God's gift

The heavens are telling the Glory of God and the  firmament proclaims his handiwork. Ps 19:1
Sometimes when I am out walking its a matter of what will I look at first. Sometimes I almost pivot on the spot as God sends magical moments from the east, the west, the north and the south, moments of awe, of pure delight that roll on and on through the day.
I had my back to the view of the sea when I was alerted to turn around and there was this rainbow, the bow not fully visible but it was like an arm of God reaching from the heavens to the sea and it took my breath away. The colour, the beauty,the brightness, the awe. There were no words except a breath of prayer, 'Thank you Lord.'
Steiner Rice says: Everything that's wonderful is but a rich reward given to us lovingly by a gracious generous Lord.

Eden. NSW

R&R

' Be still and know that I am God.' Ps 46:10
A retreat is so refreshing, centering and gives us a dose of  holistic  soul medicine. I have had four days away in stillness and quiet, with a   dash of good company, a glorious view that captured all the moods of the ocean, multiple blessings from all of creation from a God who said, 'did you like the song  of that  special bird?' well, just listen to this one. Did you like that beautiful flower that came from a plain leafed succulent, well, look at this one, and what of that whale waving its flipper then its gigantic tail, teaching its baby  to do likewise?' (the echo of its 'splash' reaching my ears on shore in a backdrop of a  bright yellow sunrise casting a golden pathway across the sea from the  horizon to the sandy shore.) Did you like that? And into my mind came the song, Be still for the presence of the Lord is moving in this place.
 Oh what sacred ground to sit and be in communion with God. O what soul moments.
Margaret Geunther wrote: Its easy to forget that God is a God of surprises, an intrepid escape artist and master of disguises.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

How sweet the name

'How sweet the name of  Jesus sounds in a believers ear. It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds and drives away his fears.' (John Newton)
This is one of the most asked for hymns from the older people in the nursing home. It brings a true sense of peace that goes deep, deep into the soul, and I think of all the names that come to mind that are encompassed in the name Jesus and I can come up with: redeemer, saviour, friend, master, comforter, healer....
Lee Self says:
I try to encompass all your names but they slip from my grasp.
When I hold nothing, I hold you.
When I hold you, I hold everything.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

Early Christian symbols. Israel

steeped in prayer

'O Lord, three things I pray: to see thee more clearly, to love thee more dearly, to follow thee more clearly day by day.' (Prayer of St Richard of Chichester)
Recently while reading I was struck by how meaningful this prayer is for our daily living and I was thinking of the various ministries we all have through our daily life and with this prayer in mind I reflect on the words of C.T. Studd.
'Some want to live within the sound of church and chapel bell.
I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell.
 May our hearts and  lives always reflect this prayer, for Jesus.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

Credo Cafe in a back lane of Melbourne behind  a church on a main street. The cafe is a place for street people and the homeless. The sign on the wall reads: We are not human beings trying to be spiritual, we are spiritual beings trying to be human

My cathedral

Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, 'Sit here while I go yonder and pray.' Matthew 26:36
The world around us is so full of  wonderful places to pray. I look out my study window and I see rolling green hills, a  pond of water graced with wood ducks and an occasional black swan and a glorious pair of  Rosellas  feeding at the bird feeder and immediately it all becomes a prayer.  I spend time in my garden, a very new garden, a place of growing beauty, colour, fragrance and solace and immediately it becomes a prayer, a place of connection and I think of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, a place of prayer for him and get a sense of why he went to such a place to pray.
Steiner Rice says: My garden beautifies my yard and adds fragrance to the air, but its also my cathedral and my quiet place of prayer. So little do we realize that the glory and the power of him who made the universe lies hidden in a flower.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Garden of Gethsemane. Holy Land

Salvation

'Salvation is through a door. Jesus said:'I am the door' Luke 13:22
The imagery in my mind still holds clear from my pilgrimage to the Holy Land a couple of years ago. We visited the ruins of St Peter's house and saw a doorway that was like two doors set in the one. There was the original door and carved within that was a smaller door said to be for security and safety, your escape route into your home where you could be saved from pursuing evil . Jesus used such images from daily life to convey his message and so he said, looking at such a door, 'I am the door and its through me you are saved.' (paraphrased) Even after a life time of faith and belief I am still in awe of God's grace for us by giving Jesus, our door to salvation.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

A door way to safety and security. Holy Land

Abba father

Then Jesus answered and said to them. 'Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father do;for whatever he does, the Son also does in like manner.' John 5:19
I was thinking how my oldest son works in the same profession  his father did, how he admired his commitment and work and chose to follow in his footsteps and somehow that thought raised a connection for me with our Heavenly Father and how God invites us to be involved with him, to follow his way of life after all, as a Father he loves us and wants us to be involved in his work and so with eyes wide open we need to watch and see where he is working so we can be a partner in it with him.
One of my favorite spiritual songs is  ' Abba Father let me be, yours and yours alone.......never let my heart grow cold, never let met go.'
May you see God at work around you, may it be evident through  what you do that others will see the love of Jesus and want to ask 'Who is it you work for?'
May you be blessed in your daily work. May the light of Christ shine through you.
Anne, servant of the Lord

Covenant care day hospice