every day a day of thanksgiving

Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy. Ps 107:22

Its glorious, glorious, is the autumn morning. The pilgrimage to the pond brought joy and delight. There is a mist in the valleys of the backdrop of the mountains, pockets of mystery, soft, gentle mystery and in the paddock  I watch a cluster of blue wildflowers dance in the gentle breeze for a moment of utter delight. I survey it all and my heart kneels to pray. Thank you God for the beauty around me everywhere- the soft breeze, the autumn air, the dew on the grass, the sunshine - Help us Lord to remember that the key to life and living is to make each prayer a prayer of thanks and ever day a day of thanksgiving. (Steiner Rice)
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord

solid joys

Glorious things of you are spoken, solid joys and lasting treasure non but Zion's children know. TIS 446

I can vouch for that:

The dawn of morning, fog ridden and silent
                     and a magpie sings.
The blaze of fiery red in the sunrise, glowing behind ghost like  trees
                     silhouetting, shadowing, illuminating
Deep blue mountains, contours clear and weaving
                      tips  touched and painted pink by the rising sun.
Autumn leaves, a kaleidoscope of colours
                        hanging, falling, carpeting the ground
Transforming beauty as the day breaks
                       and there is a sense that God is here, in the stillness and the quiet.
Glorious things that speak of God
                       solid joys and lasting treasures.

Peace.
Anne, servant of the Lord

Amazing

'Tell me the stories of Jesus I love to hear.' (Hymn)
I see it again and again, God is active and with us in the world today, revealing this in so many ways if we have ears to hear and eyes to see and a heart that's open.This week a young man asked me if I could help him. As he constantly wiped tears from his cheeks with the corner of his jacket he  told a story of trying to survive on a very low income job, restricted by a bridging visa and with a wife and baby to look after as well. I can't make ends meet, we are sinking, can you find me a job, I have aged care qualifications . My heart went out to him and I said I would do my best.  After he left  I immediately went to the Lord and pleaded his case to God. ' How,' I said' can we help this desperate young man, a pilgrim in our country?'   I went later in the day to the aged care facility and pleaded his case 'Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face and the things of earth will seem strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace.'

 but God had gone before me, paving the way and at this moment it seems, this young man has a job, restricted still by a bridging visa but on a higher salary.  'What can I say but 'thank you God, thanks you.' and I say it on my knees. I came home singing
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord

pilgrimage

Mat 26:36. Sit here while I go over there and pray.
I love that word 'pilgrimage.' Its a word that takes you on an adventure the moment you think it or say it no matter where you are heading. I go on a pilgrimage daily, sometimes several times a day, when I look at the pond across from my home. I can journey there and reflect and ponder and dwell and stay, for as long as I want, in fact, its often hard to pull myself away. There are, at the pond, countless moments of pure delight, beautiful red rumped grass parrots, the cheeky willy wag tail, blue wrens, flighty finches,wood ducks, frogs,dragonflies, reeds growing straight and tall housing shelter and places of nesting.. There is often a filtering of soft mist, mysterious and inviting.There is stillness and  quiet but most of all in the beauty and stillness there is God and isn't that what a pilgrimage is about, a place to go, reflect, cast off your cares, and see and seek and find God.Where is your favourite place of pilgrimage?
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne,servant of the Lord

Delight in the Lord

Take delight in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart Ps 37:4
It was so quiet out walking this morning. it was early and there was a nip in the air and even the birds were quiet. So peaceful to just be with God and I could see the cloud around the horizon with a ting of red and I waited for the morning to explode into the colour of an autumn sunrise.I was not disappointed.
Layer upon layer of red and orange and grey and blue that kept coming and coming like a tide to the shore and it rebounded across the sky in a repetition of colourful episodes.  Breathtaking, mind centering, God focusing and blessing upon

blessing as the Lord showered the day with his presence. My cup has been filled. The Lord is in his house.  How has your cup been filled ready for the day ahead?
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.