General Chat

Hello all

Sheila was 84 and David is 81 and recovering from a recent knee operation.
Both were willing workers in our village church in previous years, before ill health and sickness took over.

I visited them recently and we prayed that God may take the pain away from Sheila, and He chose instead to take Sheila away from her pain. May she Rest In Peace.

The Footprints in the Sand is a favourite of mine and I have a copy of this pinned on to my kitchen noticeboard. A good reminder we are never left alone when we face difficult and challenging times in our lives..

"The footprints we leave behind, symbolizes our history, our experiences filled with joy, laughter, - and even our disappointments, anguish and our hurts".
(Yvonne J.Wilson).

Thinking of our friends and neighbours in need of prayerful support. xxx

Good morning :-)


We have visitors this morning and I have much to do..........but first, I should read this poem....... :-)


THE DIFFERENCE
I got up early one morning
And rushed right into the day;
I had so much to accomplish
That I didn't take time to pray.

Problems just tumbling about me,
And heavier came each task;
"Why doesn't God help me?" I wondered.
He answered: "You didn't ask."

I wanted to see joy and beauty-
But the day toiled on, grey and bleak;
I wondered why God didn't show me,
He said: "But you didn't seek."

I tried to come into God's presence,
I used all my keys at the lock;
God gently and lovingly chided:
"My child, you didn't knock."

I woke early this morning
And paused before entering the day;
I had so much to accomplish
That I had to take time to pray



Cx :-)

Hello all

I hope you got all jobs done Cynthia, so that you had time to sit with your visitors.

Do you know God's telephone number?

Jeremiah 33 v 3.

Call to me and I will answer you ...........

God speaks to those who take time to listen,
and He listens to those who take time to pray.

Remembering all sick children in hospital and their families this night. xxx

Good morning :-)


Visitors came which was very nice....OH wasn't on top form but nevertheless, it was good to see them.

For today:

Take time to work, it is the price of success.
Take time to play, it is the secret of perpetual youth.
Take time to read, it is the foundation of wisdom.
Take time to be friendly, it is the road to happiness.
Take time to dream, it is hitches the soul to the skies.
Take time to love and be loved, it is God’s greatest gift.
Take time to laugh, it is the music of the soul.
Take time to pray, it is the greatest power on earth.



Love and prayers to all Cx :-)

Hello all

Happy Friday to all who look in. The weeks go by so quickly!

"Miracles happen every day. Not just in remote places or holy sites halfway across the world, but here, in our own lives". (Deepak Chopra).

Forget the bad things you've been challenged with this week, have a good weekend xx

Good morning :-)



To finish our week of inspirational words, I have chosen a Celtic prayer of faith.


I arise today
Through a mighty strength:
God's power to guide me,
God's might to uphold me,
God's eyes to watch over me;
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to give me speech,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to shelter me,
God's host to secure me.

Love and prayers to all Cx :-)

Hello all

HAPPY SATURDAY to all who read this.

Make the most of today.
Laugh, love, read.
Live , smile, learn.
Play, dream, relax.
Just cherish every moment of today,
and try to BE HAPPY.

Thinking of all who are anxiously awaiting hospital test results today. xxx

C and K - thank you again for all your regular posts. You never let us down and it is appreciated.

My children both have very difficult lives at the moment and my son is going through a particularly grim time, so I was really pleased that he and his partner had the opportunity to fly to Edinburgh today to go to the Scotland-England rugby match at Murrayfield. Even in the darkest times something always comes up to add a gleam of light.

My thoughts tonight are for all who are struggling with problems in their lives. May they be helped to find the solution that is right for them.

EDIT. Kandj, my apologies for not sending condolences on the loss of your friend Sheila. She is out of pain and at peace now. Thinking of her husband and family as they come to terms with their loss and sending you a cyber hug
<3

Good morning :-)


I see that yet another storm is due.....'Imogen'. At this rate, we will be through to 'Zara' or 'Zac' before we reach Easter! :-D


Praying that there is soon light at the end of the tunnel for your son Vera <3


The Collect (special prayer) for today:

Almighty Father,
whose Son was revealed in majesty
before he suffered death upon the cross:
give us grace to perceive his glory,
that we may be strengthened to suffer with him
and be changed into his likeness, from glory to glory;
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen.


The Gospel reading for today, tells of when Jesus went up the mountain to pray with Peter, John and James and where Moses and Elijah are seen speaking to him. A voice from heaven is heard…”This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him”. It concludes with Jesus healing a young boy of an unclean spirit.



Cx :-)

Hello all

No idea why we seem to have personal names for the storms around now???

Aww, thanks for the hug Vera, and I pass it back as your family are going through a challenging time.My Mum used to say "It is always darkest before the day dawns".
I pray that your son and daughter will find a way through their troubles before long.

I have spoken to David today. He told me that he was trying to be brave and I said he had no need, when he has been brave for so many years caring for Sheila. They have no children only a niece, staff nurse who has helped them both for years.

"Never let the dark times in your life, tempt you to lose hope.
Remember that it is always darkest before the dawn". (Thomas Fuller.)

Thinking of all in need of prayerful support right now. xxx

Good morning :-)

OH made it to church again, and is still much hugged and kissed..........hmmmm ;-)

Our church celebrates its 150th anniversary this year and, although some things are planned, we still need to keep our thinking caps on.

Lent is almost upon us and so a question for each one of us.....

WHAT SHOULD I GIVE UP FOR LENT?

Lent is the perfect time to form new life-giving habits and abandon old self-destructive habits. But most of us just give up chocolate. Then, when Easter arrives, we realize we really haven’t grown spiritually since the beginning of Lent.

Lent is not just about giving things up, like chocolate. Lent is about doing something—something bold to become a better person.

What is God inviting me to change this Lent? How do I know what God might be stirring in me? I begin by listening to the movements in my heart. Where am I feeling uncomfortable with the choices I am making? With the things I have done? With the habitual ways I respond?

The Lord will be speaking to me in those small nagging moments of discomfort in my heart.

Lord, God, my Creator,
Be close to me now.
My soul yearns for your presence.


Cx :-)

Hello all

How nice for your husband to make it to church with you Cynthia and have hugs too.

Your church family will be busy marking the 150th anniversary...... how wonderful.

Lent is very early. Over past years I have given up various things and then decided instead of giving up anything that I would try to do something extra during Lent.
I often used to visit the elderly who no longer were able to come along to church, or I would help out at the Tuesday afternoon children's church group and other activities.
As the years have passed, sadly we have become the elderly who no longer attend church and so my thoughts for this Lent is to make the time to read one of the many Christian books that have gathered dust for far too long.

As my husband's sole Carer, I am not sure how I will find the extra time, but I will definitely give it my best shot!

"Start by doing what is necessary, then do what is possible,
and suddenly you are doing the impossible". (St. Francis of Assisi).

Remembering all people suffering physical and emotional pain today. xxx

Good morning :-)


It’s Shrove Tuesday and I absolutely love pancakes!
Let’s take a look at the religious significance behind today….

Firstly, it's a day of penitence, to clean the soul, and a day of celebration as the last chance to feast before Lent begins. Today is also called Pancake Day and pancakes themselves have deeply religious roots.

Shrove Tuesday gets its name from the ritual of shriving that Christians used to undergo in the past. In shriving, a person confesses their sins and receives absolution for them.

Lent is a time of abstinence, of giving things up. So Shrove Tuesday is the last chance to indulge yourself, and to use up the foods that aren't allowed in Lent.

Giving up foods: but not wasting them
During Lent there are many foods that some Christians - historically and today - would not eat: foods such as meat and fish, fats, eggs, and milky foods.

So that no food was wasted, families would have a feast on the shriving Tuesday, and eat up all the foods that wouldn't last the forty days of Lent without going off.

The need to eat up the fats gave rise to the French name Mardi Gras ('fat Tuesday'). Pancakes became associated with Shrove Tuesday as they were a dish that could use up all the eggs, fats and milk in the house with just the addition of flour.

Lord, I know that when I turn to you there is no need for words.
You can see into my heart.
You know my desires and you know my needs.
I place myself into your hands.



Cx :-)

Hello all

Especially for Cynthia, (for Shrove Tuesday/Pancake Day).

"Mix a pancake
Stir a pancake
Pop it in a pan.

Fry a pancake
Toss a pancake
Catch it if you can"... I hope you managed to catch all your tossed pancakes!

Remembering all who are missing loved ones today. xxx

Good morning :-)


I had a meeting yesterday morning and ran a little bit late. When I got home, I threw flour, eggs and milk into a bowl, whipped it briefly and hurled them into a frying pan. Didn't measure anything.........the pancakes were great! :-D


Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent for Western Christian churches. It's a day of penitence to clean the soul before the Lent fast. Roman Catholic, Anglican, and some other churches hold special services at which worshippers are marked on the forehead with a cross of ashes as a symbol of death and sorrow for sin.

The service draws on the ancient Biblical traditions of covering one's head with ashes, wearing sackcloth, and fasting.

The minister or priest marks each worshipper on the forehead, and says "Remember you are dust and unto dust you shall return" or a similar phrase based on God's sentence on Adam in Genesis 3:19. The worshippers leave with the mark still on their forehead so that they carry the sign of the cross out into the world.

The ashes are made by burning palm crosses from the previous Palm Sunday.

The sign of the cross on the forehead reminds each churchgoer that:

• Death comes to everyone

• They should be sad for their sins

• They must change themselves for the better

• God made the first human being by breathing life into dust, and without God, human beings are nothing more than dust and ashes

• The cross is a reminder of the mark of the cross made at baptism

God our Father, you create us from the dust of the earth. Grant that these ashes may be for us a sign of our penitence, and a symbol of our mortality. Amen.



Cx :-)

Hello all

A dry and sunny day here for Ash Wednesday, a good start to the beginning of Lent.

The act of placing an ash cross on the forehead of Christians is known as a mark of humility and repentance. Taking part in this special service marks the beginning of Lent.

This is a time to think about the 40 days and nights that Jesus spent in the wilderness and was tempted by the Devil. Jesus used this time to pray and prepare for His Ministry.The start of Lent is an opportunity to focus becoming a better person

Many people will give up or take on different things during the season of Lent.

I have chosen to begin a 40 day personal spiritual journey by reading a challenging book called The Purpose Driven Life, written by Rick Warren ...... wish me luck!

Thinking about those who are feeling depressed or lonely today. xxx

Good morning :-)


Anyone got a cure for a bad back.......arrrrrgggghhhhhhh I do occasionally suffer with a disc problem and I am certainly suffering now :-( I have a feeling its all to do with lifting and pulling my husband out of his chair and I'm not as young as I used to be.

Trying to get comfortable is not easy - thank God for painkillers. Actually, I am typing this at an angle and almost laying on my left side in the chair....goodness knows what I look like :-D

Anyway, enough of my woes......here we are in Lent....

And so Lent begins............

Lord,

Let everything I do this day and in this season of Lent

come from you, be inspired by you.

I long to be closer to you.

Help me to remember that nothing is important in my life

unless it glorifies you in some way.

It's so easy to get caught up in the day to day of my life and keep saying,

"Tomorrow, I will spend more time in prayer,"

but now my longing meets your love and I want to do it now.

Help me to rely on you for help.


Lord, as we enter Lent help us to draw near to you in praise, stripping away all that distracts us from worship. Amen


Hobbling away now...... Cx :-)

Oh dear, poor you Cynthia. Rest as much as you can and take care of yourself - easier said than done I know for someone who is always busy and caring for others. I hope you feel better very soon <3

I was rather grumpy with my poor husband yesterday for the most trivial of reasons, so for Lent I am trying to give up my irritable side and count my blessings instead of my problems.

Hello all

Oh dear Cynthia, you have our sympathy. Hubby has suffered ongoing daily back pain for very many years. It is debilitating and can be very miserable...... poor you.

Hi Vera, Lent is a good time to focus on the positives in all our lives. Hope that life is getting a little easier for your son and daughter right now.

I have managed to read 2 chapters on day 2 of Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life.
This book has 40 thought provoking chapters and I feel is ideal for this Lent season.
In 2003, I attended a Lent course in church based on this challenging book. It is a long time ago and to be honest I don't remember very much now, although I did make notes at the time, which I kept inside the pages and used as a bookmark.

Chapter 1. It All Starts With God.
For in him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth ,visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities, all things have been
created for him and through him. (Colossians 16 v 1 New International Version).

Chapter 2. You Are Not An Accident.
I am the Lord who created you; from the time you were born, I have helped you.
Do not be afraid; you are my chosen servant, my chosen people, who I love.
(Isaiah 44 v 2 Good News Translation).

Lots of food for thought and a real personal challenge for me during Lent.

Remembering all who are in need of prayerful support today. xxx

Good morning :-)

My back is still soooo painful but I press on..... :-D


For today:


Lord,
I know how much you love me.
It’s hard for me to feel it sometimes,
but I know your love is always with me.
Help me to use your love as a way
to persevere in my Lenten intentions.
I am weak, but I know with your help,
I can use these small sacrifices in my life to draw closer to you. Amen.


Cx :-)