Hello friends.
Welcome to the Refreshing Garden!
Let us take the time to sit a while, with teacup in hand, and listen well to the rhythms of life. Just as we create purposeful moments of rest, when we inhale and enjoy an outdoor garden, here we will spend time reflecting on and nurturing our inner gardens. We'll be inspired and encouraged through stories of people, proverbs, poetry and prayers.
I'm so glad you've joined me!
Today's fragrant word for our inner garden is Hope. As we listen in quietness to a poem and proverb, we learn how to embrace hope during life's journey, we are encouraged to begin planting hopeful seeds within our hearts and purposely (daily) watering these seeds, until we're flourishing as a whole being within our Mind-Spirit-Body. (see "Soul Garden Stories")
"The Lord will guide you always, He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land, and you will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail." Isaiah 58:11
Nurturing trust and thankfulness within our beings ......
Periodically, I will be sharing glimpses into the topics of Trust, Hope, Joy, Peace, Thankfulness, Kindness, Perseverance and more.
We will walk through poetry, proverbs and prayers as we navigate these topics.
"In quietness and trust is your strength..."
Book of Isaiah 30:15b
"The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore, my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him." Psalm 28:7
Thank you for joining me here! I hope you receive encouragement for your own pilgrim journey.
May you be blessed with quiet confidence and trust in the One who knows you best and who loves you with an everlasting Love.
Sunflowers:
How I smile whenever I see sunflowers!
They are simply the most cheerful faces in the garden! But even before they bloom, they are known to move in response to sunlight. As I researched these flowers, I learned that before they actually reveal their bright blooms that make us smile, their stems and leaves are responsive to light. I read that this heliotropic movement occurs during the vegetative plant growth stage, and after they bloom, at dawn each day, their beautiful faces turn again toward the east where the sun rises.
It makes me think of my own inner growth, and yours. May we too, respond to the warmth of the sunlight that covers our paths and look up with hopeful faces, knowing where our True source of growth and nourishment come from.
With love and prayers for your own good health,
In Hope,
- Michele
Isaiah 58:11
The gift and beauty of Friendship, Prayer & Support
What a gift it is to be purposeful in developing beautiful friendships; to enjoy the dance created by uplifting, joyful interactions with others. - Michele
The power and beauty of Prayer
I am forever grateful to all my family and dear friends, neighbors, business colleagues, and everyone who so lovingly prayed for me on my road to recovery from a cancer diagnosis!
Praying friends are such a gift! I am blessed with close friends who called to pray over me daily for wisdom, restoration and healing.
You know who you are! I thank God for this treasured gift from above.
I couldn't have walked this road in courage and strength without your daily kindness and wonderful prayers and support!
I'm very grateful to my family who prayed for me daily: my husband, sons, mother, brother, sis-in-love and other family members for whom I'm thankful. To my "chef hubby" for his culinary skills; creating delicious homemade soups, salads and healthy choices! Thank you! All of you have loved on me with care and grace and you've given me support in my healing journey! I am blessed.
My precious girlfriends who went above and beyond to encourage me! Even taking turns to sit with me during my 2-hour IV sessions, keeping me company with stories and laughter. Each of you are very dear to my heart. Thank you!
My two amazing friends, who drove from Florida to Georgia to cook for me! Your passionate hearts of caring are an incredible testimony to God's kindness and goodness! Thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge, experience & healthy recipes with me and my family. I am so grateful for your love and kindness, support and prayers.
My Manna Family, led by Arthur Farr, who prayed for me every week, as we got together via Zoom. Thank you to all 8 of you! For your prayers during the entire year; I couldn’t have kept strength of soul and mind in this journey without your beautiful prayer support, encouragement and love.
Our sweet friends at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church. Thank you all for your caring and faithful prayers.
To all my special neighbors and kind friends; each one of you stood by my side & hoped for healing with me and you smiled when noticing the different ribbons I tied to our neighborhood bench, as faith markers when I prayed! Your sweet check-ins, gifts and love expressed many times over, have been such a joy to me. Thank you!
On Prayer
C.S. Lewis quotes:
"Relying on God has to begin all over again every day as if nothing had yet been done."
"For prayer is request. The essence of request, as distinct from compulsion, is that it may or may not be granted."
"In silence and in meditation on the eternal truths, I hear the voice of God which excites our hearts to greater love."
"I pray because I can't help myself. I pray because I'm helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time, waking and sleeping. It doesn't change God. It changes me."
Psalm 121
My help comes from the Lord
A song of Ascents.