Glorious things of you are spoken.

 May the Lord rejoice in his glorious works. Psalm 104

We always get so much joy and delight from God's glorious works especially when we have our 'spiritual eyes on' and we rejoice. But how often do we think of God as rejoicing at his glorious works be they the creation of ourselves or the wonderful world we live in. Recently home from a wonderful retreat in Alice Springs gave me a greater opportunity to stop and gaze in wonder at God's glorious works and share my delight with him and thank him for what he has created from the most delicate, perfect wild flowers and every shape and design of the gum nuts, to the magnificent desert landscape. Indeed, may the Lord rejoice in his glorious works. May he shout it from the mountain tops to the ocean and may we praise him for it  knowing he created all for our delight.

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

                                                Made by God.

As a river flows so may your peace flow.

 Jesus said: I give you peace, the kind of peace that only I can give. John 14:27

It can be so hard to look at the daily news with so much trauma, distress, hardship, death and destruction in our beautiful world. Man against man and nature against climate change. Where do you find peace, that peace that Jesus offers? I get a great sense of  it when I sit reflecting, in the sacred place, just me, God and quiet, the birds and the beauty of the spring garden - God's glory abounding in all my senses and I find my cup is full for the day. Remember that song which goes, 'Peace is flowing like a river, flowing out through you and me.'  If we have that deep peace of Christ we can bring so much peace through him not just to ourselves but also to others.

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

Blossoms fall like confetti

The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field, the wind blows over it and it is gone. Ps 103:15-16

What a picture the whole of  the spring countryside is. The wattle by the road side seems more yellow than ever and the pink  blossoms are shedding their flowers, falling like confetti, leaving a floral artwork across the ground and as for the sacred space, well what a place to sit and be with God in a garden of spring colours, perfume and delight  backed by a chorus of  birds singing their morning songs. An elderly lady said to me recently, ' I look more deeply and with more delight every season. I pause taking it all in, the sights, the colour and think to myself enjoy, reflect, smell, stay awhile for I may not be here to enjoy it when it comes around again.'   Just like the flowers, our life is short but oh so much richer if we  stay awhile with God and pause and reflect.

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

God's love.

A place to snuggle into

 Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings. Psalm 17:8-9

Its interesting to observe in the bird life how its often the male that is charged with the responsibility of looking after the babies. I think of the blue wren as an example, keeping watch over a flighty clutch of babies, trying to keep them safe from harm while at the same time learning how to live in a big world and I think how like our Heavenly Father nurturing and caring for us and keeping us safe. I love the image of keeping us under the shadow of his wings, a place we can run too when we are in need of protection and shelter or simply comfort, a place to snuggle into and with that image I also reflected on a family of ducks I see at the lake who keep their babies close by so any signs of danger or any need for comfort they just go for the shelter of 'under the wings' of the parent. May we stay close enough to God to be well within reach of  his comfort and shelter.

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

Clear image.

 As water reflects the face, so one's life reflects the heart .Proverbs 27:19

There is nothing more stunning than seeing a beautiful reflection in still water. Sometimes it difficult when looking at  a reflection to see which is the real and which is the reflection.  In a beautiful way we can also look at ourselves and see what our heart reflects about us in the eyes of those looking on. Does it reflect the life and love of Jesus? -  Reflect on this for a moment - Imagine looking into a pool of still water and not seeing the reflection of your face instead you see the face of Jesus looking back at you! 

The  grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.         Anne, servant of the Lord.

By still waters

Thankful under the beauty of the stars and moon for all of God's creation. (Celtic Liturgy) 

I guess for me the sacred space at night holds great awe and wonder topped with the air filled fragrance of the garden, as I pause before turning in to be, as the Celtic liturgy says, thankful under the beauty of the stars and moon for all of God's creation.' How long is it since you paused to take in the floating clouds across the night sky, like ships in the night, or the silver so distant, yet so close moon, or the countless millions of stars glittering in the velvet sky like little lights punching through holes of darkness?  Its in the gazing of the vastness of the universe that the magnitude and awe of God is seen  and my final night prayer goes up in praise: Let your Glory Lord fall in this space - let your fragrance rest in this space.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.  Anne, servant of the Lord

In stillness and quiet I find my rest

Side swept by loveliness

 So that by God's will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company. Romans 15:32

I recall  a drive down a country road taking a day of respite from work and refreshing with a 'spiritual journey' where just God and I in the car set off to see his wonders in creation. At one stage I came to a stop and pausing in moment to look on the flowers growing on the side of the road and as Joyce Rupp would say, 'I was side swept by their loveliness.' With nothing except me and them, all other thoughts had left my mind now filled with beauty and a kaleidoscope of colour - A God moment. Did I go home refreshed? Indeed I did.  Going for a drive or a walk does wonders for the spirit.

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

                                                Roadside blessings

A stilling prayer

 Let us enlist our lives in continuous celebration of God's goodness and greatness. Psalm 145 (Psalms Now. L.E.Brandt)

The sacred space is again bathed in morning light with the coming of spring. Its soft, its peaceful, its quiet except for the joy of the twittering song of  little birds that are also enjoying the change of season, such happy little things like balls of feathers on tiny stick legs. As for the spring flowers and blossoms, well they are just packed with love from God, full of colour and incense. If we stop long enough, I mean really stop long enough, we can feel the power of God holding it all together around  us He is present. He is there. He is all in all.  I often use this quote from Colin Arquhart as a stilling prayer at the day hospice.

The light of God surrounds me. The love of God enfolds me; The power of God protects me. Where I am - God is. 

Jehovah - Shalom. The Lord is peace.  Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                               Where I am God is.

God bless the Queen

 I am among you as one who serves. Luke 22:27

This is one of my favourite verses from the bible and has been the backbone of my ministry. I recall the words of William Penn when he said ' I expect to pass through life but once. If, therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do for any fellow being, let me do it now, for I shall not pass this way again.'   I heard a similar saying from a speech the late Queen Elizabeth the 11 gave when she said :'we are all persons in this life just passing through. May we do our very best to care for all who come our way. ' May we take into our hearts and minds the great Christian love and devotion and service to God and people  as shown to us by our late Queen.

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

                                                Queen Elizabeth 11

God's whisper

 Ever whispering God. (Collect for 13th Sunday after Pentecost)

Ever whispering God, whispering in our hearts and minds in the still of the night and the rush of day. Whispering in the gentle breeze. Whispering in the beauty of the  blossoms of the prunus and wattle tree. Whispering in the sweet perfume of the spring flowers in the garden that greet me every time I open my front door.  Whispering in the first bird call of the morning. Whispering in the love of a puppy.

Ever whispering God, keep our ears and eyes open to hear your whispering.

Jehovah - shalom. The Lord is peace.     Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                Whispering in the wattle tree.

The mark of faith.

 In Christ alone my hope is found. He is my light, my strength, my song. Psalm 62

I was driving home from Goulburn reflecting on the things the deacons had shared at the cathedral and into my mind came the words of Joyce Rupp when she says 'Driving along in my car - my little hermitage on wheels. ' (Don't you love that.)  It was on that drive I reflected on two things I discovered at the cathedral that over all these years, had never known. One was the bricks that pave the foyer and along the isles of the cathedral which are from the original cathedral and were made by convicts. On the back of them is an arrow, the convicts mark. Then down the isle among an array of  the bricks was a Cross carved into one of the bricks, its origin unknown. These were the marks left by the builders. In Israel the Crusaders left the mark of their cross on the columns and massive road pavers. Where, I wonder have you left your mark?  I don't advocate walking about carving crosses on columns but have you left your mark of faith on the lives of those who God puts in your path ?  

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.   Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                The cross in the brick.

Quiet pools of stillness

 Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Psalm 62:1

There is a Chinese proverb that reminds us that we can not see ourselves in running water. We need those quiet pools of stillness for reflection.  This morning as I opened the blinds in the early morning light I pauses and my gaze fell on the scene before me - the green of the grass was glistening with a frost like a  million sparkling diamonds as the sun rays ran across the ground and up the pure white trunks of the eucalypt trees. The air was still - I was still - and I stayed there for quite a moment admiring the handy work, the beauty of God's created new day, the peace and pondered the things of the day before me. Pause,  just a small moment of pause, can centre us and set the entire day on a different course.  The moment was so special that I know it will come into my mind many times during the day, that stillness, that quiet. 

Jehovah - shalom. The Lord is Peace.  Anne, servant of the Lord.

A frosty morning  stillness

Pockets of perfume

 How great is our God, sing with me how great is our God and all will see how great is our God. (Christian song)

The change in the air is obvious that spring is around the corner and even the sacred space has had a change with the perfume of the spring flowers, especially the abundance of violets, filling the air and as I look at these little pockets of perfume and colour, fragile in amongst the larger plants yet smiling boldly my thoughts go to God, our God who is so mighty and so powerful who can create the  massive mountains of the Himalayas, throw stars into the night sky and with the same hands form such delicate, small beauties as the violet. Wow!

Joyce Rupp says: Even the frailest beauty can enthral.

Let the peace of God dwell in your heart.      Anne, servant of the Lord.

,                                                 Little beauties.

They shone in a different light

 Bless us from all places where you dwell. Psalm 134

I was looking at the group of people out for a walk from the nursing home, people I have to come to know well, and as they approached I suddenly saw them in a different light. I saw them as God's children and therefore siblings. The image was, as Joyce Rupp would say, ' an explosion of God's love.'  Thich Nhat Hanh believes that 'we have to look deeply at things in order to see and then the beauty comes home to our souls, moving us to wordless knowing.'

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

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                    We are all God's children and therefore siblings.

a tree or a patch of green grass

 I'm asking God to give you a gift from the wealth of his glory. I pray that he will give you inner strength and power through his Spirit. Eph 3:16 (ESV)

Thich Nhat Hanh said: 'Here is the foot of a tree; here is an empty, quiet place, here is the cool green of the grass my child, why don't you sit down.'   And you know, when we do that especially after an exhausting day, what relief, what calm. To sit in a sacred space, alone with God, just feeling the peace with the fragrance of the world calming the mind. Such a  place is peace, is rest,  is strength,   is renewing, is calm, is God.  It's such a lovely space that you get a sense of never wanting to leave it, so go, sit at the foot of a tree (or on its branches) or find an empty space, or a patch of fresh green grass and just sit, sit with God.

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

                                                    Resting on the branch of the tree -peace.

From little things, big things grow.

 Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders ? Psalm  33:8

From small seeds something big or beautiful will grow. I can hold an acorn in the palm of my hand and admire the shininess of its shell and the neatly fitting cap on one end and think to myself, that hasn't been made in a hurry with no thought, that is neatly and perfectly crafted and its packed with a power we can't see, a power to create a massive oak tree. How does God do that?  How then does he create a small brown nut like  seed that turns into the beautiful flower clusters of the Daphne with their stunning memorable perfume, smell it and you feel like you are in heaven among the incense of the angels. How does God do it?  How does he change a small seed into something big or something  beautiful?  I believe somethings have to remain a mystery and just marvel at what a magnificent God we have, and I add, go and look in the mirror and you will see what he has done with something that started so tiny, yet is packed with potential.

The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                        Acorns full of a great Oak tree.

Same same but different.

 Is anything too wonderful for the Lord. Genesis. 18:14

Not only were the two wattle birds delighting in the nectar of the Grevilia bush  but they were also delighting in the drops of water falling all over them from the water sodden  leaves of the nights rain. I looked at them, almost identical but no, there is a slight shift of colouring in one of them. Then my eye caught the beauty of the deep blue violets amidst a cluster of healthy leaves, almost identical but no, a slight difference in their size and in some their shape and in colour to the bunch next to them. I looked from the birds to the flowers in wonder at our God, who creates the same yet makes them different.  And so it is with us, with you and me, As Max Lucado says: When God made you, the angels stood in awe and delight and declared, ' We have never seen one like that before.' And they never will again!

Peace to you beyond all understanding.   Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                    Spot the difference.

Packed with wonder and delight

Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderous things . Psalm 119:18

Ah, the daphne is out full of clusters of flowers packed with perfume, delight and memories. As I stooped to take in it's delight to the eye and nose I was drawn to reflect on the words of Eva Jackson when she wrote: 'I was drawn like a bee to pollen - nose to flower and it rested for a second on the fragile sense of wonder -saying nothing - knowing such moments can be trampled by the smallest word.  How much do you treasure the God moments in your sacred space? How much do you see beyond what is right before your eyes? How much do you yearn for those 'God moments' to stay and not be trampled on?

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

                                                Memories are made of this!

Come, come and be with me.

 The hand of the Lord God fell upon me there. Ezra 8:1

Macrina Wiederkehr wrote. When there is nothing left to do and no where else to go - remember your knees.

There is something humbling about falling on your knees before God. Try it!  For me it takes me back to the beginning of my friendship with God - the child who knelt by the bed every night to talk to him, to put my body and soul into his care and protection while I slept. I never felt closer, or more comforted by God than when I was on my knees.  

Kneel before the Lord your God and humbly pray.  Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                        Let us pray.

He alone does great wonder.

 To him alone who does great wonder, who by wisdom made the heavens, who scattered the earth upon the waters, who made the great lights - the sun by day the moon and stars to govern the night. Psalm 136

R.M.Brown said: God uses the ordinary things of life to bring about  wonderful happenings. 

That is so true. Just look at what the rain does to the parched earth, as it falls the grass grows. The sun rise declares a new day and the sunset draws it to an end but look at what the day has held. A bulb planted in the cold earth, with a little warm sun produces a flower of beauty and a tiny baby was born to be the Saviour of the world.  To God be the Glory.

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

                                                He turns gum nuts into spectacular flowers.

Sing with intent

 The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning, its time to sing your song again. Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me, let me be singing when the evening comes.  Bless the Lord, O my soul.......for all your goodness, I will keep on singing like never before: ten thousand reasons for my heart to find. ( (Paraphrased, Christian song. 10,000 reasons.)

Does your day start by making space to hear and see things of God?  This day he made with the solo song of the beautiful Rufus Whistler, his rusty orange feathered chest puffed out in joy as he sang from the sacred space, his song full of intent to please his creator, as if it knew it was so. Do you begin your day  with singing?  Singing a song so  full of joy and intent to please our creator? 'What ever may pass, whatever lies before me, let me be singing when the evening comes.'

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.  Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                His song full of intent.

Come, just come

In his hand are the deep places of earth; the heights of the hills are his also. PS 95:4

Does God take your breath away? 

The brilliant hues of the sunset bounce  and ricochet off the soft evening landscape,  and kiss  the mountain tops, an explosion of God's love,  before fading into the ascending evening dusk and at the end of the day peace arrived. I ask again, does God take your breath away?

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                    The sun kissed the mountain tops.

Like a warm smile

 

I am the rose of Sharon, a rose of the valley. ( The Shir Hashirim  - Song of Songs 2:1)

What is it about the very last rose of winter that buds then blossoms in the midst of the cold?  The last one on the bush like a light shining in the darkness and its  bright yellow like a warm smile. As I meditated on its beauty I thought of an elderly lady who sometimes comes by my place with the walking group from the nursing home. She is a lovely Chinese lady always with a smile and always in just shorts and a tee shirt. I asked her one day if she was cold and with a beautiful smile she said, 'No, I have Jesus in here(Pointing to her heart) and he keeps me warm!  Like the last of the winter rose, isn't that just beautiful.

The peace of the Lord be with you. 

  Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                               Yellow like a warm smile.

And so he saw Christ

 Then their eyes were opened and they recognised him. Luke 24:31

Eugene J Burkhart  says: Seeing requires paying attention to a variety of things: conversations, stories from fellow believers and strangers, new interpretation of scripture, grief and a strange burning in the heart.  

I was talking to an elderly resident in the nursing home as we waited for the service to begin. He was sitting with his wife, a devout Christian but he had always professed to not 'being that' and had not been at the service before. Somehow during the conversation I remarked how good it was to see him here and he said: 'I have come to support my wife which I should have been doing all along but more so I have come because of what Russia is doing in the Ukraine and suddenly  realised that its only God who can bring down the  Russian leader and condemn him and the more people to pray for that to happen, the better, so God encouraged me, opened my eyes really, to see that and to see how much we need him in our lives.' It was a lovely God moment of revelation, of how God can come into our life journey and walk along side us.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Anne, servant of the Lord.

The deep presence of God.

 In your presence is the fullness of joy and from your right hand flow delights for ever more. Ps 16:11

Some times silence is my time with God in the sacred space, no words are needed, just sitting and reflecting on his creation, his goodness, around me and that was this mornings experience and in  the quiet I just reached out my hand to touch a flower, its perfume flowed like incense  and I felt the deep presence of God. In that was enough depth and assurance to carry me into this broken world.

Jehovah -shalom. The Lord is peace

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                    perfume like incense.

Full but hungry

 O Lord you light my fire, your face is all I see (Song of praise)

Fresh cold snow on the mountains sparkling in the sunlight like a million crystals and an icy cold wind of winter. A clear night sky full of stars, the deep colour of the rising sun and the soft hue of the sun set. Beauty in creation. Uniqueness of every bird. A special fiend. An elderly face. A needy person.

Ron Lessin wrote: Lord keep me full but hungry. Content but needy. Complete but never satisfied.

Let the peace of Christ dwell in your heart.

Anne, servant of the Lord

The uniqueness of every bird

On a journey

Sit here while I go over there and pray. Mat 26:36 

The sacred space was dew laden and mist covered but still, ever so still and quiet and there was a peace about it. I think the birds are still tucked up in their feathers because there is not a sound. My eyes went to the garden already turning into its winter look as if dying for the season but then I see there are green leaves of the jonquils rising from the cold ground that in their time, will flower in their glory, and buds are forming on the Daphne bush where I try to catch the smell of that heavenly perfume but its too soon yet. Going to the sacred space is a bit like going on a pilgrimage for it is a journey in itself, not of distance but of seeking God where we are, isn't that what a pilgrimage is about, a place to go, to reflect, to cast off your cares and see and seek and find God?    Where is your favourite pilgrimage? Where do you seek and find God? 

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                       Let the journey begin.

A sparrow on a twig

 Take my moments and my days, let them flow in ceaseless praise. (TIS 599)

I had paused a moment in the early morning to look at the thick fog that was so thick that it was like darkness with only dim shapes and images visible in the gloom and then in an instance the sun broke through and it was light - the clear, clear light of a sunny day and the biblical imagery  of darkness and light leapt out at me.  I noticed the   grass so green and dew washed and thought of the pastures green 'where he leadeth me.'  and the puddles of water on the path that resonated in my spirit as  'streams of living water' and the life giving waters of refreshment we have in Christ. And that darling little sparrow sitting on a  twig to remind me that God loves me and them. I reflected on the words in a poem by Sue Monk Kidd that God comes to us in the ordinary things of life. She says: 'Everyday the nearness of God collected in me like rain water. I sensed him coming and coming and coming, in the common things that shape my day.' I could look upon the most mundane things and think of God, ever present, ever near. What are you seeing this morning and what God thoughts spring to mind?

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

.                                                God's love.

Arise, shine.

 It is you who lights my lamp ; the Lord my God Psalm 18:28

There are so many thoughts that cross my mind in the first experience of the morning. Its cold, its foggy, like a thick mist, and as I look out on the day the voice within me quotes the first line of a poem I wrote some time ago: 'Soft soft the morning mist did creep, across the land that lay asleep.' And despite the weather, my heart sings in this new day. I love the quote  by Kahlil Gibran which says: I arise at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving.  I was asked yesterday  what motivates me to do what I do? What gets me up in the morning? and my response was : I see each day as  new opportunities. I see them and feel them when I go out into the early morning and there is an excitement about who I might see today and the conversations we might have, about who God will put in my path so I can be Christ to them and its that step in my soul and heart that is exciting and motivates in preparation to serve in every new day. That's what gets me up.  What is your approach to a new day? what gets you up in the morning.

Go well and enjoy all you do in the name of Christ. Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                And a new day dawns

And they became a prayer

 Your love to me was wonderful. 2 Samuel 1:26

The  autumn tree is almost spent of its summer dress and I love the way the last of the leaves are gathered up and swirled around on the path in a playful gust of wind, coming from all directions in small whirly winds. To sit in the sacred space and just look and listen and feel is, (as Macrina Wiederkehr says) like going to heaven for awhile' and as I contemplate these moments of beauty -  they become a prayer. 

Ralph S Cushman wrote: 'I met God in the morning, when the day was at its best, and his presence came like sunrise, a glory in my breast.'

Let the peace of Christ dwell within you.  Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                                Spent of its dress.

Deep Peace of the Aaronic blessing

 The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face to shine upon you and give you peace. Numbers  6:24

This would have to be my favourite blessing. It has come down in time, in centuries, from Moses across all the faithful, to us, and it will go on forever and so many times I see this blessing come true during the day.  The beautiful crimson Rosellas quietly feeding in the birdfeeder, the sunrise, the unwrapping of the gift of a new day, a rainbow after the rain and the stranger walking down the path who pauses to look at the last summer rose in the garden and offers a greeting. Blessings - God's face shining on us - bringing peace and I haven't gone further into the day than to my sacred space. Treasure the blessings, they are the face of God.

May the Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face to shine upon you and give you peace.

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                      A blessing. God's face shining on us.

Breath-taking God

 See the streams of living water, springing from eternal love. (TIS 446)

I stood in awe of the beauty of the tree lined pathway to walk among the autumn leaves carpeting the ground, kicking through them with childhood memories. The trees were glorious in their shifting colours, dressed for autumn yet preparing themselves for  a winters  rest. They were so colourful that they took my breath away, every leaf seemed to emanate the handywork of God and I was left with a song in my heart: Glorious things of you are spoken.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                    Stunning

On the tree, covering the ground.

 Silver and Gold have I none, but such as I have give I thee. (Christian Song)

I look at the glorious autumn trees all around with all the colours God could think of and the one that speaks to me the most are the leaves on the Crepe Myrtle just outside my door, gold and silvery  yellow glory, on the tree and covering the ground - what a picture - what an image - what love, and to mind comes the words of the song: 'silver and gold have I none but such as I have give I thee.' and its true, we don't have much but we give what we have in service to our God and one another becoming part of his story. I love this little poem by Rosalie Kuyvenhoven: Humble dazzle of autumn these leaves on the ground. Each one a page in a book, a poem  that says I lived. I was a small part of the whole story - this is my song, this is my glory.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.  Anne, servant of the Lord

This is my Glory

Peace abounds.

 Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from heaven, like the first dew fall on the first grass. Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden, sprung from completeness where his feet pass. (V2 TIS 156. Morning has Broken)

There was a mystery in the morning as I looked from my sacred space, across the  lawn, thick with dew, to the green grassland just emerging through the morning mist, The garden lights were still on as the night hadn't quite given away to the emerging day. The trees, some naked of their leaves, others still undressing were still and empty, (the birds were still in bed!) Its quiet, ever so quiet and you could almost hear the bulging, bursting, pods of water drops falling from the bushes full of life giving water from the nights rain. Its a new day, a fresh day, a new beginning and what a way to begin it - with God - in silence, giving thanks for all he gives us, for all we have, Peace abounds in the sacred space. Do you find that in your sacred space? Peace abounds.

Peace to those who are far off. Peace to those who are near.    Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                    Peace

How good it is to know you Lord.

 Morning after morning he opens my ear that I may hear. Isaiah 50:4

There is something about putting your hand in God's each morning with words of thanks for the new day that is dawning. Some mornings just shout 'God' and today was one of those mornings - beautiful clear blue sky without a cloud in sight, a perfect dome, crisp, fresh air with a touch of frost and autumn leaves covering the ground, fallen, falling from the almost naked trees that I want to kick up as I walk by , letting the child in me loose. How good it is to know you Lord, I rejoice that I am so blessed, and I want at times to shout - go for a walk, be daring  and ski down a sparkling, crystal white slope, count the stars on a clear night, watch the trees change dress's for the autumn - you will see him there saying - 'I am God.'

Peace to those who are far off and peace to those who are near.      Anne, servant of the Lord.

God in the morning .

I held it in my clasped hand

 They were holding golden bowls of incense, which are the prayers of the people. Revelations 5:8

I held the flower of the golden yellow rose in my clasped hands and before I lowered my head towards its glorious formation I could smell the deep, rich perfume flowing from it and on its petals were droplets of dew ,  and all I saw and smelt was a prayer. Then, in the peace of my garden, at the sight of such a glorious creation my gaze fell lower down to a cluster of forget-me-nots still flowering and why I don't know, my thoughts went to Ukraine. I think it was the combination of the yellow and blue colours and my thoughts then wondered to the sanctuary at church, where across the front of the Alter we are constantly reminded to pray for Ukraine, by a long strip of intwined yellow and blue cloth and  again my thoughts were as prayers.

I love the thought that we, here in a quiet country, can send our prayers up like incense to God, for those in desperate need and that a humble rose and a tiny forget-me-not have the power to remind me of that.

Peace to those who are far off and peace to those who are near.  Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                        For Ukraine.

What's a prayer?

 Glorious things of thee are spoken. (Taken from psalm 87)

I think when the glorious colours of the autumn leaves take your breath away and you gaze in awe at such beauty, that's a prayer. The variety, the richness, the depth of colour shows God dressed in all his glory. Its God's touch lighting the world with colour and it renews our hearts with life. Its so wonderful when we can see that all of life is full of God be it the beauty of the autumn or in some dark place - God is in it.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                            The Glory of the Lord

Anzac day

 Jesus stood among them and said: Peace be with you.' John 20: 19

I needed to spend some time in my sacred space yesterday after coming home from the Ukraine Orthodox Church in North Canberra. There, in the church grounds, among the dying, fallen leaves of  the autumn trees were a multitude of wooden crosses draped in children's t-shirts splashed with red paint.  It was confronting, it sent images through my mind and a pain deep in my heart that was like a sharp dagger, I was stricken with a deep sadness.  As I reflected on the crucifixion of Christ, his suffering and death and then his rising again I though 'the Ukraine country and its people are  in the midst of their Easter Saturday.'  I wondered would humanity ever see that the way of peace is love. I pray God will change the heart and mind of the Russian leadership and Ukraine will have its day of resurrection.  The Sunday Collect makes this a possibility as we read: Living God, from whom no door is closed, no heart is locked: draw us beyond our doubts, till we see your Christ and touch his wounds where they bleed in others. This we ask through Christ our Saviour.

Peace to them who are far off and peace to those who are near.  Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                Ukraine Orthodox Church North Canberra.

The eye of God

 W love thy house O God, wherein thine honour dwells. The joy of thine abode, all earthly joy excels.(Hymn)

The night sky has  been a place of deeper beauty these last few nights when the moon was full and its light shone so bright through the darkness . As  I looked at the dome of sky above me with bright moon and sparkling, winking stars by the thousands I am in awe of our God.  The silence is profound, almost beautiful, creating a sacred space,  - but the moon, it was holding there above me like an eye looking down on our world.  This light in the darkness reminded me vividly of God's light shining in the darkness and was a clear visual of those words.  As my eyes stayed on the moon I also thought of how God described himself as 'I am'   I am is love, is peace, is serenity, is present and as I turned in for the night I heard the words within me: Sleep in peace - God is awake - he has his eye on you.

Jehovah - shalom. The Lord is peace.      Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                The eye of God

.

Surprise me God.

For the joy of the Lord is your strength. Neh 8:10

I was caught by surprise by an unexpected visitor walking pigeon toed along the garden fence, a beautiful parrot, red and blue feathers glistening in the morning sun from a quick dip in the bird bath. It was close enough for me to see the perfect round shapes of the water drops on its feathers. I love the unexpected surprises that bring joy and delight especially in the morning when the mind is uncluttered. Its like fuel for the day when we catch a morning joy.  Samuel Longfellow said: Into our lives, in many simple, familiar homely ways God infuses this element of joy from surprises of life, which unexpectantly brighten our days and fill out eyes with light.

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

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                    Joy in the morning

Sky blue with a yellow dot.

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by name; you are mine isaiah:43:1-3

I was reflecting  on the freshness of the rain washed morning and over the steam rising from my hot cup of tea in my hand my  eyes rested on a beautiful single flowering for-get-me-not in the garden,  sky blue with a tiny yellow dot on the middle like the sun shining in a blue sky and I recall the story of how God was walking in the garden of Eden and saw a blue flower and asked its name. the flower was a shy flower and whispered he has forgotten my name. God renamed the flower forget-me-not saying he will never forget it. (Christian folk lore)  Its a bit like the story of the sparrows who Jesus said he valued so much, but you even more so, or the fact that he can count the number of hairs on our head and his love is greater than that. His love for us who he has claimed as his, by name is vast, wide, immeasurable and like the tiny for-get-me not in the garden, he will never forget us. 

Jehovah - shalom. The Lord is peace.

Anne, servant of the Lord

For-get-me-not

A revolution of joy

Jesus said: Come  to me, all you who are  weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28

What I often say, what is happening to our world, the beautiful world that God created for us to love and enjoy and care for. So much pain and suffering and destruction, so much love and peace destroyed. The human side of me wants to take up arm, arms of climate change protesting, up a massive gum tree with a koala on my back, arms of anti war demonstrations shouting with my loudest voice, and literally arms but you know, in reality I am just one small person in a big picture so I instead try to sprinkle peace and joy around in my patch, where I am, to try and bring a smile to the faces of others such as those from the nursing home with their dementia who pass my place on their walk and admire the flowers in the garden and my  very special one eyed little dog and hand the problems of the world to God in deep prayer from my sacred space.( Now that's a powerful weapon!!) Max Lucado says: If you brighten your corner of the world and I do the same in mine, a quiet revelation of JOY might break out.

Peace to those who are far off and peace to those who are near.  Anne, servant of the Lord.

A garden of delight.

A burning bush experience

 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you. Phil 1:3

God has done it again!  On Sunday I preached the sermon at church and I unusually felt less confident and anxious about it. I felt things were not right in my preparation and content but it was too late to do anything about that as I stood at the pulpit, except of course, to ask God to bring his peace and I thought of Julian of Norwich …..'All will be well, all manner of things will be well.' And, as Julian would say, 'it was so'' and as I got into my car to come home the bush in front of me was full of blue wrens. Sometimes our human anxiety crowds out God's peace, a thing he constantly reminds me of in the presence of these darling little feathered blessings of God's presence.

Jehovah - shalom.   The Lord is peace.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                A blessing.

Handclasps of prayer

 There the Lord bestows his blessings. Psalm 133:3

Once I took my hands of the steaming cup of tea I held them in a handclasp of prayer with God, still warm and comforting, clasped together and reflected a moment on the rose bush with in my sight as if it displayed itself there so it would be seen and it was drinking in the morning dew, damp, moist, refreshing on its leaves, its that refreshment that will sustain it through the day and ah, we know all about such refreshment, that drink of living water that sustains us and once filled with morning blessings God whispers: 'Go to your place, dispatch your abilities and unfurl my goodness.' (Gariepy)

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                            Covered in thousands of drops of life giving water

Where I am God is.

 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and your dominion endures throughout all generations. The Lord is faithful in all his promises  and faithful in all he does. Psalm 145:13

So much surrounds me from my garden that are memories. The very large pots of maiden hair ferns that belonged to my great grandfather, a Jew who worshiped faithfully in the synagogue, a Mr Lincoln rose that is in memory of my mother, the Princess Elizabeth rose, beautiful pink buds, in memory of my sister Elizabeth, a glorious rose that's a deep orange, called Desert Dust. reminding me of my years mission nursing in the outback but they are more than just plants of memories, they speak to me of more than that for in each and every person they represent is a deep connection with God for each and everyone played their part in my faith formation. These surround me in my sacred space and bring the sacred presence with them. I pick the roses to put in a vase inside, a bunch of beautiful flowers, given to myself. I wonder do you have a garden of memories that is full of love - God's love?

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                4 generations old.

A spontaneous response.

 O God, you are my God: eagerly will I seek you. Psalm 63:1

As I sat to talk to God I asked him may his thoughts be my thoughts (Isaiah) May he have the desire to sit with me in the sacred space on a  chair that is always empty and ready for him and may he show me the wonders about me and may he fill my day with blessings. His response was almost spontaneous for here they came, a flock of Zebra Finches and Yellow Rump  Finches landing in the cool, clear refreshment of the waters in the bird bath, dancing on spindly, twig like little legs all around the rim of the bird bath and some hanging onto the leaves of the glorious rose bush in its second flush(  Are the roses looking brighter and more beautiful than yesterday?) And I thought how wondaful God is to let us have a taste of heaven on earth, enough to believe in it

Jehovah - shalom. The Lord is peace

Anne, servant of the Lord

Zebra Finches on a twig!

Stay awhile with me.

 Turn your eyes upon Jesus. (Christian song)

I had a passage of scripture running through my mind and it was something like this, 'Where ever you are I am' and I thought of the war in Ukraine, the earthquake in Japan, the unprecedented flooding in our country, the suffering of so many and then I thought of the beautiful time with God captured on my recent silent retreat. O how one has to draw aside and take the grief and pain of the world into undistracted prayer and from my sacred place this morning  I thought of the deep love of God and saw that reflected in the creation and beauty around me. I sat staring at this love, manifested before me in the bright 'ballerina' flowers of the Fuchsia bush and I sat holding onto that love. In all the turmoil of our world, peace only abides in this love. May our prayers from our sacred spaces hold the world in that love. May we continually turn our eyes upon Jesus.

Let the peace of Christ dwell in your heart.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

'Ballerinas'   

A dab of green, a touch of yellow.

 Mary - she sat at the Lord's feet and listened. Luke 10:39

The morning is such a moment of wonder as the dark fades into the morning light and everything begins to take shape more clearly. The silhouette   of the trees begin to take their fuller form as if God has taken out his paints and coloured them in, a dab of green here a touch of yellow there and the big and small of the bird life shake their feathered bodies into  wakening and launch into morning praise. (perhaps we could learn something from them?) I love to hold these images and wonders in my heart as they are so richly untouched by the coming bustle and rush of the new day. From the sacred space come sacred images and thoughts, sustaining food and I realise that God is all about me and in my heart - everywhere- yet in me -  and as I prepare to launch into the day I hear God say - go- go into your day and live as me.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                The morning taking shape.

Cleansing and life giving

If anyone is thirsty let them come to me and drink. John 7:37

The beautiful metallic, clear, single bell like call of the Mountain Lowry greeted me as I sat in reflection, hot cup of tea hugged by my hands and the first rays of the new day warming my skin. Then down he flew  for his morning bath in the bird bath, ahead of the finches, the silver eyes, the sparrows ( I just love them!) and the pigeons all waiting for their morning bath,  It is with sheer joy and happiness that the Mountain Lowry splashes, wets his wings, his face and under his wings totally washed with the pool of cool clear water and am I imagining it or  does he seem more joyful, more 'alive' after his experience with the refreshing  water? My thoughts then went to Jesus words: 'I am the living water.' What a gift, water that cleanses and gives life and what a gift to be reminded of that by the beautiful birds that come to the sacred space to enjoy the life giving water.

                                                        What a beauty!