Stand and see

O sing a new song to the Lord. Psalm 96

The glow of the rising sun casts colours of pink across the branches of the white river gum outside my window and on a single branch the magpie sings his morning song. What a delight to wake up to such a kaleidoscope of colours and a chorus of song, in the still, otherwise quite morning. And God is there, God is in it, it is God wrapped in light.  Its times like these that nourish our inner lives and strengthen our faith.

Mary Oliver said: Sometimes I only need to stand where I am to be blessed. 

As you bless us with light at the suns rising, shine on us now with love.     Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                     Pink hues in the snow gum.
 

Star gazing

 The heavens proclaim his righteousness and all peoples have seen his glory. Ps 97

The practice of going outside before bed to gaze at the heavens and all the stars in the sky has been with me for many years. The stars are so bright and fresh looking, some 'sparkling' and 'winking' , seemingly just hanging there . Somehow it has a settling effect and speaks of the greatness and magnitude of our God and his presence and I stay  awhile in the quiet and the peace.   I think of the three wise men and how they saw the bright star in the east and followed it until they found Jesus.  Star gazing at night draws me to Jesus, to reflect, to be nearer. Tonight, go outside, gaze at the stars and think of the star that drew people to the Christ child.

Mane Nobiscum Domine - Remain with us Lord.    Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                         The star in the east.

Come, sit.

 Now when he had spoken, a Pharisee asked (invited)  him to have lunch with him, and he went in and reclined at the table.  Luke 11:37

Christmas is the time of the year when we seem to get many invitations. Invitations to lunch, invitations to dinner, invitations to catch up with friends, invitations to attend various church services and carols in the park and some invitations even come with a gift. But  the greatest invitation, the greatest gift, is the one from Jesus who so often says, ' Come aside and sit with me awhile.'  In the business of Christmas preparations, lets not forget to prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ. Lets not forget his invitation, and his gift  to us of hope, of peace, of love and of joy.

Jehovah - shalom. The Lord is peace.  Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                               God's gifts to us.

Colours of Christmas.

 Let all together praise our God. TIS 297.

God is so 'there' in the sacred space which is surrounded by his creation and filled with the warmth of the rising summer sun and around me I catch glimpses of the bottle brush bushes with green leaves and Oh so brilliant red bottle brush like flowers. Their colour and presence remind me of Christmas and  what joy they bring among the other mixed  colours of the garden and have you seen them after the rain?  As Christopher Monaghan says.'  A bottle brush after heavy rain is beaded  and jewelled with natures own tinsel.'   Take a moment to look at the bottle brush in all its glory of Christmas colours and next time it rains take a look at its 'tinsel.' You will be so blessed.

May the God of life bless you and keep today and always.  Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                        Colours of Christmas.

Yesterday and today.

 The joy of the Lord is my strength. Nehemiah 8:10

It can be so hard to stay positive sometimes in this struggling world where we seem to hear nothing  but the destruction of lives through war and famine day after day after day. It can be so easy to let these thoughts steal our joy.  To find positive thoughts I turn to God who has always been my strength and I recall writing some time ago these words:

Yesterday I had a wonderful day. I woke with the Lord and opened the day in prayer with a chorus of birds in the background.     Today I had a wonderful day. I woke with the Lord and opened the day in prayer with a chorus of birds in the background.  

May we continue to hold up in prayer all those who are suffering and pray for peace.

Let the peace of Christ dwell in your heart.    Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                Wake each day with the Lord.

A gentle soft presence.

Fill us at daybreak with your mercy, that all our days may sing for joy.  Psalm 90:14

I love that first light of the morning as it cuts into the night sky with a gentle, soft presence, the awakening of a new day. Its still, its quiet and holds all the glory of the moment. 

I love the old Irish blessing which says: 'May the blessing of light be on you, light without and light within. May the blessed sunlight shine on you and warm your heart till it glows like a great peat fire, so that the stranger may come and warm himself at it, and also a friend.  What a lovely thought at the start of the day as the sunrises.'

May the God of life bless you and keep you today and always.    Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                  Sunrise over the sea of Galilea 

A glimpse of heaven

 May my prayer come to you like the sweet smell of incense. Psalm 141:2

D.H Lawrence said: ' Oh for the wonder that bubbles into my soul.' and that was exactly my sentiment this morning as I stepped into the sacred space and my breath was drawn in deeply taking with it the absolute richness of the perfumes of God that surrounded me, perfumes that floated in the gentle breeze, coming to me like rich gifts.  The roses, the jasmine, the sweet peas. All so full of blessings. I read somewhere that God sprinkles tiny hints of heaven on earth that give us a taste of what's to come. A  glimpse of heaven on earth.

May the God of life bless you and keep you today and always.  Anne, servant of the Lord.

 The sweet pea. A gift from God.

I saw the face of God

 The Lord has decided the number of  the stars and calls each one by name,. Great and mighty is our Lord. Psalm 147:5

I saw it in the puddle of life giving water by the roadside. I saw it in the sky night stars being tucked away behind soft pink clouds in the sunrise. I saw it as the sun shone through the crimson maple leaf. I saw it in the Currawong as he calls his mates into the dawn. I saw it in the single crystal clear rain drop that hung from each leaf and  single blade of grass. I saw it in the soft blue, perfect formation of the bluebells that clutched the side of the road. I saw it. I saw the face of God and my soul sang: How great thou art! World famous musician Pablo Casals said: I find God in the smallest and the largest things. I see God in colour and design. No two things are alike, no two voices the same. 

Be blessed by the face of God that surrounds your day.    Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                    Native blue bells.

The fulness of joy.

The fullness of joy is to behold God in everything. Julian of Norwich

  So many words can be said and written about the wonders of God, the beauty of his creation and the joy of our lives being filled with his love but sometimes we don't need many words, sometimes we just need quiet and space and a focal point for meditation such as the surrounds of  a sacred space, therein lies many blessings. I mean, what can be more beautiful, more reflective, than gazing on a garden full of bluebell?

May the peace of Christ fill your life every single day.            Anne, servant of the Lord.

 

                                                    A garden of Bluebells.

Gather me in Lord.

 May the Lord cause you to flourish. Psalm 115:14

Just sitting in the sacred space and pondering the beauty of God in his creative work in the garden thinking - what a paint palate he must have - pinks, and yellow and red and blue and green and all in variants of their colours.  Its among the flowers in the miracles of their life that I  am enriched in my faith for who can look on creation  and not see the creator. Silently, silently,  in the stillness I hear a tiny bee humming and I know that God is with me and as  I look a small prayer passes through me saying : 'Gather me in Lord, gather me in as one of your created, enable me to flourish and grow.  

Mane Nobiscum Domine. Remain with us Lord.   Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                          All the variants of the colours

Pray for peace

 Hymn 446 in TIS says: 'Glorious things of you are spoken, Zion city of our God: he whose word cannot be broken formed you from his own abode. On the rock of Ages founded, what can shake your sure repose? With  salvations walls surrounded, you may smile on all your foes.'

I wonder do we know what we are singing when we sing words such as this from this beautiful old hymn especially in light of todays war in the middle east. The Dome of the rock sits on Mount Zion within the old city of Jerusalem, surrounded by its high fortress, ancient walls of which I have walked around. For Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Armenian  this is the centre of  faith. O that it never be damaged by war. In the foyer of  St Georges Cathedral in Jerusalem these words are written: Pray not for Arab or Jew, for Palestine or Israel but PRAY  rather for ourselves that we might not divide them in our prayers but keep them both together in our hearts. 

Jehovah - Shalom. The Lord is peace.  Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                             Mount Zion. Dome of the Rock. Jerusalem City

A morning offering

 I arise today, blessed by all things. May I live this day.  John O'Donohue

'Its 4 in the morning  and why is the currawong calling. Its  moon light before the dawning - why is the currawong calling?'  Those were my thoughts  as I lay awake listening to the sound of the currawong, I felt it was a special gift in the silence and I recall these words (By  John O'Donohue)  'Meet me in the morning dawning - I will wait for you there.'  Just you and me Lord and that bird singing to us from a tree. Peace, O such peace. What a gift.  Ah, its moments like these that I know God is with me.

May the God of life bless you and keep you today and always.  Anne - servant of the Lord.

Its 4 in the morning

And God smiles

 All  things bright and beautiful....the Lord God made them all.  (TIS 135

Spring is the time when God surrounds us with his smile. The glorious colours of the flowers in bloom, deep green grass and the breath taking sun rises and sun sets. This is the season when all of creation shouts before us the smiling face of God.  His presence is a present - a gift, a treasured gift. As I gathered myself  in prayer in the sacred space  my words rang out to God -  How good of you , to give us all of this.

May the peace of God fill your life every single day.    Anne, servant of the Lord

.                                                    smiling face of God.

Wander in the morning

 Creator God who  shaped the earth and heavens. Your glory shines in all you have made.  (Christian song)

There is so much of God's creation to soak in when time is spent among it, just sitting of wandering in and about the garden. Beauty before me and out of the corner of my eye I catch yet another beauty to indulge in. We are so enriched and blessed by creation. As I wandered in the early morning I stooped to pick a cluster of Freesias  to bring home, feeling like I had been given a pearl of great price. I put the flowers in a vase and the fragrance of God filled the house .

Michael Leunig writes: 'you have no place in spring except upon your knees.' 

May the peace of God fill your life every single day.  Anne, servant of the Lord

God's love

Brilliant creator

 '...all creation shows your glory, heaven and earth draw near your throne, singing, 'Holy, holy, holy. (TIS 99)

God's love for us is so great that he showers us with countless gifts and blessings. He lavishes his love on us and its all about to see.  Just sit awhile and look, unwrap each bit of his beauty before you and enjoy with thanks and praise, marvelling at the brilliant creator.  The other day I picked a small piece of the forget-me-not flowers  from the garden  and placed it in the lapel of my vest and all day long I saw and reflected the love of God for me, a God who will forget-me-not.

May the God of life bless you and keep you today and always. - Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                                The love of God.

I am here, with you

 'I am with  you always.'  Matthew 28:20

Imagery can be so strong. 

Every time I see a flower growing in the crack of a path or out of a stone wall thoughts such as this come to mind: 'May you always notice the  flowers growing up between the cracks and may your life be full of little resurrections' (Neil Paynter)

May the peace of God fill your life every single day.

Anne, servant of the Lord

                                                Growing between the stones.

the voice of silence

A time to keep silent and a time to speak. Eccl 3:7

Sometimes I can listen deeply, so deeply that the silence is loud. So deeply that out of the silence comes the still small voice, or more profound  a beautifully, richly coloured bird lands within inches of my sight and God speaks. I was sitting in the sacred space, just sitting in the morning quiet with God and a beautiful  Crimson Rosella came with his partner. They looked at me and I at them and for that moment we were one in God. Mother Teresa said: 'God is the friend of silence. See how nature, trees, flowers and grass all grow in silence.'

Mane Nobiscum Domine - remain with us Lord.   Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                        They looked at me and I at them.

And it forms a prayer.

 I love the place O God, wherein thine honour dwells - it is the house of prayer  where in thy servant meets. (Hymn)

There is a warmth in the sacred space of late and its not just coming from the change in the season. It comes from that special gift we give ourselves when we take the time to sit alongside God awhile where there is little else besides the voice of quiet and all within sight forms a prayer. I mean, look at the spent leaves from the nearby tree dancing in the wind, blowing up and down and around and around.  Look at the spring flowers in all their glory growing there for your delight and as gifts to share with those who pass by.  Everywhere, all around  on every side there is a joy and a prayer. May you feel the warmth in the place you call your sacred space. 

May the peace of God fill your life every single day.   Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                                   Swerling into a pile.         

Bathed in God's Glory

 When morning guilds the skies. my heart awakening cries, may Jesus Christ be praised. TIS 227

Words of a timeless melody. One of those old favourites that hangs about forever. But, Oh! How true it is. When morning guilds the skies our thoughts go to God.

I saw in the sunrise a magnificent sight that I could not put into words. The words that did come forth were in gratitude, appreciation and worship[ to a faithful God who never fails us, morning by morning. During the week the same breath-taking blessings crossed my lips as I watched the moon fade away into the sunrise. In the interim the soft mist hovered over the ground, magically weaving its way between the trees with ghost like moves. I thought - and there it hangs, the morning mist, moon-light bathed and sunrise kissed. God is in his house. 'O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder.'

With his grace and presence, go into your day having been blessed at its beginning.    Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                              Morning glory.

Grateful praise

 For the beauty of the earth, for the beauty of the skies, for the  love which from our birth over and around us lies. (Hymn F.S.Pierpoint)

It is so hard not to have those words in your heart and the tune in your head at the moment as all God's beauty 'over and around us lies.'  Everywhere we see God's extravagant gifts in abundance. Clusters of jonquils, daffodils, wattle, daphne, violets and so the gifts keep giving full of the mystery and miracles in the waking earth at springtime and have you seen the super moon of late? Yes, God's beauty fills the skies at night with the moon  in a perfect shape, full of light surrounded by a magnitude of stars. God's love does indeed cover us on the earth and in the skies. Feed on his beauty.

May the God of life bless you and keep you today and always.   Anne, servant of the Lord.

(super moon)