The Secret Garden Chronicles ~ A Lenten Devotion - Updated for 2023

UPDATE:  In my last post HERE a couple of days ago, I asked the question "Do you practice Lent? What does it mean to you? Do you "give up something for Lent", or do you try to do something meaningful to observe the preparation for the Easter season?"  I got several varied and interesting responses to this question.  My thought was that perhaps there is a bit of a misconception out there about what "Lent" really means.   According to "Wikipedia", (a surprising resource for something in the religious realm), this is what it means: 

"Lent is the solemn Christian religious observance in the liturgical year commemorating the 40 days Jesus Christ spent fasting in the desert and enduring temptation by Satan, according to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, before beginning his public ministry. Wikipedia"

 Traditionally, Lent is the 40 days prior to Easter, beginning with Ash Wednesday and ending on "Maundy Thursday", when we remember the 'Last Supper',  the night before Good Friday, the day we remember the great sacrifice of Christ for our sins on the cross.  I know that in some church traditions the season of Lent is a time of fasting and/or "giving up something for Lent"...and also the giving of "alms" for the needy.   Perhaps some have had negative experiences with Lent, when they were forced to give up something special for that time period without truly understanding the significance of why they should do so.  To me, if a person really doesn't understand the "why", then most likely the desired results of growing closer in their relationship with Christ probably won't happen. They will become resentful and possibly angry for having to give up something when they really didn't want to. 

I was not brought up in a tradition of "giving up something for Lent".  I really don't recall understanding anything about Lent at all as a child and even as a young adult.  But in recent years I have found that setting aside this time, much like the season of Advent in preparation for the birth of Christ and its deep significance, Lent is a time to prepare our hearts for a better understanding of the great sacrifice Christ made for me on the cross...when His precious blood was shed for me and for my sins...so that I could enjoy the great joy of being set free from my sins, and because of Christ's resurrection from the dead...I can also look forward to eternal life in heaven, forever with my Lord and those who also have died in faith believing in Him.  Certainly, I can do this anytime. I don't need to wait for "Lent", but so often we get caught up in the busyness of this life and world and we begin to get a bit off kilter...we need a "reset" and a time of reflection and renewal in our spiritual life.  This is a wonderful time to do that.  

Here is what I wrote a couple of years ago...interestingly these first couple of pictures were in February of 2020, and our bluebirds are here again now at the same time, and I think they are already pretty well settled in their house/nest.  

(February 17, 2021) The Bluebirds came back again to their home on Still Waters Pond. I hope they will stay this time. They keep coming and going and can't seem to make  up their minds if they like it here or not. 

This post was originally written in 2017 on the first day of Lent from my Secret Garden at our old house in Salt Springs. I then revisited it in 2019.  I wanted to write something fresh and new today, but as I re-read this I decided I couldn't really improve on this...and as it is too chilly this morning to go sit in our new "The Secret Garden" beside Still Waters Pond,  these thoughts and moments from the past experience will have to do for now.  I pray that your Lenten experience will be filled with moments of peace and "quietude", as you contemplate the riches of God's amazing grace and love for you.

Original Post 3/1/2017:

Today is the beginning of the season of Lent... click HERE for more information about the meaning of Lent (according to Wikipedia).   

And then click HERE for one of my previous posts regarding this topic.

As I have stated in my previous post linked above,

 "My approach to Lent is that it is not so much about making a "sacrifice", as it is about moving forward in the right direction, a new beginning; a clear resolve to obey rather than sacrifice."

So today as I sat in the Secret Garden

(This was in "The Secret Garden" at our previous home in Salt Springs)

contemplating how the Lord would have me approach this Lenten season this year, I was directed to look at a few different scriptures:

Joel 2

12.  "Now, therefore, says the Lord, 

Turn to Me with all your heart,

with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.

13.  So rend your heart, and not your garments;

Return to the Lord your God,

For He is gracious and merciful,

slow to anger, and of great kindness;

And He relents from doing harm.

Romans 12:1-2

1.  "I beseech you therefore brethren,

by the mercies of God,

that you present your bodies a living sacrifice,

HOLY, Acceptable to God,

which is your reasonable service.

2.  And do not be conformed to this world,

but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,

that you may prove what is that good and acceptable

will of God."

And then in verse 6 it says:

"Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us,

let us use them..."

Instead of sacrificing some thing for Lent, my prayer is that I would turn to the Lord with ALL My heart...truly "rend" (tear open, look inside) my heart, and  be that "living sacrifice, HOLY, ACCEPTABLE TO THE LORD; and that I would be more fully committed to using the gifts that God has given me for His honor and glory.  I pray also that the Lord would transform me, renew my mind, and create a clean heart within me.  (Psalm 51:10)

In the past few days I have been contemplating the word "Quietude".  Click HERE for a previous post about that.   I truly didn't realize that this was a real word that we use in our vocabulary. I thought it was a Latin word for quiet, and actually I believe that is where it originated.  But here is the definition of the word according to Dictionary.com"

qui·e·tude

ˈkwīəˌt(y)o͞od/

noun

1. 
   

   1.
   

   the state of being quiet; tranquility; calmness; stillness; quiet.

My "One Word" for 2017 is "REST".  It would appear that "quietude" and "rest" go together quite nicely.    I'm wondering how the Lord is going to dovetail these two words as I approach His throne during this season of opening my heart before Him...

"For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel:

'In returning and REST you shall be saved;

In QUIETNESS and confidence

shall be your strength.'"

Isaiah 30:15

"The work of righteousness will be peace,

and the effect of righteousness,

quietness and assurance forever."

Isaiah 32:17

"You will keep him in perfect peace,

whose mind is stayed on You,

because he trusts in You."

Isaiah 26:3

I believe that God is leading me into a place of "perfect peace", as I REST and TRUST in His Word, and in "quietness and confidence" be assured of God giving me the strength I need to face whatever challenges may lie ahead.

I look forward to experiencing what the Lord is going to show me during this time of "quietude", as He prepares my heart to remember Christ's great sacrifice for my sins...and the 

gift of eternal life that He gave to all of us who would believe, on His Resurrection Day!

Hold on friends, 

Easter is coming!

(All photos were taken as I sat in the Secret Garden today (in 2017) contemplating these thoughts and passages. I found it to be a very tranquil and serene setting watching the Cardinal and the Chickadees...as they watched me as well.  God is so good! Amen?!)

Back to the Present (2023).  I hope you enjoyed this journey back in time and that it was a quiet respite for your soul. May we truly appreciate this time of reflection and renewal during these next 40 days, on our journey to the cross and then thankfully, to the empty tomb!  Praise God!  Many of you may have already commented on this post in previous years. Sometimes it is interesting to go back and see where we were in our thoughts at that time.  May we continue in our growth in our relationship with Jesus. Amen.

A Season of Preparation for Peace

 Yesterday was Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the season of Lent... click HERE for more information about the meaning of Lent (according to Wikipedia).

  

Much of what I have written here below has been shared with you in previous posts in the past several years around this same time.  But I believe the whole purpose of Lent is to prepare our hearts for Easter, and to focus our attention on the great sacrifice that was made by our Savior Jesus Christ, for you and me.  So here are some thoughts from God's Word as well as my own application of those passages. I've included some photos from here at Still Waters Pond that hopefully will be a blessing and bring peace to you today.  In the midst of the current strife going on in our world (i.e.; Russia vs. Ukraine, as well as our own issues here in our own country), we need as much peace and comfort as we can find.

My approach to Lent is that it is not so much about making a "sacrifice", as it is about moving forward in the right direction, a new beginning; a clear resolve to obey rather than sacrifice. 

"Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,

As in obeying the voice of the Lord?

Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,

And to heed than the fat of rams."

I Samuel 15:22

Joel 2:12-13

12.  "Now, therefore, says the Lord, 

Turn to Me with all your heart,

with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.

13.  So rend your heart, and not your garments;

Return to the Lord your God,

For He is gracious and merciful,

slow to anger, and of great kindness;

And He relents from doing harm.

Romans 12:1-2

1.  "I beseech you therefore brethren,

by the mercies of God,

that you present your bodies a living sacrifice,

HOLY, Acceptable to God,

which is your reasonable service.

2.  And do not be conformed to this world,

but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,

that you may prove what is that good and acceptable

will of God."

And then in verse 6 it says:

"Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us,

let us use them..."

Instead of sacrificing some thing for Lent, my prayer is that I would turn to the Lord with ALL My heart...truly "rend" (tear open, look inside) my heart, and  be that "living sacrifice, HOLY, ACCEPTABLE TO THE LORD; and that I would be more fully committed to using the gifts that God has given me for His honor and glory.  I pray also that the Lord would transform me, renew my mind, and create a clean heart within me.  (Psalm 51:10)

In the past few days I have been contemplating the word "Quietude".  I truly didn't realize that this was a real word that we use in our vocabulary. I thought it was a Latin word for quiet, and actually I believe that is where it originated.  But here is the definition of the word according to Dictionary.com"

qui·e·tude

ˈkwīəˌt(y)o͞od/

noun

1. 
   

   1.
   

   the state of being quiet; tranquility; calmness; stillness; quiet.

"For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel:

'In returning and REST you shall be saved;

In QUIETNESS and confidence

shall be your strength.'"

Isaiah 30:15

"The work of righteousness will be peace,

and the effect of righteousness,

quietness and assurance forever."

Isaiah 32:17

"You will keep him in perfect peace,

whose mind is stayed on You,

because he trusts in You."

Isaiah 26:3

I believe that God is leading me into a place of "perfect peace", as I REST and TRUST in His Word, and in "quietness and confidence" be assured of God giving me the strength I need to face whatever challenges may lie ahead.

I look forward to experiencing what the Lord is going to show me during this time of "quietude", as He prepares my heart to remember Christ's great sacrifice for my sins...and the 

gift of eternal life that He gave to all of us who would believe, on His Resurrection Day!

Hold on friends, 

Easter is coming!

Sermon Notes "Just Like Them!"

Before I get into the message from Sunday's sermon,  I'd like to share these thoughts from my morning meditation beside the waters as I watched the mist rise up from the surface much like the Spirit of God hovering over the face of the waters:

Genesis 1:1-5

1. "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

2.  The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep.

 And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

 3.  Then God said, "Let there be light";

and there was light.

4.  And God saw the light, that it was good;

and God divided the light from the darkness.

5.  God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night.

So the evening and the morning were the first day."

What a powerful way to start the day! I Praise God for this gift.

This past Sunday was "Laity Sunday" at our church, and thus the Pastor was given the day off from preaching and our lay people took charge of the service.  This is also in conjunction with October being Pastor Appreciation Month.  Of course, our Pastors should be appreciated every month because they are there for us 24/7/12 months of the year. Trust me, I know...my hubby spent quite a few years in the ministry, and as the Pastor's Wife, I know what kind of hours the Pastor puts in.  But it is a calling...called to serve the Lord and His people, and any person who believes he or she has been called to serve in the capacity needs to be aware that it is a full time, life time commitment. Not something you can just walk away from, even when retired.... (and wives and family are a big part of this "calling". If you don't think you can take it, best not marry a pastor!)

All that being said, we appreciate our Pastor very much, and thank the Lord for his dedication to the flock of God at our little church.

In light of this special day, one of our laymen delivered the message entitled "Just Like Them",  from the scripture passage found in I Samuel 8:4-20.  In this passage the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel the Prophet and demanded that he "make us a king to judge us just like all the nations." (see verse 5)

Verse 6 says, "But the thing displeased Samuel when they said , 'Give us a king to judge us.'  So Samuel prayed to the Lord."

7.  "And the Lord said to Samuel, 'Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them."

God apparently was not surprised that His chosen people of Israel would demand a king to reign in place of Him.  Way back in the book of Genesis 35:11 He told Jacob (who was renamed Israel by God), 

"I am God Almighty.  Be fruitful and multiply; 

a nation and a company of nations shall proceed from you, 

and kings shall come from your body..."

Israel had rejected God's leadership. Their basic problem was disobedience to God.

• In Leviticus 20:26 God said to the people of Israel: "You shall be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy, and have separated you from the people, that you should be Mine."
• Israel was called to be a holy nation, but they no longer wanted God to be their nation's ruler.
• They wanted to be like other nations with a human king
• They did not understand that only God's strength can make them flourish.
• 
  
• We, too, are disobedient to God and not listening to Him as a nation (and as a people)
• In Deuteronomy 28:1, God told Israel:
• "Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth."
• But we, as a nation, have turned away from God. Our nation is divided.
• We are His people also, not just Israel.  
• Romans 12:2 says: "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
• The world is corrupting our minds and our nation.  
• Our refusal to conform to world "values" must go deeper.
• Only when the Holy Spirit renews, educates and redirects our minds can we be firmly planted in Christ.
• We need to pray, and ask the Holy Spirit to lead us.
• 
  
• Read God's Word, the Bible.  Let God's Holy Spirit do His job of leading us.
• Romans 8:5 says:  "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit."
• There are two kinds of people:  Those who let themselves be controlled by SIN
• Those who let themselves be led by the Holy Spirit.
• Ask yourself:  What would Jesus want ME to do? Then do it eagerly!
• Make God YOUR king, and follow Him!

Thank you to our layman and Sunday School teacher, David Perez, for this excellent message from God's Word. We are so blessed to have such excellent leadership in our little church.

Sermon Notes-God Leading Us

We were surprised to arrive at church yesterday and find out that our pastor was not feeling well (and we are praying for him to get well soon!) and one of the laymen of the church was going to preach.  We are still kind of new to this church, so we really didn't know what to expect...but God had a pleasant surprise for us.  I think one of the tests of whether or not a church is living up to its name and truly teaching the Word of God to the people is whether or not a pastor can call in sick and know that the church will still carry on, the Word will be taught and preached, the prayers will still be prayed, and the people will still come away knowing they have been in the house of the Lord.

And that is exactly what happened yesterday! Everything ran like clockwork...(actually, we got finished a little bit early...but that was okay, because we had a pot-luck dinner waiting in the fellowship hall)...We were well-fed yesterday...Food for the soul by the delivery of God's Word, partaking of the Lord's Supper, and then food for the body to send us homeward with a full tummy as well.

So now, let me share what we heard from God's servant yesterday...

The Scripture was from John 15:1-8 

1.  " I AM the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser....

2. 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.

3.  You are already clean because of the word which have spoken to you.

4.  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.

5.  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.

6.  If anyone does not abide in Me,

he is cast out as a branch and is withered;

and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

7.  If you abide in Me,

and My words abide in you, 

you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

8. By this My Father is glorified,

that you bear much fruit;

so you will be My disciples."

Now for the message:

There are four distinct ways that God leads us ...within His will...

1.  By Decrees:  Not by our design, but by God's way.

In Job 42:1-2 Job answered the Lord and said:

"I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You..."

In life we often come to a fork in the road...and we can go God's way or our way.  If we continue taking our way, we will come to a fork in a road again...God gives us a choice...If we keep making our own choice and going our own way, God will keep giving us more choices until we find the right way and follow God's way...

In Acts 16:20-34, we have the story of Paul and Silas being thrown into prison...and at midnight they were singing and praying...and the prisoners were listening to them...and when the earthquake came and the doors of the prison were opened, the prisoners did not flee as the keeper of the prison expected...and he realized that these men had a faith that he wanted, so he asked them in verse 30,

"Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"  And they responded in verse 31:

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household"...

And that jailer made the choice at that moment to believe...he and all of his household...

He could have chosen to do away with himself because he knew he would be severely punished if the prisoners escaped...but God had a better plan for this jailer's life...and he chose to believe God and be saved...

2. By Direction:  God gives us commands and teachings in the Bible.  

Exodus 20:1-17 contains the Ten Commandments...what we should not do.

Matthew 5:1-12...The Sermon on the Mount: Gives us directions of what we should do. How we should live..."Love your enemies" , John 15 teaches us to Abide in Christ,  and in the Epistles God reveals His directions for how we should live as Christians in the world.  God's Word is filled with stories for everyone and every circumstance in life.

3.  By Discernment:  Detecting how we find God's leading us through the Holy Spirit...

Romans 12:2 "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

The Holy Spirit shapes the mind through prayer and the Word of God.  When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior we are filled with God's Holy Spirit...and He will teach us what is right and wrong...God guides us through the Holy Spirit working in our hearts and lives.

4.  Declaration:  God declares to us what we should do...Acts 8:26 Philip is told by the angel to "arise and go"...

If you trust in God, He will give you a message...He'll let you know which way to go, and what is the right way or the wrong way. 

We can rest in the  declarations of God.  Romans 8:28 tells us:

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, 

to those who are the called according to His purpose."

Philippians 3:12-16 tells us to press on toward the goal...for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus...

The Apostle Paul's goal was to know Christ, and to be like Him...and to make Him known.

We are to lay aside those things that will keep us from being a committed Christian...

Practice the way God wants us to be...

Read our Bible, Pray, Meditate on God's Word...

God has a plan for everyone...He leads us in different ways...but we must be OPEN to God's leading...be WILLING to accept His directions...

A closing thought:

God will get you there one way or another...might as well go peacefully!!

Read your Bible, lean on God and learn of Him...

We are here to serve Him and to do His work here on earth...

We closed the service with the hymn:

"When We All Get to Heaven...what a day of rejoicing that will be...when we all see Jesus, we'll sing and shout the victory!!"

Yes, that will definitely be a day of rejoicing...

I hope you have already made the choice to accept God's free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.

If not, there is no time like the present!!

Sermon Notes from FUMC, Interlachen, FL, Lay Pastor message...

Out With the Old, In With the New

I can't believe it is New Year's Eve already...and here we sit, like most "old folks", sitting quietly at home watching football, reading, and/or writing, thinking about the past year and all of its blessings, looking forward to the New Year, and praying for what is yet to be.

In our devotions this morning we read from Colossians 3.  There were so many good pearls of wisdom there for the New Year that I thought I would share a few with you.

2.  "Set your mind on things above,

not on things on the earth."

12.  "Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved,

put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;

13.  bearing with one another,

and forgiving one another, 

if anyone has a complaint against another; 

even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

14.  But above all these things put on love,

which is the bond of perfection.

15.  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, 

to which also you were called in one body;

and be thankful.

16.  Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom,

teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns

and spiritual songs,

singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

17.  And whatever you do in word or deed,

do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,

giving thanks to God the Father through Him."

These words really struck me hard as I read them this morning.  I've been struggling with some of these...verse 12, 13, 14...you know those words about being kind, humble, meek and "longsuffering"? And then bearing with one another...forgiving (I think I do okay on that, but then I realize that I probably don't do as well as I think sometimes...) and then verse 14..."put on love,... the bond of perfection"...this is another area where much improvement is needed.

I need verse 15: "Let the peace of God rule in your hearts...and be thankful."  Yes, I struggle with that one too. Peace...and being thankful...in all things? Yes, in all things!  (I Thessalonians 5:18)

So, as we stand on the threshold of 2018, I'm searching my heart to see if I can live up to these admonitions for Christian living as found in Colossians chapter 3.  I will need a lot of help from the Lord to meet His standards.   

Verse 17 tells me that "whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."

The past several days I have been searching for my new "One Word" for 2018.  Last year's word was REST, and it was a beneficial word for me in many ways...both spiritually and physically.  Here is a list of all the previous "One Word" selections (and links to them) since the beginning of this in 2012:

One Word 2012: Hope

One Word 2013: Presence

One Word 2014: Strengthen

One Word 2015: Focus

One Word 2016: Grace

One Word 2017: Rest

With such an auspicious list as that, you'd think I would have my act together by now...but alas! I don't.   There is still so much to learn and do.  Actually, as an "old Christian", I think what is really needed here is  to "RENEW" my faith and hope and spiritual vitality.  Yes, that's the word!! Renew, Renewal, Renewing...yes...and here is a key verse to start me off right:

"And do not be conformed to this world, 

but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, 

that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

Romans 12:2

Okay, Lord! Renew is the word for 2018.  I have a feeling there are going to be some changes being made in the way I do things in the New Year.  I pray it will bring about positive and lasting improvement in my walk with the Lord...and with my fellow "man".  Amen.

Happy New Year everyone!

Why Wait for Dreams to Come True?

Click on this link to a previous story about my "dream cabin"    and then please come back here to finish this story.  No, I don't have the 'dream cabin' yet.  But the dream is still there in my heart, perhaps even more so than before.

And possibly in some ways we are actually getting closer to the reality of what this "dream cabin" was intended to do even without the cabin. It just may be that the cabin isn't really the important instrument necessary to practice the kind of hospitality we long to provide for those in need of some encouragement, fellowship, friendship, or comfort.  Maybe it isn't even the "country porch" that I desire that is required      "to have the kind of place where people love to sit a spell and visit...you know what I mean...a rocking chair and a swing on the porch...just sit back, relax, watch the birds, bears, and lizards...and ENJOY being together...like the good old days."  

Signs created by Ben's Country Woodshop

 I think what I am coming to realize is that it doesn't take a special building, porch, or even the perfect location to create a place where people can feel loved, cherished, nourished, comforted, encouraged, and appreciated.  What it takes is opening our doors and welcoming people in, regardless of what our house looks like, or whether or not we live in the woods, or by a lake, or in the city or in an apartment building. What it takes is to have open hearts and open homes...and the desire to put aside our own problems and inadequacies and be present in the lives of others who may be searching, lonely, or broken-hearted.  To open our doors when someone knocks who may be hungry, thirsty, or a stranger in need of someone to care. (See Matthew 25:35-46)  

To remember what it says in Hebrews 13:1-2 ~ 

"Let brotherly love continue.  Do not forget to entertain strangers,

for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels."

And in Romans 12:10-13: 

"Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;

not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;

rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer,

distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality."

I guess what I am trying to say is "Why Wait for Dreams to Come True" to practice hospitality, encouragement, and brotherly love? Isn't that something we should be doing all the time anyway? After all, why should I expect God to make all my dreams come true when I'm not even doing the things I say I will do once my dreams do come true? I need to live in the present...and practice those things that I know are right and good and acceptable to God now, "which is your reasonable service..."  (Romans 12:1)   I have not been promised tomorrow anyway...so I'd best be proving what is "that good and acceptable and perfect will of God" today.  (Romans 12:2)

No, I haven't given up on the dream to one day have the kind of place I have described before, but I'm not going to wait for my dream to come true to be doing what I know I ought to be doing anyway.  All I ask is that the Lord give me discernment to know when He is sending people my way, and that He will help me to be available in mind, spirit, and heart...and to be present to the need that is presented. Sometimes I'm a bit blind and preoccupied with my own problems and I may miss the blessing of being there for someone else. I don't want to miss God's blessing because I am waiting for everything to be in order and perfect before I will open my heart to help someone else. I don't want to wait for dreams to come true...I want to be a part of the living dream that is already happening if I'd just open my eyes.

How about you? What dreams are you waiting on to come true? Could it be that the dream is already a reality, but perhaps not exactly the way you thought it should be?  Ask God to open your eyes to see what He wants you to see right now. You may be surprised to see that your dreams are not that far from reality too! 

Have a blessed night my friend, and "sweet dreams."