Book Giveaway, Day Twenty-four

Photos courtesy Aaron Thorson copyright 2012

Awake, O north wind,

And come, wind of the south;

Make my garden breathe out fragrance....

Song of Solomon 4:16 

This morning a cold, cold wind blew out from the north. Winter is on its death march through my garden again this year. As the last stubborn plants die outside, the flowers I brought in early to the greenhouse are still blooming.

Aaron built the little building a few years ago with the old windows we took out of the house. Last year, when these pictures were taken, geraniums bloomed all winter and still were ready to be put out in the garden next spring. I loved dashing through the snow to the greenhouse and instantly breathing in the warm, humid air.

My paradise smells faintly of potting soil.

The greenhouse in 2011

This year, we've not had any snow yet. But the little glass house is filled with even more plants and cozied in for the winter.

Today I'm thankful for places of refuge like my greenhouse. God gives us rest and restoration from the world in family, homes, and friends.

But relationships can disappoint us; our homes can be lost; material comforts can be swept away. Weathering life can be nasty. That's why God has given us the ultimate place of refuge in His Son. And in His Word, we find an impenetrable place of safety. Secure within its walls, we thrive in the perfect conditions for growing a human spirit. As the storms of life rage around us, we bloom for the One who cares for us as only a master gardener can:

Soul renewed; Eden reborn.

Don't forget to enter the giveaway for a free, hardcover copy of Song in the Night. There are four ways to enter the book giveaway:  leave me a comment,  "like" us on Facebook SongInTheNight.net  become a member of this blog, or send me an e-mail at thesong2008@live.com.

Song in the Night is the true account of our son's devastating spinal cord injury in 1997, the fight to keep the doctor from pulling the plug, and God's subsequent miraculous work in our lives. You will be encouraged and inspired by our story.