A Walk Through God’s Garden - by Rev’d Paul Collings

Artwork and Verse by Rev’d Paul Collings

The fragrance of the cedars of Lebanon 

Hosea 14:5-6 I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like a lily. Like a cedar of Lebanon he will send down his roots; his young shoots will grow. His splendour will be like an olive tree, his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon.

Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us, and has given himself for us as an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour.

There stands unbowed the cedar tree

With noble boughs stretched wide and free,

Its perfume sweet that fills the air 

And with creation there declare,

How you our maker touch us, reach,

Love’s essence spread, your love to teach.

The promised perfume of your grace,

That shelters us from harm we  face

Is spread by shoots of loving kind

And roots sent deep, good food to find,

That we might flourish and in turn

Blossom, grow, your calm discern.

You call me, Lord, in love to walk

And give as in your life’s crosstalk

A sacrificial offering bring,

An aromatic sweetening thing

That spans the gulf ‘tween heaven and earth,

Of richest choice and lasting worth.

At the end of our lives we hope we will look back and, like an incense stick completely burned away, will have poured forth all our fragrance into the world.

Prem Prakash