General Chat

Remembering those who are in need of friendship x

When you are lonely, I wish you Love.
When you are down, I wish you Joy.
When you are troubled, I wish you Peace.
When things are complicated, I wish you
Simple Beauty.
When things are chaotic, I wish you Inner Silence.
When things look empty, I wish you Hope.

Good morning :-)


It is lovely to meet friends I agree kandj and, funnily enough, today is the date where we celebrate Mary, Martha and Lazarus - known as companions of Christ.

Mary and Martha are remembered for the hospitality of their home that they offered him. Their brother Lazarus was raised from the dead as a sign of the greater resurrection to come.


Prayer:


O God, heavenly Father,
whose Son Jesus Christ enjoyed rest and Refreshment
in the home of Mary and Martha of Bethany:
Give us the will to love you, open our hearts to hear you,
and strengthen our hands to serve you in others for his sake;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
now and for ever.

Amen.


Remembering those who have lost dearly loved friends recently.


Cx :-)

Hello All

Thanks for today's posting Cynthia. Good to know that your husband is improving and you are both able to get out and about together again. A real bonus to meet friends.

Friends are the people in life
that make you laugh a little louder.
Smile a little brighter.
Live a little better.
(Author unknown)

Thinking now of people who await results of hospital investigations. xxx

Good morning :-)

Another grey day by the looks of things.......and I can see my plants all blowing about.

We managed to do some shopping yesterday and it was interesting that we bumped into some friends we haven't seen in a long while. Fortunately, there was a coffee shop at hand, so we were able to have a good long natter........ :-D

I spotted this yesterday :

Things God won't ask on THAT day
1. God won't ask what kind of car you drove.
He'll ask how many people you drove who didn't have transportation.

2. God won't ask the square footage of your house.
He'll ask how many people you welcomed into your home.

3. God won't ask about the clothes you had in your closet.
He'll ask how many you helped to clothe.

4. God won't ask what your highest salary was.
He'll ask if you compromised your character to obtain it.

5. God won't ask what your job title was.
He'll ask if you performed your job to the best of your ability.

6. God won't ask how many friends you had.
He'll ask how many people to whom you were a friend.

7. God won't ask in what neighbourhood you lived.
He'll ask how you treated your neighbours.

8. God won't ask about the colour of your skin.
He'll ask about the content of your character.


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

Hello All

That is good news Cynthia. Your husband will have enjoyed the fuss and deserved it for his effort to be in church after so many weeks.

Another lovely old hymn and how sad to hear that school children are taught only modern and not traditional hymns any more.

It has rained all night long and most of today so no need to water the garden today.

This is an Apache Blessing and worthy of sharing today.

May the sun bring you new energy by day
May the moon softly restore you by night
May the rain wash away your worries
May the breeze blow new strength
into your being.
May you walk gently through the world, and
know it's beauty all the days of your life.

Thinking now of all who work outside in this cold and rainy weather. xxx

Good morning :-)

I think I could be forgiven for thinking, when looking out of the back bedroom window, that it was 27th November, not 27th July! Damp, grey, misty and miserable. :-(

Never mind, we press on regardless and thank God for all the good things he has given to us.........rain an' all :-D


Delighted to say that my husband made it to church yesterday after not being able to go for 4 or 5 weeks. Everyone was delighted to see him and it's lovely being part of a church family... :-)


This is one of the hymns we sang yesterday - special to me because my mother chose it for her funeral.......and it's probably special to many folk...

How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
In a believer’s ear!
It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds,
And drives away his fear.

It makes the wounded spirit whole,
And calms the troubled breast;
’Tis manna to the hungry soul,
And to the weary, rest.

Dear name, the rock on which I build,
My shield and hiding place,
My never failing treasury, filled
With boundless stores of grace!

Jesus! my shepherd, husband, friend,
O prophet, priest and king,
My Lord, my life, my way, my end,
Accept the praise I bring.

Weak is the effort of my heart,
And cold my warmest thought;
But when I see Thee as Thou art,
I’ll praise Thee as I ought.

Till then I would Thy love proclaim
With every fleeting breath,
And may the music of Thy name
Refresh my soul in death!



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



Love to all Cx :-)

Hello all

Today it has rained for almost the whole day. Can't grumble really because it's the first rain we have had for a week. On the positive side is the fact I haven't had to water the gardens.

When it rains.......... look for rainbows
When it's dark look for stars.

Thinking of all who feel sad today for whatever reason today. xxx

Good morning :-)


There are some wonderful traditional hymns and, I have to admit, that is one of my frustrations with many church schools........the children only seem to learn the modern ones and repeat them endlessly. When these children come to church for a service, they are totally lost with the music because they don't know the hymns. I could rant on for a bit on this topic ....... :-D


The Collect for today:

The Collect

Almighty Lord and everlasting God,
we beseech you to direct, sanctify and govern
both our hearts and bodies in the ways of your laws
and the works of your commandments;
that through your most mighty protection,
both here and ever, we may be preserved in body and soul;
through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.



Love to all Cx :-)

Hello All

Be thou my vision hymn is going around in my head after your prayer Cynthia.

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart
be all else but naught to me, save that thou art
be thou my best thought in the day and the night
both waking and sleeping, thou presence my light.

I love the traditional hymns the best. All are a wonderful way to praise God.

The nights are drawing in already which comes as a bit of a shock really.

Remembering all who are homeless and will spend the night out on the streets. xxx

Good morning :-)


Such wonderful words Dermot....thank you. I used some of Henry Nouwen's words elsewhere this week - a man with much insight and compassion.


For today:

Be thou my vision, Lord
this day and every day,
the centre of my life,
the focus of my thoughts.
Be thou my wisdom, Lord
the inspiration of my words,
in every situation,
Your Spirit my support


Remembering all who mourn at this time. Cx :-)

Thank you Dermot. A lovely piece of writing.

My heart goes out to the parents of that little girl and to everyone who has lost a child.

Beautiful Dermot, real pearls of wisdom. Thank you.

“Do not hesitate to love and to love deeply. You might be afraid of the pain that deep love can cause. When those you love deeply reject you, leave you, or die, your heart will be broken. But that should not hold you back from loving deeply. The pain that comes from deep love makes your love ever more fruitful. It is like a plough that breaks to ground to allow the seed to take root and grow into a strong plant.

Every time you experience the pain of rejection, absence, or death, you are faced with a choice. You can become bitter and decide not to love again, or you can stand straight in your pain and let the soil on which you stand become richer and more able to give life to new seeds.

The more you have loved and have allowed yourself to suffer because of your love, the more you will be able to let your heart grow wider and deeper. When your love is truly giving and receiving, those whom you love will not leave your heart even when they depart from you. They will become part of yourself and thus gradually build a community within you.

Those you have deeply loved become part of you. The longer you live, there will always be more people to be loved by you and to become part of your inner community. The wider your inner community becomes, the more easily you will recognise your own brothers and sisters in the strangers around you. Those who are alive within you will recognise those who are alive around you.

The wider the community of your heart, the wider the community around you. Thus the pain of rejection, absence, and death can become fruitful. Yes, as you love deeply the ground of your heart will be broken more and more, but you will rejoice in the abundance of the fruit it will bear.”

(Henri J. M. Nouwen, “Love Deeply,” The Inner Voice of Love: A Journey Through Anguish To Freedom.)

Hello All

Thank you Cynthia. Amen to your morning prayer.

"There but for the grace of God, go I" is what our family have said more than once.

Our family have been thinking how blessed we have been that our lovely K enjoyed the fun and excitement with school friends in Iceland and is safely home once again

Not such a happy ending for the family in the news whose daughter tragically died during a school trip to France.Their family link is broken and their loss heartbreaking

"There but for the grace of God go I" is a phrase thought to have originally been said by John Bradford (born c1510) and used as an expression of humility whilst recognizing God's good grace rather than our own mortality.

Let your heart feel for the afflictions and distress of others
(written by George Washington Amen to those wise words.

Good morning :-)


It was so sad to hear about that child's death whilst she was on a school holiday. Many of us have waved our children off on this sort of thing, hoping that it will be a great experience for them and that they will return home safe and sound. We pray for the agony which that family must be experiencing, that they may know that they are surrounded by love and upheld by prayer as they go through the grieving process.


For today:

Lord God, may we be grateful for our lot, and compassionate toward all those who are suffering every kind of distress at this difficult time.

May we hold back nothing, and hasten to be the ministers of prayer and mercy, like the disciples of Him who went about doing good in times of need.

For Jesus' sake. Amen.



Cx :-)

Hello All

Thank you also Cynthia for the Carer's Prayer.

Our 14 year old granddaughter has recently returned safely from a school trip abroad.
Today we hear on the news that a young 12 year old girl has tragically died in a swimming accident whilst on a school trip in France. Our hearts go out to her parents and family, especially her grandparents who must all be totally devastated today.

Thoughts and prayers for all who are forced to cope with a sudden death in family. xxx

Amen for today's prayer Cynthia x

Good morning :-)

Some very thoughtful posts re carers today. I am carer for two - my husband and my daughter and I appreciate just how much it can take out of one. We often hear of the wonderful way in which many folk care for their loved ones and how demanding and tiring it is. Some of the young folk who care for their parents are amazing. God bless them all. <3

I did a little searching and came up with this prayer for carers....

The Carer’s Prayer

God of love, our true shepherd! Fill our hearts with your strength, joy and compassion to continue to care for those in our lives,
to care for those we find it difficult to care for and to be open to those in need of care.

‘The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.’ May the fruit of the Spirit continually nourish us and be ever-present within us, those we care for and those who care for us.

Lord of hope! Give us the courage to be people of hope, to show respect, dignity, empathy, love, faith and friendship. Help us to be truly present with those we care for and those who care for us.

And when we are over-burdened, restore us… comfort us… strengthen us…
We thank you God for the many opportunities of being Christ-like to others. Amen.


Continuing to remember those who have asked for prayer. Cx :-)

Amen to today's prayers and special thoughts for carers everywhere.

Until the age of 74 my father was extremely active and fit but then an illness struck and within a short space of time he was very disabled. Later he became registered blind but still managed pretty well until dementia hit. Then he really did need care full time, night and day. My brother, who is not married, gave up work to care for Dad for the last two years of his life. I know from the short spells that I looked after Dad to give brother a break just how hard it was. I consider my brother a saint in his own way, though he would deny it, and I have complete admiration for all carers.

Hello All

My family history research uncovered a hidden skeleton in my paternal Uncle's
cupboard, he certainly wasn't worthy of the whiter than white image he portrayed, but I still have some lovely memories that he has left with me.

Cynthia........ Amen to your posting today.

Emma, my husband also appreciates all I do as his carer to make life a little better for him. It is not easy but it is a privilege, we feel blessed to be at home together.

Colossians 3 v 12 says it all so nicely imho.
So, as those who have been chosen by God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of
compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Another scripture verse also comes to mind, which is;

Galatians 6 v 9
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time
we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Praying for those who work in care homes and hospital care of the elderly wards xxx