faithful God

I know that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken  from it.Ecclesiastes 3:14
Mist, fine and hovering was elevated just a few inches above the still water on the pond and sleepy wood ducks waddled up the hill looking for their breakfast among the clumps of grass and although the morning  was quiet a great chorus came from deep within the pond, a chorus from the frogs of peeps and squeaks and croaks and ribb-it. As I left the gate I passed my side garden with aromas of the violets and a gimps of the first of the delicate spring blossom on the prunes tree. Oh God, how wonderful it is to focus on the rich legacy we have in you, that steadfastness, faithfulness, that ' for ever showing upness' that lasts forever and shows us that in you we too will last forever, forever in your kingdom.

In a troubled world let us not lose the glimpses of the steadfastness, the beauty and the faithfulness of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Standing for Jesus

Do not let loyalty and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Proverbs 3:3
As a Sunday School child I remember many things I was taught and that experience was the foundation of my faith and belief. Some of the songs have never left my memory or my voice, songs such as, 'Stand up stand up for Jesus you Soldiers of the Cross ' and ' Onward Christian Soldiers.' Perhaps the words these days are not appropriate for the world we live in but I think if I were captive because of my faith these are two songs that would be on my trembling heart. Like many I long to stand strong in faith yet I question my own loyalty and courage. Would I, would I stand firm and say 'Yes, I believe in Jesus' if my life or the life of my family and friends was in danger? I pray I would.
Lord, prepare our hearts always in readiness to meet you at any time, in any place.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

church of the Holy Sepulchre. Jerusalem

in need of light

Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord. Isa 2:5
I was reflecting on these words in the early morning. It seemed the country side has stood still, almost empty, not a sound, even the first of the early birds were still asleep yet I knew within the hour the light would come and every living creature and  plant would start responding. Its like that with the light of Christ. We know that it too will move and filter into dark places and I reflect on each of us as 'light bearers,' those who carry the light of Christ into places of need be it through action or the word, the breath of our prayers. I have a mission statement for my nursing ministry to those in the community who struggle with the daily issue of  just living, it says:   Please bless the ones who have no hope and show me how to help.
'Bathed in morning light, pray that the lantern of your life move gently this day in all those places where light is needed.'Macina Wiederkehr)

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

Brothers and Sisters in Christ

We are the peace makers. Matt 5.
 I come back from a crisp morning walk in minus 4 degree frost, crystal clear sky and a quiet that seems to echo the presence of Christ yet on my mind and in my heart is the knowledge that many are living in a place where peace seems so far of.I read a quote which said:  'The quakes in their lives are registered on the Richter Scale of our own heart's'. (Gariepy)
I am blessed, you are blessed and we are blessed, because we are children of God. We are Christians and we know the great saving love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. That is easy to say in the comfort of our homes and in the peace in our country but can you imagine being one of those Christian families stranded on a mountain top in Iraq, running for your dear life and that of your children at the threat of being killed for believing in Christ. No possessions, no food or water, nothing but the adrenalin pumping your legs to run for your life and your strong everlasting faith in Jesus propelling you.   According to the Richter Scale of your heart, pray for our Christian brothers and sisters in Iraq for we are all one body in Christ.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

The Lords Prayer in different languages.. Israel

visitor verses pilgrim

'For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps.' 1 Peter 2:21
When we go on pilgrimage  we take with us  what is called pilgrim baggage but what will we take home? St Giouanna says, ' By being a pilgrim my heart learns to hear the cries of those who have no choice but to be pilgrims;  refugees,  poor,and  impoverished. Today our lives are impacted with news of the refugees fleeing from wars in the Middle East, the looming humanitarian crisis in Africa with pending starvation of millions and a deadly virus and the persecution of Christians  who are being forced to convert to Islam or be killed. What do you take home when you go to your quiet place of prayer, your quiet day, your retreat, your time of reflection? These things are so important to do because it is in those times we hear the voice of God and are led to follow his ask of us. Without hearing his voice we are like pilgrims taking baggage with us and then bringing it home. Set firm in your mind and heart when you go to seek God that there is a difference between the visitor and the pilgrim. When you visit your special place of prayer come away knowing that.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

praying at the Western Wall Jerusalem

Place of pilgrimage

I was glad when they said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the Lord.' Our feet are standing within your gates O Jerusalem. Psalm 122
Pilgrims travel from all over the world to Jerusalem, and have done always and the first point of call is the place where Jesus body lay, in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the most Holy place in Christianity. In 570AD a pilgrim called Peacenza placed a bronze lamp at the head of where Jesus body had laid. It burned there day and night and we took a blessing from it and then put it back. Holy places, sacred places to me are places where people of faith go consistently to pray, to touch, to see, to have an encounter. I stood at the slab of stone in this church where it is said marks the spot where the women attended to Jesus after he was taken off the cross. Is that so? perhaps it is, perhaps it isn't but what was a certainty was that for pilgrims such as Peacenza , myself and millions of others, this was a place where prayers have been descending to God, for centuries and that makes it a Holy, sacred place.  Where do you go consistently to pray, to see, to touch and to have an encounter.? Where ever that is for you, that to will be a place of holiness and sacredness for you thus the value of a prayer desk, a special chair, the same spot in the garden. Its those places that we meet God and are blessed and like Peacenza we take a blessing from that and then put it back.

The place where Jesus body lay.

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

living water

The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life. John 3:14
I was reflecting on the Sunday Gospel of the loaves and fishes and how Jesus showed such compassion for the hungry crowd even though he was feeling tired and wanting to have some 'time out.' First he attended to their needs and then went aside by himself to pray. Sometimes we can experience compassion fatigue if we do not care for ourselves well in our ministry.'Life is about wholeness, not about effectiveness and its good to learn to be a human being and not a human doing.' (anon)
Gentle soft rain
Silently falling,refreshing, wetting, glistening on thirsty leaves. Thirsty for refreshment, thirsty for drink
like our souls, thirsty for you O Lord, to drink in your way, your life and be refreshed
by what you call your 'living water.'
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.