Sing me a song

' Remember my son, that in your lifetime you were given all the good things while Lazarus got all the bad things' Luke 16:25

'While Lazarus lay at the gates of the rich mans house begging for food, the rich man ignored him, feasting his dogs instead. ' I think of these words in the context of the elderly with dementia who live on our doorsteps. Many a time in aged care ministry I saw over and over again the neglect, neglect in abandonment. ' Why visit' I heard relatives and friend say, 'they don't know me any more.' There is rich and meaningful blessings in visiting with these folk. Reminiscing with visible aids such as photos and memorabilia from their past will be triggers of conversation and connection, these may only be brief and then forgotten but they leave a glow , a warmth,in the heart of those visited .

The Pioneer Girls leaders handbook says:

A friend hears the song in my heart

and sings it to me when my memory fails.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne

the sacramental nature

'For the beauty of the earth, for the beauty of the skies, for the love which from our birth, over and around us lies. Christ our God to you we raise this our sacrifice of praise.' TIS 137

Nice words to a nice hymn or is it more than that.

I notice again the buds are bursting on the Japonica, full and red and there are bunches of deep blue violets beneath the Daphne and the plumb tree is sporting early spring blossoms, all so much more vivid and perfumed in the early mooring while the dew is still on them. And the sky at night filled with millions of stars and that moon! What a wonder its been in all its fullness and glory. But more so, what a wonder when we notice all this through the eyes of God, the creator.

Ron Ferguson from the Iona community writes:

To become aware of the sacramental nature of the cosmos,

to be open to the sacramental possibilities of each moment,

to see the face of Christ in every person,

these things are not novel

but the rediscovery is the beginning of our health.

To that I add stop, take the time to see the face of God and benefit his rich blessings.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne

Spreading the gospel

' I want you to know, beloved, that what has happened to me has actually helped to spread the gospel.' Phil 1:12

I think of us all and how we have got to where we are, Christian believers, servants of Christ.
I think of 'the road,' the journey, that has lead us to a solid faith, one so convincing that we cant help but spread it everywhere we go and particularly in the areas immediately around us and with those we reach out to with the love of Christ.

I was listening to the garden show on the radio and they were talking about a particular weed that develops a seed pod and once you touch its seeds they go 'wooooosh', up in the air and outwards and land all over the ground around them.' The name of the weed is 'jumping Jesus.'

What an imagery. What a parable.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne