The mystery of God

 Is anything too wonderful for the Lord. Gen.18:14

God is so clever, his skills and abilities are far beyond our understanding. He is the God of unexpected surprises in what he lays out before us for our joy, our  wonder. He is mystery, he is clever, he is skilled, beyond our understanding or comprehension, a God of unexpected delights and I saw all of  that in the small Pee Wee  birds( Mud Larks) who have toiled  to build their mud nest, their home. How is it that those tiny beaks can carry mud to and forth for days and mix it with some dry grass and 'glue' it somehow to a branch that despite torrential rain, and high winds, it holds firm. Only God can  make that possible and its a joy and delight to observe. It is sacred.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                    Home sweet home.

A grain of sand, a wild flower, a rose

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so  that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13

For days I have been watching the rose bushes gather more and more buds and some are ready to burst into glory but then I saw one had escaped its tight cocoon and there it was, the first rose of summer dressed in its layers of colourful skirts, glorious in its beauty and literally smiling at its achievement. (How did that beautiful flower fit in that tiny bud?) I could not resist the pause to smell the flower  and I was blessed with a burst of rose perfume. William Blake said: I see the world in a grain of sand and  heaven in a wildflower. And Tertullian said: If I give you a rose you won't doubt God anymore.

Go find that first rose of the summer, created and blessed by God just for you to enjoy.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                                Dressed in their skirts.

What is your mantra?

This is my story, this is my song, praising my saviour all the day long. (Blessed Assurance.) Although born blind Fanny Crosby could still write beautiful hymns.

Don't let anything steal your joy! That's almost a mantra for me. There is so much good around us, there is so much beauty around us, there is so much love about us. Yes, and there is so much pain and  suffering yet, with God our joy can be complete. I mean, look about you - have you ever seen the earth so alive as in this spring? I look at the gardens, beautiful flowers all dressed in their best, each one a meditation in itself, and the green paddocks and those yellow with canola  and I just want to sing: Glorious things of thee are spoken. And 'the  birds are singing, throwing into the air praises.' (Mary Oliver) 

I like what St Benedict says:  Am I  fully alive - alive in my senses? Am I living with open ears and eyes?

Peace to those who are near and peace to those who are far off.

Anne, servant of the Lord

.            Green paddocks and yellow canola and the Lord is our shepherd.

 

Coincidence or God's grace

 The Glory of the Lord fills the temple. Ezekiel 43:5

It was a very dark overcast day, pouring with rain and as I sat in the service at the nursing home looking out the window. I could see the rain drops falling on the leaves of the tree and as they fell they ran down the seam of the leaf and fell with life giving droplets on the garden below and the words of the celebrant came to my ears .- 'May the Glory of the Lord shine upon us all' and at that exact moment the sun broke through the clouds and the room was bright with its rays and the world outside turned to a bright, deep yellow before the sun went again behind a cloud. It drew everyone who saw it to proclaim the presence of the Lord,. God's Grace or a coincidence? 

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

Anne, savant of the Lord

The glory of the Lord.

Onward and onward.

 Peace I leave  with you; my peace I give you. John 14 :27

Sometimes I wonder about the people that are around me out in community. Who are they? What is their life like in todays world and do they have God in their lives? I was standing in a que outside a shop, socially distanced of course, just pondering these things and looking at the beautiful  pale blue wisteria climbing over a large trellis, its perfume filling the air. Politicians were gathered in a group each voicing their own views and ideas and from somewhere, I don't know where, I could hear gentle upbeat music and was astounded to hear it was playing Onward Christian Soldiers. I thought, no, it must be another song using the same tune but as it continued I turned around the the man standing behind me who was humming the tune and then I heard the person behind him also humming and I realised  how much the presence of God is around and about us in our community and I started to hum also. We made quite a choir as we stood there on sacred ground. And yes, it was Onward Christian Soldiers followed by When The  Saints Go Marching In, yet I still couldn't see where it was coming from!

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

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                            Peace in a rocky world.

Live with intention

 Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice. Philippians 4:4

I love what God does. This morning he brought two King Parrots  to my home and they were like visitors just spending time with me, sitting on the fence, watching, happy and content with their visit,  They stayed awhile, as visitors do, before flying off in song to scatter joy at some other  home or place. George Bernard Shaw wrote: Life isn't meant to be easy, my child: but take courage - it can be delightful.

Peace to those who are far off and peace to those who are near.

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                                        Welcome.

The sun is shining through

 Sing to the Lord a new song: sing to the Lord, all the earth. Psalm 96:1

Mildred Bell wrote: The mornings here, another day, the sun is shinning through, I left my worries all behind, today I start anew. And I think how could you not leave your worries behind as its so beautiful outside and the spring is so much waiting to make you smile and as the Syrian Clementine Liturgy would put it: Its the abyss of peace.  There is a small but O so colourful butterfly on the lavender pods of perfume and his tiny wings are closed as if in prayer -  and the birds are singing with the gift of song. Our world is full of so many life giving symbols of God's greatness may we not let the worries of yesterday, or today, take away the joy of God in his creation, his presence is so visible there. Pause like the little butterfly, sing like the little bird and choose to love this day because its a love that heals.

May the God of peace be with all of you.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                        The mornings here another day

A life of faith and love

 I love you Lord, and I lift my voice to worship you O, my  soul rejoice. (Christian music - Laurie Klein) 

 As much as I see the face of God in the beauty of nature I see him in the face of the elderly. Faces lined with a  long life and hearts still praising God, a journey of faith over so many years and still, in the difficulties of aging,  living with the Lord. I was at the nursing home church service   sitting next to an older lady who has dementia  and as the intincted  bread and wine was placed in her hand and the words of life said she looked at the sacrament for a moment then  said :  ' I love you Jesus.' It was quiet, it was real and it was said with such humility and love that I felt the power of standing on sacred ground. What a blessing, what faith, what love, what encouragement.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                                   I love you Jesus

Created love kissed with blessings

 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth..........to him be glory for ever and ever. Colossians 1:16 Paraphrased.

I saw a burst of love  when I saw the Crab apple tree in full bloom: I saw a burst of love  when I saw the golden wattle:  I saw a burst of love  when I smelt the perfume of the sweet peas:  I saw a burst of love  when I was given a bunch of violets that filled the moment with  a life time of memories. And (as Paula D'Arcy wrote) 'My heart whispered 'thank you' but it seemed shallow compared to the gift.' It's in these things, created by God for us to enjoy, that give me strength for the day. To see his created love that's kissed with blessings for us.

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

Anne, Servant of the Lord.

                                                                    A burst of love

Behold our God

 Behold the maker of sight and sound. Romans 5:8

God loves to decorate. Have you noticed that lately. He is decorating with pink and white blossoms and visible green new leaves: he is decorating with yellow flowers with trumpets and pink, red, white and yellow cups of the tulips: red bottle brush filled with the pleasure of the honey eaters and have you noticed the tiny blue wild flower amidst the field of grass to say nothing of the yellow smiling faces of the Cape Weed daisies and the fresh happy songs of the birds.  There are bursts of love everywhere. God's love, to give us joy and pleasure. And, he is also decorating within you, a picture of kindness of love and compassion.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne, servant of the Lord

Love abounds

Given with love.

Therefore I say unto you. Be not anxious for your life behold the birds in the air and the lilies  of the field. Matthew 6 :25 paraphrased
William Wordsworth wrote: 'I wandered lonely as a cloud that floats on high o'er vales and hills when all at once I saw a crowd, a host of golden daffodils.' That's  a poem remembered from school days and when I read that line I get a sense that the poet  was wondering deep in his own thoughts and his spirit was lighten at the sight of the crowd of daffodils. Flowers and gardens do that for us, they can lift our spirits. Its like the plaque I have in my garden ....The kiss of the sun for pardon, the song of the birds for mirth, you are nearer God's heart in a garden than anywhere else of earth. How true, how true and be it daffodils, a garden of flowers or a single blossom on a flowering crab apple tree, all God made and all God blessed, they have a way of drawing us to reflection. Times are hard, times are different but to lift our gaze from our room to our window, to glance a flower, a bird, the sunshine, our spirit can be lifted.
May the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in all ways.
Anne, servant of the Lord

You cant help but smile.

Where is God?

My presence shall go with you and I will give you rest. Exodus 33:14
I recall a time in the outback when I sat by a pool of water, life giving water in the desert,and there were  rock faces  and lots and lots of red sand and I ask God, 'where are you in this arid place?' He replied, 'I am here within every grain of ancient sand. I am here in the life giving water in an arid place, I am here, I am here in the tree roots clinging  to the rock face. I am here, even in the meter span of a cobweb reaching from one rock to another, blowing in the wind, unbroken. He says I am here, I am  here from ancient times to with you now. And I ask God, 'where are you in the pandemic' and he replies 'I am here, I am here.'
May the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in all ways.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Breakaways Coober Pedy SA

Bright yellow, dazzling in fact.

Lord, the light of your love is shining, in the midst of darkness shining.......shine Jesus shine, fill this land with the Father's glory  TIS 675
Bright yellow, dazzling in fact it is so bright. That's the wattle in bloom everywhere at the moment. Every time I look at it a smile comes across my face and my heart stirs.. There it is, clusters of fluffy balls of cheer dancing with joy in the gentle breeze and I am reminded of the lovely words of Macrina Wiederkehr 'A tree full of Angels.'  One glance and my day is brightened.  One glance and I am filled with blessings. Because of our love of Jesus we can shine this bright in God's world. We can put a smile on someones face today. May many we encounter today leave with a smile on their face and a blessing in their heart.
May the Lord of  peace himself give you peace at all times and in all ways.
Anne, servant of the Lord

God's love is shining

shards of love

Richer than gold is the Love of my Lord: better than splendour and wealth (TIS 534)
Love is a God gift that is given to us all. The one factor that gets in the way is that we rush through life and miss so much of this gift of love . We miss the love gifts that God has given us that enrich our lives and give us a 'warm inner ' feeling and a sense of his presence. In a busy life the challenge is to see the gifts as we live life and to not go right past things that show us God's love. It is spring and God's love is abounding. The roses are flush with abundant new growth, the Daphne is not only a sight to behold but carries God's fragrance as does the bed of violets and the tree of  wattle  and the daffodils. I mean, really its only love that can create their  bright yellow colour and unique trumpet and its hard to go past one without smiling!  God's love shines in so many ways , made just for us, but we have to slow down to see it.

God's love

Small joys and big ones.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone. The new is here! 
2 Corinthians 5:17-18
Anxiety  consumes so many in the crisis of today's world. I came across  this one liner  a while ago which said: May you refuse an anxious heart and embrace  a faith filled one. Anxiety cripples our life style. It cripples our hopes and dreams. It consumes our every moment thoughts.
The first bird song of the morning, the tiny rich coloured pink wild flower hidden in  a field of green grass yet visible with love from God if your focus is on him. That tiny florescent green and red tipped feather lying on the ground you bend to pick up, a God sent gift to take home and put in a special place to  enjoy and remember its finding blessing always. When we seek out the day with God its filled with small joys and big ones. Shake of the anxiety, go for a walk with God,walk in his blessings. Our lovely world is still there in all its beauty.
May the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in all ways.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

A field of blessings

A small cloud full of hope

Look, a little cloud  no bigger than a person's hand is rising out of the sea. 1 Kings 18:44
Recently I heard a version of this which said 'a fist full of clouds' and it has been on my mind ever since. That small cloud was full of hope for the people who were desperate for rain. It held all their dreams and desires and prayers. They had watched a dry and 'cloud empty sky ' for a long time and then this small cloud of hope rose from the sea and went onto produce great rain. Life is like that at the moment. We look about, we pray, we trust and we hope things will change, we seek the small signs that will tell us all will be well, we believe God will come to the rescue. I believe that. Why? because I love the world. I think of the green grass, the increasing blossoms of the trees, the spring flowers, the baby animals, the sunshine, the rain (and snow!) and more so, God's great love for us. So much of God's great love for us.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

A fist full of clouds

God's good deeds and countless blessings

The heavens declare the Glory of God: the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech: night after night they reveal knowledge.  Psalm 19:1-2
Lovely are those words: Day after day they pour forth speech: night after night they reveal knowledge. What a wonderful God who created birds that sing and animals  that talk their own talk. Flowers that smile and speak in perfume and stars that fill the night sky. As the changes blow into our lives with a virus in its wind instead of looking for the  signs of blame and drawing wrong conclusions and criticism and build around us a wall of fear, look to this wonderful creator God, remember his good deeds and countless blessings in your life. As its said, keep an ear bent towards heaven and God will be your guide and your comforter.
May the Lord of Peace himself give you peace at all times and in all ways.
Anne,servant of the Lord.

Proclaim the work of his hands

change comes bearing gifts

For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun!  Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. Isaiah 4:3:19
Its the time of the year when the garden is full of blessings of colour and perfume. What was hidden is now revealed. The tightly closed buds of the prunes blossom are open and alive like tiny pink dolls on the trees, dancing in the breeze. Change is happening from the winter into spring and change always comes bearing gifts. Even in the changed, anxious world we are living in today there are gifts. God is doing something new. I think of the blessing of zoom technology and how that has made connection possible with friends, family and church, how it has blessed so many through these tough times and drawn more people from community into a faith community. Something new is happening in our lives in many ways and it is making a pathway through the trouble.
May God use you to bless others.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

God is doing something new

A feast in front of your eyes.

May your eyes be open day and night.  2 Chronicles . 6:20
Thich Nhat Hanh would say that day by day you become aware of the feast life offers - a feast that is right in front of you. I was so reminded of this when I sat  down at my desk and looking through the window my eye caught the movement of the Wattle bird feasting on the lush red blooms of the Grevillea bush  and I was reminded of a saying I hear a few days ago 'that my gaze was a blessing.' I was indeed blessed by the sight and the thought of this bird enjoying its feast of nectar. So often our gaze is just a sweeping  glance but when we pause and look, no gaze, what we see is far more.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord

My gaze was a blessing.

And God is in it

Grace and peace from God our Father. 2 Cor 1:2
It is a troubled world we live in. In every direction there seems to be something out of the ordinary that shakes our 'normal' so why is it that the fresh sweet small of the Daphne lift my spirits so? Is it because it transports me back to memories of days of family,of peace,of 'normal?' Is it because it has a sense of hope in that a change of season is coming? And then under the tall trees where I go walking and popping through the grass I see and smell the memory filled scent of the wild violets. I lean down and pick one so its perfume will linger with me on my walk. What is it? Why is it in all of that I am somehow filled with comfort, assurance and peace?  I don't know but what I do know is that  it is comfort and it is God.
May the Lord of peace himself give you peace  at all times and in all ways.
Anne,servant of the Lord

The sweet perfume of the Daphne