I Come to the Garden Alone

June 8, 2007

One of my favorite songs has always been I Come to the Garden Alone

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, 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,
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.

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.
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...

When I consider what it means to walk with Him.. and the times of prayer and communion, this is the song that comes to mind. When I was young, I would literally go out into the field or woods and find quiet spots to be alone with Him.. to pray and to listen. Now when I can't do that, there is that quiet place within my heart and it becomes that Garden where I hear His gentle voice and I pray for others.

I've created this journal to write down thoughts and places the Lord has touched. Its been over 30 years of knowing Him as my Lord and Savior and Friend. I hope I can keep this as unto Him and not write considering what anyone else might think.

Yesterday afternoon was very strange. I felt God's presence in such a powerful way all afternoon.. nearly constantly praying and not knowing about what. I told Suzi that for the first time in a long long time, I said again.. Here am I, Lord.. send me.... and said "use me".. a LONG time since I've done that. I've thought recently about how time is so easily wasted. Here I am at 65 and what am I doing with these days. A man in a butcher shop said to me one day... I'm numbering my days... I thought how important that is.. to number our days.. make them really count. What in my life could be more important than numbering those days before Him.

For a long time I've stayed "on my porch".. unable or unwilling to go down and touch those around me with His touch. Person after person came to mind with such need and hurt.. It touched my heart and I couldn't help but think how God's heart must hurt as He sees His children in such messes and such pain. What is it "the fields are white unto harvest.. and where are the laborers? in at the banqueting tables...

I told Suzi I think what He's talking to me about is more, powerful intercession. That night I read the daily devotion in Oswald Chamber's book. MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST . and it said

"Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do . . . —John 14:13

Am I fulfilling this ministry of intercession deep within the hidden recesses of my life? There is no trap nor any danger at all of being deceived or of showing pride in true intercession. It is a hidden ministry that brings forth fruit through which the Father is glorified. Am I allowing my spiritual life to waste away, or am I focused, bringing everything to one central point— the atonement of my Lord? Is Jesus Christ more and more dominating every interest of my life? If the central point, or the most powerful influence, of my life is the atonement of the Lord, then every aspect of my life will bear fruit for Him."

Wow - I am always thrilled when God allows me to mouth off about something, pray about something and then I find a confirmation somewhere like this. Like Him telling me - you did hear Me!!

and..."Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do . . . ." The disciple who abides in Jesus is the will of God, and what appears to be his free choices are actually God's foreordained decrees. Is this mysterious? Does it appear to contradict sound logic or seem totally absurd? Yes, but what a glorious truth it is to a saint of God." WOW

and
"If you yourself do not cut the lines that tie you to the dock, God will have to use a storm to sever them and to send you out to sea. Put everything in your life afloat upon God, going out to sea on the great swelling tide of His purpose, and your eyes will be opened. If you believe in Jesus, you are not to spend all your time in the calm waters just inside the harbor, full of joy, but always tied to the dock. You have to get out past the harbor into the great depths of God, and begin to know things for yourself— begin to have spiritual discernment."

Makes me laugh with joy in my heart. I love God's touch on my life. I love His presence. When I consider myself a vessel, I can see who I am... and think I am shy, a weak vessel, but I contain pure Gold... Him and His Word. So exciting. I remember a preacher saying so many years ago .. we must decrease that He may increase.. I've always remembered whenever things happen that are so wonderful.... its "Him, not me"