Christmas

Let us open our eyes, our ears and our hearts; it is Christ the Lord, it is he. (TIS 278)

I have a mantra for Christmas. It is so simple but carries a massive meaning and implication for our lives. Its something full of power, humility, grace, love. Its simply this:
O what a gift what a wonderful gift. (on the breath in)
Christ our Lord and our King. (on the breath out)
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ,
Anne, servant of the Lord.

manger square Bethlehem.

Playing with Jesus

'I love to tell the story of Jesus and his love.' (Sunday School song)
Sharing the story of Jesus and his love leaves us wondering at times if that sits and stays with those we share. Sometimes we see the fruit of it, sometimes we don't but we know that a seed sown in faith and prayer will eventually grow. I saw that seed growing this week and it was a humbling blessing. It came through my youngest grandchild, only three years old. 'As he came through my front door for a visit he saw the nativity scenes I had on display near the Christmas tree. He paused and then in realization

of what he was looking at he proclaimed. 'O Nan. Can I play with Jesus?'   My prayer is that through out his life he will want to 'play with Jesus' that he will want to be in his company and he will know the great benefits of that relationship.  Make sharing Jesus be a real goal this Christmas.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

bring joy to the world.

I will sing the wondrous story of the Christ who died for me. (TIS 233)
Some texts and words of hymns just jump out at me and I think, yes, how true is that. Yes, how me, as a follower of Christ, is that.  And then I think why do some Christians hide this good news from others? How will Christ ever be known to the world if we hide our light under a bushel? On two occasions I have heard people say: I have a hamper for a family down the street who's wife died and this is the first year the family will have Christmas with out her. They don't go to church so I will tell them its from the local charity club! and another so often heard. I am doing all my Christmas cards  but I am  making sure I send 'non religious 'ones to my friends who are not religious!  How, may I ask will our non religious friends ever know the wondrous story of the Christ who died for me,and them, if we keep it to our self, if we hide it. Lets not be timid about our faith. Be bold and positive about what you believe and you will be surprised how God will use that.One religious card to one non religious friend just may change their life after all, is the nativity scene on a card, or the wise men on camels, shepherds following a star.......isn't that what Christmas is about.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

Today and every day, regardless

This is the day, this is the day that the Lord has made, that the Lord ha made. We will rejoice , we will rejoice and be glad in it  and be glad in it. SING IT!
 First prayer off the rank every morning is 'thank you God for the gift of this new day.' Somehow, I guess through life experience I have learnt very sincerely to see that each new day is a treasured gift from God. Even if I am not feeling very bright. Even if I  feel a bit down. Even if the work load seems back breaking. Even if life is fragile, still I see the new day as such a gift.  That leads me on to say to God. 'Then let me give you a gift in return'. A gift that acknowledges the blessings and the hearts true desire to fill the days in his service, signed and sealed with his love and appreciation in prayer at the end of the day.(From the Celtic Prayer Book) This day is a gift to me. I take it Lord, from your hand and thank you for the wonder of it.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

Bulldoze a road.

'.......guide our feet into the way of peace.' Luke 1:79

How often do we experience God's grace? How often do we let the worries of the world and life overtake our joy? How often is our daily road full of clutter and unnecessary concerns. When we know God's grace, we know his peace. I love the wording of the Prayer of the Day we used in church yesterday, it said; Loving God, be to us a bulldozer of the spirit. Clear your road in us: clear a path through our everyday worries, concerns and distractions: and awaken us to moments of your grace daily. May your Spirit work within us to prepare a space for your coming.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

why we do what we do

At the last supper Jesus said. 'Do this in memory of me.' Luke 22:19
The Sunday Eucharist never ceases to draw me into reflection and closeness with Christ and some years ago when I was pondering these words 'do this in remembrance of me' I saw a bigger picture. Not just the receiving of the bread and wine each Sunday as strength for the week or in memory of Christ as something of the past, but as something that I had to get up and do. As John says of Jesus. 'The  bread that I will give is my flesh, which I give so the world may live.' (John 6:26-27)
When we reflect on our day to day encounters with 'the people who come to our doorstep, or who we meet on theirs,' it is good to ask ourselves the question. 'How well am I doing in taking the words of the last supper to those who do not know Christ, who have been starved of any knowledge of experience with him in life?'
Mohands Gandhi said:If God were to appear to starving people,he wouldn't dare appear in any form other than food.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne,servant of the Lord

Hope

The way of the Lord is a stronghold to the upright. The righteous will never be shaken.   Proverbs 10:29-30
I think w are all saying, its nearly Christmas! As  a child I was always full of great hope when it came to what I might expect to receive in the small parcels under the tree. There was a great sense of the expectancy about the contents of them. There was a feeling of excitement, and often, 'for being good and helpful to my parents through the year'  Santa would grant my wishes. My hopes and desires became realities. Stop and think on the word 'hope.' How would you define it? For me its a 'confident expectancy.' Christian hope is the firm assurance about things of the future, seen and unseen.

Hope for the Christian is the one thing that keeps us looking to the future because it lives with in us. Its what makes the difficult and tough times, the 'holes' of darkness and despair bearable because we know there will be a brighter future. I wonder what its like to not have hope? I should imagine that it would paint a whole different picture about life. I guess it would be lifeless. I guess that is our mission, our gift to others, to bring hope to a broken and divided world.Particularly the world that is on our doorstep.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

may the love of God

Praise our God, the great creator, world evolving through his might, darkness shattered by explosion, filled his world with life and light. (TIS 165)
It was there again this morning,  this great love of God.
The red and pink 'brushes'
          hanging from the bottle brush tree.
The garden fresh  and washed with last nights watering.
The trill of the blue wren
    and the melodious warble of the magpies on the street light pole in an otherwise dawn of
silence.

And there was enough dew on the grass
            to see a set of footprint
            and know someone was walking before me.
May the love of God and the peace that it brings be the blessing of this new day for you.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

God first

One thing I will ask of the Lord, that will I seek after: to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.

There they were this morning, tiny capsules of pure delight, bursting with God's love and I thought of those who do not know of that love  and my heart was on fire for them.
Go seek and find the lost in the name of the Christ we serve.

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

He is near

I will never leave you nor forsake you. Hebrews 13:5
So often we can experience the presence of God in our lives if we are just open to it. There is such a thin line between his Spirit and ours and at times when we feel we are standing on sacred ground its like we have one foot on this side of the fine line and one foot on the other or to put it another way its like we are holding hands with God. This feeling has stayed with me for days after a lady I care said something quite profound. This lady has huge issues that have almost destroyed her self image and ruined her life. She sent me a message full of  sadness and loss of hope and no sign of God.   She felt like she was in between a rock and a hard place with no where to go. Then before I could respond she sent another message and that one included a photo, a photo of a beautiful Lilly in flower  growing strong and tall between a rock and a path. She said she didn't know its name except it was gorgeous. What a God moment it was for me. Immediately God gave this image of a gorgeous lady struggling through life and blossoming. And he does know her name.I shared my thoughts with her and she listened in silence and wonder.

Images in life, in nature, have such powerful messages if we keep our minds open and focused, if we keep the Lord near.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

therein lies the treasure

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding. Philippians 4:7

Did you unwrap the gift of this morning?  What does it look like in your place? When I took off the layers of sleep I saw the beauty of the gift. It was rain soaked and refreshed. Tiny drops of water bubbles hung on the deep red flowers of the bottle brush and several  honey eaters were delighting in their morning fix of honey, their  wings wet from those bubbles of rain drops. I watch them a moment, their curved thin beak reaching deep into the flower for their gift of this day.  The mountains have a veil of misty rain covering them, a sign of more to come my way.The pond is alive with the sound of so many frogs that seemed to croak and squeak and peep in tune with the call of the early morning birds and there he was, the treasure of them all for me, the bright blue fairy wren. Some say its to hard to see the gift of the day because the wrapping of pain and suffering, dysfunction and loneliness is just too hard to remove but O,  when you do work through the layers what joy, what delight to find God's gifts, especially the one labeled peace, the peace that comes from God..
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord

dusty or worn pages.

These were more noble....in that they.....searched the scriptures daily. Acts 17:11
That quiet time of the day when the closeness of God comes and sits with you as you read the words of the bible are so precious. How empty we are. How void of food if we lay aside our bibles to gather dust. I heard this story of a lady who invited a group of Christian  people to her home for a bible study and much to her dismay she could not find her bible. It wasn't on the bedside table where she usually leaves it. It wasn't in the sun room, it wasn't in any of the usual places she sits to read. In desperation she asked the new house keeper  if she had seen it. 'Praise the Lord', was her response.
' What do you mean,' she was asked. Beaming with joy the housekeeper responded. ' when I go to work in a new home the first thing I do is hide the bible just to see how long it takes the owner to miss it!  Yours is in the linen cupboard.'

I like this quote: The truths of the scripture are like flowers;meditation, like the bee, draws the honey out of them! (unknown)
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne,servant of the Lord

The best gifts

Covert earnestly the best gifts. 1 Corinthians 12:31 (KJV)
Its a glorious fresh morning after a night of soaking rain and that soft mist is hovering in the valleys of the hills and sometimes I think the smallest gifts are the biggest,

:
Gifts such as:
 On my desk calendar given to me by a friend there is a quote for the day that is written larger than the date or
A couple of words of encouragement can brighten a day, change a life.
A cup of tea on a cold day can warm a whole body.
Today the quote said: God puts each fresh morning, each new chance of life into OUR hands, as a gift, to see what we will do with it.
I wonder what you are going to do with your fresh morning?
For starters,I'm off for a walk to spend time with God.........to thank him for his gifts.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

The strength of God

Behold I am the Lord. Is anything too difficult for me?  Jeremiah 32:27
Life can be so hard for many people. In my daily round I come across so many who struggle through life due to hardship, illness. loneliness and isolation. For them it can be an endless road of seemingly going nowhere and my heart aches for them. Sometimes, like Job, there is nowhere to go but to God. Sometimes there is nothing left but God.  I received a card many years ago with these words on   it. 'What matters is not the size of the mountain but the strength of the mountain mover.'  So, if it is you or someone you come across who is struggling in life and feeling hopeless, pray that they will get to know the 'mountain mover' where all strength and hope abounds.What was it Jesus said? 'Come to me all who are weary and carrying heavy burdens and I will give you rest.'
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Waddi Rum Desert  Jordan.

The perfume of God.

The great love of God, O how lavishly given. TIS 164
I am looking at the blue wrens in the tree outside my office and I know they are God sent just for me because God knows how significant they are in my life..
I stop and look as my breath is taken away by the opening bud of  a deep apricot yellow rose, perfect in its formation, dressed in beads of raindrops, glistening like sequins and the perfume of God is embedded in the folds of its petals and I know that is God's love.I stoop to smell the perfume of the deep, deep blue bearded Iris and am transported back to my childhood, memories of a garden to play in, memories of a mothers love and a fathers care, memories to treasure.God dose lavishly give of his love in so many ways and indeed it is 'the pearl of great price and the treasure of heaven.'  wherever you find it, either in the grandeur of the blue or snow capped mountains or in a thousand grains of sand on the sea shore or among the needs of the world be O so blessed.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

This is love

God's love has been poured into our hearts. Romans 5:5
I don't know what your diary looks like today but perhaps it is full of many things 'to do.' Perhaps its looking a bit rushed, or crowded. Perhaps you feel exhausted looking at it before you even set about the days work. So often the day can be crammed full of getting as much done as possible. I love this saying of Mother Teresa: 'We can do no great things. Only small things done with great love.' Lets not count the unfinished jobs at the end of a day, but count the love we have been able to share with another person.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

The vineyard

(God said) Son, go and work in the vineyard today. Matthew 21:28.
I stopped at the top of the rise and looked across the vineyards reminiscing  about past walks and my eyes fell on the newly pruned vines and I could almost see the new life pulsating through them getting ready to grow and bear fruit and I thought of the man in the hospital chapel who asked the question.'Tell me,' he said. 'How do I talk to God?'  What wonderful places God puts us in to help others to find the way. We never know when we step out the door each day, who he will lead us too. A prayer for today: Heavenly Vine, pour your life through me so that I may bear much fruit for your sake.(FB Myer)
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

Day by day

May the mind of Christ my Saviour live in me from day to day. TIS 609
Sometimes a line or two from a hymn strikes you afresh. I was reflecting on my past week and recalled a hymn we sang in the service at an aged care facility and was struck again by how lovely and profound the words were and one line in particular had this effect:
May the love of Jesus fill me as the waters fill the sea.
When I think of the weeks gone by, the funerals, the meetings with the families, the ministry with those in need in the community, the Sunday preparation and application of it, the hospital visiting I think without God's strength, without being filled with the love of Jesus, we can not do all that God requires of us. Not only do we seek the love of Jesus to fill us, but hear this, we seek and request it in no short measure. We seek the love of Jesus as the water fills the sea. That's massive love. Look at an ocean, a great span of water, waves  gently breaking on the shore with ebb and flow

and imagine that as God's love filling you.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

the candle flame

How precious is your steadfast love O God. Psalm 36:7
There is something about a candle flame that draws me into it almost like a sacred space. It has meaning, purpose and can be a draw card for reflection especially reflection on texts such as ' Jesus said: I am the light of the world.'  'Let your light shine before others.' Let there be light.' 'The Lord is my light and salvation.'  I  read this  thought about God's steadfast love by Gillian Peall. My love for you is as steadfast as a candle flame in a still room. It will never waver and will never end. When the sun is shining, you can not see the flame, but when all is dark, the flame brings light to the whole room. My flame will never be extinguished.

May you know the  light of Christ and  the steadfast love of God in your life, today and always.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord

Blessed assurance Jesus is mine.

As it says: 'In all places where I cause my name to be mentioned, I will come to you and bless you.' Exodus 20:24
All my life I have hummed the song we learnt at Sunday school; 'Count your Blessings name them One by One' and every time that song comes to mind its because I have received yet again a blessings from God. I have always wanted to see the blue wrens come to my garden and stay and now they do. Every morning I wake to their call, that lovely trill and they are so happy playing and living in my garden and watching what I am up too as they sit on my kitchen window sill.
I read this poem ( extracts) .A family of Blue Wrens came to play and stayed outside the door. They whistled and sang as they built their nest.......they called at the window with joy and pleasure and pride ......as they flew and chattered and trilled their song I listened with beating heart.
 Can you count your blessings? can you name them one by one?
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

Hello from God.

Psalm 16:11. In your presence there is fullness of joy In your right hand are pleasures forever more.
This morning was magnificent......one almighty 'Hello' from God expressed in a sky of deep red and orange sunrise.' 'Here I am,' it was saying 'Here I am, right here with you.What you are looking at, what you are in awe of, is me'
Meister Echkart said:  'Who ever possess God in their being, has him in a divine manner, and he shines out of them in all things:for them all things taste of God and in all things it is God's image that they see.'
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

in the bulb, a flower

It is the Spirit that gives life. John 6:63

Have you spoken to anyone lately who is a new Christian? Someone who for the first time in their life has had a light switched on, the light of Christ. Someone for the first time in their life feels like they have been struck by lightening and propelled into faith with a massive awakening?( Come Holy Spirit Come!)  I met such a person recently, an older man who had been an atheist all his life and now as he put it, 'at 80 I have found life.' Its just so wonderful to be around such people. Its so wonderful a 'faith' booster for us all when we see God's Spirit still working today. I read a poem and its opening lines said this: In a bulb there is a flower, in a seed an apple tree; in cocoons, a hidden promise; butterflies will soon be free! In the cold and snow of winter, there's a spring that waits to be, unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.( In the bulb there is a Flower. anon)

Catch me off guard Lord

The Lord bless you and keep you. Num. 6:24

How lovely are the spring flowers. Its like God opened a window in heaven and poured out a blessing. Joyce Rupp says: 'The loveliness of a single flower in radiant bloom can sing my drooping spirit into joy.'  How true. How very true. I can't look at an anticipating rose bud, or poppy capsule, or pending daffodil or tulip pod and not sense the blessing that is to come. 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.

Book of life

In your book were written all the days that were formed for me. Psalm 139:16
A very elderly, very Spirit filled lady at the nursing home, the one who so sincerely says she has seen Jesus walking towards her so often,asked me if God has a book in which he writes down all our names. 'Could you imagine the size of that book.' I said. 'To hold all of the names of all who have been, all who are.' She thought a moment and said. ' 'Isn't it wonderful to think though, that your name and mine, my family and yours since time began are recorded in that book. We aren't just born,live and then die. But we will forever be remembered by God and that's because  loves us. Sunday school teaching has stayed with that lady for all her 90 years and brings her such moments of reflection and peace.Its a true blessing to pause awhile with her...and God.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Thanks be to God

So faith comes from what is heard. Romans 10:17
I have among a special shelf of books a collection of treasures. A collection of faith journeys, a collection of helps in time of grief and loss, in times of such sadness during the war, a collection of joys and celebrations. These treasures are in the form of the Book of Common Prayer belonging to family members going back four generations. In the worn tissue thin pages of the bible that belonged to the grandfather I never knew who now lies in the soil of the Somme. There are snippets of newspaper cuttings marking births and marriages. So much imagery and story of what sustained them during the highs and lows of life, their solid, unsinkable faith and that I know has rubbed off on me as I handle and sometimes use their books of prayers and read from their bibles alongside my own. What a gift I have been left, the gift of example and way of life,Who has influenced your faith journey?  Give praise and thanks today and always for the wonderful inheritance that they have handed to you.The path to eternal life.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord

displays of joy

For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling,that I may walk before God in the light of life. Psalm 56:13
Winter has that feel about it  like all is stationary, all has stopped,all has gone to sleep,all is lifeless,cold like the earth is wrapped in death. But then, and we are seeing it now, a bulb or two breaks through the hard soil and showers the dull with bright colours. There is a new, yet familiar perfume at the front door as the Daphne fills the air with incense and have you noticed the Prunus tree? Its buds of pink have burst into individual displays of joy and the brightness of the wattle adds to the spirit of awakening of all the senses.  This is healing. This is reminiscing. This is assurance. This is hope. We can take this image and use it in so many ways to see the hand of God, not just in nature, but in our lives. In our days of joy it gives more joy. In our days of struggling it gives great hope. Changing seasons in nature and in our lives are gifts from God that we can constantly unwrap.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

consider the wondrous work of God

Hear this, O Job: stop and consider the wondrous works of God. Job 37:14
This morning I want to say, stop and read all of chapter 37 of Job. If we think we might have  a problem in life, in ministry, in self then this chapter should ground us and bring us back to focus, then again if we have met the new day with joy and thanksgiving;have seen the day arrive, pushing the night away and filling it with light and beauty and a chorus of the voices of his creation, as early mornings tend to do, then we can be in awe of this chapter in Job.stop and consider the wondrous works of God..........do you know the balancing of the clouds......can you like him,spread out the skies?  We have a mighty God, far bigger than we can imagine, yet so personal its like he is there just for me yet I know he is there for everyone in the same way. A chorus comes to mind for those still uncertain of the mighty God we have, it goes like this: 'O taste and see that the Lord is good.'
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord

the power of Jesus

Jesus power working in us is able to do so much more than we can ever ask for, or even think of. Ephesians 3:20
Do you ever feel it? do you ever experience the power of Jesus working in you?
Caryll Houslander wrote: I was in an underground train, a crowded train in which  all sorts of people jostled together, going home at the end of the day. Quite suddenly I saw in my mind,but as vivid as a wonderful picture, Christ in them all.......living in them, dying in them, rejoicing in them, sorrowing in them. I came out into the street and walked a long time in the crowds. It was the same thing there, on every side, in every passerby---- Christ.
How do you experience Christ in the world?  For me, its in every face of the older people and its in the focused eyes of the Rosella only inches from my face, looking as intently at me as I him. Its like looking directly at God.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

The Lord is good.

O taste and see that the Lord is good. Psalm 34:8 
Sometimes there is nothing better in the moment than sharing 'how to love the Lord' with others who want to do likewise. Its like an electricity among us all.
I was at Wagga Wagga yesterday talking to a lovely group of pastoral carers on matters to do with spirituality and aging and it was a Christ filed day with the added 'showers of blessings' in the travel:Rich green paddocks dotted with mother sheep and lambs, paddocks chequered with bright yellow canola, naked trees filled with white sulpha crested cockatoos, wattle trees lining the roadside, hills standing proud and everything so fresh with the fallen rain. The biblical imagery was racing through my thoughts: I am the good shepherd, I know my sheep. Lift up your eyes unto the hills from whence comes your help. In pastures green he leadeth me. The hills and valleys clap their hands. And God created, and the seventh day he rested. Don't you love it. Don't you love to take the Lord with you when ever you go out. Don't you love to taste and see that the Lord is good?

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

bridge building

Jesus said: I am the way, the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6
So often in our daily life we are there for others helping them over some difficult situation or just being there to see them through.
Something struck a cord (must be the deacon in me!) when I read this Aotearoa psalm. It said:
There are times in life when we are called to be bridges, not a great monument spanning a distance and carrying loads of heavy traffic, but a simple bridge to help one person from here to there over some difficulty such as grief, fear, loneliness: a bridge which opens the way for ongoing journey.  Our daily life is such a God given privilege isn't it?  Building bridges for others and what a blessing when someone else is a bridge for us.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

in God's strength

Behold, I am the Lord.Is anything too difficult for me. Jeremiah 32:27
Visions and dreams, goals and aims, hearts longing and desires and at times the dreaming seems too big for us alone.
The value of putting God first in all things is what enables the dreaming  to become a reality and a song of all sorts to sing in our heart.
'What matters is not the size of the mountain, but the strength of the mountain mover.' (anon)
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

volcano's, Capadocia Turkey

spreading the gospel

I want you to know, beloved, that what has happened to me has actually helped to spread the gospel. Phil 1:12
I think of us all and how we have got to where we are, Christian believers,servants of Christ. I think of the road, the journey,that has led us to a solid faith, one so convincing that we can not help  but spread it everywhere we go and particularly in the areas immediately around us and with those we reach out to with the love of Christ. I was listening to the garden show on the radio and they were talking about a particular weed that develops a seed pod and once you touch that pod its seeds go 'woooooosh' up in the air and outwards and land all over the ground around the plant. The name of the plant is 'Jumping Jesus.' What imagery. What a parable,   I want to say, go jump for Jesus!!
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne,servant of the Lord.

you are precious

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies yet not one of them is forgotten in God's sight? But even the hairs of your head are all counted. Do not be afraid, you are more valuable than many sparrows. Luke 12:6-7
What a welcome to the day, the birds know how to do it. ....they sing it in! Magpies warbling and kookaburras laughing. (have you ever heard a baby kookaburra trying to laugh? Its hard to keep the smile off your face.  Today was a bonus blessing as I watched some sparrows outside my study window. They were gathering around the maiden hair fern pots, chatting and chasing each other in a mood of play, feathers ruffled and jumping in and out of a bowl of water under the pots, splashing and singing and I could hear Jesus voice saying. ' you are of more value than many sparrows.' That's mind blowing because I know God loves all he has created, even the sparrow,yet he values us more.
What a wonderful God we have. How have you welcomed in this day? singing?
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Sparrow in the Tomb Garden Jerusalem

solid faith

The Lord is my rock,my fortress and my deliverer. Psalm 18:2
How hard is it to see when you walk through thick fog, as is the case in some of these early winter mornings. Even though the track is familiar, shapes and outlines of the surrounding area seem a bit'spooky.' yet there is a sense of presence that is very real. I knew I was on the right path even though I couldn't see it too clearly. I knew because I could feel the solid rock surface under my feet. I knew because even though viability was just a few feet, God was there, walking this misty morning to. I knew because I was heading to the east where the light of day was filtering  through striving to reach its morning glory. I read this profound statement from an unknown Christian person in China:Faith is putting one's foot down in the mist,and finding a rock.'
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne,servant of the Lord

walking track on a clear day

Jesus by night

There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night. John 3:1-17
An invigorating morning,foggy in its arrival to make a fresh start of a new day. The tree leaves dripping with moisture from the gift of overnight rain and a smell of wet grass emanating from the farm paddocks. As I watched a figure coming towards me, walking nearer and nearer, emerging clearer through the fog and semi dark, I thought of the story of Nicodemus and how he came to Jesus in the night. I wondered what became of Nicodemus as this figure passed me by, with a brief 'hello' and faded back into the dark and fog. I wondered also about the people we meet in our day to day life in their darkness, their night time and I am blessed with the comfort and reassurance that God has them to in the palm of his hand. What a privilege to be with those who come looking for Jesus in their night.

I think of the saying of Edwin Hubble Chaplin:
Every action in our lives touches on some chord that will vibrate in eternity.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne,servant of the Lord

Glorious things

Glorious things of the are spoken.....see the streams of living waters,springing from eternal love. (TIS 446)
Washed clean from the recent rain with a sharpness and a fresh ting of green on the ground and looking like nothing was out of place...that was how the countryside looked this morning. The view down the valley to the foothills of the mountains looked like a master piece of artwork.There were patches of soft pink on grey clouds hovering on the mountain tops and a gentle breeze blessed the freshness of the morning.  And the magpie sang.
Showered with blessings, priceless gifts of God's love, a new day starts and the door to opportunity is wide open.  Opportunity to care and to love and to serve. Opportunity to embrace, to fight for and to seek justice. Opportunity to live and bring others alive.
Speak of the love and blessing from God in all you do this day.

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

lilies of the field

(Jesus said to  his disciples )There for I tell you, do not worry about your life. Luke 12:32
This lovely passage of scriptural encouragement and advice from our Lord should stay with us at all times yet how often do we forget it in the moment. Worry and anxiety about every day things, things here today and gone to morrow seems to be part of every day life for some and in hindsight did the worry change anything?  Jesus must despair with us at times. He must wonder how much does it take to get his message through. The message of faith and trust  in him. I treat myself to three long stems of beautiful lily buds every week or so (they last for ages) and as the buds gradually open over days to reveal an often unspeakable beauty and fill the room with a deep, rich perfume, I am reminded over and over again that Jesus said: 'Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like these.'  To me the lilies are a daily prayer. A daily visual reminder that God is present and in control of all things in our lives. The lilies  are like an icon that can be looked at,admired, yet I  see beyond it, deep into it and discover the richness and beauty and a message from God.

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

your cathedreal

The words of the hymn 'I love thy house O God, where in thy honour dwells' still sits with me even though I reflected on it  recently. These words came back to me  after I read a verse from Steiner-Rice which said: 'my garden beautifies my yard, and adds a fragrance to the air, but its also my cathedral and my quiet place of prayer.'   When I visited some of the cathedrals in Europe and England I was astounded by the size. They are massive. Huge buildings of great architectural beauty. I would sit in them in awe. I love cathedrals, the atmosphere, the stillness, the quiet,  the feeling of God's presence and a sense of hundreds and in some cases thousands of years of worship and prayers still felt like its ingrained in the brickwork or constantly rising up on flickering candles. Yet, a cathedral can be anywhere. The morning gifts take my breath away also. Soft mist, gently rising , hovering over the dew laden grass, glistening white frost or fresh drops of rain, pink clouds sun kissed and a choir of birds, my personal cathedral. Where is yours, the place you meet and greet with Christ that leaves you wanting to just sit, or walk, and just be there? Visit it often.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Grafton Cathedral.

God's glory

The night has passed and the day lies open before us........(.APBA. Morning prayer)
We don't know what a day holds when we first encounter it. As a morning person I see it fresh, new, quiet and seemingly untouched with a feel of peace and calm about it and I cant think of a better way, a better place, to start a day and  give thanks to God. Today, as the sun rose there was a 'glitter' and a 'sparkle' all over the frosty ground as the sun rays skimmed the earth and though freezing cold, somehow the beauty took the sharp edge off that feel. 'That's glorious' I found myself saying  and then I realised why we say 'the glory of the Lord shines all around us.' and in confidence I set my sights on the day ahead knowing that glory of the Lord is always shining around about us.
(Anon) 'In the early morning hours, twix the night and day, while from the earth the darkness passes, silently away, then 'tis sweet to talk with Jesus in thy chamber still......for the coming days and duties, ask to know his will.'
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

winter prayers

He was praying in  a certain place and one of the disciples said to him. 'Lord, teach us to pray.' Luke 11:1
There is something about winter.
The bare trees, the 'ghosts of winter' in the morning fog. The deep red of the sunrise coming through the mist that is hovering low, about to kiss the ground. The white as white crisp frost crunching under foot, the transparent cobweb, washed with dew drops, hanging on the fence like strings of pearls. The warm fire and hot cup of tea in a cup wrapped in chilly hands after the brisk morning walk. I have learnt in my day to day life that it dose not  matter where you are, what ever you see, whatever you you do, its all a prayer on the breath. Victor Hugo said: Certain thoughts are prayers. They are moments when, whatever the attitude of the body, the soul is on its knees.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.  

                                           The morning mist comes down to kiss the ground







                    

stepping stones

Once there was a man who went out to sow grain. Mark 4:3
Sometimes I hear people say their job is boring, mundane, and feel they are not making a difference. Well,  one day when I was out walking I noticed a lone worker operating a trench digger, digging footings for a new building and in a moment I thought, fancy doing that all day. Then I had this sudden thought, a flash of realisation that every job is so important no matter how it may seem. Without the footings, the building cant be built.  Think about all you do. The big and the small, and the difference that makes. I cant think of anything we do in life that dose not make a difference. Can you?
R.L.Sharpe said:We are given a bag of tools, a shapeless mass, a book of rules; and each must make, ere life is flown, a stumbling block or a stepping stone.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

smuggle me close Lord.

That's where you will find me. Psalm 27: 5-6  The Passion translation.
I cant resist the freshness and the new way of saying words to be found in some of the modern translations of the Book of Psalms. I was reflecting this morning on my relationship with God. How I love to be so close to him in nature and in every moment of the day and it does not matter how I feel he is always there, right beside me either with his hand in mine, his footsteps alongside mine or his breath sweeping my face in the breeze.So close that I can say: did you see that? Help me with this; come with me into the day, shower blessings on others and comfort me when it hurts and stay with me when I lay down to sleep. I love to think he 'smuggles'  me close  to keep me safe and secure. We have an amazing God. Fancy having time for each and every one of us to bring such a personal touch and relationship.How precious.

This I love from Psalm 27.

'Here is one thing I crave from God. The one thing I seek above all else. I want the privilege of living with him. Every moment in his house, finding the sweet loveliness of his face, filled with awe, delighting in his glory and grace. I want to live my life so close to him that he takes pleasure in my every prayer.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

treasures and gems

Jesus puts this song into our heart. TIS 670
Its such a 'God thing' when something catches our eye and our mind says Yes, I see it Lord. I see you. How often do we miss the little things in life, the momentary treasures. But when we catch a glimpse of them its  like looking through the clouded fog and seeing a distant house light.  As I looked out the window this morning my first reaction was being confronted by the thick fog, a 'pea souper' where there is nothing  else to see but fog but then, something glistening, shining, ever so small caught my eye and it was beads of moisture, the size of a pea, glistening, shining all along the branch of the naked tree like tiny lights, only there for a moment then gone as the light shifted and I though, even in the thick fog God is there, his light shining.  I love God moments, they ground you,such spiritual moments, such blessings.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Be like the rose.

The great Love of God,...its yours it is ours O how lavishly given! the pearl of great price and the treasure of heaven. TIS 164
There was still a touch of darkness about when I got up and I heard the weather man on the radio say its -6. I thought I would wait awhile before I ventured outside! But my thoughts and the' call from God' to come and see the new day arriving outweighed each other so I went. White, crisp and cold was everywhere and I think even the birds were still tucked up in bed . The stillness and quiet of all about me was a prayer in itself  and then I saw a bird,  silently and gracefully soaring across the sky, illuminated by the colours of the rising sun, its  melodious call attracting my attention and it seemed there was just the bird and myself walking the earth in the presence of God, singing the same song. Mary Oliver wrote:' When I wake, and you are already wiping  the stars away, I rise quickly, hoping to be like your wild child the rose,the honey maker, the honey vine; a bird shouting its joy as it floats through the gift you have given us;another day.'
Be like the rose, drawing people to Jesus, through you, as they see in you and your living; the way, the truth and the life

St Saviours rose

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

opportunities to pray

Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer. Ephesians 6:18
One of my grandsons, who is only 4, is constantly looking for opportunities to pray. He came into the kitchen as his mother was making his sandwich to take to school for lunch and said. 'Stop mummy, stop now, we need to pray.' His mother stopped and the little one, hands folded in prayer and head bowed said.' Hello God, I hope you are having a good day. Thank you for my lunch and thank you for mummy making it. Amen.'  I have a sense that there is something special about that child. In fact the three children of that family are very 'God aware.' What a thing to nurture, to grow, to encourage and to have input into. Who do you see as 'having a touch of the Spirit' in their lives' or who you could nurture in that way? Pray about that at all times, even like St Lawrence who prayed at every opportunity, even when he was elbow deep in soap suds as he did the washing up!
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

something special

Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created. Psalm 148:5
When I go out walking every morning its 'a prayer walk.' God and I communicate and share with each other the beauty of his creation. Its so special. Somehow the land covered white crisp frost baring my foot print speaks of something special. Somehow,the trees stark in winter nakedness, showing their bare beauty, speak of something special. Somehow the mountains tipped with the pink and orange of the rising sun speaks of something special. Somehow the new day as it pushes away the dark of night, speaks of something special. Somehow the spring in my step and the song in my heart speaks of something special. Somehow there is a deep sense of the sacred.
Tillhard de Chardin wrote: Lord, help me see the world with the same beauty it had when it tumbled out of your creative hand. Help me see that nothing here below is profane, on the contrary, everything is sacred.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

sit awhile

Withdraw to deserted places and pray.  Luke 5:16

 
We often reflect on prayer, and we carry it out in our various ways but today I can't get out of my mind the image of something that was shared this week during the aged care service, about prayer. It went something like this: 'When my husband prays he sees  himself sitting on a wall, his legs swinging back and forth and he is picturing before him  a beautiful scene and alongside him sitting on the wall also swinging his legs, is Jesus and they are having a conversation. To me he says, that's how I pray.' How beautiful is that! How lovely. How powerful. How unforgettable. Where do you go to pray. What draws you too a special place.  I love to sit in my front porch looking down across the farm land and into the valley and the foothills of the mountains and I see Jesus walking towards me from the depth of the valley, past the creek, across the road and arriving on my door step and strange as it may be I raise my tea cup and say, sit awhile and would you like a cup of tea. And you know, my soul weeps with the wonder of it all and my heart kneels to pray.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne,servant of the Lord.

God's fragrance

 I love the place O God, where in your honour dwells. (Church Hymn) 
I love the special moments when something profound happens. They are 'God' moments and they pop up all the time. Moments like when I see a new born calf attempting to stand by its mothers side. A flock of Blue Wrens arriving in the garden, and the metal bell sending out a rich ring in the night as its touched by a passing breeze. I know they are God moments because my heart sings and my voice praises God. I read these words by Ann Siddall: 'If you have never stayed awake to hear the courageous song of one small bird breaking into the stillness of the night, consider it. Its a God moment. If you haven't sat down lately with a cup of tea and simply admired a view, consider doing it. It is a God moment'. She goes on to say. 'I use to think God moments were special, set apart moments, perhaps brought on by praying in  particular ways. Gradually I have come to see that these graced moments fill ordinary days and shyly invite our recognition and response.' For me, God moments are when there is an element of surprised recognition that what I see or hear is  God. Its as if he has passed before my eyes and left his fragrance.

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

I see the Lord

My eyes are ever on the Lord. Psalm 25:15
God is brilliant in all the seasons but lately he has been excelling. The sunset the past few nights has been stunning, glowing red and pink and orange amidst dark clouds, covering the horizon in a blazing work of art, so lovely a picture that it makes me simply say, 'Aha'  And have you seen the moon these past few nights, perfectly round, glowing, clear and seemingly suspended by nothing,just sitting there and still present as the day breaks on the clear crystal frosty morning, another 'Aha' moment. It gives me a great sense of being alive, of knowing the presence of God, of knowing God is present and that gives me such life, such keenness to serve him.
What makes God real for you, so real that he is 'alive' everywhere around you?
Harold Whitman said:
'Don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go and do that because what the world needs, is people who have come alive.'

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

where will we go

'Come into his presence singing Jesus is Lord, Jesus is Lord.' (Spiritual song)

I look at the naked tree outside my office window and think of its slow undressing over the autumn season.Some days I would see one or two leaves fall and another day, when the wind chose a playful day many would go scurrying down the street.
Today for many its a holiday and I hear the voices around about me saying; 'what will we do?
  Where will we go?
  What will we visit?
For me, I am intending to go into the garden to love and care for the plants, to take times to sit and reflect and be near to God's heart.
John Ruskin said: 'Even if something is left undone, everyone must take time to sit still and watch the leaves turn.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord