From where comes our strength

'Be to me a rock of refuge, a strong fortress.' Ps 71:3

I walked along Casey's Beach, looking at the sand and I looked up and saw a wall of huge rocks banked up along the shore line keeping the high tide and crashing waves from breaking out over the road and residences.

What a fortress, a strong hold, of protection.

And then into my mind came a arrow prayer. 'Lord, be to me always, protection, a solid rock to lean on, to stand on, a fortress against all that challenges me, confronts me, encroaches on me, threatens me as a child of yours.'

Like the rocks on the shoreline, God is our solid rock and keeping our eyes on him, nothing can break through and destroy.

Whats that hymn we sing?......................'on solid rock we stand, all else is sinking sand...........'

Anne, servant of the Lord

Blessings

wide wide as the ocean

' He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea.' Job 9:8

That verse comes to mind every time I look at the ocean, so vast, so wide that its horizon meets the sky and its edges wash the uncountable grains of sand and I want to sing, 'Wide wide as the ocean, high as the heavens above.........................is my Saviours love.

It gives me a sense that if God can encompass such a broad creation, and control it, with its beauty and its storms then we, his creation, are well included in his care through our beauty and our storms.

There is a saying:

I can face the waves for I trust the One who made the ocean.

Anne, servant of Jesus

Blessings

acorns

' If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea and it would obey you.' Luke 17:6

I stopped under a mighty oak tree this morning when out walking and admired its abundance of nuts. The tree was loaded with bright green acorns all proudly wearing their caps.

As I held an acorn in my hand I couldn't help but think of our mighty God when I marvelled that such a small acorn could grow into a great tree and I thought of the mustard seed, so small, yet having the same impact as the acorn and I thought of our faith, so small to start with and how that grows into something mighty in service for Jesus.

The apostles said to the Lord. 'Increase our faith.'

Anne, Servant of Jesus
Blessings

crisis and recovery

' In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.' Romans 8:37

Recovery, in any circumstance in life takes a strong will, a determined mind and a 'conquering spirit.'

But Oh how much more bearable,

how much more manageable,

how much more possible,

when we throw ourselves into the arms of God, our sustainer, our strength and our hope.

Washington Irving says:

Little minds are tamed and subdued by misfortune

but great minds rise above them.

Anne, servant of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessings

Flood crisis

' Now may the Lord of peace himself give peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with you all.'2 Thessalonians 2:16

Over and over the past week in my mind run the words of Dorothea McKellar's poem. 'I love a sun burnt country, a land of sweeping plains.......of drought and flooding rains.We live in a country that expresses all that this poet wrote about. We know what to expect but at times we are hit with the extreme yet the spirit of the Australians comes to the front.

I want to share a verse from a hymn that has been written in the light of this Australian crisis. It was written as a prayer gift to the wider church at this time.

In this Great Southland, Australia,

sparkling beach and arid plain:

stamped upon her rugged form is,

drought and flood, then drought again.

In a land that's always changing,

there's a constant mighty force

Jesus Christ our Lord is with us

He's the start, the end, the source. ( Anne Younghusband.)

To all the people of Queensland, especially the deacons

Grace, and peace, from the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Anne

Thoughts for the New Year

' I am a person of prayer.' Psalm 109:4

All too often we are in a 'holy' hurry with our devotional time. I wonder do we measure it in minutes or as a 'must do' then I will feel good?

I cant think of anyone in history who has changed the world through science, literature, or personal sacrifice, who didn't make their plans and preparation in quiet solitude. No growth in holiness has ever been achieved by anyone who doesn't take time, frequently, to be alone with God.

Our time in prayer can change the course of a persons life.

Our time in prayer can change the world.

Our time in prayer can change us.

Let's not just sit a moment praying , but in our heart, fall on our knees, and grow there.

Anne, servant of God and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessings.

Crown the year

'You crown the year with your bounty.' psalm 65:11

The soft morning mist that just settles gently and quietly over the countryside has such a feel of still and calm and peace.

I thought of the gift of the day

The gift of the hour.

The gift of the moment

new opportunities

in the gift of the New Year

I thought of the couple I sat with yesterday in funeral preparation for their loved family member. They were strangers to me yet we held a common bond, known to our same God. As we held hands around the table in closing prayer there was a strong sense of unity in Christ and it settled on us like the mist of the early morning.

New year, new day, new moments, new opportunities to experience a deeper relationship with our friend and Saviour Jesus Christ and to share that around.

Anne, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessings.

New Year

' When John pointed out the 'Lamb of God' to the two disciples, they went to Jesus and asked him where he lived. 'Come and see' Jesus answered. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon.John 1:39

Sometimes events in our lives are so clear and so memorable that we can remember the exact hour that they occurred. For John, when he pointed out the 'Lamb of God' it was so important that he even remembered the hour of the day.

Looking back on 2010, some significant events I can pin down to not only the day but also the hour, some I wouldn't want to repeat and others were such blessings. I wonder what 2011 will hold and in reflecting on these things I more and more know of one thing and that is that Jesus, the Lamb of God, will be in the events of my life year after year.

Reflect on your relationship with the 'Lamb of God' and look how he has been by your side in all things.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne