Morning bells

 Hold thou me up and I shall be safe. Psalm 119:117

I woke up this morning amidst God's love in what the local radio station called a 10-10 sunrise. It was glorious in colour and peace but I think what actually called me into the day was the tiny prayer bell I have hanging in my sacred space. Its soft metallic tinkling in the gentle breeze draws me to thoughts of God. I recall reading a very old  pocket book called' Morning Bells' and in it I read : The path is not easy, there are rough stones and we can stumble. How do we walk safely over such a rough path? My response. 'Its not my grip of Christ's hand but Christ's grip on me, that what stops us stumbling and keeps us on the path.' I hear the tinkling of the metallic bell and immediately I say, ' may today be in your strength Lord even though the path can be rough. hold thou me up.' 

I read this quote: Yes, I will uphold you, with my right hand: you are called and chosen in my sight to stand (unknown.

May our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.    Anne servant of the Lord.

                            

                                            Blue wrens on top of the prayer bell

Ah, the joy.

 Jesus said; 'These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and  and that your joy may be full. john 15;11

Some words are effervescent, they just bubble up in your mind and spill over into your feelings. Words like 'joy' give you a good feeling deep down in the soul. I mean, can you not experience something breathtaking and not get that sense of joy. Something of beauty and not get that sense of deep  joy. It's more than an a-hhh moment, its deeper than that. I sensed it  when  I was out walking and there in a rock wall was a beautiful violet, a survivor, a battler, a beauty, a pocket of joy. I read this lovely quote which said: 'Joy is happiness, spilling over, wearing wings! It can be a real indicator of the presence of God.'

May the God of life fill you with joy.    Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                       A battler, spilling over with joy.

I saw the face of God.

 The Lord has decided the number of the stars and called each one by name. Great and mighty is our Lord. Psalm 147:4-5

I saw it in the puddle of life giving water by the roadside. I saw it in the sky, night stars being tucked away behind soft pink clouds in the sunrise. I saw it as the sun shone through the crimson autumn leaf. I saw it in the currawong as he called his mates into dawn. I saw it in the single, crystal clear raindrop that hung from each leaf and blade of grass. I saw it in the soft blue, perfect formation of the bluebells that clutched the side of the road. I saw it! I saw the face of God and my  soul sang :  How great though art!

World famous musician Pablo Casals said: 'I find God in the smallest and in the largest things. I see God in colours and designs. No two things alike, no two voices the same.' 

  Where are you seeing God today?

As you bless me with light at sun's rising, shine on me now with love.     Anne, servant of the Lord.

Blue bells  beside the road side.

What is love?

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

What is love I thought as I sat reflecting in my sacred space looking around at the winter flowers in the garden fresh from the frost with the sun glistening on  them like a myriad of shining crystals. The sight was something that stirred my soul, something more than just, 'that's nice.'  Or perhaps its seeing the delight of the flock of cockatoos enjoying the last of the acorns on the oak trees or perhaps its something that we give away and it becomes the best part of us. Or is it the drooping posy of wild flowers offered by the  sticky hand of a small child. All is love, given to us by the one who gives the greatest love - Jesus Christ.

May the God of love bless you and keep you always.            Anne, servant of the Lord 

A posy of wildflowers.

Fill my whole life, dear Lord

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea and all of them, singing. Revelations 5:11

 Its daybreak and the gap between the light and dark has thinned into a strip of increasing light and pastel  coloured hues, and thee trill of the Rufus Whistler in the Grevillia bush tells me that God is in the garden and I can feel the awe and wonder of it in this little birds song. I pause in the sacred space and give God my words of thanks for the gift of this whole new day -24 priceless hours - free of charge  - and offered only once. What a gift and before we part I ask God to wait yet another moment so I can count his treasures around me in the garden, and add my praise. 

May the peace of God fill your life every single day.    Anne, servant of the Lord.                                                       

                                                    God's treasures.

Its so true.

 For the Lord is good and his love  endures forever: his faithfulness continues through all generations. psalm 11.5

Its true that each day is an adventure that we haven't had before. Yesterday the trees were full of  the colours of the autumn glory and today they are empty branches. The soil in the pot that has held the sleeping daffodil bulbs over the summer has been cracked and the small, strong green  spikes of the daffodil leaves are poking through and the dew laden grass of yesterday is today covered in crisp white frost. There is so much to see and take in from the sacred space of the daily adventure and its good to just sit and be present, this moment, in the now, and Lord, ever present, may we see you and praise you in all your creation.

May the God of life bless you and keep you today and always.   Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                Empty branches.
.

O the wonder of being with God.

 All of life is sacred. All of life is holy. Rule of Benedict (RB66)

Going down  the Clyde Mountain gave me a roller coaster of visual treats. From within my car, my sacred space for the journey, I could see the wonderful variety of God's creation in tall eucalyptus trees reaching for the sky, their clusters of leaves on their tops seemingly brushing and sweeping the misty sky, and the tree ferns and lower scrub, rainforest like, are  havens for small living creatures, the echidna, the birds, the lizards, wildflowers  and the likes and I thought Oh how lovely it is to be with God in silence, in his beautiful space, taking in the moments and remembering the preciousness of life with joy and wonder and remembering to give thanks. Aristotle said; in all things of nature, there is something of the marvelous. For me, the something of the marvellous then and there was the abundant presence of God. 

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

                                                A variety of God's creation

God is never far away.

I come to the garden alone while the dew is still on the roses and he walks with me and he talks with me and he tells me I am his own.  (Christian song.)

At every moment of every day God is saying I love you. I mean, look about you, do the  autumn trees in all their shapes and colours not bring you joy? Does the last rose of summer not still hold the fragrance of its beauty? Do the green tips of the leaves on the daffodils pushing through the soil not  give you hope and the glorious sunrises and sunsets of autumn do they not pull on the strings of your heart and transport you to a place of awe and wonder?  Where is God, we sometimes cry and I say look, look about you, wander through the garden, look towards the sky, there is God, scattered with love.

May the beauty of God fill your life every single day.      Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                        Covered with Love.

Shifting and changing.

Seek the Lord while he may be found. Isaiah 55:6

Everything that God does in creation  puts a smile on my face and sometimes the smile turns into laughter. I love to see him in all he creates and marvel at his creativity. If I take a walk in the garden or a park or a pine forest or the desert he is there shifting and changing colours and shapes. Its even more lovely when there is just 'he and me' and he whispers in my ear: 'look at this and turn your face here, and see that, there I am.'  Go for a deliberate walk with him. Go and see the love of God, and you know, it doesn't matter what sort of a day you are having, the love of God will bring you home with a smile on your face and a warmth in your heart.

May the God of life bless you and keep you today and always.   Anne, servant of the Lord. 

                                                    That put a smile on my face.

Oh, now that's a beauty

 To you my eyes are turned, O Lord, my Lord. Psalm 141:8

Oh, now that's a beauty, a wonderful gift from God that caught my eye as I rounded the corner of the garden path. This beautiful rose, a kaleidoscope of colours. It is so lovely that it took my breath away and I recall these words I had read just a few days ago:  'At every moment of every day God is saying to me through his creation, I love you' -  and I respond with,  and  I love you too. E.A.Guest writes 'Oh, the things than I call living aren't gold and  fame at all! Its fellowship and sunshine and its roses against the wall.'

Dear Lord, help us to be aware of your presence and love in our lives.  Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                              O the love of God.