Treasure chest

'Open my eyes so that I may behold wondrous things........'Psalm 119:18

I walked into the emerging day with the warmth of the sun on my back. I saw the vineyards lined up like soldiers, the horses 'snorting' vapour mist from their nostrils in the cold air as they grazed in the frosty grass.The mountains, O so blue in the early light stood magnificently as a backdrop and I was doubly blessed by the laughter of the kookaburras , and a cluster of native bluebells flourishing in the weeds on the edge of the path, I have been amongst God's treasures. He opened the lid of the treasure chest today to let a few come out.....................for me.... a true and wonderful gift after a very hectic and pressured weekend.. God always knows what we need, be it his assurance, his care, his love..............he always delivers.

Lord open our hearts eyes so we can see you clearly and open our minds so we can understand you better and serve you more.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ

Anne

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

clay pot in Ephesus

'For God who said, 'Let there be light in darkness ,' he made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God. We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure.' 2 Corinthians. 4:6-7.

I remember standing in the street of a small English village looking at the magnificent flowers growing in pots lining the shop fronts. The colours were bright, vibrant, and multi coloured,

There was nothing beautiful about the pots. They were all brown common garden pots but the magnificent colour planted in them is what took my breath away, what caught my attention.

I then thought about the clay jars referred to in this passage and how we are like them. With Christ we are 'colourful',alive, vibrant full of God's light and love. Without, we are colourless and cracked, and self focused.

May God fill us with light and love.................for his glory.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne

Hearts of belief

' Now come and have some breakfast!' Jesus said. None of the disciples dared ask him, 'who are you.?' They knew it was the Lord. John 21:12 (NIV)

As I sat at the Sea of Galilee at sunrise I could' feel 'a gospel stories coming to life. I could sense the smoke drifting up from a fire and smell the fish cooking. I could see some disappointed disciples going back to their fishing even though they were feeling the loss of their friend Jesus.

And that is when Jesus, the risen Lord, came to meet them. In their sadness and confusion.

Jesus is always there, always ready to 'come by' and nourish us with his presence and life giving food. Be it loss, be it sadness, be it anxiety, be it loneliness, be it concern. With eyes of faith and hearts of belief Jesus is there in his fullness.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne

and they flew

'The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life-of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1

That has to be one of the most comforting passages of scripture for life's journey. No way can anything be a threat or a risk when we know deep down we have salvation in Christ and his guiding light. We know we can trust him. Sometimes we may be in danger: he is there. Sometimes we may want to take a risk in something that is on our heart : he is there.

We need this reassuring passage of scripture in able to function fully as Christians in our personal lives and in ministry but above all we need to trust its utmost truth. When we do, blessings often abound.

Guillaume Apollinaire said this:

. Come to the edge,' he said.

They said, 'We are afraid.'

'Come to the edge,' he said

They came. He pushed them...............and they flew.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne

Heavenly treasures.

' As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.' 2 Corinthians :6:10.

The glorious spring. God in all his glory.

Wattle so, so yellow.

The japonica so deep red.

the pink and white blossoms of the prunus trees.

The highly scented violets.

The delight of daffodils.

The flowering gum.

May we see them as rich gifts from God, heavenly treasures, draw cards to him,far surpassing material things, made by God in order that we may love God.

What heavenly treasures can you see, where you are right now? God has put them there just for you. Spend a moment, in wonder with him reflecting. ' as having nothing yet possessing all things.'

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne

a gentle touch of kindness

' As servants of God,we have commanded ourselves in every way.......by purity, knowledge, patients, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love.' 2 Corinthians 6:4-6

That sense of standing on sacred ground is such a 'God thing' that you cant explain it but you know in yourself you have made a connection with God. That you are one.

I was coming up to the traffic lights on my way out of town and thought a coffee for the road would be good. At the same time I had this thought I saw the unshaven, unkept looking man who's 'daily self employment' is to wash the windows of cars stopped at the lights. Something in my mind said...get two coffee. I did, and as I swung around the lights to the highway, window wound down, I passed a coffee over to him. Driving on I heard his words of amazement and heart felt thanks.

Lord Jesus, sow the seeds of kindness in our hearts today. Teach us more to see with your eyes and act with your heart. Help us all to be ready to offer that gentle touch that comes from oneness with you.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne

darkness and light

' The light shines in the darkness, the darkness did not overcome it.' John 1:5

As I walked early morning at Galong every where I looked there were passages of scripture rising up to meet me. The night passing, the day dawning, the rising sun, the birds in the fields singing, the straight path, and then I was particularly struck by these thoughts as I saw darkness, a gate and a sunrise........' I am the light of the world'........'I am the gate.'

I remember well the look on the face of the man who has just found Jesus. Coming out of a deep depression of several days realising that Jesus had been in the darkness with him as he walked into a new relationship with Jesus. He said, I saw the light and just kept walking towards it.

With Jesus by our side there is no need to stay in darkness, we just have to walk through that gate, into the light.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ

Anne