God's beauty

 To behold the beauty of the Lord: Psalm 27:4
So many times and in so many places we have the opportunity to behold the beauty of the Lords, if we are looking for it!
Yesterdays frost was as white and almost as thick as newly fallen snow. Everything, everywhere, as far as could be seen across the pond, the hills and valleys and mountains was white, glistening, shinning,  crisp. Freezing yet glorious and wrapped in a soft, white mist.
 All so beautiful. All so of God.
As I had prepared to go for my morning walk I found these words falling from my heart in prayer: 'Lord, show me your beauty today.'    And he did, in a far grander way than every expected.
God shows his beauty to us from frosty mornings, to a beautiful flower, breathtaking scenery, a tiny bird the smile of a baby and in  the face of the elderly.
Seek his beauty.Ask him to show it to you.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ,
Anne, servant of the Lord.

rain drops

He made water flow for you from flint rock. Deut 8:15
I watched the rain drops fall into the bird bath outside my window as they rippled to the edges  one after the other they fell, pods of life giving water, that rolled off the edge of the bird bath and  onto the ground below.
Rain drops full of nourishment, so small yet so vital to life.
Filled with the life giving, living waters of Jesus we too become ' pods of nourishment and life' spilling over into the lives of those God puts in our path day by day.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

God is love

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 John 4:8
One of the most moving things that I have experienced of late was the first letter I received in the mail from my  granddaughter. It arrived  with big bold wording on the envelope in the script of a six year old child declaring it was for Nanna Ranse. I held it close to my chest, savoring this 'first' experience before opening it to see a letter of two lines which simply said' I hope you are feeling better, I love you very much'
How those words made me feel is indescribable but I know I went back to them many times through that day and the days that followed, I was so blessed by them and my thoughts went to God. Do we ever tell him we love him? Do we ever give him the words that cause him to hug them to his chest and savor them for hours and days?  Today I found myself humbling the song, 'I love you Lord and I lift my voice to worship you O my soul rejoice.'  Try it, it will lift your soul and your spirits and God will love it to.
Solly Ozrovech says: There is tremendous spiritual power in the mere act of confirming softly, 'Living Christ, I love you dearly.'
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

the cushion of God's love

The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7.

The clouds this morning were grey, tinged with the pink of the sunrise and sat low in the valley looking like they had fallen from the sky. Peeks of mountains poked through them and the whole scene emanated the quiet and stillness of the morning and a peace, a God filled peace was present.
 There are many places to find the deep peace of God. LB Cowman says in a reflection that there is a part of the sea known as 'the cushion of the sea.' and it lies beneath the surface that is agitated by storms and churned by the wind and it is so deep that it never stirs.
The peace of God is an eternal  calm  like this cushion of the sea, or the peaceful, God present peace of the valley. It lies deep in our hearts undisturbed by what is happening around and within us. This peace comes when we take God with us in the moments of our days and lives regardless of the storms within and without.

I like this quote from Pilgrim's Progress which says: ' Pilgrim was taken to a large upper room that faced the sunrise and the name of the room was peace.'
May the deep peace of God's love and presence be the cushion for you today.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Praising your name

I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your love and faithfulness. Ps 138:2.
Often I am lost for words when I walk in the morning.
There is just me
and those I take along in prayer
and God
 and as the last of the night stars fade into the day the rising sun comes over the mountain top and colours the day.
 It warms my heart, it stills me, it takes my breath away, it takes my words leaving me in awe and I want to take my shoes off ans slowly, quietly, beautifully a song comes to my heart.

The new day is created, new opportunities are opening up. I have sung, I have prayed, I have been in the presence of God and God knows my heart is blessed and I call it my morning prayer.

What is your experience of morning prayer?

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