Rooted and grounded in love

How deep the Fathers love for us, how vast beyond all measure. (Christian song)
I sat in the dry  river bed around Alice Springs and  looked at this most amazing eucalyptus tree standing firmly rooted in the river bed  that was just a dry and arid dust bowl yet the tree was flourishing, there was no sign of withering. Its roots were well above the ground yet they must have also been very deep down into the sandy bed where it had a  supply of water and gained its strength to hold on, obviously so rooted in place that it stood tall, strong and grounded. As I looked at it I thought of how we are anchored to God. We can either have shallow roots that struggle to find water, the living water, or we can send our roots deep down, well into his love where we find strength, security and life. When our roots are well established in Christ we also wont wither as we are rooted, strengthened and established in his love.
John of the Cross said. Well and good if all things change, O Lord God, provided I am rooted in you.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Rooted and grounded. 

The smiling face of God

All things bright and beautiful ......the Lord God made them all. TIS 135.
Spring is the time when God surrounds us with his smile. Glorious colours of the flowers in bloom, deep green grass and breath taking sunrises and sunset. This is the season when all creation 'shouts' before us the smiling face of God. His presence is a present. A gift. A treasured gift. As much as its a case of taste and see for the Lord is God, it is also  about look and see, feel and see, touch and see, for the Lord is good.  Did you see God smile for you today?

God's smile.

Blessed assurance

In all things......I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matt 28:20
Is it about getting older and growing deeper in our faith or is it about us realising God's deep love for us or what is it that we get this great sense, this revelation , that all the words of God are indeed true, are confirmed in our hearts more and more as life goes on. We always knew the truth, but did we always know the great assurance of it. Today as I listen to the birds rejoicing in the gift of the new day, fresh from an overnight storm I feel that assurance, that deep love of God, that gift of his grace, that saved me. I hope and pray that it dwells richly in your heart, that blessed assurance.
For the mercy I could never deserve. The debt I could never repay. The love I could never  earn. I thank God every day.(anon)  What a gift.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne,servant of the Lord.

center of the labyrinth. Campfire of the heart NT

Something that gives you goosebumps

See if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down an overflowing blessing. Mal 3:10
Blessings are so special.
The small child who puts his hand in yours. Seeing the complete bright  rainbow after a storm. The smile of an elderly person. Seeing the joy of achievement by one with a disability. Looking at a glorious view. Seeing the tiniest of blue wrens in the garden. Coming across a beautiful little flower on a plain bush. Having a retreat in the desert. I ask myself what is a blessing? And I answer. Something that gives you goosebumps. Something that makes you feel warm and happy inside, something that comes from God.
May God's blessings be about you today in the expected and in the unexpected.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

A blessing

Joy, is the flag  flown high from the castle of my heart when the King is in residence there. (New harvest 19)
If we see, actually see aright then we know that this vast and beautiful land is packed with joy. Deep joy.It overflows with joy if we stop to take it in even from the smallest, tiniest wild flower to the stars that throb in uncountable numbers across the sky. I often think of the word 'joy' and try and define it and  I think its that  deep and wonderful feeling we have before it bursts into a blessing. It can be found hidden deep down in the heart of all things, even in the massive rocks of a mountain range, or the peeling bark of an ancient eucalyptus tree, to say nothing of the sunrise as the day dawns. Joy, delight, blessings. That's how I think it goes.
Grace and peace from our Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord

joy, delight, blessings. A desert sunrise.

God's paint palate

Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. Hebrews 13:8
   The minute I step outside to go for a walk I am met by the rich smell of spring. The blossom on the prunus tree and the sweet lingering perfume of the Daphne and it all sits in the silence of the rich red sunrise coming across the  morning sky.   It reminds me  each day of God's faithfulness to us. He never fails to produce a beautiful spring or a glorious autumn or the changing shapes of winter and the sharp, shimmering images of summer. Day by day he delivers. What an array of colours he must have on his paint palate. You can almost hear him mulling over it. 'Ah, what colour will I make that. How far will I spread the sunrise today and will I progress the blossom on the wattle to an even sharper, brighter more brilliant yellow. Will I take them along another branch.' Each day  sets my thoughts on   God and my day ahead. I like these thoughts by Mary Fleeson:
My journey is always just a beginning. A fresh new day on an old, old path. That's the blessing . That's where the hope blossoms.   No matter how much I wondered yesterday I can start again tomorrow and when all my tomorrows are used up I'll still have traveled. And you know what people say, Its the journey that counts not the arriving.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne,servant of the Lord.
      

The colours on God's paint palate.

spend a moment in wonder

As sorrowful,yet always rejoicing;as poor,yet making many rich;as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. 2 Corinthians 6:10
The glorious spring. God in all his glory. The wattle so bright yellow and in such variety. Have you noticed that? Like all things God makes, nothing is the same. Then there is the Japonica so deep red or sometimes white and as for the daffodils, well there is a garden at my place that has bunches of beautiful daffodils. There are some with apricot trumpets,some with yellow, some with white, some with a pale pink.What rich and beautiful gifts from God. They are real draw cards to see him, far surpassing material things. Made by God in order that we may see God and love him even more. What heavenly gifts can you see where you are right now? God has put them there just for you. Spend a moment in wonder with him reflecting: 'as having nothing yet possessing all things.'
Anne, servant of the Lord.

you cant look at a bright faced daffodil and not smile.

treasure chest

And now O Father mindful of your love....we here present, we here spread forth to thee...in thine own service make us glad and free. (Paraphrased )hymn W Bright
I had this image this morning as the sun rose deep deep yellow on the horizon then soft pink spreading across the sky and then, a brilliant light, so bright that it was dazzling to look at as it heralded in the new morning.
It was like God was opening the lid on the treasure chest and letting out the treasure. The treasure of a new full day. Full of colour. Dressed for life. Untouched. Fresh. Waiting to be embraced and loved and used for him.
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Gentle water fall

'....and in all we do...' (A collect for grace BCP)
How can we not be filled with hope, affirmation and assurance when we experience the moving of the Holy Spirit? Sometimes the Spirit is so real, so near, so 'in us' that its a place of oneness. A  place we don't want to leave. Its like this: An elderly lady in the nursing home told me how she was feeling following the church service she had just been too. She said she felt so 'alive' and 'full of God's blessings.' God is so real,' she said. 'so within me. A deep, deep presence that showers me with constant blessings. Its like  standing under a gentle waterfall and having the water flowing over me.'
What sacred ground. It's the very real experiences of others in the faith that enable us to 'run the race with perseverance' gathering as many as we can along the way. Picking up those who have fallen or lost their way so they too can come to know the living God. And being spurred on by those who have seen the light.  In the Prayer-given Life it says: today I have been brought in safety to this new day, a true, free gift and so we pray. '...direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose;through Jesus Christ our Lord.'
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Blessed assurance.

Remember me

I the Lord of sea and sky. I have heard my people cry.  Who will bear my light for them? whom shall I send? (Here I am Lord  TIS 658 (paraphrased)
I had been out in the community,( visible in clerical dress) doing some physical work with people with hoarding issues and decided on the way home that I needed a coffee. I stopped by a coffee shop that I had never visited before and the lady behind the counter said to me. ' You are a God send if ever there was one.' At first I didn't know what she meant and then she went on to say. 'Remember me, I use to be at the coffee shop in the shopping center down the road a bit.' I did remember. She went on to say. ' I asked God to send someone to me today. My mother died yesterday and I needed someone to pray for the presence of God in peace.'   'Indeed I will pray. I am going back to church at the moment and will light a candle for you and your mother, in the chapel but lets pray now.' I could sense the other three people in the shop get up from their seats and I thought they were going to leave. Instead they came closer as I said a short prayer of comfort.
Roy Lessin wrote: Jesus will come to you in the most unexpected times. In the most unexpected ways and through the most unexpected people.
Be blessed in these special meetings with God
Anne, servant of the Lord

Here I am Lord

Love from God

Morning has broken like the new morning (TIS 156)
I opened the blinds in my office and the new morning came flooding in to the song of a cheeky pee-wee on the picket fence and right on my lips were the words of this lovely hymn. What a blessing. Longfellow has a saying. 'Into all our lives, in many simple, familiar, homely ways, God infuses this element of joy from the surprises of life,which unexpectantly brighten our days and fill our eyes with light.' I think that is so profound and fills one with joy just to read it. Think of your days  and the blessings that come expectantly. Treasured gifts from God, that's what I call a blessing. They are mine. They are rich. They are special. They are personal, life giving,faith affirming and exciting They are like love from God directly to our heart. Sometimes this love comes to us  from a glorious sunset. Sometimes it comes from a beautiful single flower. Sometimes it comes from serving others.
When you settle down tonight  don't count sheep if you take awhile to sleep, count your blessings from this day  and be blessed. I can guarantee you will be asleep before you finish counting as they will be so numerous
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord

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Heavenly places

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. Ephesians 1:3
 I commented at a gathering, as I held a bunch of Jonquils, that one smell of them and I was back as a 10 year old sitting in a paddock with friends, surrounded by bunches of jonquils. And again, one smell of the Daphne and I am in the garden of my grandparents. So many smells and perfumes that transfer me into a lovely time lock of memories. I always feel there is something spiritual in those experiences. They are so spontaneous, without thought, so quick and so comforting.Happy memories or should I call them blessings in heavenly places.
Where are the heavenly places on earth for you? Where is it that the spontaneous spiritual blessings come to you?

May your day be filled with heavenly places.
Anne,servant of the Lord.

the depth of Gods love

 'How deep the Fathers love for us. How vast beyond all measure.' (Hymn)
I paused when I went out the door for a walk. There before me on the lawn was a flock of King Parrots and the more I looked the more I could see deep into their beautiful colours. They are a magnificent bird. The air is crisp and clear after yesterdays flurry of snow and I felt that God was in his house. As I walked we communicated without rambling and into my mind came the words of this song.'How deep the Fathers love for us.' I began to tease out some thoughts on the words 'deep' and the 'depth' of God's love. Thoughts like: The gift of this new day. The strength to do his will. The ability to see him in all creation.The deep yellow of the wattle in bloom, the perfume of the Daphne, his aroma, filling the air. The chorus of magpies. And I thought of the arms of a friend around me and my arms around another in need. I thought of a deep, deep bottomless well going deeper and deeper into my soul where it touched the point of no words and I knew the depth of the Father's love.
Take a moment to smell the flowers. Listen to the morning call of the birds. Give away a hug in friendship and be a blessing to those who cross your path........and breathe in the deep, deep love of God.
Anne, servant of the Lord

inviting themselves for breakfast!!

God's work

Speak , Lord for your servant is listening. 1 Samuel 3:9
I am intrigued by the prunus tree that I see in my street. For so many weeks they have  looked seemingly dead yet now, hanging from the branches are clusters of  bright pink blossoms. A sign of new life, beauty and hope. The sight of it makes me feel 'good', deep inside. Somehow it has a message about it. A God message and I am reminded of this saying.
I said to the almond tree. Show me the things of God. And the almond tree blossomed. (anon)
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Not alone

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14
I think of my favourite solo singing artists. The ones who's voices make me stop in my tracks and  give me goosebumps, so moving and emotional is the voice.  Such artists as Bocelli, Enja, Sarah Brightman but of all the solo artists the one that moves me most, takes my breath away and puts me at the feet of Jesus, is the solo magpie at the break of dawn.If ever there was a morning voice to God that says it all then this is it. The strong, melodious warbling is for me, the morning call to focus on God as the day begins to cover the night. Somehow it causes me to think of the 'silent' morning songs that are going up to God in our morning prayers. In itself, this one voice of the solo  magpie represents all the unheard voices raising their prayers to God at the start of a new day.
Do you ever get the sense when you are saying your daily office, your morning prayers, in the quiet of your chosen space, that you are not doing it alone? Reflect on the things in life that bring you to the feet of Jesus and be blessed.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

God's peace

The peace of God that passes all understanding.....(APB)
In the quiet, in the stillness, as the new day was being made
there was God
and there was me.
What peace
What a way to start a day, wrapped in the creators arms.

May your day be one of new beginnings.
 May your day be one of peace.
May your day be where you find peace.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne Servant of the Lord.

life and health and peace

O for a thousand tongues to sing my great redeemers praise. TIS 210
What a way to wake up of a morning  with a hymn on your lips and in your heart. The morning is  showing promise of a lovely day and is alive with a wonderful chorus that was completely in harmony with the paint brush in God's hand as he painted a loud, colourful  dawn of bold pink, red and blue.The chorus was magnificent. Two crows singing high and low in harmony with each other.   Crimson Rosellas 'pipping,'  The cheeky pewees adding their shrill voice and a flock of yellow rump finches just seemed to pull together a chorus of a thousand tongues singing praise to our great Redeemer. I joined in the chorus with: My gracious Master and my God, assist me to proclaim. To spread throughout all the earth abroad, the honours of your name. (Charles Wesley)
Take these words with you as you go into your day because such music in our ears is life, and health and peace.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Waiting to join in!

In the presence of the Lord

Be still for the presence of the Lord is moving in this place. (Hymn)
Pre dawn is such a blessed time. Deep in the fading darkness comes signs and sounds of light and life. its the opening in the blinds of my room that says the day is coming. Its the sounds of the birds waking and calling (its a cheeky pee-wee at the moment!) checking out each other, that says the day is coming. Its the first step outside the door into the fresh morning air, waiting to be warmed by a not too far off sun, that says the day is coming. Its the quarter moon aligned with two bright stars fading into light that says the day is coming and slowly the wonder turns to awe, the puffs of cotton wool like grey clouds turn a shade of pink and orange  and all is alive with light that says the day has come. Be still in the presence of the Lord, the Holy One is here.

Blessed be your day
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Precious God given love

Take my love;my Lord, I pour, at thy feet its treasure stored. TIS 599
The greatest thing that God asks of us is that we love one another and what an example we have if we look to him. We know what its like when someone shows us love in so many ways, we know how that makes us feel and how much it gives us life.
I was looking at God's love this past week when I visited the dementia ward of the nursing home with my little dog. I was looking at God's love as I listened to  an aid worker telling of the humanitarian crisis in Syria and I was looking at God's love this morning as I saw even more bright yellow blossoms bursting on the branches of the winter wattle and smelt its perfume in the air, God's perfume. As I wrapped the prayers of the morning around my heart I prayed.  Take our love Lord, our precious God given love, like the five barley loaves and two small fishes, and multiply it, so that it may be a blessing to you and to others.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord

Treasure the pearl of great price

O God the fount of wisdom, you have revealed to us in Christ the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price. (opening line of the Collect for 8th Sunday after Pentecost)
In my bottom draw I have a small, red velvet container and inside it is a string of  'real' pearls. I recall  the great excitement I felt when I purchased them on a cruise liner way back in the 1960's as a  gift for my mother who had never had the chance to own such a precious  gift.  Her joy was almost in describable. Somehow I connect this story with the parable of the pearl of great price. Once we find it;once we receive it; our lives are filled with joy and even more so, once we give it to someone else their lives are also transformed into experiences until then, unknown. I have a lonely isolated lady in the community that I visit who has no joy and no hope in her life. I am going to take the red velvet container with the pearls in it and tell her this story  of that pearl of great price.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

A string of pearls in the spirituality tin of hidden treasures.