Have you seen God today

One day Jesus was praying.......when he had finished one of his disciples said to him. ' Lord, teach us to pray.' Luke 11:1
One of the greatest most powerful, most humbling experiences we can have with God  is those occasions when we find ourselves and him alone together and he says 'here is a gift for you.' Those moments can come in a flash: When I see a tree of brilliant autumn colour - and there is just me and God. or when I see the fog weaving its way through valley and trees - and there is just me and God. And recently after the rain the tiny brown spotted frogs on my pathway - and there is just me and God. Gifts from God as he stands there with me handing them out one by one. Gifts that linger and stay with you in memory.  I love these gifts. Its like having something special in your pocket, you put your hand  it in and pull it out again being blessed every time by God's presence.  When we are gifted with an awareness of God's presence in prayer we savor every moment of it, we let God hold us and carry us, as a sea holds and carries the boat.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ

Anne, servant of the Lord.

Treasure the moments

Our Father in Heaven Hallowed be thy name. (The prayer that Jesus taught us)
In all my years of Christian faith, and that is all my life, I am still so in awe of our God and the communications we have through prayer. So many forms of prayer, so many openings to the prayer conversations together and so much trust in him 'who keeps us from falling'  No one knows me or you like he does. I was so touched by the fresh feel of the morning with the soft tinges of pink on the horizon, a valley of soft mist, that it sets of a spontaneous conversation with God, I love it when that happens.  I have some favourite introductions to some prayers and  some have been with me all my life. Do you have some favourite words with God as well? I like the powerful words from our confirmation service: 'Defend O Lord, this thy child with thy heavenly grace; that she/he may continue thine forever......' and I have. And this one( O how rich the collects are)  A great opening to prayer, a collect that puts us on our knees every time we say it: Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known and from whom no secrets are hidden (Collect of Purity) Prayers for all occasions, special prayers that travel with us through life, holding us up, carrying us.  Treasure the moments.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

even a tree stump is a place of prayer.

strong roots

As you are being rooted and grounded in love. Ephesians 3:17
When we look at an old gum tree standing strong and firm in the earth, well grounded and held up by strong roots and when we see ships tightly tethered and anchored at the wharf because the forecast is predicting storms, and when we see homes being built we see they are laid on a strong foundation but what of us? What gives us our anchor, our foundation, our deep roots that allows us to survive the battering of storms in our lives?  Sooner or later stressful situations will enter all our lives, some such a storm that they will strike like an earthquake. Its a 'wobbly world' and at times an  unsafe society but we know where our refuge is, our port, our strength to stay strong. Its in our Lord and Saviour, the risen Lord Jesus Christ. You know, in the bible there are 365 'fear nots' or the equivalent. - one for every day of the year - God given.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord

Divine presence

I love thy place O God wherein thy honour dwells. (Hymn)
It is so easy in this very busy world to 'go and do'  in our name and not in the name of Jesus. At times we may well know that what we do we do in Christian love and service but sometimes that sense of 'God awareness' just might be hidden below the surface of our busy lives. At times there is also a sense of having to reconnect, to remember that in every life we meet and touch that God is present. Those among us who exercise service ministry with  the lost, the isolated, the disadvantaged and those on all areas of the edges of society know deeply that God is as present in them as in us and that is where our passion comes from. That recognition  and respect that we are all God's children.
Joyce Rupp has these words to say about God awareness: 'I hope that I constantly remember that God dwells within others as well as myself and that should pave a way of how I see and treat others.'
And she offers this prayer. 'Dear God. I love the deep feeling of  connectedness and humility I feel when I place my hand over my heart and say - God dwells in here - thank you God.' Try that now, place your hand over your heart and feel God's presence, it will stay with you as a morning blessing.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Purpose

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. (APBA)
Easter has been. We have again lived the journey through Holy Week. We have carried the cross for Christ,washed feet, prayed in the garden,feasted at the Passover,  wept at the cross and been raises up again with the loud hallelujah's of Easter morning as we sing praises to the risen Christ. After that journey are you ready to go into the world refreshed, affirmed and with hope to love and serve the Lord?  Go gently, don't rush away from the Easter experience, let it sit awhile with you.Mary Oliver says:  Around me the  trees stir in their leaves and call out 'stay awhile.' The light flows from their branches. And they call again.'Its simple' they say,' and you too have come into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled with light, and to shine.'
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

Walking with God

Enoch walked with God;then he was no more, because God took him. Genesis 5:24
I read this quote by Rabindranath Tagor.  'For many years at great cost, I traveled through many countries, saw the high mountains and the oceans. The only things I didn't see were the sparkling dew drops in the grass just outside my door.' Any walk we take implies that step by step we are making progress and that also applies to our walk with God. We need a certain moral fitness and harmony with God to progress in our walk with him. Each day when I walk, morning and evening I could see the flow of the valley to the foot of the mountains and the mountain tops and it can be a blessing but oh how much more a blessing when the walk starts to bring real gems of delight to my spirit. Its when I take in the 'smaller' things that I know I am walking with God. Things like the little shadow that runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset.
Monitor your walk with God and watch your progress into a deeper awareness of him by your side.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Holy week

'Fight the good fight with all your might, Christ is thy strength, and Christ thy right' (TIS 594)
In the Christian life there is a somber feel about this particular week as we journey  with Christ towards the cross and I think particularly of Good Friday. I wonder about the world that surrounded Jesus at that time. A harsh condemning world that saw no way of ridding itself of Jesus other than to destroy him. His only hope of the love of God being kept alive was through a few faithful disciples. What an amazing job they did at the expense of their own lives.  I can recall a time in my life where Holy Week and especially the most holy day of this week, Good Friday were sacred. There was no shops open, there was no hype in preparations to go away for the long weekend, there was no football matches or horse racing. There was a quiet in the community.  In many ways we are few, the followers of Christ, and we need to keep up a vigilance for Him. We need to be more and more out in the world, visible, our voices being heard and our actions being seen.
As a society the significant  Christian festivals were granted as   holidays because they were holy-days. They were granted so society could have a day from work to go to church.
Blessings for your journey this Holy Week.
Anne, servant of the Lord

Inside the church of the Holy Sepulcher the sight of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus in Jerusalem.

Growing love

(Paul writes) May the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow  more and more and become as great as our love for him. Thessalonians 3:12
What a blessing it is to know how God works in our lives. Sometimes we may think its an age, a maturity thing that causes us to grow in love for other people,but not so. Paul says, ' may the Lord make your love  one another and all people grow

. Our love for others comes from the fact that Jesus first loved us and at any age that can motivate us by the power of his Spirit to love others. In our day to day life we touch so many people, often on the edge of society and somehow there is a greater understanding within our selves, a greater understanding of who we are when we know that what we do comes from the Lord.
I think of my love of the elderly and those who are isolated and alone, those with disabilities and my love of all who society passes by, the persons unseen and unlovable.
Who has the Lord made you love?
In the musical Les Miserables there is line. 'To love another person is to touch the face of God.'
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Glorious things of God are spoken

The Lord has done great things for us and we are glad. Psalm 126:3
Think on these things and be blessed:
 The hand of God as he creates each new day from the autumn morning sunrise to the glorious sunset, - skies of breathtaking  colour and beauty. (did you see the glorious sunset last night?) Those soft rays of the first light coming over the horizon touching the mountains and shifting their dark brooding colours into shades of grey and  soft blue and as the morning light travels across the valley all creation stirs into life, orchestrated by the warbling of the magpies. Magnificent! Our God is a mighty God. He reigns.  Lucardo says:
You have been sprinkled with forgiveness. You have been spattered with grace
You have been dusted with kindness, you have been immersed in it
You are submerged in mercy. you are the minnow in the ocean of God's mercy - let it change you.
Blessings for this moment, this day, this week, this life.

Morning has broken

Anne, servant of the Lord.

Talk to God

At Gethsemane, Jesus went off alone and knelt down and prayed. 'Father if you will, take this cup of suffering away from me. Not my will, however, but your will be done.' Luke 22. 41-42
One of our images of the Easter events is the picture of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. He is kneeling alone in deep earnest prayer and he must have been experiencing such inner anxiety in his suffering and confusion. One minute he is asking God to take away his suffering and the next he is submitting to God's will. Its really hard to find peace when something is on our minds. Its really hard to find peace when we have to submit to something we know is right but would rather not have to go through with it. When something is on our mind we have a habit of tossing it about on our beds at night and sleep seems far off. William Barclay tells this story: A pianist said of Chopin's nocturne in C sharp minor: ' All is trouble, until the person in the piece talks with God. Then peace comes.'  The same thing is true of Jesus. He went into the Garden of Gethsemane  in the dark; he came out in the light -because he talked with God. He went into Gethsemane in agony; he came out with peace in his soul - because he talked to God. The same thing is true for us if we talk to God.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord

Garden of Gethsemane

This is God

I will sing forever of your love, O Lord. Psalm 89
What is God? Who is God? So many times people try to answer this question. Its a question that is wrestled with, tossed about, and attempts are made to discern it but you know, for me its a simple as Martin Fisher quotes: 'If you don't know what's meant by God, watch a forsythia branch or a lettuce leaf sprout' and I love the quote (anon) I said to the almond tree: 'Speak to me of God' and the almond tree blossomed. That's God. There is God
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

Sunbeams

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.  TIS 768
There is no way you can go outside an the early morning such as today as the sun breaks through the night, and  not  be in awe of God. The morning is rich in sunrise colour, the earth so fresh from rain and falling from the sky are rays like star dust falling to earth in multiple soft colours. Adeline Cullen Ray says: 'Whenever I see sunbeams coming through the clouds, it always looks to me like God shining Himself down onto us.The thing about sunbeams is they're always there, even though we can't see them.'Same with God.' May we always praise God in wonder over the way he brings our days into the present, arranging the stars and moon to pass and the sun and light to arrive.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord

Keep us Lord

Those who have died believing in Christ will rise to life.....and so will always be with the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 4: 16-17

I think of the elderly I visit at home.
I think of the disability group of a Sunday afternoon
I think of the person behind the shop counter
I think of the man and his dog, homeless, sitting on the street at the local shops
I think of my family and friends
I think of my colleagues and work mates
All the people I engage with in my daily life and I think of those profound words that have stayed with me ever since I first read them. Words of power 'We are entrusted with the words of life.'
Lord, keep me in a sure and confident faith, and let me help others find it.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

Colour is Joy

For each perfect gift divine, to our race so freely given, graces all of your design, flowers of earth and buds of heaven. TIS 137
How 'deeply' do you look at God's creation? I mean, really pause and look deeply, in wonder,at the shape, the design and most of all the colour. We can miss so much in the business of life, brushing past the most beautiful of creations without really seeing it. I make a real point of a garden morning walk in particular, reflecting deeply on it's beauty and its 'fullness of God's gifts. Its a lovely place to be 'God filled ' and I marvel at all the colours he must have had on his painting palette. How big must the options of colours been. Imagine it, dobs of blue, red,green,purple,yellow, black, pink and many many more in all their various shades and him dipping his brush in and painting a rose,sweet peas,lavender,violets, blossoms, autumn leaves. To me when I think about colour I think about joy. Its a rich blessing from God to brighten our day and give us pleasure. It never ceases to amaze me  that our mighty God, in all his majesty and power and dominion can think of such small things as our pleasure and enjoyment. Next time you look at God's created colour, enjoy the moment and breath it in deeply.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

offer to fetch.

I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you. John 14:18
I was reflecting on a pastoral visit I had with an elderly housebound couple that I had visited in their own home. They were very isolated from society, an elderly man caring for his wife for the past 20 years following her debilitating stroke and both were reaching out for some connection, just that human presence,  that human touch.Someone to journey with spiritually into the ending phases of their life. I thought of many people whose paths we tread as we bring Christ's love in friendship to the isolated and housebound. I found myself answering my own question of how to minister to these people and a small verse from a poem by Jean Harris came to mind:
Offer to fetch, Offer to carry. Offer to lend a hand. Offer to listen. Offer to stay. Offer time.......
to understand.

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

O what a gift.

The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. Proverbs 4:18
I just love to go to those places of solitude where you can sit and ponder and reflect and view the day or plan its path with God. Somehow when I do that everything that weighs heavily or everything that need discernment, or everything that needs righting, or everything that needs God's love just seems to fall into perspective. Right outside my front door as I look onto the hill some distance away I can see a seat. It is just placed there for walkers to sit and rest awhile and some locals even sit there with their cup of tea in hand and survey all they can see  and what a view. Its absolutely magnificent, right across the valley and onto the mountain range and beyond and is coloured with the seasons and  with the reflection of the rising sun in the east or a full blown glorious sunset in the west.
Rob Sagendorph said: Climb up some hill at sunrise. Everybody needs perspective once in awhile, and you will find it there.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

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