The Secret Garden Chronicles ~ What A Difference The Light Makes! - A Lenten Devotional -Revisited

Currently: I got to thinking about the fact that I have not posted much about this Lenten season we are currently walking through.  It's been a kind of crazy month...just a lot of  "stuff" going on, little things that have thrown us off track and have kept us from focusing on the full meaning of this journey toward Easter we are currently treading.  Palm Sunday is this coming Sunday already! Wow!  Perhaps the "little things that have thrown us off track" have actually been a part of our learning to trust in the Lord and lean not unto our own understanding so much. (Proverbs 3:5-6)  That is a big part of Lent. Learning to follow what it says here in Hebrews 12:2 (NKJV)

2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, 

who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, 

despising the shame, 

and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Here is what I wrote a few years ago:

3/7/2019

Here is another reposting of a previous devotional for Lent.  Many of you have already seen this and commented on it a couple of years ago.  The message is still shining through for us today, just as God's Word continues to SHINE in our hearts and lives forever...because His Word is truth and is eternal.  Let us let our lights shine for Jesus each and every day...not just during Lent, but always!!
May your day be filled with the SONshine of Christ...so much so that it brightens your path everywhere you go, and draws other people to that Light.

Original Post 3/2/2017:

Yesterday morning as I was taking a walk, I couldn't help but notice this palmetto standing tall  and proud and actually glowing with the sunlight shining through, giving it a radiance that could only come from the sun.

Today I walked past that same palmetto and was astounded by the drab and dreary difference in this once glorious palm...why?  Because there was no sunlight shining through.

I couldn't help but think about what a difference the sunlight makes, not only in drab palmettos, but in our lives as well!  But now I am thinking of a different kind of LIGHT...the SON-LIGHT of the world...Jesus Christ, the SON of God!

Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees in John 8:12 when He said:

"I AM the Light of the world.  

He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness,

but have the Light of life."

In John 1:3-5, we learn more about Jesus Christ, the Word of God:

3.  "All things were made through Him, and without Him

nothing was made that was made.

4.  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

5.  And the light shines in the darkness, 

and the darkness did not comprehend it."

And in verse 9, we understand that Jesus Christ was that true Light...

9.  "That was the true Light which gives light

to every  man coming into the world.

In Matthew 5, Jesus' great "Sermon on the Mount", He tells His disciples:

14.  "You are the light of the world.  

A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

15.  Nor do they light a lamp and  put it under a basket,

but on a lampstand,

and it gives light to all who are in the house.

16.  Let your light so shine before men,

that they may see your good works and 

glorify your Father in heaven."

As we continue in our Lenten journey toward Easter, let us focus on letting the SON Light shine through us, shedding His glorious Light on everyone we meet.  Don't be drab and dreary like that palmetto was this morning...let Christ's Light shine through you and light up the world!!

"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...

Friday Foto Friends - Morning Walk in the Sunlight

Perhaps I should change the title to "Morning Walk in the SONLight!"  Because that is what it felt like to me.  Walking in the morning light of God's SON:

"Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound!

They walk, O Lord, in the light of Your countenance.

In Your name they rejoice all day long,

and in Your righteousness they are exalted.

For You are the glory of their strength..."

Psalm 89:15-17

"All things were made through Him,

and without Him nothing was made that was made.

In Him was life, and the life was the LIGHT of men.

And the LIGHT shines in the darkness,

and the darkness did not comprehend it."

John 1:3-5

As I took my quick little "walkabout" the neighborhood early this morning, I couldn't help but notice how lovely the sunlight was filtering through the trees and filling the morning with God's glory. These pictures are from around the neighborhood, and ending up in the Secret Garden:

Everything was calm and peaceful in the Secret Garden. I wanted to linger there a while and just drink in the beauty of God's Presence.

You may not appreciate the "beauty" of spider webs, but how can you not appreciate the intricate design of these amazing webs...kind of like "dinner platters" stretched out, waiting to be served!

"The eyes of all look expectantly to You, 

and You give them their food in due season.

You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing."

Psalm 145:15-16

Even the ones that look a little bit like an alien!

I discovered these little "Brown-eyed Susans" smiling up at the SONlight this morning...right in my own backyard.  I was astonished to find them there because I had planted wildflower seeds in that very spot last year, and none ever came up or bloomed...and now here they are, smiling at me and rejoicing in the SONLight!

I guess it helps that we haven't mowed this section of the yard in a while because we've been getting so much rain.  

The only down side of this particular moment was that I got a tiny little tick on my leg and had to go inside and remove it as quickly as possible! Note to self: Always remember to put insect repellent on your bare legs before walking in the weeds!!!  As a fun note: This verse in Psalm 145 might be appropriate here:

20.  "The Lord preserves all who love Him,

but all the wicked He will destroy."

(especially ticks!)

But more seriously and joyously:

Psalm 145:21

"My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord,

and all flesh shall bless His holy Name

forever and ever."

Amen

I hope your Friday is a beautiful day, walking in the "SONlight" of the Lord.

Now, let's all walk over to Bev's Place at "Breathing in Grace" and see what our Friday Foto Friends are sharing!

The Bridegroom Is Coming

The Bridegroom Is Coming

"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."

Psalm 19:1-6

As we journeyed down the road this morning on our weekly trek to pick up my 93 year old mother-in-law for the weekend, we were greeted by these magnificent sunrays piercing through the rain clouds to brighten the morning sky and enlighten our path. (Photo taken through the car window!)

When I read the verses above, especially the one saying that the sun is "like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoices like a strong man to run its race"... I can't help but smile at the imagery that invokes in my mind.  Beyond the earthly bridegroom, who certainly would be exuberant in his awakening the morning after his wedding night...but think about our bridegroom...Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God...when He breaks forth through the clouds to claim His bride...the Church:

"Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven,

and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, 

and they will see

the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven 

with power and great glory.

And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet,

and they will gather together His elect from the four winds,

from one end of heaven to the other."

Matthew 24:30-31

"For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, 

with the voice of an archangel,

and with the trumpet of God.

And the dead in Christ will rise first.

Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up

together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.

And thus we shall always be with the Lord."

I Thessalonians 4:16-17

Then the scene shifts to heaven, and even though I may not have the order of this progression correct, these are events that are yet to come...

"Then a voice came from the throne saying,

'Praise our God, all you His servants and those 

who fear Him, both small and great!'

And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude,

as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings,

saying,

"Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!"

"Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory,

for the marriage of the Lamb has come,

and His wife has made herself ready."

And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen,

clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

Then he said to me,

"Write: Blessed are those who are called to the 

marriage supper of the Lamb!"

And he said to me, 

"These are the true sayings of God."

Revelation 19:5-9

The final words of the book of Revelation, and of the Bible itself say:

"He who testifies to these things says,

"Surely I am coming quickly."

Amen, Even so, come, Lord Jesus!"

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. 

Amen.

Revelation 22:20-21

Isn't it amazing how God speaks to us through His sunbeams breaking through the clouds on a drizzly morning as we journey down the road?  I wonder how often He has been trying to get our attention at other times and we just weren't paying attention?  Makes you want to sit up and take notice, doesn't it? Also makes me want to be sure that I am ready to go at a moment's notice....how about you?