Peace, deep peace.

' And the peace of God which transcends all our powers of thought, will be a garrison to guard your hearts and minds in Christ.' ( Phil. 4:7 (Waymouth)

There is something 'deep' about the wording of some texts that is so meaningful. An older lady was talking to me about the 'shock' she had after visiting the doctor where he mentioned to her the need for open heart surgery. She went on to tell me of the deep peace she has right inside her being. A peace, she said, that is beyond understanding. She told me of the holding cross she had from me and how it brings her such comfort and draws her into this peace.

Sometimes, in fact often, the storms of our lives rage like a storm across the ocean but you know, under the surging waves of a stormy ocean there is utter calm at its depth. Things sit on the ocean depth for centuries undisturbed while the surface rages.When we find that depth of calm there we have God's peace.

'Far far away, the roar of passion dies, and loving thought rise calm and peacefully, and no rough storm, however fierce overhead, disturbs the soul that dwells, O Lord in you.' (HB Stowe)

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne

fishing

'Launch out into the deep.' Luke 5:4 KJV)

I pick her up once a week at 9.15am. She is wheel chair bound and can do nothing for herself except speak. We set out for a social morning with the church scrabble group. (She isn't 'churched' but asks lots of questions. ) Its been 15 years since she has been out and about for a drive in the community, she says. Totally housebound, isolated and looking for mental stimulation and friends we found her deep in the community.

When Jesus said to launch out into the deep he didn't say how deep to go and I guess that how deep we go into the community will depend on how much we are prepared to leave the comfortable shore. Jesus told the disciples to launch out into the deep because that is where the fish are.He knows, he made the deep and all that is in it.

How far are you launching out or are you sitting comfortably on the shore?

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne

in the wilderness

' What is that coming up from the wilderness................perfumed with myrrh and frankincense.' Song of Solomon 3:6

I worked for 10 years in the desert of the outback and I thought that was a wilderness until I saw the wilderness of Israel that the bible talks about. Now I understand more the wilderness of Moses, the wilderness of Jesus, the wilderness of the 10.000 refugees pouring into Turkey from Syria, the wilderness of the thousands homeless in China from natures catastrophe this day and even the wilderness of the elderly I visit in the nursing home, lost in their dementia, wandering.

But in my prayers what encourages me so is that God led the Israelites out of the wilderness, Jesus survived the 40 days in the wilderness and so too will God be with those who are in their wilderness today.

Nurture those you may encounter who are in their wilderness, give them comfort, encouragement and hope.

Fenelon said:

The heart that serves and loves and clings, hears everywhere the rush of angel wings.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ

Anne

shepherd of the flock

' When he has brought out his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.' John 10:4

Tears poured down the face of the young lady as she poured her heart out to me about the grief in her life these past few days. She was heartbroken, overwhelmed and anxious about what the future holds for herself and her young child. Sometimes its so hard to know what to say but into my mind kept coming the image of the shepherd going ahead of his sheep, an image so vivid as I reflected on the shepherds in Israel, always leading the flock, always present, knowing them all by name, always watching over them.

As we prayed together I shared this image with her and reminded her that Jesus is our shepherd. He is always with us, always going ahead, always in our tomorrows that we are anxious about.

(Anon)

God is in every tomorrow, therefore I live for today, certain of finding at sunrise, guidance and strength for the way: power for each moment of weakness, hope for each moment of pain, comfort for every sorrow, sunshine and joy after rain.'

In all situations, imagine the shepherd and be at peace.

Blessings

Anne

sunrise on the sea of Gallilee

Matt 2:22. .....he went away to the district of Galilee..

I found myself slipping into the original mold of reflection writing this morning as I looked at the sun rise. It was God's glory that parted the skies , separating day from night in a brilliant, mass display of deep, deep orange colours, highlighted by the crisp cold winter air and a chorus of Currawongs and I thought of sitting at the sea of Galilee looking at the sunrise on the other side of the world in such a very special place and my thoughts are of a faithful God who never fails to deliver a sunrise for us each day, who never fails to give us the gift of a new day, the present.

Chrissy Greenslade wrote:

'The waking day surrounds me, and folds me in calm wings, and gives me all the strength I need, to face what each day brings.'

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne

Ephesus

'.............and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me.........' Matt 10:38

More and more my call to serve Christ was affirmed as I travelled the Holy Land. I saw first hand the places where Christ lived and had his ministry and where the early Christians, especially Paul, outreached under hardship, showing great endurance. Imagine planting the gospel in a pagan, hostile world, miles from home?

I read these words this morning (anon)

The symbol of Christianity is not a cushion, but a cross. What has my faith cost me this week? Would those folk I spend my working hours with be surprised if someone told them I was a Christian? Or do they automatically know, not so much by what I say, but by what I am?

For the sake of Christ Jesus and all who have gone before in his name..............keep fighting the fight and leaving your mark.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne