The Garden of the Heart

Image by Miroslav Kaclík from Pixabay

As a special treat for my Faith Cafe visitors, here’s a fresh take on Psalm 23:

In the garden of the heart, where shadows fade,
I walk with the Beloved, who never leads astray.
He is the shepherd, gentle and wise,
His love, like a river, flows through the skies.
The pastures of grace are green and wide,
I rest in His presence, where peace will reside.
Still waters call, soft and serene,
In His embrace, I am cleansed, I am seen.
Though the valley of darkness may stretch its might,
I fear no shadow, for He is my light.
His staff and His rod, steady in hand,
Guide me with wisdom, through this shifting land.
Image by Kati from Pixabay
No hunger nor thirst shall find me here,
For the table He sets, overflows with cheer.
Anointing my soul with oil of bliss,
I drink from His cup, a cup of endless kiss.
In the house of the Beloved, I shall stay,
Where love is the lamp that lights my way.
From moment to moment, from breath to breath,
I walk in His grace, defying death.
In the arms of the Shepherd, I am whole,
For He leads me home, to the garden of soul.
Image by Susann Mielke from Pixabay

(In case you’re wondering who wrote this lovely poem, it was the result of my tooling around with ChatGPT!)

© 2025 Lori J. Cartmell. All rights reserved.

Running Away

Image by lisa runnels from Pixabay

If you want to know how to get into a proper snit, ask a four-year-old.

I would know.

When I was around that age, I got in a snit about something my Dad had done or wouldn’t let me do.

So I decided to teach him a lesson.

I announced to my Dad, “I’m going to run away from home!”

He replied with a barely suppressed smile, “I’ll help you pack!”

This got me even madder. I bundled some belongings in a bandana and tied it to a stick to prepare for my journey (I must have seen this in a cartoon). I then stormed out of the house dramatically.

I stomped around the backyard for a while to make my point. Eventually, though, I got hungry and had to go back inside for dinner. (Where humble pie was no doubt on the menu.)

What lesson did I learn?

That even though I was mad at my Dad, he provided everything I needed. I had to go back to him. Where else could I go?

In the same way, sometimes we’re unhappy with the way our Heavenly Father is arranging things in our lives.

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Your Internal Voice Recognition Software

Adele live in concert, Glasgow, 2016. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-2.0

Sometimes your eyes may fool you, but your ears know the truth.

A group of Adele impersonators found this out back in 2015.

They had gathered for a contest to choose who could best imitate the British singer Adele. The competition was filmed as a supposed BBC TV special, hosted by Graham Norton.

There was a catch, however. It wasn’t really a contest, but rather a set-up.

Unbeknownst to the other participants, the real Adele had gone undercover and had entered the competition as well. A movie effects specialist had disguised the superstar’s appearance with a fake nose and chin so that people wouldn’t recognize her. She introduced herself as “Jenny,” a nanny.

One by one, the contestants performed a song. Each had done her make-up to look like the real Adele. And some did a passable impression of her vocally, too.

Then, “Jenny” began to sing.

Once she opened her mouth and sang in her trademark style, the other “Adeles” were riveted. They got emotional as goosebumps ran up their arms. It soon dawned on them that it was actually their idol singing, not some anonymous nanny (watch the video of their reactions here).

There was no mistaking who it was anymore, even if she was in disguise.

Simply put, they knew her voice.

Did you know that, if you’re a believer, you have a similar ability within you? You have an internal “voice recognition software” that enables you to recognize Jesus’ voice.

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You Already Have What It Takes!

Shepherd using his staff to guide sheep
Photo by Jim Black on Pixabay

Have you ever thought that God could never use you in His service?

That you’re unqualified because you don’t have any special skills or talents?

Moses thought the same way.

God called him to lead the people of Israel out of slavery in Egypt, but Moses thought he wasn’t qualified to do so. He came up with excuse after excuse as to why he shouldn’t be chosen. He clearly felt that he didn’t have what it took.

But God can use us even when we feel ill-equipped. He takes us as we are and can use whatever we have at hand, no matter how meagre it seems.

In Moses’ case, God used a simple wooden stick.

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