The Secret Garden Chronicles~"Set Your Mind on Things Above"

After a couple of days of rain and chilly wind, it is finally sunny enough to sit in the Secret Garden this evening.  And it feels so good to be here!  Lord, I've missed our daily communion.  This has become "our special place", and I feel cheated when I don't get to come sit awhile with You each day.

I come to You as a soldier, reporting for duty, standing at attention, saluting my Savior with my whole heart, ready for orders.  And I hear You saying to me instead, "At ease, soldier." And then You spoke to me much like You spoke to Martha of old...

"Martha, Martha, (Pamela, Pamela) you are worried and troubled about many things.

But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her."

Luke 10:41-42

And I sat down in the garden, and said, "Yes, Lord...You know me so well.  You've seen me tossing and turning at night, and stressing over earthly things that I have no control over. Forgive me, Lord. I keep forgetting to "let go and let God" handle these details of life."

And then I was directed to look at the book of Colossians, Chapter Three. And it was as if the Lord was speaking directly to me through the Apostle Paul's writings:

Verses 1-2

1.  "If then you were raised with Christ, 

seek those things which are above,

where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.

2.  Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth."

I commend to your reading Verses 12-17, but I was directed toward verses 15-17 in particular:

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."

Such a peace came over my spirit, as I realized that what I've been doing is exactly what the Lord wants me to do here...sharing His Word with my friends and anyone who will listen..."teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs...singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." 

 I don't have to have all the answers or be the smartest writer...just share God's Word...especially the Psalms and hymns, and spiritual songs...and do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus...giving thanks to God the Father through Him...and He will bless this place and bring peace and joy to all who come.   

Thank You, Lord, for teaching me this truth today. 

Thank You for helping me to

fix my eyes on things above 

and not so much on things of the earth.

And Thank You for giving me 

this opportunity to serve You.

Amen.

Even the chickadee seemed more at ease today, and didn't seem to mind my being there.

God's Grace Has NO Limit!

My friend Carolyn over at A Word About Words wrote about "cheap grace and costly grace" in her recent blog  post entitled "Simple and Easy". I found myself echoing her words as I read this post today.  I have linked it here for you to check out.

As I read this I found myself singing an old song that I haven't heard in a while, but used to sing frequently. I will write it out for you here so you can sing along.  I wonder if you have found these words to be true in your life as well?  I know I have.  Just look back through the past few months of my posts and you will see that God had to be giving me (and my family) more grace each day.  He still is. He always has. He always will.
Here it is for you:

He Giveth More Grace  (You Tube Video by Ben Markley, vocalist)

by Annie Johnson Flint

"He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,

He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;

To added affliction He addeth His mercy,

To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace."

Chorus:

"His love has no limit,

His grace has no measure,

His power has no boundary known unto men;

For out of His infinite riches in Jesus,

He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again!"

"When we have exhausted our store of endurance,

When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,

When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,

Our Father's full giving is only begun!"

Chorus:

"His love has no limit,

His grace has no measure,

His power has no boundary known unto men;

For out of His infinite riches in Jesus,

He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again!"

"And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake.  For when I am weak, then I am strong."  II Corinthians 12:9-10

My friend, if you are going through difficult trials and feel like you have come to the end of your endurance and strength, I hope you will discover that "Our Father's full giving is only begun!"  I know I have...over and over again. When I am at my weakest point and ready to give up, that's when God's grace kicks in and takes over. That's when He picks me up and carries me. 

That's when I realize that I cannot do it alone...I need His grace. I need His power.  I need God's Great Grace.  Listen to this new song by Matt Reddman, Your Grace Finds Me.  His great grace is there for us in all the high and low moments of our lives.  "From the creation to the cross.  Then from the cross into eternity, Your grace finds me...Yes Your grace finds me..."

Knowing that God's great grace is there for us always is a huge comfort to me right now in this present trial we are enduring.  I pray that if you don't know this wonderful Savior Who gives this marvelous grace, that you will seek His face right now.  His amazing grace is there, waiting to save you.

"For the law was given through Moses, but GRACE and TRUTH came through Jesus Christ."  John 1:17

"For by GRACE you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the GIFT of GOD, not of works, lest anyone should boast."  Ephesians 2:8-9

Okay, here's one more song we all should know about grace..."Amazing Grace! How Sweet the Sound" by John Newton...I won't write all of the verses for you here as many of you already know this priceless song by heart, but my favorite verses are the last two:

"Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come;

'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,

And GRACE will lead me home."

"When we've been there ten thousand years,

Bright shining as the sun,

We've no less days to sing God's praise

Than when we'd first begun!"

Miry Clay

Does anyone else remember singing this old Spiritual, "He Took My Feet From the Miry Clay"?

"He took my feet from the miry clay,

Yes, He did! Yes, He did!

And placed them on the rock to stay,

Yes, He did! Yes, He did!

Refrain

I can tell the world about this,

I can tell the nations I’m blest,

Tell them that Jesus made me whole,

And He brought joy, joy to my soul!

O my Lord did just what He said,

Yes, He did! Yes, He did!

He healed the sick and He raised the dead,

Yes, He did! Yes, He did!

Refrain

O Jesus washed my sins away,

Yes, He did! Yes, He did!

And made me happy all the day,

Yes, He did! Yes, He did!

Refrain

He died on the cross to save my soul,

Yes, He did! Yes, He did!

He ransomed me and made me whole,

Yes, He did! Yes, He did!"

Refrain

I was reminded of this today as I read my early morning devotions from Psalm 40:1-5 

"I waited patiently for the Lord;

And He inclined to me,

And heard my cry.

He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,

Out of the miry clay, 

And set my feet upon a rock,

And established my steps.

He has put a new song in my mouth--

Praise to our God;

Many will see it and fear,

And will trust in the Lord.

Blessed is that man who makes the Lord his trust,

and does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works

Which You have done;

And Your thoughts toward us 

cannot be recounted to You in order;

If I would declare and speak of them,

They are more than can be numbered."

"I can tell the world about this, I can tell the nations I'm blest. Tell them that Jesus made me whole, and He brought JOY, JOY to my soul!"

That's all for tonight folks. Just wanted to tell you that Jesus has brought JOY, JOY to my soul! Amen, and good night!