Made by God.

 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them. Genesis 1-2

What detail. What incredible handiwork. What a creator. They were my thoughts as I lightly touched the delicate, perfect flower head of the blooms on the daphne bush, its perfume holding on my fingers. If one were to create the world and all that is in it in 7 days you would be inclined to think that it was a rushed job, things thrown together, tossed here and there but not so. The beauty of the smallest flower, the painted back of the lady bird with its red coating and black spots and the tiniest of legs, the colours of the birds and shapes of the animals, that's no rushed job. When you look in the mirror this morning you will see your image. Pause and look, that was no rushed job either, what you see is as precious in the sight of God as all of his creation made by God.

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

                                                        Its perfume holds on my fingers

Its colour, its perfume.

 'All is silent, in the still and soundless air I fervently bow to my Almighty God.' (Bing Xin. China)

One thing was on my mind when I came to meet with God this morning. It was the words of the beautiful hymn, 'Glorious things of thee are spoken.' and I had this image in mind of the beautiful, stunning bright yellow of the wattle trees coming into bloom that line some of our roadways and dot the bushland around us.. Bright, cheerful yellow balls of fluffy wattle blooms that hold a perfume which send me right back to childhood memories. Somethings in God's creation can put us on our knees with their colour, their beauty, their perfume, their memories and I thought of these words from the Iona Community: The turn of the leaf in the morning sun and the catch in our throat drives us to our knees and into prayer.

May the God of life bless you and keep you today and always.   Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                        Beauty in colour.

Cover the day with prayer

 Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath! Psalm 116:2

Every day is a prayer. All day is a prayer. I wonder do you see it like that? To wake up with a prayer on your lips of thanking God for the gift of a new day. To gaze out the window at a snow white frost while  holding a steaming hot cup of tea warming the hands and thanking God for the beauty  you behold.  To be blessed by two beautiful Rosellas on the garden path  and pause in the sacred space to lay the day before God and all those he will put in your path path today who may need your help. Francis de Sales said: Sprinkle a seasoning of short prayers on our daily living. If you see something beautiful, thank God for it. If you are aware of someone's need, ask God to help - you can toss up prayers all day!

May the God of life, bless you and keep you today and always.    Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                                   Morning delight

Hold hands with God

 In your presence is the fullness of joy and from your right hand flow delights for evermore . Ps 16:11

Oh the stillness. Oh the quiet. Oh the peace. Oh the beauty of it all in the sacred space as the stars fade from sight and the thin veil of light heralds the day, a day untouched, new and fresh showered with rays of the rising sun breaking through the trees and almost falling at my feet to the rhythm of the tinkling bell of a tiny bird waking and all I see and feel descends as a yearning in my heart, to heaven, to thank God for the gift of this new day.  All of it is a morning prayer and I am blessed richly before the day has even begun and my closing prayer to God is this: 'You have blessed me with light at the suns rising, shine on me now with love.'   May we all find that sacred space in the morning where we sit and hold hands with God all be it just for a little while.

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

In your presence is joy.

Surprise me God.

Let us ask ourselves today; are we open to 'God's surprises'?  Pope Francis 

God is often referred to as the God of surprises and he never fails to live up to that description. All around us in our day there are things that cause us to say, 'that was of God, or that is of God.' Yesterday I was taken by surprise when the end of the day seemed to pause between that thin veil of light and dark as God put on a magnificent spectacle in the sun set.  A spectacle of intense colour and beauty that caused such an intake of my breath, stopping me in my tracks in moments of awe and wonder. It was indeed a moment of nourishment.

May the God of life bless you and keep you today and always.     Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                    A moment of nourishment

A morning mystery

 Praise God the great creator (TIS  165)

The mystery of a winters morning with the ground frost white and glittering in places like a million jewels as its kissed by the rays of the rising sun and the mystery deepens as a thick fog embraces the eucalyptus trees, white ghost gums, living up to their name. What a gift that called me to bless the Lord in thanks for showering the opening of the day with a thousand blessings. As I looked into this days beginnings I recalled the words I read by A. Spanger: ' When you start  to make a habit of blessings God, you will discover that daily life can begin to feel like Christmas morning.'

Mane Nobiscum Domine - remain with us Lord.       Anne, servant of the Lord.

The mystery of  the morning

Beauty and brightness

 Praise God from whom all blessings flow. TIS 768

Just a few days ago God put on a magnificent spectacle. It had been raining, the air was clear, the sun came out and there it was a stunning, bright coloured rainbow in all its glory emanating God's love and promises. A perfect arc across the sky. What a wonderful creative God we have who blesses us in so many ways. The daily office reading from Sirach  34 last night said: 'Look at the rainbow, and praise him who made it; it is exceedingly beautiful in its brightness. It encircles the sky with its glorious arc, the hands of the most high have stretched it out.' 

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

God's beauty