General Chat

A quiet evening with just the two of us tonight. I expect we will be tucked up before midnight too.

Thank you Kandj for the reminder of The Gate of the Year.

Thank you Cynthia for your daily postings throughout 2016. Even though I don't post regularly this is my "turn to first" thread, so you are never talking to yourself even though it must seem like it sometimes.

I wish all my GR friends a happy, healthy and blessed 2017. HAPPY NEW YEAR

Hello all

We won't see the New Year in either Cynthia but be tucked up in our warm bed.

Remembering all who are coping with illness and pain or going through troubled times or feel lonely at this time of year. Sending a warm hug to those in need of one.

The Gate of the Year wonderful words written by Minnie Louise Haskins 1875-1957

And 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." So I went forth and finding
the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night. And He led me towards the hills and the
breaking of the day in the lone East.

Thanks to Cynthia for daily postings and to all who pop in or just look in this site
I send HAPPY NEW YEAR BLESSINGS. GOOD HEALTH & HAPPINESS IN 2017
XXX

Good morning :-)


I hope everyone enjoys their New Year's Eve celebrations tonight..........I think I may be fast asleep :-D

What shall I ask for the coming year
What shall my watchword be
What should you do for me, dear Lord
What can I do for thee?

Lord, I would ask for a holy year
Spent in your perfect will
Help me to walk in your very steps
Help me to please you still.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Continuing our journey towards the end of the year......

Lord,

As we approach the new year, I offer you my life.
Come take my voice, may the words I speak be filled with encouragement and goodness.
Come take my hands, may the work they create be generous and giving.
Come take my feet, may the journeys I walk be led by your Spirit within.
Come take my life Lord, for I love your goodness, your kindness and your leading.



Hope everyone is okay.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Some thoughts as we approach the new year......


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.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Oh poor kandj and husband......I'm so sorry that you have had yet another visit to the hospital. I do hope that things settle down soon.....sending love and prayers <3

For today :

If You Look For Me at Christmas
...you won't need a special star -
I'm no longer just in Bethlehem,
I'm right there where you are.

You may not be aware of me
amid the celebrations -
You'll have to look beyond the stores
and all the decorations.

But if you take a moment
from your list of things to do
And listen to your heart, you'll find
I'm waiting there for you.

You're the one I want to be with,
you're the reason that I came,
And you'll find me in the stillness
as I'm whispering your name.

Love,
Jesus.



Cx :-)

Hello all

We are just back home from yet another A&E visit since 5am this morning.
Hubby's breathing problems increased greatly and so I followed the ambulance
where two very young crew were kindness itself to the two of us.

A chest infection and fluid in his lung has been diagnosed poor love. Antibiotics,
increased diuretics and a stronger cough medicine all prescribed. We have nothing
but praise for the NHS staff and have so much to thank them for once again.

Good morning :-)

Hahahahaaaaaaa. Love it Pat. :-D

It reminds me of our churchwarden a couple of weeks ago. We sang a hymn containing the words 'Most highly favoured Lady' and she was telling me how, when she was younger, they used to sing 'Most highly flavoured gravy'. :-D

My laptop is still playing up and I am using my daughter's ipad at the moment. Please don't be alarmed if I suddenly disappear. :-D

For today:

Father God,
As Jesus shared the life of an earthly home, help our churches to be places where people are united in love and obedience, in fun and in fellowship, so that we may show your love to the world. Amen.

Cx :-)

I promise this is a true story.

I was at Sunday School aged about 8/9. Each week we sang a hymn together and had the collection then went to our classes for our weekly lesson. Our teacher used to start each week with a few questions on last week's lesson. The previous week we had learnt about St Stephen the first Christian martyr. Teacher asked a girl who didn't usually answer any questions who St Stephen was and her answer was

"St Stephen was the first English tomato".

:-D Happy St Stephen's day

Edit - forgot to say it's St Stephen's (Stephanos here) tomorrow in the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Good morning everyone....I hope you have all recovered, or are on the road to recovery from your Christmas festivities. Waking up to the news of the death of another famous person and the dreadful plane crash in Russia will dampen a lot of spirits today. We hold those who mourn in our thoughts and prayers.


This is a day with several names.......Boxing Day - St. Stephen's Day and Wren's Day.

BOXING DAY According to some Boxing Day can be traced back to the Victorian era when churches often displayed a box into which their parishioners put donations.

Also in Britain, on the day after Christmas Day, servants of the wealthy were given time off to visit their families because their services were required for the Christmas Day celebrations of their employers. They were therefore allowed the following day for their own observance of the holiday and each servant would be handed a box to take home, containing gifts, bonuses and sometimes leftover food.

ST. STEPHEN'S DAY - the Feast of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr. Stoned outside Jerusalem, he died praying for his executioners. He was one of the seven deacons who helped the apostles; he was "filled with faith and with the Holy Spirit," and was "full of fortitude."

WREN'S DAY - The celebration of the day seem to have little relation to St. Stephen himself, although there is one tale that recounts the 'chattering' wren betraying St. Stephen to his enemies as he tries to hide from them in a bush.
Thereafter, the wren, much like poor St. Stephen, was to be hunted down and stoned to death! This treatment of the wren, in Ireland, however, was to be an annual event, accompaniment by strolling musicians going door to door in disguise. It is believed to go back hundred and hundreds of years and is still practiced today in parts of Ireland.


Grant, Lord, we pray, that we may imitate what we worship, and so learn to love even our enemies, for we celebrate the heavenly birthday of a man who know how to pray even for his persecutors. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning and a very happy Christmas to you all and thank you for your interest during the last year. <3

Oh Pat! Whenever you mention the bells, I always want to say "The bells, the bells" - something to do with Quasimodo I think......it makes me smile every time. :-D

Sorry you haven't been well Emma, hope you are feeling much better now. <3

Your poor husband kandj, I do hope that the visit from the family will lift everyone' spirits.

Nowadays, we are unable to make church at Christmas which is sad for us but, last night, our churchwarden video-ed much of the midnight service at church and posted it on our Facebook page, so I am looking forward to watching that later.

For today:

Love came down at Christmas,
love all lovely, Love divine;
love was born at Christmas,
star and angels gave the sign.

2 Worship we the Godhead,
love incarnate, Love divine;
worship we our Jesus:
but wherewith for sacred sign?

3 Love shall be our token,
love be yours and love be mine,
Love to God and all men,
love for plea and gift and sign.


My love, thanks and good wishes to you all at this holy season. Cx :-)

Happy Christmas.

I took the dog out early as dark clouds rolling in looked ominous. It's raining now. Got nearly back home when the dreaded bells started. Only 2 churches ringing so the other must have a service slightly earlier or later.

Saw lots of woman cleaning yesterday. 1 family had mother cleaning the patio, the father cleaning the car and adult son sorting out the back garden. Everything should be ready for today.

I don't think today is as religious out here as Epiphany in a few days time. Some devout people are still fasting. Although it's referred as fasting it's not fasting as such, it's omitting meat, fish and dairy products from your diet. On certain days like today fish is allowed but no meat. The devout do this for 50 days up to Epiphany, the 6th January. This is a holiday and lots of food eaten.

Have a lovely day and a happy and healthy 2017

:-) <3

Hello all

A lovely posting Cynthia..... Thank You for this one and every one you have posted.

Hubby has managed to pick up the awful germs around now. I am blaming last weeks hospital outpatient clinic visit.. Our family will be here soon and sure to make him feel a little better. It's good to all be together at Christmas time.

Sorry you to have the dreaded lurgy Emma. I hope you feel better for tomorrow.

SENDING HAPPY AND BLESSED CHRISTMAS WISHES TO ALL WHO LOOK IN.
XXX

Hello all

A lovely posting Cynthia..... than you for this one and every one you have posted.

Hubby has managed to pick up the awful germs going about. I am blaming last weeks hospital outpatient clinic visit.. Our family will be hear soon and sure to make him feel a little better.

Sorry you to have the dreaded lurgy Emma. I hope you feel better for tomorrow.

SENDING HAPPY AND BLESSED CHRISTMAS WISHES TO ALL WHO POST. xx

Afternoon Cynthia x

I have looked in every day but have not added due
to the dreaded lurgi.

I want to thank you for this wonderful thread which is appreciated
by all.

May I wish you and your husband and family a Merry Christmas and
may 2017 bring you all good health and happiness. <3

Good morning :-)

I still have laptop probs so am posting when it allows me to :-(


For Christmas Eve....

Father God,
In a small animal shelter, two young newlyweds came to take refuge.

In candlelight, laying upon straw, the promised one stirred within a nervous young mother.

How we wonder that your Son, a piece of you sent from heaven could reside in such humble beginnings.

And yet we engage with this picture, with the expectancy, with the hardship and with the wonder.

This is the eve that held such promise, the eve that would be remembered forever, the eve that changed everything. We remember this moment now and continue to wonder at your amazing plans, at your unfailing love, and at your amazing grace. Amen

Love Cx :-)

Good morning - just! :-)

Thank you for your concern Vera.....I have laptop problems....... :-( The bloomin' thing keeps closing down on me and then I can't get it back on :-( I am wondering if it needs a new battery or something but its really thrown me out because I depend on it so much.

Anyway, it is back up and running for the moment so I must make the most of it.


Let us keep Christmas beautiful
Without a thought of greed,
That it might live forevermore
To fill our every need,
That it shall not be just a day,
But last a lifetime through,
The miracle of Christmastime
That brings God close to you.
- Ann Schultz


I hope to stay online for as long as I am allowed by my laptop :-D

Cx :-)

I am concerned that Cynthia hasn't posted yet this morning as she is usually very early.

I hope all is well with you Cynthia and you are simply busy at the moment. If you do have problems I hope they are swiftly resolved. <3

My Christmas visitors arrive tomorrow and stay till Tuesday. I probably won't be on for a few days so I wish you all a happy and calm Christmas.

Good morning :-)

Christmas Day is drawing closer, and there is one person who is going to be really busy ...


The sleigh was all packed, the reindeer were fed,
But Santa still knelt by the side of his bed,
"Dear Father, " he prayed, "Be with me tonight.
There's much work to do and my schedule is tight.
My sack will hold toys to grant all kids' wishes.
The supply will be endless like the loaves and the fishes.
I can do all these things, Lord, only through You.
I just need your blessing, then it's easy to do.
I do this only to honour the birth of the One,
That was sent to redeem us, Your most Holy Son.
So to all of my friends, lest Your glory I rob,
Please, Lord, remind them who gave me this job.

- Unknown

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Some more gifts to consider giving.......

To your enemy . . .forgiveness,
To your opponent . . .tolerance.
To a friend . . . your heart.
To a customer . . . service.
To all men . . .charity.
To every child . . . a good example
To yourself . . .respect


Love to all Cx :-)