The Inner Garden

There is an inner garden
Unseen but not unknown
Watered with our worship
Our God calls it His home
He longs for us to meet Him
There in prayer each day
In stillness and in silence
To listen to His ways
He waits for us each morning
Inviting us to bring
Our wonders and our worries,
Every little thing
He takes our needs in hand
And as we linger there
We start to see that He
Is greater than our cares
Tended, gardens grow
Neglected, gardens fail
With time, faith will flourish
With absence, love grows pale
So cultivate this garden
Rest with God alone
Come near and hear His heartbeat
His Presence is our home. ~ Alicia Britt Chole

WHAT ABOUT SATURDAY?

“And they returned and prepared spices and ointments and rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment, Luke 23:56

The Saturday of Holy Week is that day sandwiched between “Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday.  It is the transitional time between doubt and faith. It is a bridge between tragedy and triumph when there is no choice but to cope with what is in between.  It’s that gray day of uncertainty about what’s going to happen next and how things will work out. God willing, we can deal with Saturday!!

Jesus said, “I’m going to be handed over to the enemy.” “I am going to be crucified.” “The Elders are going to deliver me up.” But then also said, “Don’t be concerned about all of that because on the third day I will be raised!!  He told them, “Yes, I’m going to be crucified.” “Yes. I’m going to die.”  But for some reason that’s all they heard. Maybe it was because after everything negative had spoken, they couldn’t hear the truth of what God was saying.

Isn’t that what happens to us? Life speaks discouragement and negativity and we listen intently as if it has the last word. Sometimes, it’s the doctor who speaks words we rather not hear, the funeral director speaks, the judge speaks, pain speaks, heartbreak speaks, the bill collector speaks, jobs speak, spouses speak, friends speak, and even our children speak. And with all that speaking, somehow we miss what God is saying!! But make no mistake; God is always saying something–even on Saturday to remind us in our waiting, worrying and wondering – God is still working!!

Saturday will remain that transitional time between Friday and Sunday. But will it be for you, a day of angst and uncertainty or a day of Sabbath rest? Saturday is not dark and gray—cloudy or uncertain. It is live and in living color. It is a time of anticipation and celebration in honor of the Love that would not let us go!!!  In fact the promise is,

Saturday is the day that the Lord has made.  Let’s rejoice and be glad in it because our   SAVIOR LIVES and because HE LIVES—we live to  face our tomorrows!!