Eyes open.

.......then their eyes were open and they recognised him. Luke 24:31
The disciples walking on the road to Emmaus were startled to find that their companion was the risen Lord Jesus and the disciples on the Sea of Galilee were startled to see the figure walking towards them was the risen Jesus. Sometimes we to are startled to find the Lord is with us. He presents himself  and shows himself and reveals himself in the beauty and in the pain of our daily life. Sometimes the realisation is sudden and sometimes, like with the disciples it can be a slow awakening. Frederick Buechner said: Lord, catch me off guard today. Surprise me with some moment of beauty or pain so at least for the moment I may be startled into seeing that you are here in all your splendor, 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.

The beauty in a dry arid place.

Will I go this way

Whether you turn to the right or the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, 'this is the way,walk in it.' Isaiah 30:21
Sometimes I have a discussion with myself when I set out for a walk. Will I go this way to the open  walking track, or will I go via some streets and lanes, or will I just take the direct path that will get me to where I am going. The aim of the walk is to be with God, to walk with him in the freshness of the early morning even before the sun has kissed the capeweed into flower,   So often, when I deliberate about the path to take I think of this passage from Isaiah because  I often answer myself with 'walk this way.'  Sometimes at a funeral people use  the chapter from John's gospel(14)  and ask if they can leave out verse 6 'I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the father except through me.'  My response of course is 'no.' The inner voice that we hear is the voice of God, directing, guiding and leading, along the right path, the right way, to him.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord

Which way will I walk

who we are

I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord. John 1:23
There is always a bird that heralds in the morning. Its call is like a prayer, breaking the silence, welcoming the day. Its a joyous call that straight away I sense it is of God and I thought of John the Baptist heralding in Christ, the voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'prepare the way of the Lord.' I wondered in my quiet time this morning, in unseen unison with each other , how many of us are readying ourselves to 'prepare the way of the Lord' as we think and pray for the day ahead. You know we wear the name Christian not because of what we are or who we are or where we are but because of whose we are (Rick Ezell.) Go forth in confidence and faith.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

Preparing for the day

Live Christ

The world wants something that has God in it. Each person is given something to do that shows who God is. 1 Corinthians (the message)
I was going out with family for a meal and we were stopped in our tracks by one of the poorest ladies I had ever seen on the streets of Canberra. While warm with ample clothing on she had no shoes or socks on her worn feet. She looked tired and very much in need of a shower. She apologized for all the fur on her coat saying it was from the cats she sleeps with. In talking to her all she wanted at that moment was a meal, nothing more, just a meal. After providing her with this request and a 'God bless you.' we moved on. It took sometime to get past the image and wondering of this  lady as I counted my blessings.
Lucado says: The greatest thing that any of us can do is not to live for Christ but to live Christ.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

Live Christ

 

The sweetest song

There is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God (Hymn)
If I had to choose a favourite hymn I don't think I could single out one above another but some do sit in your heart and bless you. Some seem to draw us into the lap of God. This particular hymn does that. There is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God. A place where sin cannot molest, near to the heart of God. O Jesus, blessed redeemer, sent from the heart of God, draw us who wait before you, near to the heart of God.   Sometimes words and thoughts and   places draw us so close to God that we don't want the moment to go. We want to remain in that space. Its like you are one with God and cant get any closer to his heart.
Where are such special times for you where you find that deep closeness.
This morning I have to say it was in the sweetest song of a tiny bird singing at day break.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Singing at daybreak

story tellers

I love to tell the story, t'will be my theme in glory to tell the old old story, or Jesus and his love.
(Arabella Ketherine Hankey (1834-1911)
The air is fresh,the morning is quiet and the new day dawned. Each new day opens itself up to so many possibilities. Every day is a fresh new start. Every day is a fresh new opportunity. Every day is a fresh new witness. Just think of the people who will cross your path today. Those you plan to meet with, those whose meeting will be unexpected. Multiply that  by 7 days, by 4 weeks by twelve months, by 365 days, by a life time of telling the story and you thought you were one small person in a big world.
There is an African  proverb which says: If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito!
Go into the world proclaiming Christ by your very being there and tell the old, old story.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord

traveling with us

I lift up my eyes to the hills, from where will my help come? my help comes comes from the Lord. Psalm 121:1
This is one of the .'grounding ' verses in the psalms that stay with you in life. Every time I look at the hills or mountains, every time I need God close, every time I feel a bit anxious or even just on the way to work, it comes straight to mind. It doesn't matter  if you are on a journey to Israel, or travelling down  the highway or heading for an operating theater, God's comfort and protection is with  you. His help is only a whisper away....'from where will my help come? It comes from the Lord'
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

Our protector God, ever present.

Ah, the glory

The glory of the Lord shall be revealed. Isaiah 40:5
I stopped on my walk to smell the flowers before I had even passed my garden.
  The striking deep red, and pinks and spotted white azaleas  bursting from bulging buds.
 The blackbird running around the garden path, busy in pursuit of dry grass and debris to build a nest. The tiny delicate blue forget-me-nots
and the dainty freesia packing a powerful hit of perfume that floats on the breeze.
 Ah, the glory of the Lord is revealing itself all over the place.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ,
Anne, servant of the Lord

The dainty freesias.

A-bend to God

Breathe on me breath of God, and all my life refine, until this earthly part of me glows with your fire divine (TIS 407)
I often think of the prayer warriors in the community. I know of several  that live around my place and others that I call on to pray for me and the very vulnerable people I care for in the community. I know they, and their prayers are what underpins my daily ministry and gives new life to many. I read that 'neither my preaching,nor my praying brought  others to God.  It was the good woman 60 miles away whose prayers brought the breath-touch of God upon struggling souls in our community.'  Being a prayer warrior is a life changing ministry. Don't underestimate its worth and its power. God has chosen you to be a blessing to many.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

A prayer warriors tool