A little old lady visited Honey Lake Plantation the other day and when she entered our church came to tears. She was a little embarrassed and tried to dab at them and emotionally said, “I’m sorry, but I was just really moved when I entered this beautiful place”. I told her not to worry and don’t be embarrassed. I told her that I experienced similar feelings virtually every time I enter it.
A couple of days later some people came over late in the evening and my wife and I gave them a tour of the property. They oohed and ahhed at the pristine woodlands, the magnificent Gathering Hall with its massive white columns and view of Lakes Obo and Hay Hay La La. They remarked about the centuries old stately live oak trees draped in Spanish moss, and at the towering pines located in the midst of lovely native grasses, and they appreciated the various white and green buildings, including the Lakeside Pavilion, lodge, cottages, spa, pool, fitness center, & salon.
I saved my favorite place, (the church) for last. Predictably they were visibly taken aback when they entered it and saw the century old stained glass windows, pews, and the polished heart pine floors and tongue and grove walls. They gazed through the three massive windows with rugged crosses in their centers and the sun was going down and it seemed that the entire sky had turned crimson red and its reflection was shimmering back at us like millions of twinkling fiery rubies across Honey Lake. One of them remarked that she would enjoy being able to come to the church each day and just sit for a while and then she asked if we ever did that. I told her it was one of my favorite places to pray and I visited it often.
There is something to be said about finding special places to pray and meditate. Jesus did it. My wife and I visited the Garden of Gethsemane located at the base of the Mount of Olives when we visited Israel a couple of years ago. Talk about a moving experience. The ancient Garden is gorgeous and many of the trees in it are said to be 2000 years old. I could envision Jesus praying there which He did often, Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, He said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” Luke 22:39
Undeservedly so, I am blessed in so many ways I cannot enumerate them and I thank God virtually every day for His awesome grace. One of His finest blessings was to allow me to live on Honey Lake Plantation for a while. Here at Honey Lake we are far from the city lights and traffic with its raging sirens, angry honking, and bumper to bumper commuters. When we gaze up into the inky black skies at night we see billions of stars sprinkled like diamonds across black velvet. We hear the lonesome sounds of whippoorwills and owls with their eerie hooting. And at daybreak the silence is broken by bobwhite quail whistles, roosters crowing, raucous crows chasing a hawk that screams its defiance back at them; all of which stirs up a turkey gobbler who enters the fray by gobbling his dissatisfaction of the entire situation. It is near impossible to go for a walk of any length without having a big smile on your face.
Hmmm… I think God gave us the Gethsemane example (and others), for a specific purpose. We should find a special serene and peaceful place where we are free from the distractions and the hustle and bustle of our harried modern day existence, and then settle in and talk to the Lord in quiet solitude. That is what praying really is you know. God forbade us from making flowery presentations or chanting repetitious prayers to Him. He wants serious one on one time with us talking to each other like father and son or daughter. Jesus is often referred to as “abba” in the Bible which is a term of endearment like Dad or Daddy. He is not far away tending to some cosmic mission in another galaxy. The Bible tells us that He is always with us, ready, willing, and able to help us solve even our darkest problems.
I believe He wants it not only for His own pleasure, but also for our own good. Prayer leaves me feeling more optimistic, refreshed, confident, encouraged, and certain that I can take on the problems of this world and accomplish great things on His behalf. Jesus told the disciples to pray lest they be overcome by temptation; He mentioned this also in the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus prayed and persevered. The disciples did not, and they failed. We should keep that foremost in our minds. Prayer often accompanied, (or, better), preceded very important events. Jesus was praying when the Holy Spirit descended upon Him at the outset of His public ministry (Luke 3:21). Jesus was in prayer when He was transfigured before the three disciples (Luke 9:29). Prayer is important and before we make that great presentation to a customer, commit to buying that home, take that next job, get married, vote for our troubled country’s next leaders, or whatever, we need to go to the Lord in prayer.
I hope you all have a great weekend. Go to church Sunday and find your special place to pray. If you can’t find one, come visit me. We have 4700 acres of them and you are welcome to sit in our most special place Honey Lake Church. (Don’t be surprised though if you see me already sitting there)…
Luke 22:46
Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me. Yet not my will but yours be done.