And look, just look over there.

 May you be blessed by the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. Ps115:15

Oh how lovely it is to look about and see the presence of God. The trees with their large branches that he made for the birds to come and dwell in. The shapes, and the colours of all that is growing around about us and at my feet in the sacred space are pots of bright red Petunias, pink and purple Fuchsias and mixed colours of Impatiens and I ponder how can it be said there is no God?   And look, just look over there, sitting on the tip of a leaf  is a raindrop just hanging there after the early morning rain shower. What we see about us brings great joy and blessings but the true blessing is recognising the maker.

May the peace of God fill your life every single day.    Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                Trees for the birds to rest in.

The echoes are calling.

 O God, you are my God; at dawn I seek you; for you my soul is thirsty - I have come before you in the sanctuary to behold your strength and glory. Psalm 63:2-3

One of my favourite poets is Henry Kendal and his beautiful poem. ' Bellbirds.'  ' By channels of coolness the echoes are calling, and down the dim gorges I hear the creek falling..........and softer than slumber and sweeter than singing, the notes of the bellbirds are running and ringing.' O the words of this poem have me sitting in the bush, just near a creek  and hearing the Bellbirds, such peace. To me I see Henry Kendal writing this poem from his sacred space and there the blessings of this poem flowed. And I reflect on  what happens when we spend time in our sacred space. Do words and sights of blessings flow? Is what you see and hear gifts from God? Do you glance or really see the beauty about you as God's glory? Did you hear the first call of the birds this morning and sense a blessing? Did you have a sense of peace and come away feeling ready to embrace the day?  Sacred space. Sacred moments. Sacred presence.

May the God of life bless you and keep you today and always.     Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                            By channels of coolness.

Watch and Listen.

 Great are the works of the Lord to be pondered by all who delight in them. Psalm 111

The words of C. Johnston say: ' Sitting in the morning sun I watch and listen, not just with my eyes and ears but also with my heart and soul as windows into the sacred presence.'  And I can see that sacred presence all around me in the beautiful creation of the birds and garden flowers, the glorious hydrangeas, the fuchsias, the roses and the bright red grevillea bush loaded with bees and a wattle bird so noisy as it protects and feeds from  its nectar  crop, and I think how God has sown such beauty for us to enjoy. Not to rush past but to sit and watch and listen and my  thoughts say, 'as God sowed such beauty may we also sow beauty.'

Mane Nobiscum Domine - Remain with us Lord.               Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                        The delight of the wattle bird.

A 2025 Mantra

 Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice. Philippians 4:4-7

It is so special to have a sacred space, a place to meet with God one on one. At the moment the sacred space is surrounded with the beauty of a colourful garden, a delight to look at and be in. 'Rejoice and again I say rejoice'. Rejoice at the beauty of your surroundings, rejoice at God's creation - I mean, can you keep the smile off your face when the kookaburra laughs or more so when its baby tries to laugh as well! Or the  wonder of seeing a glorious flower growing and forming from the dirt of the earth? Above all rejoice at the birth of Jesus, at his goodness in all we have which is so much more than many and rejoice at his graciousness to us at welcoming us as children of God.

A mantra for this New Year. Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice.'

Blessings.   Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                         Rejoice at such beauty.