A rose is just a rose, or is it?

 The great love of God O how lavishly given. (TIS 164) 

I counted at least seven roses from my sacred space, scattered across the garden surrounding me and if I had to choose my favourite I don't think I could though my favourite perfumed rose is not difficult. Its one that changes colour as it matures from amber to apricot blooms  and is called 'Outback Angel' a rose commemorating the work of the Royal Flying Doctor Service which in itself evokes past memories. When I look at it I see something soaked with love, the love of its creator and its perfume sets my heart singing. I heard this beautiful, captivating saying the other day: 'The perfume of a rose is the breath of angels.' Oh yes, indeed this one is the breath of angels!  Do you see a rose, or do you see what a rose is? God our wonderful creator, how much joy and love he has bestowed on us with his creations and isn't it wonderful to be able to pick a rose and pass it on in love. Next time you see a rose pause, and not only admire its beauty but think of the love it was created with and smell the breath of angels.

Jehovah - shalom. The Lord is peace.

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                    Filled with love.

Hello little ones.

 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love. Psalm 143:8

I had a real sense that I was living heaven on earth this morning when I was blessed, and blessed and blessed again by the gifts of this new day, gifts of happy, joyful, playful twittering and chatter, little balls of brown and blue feathers on spindly legs, with long upright tails all sounding ever so happy AND, they came into the sacred space. Yes, you know I am talking about the blue wrens and as Macrina Wiederkehr would say, ' heaven and earth became friends and I felt totally claimed by your love.'  At that point into my heart came the words of that lovely hymn: 'Where the whole realm of nature mine, that were a present far to small, love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life my all.'  What is it that speaks to you of God's unfailing love and faithfulness? And what might we miss if we don't have a sacred space? 

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ,

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                    Hello you!

Things of beauty

O, taste and see, that the Lord is good......for he tastes like honey on the rock. (Christian Hymn) 

It is so quiet in the sacred space this morning and I looked over to the Grevilia bush and thought how glorious it looked clothed  in its new red covering and pondering the thought that yesterday they were just buds, pearl like strings of tight buds full of potential yet to be revealed and there they are today simply glowing, in their glory, and inviting, inviting to be admired, inviting for the bees to gather the nectar, for the birds to come and taste and see.( and I can see one has already  been as there is a tell tale feather hanging off the flowers, a message left of appreciation maybe?) 

The buzz of the bees was a delightful, happy, contented sound that filled my head with increasing joy and again I reflect on the words of Susan-Joy, 'not only has God given you beautiful colour but also a beautiful voice.' Those blooms were a beauty that has sprung out of naught, new born and that so reminded me of how God sees us, how we can become things of beauty springing out of naught.

Jehovah-shalom. The Lord is peace. 

 Anne, servant of the Lord

A tell tale feather.

Song notes bigger than themselves

 Oh, the love of my lord is the essence of all that I love here on earth. all the beauty I see he has given to me and his giving is gentle and silent. (White)

The little flock of  yellow rump finches were having the time of their life in the birdbath. You could tell by watching them that they were happy and full of joy as they splashed, flittered and sang, their little beaks open wide letting out song notes bigger than themselves. It was such a delight to watch and I thought how content they were in their life, how happy and I like to think, so loved by God their creator. I paused, I breathed lightly, a broad smile crossed my face as I thought of our God who gives us such moments for our enjoyment, why? because he loves us. That deep sense of his love not only makes me feel a 'fire within,'   but drives me to love others. Susan-Joy wrote in her book, Sacred in the Sharing:  God is present, always thinking, I love you, I love you, I love you. Let us love each other from now on and forever.

Let the peace of Christ dwell in your heart.

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                 Ah what joy!

Admiring their 'skirts'

 Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin, and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like this. Matthew 6:28

God does that, he clothes, not just the lilies but  all of his creation with their own unique covering, not one the same. I was looking at a eucalyptus tree today and admiring its 'skirts', a full cover of special clothing to be admired, wrapped around its trunk  and marvelled at its uniqueness  and  I took that image to the sacred space and pondered the great love of God who gives us such a variety in his creation  to enjoy and in reality its only visible to us if we have eyes open to see.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                            'skirts'

All earthly joy excels

 We love thy place O God, wherein thine  honour dwells; the joy of thine abode all earthly joy excels. (hymn by William Bullock 1854)

That's how I think of the sacred space where I go to be, just to be, and open  the door of my heart and mind and love to the waiting God. With my cup of tea in hand I was just sitting quietly thinking just you and me God, just you and me, and then  God gave me a little nudge and said what about the sparrow, what about the butterfly, what about the ladybird and all my messages they hold, to say nothing of all of God's creation about me.(and blow me down yesterday if it wasn't  a very large possum scurrying past)   I wonder do they pray to God also in this special place? I know the birds do for they are the first to call in the new day with song (what a lesson we can learn from them!)  I wonder how you see your sacred space? Is it just you and God or are others sharing it with you as gifts and insights into the wonder of God? 

 I love thy place O God where in thine honour dwells; the joy of thine abode and all earthly joy excels.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                Hello there!

Transformation

 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17

I love those unexpected moments of surprise that have the power to bless us and linger into the day and its only if we have our eyes open that we truly see them.  One such surprise came today in the silent beautiful little fairy like butterfly, a delicate, fragile creature, so pretty. Not a sound can be heard as it flies among the blossoms on the Buddleia bush investigating what might be on its breakfast menu.  Watching it I fell into meditation and reflection thinking how such a beautiful creature can immerge from a dark cocoon, how such a thing can be transformed out of darkness into the light. Then I thought of us, of you and of me and our life cycle that is full of transformation and shades of dark and light. I  think this quote speaks to that: Perhaps the butterfly is proof that you can go through a great deal of darkness yet become something beautiful.

The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Anne, servant of the Lord. 

                                                    A delicate fragile creature.

 He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Acts 17:24

My joy and delight was complete when I was asking God what will I see of him today and I had hardly finished my question when  I heard the busy twittering of the blue wrens in the garden, more so perhaps because since living where I now live l have only seen my much loved birds two or three times in as many years  and there they were, busy running up and down the fence and daring to almost come into my sacred space! As I watched them my heart was filled with love and  joy as they are so special and so God given and I thought of the words' where love reigns, the very joy of heaven is felt.' Oh how true.

I like these thoughts by Dr Hugh Ross: Wherever we look in the realms of nature we see evidence of God's design and exquisite care for his creatures, Whether we examine the cosmos in its largest scale or its tiniest ( and I want to add or in his little Blue Wrens) his handiwork is evident. God's fingerprints are visible.

May joy and delight be yours today.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                My joy and delight.

A rugged cross

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true...… I will cling to the old rugged cross. (Hymn The Old Rugged Cross)

Its such a blessing to have trees around my garden that bring  shade,  the colours of the seasons and   are  the homes of  the chattering  and nesting of my feathered friends that are the chorus background to my sacred space and the joy they bring when they strike up the chorus, bath in the birdbath and sunbake on the lawn. As I looked at the eucalyptus tree this morning in its self decorated trunk of countless markings and cross like branches I thought of the old hymn 'The Old Rugged Cross' and was reminded of that line in this hymn that reads....where the dearest and best for a world of sinners was slain. With my hands warming around  my cup of tea my heart too was warming around my love of Jesus  and all he did for me and for you.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                            self decorated trunk.

God is all in all

 Come and take a look at God's wonders, they will take your breath away. Psalm 66:5 (MSG)

There is something about coming across a feather on the ground, its like a message has been left for me and I find myself picking it up, admiring it and taking it home to add to the collection of 'feather messages' in the jar in my sacred space. So many times I come home from my walk, feather in hand. I marvel at the colours, the bird that owned it AND the God that made it. I never cease to be amazed at the creation of God, the detail, the beauty, the 'tidiness' of a feather. Today I didn't have to go far to receive a feathered message, it was right there on the garden table, in my space, left for me by a tiny bird, a winged angel. As I noticed it there  I said to God, Let's have a look at this together and a quietness fell all around me.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Anne, servant of the Lord

Where the felt and the unseen is waiting

And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day. Genesis 3:8-9 

There was a visitor waiting for me at the sacred space this morning, just sitting quietly and patiently on the bright coloured flower that hung over the edge of the garden table. A beautiful bright red ladybird with black spots. As I looked with wonder I thought 'how many more creatures come to this sacred place besides me and do they come for the same reason?  I know when I come here I have a sense of 'all will be well' and I know its a place where the felt, unseen is waiting for my visit! 

As I looked at this tiny creature, a creation of God's imagination, I thought of this prayer by Macrina Wiederkehr: O frail and glorious creature, whoever you are, cherish this truth - there are hints of glory in your being - seeds of splendour and traces of holiness.'

I just love seeing the holy in the ordinary. One doesn't have to go looking for it, one just has to sit and sit and be quiet.

May the Lord of peace himself  give you peace at all times in all ways.

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                A visitor in the sacred space

Is it a unity or a knowing?

 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?  Yet not one of them falls to the ground without  your Father knowing it. Matthew 10: 29 

There seemed to be a unity between us or was it a knowing? I pondered that as with love I watched the way the little sparrows flit between the rails of the fence and run about the garden as if they owned it. One was so bold as to sit on the rim of my tea cup  as I shared tea with God. Happy, happy little feathered balls of grey, brown and white on spindly legs. I sat longer than I had intended in a moment of wonder as I pondered how God loves all his creation even the seemingly worthless sparrow, sold so cheaply in the market places of Jerusalem as food for the poor. And, I though, how much poorer are we if we cannot see God's worth in all of his creation that feeds our body and our soul. These little sparrows are known and cared about by God, as he knows and cares for you and me.

Let the peace of Christ dwell in your hearts.               Anne, servant of the Lord     

                                  

                                        God loves me too!                                                                               

To ponder.

 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me  because he  has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor. Luke 4: 18

From within my sacred space I was looking at the 'love' embedded in the beautiful rose, its formation, its colour, its perfume, only love that could come from God.  As I gazed into this love a gentle breeze touched my face  like a breath of fresh air on a hot day. It seemed to just pass  across my face leaving a sense of what I could only call a deep peace and inner warmth. I just wanted to sit and stay in my sacred space where God felt so close and my prayer for this New Year was  : 'Spirit of the living God fall afresh on me in 2022.' 

What are your thoughts? What is the Spirit saying to you about this New Year?

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                    Emanating love.

Christmas is coming.

 And may the God of love be with you. 2 Cor 13:11

I look at the tinsel and baubles hanging on the garden gate and ponder the meaning of Christmas and then my gaze rests on the nativity scene set on a table by the fence for those walking past to see and reflect on and  I just sit in the mystery of it all in the quietness.   Two words fall into my mind: Christmas and Shalom.  I like to break the word Christmas up holding onto the Christ within it, Christ-mas for with out Christ there is no Christmas. As Christ came into  the world that Christmas nigh to live among us  I pray he will come  and live within us. Then the word Shalom - peace. This is a far deeper meaning than just a sense of peace, its a deep indescribable peace presence not just within our self but within the way we lead our lives and regard our neighbours and all living things.  I have a different feel about Christmas this year. Its a feeling of a deep love for Jesus and the gratefulness that he is in my life, no, that he is my way of live. So be it for you also.

Blessings, love and peace.

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                While shepherds watched their flocks by night

Storms of life.

Hide me under the shadow of your wings. Psalm17:18

Here we are watching, waiting, preparing, embracing the coming of Christmas and I was reflecting on these matters from the sacred space when I saw a baby bird that had been thrown out of the tree along with its nest in the storm that had just been. It was  stunned and anxious as was its mother watching from close by. I picked up the little one and it stood on its feet but was too young to fly.  It hopped off into the bushes where it was comforted by its mother and though still in the storm was feeling safe under her wings. I thought of the storms in our lives and how we flounder and fall away from home.  God is the father/mother that can calm the storms for us and bring peace when caught in the storms of life. What a great feeling it is to know we can run to him and hide under the shelter of his wings. What imagery!

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

                                                Storms of life.
 

Your maker and your God.

 I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys. Song of Songs 2:1

I don't have to go beyond the garden fence to see the beauty of the Lord and everywhere I look is a place of prayer because the imagery reminds me of something of God. I wonder do you find that you cast your gaze on something and immediately and from know where comes God thoughts? I stooped to smell the rich perfume of the deep red rose and immediately thought of an elderly friend and Christ's love we have shared over so many years and I give thanks. I often wonder when our heart is touched how can we pray because sometimes the 'touch' leaves us speechless, then I think of the words of a poem  where it says: 'In sweetest, smiling bloom, declare your maker and your God.' and that's the prayer.

Grace, peace and hope this Advent season

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                        The red, red rose.

Beckoning - come!

 The sun comes up its a new day dawning. Its time to sing your song again. Bless the Lord Oh my soul worship his holy name (1000 reasons by Matt Redman)

A quiet fell all around in the morning stillness as I visited the sacred space, amerced in welcome, beckoning - come - and I came and I saw God everywhere as my gaze fell on the garden about me and rested on the pale yellow and pink aquilegia, or grandma's bonnet as we call them,  and I thought how I had come here, not to seek God's help but to seek him, and as always happens he was there, everywhere, and as I pondered on the Aquilegia, the grandma's bonnet, I thought about and elderly lady who I don't know but who I came to know about through a book I brought in a second hand book shop. Inside the front cover was a note in a  shaky hand which said, ' its me again God, I am here, you are here, you are everywhere. Let us pray together the prayer your Father gave us.' How blessed are we by the simple gifts others leave for us to discover.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                            How blessed are we.

A touched heart

Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see their God. Matthew 5:8

My gaze rested on a spent rose, visible from my sacred space. It had  come to bud, flourished in its life and  brought awe and wonder to many a passer by but now it was fading. It had run the race of life and rested quietly on the bush dropping its petals one by one. As my gaze deepened into meditation I reflected on an elderly lady in our church service in the nursing home, a beautiful Christian lady who faithfully attended and even in her dementia, participated. Since seeing her last time she had deteriorated in health and was now in a day bed seemingly asleep. I looked at her and thought, she is on her way to God . As communion was distributed she was gently tapped on the shoulder to see if she was conscious and her eyes opened wide and in a strong voice said. 'I am still here.'  and received her communion before succumbing to sleep again. It was a wonderful God moment that truly touched my heart. I read a quote  which said: A touched heart means that in some way God has come.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                I am still here!

A smell that is heavenly

 O what a gift, what a wonderful gift - who can tell the wonders of the Lord? Let us open our eyes, our ears and our hearts; it is Christ the Lord it is he! TIS 278

It was the sweet smell, a smell that is heavenly coming from the deep crimson Buddleia bush  which drew me into my contemplation today in my sacred spot and it reminded me of the words of an elderly lady who visited the chapel in the nursing home when her husband was dying , and left me a note, written in a shaky hand, on a small torn off piece of paper  which said. 'Rev'd Anne, can you smell God? When I came to the chapel today it was filled with this beautiful perfume yet there were no flowers in the chapel. So lovely was it that I just wanted to sit awhile and be. Was this God?  she asked.

Be enriched by the  things that come to us when we see in the light. (of God)

May the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways.

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                    Made by God.

Stay awhile with me

My beloved has gone down to the garden, to the beds of spices, to browse in the garden and gather lilies. Song of Songs 6:2

I have come to my sacred space with no shoes on today as I feel God is there before me, waiting, waiting for me to sit and just be. As I do that my eyes fall on the garden and on a flower in front of me, a glorious fuchsia and for several minutes I contemplate on what I am seeing: I look deep into its colours and envisage the creator with his palate of paints deciding which colours to use. 'This one? no, this one -  perhaps that one  - and I think of all the flowers in the garden with their different shapes and colours and sizes, intrinsic detail,  and marvel at the joy God must have had in making them and painting them just for me, just for you, his beloved. It seemed a long time that I sat with God in no hurry to go anywhere. Macrina  Wiederkehr says contemplation is like going to heaven for awhile.

Jehovah - Shalom the  Lord is peace.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                Heads bowed in prayer.

Come Lord Jesus

O you who answers prayer. Psalm 65:2

The invitation is there in my sacred space in the garden, for God to join me for a cup of tea, or was it him who invited me there?

However, as we sat I pondered on a cluster of sticks, seemingly dead in a pot at my feet and thought, ' It's time I threw that out' but then I saw a tiny bud, a sign of hope, swelling on a fragile stick and I was curious. I must tend to that and nurture it I thought. (Unbeknown at the time, that bud was to turn into a beautiful Fuchsia of pink and purple flowers with their heads bent as if in prayer.)  This seemingly dead stick was to me a symbol, a reminded for me  to watch for the green shoots, new life, and reflect that with God the end is never the end but the beginning of new things.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                Resurection

Tea with God

 Jesus said: 'Come a way with me. Let us go to a quiet place and rest awhile.' Mark 6:31-33

I have a sacred space outside surrounded by my garden and signs of work in progress with pots being filled with dirt for planting,   a shovel leaning on the fence and a little dog exploring and there I sit having invited God to join me with a cup of tea.  In this space the birds are splashing in the birdbath and looking for breakfast among the clusters of colourful flowers whose perfume fills the air and there is silence and there is peace and there is God. Today as I was reflecting and chatting with God he drew my attention to a tree fully washed from overnight rain and it was aglow with raindrops just like someone had flung a multitude of fairy lights over it or as Macrina  Wiederkehr would say its a tree full of angels  and look, see the holiness  wrapped in the ordinary. What do you see from your sacred space as you have tea with God?

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                Fairy lights or angels.

The Lord is here.

 I am with you always. Matthew 28:20

Imagery can be so strong!

Every time I see a flower growing through a crack of the path or out of a stone wall thoughts such as this come to mind:

May you always notice the (dazzling white) flowers growing up between the cracks and may your life be full of little resurrections (Neil Paynter)

May the Peace of Christ dwell in your heart.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                We grow through the cracks in our lives.

Yes, it is I

In your presence there is fullness of joy, in your right hand are pleasures forever more.  Psalm 16:11

Some mornings are just magnificent.........one almighty 'Hello' from God expressed in the sky of deep red, orange and the  fading black of the night. '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 Eckhart 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.'  So very very true.

May the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

Your blessing only

Hearts burning within us. Luke 24. ( and so they saw Christ) 

Sometimes the presence of God's blessings takes your breath away. Sometimes  the blessing is meant to be just yours and it turns into a prayer on your breath. Such blessings often catch you unawares and last a life time. One such blessing came when my ear rested on the merry trilling  song of the Blue Wren and my eyes fell on it brilliant metallic blue feathers. The first blessing this little bird gave me has impacted my life and bonded with me. God's blessings come in many forms, often sighted or heard by just you at that particular time. That is your blessing, God sent.

 Jehovah - Shalom. The Lord is peace.

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                              Darling little things of God.

Caught off guard

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

How lovely are the spring flowers. It's like God opened a window in heaven and poured out his blessings. 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 cant look at a rose bud, or poppy capsule, or pending daffodil and not sense the blessing to come and as for the sweet peas, how can such a glorious perfume fill that small pod?  I read this prayer by Frederick  Buechner: Lord, catch me off guard today, surprise me with some moment of beauty  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.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                The great Love of God O how lavishly given.
 

Morning glory

 Give me joy in my heart, keep me singing, give me joy in my heart I pray.  (New Harvest 58)

So many things wrap my heart in joy but nothing more so than the rising at first light. There is such an urgency and excitement about the dawn - its like a calling - 'Come, it says, come quickly before I pass and we haven't met.'  The sweet song of the blackbird, first call of the morning is saying come, come quickly for my first song is just for those who choose to hear it. But best of all in this morning call is the love of God who fills it all.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                Glorious things of thee are spoken

I just have to be present

 O breath of life come sweeping through us.... O breath of love, come breathe within us TIS 409

What is it that sustains you? There are some things in life that draw me closer to my inner self, that feed my soul, that  beckon me  to be present. Its like a breath-taking sunset that compels you to stop in your tracks in awe, in wonder and delight. The sight hits you deep within and communes with your soul. Likewise the beautiful little honeyeater getting its joy from deep within a flower as it feeds on the nectar that fills it with delight. If you are close enough to it you will see the rapture in its eyes. And I am  draw by the perfume in the evening air  coming from the vine of sweet-peas and I just have to be present.  What is it that sustains you?  I am reminded of the Latin phrase 'The Vestigia Dei - the fingerprint or footprint of God.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

Fill thou my life O Lord I pray

Here is seed for you.

 Here is seed for you, go and sow the land. Genesis 47:23

These words thread  right through our understanding of passing on the word of God. Any plant seed that is given to us and planted will grow but if we leave it on the bench it will wither and die. Some of the biggest Oak trees I have ever seen in my life were in Sherwood Forrest in the UK yet they grew from a tiny acorn. I love to stand under a big tree and ponder on its journey from the small seed to this massive growth of branches and leaf canopy. If no one is about I might talk to it and tell it what a miracle it is. As for the blossom trees, how come such a tiny seed can produce not only a tree but beautiful blossoms. How does all of that fit in a tiny seed? What a wonderful God. We are full of the seeds of knowledge of our Saviour Jesus Christ, sown into us by someone where it has grown and blossomed. Life changing, life filling, life meaning. Never underestimate the power of a seed, sown it will grow.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                            

                         I ponder on how many seeds have grown from this original one..

Feathered blessings

 For he is our peace. Ephesians 2:14

Isn't it a great space to be in with yourself when you feel you could just sit and watch the birds in the bird bath all day long as they splash, paddle and sing spring songs. I see them as little feathered blessings and such pondering gives me a great feeling of rest, peace and quiet, a feeling that says 'just stay where you are and let the world roll by'  But its more than that, its a feeling of the presence and Jesus and that's why its hard to pull away from it. Into my mind comes a picture of the disciples sitting on a hillside with Jesus filled with love.

Jehovah - Shalom. The Lord is peace.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                    Such delight!

Skies of blue, clouds of white

 

For in him all things were created. Col 1:16

Whether it’s a thick fog full of mystery, a storm of lightening and clashing thunder, a brilliant sunrise, an even more brilliant sunset, crashing waves on the sea shore, birds of every type filling our skies or flowers, a kaleidoscope of colour in the garden, it is all made by the hand of God our creator and I say, 'When you see the beauty around you, let each little detail remind you to lift your head in praise.' O God, our God, how wonderfully you have made it all for our joy and delight.

I love that song which goes:  I see the skies of blue, clouds of white, the bright blessed day, the dark sacred night and I say to myself, what a beautiful world. (Louis Armstrong)

Each day. Every day lift your head and thank God for all you see.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                   Yes, he made you too!

 

Lost in wonder love and praise

For this is how God loved the world. John 3:16

Jesus would say: 'Loose yourself in me and find my love.' Oh how I love to do that. It can be as simple as looking into the face of a beautiful flower, or a passing moment when you turn the  corner in the garden and its filled with the perfume of the sweet peas or roses, or it can be looking into the eyes of the rosella who slowly turns its head away from the bush of berries it is feeding on to give you a look of knowing. And its so easy to feel that love  sitting with a group of elderly people in the nursing home service singing 'The great love of God O how lavishly Given.' Loose yourself in me and find my love, says Jesus.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                Its all God's love

The morning stars sang

God of unchanging power, when the heaven and earth were made, the morning stars sang together and the host of heaven shouted for joy: open our eyes to the wonders of your creation. (APBA portion of the prayer of the week)

 Every night, last thing before I hop into bed, I go outside and say good night to God as I look up to the night sky. The bright moon - the multiple millions, no billions of stars, winking at the earth, all taking their places in the universe and order of things and I am in wonder and awe of our God. Somehow it leaves me with a great sense of love and peace. 

Camille Pissarro said: Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where others see nothing.

Peace.

Anne, servant of the Lord. 

                                                            God is in his house.

The banquet house

 He brought me to the banqueting house and his intention towards me was love. Song of Solomon 2:4

Simple joys can be found every day  if we are open to them. We can look with our eyes and not see or we can look with our soul and see so much. For a week or more now I have been watching the roses budding. The swelling of the bud with a hint of colour showing through its tip is a daily watch of expectation. Expectation of what is hidden, of what is to come and the wonder of all through  its phases of its life until it reaches its full potential -  perfect formation in its layers of petals, or layers of skirts as Mary Oliver would say, and the perfume well, as we say, is heavenly and yes, there are thorns but they also have a message. I think I will call the garden the 6th gospel, full of messages and stories that link us to God. (The 5th gospel is claimed in biblical Israel when you follow in the footsteps  of Jesus)

Enjoy all you see with the eyes of your soul. Pause in wonder and see through it to God.

Jehovah - shalom. The Lord is peace.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                            God's love

Sing your spirt into joy.

 My peace I leave with you. My peace I give you. John 14:27

The endurance of us all in lockdown is perhaps running a bit thin. We have mixed feelings. Perhaps we are keen to resume some form of more natural living or perhaps we might want to just stay in our own home bubble, either way our spirit is probably waning. Around my garden and on my permitted walk I find my spirit is lifted considerably as I see, with more awareness, the beauty of spring, the birds of the air and sense the perfume of flowers. Have they all been more obvious because we are living in a quieter, stiller life and how do we retain that when life resumes again in all its business? Thoughts for reflection and prayer.

Joyce Rupp writes: The loveliness of a single flower in radiant bloom can sing my drooping spirit into joy.

May the Lord of Peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                A thing of beauty.

Where green shoots grow

 'I am the resurrection and the life.' says the Lord. John 11:25

Something stirs in my spirit when I look at a dead tree stump that is rich with new growth. The stirring is of God, the image is of God, the thoughts are of God.

Joyce Rupp said: A green shoot grows out of an old stump, announcing to the world that power lies in death. 

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                Faith in resurrection.

God's hour

 Strength and beauty are in his sanctuary: Psalm 96:6

There is such an urgency and an excitement about the dawn of a new day. Its like a 'calling' that can't be resisted. 'Come, 'it says, 'come quickly before I pass and we haven't met.'  The air is still and the morning light is infused with colour in anticipation of the rising sun. The dew is still on the grass and little notes of morning welcome, the only sound to hear, comes from within the trees as a little bird sing its praises of a new day. I picture it standing tall on its spindly legs, head held high and its tiny beak wide open sending forth note after note of praises to God.  I like to think it is singing morning praises to God, just as I do when I am 'called' to see the dawn. I reflect on the words of  William Wordsworth who said: Blessed was it that dawn to be alive.

Jehovah -shalom. The Lord is peace.

Anne, servant of the Lord

And the little bird sings.

God in full view.

 You are before me, Lord, you are behind, and over me you have spread out your hand; such knowledge is too wonderful for me, to high to grasp, to great to understand. TIS 87

I read a quote which said: 'Life should be a constant vision of God's presence.' (Maclaren) and I found myself nodding in agreement as I watched the bulging life giving drops of water run off the end of the eucalyptus leaves not only marvelling at their jewel like colour as the sun shone through them but also reflecting on the 'living water' that Jesus offers us and the sustenance it gives his creation. Then I can turn around to see the swelling buds on the rose bushes and think of the potential of beauty amidst the thorns, of pain and of glory, and then the spring bulbs that have risen from the dark earth into the light and in the corner of the garden other flowers have heads bent in prayerful posture. There is very little space that I turn to that is not filled with God's presence. It's like something that is always with you, and it is,- always with you, for God is never far away. Learning to live in the vision of God's presence comes when we learn how to live in the moment day by day, when God is near and worries are far off.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                Heads bowed in prayer.

Do you look under the bed at night?

 Fear not for I am with you. Isaiah 41:10

I hear so many say, 'O yes, I trust God,' yet they are compelled to look under the bed at night before they hop in!' I think all of us have probably done that at some stage in our life but that's before we really and truly put our full trust in God, before we really and truly knew him. When I look at the spring flowers of the garden that faithfully reappear every season and the new fresh green growth on the barren winter nakedness of the trees I am inclined to believe in full trust. I see the baby birds growing up in the so fragile looking  nest that seems to just cling to a branch, vulnerable to the wind , yet it stays there. Now that is trust.  There is so much going on in the world that can alarm us but.- Trust in the Lord with all your heart.(Proverbs 3:5)

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                                        Trust!

Have the vines budded?

 Let us go early to the vineyards to see if the vines have budded, if their blooms have opened, and if the pomegranates are in bloom -there I will give you my love. The mandrakes send out their fragrance and at the door is every delicacy, both new and old, that I have stored up for you, my lover. Song of Songs 7: 12-13

Often I say to God, let us go out and have a look at the garden. Let us go and see and touch and smell all of their beauty and commune together on their mystery and your creation. The garden I find is full of the scriptures, in fact every living thing is God's words in life and how much more aware of that are we after the spring bulbs have pushed their way through the cold dark earth to blossom into a thing of great beauty and delight. They tell of death and life, of the flowers of the field that blossom and fade away and of the 'glorious thing of thee that are spoken.'   Sit in the garden with God and commune on his marvellous handiwork which he created to shower us with his love and fill us with his joy.

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

                                            Glorious things of thee are spoken

Love God

 The Great love of God O how lavishly given. TIS 164

I often wake up with this lovely hymn on my mind and am still humming it as I get breakfast. The love of God who gave us his Son Jesus and this beautiful world we live in and the joy of that is something I want to shout to the world. I want to say come, taste and see that the Lord is good.  I had been sharing an agape meal on zoom with a small gathering and this beautiful prayer was said: Beloved friend, stay in love with God. As God's light shines in your lives, shine that light into your world. Our meal here is ended, but God's banquet continues. Take the banquet into the world, and never give up until all people are fed. Ah yes, stay in love with God and - Go in peace to love and serve the Lord

Anne, servant of the Lord 

                                                    For-get-me-not.

God's recreation

Glorious things that speak of God.

 Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole world is full of his glory. Is 6:4

I say amen to that! Having just come in from a walk around the garden I am 'full of the images of God's glory.' Not just from the colour of the glorious spring flowers and the perfume filled air but also with the song of the birds and the chatter and business of a pair of wattle birds as they gather and feed their young in the nest. I marvel at the birds ability to build such a structure that withstands wind and rain and is hidden among the branches and leaves for safety. God has given every living thing gifts, even the birds of the air and the flowers with their beauty to give joy. Well we can pray: For the beauty of the earth, for glorious things that speak of you, dear Lord we give you thanks.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                Glorious things of you are spoken.

Sparkling like gems.

 Glorious things of you are spoken. TIS 446

What a delight. Following the rain as the sun shone on the flowering bush in the garden it was alight with hundreds of what looked like fairy lights, drops of rain hanging from each flower tip, bursting with the water of life,  sunlit, sparkling like gems and it was a loveliness that spoke of God. As I meditated on the delight before me a thought came from the back of my mind of something I had read which said: 'O thou whose eternal presence is hid behind the veil of nature.'  And it was, and is. God is always in his creation it just needs us to be still and focused enough on him to see it.

Blessings in abundance on the gift of a new day.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                What a delight!

Feed your soul

 Sing to the Lord a new song, play skilfully, and shout for joy. Psalm 33: 3

What a glorious spring morning and I am out to find a space in the gardening where God can work with me. Where he can refresh my thoughts and build on relationship, where true joy may be found, where the winged birds of the air will fill it with song and nestle busily in the Grevilia   for their daily feast of nectar. Its all a feast that feeds the soul and can be found right at my doorstep. Where, I wonder do you feed your soul?

Jehovah - shalom. The Lord is peace.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                God's gifts.

Scatter the fragrance.

 Send out fragrance like incense and put forth blossoms like a lily. Scatter the fragrance and sing a hymn of praise; bless the Lord for all his works. Ecclesiastes 39:14 

I paused. I  looked. I touched. I smelt. I marvelled. There is something deeply spiritual about just wandering in the garden, humming quietly that familiar hymn that just always comes to mind when we look at the awe of God - 'How Great Thou Art.' In my wandering I look at every flower in detail and I look to its creator. Such intricate work, such beautiful design, such glorious colours, such  joy and every flower filled with its own special fragrance that infuses my mind with memories.

Fanny Robinson wrote: Thus musing in a garden nook, each flower is as a written book, and rich the stores of Holy thought, that by these blossoms fair are brought.

Peace to those who are near and peace to those who are far off.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                 

                                            Oh, what a gift what a wonderful gift.

Heavenly hosts.

 Who is the King of Glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of Glory. Psalm 24:10

I recall as a child being shattered when someone told me there was no such thing as angels. 'But there has to be' was my response. 'God talks about them, they are his helpers.' This person couldn't be convinced and I went away saying to myself, ' Anyway, I know there is, I have seen them.'   Our earthly journey is accompanied by 'members of the Heavenly hosts,' those who come alongside to console, empower and encourage us.  We don't always recognise  it when we are being 'unwittingly entertained by angels.' and its often in hindsight that it becomes  obvious. I suspect at in todays world of pandemic, floods and bushfires with so much happening that the 'heavenly hosts' are very busy, even just in our neighbourhoods during lock down. Perhaps you have been visited by one? Perhaps you are one?  I thank God for his angels and this morning especially I pray that they are present among  many in Afghanistan.

May the Lord of Peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

Earthly angels.