Looking for God

When morning gilds the sky my heart awaking cries, may Jesus Christ be praised. TIS 227
Morning comes pushing aside the last shades of the night and I like to spend that time, those last few minutes of darkness with no one except God.  Every day I look for God and every day I find him. He is in those moments of morning waking, he is in the silence, he is in the first song of the early birds . He is present in my rising and welcoming with treasured gifts of beauty, of colour, of  tiny precious sightings  along the walking path. The kiss of the new day finds me meeting God where I left him the previous evening. Are you still looking for God in whatever your situation is? He is there.
May the Lord of Peace himself give you peace at all times and in all ways.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Morning has broken.

What does this say to you?

Break me, melt me, mould me, fill me. Spirit of the living God fall afresh on me. (New Harvest 173)

It is so amazing to know that you can  cut open a flower bulb and inside you will see the flower. What does that say to you? What image comes to mind? There it is, this beauty, tucked away hidden in the center of a plain brown bulb and planted in the right place it will emerge from the darkness into the light, unfolding  to flourish. I think we can relate this to us: ordinary people with the light of Christ hidden within us. Break us open by the Spirit of God and there will be revealed our beauty, our compassion, our love for one another  and an even greater love for God. And we will flourish. May many see the beauty within all who follow Christ. 

May the Lord of Peace himself give us peace at all times and in all ways.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

Break me mould me so I flourish.

keep the balance

The light shines in the darkness and the darkness will not overcome it. John 1:15
Tough times world wide and it seems at times like the darkness is creeping over us but I like to remember the light that is always there. I think of the bulbs deep in the cold soil preparing for spring,  where they will rise out of the darkness and grow and blossom and bring pleasure and joy. I think of the tiny seed of the sweet peas, so small yet when they rise from the darkness they will pack a punch of perfume that can be smelt right across the garden to your front door. We to will rise from the darkness that is hanging over us but keep all things in balance remembering the light is always there, it hasn't moved.
May the Lord of Peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways.
Anne, servant of the Lord

Out of darkness into the light

From the heart of Jesus

Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven hallowed be your name. Matthew 6:9
There is no way of telling what each day will bring and in such troubled times as we are in now with a world pandemic and a record of this year being one unimaginable catastrophe after another our days and lives can change at the blink of an eye.  So how do we pray? I seem to recall this question being asked by the apostles when they asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. he then gave them words - he taught them the Lord's prayer, a prayer that meets our daily needs and one that assures us that God is with us. Imagine this: Every time we say the 'Our Father,' God looks at his hands where our names are etched. 'See I have inscribed you on the palm of my hands (Isaiah 49:16). What a beautiful image. What an expression of the love that God has for us all. One of the most encompassing, personal yet universal prayers we can ever have and it was given  to us, word by word from the mouth and heart of  Jesus himself. They are his words, he made them up just for you and for me and for generations past and future. May we never say, 'Lord I don't know how to pray.'
May the  Lord of Peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

(Israel) All along the wall in every language are the words of the Lord's prayer.

Waters of life

Rivers of living water will flow from his heart John 7:37-39
In the  softness of the dawn, the stillness as the new day starts to arrive, the morning song of the birds who sing to greet this new day - that is my morning prayer. I watch as the birds so enjoy the water in the bird bath, splashing it all over and under their feathers, singing with joy and shaking droplets of water into the air that fall on the garden flowers and I think of the water of life - Christ himself, the fountain of blessings, the living water. Our world is so inflicted with pain of the  suffering of the sick and dying and the fearful yet we can see the faithfulness of God, our God in the daily softness of the coming dawn of each day. May we never lose sight of the morning song of the birds and the faithfulness of God.
May the Lord of Peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Splashing water all over and under their feathers.

Soaring in the heights

Fear not, for I am with you always. Isaiah 41:10
I recall when I lived in the outback the great strength, power and size of the wedge tail eagles.The sheer magnitude of them.  Their ability to be able to take off graciously and soar in the heights, hovering and gliding, master of all they survey. It was a sight that left me in awe and wonder at our creator but it also brought to mind the image of a God, strong, powerful, gracious, gliding, soaring and hovering over us all. A great and mighty protector. Of whom (or what) shall I fear?
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord

Surveying everything.

A presence recognised

'.......And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?' Isaiah 53:1
'Sometimes experiencing God is overwhelming.'

Grace and Peace from the Lord Jesus Christ

Anne, servant of the Lord

The Glory of the Lord

It wont crack or crumble

Show me the faithful love of the Lord. 1 Samuel 20:14
On Christ the solid rock I stand all other soil is sinking sand.(Edward Mote)  I love the power and determination of the words of that hymn:  Somehow, in the situation in our lives today,however that may be for you, there is power, assurance, peace and defiance in those words. That solid rock of Christ will never crack or crumble or fall. Put your footing on it -  Stand tall on it and proclaim God's faithful  love.

Lord, open to us today the sea of your love - the ineffable sea of your love.

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

Sea of Galilee 

gather fuel

Please accept my gifts that I brought you. Genesis 33:11
There are daily things that we gather into our hearts like the sight of a soaring eagle or bird song, or the tiny coloured feather lying on the ground. the smile of a stranger, a glorious sunrise and the sweet perfume that lingers as I plucked a wild violet on my walk   Things like people are never the same. 'Why do you watch a sunset daily?' the young man asked the monk on Patmos and the monk replied. 'I am gathering fuel, I am collecting material so that tonight when I pray I shall discover the presence of God in my own heart.' (anon)
May the Lord of Peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways.
Anne,servant of the Lord

a soaring eagle - thank you God

Walking paths

This way, his way, is perfect. Psalm 18:30
Walking paths all hold many mysteries regardless of  where the path is. Perhaps its a bush track filled with the smell of the eucalyptus trees and dry tinder undergrowth with tiny pink orchids peeping out from near a twist of dry bark or a mossy rock. Perhaps its in a pine forest with the deep smell of the sap of pine trees, a carpet of fallen needles and clusters of different shape and sized pine cones eagerly gathering a few for a dried arrangement when I get back home or perhaps its on the edge of a field where the ground is hard and stony yet a tiny blue wildflower is flourishing and the 'shimmer grass' is shaking itself in the gentle breeze. Perhaps its in suburbia on a concrete path with the beauty seen in passing gardens, autumn trees or pink blossoms, and  others travelling the same way. There are many signs from God along lifes path. His word, his church, wonders of nature, godly parents and loved ones, joys and sorrows. Its what we see and observe on the way that enriches and encourages us, that fills us especially when our way, our path is following God.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord

treasures on the way.

Breath in the morning

Every day I will bless you and praise your name for ever and ever. Psalm 145:2
How lovely it is to watch the night give way to the morning light - a new day. In the stillness and  quiet I want to open the door and let it fill my home. Slowly across the landscape it is a creeping light that engulfs the remaining shallow dark. The evening star is tucked away, the moon has gone to another place and the sun is about to show its rising glory.  Creations shadows  take form and the birds begin to sing and my heart begins to sing for God has blessed us with a new day - another new day. Every day is a gift regardless of our situation. Embrace it and hold it  for it is life.
Rabindranath Tagore said: Do not say, 'Its is morning' and dismiss it with a name of yesterday. See it for the first time as a new born child that has no name.
May the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways.
Anne, servant of the Lord

Creations shadows take form

Love embedded in life

Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me. Break me, melt me, mould me, fill me. Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me. (New Harvest 173)
The crispness and depth of beauty of the morning frost carpeted the ground in white and hung from the dew drops on the wire fence like tiny crystal balls. There is a stillness. There is quiet and its as if the day has frozen just so I can enjoy it a bit longer and it  'smacked' of those beautiful words from Psalm 46:10 'Be still and know that I am God.'  We are living in a changing,troubled and anxious time where for some, fear is very real but the one thing that never changes is God and his love for us.Steven Foster wrote, The unchanging spirit, that indescribable force of love,  is like a flower rising up from the secrecy of a small seed. One spirit, one heart, but only those who make peace with change will see it.
May the Lord of Peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Stillness and peace

The light that brings change

A little child shall lead them. Isaiah 11:6
One, two, three red and yellow leaves are all that remain on the trees before  the last of the autumn splendor is gone. What a magnificent display of colour those  trees have given so many, they brought so much joy and delight to their onlookers and given themselves a wealth of food stored in their roots for the new life in  spring. A Sunday school teacher asked her class why the leaves change colour  and a small boy said such a profound thing. He said: 'I guess they are like us, they need light to change them, like Jesus brings his light to us and we are changed.' How special it is when we can take nature and all it has to offer, into the spiritual realm  and see God in it.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

What joy, what delight.

It may not be what it seems.

Open my eyes Lord, that I may behold. Psalm 119:18
Sometimes something can take our attention and hold it in mystery for it means more than it is. I am thinking of the large wooden cross behind the glass sanctuary at church, wet from recent rain but all along its cross beam was a row of rain drops, so visibly, so prominent, so beautifully formed. It seemed to hold a greater meaning than just raindrops on a piece of wood and its like an image I treasure from a fellow deacon that is a play on light in the sanctuary of his church, but is it? its so like the dove of the Holy Spirit.. When you open your eyes what do you see that appears to be just something ordinary but bring God into it and what a God moment, what a blessing.
May the Peace of the Lord himself give you peace at all times and in all ways.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Just a play on light?

Your name and mine

See, I have engraved you on the palm of my hands. Isaiah 49:16
Fear is something that can come into our lives and steal our joy but in reality with God by our side we have nothing to fear. I recall being out and about in the community when I was given a message to call a person when I had a minute. With nothing to write on I drew my pen from my pocket and wrote the persons name on the palm of my hand. I don't think I will ever forget the feeling I had as I penned the words of the name on my hand. Imagine for a moment God opening his fisted hand and sees your name. Push fear away, God has got us in the palm of his hand.
May the Lord of peace himself  give you peace at all times in all ways.
Anne, servant of the Lord

Be at peace

Day by day

Show kindness and mercy to one another.  Zechariah 7:9

The beautiful flower was almost begging me to take hold of it and share it with someone, to give someone joy. As it was, I was on my way to visit an elderly lady who has no family and no visitors,  I  did just that. Picking it with God's love in my heart.

I love the prayer by Richard Bishop of Chichester ( 1197-1253)

Day by day,dear Lord, of thee three things I pray; to see thee more clearly, love thee more dearly,follow thee more nearly, day by day.

In a troubled world where even our neighbour can be so alone may our light of Christ shine.

Anne, servant of the Lord

A Camellia's love

love changes everything

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: love your neighbour as yourself. Mark 12:30-31
Beauty is to behold and how it shines in nature and creation and how it opens our eyes to see more than what it is. Everything, every creation is made by God in the image of God. We can look at a flower, say a tough stemmed,  rough leaf and candle like flower of a bottle brush and think how beautiful, how 'neat,' how unique a flower is that and walk away or we can look at it and not only see its uniqueness,and its beauty but also its creator. Translate that into all things, including loving your neighbour (regardless of colour or race) and in doing that we all have the ability to love and include as Jesus did and as Jesus asks us to do and one by one we can change peoples lives including our own.
May the Lord of  Peace give you peace at all times and in all ways.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Made by God

All for Jesus

Lay hold of those words that enable us to truly live life. Proverbs 4:4
The small boy who was visiting his grandmother was looking all over her lounge room as if searching for something. His grandmother asked what it was he was looking for and he said. 'I know God lives with you and I am just trying to find him.'  When my grandson was looking for God I took him to the garden and there we found God in the bell shaped flower of the Lilly and the bud and bloom of the roses and the perfume of the violets and the wonderful creation of a praying mantis and I said to him, 'whenever you see all these lovely things you see God,'  and as we went for our walk we were singing 'All things bright and beautiful the Lord God made them all.'  How lovely, how precious,how heart warming is the thought that what we are and what we do before our children and grandchildren will have an impact on our great-grandchildren who we may never know.
Let the light of Christ shine through your life.
Anne, servant of the Lord

What a creator God.

Moments of love

For in him we live and move and have our being. Acts 17:28
Can you see the deep life within life? Sometimes experiencing God is overwhelming. We can look at a cobweb in the wire the fence covered in frost, its beauty, its work of art outstanding or we can look at a mother bird feeding its baby with love and that can take our breath away in wonder  but sometimes we can have a 'God' experience that is overwhelming like when I was whale spotting with my family off the coast of Queensland and the boat was right in the middle of a pod of about 6 wales. It was when one breached right before our eyes at the front of the boat that our wonder turned to words of 'Oh my God, my God, my God' The gift of the whales was too enormous to take in  silently. (Paula D'arcy).  I had been taken in by God's nature and love.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

The wonder of God.

Prayers from the garden.

You also join in helping us by your prayers. 2 Corinthians 1:11

The  Fuchsias  in the garden were blowing gently in the breeze as if in a dance. Some are miniature bushes with dainty flowers and some are larger bushes with larger flowers and they are 'dressed' like miniature ballerinas in colourful tutus. But what I find is the flowers always have their heads down as if in an attitude of prayer and they remind me often to pray. Prayer can be under valued but O how prayer changes things. I recall a story of a small boy who was struggling with his homework and began crying loudly. His Father came and asked him to stop crying because that wont help. 'Yes it did,' he said, 'It brought you.'

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

Anne, servant of the Lord.

Let us pray.