Alarms, Sirens, Whistles, Bells, and “Things That Go Bump in the Night” Revisited 10/28/2020 for Wednesday Treasures

I thought I would share this with you this week for my usual "Wednesday Treasures".  I am not showing any particular "treasures" per se', but am sharing something from the "treasure trove" of special memories. I hope you will enjoy reading along...

This is a previous post from my early blogging days, but it comes directly from my journals of the "Saga of the Steiner Family"... and part of what I had hoped someday would be a real "book"...

But alas, I believe I have come to the realization that the only book I am ever going to write is right here on this blog...you are my readers...and you don't even have to purchase anything to read it!  I guess you could say it is a kind of an "E" book...easily accessible on your computer! So I am definitely up with the times...

To give you a brief history...My husband had felt the call to go to Seminary to work on his Master's. We had three very young sons...and very little money!  Making this move took what I have termed "A Giant Leap of Faith". The links below will give you the two previous chapters of this part of our history.  If you wish to go back and read them now, click on the links below, and then come back here for what is essentially "Chapter Three".  Now, make yourself a cup of tea, and sit back and enjoy the adventure!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Original Post June, 2010:

Psalm 91:9-11 “Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.”

Our lovely, large, old, interesting house!

The Steiner Family Saga...The Story Continues (Click on these links to get the previous chapters:  Part One: "Trust and Obey",  Part 2: "An Open Door" )

Since my husband was called to serve as the Assistant Pastor of a church out in the country, which was a bit farther out from the Seminary, we felt like it would be wise to live a little closer to the church, or at least halfway between the Seminary and the Church to simplify things. Besides, the two-bedroom apartment we were renting on the Seminary Campus was extremely small, and with three growing boys we were feeling quite cramped. So we found a very interesting large older home to rent in the little community of Nova, Ohio. It was very convenient for us as the school where the boys would attend was literally right in our back yard, so I wouldn’t need a car to get them back and forth while John was at school. It was a crossroads community out in the  middle of farm country, but it had everything we needed within walking distance, including the only phone booth I’ve ever seen where you could make phone calls for 5 cents! Of course, you could only call people right in town for that price, but it was rather quaint and fun.

The Fire Station across the street...and the Halloween Day
parade passing by...I believe one of my boys is waving
at us...that looks like Matthew!

There was also the fire department right across the street from our house. We found out about that the very first night we had moved into our house when the fire alarm started blowing around 2 a.m., and kept blowing until all the volunteers arrived to go to the fire! Talk about a “rude awakening”! You should have seen all five of us jump out of our beds and run to the front windows to see the action going on across the street! Our little boys loved it! We just prayed there wouldn’t be too many fires in that region too often in the middle of the night!

The Fire Station also contained the local tornado siren…I found out about that one evening just as a group of ladies had assembled in my living room for a Women’s Missionary Prayer Meeting, and the tornado siren started blaring! With it right across the street you can imagine how loud that had to have been! But worse yet, what was I going to do with eight or nine women in my house if there was a tornado coming? Our only “basement” was a very small dirt dugout cellar under the house, and it was definitely not a place I wanted to take these women! Not only was it dirty and smelly, but it also appeared to have a small creek running through the middle of it every time it rained! No, we would have to just get blown away in the tornado before I would take them down there! So, we did like any good prayer group should do. We stayed right there in the living room and prayed! There was a great sigh of relief when the siren finally stopped blaring about thirty minutes later. I hollered out the front door to the firemen who had gathered across the street, “Is it safe to come out?” They said that they thought the tornado was a false alarm and we should be ok. Whew! That was a relief! And also an answer to prayer, I might add!

There was also a railroad crossing right in the middle of our little village, and the train whistle could be heard for many a mile as it roared through the countryside. We loved to run out and watch the train fly past as we waved at the conductor and the men in the red caboose! What fun for our boys! (I kind of liked it too).

I guess I never realized how noisy this little town was until I started writing all of this down! There was one more sound that I actually enjoyed, and it gave me a sense of peace and calm each day. It was the sound of church bells ringing everyday at noon, and then hymns would play for half an hour from the little church’s bell tower. I looked forward to that each day! We had truly found a perfect home. Or so we thought…



Psalm 91:5-6 “You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.”


One night John woke me up out of a sound sleep to tell me that he could hear something scratching in our walls! I listened carefully but didn’t hear anything right away. Just as I was about to drift back off to sleep, he nudged me again and said, “There it is again! Did you hear it that time?” I very groggily but emphatically said “No!” But I knew there would be no more sleeping for me that night. So I lay awake and waited for the “scratching sound” to come back. I guess I drifted back off to sleep because the next time John was almost pushing me out the bed saying, “Get up! There’s something really big in there! It must be a huge rat! Listen, can’t you hear it?” I jumped up and said, “Well, what do you want me to do about it?” He said, “Here, take this flashlight and go see if you can see anything!” “ME?” I cried, “Why me?? What about YOU?” He said, “Well, your eyes are better than mine!”

Now, remember, this was a very big old house, and it had been empty for a while before we moved in, so there’s no telling what could have been “living” in the walls of this old house. I certainly was not too anxious to go exploring in the dark recesses of the attic storage room that was just on the other side of our closet and over the kitchen below. And why was my 6’3” former State Trooper husband asking ME to go look for this monster in the night? Oh well, I figured I might as well go have a look because it was obvious I wasn’t going to get any more sleep until I did! So, armed with the brightest flashlight we could find, and John tip-toeing behind me carrying his police night stick, we crept through the closet, opened the creaky old door to the attic, stepped down into the very spooky, cold, creepy room and started looking about for our huge monster! I did notice an opening in the wall that separated our room from the attic, so we shone the light in there. We couldn’t see anything but some old newspapers stuffed in the wall for insulation, (circa 1920’s we found out later). I told John I wasn’t putting my hand in there and whatever was in there would have to wait until morning when we could see. However, we did get a mousetrap and set it with some cheese on it and slid it in the little opening in the wall. Then we went back to bed and tried to get some sleep.

Sometime around daylight I heard a loud “SNAP!” and ran to see what “huge monster” we had caught in our trap. There lay the tiniest, most pitiful looking little mouse I’d ever seen in my life! I called to John, “Oh John! Come see your monster!” Rather sheepishly he said, “Well, it sure sounded big in the night!”

However, we knew that where there was one baby mouse there had to be more, so that day we set a couple more traps in that same area and one by one we must’ve gotten five or more mice out of that wall! But finally the scratching in the night stopped and we were able to relax and enjoy sleeping again!

Thank you Lord, for taking care of the “monsters” that terrorize us by night. If only all of our “monsters” could be just tiny mice! But Lord, You are always right there, calming our fears, comforting us, and rocking us back to sleep. Thank you, most loving God.

Happy days baking cookies together in the large country kitchen of this old house
Of course, everyone had to lick the batter!

I hope you have enjoyed this chapter in the lives of the Steiner Family.  It was truly a time of testing and faith, with never a dull moment.  Somehow we survived, and my husband eventually received his Master of Divinity degree and eventually his Doctor of Ministry degree and we moved on to minister for many years in various places....  I can honestly say that the time spent in this big old house gave us many pleasant memories of how God met our needs and set the course of our lives for future "giant leaps of faith" and other interesting moves.  Click HERE for Part Four: First Snow  

Calm Assurance

Dear Blogging Friends:  I thought you might want to see this.  For those of you who aren't familiar with true Florida nature...here is a picture that you probably won't like much, but it is what our native creatures have to live with...

If you've been following my posts you know that I've been watching this Sand Hill Crane on her nest for several weeks now.  

Well, last evening I took my usual walk to go check on her and take some pictures.  Because she is actually pretty far away from me, it is not easy to distinguish details until I view the picture on my computer.  So when I looked at this picture this morning, I noticed something a little different from previous pictures.  If you will look closely just to the right and behind Mama Crane, you will see a jagged black line along the edge of the mud.   That jagged line becomes smoother toward its right.  That, my friends, is an alligator.  Yes, that's what I said...an alligator, lying probably not more than three feet away from Mama Crane and her nest.  I knew I heard some croaking sounds last evening when I was taking these pictures, but I could not see this from my vantage point.  But I see it now...Yikes!  And look how calm and serene Mama Crane sits, as if impending doom and danger were not lurking right beside her...

 The only scripture that came to my mind as I looked at this was the 23rd Psalm:

The Lord is my shepherd;

I shall not want.

2 

He makes me to lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside the still waters.

3 

He restores my soul;

He leads me in the paths of righteousness

For His name’s sake.

4 

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil;

For You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

5 

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

You anoint my head with oil;

My cup runs over.

6 

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

All the days of my life;

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord

Forever.

 Oh! To have such peace in the presence of our enemies! What a beautiful picture this is for us today.



Of course, this morning I hurried to the pond to see if our Mama was still safe...and it was still a little too dark to see her clearly, but if you look closely you can see her form snuggled down on her nest...resting peacefully, but I am sure she is watching carefully should any enemy creep up on her. 

Who would think such evil was hiding in this peaceful setting?  May we realize that even when danger may be lurking in the shadows, Our God is with us...His Rod and Staff are there to comfort and protect us from all alarms.  May we rest peacefully in that wonderful knowledge and confidence. Amen.

Some Morning Retrospection

ret·ro·spec·tion  (definition via internet)

ˌretrəˈspekSHən/

noun

noun: retrospection; plural noun: retrospections

1. "The action of looking back on or reviewing past events or situations, especially those in one's own life."

My morning "retrospection" is a reflection on thoughts, actions, and "dreams" from yesterday that have lingered into today.  I will elaborate as we go...

We took a little ride yesterday, and as we passed by this old "Florida Cracker-style house" , I begged my hubby to pull over so I could take a picture. He did so, a bit reluctantly, because there wasn't much room alongside the road to do so safely, but he finally managed to stop, and I stepped out of the car for a brief moment and snapped this photo. Why? Because I love the style, the historical value, and the enchanting charm of this old house with its rusty tin roof and rambling front porch overgrown with sprawling vines and summer grasses.  Something about this old homeplace just spoke to my heart as I contemplated the memories of days gone by and the lives of those who lived, laughed, and loved in this place and called it "home"..."be it ever so humble, there's no place like home."    

Of course, when I got back home I immediately placed this picture on my Facebook page, and mentioned how much I'd love to "explore" it further and perhaps get a picture of the side view of the house, as I could barely glimpse a back extension of a breezeway and an  attached summer kitchen--a typical type of structure for that day and time. I further stated that it didn't appear to be inhabited. Several of my friends commented right away about the charm of this place, and a few even had further insights into the historical significance of the summer kitchen...

From my friend Mirl: "They would build the kitchen away from the house in case of fire. Also to cut down on the heat!" 

And regarding the double front doors on the porch... 

From my friend Lonnie: "Notice two front doors. This was to allow the parents access to the porch after the young'ins went to sleep."

Also about the front porch:

From my friend Judy: "Shelled peas many times on a porch like that." 

Others gave good advice about being careful for "critters" and/or "snakes" in the grass...which is a real possibility here in Florida.

But one friend made a comment that rather caught me off guard and kind of spoiled the happy mood of the moment.  

She said, "Do you own that property? Aren't there No Trespassing laws in every state?"   

My first thought was not kind, so I had to pray before answering, but even that came with some difficulty.  Finally I just responded this way: "No I don't. Yes there are. I merely said I would "like" to explore and take more pictures. My Goodness! Can't a girl dream?"

She later retracted her comment, so perhaps she realized that she came across rather strongly...but I must admit, it made me think.  Was I wrong to want to "explore" this place?  Was I truly "trespassing" by stepping out of my car to take pictures?  I realize that sometimes in my zeal to get the best pictures there are times that I may "step over the line" to get a little bit closer, or to get a better perspective...but I guess I never honestly thought I was trespassing!  So this morning I am doing some internal retrospection into my heart, my motives, and my thoughts.  I certainly don't want to give even the appearance of doing something wrong or inappropriate at any time, even if my intentions were honest and noble...or just wanting to get the "BEST" shot!!  (hmmm, maybe a little pride there?)

Here are a few scriptural passages that came to my attention on this subject:

"Test all things;

hold fast what is good.

Abstain from every form of evil"

I Thessalonians 5:21-22

"Let love be without hypocrisy.

Abhor what is evil. 

Cling to what is good."

Romans 12:9

"Be of the same mind toward one another.

Do not set your mind on high things, 

but associate with the humble. 

Do not be wise in your own opinion."

Romans 12:16

"If it is possible, as much as depends on you,

live peaceably with all men."

Romans 12:18

"Love does no harm to a neighbor;

therefore love is the fulfillment of the law."

Romans 13:10

Okay, Lord, I get it.  Pride is something I need to work on, as is my own opinion of myself and what I think.  Perhaps this friend, even in what I considered to be an unfair judgment, was sent to remind me to be more careful in my "zeal"...watch out that I do not "step across that line"... not just in taking the "best pictures", but in all of my life.  It is so easy to sometimes blur the lines a little bit here and there, and before we know it we have stepped too far out of line.  

Romans 13:12-14 says:

"The night is far spent, 

the day is at hand.

Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness,

and let us put on the armor of LIGHT.

Let us walk properly, as in the day,

not in revelry and drunkenness, 

not in lewdness and lust,

not in strife and envy.

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ,

and make NO provision for the flesh,

to fulfill its lusts."

 So, I may never get that perfect picture of the backside of that house...unless there is someone to give me permission to do so.  Perhaps the Lord has given me this little "warning" to protect me from harm!  Who knows? There may be some critters hiding there after all!

  

Thank You, Lord, for your watchcare over my body as well as my soul.  Amen.

Thankful Thursday

I'm a little late sitting down here to write tonight...but it's been a little busy today (actually busy not doing much of anything but what we wanted to do...) however, it just didn't feel right to let this day go by without sharing a few words of thankfulness.

I will start out with a word of thanks to my hubby for suggesting that we take a little ride this morning and go see if we could find some of the elusive "Scrub Jays" in the woods.  We rode over to the same place where we cut our Christmas tree this past December (click HERE for THAT story), as we knew this was a good place to see the Scrub Jays in their natural habitat.  And sure enough, we found not just one, but two Scrub Jays flying around the scrubby trees and calling to us in a raspy voice.

 It was well worth the ride, even though it was quite a warm and sunny day (almost up to 100 degrees here today!!!!!...Not thankful for that!)

Earlier this week some dear friends of ours were involved in an automobile accident...thankfully no one was hurt, but their vehicle was disabled and they needed a ride back home.  We were thankful that we happened to be home when they called us, and that our schedule was clear so that we could go pick them up.  Looking at their car, we rejoiced that our friend was able to steer the car out of the path of the oncoming truck enough so that the impact was not on the driver's door, but thankfully on the back passenger door...where no one was sitting.  Also thankful that the side airbags deployed, cushioning our friend from injury.  And also thankful that it wasn't our friend's fault!!!  Now praying that they will be able to settle with the insurance company soon and be able to replace their car without much delay.

This truly made us all stop and give thanks to the Lord for His protection over our friends, as well as over all of us. We never know when we leave our homes in the morning if we will return home again safely.

Thankful also for the special ways the Lord answers long sought prayers in our lives...some that are "unspoken" prayers that can't really be talked about...but yet we wish to acknowledge that we recognize God's hand at work in some marvelous places and ways that will bring joy and happiness to others in the days and years to come.

Thankful for this lovely little "New Zealand Tea Tree" blossoming in the Secret Garden...it brings a smile to my face when I see these delightful little flowers blooming up at me!

Thankful for good friends, family, and good health, and for God's provision for our lives every day.

"Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;

Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints!

There is no want to those who fear Him.

The young lions lack and suffer hunger;

but those who seek the Lord

shall not lack any good thing."

Psalm 34:8-10

The Secret Garden Chronicles-Sheltered and Protected

I tried to sit in the Secret Garden today, but the chickadees are still trying to build their nest in the birdhouse, and it became quite apparent that I was hampering their progress by my presence in the garden.

I tried to just sit real still and quietly, but as soon as they saw me there they started chattering back and forth...and looking at me, and then flying around to other limbs, and the birdie with the nesting materials in her mouth just would NOT go in the birdhouse as long as I remained sitting there.

And then a bug dropped on me from the tree above that looked too much like a tick or small spider or something...I didn't let it stay on me long enough to get it's entomological identification...I quickly brushed him off, checked myself for other bugs, gathered up my stuff and decided to move to the front porch.  The porch has been rather sadly neglected since I developed the Secret Garden.  So I thought this would be a good time to enjoy it before the weather gets too hot to sit out there!

So, as I sat there on the porch trying to "relax" and get focused on what the Lord would say to me today...it took me a few minutes to adjust to my new surroundings...and finally I just had to pray...

"Lord, help me to focus my thoughts and attention on YOU and YOU alone!"

I had written down this verse the other day when I saw it referred to in one of my daily devotions:

"And He (God) said, 

'My Presence will go with you,

and I will give you rest.'"

Exodus 33:14

Rest is my "One Word" for this year, and so I know that is why this verse caught my attention.  I love what God is saying actually to Moses here, when the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness after escaping Egypt.  I am sure Moses needed to find rest as he was under so much pressure from the people on every side. What a comfort this must have been to Moses, to hear God tell him that His Presence would go with him, and that He would give him rest.  

And then further down, in verses 18-23, Moses had asked the Lord if He would please show him His glory...and God explained to Moses that "no man shall see Me, and live..." (verse 20), but God did something very special for Moses in verses 21-23. 

21.  "And the Lord said, 'Here is a place by Me,

and you shall stand on the rock.

22.  So it shall be, while My glory passes by, 

that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and cover you

with My hand while I pass by.

23.  Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see 

My back, but My face shall not be seen."

I love how God did not put Moses down for asking this special request, but instead He placed Moses in a safe place, actually right beside Him, and He covered Moses with His hand while He passed by so that Moses would not die...and yet he would witness the Lord passing by. God must have loved Moses very much, don't you think?

Also, in another place, Isaiah 51, verse 16, God tells Isaiah

"I have covered you with the shadow of My hand."

Perhaps this is the message God is wanting to get across to me (and maybe you) today...nothing too deep or profound...just to know that He is sheltering me here, in the "cleft of the rock", "under the shadow of His hand"...

Isaiah 51:12-13 further tells me this:

12.  "I, even I, am He who comforts you.

Who are you that you should be afraid 

of a man who will die,

and of the son of a man who will be made like grass?

13.  And you forget the Lord your Maker,

Who stretched out the heavens

and laid the foundations of the earth..."

Yes,, Lord, sometimes I DO give in to fears...not so much the BIG fears of life, but often the little insignificant fears that nag at my mind...stupid stuff  (like bugs falling out of trees?...Well maybe it's okay to be a little afraid of that, isn't it Lord???)

Well, maybe I do worry about some of the big stuff too...like getting older, health concerns for myself and/or my hubby, financial issues, etc....

Psalm 71 reminds me in David's "Prayer for Old Age"

5.  "For You are my hope, O Lord God;

You are my trust from my youth.

6.  By You I have been upheld from birth;

You are He who took me out of my mother's womb.

My praise shall be continually of You."

9.  "Do not cast me off in the time of old age;

Do not forsake me when my strength fails.

17.  "O God, You have taught me from my youth;

and to this day I declare Your wondrous works.

18.  Now also when I am old and grayheaded ,

O God, do not forsake me,

Until I declare Your strength to this generation,

Your power to everyone who is to come."

As most of you know by now, I love to include old hymns with these posts, because often as I am writing the Lord reminds me of a song and I can't stop until I've looked it up and sung it for all to hear...(probably what keeps scaring the birds away...), but today this song blessed my heart as I read about God hiding Moses in the cleft of the rock...and I wanted to share it with you.  

Click on THIS LINK to sing along with The Haven of Rest Quartet as they sing "He Hideth My Soul", an old favorite by Fanny Crosby.

1. A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord,
   A wonderful Savior to me;
   He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock,
   Where rivers of pleasure I see.
   • Refrain:
     He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock,
     That shadows a dry, thirsty land;
     He hideth my life in the depths of His love,
     And covers me there with His hand,
     And covers me there with His hand.
2. A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord,
   He taketh my burden away,
   He holdeth me up and I shall not be moved,
   He giveth me strength as my day.
3. With numberless blessings each moment He crowns,
   And filled with His fullness divine,
   I sing in my rapture, oh, glory to God!
   For such a Redeemer as mine.
4. When clothed with His brightness transported I rise
   To meet Him in clouds of the sky,
   His perfect salvation, His wonderful love,
   I’ll shout with the millions on high.

I'm sorry that video didn't include all of the verses, but you can keep singing now that you know the tune!

I pray that today you will feel the wonderful protection of the Lord over your life, as He shelters you in the cleft of the rock, and covers you there with His hand!  We are so blessed to be His children! Amen?  Praise God!!  Have a beautifully blessed day, my friends.

The Secret Garden Chronicles Day 21 - I Am Preserved!

No, that doesn't say I am "preserves"...but "preserved"!  Not "well-preserved"...although I try...but "God-preserved".   Okay, let's read on...

It feels so good to actually be sitting outside in the Secret Garden today! The air is warm, the sun is shining, there is a gentle breeze...and I am blessed.  Thank You, Lord, for Your blessings on me!!

I mentioned the "bumblebee" the other day, and I loved so many responses from my friends here in blogland...about the many different kinds of "bumblebees" buzzing around in your lives...things that distract us, cause us to worry or be anxious or fearful...and we have been encouraged to know that God takes care of the bumblebees that disturb us.  We just need to "Be Still" and let Him do His work!

Today there really are a lot of bees buzzing around this big wild black cherry tree in the Secret Garden because it is blooming and the bees are loving it.  I truly may have to get up and go back in the house if they come too close!

God speaks to me while I sit under the shade of this tree, keeping a wary eye on those bees buzzing all around the blossoms (sorry, they don't show up in the picture...they move too fast)...and He says to me in Psalm 121:5-8 ~

5.  "The Lord is your keeper;

The Lord is your shade at your right hand.

6.  The sun shall not strike you by day,

nor the moon by night.

7.  The Lord shall preserve you from all evil.

He shall preserve your soul.

8.  The Lord shall preserve your going out

and your coming in,

from this time forth, and even forevermore."

Those words have a calming effect on my soul right now.  Again, He knows my heart;

He knows it's not really the bees buzzing around the tree above me that concern me most.

I love knowing that the Lord cares about all the details of my life--He actually provides the shade at my right hand 

He keeps me safe from all evil...

He preserves my soul...doesn't ever let go of my soul...

He preserves = blesses, guards, watches, protects my going out and my coming in...forever!!!

He knows my every movement and keeps me safe from harm!

Proverbs 2:8 says:

"He guards the paths of justice,

and preserves the way of His saints."

Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to:

5.  "Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

and lean not on your own understanding.

6.  In all your ways acknowledge Him,

and He shall direct your paths."

My heart is filled with joy overflowing right now...just knowing that the Lord is guarding my very footsteps and directing my paths.

It is so good to sit in the Presence of the Lord Most High...and to learn to listen to His instruction.

Just hearing the Word taught on Sundays and or/maybe Wednesday nights is not enough.  We need daily communication with Him if we are truly to grow and be led in the right paths.  We are never too old to learn new instruction from the Lord.

The Secret Garden is the place I've chosen (or God chose for me!) for this daily communication.

You don't have to have a "secret garden", but you do need someplace to call your sanctuary, and use it daily.

I can't thank the Lord enough for allowing me this special time of personal communion with Him each day.  And yes, maybe I am "well-preserved"!  By God, of course!!!

The Secret Garden Chronicles-Day 6-He Hideth My Soul

Today it was a little rainy, cold and dreary, so it wasn't a good day to sit in the Secret Garden...

Looking out the window toward the Secret Garden

But  God had already prepared another place for me to sit under the cover of our back porch, and still be in a quiet, peaceful place, sheltered by His loving hands.

This is also a very special place , set apart as a memorial garden in loving memory of our precious son Matthew, who was called away to heaven much too soon for us, but right on time in God's perfect plan for his life.

And so I ventured out, and entered the garden and prepared my heart for worship.  The first thing I noticed before sitting down was how the birds were being sheltered within the trees and the birdfeeder, as they waited out the drizzly rain.

And immediately my heart started to sing and praise the Lord , yes, I actually sang silently so as not to disturb the birds, but my heart was singing out loud, and I know God heard me...

"A wonderful Savior is Jesus, my Lord,

A wonderful Savior to me..

He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock

where rivers of pleasure I see.

Chorus:

He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock

that shadows a dry thirsty land,

He hideth my life in the depths of His love,

and covers me there with His hand...

And covers me there with His hand.

A wonderful Savior is Jesus, my Lord;

He taketh my burden away..

He holdeth me up, and I shall not be moved;

He giveth me strength as my day...

(chorus)

With numberless blessings 

each moment He crowns,

and, filled with His fullness divine,

I sing in my rapture,

Oh! Glory to God!

For such a Redeemer as mine!

(chorus)

When clothed in His brightness,

transported I rise

to meet Him in clouds of the sky;

His perfect salvation,

His wonderful love,

I'll SHOUT with the millions on high!!

(Chorus)

(He Hideth My Soul, by Fanny Crosby)

Then God directed me to Isaiah 51:15-16:

"But I Am the Lord your God,

Who divided the sea whose waves roared--

The Lord of hosts is His name.

And I have put MY words in your mouth,

I have covered you with the shadow of MY hand..."

And I responded with Psalm 32:7-8:

"You are my hiding place;

You shall preserve me from trouble;

You shall surround me with songs of deliverance.

I (God) will instruct you and teach you

in the way you should go;

I will guide you with my eye."

Then God brought me to Psalm 31 as follows:

14> "But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord;

I say, 'You are my God,

15>  My times are in Your hand...'"

19> "Oh how great is Your goodness,

which You have laid up for those who fear You...

which You have prepared for those who trust in You

in the presence of the sons of men!

20>  You (GOD) shall hide them in the 

"secret place" of Your Presence 

from the plots of man;

You shall keep them "secretly"

in a pavilion from the strife of tongues."

I couldn't help but notice how God was showing me how He is covering me (us) with His loving hands...and hiding us in the "secret place"...away from the plots of men and those who would seek to harm us.  In this current day and age, many of us have concerns about the "plots of men and those who would seek to harm us"...terrorists and other enemies of our nation, as well as the enemies of our faith.  But God is sheltering, protecting, and keeping us safe in the secret place of His love. We need not fear what man may do to us.

My heart broke out in song again:  singing the praise chorus that says...

"How Great is our God... (click HERE for video "world" version with Chris Tomlin)

"How Great Is Our God"

The splendor of a king
Clothed in majesty
Let all the earth rejoice
All the earth rejoice

He wraps Himself in light,
And darkness tries to hide
And trembles at His voice
Trembles at His voice

How great is our God
Sing with me
How great is our God
And all will see
How great, how great is our God

Age to age He stands
And time is in His hands
Beginning and the end
Beginning and the end

The Godhead Three in One
Father, Spirit and Son
The Lion and the Lamb
The Lion and the Lamb

How great is our God
Sing with me
How great is our God
And all will see
How great, how great is our God

Name above all names
Worthy of all praise
My heart will sing
How great is our God

Name above all names
You are worthy of all praise
And my heart will sing
How great is our God

[3x]
How great is our God
Sing with me
How great is our God
And all will see
How great, how great is our God

And then I sang the more familiar chorus to "How Great Thou Art"

"Then sings my soul,

my Savior God, to Thee;

How great Thou art,

How great Thou art...

Then I looked across the page in my Bible Psalm 30, and I see some of the verses that I've underlined as they've become precious to me since the passing of our son almost three years ago...

Psalm 30:4-5

"Sing praise to the Lord,

you saints of His,

and give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name...

For His anger is but for a moment,

His favor is for LIFE;

Weeping may endure for a night,

but JOY comes in the morning!"

Verse 11:

"You have turned for my my mourning into dancing;

You have put off my sackcloth

and clothed me with gladness,

 12:

To the end that my glory may sing praise to You

and not be silent...

O Lord my God,

I will give thanks to YOU forever..."

"Then sings my soul,

My Savior God, to Thee...

How great Thou art,

How Great Thou art!"

No, I'm not so calloused that I no longer mourn or grieve the loss of our son, 

But...I KNOW where he is!!  He's with God Our Father, Jesus the Son, Our Savior, and the Holy Spirit...All there together...in heaven for eternity!  And we will see him again one day,

so how can I be sad?  He's safe at home, eternally!  Praise God for that peace and assurance!  

"Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine!

Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!

Heir of salvation,

purchase of God,

born of His Spirit,

washed in His blood.

This is my story,

this is my song,

Praising my Savior

all the day long.

This is my story,

this is my song;

Praising my Savior all the day long!!"

Amen

(Blessed Assurance, by Fanny Crosby)

Note: I sure look forward to meeting 

Fanny Crosby someday in heaven!

What a blessing she has been to me and 

countless millions of people who have sung 

the hymns she wrote out of her heart and love for

Jesus Christ our Savior!

I pray that your Sunday worship is a time of great joy, knowing that the Lord hides our soul in the cleft of the rock...and that He is keeping us safe within the shelter of His loving hands.  

"How Great is OUR God!!!"  

Amen!!