people of the way

Follow, follow I will follow Jesus anywhere, everywhere I will follow on. (Sunday School song)
I keep coming back to the old songs that have stuck with us all our Christian lives. The old faithfuls that we still know word for word but they come to mind more so when they become a living thing in our daily life. I visited the Trash and Treasure markets after church yesterday as I sometimes do, not to purchase anything but to just mingle. I paused to look at a stall that had paintings on it. Armature paintings but there was something about them besides the fact that some were of blue wrens!! The stall holder spoke in a thick European accent. 'You must be a person who is on the way?' I thought he meant on the way home from church but no, he followed that up with,' On the way, on the journey, you know,  following Jesus.' The next ten minutes was spent sharing faith and the love of Jesus with this stranger and I came away rich in blessings and a purchase of two hand painted pictures of blue wrens under my arm. I love to linger and loiter with intent.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

There are many places we can loiter with intent.

I come to the garden alone while the dew is still on the roses (Spiritual Song)
I think there is nothing nicer than the peace of a quiet garden in its full glory and especially in the cool of the day. Its so full of 'God.' God in the beauty. God in his ongoing creation. God in the colour. God in the perfume.God in the wet dew hanging on every leaf and petal. God in the birds that also delight in meeting him there and enjoying his creation. I never see a seat in a garden as empty thought it might appear to be, its more a waiting space with its own atmosphere around it. A space waiting for your next visit, your next chat with God, Its like God is waiting there for you. How precious is such a space, such a seat and at times I find myself looking through the window onto the garden at the seat and a voice within me says, ' I'm coming Lord, I'm coming.
F. Frankfort Moore says: I think if ever a mortal heard the voice of God, it wold be in a garden at the cool of the day.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ,
Anne, servant of the Lord

Come Lord Jesus

Withdraw to deserted places and pray. Luke 5:16

In the early light of morning I bid you come, Lord, and we meet the day together. You show me the way I should go, and I follow. You walk before me, making my way smooth, steering my course, inspiring courage. (Eaton/Brummett)

It could well have been the start of Autumn today. The air was fresh, the dew lay wet on the grass and a thick fog hung low across the farm flats. The sun was up and there was no real hint of the forecaster  heat for today. Peace wrapped itself in all I could see and feel and there was a presence in it all like someone had been here before me and were still lingering. These special morning experiences are ground zero. They are where God touches the earth and comes to give strength for the day, warmth for the spirit  and encouragement for life and I so often find myself wrapping a mantra around my heart. "Lord take my words, take me, shine your love through what I am, through what I do.'
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord

keep up the talk.

Tell me the old old story of Jesus and his love. (hymn)
I have a picture in my mind when I recall this song I learnt in Sunday School. Its a picture of Jesus sitting on a hillside around the sea of Galilee  with followers and interested, curios people sitting and standing before him just listening as he tells the stories. Stories of fishing for people, of loving one another, of how the lesser is the greater, the richer the poorer, the needy needing our help. Here he was sowing seeds of love, telling the story and isn't it wonderful when we have the opportunity to carry that on, to share the old old stories. My 5 year old  grandson called me second day after he started school, full of excitement. 'Guess what.' he said,' I learnt a song at school and I want to sing it to you' and he proceeded to sing 'My God is so big, so strong and so mighty.' Here it was , this small child's voice coming through the phone, telling me the old old story with great excitement. I  was at a clients house helping her sort out her home full of years of hoarding and as we were chatting she stopped working  and just looked at me. 'What' I asked. She said ' You know, seriously I want your God to come into my life.' Here it was again....tell me the old old story. It just does not go away does it! As long as we live and do we tell the old old story.

Sea of Galilee from the probable site of the sermon on the mount. 

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

God's simple surprises.

O worship the  King all-glorious above and gratefully sing his power and his love.....the earth with its store of wonders untold. (TIS 133)
The morning is so fresh with new rain leaving large full drops of water hanging off every leaf and blade of grass and its exhilarating to walk among it breathing in the freshness and to  be filled with joy just at the simplicity of what it is. Lots of things can bring joy  and renewed spirit through their simplicity but we miss it every time if we are not in tune with what God puts around us. I love a stroll on special walks where I am surprised by every day things that cause me to stop and ponder and wonder at God's crafting and handy work be it a rock wallaby, fury and upright looking at me with the same sense of wonder, an abandoned home of the blue wrens in the bare branches of a hawthorn thicket or  the perfume from wet eucalyptus trees filling the air with their own freshness. John  Burroughs says: '

To be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a birds nest or wildflower in spring - these are some of the rewards of the simple life.'  How lovely to have moments of simplicity in such a busy world. Take them into your day and savor them and mull them over in the pauses of your day and call them worship.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Close, how close to God?

The Lord spoke to Elijah...'Go out and stand before me on top of the mountain...' The Lord sent a furious wind, but the Lord was not in the wind. Then there was an earthquake but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After that there was fire but the Lord was not in the fire and after the fire there was a soft whispering of a voice and when Elijah heard it he hid his face. 1 Kings 19:11-15
When have you felt so overcome that all you could do was stop and stay in that space as your heart fell to its knees? Sometimes its such an overwhelming feeling that we don't know how long we lingered with it. Some will smell a perfumed rose and linger awhile in that space. Others will see a paddock full of wildflowers and linger in that space awhile where time means nothing. Its a rich time where there is such a thin space between you and God and every time there is that experience of being on our knees before God something new stirs within us. I have a lovely CD of  just music with sounds of creation backing it and every time it plays ' Be still and know that I am God' my whole being stops and my heart falls to its knees and I am renewed. Michael Cabot said: Whenever beauty overwhelms us, whenever wonder silences our chattering hopes and worries we are close to worship.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Walk with him and talk with him

'I come to the garden alone while the dew is still on the roses. And I walk with him and I talk with him and he tells me I am his own' (Gospel song)
I always want to linger and stay awhile when I take that morning walk. Peace, quiet and God fills every silent space that gradually is blessed by the morning chorus of the birds and frogs from down at the pond  and  I am enriched by the row of magpies in black and white suits lining the fence and warbling in such harmony as if they were in a grand opera..  Its these treasures, these prayers that enrich my day. Mary Oliver says. 'When I am among the trees they give of such hints of gladness, I would almost say that they save me, and daily.' Likewise the treasures of the morning walk are my saving grace. A time spent with God is life giving, life saving,sustaining and  strength for the day.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

What we see.

Even birds and animals have much they could teach you....All of them know that the Lord's hand made them. Job 12:7-9
There is something about that first step out the door. Its like meeting God face to face. He is there in the trees, the parched earth and the wisp of mist in the valley, even in the thunder rumbling around the mountains.

He is there on the pond, in the ducks and swallows and the perfume of the rain soaked lavender on the nature strip.  I read this poem that says it all: I see his blood upon the rose and in the stars the glory of his eyes. His body gleams amid eternal snows, his tears fall from the skies. I see his face in every flower. The thunder and the singing of the birds  are but his voice and cavern by his power. Rocks are his written words. All pathways by his feet are worn. His strong heart stirs the ever beating sea. His crown of thorns is twined in every thorn. His cross in every tree.(Joseph Plunkett)
What we see is more than what we see and sometimes we may need to sharpen our vision.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Share God's love

'O the love of Jesus, it washes white as snow.' (Spiritual song)
Sometimes God just knocks harder on the door of our heart to get our attention and other times he just flows through our heart and thoughts like a cool refreshing river on a hot day. His river was flowing this morning as I walked in the fresh early morning and I thought of his love. His love for you and for me . His never ending, never changing love. I reflected on the person in yesterday who said she was not loved by God. 'How can he love me' she said. 'Look at me living in the gutters of homelessness, begging for a dollar here and there just to get something to eat. At McDonald's they call me 'the lost cause.'  As we chattered I said to her.' God loves everyone of us, including you. He dose not look at who we are as much as  who we can be with him, with his love. There is one song that sits on my heart and I know it was written there long ago and its never been forgotten, The words are this': Something beautiful, something good, all my confusion he understood. All I had to offer him was brokenness and strife but he made something beautiful of my life. She asked me to write the words on the back of the McDonald's receipt so she could take them with her. She may have a long hard road to another way of life but hopefully she will find the Jesus who loves her as a travelling companion..

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

Ownership

You heard the true message......you believed in Christ, and God put his stamp of ownership on you. Ephesians 1:13

Sometimes I wonder what makes us different from many others. What is it that people see when they look at us and watch as we live day from day. I had a meeting with a community service person yesterday to review what we were doing for a client, to coordinate our program, and she said to me. ' I can see in you a passion and a love, not just for what you do for our disadvantaged people, but in whose name you do it for.'  Ancient generals put an ownership stamp such as a tattoo on their soldiers,An ancient writer told Christians to use the symbol of a dove,( the symbol of the Holy Spirit and of hope) for their ownership stamp and Paul likened ownership stamps to 'Gods gift of the Spirit' to us. Giving us his Spirit was our ownership stamp. How clearly do you think others around us see that stamp of ownership in us? How does it reveal itself through you and me? Victor Hugo said: Let us be like a bird, for a moment perched on a frail branch while he sings: Though he feels it bend, yet he sings his song knowing that he has wings.

the first fruits

'May the foot of God walk with you and his hand hold you tight' (TIS 779)
There is something magical about the time of the day when the sun filters through the night sky and breaks into light. Stepping out the door for the first time in a new day is like my feet touching the newness, the ' not walked on until now' path of the new day and as  God comes alongside I discover
the offerings of the day that would have otherwise been missed. Offerings and events that give joy and blessings and the days strength, like the magpies kicking in the tanbark, the different shades of glory crossing the sky as the sun rises over the mountain, the birds calling in the new day and that delightful sound of a baby kookaburra trying to learn his laugh.  The wonderful morning gifts, of time with God is  new every morning are the most powerful pearls of great price to deposit in our heart and mind as we venture into the rest of the day, into the unknown.I love these words of St Patrick's lorica: Christ be with me. Christ within me. Christ behind me. Christ before me. Christ beside me.

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

living water

Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift. Revelations 22:17
I watched the fallen  rain water gushing down the water course and into the pond and fill it with new life. The patches of unwanted debris and stagnant water were swept away and replaced by fresh,life giving water. When the pond was refreshed  with this surge of clear water and became still again  the baby wood ducks came out from the long tall reeds in formation behind their mother and I laughed at their antics of trying to go 'heads down tails up.' There was quacking with delight and the dragonflies hovered over the waters looking for food. Swallows, Willie wag tails and wrens all chattered together in excitement at how the water had renewed life on their pond and even the mud wasps were visibly collecting fresh mud to build  their homes and O it all reminded me of the words Jesus said about living water and new life.
Eleonora Duse said:  If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, if the simple things in nature  have a message that you understand, rejoice for your soul is alive.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

Love, love love.

God has poured out his love into our hearts by means of the Holy Spirit. Romans 5:5
The Christmas season has come and gone and now we launch into a New Year with so many opportunities for new beginnings. I wonder what your 'theme' for 2016 will be. What will you aim to achieve or focus on?  I remember the song,  ' All we need is love, love, love.' Imagine if every single person wore those words on their chest, in their heart, day by day all through 2016, just for starters.  A story goes like this: A small child struggled as he carried a large  gift wrapped box over to his Grandfathers chair on Christmas day.  As he carefully unwrapped it and looked inside he said to the boy, 'But its empty, did you forget to put my gift inside?'  The boy raised himself to full height and on tip toes peered into the box. 'Oh no,' he said to his Grandfather.' 'I didn't give you an empty present. I filled it with my  love.'  May Christ's love be visible within us in all we do and say in his name. May that love be a true gift to others and as blessing to you.

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

Christmas

Let us open our eyes, our ears and our hearts; it is Christ the Lord, it is he. (TIS 278)

I have a mantra for Christmas. It is so simple but carries a massive meaning and implication for our lives. Its something full of power, humility, grace, love. Its simply this:
O what a gift what a wonderful gift. (on the breath in)
Christ our Lord and our King. (on the breath out)
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ,
Anne, servant of the Lord.

manger square Bethlehem.

Playing with Jesus

'I love to tell the story of Jesus and his love.' (Sunday School song)
Sharing the story of Jesus and his love leaves us wondering at times if that sits and stays with those we share. Sometimes we see the fruit of it, sometimes we don't but we know that a seed sown in faith and prayer will eventually grow. I saw that seed growing this week and it was a humbling blessing. It came through my youngest grandchild, only three years old. 'As he came through my front door for a visit he saw the nativity scenes I had on display near the Christmas tree. He paused and then in realization

of what he was looking at he proclaimed. 'O Nan. Can I play with Jesus?'   My prayer is that through out his life he will want to 'play with Jesus' that he will want to be in his company and he will know the great benefits of that relationship.  Make sharing Jesus be a real goal this Christmas.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

bring joy to the world.

I will sing the wondrous story of the Christ who died for me. (TIS 233)
Some texts and words of hymns just jump out at me and I think, yes, how true is that. Yes, how me, as a follower of Christ, is that.  And then I think why do some Christians hide this good news from others? How will Christ ever be known to the world if we hide our light under a bushel? On two occasions I have heard people say: I have a hamper for a family down the street who's wife died and this is the first year the family will have Christmas with out her. They don't go to church so I will tell them its from the local charity club! and another so often heard. I am doing all my Christmas cards  but I am  making sure I send 'non religious 'ones to my friends who are not religious!  How, may I ask will our non religious friends ever know the wondrous story of the Christ who died for me,and them, if we keep it to our self, if we hide it. Lets not be timid about our faith. Be bold and positive about what you believe and you will be surprised how God will use that.One religious card to one non religious friend just may change their life after all, is the nativity scene on a card, or the wise men on camels, shepherds following a star.......isn't that what Christmas is about.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

Today and every day, regardless

This is the day, this is the day that the Lord has made, that the Lord ha made. We will rejoice , we will rejoice and be glad in it  and be glad in it. SING IT!
 First prayer off the rank every morning is 'thank you God for the gift of this new day.' Somehow, I guess through life experience I have learnt very sincerely to see that each new day is a treasured gift from God. Even if I am not feeling very bright. Even if I  feel a bit down. Even if the work load seems back breaking. Even if life is fragile, still I see the new day as such a gift.  That leads me on to say to God. 'Then let me give you a gift in return'. A gift that acknowledges the blessings and the hearts true desire to fill the days in his service, signed and sealed with his love and appreciation in prayer at the end of the day.(From the Celtic Prayer Book) This day is a gift to me. I take it Lord, from your hand and thank you for the wonder of it.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

Bulldoze a road.

'.......guide our feet into the way of peace.' Luke 1:79

How often do we experience God's grace? How often do we let the worries of the world and life overtake our joy? How often is our daily road full of clutter and unnecessary concerns. When we know God's grace, we know his peace. I love the wording of the Prayer of the Day we used in church yesterday, it said; Loving God, be to us a bulldozer of the spirit. Clear your road in us: clear a path through our everyday worries, concerns and distractions: and awaken us to moments of your grace daily. May your Spirit work within us to prepare a space for your coming.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

why we do what we do

At the last supper Jesus said. 'Do this in memory of me.' Luke 22:19
The Sunday Eucharist never ceases to draw me into reflection and closeness with Christ and some years ago when I was pondering these words 'do this in remembrance of me' I saw a bigger picture. Not just the receiving of the bread and wine each Sunday as strength for the week or in memory of Christ as something of the past, but as something that I had to get up and do. As John says of Jesus. 'The  bread that I will give is my flesh, which I give so the world may live.' (John 6:26-27)
When we reflect on our day to day encounters with 'the people who come to our doorstep, or who we meet on theirs,' it is good to ask ourselves the question. 'How well am I doing in taking the words of the last supper to those who do not know Christ, who have been starved of any knowledge of experience with him in life?'
Mohands Gandhi said:If God were to appear to starving people,he wouldn't dare appear in any form other than food.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne,servant of the Lord

Hope

The way of the Lord is a stronghold to the upright. The righteous will never be shaken.   Proverbs 10:29-30
I think w are all saying, its nearly Christmas! As  a child I was always full of great hope when it came to what I might expect to receive in the small parcels under the tree. There was a great sense of the expectancy about the contents of them. There was a feeling of excitement, and often, 'for being good and helpful to my parents through the year'  Santa would grant my wishes. My hopes and desires became realities. Stop and think on the word 'hope.' How would you define it? For me its a 'confident expectancy.' Christian hope is the firm assurance about things of the future, seen and unseen.

Hope for the Christian is the one thing that keeps us looking to the future because it lives with in us. Its what makes the difficult and tough times, the 'holes' of darkness and despair bearable because we know there will be a brighter future. I wonder what its like to not have hope? I should imagine that it would paint a whole different picture about life. I guess it would be lifeless. I guess that is our mission, our gift to others, to bring hope to a broken and divided world.Particularly the world that is on our doorstep.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

may the love of God

Praise our God, the great creator, world evolving through his might, darkness shattered by explosion, filled his world with life and light. (TIS 165)
It was there again this morning,  this great love of God.
The red and pink 'brushes'
          hanging from the bottle brush tree.
The garden fresh  and washed with last nights watering.
The trill of the blue wren
    and the melodious warble of the magpies on the street light pole in an otherwise dawn of
silence.

And there was enough dew on the grass
            to see a set of footprint
            and know someone was walking before me.
May the love of God and the peace that it brings be the blessing of this new day for you.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

God first

One thing I will ask of the Lord, that will I seek after: to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.

There they were this morning, tiny capsules of pure delight, bursting with God's love and I thought of those who do not know of that love  and my heart was on fire for them.
Go seek and find the lost in the name of the Christ we serve.

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

He is near

I will never leave you nor forsake you. Hebrews 13:5
So often we can experience the presence of God in our lives if we are just open to it. There is such a thin line between his Spirit and ours and at times when we feel we are standing on sacred ground its like we have one foot on this side of the fine line and one foot on the other or to put it another way its like we are holding hands with God. This feeling has stayed with me for days after a lady I care said something quite profound. This lady has huge issues that have almost destroyed her self image and ruined her life. She sent me a message full of  sadness and loss of hope and no sign of God.   She felt like she was in between a rock and a hard place with no where to go. Then before I could respond she sent another message and that one included a photo, a photo of a beautiful Lilly in flower  growing strong and tall between a rock and a path. She said she didn't know its name except it was gorgeous. What a God moment it was for me. Immediately God gave this image of a gorgeous lady struggling through life and blossoming. And he does know her name.I shared my thoughts with her and she listened in silence and wonder.

Images in life, in nature, have such powerful messages if we keep our minds open and focused, if we keep the Lord near.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

therein lies the treasure

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding. Philippians 4:7

Did you unwrap the gift of this morning?  What does it look like in your place? When I took off the layers of sleep I saw the beauty of the gift. It was rain soaked and refreshed. Tiny drops of water bubbles hung on the deep red flowers of the bottle brush and several  honey eaters were delighting in their morning fix of honey, their  wings wet from those bubbles of rain drops. I watch them a moment, their curved thin beak reaching deep into the flower for their gift of this day.  The mountains have a veil of misty rain covering them, a sign of more to come my way.The pond is alive with the sound of so many frogs that seemed to croak and squeak and peep in tune with the call of the early morning birds and there he was, the treasure of them all for me, the bright blue fairy wren. Some say its to hard to see the gift of the day because the wrapping of pain and suffering, dysfunction and loneliness is just too hard to remove but O,  when you do work through the layers what joy, what delight to find God's gifts, especially the one labeled peace, the peace that comes from God..
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord

dusty or worn pages.

These were more noble....in that they.....searched the scriptures daily. Acts 17:11
That quiet time of the day when the closeness of God comes and sits with you as you read the words of the bible are so precious. How empty we are. How void of food if we lay aside our bibles to gather dust. I heard this story of a lady who invited a group of Christian  people to her home for a bible study and much to her dismay she could not find her bible. It wasn't on the bedside table where she usually leaves it. It wasn't in the sun room, it wasn't in any of the usual places she sits to read. In desperation she asked the new house keeper  if she had seen it. 'Praise the Lord', was her response.
' What do you mean,' she was asked. Beaming with joy the housekeeper responded. ' when I go to work in a new home the first thing I do is hide the bible just to see how long it takes the owner to miss it!  Yours is in the linen cupboard.'

I like this quote: The truths of the scripture are like flowers;meditation, like the bee, draws the honey out of them! (unknown)
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne,servant of the Lord

The best gifts

Covert earnestly the best gifts. 1 Corinthians 12:31 (KJV)
Its a glorious fresh morning after a night of soaking rain and that soft mist is hovering in the valleys of the hills and sometimes I think the smallest gifts are the biggest,

:
Gifts such as:
 On my desk calendar given to me by a friend there is a quote for the day that is written larger than the date or
A couple of words of encouragement can brighten a day, change a life.
A cup of tea on a cold day can warm a whole body.
Today the quote said: God puts each fresh morning, each new chance of life into OUR hands, as a gift, to see what we will do with it.
I wonder what you are going to do with your fresh morning?
For starters,I'm off for a walk to spend time with God.........to thank him for his gifts.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

The strength of God

Behold I am the Lord. Is anything too difficult for me?  Jeremiah 32:27
Life can be so hard for many people. In my daily round I come across so many who struggle through life due to hardship, illness. loneliness and isolation. For them it can be an endless road of seemingly going nowhere and my heart aches for them. Sometimes, like Job, there is nowhere to go but to God. Sometimes there is nothing left but God.  I received a card many years ago with these words on   it. 'What matters is not the size of the mountain but the strength of the mountain mover.'  So, if it is you or someone you come across who is struggling in life and feeling hopeless, pray that they will get to know the 'mountain mover' where all strength and hope abounds.What was it Jesus said? 'Come to me all who are weary and carrying heavy burdens and I will give you rest.'
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Waddi Rum Desert  Jordan.

The perfume of God.

The great love of God, O how lavishly given. TIS 164
I am looking at the blue wrens in the tree outside my office and I know they are God sent just for me because God knows how significant they are in my life..
I stop and look as my breath is taken away by the opening bud of  a deep apricot yellow rose, perfect in its formation, dressed in beads of raindrops, glistening like sequins and the perfume of God is embedded in the folds of its petals and I know that is God's love.I stoop to smell the perfume of the deep, deep blue bearded Iris and am transported back to my childhood, memories of a garden to play in, memories of a mothers love and a fathers care, memories to treasure.God dose lavishly give of his love in so many ways and indeed it is 'the pearl of great price and the treasure of heaven.'  wherever you find it, either in the grandeur of the blue or snow capped mountains or in a thousand grains of sand on the sea shore or among the needs of the world be O so blessed.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

This is love

God's love has been poured into our hearts. Romans 5:5
I don't know what your diary looks like today but perhaps it is full of many things 'to do.' Perhaps its looking a bit rushed, or crowded. Perhaps you feel exhausted looking at it before you even set about the days work. So often the day can be crammed full of getting as much done as possible. I love this saying of Mother Teresa: 'We can do no great things. Only small things done with great love.' Lets not count the unfinished jobs at the end of a day, but count the love we have been able to share with another person.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

The vineyard

(God said) Son, go and work in the vineyard today. Matthew 21:28.
I stopped at the top of the rise and looked across the vineyards reminiscing  about past walks and my eyes fell on the newly pruned vines and I could almost see the new life pulsating through them getting ready to grow and bear fruit and I thought of the man in the hospital chapel who asked the question.'Tell me,' he said. 'How do I talk to God?'  What wonderful places God puts us in to help others to find the way. We never know when we step out the door each day, who he will lead us too. A prayer for today: Heavenly Vine, pour your life through me so that I may bear much fruit for your sake.(FB Myer)
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

Day by day

May the mind of Christ my Saviour live in me from day to day. TIS 609
Sometimes a line or two from a hymn strikes you afresh. I was reflecting on my past week and recalled a hymn we sang in the service at an aged care facility and was struck again by how lovely and profound the words were and one line in particular had this effect:
May the love of Jesus fill me as the waters fill the sea.
When I think of the weeks gone by, the funerals, the meetings with the families, the ministry with those in need in the community, the Sunday preparation and application of it, the hospital visiting I think without God's strength, without being filled with the love of Jesus, we can not do all that God requires of us. Not only do we seek the love of Jesus to fill us, but hear this, we seek and request it in no short measure. We seek the love of Jesus as the water fills the sea. That's massive love. Look at an ocean, a great span of water, waves  gently breaking on the shore with ebb and flow

and imagine that as God's love filling you.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

the candle flame

How precious is your steadfast love O God. Psalm 36:7
There is something about a candle flame that draws me into it almost like a sacred space. It has meaning, purpose and can be a draw card for reflection especially reflection on texts such as ' Jesus said: I am the light of the world.'  'Let your light shine before others.' Let there be light.' 'The Lord is my light and salvation.'  I  read this  thought about God's steadfast love by Gillian Peall. My love for you is as steadfast as a candle flame in a still room. It will never waver and will never end. When the sun is shining, you can not see the flame, but when all is dark, the flame brings light to the whole room. My flame will never be extinguished.

May you know the  light of Christ and  the steadfast love of God in your life, today and always.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord

Blessed assurance Jesus is mine.

As it says: 'In all places where I cause my name to be mentioned, I will come to you and bless you.' Exodus 20:24
All my life I have hummed the song we learnt at Sunday school; 'Count your Blessings name them One by One' and every time that song comes to mind its because I have received yet again a blessings from God. I have always wanted to see the blue wrens come to my garden and stay and now they do. Every morning I wake to their call, that lovely trill and they are so happy playing and living in my garden and watching what I am up too as they sit on my kitchen window sill.
I read this poem ( extracts) .A family of Blue Wrens came to play and stayed outside the door. They whistled and sang as they built their nest.......they called at the window with joy and pleasure and pride ......as they flew and chattered and trilled their song I listened with beating heart.
 Can you count your blessings? can you name them one by one?
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

Hello from God.

Psalm 16:11. In your presence there is fullness of joy In your right hand are pleasures forever more.
This morning was magnificent......one almighty 'Hello' from God expressed in a sky of deep red and orange sunrise.' 'Here I am,' it was saying 'Here I am, right here with you.What you are looking at, what you are in awe of, is me'
Meister Echkart said:  'Who ever possess God in their being, has him in a divine manner, and he shines out of them in all things:for them all things taste of God and in all things it is God's image that they see.'
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

in the bulb, a flower

It is the Spirit that gives life. John 6:63

Have you spoken to anyone lately who is a new Christian? Someone who for the first time in their life has had a light switched on, the light of Christ. Someone for the first time in their life feels like they have been struck by lightening and propelled into faith with a massive awakening?( Come Holy Spirit Come!)  I met such a person recently, an older man who had been an atheist all his life and now as he put it, 'at 80 I have found life.' Its just so wonderful to be around such people. Its so wonderful a 'faith' booster for us all when we see God's Spirit still working today. I read a poem and its opening lines said this: In a bulb there is a flower, in a seed an apple tree; in cocoons, a hidden promise; butterflies will soon be free! In the cold and snow of winter, there's a spring that waits to be, unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.( In the bulb there is a Flower. anon)

Catch me off guard Lord

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

How lovely are the spring flowers. Its like God opened a window in heaven and poured out a blessing. Joyce Rupp says: 'The loveliness of a single flower in radiant bloom can sing my drooping spirit into joy.'  How true. How very true. I can't look at an anticipating rose bud, or poppy capsule, or pending daffodil or tulip pod and not sense the blessing that is to come. I read this prayer by Frederick Buechner: Lord, catch me off guard today.Surprise me with some moment of beauty or pain so that at least for the moment I may be startled into seeing that you are here in all your splendour, always and everywhere, barely hidden, beneath,beyond, within this life I breathe.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne,servant of the Lord.

Book of life

In your book were written all the days that were formed for me. Psalm 139:16
A very elderly, very Spirit filled lady at the nursing home, the one who so sincerely says she has seen Jesus walking towards her so often,asked me if God has a book in which he writes down all our names. 'Could you imagine the size of that book.' I said. 'To hold all of the names of all who have been, all who are.' She thought a moment and said. ' 'Isn't it wonderful to think though, that your name and mine, my family and yours since time began are recorded in that book. We aren't just born,live and then die. But we will forever be remembered by God and that's because  loves us. Sunday school teaching has stayed with that lady for all her 90 years and brings her such moments of reflection and peace.Its a true blessing to pause awhile with her...and God.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Thanks be to God

So faith comes from what is heard. Romans 10:17
I have among a special shelf of books a collection of treasures. A collection of faith journeys, a collection of helps in time of grief and loss, in times of such sadness during the war, a collection of joys and celebrations. These treasures are in the form of the Book of Common Prayer belonging to family members going back four generations. In the worn tissue thin pages of the bible that belonged to the grandfather I never knew who now lies in the soil of the Somme. There are snippets of newspaper cuttings marking births and marriages. So much imagery and story of what sustained them during the highs and lows of life, their solid, unsinkable faith and that I know has rubbed off on me as I handle and sometimes use their books of prayers and read from their bibles alongside my own. What a gift I have been left, the gift of example and way of life,Who has influenced your faith journey?  Give praise and thanks today and always for the wonderful inheritance that they have handed to you.The path to eternal life.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord

displays of joy

For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling,that I may walk before God in the light of life. Psalm 56:13
Winter has that feel about it  like all is stationary, all has stopped,all has gone to sleep,all is lifeless,cold like the earth is wrapped in death. But then, and we are seeing it now, a bulb or two breaks through the hard soil and showers the dull with bright colours. There is a new, yet familiar perfume at the front door as the Daphne fills the air with incense and have you noticed the Prunus tree? Its buds of pink have burst into individual displays of joy and the brightness of the wattle adds to the spirit of awakening of all the senses.  This is healing. This is reminiscing. This is assurance. This is hope. We can take this image and use it in so many ways to see the hand of God, not just in nature, but in our lives. In our days of joy it gives more joy. In our days of struggling it gives great hope. Changing seasons in nature and in our lives are gifts from God that we can constantly unwrap.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

consider the wondrous work of God

Hear this, O Job: stop and consider the wondrous works of God. Job 37:14
This morning I want to say, stop and read all of chapter 37 of Job. If we think we might have  a problem in life, in ministry, in self then this chapter should ground us and bring us back to focus, then again if we have met the new day with joy and thanksgiving;have seen the day arrive, pushing the night away and filling it with light and beauty and a chorus of the voices of his creation, as early mornings tend to do, then we can be in awe of this chapter in Job.stop and consider the wondrous works of God..........do you know the balancing of the clouds......can you like him,spread out the skies?  We have a mighty God, far bigger than we can imagine, yet so personal its like he is there just for me yet I know he is there for everyone in the same way. A chorus comes to mind for those still uncertain of the mighty God we have, it goes like this: 'O taste and see that the Lord is good.'
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord

the power of Jesus

Jesus power working in us is able to do so much more than we can ever ask for, or even think of. Ephesians 3:20
Do you ever feel it? do you ever experience the power of Jesus working in you?
Caryll Houslander wrote: I was in an underground train, a crowded train in which  all sorts of people jostled together, going home at the end of the day. Quite suddenly I saw in my mind,but as vivid as a wonderful picture, Christ in them all.......living in them, dying in them, rejoicing in them, sorrowing in them. I came out into the street and walked a long time in the crowds. It was the same thing there, on every side, in every passerby---- Christ.
How do you experience Christ in the world?  For me, its in every face of the older people and its in the focused eyes of the Rosella only inches from my face, looking as intently at me as I him. Its like looking directly at God.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

The Lord is good.

O taste and see that the Lord is good. Psalm 34:8 
Sometimes there is nothing better in the moment than sharing 'how to love the Lord' with others who want to do likewise. Its like an electricity among us all.
I was at Wagga Wagga yesterday talking to a lovely group of pastoral carers on matters to do with spirituality and aging and it was a Christ filed day with the added 'showers of blessings' in the travel:Rich green paddocks dotted with mother sheep and lambs, paddocks chequered with bright yellow canola, naked trees filled with white sulpha crested cockatoos, wattle trees lining the roadside, hills standing proud and everything so fresh with the fallen rain. The biblical imagery was racing through my thoughts: I am the good shepherd, I know my sheep. Lift up your eyes unto the hills from whence comes your help. In pastures green he leadeth me. The hills and valleys clap their hands. And God created, and the seventh day he rested. Don't you love it. Don't you love to take the Lord with you when ever you go out. Don't you love to taste and see that the Lord is good?

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

bridge building

Jesus said: I am the way, the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6
So often in our daily life we are there for others helping them over some difficult situation or just being there to see them through.
Something struck a cord (must be the deacon in me!) when I read this Aotearoa psalm. It said:
There are times in life when we are called to be bridges, not a great monument spanning a distance and carrying loads of heavy traffic, but a simple bridge to help one person from here to there over some difficulty such as grief, fear, loneliness: a bridge which opens the way for ongoing journey.  Our daily life is such a God given privilege isn't it?  Building bridges for others and what a blessing when someone else is a bridge for us.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

in God's strength

Behold, I am the Lord.Is anything too difficult for me. Jeremiah 32:27
Visions and dreams, goals and aims, hearts longing and desires and at times the dreaming seems too big for us alone.
The value of putting God first in all things is what enables the dreaming  to become a reality and a song of all sorts to sing in our heart.
'What matters is not the size of the mountain, but the strength of the mountain mover.' (anon)
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

volcano's, Capadocia Turkey

spreading the gospel

I want you to know, beloved, that what has happened to me has actually helped to spread the gospel. Phil 1:12
I think of us all and how we have got to where we are, Christian believers,servants of Christ. I think of the road, the journey,that has led us to a solid faith, one so convincing that we can not help  but spread it everywhere we go and particularly in the areas immediately around us and with those we reach out to with the love of Christ. I was listening to the garden show on the radio and they were talking about a particular weed that develops a seed pod and once you touch that pod its seeds go 'woooooosh' up in the air and outwards and land all over the ground around the plant. The name of the plant is 'Jumping Jesus.' What imagery. What a parable,   I want to say, go jump for Jesus!!
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne,servant of the Lord.

you are precious

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies yet not one of them is forgotten in God's sight? But even the hairs of your head are all counted. Do not be afraid, you are more valuable than many sparrows. Luke 12:6-7
What a welcome to the day, the birds know how to do it. ....they sing it in! Magpies warbling and kookaburras laughing. (have you ever heard a baby kookaburra trying to laugh? Its hard to keep the smile off your face.  Today was a bonus blessing as I watched some sparrows outside my study window. They were gathering around the maiden hair fern pots, chatting and chasing each other in a mood of play, feathers ruffled and jumping in and out of a bowl of water under the pots, splashing and singing and I could hear Jesus voice saying. ' you are of more value than many sparrows.' That's mind blowing because I know God loves all he has created, even the sparrow,yet he values us more.
What a wonderful God we have. How have you welcomed in this day? singing?
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Sparrow in the Tomb Garden Jerusalem

solid faith

The Lord is my rock,my fortress and my deliverer. Psalm 18:2
How hard is it to see when you walk through thick fog, as is the case in some of these early winter mornings. Even though the track is familiar, shapes and outlines of the surrounding area seem a bit'spooky.' yet there is a sense of presence that is very real. I knew I was on the right path even though I couldn't see it too clearly. I knew because I could feel the solid rock surface under my feet. I knew because even though viability was just a few feet, God was there, walking this misty morning to. I knew because I was heading to the east where the light of day was filtering  through striving to reach its morning glory. I read this profound statement from an unknown Christian person in China:Faith is putting one's foot down in the mist,and finding a rock.'
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne,servant of the Lord

walking track on a clear day

Jesus by night

There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night. John 3:1-17
An invigorating morning,foggy in its arrival to make a fresh start of a new day. The tree leaves dripping with moisture from the gift of overnight rain and a smell of wet grass emanating from the farm paddocks. As I watched a figure coming towards me, walking nearer and nearer, emerging clearer through the fog and semi dark, I thought of the story of Nicodemus and how he came to Jesus in the night. I wondered what became of Nicodemus as this figure passed me by, with a brief 'hello' and faded back into the dark and fog. I wondered also about the people we meet in our day to day life in their darkness, their night time and I am blessed with the comfort and reassurance that God has them to in the palm of his hand. What a privilege to be with those who come looking for Jesus in their night.

I think of the saying of Edwin Hubble Chaplin:
Every action in our lives touches on some chord that will vibrate in eternity.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne,servant of the Lord

Glorious things

Glorious things of the are spoken.....see the streams of living waters,springing from eternal love. (TIS 446)
Washed clean from the recent rain with a sharpness and a fresh ting of green on the ground and looking like nothing was out of place...that was how the countryside looked this morning. The view down the valley to the foothills of the mountains looked like a master piece of artwork.There were patches of soft pink on grey clouds hovering on the mountain tops and a gentle breeze blessed the freshness of the morning.  And the magpie sang.
Showered with blessings, priceless gifts of God's love, a new day starts and the door to opportunity is wide open.  Opportunity to care and to love and to serve. Opportunity to embrace, to fight for and to seek justice. Opportunity to live and bring others alive.
Speak of the love and blessing from God in all you do this day.

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

lilies of the field

(Jesus said to  his disciples )There for I tell you, do not worry about your life. Luke 12:32
This lovely passage of scriptural encouragement and advice from our Lord should stay with us at all times yet how often do we forget it in the moment. Worry and anxiety about every day things, things here today and gone to morrow seems to be part of every day life for some and in hindsight did the worry change anything?  Jesus must despair with us at times. He must wonder how much does it take to get his message through. The message of faith and trust  in him. I treat myself to three long stems of beautiful lily buds every week or so (they last for ages) and as the buds gradually open over days to reveal an often unspeakable beauty and fill the room with a deep, rich perfume, I am reminded over and over again that Jesus said: 'Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like these.'  To me the lilies are a daily prayer. A daily visual reminder that God is present and in control of all things in our lives. The lilies  are like an icon that can be looked at,admired, yet I  see beyond it, deep into it and discover the richness and beauty and a message from God.

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