Where are you.

God, creator of the ends of the earth. Isa 40:28
So many times we find ourselves in places of wonder. Wonder at the beauty, wonder at the creation, wonder at its beginnings. I recall one such place when I sat between the two huge 'centennial 'like cliff faces in Simpson's Gap in Central Australia that flanked the life saving water hole. I came to that place. I paused. I wondered as I gazed at the scene before me set in the arid red sand of the desert and I asked God.' Where are you?' and a voice from within the rocks said. 'I am here - within every grain of ancient sand. I am here-in this pond of living water. I am here - in the tree roots clinging to the rocks. I am here - even in the 2 meter span of the cobweb that swings gently in the breeze, its ends attached to the rocks by the silk like threads'. Friedrick Beauchner said: When God created something where before there had been nothing as the author of the book of Job puts it: 'The morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy. Its the sheer and shimmering novelty of things,' (38:7)

At Simpson's Gap

The most beautiful sweet song

Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised.  1 Chr 16-:25
I could not resist the childlike play when I was out walking, stomping on the fallen acorns and hearing their caps crunch under foot., marveling at such a small capsule that can grow into such a big tree. I marvel at this like I do with many things, especially the sight of a flowering plant growing out of a crack in the pavement, or on a rock face. Or a tiny bird, safe in the thicket, singing the most beautiful, sweetest song. And  God comes near . Mary Oliver says:  When I was thinking these things a wren in the privet began to sing and I thought, what could this be if it isn't a prayer.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

an inheritance of joy.

The good person out of the treasure of their heart produces good. Luke 6:45
Somethings just stay with us all our life. Special things that are given to us  by family or friend and they are real treasures. In many ways they can shape our lives because they travel within us like a treasure in a clay pot. One such special treasure is the verse that my father wrote in my bible which was  a gift at my confirmation in 1957. It is from Psalm 119 V 105. 'Thy word is a lantern unto my feet; and a light unto my paths.'  While buried in my heart it has carried me through life.  John B Gough, a Temperance lecturer was given a text by his godly mother, which indeed became like buried treasure, for it lay hidden in his heart for many years.Treasure those godly people who have set your path in the right way.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

rooted in living water

Its roots may grow old in the ground and its stump die in the soil,yet at the scent of water it will bud and put forth shoots like a plant. Job 14:8-9
I looked at the tree stump in the ground of the dried up river bed . Broken and burnt from the traumas of its life yet from its base was coming this green, vibrant and healthy new growth.  Though unseen from its arid bed, it must have had its roots deep down in water.   Day after day we go out into a new day often with the same rhythm, the same movements, doing the same things yet we still carry a skip in our step because we know that deep down within us we are fed by the everlasting streams of God. Its a valuable mantra to say in daily life........'keep your roots deep in the living waters.'
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord

Todd River Alice Springs

stopped in our tracks

For your steadfast love is before my eyes. Psalm 26:3
Numerous times in a day we have God encounters be they through people or creation. Sometimes they just stop us in our tracks  and we feel we are on sacred ground. Other times its in hindsight that we felt God had just been walking with us. God encounters. God moments. How precious. I was coming home from my walk and stopped to chat to a lady. She was taken by my 'Genna' dog. She patted her and talked to her and said.' Look at that lovely colouring, the waves in her hair, and her ears, those lovely curls all over them. What a beautiful creature......only God could create something like this.' I was in the moment of her admiring my dog, like a mother with a child and not expecting God to come into the conversation from a near stranger and there he was, right in the conversation, present.  Such encounters just lift our spirits up a notch and draw us into awareness.
Sr Stan says: 'God, teach me what is sacred within my day as I tread on holy ground.' 
 Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne,servant of the Lord.

Genna has a ministry of her own.

Suffer the little children.

This little light of mine I'm going to make it shine, make it shine, make it shine. (Children's chorus)
I just love the innocence of children yet they hold a wisdom as if they have been here on this earth before. My grandson started school this year and was very excited about that. He is enrolled in a Catholic school, his family wanting religious education , uniforms and all that goes with those principles so there he is, first day at school. I asked him did he have a good day. He was very excited. 'Loved the new friends he can make, loved his teacher, loved every bit of it. Then he said with double the excitement. 'The best bit of all. Do you know what that is?' I  said 'no.' The best bit is they know about Jesus. He is here at this school as well as at your church!!.'  I thank God for that timeless blessing that he is safe in God's care. How precious it is to nurture the children into faith. Life's path will have many valleys and mountains but the strength of the Lord will be their stay.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Baptism day.

glimpses of mystery

May all who seek you rejoice and be glad. Ps 40:16
There are many things in life that give us joy. Often we don't see them because we are either too busy or worrying about the matters of life. But what delight when we do see them. Yesterday a sulfa
crested cockatoo sat on my fence, staring at me through the window and when he flew off he left a long pure white feather on the garden, almost like a calling card, a gift. And I marvel at the long summer grasses that come to the very edge of the walking track. There is nothing much of beauty about them but tucked away amidst is a tiny pink wildflower , doing its bit to bring joy to anyone who sees it. And I heard before I saw, the bright green acorns with their little caps, falling to the ground from the great oak tree. I watched in wonder as they fell, one by one and wondered, if I wasn't there to hear them would they still make a sound when they landed on the ground?
Sr Stan says: Joy comes in little whispers in sudden unexpected glimpses of mystery.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord

acorns in their little caps on.

you and God together

Every day I will bless you and praise you. Psalm 145:2
The morning gift was wrapped in the soft pastel hues of pink and orange against a blue sky. It reminded me of the colours of ribbon tied around a present.  I found my first words for the day were good morning, good morning, good morning as I reflected on a prayer  by Stanislaus Kennedy:

Through you I rise
and you through me
into this new day
we are making together.

Blessings on your day.....you and God together.

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

Sunrise on the sea of Galilee