Transformation

 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17

I love those unexpected moments of surprise that have the power to bless us and linger into the day and its only if we have our eyes open that we truly see them.  One such surprise came today in the silent beautiful little fairy like butterfly, a delicate, fragile creature, so pretty. Not a sound can be heard as it flies among the blossoms on the Buddleia bush investigating what might be on its breakfast menu.  Watching it I fell into meditation and reflection thinking how such a beautiful creature can immerge from a dark cocoon, how such a thing can be transformed out of darkness into the light. Then I thought of us, of you and of me and our life cycle that is full of transformation and shades of dark and light. I  think this quote speaks to that: Perhaps the butterfly is proof that you can go through a great deal of darkness yet become something beautiful.

The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Anne, servant of the Lord. 

                                                    A delicate fragile creature.

 He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Acts 17:24

My joy and delight was complete when I was asking God what will I see of him today and I had hardly finished my question when  I heard the busy twittering of the blue wrens in the garden, more so perhaps because since living where I now live l have only seen my much loved birds two or three times in as many years  and there they were, busy running up and down the fence and daring to almost come into my sacred space! As I watched them my heart was filled with love and  joy as they are so special and so God given and I thought of the words' where love reigns, the very joy of heaven is felt.' Oh how true.

I like these thoughts by Dr Hugh Ross: Wherever we look in the realms of nature we see evidence of God's design and exquisite care for his creatures, Whether we examine the cosmos in its largest scale or its tiniest ( and I want to add or in his little Blue Wrens) his handiwork is evident. God's fingerprints are visible.

May joy and delight be yours today.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                My joy and delight.

A rugged cross

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true...… I will cling to the old rugged cross. (Hymn The Old Rugged Cross)

Its such a blessing to have trees around my garden that bring  shade,  the colours of the seasons and   are  the homes of  the chattering  and nesting of my feathered friends that are the chorus background to my sacred space and the joy they bring when they strike up the chorus, bath in the birdbath and sunbake on the lawn. As I looked at the eucalyptus tree this morning in its self decorated trunk of countless markings and cross like branches I thought of the old hymn 'The Old Rugged Cross' and was reminded of that line in this hymn that reads....where the dearest and best for a world of sinners was slain. With my hands warming around  my cup of tea my heart too was warming around my love of Jesus  and all he did for me and for you.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                            self decorated trunk.

God is all in all

 Come and take a look at God's wonders, they will take your breath away. Psalm 66:5 (MSG)

There is something about coming across a feather on the ground, its like a message has been left for me and I find myself picking it up, admiring it and taking it home to add to the collection of 'feather messages' in the jar in my sacred space. So many times I come home from my walk, feather in hand. I marvel at the colours, the bird that owned it AND the God that made it. I never cease to be amazed at the creation of God, the detail, the beauty, the 'tidiness' of a feather. Today I didn't have to go far to receive a feathered message, it was right there on the garden table, in my space, left for me by a tiny bird, a winged angel. As I noticed it there  I said to God, Let's have a look at this together and a quietness fell all around me.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Anne, servant of the Lord

Where the felt and the unseen is waiting

And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day. Genesis 3:8-9 

There was a visitor waiting for me at the sacred space this morning, just sitting quietly and patiently on the bright coloured flower that hung over the edge of the garden table. A beautiful bright red ladybird with black spots. As I looked with wonder I thought 'how many more creatures come to this sacred place besides me and do they come for the same reason?  I know when I come here I have a sense of 'all will be well' and I know its a place where the felt, unseen is waiting for my visit! 

As I looked at this tiny creature, a creation of God's imagination, I thought of this prayer by Macrina Wiederkehr: O frail and glorious creature, whoever you are, cherish this truth - there are hints of glory in your being - seeds of splendour and traces of holiness.'

I just love seeing the holy in the ordinary. One doesn't have to go looking for it, one just has to sit and sit and be quiet.

May the Lord of peace himself  give you peace at all times in all ways.

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                A visitor in the sacred space

Is it a unity or a knowing?

 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?  Yet not one of them falls to the ground without  your Father knowing it. Matthew 10: 29 

There seemed to be a unity between us or was it a knowing? I pondered that as with love I watched the way the little sparrows flit between the rails of the fence and run about the garden as if they owned it. One was so bold as to sit on the rim of my tea cup  as I shared tea with God. Happy, happy little feathered balls of grey, brown and white on spindly legs. I sat longer than I had intended in a moment of wonder as I pondered how God loves all his creation even the seemingly worthless sparrow, sold so cheaply in the market places of Jerusalem as food for the poor. And, I though, how much poorer are we if we cannot see God's worth in all of his creation that feeds our body and our soul. These little sparrows are known and cared about by God, as he knows and cares for you and me.

Let the peace of Christ dwell in your hearts.               Anne, servant of the Lord     

                                  

                                        God loves me too!                                                                               

To ponder.

 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me  because he  has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor. Luke 4: 18

From within my sacred space I was looking at the 'love' embedded in the beautiful rose, its formation, its colour, its perfume, only love that could come from God.  As I gazed into this love a gentle breeze touched my face  like a breath of fresh air on a hot day. It seemed to just pass  across my face leaving a sense of what I could only call a deep peace and inner warmth. I just wanted to sit and stay in my sacred space where God felt so close and my prayer for this New Year was  : 'Spirit of the living God fall afresh on me in 2022.' 

What are your thoughts? What is the Spirit saying to you about this New Year?

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                    Emanating love.