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So you and I are living between the gardens . . .

A very long, long time after the Garden of Eden, of course

And more than 2,000 years after the Garden of Gethsemane, of course . . . both of which we have recently considered. (links below)

. . . but before the Garden is Restored, as it one day will be ~ Revelation 22.

So-o-o-o, what? What is the implication of where we find ourselves? I'm a sort who reads a Bible passage, listens to a sermon or podcast and says, 'Okay, I get it, and I believe it, but is there anything I should do about it ... is there an action I am meant to take?' So - - in light of living between the original garden where we were meant to live - in Paradise - and where we will live eternally... is there an action I am meant to take, here and now? The answer is yes!

First, as it was with Adam and Eve, so it is with you and me - we were created for and meant to have face-to-face relationship with our Creator. In a sense, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young had it right: we've got to get ourselves back to the Gar-ar-ar-den. Unless we do, we are never quite right.

Jesus put a premium on garden time . . . time spent alone talking with his father. Hmmm, if Jesus, Son of God, had a felt need and also a desire to spend time alone praying to the Father, how much more do we?! Note to self: look at Jesus' priorities and then copy them.

>Jesus had a place of prayer, sometimes it was in the wilderness, on a mountain, in a garden - but a SET APART place.

>Jesus assumed a posture of prayer. Posture often aligns our hearts and minds with God's purposes. When Jesus agonized in prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, he fell with his face to the ground.

>Jesus gave us a key reason to pray when he was in Gethsemane- that we would not be led into temptation. Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.1 The words are in red, 'cause Jesus said them, and that makes them important. Just asking, "Do you pray you will not fall into temptation, that your children will not?"

Our life between the Gardens is best lived when we talk with God regularly. Prayer is a great gift from God, Friends - this I know. And one more thing I know -- distractions are all around us, so it takes discipline to make the time to get alone, be still, and be with God each day. We do not feel close to anyone if we do not spend time together; it is no different with God.

When my children ask me to do something for them, I do whatever it takes to make it happen - to get what they need, and usually what they want. Notice what Jesus said: "You parents-if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him."2

Sure would be a shame to miss out on a great relationship with God... 'a shame to miss out on the good gifts he has for us, if we but ask him . . . aye, if we would just pray. SO. . . why not give him the first minutes of your day . . . I will be in my Garden. Want to meet me there? WHAT do you say?

Christine

PastorWoman.net

1 - Matthew 26.41

2 - Matthew 7.9-11