Last night I went to our church we were having a Livingroom worship night, it’s a smaller, intimate group gathering coming together to worship the LORD and for prayer. As the worship team led us in worship, singing this new song it’s called Communion, I sang and listened to the words…and when we sang the word “garden” the Holy Spirit brought to my attention how that four days ago during this 21 day fast, he said to me, “For the next 3 days all I want you to read is the book of Genesis.” I thought really, Lord, you want me to read Genesis? I’ve read that story more than a hundred times over my life time, it’s all about how you created the world, the sun, moon and stars…how you made plants and animals, rivers, seas, oceans, sky etc., but I was obedient. I read about how the world was formed and how that God created a garden for Adam and Eve to live in and how he walked with them in this garden, in the cool of the day…but one day he couldn’t find Adam and he called, “Adam, where are you?” Oh, how that must have hurt the heart of God. Adam no longer ran with expectation to be with his heavenly father…no, he hid himself. God knew why…but he called all the same…
So, the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart as we sang the song and he said, “Do you know why I wanted you to read Genesis?” I said, “No Lord, why?” He said, “Because I wanted to spend time with you in my garden. I long to be with you and listen to your voice and then speak to you in turn. I long to know that you want me as much as I want you and I wanted you to be less distracted so that you would give me your full attention and you’d see me in the garden, calling out to you.” “Marla, where are you, and I’d realize you were right there with me.””
I lost it and begin crying and thanking God because he made himself real to me by using his word and by using this amazing song…and then speaking to me in that moment letting me know just why he wanted me to be there. It wasn’t about reading Genesis; it was about being with my heavenly father. He longs to meet with you too. Where are you? Are you hidden away by life’s distractions? Are you running so hard and fast that you can’t hear His voice? Are other things so much more important? Listen to the song below…God wants to meet you in the garden…you see there is no longer cherubim with flaming swords, blocking the entrance. Jesus made it possible for us to come into the very presence of God when he died and rose from the dead. He gives us full access wherever we are so that by faith we can enter the Holy of Holies…and spend time with Him in the garden! Let God speak to you, listen for his still small voice, he’s calling out your name… “Where are you?”
“I’m right here Papa, and I’m not letting anything interfere with our time together.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91hHw1YPqxE
~Marla Shaw O’Neill, January 21, 2020
Genesis 2:8 New Life Version (NLV)
The Lord God planted a garden to the east in Eden. He put the man there whom He had made.
Lyrics:
[Intro: Steffany Gretzinger]
We are returning
To the place we’ve always belonged
Righted here with You
[Verse 1: Steffany Gretzinger]
Take me back to the garden
Lead me be back to moment I heard Your voice
Take me back to communion
Lead me back to the moment I saw Your face
[Pre-Chorus: Steffany Gretzinger]
And it was all so simple
It was easy to love
No space between us
It was easy to trust
[Chorus: Steffany Gretzinger]
‘Cause You are closer, closer than my skin
And You are in the air I’m breathing in (Yes, You are)
And here’s where the dead things come back to living
I feel my heart beating again
Feels so good to know You are my friend
[Verse 2: Brandon Lake]
And this is the garden
Here in the place I find You close
This is communion
Here in the place I’m fully known
[Pre-Chorus: Brandon Lake]
And it was all so simple
You’re so easy to love
And no space between us
You’re so easy to trust
[Chorus: Brandon Lake & Steffany Gretzinger]
You are closer, closer than my skin (Yes, You are)
And You are in the air I’m breathing in
And here’s where the dead things come back to living
I feel my heart beating again
Feels so good to know You are my friend
[Spontaneous: Brandon Lake]
My friend, my friend yeah
It’s where I’m meant to be
[Bridge: Brandon Lake, Brandon Lake & Steffany Gretzinger]
This is where I’m meant to be (Right here)
Me in You and You in me
And I don’t have to prove a thing
You’ve already approved of me
This is where I’m meant to be
Me in You and You in me
And I don’t have to prove a thing (I don’t, I don’t)
You’ve already approved of me
‘Cause this is where I’m meant to be
Me in You and You in me
(And I don’t have) And I don’t have to prove a thing
You’ve already approved of me
(This is where) This is where I’m meant to be
Me in You and You in me
And I don’t have to prove a thing
You’ve already approved of me
[Chorus: Brandon Lake & Steffany Gretzinger]
‘Cause You are closer, closer than my skin
And You are in the air I’m breathing in
And here’s where the dead things come back to living
I feel my heart beating again
It feels so good to know You are my friend
[Spontaneous: Steffany Gretzinger]
There’s nothing like Your friendship
There’s nothing like this friendship with You, with You, with You
We are returning
We are returning
To the desire of Your heart
We are returning
We are returning
We are returning
To the desire of Your heart
Yes, we are
We are returning, ohh
We are returning, we’re coming back home
We are returning, ohh
We are returning
Oh, we are returning
Oh, we’re coming after You
We are returning (Here’s my heart, God)
We are returning
Oh, and we’ll never look back
We are returning, ohhh
We are returning (Oh)
We’re coming back to You
We are returning (Here’s my heart, God)
We are returning
We are returning (Yeah, yeah, yeah)
[Tag: Steffany Gretzinger & Brandon Lake]
(Here’s where the dead things) ‘Cause here’s where the dead things come back to living
I feel my heart beating again
(Here’s where the dead things) Here’s where the dead things come back to living
I feel my heart beating again
Here’s where the dead things come back to living
I feel my heart beating again
It feels so good to know You are my friend
[Spontaneous: Brandon Lake]
Mm-mm
Yeah, yeah, yeah
I didn’t know I could have a friend like You
Mm-mm, I didn’t know I could have a friend like You
So good, You’re so good
I didn’t know I could have a friend like You
Closer than a brother, close than a brother
I didn’t know that I could have a friend like You
I didn’t think that I deserved it
I didn’t know I could have a friend like You
You keep blowing me away
I didn’t know I could have a friend like You
Just the voices, one more time
I didn’t know that I could have a friend like You
[Chorus: Brandon Lake]
‘Cause You are closer, closer than my skin
And You are in the air I’m breathing in
And here’s where the dead things come back to living
I feel my heart beating again
It feels so good to know You are my friend
[Interlude]
[Verse 3: Chandler Moore]
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer
O what peace we often forfeit
And O what needless pains we bear
It’s all because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer
[Spontaneous: Chandler Moore]
I didn’t know that I could have a friend like You
I didn’t know that I could have a friend like You
One who holds me close in shame
I didn’t know that I could have a friend like You
One who’s a better friend than I could ever be
I didn’t know that I could have a friend like You
[Outro: Chandler Moore]
(Here’s where) Here’s where the dead things come back to living
I feel my heart beating again (It’s coming alive now)
Here’s where the dead things come back to living
I feel my heart beating again (I’m not numb anymore)
Here’s where the dead things come back to living
I feel my heart beating again
(Here’s where) Here’s where the dead things come back to living
I feel my heart beating again
(It feels so good) It feels so good to know You are my friend
