The first thoughts that came to me were:
"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."
Psalm 84:1-2
And then I began to sing the chorus (written by Matt Redman) that actually comes directly from Psalm 84:
How lovely is Your dwelling place
O Lord Almighty for my soul longs
And even faints for you
For here my heart is satisfied
Within Your presence
I sing beneath the shadow of Your wings
Better is one day in Your courts
Better is one day in Your house
Better is one day in Your courts
Than thousands elsewhere
One thing I ask and I would seek
O Lord Almighty for my soul longs
And even faints for you
For here my heart is satisfied
Within Your presence
I sing beneath the shadow of Your wings
Better is one day in Your courts
Better is one day in Your house
Better is one day in Your courts
Than thousands elsewhere
One thing I ask and I would seek
To see Your beauty
To find you in the place Your glory dwells
My heart and flesh cry out
For you, the living God
Your spirit's water to my soul
I've tasted and I've seen
Come once again to me
I will draw near to you
I will draw near to you
To find you in the place Your glory dwells
My heart and flesh cry out
For you, the living God
Your spirit's water to my soul
I've tasted and I've seen
Come once again to me
I will draw near to you
I will draw near to you
Better is one day in Your courts
Better is one day in Your house
Better is one day in Your courts
Than thousands elsewhere
Better is one day in Your house
Better is one day in Your courts
Than thousands elsewhere
As I was reading these verses and singing this song, my eyes were lifted to the treetops surrounding me, and it truly felt like I was sitting in a lovely tabernacle, with the perfectly blue sky as the ceiling, and the treetops were pointing up like a church spire, lifting their hands in praise toward God Almighty.
And then I know I heard God say to me to start writing these thoughts down as I sit here in the garden...this is what He spoke to my heart:
"Don't wait and try to remember the words I speak to you
when you get back inside the house to your computer...
but GO, get a new journal and begin to write
the messages as I tell them to you.
I want you to write a journal from
The Secret Garden...
My Own Messages to you from My Heart."
A little later my hubby and I took a ride to the nearest store where I could find a new journal book and begin writing...so here it is...
This may be the beginning of some very special communications between God and me...and I look forward to sharing what He wants to teach me here in this place that has been set apart for prayer, worship and meditation on God's Word.
Thus begins
"The Secret Garden Chronicles"
Then I was directed to Psalm 86:10-12
"For You are great,
and do wondrous things;
You alone are God.
Teach me Your way, O Lord;
I will walk in Your truth;
Unite my heart to fear Your Name.
I will praise You,
O Lord my God,
with all my heart.
And I will glorify Your Name forevermore."
Yes, Lord, This is my prayer as I begin this new adventure in The Secret Garden with You!
Make Your Presence known to me Lord...here in the "Secret Place of (Your) Tabernacle."
(Psalm 27:5)
"One thing I have desired of the Lord,
that will I seek;
That I may dwell in the
house of the Lord
all the days of my life
To behold the beauty of the Lord,
and to inquire in His temple.
For in the time of trouble
He shall hide me in His pavillion;
In the SECRET PLACE of His tabernacle
He shall hide me;
He shall set me high upon a rock.
And now my head shall be
lifted up above my enemies all around me;
Therefore I will offer
sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;
I will sing, yes I will sing
praises to the Lord."
Psalm 27:4-6
Thank You, Lord, for speaking to Me today. I am ready to do Your will! Amen.