Do not neglect the gift that is in you. 1 Timothy 4:14

The gift of friendship

What a glorious fresh morning. Ducks swimming on the pond, a willy wagtail flitting about in the bushes with his chatter trying to catch flighty insects and the distant sound of a kookaburra, laughing. There is a true sense that creation is in harmony with its creator and I thought of all the multiple blessings that God showers upon us, day after day,hour after hour if we are in harmony with him and I wonder, how many blessings do we give God?
Christmas is over as far as the unwrapping of gifts goes, and the parties and the celebrations  but still it remains in our hearts and with the New Year emerging it is now a good time to reflect on the gifts we might give the Lord to shower him with blessings.
How many of your gifts have you offered him?  Think of the use of your God given gifts for his glory.He will be so blessed. Think of your gift to him of time spent with him. Think of your ministry as you take and share him with others.Think, 'how can I bless the Lord.'
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

a rose in the desert

 O what a gift, what a wonderful gift. (TIS 278)
I stood looking at the huge Christmas tree in the shopping center, its base surrounded with gifts  waiting to be given away and unwrapped.Gifts that will bring joy and excitement. Gifts that will be given to those who otherwise would have no gifts and again I thought of the one perpetual gift that can be given away time and time again and never have to be replaced, repurchased or re given; the gift  of Jesus who came as a baby, wrapped in bands of cloth, a baby who will bring joy and excitement, A baby who would be our Savior, a baby who would turn the world upside down in 3 years of profound ministry that gave us eternal life. What a gift. And I ask, what gift would you give to Jesus in return?
I read this from a Benediction:
Grant that we may gladly give you the one precious gift we have to bring, the offering of our loyalty and love,

and enable us to walk in love for others in Christ who walks the road with us, a fragrant offering, a rose in the desert for you.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Christ of the poor

When Jesus went out he saw a great multitude and he was moved with compassion for them and he healed their sick. Matthew 14.14
When I read  this passage of scripture, immediately comes to mind my 'hero' Mother Teresa. The biggest thing I learn from her is that Christ came for those who are hurting. If I reach out to those who are hurting in the name of Christ, he will care for them, and, you know what? everyone is going to be hurting at some stage. If we give to the hurting we will always have some one to care for, to minister too and God will draw them in closer at that time as we show them his love. That's what I learn from Mother Teresa.
We might never serve Christ in India, feeding and healing the poorest of the poor but we can serve here right where we are. The needy can be the person sitting across the isle in the class room, in the next cubicle at work, or sitting next to us at the dining room table each night. When we identify people in need, that's God calling our hearts into action, serving others in his love.
Lord, fill me with your compassion for your people. Open my ears and my eyes to the needs around me. Use me to give love, your love, to the world.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

JAFFA ministry (Jesus a friend for all)

The invitation

In Matthew 11:18 Jesus says. 'Come to me.'
The little children (and some big ones!) are counting down the days and number of sleeps until Christmas day and there is much excitement and anticipation and its that time of the year when all the invitations come out from family, friends and work places:
Invitations to Christmas parties
Invitations to school and university graduations
Invitations to 'catch up' before Christmas
Invitations to holiday with family
Invitation to Christmas dinner
But you know behind all the hoo-har and rushing,  and preparation there is the soft voice of Jesus saying. 'Come to me,'
Now that's the best invitation we can ever get and its an open invitation for EVERYONE.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord

JAFFA disability ministry 2012 Christmas

A narrow winding trail

' Christ died for sin once and for all, the righteous from the unrighteous, to bring you to God.' 1 Peter 3:18
Max Lucado says that 'the path of righteousness is a narrow, winding trail up a steep hill. At the top of the hill is a cross. At the base of the cross are bags. Countless bags full of innumerable sins'. When I read this I thought of my walk up to Rosary Hill at Galong. Its a winding trail up a steep hill and at the top is a life size crucifix and around the rocks at the foot of it are many sets of rosary beads and other memorabilia of peoples prayers. When you turn your back from this and you look forward there is a vast, wonderful view across the countryside, as far as you can see, where the endless, clear horizon meets the blue, blue sky. So quiet, so still, so peaceful. I reflect on this in this season of Advent where our focus is on forgiveness of self and others. At times, weighed down and anxious by sin, we come to Jesus and lay them at the foot of his cross. As Lucado says,' The compost pile of guilt,' and then, we turn away from where we have laid them and look ahead, so quiet, so still, so peaceful.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

Rosary Hill Galong

Christmas love

'... God's love has been poured into our hearts...' Romans 5:5
I look at so many Christmas wreaths hanging on the front door of the homes at this time of the year to welcome Christmas. Some are ornate, some large, some very colourful some very beautiful but the one that really took my eye and spoke to my heart was such a simple one.
                             

                                          It is in the shape of a heart and entwined with red tinsel.
 Now that to me spoke of Christmas, it spoke of love at Christmas, a love that came down from heaven in the form of a baby, God's gift to us, his Son, Jesus Christ.
See what love the Father has given us that we should be called children of God, and this is what we are.(1 John 3:1)
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

I'm only a spark

(Jesus said) A person takes a mustard seed, the smallest seed in the world, and plants it in the ground. After a while it grows up and becomes the biggest of all plants.' Mark 4:31-32
I wonder how often we think of ourselves in the big picture of the kingdom? Do we wonder about the impression that we might make? Do we wonder about the gifts and abilities  that God has given us? Do we see them as small with only a small impact?  How sure are you that he can use even the smallest of your gifts to proclaim the greatness of the Lord?  What did Paul say to the Corinthians?
                     That God chooses what the world considers weak, to shame the strong!
Amado Nervo wrote a poem a portion of which reads:
I'm only a spark, make me a fire,I'm only a string, make me a lyre,I'm only an ant hill, make me a mountain,
I'm only a drop,make me a fountain'
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

I'm only a bud, make me a flower.