From the Porch to the Garden

I must have been around 9 or 10 years old at the time. I had been taking piano lessons and I was just learning to play more than one note at a time. The beauty of playing the piano and using both hands at once was just starting to unfold to my understanding and what an amazing revelation for my young mind it was.  

The preacher of the church we attended at the time gave a message earlier that day about Exalting the Lord and I remember asking what the word exalt meant as I had no clue back then.  After finding out out it was to proclaim, to make larger, to advance, I began to consider what in my young life was exalted and what wasn't.  I remember sitting on our front porch on a warm, Summer day and this little lyric was stuck in my head. It went like this...

I will sing to the Lord
and I will exalt Him
for the rest of my days
I will sing unto the Lord.

I wrote it out on a yellow piece of paper from a legal pad and as I sat and looked at those words, I felt His presence flow over me, sealing me to a degree although I had no idea what that was at the time. That original paper was lost soon after but I always remembered the lyric in my head because of the powerful visitation that came with it.

Fast forward more than 20 years later in 2004 and I had a little melody that was stuck in my head. Three little chords and no matter what I tried to put with it, nothing fit quite right.  The Holy Spirit (as He always does) nudged my memory and I recalled sitting on that porch that day all those years ago.  I inserted the words over the melody and it was a perfect match. A year later I released my first instrumental project called "Shade In the Desert".  On it was a short track called Sing to the Lord, the instrumental version of that song.  In 2009 I released a CD project and the title track was that song, Sing to The Lord. On occasion I will still pull out that simple chorus and use it at live worship events or in my personal worship time one on one with the Lord.

The days of that little boy sitting on that front porch can seem like such a distant memory at times. Some 30 years ago that much more naive and innocent little boy sat and yielded his imagination for the first time to a great big God he barely knew. There would have been no possible way that little boy could have foreseen his life's journey, his poor choices or even the months and years that he would put that talent and those gifts on the shelf out of rebellion to that very childlike declaration made all those years earlier, to sing for the rest of his days to the Lord... but God knew the little boy's heart. 

The sweet Holy Spirit foreknew my life's design.  He knew I would rebel, he knew I would run, he knew I would purposely push back against Himself but He still showed me nothing but perfect acceptance the entire time.   

In January I will turn 45 years of age. of course, many changes have come in those years. The one thing that still stays with me is the very familiar and gentle touch of the Holy Spirit. He does not sit and remind me of the times I failed or rebelled. He does not walk me back thru past mistakes again and again. No, instead like the amazing father He is, He sits with me and opens my memories like an old school photo albums as His smile of approval lights every corner of my mind and heart. He is so proud of me and what I have done with what He has given me and He reminds me constantly that I can do so much more beyond what I can currently comprehend or even dream about.

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Now stay with me here...

In 1912 there was an amature photographer who while waiting for some film to develop had a powerful life like vision of Mary visiting the empty tomb. He saw Mary go into a garden and talk with the risen Jesus. This so shook Him that he instantly went and wrote down the words and would soon after write the music for what we now know as the hymn "In The Garden".



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!

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It may be an amature photographer delevoping film or a little boy sitting on his front porch but whatever the situation you find yourself in today, don't kid yourself. The Holy Spirit is with you and able at a moment's notice to visit you and give you something that will change your entire life and sometimes the lives of many others as well.

Do not get discouraged, and don't believe for a second that you are too insignificant to matter. You may be a young child, a teenager, or in your later years, just remember that no matter your age, no matter your occupation, no matter your background, you DO matter and God is ready to do greater and far more than you could even consider with you and through you. 

As for me personally, I have recommitted myself to singing for the Lord several times over the years and again today I am active playing in churches, at live events and by request. My talents increase as time goes by but the beautiful touch..the gentle yet powerful breath of God is the same yesterday, today and forever more. That is what matters the most my friends.. His touch, His presence... there is no more of a noble pursuit, no greater of a cause to lay your life down for... than the manifestation of His Holy Presence. 

More soon,

M-