Silent witness

All God's creatures have a place in the choir. (Christian song)
Its been my experience before and now I see it again. I went for a walk in the dementia wing of the nursing home with me little dog, to visit a friend but she was out with family, so I decided to go for a wander about.  One elderly  lady literally ran to catch up with me, and in a foreign language started calling the dog. She was overjoyed and danced around lifting the dogs front legs in a dancing motion. She stayed with us for about 5 minutes in this window of joy before wandering off.  A staff member then approached me. This delightful, very dark skinned young man bent to pat her and noticed the cross on her collar. He immediately pulled a cross from beneath the neck of his shirt and said 'I have one too! we both know God loves us.' A little dog, an old wooden cross on her collar and time on my hands and God's love made a difference and brought joy.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ,
Anne, servant of the Lord

Genna

Looking at God's love

For your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth Psalm 26:3
This morning had a real sense of 'come walk with me ' about it from the moment I stepped out the door. The ground was wet from an early morning shower of rain and the air was fresh. On the empty trees hung one or two remnants of the past autumn and a lone magpie on the fence was heralding in the morning. A gum tree close by was 'painted pink' with the light of the wintry sunrise and the sky was as a painting in progress by a master artist as its colours were caught up in the swirling formation of the wind driven clouds. I stopped and looked. One of those looks when you see right into what it is you are looking at and I realised I was looking at God's love. Take time today to look into God's love for it will carry you through the day......and beyond.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne,servant of the Lord

joy

For the joy of the Lord is your strength. Neh 8:10
You know how it feels when you round a corner, or come over the crest of a hill and there before you is the most stunning,breathtaking sunset,or breathtaking view or a kookaburras laugh breaks  the stillness of the morning or even  when you come across an unexpected family of 'roos' on the walking track, grazing and just 'being family' or recently for me its the sudden landing of the Red Robin on my picket fence. All the elements of pleasurable surprise. I was touched by these words in a recent conversation 'joy comes through surprise.' We have a God of surprises, who fills our heart and lives with joy. A God of surprises who meets us often when we least expect it.

Water dragon crossed my path on the lawn by the river.

Dwell in the house of the Lord

One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord.  Ps 27:4
Sometimes the best things in life are those things nearest  to us. The crispness of the morning frost letting us know we are alive! The frozen dew drops on the tip of a leaf, hanging, suspended,paused, frozen in the moment. The weak sunlight   pushing through the fog creating those moments of 'haunting beauty'. The Daphne at the front door, about to burst into a perfume that will take your memory back in time. A day ahead prayed in and over, full of challenges and promise and adventure and delights, hand in hand with Jesus. Robert Louis Stevenson said: 'The best things are the the nearest, the  breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes,flowers at your feet,duties at hand, the path of God before you.'
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

Beautifully formed cones like candles in the fir tree.

your glorious light

God himself is present, let us now adore him (TIS 121)
There is something special in that thin space between night and day and we call it dawn because that is what it is, the dawning of a new day with new possibilities, new hopes and new opportunities and it is such a gift. And, its this special time of the day that God and I are one. I love hymn 121 . The verses are full of words that are so meaningful and sit beautifully on my heart. Its one of those hymns that keep coming to you hours and days after its been sung and its words put you in a place of prayer and meditation . (v3) 'Let your glorious light, Lord, permeating all things, reach my face and eyes to touch them: as the tender flowers open out their petals, to the sun their hearts unfolding, So may I, calm in joy, hold your rays from heaven, power within me working.'   
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ,
Anne, servant of the Lord

I see Jesus

Tend the flock of God........willingly. 1 Peter 5:2
I find the nearness of Jesus comes naturally when I just look at things in daily life.
I see a river and hear Jesus say: 'if you come to me you will not be thirsty.'
I see a paddock of sheep and hear Jesus say: 'I am the good shepherd.'
I take a slice of bread for my breakfast and hear Jesus say: 'I am the bread of life.'
I see a flock of topknot pigeons on the grass with the Grass Parrots,  Rosellas and King Parrots and I hear the melody of All things bright and beautiful, the Lord God made them all.
I see a small flowering plant growing through a crack in the wall and I know Jesus loves me.
I see the needy daily in my ministry and I want to sing: 'Jesus, O Jesus Come and fill our lives.' (TIS)
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord

King Parrots

Ki

moments of stillness

Be still for the presence of the Lord is moving in this place. (Hymn)
'That stopped me in my tracks 'is a common saying among us  when we see something that takes our eye and catches our attention suddenly; that something that causes our soul to smile. Its often a sudden moment where stillness find us.
Sister Kennedy says: Such moments are in the smile of a child on a train, the budding of the cherry blossom at the gate, the sweet scent of the clematis in the garden, the look behind forgiving eyes, the fresh eggs left on the door step. But for me yesterday , it was the beautiful Robin Redbreast sitting on the Pickett fence just outside my study window; a moment when stillness found me.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

A winter visitor

God of all faithfulness

O perfect love. (TIS 603)
I was looking at the bare trees outside the window and noticing  the full ripe buds getting ready to burst open as spring approaches and yesterday when driving in the suburb I  noticed a tree dressed in pink blossoms, its buds impatient giving way to full bloom. What a faithful loving God who without fail produces the seasons of our year as he produces the seasons of our lives. I love the quote which I have used a few times now that  says: 'I said to the almond tree show me the things of God' and the almond tree blossomed. Sister Stan says: Gazing at the pale yellow buds of the camellia opened, I knew I was unconditionally loved.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord

Encouragement for the day.

Its a glorious feeling to be able to unload my heart,to spill out my gratitude in thanks to you O God. Morning noon and night I want the whole world to know of your love. Psalm 92:1-2 (Psalms Now)
 A lady I visit in the community is constantly searching for Jesus. She has a hard life, a lonely life and longs to walk with Jesus as her companion. 'I use to know him' she said 'as a child I knew him but then he went away.I know I have you to help me now but where is Jesus?'  I told her about the story in the bible of the two who were walking on the road to Emmaus after Jesus had left them and how this stranger came alongside and through conversation and journey and an invitation to supper  Jesus was revealed. This psalm ends by saying: help us, those of us who love you O God to prove to our disjointed world that you are in our midst. Marcina Wiederkehr  would say: May your work this day be your love made visible;may you breathe upon the wounds of those with whom you work;may your voice this day be a voice of encouragement;may your life be an answer to someones prayer;may the lamp of your life  shine upon all you meet  this day;may the Spirit touch your spirit in this morning pause and your day be blessed.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord