Christmas Eve

' Oh ,what a gift what a wonderful gift......' (Christmas song)

We are on the eve of celebrating the greatest gift we have ever received. The gift of life.

I heard a conversation this week about just that. Some children were looking into the manger. One picked up the baby Jesus and had a nurse. She looked thoughtfully at the baby Jesus in silence, and then said as she passed HIM to the boy next to her, 'See, you can pick Jesus up and pass him around, here, you take him, .'

Grace and peace this Christmas as you gather with family and friends and don't forget to pass Jesus around.

Blessings

Anne

The nativity

'.....Joseph went to the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem......he went to be registered with Mary' (Luke 2:4-5 )

What do you see when you look into the manger and look upon the family of Mary, Joseph and Jesus, in a stable?

What are you thinking?

Do you know what I see and what I feel when I look at the nativity scene?

I think of the journey Mary and Joseph have taken.

I think of the dangers they have had and still do have to complete the journey
I think of them far from their home,

separated from family and friends.

And I think of those migrants who feel unwelcome in our country.

I think of the refugees, the homeless and the boat people.

And I pray.......

for them, for the Government and for the world that Jesus Christ came to save.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne

Gifts

' We three kings of orient are,bearing gifts we traverse afar...' Christmas carol

Christmas is almost upon us and we are, amongst preparing for 'holy things ,' running around last minute gift shopping. As I walked out this morning in the beautiful cool of the early day I could not help but see the gifts given already by God that remind me Christmas is coming:

The dry eucalypt leaves carpeting the ground, full of their aroma in the dew laden morning.Cicadas singing, kookaburras laughing ,mountains looking like islands in a sea of morning fog,clouds, playful in the breeze, rolling back to reveal the blue day sky, a sense of a hot day emerging.

But most of all, as I peered in the window of the church the real reminder of the most precious gift ever given, is seen in the nativity.

In all the preparation, the gift hunting and gathering together, ponder awhile on the nativity.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne

For the love of Jesus

(Jesus said) ' Your Father in heaven does not want any of these little ones to be lost.'

Its hard to explain the feeling when we know what we are doing in the name of Jesus, is bearing fruit.

These little ones had been given a book of a bible story as their year of 'Sunday teaching' draws to a close. I asked one of them, all of just three years of age. ' Who is your book about?' and she paused awhile to think, then replied: ' Jesus, my God, 'and at that she ran off skipping down the corridor.

What joy, what delight and I felt so blessed, so affirmed in faith and hope, so touched by God.

An ancient Chinese Proverb says:

A child's life is like a piece of paper on which every passerby leaves a mark.

Engage in everyone you are passing by, with the love of our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne

All for Jesus

Ninety year old Eleazar was a Jew who was martyred for his faith.

'His courageous death was remembered as a glorious example, not only by young people, but by the entire nation.' 2 Maccabees 6:31

Sometimes I am so blessed when I glance up in church to see a person in the congregation who has come to be there as a result of ministry I have had with them in the community. Sometimes I am so blessed because a family I have ministered to in the community comes back to me time and time again for pastoral ministry................The blessings come in a deep, warm inner feeling, like a peace that I can only describe as a 'God feeling.' Its humbling, affirming, assuring, encouraging. What a blessing knowing others have come seeking 'God things' through example.The things we do and say in the name of Jesus can have such amazing power on others. How bold we must be in using it to bring others to know the Lord and Saviour that we know.What a treasure we are entrusted with. As you gaze at the child in the manger this Christmas reflect on His life and reflect on yours.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne

memories

'The memory of the righteous is a blessing.' Proverbs 10:7

A boy called Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge in a book written by Mem Fox asks the question, 'Whats a memory?'He asks the old people in the old people's home. 'Whats a memory?''A memory is something that makes you laugh, its something warm, a memory is something that makes you cry, a memory is something you treasure.....'Memories are something special, they are what makes us the people we are in many ways.

Christmas can be a hard time of year for many and for others its a great time of festivity and celebration, for Christians its a sacred time filled with memories of Midnight Mass, carols in the park,church filled with flowers and people. We all have wonderful memories of Christmas's past....threepence and sixpence in the Christmas pudding that was hung out on the veranda on the mop handle to 'marinate.' Relatives, coming to stay, dressing the tree, good food and family.

Memories are treasures that we can enjoy again and again . I think its good to look back and reflect where God and his loving grace, has left his footprint in our lives......powerful, gentle, quiet, calming, reassuring, footprint.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne

pockets of darkness

' What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do: and the God of peace will be with you.' Philippians 4:9

In the dawn of the day I could see, dotted in folds of the dark hills and lower ridges of the mountains the occasional house light, bright, shining, evident in the dark, some alone, some in clusters.

When I was in rehabilitation the patients would gather in the small dining area together for a meal and I would listen as some talked and some sat in silence. I thought about how some people sit in pockets of darkness and what an opportunity for a light to shine. As I sat with a small group of about 4 people someone asked me what work I did. My revelation lead to being invited to say grace before we ate, it allowed the others to let down their guard and allowed them to share their life story, their fears, anxiety and apprehension and their faith. After that conversation more and more gathered to share a meal and many hovered there at supper time to ask for prayer.

Steiner Rice says:

'Give us strength and courage, to be honorable and true, practicing your precepts in everything we do.'

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne

Advent

' Those people who keep their faith until the end, will be saved.' Matthew 24:13

Recently several people have spoken to me of pain and difficulty and hardship in their lives, and where is God. Sometimes its easy to lose focus. Sometimes we struggle to know who we are and why God can seem so 'far off 'yet in all of that we can cling to the fact that we know that God never lets us down, he never lets us go, he never loses sight of us and regardless of how 'far off he can seem, we know that in actual fact he is right there with us, we just sometimes cant see it in the cloud of the moment.

Advent is on our doorstep and that draws us to remember that Christ came, and will come again, and our relationship with him may need rebuilding, refocusing or refreshing. We also need to remember that Advent is about getting our relationship right with God so we can serve him fully in caring for his sheep, giving a drink to the thirsty, tending the Christ in others.

In Portuguese, a person who has the ability to 'hang in' and not 'give in' has 'Garra.' Garra means 'claws' What imagery. Lucado says: 'A person with Garra has claws which burrow into the face of a cliff and keep him from falling. So do the saved. They may get close to the edge, they may stumble and even slide, but they will dig their nails into the rock of God and hang on.'

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne

Inclusion, welcome, embrace.

' When you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind and you will be blessed.' Luke 14

A couple of Sundays ago we were so blessed at church when there was a celebration for disability awareness Sunday. All the participants from the special group were invited to take part in the service.Welcome rs in wheelchairs,sides persons in wheel chairs,others with disability using their ability to light the worship candle, pray the intercessions and be overall included.

The spirit moved right across the congregation, some were in tears of blessings, some offered to help with this special group when we gather, others said lets have more and more of this inclusion.

'Set before our mind and hearts, O heavenly Father, the example of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, when he was upon this earth, found his refreshment in doing the will of him that sent him, and in finishing his work. '(Charles Vaughan)

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne

Christian Blind Mission in Melbourne has many resources for ministry with people with disability. Their program is called Luke 14. Their website is:www.Luke14.cbm.org.au

Is God the first daily appointment in your diary?

'Strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.' Psalm 96:6

There is such an urgency and an excitement about the dawn.Its like a 'calling' that can't be resisted.'Come, it says,come quick before I pass and we haven't met.'

The blackbirds calling,

pockets of clouds sitting on mountain tops,some drifting,mist hovering

cobweb in the wire

stillness, quiet.

God hour,God's hour.

How important, life giving and refreshing it is to be with God.

Top priority for the new day.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ

Anne

'symbols' of Gods presence

'......when he is revealed.............we will see him as he is.' 1 John 3:2

Ever present God.

We only have to stay conscious of that to receive daily blessings and encouragement from him. Many of us have 'symbols' in nature that remind us of the presence of God.....we see them and God speaks.

I remember when in hospital, looking out the corridor window with longing ,in the direction of home and I looked down to a new building site. The building had been completed but alongside it were piles of builders rubble in the mud of recent rain and there, sitting precariously on a piece of wire, in all the mess, was a blue wren, singing his heart out. and in that moment God spoke.

All I could say was, 'Thank you, thank you Lord, as my spirit rose.

In all the rubble of daily life, if we keep watch, we see and feel the 'symbols'in life, the reminders of Gods love and hope.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne

Keep watch, keep listening

' I was hungry and you gave me food. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me in.' Matthew 25:35

I was at an Archdeaconry meeting last night and was so blessed by many stories people had to tell of how God's Spirit is moving amongst us and the excitement was contagious. It was a wonderful evening of affirmation and encouragement.

One person told a story of their church ministry to people who sleep in their cars in the church grounds, and how they leave the amenities open for them and provide them with a substantial breakfast the following morning before they move on. One lady felt so safe, so loved, by the care given that she came to the early church service in her dressing gown!

I wonder who receives the greater blessings in this ministry? The recipient may, the ones who are serving may. But you know what? I think its God.

FB Myer says: Show me, today , dear Lord, one of your little ones to whom I can give a cup of cold water in your name.

Go OUT in peace to love and serve the Lord

Anne

Here I am Lord

...'Long my imprisoned spirit lay fast bound in sin and nature's night: thine eye defused a quickening ray---I woke: the dungeon flamed with light! my chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth, and followed thee.' (Charles Wesley TIS 209)

One of my favourite hymns is that of Charles Wesley: 'And can it be....'

I thought of this as I arrived at Galong Monastery for the retreat. I stopped on the outside of the gate and peered in through the fence at peaceful setting within the grounds and I immediately was struck by Wesley's words and I felt a sense of the business of the world falling away and a peace filling that inner emptying space.

Oh the joy, the necessity and the blessings of retreating into the lap of God in a place of peace and quiet.

Its absolutely essential to take a retreat. A holiday is refreshing but a retreat is refilling.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ

Anne

new life

'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' Matthew 21:28

I could almost see the new life pulsating through the pruned vines, getting ready to grow and bear fruit and I thought of the man in the hospital chapel who asked the question, 'Tell me, how do I talk to God?'

What wonderful places God puts us in to help others and show them the way. We never know when we step outside the front door each day, who he will lead us to.

A prayer for today:

Heavenly Vine! Pour your life through me so that I may bear much fruit for your sake. (FB Myer)

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ

Anne

THE gate

' Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.' John 10: 1-2

I love the King James version that says 'verily, verily. I think that has a richness and a deeper meaning that reaches deep inside ones being......verily, verily I tell you.

I like to think of this gate as something we all pass through, or should pass through each day before we go out into the world,into the sheep fold, where there are sheep and wolves. Unless God is with us in mind and heart and prayer, unless we have sought strength through him, then its a bit like the wolf entering the fold.

I like this prayer:

You are the gate, O Lord!

Through you may I pass, out to my daily work and back again to rest, and whether in work or rest, may I abide in your safekeeping. (FB Myer)

Lets set about our daily work, having passed through the 'gate' first.

Grace and peace.

Anne

your love for us is manifested

' You well deserve the praises of your children, O God.......you that answer prayer.' Psalm 65 (Psalms Now)

Its our humanity that gets in the road when we give up hope, or begin to doubt. I think of the anxious years of the recent drought and our fears we would never see again the abundant spring rains, lush grass and full dams but there it is, God has stayed faithful, he has answered prayer and delivered.................he reached out to save us.

All around we see the power of God in the grandeur of the mountains, the roar of the sea, grain laden fields and new life in all creation yet we doubt and become anxious when we are threatened.

I love this last verse of psalm 65: The meadows are clothed with sheep; and the valleys stay so thick with corn, they shout and sing for joy.

When times are tough we need to stay close to God, right by his side and trust.

Blessings on your day and peace from God the Father.

Anne

The travelers psalm

' I lift up my eyes to the hills, from where will my help come?' My help comes from the Lord., Psalm 121:1

This is one of those ' grounded' verses that stay with you always. Every time I look at a hill or mountain, every time I 'need' God close, every time I am feeling a bit anxious, every day on the walking track overlooking the mountains and before the day begins....... it comes straight to mind.

It doesn't matter if you are on a journey to Israel, traveling down the highway or heading for the operating theatre, God's comfort and protection, is there with you. His help is only a whisper away.............'from where will my help come?' 'It comes from the Lord.'

Grace and peace on this glorious day.

Anne

Seek ye first the kingdom of God

'One thing I will ask of the Lord, that will I seek after: to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to enquire in his temple.'

There they were this morning, tiny capsules of pure delight, bursting with God's love and I thought of those who do not know of that love and my heart was on fire for them.

Go seek and find the lost in the name of the Christ we server.

Grace and peace.

Anne

Love from God

Morning has broken and the blackbird is the only sound, high on the power line, singing and singing and singing in the rain. What a beautiful blessing for the day.

Longfellow has a saying:'Into all our lives, in many simple, familiar, homely ways, God infuses this element of joy from the surprises of life, which unexpectedly brighten our days and fill our eyes with light.'

I think that is so profound and fills one with joy just to read it. Think of your days and those blessings that comes so unexpectedly......treasured gifts from God, that's what I call a blessing. They are mine, they are rich, they are special, they are personal, life giving, faith affirming, exciting. They are like 'love' from God directly to our heart.

Sometimes it comes when we serve others and we end up with the blessing.

Sometimes it comes from a glorious sunset

Sometimes it comes from a beautiful sing flower.

When you settle down tonight, count the blessings from this day and you will be blessed again.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne

Rejoice!

This will be familiar to many from the Thursday daily office but I wonder how many stop to really meditate?

'As we rejoice in the gift of this new day, so may the light of your presence, O God, set our hearts on fire with love for you, now and forever.'

As I was praying this I looked up from my place of prayer and saw the gifts already being given, and the presence of God was so visible in the breaking day.

A glorious tree, naked, standing proud with buds of new life ready to burst open, daffodils and jonquils at its base, bright gifts of joy interspersed with violets, their perfume only imaginable from within the room.

Wet grass from a heavy unexpected frost and the deep, sweet melody of the warbling magpies, all before I stepped outside.

'As we rejoice in the gift of this new day, so may the light of your presence O Lord, set our hearts on fire for you.'

As Steiner Rice says: 'Who but God can make the day!'

Grace and peace, and morning blessings from God our Father.

Anne

amongst the weeds

'Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face, and the things of earth will be strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace.' Spiritual song.

This song was singing on my heart the moment I stepped out the door this morning for a walk and the players of the music were a flock of blue wrens that seemed to accompany me for a short while.

What a glorious morning. God truly opened the lid of his treasure chest and let some of the treasures surround me..............blessed I was by the fresh air, the clear morning, spring flowers and the scent in the air of a deep, rich perfumed flowering shrub, but you know, the thing that seemed to draw my closer meditation was the 'fields' of bright yellow cape weed. While its a weed, it still holds beauty, its given many a child pleasure (and the inner child!) in making daisy chains, its was created by God, yet its outcast in the created world. In a moment I saw in it the outcast, the unaccepted, the rejected, the 'weeds' of society , to the world they mean not much but they hold a special place in my heart and life.

Sometimes we have to set aside the 'devotional books' and take our devotions outside and walk and talk to God there.

Walk well with God amidst so many blessings and hear his voice in creation, his gospel message for you today. Turn your eyes on him and look full in his wonderful face.

Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

Anne

All that I have

' He looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasury; he also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.' Luke 21: 1-2

When I was in hospital I was so blessed by the gifts of flowers from people who came to visit. Flowers beautifully arranged by the florist, lining the windowsill of my room. They were just beautiful in all their glory and gave me much pleasure but I had a visit from an elderly friend who I know struggles to get out and about yet she had bent low and hard, to pick for me a bunch of deep purple violets from her garden.

When I woke up in the night, the room was filled with the perfume of these violets and I thought of her and how she gave what she could, at a personal cost and I was so blessed. Immediately into my mind came the gospel story of the widows offering.

Even the smallest things, given in love, carry a big blessing. Even the smallest blessing brings great joy.

Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

Anne

I see you Lord

' And all the peoples behold his glory.' Psalm 97 :6

Sometimes we feel we are looking into the eye of God.

I have a beautiful book called 'A Tree full of Angels.' by Macrina Wiederkehr and in one section she talks of a meditation pause quoting Guigo, and it says: .........until your heart is touched....

I looked in awe at the deep pink blossom covered prunes tree

I looked in awe at the deep red of the flowering gum.

And I saw them........a tree full of angels, and my heart was touched and my silent whisper said, 'I see you Lord.'

Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

Anne

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Sing me a song

' Remember my son, that in your lifetime you were given all the good things while Lazarus got all the bad things' Luke 16:25

'While Lazarus lay at the gates of the rich mans house begging for food, the rich man ignored him, feasting his dogs instead. ' I think of these words in the context of the elderly with dementia who live on our doorsteps. Many a time in aged care ministry I saw over and over again the neglect, neglect in abandonment. ' Why visit' I heard relatives and friend say, 'they don't know me any more.' There is rich and meaningful blessings in visiting with these folk. Reminiscing with visible aids such as photos and memorabilia from their past will be triggers of conversation and connection, these may only be brief and then forgotten but they leave a glow , a warmth,in the heart of those visited .

The Pioneer Girls leaders handbook says:

A friend hears the song in my heart

and sings it to me when my memory fails.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne

the sacramental nature

'For the beauty of the earth, for the beauty of the skies, for the love which from our birth, over and around us lies. Christ our God to you we raise this our sacrifice of praise.' TIS 137

Nice words to a nice hymn or is it more than that.

I notice again the buds are bursting on the Japonica, full and red and there are bunches of deep blue violets beneath the Daphne and the plumb tree is sporting early spring blossoms, all so much more vivid and perfumed in the early mooring while the dew is still on them. And the sky at night filled with millions of stars and that moon! What a wonder its been in all its fullness and glory. But more so, what a wonder when we notice all this through the eyes of God, the creator.

Ron Ferguson from the Iona community writes:

To become aware of the sacramental nature of the cosmos,

to be open to the sacramental possibilities of each moment,

to see the face of Christ in every person,

these things are not novel

but the rediscovery is the beginning of our health.

To that I add stop, take the time to see the face of God and benefit his rich blessings.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne

Spreading the gospel

' I want you to know, beloved, that what has happened to me has actually helped to spread the gospel.' Phil 1:12

I think of us all and how we have got to where we are, Christian believers, servants of Christ.
I think of 'the road,' the journey, that has lead us to a solid faith, one so convincing that we cant help but spread it everywhere we go and particularly in the areas immediately around us and with those we reach out to with the love of Christ.

I was listening to the garden show on the radio and they were talking about a particular weed that develops a seed pod and once you touch its seeds they go 'wooooosh', up in the air and outwards and land all over the ground around them.' The name of the weed is 'jumping Jesus.'

What an imagery. What a parable.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne

slip away a moment

' He went up to the mountain to pray.' Mark6:46

There is always a sense of 'coming aside' and relief or a 'breathing space' when we are in a situation that is 'full on' or intense, or we have had a day of 'giving out' and we step aside for a moment, out of the situation and into a place where there is just self and quiet.

Sometimes that can be taking our self off for a walk at the end of the day.

Sometimes it can be stepping out of the world and into the cathedral.

As I drive home from a day of ministry I often pull the car off the road and onto the dirt track and just sit. There before me, though I live in a city is the wide expanse of vineyards and mountains all emanating peace, stillness and respite.

I like this prayer:

Dear Lord, the noise and hurry of the day have broken their hold, and I have slipped away. For this moment in time I am free to melt into you. (Pat Robson)

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne

Look and see......... and live.

'My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.' Psalm 42:2

The glory of the Lord is truly shining all around, almost in every place I look.

Yesterday in church a new lady amongst us was just 'aglow' with every aspect of her worship, engaging, enjoying and so touched. That was so encouraging to see and these past few nights, have you seen the moon? Magnificent, bright,and full. A presence of God.

It is so powerful that we can meet God in all things.

I recall on an out back holiday standing on a sandstone cliff face in the desert and looking God in the face with all I beheld before me.

I like this blessing of welcome: (Iona Community)

May you meet God, in every place,

in every person

and in the depths of your own heart.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ

Anne

Shine for Jesus

'Jesus bids us shine with a pure clear light, like a little candle burning in the night........you in your small corner and I in mine. ' (Sunday school song)

As I typed those words, into my mind came everyone of you in your places of love and witness. All striving in Christian love and purpose to make a difference in the lives of others in the name of Jesus.

Sometimes we don't realise that the things we do for others, even though we perceive them at times to be small, make a huge difference.

A kind word.

A useful contact.

A helpful act of kindness.

A prayer.

Remember the parable of the little sparrow?

The horseman riding by on a chilly overcast day stopped at the sight of a sparrow lying on its back in the middle of the road, legs up in the air. He said to the sparrow. 'Why are you lying upside down like that?' He replied, " I heard the heavens are going to fall today.' The horseman laughed. 'And I suppose your spindly legs can hold up the heavens?'

One does what one can.' said the little sparrow.

'Jesus bids us shine with a pure clear light, like a little candle burning in the night......'

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne

solid faith

' The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer.' Psalm 18:2

I recall walking along the track I walked each day, through an early misty morning, shapes and sizes outlined, a bit 'spooky' yet the sense of presence was very real.

I knew I was on the right path even though I couldn't see it too clearly, I knew because I could feel the solid stone surface under my feet. I knew because even though visibility was just a few feet, God was there, walking this misty morning to, I knew it because I was heading to the east where the light of the day was filtering through striving to reach its morning glory.

I read this profound statement from an unknown person in China:

Faith is putting one's foot down in the mist, and finding a rock.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne

Power for the day

' You Lord God are strength for my task.' Celtic prayer

Just a look at the dawn breaking into a new day, tucking stars away and spreading a soft, quiet light caused me to just throw open my heart and invite Jesus in.

What a start to a day to meet Jesus full on before your feet even hit the ground and before your whole being is touched by the world.

I think of the opening lines of this Celtic prayer: 'Come my light, my Lord, my way. Come my lantern night and day.........' and am flooded with the love and protection of Jesus.

Sometimes our days and weeks are tough, this one for me saw the death of a baby, the death of a student from school, and a 91 year old diagnosed with cancer, all know, all I have shared some of life with and to top it off I had to refuse a couple marriage because one partner didn't want 'God' invited. Yet in all the 'doings' of daily life, there is God and I thank him for morning thoughts and morning protection for every day, what ever it brings.

Can we say that at the end of a day? We can and will if we finish the prayer.' Come my king enter my heart. Come Holy Presence. Never depart.'

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ

Anne

Morning prayers

'All is silent, in the still and soundless air, I fervently bow to my Almighty God.' (Bing Xin China)

Two things were in my mind when I came to meet this morning.

The words of that lovely hymn 'Glorious things of thee are spoken,' were my first spoken for the day I had two images going with them. An image of the beauty of Gods creation and the thought of a young disabled man who offered his own prayer of thanks and appreciation for the church group I run for people with disabilities....a beautiful prayer, a deeply touching prayer.

I thought these words from the Iona Community:

The turn of the leaf in the morning sun

and the catch in our throat

drives us to our knees

and into prayer.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne

God is everywhere

' Where can I flee from your presence? If I go to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.' Psalm 139: 7-8.

I sat looking at the distant mountains with a vast spread of land in the foreground of valleys and paddocks and sheep and as I was taking it in and pondering on the things of God I thought, there is no place where God isn't.

Everywhere we see, everyone we see ,

all we touch and do,

every bright day

every difficult day

there is God.

Yesterday I visited an isolated, wheelchair bound lady who lives in a cluster of community homes with others like her. I went in to visit to see how we might manage to get her to the book club we run at church and it was looking more and more difficult until it seemed that God present, spoke. 'Bring a book club here, there are others' and before I knew it we had a small group of unknown, isolated, lonely people keen, eager and waiting for us to start.

Lucado says:

Our asking where is God is like a fish asking "Where is water "or a bird asking "Where is air."

God is everywhere.

We cant find a place where God isn't.

Lord God, whose blessed Son rose in triumph and set us free grant us the fullness of life he promised to us, that through the Holy Spirit our hearts may posses him whom our eyes cannot see, the same Jesus Christ our Lord. (Daily office Sunday Morning APBA)

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne

O the love of Jesus

' Do the work of telling the Good News.' 2 Timothy 4:5

I was chatting to an elderly lady after we had shared home communion together yesterday and she was showing me the teddy bears she knits to put in the Christmas boxes for the children overseas, dozens of them all knitted with love and prayers and sent in the name of Christ. She said, 'I have been told that the children who receive these bears, some 14 years old, run around with them hanging out of the back pocket of their shorts.'

What an inspiration. 91 years old and serving our Lord in this way......to the very end. No feet up attitude of having done my bit......but serving Christ to the very end with the gifts he has given her.

Lucado says:

'For every hero in the spotlight, there are dozens in the shadows. They don't get press, they don't draw crowds, they don't even write books.......behind a rock slide is a pebble.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne

A fresh revelation

' In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God. He was in the beginning with God and all things were made through him. 'John 1:1

Sometimes there is a delayed revelation, or a fresh revelation, of what we are reading despite the fact we read it frequently. These words from St John struck me afresh as I looked at what was before me.........across to the mountains with pockets of mist hovering in the valleys and over creation through to the sleeping vineyards and the horses grazing, frost covered coats on their backs, vapour rising from snorting nostrils.

It was quiet and still and there was a sense of presence as the dawn broke and the sun and moon were both in the sky at the same time...........wow!

'He was in the world and the world was made through him.'

Grace and Peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne

I'm listening Lord. I see you.

' Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord.' Isaiah 2:3

Several things have caught my eye these past few days.

The bright blue of the stately Dutch Iris .

The raindrops, clusters of them, on the Camellia bush, which by the way is flowering prolifically with soft pink blooms.

The two magpies on the power line, warbling, singing to each other about the coming day.

And the sunset last night that burst, literally burst from the grey clouds, in a blaze of gold, showering fine dust rays of gold across the mountains , tree tops and valleys.

I read this from Mary Oliver's poems:

It doesn't have to be the blue iris, it can be weeds in a vacant lot, or a few small stones, just pay attention, then patch a few words together and don't try to make them elaborate, it isn't a contest, but a doorway, into thanks, and a silence in which another doorway may speak.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne

HIS friends

' Kneels at the feet of his friends, silently washing their feet.........Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love, show us how to serve the neighbours we have in you..........' (Christian song)

We model Christ as Christians and when I got up today with the line of this song running through my head I reflected on the past week to see, if in fact I had knelt at the feet of HIS friends and washed their feet.

Then I thought of the lady at a funeral who wept uncontrollably on my shoulder.

I thought of the child at school, calling loudly, 'God's teacher, can we have our God's class soon?'

I thought of the elderly lady at the supermarket who couldn't carry her shopping to her car.

I thought of the journey with a dying lady.

I thought of you all and your days work and I thought how God's love is shared, I thought of all the feet of HIS friends that will be washed.

The 'I's' are not about the 'me' but about the Christ within me.

Servant ministry is about serving and isnt it wonderful to be a server of the Lord.

Go forth with God's blessings.......and serve. Wash all the feet you can, in the name of Christ.

Anne

The richness of God

'The blessings of the Lord makes a person rich........Proverbs 10:22

You know, its that time of the year again. The Daphne is just out and there is no way I can walk past it and not stop to have a smell of those beautiful richly perfumed blossoms. Its like meeting with God every time I take in the aroma and everything else falls into oblivion.

What a sacred moment. Its one we want to visit again and again, just to be in his presence.

What makes you rich in life? Where do you meet God and have that sense of space where there is just you and him?

Seek it out and pause often.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne

Jesus in the fun times

' The master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine.....' John 2:9

We are in the middle of confrontation with soccer every time we turn on the radio or TV or talk to someone who is a fan so its topical.

A small boy said to his mother as she was putting him to bed.' Mum, can Jesus play soccer with me?' Quick thinking mum said, ' Jesus could play soccer with you.'

How often do we imagine Jesus with us in the good, the ordinary and fun times?

Sometimes the things of life that concern us or trouble us are the only times we tend to ask Jesus to be with us BUT we know from biblical stories that Jesus had lots of fun, he must have, because he went to dinners and parties and banquets.

I think we have to remember to enjoy Jesus in our lives. He died, but he also lives.Look out for him in the fun times today.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne

Brother, let me be your servant.

A Roman officer said to Jesus: 'my servant is sick in bed at home unable to move and is suffering' Matthew 8:6

When I read this passage many names of people went through my mind.

I thought of the chaplain to a hospital with 100's to care for, often called at night.

I thought of the deacon at the drop in centre for the very disadvantaged in the community.

For a friend who cares for many in the community in the disability sector,through her love and care.

An older friend who despite her own difficulty visits and 'sups' with some elderly isolated.

The carer who cares for those less fortunate.

Yesterday at the group at church for those with disability a young man , with a disability himself,came for the first time. What a blessing he was, what a breath of fresh air as he chattered and served the one in the wheel chair and those with no speech, and all of us!.......He gave us all 'life.'

There is an anonymous saying:

The measure of greatness

is not the number of servants you have but the number of people you serve.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne

Go forth with Christs blessings

' I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord.' John 1:23

One lone Currawong heralded in the dawn of this new morning, breaking the silence with his call and and I thought of John the Baptist heralding in Christ, the voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way of the Lord.'

I wondered in my quiet time this morning in unseen unison with each other, how many of us are readying ourselves to 'prepare the way of the Lord' as we think and prayed about our day ahead.

You know, we wear the name Christian not because of what we are or who we are or where we are but because of whose we are. (Rick Ezell)

So, go forth in boldness and faith.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne

God is present.

'Be still for the presence of the Lord, the Holy one is here.' Christian song.

Scattered, thick grey clouds dotted the evening sky and each one was surrounded and backed by a blaze of red. It was like someone had drawn with a red florescent texter around the clouds and then started to softly colour the grey areas.

I thought of God.

I thought of those coming into his presence with a grey cloud hanging over them and how his light can brighten them and become part of them.

I thought of a disabled, wheel chair bound lady I have organised a team to visit who until now has had no friends for years and has been house bound most of her days. She said her life is like a nothing but we now bring for her hope, friendship and love, in the name of Christ.

Whenn I looked at that sunset I couldn't help but reflect on how the love and presence of God can be so transforming.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne

Emmaus walks

' Shine your love on us each dawn and gladden our days.' Liturgy of the Hours.

I sleep with an open window and an open curtain as I love to experience the night and the quiet and watch as God tucks away the stars and brings on the light, often in a kaleidoscope of colour, and I can feel my heart catching his fire for another day.

Each day has its pockets of 'Emmaus walks.' Those precious moments when God comes alongside and blesses us with his presence. Its like a brief moment in heaven, walking hand in hand with God.

It may be in the face of an elderly person
it may be as the sun tips the mountain top
As the sunsets
As you stoop and smell a flower
As the dew glistens in the cobweb strung along the fence.

The door of our cathedral through the autumn trees, almost stripped of their colour set my heart on fire as I reflected on the words Jesus: 'Knock and the door will be opened, seek and you will find.' (Luke 11:9)

Look tonight into your heart and see the Emmaus walks of today.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne

Hope

' From the rising of the sun to its going down: let the name of the Lord be praised. 'Psalm 113

Often we come home at the end of a day and shake the dust from our feet as we reflect and mull over its events and see where God has been and where his name has been praised and where hope has been given.

Lucado says about hope: 'Its not what you expect, its what you would never dream. Its like the two Emmaus-bound pilgrims reaching out to take a piece of bread only to see the hands from which it is offered are pierced.'

Our daily lives offer hope to many, and fire us up in greater hope, like someone adding kindling to an already burning fire.

A visit to a lonely house bound person gives hope

A hospital visit, gives hope

Welcoming the stranger or

faithfully turning up to our daily ministries, all give hope to many.

'From the rising of the sun to its going down: let the name of the Lord be praised.'

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne

Sharing God

' Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds amongst mortals. ' Psalm 66:5

When I read this psalm I am touched in many ways. To mind came the words of the familiar song we sang in Sunday School: 'wide wide as the ocean, high as the heavens above, deep deep as the deepest sea is my saviours love.'

and don't you just want to share that love of God.

I took a funeral of a disabled man. '(No, we don't really have a faith, said the family,something there perhaps but we don't think about it much..) and as always I concluded the funeral with the words of the Aaronic blessing: 'may the Lord bless you and keep you.....' before we even began moving out of the chapel a family member , came to me in tears, so touched, saying she really felt God was there in those words. He felt so real and I know, I just know, my brother will now be with God.

Come and see what God has done; He is awesome in his deeds amongst mortals.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne

Blessings

' Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure,pressed down, and shaken together, running over, will be put in your lap, for the measure you give will be the measure you get back .' Luke 6:38 NRSV.

I tried to find a definition of a blessing and I couldn't, but Luke gives it plain and clear in his Gospel. What drew me to blessings this morning was that they were on my heart when I got up today. I was thinking they are like boomerangs.........you give one out, and it comes back to you and the blessing then becomes yours, as well as theirs.

Last night I was at the Aboriginal church, sharing the love of the Lord and I came away thinking its me that has been blessed .

Friday I 'did' a funeral for a rough and ready lot yet I was so blessed to be with them at this time as their acceptance of me was beyond my expectation.

God can give us a cold and frosty morning, shrouded in mist, yet the beauty of it all takes our breath away and becomes a 'blessing prayer' of thank you Lord.

Blessings are something we don't forget, they are powerful, collected and saved in the soul.

May the blessings fall like rain on your day.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne

Take time to be Holy

' ............can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? ' John 3 :12b

When I glimpsed the autumn tree in passing I found myself going back to look again. Something touched my soul, something put me momentarily on sacred ground. Although a rather insignificant tree the passage of the autumn tones is what touched me. There was a mass of green leaves, a mass of changing leaves and then those that were in full colour.

It spoke to me of our journey of faith.

It spoke to me of life's journey

It spoke to me of God's glory

It took my breath away.

Gave me a glimpse of God.

A window to God, a flash,

in a moment, in a day.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne

in wonder and awe

'Say only what is good and helpful to those you are talking to, and that will give them a blessing.' Ephesians 4:29

We sit in such a privileged place in life. A place that is open to sharing the love of Christ with all who cross our path in the day.

My 3 year old granddaughter was looking at a model of the 'Last Supper' on my dining room table and she asked, 'Is that a cake?' She knelt on the chair, to get a closer look, and was in awe of what it could be if it wasn't a cake. There followed the most wonderful conversation. Her last encounter with Christ had been the baby in the manger at Christmas time, now she was looking at the 'adult' Jesus and the questions flowed. 'What are their names, why are they with Jesus, why does one have his sandals off his feet, look what they are eating. To her, the model came to life, it came into her life in a very real way just for those moments of conversation until she ran back to her previous activity.

What a treasured moment. A moment when Christ became real to her, when Christ held her and the wonder and awe captivated her, touched her.

Encounter with those who do not yet know Christ is a rich blessing and we have that opportunity within our reach each and every day when we step outside the door and into the world to share the 'realness' of Christ.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne

Riveted to the spot with God

' Be still for the presence of the Lord, the Holy one is here.' (Christian song)

That's how it is with those special moments that emanate the presence of God. The moments that take your breath away, put you on your knees (if you can!)

They are there for the taking, for the offering if we just stop a moment and see.

As I stood at the waters edge at Bateman's Bay I had one of these moments and I didn't want to draw myself away from it. I was riveted to the spot with God.

The silver moon like sun was endeavouring to push its way through the thick morning light and the silence was so 'quiet' you could hear the seagulls stamping their footprints on the wet sand and God was present in all I saw and heard, in the quiet and in my heart that sang , ' Be still for the presence of the Lord, the Holy one is here.'

See the moments with God ,seize them, and let your heart sing.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne

Breathtaking God

'See the streams of living waters, springing from eternal love.' (Hymn 446 TIS John Newton)

I stepped out early for a walk. It was fresh and the morning mist was rising from the dew laden grass, the autumn trees were so colourful that they took my breath away and I was left with a song on my heart, a song of morning praise that set the pace for the day:

'Glorious things of you are spoken.'

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne

vinyard pruning

' Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers, such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned.' John 15:6

As I stood looking at the vineyard in the morning fog I couldn't help but think of the pruning that is about to take place, but more so about the branches that will be pruned. I had an image of a pile of cut and abandoned branches

outside the vineyard.

That said something to me, in fact, it bothered me.

As I walked on I couldn't shake the image of the pile of branches destined for the fire.It reminded me of many I walk amongst each day.Those outside God's love.

Those outside his kingdom .

And it made me more determined in my daily task of bringing Christ to others.

I wonder what 'bothers' you when you read John's story of the vineyard?

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne