The Garden of Life...

Every once in awhile I try to post a few things jotted into my prayer journal recently. I think that would give a pretty good idea of how my mind has been running, and it seems appropriate on a Sunday. I think today's a good day for that...

I've been thinking of my life lately in terms of a "garden." I started thinking along those lines when Denise posted the lyrics to the song, "Sacred" in a recent post. The bridge says, "When I forget to drink from You, I can feel the banks harden. Lord, make me like a stream to feed the garden!... Wake up, little sleeper, the Lord God Almighty made your Mama keeper... so rise and shine..."
That resonated with me so deeply, I found myself carrying out the imagery into other lines... I thought about how Jesus Christ is the "Vinedresser," and about His parable of the seed and the soils... (which kind of soil describes my heart the best?)... I thought about how we are made to be like "trees planted by rivers of water, whose leaves do not wither, who produces fruit in season..." I thought about how my family is like a little garden God has planted and placed John and I in to tend it, which led me to think about Adam and Eve... I am made the keeper of this garden by the Master Gardener... which made me think about the parable of the talents... How am I using the gifts He has given to me? How well am I tending His garden?

Colourful Autumn Trees Reflected in Lake, and Planting of Cortaderia (Pampas Grass) at Lake Edge
So, in light of these thoughts I did jot down the verses and notes that I came across in my quiet times along these lines. Today at church I was reminded that all of this, all of the teaching we receive from God, along with the repentance that needs to occur and the things that need to be done or changed, only come with time. Lori has written about the discipline of meditation recently, and I think that is important for us with our busy lives today. For gardens to grow lush and fruitful, we need fertilizer, sunshine, rain, and ... time. What a precious commodity! Surely, a costly sacrifice. Our Sunday School teacher said today, "we miss out on this, because we rush in to the Word, we speak 'peace' to ourselves instead of waiting for true peace from the Father to come, and then we rush back out into our busy lives and wonder where the peace goes..." Jesus gives peace, "but not as the world gives." I am reminded of Madeleine L'engle's admonition, "the Holy Spirit is not an aspirin that we can digest anytime we feel like it." He is like the wind, He blows wherever He wishes... if I want to hear from Him, I'd better be ready and willing to pause, think, wait...


Rustic Gate in Deep Shade Under Tree, September, Sherborne Garden, Somerset
I want to be a lovely garden that is a fitting place to meet my God and walk with Him in daily, like Adam did, "in the cool of the day." I want the "gate" to my heart to be open to His presence. I want Him to be able to roam about the grounds freely, to "blow wherever He wishes," and I do not want to be ashamed for Him to view the landscape of my labor.

Nahum 1:2 "God is jealous."
Charles Spurgeon: "He is... jealous for our company... He loves us so much that He cares about our love [for Him]... O, that we may have grace this day to keep our hearts... for our Beloved alone!"


Black Metal Bench Underneath Tree in Wildflower Garden

Valley of Vision: "May I remember the dignity of my spiritual release, never be too busy to attend to my soul, never be so engrossed with time that I neglect things of eternity; thus may I not only live, but grow towards Thee..."

Ann: The God of the Psalms is the Listening God. He is the God who hears... He attends. God listens... God-followers are listeners... they pause and listen...
I rethink my life. It's a good day to turn away from the wrong road, this deaf, heartless busy-ness. I want to slow, to listen... and then it comes: But what if I get caught up again, swept away? Busy. Truth comes, too, reasurring. All life's roads allow u-turns... Turn around as often as you need to... I can choose to hush... God grows such things in His people."


Valley of Vision:
"Revive deep spirituality in my heart. Let me live near to the Great Shepherd and hear His voice... sin makes me forget You. Let the weeds that grow in my soul be cut at their roots. Make me know: I truly live only when I live to Thee. Only You can make me strong, holy, devout, and happy. Abide in me, gracious God."

Psalms 84:5-7 "Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca (lit.: "weeping"), they make it a spring. The rain also covers it with pools."
Spurgeon:
"We dig a well (or spring) but heaven fills it with rain. The means are connected with the end, but they do not of themselves produce it... the wells are useful reservoirs... labor is not lost, but yet it does not supercede divine help. Grace may be compared to rain for its purity, for its refreshing influence, for its coming from above, and for the sovereignty with which it is given or withheld.


John 7:37 "If anyone thirts, let him come to Me..."
Psalms 63:1 "My soul thirsts for You..."
Rev. 22:17 "Let him who thirsts come, whoever desires, let him take..."
John 4:14 "Whoever drinks of this water I shall give him what what will become in him a fountain of water springing up..."

I am a cloud without rain, and a pool without water. May God be merciful and send showers of blessing to fill the empty places.

Psalm 84:11-12 "The Lord will give grace and glory. No good thing does He withhold...
O Lord God of Hosts,
blessed is the man
who trusts in You."

thirst.
plow deep.
pray.
listen.
receive.
drink.
live.
water and refresh the garden.