the scroll of the book

' Then I said, 'Here I am ,in the scroll of the book it is written of me.'Ps 40:7

I stood in the small synagogue in the Nazareth village surrounded by time and history and God thoughts,and there before me was a table and on the table was a scroll, an ancient scroll. As I stared transfixed I had this incredible sense that I was standing on Holy Ground as I saw in reality things I had only previously read and heard of. The scroll was like a time capsule connecting the then and the now.

And I again make that promise to God to continue to do his will, with delight.

Sacred places, sacred spaces, sacred thoughts in the presence of God that warm the heart and affirm the faith. Where are the spaces you find God? Where is your faith affirmed and your heart warmed?

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

Lent

'Blessed is the one who stays awake.' Rev 16:15

The day covered the mountains of grandeur in a veil of soft blue morning mist and there it hung its beauty and I was riveted to the spot, fixed in wonder at the start of a day already filled with heaven. There was peace and there was quiet and there was awe and and I knew it was God.

Lenten meditation for me is an exciting meeting with God. Its rebuilding our relationship. Its soaking in his love.

How are you spending your time with God this Lenten season?

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

I love thy house Oh God, wherein thy honour dwells.'

'Tend the flock of God......' 1 Peter:5:2

I look at the elderly seated in anticipation of the commencement of the service, stooped, bent, frail, and I am so blessed. Here are the encourager's, here are the survivors of life, here are the keepers of the stories, here are the tried and tested, here are the faithful. No matter what life has served up, no matter the losses, they have kept the faith.

Treasure those in your care and seek the ones who are lonely and isolated. Let them know they are blessed and a blessing.

I read this quote: 'The treasures of earth are free and full of surprises.'

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

Comfort from God

'Your rod and your staff they comfort me.' Psalm 23:4

Many of our days can be floored with little fractures of despair or worry. They can pull us down. they can distract us from enjoyment, they can take us away from our trust in God.

We often cant avoid the issues in our days but we dont have to go them alone. God is there with us, even in the fractured bits. (or perhaps even more so) Now that is a great comfort.

When we do fall into fractures in our day, know that Jesus is there, open arms, waiting to comfort us. That's a nice word, comfort. It gives me images of wrapped in a warm blanket and held tight.

'Between the cracks of daily life I find you waiting...you slip into my life like night and day, like stars and sunshine. I know that you are God.' (Mecrina Wiederkehr)

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

Rain, and more rain

'The rain fell, the floods came.....' Matt 7:25

The absolute magnitude of God's creative work continues to amaze me. I don't think there is a dry piece of land in the country at the moment from the persistent falling rain over the past days yet God's creatures knew it was coming and prepared for it. Have you seen the ants nest, built up high with dirt, a protective wall for the nest against the flood around them?I often think when its dry and I see these tiny ants preparing for something I yet can't see or feel that it must be a bit like Noah building the ark in a dry and parched land with much bewilderment and amusement of those about him. What an amazing God we have and just as amazing our God given ability to see his handy work if we are looking. But, more so, how must God feel when he knows we see it!

Open our eyes Lord to the wonder of your world.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne, servant of the Lord

gushing water

'The water that I will give them will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life' John 4:14

I like that word gushing!

When I stood by the source of the Jordan River with the waters absolutely gushing out at a massive rate from within the mountain, I thought of these words of Jesus and dwelt on them , reflecting on the more we 'drink' from his word and life, the more the spring within us bubbles then gushed higher and higher, gathering momentum driving us towards eternal life. A spring is a water source that never stops, always bubbling. Lets constantly tap into the spring of life giving waters , Jesus Christ our Saviour.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

I love you Lord

'I pray that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love , may............ know this love that surpasses knowledge.' Eph 3:16-19

I am so often in awe as I step out into the morning God is making. Today, golden, deep golden sunrise creeping across the sky, covering creation with the gold of God's glory and it couldn't have been better as it was accompanied by a very vocal chorus a blue wrens. Sometimes its hard to find myself closer to God than I do on early morning walks. Sometimes I don't walk far because I just want to stand in his wonder.

I am filled with added blessings as God gives me the sung words to glorify him from Bernard of Clairvaux:

'Jesus the very thought of thee,with sweetness fills my breast

but sweeter far thy face to see,and in thy presence rest.

I can think of no better way to start the day than with a constant mantra of praise and thanks.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne,servant of the Lord.

Lent

'But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying. 'God be merciful to me, a sinner!' Luke18:13

So often we are tempted and our thoughts 'pushed' in the opposite way to how we know we should be as followers of The Christ. Temptation is not a bad thing, its when we carry out the temptation that we are in strife. If we are tempted then this is a great opportunity to strengthen our relationship with God.

Reflecting more deeply during Lent about that relationship and our need for forgiveness always draws me to dwell on the 'Jesus Prayer' saying more frequently as a Lenten mantra, ' Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God: have mercy on me a sinner.'

Brother Edward Anglican Priest and spiritual guide (d1953) said: Those who live very near to Jesus grow like him. The secret of the Saints is 'keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus'

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

Carrying Christ with you

' The Lords hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. Acts 11:21

Did you 'touch' the sky this morning with your heart and mind and soul? because if you did then you would know that God has placed his blessing on this day with oomph, flair and colour in a glorious sunrise that arrived with peace and quiet yet made its self noticeable in presence . When that happens I always want to say, 'Send me out Lord, let me pitch my tent where you place me and may I be mindful that you have deliberately put people in my pathway so I can proclaim your love in words and actions.

With those thoughts in mind may we all 'go forth,' as the old hymn says,' with God's blessings, his true love confessing....'

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ

Anne, servant of the Lord.

on the trail

Jesus said.' When two or three are gathered together in my name, I am with them.' Matthew 18:20

I got into the car at the edge of the park and from there I saw dozens of pigeon's feeding on the ground from a scruffy, unkept, man in straggling clothes who was throwing them crumbs of a loaf of bread. Something compelled me out of the car again and I walked over to him for a chat. We talked and he told me his story and he said he often spent his last dollar on bread for the pigeons, 'but no one speaks to me ,' he said. 'Why have you stopped to talk to me? 'What an opportunity to share God's love.

Some can't look at the frail elderly, or the disabled child, the scarred and disfigured

or the old man unwashed who lies on the park bench. Somehow its all too much for them yet are these not the ones Jesus asks us to care for?

(Anon) Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ

Anne, servant of he Lord.

prayer

'Withdraw to deserted places and pray.' (Luke 5:16)

I am out walking in the beautiful fresh morning after a previous days rain and I find myself talking inwardly to God. Its like a secret conversation rising up from the heart filling me with joy . I like the comment about prayer that says it is not a dialogue between a madman and his shadow but heart to heart communication between the child of God and and the Father, the Holy Being. ( H.Hodkin )

Mother Teresa says:' Love to pray - feel often during the day the need for prayer, and take trouble to pray. Prayer enlarges the heart until its capable of containing GOD'S gift of himself.' Wow! there is some strength in those words. Pray and pray often and you have the gift of God's presence with you always.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

The pastoral caring dog

'When morning guilds the sky, my heart awkening cries, Jesus Christ is Lord.' (Christian song)

Sometimes life can bring on challenges that pull us down in body and mind but with our Lord, our Spirit should be strong. I took my Bella dog (a black Lab) to the struggling nursing home as a moral lifter for the staff and residents. I walked from room to room just chatting and Bella brought many a smile, many a conversation, many blessings. But I know the blessings were mine also for I saw joy, I saw love, I saw smiles and there was much reminiscing. An elderly lady visiting her bed bound husband took me aside and with tears in her eyes told me of her husbands great love of his dog and his joy at seeing a dog, another told me of his farm life and his three kelpies, another patted Bell's head with such vigour that I had to rescue her.

It is easy to share God's love when we know that each day when we wake up with Jesus on our hearts an minds and a Spirit that say he is Lord, no matter what. Then lives will be changed, lives will be blessed.

Grace and peace this day, from the Lord Jesus Christ

Anne, servant of the Lord.

God's love

'For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, Jesus Christ so that whoever believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.'John 3:16

It always sends a tingle down my spine when I see these words on a banner in a massive crowd at a sporting event. Someone bold enough to proclaim God's saving love to the world, in full view of the world. These words say whoever believes. It doesn't say you have to be perfect, beautiful, complete and are not accepted if you are otherwise. It says whoever believes.

I held a perfect rose,deep red and full of beautiful perfume. I passed it around the group of elderly, frail, people and each person removed a petal until there was nothing left but one limp petal, a broken stem and a withered rose head. There was no longer anything beautiful about it. It was broken.

God loves us all we only have to believe. And what a message to take to the world.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ

Anne, servant of the Lord

joy

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

You know what its like when you round a corner, or come over the crest of a hill and there before you is the most stunning, breathtaking sunset, or when the kookaburra laughs and the morning silence is broken , or even when you unexpectedly come across a family of 'roo's' on the walking track, grazing and just 'being family.' All the elements of pleasurable surprise.

I was 'touched' by a sentence, a one liner at the recent convention which said: 'Joy comes through surprise.'

We have a God of surprises, who fills our hearts and lives with joy.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

a little bird and God

' But now, thus says the Lord, who has created you.......Do not fear, I have redeemed you, I have called you by name, you are mine,' (Isa 43:1 (paraphresed)

I held the tiniest of birds in the palm of my hand, a beautiful coloured Finch who had flown into the window. I prayed to God that he would regain consciousness and I watched as his little eyes fluttered open and shut. I prayed for him saying to God that this is a creation of yours you know every feather on his body, you know his needs, his flock family, and I had this image as I looked at this bird resting in the palm of my hand of a mighty God who holds us all in the palm of his hand, praying for us, and waiting for our 'breath moment' that will give us life. It was a special, sacred moment where God, my hand, and a little bird were one.

God, ground of my being, mysterious presence, the more I discover you, the more I am. (S. Kennedy)

Go well, and care for all in God's kindom.

Anne. Servant of the Lord.

deep and meaningful

' I danced in the morning when the world was begun....' TIS 242

Every morning before my feet hit the floor I have a conversation with God, a very deep conversation filled with faith and hope and love - just three words,'Good morning Lord.' and I can almost hear his reply. 'Good morning Anne.'

On my recent pilgrimage I sat and reflected across the Sea of Galilee watching the sun rise and my good morning mantra turned to: Good morning Lord, good morning Lord, good morning Lord before I fell into a deep peace.

How wonderful it is to speak with our Lord, our creator.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne, servant of our Lord

Stop, look,listen

' be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.' Psalm 37:7

I had an elderly man in an anxious state say to me, 'I cant find God.' I encouraged him to be still. to be quiet, and to listen.

Sometimes we can be in a space where we feel God is not present.

Where we feel God is distant

When we feel its just us, and not God.

(Anon)

When I stop I find you

When I look I see you

When I listen I hear you.

Take moments in the day to stop, look and listen and God will join you.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ

Anne, servant of the Lord

Oh what a gift, what a wonderful gift

'As each one of us has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another....'1 Peter 4:10

Christmas and birthdays, anniversaries, weddings and births are occasions for gift giving and its such fun. There is always a sense of expectation by the receiver as the gift is held and a wonder is exclaimed as to what is inside the wrapping. My granddaughter said once she had unwrapped the gift she was give, 'That is just what I wished for, I need this so I can do the things I want to do and so I can help dad in the garden.'

God has given us gifts we can use. Each of us is a gift to others, a parcel wrapped with the gifts we need for helping our Father. Therefore we can do the ministry we do and live a life of service and helping others with confidence knowing in all we do, we do it with the gifts God has given us in our uniqueness. Accept the gifts willingly and share them around in the lives of others.

Give thanks this day for the gifts God has given you

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

New Years resolutions

' My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labour.'Eccl.2:10

A whole new year lies before us. There are wonderful opportunities to do life giving, life changing works. I think of New Year and New Years resolutions, all the best made plans and before the first month is over they have all fallen in a heap and self promises are broken so I lay aside the 'worldly' resolutions and focus on Christ. What do I need to do to better my relationship with Jesus? How can I best serve him? Where does he want me to be? Who does he want me share his love with? Who can he lead me to so I can say: I have seen Jesus, come and see?

If we can take delight in all we do in the name of Christ then indeed that in itself is the reward of the labour.

Let us pray that God will show us these things so that he will be honoured and our lives fulfilled.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne, servant of the Lord

Epiphany

' ..........go and search diligently for the child.' Matthew 2 :8

Out walking in the beauty of a new day, that is fresh from overnight rain and I am drawn to notice the new flowers on the honeysuckle bush, beads of moisture covering the leaves and filling the air with its rich perfume and straight away my thoughts were of God and Christmas and Epiphany. I thought of the new baby Jesus coming to bring new life: his living water and the Magi (what an Epiphany they must have had, did it change their lives forever?)

Every time I stop and smell such beauty I think its like being in heaven, its like another Epiphany as it connects me to God in the moment and raises my spirit, setting me off with changed thoughts.

Look about you and see God in the unexpected places and be blessed by Epiphany moments, life changing moments.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ

Anne, servant of the Lord.