Refueling in the Garden

It's a Carolina-blue morning...even if we are a Duke Blue Devils family.   My hummingbird friend just hovered at the french doors as if to say, "You are late...my feeder's empty.  Get out here and fill it up!"  

This is the first summer I was aware that gorgeous yellow and black goldfinches shared my backyard.  They are busily finishing up the last of the dried coneflower seeds, since only a few purple flowers remain.  I only see the goldfinches in the morning and late afternoon; but before, I was too busy with work life to even notice.  Nature is amazing, when you slow down enough to appreciate it. 

All of the backyard birds are fueling up for their migration trek.  Their busyness points to the obvious...fall is coming soon.  The earth, plants, animals, and we humans need relief from the hot, dry days of summer.  Likewise, our relationship with God needs fueling up and renewal when we've become too busy to spend time with Him.  Let's face it, sometimes our prayer life gets stagnant.  There are times when it seems as if our prayers bounce off the ceiling, instead of reaching our intended destination...the throne of God.  

One way of drawing close to God is to sing praises to Him.  God loves it when we sing to Him, and He doesn't care if you don't have a beautiful voice.  The Bible says make a joyful "noise" unto the Lord.  I love contemporary Christian music and praise choruses, but I also love some of the old hymns.  The words to the following hymn came to me unexpectedly this morning.  I can hear my Mama's alto voice singing the words, and it brings comfort to my soul.

I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.

Refrain:
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

He speaks, and the sound of His voice,
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.

(Repeat Refrain)
I'd stay in the garden with Him
Though the night around me be falling,
But He bids me go; through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling.

(Repeat Refrain)

Has your relationship with God become a little distant and stagnant?  Ask Him today for renewed joy and restoration of your relationship.  Maybe you've never had a personal relationship with God and His Son, Jesus.  He loved you enough to die for you, and He's only a prayer away. 


John 3:16:  "For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have life eternal."-NASB

        

Copyright 2011 Charlotte Laney