Taking risks for Christ.

Has not the Lord gone ahead of you? and does he not say 'I am sending you? (Judges 4:14-6:14)
How much of what we do for the Lord is often seen by others as 'outside the box.' Sometimes openly questioned even by those 'inside the box' so to say.Much of the work we do  is with the isolated and lonely in our communities and I truly believe that all those we serve are God sent. Several of the people I care for in the community have issues with hoarding in their homes and no one in the community seems to want to help them. I believe strongly that when our church program was  asked to help these people that they were God sent to us for this purpose. Do you believe that with much of what you do ?Charles E Cowman says this: God has guided the heroes and saints of all ages to do things which the common sense of the community has regarded as ridiculous and mad. Have you ever taken any risks for Christ?
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord

National Deacons Conference in Perth  2014. ALL risk takers for Christ!

Creator of all.

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth. Psalm 8:1
I will never forget the look of the sky in the outback. Stars in magnitude and beauty like I had never experienced. Far removed from any 'street lights' or other dimming influences, the stars were all on display in their masses, their clusters and their patterns. What a magnificent sight. It left me just gazing in silence at the wonder of our amazing God, the creator of such beauty and magnitude.
Do you recall when you last saw the stars and experienced that moment of awe and amazement that led you to see beyond the stars to their creator. So much in life has these moments of wonder if we can just see deep into them to their maker.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

The wonder of a sunrise

come and see!

The first thing Andrew did was to find Simon and he said to him, 'We have found the Lord.' John 1:14
When the grandchildren visit and we share a meal together I always suggest we thank Jesus for our food before we eat by using a simple grace. Yesterday, I heard that my 5 year old grandson requests everyone in his class at pre school to not start eating their lunch until he says 'the special words to Jesus.' His father suggested that perhaps not all the children will know about Jesus. His reply was. 'Yes they will because there is a church right next door to the pre school and anyway, I can tell them.'
What an absolute, humbling and delightful thing it is to know that you have enabled someone to 'see Jesus.'Eric Fellman said: Lord, let my life show you to someone today.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

unused gifts

There came to him a woman having an alabaster  box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head. Matthew 26:7
Most of us that have something that's very precious don't use it. How many items do you have that you perceive to be precious and you never use them? I can think of several in my home, items such as the fine bone china cup saucer and plate that was given to me as a gift when I was only 10 and all these years later I have never used it but admired its place in the china cabinet along with other 'precious'  items.I wonder if it is truly honouring the giver to not use such gifts?  Many a 'gift' we have comes from God. Gifts he gave us freely to use, not store  away. Bring them out, use them for his glory and enjoy the benefit of using and sharing  something precious that will also bring joy and delight  to others.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord

refreshment to the soul

Sir, give me this water that I may never be thirsty. John 4:15
I like this saying. 'I wasn't thinking of music but it began to rain!' How true is that. When we have been waiting and waiting for it to rain and it finally comes, its like music to the ears.It brings refreshment to the soul, it lifts our spirits. No wonder Jesus used the imagery of water, -  living water, when he invited people to come and be refreshed in body, mind and soul - and grow. I have also heard it said that gentle falling rain is like a ministry. Helen T Allison says this:
One little unshed raindrop
may think itself too small
yet somewhere a thirsty flower
awaits its fall.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Home garden

Pause with God

Withdraw to deserted places and pray. 5:16
I cant seem to walk past the pond without stopping awhile to look at its mysteries and hear its sounds, I just stand and look and momentarily not a sound passes from me to the bulrushes, the frogs, the birds and the ducks except a thought of thanks to God for a new day, for his beauty in creation and for a pause of stillness and reflection. I come away feeling a refreshment of my soul and a slight skip in my step and though I have felt the great benefit of a pause with God I reflect on how he deserves some sacred space in our day.  While its such a privilege to spend time with God, he to wants to spend time with us.

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

One does what one can

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God's sight. Luke 12:6
Its amazing how everything has its role in God's world, even the humble sparrow. Seen to be a pest by many a garden lover and totally banned in Western Australia this little creature of no real beauty still has a place among .  It always brings a smile to my face when I see it, especially since it was the only bird I saw in the 'Tomb Garden' in Jerusalem. It says something to us that everything is of worth to God even the most plain of us all. Every thing has a place. I love this story, no, its a parable.(author unknown.) It was a chilly overcast day when a horseman spied a little sparrow lying on its back in the middle of the road. Reigning in his mount he looked down and inquired of the creature.'Why are you lying upside down like that?' I heard the heavens are going to fall in today,' replied the bird. The horseman laughed. ' I suppose your spindly legs can hold up the heavens?'  'One does what one can' said the little sparrow.' Isn't that so true. Each of us no matter how small or how ordinary we think we are we all have a place in God's world and for God, we do what we can.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Tomb Garden Jerusalem

See it to believe it?

All of us are here in the presence of God Acts 10:33
There is that old saying, 'You have to see it to believe it.' but with a faith in the everlasting presence of the Lord with us, we don't go along with that saying. Many a time I have felt the presence of God with me and especially when out walking, or when in  a 'sticky situation' when I don't know to turn to the left or the right and yes, every night when I say my prayers and turn the light out I know I sleep in the company of God's protection.  Thomas Kimber said: After a long trying march over perilous Antarctic mountains and glaciers, a South Pole explorer said to his leader. 'I had a curious feeling on the march that there was someone else with us.'
No, we don't have to see to believe it. Just know that the presence of God is with us always.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Wonders never cease.

Loving God, we thank you for this world of wonder and delight. (Thanksgiving 5 APBA)
Many a time we all come to a place where we look about at all the wonders within our sight -  be it walking on the beach and discovering shells of all variety and beauty, sitting trying to count the many grains of sand, wondering at the life the  sea creatures might have. Or if it is sitting in our garden admiring its beauty, watching the butterflies and birds and marveling at their creation and creator. Or maybe its leaning on a fence and pondering the view across the paddock to the distant hills as the sun sets marveling at that beautiful phenomenon and reflecting on the day passing  What ever it is -
(As Gariepy says ) as we look about us we will find that wonders never cease as long as we never cease to wonder. and William Wordsworth invites us to 'let nature be your teacher, she has a world of ready wealth and our hearts and minds to bless.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

it gives off joy and memory.

Glorious things of you are spoken. (Christian hymn) 
Many things give us joy in life if we can just see God in all. Today held a special blessing as I looked onto it and saw the many new blooms of the roses in their second flush for the season each arrayed in its own glorious colour and wearing a perfume that gives off joy and memory. But the blessing that even topped that was just beyond the leaves of the heavenly perfumed roses. It presented first as the tiniest splash of blue - two tone blue-deep and light - and as I looked a little head became visible and a trill rose from deep within its tiny mouth. No words, just a sweet trill - glorious, lovely,special - and there it was in full view, a  blue wren gathering the blessings of his day from among the rose leaves . I thought, no matter what may be on our heart when we get up, nothing could dispel the blessings of God given for us at its start. Even if it was a fleeting blessing, it will remain  regardless of the days events.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Create in me a new and contrite heart (Ash Wednesday Collect0
On Ash Wednesday the symbolism as you walked into the church was a purple cloth draped on the floor below the sanctuary. Two large branches forming the shape of a cross, burnt to their core by the recent bush fires in our area, lay on the  cloth. It was powerful.  I always marvel at the country side after a bush fire, devastated, destruction, black, yet   within weeks, even days if there has been a drop of rain, new shoots will begin to grow from what seems to have been something  very dead - bush fires turn trees into ashes but rain on them brings new growth. (This so reminds me of Christ the living water.) Is 61:3 talks of beauty from ashes.....'To give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning'  I looked at those burnt tree branches  and something deep within my being, something deep within my soul said something about God, something about us being in the power of God, something about our own new growth, something about a God who holds us close and has the power to restore.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord

Best preacher that ever was.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.  (TIS 768)
It doesn't matter how many years of morning walks I have and it doesn't matter the mood I might be in  when I take them I still cant hold back the  daily greeting to the Lord.  While everything outside seems to remain the same yet every day it brings new joy and a deeper vision and understanding of creation, of life, of God. I can look down the valley to the mountains as if I have never seen that view before and it will greet me anew with its beauty. I can hear the ducks and frogs in the pond as if it were for  the first time and God's glory manifests itself in the changing colours of the sky as the sun rise takes center stage.
Mary Oliver says it like this: Hello, sun in my face. Hello, you who makes the morning and spreads it over the fields - best preacher that ever was.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Hello, you who made the morning.

sink the roots deep

But those who drink of the living water I will give them will never be thirsty. John 4:14
I came across a lovely symbolic display in the front garden of a home I walk past and it immediately brought to mind a  biblical reflection of living water and various other texts relating to 'holding onto Jesus and living in him.' and it reminded me of some words I read by Sara Orne Jewett which said:
'A good healthy tree growing out of a bare rock, out of some crack that holds its roots and it keeps its green top in the worst heat, the driest summer - and you lay your ear to the ground and you hear a little stream running.' How true it is that if we have the living waters Jesus offers us flowing through us then as Julian or Norwich says: 'All will be well. All manner of things will be well.'
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of he Lord

only by the grace of a little stream below.

all together

Isaiah 65:25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together.
 How wonderful it would be if this were the case today - the lamb and the wolf together - living in harmony and peace. So much of the worlds dilemma is because people have no vision they can not envision living in harmony and peace with each other but how that could change if people are at peace deep within their bodies and their communion with God was rich. Its then we can see the worth and value in all and the beauty and grace of God and his creation. I caught a glimpse of what this  could look like when I was visiting the optometrist a few days ago. The two lovely young men on the welcome desk were obviously of the alternate life style, the optometrist who saw me was from the middle east and traditionally dressed, the lass who fitted my glasses was from India and the other lass who took my next booking was from Italy. As I was on my way to work via this appointment I was clerically dressed and the optometrist was so interested in what I did on a daily basis. I walked away from that place with a skip in my step as I said to God. 'Now that is how your world should be -  everyone living in harmony and how can I help it be so?
Grace to you and peace
Anne,servant of the Lord

peace

we are the Lord's

This morning and often read this passage of scripture from Paul to the Thessalonians.

' Paul  thought he brought something of significance to people in his role in the rough and tumble of life.'  (Bishop Brain) I believe in our ministries and daily life as Christians we too bring something of great significance to others and for that you are thought of often.

Paul says: We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers,constantly remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labour of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know brothers and sisters beloved by God that he has chosen you because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only,but also  in power and in the Holy Spirit......Thessalonians 1:2-4a

What wonderful words of encouragements. What wonderful words of support, what wonderful words of affirmation and how humbling they are. In all we do and in all we are, we are the Lords, and we are in the prayers of those who know and encourage us.
Grace to you and peace
Anne, servant of the Lord

little packets of gold

A sower sows the word. Mark 4:14
I see a farmer planting seed in the paddock and I think about that seed, that little packet of gold, so tiny yet it  has the potential to bring such value not only to the farmer but to  many others as well. It is  indeed a real treasure and  right now, right at this moment you have 'a little packet of gold' a real treasure, hidden within you and its  called the word of God and it can be so powerful once sown and planted into the lives of other so much so it can change their life. No, not change it, but save it.
I wonder what you are going to do today with the treasure you are holding, that precious word of God? Step out into the world and sow it.
With God's love and blessings of the Lord
Anne, servant

little packets of gold sown in faith and trust produced life sustaining results

little dolls of gold

'Lord I lift your name on high. Lord I want to sing your praises.'(Christian song)
I caught up with such glorious delights in the early morning walk, - A very busy purpose filled willy wagtail investigating every corner of an old wooden fence in pursuit of his breakfast and then a cluster of bright yellow rump finches which Mary Oliver would describe as 'little dolls of gold.' And camouflaged in the greenest of grass flourishing like no other around it ,n a water course, was a family of fluorescent green grass parrots and I looked (As Mary Oliver says:)  ' not just standing around looking but standing around as though with your arms open.'
I could not help but think about the glorious delights that are all around us and so often we do not see unless we stop and look and I mean truly  look.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

The blue wrens home

rescued with love

Jesus said: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you. John 13:34
There are so many ways we can go about our day and our daily work. Its how we do it, how we see people, how we see our life that makes the difference. One of the ministries I am involved in is' nursing people  back into life' Through life's difficulties, trauma and misfortune some people find themselves in a very deep, dark hole and they need someone to come along side and offer a hand to climb out of it -   not to just climb out but to know where to plant their feet once out, to be strong with what life holds for them. Just adding that extra layer called 'love' can make a world of difference.
I read this quote from Joan Chittister: If I cook dinner, that's ordinary. If I put a flower on the table when I serve it, that's divine.
May we serve Christ and all who cross our path with that added dimension of love,
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord

For I am his and he is mine

For I am his, and he is mine. Here in the power of God I stand. (Christian Song)
I can stand on the top of the hill and look across the valley to the mountains at sunset and be in absolute awe of the beauty and oneness of God's creation and something in me, this little dot on top of the hill, says you belong and I feel it, I feel I belong and am part of all before and around me. In all of this creation there is you and you belong and you are important and without you, what you see before you is incomplete.I read this lovely poem by Michael Quoist:
A symphony needs each note, a book needs each word. A house needs each brick, the ocean needs each drop of water, the harvest needs each grain of wheat.
The whole of humanity needs you, as and where you are - you are unique - no one can take your place.
Just pause a moment and read that again and be blessed.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne,servant of the Lord.

Go little boats

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us. Hebrews 12:1
This would have to be one of the biblical verses that are familiar in the heart of us all and we no doubt have used it in so many contexts but it struck me another way when I was looking at some yachts  just sitting  on the water, sails down, not looking at all adventurous or capable of going anywhere. What a different story though when the sails go up and the boat is maned and the wind carries it out on a journey. Somehow, the Hebrews verse came to mind and I thought of this little prayer I had read somewhere: May the wind of the Holy Spirit fill your sails and take you to a new, inspired place.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord