General Chat

Good morning :-)


Thank God for painkillers :-D



As we journey through Lent we think of the other journeys we will make today....

We pray for everyone we travel with today:
those with whom we share physical journeys;
those we meet for business;
those with whom we find unexpected joy;
those we would rather not encounter;
those with whom we laugh and those with whom we cry;
those we serve and those who serve us.
As we travel through this day,
may we share the load of others,
may our concerns be lessened,
may we be the best of companions,
may the light of Christ shine through us to all we meet.
In his name we pray. Amen.


Cx :-)

Hello all

Thirteen days into the Lenten journey. Sharing words from my chosen reading book in the 40 days of Lent. Rick Warren's The Purpose Given Life.......... very interesting!

Chapter 13: Worship That Pleases God.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and with all your mind
and with all your strength.
(Mark 12:30. New International Version.)

Remembering all in need of prayerful support today. xxx

Good morning :-)

At long last my back problem seems to be easing..... :-D

I think it would help if I could get some unbroken sleep, but that doesn't look like happening anytime soon. Never mind......I'm still here to tell the tale :-)


For today - a video prayer


A video prayer for today

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WifMnuUpgRE


Remembering friends in prayer.... Cx :-)

Hello all

Amen to your video prayer today Cynthia.I hope your back pain continues to improve.

Chapter 14 : When God Seems Distant.
The Lord has hidden himself from his people,
but I trust him and place my hope in him.
(Isaiah 8:17. Good News Translation).

Thinking of all hospital administration staff today. xxx

Good morning :-)

Yesterday I went for my massage at the Carer's Centre and the lady worked on my back - and she worked wonders! It seems as though the problem is a couple of torn muscles which are trapping my sciatic nerve (or something like that). She pummelled away and it has helped enormously. :-D

For today :

A Prayer for Lenten Grace

Loving God,
During the sacred season of Lent, bring me closer to you.
Prepare a place in my home and heart for silence and
Solitude, so that I may re-discover the grace of a
Prayer-full life.

Help me to fast from those things that threaten the
Well- being of body and soul and remind me of the grace of simplicity.

Enlarge my heart so that I give to those in need and, in so doing re-discover the grace of gratitude and generosity.

May this season be a grace-filled time to rekindle my love for and faith in you.
Amen.


Love to all Cx :-)

Hello all

The Carer's pamper sounds just what you needed Cynthia. I'm so pleased that you are feeling a little more comfortable now.. I hope that it will last.

Continuing day 15 of the 40 day journey in faith during Lent.

Chapter 15 : Formed For God's Family.
God is the one who made all things for his glory. He wanted
to have many children to share in his glory.
(Hebrews 2:10. New Century Version Bible)

Praying for all new babies and their parents and family tonight. xxx

Good morning :-)


It makes such a difference to be free from pain.......God bless all those for whom pain is an everyday occurrence - that relief may soon be given.


For part of our Lenten journey, let's take a walk outside and do a little gardening............

Planting a lent garden

Plant three rows of peas:
Peace of mind
Peace of heart
Peace of soul

Plant four rows of squash:
Squash gossip
Squash indifference
Squash grumbling
Squash selfishness

Plant four rows of lettuce:
Lettuce be faithful
Lettuce be kind
Lettuce be obedient
Lettuce really love one another

No garden without turnips:
Turnip for meetings
Turnip for service
Turnip to help one another

Water freely with patience and cultivate with love.
There is much fruit in your garden
Because you reap what you sow.

To conclude our garden we must have thyme:
Thyme for God
Thyme for study
Thyme for prayer


Remembering friends in prayer Cx :-)

Hello all

Loving your walk around the garden today Cynthia, much more relaxing that in reality.

A beautiful bright dry sunny morning here in Yorkshire. Yesterday we had snow??!!!

Chapter 16. What Matters Most.
Even if I give away everything that I have and sacrifice myself, but
have no love, I gain nothing.
(1 Corinthians 13:3. International Standard Version.)

Thinking of those who feel unloved and unworthy, may they find comfort today. xxx

I am just catching up with posts. Haven't been on for a few days as I am lucky enough to be in Madeira at the moment.

I am so glad that your back is now improving Cynthia. Nothing worse than back pain.

Kandj, 1 Corinthians 13 was always read in assembly at school on the first and last day of every term so it always seems very personal to me.

On the bus in Madeira today I met an English lady who was there to recuperate from a major operation for cancer and all the attendant chemotherapy and other treatment. This was the second time she had been through it in five years and she wasn't very optimistic about her future. Therefore tonight I am thinking specially of those undergoing treatment for serious illnesses. May they have the strength to face whatever their future holds.

Good morning :-)


Oooooh....Madeira.....how lovely for you Vera. Have a great time...... <3


A thoughtful day today...


A Litany for Lent

God, all-loving and all-caring,
We come before you with hesitant steps and uncertain motives
Our hearts are parched from wandering in a desert of sin.

We want to sweep out the corners where sin has accumulated
And uncover the places where we have strayed from your truth
Our hearts are parched from wandering in a desert of sin.

We ask for courage to open our eyes and unstop our ears
That we may be aware of all that distracts us from a whole-hearted commitment to Christ
Our hearts are parched from wandering in a desert of sin.

We want to see ourselves as you do and live our lives as you intended
Expose in us the empty and barren places where we have not allowed you to enter
Our hearts are parched from wandering in a desert of sin.

Reveal to us our half-hearted struggles,
Where we have been indifferent to the pain and suffering of others
Our hearts are parched from wandering in a desert of sin.

Create in us a clean heart, O God, and put a right Spirit within us
Nurture the faint stirrings of new life where your spirit has taken root and begun to grow
Our hearts are parched from wandering in a desert of sin.

We long for your healing light to transform us into the image of your Son,
For you alone can bring new life and make us whole
In your mercy, shine upon us, O God, and make our path clear before us.


Love to all Cx :-)

Hello all

Cynthia I hope your back is still more comfortable for you now.

Vera, the lady on the bus must have felt the need to share her worries with you.
Madeira is a lovely place for her to have the rest and relaxation that she now needs.
Lovely to have you pop in Vera, enjoy your sunny holiday. It's cold back here!

Day 17 of Lent and I am happy to share a part of my book, The Purpose Driven Life written by Rick Warren a founding Pastor of Saddleback Church in California.

Chapter 17. A Place To Belong.
Now therefore, ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but
fellow citizens with the Saints, and of the household of God.
(Ephesians 2 : 19. King James Version.)

Thinking now of all who anxiously await medical test results. xxx

Good morning :-)

My back pain has definitely eased although my leg is still not quite right, but we press onwards and upwards.


A thoughtful morning during our Lenten journey.....


Forgive those things we have done
which have caused you sadness,
and those things we should have done
that would have brought you joy.
In both we have failed
ourselves,
and you.
Bring us back to that place
where our journey began,
when we said that we would follow
the way that you first trod.
Lead us to the Cross
and meet
us there.



Love to all Cx :-)

Cynthia pleased to read that you are improving
and hope it's not too long before you are back
to full health. x

Good morning :-)

Hoping to make it to church today as we are welcoming our new Lay Reader and our new Archdeacon who hails from Virginia!! Could be interesting!

The Collect (special prayer for today)

Almighty God,
whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain,
and entered not into glory before he was crucified:
mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross,
may find it none other than the way of life and peace;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.


Praying all are well. Cx :-)

Hello all

My posting from yesterday has disappeared........... very strange???

Two chapters from The Purpose Driven Life book by Rick Warren for today then.

Chapter 18. Experiencing Life Together.
Share each others troubles and problems, and in
this way obey the law of Christ.
(Galatians 6 : 2 New Living Translation.)

And today's reading from the book on day 19 of Lent.

Chapter 19. Cultivating Community
You can develop a healthy, robust community
that lives right with God, and enjoy its results
only if you do the hard work of getting along with
each other, treating each other with dignity and honour.
(James 3 v 18 The Message Bible.)

Lovely to have you popping in Emma.

Hope you manage church this morning Cynthia to welcome everyone new.

Remembering those people who will be on their own today. xxx

I think the gremlins have got in the works again Kandj. My last post on the garden thread has also disappeared though it was definitely there late last night.

I hope you managed to get to church today Cynthia. We have been on a coach tour round a part of Madeira we haven't visited before. The coach stopped in a village near the church. A service was taking place and the church was so full that the service was being relayed by television to a small crowd outside who couldn't get in. It was amazing to see nearly all the village there.

Tomorrow we are going home and I am thinking how fortunate I am to have a good home, so tonight my thoughts are with those who are homeless.

Good morning :-)

I thought it was strange not to see a post from you kandj and hoped everything was okay. Good to see you again :-D

It was a lovely morning at church and our new Archdeacon seems very nice, but it's really strange hearing an American accent from the pulpit!! :-D


So we continue our Lenten journey - remembering that we are still in the desert with Jesus....


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApVRGHoeH9w



Love to all. Cx :-)

Gremlins indeed Vera but here I am back again on day 20.... half way through Lent.
Could be an interesting time ahead in your church Cynthia.
Thank you for the Lenten Journey link. Food for thought methinks.

Chapter 20 Restoring Broken Fellowships.
God has restored our relationship with him
through Christ, and has given us this ministry
of restoring relationships.
(2 Corinthians 5 :18. Gods Word Translation)

Thinking of families who are coping with fall-outs right now. xxx

Good morning :-)


Special greeting to friends in Wales on this St. David's Day.

St David, the patron saint of Wales and also of doves was born to Sant, a prince of Cardigan, and St Non, the daughter of a chieftain in around 500 AD.

He studied under St Paulinus in Cardigan, before he went on pilgrimages, travelling to Wales, Cornwall, Britanny, Ireland and Jerusalem, where he was made an archbishop.

He helped to spread the word of Christianity, and he founded around 12 monastaries in his lifetime. These monastaries were known for their extreme asceticism, where monks abstained from worldly pleasures, living on a diet of bread, vegetables, water and milk.

While little is known about St David's life, he is known for performing miracles. His most famous miracle was when he was preaching to a large crowd at the Synod of Brefi and raised the ground beneath him into a hill so his sermon could be heard by all.

St David is thought to have died on March 1, 589 AD, and his remains were buried in St David's Cathedral in Pembrokeshire, which was a popular place of pilgrimage after he was canonised in 1120 AD.

During his last sermon his words to his followers were: "Be joyful, and keep your faith and your creed. Do the little things that you have seen me do and heard about. I will walk the path that our fathers have trod before us."

"Do the little things" has become a well-known inspirational saying in Wales.




Hope all are well. Cx :-)

Hello all

Hoping everyone from Wales has had a good day today.
Thank you for the history of St David, Patron Saint of Wales Cynthia.

Continuing on a journey in faith during this Lenten Season.

Chapter 21: Protecting Your Church.
So then, we must always aim at those things that bring us peace
and that help strengthen one another.
(Romans 14:19 Good News Translation)

Remembering all in need of prayerful support tonight.