General Chat

Thank you again Cynthia and John, enjoy
reading about your churches, sermons and
prayer for the day.

Emma :-)

Good morning....... :-)


Spend a moment or two to reflect on God’s impact on your life. The things you say and do today will have an impact on all those you meet, it's unavoidable! How is that fact going to influence how you approach this day?



You have called us
to be your people,
to follow where you lead,
be obedient to your word
and bring your Good News
wherever we might go.

Forgive the impatience
and lack of faith
which causes us to stumble;
when we prefer our way
to yours.

Draw us back into your arms,
as prodigals to their Father
and grant us patience
and perseverance
in our journeying with you. Amen.



- John Birch.




Enjoy your day...... :-)

:-) <3

From the devotions of Bishop Andrewes, a 17th century cleric.

"Give me
Humility, pitifulness, patience,
sobriety, purity, contentment, ready zeal.

One thing have I desired of the Lord
which I will require,
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to behold the fair beauty of the Lord,
and to visit His temple.

Two things have I required of Thee,
O Lord,
deny Thou me not before I die;
remove far from me vanity and lies;
give me neither poverty nor riches,
feed me with food convenient for me;
lest I be full and deny Thee
and say, Who is the Lord?
or lest I be poor and steal,
and take the Name of my God in vain.

Let me learn to abound,
let me learn to suffer need,
in whatsoever state I am,
therewith to be content.

For nothing earthly, temporal, mortal,
to long for, nor to wait for.

Grant me a happy life
in piety, gravity, purity,
in all things good and fair,
in cheerfulness, in health, in credit,
in competency, in safety, in gentle estate,
in quiet;
a happy death,
a deathless happiness. "

This was one of his set devotions for the fourth day of the week. He is said to have prayed for at least five hours every day of his life :-)

I like the way he demands things rather than asks. We have lost that. Look at the model of prayer in our Lord's Prayer. We show humility and admire the majesty of God and claim the merits of the Lord Jesus. Then we are bold and DEMAND - just like any confident child does of a parent. True prayer is not only what we want, it is also what God wants. He requires our boldness in stating His will.

Good morning John and thank you - some very wise and pertinent words from Bishop Andrewes. :-)


Hope you don't mind if I add a prayer of my own - it's my birthday today and I have so much to be thankful for..... :-)



Birthday Prayer

Thank you, God, for giving me another year of life.
Thank you for all the people who remembered me today
by sending cards, and letters, gifts and good wishes.

Thank you
for all the experience of this past year;
for times of success which will always be happy memories,
for times of failure which reminded me of my own weakness and of my need for you,
for times of joy when the sun was shining,
for times of sadness which drove me to you.

Forgive me
for the hours I wasted,
for the chances I failed to take,
for the opportunities I missed this past year.

Help me
in the days ahead to make this the best year yet,
and through it, to bring good credit to myself,
happiness and pride to my loved ones,
and joy to you.
Amen.

- unknown.


:-)

I hope you have a really lovely birthday, Cynthia. :-) :-) And a really lovely prayer that I expect challenges many of us. How many opportunities have we missed when we review the previous year. :-( :-(

Age is such a funny thing. I have 105 days of work left before retirement (at 67), and all I can think of now is reducing that number of days. And it goes on for ever. And I quite enjoy my job, to be truthful.

Yet behind me in chapel sit four ladies - aged 96, 92, 89 and 87. And not one of them mentions that age is a problem at all. Even one of them (who has almost lost her sight now) has such a sunny and "young" disposition and can sing most hymns/songs because she knows them off by heart.

Lovely words Cynthia and I wish you a very happy birthday :-) <3

I heard trough the grape vine that it's your birthday today Cynthia (Same day as mine!)

Soooo.......

Happy Birthday to You
Happy Birthday to You
Happy Birthday Dear Cynthia
Happy Birthday to You.

Prickles. xxxx

Happy Birthday Cynthia! I hope you have a lovely day.

Love and best wishes
Rose xxx

Thank you.........how nice of you to post...........everyone...... :-)

Hope you have a very Happy Birthday too Prickles..........Royal Oak Day and all that.... :-D :-D :-D xxxxxx <3

Lovely words Cynthia and also thank you John.
A very happy birthday to you Cynthia and many more. xx

Emma :-)

Thank you Emma......... :-)

Thank you Joy...... :-)

Happy birthday, Cynthia and Prickles.
xx



May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

'And if you buy a cow, may she be expecting'.

Indeed :-)


PS I edited incorrectly so it looks as if Cynthia said thank you before I had "spoken" ;-)

Good morning and Happy birthday

Thank you Susan........ :-)



A bit late today.....apologies...... :-)


Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
enjoying one moment at a time;
accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
forever in the next.
Amen.




Cx :-)

:-D :-D Thanks, Cynthia. Amen

"Remember religious and faithful rulers,
whom Thou hast given to rule
upon the earth;
and especially remember, Lord,
our divinely-guarded Queen;
strengthen her kingdom,
subdue to her all adversaries,
speak good things to her heart,
for Thy Church, and all Thy
people.
Vouchsafe to her deep and undisturbed
peace,
that in her serenity
we may lead a quiet and peaceable life
with all godliness and honesty."

That was Bishop Andrewes 400 years ago. I think it is apt as Cynthia's prayer was about serenity and our Queen has supplied a serenity through a rapidly changing 60 years in our history. If I am leading prayers in church, I always pray for the Royal Family, the Government, the Opposition, the legislature and the clergy. They are men and women who have set a part of their life aside to serve us as best they can - and we should uphold them in our prayers. :-)

“'God, gather and turn my thoughts to you. With you there is light, you do not forget me. With you there is hope and patience. I don't understand your ways, but you know the way for me'.

”I wish you all joy in the Lord.“


Quoted by the Archbishop of York John Sentamu, who is being treated for prostate cancer. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/archbishop-of-york-john-sentamu-treated-for-prostate-cancer-8638559.html