no drum roll

My mouth is filled with your praise. Ps 71:8
Stillness is a powerful thing. Many things are born in stillness. Many things happen in stillness.Stillness is a mystery. For example I placed 3 stems of lilies in a vase, they were just buds on a long stem and then later that day I was taken by surprise at the full blooms they had turned into. Glorious, perfumed filled cluster of colour.  There was no fan fare, no orchestra playing the alleluia chorus, no drum roll, no shouting, just stillness.So often stillness is filled with God.  Sister Kennedy says: A flame burning, a  snowflake falling, bud opening, wheel spinning - the dynamic of stillness.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord

In the stillness - a new day is born.

never underestimate God!

Let all who are faithful offer prayer to you. Psalm 32:6
I smiled to myself when I was out for an evening walk and got caught in the rain. I smiled because earlier in the day a friend had said to me as she looked at the weather map, (which showed all the coming rain missing our area.) 'Do something', she said. I made some comment like the prayers of 2 or 3 may be better than one.  As I walked away I said to God. 'Some rain would be lovely, send some our way!' Macrina Wiederkehr said: Rain fell gently on the thirsty ground. Slowly, carefully,steadily it came to an earth parched with waiting. Through those holy raindrops I walked, unafraid - without an umbrella. I knew it was God.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Parched earth...... waiting.

Come sit with me.

All praise to thee, my God this night, for all the blessings of the light. TIS 558
On these hot summer evenings I sit down outside and in the silence, think about God and all the lovely things about me. The beautiful purple rose, perfectly formed from a bud to a full flower over the day and a petal falling softly to the ground. The white cockatoo on the bird feeder, silently feeding and joining me in the delights of the evening. As he leaves to join his family  a white feather falls   silently onto the paving at my feet as if to say, 'here is a memory of me.'  And joy of all joys a crested pigeon comes and sits on the chair opposite me and just looks straight into my eyes as if to say I know what you are thinking about. In the silence we look at each other in admiration and wonder and I say to him. 'How is it you keep your feathers so neat, so tidy, so immaculate and as for that top knot on your head, I am sure you have a stash of brylcream in your nest, it sits so beautifully straight on your head! Ah God, what a creator you are, what love you have to share but Oh how it takes us moments of stillness  to see it it.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord

Not a feather out of place.

The great I AM

He leads me by still waters. Psalm 23
Every morning at 5am I wake to the beautiful melodious chorus of the birds and they seemed to be singing in harmony with one another. I think God deliberately wakes me at that time so I don't miss this morning blessing  in the stillness of the breaking day. The chorus is soft, melodious, beautiful and full of peace. Its a prayer just lying in the bed and listening and I am  every so thankful to God for this mode of prayer.   Joan Chittister would say: Prayer is not a magical act; it is a relationship that calls the spiritual dimensions in us to life, that attunes us to the universe, that hears the sound of the great I AM everywhere.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord

A sound of the great I AM

Not just any gate

I am the gate. John 10:7
There is something about a gate. Is it its invitation to go through and see whats on the other side? Is it a sense of mystery about what is on the other side, the unknown, the unseen? Or is it because in the back of my mind I hear the words of Jesus, 'I am the gate and who ever enters by me will be saved.'' Perhaps that's why I feel many a gate has a sense of invitation about it.
I like these words (author unknown) At the side of the road is a garden gate, which is always open, early and late....just over the hill and up along. And inside the gate is a place of rest where the host will give you His very best...just over the hill and up along.
Grace and Peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne,servant of the Lord

The Gate.....Come!

Everyday Genesis

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth........and all that is in them. Genesis 1 (paraphrased)
I marvel almost daily without ceasing at the beauty and 'magic' of God's creation of this earth.
 Sunshine and snow
 rainbows
 sunsets and sun rises
 delicate little wrens and BIG red kangaroos
spring blossoms and autumn leaves
                  and my darling little dog
                                        all is an everyday genesis.
Creator God may we appreciate and be blessed daily by your creations. May we see your face in all we see.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne,servant of the Lord.

Crested pigeons enjoying a shower under the hose on a very hot day

Lead me O thou great Jehovah

I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year.; 'Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown' and he replied.' Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be better than light and safer than a known way.' (King George V1 Broadcast 1939)
Here we are well into the start of the New Year and I wonder where it will take us. I wonder what our thoughts, feelings and apprehensions might be as we venture 'into the unknown' There is one thing I know for sure and that is whatever is before us  all will be well if we hold the hand of God. I woke up today with this hymn in my heart.
Guide me O thou great Jehovah, Pilgrim through this barren land; I am weak but thou art mighty. Hold me with thy powerful hand. (Hymn)
Many blessings for 2018 as we go 'into the unknown.'  May we all be 'lit' with an inner sureness of the path we tread.
Grace and Peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

path into the unknown