deeper and sweeter

'But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever.' Ps 52:8

 I love forests. I loved riding my horse through the pine forest as a child, I loved exploring Sherwood Forest in Nottingham and I love to just sit in the stillness and quiet of a forest, smack bang in the middle of nature a oneness with God and  God's creation.
We all know the saying 'I cant see the forest for the trees.' I can be tough when life throws up a barrier of stress or overwhelming life circumstances, hectic work schedules or far to fast a pace of life making it so easy to lose that sense of the oneness of God in the mix of his creation. Making it hard to see God through the density of life issues.
This is a lovely prayer verse from the Hebridean Altars.

Keep within me
a stillness
deeper and sweeter
than a forest's
in mid winter.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, Servant of the Lord                            

angel dust

' May the Lord bless his people with peace. Psalm 29:11
I am often lost for words when I look to the west of an evening, just on sun set and see the hills and valley covered in what looks like a fine dust in the soft evening light that seems to be full of stillness and peace. It seems to fall from heaven and its breath taking. I like to call it 'angel dust' as I am sure it has come from heaven to sprinkle the earth for our joy and  pleasure. Have you seen it?
I read this prayer by Frederick Buechner:
' Lord, catch me off guard today. Surprise me with some moment of beauty or pain so that at least for the moment I may be startled into seeing that you are here in all your splendour, always and everywhere, barely hidden,beneath, beyond, within this life I breathe.'
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

upholding

' Hold thou me up and I shall be safe.' Ps 119:117

I woke up this morning  amidst God's love in what the local radio station called a 10-10 sunrise. It was glorious in colour and peace but I think what actually called me into the day was the tiny prayer bell I have hanging outside my window. Its soft metallic tinkling in the gentle breeze draws me to thoughts of God. I recall reading a very old  pocket book called 'Morning Bells' and in it  I read: 'The path is not easy, there are rough stones and we can stumble, how do we walk safely over such a rough path?'  My response, it is not my grip of Christ's hand but Christ's  grip of me, that's what stops us stumbling and keeps us on the path.
I hear the tinkle of the metallic bell and immediately I say 'may  today be  in your strength Lord even though the path can be rough. Hold thou me up.'
Yes, I will uphold you
with my own right hand;
you are called and chosen
in my sight to stand. (unknown)

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.