Every night will have its morning

Comfort, comfort all my people. (TIS 647)
 I was sharing with an older lady who lives alone, about God's comfort after she had expressed some anxiety at bed time when all was dark and all was quiet and there was a loneliness in that. I shared with her about my prayer practice at bed time saying one of the last things I do when I go to bed at night is wrap myself in prayer thinking  as I wrap myself in the warmth of the blankets that I am  wrapping God himself around me giving me a feeling of his presence. It really is quite comforting. I have a small book called Irish Blessings by Pat Fairon and in it there is this lovely prayer called, On Lying Down saying: I lie down with my dear God, may my dear God lie with me, two hands of God about my waist, a cross of angels over me, from head to sole tonight and until a year from tonight, and tonight itself.  Isn't that so comforting? I love the two hands of God about my waist.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ,
Anne, servant of the Lord

Peace

Go out with determination

Because the Lord helps me, I will not be dismayed, therefore I have set my face like flint to do his will, and I have known that I will triumph. Isaiah 50:7 (TLB)
We know we have the help of the Lord at anytime because he is on our side so why is it we dismay? How blessed we are to be in a situation where we can know this right to the depth of our heart that God is always present, always in what we do in his name. We sometimes say in tricky situations: Grit your teeth and get on with it, or bite the bullet and just do it and what I like about Isaiah is he juts does that with a great sense of determination . ' I will set my face like flint and do his will.'
When we have matters of 'dismay' in our day we have the promise of God's help so whatever might come your way, go for it, with determination, God will be there holding your hand.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

In the hands of God

Now that is prayer.

Keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and  love of God and of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (Prayer Book blessing)
I was sitting in my quiet space, just listening to nature  and watching two beautiful King Parrots having a feed on the lawn. Their colours were brilliant as if they had just bathed and groomed their feathers  and there was silence.  Sometimes I listen - deeply - so deeply  that the silence is loud.
So deeply that out of silence comes a still small voice, or, - or  more profound one of the beautiful, richly coloured birds lands within inches of my sight - and God speaks.  Its a powerful assurance that we are filled and surrounded by the knowledge  and  love of God.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord

What a blessing.

Don't hide your light.

For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. John 3:16
I cant help but continue  reflecting on the football game. Sometimes we think that God is not in the world . There is so much unrest and pain and suffering in war torn countries and even in our own communities violence is increasing and some  tend to look for meaning in life  in other ways  and  games like football become  'the new gods' as some all but worship their favourite teams. Yet some go to a game with a message for the world to see and as I watched the rugby final for the Bladislow cup on Saturday afternoon  I saw it  again......a very large yellow banner which took three people to display and written on it in bold large black print was that familiar verse. John 3:16. It always gives me goosebumps when I see it and I think of the boldness of the faith of those who take and display such a banner to get the message of love and hope across to a large audience  around  the world. I wonder how we display our faith in the communities around us and are we know as people of faith?
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Shine for Jesus.

Sing, sing,sing

Forth in your name O Lord I go, my daily labour to pursue. TIS 571
There is a freshness about the morning that lingers after the frost has melted under  the warmth of  the rising sun and the sights and smells of the new day are lingering.  And I reflect on many a new day, like the one that comes on a hot, dry morning when the ground smells of dust after an early morning shower of rain has 'dressed' it in rain spots. And those days where the far off  hills are green, heralding  the new growth of spring and those clusters of yellow wildflowers that are 'smiling' on the verge and the fresh smell of the paddock full of wild oats where the small bird singing a big song and all I see and smell is a prayer and I recall this verse 'When forth I go upon my ways a thousand joys are mine, the clusters of dark violets, the wreaths of the wild vine
Even when facing the unknown challenges of a day, all is possible when we take with us our morning prayer that have been grounded in the quiet times with God.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne,servant of the Lord.

The wreath of a wild vine

More to birds than birds.

All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small all things wise and wonderful, the Lord God made them all. ( TIS 135)
I was feeding the birds in a wildlife sanctuary  and their beauty  and colour captured me. As a flock of them descended on the plate of food I was holding others landed on my arm and sat on my shoulder and head.There was noise and there was a flurry of wings and right at that moment in a kaleidoscope of colour  I felt I was  standing on sacred ground as I looked into the eyes of a bird and it seemed like we were one. One in connection with the creator. It was a spine tingling experience as I saw that flash of recognising  God in all his shapes and colour and forms. It was a moment I will cherish like one does at the sight of a butterfly passing  by when someone close to you has died or  the presence  of a special bird that just seems to appear at the right moment to bring memories closer and your thoughts, full of reassurance and hope go straight to God. I think you know what I mean.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ,
Anne, servant of the Lord.

O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder

So still

Let my prayer be counted as incense. Psalm 141:2
There was a day or so ago a morning so still and shrouded in fog and as it cleared there were pockets of 'wisps of mist' rising  low across the frost laden ground  sparkling in the morning sun and there was silence. A silence that was in itself a prayer And I thought of the prayer called:
 'So Still'.
O make my heart so still, so still,
When I am deep in prayer,
That I might hear the white mist-wreaths
losing themselves in the air!  ( A prayer from Japan)
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord

White mist rising.