Under a Tree

 Come with me with brain a buzz

Sit under this tree. Breathe, look, and feel.

Watch the ant climb the roots. 

Listen to the leaves that provide shade.

Feel the earth beneath and the bark at your back, so firm.

Hear the words of the Lord within you.

Peaceful is faith as firm as this tree in the ground. 

Happiness

Happiness is complicated.

It’s superficial. Laughing to stave off pain.

It’s genuine. Being grateful, content with the simple.

Happiness is both unexpected and the result of search.

But how is happiness possible?

Happiness. Don’t give up the search.

Like a sliver of gold amongst quartz.

Work, people you’re close to, long walks…

Share your happiness. Where do you find it?

What motivates you to get up and sift through sadness?

And what are the things that make it worth it?

Mine is hope. Hope that even though life can suck…

God is always there to guide me and give me joy, peace and rest.

Happiness.

Silence

There is nothing like silence.

Sometimes sought after.
Sometimes avoided.
Sometimes filled with purpose.

There is nothing like silence.

Peace

Part 1

Dear Peace,
Where did you go?
I searched in vain to find you.
Not in friends, family or anyone I know.

Why don't you stay?
I see a glimpse of you, every now and then.
But you just nod, smile and pass away.

What have we done, that you allude us so?
Surely you will be back again.
For without us wanting you,
willing you and wishing for your presence,
you will desert us.

Oh Lord, help us to desire peace.
Bring Peace to us , as you do in Christ.
Make us like you, willing to forgive and forget.
Help us to remember your ways.
Shape our minds, hearts and actions.
Show us the way to peace.

For there is no one in heaven and earth like you.

Part 2 

1 Corinthians 1: 10-14:

'I appeal to you, brothers and sisters,
a in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that all of you agree with one another in what you say
and that there be no divisions among you,
but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.

My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household
have informed me that there are quarrels among you.
What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”;
another, “I follow Apollos”; another,
“I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.”


Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you?
Were you baptised in the name of Paul?'

If we divide what will be left of our unity in Christ? 
How can we share words of hope, faith, and love,
if we cannot find peace together?
Why throw away what God freely gave us in the sacrifice of his son?

Let us not tie up each other in knots.
Others will try to do just that every minute, of every day.
Instead let us pray; 'Father lead us to find peace, teach us your ways'.

Sunrise

The gentle awakening. A little nudge to the brain. "time we both got up." Says the sun.

Opening my eyes blearily, I begin to realise the gradual changes in the light,
as colours appear across the sky.
Blue, purple, pink, orange, yellow, all merging together.
They are enhanced by the dark, majestic eucalyptus,
and the soft ground with the dew still upon it.

The colours of the clouds alter to sliver grey and the sky grows increasingly blue.
The sun begins to warm the earth,
I become more aware of my surroundings.
I listen as all of creation rejoices at the new day.
At this moment I smile, watching my dog's exaltation as she bounds around,
pausing to sniff each smell that is of interest to her, relishing her freedom.

I thank my heavenly Father for the peace I experience at this time.
Here in this place.
In the dawning of the day.

"This is the day that the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it"
Psalm 118:24

Rain

I've been learning to fully appreciate moments.

In all the chaos, I pause, experiencing the calm in the midst of the storm.

Noticing the breeze and how it moves through everything.

The trees sway and their leaves rustle. 

The clouds float across the sky and shapes form, change and dissipate. 

The birds are guided by the pressure and direction of the wind. 

Time ticks on , yet still I sit, absorbing and valuing each moment.

My eyes continue to scan the landscape. 

The colours of the grass, fading from vivid green to dusty brown.

The varying colours of  tree trunks
-grey, red, blue, silver, merging with the brown. 

The shade, making colours darker and richer.

The sun, making colours brighter and lighter.

Making dappled sunlight fascinating.

Looking up at the sun as it sets,

It draws the eye along with the blues, purples, pinks, oranges, and yellows.

It eventually gives way to deep purple, blue of the sky, and silver of the moon and stars. 

To think that God created all things, just using words.

But I know my words cannot truly express what the eye can see and the heart can feel.

So I would urge everyone to pause and fully appreciate moments.

To find the calm in the midst of the storm. 

Soul Park

We move though life at such
a brisk pace, our minds full and
overcrowded.

Oftern I become far too absorbed
in this fast passing world.
I panic, become prideful
forget God is there and am too
self reliant to remmember him.

That is when I walk.
Away from traffice, crowds
of people, and calendars.

As I strolling though a park free from
the bustle my mind becomes clear
again, as many worries drop away.
I leave them behind, then pray .

Doing this, I am lost in
admiration of Gods' creation.
I thank him for the breeze, plants,
sky, animals, and the variety of
people that I pass by.

Speaking with God, I hand my
burdens over to him, because he is
far more capable of dealing with them
then I. My father embraces
me like the brezee for he is willing
to come to my aid.

For whatever the troubles of this world
God is forever by my side.
In sending his son as a sacrifice the bond
was reformed between God and humanity.

So now there is no curtain, no more
barrier of sin but freedom in Christ
whose sacifice makes prayer possible.
All I need to do is humble myself,
acknowleage this great privalge
and that sin runs though me, humble myself
and pray to my loving compassionate father.
He is not only ready but forever willing
to lend an ear and to listen as I reflect.

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will
say it again: Rejoice! Let your
gentleness be evident to all that
the Lord is near. Do not be anxious
about anything, but in everything,
by prayer and petition, with
thanksgiving, present your requests
to God. And the peace of God,
which transends all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds
in Christ Jesus."

The edge

I dreamt that I was standing on the very edge of a chasm.

The name of that chasm was doubt.

Doubt in myself and doubt in the God I love.

Then I stumbled. Again and again I stumbled.

 I fell down, and further down

until I gave up on all hope of a rescue.

Then in that darkness I heard a voice.

“It is finished” It said.

With that I was lifted up on eagle’s wings.

I circled up and further up until light burst in upon me.  

I realised that although I had then given up on myself,

 my God had not and never will.

Because you see,

it is not our own fuel that propels us though life,

 for that is small and soon peters out.  

Instead, it is the love of our patient heavenly father

who lifts us each time we fail. 

And we do fail.

Each time we learn and grow

so that we might resemble him even more. 

It is indeed finished and our

relationship has been repaired

by the author of those words;

our saviour, Jesus Christ.

Broken 

I am broken. Smashed, 

seemly beyond repair.

I need to be remade. 

But no glue of this world 

can stick me together 

again. No amount

of parties, possessions, 

money, social status, or

anything else will sustain me.

So I have searched. 

After searching,

 I have found that 

none but the Lord can 

restore me. 

I am healed by nothing 

but his compassion and 

grace, poured out for us all

upon the cross. 

Now I may rest. 

I am at peace.