Only God can do that

All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord Psalm 145:10
Spring just throws up so many thoughts in your mind, and its just around the corner. I look at the bare tree outside my office window and its literally bursting its buds to push out the new leaves and the prunus in the back yard is displaying gorgeous little pink blossoms like a hundred young girls in tulle dancing dress and just a step out the back door the air is filled with strong violet and Daphne fragrance. The first words that fall from my lips are 'O God how glorious, how wondrous are your works.'  Somehow, having seen a shrub or tree empty or bare of any visible life and then to see it slowly open up into its glory is indeed a miracle. Its beauty in brokenness and life from death. You cant make the bare tree blossom, I cant make the bare tree blossom only God can do that. Only God can bring in new life..

Flowering Japonica.

One little duck went out one day..

 The Lord bless you and keep you. Numbers  6:24

Quietly sitting by a pond that's totally undisturbed by any visible signs of life other than a few water grasses and a bent willow tree when out of that island growth comes a lovely duck, his feathers iridescent green as the rising sun catches him. He paddles silently, smoothly across the water leaving a perfect arrow shaped wake behind him and all to the call of the wrens busily searching for breakfast for the young ones. Amazing things are revealed in silence and my inside was filled with happiness yet there was only the pond, the ducks and me.
Mary Oliver says: Instructions for living life are:. Pay attention, be astonished, and tell about it . For truly the body needs a song.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Ah, now I see.

Blessed assurance Jesus is mine, O what a foretaste of Glory divine. (Hymn)
The first morning of the retreat I was looking out of my window on the third floor and fixed my eyes on a clump of flowering violets under a beautiful bright yellow wattle tree. There is something about  little flowers that grow under a tree and I couldn't place why it is so special a 'something.' And then a thought comes, a God planted thought which says, 'I am your God, over and above you, I am your shelter, your protector, come and be under my everlasting protection.'  It was a God thought that made me glow inside. It is indeed in the stillness and quiet that God speaks.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

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

My soul thirsts for God,for the living God Psalm 42:2
The glory of the Lord shines through so much of what we see around us. Its there in  almost every place I look especially as the signs of spring are coming.  I recall a time when a new lady came to church and she was just 'aglow' with every aspect of her worship,- engaging, enjoying and so touched. It was so encouraging to see and then I think of the  nights when the moon has been high in the sky, shining,magnificent, full, a true light in the darkness, a presence of God. It is so powerful that we can meet God in all things. I recall on one of my outback holidays, standing on a sandstone cliff face in the desert and looking God in the face with all I saw 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, servant of the Lord

Breakaways, Coober Pedy.

a flower grows inside me

Teach us to count our days so that we may gain a wise heart. Psalm 90:12
I was looking at the Fuchsia in the garden, dormant, almost dead looking but then I saw tiny buds of life as new leaves were forming and I marveled at the fact that within a short space of time these leaves would be flourishing and green but what was more profound was the thought that from the very center of this creation flowers were forming ready to burst forth into new life when their time has come, turning something ordinary into something special and its all happening in the silence of the garden. I love silence. Things happen and grow and develop in silence, within the heart, the mind and the spirit. Its probably the next best thing to early morning walks where the silence is everywhere and in it you can hear and learn so much that has the potential to bring you life, turn your day into something lovely and beautiful. I like what Marion  von Waldner writes: 'From the center of my soul, a flower grows inside me, a love that makes me whole, a budding love that sets me free.'

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

Lord, keep me awake

May the Lord bless his people with peace. Psalm 29:11
There is something magical about the daylight pushing the night out of the way with a blaze of colour and there is something magical about the birds waking up one by one and adding chorus to the colour and its all backed by the rhythmic  squeaks, pips,  and croaks of the frogs on the pond. And while I walked I thought of the words of my 4 year old grandson yesterday when I said we would pray and thank God for the food he has given us  and he looked at me with big open eyes and laughing,without hesitation said, No 'Nan, God didn't give us the food, Mummy and I got it from the shop!' Isn't it just wonderful that every day is a message and a blessing from God.
A Lawson says: Always keep an ear bent towards heaven.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Lets go fishing

As he (Jesus)  walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother casting nets into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them. 'Follow me and I will make you fish for people.' Matthew 4:18-19
I was enjoying walking in the quiet with just the call of an occasional bird, looking at  the bear trees that were exhibiting a beauty in their nakedness and in thought with God about the matters of the day ahead. Its amazing when we reflect on our lives and see where we have come from to reach the place we are at now especially in light of Jesus words, 'Come follow me.' I thought of the quote (anon)
What I am is God's gift to me. What I become is my gift back to God.
In a quiet spot during the day give your life's journey a thought and thank God for your response when he said 'Come follow me.'
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord

Fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee.

gathering treasures

The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. Matthew 13: 44
All our experiences come home with us in our minds at the end of the day. Some to be discarded, some to be treasured.  It reminds me of when we walk on the beach, along a dry creek bed or walking on the familiar morning walk and we bend down to pick up something that is to be admired and slipped into the pocket to take home and treasure. In my garden I have small shiny white stones and dark round smooth ones that were picked up on a walk. I have jars filled with lovely sea shells of all shapes and colours that serve as book ends on my book shelves.I have a collection of different couloured bird feathers that stand in a jar waiting for the next visit from the grandchildren. The stooping and picking up, the wonder and the noticing of everyday 'things' are real moments of oneness with God that we keep because they are 'moments with God.'.
S Larson writes: 'Moments (like these) that you keep wrapped in a tissue paper inside a jewelry box or set on a shelf in your room like upon an altar. Moments that center and ground us.'
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

 Treasured 'God moments' when these shards of china and glass were found' hidden' on the site of my GGparents property where nothing else remains of their life there.