He alone does great wonder.

 To him alone who does great wonder, who by wisdom made the heavens, who scattered the earth upon the waters, who made the great lights - the sun by day the moon and stars to govern the night. Psalm 136

R.M.Brown said: God uses the ordinary things of life to bring about  wonderful happenings. 

That is so true. Just look at what the rain does to the parched earth, as it falls the grass grows. The sun rise declares a new day and the sunset draws it to an end but look at what the day has held. A bulb planted in the cold earth, with a little warm sun produces a flower of beauty and a tiny baby was born to be the Saviour of the world.  To God be the Glory.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ. Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                He turns gum nuts into spectacular flowers.

Sing with intent

 The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning, its time to sing your song again. Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me, let me be singing when the evening comes.  Bless the Lord, O my soul.......for all your goodness, I will keep on singing like never before: ten thousand reasons for my heart to find. ( (Paraphrased, Christian song. 10,000 reasons.)

Does your day start by making space to hear and see things of God?  This day he made with the solo song of the beautiful Rufus Whistler, his rusty orange feathered chest puffed out in joy as he sang from the sacred space, his song full of intent to please his creator, as if it knew it was so. Do you begin your day  with singing?  Singing a song so  full of joy and intent to please our creator? 'What ever may pass, whatever lies before me, let me be singing when the evening comes.'

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.  Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                His song full of intent.

Come, just come

In his hand are the deep places of earth; the heights of the hills are his also. PS 95:4

Does God take your breath away? 

The brilliant hues of the sunset bounce  and ricochet off the soft evening landscape,  and kiss  the mountain tops, an explosion of God's love,  before fading into the ascending evening dusk and at the end of the day peace arrived. I ask again, does God take your breath away?

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                    The sun kissed the mountain tops.

Like a warm smile

 

I am the rose of Sharon, a rose of the valley. ( The Shir Hashirim  - Song of Songs 2:1)

What is it about the very last rose of winter that buds then blossoms in the midst of the cold?  The last one on the bush like a light shining in the darkness and its  bright yellow like a warm smile. As I meditated on its beauty I thought of an elderly lady who sometimes comes by my place with the walking group from the nursing home. She is a lovely Chinese lady always with a smile and always in just shorts and a tee shirt. I asked her one day if she was cold and with a beautiful smile she said, 'No, I have Jesus in here(Pointing to her heart) and he keeps me warm!  Like the last of the winter rose, isn't that just beautiful.

The peace of the Lord be with you. 

  Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                               Yellow like a warm smile.

And so he saw Christ

 Then their eyes were opened and they recognised him. Luke 24:31

Eugene J Burkhart  says: Seeing requires paying attention to a variety of things: conversations, stories from fellow believers and strangers, new interpretation of scripture, grief and a strange burning in the heart.  

I was talking to an elderly resident in the nursing home as we waited for the service to begin. He was sitting with his wife, a devout Christian but he had always professed to not 'being that' and had not been at the service before. Somehow during the conversation I remarked how good it was to see him here and he said: 'I have come to support my wife which I should have been doing all along but more so I have come because of what Russia is doing in the Ukraine and suddenly  realised that its only God who can bring down the  Russian leader and condemn him and the more people to pray for that to happen, the better, so God encouraged me, opened my eyes really, to see that and to see how much we need him in our lives.' It was a lovely God moment of revelation, of how God can come into our life journey and walk along side us.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Anne, servant of the Lord.

The deep presence of God.

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

Some times silence is my time with God in the sacred space, no words are needed, just sitting and reflecting on his creation, his goodness, around me and that was this mornings experience and in  the quiet I just reached out my hand to touch a flower, its perfume flowed like incense  and I felt the deep presence of God. In that was enough depth and assurance to carry me into this broken world.

Jehovah -shalom. The Lord is peace

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                    perfume like incense.

Full but hungry

 O Lord you light my fire, your face is all I see (Song of praise)

Fresh cold snow on the mountains sparkling in the sunlight like a million crystals and an icy cold wind of winter. A clear night sky full of stars, the deep colour of the rising sun and the soft hue of the sun set. Beauty in creation. Uniqueness of every bird. A special fiend. An elderly face. A needy person.

Ron Lessin wrote: Lord keep me full but hungry. Content but needy. Complete but never satisfied.

Let the peace of Christ dwell in your heart.

Anne, servant of the Lord

The uniqueness of every bird

On a journey

Sit here while I go over there and pray. Mat 26:36 

The sacred space was dew laden and mist covered but still, ever so still and quiet and there was a peace about it. I think the birds are still tucked up in their feathers because there is not a sound. My eyes went to the garden already turning into its winter look as if dying for the season but then I see there are green leaves of the jonquils rising from the cold ground that in their time, will flower in their glory, and buds are forming on the Daphne bush where I try to catch the smell of that heavenly perfume but its too soon yet. Going to the sacred space is a bit like going on a pilgrimage for it is a journey in itself, not of distance but of seeking God where we are, isn't that what a pilgrimage is about, a place to go, to reflect, to cast off your cares and see and seek and find God?    Where is your favourite pilgrimage? Where do you seek and find God? 

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                       Let the journey begin.

A sparrow on a twig

 Take my moments and my days, let them flow in ceaseless praise. (TIS 599)

I had paused a moment in the early morning to look at the thick fog that was so thick that it was like darkness with only dim shapes and images visible in the gloom and then in an instance the sun broke through and it was light - the clear, clear light of a sunny day and the biblical imagery  of darkness and light leapt out at me.  I noticed the   grass so green and dew washed and thought of the pastures green 'where he leadeth me.'  and the puddles of water on the path that resonated in my spirit as  'streams of living water' and the life giving waters of refreshment we have in Christ. And that darling little sparrow sitting on a  twig to remind me that God loves me and them. I reflected on the words in a poem by Sue Monk Kidd that God comes to us in the ordinary things of life. She says: 'Everyday the nearness of God collected in me like rain water. I sensed him coming and coming and coming, in the common things that shape my day.' I could look upon the most mundane things and think of God, ever present, ever near. What are you seeing this morning and what God thoughts spring to mind?

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

.                                                God's love.

Arise, shine.

 It is you who lights my lamp ; the Lord my God Psalm 18:28

There are so many thoughts that cross my mind in the first experience of the morning. Its cold, its foggy, like a thick mist, and as I look out on the day the voice within me quotes the first line of a poem I wrote some time ago: 'Soft soft the morning mist did creep, across the land that lay asleep.' And despite the weather, my heart sings in this new day. I love the quote  by Kahlil Gibran which says: I arise at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving.  I was asked yesterday  what motivates me to do what I do? What gets me up in the morning? and my response was : I see each day as  new opportunities. I see them and feel them when I go out into the early morning and there is an excitement about who I might see today and the conversations we might have, about who God will put in my path so I can be Christ to them and its that step in my soul and heart that is exciting and motivates in preparation to serve in every new day. That's what gets me up.  What is your approach to a new day? what gets you up in the morning.

Go well and enjoy all you do in the name of Christ. Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                And a new day dawns

And they became a prayer

 Your love to me was wonderful. 2 Samuel 1:26

The  autumn tree is almost spent of its summer dress and I love the way the last of the leaves are gathered up and swirled around on the path in a playful gust of wind, coming from all directions in small whirly winds. To sit in the sacred space and just look and listen and feel is, (as Macrina Wiederkehr says) like going to heaven for awhile' and as I contemplate these moments of beauty -  they become a prayer. 

Ralph S Cushman wrote: 'I met God in the morning, when the day was at its best, and his presence came like sunrise, a glory in my breast.'

Let the peace of Christ dwell within you.  Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                                Spent of its dress.

Deep Peace of the Aaronic blessing

 The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face to shine upon you and give you peace. Numbers  6:24

This would have to be my favourite blessing. It has come down in time, in centuries, from Moses across all the faithful, to us, and it will go on forever and so many times I see this blessing come true during the day.  The beautiful crimson Rosellas quietly feeding in the birdfeeder, the sunrise, the unwrapping of the gift of a new day, a rainbow after the rain and the stranger walking down the path who pauses to look at the last summer rose in the garden and offers a greeting. Blessings - God's face shining on us - bringing peace and I haven't gone further into the day than to my sacred space. Treasure the blessings, they are the face of God.

May the Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face to shine upon you and give you peace.

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                      A blessing. God's face shining on us.

Breath-taking God

 See the streams of living water, springing from eternal love. (TIS 446)

I stood in awe of the beauty of the tree lined pathway to walk among the autumn leaves carpeting the ground, kicking through them with childhood memories. The trees were glorious in their shifting colours, dressed for autumn yet preparing themselves for  a winters  rest. They were so colourful that they took my breath away, every leaf seemed to emanate the handywork of God and I was left with a song in my heart: Glorious things of you are spoken.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                    Stunning

On the tree, covering the ground.

 Silver and Gold have I none, but such as I have give I thee. (Christian Song)

I look at the glorious autumn trees all around with all the colours God could think of and the one that speaks to me the most are the leaves on the Crepe Myrtle just outside my door, gold and silvery  yellow glory, on the tree and covering the ground - what a picture - what an image - what love, and to mind comes the words of the song: 'silver and gold have I none but such as I have give I thee.' and its true, we don't have much but we give what we have in service to our God and one another becoming part of his story. I love this little poem by Rosalie Kuyvenhoven: Humble dazzle of autumn these leaves on the ground. Each one a page in a book, a poem  that says I lived. I was a small part of the whole story - this is my song, this is my glory.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.  Anne, servant of the Lord

This is my Glory

Peace abounds.

 Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from heaven, like the first dew fall on the first grass. Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden, sprung from completeness where his feet pass. (V2 TIS 156. Morning has Broken)

There was a mystery in the morning as I looked from my sacred space, across the  lawn, thick with dew, to the green grassland just emerging through the morning mist, The garden lights were still on as the night hadn't quite given away to the emerging day. The trees, some naked of their leaves, others still undressing were still and empty, (the birds were still in bed!) Its quiet, ever so quiet and you could almost hear the bulging, bursting, pods of water drops falling from the bushes full of life giving water from the nights rain. Its a new day, a fresh day, a new beginning and what a way to begin it - with God - in silence, giving thanks for all he gives us, for all we have, Peace abounds in the sacred space. Do you find that in your sacred space? Peace abounds.

Peace to those who are far off. Peace to those who are near.    Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                    Peace

How good it is to know you Lord.

 Morning after morning he opens my ear that I may hear. Isaiah 50:4

There is something about putting your hand in God's each morning with words of thanks for the new day that is dawning. Some mornings just shout 'God' and today was one of those mornings - beautiful clear blue sky without a cloud in sight, a perfect dome, crisp, fresh air with a touch of frost and autumn leaves covering the ground, fallen, falling from the almost naked trees that I want to kick up as I walk by , letting the child in me loose. How good it is to know you Lord, I rejoice that I am so blessed, and I want at times to shout - go for a walk, be daring  and ski down a sparkling, crystal white slope, count the stars on a clear night, watch the trees change dress's for the autumn - you will see him there saying - 'I am God.'

Peace to those who are far off and peace to those who are near.      Anne, servant of the Lord.

God in the morning .

I held it in my clasped hand

 They were holding golden bowls of incense, which are the prayers of the people. Revelations 5:8

I held the flower of the golden yellow rose in my clasped hands and before I lowered my head towards its glorious formation I could smell the deep, rich perfume flowing from it and on its petals were droplets of dew ,  and all I saw and smelt was a prayer. Then, in the peace of my garden, at the sight of such a glorious creation my gaze fell lower down to a cluster of forget-me-nots still flowering and why I don't know, my thoughts went to Ukraine. I think it was the combination of the yellow and blue colours and my thoughts then wondered to the sanctuary at church, where across the front of the Alter we are constantly reminded to pray for Ukraine, by a long strip of intwined yellow and blue cloth and  again my thoughts were as prayers.

I love the thought that we, here in a quiet country, can send our prayers up like incense to God, for those in desperate need and that a humble rose and a tiny forget-me-not have the power to remind me of that.

Peace to those who are far off and peace to those who are near.  Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                        For Ukraine.

What's a prayer?

 Glorious things of thee are spoken. (Taken from psalm 87)

I think when the glorious colours of the autumn leaves take your breath away and you gaze in awe at such beauty, that's a prayer. The variety, the richness, the depth of colour shows God dressed in all his glory. Its God's touch lighting the world with colour and it renews our hearts with life. Its so wonderful when we can see that all of life is full of God be it the beauty of the autumn or in some dark place - God is in it.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                            The Glory of the Lord

Anzac day

 Jesus stood among them and said: Peace be with you.' John 20: 19

I needed to spend some time in my sacred space yesterday after coming home from the Ukraine Orthodox Church in North Canberra. There, in the church grounds, among the dying, fallen leaves of  the autumn trees were a multitude of wooden crosses draped in children's t-shirts splashed with red paint.  It was confronting, it sent images through my mind and a pain deep in my heart that was like a sharp dagger, I was stricken with a deep sadness.  As I reflected on the crucifixion of Christ, his suffering and death and then his rising again I though 'the Ukraine country and its people are  in the midst of their Easter Saturday.'  I wondered would humanity ever see that the way of peace is love. I pray God will change the heart and mind of the Russian leadership and Ukraine will have its day of resurrection.  The Sunday Collect makes this a possibility as we read: Living God, from whom no door is closed, no heart is locked: draw us beyond our doubts, till we see your Christ and touch his wounds where they bleed in others. This we ask through Christ our Saviour.

Peace to them who are far off and peace to those who are near.  Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                Ukraine Orthodox Church North Canberra.

The eye of God

 W love thy house O God, wherein thine honour dwells. The joy of thine abode, all earthly joy excels.(Hymn)

The night sky has  been a place of deeper beauty these last few nights when the moon was full and its light shone so bright through the darkness . As  I looked at the dome of sky above me with bright moon and sparkling, winking stars by the thousands I am in awe of our God.  The silence is profound, almost beautiful, creating a sacred space,  - but the moon, it was holding there above me like an eye looking down on our world.  This light in the darkness reminded me vividly of God's light shining in the darkness and was a clear visual of those words.  As my eyes stayed on the moon I also thought of how God described himself as 'I am'   I am is love, is peace, is serenity, is present and as I turned in for the night I heard the words within me: Sleep in peace - God is awake - he has his eye on you.

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

                                                The eye of God

.

Surprise me God.

For the joy of the Lord is your strength. Neh 8:10

I was caught by surprise by an unexpected visitor walking pigeon toed along the garden fence, a beautiful parrot, red and blue feathers glistening in the morning sun from a quick dip in the bird bath. It was close enough for me to see the perfect round shapes of the water drops on its feathers. I love the unexpected surprises that bring joy and delight especially in the morning when the mind is uncluttered. Its like fuel for the day when we catch a morning joy.  Samuel Longfellow said: Into our lives, in many simple, familiar homely ways God infuses this element of joy from surprises of life, which unexpectantly brighten our days and fill out eyes with light.

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

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                    Joy in the morning

Sky blue with a yellow dot.

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by name; you are mine isaiah:43:1-3

I was reflecting  on the freshness of the rain washed morning and over the steam rising from my hot cup of tea in my hand my  eyes rested on a beautiful single flowering for-get-me-not in the garden,  sky blue with a tiny yellow dot on the middle like the sun shining in a blue sky and I recall the story of how God was walking in the garden of Eden and saw a blue flower and asked its name. the flower was a shy flower and whispered he has forgotten my name. God renamed the flower forget-me-not saying he will never forget it. (Christian folk lore)  Its a bit like the story of the sparrows who Jesus said he valued so much, but you even more so, or the fact that he can count the number of hairs on our head and his love is greater than that. His love for us who he has claimed as his, by name is vast, wide, immeasurable and like the tiny for-get-me not in the garden, he will never forget us. 

Jehovah - shalom. The Lord is peace.

Anne, servant of the Lord

For-get-me-not

A revolution of joy

Jesus said: Come  to me, all you who are  weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28

What I often say, what is happening to our world, the beautiful world that God created for us to love and enjoy and care for. So much pain and suffering and destruction, so much love and peace destroyed. The human side of me wants to take up arm, arms of climate change protesting, up a massive gum tree with a koala on my back, arms of anti war demonstrations shouting with my loudest voice, and literally arms but you know, in reality I am just one small person in a big picture so I instead try to sprinkle peace and joy around in my patch, where I am, to try and bring a smile to the faces of others such as those from the nursing home with their dementia who pass my place on their walk and admire the flowers in the garden and my  very special one eyed little dog and hand the problems of the world to God in deep prayer from my sacred space.( Now that's a powerful weapon!!) Max Lucado says: If you brighten your corner of the world and I do the same in mine, a quiet revelation of JOY might break out.

Peace to those who are far off and peace to those who are near.  Anne, servant of the Lord.

A garden of delight.

A burning bush experience

 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you. Phil 1:3

God has done it again!  On Sunday I preached the sermon at church and I unusually felt less confident and anxious about it. I felt things were not right in my preparation and content but it was too late to do anything about that as I stood at the pulpit, except of course, to ask God to bring his peace and I thought of Julian of Norwich …..'All will be well, all manner of things will be well.' And, as Julian would say, 'it was so'' and as I got into my car to come home the bush in front of me was full of blue wrens. Sometimes our human anxiety crowds out God's peace, a thing he constantly reminds me of in the presence of these darling little feathered blessings of God's presence.

Jehovah - shalom.   The Lord is peace.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                A blessing.

Handclasps of prayer

 There the Lord bestows his blessings. Psalm 133:3

Once I took my hands of the steaming cup of tea I held them in a handclasp of prayer with God, still warm and comforting, clasped together and reflected a moment on the rose bush with in my sight as if it displayed itself there so it would be seen and it was drinking in the morning dew, damp, moist, refreshing on its leaves, its that refreshment that will sustain it through the day and ah, we know all about such refreshment, that drink of living water that sustains us and once filled with morning blessings God whispers: 'Go to your place, dispatch your abilities and unfurl my goodness.' (Gariepy)

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                            Covered in thousands of drops of life giving water

Where I am God is.

 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and your dominion endures throughout all generations. The Lord is faithful in all his promises  and faithful in all he does. Psalm 145:13

So much surrounds me from my garden that are memories. The very large pots of maiden hair ferns that belonged to my great grandfather, a Jew who worshiped faithfully in the synagogue, a Mr Lincoln rose that is in memory of my mother, the Princess Elizabeth rose, beautiful pink buds, in memory of my sister Elizabeth, a glorious rose that's a deep orange, called Desert Dust. reminding me of my years mission nursing in the outback but they are more than just plants of memories, they speak to me of more than that for in each and every person they represent is a deep connection with God for each and everyone played their part in my faith formation. These surround me in my sacred space and bring the sacred presence with them. I pick the roses to put in a vase inside, a bunch of beautiful flowers, given to myself. I wonder do you have a garden of memories that is full of love - God's love?

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                4 generations old.

A spontaneous response.

 O God, you are my God: eagerly will I seek you. Psalm 63:1

As I sat to talk to God I asked him may his thoughts be my thoughts (Isaiah) May he have the desire to sit with me in the sacred space on a  chair that is always empty and ready for him and may he show me the wonders about me and may he fill my day with blessings. His response was almost spontaneous for here they came, a flock of Zebra Finches and Yellow Rump  Finches landing in the cool, clear refreshment of the waters in the bird bath, dancing on spindly, twig like little legs all around the rim of the bird bath and some hanging onto the leaves of the glorious rose bush in its second flush(  Are the roses looking brighter and more beautiful than yesterday?) And I thought how wondaful God is to let us have a taste of heaven on earth, enough to believe in it

Jehovah - shalom. The Lord is peace

Anne, servant of the Lord

Zebra Finches on a twig!

Stay awhile with me.

 Turn your eyes upon Jesus. (Christian song)

I had a passage of scripture running through my mind and it was something like this, 'Where ever you are I am' and I thought of the war in Ukraine, the earthquake in Japan, the unprecedented flooding in our country, the suffering of so many and then I thought of the beautiful time with God captured on my recent silent retreat. O how one has to draw aside and take the grief and pain of the world into undistracted prayer and from my sacred place this morning  I thought of the deep love of God and saw that reflected in the creation and beauty around me. I sat staring at this love, manifested before me in the bright 'ballerina' flowers of the Fuchsia bush and I sat holding onto that love. In all the turmoil of our world, peace only abides in this love. May our prayers from our sacred spaces hold the world in that love. May we continually turn our eyes upon Jesus.

Let the peace of Christ dwell in your heart.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

'Ballerinas'   

A dab of green, a touch of yellow.

 Mary - she sat at the Lord's feet and listened. Luke 10:39

The morning is such a moment of wonder as the dark fades into the morning light and everything begins to take shape more clearly. The silhouette   of the trees begin to take their fuller form as if God has taken out his paints and coloured them in, a dab of green here a touch of yellow there and the big and small of the bird life shake their feathered bodies into  wakening and launch into morning praise. (perhaps we could learn something from them?) I love to hold these images and wonders in my heart as they are so richly untouched by the coming bustle and rush of the new day. From the sacred space come sacred images and thoughts, sustaining food and I realise that God is all about me and in my heart - everywhere- yet in me -  and as I prepare to launch into the day I hear God say - go- go into your day and live as me.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                The morning taking shape.

Cleansing and life giving

If anyone is thirsty let them come to me and drink. John 7:37

The beautiful metallic, clear, single bell like call of the Mountain Lowry greeted me as I sat in reflection, hot cup of tea hugged by my hands and the first rays of the new day warming my skin. Then down he flew  for his morning bath in the bird bath, ahead of the finches, the silver eyes, the sparrows ( I just love them!) and the pigeons all waiting for their morning bath,  It is with sheer joy and happiness that the Mountain Lowry splashes, wets his wings, his face and under his wings totally washed with the pool of cool clear water and am I imagining it or  does he seem more joyful, more 'alive' after his experience with the refreshing  water? My thoughts then went to Jesus words: 'I am the living water.' What a gift, water that cleanses and gives life and what a gift to be reminded of that by the beautiful birds that come to the sacred space to enjoy the life giving water.

                                                        What a beauty!

A rose is just a rose, or is it?

 The great love of God O how lavishly given. (TIS 164) 

I counted at least seven roses from my sacred space, scattered across the garden surrounding me and if I had to choose my favourite I don't think I could though my favourite perfumed rose is not difficult. Its one that changes colour as it matures from amber to apricot blooms  and is called 'Outback Angel' a rose commemorating the work of the Royal Flying Doctor Service which in itself evokes past memories. When I look at it I see something soaked with love, the love of its creator and its perfume sets my heart singing. I heard this beautiful, captivating saying the other day: 'The perfume of a rose is the breath of angels.' Oh yes, indeed this one is the breath of angels!  Do you see a rose, or do you see what a rose is? God our wonderful creator, how much joy and love he has bestowed on us with his creations and isn't it wonderful to be able to pick a rose and pass it on in love. Next time you see a rose pause, and not only admire its beauty but think of the love it was created with and smell the breath of angels.

Jehovah - shalom. The Lord is peace.

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                    Filled with love.

Hello little ones.

 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love. Psalm 143:8

I had a real sense that I was living heaven on earth this morning when I was blessed, and blessed and blessed again by the gifts of this new day, gifts of happy, joyful, playful twittering and chatter, little balls of brown and blue feathers on spindly legs, with long upright tails all sounding ever so happy AND, they came into the sacred space. Yes, you know I am talking about the blue wrens and as Macrina Wiederkehr would say, ' heaven and earth became friends and I felt totally claimed by your love.'  At that point into my heart came the words of that lovely hymn: 'Where the whole realm of nature mine, that were a present far to small, love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life my all.'  What is it that speaks to you of God's unfailing love and faithfulness? And what might we miss if we don't have a sacred space? 

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ,

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                    Hello you!

Things of beauty

O, taste and see, that the Lord is good......for he tastes like honey on the rock. (Christian Hymn) 

It is so quiet in the sacred space this morning and I looked over to the Grevilia bush and thought how glorious it looked clothed  in its new red covering and pondering the thought that yesterday they were just buds, pearl like strings of tight buds full of potential yet to be revealed and there they are today simply glowing, in their glory, and inviting, inviting to be admired, inviting for the bees to gather the nectar, for the birds to come and taste and see.( and I can see one has already  been as there is a tell tale feather hanging off the flowers, a message left of appreciation maybe?) 

The buzz of the bees was a delightful, happy, contented sound that filled my head with increasing joy and again I reflect on the words of Susan-Joy, 'not only has God given you beautiful colour but also a beautiful voice.' Those blooms were a beauty that has sprung out of naught, new born and that so reminded me of how God sees us, how we can become things of beauty springing out of naught.

Jehovah-shalom. The Lord is peace. 

 Anne, servant of the Lord

A tell tale feather.

Song notes bigger than themselves

 Oh, the love of my lord is the essence of all that I love here on earth. all the beauty I see he has given to me and his giving is gentle and silent. (White)

The little flock of  yellow rump finches were having the time of their life in the birdbath. You could tell by watching them that they were happy and full of joy as they splashed, flittered and sang, their little beaks open wide letting out song notes bigger than themselves. It was such a delight to watch and I thought how content they were in their life, how happy and I like to think, so loved by God their creator. I paused, I breathed lightly, a broad smile crossed my face as I thought of our God who gives us such moments for our enjoyment, why? because he loves us. That deep sense of his love not only makes me feel a 'fire within,'   but drives me to love others. Susan-Joy wrote in her book, Sacred in the Sharing:  God is present, always thinking, I love you, I love you, I love you. Let us love each other from now on and forever.

Let the peace of Christ dwell in your heart.

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                 Ah what joy!

Admiring their 'skirts'

 Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin, and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like this. Matthew 6:28

God does that, he clothes, not just the lilies but  all of his creation with their own unique covering, not one the same. I was looking at a eucalyptus tree today and admiring its 'skirts', a full cover of special clothing to be admired, wrapped around its trunk  and marvelled at its uniqueness  and  I took that image to the sacred space and pondered the great love of God who gives us such a variety in his creation  to enjoy and in reality its only visible to us if we have eyes open to see.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                            'skirts'

All earthly joy excels

 We love thy place O God, wherein thine  honour dwells; the joy of thine abode all earthly joy excels. (hymn by William Bullock 1854)

That's how I think of the sacred space where I go to be, just to be, and open  the door of my heart and mind and love to the waiting God. With my cup of tea in hand I was just sitting quietly thinking just you and me God, just you and me, and then  God gave me a little nudge and said what about the sparrow, what about the butterfly, what about the ladybird and all my messages they hold, to say nothing of all of God's creation about me.(and blow me down yesterday if it wasn't  a very large possum scurrying past)   I wonder do they pray to God also in this special place? I know the birds do for they are the first to call in the new day with song (what a lesson we can learn from them!)  I wonder how you see your sacred space? Is it just you and God or are others sharing it with you as gifts and insights into the wonder of God? 

 I love thy place O God where in thine honour dwells; the joy of thine abode and all earthly joy excels.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                Hello there!

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.

Christmas is coming.

 And may the God of love be with you. 2 Cor 13:11

I look at the tinsel and baubles hanging on the garden gate and ponder the meaning of Christmas and then my gaze rests on the nativity scene set on a table by the fence for those walking past to see and reflect on and  I just sit in the mystery of it all in the quietness.   Two words fall into my mind: Christmas and Shalom.  I like to break the word Christmas up holding onto the Christ within it, Christ-mas for with out Christ there is no Christmas. As Christ came into  the world that Christmas nigh to live among us  I pray he will come  and live within us. Then the word Shalom - peace. This is a far deeper meaning than just a sense of peace, its a deep indescribable peace presence not just within our self but within the way we lead our lives and regard our neighbours and all living things.  I have a different feel about Christmas this year. Its a feeling of a deep love for Jesus and the gratefulness that he is in my life, no, that he is my way of live. So be it for you also.

Blessings, love and peace.

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                While shepherds watched their flocks by night

Storms of life.

Hide me under the shadow of your wings. Psalm17:18

Here we are watching, waiting, preparing, embracing the coming of Christmas and I was reflecting on these matters from the sacred space when I saw a baby bird that had been thrown out of the tree along with its nest in the storm that had just been. It was  stunned and anxious as was its mother watching from close by. I picked up the little one and it stood on its feet but was too young to fly.  It hopped off into the bushes where it was comforted by its mother and though still in the storm was feeling safe under her wings. I thought of the storms in our lives and how we flounder and fall away from home.  God is the father/mother that can calm the storms for us and bring peace when caught in the storms of life. What a great feeling it is to know we can run to him and hide under the shelter of his wings. What imagery!

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ. Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                Storms of life.
 

Your maker and your God.

 I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys. Song of Songs 2:1

I don't have to go beyond the garden fence to see the beauty of the Lord and everywhere I look is a place of prayer because the imagery reminds me of something of God. I wonder do you find that you cast your gaze on something and immediately and from know where comes God thoughts? I stooped to smell the rich perfume of the deep red rose and immediately thought of an elderly friend and Christ's love we have shared over so many years and I give thanks. I often wonder when our heart is touched how can we pray because sometimes the 'touch' leaves us speechless, then I think of the words of a poem  where it says: 'In sweetest, smiling bloom, declare your maker and your God.' and that's the prayer.

Grace, peace and hope this Advent season

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                        The red, red rose.