Christmas.

Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness. Psalm 115:1
I was looking at the presents under the giving tree at the shopping mall. Big presents, small presents all colourfully wrapped. Some with ribbons, some bows, all labelled for some special person. There was a sense of expectation that might go with the giving and the receiving as they are passed onto those in need. Hands reaching out to give and bless with a gift  this Christmas season.   Among all the gifts of Christmas lies one that you do not have to buy, or wrap in coloured paper, or tie a ribbon and bow on. Its called the gift of love and it came that first Christmas morning in the form of a tiny baby who was called Jesus. A lasting gift that can be given over and over again all year round . A gift that can save lives, bring comfort to the lonely and distressed, a gift of companionship and hope. In the trauma of Martin Place we are seeing that gift of love being expressed in a floral memorial, the presence of people who care, the presence of the special chaplains and those of our brothers and sisters of other faiths. There is a sense of oneness, of unity, of healing, of love. A sense that Jesus has come down, Emmanuel is with us. Let not the drama of the world take from us the wonderful gift we have been given, the gift of love. The gift we call Christmas.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

nativities of many countries.

even one will make a difference

' I am the voice of one calling out in the desert.' John 1:23
When I was chaplain at the local school for children with profound disabilities I remember one day assisting in a class room to help the children get ready to go outside into the playground. I was tasked to assist a wheel chair bound boy who was about 12 years old and who rarely spoke. I put his twisted, distorted little feet into his socks as carefully as I could and then his slippers. As I fastened the velcro straps I felt a small hand on my head, stroking my hair with a small distorted hand and as clear as a bell came from this boys mouth, 'Are you Jesus?' I was speechless and sank even lower to the floor as a wave of humility swept over me. I eventually looked the boy in the face and managed to say, 'no, I am not Jesus but I am his friend.'  St John was a voice for Christ (John 1:23) His life matched his words. When a persons words and ways are the same, the fusion is explosive. People will know who we represent, not because we bear the name, but because we live the life.
 If I cant feed all the hungry, feed one. If I cant change the world, change a life. Let someone see the difference you can make. If you cant feed all the hungry, feed one.(unknown)
Walk humbly as you serve God.
Anne, servant of the Lord

JAFFA ministry

Making straight the path.

Let your light shine before others that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:19
At evening I often think of the people I have uncounted during the day and sum them up in my prayers especially those who have experienced  Christ through our meeting, who catch a glimpse of Christ through our relationship, a passing word, a brief touch and I thank God that we can bring some light into a dark world by who we are and what we are doing. For some, as the saying goes, we may be the only gospel they ever hear, the only encounter with Christ they ever have and you know, it might be just enough to change the world.  Robert Louis Stevenson, as a small boy, was staring out the bedroom window one night when his nanny called him to bed. Reluctant to come, his nanny asked what the attraction was in the dark of night. He said, pointing to the lamplighter who was lighting the street lamps. 'Look nanny, the man is putting holes in the darkness.'
(Lotz: Just give me Jesus says) You and I may not be able to change the world, but surely each of us can put a hole in the darkness! Turn on the light! Share what Jesus means to you and give God's word to someone else.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anne

watchfulness

But about the day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven,nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert. Mark 13: 32
In several places in my rural suburb are empty blocks of land, that seem uncared for ,fenced off and overgrown with wild oats and other native grasses.Wasted spaces I thought,  or is there a purpose for them.   Well, I discovered that in those spaces lies a hidden treasure, an endangered, protected species of moth. I couldn't help but relate this experience to that of the story of the unkept man in tattered clothing. He looked  like a homeless person who came to the door of a house seeking some food for he was hungry. 'Go away.' was the response to his knocking, 'we are expecting a very important visitor and we don't want you to be seen on our doorstep when he comes.' Several times the man knocked and every time received the same reply. Eventually he went away and the people in the house waited in vein for the special important visitor to arrive but he never came. Ah, but he did and they didn't recognise him.  He came in the image of a poor, hungry, homeless man and they were not expect anything other than a person in fine clothing and  of great  importance. I looked again at the grassy uncared for and unkept block of land and reflected on the treasure that lay within. About the day or hour no one knows. Beware,we are warned, keep awake.

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

Its a glorious feeling

Its a glorious feeling to be able to unload my heart, to spill out my gratitude in thanks to you O God. Morning noon and night I want the whole world to know of your love. Psalm 92:1-2 (Psalms Now)
One of my favourite books of the bible is the book of psalms. There is something written in those pages that is for all occasions and in the words of the psalmist, of pain,anger, frustration, joy and praise, we are given the right to express ourselves likewise.The translation I like to dip into is called 'Psalms Now' It has a freshness and a clarity and psalm 92 ends this way.
'Help us, those of us who love you, O God, to prove to our disjointed world, that you are in our         midst.' Marcina Wiederkehr would say: May your work this day be your love made visible;may you breathe upon the wounds of those with whom you work;may your voice this day be a voice of encouragement;may your life be an answer to someones prayer;may the lamp of your life shine upon all you meet this day.
May the Spirit touch your spirit in this morning pause and your day be blessed.

Anne, servant of the Lord

small boy and the rose bud.

Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways. Ps 128:1
Advent draws us to reflect on many things: our relationship with the Lord, how we express that in life, how we live with that forefront knowledge that 'Jesus will come again.' Diligently, faithfully and with renewed hearts we are called to 'stay awake.' It is only when God dwells deep within us that we can fulfill this command, this urgent request to 'stay awake.' Prayer, meditation, reflection and God's forgiveness are what fill us with the knowledge and love of the Lord that enables us to fill our potential for him, to blossom in our faith.  There is a story about a small boy who was sitting on the lawn in the garden  holding two bright yellow roses. One was only a bud and one was in full flower. He was thoughtfully pulling the petals from the bud and as he did so they fell to the ground until only the stem was left. 'What are you doing?' his mother asked. ' I am trying to open it up,' he said, 'so it looks like the other rose.' His mother replied. 'You cant open a rose bud from the outside. God has to open it from the inside .' And so it is with us. In order to love and serve the Lord, God needs to open us up from the inside.

 Continue to prepare the way for the Lord and may the Spirit of Christ fill your hearts and your minds and the peace of God be with you.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

flickering candles

Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of Jacob;that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his path. Isaiah 2:3
I watched the Advent candle on the altar flicker in the breeze from the open window. It seemed fragile and vulnerable but yet it refused to be snuffed out and it brought to mind something I had read.  'A boy threw a stone at a stained glass window of the incarnation. It nicked out the  'E' in the word highest, in the text 'Glory to God in the Highest.'  Now it read: ' Glory to God in the High St.'
As we enter the season of Advent we are instructed to keep awake. To be ever watchful for the coming of the Lord and I think of our daily lives out there in the world(in the High St) doing the ministry of Jesus Christ. I think of the people who have crossed my path and yours and now, this Advent will be more aware of the concept of 'keeping awake'  You know them, you have befriended them, those who were isolated, lonely, needy and poor and to them you brought the love of God that emanates peace.  Stay awake so you can be prepared for Christ's return as you live a life of serving Christ in our broken world.  Go to the mountain of the Lord, frequently.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne

travelling companion

Good and upright is the Lord, therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his ways. Psalm 25:8-9
So much from within the heart comes a cry, 'for as much as you did for the least of these, my brothers and sisters, you did it for me.'  This text straight from Jesus would be a wonderful theme for Advent. Sometimes I think but how many more of my brothers and sisters can I do this for Lord for sometimes the load  gets very heavy and weighs me down but its said; don't pray that your load is lightened but pray for the strength to bear it. That statement changed my entire perspective on carrying burdens and I found I could add one or two more brothers and sisters to my load, in fact I asked the Lord to give me as many as he thought I could carry.Its then I found they became my travelling companions. They were always with me on the journey through prayer time, on my lips as I fell asleep and as I went out each day to love and serve the Lord. We know that God is our ultimate travel companion, always with us. When the load of carrying our brothers and sisters is heavy, he is the one who holds us up.

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

rubbing shoulders

Lord, when was it that I  saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not take care of you? Matthew 25:44
In life we often rub shoulders with people society sees as the 'lesser' or who Jesus called the 'little ones.' I am sure as you read this faces will come as images in your  mind and memories in your heart. Our daily life is about bringing  the light of Christ into the dark corners of  this world. I don't know about you but it puts me on my knees and I am sure the roar in the background is the applause from heaven as God sees one of his own move into the circle of love and care and bring life and light to another.(Lucado) None are more shunned by their culture than the blind, the lame, the lepers and the deaf. They had no place. No name. no value. Canker sores on the culture. Excess baggage on the side of the road, but those who people call trash, Jesus calls treasure.
They are the treasure of our daily ministry. Rub shoulders with them, rub shoulders with Christ.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

I come.

Just as I am without one plea, O lamb of God, I come (Charlotte Elliott)
This is one of a few hymns that brings you to the feet of God. There is a 'tug' a sense of being pulled towards God in these words and you can do nothing but respond  and what a sense of home coming it brings. No doubt we all have that place where we have this great tug to go, to meet and  fall into the arms of  God. Its a tug that's so compelling  it can't be ignored. I reflect on this when I get up to go walking early morning. I feel that tug from God to go and the words of this hymn hum in my heart. 'Just as I am though tosses about, fighting and fears within without, O lamb of God I come.' We forget sometimes that all we have to do with our cares, concerns and anxieties is to give them to God. He takes them from us, tosses them over his shoulder and replaces them with his peace. When you feel that tug from God, this desire to run into his open arms, respond to it, run into his presence to be comforted, filled, blessed,and equipped for life's journey.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

Praise for the singing

Morning has broken like the first morning; blackbird has spoken like the first bird. (TIS 156)
The beautiful song  of the blackbird singing in the morning silence drew me immediately to the words of  Eleanor Farjeon's hymn  'Morning has Broken.' And the rest of  my morning walk was in step to that  tune and  the sung words went straight to heaven!
Thank you God for the gentle nudges of your presence.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

roses among the thorns

Sing to God with thanksgiving in your heart. Col 3:16
I love the spring with all its expression of new life and it seems to give us a sense of life also, like waking up out of a sleep. Being a gardener I like to head for the garden and make an impression on areas that have been neglected, pruning, weeding, turning old soil over, propping plants with trellises and planting new seeds. I have a bed of roses and pruning sometimes can be a challenge. Somehow I always seem to come out of the exercise looking like I have been pruning roses! However, its well worth it with the reward of beautiful colour and perfumed blooms. Gardening is a bit like our life really, out there in the world among all the challenges, planting, pruning and nurturing.
It is said: Some complain that God put thorns on roses; others give thanks that God put roses among the thorns. (Unknown)
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

one of several St Saviours Cathedral roses in my garden.

A great witness.

.....looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. Hebrews 12:2
I was taking a service in the local aged care facility among a small group of faithful elderly people and one resident in particular seems to stand out. She would be well in her eighties, a quiet gentle lady who just smiles and emanates a peace. She has an aura about her. This day she actually spoke and said. 'I walked with Jesus. I walked by his side. He was so, so lovely, a beautiful man.' she paused a moment and went on to say.' Do you think that could be real or did I dream it?' and she looked at me with intense blue eyes and a face that shone, a face that emanated Christ's presence.'  'It was a long time ago,' she said, 'but I remember it and feel it inside me like it was just now. Every  time I think of it I feel I am filled up again and again with Jesus.' What great witnesses  our older people are. A life time of trials, tribulations and joys and still so strong in the Lord. What a great encouragement to us all who are still 'running the race.'
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

The secret of the Lord is theirs

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see our God: the secret of the Lord is theirs, their soul is Christ's abode. (TIS 448)
I recall the memorial service I held in the nursing home each year on All Souls and All Saints Day. It was so moving  as we remembered all those who had passed away from among us in the last twelve months. Reading the names out one by one of 30 or more people,Remembering the faces, remembering them, all these special people that have shared a portion of their life with me and it throws such a special meaning to the words from the book of Hebrews. 'Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses.....' (Hebrews 12:1) As I prepared for the service, filling the vases with roses, I noticed on one stem that there was a cluster of full blooms and among  them was one that had died. The imagery was powerful and humbling and yes we are indeed surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses in our Christian walk.

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

moving mountains

If you have faith as big as a mustard seed, you can say to the mountain, move from here to there, and it will move. Matthew 17:20
If every person in every place made it their goal to give their best , to help the needy and support the stranger what a different world we would live in. Even though our efforts might seem small at times, or overwhelming,we can live knowing we are doing our best where we are. Its like this familiar story. A man was on his way to buy a horse and as he was walking along he came across a little sparrow that was lying on its back, frantically kicking its legs in the air. 'Excuse me,' asked the man, 'But what are you doing?' The sparrow replied. 'I heard this morning that the sky was going to fall in.' The man said. 'And what do you think kicking in the air will do?' The sparrow replied. 'I am trying to stop it.'
Doing our best in daily life should be our aim and its amazing what a difference that can make. Our efforts don't have to move mountains. Just raising the spirits of those we come in contact with will change their day and possibly

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

Brilliant creator

O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your possessions. Psalm 104:24
Take a look at everything that is within your field of vision and reflect. God made it all.
 I am so blessed by several 'welcome swallows' that are on a great mission to build their mud nest right in the corner above my front door. Its seems like a family effort as there are more than two birds putting in a huge effort of carrying mud balls in their tiny beaks from the pond across the road and placing it on the wall. I can see the shape of the nest forming and O what a blessing all this activity is and of all the birds to be nesting at my front door, its the 'welcome swallow.'
I continue to stand in awe at the great works of our mighty God.Brilliant creator, master craftsman to the smallest detail and one who knows how to provide that blessing that he knows will 'makes my day.' Its a wonderful thing when we can, without even thinking about it, capture the wonder of God and his greatness, in the moment.

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

look on the heart

The Lord  does not see as mortals see;they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. 1 Samuel 16-7
What a privilege it is to be with the people  on the margins of society. Those often described as different or of no value or worth. Its working with vulnerable people that I find the greatest privilege in  my life. The isolated elderly give me the gift of their life story, endurance and experience, those who have a disability give me the gift of their humor, their love, their ability to face all sorts of challenges in life . I feel so close to God when I spend time with them. I guess its because they are the people that Jesus mixed  with and asked us to care for. Somehow when I am with them I can see, as he would have, beyond their outward appearances. I can see beyond that to the 'real' people that they are. Just like you and me. I love this story: (Paul Prough)
'While walking along a river bank on afternoon, I cam across a rough looking character shabbily dressed, gazing intently at something near the waters edge. I was suspicious of him and tried pass by quickly. He turned towards me and I dared look at him. He was smiling! relief flooded through me. 'Aren't they beautiful? he said and as I looked among the weeds there was this mass of purple-blue violet flowers.'

May God help us to look at the heart and not the outward appearance.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Servant of the Lord.

Glorious riches

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit  in your inner being. Ephesians 3:16
There is so much to be thankful for. There has been storms in the night bringing life giving rain. The air is fresh with the smell of the eucalyptus;there are puddles on the muddy path  (and the child in me wants to jump into one) The birds are ruffling wet feathers and singing even louder than usual and the grass already looks greener. There is a true sense of God having been at work in the night, washing the countryside with life giving rain and in the early morning light I see the sun come through the gaps in the clouds creating light  in the fading darkness as if God is smiling an all his work and I thought of all these things, God's glorious riches, and was strengthened and empowered for the day.
May you start your day also realising God's glorious riches, and through that,may you be strengthened over and over through the day.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

Photo: wildflowers by the walking track.

Glory, glory

The glory of the Lord shall be revealed.  Isaiah 40:5
In the hard places
in the laughter
in the breathtaking moments
in the pauses
in the noise
in the quiet
in all we do this day......in all we say....in all we are
May we see it , may we show

it,everywhere we go this day and every day
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Picture: Coober Pedy Breakaways.

A flash of heaven

'Like the sound of a distant bell comes God's call. Be still and know that I am God (psalm  46:10)

Every spring morning I seem to travel to heaven as I enjoy the delights of the scented garden and  the call of the busy birds. One smell of the newly opened sweet peas, one sight of the opening iris's and one glance at the rose buds in  anticipation of their coming glory and there I experience a flash of heaven. A word of praise. and an expression of joy to God that's caught on the breath of prayer falls from my lips. And as Annie Dillard says: ' If I am lucky I might be jogged awake by a bird call, This morning it was the wood duck.'

Life in the fast lane, in the mode of fast forward, can stop us from having an encounter with the wonders of God that are all around us if we only take the time to pause, to look, to wonder. To be still.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord