When I in awesome wonder

 O Lord my God when I in awesome wonder consider all the works thy hand has made. I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder, thy power throughout the universe displayed. (Hymn TIS 155)

Its nothing short of awe and wonder and amazement when I go outside at night and pause in the sacred space in the dark quiet and stillness and gaze at the night sky, a multitude of billions of stars and that perfect roundness of the glowing moon , its a humbling experience, and I pause and think there are four humans up there in a tiny space capsule, a great human endeavor but in all of that I am struck with the words of one of the astronauts who was so speechless about  what he was witnessing as they rounded the moon with it so close to them and also seeing the blue sphere of earth below it that  all he could do was declare the handiwork of God. A person of faith or not he said this would leave you in no doubt. Perhaps I wonder is this all part of God's plan? Not only will the astronauts return to earth with a great deal of knowledge and scientific data but as great witnesses to God. May we also be great witnesses to God through  life experiences that leave us with no words except to say 'that is God'

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

God's handiwork.

                                                Photo by Guy Thomas.

And God turns up.

 Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

I hear so many older people saying that in isolation and quiet their 'awareness' is  becoming more acute. There are birds in the garden, tiny birds, that they don't recall hearing before, singing in such beautiful  harmony. There is a beautiful rose bush outside the window that  only weeks ago was stripped in a destructive hail storm that's now blooming with a mass of colour, brighter than they recall having ever seen before and I wonder in the time of our own stillness and quiet, perhaps in your sacred space, how God's glory is impacting on you?  Can you see it? can you hear it? Can you feel it?   What is God saying to you? 

I read this quote from Clement of Alexandria (c150-c212). Wonder at things that are before thee, making this the first step to further knowledge.

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

                                                            Beauty from brokeness 

Creative God

 Psalm 77 :14  You are the God of great wonders.

Oh the creativity of God. His imagination is beyond our understanding. As I watched from my sacred space I could see a flock of Sulphur Crested Cockatoos looking for a feast in the nearby cedar tree picking twigs, holding them in their claws and cracking open the berries that dangled from them. From God's imagination and his paint palate he has created these amazing birds - pure white with a sulphur  crest and I wonder why the touch of a bright yellow crest on an otherwise pure white body? Its like his paint brush has just done a 'swish' of yellow in fun. I love God's imagination and creativity.

 In the stillness and quiet of any sacred space God will reveal his awe and wonder.   

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

                                                                        Magnificent.

Colours of God

 I come to the garden alone while the dew is still on the roses -  and he walks with me and he talks to me and he tells me I am his own and the joy we share as we tarry there none other has ever known. (Hymn)

I love the colours of God that are so breathtaking in autumn. In this season of mist and dew laden grass the trees are drawing our attention. Sometimes its a single scarlet leaf  on the end of a twig or  in rich red, orange and shades of yellow adorning the entire tree. Breathtaking, heart warming colours - each a gift from God. I hold one and I feel blessed. As for those already fallen to the ground they bring a lightness to my step and I can't resist kicking them up with childhood glee. Everything from God is such a gift. Today, hold a leaf, pause at a tree that's a kaleidoscope of colours, look about at the beauty that is in clear view and give God the glory.

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

                                                        Breathtaking beauty.

Into the eyes of God

 ...and to  know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fulness of God. Ephesians 3:19

The sacred space is such a wonderful spot to meet with God and reflect on things with him be it the beautiful magenta Pelargonium in the old garden pot or the glorious crimson rosella on the edge of the bird bath, drinking the fresh water I had not long ago added and that reminded me, have you ever looked directly into the eyes of a rosella?  Our eyes met one day and for a few seconds we were locked into each other, neither moving and I had this deep spiritual feeling that I was looking into the eyes of its creator, God and we were one with each other and God. Moments  such as this do not happen in the rush of the busy day or running between meetings or appointments. Moments like this come back to us with their original spiritual impact when we seek our sacred space, a space where we can deep dive into all that is and  has been on our journey with God.  

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

                                  
                                            God's beautiful creation

 

A lent reflection

 This is love: 1John:4-10

(God) 'You never stop loving, its all you ever do, a wild, unabashed, unbelievable love. Your love never gives up. It lifts and flings me into weightless exhilaration and it always catches me.' ( Clare Locke) What a description of God's love, a love that puts me on my knees and gives me a great sense of security - 'he always catches me,' wow! God's love for us is all of this and more. It's the love that holds our hand when life is tough. The love that walks beside us day by day, that watches over  us while we sleep and it's the love that causes the flowers to grow, bud and bloom into great delights that can take our breath away. A love profound yet at times so simple. A love that comes from the  sacrificed body of our Lord Jesus Christ.   ' Sit with me awhile,' says God   'and feel this love.'

Mane Nobiscum Domine -Remain with  us Lord.    Anne servant of the Lord

The body and blood of Christ shed for you.

Meet me in the early morning.

 Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our maker. Psalm 95:6 

'Meet me in the early morning splendor, I eagerly await there.'(anon)  I love those words because to me its the voice of God calling, calling, 'Come and be with me. Join me in the breaking of the day. Come.'  As I sat with God the first and only sound I hear was that of a small bird with a melodious call. It was soft, and sweet, singing its greeting to God  from a small twig on a large tree.  It doesn't matter where we are when we come to God, it can be out walking a bush track, or the sandy beach, in a busy shopping mall, behind an office desk or on  a seat in the garden.  I like these words of Helen Steiner-Rice:' I have worshipped in churches and chapels. I have prayed in busy streets, I have sought my God and have found him where the waves of the ocean beat.'   Where do you find the Lord your maker? 

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

A small bird on a little twig

Just be!

 May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the Lord. Psalm 104:34

Mindfulness  is to me is the time I spend in my sacred space wherever that may be. It can be in my garden or  leaning over a paddock fence  looking at a field of sheep with the flat plains flowing to the mountains that  rise up  into a cloudless blue sky or pondering on a waterfall, free flowing and coloured with the layers of a bright rainbow. Mindfulness is something that comes to meet you where ever you are and it can be that special New Year gift to yourself  that can last the whole year through. What is mindfulness to you?

I read this Buddhist saying: Looking for the perfect cherry tree blossom isn't a waste of life.

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

The perfect  blossom could be here.

Treasures uncovered.

 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. Matthew 13:45

I was reflecting, as I enjoyed the early quiet and cool of the sacred space, about uncovered treasures and there are many in the garden as flower and vegetable seeds rise from beneath the soil into things of beauty and value and some are the real 'pearl of great price'  There are many treasures to uncover in daily life if we have our eyes fixed on our surroundings. Even a long line of sheep walking in a paddock towards life giving water can uncover 'the pear of great price, as our mind goes to the shepherd of the sheep, Jesus, and how he is 'living water.'  Then there is the long, regimented looking vines in the vineyard that  speak of Jesus saying: , I am the vine you are the branches.' and there are so many more. As we go out into community today let us keep our eyes and minds open to the presence of God. May he show us many a 'pear of great price' in the ordinary.

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

I am the vine, you are the branches.

There you are again, God

 Let us see your face Lord. Psalm 79:2

The beckoning I get to go to the sacred place is so powerful of an early morning. Its like God says: 'Come, sit quietly with me,  open your hands and your heart and  take this day, its a gift for you.'  O there is so much to see of God from the sacred space today. The petunias of deep purple and those striped yellow and red (isn't God clever?) The glorious blue of a blue flower, the magenta pelargonium  and the fuchsias, always in a pose of prayer. The kaleidoscope of colours just go on and on. Let us see your face Lord - let us see your face.  Alice Carwardine said: There you are, again, God the creator. God of all beings. There you are again.

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

                                                Fuchsias, head bowed in prayer.