Wonder and mystery

For the beauty of the earth, for the beauty of the skies, for the love from which our birth over and around us lies. Lord of all, to the we raise, this our hymn of grateful praise.(Christian hymn)

The gardens are full of wonder and mystery. There is colour and shape among the great variety of flowers, there is perfume, there are bees, there are butterflies, there are thousands of raindrops, tiny baubles bursting with life giving water and the bird bath is full much  to the delight of the Rosellas, the Finches and the very busy Willy Wagtail. Birdsongs echo from the tree top and in their pauses there is silence and I am filled with wonder at the mystery. It all reminds me of Louis Armstrong's song: What a Wonderful World. 'When  we are filled with wonder it is as if we have encountered the world in all its beauty and mystery for the very first time.' (Sharon Blackie.)

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

Created by God .

A green sprig

The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want. Psalm 23

It can't be said that our countryside is dry at the moment and its hard to imagine a summer drought as we have had so much rain. When I reflect on this I think of our spirit and how it can have, at times, seasons of life giving water and seasons of dry, maybe just a little, maybe more and perhaps the dry for some is harder to deal with. I read this quote: To every person who has longed to see a green sprig on a barren branch he (Jesus) says, ' Follow me, I want you to see what I can do.'  

Stay strong in the Lord in all circumstances and may the peace of God fill your life every single day.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                 God's blessing.

Glorious things of you are spoken.

 May the Lord rejoice in his glorious works. Psalm 104

We always get so much joy and delight from God's glorious works especially when we have our 'spiritual eyes on' and we rejoice. But how often do we think of God as rejoicing at his glorious works be they the creation of ourselves or the wonderful world we live in. Recently home from a wonderful retreat in Alice Springs gave me a greater opportunity to stop and gaze in wonder at God's glorious works and share my delight with him and thank him for what he has created from the most delicate, perfect wild flowers and every shape and design of the gum nuts, to the magnificent desert landscape. Indeed, may the Lord rejoice in his glorious works. May he shout it from the mountain tops to the ocean and may we praise him for it  knowing he created all for our delight.

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

                                                Made by God.

As a river flows so may your peace flow.

 Jesus said: I give you peace, the kind of peace that only I can give. John 14:27

It can be so hard to look at the daily news with so much trauma, distress, hardship, death and destruction in our beautiful world. Man against man and nature against climate change. Where do you find peace, that peace that Jesus offers? I get a great sense of  it when I sit reflecting, in the sacred place, just me, God and quiet, the birds and the beauty of the spring garden - God's glory abounding in all my senses and I find my cup is full for the day. Remember that song which goes, 'Peace is flowing like a river, flowing out through you and me.'  If we have that deep peace of Christ we can bring so much peace through him not just to ourselves but also to others.

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

Blossoms fall like confetti

The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field, the wind blows over it and it is gone. Ps 103:15-16

What a picture the whole of  the spring countryside is. The wattle by the road side seems more yellow than ever and the pink  blossoms are shedding their flowers, falling like confetti, leaving a floral artwork across the ground and as for the sacred space, well what a place to sit and be with God in a garden of spring colours, perfume and delight  backed by a chorus of  birds singing their morning songs. An elderly lady said to me recently, ' I look more deeply and with more delight every season. I pause taking it all in, the sights, the colour and think to myself enjoy, reflect, smell, stay awhile for I may not be here to enjoy it when it comes around again.'   Just like the flowers, our life is short but oh so much richer if we  stay awhile with God and pause and reflect.

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

God's love.

A place to snuggle into

 Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings. Psalm 17:8-9

Its interesting to observe in the bird life how its often the male that is charged with the responsibility of looking after the babies. I think of the blue wren as an example, keeping watch over a flighty clutch of babies, trying to keep them safe from harm while at the same time learning how to live in a big world and I think how like our Heavenly Father nurturing and caring for us and keeping us safe. I love the image of keeping us under the shadow of his wings, a place we can run too when we are in need of protection and shelter or simply comfort, a place to snuggle into and with that image I also reflected on a family of ducks I see at the lake who keep their babies close by so any signs of danger or any need for comfort they just go for the shelter of 'under the wings' of the parent. May we stay close enough to God to be well within reach of  his comfort and shelter.

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

Clear image.

 As water reflects the face, so one's life reflects the heart .Proverbs 27:19

There is nothing more stunning than seeing a beautiful reflection in still water. Sometimes it difficult when looking at  a reflection to see which is the real and which is the reflection.  In a beautiful way we can also look at ourselves and see what our heart reflects about us in the eyes of those looking on. Does it reflect the life and love of Jesus? -  Reflect on this for a moment - Imagine looking into a pool of still water and not seeing the reflection of your face instead you see the face of Jesus looking back at you! 

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

By still waters

Thankful under the beauty of the stars and moon for all of God's creation. (Celtic Liturgy) 

I guess for me the sacred space at night holds great awe and wonder topped with the air filled fragrance of the garden, as I pause before turning in to be, as the Celtic liturgy says, thankful under the beauty of the stars and moon for all of God's creation.' How long is it since you paused to take in the floating clouds across the night sky, like ships in the night, or the silver so distant, yet so close moon, or the countless millions of stars glittering in the velvet sky like little lights punching through holes of darkness?  Its in the gazing of the vastness of the universe that the magnitude and awe of God is seen  and my final night prayer goes up in praise: Let your Glory Lord fall in this space - let your fragrance rest in this space.

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

In stillness and quiet I find my rest

Side swept by loveliness

 So that by God's will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company. Romans 15:32

I recall  a drive down a country road taking a day of respite from work and refreshing with a 'spiritual journey' where just God and I in the car set off to see his wonders in creation. At one stage I came to a stop and pausing in moment to look on the flowers growing on the side of the road and as Joyce Rupp would say, 'I was side swept by their loveliness.' With nothing except me and them, all other thoughts had left my mind now filled with beauty and a kaleidoscope of colour - A God moment. Did I go home refreshed? Indeed I did.  Going for a drive or a walk does wonders for the spirit.

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

                                                Roadside blessings

A stilling prayer

 Let us enlist our lives in continuous celebration of God's goodness and greatness. Psalm 145 (Psalms Now. L.E.Brandt)

The sacred space is again bathed in morning light with the coming of spring. Its soft, its peaceful, its quiet except for the joy of the twittering song of  little birds that are also enjoying the change of season, such happy little things like balls of feathers on tiny stick legs. As for the spring flowers and blossoms, well they are just packed with love from God, full of colour and incense. If we stop long enough, I mean really stop long enough, we can feel the power of God holding it all together around  us He is present. He is there. He is all in all.  I often use this quote from Colin Arquhart as a stilling prayer at the day hospice.

The light of God surrounds me. The love of God enfolds me; The power of God protects me. Where I am - God is. 

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

                                               Where I am God is.

God bless the Queen

 I am among you as one who serves. Luke 22:27

This is one of my favourite verses from the bible and has been the backbone of my ministry. I recall the words of William Penn when he said ' I expect to pass through life but once. If, therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do for any fellow being, let me do it now, for I shall not pass this way again.'   I heard a similar saying from a speech the late Queen Elizabeth the 11 gave when she said :'we are all persons in this life just passing through. May we do our very best to care for all who come our way. ' May we take into our hearts and minds the great Christian love and devotion and service to God and people  as shown to us by our late Queen.

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

                                                Queen Elizabeth 11

God's whisper

 Ever whispering God. (Collect for 13th Sunday after Pentecost)

Ever whispering God, whispering in our hearts and minds in the still of the night and the rush of day. Whispering in the gentle breeze. Whispering in the beauty of the  blossoms of the prunus and wattle tree. Whispering in the sweet perfume of the spring flowers in the garden that greet me every time I open my front door.  Whispering in the first bird call of the morning. Whispering in the love of a puppy.

Ever whispering God, keep our ears and eyes open to hear your whispering.

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

                                                Whispering in the wattle tree.

The mark of faith.

 In Christ alone my hope is found. He is my light, my strength, my song. Psalm 62

I was driving home from Goulburn reflecting on the things the deacons had shared at the cathedral and into my mind came the words of Joyce Rupp when she says 'Driving along in my car - my little hermitage on wheels. ' (Don't you love that.)  It was on that drive I reflected on two things I discovered at the cathedral that over all these years, had never known. One was the bricks that pave the foyer and along the isles of the cathedral which are from the original cathedral and were made by convicts. On the back of them is an arrow, the convicts mark. Then down the isle among an array of  the bricks was a Cross carved into one of the bricks, its origin unknown. These were the marks left by the builders. In Israel the Crusaders left the mark of their cross on the columns and massive road pavers. Where, I wonder have you left your mark?  I don't advocate walking about carving crosses on columns but have you left your mark of faith on the lives of those who God puts in your path ?  

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

                                                The cross in the brick.

Quiet pools of stillness

 Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Psalm 62:1

There is a Chinese proverb that reminds us that we can not see ourselves in running water. We need those quiet pools of stillness for reflection.  This morning as I opened the blinds in the early morning light I pauses and my gaze fell on the scene before me - the green of the grass was glistening with a frost like a  million sparkling diamonds as the sun rays ran across the ground and up the pure white trunks of the eucalypt trees. The air was still - I was still - and I stayed there for quite a moment admiring the handy work, the beauty of God's created new day, the peace and pondered the things of the day before me. Pause,  just a small moment of pause, can centre us and set the entire day on a different course.  The moment was so special that I know it will come into my mind many times during the day, that stillness, that quiet. 

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

A frosty morning  stillness

Pockets of perfume

 How great is our God, sing with me how great is our God and all will see how great is our God. (Christian song)

The change in the air is obvious that spring is around the corner and even the sacred space has had a change with the perfume of the spring flowers, especially the abundance of violets, filling the air and as I look at these little pockets of perfume and colour, fragile in amongst the larger plants yet smiling boldly my thoughts go to God, our God who is so mighty and so powerful who can create the  massive mountains of the Himalayas, throw stars into the night sky and with the same hands form such delicate, small beauties as the violet. Wow!

Joyce Rupp says: Even the frailest beauty can enthral.

Let the peace of God dwell in your heart.      Anne, servant of the Lord.

,                                                 Little beauties.

They shone in a different light

 Bless us from all places where you dwell. Psalm 134

I was looking at the group of people out for a walk from the nursing home, people I have to come to know well, and as they approached I suddenly saw them in a different light. I saw them as God's children and therefore siblings. The image was, as Joyce Rupp would say, ' an explosion of God's love.'  Thich Nhat Hanh believes that 'we have to look deeply at things in order to see and then the beauty comes home to our souls, moving us to wordless knowing.'

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

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                    We are all God's children and therefore siblings.

a tree or a patch of green grass

 I'm asking God to give you a gift from the wealth of his glory. I pray that he will give you inner strength and power through his Spirit. Eph 3:16 (ESV)

Thich Nhat Hanh said: 'Here is the foot of a tree; here is an empty, quiet place, here is the cool green of the grass my child, why don't you sit down.'   And you know, when we do that especially after an exhausting day, what relief, what calm. To sit in a sacred space, alone with God, just feeling the peace with the fragrance of the world calming the mind. Such a  place is peace, is rest,  is strength,   is renewing, is calm, is God.  It's such a lovely space that you get a sense of never wanting to leave it, so go, sit at the foot of a tree (or on its branches) or find an empty space, or a patch of fresh green grass and just sit, sit with God.

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

                                                    Resting on the branch of the tree -peace.

From little things, big things grow.

 Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders ? Psalm  33:8

From small seeds something big or beautiful will grow. I can hold an acorn in the palm of my hand and admire the shininess of its shell and the neatly fitting cap on one end and think to myself, that hasn't been made in a hurry with no thought, that is neatly and perfectly crafted and its packed with a power we can't see, a power to create a massive oak tree. How does God do that?  How then does he create a small brown nut like  seed that turns into the beautiful flower clusters of the Daphne with their stunning memorable perfume, smell it and you feel like you are in heaven among the incense of the angels. How does God do it?  How does he change a small seed into something big or something  beautiful?  I believe somethings have to remain a mystery and just marvel at what a magnificent God we have, and I add, go and look in the mirror and you will see what he has done with something that started so tiny, yet is packed with potential.

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

                                                        Acorns full of a great Oak tree.

Same same but different.

 Is anything too wonderful for the Lord. Genesis. 18:14

Not only were the two wattle birds delighting in the nectar of the Grevilia bush  but they were also delighting in the drops of water falling all over them from the water sodden  leaves of the nights rain. I looked at them, almost identical but no, there is a slight shift of colouring in one of them. Then my eye caught the beauty of the deep blue violets amidst a cluster of healthy leaves, almost identical but no, a slight difference in their size and in some their shape and in colour to the bunch next to them. I looked from the birds to the flowers in wonder at our God, who creates the same yet makes them different.  And so it is with us, with you and me, As Max Lucado says: When God made you, the angels stood in awe and delight and declared, ' We have never seen one like that before.' And they never will again!

Peace to you beyond all understanding.   Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                    Spot the difference.

Packed with wonder and delight

Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderous things . Psalm 119:18

Ah, the daphne is out full of clusters of flowers packed with perfume, delight and memories. As I stooped to take in it's delight to the eye and nose I was drawn to reflect on the words of Eva Jackson when she wrote: 'I was drawn like a bee to pollen - nose to flower and it rested for a second on the fragile sense of wonder -saying nothing - knowing such moments can be trampled by the smallest word.  How much do you treasure the God moments in your sacred space? How much do you see beyond what is right before your eyes? How much do you yearn for those 'God moments' to stay and not be trampled on?

Let the peace of Christ dwell in your heart.  Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                Memories are made of this!