Retreat

 God has given you rest. Deut 25:19

It is so lovely to have a retreat day away from the business of life. To step out of the normal and create something different. Its so life giving and refreshing. This was the experience when I walked along a beach recently looking at the long sweep of the beach, watching rock pools form ,  listening to the sounds of the sea gulls, the waves rolling onto the sand and the wind bringing in the lovely smell of sea air. The sights, the sounds, and the smells took me into a different realm - one of peace and calm.  I read these lines from Ainslie Mears. 'Its all about on the mountain top, in the deep of the forest, on the curving sweep on a lonely beach and kneeling in the cool crispness of summers night.'

Do it. Take a day to visit your special place and you will find your sacred space is there, waiting.

Jehovah - Shalom. The Lord is peace.   Anne, servant of the Lord

                                            Watching rock pools form

Gifts of love.

 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father above. James 1:17

The sacred space is carpeted with hundreds of  multi coloured autumn leaves , a kaleidoscope of colour and the birdbath is filled with floating leaves  like little ships in a port while the gentle breeze is falling the remnants of leaves from the near naked trees, falling gently like confetti. God was filling the sacred space with his blessings.

May the peace of God fill your life every single day.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                Little ships at sea.

A lasting deep peace.

 How sweet the name of Jesus sounds in a believers ear. It soothes his sorrows heals his wounds and drives away his fears. ( Hymn: John Newton)

So often we in the church are constantly wanting to try new hymns and modern Christian songs which is wonderful but lets not forget the ones that have been around for a long time and held so much meaning in peoples lives. This is one of the most asked for hymns from the older people in the nursing home. It brings a true sense of peace, of being held by God and that feeling goes deep, deep into the soul. I think of all the names that come to mind that are encompassed in the name of Jesus and I come up with; redeemer, saviour, master, comforter, healer, friend. Lee Self says, ' Jesus, I try to encompass all your names but they slip from my grasp. When I hold nothing I hold you. When I hold you I hold everything.

May the peace of God fill your life every single day.   Anne, servant of the Lord.    

                                            

                                                A lasting peace.

Give thanks

 O Lord how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all, the earth is full of your possessions Psalm 104:24

Take a look at everything that is in your field of vision and reflect. God made it all and what strikes me  is that he is still making, creating and being extravagant. Every sunrise, every new day, the fresh shower of rain that transform the roadside with pink and blue and yellow wild flowers. The baby birds in the nest. Everything that is in your sight God made. They are his. They are his possessions (had you ever thought of creation in that way?) and he wants to share them with us.

 Lord, you are a constant, faithful creating God and we thank you. 

 Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                                Made for our joy.

He comes disguised.

  Holy, holy, holy, Lord God almighty early in the morning to you our song shall be. (TIS132)

Its a beautiful  autumn morning where the fog weaves its way through the naked trees and hovers across the ground giving an offering of what I call haunting beauty.  There is a mystery  about it, a stillness and a calm - and a presence -  and it felt like God was passing by. I was drawn to think on God and how his love covers the earth. He has a heart and a love for us all, enough to cover the whole world and  as June Bacher would say, 'yet small enough to curl up inside your heart.' 

May the peace of God fill your life every single day.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                There is a mystery about it.

Sing to the Lord

 Come into his presence singing Jesus is Lord, Jesus is Lord. (Scripture in Song)

 I woke up to the sound of rain falling on the dry leaves in the garden outside my window and my thoughts immediately went to God and how faithful he is. Rain....life giving water for us and for the earth and I thought of life giving streams of water that flow through our lives from the love of Jesus and how we have that wonderful opportunity, the unique opportunity to flow those life giving  water onto others and I found myself humming, 'Come into his presence singing Jesus is Lord, Jesus is Lord.'  I reflect on my quiet time with Jesus, of his faithfulness and of the people he already knows that  we will encounter today .  I also reflect on the saying: 'those who sing pray twice.' Keep singing and we are constantly praying. Keep singing and we are in his presence always. 

Mane nobiscum Domine - Stay with us Lord.               Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                    Precious gift.