blue mist and dew dampened grass

Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go. Matthew 8:19
O the joy, the pure delight of the freshness of the morning full of God's love. That hint of Autumn hovers over the hills, the colour of blue mist and dew dampened grass smells of fresh cut hay and a wonderful chorus from a dozen or more magpies goes up from the height of the tallest eucalyptus. Its true whats said, 'that once God is in your heart, he is everywhere.'
I was reading some poems by Mary Oliver and this one resonated with me  this morning:

Oh, feed me this day, Holy Spirit, with
 the fragrance of the fields and the
 freshness of the oceans which you have
 made, and help me to hear and to hold
 in all dearness those exciting and wonderful
words of our Lord Jesus, saying:
Follow me.

Image of God's love.

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

rich or poor?

One man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor;yet has great wealth. Proverbs 13:7
You would think I had been given a million dollars as I looked at the country side outside my front door. Try and describe God's love and no amount of human wealth can match its value or its worth.What a daily gift I have had put before me. The soft mist on the surrounding hills that are graced with a sweeping pink colour of the promise of the sun rising. The stillness of the pond with a few wood ducks grazing the reeds, 'talking' in soft noises to each other as if sharing the same joy of the quiet that I am. The long sweep of the valley dotted with black cows and bales of new mown  hay. I can smell it from here! The rays of early sun shining on the ears of the wild oat grass making each to look like a wealth of gold. And a family of kookaburras  laughing, filling the quiet countryside with joy.Its all so special, so much so that I could lose myself in the moment and just stand and gaze in wonder. Every where I looked was God's love, wrapped in the presence, gifts greater than any money can buy, gifts of the richness of God's love.

                             ' Find a beautiful place and lose yourself in it.'

and the bluebells on the roadside.

                               '

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

Following the path

You will show me the path of life......psalm 16
There is a great peace about the morning as the early mist still lingers on the hills and the cows are grazing silently among the kangaroos.The path in the dry grass is wearing into its identity  and its as I take each step I reflect with God on the way my day might go.There is a great 'soul' joy deep within when you know the way you lead each day is to bring glory to God and 'life' to those you care for. Each Monday as I help gather a group of people into the day hospice  in the church for 'a day with a difference' I reflect on how we live life in order to  model   Jesus and to me its as much about doing than saying. I always hope that how I live life and what I do with my 'God given life' will help others to seek out the God I serve.I read this story  which said: A teacher took a student into the woods one night with just the light of his torch to show the path. At one point the teacher turned the torch off without explanation. 'What is the matter?' asked the student. 'The torch has gone out.' the teacher answered and continued to walk on.  'But,' shouted the student. 'Will you leave me in the dark?' 'No, I will not,' said the teacher.' I will leave you to follow me, searching for the light.'
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

no escape

Where can I go from your Spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend the heavens you are there, if I make my bed in She-ol you are there. If I take the wings of the morning and settle at  the farthest  limits of the sea, even there your hand shall leave me and your right hand shall hold me fact. Psalm  139: 7-10  
I look at he mountains with their peaks reaching into the morning sky, their base surrounded in a sea of cloud like islands in an ocean.
I look into the distance at a farm house light on a hill, shining in that space between night and day.
I look at a jet, just a dot in the sky, more visible because of its vapour
I look at a large flock of  colourful grass parrots feeding bu the side of the road.
I think of observatories and their powerful telescopes that reaches far far into space.
I think of us all and the days ahead and the people we will meet: the frail aged, those in prison, the sick and lonely, the disabled, the lost, the stranger we pause to talk to on the street.
I think of our special places of relaxation and rest: a beach, the bush, a park, the garden.
To ask where is God's Spirit, is like asking a fish, where is the water. (Lucado)
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Wadi Rum desert in Jordan

Give God the Glory

Anything you did for the least of my people you did for me. Matthew 24.40
It goes deep, very deep that sense of knowing that you and God are doing something together, in unity. That what you are doing is almost out of your hands, because its God working through you. I had that experience this week and the profound sense of the presence and action of God is still with me three days later and I can not help but tell people of the great power of God in our lives and give him all the Glory. It was a seemingly huge task of journeying with a lady through the maze of National Disability Insurance Services and trying to find a suitable, safe home for her for the rest of her life.Its seemed a huge task yet out of nowhere through a few words to the right people and this lady is now set in a safe environment in a new home for life.Someone once asked the question: What is the sign of the saved? their degree, their scholarship? their willingness to go to foreign lands? their ability to amass an audience and preach? Their skillful pens and hope filled volumes? No. The sign of the saved is their love of the least for when we do good things for others we are doing good things for God who gets the glory.  For any in God's service that should kindle the fire in your heart.What an immense privilege we have that's wrapped in God's blessings, the privilege of being able to serve the least of his people.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

God's presence.

My Father's world

' If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation.' 2 Corinthians 5:17
I wonder at how you can have an unlimited imagination.God has been creating since time immemorial  yet I cease to see any two sunrises the same, any flower the same, any mountain the same and I suspect if you were to put  grains of sand under a microscope and view them they would all be very different. Even the little sparrow in the garden is different to his brothers and sisters. We have a remarkable, wonderful, awe inspiring God with an unlimited imagination and creativity and in saying that he has created us so individually we can all serve him with the gifts of imagination and creativity that he has given us.  I like this hymn written by Maltbie Babcock with imagination and creativity:
This is my Fathers world, and to my listening ears, all nature sings and around me rings, the music of the spheres. This is my Fathers world, I rest me in the thought, of rocks and trees, of skies and seas, his hands and wonders wrought.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ

.
Anne, servant of the Lord

Blind yet I see

(Jesus said) Whoever does not take up his cross and follow in my steps is not fit to be my disciple. Matthew 10.38
It's interesting how we react to situations of our life. Sometimes issues come our way that could be burdens and handicaps to our daily living and we could bury our head in the sand and shut the world out or we could put one foot before the other and move on. I had been reflecting on a story I read many years ago about Helen Keller. What a remarkable lady  who had a ministry of encouragement among many world wide including the remote tribal Aboriginal people of Western Australia. I was reflecting on her life because she was such an influence in my childhood in my desire to work with Aboriginal people or to simply make something of my life. She had an incredible way with people and for a lady born in the 1800's that was quite remarkable. One of her many quotes said:'life is either a daring adventure or nothing.'   I guess the most remarkable thing about her was that she was deaf and blind. To quote her: 'I thank God for my handicaps, for through them I have found myself, my work and my God.'

 Western Desert SA

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

your special place

That in every place they should pray. 1 Timothy 2:8

Why is it so special to you that you live where you are? I was talking to a deacon who lives in a small housing complex on church grounds and she said it is a great joy to be able to look out and see the church and the world. It reminds me of  the anchorite, Julian of Norwich she said. Its here I can pray and reflect on both church and world.  Annie Dillard says an anchorite's hermitage is an anchor hold like some sheds clamped to the side of a church, like a barnacle on a rock.  I think of my home as a hermitage in many ways. Its  in the silence of a quiet suburb, clamped to the side of a city yet steeped in a rural outlook. A place of constant prayer and reflection.  What is it that's so special about living where you are?
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, Servant of the Lord.

God's riches

O the depth of the riches........ Romans 11.33
The depth of God's riches I find in the gift of each new day. The glorious sunrises, never the same colours, never the same display of God's riches, hand painted from his paint board and brushes. When I think of the riches of God I often think of my days in the opal mining town of Coober Pedy where I ran the local hospital. The deep colours of the opals dug up by the miners from deep in the earth after days of searching suddenly revealed to them the treasure, the riches they had been searching for. Gariepy says: Do you want to discover the riches God has for you? Then turn that longing into the work of 'digging,' digging deep into God's word and mining the riches of prayer. You will then discover the priceless treasure of God.'
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

we can all be a witness

You will be his witness to all the world. Acts 12.15
  Of an evening I sit out the front of my house for some reading time and its the time of the day the multicultural community I live in comes to life as they gather in the little park down the road for the children to play and parents to socialize. Its a lovely time of day to get to know some of my neighbours. My dog Bella also loves to survey the activities a she lies by my side. Down the path came a group of 6 young Indian girls with their mother, all lively and chatting in their language  and they stopped and asked. 'Can we pat your dog?' 'Of course', was my reply and as they patted her one of the girls called the others into silence from their chatter. 'Look, look at this' she said as she handled the wooden cross on Bella's collar. The girl looked at me with large dark eyes and in wonder said. 'Are you a Christian?'  'Yes,' I said.' I am a Christian. 'All 6 voices called out to the mother who had walked down the path a little way. With great excitement they said 'Mamma, Mamma, come back quickly, this lady is a Christian She's a Christian Mamma.'   be it Paul in Caesarea, or you in your home town, or me in mine let us live a life that enables others to say 'Are you a Christian?'
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

In the night, in the quiet.

At that time  Eli was lying down in his room. The lamp of the Lord had not yet gone out and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord. 1 Samuel 3: 2-3 (paraphrased.)
Quiet times before sleep, during the night and before rising are so special. There, in the quiet of the night and pre dawn, in the stillness, is God. Its quality time together.   It amazes me that we can read the bible over and over again all our life yet somethings of significance, small things usually, don't  sink in until one day, they are suddenly revealed. How many times have you read this passage from Samuel before you registered that its when we are being still and quiet ie lying down, resting, its then we are open to the voice of God. Not in the business of the day. Not in the rush of preparation . Its in the quiet, the stillness.  As we begin to engage fully with this New Year may we remember how the voice of God spoke to Samuel in the stillness and quiet of the night. Its here, in the time of relaxation and pre sleep and the stillness of waking that we slow down, let down our bodies and minds so  the new thoughts and dreams emerge. Its at that time we are open to the voice of God calling us to fulfill  our hopes and dreams. His hopes and dreams.

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

in his hands

See, I have engraved you on the palm of my hands. Isaiah 49:16
Going from a nursing home service to a home visit, to a meeting and I was moving quickly between each event when I was given a message to call a particular person. Taking  a pen from my pocket I wrote the persons name on the palm of my hand so I would remember it.  This text from Isaiah has to be one of the most reassuring texts of the bible. Imagine Jesus going about the business of his day and now and then he glances at the palm of his hand to see your name engraved there, not just written but engraved, never to be forgotten. What infinite love.  Remember that  as you go about your day and when ever you need the assurance of God he is thinking of you with just a glance at his hand.
This simple poem by Albert Orsborn says: He can not forget me, though trial beset me; Forever his promise shall stand, he can not forget me, though trials beset me; my name's on the palm of his hand.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

a reminder in my garden of Isaiah 49:16

night and day

God once said: Let the light shine out of the darkness. 2 Corinthians 4:1
Its such a special time of the day to watch the dark night slowly being consumed by the light of the day. Dark shadows slowly become images of beauty. Like the blurry bit on the pond that turns out to be a beautiful white bird,a crane, silently paused on one leg, resting or the silence that breaks into song as one by one the sounds of the morning chorus of birds break into the quiet of dawn and a dark sky that breaks into a kaleidoscope of colour that fills the dark clouds with a life of colour and brightness. Joan Chittister wrote: An old Rabbi once asked his pupils how they could tell when the night had ended and the day had begun. 'Could it be,' asked on student, 'when you can see an animal in the distance and can tell whether its a sheep or a dog?' 'No' replied the Rabbi
'Well then, is it when you look at a tree in the distance and can tell whether its a fig tree or a peach tree?' No, was the answer. 'then when is it?' 'Its when you can look on the face of any man or woman and see that it is your sister or brother. Because if you can not see this, it is still night.'
Lets make this year a year of truly seeing God in all his people. Lets show hospitality and welcome and embrace to all. Let us show that light of Christ we so often talk about, that light that shines in the darkness.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

Christmas.

Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness. Psalm 115:1
I was looking at the presents under the giving tree at the shopping mall. Big presents, small presents all colourfully wrapped. Some with ribbons, some bows, all labelled for some special person. There was a sense of expectation that might go with the giving and the receiving as they are passed onto those in need. Hands reaching out to give and bless with a gift  this Christmas season.   Among all the gifts of Christmas lies one that you do not have to buy, or wrap in coloured paper, or tie a ribbon and bow on. Its called the gift of love and it came that first Christmas morning in the form of a tiny baby who was called Jesus. A lasting gift that can be given over and over again all year round . A gift that can save lives, bring comfort to the lonely and distressed, a gift of companionship and hope. In the trauma of Martin Place we are seeing that gift of love being expressed in a floral memorial, the presence of people who care, the presence of the special chaplains and those of our brothers and sisters of other faiths. There is a sense of oneness, of unity, of healing, of love. A sense that Jesus has come down, Emmanuel is with us. Let not the drama of the world take from us the wonderful gift we have been given, the gift of love. The gift we call Christmas.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

nativities of many countries.

even one will make a difference

' I am the voice of one calling out in the desert.' John 1:23
When I was chaplain at the local school for children with profound disabilities I remember one day assisting in a class room to help the children get ready to go outside into the playground. I was tasked to assist a wheel chair bound boy who was about 12 years old and who rarely spoke. I put his twisted, distorted little feet into his socks as carefully as I could and then his slippers. As I fastened the velcro straps I felt a small hand on my head, stroking my hair with a small distorted hand and as clear as a bell came from this boys mouth, 'Are you Jesus?' I was speechless and sank even lower to the floor as a wave of humility swept over me. I eventually looked the boy in the face and managed to say, 'no, I am not Jesus but I am his friend.'  St John was a voice for Christ (John 1:23) His life matched his words. When a persons words and ways are the same, the fusion is explosive. People will know who we represent, not because we bear the name, but because we live the life.
 If I cant feed all the hungry, feed one. If I cant change the world, change a life. Let someone see the difference you can make. If you cant feed all the hungry, feed one.(unknown)
Walk humbly as you serve God.
Anne, servant of the Lord

JAFFA ministry

Making straight the path.

Let your light shine before others that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:19
At evening I often think of the people I have uncounted during the day and sum them up in my prayers especially those who have experienced  Christ through our meeting, who catch a glimpse of Christ through our relationship, a passing word, a brief touch and I thank God that we can bring some light into a dark world by who we are and what we are doing. For some, as the saying goes, we may be the only gospel they ever hear, the only encounter with Christ they ever have and you know, it might be just enough to change the world.  Robert Louis Stevenson, as a small boy, was staring out the bedroom window one night when his nanny called him to bed. Reluctant to come, his nanny asked what the attraction was in the dark of night. He said, pointing to the lamplighter who was lighting the street lamps. 'Look nanny, the man is putting holes in the darkness.'
(Lotz: Just give me Jesus says) You and I may not be able to change the world, but surely each of us can put a hole in the darkness! Turn on the light! Share what Jesus means to you and give God's word to someone else.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne

watchfulness

But about the day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven,nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert. Mark 13: 32
In several places in my rural suburb are empty blocks of land, that seem uncared for ,fenced off and overgrown with wild oats and other native grasses.Wasted spaces I thought,  or is there a purpose for them.   Well, I discovered that in those spaces lies a hidden treasure, an endangered, protected species of moth. I couldn't help but relate this experience to that of the story of the unkept man in tattered clothing. He looked  like a homeless person who came to the door of a house seeking some food for he was hungry. 'Go away.' was the response to his knocking, 'we are expecting a very important visitor and we don't want you to be seen on our doorstep when he comes.' Several times the man knocked and every time received the same reply. Eventually he went away and the people in the house waited in vein for the special important visitor to arrive but he never came. Ah, but he did and they didn't recognise him.  He came in the image of a poor, hungry, homeless man and they were not expect anything other than a person in fine clothing and  of great  importance. I looked again at the grassy uncared for and unkept block of land and reflected on the treasure that lay within. About the day or hour no one knows. Beware,we are warned, keep awake.

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

Its a glorious feeling

Its a glorious feeling to be able to unload my heart, to spill out my gratitude in thanks to you O God. Morning noon and night I want the whole world to know of your love. Psalm 92:1-2 (Psalms Now)
One of my favourite books of the bible is the book of psalms. There is something written in those pages that is for all occasions and in the words of the psalmist, of pain,anger, frustration, joy and praise, we are given the right to express ourselves likewise.The translation I like to dip into is called 'Psalms Now' It has a freshness and a clarity and psalm 92 ends this way.
'Help us, those of us who love you, O God, to prove to our disjointed world, that you are in our         midst.' Marcina Wiederkehr would say: May your work this day be your love made visible;may you breathe upon the wounds of those with whom you work;may your voice this day be a voice of encouragement;may your life be an answer to someones prayer;may the lamp of your life shine upon all you meet this day.
May the Spirit touch your spirit in this morning pause and your day be blessed.

Anne, servant of the Lord

small boy and the rose bud.

Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways. Ps 128:1
Advent draws us to reflect on many things: our relationship with the Lord, how we express that in life, how we live with that forefront knowledge that 'Jesus will come again.' Diligently, faithfully and with renewed hearts we are called to 'stay awake.' It is only when God dwells deep within us that we can fulfill this command, this urgent request to 'stay awake.' Prayer, meditation, reflection and God's forgiveness are what fill us with the knowledge and love of the Lord that enables us to fill our potential for him, to blossom in our faith.  There is a story about a small boy who was sitting on the lawn in the garden  holding two bright yellow roses. One was only a bud and one was in full flower. He was thoughtfully pulling the petals from the bud and as he did so they fell to the ground until only the stem was left. 'What are you doing?' his mother asked. ' I am trying to open it up,' he said, 'so it looks like the other rose.' His mother replied. 'You cant open a rose bud from the outside. God has to open it from the inside .' And so it is with us. In order to love and serve the Lord, God needs to open us up from the inside.

 Continue to prepare the way for the Lord and may the Spirit of Christ fill your hearts and your minds and the peace of God be with you.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

flickering candles

Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of Jacob;that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his path. Isaiah 2:3
I watched the Advent candle on the altar flicker in the breeze from the open window. It seemed fragile and vulnerable but yet it refused to be snuffed out and it brought to mind something I had read.  'A boy threw a stone at a stained glass window of the incarnation. It nicked out the  'E' in the word highest, in the text 'Glory to God in the Highest.'  Now it read: ' Glory to God in the High St.'
As we enter the season of Advent we are instructed to keep awake. To be ever watchful for the coming of the Lord and I think of our daily lives out there in the world(in the High St) doing the ministry of Jesus Christ. I think of the people who have crossed my path and yours and now, this Advent will be more aware of the concept of 'keeping awake'  You know them, you have befriended them, those who were isolated, lonely, needy and poor and to them you brought the love of God that emanates peace.  Stay awake so you can be prepared for Christ's return as you live a life of serving Christ in our broken world.  Go to the mountain of the Lord, frequently.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne