Love without end.

I love you O Lord, my strength Ps 18:1
Where  does your love lie? Can you count your many loves? I start but somehow they seem to have no end: The early morning rising to catch the quiet and the first bird calls
 The 'smells' of spring. The 'look' of spring. (Just go for a moment and look O so close into a beautiful flower, look hard into its creation.)
 The old dog looking for a walk. That's one of her loves!
The quiet spot to go  and be.
The tiny blue wren looking at me through the window as I sit at my desk, singing its little heart out.
The anticipation of what the day holds for me as I serve my greatest love, My Lord Jesus Christ.
These are loves that cause me to feel there is almost no space between me and God. Loves that give me pleasure in the everyday detail. Annie Dillard says: I love with a keen, clear love. A love that wells up as I stand rooted in the now. Moments when I feel centered and grounded.Moments thanking God for everything from good simple food to the gentle breeze,to a shooting star across a clear summer night sky.
Van Gogh adds:   I always think the best way to know God is to love many things.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord

A quiet spot to go and be.

listen and God speaks

A time to keep silence and a time to speak. Eccl 3:7
Listening, intently listening.
Sometimes I listen deeply, so deeply that the silence is loud. So deeply that out of the silence comes a still small voice or more profound, a beautiful, richly coloured bird lands within  inches of my sight, and God speaks.  I was sitting on my front porch just sitting in the quiet with God and the beautiful Crimson Rosella came with his partner, as they do each spring, and checked out their nesting place, They stood on the fence and just looked at me ad I at them, and God spoke.
Mother Teresa said: ' God is the friend of silence. See how nature, trees, flowers, grass all grow in silence'
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

A lovely sort of wild place

The Lord satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. Psalm 107:8-9
I was deep in thought  in a lovely sort of wild place beside a pond thanking God for the many blessings of the morning in this quiet place. My intent was to just sit and listen to the silence but God came by, into the silence and showered me with many morning, everlasting blessings.ending with the O so beautiful song after song that came forth from the honey filled blooms of the Japonica bush of the lovely orange breasted Rufus Whistler, so busy in her own happiness and my heart melted as I thanked God for his creation filled with pockets of  holy places, such beauty and joy for our delight.
Sit, be still and wait for the Lord to come by and O the blessings.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

for the love of feathered friends

All creatures of our God and King, lift up your voice and with us sing. TIS 100

We all seem to have a special bird that is meaningful to us. Some love the kookaburra whose song brings out of us  a laugh that spills out from  deep within us. Others will spot the call of the Rufus whistler sporting his orange chest among the honey filled spring flowers, others will simply 'melt' within at the glorious song of the blackbird at the break of day and as for the sparrow, Mary Oliver says: 'Of course I love the sparrow, those dun coloured darlings.'These are all 'God moments.' Need I say for me its the blue wren and when I think of them singing I ask myself  is it prayer? What could it be if it isn't? so I just listen,with thoughts of God and am blessed.
Don't miss the unmissable God moments in your day. They are so precious.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

take time in his presence

My Lord and my God. John 20:28
The chorus of frogs in the pond of which I know not one from the other, is unbelievable and how do they all manage to sing in such  harmony and in tune. What a delightful sound and rising above it, or is it in chorus with it, is the beautiful call of a tiny bird I am yet to identify. I think of all God's creation. All identified and known to him personally. You, me, the frogs, the tiny bird, he has put his mark and his name on it all and how special, how very special to know that he knows each and every one of all his creation by name.
I love this morning blessing: May you take time in his presence so you will remember how strong and mighty he is. And may your day be filled with sacred moments that remind you just how precious you are to him.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Only God can do that

All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord Psalm 145:10
Spring just throws up so many thoughts in your mind, and its just around the corner. I look at the bare tree outside my office window and its literally bursting its buds to push out the new leaves and the prunus in the back yard is displaying gorgeous little pink blossoms like a hundred young girls in tulle dancing dress and just a step out the back door the air is filled with strong violet and Daphne fragrance. The first words that fall from my lips are 'O God how glorious, how wondrous are your works.'  Somehow, having seen a shrub or tree empty or bare of any visible life and then to see it slowly open up into its glory is indeed a miracle. Its beauty in brokenness and life from death. You cant make the bare tree blossom, I cant make the bare tree blossom only God can do that. Only God can bring in new life..

Flowering Japonica.

One little duck went out one day..

 The Lord bless you and keep you. Numbers  6:24

Quietly sitting by a pond that's totally undisturbed by any visible signs of life other than a few water grasses and a bent willow tree when out of that island growth comes a lovely duck, his feathers iridescent green as the rising sun catches him. He paddles silently, smoothly across the water leaving a perfect arrow shaped wake behind him and all to the call of the wrens busily searching for breakfast for the young ones. Amazing things are revealed in silence and my inside was filled with happiness yet there was only the pond, the ducks and me.
Mary Oliver says: Instructions for living life are:. Pay attention, be astonished, and tell about it . For truly the body needs a song.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Ah, now I see.

Blessed assurance Jesus is mine, O what a foretaste of Glory divine. (Hymn)
The first morning of the retreat I was looking out of my window on the third floor and fixed my eyes on a clump of flowering violets under a beautiful bright yellow wattle tree. There is something about  little flowers that grow under a tree and I couldn't place why it is so special a 'something.' And then a thought comes, a God planted thought which says, 'I am your God, over and above you, I am your shelter, your protector, come and be under my everlasting protection.'  It was a God thought that made me glow inside. It is indeed in the stillness and quiet that God speaks.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Look and see......and live!

My soul thirsts for God,for the living God Psalm 42:2
The glory of the Lord shines through so much of what we see around us. Its there in  almost every place I look especially as the signs of spring are coming.  I recall a time when a new lady came to church and she was just 'aglow' with every aspect of her worship,- engaging, enjoying and so touched. It was so encouraging to see and then I think of the  nights when the moon has been high in the sky, shining,magnificent, full, a true light in the darkness, a presence of God. It is so powerful that we can meet God in all things. I recall on one of my outback holidays, standing on a sandstone cliff face in the desert and looking God in the face with all I saw before me.
I like this blessing of welcome (Iona Community) May you meet God in every place, in every person and in the depths of your own heart.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

Breakaways, Coober Pedy.

a flower grows inside me

Teach us to count our days so that we may gain a wise heart. Psalm 90:12
I was looking at the Fuchsia in the garden, dormant, almost dead looking but then I saw tiny buds of life as new leaves were forming and I marveled at the fact that within a short space of time these leaves would be flourishing and green but what was more profound was the thought that from the very center of this creation flowers were forming ready to burst forth into new life when their time has come, turning something ordinary into something special and its all happening in the silence of the garden. I love silence. Things happen and grow and develop in silence, within the heart, the mind and the spirit. Its probably the next best thing to early morning walks where the silence is everywhere and in it you can hear and learn so much that has the potential to bring you life, turn your day into something lovely and beautiful. I like what Marion  von Waldner writes: 'From the center of my soul, a flower grows inside me, a love that makes me whole, a budding love that sets me free.'

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

Lord, keep me awake

May the Lord bless his people with peace. Psalm 29:11
There is something magical about the daylight pushing the night out of the way with a blaze of colour and there is something magical about the birds waking up one by one and adding chorus to the colour and its all backed by the rhythmic  squeaks, pips,  and croaks of the frogs on the pond. And while I walked I thought of the words of my 4 year old grandson yesterday when I said we would pray and thank God for the food he has given us  and he looked at me with big open eyes and laughing,without hesitation said, No 'Nan, God didn't give us the food, Mummy and I got it from the shop!' Isn't it just wonderful that every day is a message and a blessing from God.
A Lawson says: Always keep an ear bent towards heaven.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Lets go fishing

As he (Jesus)  walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother casting nets into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them. 'Follow me and I will make you fish for people.' Matthew 4:18-19
I was enjoying walking in the quiet with just the call of an occasional bird, looking at  the bear trees that were exhibiting a beauty in their nakedness and in thought with God about the matters of the day ahead. Its amazing when we reflect on our lives and see where we have come from to reach the place we are at now especially in light of Jesus words, 'Come follow me.' I thought of the quote (anon)
What I am is God's gift to me. What I become is my gift back to God.
In a quiet spot during the day give your life's journey a thought and thank God for your response when he said 'Come follow me.'
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord

Fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee.

gathering treasures

The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. Matthew 13: 44
All our experiences come home with us in our minds at the end of the day. Some to be discarded, some to be treasured.  It reminds me of when we walk on the beach, along a dry creek bed or walking on the familiar morning walk and we bend down to pick up something that is to be admired and slipped into the pocket to take home and treasure. In my garden I have small shiny white stones and dark round smooth ones that were picked up on a walk. I have jars filled with lovely sea shells of all shapes and colours that serve as book ends on my book shelves.I have a collection of different couloured bird feathers that stand in a jar waiting for the next visit from the grandchildren. The stooping and picking up, the wonder and the noticing of everyday 'things' are real moments of oneness with God that we keep because they are 'moments with God.'.
S Larson writes: 'Moments (like these) that you keep wrapped in a tissue paper inside a jewelry box or set on a shelf in your room like upon an altar. Moments that center and ground us.'
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

 Treasured 'God moments' when these shards of china and glass were found' hidden' on the site of my GGparents property where nothing else remains of their life there.

God's shadow

For the joy of ear and eye, for the heart and mind's delight, for the mystic harmony, linking sense to sound and sight. Christ our God to you we raise, this our sacrifice of praise. (TIS 137)
Crystal clear frosty morning with one long,  thin band of  deep pink cloud fringed the mountains and the reflection from it shone on the pockets of white snow in the valleys which changed them to a soft marshmallow pink, glistening in the sun like a million clear crystals and I recalled a quote by Gabriela Mistral:   'Beauty......is the shadow of God on the universe.'
How wonderful, O Lord are the works of your hands. What beauty to behold. You have created a divine song in our hearts from what our eye has seen.and your presence  fills the start of our day.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

                                               Behold the beauty of the shadow of God.

pockets of lights

Lord, the love of your light is shining........shine Jesus shine, fill this land with the Fathers Glory (TIS 675)
As I walk to  the rise of the hill and pause at the top I look back over the valley and across the suburb behind me and see clusters of street lights in the dark of the early morning and  it reminds me again and again of each one of us who carries the light of Christ into our community, often into areas of darkness, of isolation,loneliness  pain, and suffering. As I watch the light of day brighten  and the community  lights dim  I think of how the light of  mornings God encounters  fill us for this new day.

I can think of nothing more appropriate to say than.........let your light shine!
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord..

lift your face to the day star

Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Psalm 90:14
As I thing of the day that lies before us. I think of the challenges, the peoples paths we will cross; those who will be rejoicing, those who will be mourning, those seeking a shoulder to lean on, those who need encouragement, those who bless and please us, those who need a touch of God's love. Those who need a kind hand to pick them up and set them on the path again.
You know, nothing satisfies me more  early in the morning than to feel that call from God to come and spend some time with him. The quiet of the  morning seeps deep into my being and there it liaises with God taking in peace, hope, love, calm,joy, strength and understanding. Tools for the day, gifts to share and a sense of being sent forth with God's blessing.
Macrina Wiederkher wrote: Lift your face to the day star now, experience the coming of dawn, bathed in morning light, pray that the lantern of your life move gently through this day into all those places where light is needed.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ,
Anne, servant of the Lord

Those who need a helping hand

I see you Lord

And all the peoples behold his glory. Psalm 97:6
Sometimes we feel we are looking into the eye of God. I have a beautiful book called 'A Tree full of Angels' by Macrina Wiederkehr and in one section she talks of a 'meditation pause' quoting Guigo, and it says: Until your heart is touched....
I look in awe at the buds on the prunus tree just getting ready to bust and some have already popped out of their little cocoons of cover, blushing a spot of cheeky pink.
I look in awe at the deep red of the flowering gum blossom, dressed like little ballerinas in tu-tu's.
And I saw them.....a tree full of angels, and my heart was touched and my silent whisper said, ' I see you Lord.'
Look about but just don't look about, look and see the Lord
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord

shine your light

The gifts of God for the people of God. (APBA)
Early morning and the dark was  bathed in the soft moonlight from the moon high in the sky, so bright that it cast my shadow onto the footpath and a silver reflection on the dam in the paddock and all the objects  of the landscape, the cattle, the mountains, the trees, the fences,were illuminated so I could see what was there regardless of the dark. The breeze blew across my face, icy but refreshing and there was a mystery occurring because to the east the sun was rising in a brilliant display of pink, orange and gold and between the two was my breath taking prayer as the glory of the Lord shone all around. I didn't quite know which way to look to capture it all.
I reflected on the brightness of the moon which has no light of its own. The light it casts is from the suns reflection, like its bouncing off a mirror.
I reflect on our lives with Jesus, the Son, and wonder at his reflection that shines off us. He is our source of light.
May the light of Christ that reflects in your life, shine on all you meet.
Anne, servant of the Lord

a good measure pressed down

Give, and it will be given to you. A good  measure, pressed down and shaken together, running over, will be put in your lap, for the measure you give will be given back. Luke 6:38
I tried to find a definition of a blessing and it was hard to come up with something I felt met the
feeling but Luke gives it plain and clear in his Gospel. What drew me to blessings this morning was that they were in my heart when I got up. I was thinking they were like boomerangs.You give one  out and it comes back to you and the blessing then becomes yours, as well as theirs. Time and again I have gone into my day and assisted those less fortunate than myself, people who the world passes by, and they are so grateful and often say the time together is a real blessing but I go home feeling blessed by the privilege of having been with them. God can give us a cold wet morning, shrouded in mist, yet the beauty of it takes our breath away and becomes a blessing prayer of 'thank you Lord.'
Blessings are something we don't forget. They are powerful, collected and save in the soul.
May the blessings fall like the rain on you today.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

The blessing of a  surprised encounter

Prepared for anything

Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Mark 1:3

I was touched by the early morning,so still, so quiet with a magpie waking the dawn with a note perfect solo and I just sat and engaged.....God and me....a oneness. Its like the whole start of the day is on pause before it lunges into its business and strife.
 As I sat, over and over in my mind roll the words from Psalm 46:
Vocate et videte quomiam ego-somdeus. 'Be still and know that I am God.'
Do you know this is called the war psalm, said before soldiers engaged in battle?
I don't think there is a better way    of entering each new day than to be wrapped up in the love, protection and peace of God, prepared for anything.
Go well into this new day under the protective cover of your God.

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