sometimes I am up, sometimes I am down

Let us offer a sacrifice of praise continually. Hebrews 13:15
I think when times are good and all is well, then that's easy. When times are hard and no one seems to understand the load we are carrying, then that is hard.I was reading in 'Streams in the Desert' about a missionary who was stumbling through the dirty alleys in a city when a voice called from an open doorway, 'who's there honey?' As the missionary struck a match to see, he caught a vision of earthly want and suffering, of saintly trust and peace,calm eyes set in a black face that lay on a tattered bed, this freezing cold night. She had had no supper,no dinner,no breakfast. She seemed to have nothing at all except rheumatism and faith in God.
How exiled from all that is nice, is that,yet her favorite song ran: Nobody knows the trouble I see, no body knows but Jesus. No body knows the trouble I see, sing glory Hallelu. Sometimes I am up, sometimes I am down, sometimes I am level on the ground, sometimes the glory shines all around. Sing glory Hallelu. and so the song goes on, nobody knows the work I do, the grief I have, until the last verse. Nobody knows the JOYS I have Nobody knows but JESUS. Isn't it comforting and reassuring to know that when we are up, when all is well, or when we are down or when we are flat on the ground. JESUS KNOWS.

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

there's a light upon the mountain.

There is an old hymn that comes to mind every time I see the morning sun  tip the mountain top. Its goes like this: 'There's a light upon the mountain and the day is at the spring when our eyes shall see the beauty and the glory of the King.'
There are so many morning walks that are wrapped in the words of that hymn, not just because I like the tune or because its a life long hymn that hasn't faded with time but because that light shouts out through the receding dark of the night that the Lord Jesus Christ is there, right there, visible and strong   The imagery is so applicable to our life as we reflect on the light of Christ that is there, right at the top, the end of any darkness we may experience in the tough times in our lives. The key to seeing the light through the darkness is to keep our eyes firmly fixed on Jesus, our Lord and Savior.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

God's power

(Lotz) God created:
Atoms and angels and ants,
crocodiles and chiggers and clouds,
elephants eagles and electrons,
orchids and onions and octopuses,
frogs and feathers and sea foam,
diamonds and dust and dinosaurs,
raindrops and sweat drops,and me and you

.All things were made through him, and without him nothing was made that was made. John 1:3

The greatness of his power to create and design and form and mold and make and build and arrange defies the limits of our imagination. And since he created everything, there is nothing beyond his power to fix or mend or heal or restore. Put this in context  in our own lives and us it to encourage others.

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

follow the leader

When he has brought out his own,he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. John 10:4
I recall walking in the pre dawn light one morning along my old walking track past the vineyards consumed in thoughts of God as I walked the boundary of the vineyard. I was suddenly startled by a mob of sheep wandering among the vines. Startled because that is not usually where the sheep are and I paused awhile to watch them, just quietly grazing in the dark, following the leader.
I couldn't help but thing of our ministries,very much on the boundary,quite often finding us where least expected, sometimes in places of darkness, just 'grazing.' BUT following the leader.I continued my walk quietly singing.

Lead us heavenly Father lead us, o'er the worlds tempestuous sea: guard us, guide us, keep us feed us, for we have no help but thee, yet possessing every blessing if our God our Father be. (TIS 580)
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ,
Anne, servant of the Lord.

 You are the light of the world. Matthew 5:14
I don't know about you but there is something that resonates deep within me when I hear these words. Its almost like God saying 'I am affirming again in you to BE  light to the world, yes, you.' Now  there is our brief as Christians, there are our orders, there is our confirmation of who we are to be.
Two things struck me deeply during the service on Sunday. One was the prayer for the day:' Faithful God, you have appointed US as your witness to be a light that shines in the world; let us not hide the bright hope you have given us but tell everyone of your love.'  There it is again, our brief, our orders.
The second thing that struck me was verse two of hymn 603 (TIS):
Millions believe the law of life is cunning,within a world of cruelty and greed:
how can they know God's charity and justice,if helping hands have never reached their need?
Now we have it. A brief and a direction to take it to.  Let your light shine.

Nazareth Village. Israel

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

The little things

All things bright and beautiful all creatures great and small. (Hymn)
Sometimes its the little things that brighten our day and bring joy. How easy it is to be consumed by events around us and within our sphere of work or ministry, or personal life events. How easy it is to 'forget' a sense of joy.
However  my day looks, or how I might  feel, I try to start it on a positive note that is God filled and that might come in the smell of the dew on the tinder dry grass in the paddocks as I open my front door very early in the morning or a small sparrow in the bird feeder among the bottle brush as I open the blinds on the new day, or the smell of a perfumed flower in the garden and today, for the forth day in a row its been the family of blue wrens in my garden flitting about in the wet rose bush and plum tree having a shower after the morning watering then lining up in  a row of five on the wooden garden seat to shake of the surplice water, happy, refreshed, and singing.  I think they start their day with a sense of joy also!

Take the time, take in the moment and savor it for it will set your heart for the day.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8

This reading from Sunday is one that sinks deep into my heart. It says what the Lord requires of us all who follow in his footsteps but somehow it carries weight that goes beyond a' heart feeling' to a deep connection with God himself. Do you feel that?  Its one of those passages that gives me goosebumps.

I truly feel that if we are 'faith filled' then Micah's words will be 'the pattern' of our lives.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Zebras and stars and sunshine

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1
I look at creation in all its glory, bathed in sunshine or naked in autumn or shrouded in haunting winter fog, or clothed in pink and white blossoms. I look at animals in all their various shapes and sizes and the birds in their variety of colour and call and I think  God must have had a smile on his face the week he created all of this. And why did he create it?  He created it to please us. He wanted to show us how much he loves us. What a splendid show of love and friendship to shower all these gifts on the likes of us. What enjoyment he must have had for us in putting it all together, for our pleasure,out of pure love. We need to take time to enjoy and appreciate it.
Regardless of my age I still love to read Lucardo's books. In there simplicity there are hidden gems, pearls of great price buried in his words. He says this about God's creation:
'...........painting the stripes on the zebra, hanging the stars in the sky, putting the gold in the sunset. What creativity. Like the whistling carpenter in his workshop, he loved every bit of it. He poured himself into his work. So intense was his creativity that he took a day off at the end of the week just to rest.'

Of course, this mirrors us in our lives and ministry also. Read it again with that thought in mind.
Go well in your daily ministry and work, love what you do, knowing who you do it for, take a rest and reflect.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Teach us Lord.

Glorify the Lord with me: let us exalt his name together. Ps 34:3

Sometimes a simple statement is all that is needed.
These words from a song by Chris Rice says it all.
' Teach us to count our days
               Teach us to make our days count.'

Go well into your day with grace and peace and make a difference.
Blessings
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Holy is the Lord

' Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts; the earth is full of his glory.'  Isaiah 6:2-5
I often reflect on the Holiness of God and in one of his books Max Lucado says that ' Gods holiness silences human boasting.'
When I think of the Holiness of God I get a sense deep within of a stirring of the Spirit, not in a charismatic way but in a way that curls me up inside like I am wrapped in a blanket of God's love and held in his arms. I guess we call it humility.  Lucado says that the one occasion that the seraphim occurred in scripture they endlessly sang 'Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty.'
In Hebrew scripture repetition acts like a highlighter, a tool to emphasis.
God is not Holy
He is not Holy Holy
He is Holy, Holy, Holy.
May we all find and cherish the Holiness of God.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne, servant of the Lord.

I know why I believe

It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth; you made both summer and winter. Psalm 74:17
Sometimes its just the little things that speak to us of God.
A bulging rain drop on the end of a gum leaf, just hanging there.
A tight flower bud, waiting expectantly to burst into a bouquet of beauty.
A small brown wren with a touch of blue coming to his tail, a sign of his impending rich blue to come.
A butterfly, beautifully crafted, a fragile creation of delicate beauty.
Phillip brooks wrote: 'All the world is an utterance of the Almighty. Its countless beauties, its exquisite adaptations all speak to you of Him.'
I like gospel music and one song (sung by Elvis) goes like this:
'When I hear a new born baby cry or touch a leaf, or see the sky, then I know why I believe.'
There is always the sacred presence before us, we just need to take the time to see it.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

A beautifully crafted spiders nest NT

New Year

' We ponder your steadfast love, O God.' Psalm 49.9
The New Year is well under way and no doubt the pull of work and life's demands are causing the sense of
' a break and some rest in January' to fade though we attempt to grasp them for just a little longer.
What of our promises to self and God for this New Year?  To live better lives? to serve more those in greater need? to seek the lost?  And what of our relationship with Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Do we have plans, no not plans but a deep desire, to grow and develop that more in depth?
It is only through prayer and studying the word of God that we gain the strength and vision to live the better life, to serve others more, to seek the lost and to know Jesus more and more.
'You can probe the shallow waters of a pond and go no further but if you go to the center of the pond you will plummet the depth.'
In this New Year may we take our relationship with God beyond the shallow edges and plummet its depth.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

Do not neglect the gift that is in you. 1 Timothy 4:14

The gift of friendship

What a glorious fresh morning. Ducks swimming on the pond, a willy wagtail flitting about in the bushes with his chatter trying to catch flighty insects and the distant sound of a kookaburra, laughing. There is a true sense that creation is in harmony with its creator and I thought of all the multiple blessings that God showers upon us, day after day,hour after hour if we are in harmony with him and I wonder, how many blessings do we give God?
Christmas is over as far as the unwrapping of gifts goes, and the parties and the celebrations  but still it remains in our hearts and with the New Year emerging it is now a good time to reflect on the gifts we might give the Lord to shower him with blessings.
How many of your gifts have you offered him?  Think of the use of your God given gifts for his glory.He will be so blessed. Think of your gift to him of time spent with him. Think of your ministry as you take and share him with others.Think, 'how can I bless the Lord.'
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

a rose in the desert

 O what a gift, what a wonderful gift. (TIS 278)
I stood looking at the huge Christmas tree in the shopping center, its base surrounded with gifts  waiting to be given away and unwrapped.Gifts that will bring joy and excitement. Gifts that will be given to those who otherwise would have no gifts and again I thought of the one perpetual gift that can be given away time and time again and never have to be replaced, repurchased or re given; the gift  of Jesus who came as a baby, wrapped in bands of cloth, a baby who will bring joy and excitement, A baby who would be our Savior, a baby who would turn the world upside down in 3 years of profound ministry that gave us eternal life. What a gift. And I ask, what gift would you give to Jesus in return?
I read this from a Benediction:
Grant that we may gladly give you the one precious gift we have to bring, the offering of our loyalty and love,

and enable us to walk in love for others in Christ who walks the road with us, a fragrant offering, a rose in the desert for you.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Christ of the poor

When Jesus went out he saw a great multitude and he was moved with compassion for them and he healed their sick. Matthew 14.14
When I read  this passage of scripture, immediately comes to mind my 'hero' Mother Teresa. The biggest thing I learn from her is that Christ came for those who are hurting. If I reach out to those who are hurting in the name of Christ, he will care for them, and, you know what? everyone is going to be hurting at some stage. If we give to the hurting we will always have some one to care for, to minister too and God will draw them in closer at that time as we show them his love. That's what I learn from Mother Teresa.
We might never serve Christ in India, feeding and healing the poorest of the poor but we can serve here right where we are. The needy can be the person sitting across the isle in the class room, in the next cubicle at work, or sitting next to us at the dining room table each night. When we identify people in need, that's God calling our hearts into action, serving others in his love.
Lord, fill me with your compassion for your people. Open my ears and my eyes to the needs around me. Use me to give love, your love, to the world.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

JAFFA ministry (Jesus a friend for all)

The invitation

In Matthew 11:18 Jesus says. 'Come to me.'
The little children (and some big ones!) are counting down the days and number of sleeps until Christmas day and there is much excitement and anticipation and its that time of the year when all the invitations come out from family, friends and work places:
Invitations to Christmas parties
Invitations to school and university graduations
Invitations to 'catch up' before Christmas
Invitations to holiday with family
Invitation to Christmas dinner
But you know behind all the hoo-har and rushing,  and preparation there is the soft voice of Jesus saying. 'Come to me,'
Now that's the best invitation we can ever get and its an open invitation for EVERYONE.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord

JAFFA disability ministry 2012 Christmas

A narrow winding trail

' Christ died for sin once and for all, the righteous from the unrighteous, to bring you to God.' 1 Peter 3:18
Max Lucado says that 'the path of righteousness is a narrow, winding trail up a steep hill. At the top of the hill is a cross. At the base of the cross are bags. Countless bags full of innumerable sins'. When I read this I thought of my walk up to Rosary Hill at Galong. Its a winding trail up a steep hill and at the top is a life size crucifix and around the rocks at the foot of it are many sets of rosary beads and other memorabilia of peoples prayers. When you turn your back from this and you look forward there is a vast, wonderful view across the countryside, as far as you can see, where the endless, clear horizon meets the blue, blue sky. So quiet, so still, so peaceful. I reflect on this in this season of Advent where our focus is on forgiveness of self and others. At times, weighed down and anxious by sin, we come to Jesus and lay them at the foot of his cross. As Lucado says,' The compost pile of guilt,' and then, we turn away from where we have laid them and look ahead, so quiet, so still, so peaceful.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

Rosary Hill Galong

Christmas love

'... God's love has been poured into our hearts...' Romans 5:5
I look at so many Christmas wreaths hanging on the front door of the homes at this time of the year to welcome Christmas. Some are ornate, some large, some very colourful some very beautiful but the one that really took my eye and spoke to my heart was such a simple one.
                             

                                          It is in the shape of a heart and entwined with red tinsel.
 Now that to me spoke of Christmas, it spoke of love at Christmas, a love that came down from heaven in the form of a baby, God's gift to us, his Son, Jesus Christ.
See what love the Father has given us that we should be called children of God, and this is what we are.(1 John 3:1)
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

I'm only a spark

(Jesus said) A person takes a mustard seed, the smallest seed in the world, and plants it in the ground. After a while it grows up and becomes the biggest of all plants.' Mark 4:31-32
I wonder how often we think of ourselves in the big picture of the kingdom? Do we wonder about the impression that we might make? Do we wonder about the gifts and abilities  that God has given us? Do we see them as small with only a small impact?  How sure are you that he can use even the smallest of your gifts to proclaim the greatness of the Lord?  What did Paul say to the Corinthians?
                     That God chooses what the world considers weak, to shame the strong!
Amado Nervo wrote a poem a portion of which reads:
I'm only a spark, make me a fire,I'm only a string, make me a lyre,I'm only an ant hill, make me a mountain,
I'm only a drop,make me a fountain'
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

I'm only a bud, make me a flower.

The presence of the Lord

Be still for the presence of the Lord is moving in this place. (Christian song)
 I find this new suburb I live in quite an amazing place and such a new experience. I can go several days without seeing what I call an' Aussie'. There are many Indian people, Thai,Chinese, Sudanese and  Italian, it is so multicultural but what I love is they are not afraid to express who they are and it seems they bring their God with them. I see in some gardens a Buddha, in another a dragon, another little tea houses lit with candles and over doorways various symbols of peace and protection but this is the bit I like best, more and more I am seeing Christian symbols. On one front door hangs a cross, in another window hangs a cross and on another door is a sign which says'Praise the Lord'. For some reason it gives me goosebumps as we all live together, a community of faith, however that is expressed, and among it all our Lord and God is standing tall.. And me, how is my home identified? I have a Celtic cross hanging in my front window and in Hebrew on a plaque on my porch are the words 'Shalom'. Whats that bible verse about not hiding your light under a bushel?