travelling companion

Good and upright is the Lord, therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his ways. Psalm 25:8-9
So much from within the heart comes a cry, 'for as much as you did for the least of these, my brothers and sisters, you did it for me.'  This text straight from Jesus would be a wonderful theme for Advent. Sometimes I think but how many more of my brothers and sisters can I do this for Lord for sometimes the load  gets very heavy and weighs me down but its said; don't pray that your load is lightened but pray for the strength to bear it. That statement changed my entire perspective on carrying burdens and I found I could add one or two more brothers and sisters to my load, in fact I asked the Lord to give me as many as he thought I could carry.Its then I found they became my travelling companions. They were always with me on the journey through prayer time, on my lips as I fell asleep and as I went out each day to love and serve the Lord. We know that God is our ultimate travel companion, always with us. When the load of carrying our brothers and sisters is heavy, he is the one who holds us up.

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

rubbing shoulders

Lord, when was it that I  saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not take care of you? Matthew 25:44
In life we often rub shoulders with people society sees as the 'lesser' or who Jesus called the 'little ones.' I am sure as you read this faces will come as images in your  mind and memories in your heart. Our daily life is about bringing  the light of Christ into the dark corners of  this world. I don't know about you but it puts me on my knees and I am sure the roar in the background is the applause from heaven as God sees one of his own move into the circle of love and care and bring life and light to another.(Lucado) None are more shunned by their culture than the blind, the lame, the lepers and the deaf. They had no place. No name. no value. Canker sores on the culture. Excess baggage on the side of the road, but those who people call trash, Jesus calls treasure.
They are the treasure of our daily ministry. Rub shoulders with them, rub shoulders with Christ.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

I come.

Just as I am without one plea, O lamb of God, I come (Charlotte Elliott)
This is one of a few hymns that brings you to the feet of God. There is a 'tug' a sense of being pulled towards God in these words and you can do nothing but respond  and what a sense of home coming it brings. No doubt we all have that place where we have this great tug to go, to meet and  fall into the arms of  God. Its a tug that's so compelling  it can't be ignored. I reflect on this when I get up to go walking early morning. I feel that tug from God to go and the words of this hymn hum in my heart. 'Just as I am though tosses about, fighting and fears within without, O lamb of God I come.' We forget sometimes that all we have to do with our cares, concerns and anxieties is to give them to God. He takes them from us, tosses them over his shoulder and replaces them with his peace. When you feel that tug from God, this desire to run into his open arms, respond to it, run into his presence to be comforted, filled, blessed,and equipped for life's journey.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

Praise for the singing

Morning has broken like the first morning; blackbird has spoken like the first bird. (TIS 156)
The beautiful song  of the blackbird singing in the morning silence drew me immediately to the words of  Eleanor Farjeon's hymn  'Morning has Broken.' And the rest of  my morning walk was in step to that  tune and  the sung words went straight to heaven!
Thank you God for the gentle nudges of your presence.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

roses among the thorns

Sing to God with thanksgiving in your heart. Col 3:16
I love the spring with all its expression of new life and it seems to give us a sense of life also, like waking up out of a sleep. Being a gardener I like to head for the garden and make an impression on areas that have been neglected, pruning, weeding, turning old soil over, propping plants with trellises and planting new seeds. I have a bed of roses and pruning sometimes can be a challenge. Somehow I always seem to come out of the exercise looking like I have been pruning roses! However, its well worth it with the reward of beautiful colour and perfumed blooms. Gardening is a bit like our life really, out there in the world among all the challenges, planting, pruning and nurturing.
It is said: Some complain that God put thorns on roses; others give thanks that God put roses among the thorns. (Unknown)
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

one of several St Saviours Cathedral roses in my garden.

A great witness.

.....looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. Hebrews 12:2
I was taking a service in the local aged care facility among a small group of faithful elderly people and one resident in particular seems to stand out. She would be well in her eighties, a quiet gentle lady who just smiles and emanates a peace. She has an aura about her. This day she actually spoke and said. 'I walked with Jesus. I walked by his side. He was so, so lovely, a beautiful man.' she paused a moment and went on to say.' Do you think that could be real or did I dream it?' and she looked at me with intense blue eyes and a face that shone, a face that emanated Christ's presence.'  'It was a long time ago,' she said, 'but I remember it and feel it inside me like it was just now. Every  time I think of it I feel I am filled up again and again with Jesus.' What great witnesses  our older people are. A life time of trials, tribulations and joys and still so strong in the Lord. What a great encouragement to us all who are still 'running the race.'
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

The secret of the Lord is theirs

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see our God: the secret of the Lord is theirs, their soul is Christ's abode. (TIS 448)
I recall the memorial service I held in the nursing home each year on All Souls and All Saints Day. It was so moving  as we remembered all those who had passed away from among us in the last twelve months. Reading the names out one by one of 30 or more people,Remembering the faces, remembering them, all these special people that have shared a portion of their life with me and it throws such a special meaning to the words from the book of Hebrews. 'Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses.....' (Hebrews 12:1) As I prepared for the service, filling the vases with roses, I noticed on one stem that there was a cluster of full blooms and among  them was one that had died. The imagery was powerful and humbling and yes we are indeed surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses in our Christian walk.

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

moving mountains

If you have faith as big as a mustard seed, you can say to the mountain, move from here to there, and it will move. Matthew 17:20
If every person in every place made it their goal to give their best , to help the needy and support the stranger what a different world we would live in. Even though our efforts might seem small at times, or overwhelming,we can live knowing we are doing our best where we are. Its like this familiar story. A man was on his way to buy a horse and as he was walking along he came across a little sparrow that was lying on its back, frantically kicking its legs in the air. 'Excuse me,' asked the man, 'But what are you doing?' The sparrow replied. 'I heard this morning that the sky was going to fall in.' The man said. 'And what do you think kicking in the air will do?' The sparrow replied. 'I am trying to stop it.'
Doing our best in daily life should be our aim and its amazing what a difference that can make. Our efforts don't have to move mountains. Just raising the spirits of those we come in contact with will change their day and possibly

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

Brilliant creator

O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your possessions. Psalm 104:24
Take a look at everything that is within your field of vision and reflect. God made it all.
 I am so blessed by several 'welcome swallows' that are on a great mission to build their mud nest right in the corner above my front door. Its seems like a family effort as there are more than two birds putting in a huge effort of carrying mud balls in their tiny beaks from the pond across the road and placing it on the wall. I can see the shape of the nest forming and O what a blessing all this activity is and of all the birds to be nesting at my front door, its the 'welcome swallow.'
I continue to stand in awe at the great works of our mighty God.Brilliant creator, master craftsman to the smallest detail and one who knows how to provide that blessing that he knows will 'makes my day.' Its a wonderful thing when we can, without even thinking about it, capture the wonder of God and his greatness, in the moment.

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

look on the heart

The Lord  does not see as mortals see;they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. 1 Samuel 16-7
What a privilege it is to be with the people  on the margins of society. Those often described as different or of no value or worth. Its working with vulnerable people that I find the greatest privilege in  my life. The isolated elderly give me the gift of their life story, endurance and experience, those who have a disability give me the gift of their humor, their love, their ability to face all sorts of challenges in life . I feel so close to God when I spend time with them. I guess its because they are the people that Jesus mixed  with and asked us to care for. Somehow when I am with them I can see, as he would have, beyond their outward appearances. I can see beyond that to the 'real' people that they are. Just like you and me. I love this story: (Paul Prough)
'While walking along a river bank on afternoon, I cam across a rough looking character shabbily dressed, gazing intently at something near the waters edge. I was suspicious of him and tried pass by quickly. He turned towards me and I dared look at him. He was smiling! relief flooded through me. 'Aren't they beautiful? he said and as I looked among the weeds there was this mass of purple-blue violet flowers.'

May God help us to look at the heart and not the outward appearance.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Servant of the Lord.

Glorious riches

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit  in your inner being. Ephesians 3:16
There is so much to be thankful for. There has been storms in the night bringing life giving rain. The air is fresh with the smell of the eucalyptus;there are puddles on the muddy path  (and the child in me wants to jump into one) The birds are ruffling wet feathers and singing even louder than usual and the grass already looks greener. There is a true sense of God having been at work in the night, washing the countryside with life giving rain and in the early morning light I see the sun come through the gaps in the clouds creating light  in the fading darkness as if God is smiling an all his work and I thought of all these things, God's glorious riches, and was strengthened and empowered for the day.
May you start your day also realising God's glorious riches, and through that,may you be strengthened over and over through the day.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

Photo: wildflowers by the walking track.

Glory, glory

The glory of the Lord shall be revealed.  Isaiah 40:5
In the hard places
in the laughter
in the breathtaking moments
in the pauses
in the noise
in the quiet
in all we do this day......in all we say....in all we are
May we see it , may we show

it,everywhere we go this day and every day
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Picture: Coober Pedy Breakaways.

A flash of heaven

'Like the sound of a distant bell comes God's call. Be still and know that I am God (psalm  46:10)

Every spring morning I seem to travel to heaven as I enjoy the delights of the scented garden and  the call of the busy birds. One smell of the newly opened sweet peas, one sight of the opening iris's and one glance at the rose buds in  anticipation of their coming glory and there I experience a flash of heaven. A word of praise. and an expression of joy to God that's caught on the breath of prayer falls from my lips. And as Annie Dillard says: ' If I am lucky I might be jogged awake by a bird call, This morning it was the wood duck.'

Life in the fast lane, in the mode of fast forward, can stop us from having an encounter with the wonders of God that are all around us if we only take the time to pause, to look, to wonder. To be still.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

Giving hope

Tend the flock of God that is in your charge. 1 Peter 5:2
I wonder do you have a personal  vision statement for your life. Do you have some thought set in your heart and mind that guides your daily actions and steers  your life?
On a piece of paper taped to the shelf above  my office desk I have these words which I call my vision statement, almost an agreement with God.They are small words that pack a big punch. They  set the daily round for me  and they capture my life. They simply say: 'Lord, please bless the ones who have no hope and show me how to help.'   As much as I see this as my vision statement I also 'hear' it deep in my heart as 'Here I am, Lord.'  A God given vision, heart felt and acted on is the voice of God that requires a response from us to the life he has called us to live. Meditate a moment on your vision, your way of life.

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

feel the gentle peace

In thy presence, is fullness of joy Psalm 16:11
Just pause a moment and go outside and look at the face of God who is constantly reminding us of his presence. I could 'feel' the gentle peace in the mist silently hovering in the folds of the spring green hills. I could 'hear' God's masterpiece in the warble of the magpies, welcoming the morning. I could 'see ' his creativity in the delicate, beautifully crafted blossoms of the Wattle (have you looked at one up close?) and yes, even the weeds of the field have flowers of yellow, white and blue and I see, so cheeky, a sulpha crested cockatoo pop his head up from among the long grass as if playing hide and seek with his mates and I momentarily see God's humour. These are moments of stillness and reflection and as I

pause I reflect on the words of Martin Luther who said: ' Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection not in books, but in every leaf (and I say presence) of springtime.'
The new day is full of new discoveries, new signs among us. Who could doubt the living God.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

To God be the Glory

O Lord my God, you are very great......the earth is satisfied by the fruit of his work.' Psalm 104:1,13
Have you noticed God is putting on his glory again?
The Daphne is out.The Cootamundra wattle is out.The Japonica buds have burst.The morning sky is a kaleidoscope of colour and, on the flowering gum, tiny 'ballerina' like blossoms are dancing in soft pink tu-tu's.
Its so special to be able to look about and see  the things of God, here, there and everywhere and we  will see his glory, if we have our eyes fixed on him.
Fanny Crosby had 3000 of her works published and among them was  the hymn, 'To God be the Glory.' Fanny was blind from birth yet God gave her a knowledge that allowed her minds eye to'see' his glory.

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

From insect to mountain top.

'He gave us eyes to see them and lips that we might tell, how great is God Almighty who has made all things well.' (TIS 135)

Suddenly, when we sing a familiar hymn from down the ages of the older people, faces light up, voices are raised and memory fills the singing. That happens at the aged care facility when we sing the likes of 'All things bright and Beautiful' I was reading some works of Henry Gariepy who said: 'He (God) polished the eye of every tiny insect, painted the bell on the Lilly and crafted the exquisite geometry of the snowflake. He is the one who has made 'all things bright and beautiful.' Somehow its that sense of 'God is in control' that sits deep within us from the beginning of our faith. A God who can so powerfully create tiny detail and momentous expanse of mountain and sea yet is a God who know the depth of you and me. In this troubled and anxious world let us hold strong to the God of our childhood, the God of our faith formation, the God who has journeyed with us through life, the God who never leaves us, the God who is only a prayer (or a hymn) away.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

the promised land

Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mt Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho and the Lord showed him the whole land.....The Lord said to him. 'This is the land, I will give it to your descendants.'  Deuteronomy 34:1-4 (paraphrased.)
I was walking on the bicycle track after rain and there were worms attempting to cross it. The bitumen was drying fast and many were stuck. Some made it to the other side, some perished on the way and for some strange reason I thought of Moses and his people as they struggled for years to reach the promised land. Some made it, some perished on the way. Then, I took that thought further into our own lives and how many struggle in their endeavor to reach the promised land. Some are lost on the way, some die, some don't know it exists and some run with great perseverance to reach it.
 Our task is to lead God's people, to seek them out,to make Christ known, to nurture them on the way to that promised land that is theirs by faith.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

disconcerting

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. Psalm 23:6
Something to think about today. Its called 'Disconcerting' and I don't know the author. It says:
'I read in a book, that a man called Christ was going about doing good.Its very disconcerting to me, that I so easily satisfied,was just going about.'

It sort of pulls you up in your tracks a bit and makes you think, doesn't it.

Israel. Road to Jerico

So lets pray about that by saying:
Day by day, O Lord, of you three things we pray,to see you more clearly,to love you more dearly
to follow you more nearly
day by day. Amen
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord

create in me

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10
Everything was so still and I could feel the warmth of spring already creeping into the day and as I walked there was just me and God.
I stopped in my tracks as I heard the call of a baby bird anxious for its breakfast and being watched by its mother, one eye on the baby and one eye on the food gathering.
I marveled at the increasing bud burst on the blossom tree where pink blooms were bursting free from dry, uninteresting buds on leafless branches.
And for the first time this spring the red rump, fire-tail finches are gathering the crumbs from the base of the bird feeder.
I looked at the small cup shaped indents in the  dust where the sparrows have been having a dust bath and thought of God's promise that he even cares for them.
I love the early morning when everything is still, when every hour belongs to me, and I do as I will (Chrissy Greenslade)
Make time for yourself. Enjoy the special moments.

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