General Chat

Good morning :-)


New Year's Eve it is. As per usual, I hope to be spending the joyous occasion.......fast asleep in bed! :-D

It's at this time of year when folk start wondering what the New Year will bring and start making resolutions.

Here are some thoughts ....

1. Resolve to stay faithful to Jesus Christ. He is the one Truth, Way and Life. There's no reason to look elsewhere.
2. Resolve to not let anything – a career, a significant other, social media, a house – become an object of worship.
3. Resolve to watch your language and not speak any destructive talk, especially involving the name of God.
4. Resolve to prevent burnout by putting aside work one day a week. Trust God to provide for your needs that day and just enjoy the time He's given you.
5. Resolve to talk to your family on a regular basis, and show them love and respect.
6. Resolve to be angry less. Channel any feelings of rage, which Jesus said are as severe as murder, into worshipping God and serving others.
7. Resolve to honour your commitment to your spouse. Whether in thought or in deed, stay pure and loyal in the union God made.
8. Resolve to not take anything that's not yours, including stuff you can hold and put in your pocket, and plenty that you can't, like music downloads and streaming movies.
9. Resolve to speak about others only with truth and love, not gossip.
10. Resolve to count your blessings.


See you next year......and thank you for the support on here. Cx :-)

Like you Cynthia I will also be in bed :-)

Tomorrow we will have a house full with all
the family visiting to celebrate the New Year.

So for tomorrow I want to wish you all a
Happy New Year.

I hope your daughter had a very enjoyable birthday Cynthia.

We will be having a quiet New Year's Eve and might well be in bed before midnight.

When I was very young I remember the great excitement when I was allowed to stay up and all the neighbours went out in to the street. At midnight the boats on the Thames at Greenwich, a couple of miles away, would be sounding their foghorns and it seemed a real community event. Perhaps I am wearing rose-coloured spectacles but it seemed a kinder time.

My resolution is pretty much the same each year i.e. to try to become a better person generally. I need to be more patient and kind, to hold my tongue and listen more and just be there when needed. I think I have improved over the years but I sure have a long way to go yet.

My thanks to all the regular posters and a happy, healthy and peaceful New Year to you all (that includes you John if you happen to still look in) <3

Hello all

It really is lovely to have folk pop in and share kind words and warm thoughts.
Many thanks to Cynthia for ongoing daily commitment to this Christian thread.
Hello also to John if you are looking in, I do hope you may be pleased by the posts.

We also will be tucked up in bed well before midnight. Gone are the days of neighbours coming around to share our meal. Gone are the days of going out with family and friends to a restaurant for New Year's Eve. No doubt we will be woken by fireworks that herald in the hour of midnight, which has happened many times.

The words of the familiar poem written by Minnie Louise Haskins
are fitting and appropriate to share with everyone tonight...............

I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year;
"Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown"
And he replied; "Go out into the darkness, and put your hand
into the hand of God. That shall be to you, better than light,
and safer than a known way"

Wishing all friends on GR, a healthy and happy New Year. xxx

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year, peace and good health, too. x :-)

Good morning :-)

It was lovely to see friends popping in on here and I wish you all, a very Happy, Blessed and Peaceful New Year. God bless you. <3


God, thank you for a new year.
May everyone in our family be willing to begin anew with a clean slate. We know that you are always ready to forgive us. Help us to be willing to forgive ourselves and to forgive one another.

As we begin a new year, remind us of our truest values and our deepest desires. Help us to live in the goodness that comes from doing what you want us to do. Help us to put aside anxiety about the future and the past, so that we might live in peace with you now, one day at a time. Amen.




Cx :-)

Hello all

How lovely to see so many postings during the past month.

LOVE makes our friends a little dearer.
JOY makes our hearts a little lighter.
FAITH makes our paths a little clearer.
HOPE makes our life a little brighter.
PEACE brings us all a little nearer.

Happy, healthy and prosperous New Year to all in 2016. xxx

Good morning :-)


I hope everyone has now recovered from the New Year festivities.......... :-D


For today:

New Year's Prayer

Lord, this year I want to change,
and I've said that in the past.
but now my prayer is different
'cause I understand at last.
I wanted my own way before,
I ignored your loving plans.
But now I'm putting everything
into your nail-scarred hands.
I promise to obey you
out of gratitude and love.
I won't be giving orders
to my Father up above.
I finally realize the truth
and so I've changed my prayer.
The safest place for me to be
is in your gentle care.
Please be my shepherd, Jesus,
that's all I ask of you.
In good times and in bad this year,
Take my hand and lead me through.
Amen.


Cx :-)

Hello all

I am wanting to take down some of the Christmas decorations, but hubby is still liking the tree lights and the arch bridge candle lights in the windows and so I will hold back a little longer to please him.

A new year and new challenges to face ahead in the months to come. I wonder if this year will pass as quickly as the old year did???

"Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to an all-knowing God"
(Corrie Ten Boom).

Remembering now the many people who have struggled through the Christmas and New Year celebrations. xxx

Good morning :-)


My decorations were very sparse this year, so it wont take long to remove them. However, I am keeping my nativity scene up until Epiphany as I am sharing it on FB and the Magi are moving closer all the time :-D


The Collect - special prayer for today :

Almighty God,
in the birth of your Son you have poured on us
the new light of your incarnate Word,
and shown us the fullness of your love:
help us to walk in his light and dwell in his love
that we may know the fullness of his joy;
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen


Probably a very quiet Sunday in church today............


Love to all Cx :-)

All settled down after all the festivities, I love the
calmness now.

Pray not that you need something

but because you have

a lot to thank God for!

xx

Hello all

Very dark and wet all day today. Poor flood victims have had an horrendous Christmas/New Year. One that they will remember for all the wrong reasons.

In this new year, may we all be blessed with the good things God has to give.
Amen.

Good morning :-)


Those words are very true Emma........ :-)

And still more rain to come - will it ever end? :-(


For today:

"A new year is unfolding—like a blossom with petals curled tightly concealing the beauty within.

Lord, let this year be filled with the things that are truly good—with the comfort of warmth in our relationships, with the strength to help those who need our help and the humility and openness to accept help from others.

As we make our resolutions for the year ahead, let us go forward with great hope that all things can be possible—with Your help and guidance."

Amen.


Praying for all those affected by the dreadful weather Cx :-)

Hello all

Each new year brings us new opportunities
to seek the Lord and to walk in faith.

May your year be blessed by the Lord.

Good morning :-)

My word, the year is flying past :-D


For today :

Dear Lord, please give me…
A few friends who understand me and remain my friends;
A work to do which has real value,
without which the world would be the poorer;
A mind unafraid to travel, even though the trail be not blazed;
An understanding heart;
A sense of humour;
Time for quiet, silent meditation;
A feeling of the presence of God;
The patience to wait for the coming of these things,
With the wisdom to recognize them when they come. Amen.


Remembering friends in prayer Cx :-)

Hello all

Today is 12th night, it is the night before the 12th Day of Christmas. This marks
the coming of the Epiphany when the Three Wise Men arrived at the stable where Jesus was born.

Our tree and window candle lights are down and I have boxed them and put them all back into the loft for another year. Everywhere looks very bare now.

New Year, and the months ahead can feel quite daunting but this reading from Scripture is a good reminder that whatever challenges lie ahead, we are not alone.

The Lord says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise
you and watch over you always." Psalm 32:8.

Offering a gentle hug to those in need today. xxx

Dear Cynthia, Kandji, Emma and All

Hello

A gentle message to say hope the new year brings you peace, better health and many lovely moments to cherish.

I think it was our colleague and friend, Dermot, who said this thread is like an oasis of calm.

I would endorse that too. :-)

Sending you very best wishes


Take gentle care
Love from Elizabeth, EOS
xx

Good morning :-)


Thank you Elizabeth, and it's so nice to see you popping in <3


Well!

They've arrived!

They've made it!

After an incredibly long journey, these educated, wealthy and influential men have finally found the king they have been searching for. They have travelled many miles through various landscapes - undergone hardships and dangers and now they approach the long promised Christ child.


We come like the magi, as wise and as foolish men and women to kneel before the Christ child. We bring our regrets from the past year, our shame, our guilt, acknowledging our failures and ready to begin afresh.


With my love, Cx :-)

Today is Epiphany and a holiday here.

This is the religious part of Christmas for the Orthodox church. Some people have a meat free diet for weeks and today is when this stops. I do believe it's 40 days and 50 days for Lent.

The bells were ringing at 7am, I could hear the 2 churches in the village plus the next village's church. They were all ringing again, around 7.30 at the end of the service. I was walking the dog as they all started up the second time. It's not like the beautiful bells of UK, just a one note clanging.

There will be lots of feasting later.

Hello all

Lovely to have others pop in and share kind words and traditions of today Epiphany.

Many years ago hubby and I spent Christmas/New Year in Spain and 6th January was Epiphany and great excitement and celebrations all day long, from church bells ringing out early mornings until firework displays into the late evening. Wonderful day..

"We three kings of Orient are, bearing gifts we traverse afar"

May the light of the shining star, brighten your days, always. xxx