Their trill lifts my heart

Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. (TIS454)

At times we only need a thought for it to be a prayer. Sometimes we only need a thought for it to be a meditation or a reflection. Sometimes words don't come but the trying is all of the above.  Stopping momentarily as if caught by surprise is one of the beautiful images I have of connecting with God, Deliberately I have grown native plants to try and encourage small birds into my garden and as they grow and flower I am more and more rewarded. Just working from my office, glancing out the window and there in the flowering Grevilia is a tiny honeyeater and he has brought along the family. The sight catches my breath, their trill lifts my heart.  Its a prayer. Its a meditation. Its a reflection.

The smallest of gifts in the running in life can be the greatest blessings.

Jehovah - shalom.

The Lord is peace.

Anne, servant of the lord.

                                            A surprise - a blessings when out walking.

God unchanging

Wind, wind blow on me, wind wind set me free, wind wind the Father sent, the blessed Holy Spirit (New Harvest 226) 

I was watching people flying kites on the hills of the arboretum and there was great delight and   joy  as the kites rose high and dipped low, dancing on the wind, until the wind stopped and the kite plummeted to the ground only to be picked up   and tossed sky wards again. As I watched it reminded me so much of life. The soaring and dancing, the dipping and falling and then I thought of God how he is there for us in whatever life throws at us be it joy, dancing,  feeling low or in crisis His love is unfailing, unchanging and always present, never dependant on which way the wind is blowing. Ever present, ever loving, ever unchanging God. May the wind of the Holy Spirit blow on you today.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                Kites in the wind

Comfort for you and for me.

 Your rod and your staff they comfort me. Psalm 23:4

Many of our days can be floored with little fractures of despair or worry. They can pull us down, distract us from enjoyment, take us away from our trust in God. We often cant avoid the issues in our days but we don't have to go them alone. God is with us always, even in the fractured bits. Now that's a great comfort.

That's a nice word, comfort.

 It gives me an image of being wrapped in a warm blanket and  held tight. Mecrina Wiederkehr says ; Between the cracks of daily life I find you waiting........you slip into my life like day and night, like stars and sunshine. I know that you are God.

Jehovah - shalom. The Lord is peace.

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                    God's love in the cracks.

Secrets of a happy life

 The cheerful heart has a continual feast. Proverbs 15:15

We are never poor when our heart has a continual feast: 

The company of good friends around a picnic table sharing chocolate, sharing the beauty of nature, sharing life. Walking at sunrise, catching the 'making of the day., the fog, the mist, the colour. Walking a winters day, in the rain smelling the fresh earth and stepping in puddles. The blessings from God, the stranger we meet along the way, Godly encounters, our life, his comfort  and love.

I read this from Iris Murdock: One of the secrets of a happy life is continuous small treats.(and I just saw another from my window, as a tiny blue flower on a spindly stem waved its joy in the breeze)

                                                    A morning 'feast;'

Today, tomorrow and every day.

 I have loved thee with an everlasting love. Jeramiah 31:3

Indeed, God does love us with an everlasting love and he shows that in so many ways; so many uncountable ways. As my eyes fall on the opening of each new day I am compelled to say 'thank you Lord,'  what a gift. So often we can be complacent about 'the gift of a new day' - almost take it for granted, as a given. But when we truly see it for what it is then our desire is to use it wisely in love for one another  and to the service of the Lord.  Jimmy Carter said: We should live our lives as though Christ was coming this afternoon. 

Thank you Lord for the gift of this new day.

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                               Not just another day.

Love letters from God

 God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him may not perish  but may have eternal life. John 3:16

What's a blessings? There is so much wrapped up in that word blessing. I can 'feel' it now in the quiet and still of the morning. I can 'hear' it in the trill coming from the tiny birds, little notes falling  and rising on the morning mist and  in the has been, once was, lingering beauty of the last rose of summer and its that little pond of peace, heavenly peace, that's deep in my soul, my whole being. I think I would call a blessing  love.  Peter Kreeft said: The whole world is a love letter from God:  I would say, every blessing is a love letter from God.

Jehovah - shalom. The Lord is peace.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                What's a blessings?

A splendour all around.

 There was a splendour all around like the bow in a cloud on a rainy day.. Ezekiel 1:27-28

The carpet of leaves on the ground were thick and colourful and full of moisture from the recent rain and silently some fading leaves were still falling without any ceremony but there was a  look of a dance about them. and looking at them was like a sudden gift. I read this quote from T.C.Clark which said: 'Lord, give me joy in the common things.' 

May you find joy today in the ordinary, the common things.

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

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                                A carpet of leaves.

Reconciliation

This is my Son the Beloved; listen to him.  Mark 9:7

Tjukarpa  palya Jesunya is the name on the New Testament I have in the language of the Pitjantjatjara people of the far north west of South Australia. In English it reads : This man Jesus is good. The ancient peoples in that area still speak their native language and they have added new  words and actions that they value from our language, words like Jesus. Their timeless stories of creation blend with ours and fit in likeness and they have a very deep and rich spirituality.  For them and for us, surly  the name of Jesus must be at the point of reconciliation.

I like this line from the Prayer for Reconciliation from APBA. Lord God, bring us together as one, different in  culture, but given new life in Jesus Christ, together as your body, your church, your people. 

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                Lord God, bring us  together as one.

Light is sweet

 Light is sweet; how pleasant to see a new day dawning. Ecclesiastes 11:7

A new day is magical. Its a miracle really and God does it for us day after day after day. and I always pray that I never take this gift for granted. And  so I love to pause and take it in with what it has to  offer and the potential it holds. I was thinking these thoughts, or are they prayers? as I watch the early sun beams run across the lawn and catch a shimmering, dew laden cobweb in its path and it glistened and sparkled  like a diamond necklace. What delight in such a simple image, what magic in its creation.

Lord give me an open heart to find you everywhere, to glimpse the heavens unfold in a bud, and to experience eternity in the smallest act of love (Mother Teresa)

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                             cobwebs glistening like diamond necklaces.

.

Held in a sacred space.

 Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. John 1:29

I was listening to the beautiful piece of music  'All in the April Evening' being sung by the Glasgow Orpheus Choir and though I have heard it and sung along with it for many years of my life I still come to one line that holds me in a sacred space. Its one of those sacred spaces you don't want to leave. It says:

'I saw the sheep with the lambs and thought on the Lamb of God.'

Do you have a sacred space that holds you?

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

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                               Dwell on the Lamb of God.

Holding the branch with spindly legs

 Their hearts are firm, secure in the Lord. Psalm 112:7

Regardless of our age God just keeps on giving and giving and I see that so much in creation. I marvel that during a storm with the wind blowing enough to shake the trees wildly even the tiniest of birds, with their spindly little legs can hold onto a branch and sleep and not fall off. I saw the wonder of God's creation when I learnt that when  a bird settles on a branch to sleep it bends its little knees and clutches the branch with its claws and in that movement the tendons in its legs form a lock and the bird is secured to the branch. I mean really, only God could create such a mechanism  of safety for the birds. I am reminded of how we, in a storm of life or as we lay down to sleep can bend our knees before God and be secure in his love and safety. 

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

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                            A little bird on a twig

To behold the beauty of the Lord. Psalm 27:4 

So many times and in so many places we have the opportunity to behold the beauty of the Lord if we are looking for it. Yesterdays frost was as white and almost as thick as newly fallen snow. Everything was glistening, sparkling, crisp white. The bird bath water was frozen including the fallen leaves that lay in it.

All so beautiful, all so of God and as I looked I found these words falling from my heart in prayer. 'Lord show me your beauty today.' And he did, in a far grander way than ever expected. God shows his beauty to us from frosty mornings, to a beautiful flower, breath-taking scenery,  and wistful mist to a tiny bird, the smile of a baby and in the face of the elderly.

Watch out for his beauty in this new day. What have you seen of it already?

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                            Colourful leaves in the bird bath.

The cushion of God's love.

 The peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

The sky with its tinge of  pink of the dawn sunrise has now changed to a clear sky of blue. Its quiet and all I can see of movement are a few random autumn leaves still hanging onto the trees suddenly deciding to let go and on the ground are the beautiful Crimson Rosellas having breakfast. The whole scene emanated  the quiet and stillness of the morning and a peace, a God filled peace was present.         There are many places to find the deep peace of God. L.B.Cowman  says that there is a part of the sea known as 'the cushion of the sea' and it lies beneath the surface that is agitated by storms and churned by the wind and it is so deep that it never stirs. The peace of God is an eternal calm like this cushion of the sea, or the  peaceful 'God present' in  the new day. It lies deep in our heart undisturbed by what is happening around and within us. It goes beyond the storms in our lives. I like this quote from Pilgrims Progress which says: 'Pilgrim was taken to a large upper room that faced the sunrise and the name of the room was peace.'

May the deep peace of God's love and presence be the cushion for you today.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                A quiet breakfast.

Wide wide as the ocean

 As the water fills the sea, the earth will be filled with an awareness of the glory of the Lord. Habakkuk 2:14

On a recent trip to the South Coast I spent some time just looking at the ocean. Its vastness and seemingly never ending space and I recalled some statistics I had read which said: There is approximately 326 million, trillion gallons of water on the earth and 98% of that is in the ocean. Habakkuk the prophet compares God's glory to water that fills the sea. That's one heck of a lot of God's glory!

How often do you  think about the glory of the Lord  and try and take in its magnitude, its richness, its blessings. Next time you walk on the beach or paddle in the sea, reflect on Habakkuk' words and try and grasp some sense of the magnitude of the glory of the Lord.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                            Seemingly never ending like the Lord's glory

Just to be.

 How lovely is your dwelling place O God.  Psalm 84:1

Just sit with these thoughts for a moment in gentle meditation.

As the morning sun shines its light on the dew of the morning so may your light shine on us Lord.

May it warm our hearts, brighten our thoughts and lift us into the new day. As the sun shines  your love through the colours of the last of the autumn leaves may we know your love as light and colour in our lives. As the gentle breeze crosses our face may we be reminded of the breath of your Spirit within us.

May your love always abide deep within.

Jehovah - shalom. The Lord is peace.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                            

                                            Morning Glory

Glory Lord and Honour

 Sing praises to the Lord for he has done gloriously. Isaiah 12:5

Autumn is such a glorious time to see God right before our eyes. Magnificent autumn leaves -  multiple hues, hanging, falling, blowing in the wind, carpeting the ground and glorious sunrises and sun sets that paint the sky in breath-taking colours and bring the day onto its knees in stillness and quiet, but have you taken your sight of God's glory a step further? Have you seen God's glory in a single rain drop? Tiny drops of creation and as the sunshine's through they become a kaleidoscope of crystal colours, bubbles packed with God's beauty.

What a mighty and magnificent God we have.  Take the time to take many pauses in your day and see for yourself his glory right there beside you.

Grace and peace from the lord Jesus Christ

Anne, servant of the Lord.

     Shine Jesus Shine

 For your steadfast love is before my eyes. Psalm 26:3

The flow of the autumn mist was like a whisper on the breeze as it lifted to give way to light and clear and bright of the new day and never more glorious were the colours of autumn.  It is such a special time when we pause and take in the sights around us,  not only take them in for their beauty but for the footprint of God that has created for our pleasure.  As little sanctuary's of God we need this fuel for the day - these times when the Lord's presence is marvellously before us. Stop, pause, see and give thanks.

Jehovah-shalom, the Lord is peace.

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                God's love

One could say its just Autumn

I said to myself, 'Come now, I will take a test of pleasure; enjoy yourself.' Ecclesiastes 2:1

This time of the year brings with it different sights and sounds. Red, yellow and crimson carpets cover the ground where the last of the autumn trees have shaken their fading leaves and playful gusts of wind can be seen chasing so many down the gutter of the road. Its a playful season is autumn but the sound that catches my ear is that of the acorns tumbling down the tree, bouncing off the branches sounding far more like a rock falling than a tiny acorn, there to lie with hundreds of others on the ground to be crunched and cracked playfully under my feet. One could say it just autumn, just another season but to me its God. Its God with his paint pallet out and he is painting and playing.  How do you see God in the season of autumn?

Jehovah - shalom. The Lord is peace.

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                    Autumn and acorn trees.

Drops of living water

 Jesus said: Everyone who  drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I give them will never be thirsty. John 4:13

I was looking at a large pond of clear crystal water embedded in the paddock and surrounded by long stems of dry grass all gently swaying in the wind, and so it was for as far as my eye could see. But on the edge of the pond were tuffs of green grass obviously close enough to the water to be fed by it. As I looked I thought this is a modern day parable. Central to  our Christian  life is the living water offered by Jesus that sustains us  so we can move out  into the barren dry land where others are searching for that life giving water, or need to be refreshed, taking with us 'drops' from the great pond we know so well, to quench the thirst of others. Who might you be taking 'drops' of the life giving water to today as you go out into the world to 'love and serve the Lord?'

Jehovah - shalom- the Lord is peace.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                Long stems of dry grass

Fill your cup

 Take delight in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

My delight as always is in the early morning and today was no exception. God's peace was still in the making of the day and even the birds were still respecting that!  I could see shadowed by some trees the pink cloud  with a ting of red and I waited for the  morning to explode into the colour of an autumn sunrise and I was not disappointed.

Layer upon layer of red and orange and grey and blue that kept coming and coming like a tide to the shore and it rebounded across the sky in a repetition of colourful episodes. Breath taking, mind centring, God focusing and blessings in every layer as God showered the morning with his presence. My cup had been filled. The Lord is in his house. How has your cup been filled ready for the day?

Jehovah - shalom. The Lord is peace.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                      A new day dawning shadowed by the trees.

Just simply this.

 Glorify the Lord with me: let us exalt his name together. Ps 34:3

Sometimes a simple statement is all that is needed. These words from a song by Chris Rice says it all.

'Teach us to count our days. Teach us to make our days count.'

Go well into this beautiful autumn day with grace and peace and make a difference.

Blessings

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                Autumn leaves.

Easter

 On the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb. They found the stone had been rolled away but when they went in they did not find a body. He had risen! Luke 24 (Paraphrased.)

What a glorious autumn morning. The golden sunlight crept across the last of the dark of night bringing light to a new day. Everywhere I looked the golden fingers of light brought colour and life to a dark earth. It filtered through the changing colours of the autumn leaves creating a kaleidoscope of morning glory and a subtle mist rose from the dew laden grass and there was calm, and stillness and peace. I thought of the first line of a poem I had penned.....' soft soft the morning mist did rise.....' What lovely gifts from God at the break of a new day, every one of them and I reflect on Holy Week and the great love of God that rose on Easter day.

May your Easter  be blessed with new beginnings. May your life be refreshed by the Easter experience and may God's peace be with you.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

https://comewalkwithme-reflections.blogspot.com

                                                    The Tomb Garden Jerusalem.

Reflect on this.

 What should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah? Matthew 27:22

These words spoken by Pilate have really sat with me over the years. Many years ago I had a profound experience when these words of Jesus were not just the words of Pilate but were also words I asked of my self. It was a personal  experience  of previously 'unnoticed ' words suddenly leaping off the page at me and sitting in my mind in meditation and reflection 'What should I do with Jesus' no longer words I heard Pilate saying but I found myself asking the same question. This Friday we will stand before the cross  bearing the body of Jesus and we will pause, and we will reflect and as you do so, ask the question Pilate asked but ask it of yourself. What should I do with Jesus?

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                        In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jerusalem. 

Solid Joy.

Glorious things of you are spoken, solid joy and lasting treasure none but Zion's children know. TIS 446

I can vouch for that:

The dawn of morning, fog ridden and silent - and a magpie sings. The blaze of fiery red in the sunrise, glowing behind ghost like trees - silhouetting, shadowing, illuminating. 

 Deep blue mountains, contours clear and weaving, tips touched and painted pink by the rising sun. Autumn leaves, a kaleidoscope of colours - hanging, falling, carpeting the ground transforming beauty as the day breaks and there is a sense of God is here, in the stillness, in the quiet.

Glorious things that speak of God. Solid joy and lasting treasures.

Peace.

Anne, servant of the Lord                                                                        

                                            The dawn of morning.

A pool of heavenly peace

 '.....be filled with the Glory of the Lord.' Numbers 14:21

 We have a prayer line in the prayer book which says that we 'give thanks for the gift of this new day' but to me I like an older version which says: 'O thou to whom I owe the gift of this day's life - give me the spirit to use it as I ought. '  And I think, even in tough times like those we can experience in daily life we can always give thanks for the new day and I want to add to that a little prayer thought which says - 'create a little pool of heavenly peace within my heart - regardless.'

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                And the new day dawned.

Angel dust

 May  the Lord bless his people with peace. Ps 29:11

Sometimes there are no words when I look to the west in the evening just on sunset and the countryside is lit with a golden light and filtering through it is what looks like fine dust of gold falling from heaven. I call that 'angel dust' sprinkling the earth for our joy and pleasure. Have you seen it?

I read this prayer by Frederick Buechner.:

Lord catch me off guard today. Surprise me with some moment of beauty  so that at least for the moment I may be startled into seeing that you are here in all your splendour, always and everywhere, beauty hidden, beneath,beyond, within this life I breathe.'

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                            Golden light

God, dressed in autumn

 May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Numbers 6:26

The autumn arrives  in that layer of  mist and fog that gives of a sense of stillness and haunting beauty. It weaves its way through the half naked trees of changing colours and tip toes through the carpet of fallen leave on the ground. There is a sense of change in the air and I can't help but say to God. ' you caused this morning glory to appear.' And then there comes the most beautiful sound, the sound of a lone magpie, paused on the fence, warbling a  beautiful song full of joy and happiness. All else is still and quiet, just this beauty and song to the dawning day - to God.

The peace of the Lord  be always with you.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                        God's autumn glory.

A living sacrament

 For the beauty of the earth for the beauty of the skies TIS137

If we look to the left or to the right there is always something of beauty to see . It might be a glorious hue painted sunset or sunrise, it might be the changing leaves of autumn, it might be a for-get-me-not amidst a bed of weeds, it might be the still waters of a river pond - Lord,let the beauty of the earth be a sacrament  to  me of your beauty and holiness that speaks of a loveliness that doesn't fade.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                        For the beauty of the skies.

A lenten reflection

 When ever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. Mark 11:25

I wonder when it was the last time that someone said ' I forgive you, ' or you asked of someone their forgiveness? It has a profound impact on us holistically when we can forgive or when we are forgiven. It lifts a weight of our shoulders and restores life. Lent is a time when I always focus more on this 'forgiveness' which we find so hard to do yet look at what Christ went through to forgive us. Perhaps its easier to not offend than to seek forgiveness? I don't know and that's for you to ponder, but this I do know as Mark Twain said:  Forgiveness is the fragrance the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

 

                                                Forgive them.

Love dominates

 Listen to me ! For I have excellent things to tell you.  Proverbs 8:16 (NL)

I suspect, despite some frustrated people that during this pandemic there has been more love shown in our world than we may have seen before. Sometimes when times are difficult it can bring out the best in people and love dominates even in the smallest of ways.

This  simple but lovely quote comes to mind: This little flower - its the dearest, for the message  that it brings - love is not getting, but giving.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

 

                                                   Such love.

And it all speaks of God

 Holy, holy,holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory. Isaiah 6:4

Our world is full of such exciting things that speak of God. The tiny bird with its metallic call like a tinkling bell. The beautiful single flower that ambushes us in the most unexpected places.   The honey eater drinking honey in the Bottle Brush oblivious of his surroundings as he delights in the nectar. Tiny busy ants and scurrying lizards around the garden rocks and the perfume in flowers of every kind...........an endless feast of things that speak of God and I haven't even left the garden as yet. 

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

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                            Ambushed by love

And I called it God

 I will be like the dew of Israel. (Hosea 14:15)

I can see a change of season is coming as I look at the fresh dew lingering on the roses. Fresh on their leaves and  in their petals  and I stay in the garden awhile reflecting on their beauty, their perfume and call it 'God.' Such a prayer, such a moment with God ,such a start to the day. And it comes to mind the lovely words of that song: I come to the garden alone while the dew is still on the roses......and he walks with me and he talks with me and he tells me I am his own.....' (Austin Miles)  

May you also find time and space to linger  awhile with God in the early morning while the dew is still on the roses.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                   The great love of God O how lavishly given.

New Year Resolution

 .......And again, I will put my trust in him. Hebrews 2:13

I wonder did you make a New Year resolution? I decided to change my approach  because whats the use of promising yourself something that only lasts a day or two! This year I decided to go with a 'God' word that I would strive to keep. I chose the word 'Trust'  -  Trust in God. J Oxenham said: ' Two better speed than one alone, so let us (God), go together.' and  for encouragement I look to the little bird , that halts in flight. rests on a limb so lightly and feeling it give away beneath him sings, knowing he has wings.(anon)

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ

Anne, servant of the Lord

  

Trust.

              

Blushing beauty

 For  the beauty of each hour, of the day and of the night, hill and vale, and tree and flower,sun and moon and stars of light.  Christ our God to you we raise this our sacrifice of praise. TIS 137

To me its joy, pure joy, to see the most glorious,most beautiful flowers, deep pink and dressed in flowing tutu surrounded by expectant  buds. The whole bush was blushing with love. God's love.

I recall reading this one liner: 'My love is silent because I love beyond words.'

Peace to them who are far off and peace to those who are near.

Anne,servant of the Lord.

                                               This is love.

God of wonder and delight

 God made the wild animals of the earth of every kind. Genesis 1:25

God is such a 'wonder doing God.' I mean really, you cant hear  a kookaburra laugh, or see an echidna busy with its long snout in an ants nest and not wonder about God  as a smile comes over your face. What beauty, what creation, what fine works of art, what joy and add to that a darling  baby koala asleep on its mothers back, cuddled in and resting in the fork of a branch, both asleep, two heart beats snuggling in peace and love.

God is indeed a 'wonder doing God.'

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

 Anne, servant of the Lord

'                                                                                                                 'Love'

Christmas

Ah, dearest Jesus, little one, prepare a bed to lie upon, a soft clean bed within my heart, that you and I may never part. (TIS 296)

Every shop I went into I looked to see if their was a nativity set for sale (not that I needed one) and there were none. I could not find one anywhere. Santa yes, tinsel yes, baubles yes, trees yes. but no nativities, no sign of Christ, born in Bethlehem, Saviour of the world. I felt a sadness  because in all the people shopping no one had the chance to see God in the season. This year in the community hall of the village I live in I placed my collection of nativity sets on a table for all to reflect on.  There are six from different countries, the oldest is from Germany and is over 150 years old. I thought of that one in particular and how many eyes had seen that nativity over those years and pondered the wonder of Christmas. I also look at them  and see how the light of Christ shines around the world.  My prayer this Christmas in a very anxious and troubled world, is that God's love will grow through us all and shine as a light in the world.

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

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                        Bethlehem today

Take off your shoes.

 Take, take off your shoes, you're standing on holy ground. Well, the earth is the Lords and the fullness thereof, from waters beneath to heavens above, Take, take of your shoes. TIS 651

I can not hear the melodious call of the blackbird  or the bell like tinkling of  the tinniest bird on the bough and not think of our creator.

I can not see the most beautiful deep purple flower on the Buddleia tree without stooping to smell its rich honey perfume or look at a plain ordinary succulent that has raised up an incredible cluster of dainty pink flowers on a stem and not think of our creator.

I can not look into the crib of a nativity , and not see our creator. Instead of just a baby I see the one who created all we have including love and life.  Those tiny hands had the power to create, to float planets above the earth, fling stars in the sky and have the grace to give us light for life and dark for rest and shower us with continual love.  Its a special feeling when we can see more than just what we are looking at.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                            exquisite creator

Never let it lose its joy.

O what a gift, what a wonderful gift. TIS 278

The Christmas gifts are starting to gather under the tree and soon there will be gatherings on Christmas day to open them, to express joy and excitement, food and laughter. But, soon it passes, the gifts lose their gloss, the tinsel starts to droop and the Christmas wrapping is in the bin  - the day has gone and life resumes as it was before.  But we know the real gift - the lasting gift -that brings great joy and feeds our soul. The gift of Jesus, not for a day, not for the moment but a gift that hold all we need for life. 

Now none but Christ can satisfy.

None other name for me

There's love and life and lasting joy,

Lord Jesus found in the. (anonymous)

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ . -For life.

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                                        Jerusalem.

Pause and enjoy life's wonders

 His name is Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God. Isaiah 9:6

I stopped by the fading vine of the sweet peas with the last few flowers remaining and I inhaled long and deep the sweet perfume - long and deep I inhaled as if to draw it into myself in an attempt to capture all I could to hold the memory until next spring. I walked away with a real blessing and it was like a little celebration. Life is good if we want to make it so. I read this quote: Each day can be a day of  celebration if we just pause to enjoy life's' wonders, large and small.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Anne, servant of the Lord

God's love is peace.

 God is here among us. He continues to be our refuge and strength. Paraphrase Psalm 46

Where do you find peace? That stillness of the heart and soul, that space where there is nothing but you and God? I heard it said that a place of peace is so, because there is nothing there. Its like walking along the  beach with the sand pushing between your toes and there is nothing other than  the sand, the sunset and the quiet rolling of the gentle sea. Or sitting outside at the break of day as the rising sun kisses the night away and I am reminded in the stillness that this quiet, this stillness is 'love' listening and God is always arriving. That to me is peace, a lasting peace that goes beyond understanding and so it is and so it will always be.

                                                In the presence of  Peace

What shall I cry.

 Comfort, O comfort my people says your God. Isaiah 40:1

I see the spring growth of the grass already browning off and dying in the summer heat and the first flush of the roses, glorious in their time are fading, dropping petals and coming to the end of their life. Nothing is for ever and our hearts can be anxious living in a world of China tensions, climate change, bushfires and a killer disease. All a threat to our existence as is aging, but the one thing that will stand forever, and will sustain us for ever is the fact that God is an everlasting God who holds our gaze and his word will stand forever, nothing can blot that out.  ' The grass withers, the flower fades but the  word of our God will stand forever. 'Isaiah 40:8.  If ever there is a time to read Isaiah it is now.

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

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                 The flowers fade.

Are you ready?

Stay awake, for you do not know when the master of the house will come. Mark 13.35

This time of the years I find myself just folding into the sounds  and sights that seem to come as we wait for  Christmas. The smell of the dust dry earth bedded with crisp brown eucalypt leaves and that chorus, that wonderful  chorus of cicadas  singing notes  high and low until they become one voice.  And, O yes, the baby Galahs' driving their parents to distraction with their endless squawking for food, and more food. To me, the sounds and sights of the coming Christmas, and its time to get ready for the celebration. Yesterday at church there were shepherds, part of our nativity set, just gathered in a distant corner  as if they were getting ready for something. Another sign that Christmas is coming and a wake up call that as we celebrate his birth we need to be mindful and ready for his coming.  Celebrating Christmas reminds us that Christ has come and Christ will come again. 

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ

Anne, servant of the Lord

                    While shepherds watched their flock by night.

Power in silence.

 Be still before the Lord. Psalm 37:7

I was having a quiet time sitting outside in the evening. It was still and a silence was present. And I thought, there is power in silence. Think of all the things that happen in silence.  A tree  grows in silence into something big and strong. A flower grows from a seed into beauty of colour and perfume, in silence. The stars shine  out at night in silence and the dew falls, unheard  bringing a freshness to the day while a spider weaves its web in silence. What wonderful miracles, all happening in silence and as Blackfoot would say: 'There is the little shadow that runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset.' In  the silence, with miracles all around there is God, the creator of miracles.

Be still,  be still, be still before the Lord. There is power in that.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                 The trees and flowers grow and bloom in silence.

 

Take God with you everywhere

 - .for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible. Col 1:16

Little treasures are hidden all around us but are they hidden or do we just not see them. It is so lovely to be blessed by a treasure. I stumbled across one when out walking in the country and the smile on my face broadened with delight. Two small pine cones nuzzled together in the grass and their parent tree had fresh small droplets, small sacs of life, hanging from its soft needles. I think I found more than one treasure on that walk; the pine cones, the tree, the smell of fresh pine needles and God, because without God on my mind I suspect I would not have really found any treasures.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                  hidden treasures

Surprises of beauty and colour

 O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder. TIS 155

There is nothing more delightful and surprising than coming across something of beauty and colour when it wasn't expected. You can be meandering along on a walk as I was doing amongst the long dry grass and suddenly God through in a surprise of colourful pink flowers, dainty and bright that caused me to say aloud ' O how beautiful you are, thank you God.'  Patience Strong wrote: Something unexpected may be around the bend. Something to encourage you. A gift, a friend, and I say a flower, a beautiful king parrot or a pewee splashing with joy in the birdbath. 

The unexpected gifts from  God are our delight.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                        Unexpected joy and delight

Unfolding parasols

 O Love that will not let me go. TIS 602

Lots of what we see in our world  can bring such healing to our rushed and anxious spirit if we just stop a moment and pause. Be still.  And when you do you see the wonder that puts a hush in your spirit and a smile on your face. I mean just look out side - have you seen the magpies kicking in the tan bark, as Annie Dillard would say, or the unfolding parasols of the glorious roses, and the growing size of the baby Pee-Wee birds that nested not long ago in the gum tree? And as for the sunset across the water, that can only be described as a pathway leading straight to the  golden ball of the sinking sun. Ah, go find his love it will lift your spirits.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                        A golden pathway

Not just a rose

 O the deep, deep love of Jesus it washes white as snow. TIS 232

I looked with wonder at a white rose bud that was just opening. It was perfectly formed, pure white with dots of red and crystal clear rain drops on its petals and as I pondered its beauty something drew me beyond its floral beauty  and I saw the white as the purity of Jesus,  the red drops as his blood and the raindrops as his tears and  as I gaze at it I see the love of Jesus. Though I don't know the name of that rose I call it the ' sacrificial rose.'  

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

Anne, servant of the Lord

O the love of Jesus

Woo me to your world.

 Listen to me for I have excellent things to tell you. Proverbs 8:6

There is nothing better than getting out into the countryside. Its like all the cobwebs are blown away and for a few hours you are in a different world, a world that delights and reinvigorates both body and spirit. And on this day God was dressed in all his glory of colour and spender, in red and yellow, orange flowers, striped with black and dotted in paler shades that lined the country road  and even those amidst the dead branches on the ground still shone their brightness.  And I see God had even more fun with his painting pallet scribbling on the tree trunks and painting the hills purple with Salvation Jane. And ahh, the quiet and the peace....

In our changing world that coops us up, the freedom of a country drive is life giving.

Blessings are the life breath of those who believe in the sacredness of space and place, all things and life. (Joan Chittister)

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

Anne, servant of the Lord.

God has been painting his glory.

God who pursues us

 Surely your goodness and loving kindness will follow me all the days of my life. Ps23:6a

Dare we envisage a God who is on the move, who chases us, tracks us, follows us with goodness and loving kindness all the days of our lives? Ah such a comforting remembrance. 

I read this quote written by St Ambrose: The Lord is near to all of us, because he is everywhere. We cannot escape him, nor deceive him, nor lose him. God watches everything, he sees everything, he is close to each of us as he sys: 'I am a God close at hand.' and that makes me wonder why is it that at times like we are living in now some are so fearful. The God we envisage who is on the move, keeping pace with us, following us with all the goodness and kindness of his heart  will be there for us and with us always.

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

Anne, servant of the Lord.

 In good times and barren times God is on the path with us.

and love, joy, hope like flowers

 The tide of time shall never, his covenant remove; his name shall stand forever, that name to us is love. TIS 275

As I look out the window at a wet day my surrounds are like living in a park. Lush green grass and everywhere in the garden flowers are springing up all over the place. Flowers in all their beauty and glory - Roses, Sweet Peas, Grandmother's Bonnets, Forget-me-nots sprinkling around like confetti , Azalais, Dutch Iris, none dressed the same, all showering us with their beauty and all washed afresh with streams of rain drops,  and the Pee Wees, bless them,  are  scratching the wet earth for worms to feed their family. Its a joyful and peaceful scene and  I get a sense that despite the crisis in our world there is hope and that hope shone when I found myself singing the words of a hymn; He shall come down like showers upon the fruitful earth and love, joy, hope like flowers spring in his path to birth. (TIS 275)

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

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                  Grandmothers bonnet's and sprinkling of forget-me- nots