Good Morning Garden

YOU HAVE BEEN on a long, uphill journey, and your energy is almost spent. Though you have faltered at times, you have not let go of My hand. I am pleased with your desire to stay close to Me. There is one thing, however, that displeases Me: your tendency to complain.

You may talk to Me as much as you like about the difficulty of the path we are following. I understand better than anyone else the stress and strains that have afflicted you. You can ventilate safely to Me, because talking with Me tempers your thoughts and helps you to see things from My perspective.

Complaining to others is another matter altogether. It opens the door to deadly sins such as self-pity and rage. Whenever you are tempted to grumble, Come to Me and talk it out. As you open up to Me, I will put My thoughts in your mind and My song in your heart.

Philippians 2:14-15       Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.

Michael & Alison Smitherman

The Singing NetSurfers

I will sing to my Lord as long as I live, I will sing

praise to my God while I have my being.

One form of darkness that plagues us is grumbling and complaining to others about our circumstances. As does all darkness, griping creates opportunities for more darkness such as self-pity, scorn, condemnation and rage. Of course, the antidote to this darkness is turning outward to God’s light.

When we open up to God with our difficulties, light begins to enter the darkness and will overcome it. The light of tolerance, patience, understanding and peace. will replace the self-centered darkness of intemperance and bitterness. Then we can let go of our complaint because God has opened our eyes and hearts to the joy that awaits us through God’s love and protection. Then we can rejoice in all things with God’s thoughts in our mind and God’s song in our hearts.

Turning to God,

Z gardener

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WORSHIP ME ONLY. I am King of kings and Lord of lords, dwelling in unapproachable Light. I am taking care of you! I am not only committed to caring for you, but I am also absolutely capable of doing so. Rest in Me, My weary one, for this is a form of worship.

My invitation never changes: Come to Me, all you who are weary, and I will give you rest. Worship Me by resting peacefully in My Presence.

Matthew 11:28    “Come to me, all you who are weary and heaven laden, and I will give you rest.”

Michael & Alison Smitherman

The Singing NetSurfers

I will sing to my Lord as long as I live, I will sing

praise to my God while I have my being.

Whatever our burden, wherever we find ourselves, regardless of our circumstances, God is taking care of us. The light of God’s love is filling us with all we need. There is nothing that can overcome this love and this light. No, neither pain, sickness, even death can not separate us from this love and light. All we have to do is let the light in and to trust God’s love in all things.

As we face our own darkness in this season of anticipation, as we prepare for the coming of the light, Father, let us feel the peace of your love. Remind us that you are taking care of us, and give us rest and joy in your presence.

Feeling God,

Z gardener

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IN ORDER TO HEAR MY VOICE, you must release all your worries into My care. Entrust to Me everything that concerns you. This clears the way for you to seek My Face unhindered. Let Me free you from fear that is hiding deep inside you. Sit quietly in My Presence, allowing My Light to soak into you and drive out any darkness lodged within you.

Accept each day just as it comes to you, remembering that I am sovereign over your life. Rejoice in this day that I have made, trusting that I am abundantly present in it. Instead of regretting or resenting the way things are, thank Me in all circumstances. Trust Me and don’t be fearful; thank Me and rest in My sovereignty.

1 Peter 5:6-7  Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Michael & Alison Smitherman

The Singing NetSurfers

I will sing to my Lord as long as I live, I will sing

praise to my God while I have my being.

In keeping with our Advent reflections, today’s meditation illuminates a path free of the darkness we are to cast away during this season of preparation. As we follow this path, God’s light drives out the darkness. It is not we who overcome darkness, but God’s presence manifesting his light through our trust and faith. 

When we trust God we will not be fearful. When we thank God we will rest in his power. When we rejoice and thank God for all things, we will see God’s shining face unhindered and darkness will be overcome with light

Trusting the light.

Z gardener

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LET THANKFULNESS RULE in your heart. As you thank Me for blessings in your life, a marvelous thing happens. It is as if scales fall off your eyes, enabling you to see more and more of My glorious riches. With your eyes thus opened, you can help yourself to whatever you need from my treasure house. Each time you receive one of My golden gifts, let your thankfulness sing out praises to My Name. “Hallelujahs” are the language of heaven, and they can become the language of your heart.

A life of praise and thankfulness becomes a life filled with miracles. Instead of trying to be in control, you focus on Me and what I am doing. This is the power of praise: centering your entire being in Me. This is how I created you to live, for I made you in My own image. Enjoy abundant life by overflowing with praise and thankfulness.

Colossians 3:15      Let the peace of Christ rule your hearts. . . . and be thankful.

Michael & Alison Smitherman

The Singing NetSurfers

I will sing to my Lord as long as I live, I will sing

praise to my God while I have my being.

May thankfulness rule in our hearts and open our eyes to see all of God’s glorious gifts this day and every day, Amen.

Z gardener

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THIS IS THE DAY THAT I HAVE MADE! As you rejoice in this day of life, it will yield up to you precious gifts and beneficial training. Walk with Me along the high road of thanksgiving, and you will find all the delights I have made ready for you.

To protect your thankfulness, you must remember that you reside in a fallen world, where blessings and sorrows intermingle freely. A constant focus on adversity defeats many Christians. They walk through a day that is brimming with beauty and brightness, seeing only the grayness of their thoughts. Neglecting the practice of giving thanks has darkened their minds. 

How precious are My children who remember to thank Me at all times. They can walk through the darkest days with Joy in their hearts because they know that the Light of My Presence is still shining on them. Rejoice in this day that I have made, for I am your steadfast companion.       

Psalm 118:24         This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Michael & Alison SmithermanThe Singing NetSurfers

I will sing to my Lord as long as I live, I will sing

praise to my God while I have my being.

There have been so many days in which rejoicing seemed absurd or inappropriate. To be clear, the instruction to rejoice does not apply to the negative circumstance itself, but more to the fact that God is always with us and will take any pain, any setback, any tragedy and turn it into a blessing. That is what we are truly rejoicing. 

Of course, we are also to be grateful for all of God’s blessings such a faith, family and friends. However, the greatest joy for which to be thankful is that God’s shining love is always with us and will overcome any obstacle to our peace, joy and hope. And that is the central reason to rejoice and be glad for all things. 

Let us rejoice,

Z gardener

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After George Washington authorized the first Thanksgiving Day in 1789, 74 years passed without another such day of thanks.  Then Abraham Lincoln established the holiday as an annual event in American life.  His Thanksgiving Proclamation is worth reading again today:

And so, from our home and our hearts to yours, have a very blessed Thanksgiving Day.

“God commanded us to “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

May the God of all power and mercy open our eyes to the blessings we have and give us a grateful heart for God’s love and bounty.

Giving thanks,

Z gardener

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THANK ME FREQUENTLY as you journey through today. This practice makes it possible to pray without ceasing, as the apostle Paul taught. If you are serious about learning to pray continually, the best approach is to thank Me in every situation. These thankful prayers provide a solid foundation on which you can build all your other prayers. Moreover, a grateful attitude makes it easier for you to communicate with Me.

When your mind is occupied with thanking Me, you have no time for worrying or complaining. If you practice thankfulness consistently, negative thought patterns will gradually grow weaker and weaker. Draw near to Me with a grateful heart, and My Presence will fill you with Joy and Peace.

Romans 15:13        May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Michael & Alison Smitherman

The Singing NetSurfers

I will sing to my Lord as long as I live, I will sing

praise to my God while I have my being.

During this week our thoughts focus on all we have for which to be thankful. But please remember, that as we count all our blessings, our thankfulness should also extend to those things that we would rather do without.

It is easier to thank God for our positive blessings and gifts. However, it is even more important to give thanks for the hurts and pains we endure as humans. For there is no hurt or pain that can overcome God’s desire that we be the very best we can be; even, and especially, when that best good comes wrapped as losses or setbacks.

So, let us be thankful this day, this week and every day for all that life brings our way. Then the blessings of God almighty will shower us with the most precious of all gifts; to live in joy and hope each day. Regardless!

Thank you, Father,

Z gardener

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THANKFULNESS takes the sting out of adversity. That is why I have instructed you to give thanks for everything. There is an element of mystery in this transaction: You give Me thanks (regardless of your feelings), and I give you joy (regardless of your circumstances). This is a spiritual act of obedience–at times, blind obedience.

To people who don’t know me intimately, it can seem irrational and even impossible to thank me for heart-rending hardship. Nonetheless, those who obey Me in this way are invariably blessed, even though difficulties may remain.

Thankfulness opens your heart to My Presence and your mind to My thoughts. You may still be in the same place, with the same set of circumstances, but it is as if a light has been switched on, enabling you to see from My perspective. It is the Light of My Presence that removes the sting from adversity.

Ephesians 5:20       Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Michael & Alison Smitherman

The Singing NetSurfers

I will sing to my Lord as long as I live, I will sing

praise to my God while I have my being.

Thankfulness allows us to see things with new eyes. No, we are not thankful that someone we love is sick or has passed away.  We are to be thankful that God is with us, and them, no matter what the hurt or how great. We are to be thankful because it is the sure way to see God’s blessings that are hidden in our pain. 

And when we give thanks in all circumstances, God will reveal the blessing to us and will convert our sorrow to joy in some way we can not see with our merely human eyes. Then the tears will have no sting and the adversity will become a blessing.

In thanksgiving,

Z gardener

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