the depth of Gods love

 'How deep the Fathers love for us. How vast beyond all measure.' (Hymn)
I paused when I went out the door for a walk. There before me on the lawn was a flock of King Parrots and the more I looked the more I could see deep into their beautiful colours. They are a magnificent bird. The air is crisp and clear after yesterdays flurry of snow and I felt that God was in his house. As I walked we communicated without rambling and into my mind came the words of this song.'How deep the Fathers love for us.' I began to tease out some thoughts on the words 'deep' and the 'depth' of God's love. Thoughts like: The gift of this new day. The strength to do his will. The ability to see him in all creation.The deep yellow of the wattle in bloom, the perfume of the Daphne, his aroma, filling the air. The chorus of magpies. And I thought of the arms of a friend around me and my arms around another in need. I thought of a deep, deep bottomless well going deeper and deeper into my soul where it touched the point of no words and I knew the depth of the Father's love.
Take a moment to smell the flowers. Listen to the morning call of the birds. Give away a hug in friendship and be a blessing to those who cross your path........and breathe in the deep, deep love of God.
Anne, servant of the Lord

inviting themselves for breakfast!!

God's work

Speak , Lord for your servant is listening. 1 Samuel 3:9
I am intrigued by the prunus tree that I see in my street. For so many weeks they have  looked seemingly dead yet now, hanging from the branches are clusters of  bright pink blossoms. A sign of new life, beauty and hope. The sight of it makes me feel 'good', deep inside. Somehow it has a message about it. A God message and I am reminded of this saying.
I said to the almond tree. Show me the things of God. And the almond tree blossomed. (anon)
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Not alone

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14
I think of my favourite solo singing artists. The ones who's voices make me stop in my tracks and  give me goosebumps, so moving and emotional is the voice.  Such artists as Bocelli, Enja, Sarah Brightman but of all the solo artists the one that moves me most, takes my breath away and puts me at the feet of Jesus, is the solo magpie at the break of dawn.If ever there was a morning voice to God that says it all then this is it. The strong, melodious warbling is for me, the morning call to focus on God as the day begins to cover the night. Somehow it causes me to think of the 'silent' morning songs that are going up to God in our morning prayers. In itself, this one voice of the solo  magpie represents all the unheard voices raising their prayers to God at the start of a new day.
Do you ever get the sense when you are saying your daily office, your morning prayers, in the quiet of your chosen space, that you are not doing it alone? Reflect on the things in life that bring you to the feet of Jesus and be blessed.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

God's peace

The peace of God that passes all understanding.....(APB)
In the quiet, in the stillness, as the new day was being made
there was God
and there was me.
What peace
What a way to start a day, wrapped in the creators arms.

May your day be one of new beginnings.
 May your day be one of peace.
May your day be where you find peace.

Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne Servant of the Lord.

life and health and peace

O for a thousand tongues to sing my great redeemers praise. TIS 210
What a way to wake up of a morning  with a hymn on your lips and in your heart. The morning is  showing promise of a lovely day and is alive with a wonderful chorus that was completely in harmony with the paint brush in God's hand as he painted a loud, colourful  dawn of bold pink, red and blue.The chorus was magnificent. Two crows singing high and low in harmony with each other.   Crimson Rosellas 'pipping,'  The cheeky pewees adding their shrill voice and a flock of yellow rump finches just seemed to pull together a chorus of a thousand tongues singing praise to our great Redeemer. I joined in the chorus with: My gracious Master and my God, assist me to proclaim. To spread throughout all the earth abroad, the honours of your name. (Charles Wesley)
Take these words with you as you go into your day because such music in our ears is life, and health and peace.
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Waiting to join in!

In the presence of the Lord

Be still for the presence of the Lord is moving in this place. (Hymn)
Pre dawn is such a blessed time. Deep in the fading darkness comes signs and sounds of light and life. its the opening in the blinds of my room that says the day is coming. Its the sounds of the birds waking and calling (its a cheeky pee-wee at the moment!) checking out each other, that says the day is coming. Its the first step outside the door into the fresh morning air, waiting to be warmed by a not too far off sun, that says the day is coming. Its the quarter moon aligned with two bright stars fading into light that says the day is coming and slowly the wonder turns to awe, the puffs of cotton wool like grey clouds turn a shade of pink and orange  and all is alive with light that says the day has come. Be still in the presence of the Lord, the Holy One is here.

Blessed be your day
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Precious God given love

Take my love;my Lord, I pour, at thy feet its treasure stored. TIS 599
The greatest thing that God asks of us is that we love one another and what an example we have if we look to him. We know what its like when someone shows us love in so many ways, we know how that makes us feel and how much it gives us life.
I was looking at God's love this past week when I visited the dementia ward of the nursing home with my little dog. I was looking at God's love as I listened to  an aid worker telling of the humanitarian crisis in Syria and I was looking at God's love this morning as I saw even more bright yellow blossoms bursting on the branches of the winter wattle and smelt its perfume in the air, God's perfume. As I wrapped the prayers of the morning around my heart I prayed.  Take our love Lord, our precious God given love, like the five barley loaves and two small fishes, and multiply it, so that it may be a blessing to you and to others.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord

Treasure the pearl of great price

O God the fount of wisdom, you have revealed to us in Christ the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price. (opening line of the Collect for 8th Sunday after Pentecost)
In my bottom draw I have a small, red velvet container and inside it is a string of  'real' pearls. I recall  the great excitement I felt when I purchased them on a cruise liner way back in the 1960's as a  gift for my mother who had never had the chance to own such a precious  gift.  Her joy was almost in describable. Somehow I connect this story with the parable of the pearl of great price. Once we find it;once we receive it; our lives are filled with joy and even more so, once we give it to someone else their lives are also transformed into experiences until then, unknown. I have a lonely isolated lady in the community that I visit who has no joy and no hope in her life. I am going to take the red velvet container with the pearls in it and tell her this story  of that pearl of great price.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

A string of pearls in the spirituality tin of hidden treasures.

Silent witness

All God's creatures have a place in the choir. (Christian song)
Its been my experience before and now I see it again. I went for a walk in the dementia wing of the nursing home with me little dog, to visit a friend but she was out with family, so I decided to go for a wander about.  One elderly  lady literally ran to catch up with me, and in a foreign language started calling the dog. She was overjoyed and danced around lifting the dogs front legs in a dancing motion. She stayed with us for about 5 minutes in this window of joy before wandering off.  A staff member then approached me. This delightful, very dark skinned young man bent to pat her and noticed the cross on her collar. He immediately pulled a cross from beneath the neck of his shirt and said 'I have one too! we both know God loves us.' A little dog, an old wooden cross on her collar and time on my hands and God's love made a difference and brought joy.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ,
Anne, servant of the Lord

Genna

Looking at God's love

For your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth Psalm 26:3
This morning had a real sense of 'come walk with me ' about it from the moment I stepped out the door. The ground was wet from an early morning shower of rain and the air was fresh. On the empty trees hung one or two remnants of the past autumn and a lone magpie on the fence was heralding in the morning. A gum tree close by was 'painted pink' with the light of the wintry sunrise and the sky was as a painting in progress by a master artist as its colours were caught up in the swirling formation of the wind driven clouds. I stopped and looked. One of those looks when you see right into what it is you are looking at and I realised I was looking at God's love. Take time today to look into God's love for it will carry you through the day......and beyond.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne,servant of the Lord

joy

For the joy of the Lord is your strength. Neh 8:10
You know how it feels when you round a corner, or come over the crest of a hill and there before you is the most stunning,breathtaking sunset,or breathtaking view or a kookaburras laugh breaks  the stillness of the morning or even  when you come across an unexpected family of 'roos' on the walking track, grazing and just 'being family' or recently for me its the sudden landing of the Red Robin on my picket fence. All the elements of pleasurable surprise. I was touched by these words in a recent conversation 'joy comes through surprise.' We have a God of surprises, who fills our heart and lives with joy. A God of surprises who meets us often when we least expect it.

Water dragon crossed my path on the lawn by the river.

Dwell in the house of the Lord

One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord.  Ps 27:4
Sometimes the best things in life are those things nearest  to us. The crispness of the morning frost letting us know we are alive! The frozen dew drops on the tip of a leaf, hanging, suspended,paused, frozen in the moment. The weak sunlight   pushing through the fog creating those moments of 'haunting beauty'. The Daphne at the front door, about to burst into a perfume that will take your memory back in time. A day ahead prayed in and over, full of challenges and promise and adventure and delights, hand in hand with Jesus. Robert Louis Stevenson said: 'The best things are the the nearest, the  breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes,flowers at your feet,duties at hand, the path of God before you.'
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

Beautifully formed cones like candles in the fir tree.

your glorious light

God himself is present, let us now adore him (TIS 121)
There is something special in that thin space between night and day and we call it dawn because that is what it is, the dawning of a new day with new possibilities, new hopes and new opportunities and it is such a gift. And, its this special time of the day that God and I are one. I love hymn 121 . The verses are full of words that are so meaningful and sit beautifully on my heart. Its one of those hymns that keep coming to you hours and days after its been sung and its words put you in a place of prayer and meditation . (v3) 'Let your glorious light, Lord, permeating all things, reach my face and eyes to touch them: as the tender flowers open out their petals, to the sun their hearts unfolding, So may I, calm in joy, hold your rays from heaven, power within me working.'   
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ,
Anne, servant of the Lord

I see Jesus

Tend the flock of God........willingly. 1 Peter 5:2
I find the nearness of Jesus comes naturally when I just look at things in daily life.
I see a river and hear Jesus say: 'if you come to me you will not be thirsty.'
I see a paddock of sheep and hear Jesus say: 'I am the good shepherd.'
I take a slice of bread for my breakfast and hear Jesus say: 'I am the bread of life.'
I see a flock of topknot pigeons on the grass with the Grass Parrots,  Rosellas and King Parrots and I hear the melody of All things bright and beautiful, the Lord God made them all.
I see a small flowering plant growing through a crack in the wall and I know Jesus loves me.
I see the needy daily in my ministry and I want to sing: 'Jesus, O Jesus Come and fill our lives.' (TIS)
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord

King Parrots

Ki

moments of stillness

Be still for the presence of the Lord is moving in this place. (Hymn)
'That stopped me in my tracks 'is a common saying among us  when we see something that takes our eye and catches our attention suddenly; that something that causes our soul to smile. Its often a sudden moment where stillness find us.
Sister Kennedy says: Such moments are in the smile of a child on a train, the budding of the cherry blossom at the gate, the sweet scent of the clematis in the garden, the look behind forgiving eyes, the fresh eggs left on the door step. But for me yesterday , it was the beautiful Robin Redbreast sitting on the Pickett fence just outside my study window; a moment when stillness found me.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anne, servant of the Lord

A winter visitor

God of all faithfulness

O perfect love. (TIS 603)
I was looking at the bare trees outside the window and noticing  the full ripe buds getting ready to burst open as spring approaches and yesterday when driving in the suburb I  noticed a tree dressed in pink blossoms, its buds impatient giving way to full bloom. What a faithful loving God who without fail produces the seasons of our year as he produces the seasons of our lives. I love the quote which I have used a few times now that  says: 'I said to the almond tree show me the things of God' and the almond tree blossomed. Sister Stan says: Gazing at the pale yellow buds of the camellia opened, I knew I was unconditionally loved.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord

Encouragement for the day.

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)
 A lady I visit in the community is constantly searching for Jesus. She has a hard life, a lonely life and longs to walk with Jesus as her companion. 'I use to know him' she said 'as a child I knew him but then he went away.I know I have you to help me now but where is Jesus?'  I told her about the story in the bible of the two who were walking on the road to Emmaus after Jesus had left them and how this stranger came alongside and through conversation and journey and an invitation to supper  Jesus was revealed. This psalm ends by saying: 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.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord

earthly treasures

For the beauty of the earth, for the beauty of the skies. for the love which from our birth, over and around us lies. Christ our God to you we raise, this our sacrifice of praise.(Tis 137)
These words came to me as I was looking at the very full buds on the Japonica bush 'bursting' in readiness to go on display and visible here and there are the jonquil bulbs with fat buds also in readiness in a bed of very highly perfumed violets and there, hidden on the north side of a fallen log is the moss growing in its own rugged and earthy bed. So much beauty at a glance, a treasury of expectation, of hope, of love, of surprise, of God.
(Sister Stan says ) The treasures of the earth are free and full of surprises.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

mossy log,earthly beauty

Holy delight

God himself is present (TIS 121)
 I loved to walk through the fallen autumn leaves kicking them with great delight  and there is something special and thought provoking about 'hearing' the leaves as they fall from the trees. Its like a kaleidoscope of soft gentle music. Early morning  has so many points of connection with God  that bring delight, refreshment and preparation for the day and the birds add their voice to that as the little Pee-wee dances on the ice in the birdbath. There is something of 'holy delight' in creation and the creator. (Sister Stanizlow says) Creation speaks to those who hear with their hearts..
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

Cathedral grounds Goulburn

God's daily blessings

Morning by morning new mercies I see. ( Hymn: Morning has Broken)
Its that time of the year where God's beauty shines in a different way with crisp frost and the haunting beauty of trees shrouded in fog and a beauty in the sunrise and sunset that is rich in deep colours .We often hear complaints about the frost and fog and cold but I say rug up more and enjoy. See God 's beauty and creation in all things and greet God in all things.
This little prayer by Norman Grubb is a morning inspiration:
Good morning Lord.
I love you!
what are you up to today?
I want to be part of it!
Thank you God.
Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ
Anne, servant of the Lord.

vineyards in the morning morning fog and frost