Born anew

 I am the resurrection and the life says the Lord. John 14.

It feels unseasonably like spring.  The bulbs are up. The daffodils, the jonquils, the tulips, the snowdrops, all those that have seemingly died and laid  under the soil all winter now spring back to life in all their glory. How much I ponder this miracle of our creator God yet why do some doubt so much that we too will rest awhile in our seemingly death yet rise again in glory?  Oh, how much we can learn from nature, the miracle of nature, that tells us nothing really dies. Its no wonder we call the season of spring 'spring' because isn't that what it does, it springs nature back into life. 

                                                            Beautiful Creation.

Be with me-enjoy me.

 For the beauty of the earth, for the beauty of the skies, for the love which from our birth over and around us lies. Christ our God to the we raise this our sacrifice of praise. TIS 137

When I came to the sacred place there was a wonderful collection of surprises waiting for me all covered in the perfume of the Daphne bush just outside the gate. There is the dancing heads of the Daffodils swaying in the gentle breeze, the endless flowering of the Grevilia bush, the numerous coloured  Cyclamens pushing their flower heads through their leaves ( how can that tiny pin head of a bud turn into  such a flower?) and the ever faithful Violets of every imaginable colour competing with the other fragrances of the garden. Oh what love God showers onto us and all of a sudden all that is before me becomes a prayer. What a display of God's Glory  which to some is 'a lovely garden' but to me its my cathedral filled with the wonders and mysteries of God. It was Noel Davis who wrote: ' Look around with your eyes and your heart, you will see and feel me everywhere. Be with me, enjoy me. Foster all that is good and share me.'

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

                                                                    God's love.

Where I am there you are also.

' We love the place, O God, wherein thine honour dwells, the joy of thine abode all earthly joy excels. it is the house of prayer wherein thy servants meet and thou, O Lord, art there. (William Bullock)

The more I visit my sacred space the more I feel the presence of God waiting there for me. Its like his hand is on my empty seat and he is patting it and saying, 'Come, sit with me awhile.' That's the draw of the sacred space. Its such a peaceful quiet  shelter away from the pending tide of the daily rush and business. A place where one is enfolded in love. A place wherein all I look out and see  is of God because it is said of God: 'Where I am there you are also and there is nothing on earth that you are not in.' The flowers, the buds on the trees waiting to burst into spring blossom, the perfume of the Daphne floating in the air, the puppy on its morning walk with its person, the birds singing in the new day, the clear blue sky....the breaking of a new day, .there is ever so much of God's love to be seen. Where ever your sacred space is, that place you have created to spend special times with God, may you also be filled with his presence. May you also feel he is waiting there for you. May you pause awhile and thank God for all that is and all that will be.

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

The presence of God.

Made by God.

 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them. Genesis 1-2

What detail. What incredible handiwork. What a creator. They were my thoughts as I lightly touched the delicate, perfect flower head of the blooms on the daphne bush, its perfume holding on my fingers. If one were to create the world and all that is in it in 7 days you would be inclined to think that it was a rushed job, things thrown together, tossed here and there but not so. The beauty of the smallest flower, the painted back of the lady bird with its red coating and black spots and the tiniest of legs, the colours of the birds and shapes of the animals, that's no rushed job. When you look in the mirror this morning you will see your image. Pause and look, that was no rushed job either, what you see is as precious in the sight of God as all of his creation made by God.

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

                                                        Its perfume holds on my fingers

Its colour, its perfume.

 'All is silent, in the still and soundless air I fervently bow to my Almighty God.' (Bing Xin. China)

One thing was on my mind when I came to meet with God this morning. It was the words of the beautiful hymn, 'Glorious things of thee are spoken.' and I had this image in mind of the beautiful, stunning bright yellow of the wattle trees coming into bloom that line some of our roadways and dot the bushland around us.. Bright, cheerful yellow balls of fluffy wattle blooms that hold a perfume which send me right back to childhood memories. Somethings in God's creation can put us on our knees with their colour, their beauty, their perfume, their memories and I thought of these words from the Iona Community: The turn of the leaf in the morning sun and the catch in our throat drives us to our knees and into prayer.

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

                                                        Beauty in colour.

Cover the day with prayer

 Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath! Psalm 116:2

Every day is a prayer. All day is a prayer. I wonder do you see it like that? To wake up with a prayer on your lips of thanking God for the gift of a new day. To gaze out the window at a snow white frost while  holding a steaming hot cup of tea warming the hands and thanking God for the beauty  you behold.  To be blessed by two beautiful Rosellas on the garden path  and pause in the sacred space to lay the day before God and all those he will put in your path path today who may need your help. Francis de Sales said: Sprinkle a seasoning of short prayers on our daily living. If you see something beautiful, thank God for it. If you are aware of someone's need, ask God to help - you can toss up prayers all day!

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

                                                                   Morning delight

Hold hands with God

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

Oh the stillness. Oh the quiet. Oh the peace. Oh the beauty of it all in the sacred space as the stars fade from sight and the thin veil of light heralds the day, a day untouched, new and fresh showered with rays of the rising sun breaking through the trees and almost falling at my feet to the rhythm of the tinkling bell of a tiny bird waking and all I see and feel descends as a yearning in my heart, to heaven, to thank God for the gift of this new day.  All of it is a morning prayer and I am blessed richly before the day has even begun and my closing prayer to God is this: 'You have blessed me with light at the suns rising, shine on me now with love.'   May we all find that sacred space in the morning where we sit and hold hands with God all be it just for a little while.

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

In your presence is joy.

Surprise me God.

Let us ask ourselves today; are we open to 'God's surprises'?  Pope Francis 

God is often referred to as the God of surprises and he never fails to live up to that description. All around us in our day there are things that cause us to say, 'that was of God, or that is of God.' Yesterday I was taken by surprise when the end of the day seemed to pause between that thin veil of light and dark as God put on a magnificent spectacle in the sun set.  A spectacle of intense colour and beauty that caused such an intake of my breath, stopping me in my tracks in moments of awe and wonder. It was indeed a moment of nourishment.

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

                                                    A moment of nourishment

A morning mystery

 Praise God the great creator (TIS  165)

The mystery of a winters morning with the ground frost white and glittering in places like a million jewels as its kissed by the rays of the rising sun and the mystery deepens as a thick fog embraces the eucalyptus trees, white ghost gums, living up to their name. What a gift that called me to bless the Lord in thanks for showering the opening of the day with a thousand blessings. As I looked into this days beginnings I recalled the words I read by A. Spanger: ' When you start  to make a habit of blessings God, you will discover that daily life can begin to feel like Christmas morning.'

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

The mystery of  the morning

Beauty and brightness

 Praise God from whom all blessings flow. TIS 768

Just a few days ago God put on a magnificent spectacle. It had been raining, the air was clear, the sun came out and there it was a stunning, bright coloured rainbow in all its glory emanating God's love and promises. A perfect arc across the sky. What a wonderful creative God we have who blesses us in so many ways. The daily office reading from Sirach  34 last night said: 'Look at the rainbow, and praise him who made it; it is exceedingly beautiful in its brightness. It encircles the sky with its glorious arc, the hands of the most high have stretched it out.' 

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

God's beauty

The Lord is here.

 I am always aware of the Lords presence; he is near and nothing can shake me . Psalm 16:8

There are things to be seen and things to be heard all around us if we attune our eyes and ears, if we are in a state of awareness, otherwise they become lost so much so that at times we completely miss them.

Noel Davis said it well when he wrote: ' The tiny bird singing in the old banksia tree, the family of wrens spilling joy through the garden. Lord meet me there.'  

Unaware of our surroundings, rushing into the day, so much can be missed.

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

                                                    Not just a clump of weeds.

Shalom, the Lord is peace

 My peace I give you. John 14:27

There is a peace in us - 'God's peace' that allows us to jump hurdles and ward off anxiety and sing a song even in hard times. Its a peace that carries us. A peace that sings in our soul. A peace that says 'all is well and all will be well'  It reminds me of the little bird that sat on a fragile twig that hung out over a great waterfall and despite the fragility of the twig, the chasm below  and the roar of the waterfall he sat there and he sang and he sang. In all our ups and downs of life remember the words of Jesus: 'Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. ' John 14:27

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

God's peace at the close of day.

Pods of living water

 He made water flow for you from the flint rock. Deut 8:15

I was watching the raindrops fall into the birdbath. As they rippled to the edge one after the other, they fell, pods of life giving water that rolled off the edge and onto the garden below. Raindrops full of nourishment, so small yet so vital to life.

Filled with thelife giving, living waters of Jesus we too become pods of nourishment that spill over into those God puts in our path day by day. May those pods of nourishment overflow and strengthen. May not one drop go to waste.

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

                                                        Life giving water.

Sing ye birds.

 My voice you will hear in the morning,  O Lord will I direct my prayers to you and I will look up. Psalm 5: 3

I love to go outside before turning in for the night and just look with wonder and awe at the night sky. In the cold crisp frosty night the moon illuminates everything on earth and the stars are radiant and shinning in their millions upon millions - and all is still - silent. What an incredible creator we have - the magnitude of his creation, but there is more. I read these words: 'In the vastness of the stary night how easy to see the workings of God! But teach me, Oh teach me to see it in all the small things that abide around us' Things like the naked tree stretching long arms upwards and in its branches the magpies warbling every so beautifully and in harmony and a touch of the golden  sun rays hitting just one spot on the frosty lawn reminding me of the pearl of great price. Listening to the Magpies I am reminded of the words of  William Wordsworth . ' Then sing, ye birds, sing, sing, sing a joyous song.' Ah how God lavishes his love on us, showering us with his presence. Don't miss it. Don't just look up for God but seek him everywhere, come face to face with him.

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

                                                Early Morning.

Constant companion

The Lord is my constant companion......he touches me with eternal joy.( Psalm 23 from Psalms Now)

Our companionship with God,  can be so refreshing and enlightening,  He draws us into his world of wonder and delight and what's so amazing about it is that we don't have to travel the world to find it. Its right there and all we have to do is step outside. This morning it was in his voice as the 3 magpies on the fence were warbling and breaking notes of a morning song, serenading one another for our joy.  It was in the ground, coloured different every morning, that is today dressed in glistening frosty white as  the winter sun walked across it. and its  in the fragrance of the wet autumn leaves mulching  the earth.    William Wordsworth wrote, ' Its the harvest of a quiet eye.'   

May the faith that gives us hope. May the love that shows the way. May the peace that cheers the heart, be yours today (Unknown)

Anne, Servant of the Lord

Morning has broken

Heaven on earth

 All creatures if our God and King. (TIS 100)

I recall lifting a garden pot from its resting place to be taken by surprise and delight at a tiny little brown,   frog, its eyes wide open and looking  at me just as surprised.  I love it when we find the tiny creatures in their world, living their life, their way, like the tiny frog and a black and orange beetle burrowing in the vegetable garden soil.  I read these words that were said to be written on  ancient papyrus. They are said to be the words of Jesus Christ. ' God is down here with us in the world, not away up there .'  When we look, when we seek, when we see, may we do so with real delight as we see  what God sees. 

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

                                                    A tiny brown frog.

A single leaf

All things bright and beautiful - the Lord God made them all. TIS 135 

From the sacred space.

In the stillness, in the quiet - peace as a single leaf twists in the gentle breeze and spirals graciously, like a ballerina to the ground, where it rests on a carpet of colour.

A few moments of awareness with God and your entireday can change. 

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

                                                            Gently falling.

Full of God

 Come change our love from a spark to a flame. TIS 690

The deep, deep, rich red and crimson of the remaining leaves on the tree and the kaleidoscope of yellow coloured ones, falling gently, silently, carpeting the ground first took my attention and then a smile crossed my face as I watched a pee-wee come onto the birdbath, skidding  with surprise on the ice covered water. Its a still morning, mist laden images of the garden silhouetted in a weak rising sun, beauty almost indescribable . Ahhh, the joy of being in the sacred space. I read this observation by Angela of Foligno, a Franciscan nun from the 13th centaury.' The eyes of my soul were opened, and I held the plenitude of God, whereby I did comprehend the whole world, both here and beyond the sea, and the abyss and all things else; therin  I beheld naught save the divine power in a manner indescribable, so that through access of marvelling the soul cried with a loud voice, saying; ' This world is full of God.!'

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

                                                        Deep, deep, rich red.

Retreat

 God has given you rest. Deut 25:19

It is so lovely to have a retreat day away from the business of life. To step out of the normal and create something different. Its so life giving and refreshing. This was the experience when I walked along a beach recently looking at the long sweep of the beach, watching rock pools form ,  listening to the sounds of the sea gulls, the waves rolling onto the sand and the wind bringing in the lovely smell of sea air. The sights, the sounds, and the smells took me into a different realm - one of peace and calm.  I read these lines from Ainslie Mears. 'Its all about on the mountain top, in the deep of the forest, on the curving sweep on a lonely beach and kneeling in the cool crispness of summers night.'

Do it. Take a day to visit your special place and you will find your sacred space is there, waiting.

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

                                            Watching rock pools form

Gifts of love.

 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father above. James 1:17

The sacred space is carpeted with hundreds of  multi coloured autumn leaves , a kaleidoscope of colour and the birdbath is filled with floating leaves  like little ships in a port while the gentle breeze is falling the remnants of leaves from the near naked trees, falling gently like confetti. God was filling the sacred space with his blessings.

May the peace of God fill your life every single day.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                Little ships at sea.

A lasting deep peace.

 How sweet the name of Jesus sounds in a believers ear. It soothes his sorrows heals his wounds and drives away his fears. ( Hymn: John Newton)

So often we in the church are constantly wanting to try new hymns and modern Christian songs which is wonderful but lets not forget the ones that have been around for a long time and held so much meaning in peoples lives. This is one of the most asked for hymns from the older people in the nursing home. It brings a true sense of peace, of being held by God and that feeling goes deep, deep into the soul. I think of all the names that come to mind that are encompassed in the name of Jesus and I come up with; redeemer, saviour, master, comforter, healer, friend. Lee Self says, ' Jesus, I try to encompass all your names but they slip from my grasp. When I hold nothing I hold you. When I hold you I hold everything.

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

                                            

                                                A lasting peace.

Give thanks

 O Lord how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all, the earth is full of your possessions Psalm 104:24

Take a look at everything that is in your field of vision and reflect. God made it all and what strikes me  is that he is still making, creating and being extravagant. Every sunrise, every new day, the fresh shower of rain that transform the roadside with pink and blue and yellow wild flowers. The baby birds in the nest. Everything that is in your sight God made. They are his. They are his possessions (had you ever thought of creation in that way?) and he wants to share them with us.

 Lord, you are a constant, faithful creating God and we thank you. 

 Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                                Made for our joy.

He comes disguised.

  Holy, holy, holy, Lord God almighty early in the morning to you our song shall be. (TIS132)

Its a beautiful  autumn morning where the fog weaves its way through the naked trees and hovers across the ground giving an offering of what I call haunting beauty.  There is a mystery  about it, a stillness and a calm - and a presence -  and it felt like God was passing by. I was drawn to think on God and how his love covers the earth. He has a heart and a love for us all, enough to cover the whole world and  as June Bacher would say, 'yet small enough to curl up inside your heart.' 

May the peace of God fill your life every single day.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                There is a mystery about it.

Sing to the Lord

 Come into his presence singing Jesus is Lord, Jesus is Lord. (Scripture in Song)

 I woke up to the sound of rain falling on the dry leaves in the garden outside my window and my thoughts immediately went to God and how faithful he is. Rain....life giving water for us and for the earth and I thought of life giving streams of water that flow through our lives from the love of Jesus and how we have that wonderful opportunity, the unique opportunity to flow those life giving  water onto others and I found myself humming, 'Come into his presence singing Jesus is Lord, Jesus is Lord.'  I reflect on my quiet time with Jesus, of his faithfulness and of the people he already knows that  we will encounter today .  I also reflect on the saying: 'those who sing pray twice.' Keep singing and we are constantly praying. Keep singing and we are in his presence always. 

Mane nobiscum Domine - Stay with us Lord.               Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                    Precious gift.

Have you seen God today.

 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving. Psalm 95:2

 One of the greatest, most powerful, most humbling experiences we can have with God is those occasions when we find ourselves and him alone together and he whispers, 'here is a gift for you.'  Those moments can come in a flash: Be it a feather of stunning colours or a brilliant autumn leaf lying at your feet or a very busy Wattle bird in the Grevilia bush filling itself with delight, or an autumn fog weaving itself through the naked, undressed trees of autumn  its a God moment, gifts from God as he stands there with you handing them out one by one. Gifts that linger and stay in your memory. I love these gifts. Its like having something special in your pocket, you put your hand in and pull it out again being blessed every time. When we are gifted with the awesomeness of God's presence we savour every moment of it, we let God hold us and carry us as the sea holds and carries the boat.

Mane nobiscum Domine - Stay with us Lord.       Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                A gift for you.

Greet the day.

Therefore my heart dances for joy. Psalm 28

What a blessing to be able to sit down in a sacred space and listen and look, and wait for the Lord. I watched a Peewee walking very delicately along the garden fence looking so like a gymnast, one spindly leg after and over the other, balance perfect, with his eyes on me as if to say, 'Look at me, how good is this' and from the garden came the perfume of the last rose of summer. It was Thich Nhat Nanh who said ' As we sit down next to a stream, we can listen to its laughter and watch its sparkling waters -  an offering of peace and joy' and that's how it is when I come to sit down in my sacred space. Its a place of listening, peace and joy, 'waiting for the Lord to appear, listening so closely that I will hear his footsteps as he nears my humble place and I see his face.'  Was that  him in the Peewee and the perfumed rose?  Ah yes, he has come.  Be blessed by greeting the day with inner peace -find your special place and wait for the Lord.

Mane nobiscum domine - remain with us Lord.                            Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                            The last rose of summer

A beauty!

Lost in wonder love and praise. (Christian Hymn) 

The autumn is stunning. The colours, the sunlight through the tree, the carpet of leaves on the ground, just beautiful and all I could do in front of a beautiful tree dressed magnificently in red was to stand still and be astonished. Wow, what a God, what a creator. I like these words from Paul Kelly. 'God you take our breath away when we see such beauty everyday. Our hearts are filled with more than words can say' you take our breath away, you take our breath away.'

Mane nobiscum, domine - remain with us Lord.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                    

                                                        Glorious

I am the Lord of the dance said he.

 I came down from heaven and I danced on the earth. TIS 242

The words of this hymn rolled off my lips as I watched the kaleidoscope of coloured leaves falling, rolling and  dancing down the path in the wind, ever so playful, ever so cheerful, a flurry of joy and delight. Ah, what a wonderful creator we have, ever so colourful, ever so creative and I am forced to stand still and be astonished at the dance. holding back the impulse to join in and I could feel the love of God welling up in my heart. What a delightful morning prayer filled with God's love.

 May the faith that gives us hope, may the love that shows the way, may the peace that cheers the heart, be yours today.

Anne, servant of the Lord.
                                                  

                                                    A kaleidoscope of colour

Faithful God

 If you believe, you will receive what ever you ask for in prayer. Matthew 12:22

The peace and quiet in the sacred space is just lovely on this autumn morning though it is fresh and I found myself pondering on prayer after my quiet time talking to God and asking him to  take what comes my way  today and shower it with blessings for me and those who cross my path and I wondered how much faith we put into our 'requests to God. 'I remember reading this little quote (author unknown). Do you pray and then believing, grab your boots and parasol; Scrub the barrel and get ready  for the rain you asked to fall?  So in believing that God will bless my day, and yours and all we do in his name be ready for his response.

May the faith that gives us hope. May the love that shows the way, may the peace that cheers the heart, be yours today.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                Blessings on your day.

The mark of God

 The Lord God made them all. (TIS 135)

Perhaps these are the words of a Sunday School song we first learnt as a child but its one of those early learnings that have stayed with us all our life. The song is full of words that show us the beauty and wonder of God's creation and when we look about us at his creation we can see his mark everywhere. The massive grandeur of the night skies, the  stillness  of the stars and the silence of the sunrise. If we want to see God's glory then just stop where you are and look it straight in the face. What you see is a love letter from God, his priceless gift to us. Socrates said: ' Speak that I might see.'

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

                                                        Made by God.

Stone of help.

 Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Jeshanah and named it Ebenezer, for he said: 'Thus far the Lord has helped us.' 1 Samuel 7:12. NRSV

I am often reminded of this text when I reflect on a small round stone I have on my prayer desk with the word 'peace' carved on it. Somehow when I look  on that word on the stone I have a sense of the ever present  help of the Lord and how that word alone can  calm what ever storm might be raging and affirm the victories  won. It reminds me of God's faithfulness throughout my life. It reminds me that  Jesus came into the world to bring peace and peace comes to us when we surrender to his will. I like the translation from the TEV.' The Lord has helped us all the way.......and he named it stone of help.' How good to remember that God's help is just a stones throw away. As he was for Samuel so he is for you and me.

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

                                                Peace.......be still and know that I am God.

These seasons.

 Sing to God with joy and gladness. (TIS 92)

Already we see the trees are changing colour as the season  move into autumn to be followed by winter and then the cycle begins again, Spring and summer but I also note the seasons of life in other ways. A ruffled feather, a tattered leaf and elderly face. summer grasses swaying in the breeze, wildflowers dotting the  field and the little cheeps of the sparrows. Thich Nhat Hanh would say.'  Enjoy the many wonders of life that are available in the here and now. The blue sky, the beautiful trees, lovely faces of children, the flowers, the birds, they can nourish and heal us in a moment.'

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

             

                          Summer grasses swaying in the breeze.

Thankful.

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

The full, whole moon rising over the encroaching evening light, crystal clear countryside from its shinning, - A silence profoundly beautiful -  an evening meditation.

May the peace of God fill your life every single day. 

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                Silent beauty

Always here, always present.

 I am with you always, day by day, until the close of the age. Matthew 28:20

Morning after morning is a God experience, like looking into the face of God, seeing him eye to eye as he makes 'a new day.' Splendid colours, fresh clean air, peaceful quiet only broken by the chorus of birds expressing the same thanks to God of the new day. I talked to a lady recently who was struggling with a seemingly hopeless diagnosis of cancer. She said, ' and I am  filled with tears and fear, and when I woke this morning and before anything else these words came to me: Nothing will happen to you that you can't handle  because I am with you. I believe God said that  to me, it was like we were in the same room, just him and me  and he wanted me to have assurance and trust in him.'  There will be her strength in her weakness for the days to come, whatever they hold.  These 'Aha' experiences that tell us God is present anchor our souls to our maker and its there we find deep peace.

May your day be richly blessed from the first encounter, the first 'Aha' that God is with you.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                Slandered  colour of the new day.

No sweeter sound.

 As we rejoice in the gift of this new day, so may the light of your presence, O God set our hearts on fire with love for you. (APBA Morning Office.)

 There is no sweeter sound at the break of day than that of a Magpie warbling in the silence of dawn - there is something sacred about it.  I see it as their prayer, their song of praise to their creator God for the gift of a new day.

Did you sing to the Lord at day break giving thanks for the gift of this new day?  Was there something sacred about it?

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

                                                And thank you for food.

Dead yet full of new life.

 Beauty from brokenness. TIS 690

There is one particular old tree that has been in my life for over 45 years now. It was beautiful and  I watched it flourish, age and eventually fall down. It was a home for many a bird that nested in its branches and even when it fell it still provided shelter for the birds in the holes of its trunk. It still looked majestic and grand. I read these words: The gnarled old tree lay broken and dead, struck down,  yet in its brokenness is beauty, timeless weathered out beauty....mosses root in its crevices, birds nest in its hollows, a tree dead yet full of new life. Beauty from brokenness - life from death and I reflect on how nothing really dies, it just  lives on in another way, 

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

                                                Still giving.

Little messages of love.

 Love divine, all love excelling, joy of heaven to earth come down. (Charles Wesley)

Silent in the sacred space I saw a feather, so  colourful, dressed in shades of blue, dancing in the breeze then gently it rested at my feet. Little gifts. Little messages of love and I said a silent prayer: Creator God -you clothe all your creation in beauty - may we also dance in the breeze leaving little gifts, little messages of love where we have been. Amen.

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

                                                        Dressed in shades of blue.

Christ in the heart

 Standing before the Grevilia bush had me in awe at how, with some seemingly dead brown branches, the bright, deep red of a flower were a delight...…deep, deep red amidst the brown bush.

'He heard things which cannot be put in words.' 2 Corinthians 12:4

This verse drew me to reflect on what it is that we 'hear in our hearts' and can not put into words. The magnificent scenery in a special place. The reflection on a pond. The peal of a church bell. The chorus of morning birds when all else is asleep. Time and history etched on the face of the elderly. The perfume of the Jasmine. The  quiet spaces. The reaching out of hands for the sacrament. They cause a small voice in our mind to say 'Ahhh' and sense the presence of God that can't be described.

Matthew Henry said: The ground of our hope is Christ in the world but the evidence of our hope is Christ in the heart.

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

A quiet place - peace and Ahhh, the presence of God.

A soft morning

 Let my prayer stand before you like incense. Psalm 141:3

It was, as the Irish say, a soft morning with a mist hovering over all of the gardens and lawns and down into the little gully beside the house and it did have a 'soft' feel about it. I stood in wonder at the mystery of it filled with  the haunting sound of the Currawongs calling to one another.  They were the first bird call I heard this morning even before I was out of bed. I love this part of the day dressed in silence (except for those Currawongs!) and stillness, before thoughts of the days tasks have an opportunity to crowd my mind. It's a wonderful time to connect with God and lay the day before him. Annie Dillard wrote: 'If I am lucky I might be jogged awake by a bird call. This morning it was the wood duck.' We are lucky to be woken to the quiet mystery of the day that has no sign of the wailing of earthquake victims or war ravaged villages. Is it luck or is it that we are here in this place to hold up the suffering, the frightened, the devastated, in our prayers?

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

PEACE

What do we see.

Even birds and animals have much they could teach you.......all of them know that the Lord's hand made them. Job 12:7-9

I can sit in my sacred space and feel the presence of God all around me. Its like meeting God face to face. Like he is waiting for me there, calling come, look and see I am here.  He is there in the lovely pinks of the fuchsia flowers that always look like they have heads bowed praying,  he is there in the delicate violas dressed in purple, blue and yellow, he is there in the trees offering a haven for the birds and they too hold his presence singing in chorus to their God as day breaks. He is even in the thunder that rumbles around the hills and the aroma of the lavender that's drenched in the recent shower of rain.  I read this poem that says it all: I see his blood upon the rose and in the stars the glory of his eyes. His body gleams amid eternal snows, his tears fall from the skies. I see his face in every flower, the thunder and the singing of the birds........his crown of thorns is twined in every thorn, his cross in every tree. (Joseph Plunkett)

What we see is more than what we see and sometimes we need to sharpen our vision.

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

                                                In you I see God your creator.

That put a smile on my face!

 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground apart from the Father. Matthew 10: 29

So many things can put a smile on your face and can brighten any dull day. The beautiful red, yellow and green coloured Rosellas with a ting of blue, feathers all brunched up, dancing around and under the sprinkler on the lawn with sheer delight and joy on a hot morning. A speckly brown sparrow on a fragile tree branch that's swaying up and down in the wind, quite unperturbed, in fact enjoying it. (can a sparrow smile? I thought I caught a glimpse of one) So much about us can bring a smile to our face. Morning stillness had me reflecting on our creator God and I thought how can anyone think that God doesn't care about the life of these enjoyable creatures, or see them as his creation?  Ah, they don't know God at all.

                                                Dancing around and under the sprinkler.

Such a fragile little thing.

 Count your blessings name them one by one. (Hymn)

My mother use to say precious things come in small parcels and I thought of that when I saw the beautiful small feather lying on the table in my sacred space. A gift for the morning. It wasn't just any light brown feather because when it caught the light its true colours were revealed in a magenta  shining colour which caught you by surprise. Such a fragile little thing yet so full of beauty and I thought of the bird who had left it there for my delight and I thought of its creator and I thought of how the light of Christ can come and shine on us and reveal our true colours. Joyce Rupp says: 'And so in my life, what I see as fragile, weak and frail, may be my greatest gift.'

Left for my delight.

                                                

First fruits

May the foot of God walk with you and his hand hold you tight. (TIS 779)

 There is something magical about the time of the new day when  the sun filters through the night sky and breaks into light. Stepping out the door   for the first time in a new day is like my feet touching the newness, the 'never walked on until now' path of the new day and as God comes along side I discover the offerings of the day that would have otherwise been missed. Offerings and events that give joy and blessings and the days strength, like the magpie kicking in the tan bark, the different shades of glory covering the sky as it ventures further into the day and have you heard the call of the starlings? I love it, they sound like tiny horses whinnying. The wonderful morning gifts, of time with God, new every morning  are the most powerful pearls of great price to deposit in our heart and mind as we go further into the day, into the unknown. I love these words of St Patrick's lorica: Christ be with me. Christ be within me. Christ behind me. Christ before me. Christ beside me.

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

                                                Morning Glory.

Sshh, the Lord is here.

 The Glory of the Lord shall be revealed. Isaiah 40:5

Ssshhh, I heard the Lord coming through the garden, treading softly on the dew laden grass, clothed in the beauty of floral colours and surrounded by an air of incense. Quietly in the sacred space I wondered, if I was in a hard place, a noisy place, or in front of a breath taking moment would I still hear the Lord coming to me? I believe so, because isn't it said by God, 'Where I am there you shall be also.' (John 14:3)

May the peace of God fill your life every single day.  

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                  The Lord is with the lost children of Ukraine

Like a bell ringing - softly.

 

May Christ dwell in your hearts through faith as you are being rooted and grounded in love. Ephesians 3:17

The tinkling call of a little bird is just like a bell ringing  softly and gently -  peace, calm, joy. Those words came to mind from Macrina Wiederkehr as I sat peacefully in the sacred space, the growing day showing up all its glory across the perfectly blue sky and the perfume of the Gardenia and Jasmine filled the air. So often I would just love to stay there in that space because God is so present, so inviting, so embracing. His presence seen in the beauty of his created flowers so full of joyful blooming and his Spirit felt in the gentle breeze that crosses my face. O how much we miss out on if we don't pause awhile with God and allow him to prepare our hearts for the day ahead. May your morning experiences be also filled with peace, calm and joy.

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

                                            Rooted and grounded in love.

Give God the Glory

 That my heart may sing your praises and never be silent. O Lord my God I will give you thanks forever. Psalm 30:12

I love the way God comes in so many disguises and sitting in the sacred space on this beautiful summers morning I am blessed by so much of the presence of God. One flower  in particular caught my eye and stopped my wandering thoughts with its beauty, its perfect formation, its shifting colour in the sunlight as if the master creator was still at work in it.  What a magnificent creation but more so, what a magnificent creator. O give God the glory for all his creation.

May the peace of God fill your life every single day. 

Anne, servant of the Lord

Stop and stare.

 Be still and know that I am God.  Psalm 46:10

Stop and stare is something I do frequently when out on a walk or just sitting in the quiet space, just me and God. Stop to look more deeply and stare to see beyond what is in front of me where a wild flower in the grass is more than a wildflower, in fact its a thing of great creation planned by God for our enjoyment and the pleasure of the bees and butterflies. I pause at the song of the birds to just take in the beauty and perfect rhythm of their song and at Christmas I found myself pausing for long moments in front of the baby Jesus in his crib in the nativity scene and the more I stared the more I saw the wonder of  not a baby but God.   A New Year resolution might well be to pause and stare - just take the time to pause and stare.

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

                                                Pause awhile with me.