew.  I think I am in a kind of "pruning" season of life...old things are being snipped away little by little, and God is renewing me and helping me to "bear much fruit" in the process...at least I hope that is going to happen. Just like these ferns, they have been frozen down to the ground so that all the old leaves have been stripped off and fallen into the dirt.  Out of that dirt will spring up new life, fresh, vibrant and green.  Old things have passed away, and they will become brand new.

Just like what it says in II Corinthians 5:17~
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new!"


I am excited to see what NEW things the Lord is going to do in my life in this year. 
How about you?

"The Perfect Revelation of the Lord"

One of my favorite Psalms...and a "Meditation of my heart" that I pray is acceptable to the Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer."

Psalm 19(NKJV)

"The Perfect Revelation of the Lord"

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

The heavens declare the glory of God;

And the firmament shows His handiwork. 

Day unto day utters speech,

And night unto night reveals knowledge. 

There is no speech nor language

Where their voice is not heard. 

Their line has gone out through all the earth,

And their words to the end of the world.

In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun, 

Which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,

And rejoices like a strong man to run its race. 

Its rising is from one end of heaven,

And its circuit to the other end;

And there is nothing hidden from its heat.

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul;

The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; 

The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;

The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; 

The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;

The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold,

Yea, than much fine gold;

Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

Moreover by them Your servant is warned,

And in keeping them there is great reward.

Who can understand his errors?

Cleanse me from secret faults.

 

Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins;

Let them not have dominion over me.

Then I shall be blameless,

And I shall be innocent of great transgression.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

Be acceptable in Your sight,

O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer."

Amen.

Pictures taken in and around our neighborhood in the past couple of days since Hurricane Irma passed by.  So thankful to the Lord for His protection and care for us...