General Chat

Good morning :-)


I'm glad you enjoyed the words from HSR yesterday - her poems and quotes certainly hit the right note with many people.


For today.......

"A Prayer for the Dazed"

For those whose "check engine" light just flashed;
For those recently deposited, trembley-legged, from a roller-coaster;
For those who forgot their lines as they entered, stage right;
For those poised tensely like a deer in the headlights;
For those badly jet-lagged who fumble for their passport;
For those just awakening not sure of their name;
For those who sat near as a loved one died a "good" death;
Oh God, we pray, repeat yourself:
Vouchsafe again and again the law of gravity;
Reiterate that day follows night and crocuses follow icicles;
Push the tides endlessly like a rocking cradle
Until we can recognize the rhythm of our own breath;
Until we can blink and regain our balance;
Until our hearts beat steadily again.

- Sharon McDonald


Cx :-)

Agree with Emma. HSR very gifted I think.

As it is almost the end of the day now, might I add a favourite hymn of mine here.

THE DAY THOU GAVEST, LORD IS ENDED

The day thou gavest, Lord is ended
The darkness falls at thou behest
to thee our morning hymns ascended
thy praise shall sanctify our rest.

We thank thee that thy church, unsleeping
while earth rolls onward into light,
through all the world her watch is keeping
and rests not now by day or night.

As o'er each continent and island
the dawn leads on another day
the voice of prayer is never silent
nor dies the strains of praise away.

The sun that bids us rest is waking
our brethren 'neath the western sky,
and hour by hour fresh lips are making
thy wondrous doings heard on high.

So be it, Lord; thy throne shall never
Like earth's proud empires, pass away
thy kingdom stands, and grows forever
till all thy creatures own thy sway.

Remembering all those who will have difficulty sleeping well tonight. xx

Cynthia more wonderful words by HSR,
thank you x

Good morning :-)

Thank you kandj - we never know what the weather will bring do we? Yesterday it was lovely here in Lancashire but this morning it is all grey, damp and rather miserable looking.

However unpredictable the weather may be, we are assured by the fact of God's changelessness.



Good Morning God

You are ushering in another day
untouched and freshly new,
so here I come to ask You God if
You’ll renew me too?

Forgive the many errors that
I made yesterday,
and let me try again dear God,
to walk closer in Thy way.

But Father, I am well aware
I can’ t make it on my own.
So take my hand and hold it tight
for I can’t walk alone.


- Helen Steiner Rice



Love to all Cx :-)

All very interesting Cynthia, thank you.

Yesterday we had a dark day with heavy rain and a cold wind here in Yorkshire.
Today the sun is out and we have blue sky and white fluffy clouds, a real blessing.

St Medard is the Patron Saint of Weather. (Feast day in June)
I feel that life is a little bit like the weather, some dark days and some brighter days.

A Prayer for Good Weather

Good St Medard, humble and loyal servant,
You trusted God's providence in all things and at all times.
You knew that God provides for the needs of His children
Inspire us with your faith, so that we may weather the storms
that surround us and trust that the sun will shine in us again. Amen.

Remembering those who feel lonely and carry a heavy burden today. xx

Good morning :-)


Thank you for those lovely words Emma and kandj - it's so nice to read posts from others.

A few 'words of wisdom' to start the week.....


The most valuable antiques are old friends.

Keep your temper -- nobody wants it.

Real friends are those who, when you feel you've made a fool of yourself, don't feel you've done a permanent job.

Lead your life so you won't be ashamed to sell the family parrot to the town gossip.

Always put yourself in others' shoes. If you feel that it hurts you, it probably hurts the person too.

Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God's grace.
And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God's grace.

Christianity is a verb.

God gives and forgives. Man gets and forgets.

Following the path of least resistance is what makes rivers and men crooked.



Continuing to remember you all in prayer....Cx :-)

Beautiful words Emma. Thank you.

A prayer for today the 5th Sunday of Easter.

Creator of the universe
you made the world in beauty
and restore all things in glory
through the victory of Jesus Christ.
We pray that, wherever your image is still disfigured
by poverty, sickness, selfishness, war and greed,
the new creation in Jesus Christ may appear in justice, love and peace,
to the glory of your name. Amen

A lovely prayer Emma

Dear Lord,

I pray to whoever reads this shall have Your comfort,
joy, peace, love and guidance and be carried by You.

I may not know their troubles, but You do.x

Good morning :-)

Thank you for that prayer kandj, it was so lovely to see the young family yesterday. May God bless them all in the years to come. xx


The Collect for today.


Almighty God,
who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ
have overcome death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life:
grant that, as by your grace going before us
you put into our minds good desires,
so by your continual help we may bring them to good effect;
through Jesus Christ our risen Lord.
Amen.



Cx :-)

A baby girl for Prince William and Kate. Little George is sure to love his baby sister.
Very best wishes to them all. It is good to hear some happy news for a change.

A NEW BABY PRAYER

Thank you Lord for this new life
A precious gift from you
Draw near and bless this baby,
Lord, and bless her parents too.
Unite them all in love so sweet
A love that's strong and new,
No matter what the future holds
It will last their whole lives through.

Thinking of all new Mum's and babies and the midwives who deliver the babies.

Good morning :-)



Assembly! Yes kandj, I have a feeling that may have been when we said those words too. Fond memories eh?

I also remember the words of that old hymn.....a simple tune with lovely words.

It was interesting to read about St. Joseph. I always find that there is so much about these saints and patriarchs from the past which I do not know - it's good to read about them. Thank you. <3


We awoke this morning to the news that the Duchess of Cambridge is now in labour with her 2nd child. I thought it fitting to post a prayer on motherhood.


Most Gracious Heavenly Father,

We thank You for our mothers to whom You have entrusted the care of every precious human life from its very beginning in the womb.

You have given to woman the capacity of participating with You in the creation of new life. Grant that every woman may come to understand the full meaning of that blessing, which gives her an unlimited capacity for selfless love for every child she may be privileged to bear, and for all Your children.

Watch over every mother who is with child, strengthen her faith in Your fatherly care and love for her and for her unborn baby. Give her courage in times of fear or pain, understanding in times of uncertainty and doubt, and hope in times of trouble. Grant her joy in the birth of her child.

Amen.


Cx :-)

I have just read that today 1st May is the Feast Day of St Joseph the Worker.

St. Joseph, the husband of Mary the Mother of Jesus. Christian tradition places Joseph as Jesus' Foster Father. St Joseph is Patron Saint of Workers.

There is a St Josephs Mission Society which provide resources to help the unemployed to gain and maintain full employment.

I couldn't let this 1st May date pass without sharing such interesting information today.

Yes Cynthia, I can remember the words of the prayer. Used to say it regularly at school assembly if my memory serves me right.

Here is a hymn that has been going around in my head all morning. It is an old one and others might also remember the words as well. (The old ones are the best ones)

LOVING SHEPHERD OF THY SHEEP

Loving shepherd of thy sheep
Keep Thy lambs in safety keep
Nothing can Thy power withstand
None can pluck me from Thy hand.

Loving Shepherd, ever near
Teach Thy lamb Thy voice to hear
Suffer not my steps to stray
From the straight and narrow way.

Where Thou leadest I would go
Walking in Thy steps below
Till within the heavenly fold
I my Shepherd shall behold.

Remembering family and friends of those affected by the earthquake in Nepal.

Good morning :-)



I remember hearing about Corrie Ten Boom kandj, an inspirational woman indeed.


Something else I remember from the past is this prayer ......others may remember it too..







Teach us, good Lord,
to serve you as you deserve;
to give and not to grudge the cost;
to fight and not to heed the wounds;
to toil and not to seek for rest;
to labour and not to seek for any reward,
save that of knowing that we do your will;
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Ignatius of Loyola (c. 1491-1556)



Cx :-)

"Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to an all-knowing God"
(Corrie Ten Boon)

A truly inspirational woman who suffered so much in the concentration camps.

Good morning :-)


Such lovely words kandj, thank you. I will leave them for today's thought.


Continuing to remember those in need - especially those suffering in Nepal.


Love to all

Cx :-)

I fully agree with you Emma, and just loving your butterflies too.

Cynthia, your words today are childlike and simple. Why do we adults forget to think as a child and then make life so much more complicated than it should be?

A CHILD'S VIEW OF GOD

There is nothing so innocent as a child
With eyes closed and head bowed in prayer
With a pure heart and simple faith
He gives thanks to the God who created him
Not asking complicated questions
But seeing God in the wonders that abound each day
Knowing Jesus loves him
And that's enough for now.
We all need to be like children
In our hearts
Finding joy and wonder
In the flowers and the sun of God's creation
Trusting and believing in Jesus
With a pure and simple faith.
Jesus came as a child
With all His innocence and wonder of life
As He grew, He still had
The innocence and wonder of God's creation
He loved us and died for us
So that we could believe in Him
With a pure and simple faith.
(Mary Ryan).

Remembering all in need of prayerful support today.

Good morning :-)

Your words are very true Emma and I think that this poem says something similar. :-)



He was just a little lad
And on the week's first day
He was wandering home from Sunday School
And dawdling on the way.

He scuffed his shoes into the grass
He found a caterpillar
He found a fluffy milkweek pot
And blew out all the "filler."

A bird's nest in a tree o'er head
So wisely placed on high
Was just another wonder
That caught his eager eye.

A neighbour watched his zigzag course
And hailed him from the lawn
Asked him where he'd been that day
And what was going on.

"I've been to Sunday School," he said
And turned a piece of sod
He picked up a wiggly worm and said,
"I've learned a lot of God."

"M'm, a very fine way," the neighbour said
"for a boy to spend his time.
If you'll tell me where God is,
I'll give you a brand new dime."

Quick as a flash his answer came
Nor were his accents faint
"I'll give you a dollar, Mister
If you'll tell me where God ain't!"


- Anon.


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

God is always there
When you think no one else is x