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