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