Let us lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfector of our faith … (Hebrews 12:1-2)

A 9am walk on the beach. I was walking alone on the firm wet sand on a peaceful morning, watching where my feet stepped. Then I looked up and saw the light glisten on the waves so bright, brighter then white. Even though it was in the distance it seemed almost too bright to look at. I wondered, Is this how God/Jesus might appear to us? Like this, too bright to look at. And I marvelled at how it is we can glimpse God through a creation speckled with such awe. Continue reading “27 | mcgennans beach | peek whurrong country #Lent 2023” →

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of us speak truth to our neighbours: for we are members of one another. (Ephesians 4:25)

My siblings and I love playing with our neighbours, aged 7 and 11. Everyday after getting off the bus the seven year old begs to come over to our house. If we say no, she demands to know why and complains that it’s boring at her house. She is usually at our house after school, sometimes accompanied by her brother. They are both loud, playful and full of ideas and even though she can be a bit bossy, her brother can refuse to follow game rules, and they get on each others nerves, we couldn’t ask for better neighbours. Continue reading “26 | back lane, camperdown | leehura gunditj country #Lent 2023” →

We are always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies. For while we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh. (2 Corinthians 4:10-11)

When my mum was disabled by MS, I lost count of the number of good Christian folk who demanded to know whether we had ‘tried prayer’ to cure her. Now that I have my own health wobbles, I sometimes find it hard not to blame myself. The pernicious thoughts sneak in: ‘Is this the result of unhealthy choices? Too much stress? A lack of prayer?’ Never for anyone else, mind; just for myself. Continue reading “25 | scar tree | djab wurrung country #Lent 2023” →

And people from all the Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to John, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. (Mark 1:5)

It had been a long, hot ride in a small bus, but finally we came to a river. Perhaps the river, the river Jordan. We were on the east side of the river, in the nation which bears the river’s name. Since the river is a border, we had an armed soldier with us. We had come to this place, set aside to remember Jesus’ baptism, with no illusions that this was the place that he was baptised. The remembering is what is important. Our group sat on the bank, bare feet in the cooling waters, with tiny fish nibbling at our toes as we again heard the story of Jesus coming to the river. Continue reading “24 | the jordan | hopkins river at ellerslie #Lent 2023” →

And God took the earth creature and placed it in the garden of Eden to care for and preserve it. (Genesis 2:15)

Another spoken word piece. You can listen here: https://sanctuarybaptist.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/stingray-bay.mp3. Continue reading “23 | stingray bay | peek whurrong country #Lent 2023” →

Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. (Luke 2:41-42)

Every summer time and Dolphin Day*, us family all love to have family get-togethers at Kennett River, often with like, salt and vinegar chips, it’s the family classic. We love going to the beach there too, yeah. And like, we also most summers go camping there with some family friends. Yeah, and we bring our boogieboards there too, and tuna 😎 So like, yeah, I have still a lot more on my paper, sure, but like it’s basically almost the end. Yeah, it’s a great place, and is the end, heh. (oh and my pen actually did have enough ink after all, heh). Ω Continue reading “22 | kennett river | gadubanad country #Lent 2023” →

Very truly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. (John 12:24)

Bushfires ripped through southwest Victoria on St Patrick’s Day, 2018. A falling power pole caused a grass fire at The Sisters; it quickly burned through 4,000 acres. Many of us were at a party and had to drive home through smoke, fire and falling embers; some of us evacuated our homes just in case; some of us found shelter on the floor of the hall at Sanctuary. Afterwards, whenever I drove through Garvoc, I saw the burned dead trees standing there on the side of the highway and remembered that night with a shudder. Continue reading “21 | garvoc | kirrae whurrung country #Lent 2023” →

Lean in, and know that I am God. I rise up among peoples. I rise up from the earth. (Psalm 46:10)

The sea is gentle today
Reminding me I need time to feel Your gentle touch
Your love so gentle and generous
The illusion that I’m ok
Holds me back from knowing
Your deep and gentle hug. Ω Continue reading “20 | near the breakwater | peek whurrong country #Lent 2023” →

Two views from the gardens.

1. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. (Psalm 23:1-2)

I was by myself at the pond and just ‘felt’ the words, ‘He leads me beside still waters.’ I felt a stillness in me and a sense of God’s purpose for us to soak in nature. I sat and soaked up the sense of these waters, and observed playfully a family of ducks being led by still waters. Ω Continue reading “19 | botanic gardens | peek whurrong country #Lent 2023” →

Then God said, ‘Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.’ (Exodus 3:5)

There is a place that the first white farmers did not find value in, so they let it be. We call it the Stony Rises. It is near Mount Porndon. It is a place where the flat land suddenly becomes many small hills, one following from the other. The hills are many volcanic rocks, with just enough soil between them for life to flourish. Manna gums and blackwoods grow there, kept safe by the volcanic rocks. It is a sanctuary. Continue reading “18 | stony rises | djargurd wurrung country #Lent 2023” →