General Chat

Good morning :-)



Today is the day when, traditionally, we celebrate the feast of The Epiphany, an ancient Christian feast day which is significant in a number of ways.

In the East, where it originated, the Epiphany celebrates the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist in the River Jordan. It also celebrates Jesus' birth.


The Western Church began celebrating the Epiphany in the 4th century where it was, and still is, associated with the visit of the magi (wise men) to the infant Jesus when God revealed himself to the world through the incarnation of Jesus.
They offered him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.


In the Spanish speaking world Epiphany is also known as Dia de los Reyes (Three Kings Day).


I've always found the aspect of the Three Wise Men interesting. We tend to take them for granted, and they appear in most Nativity scenes yet, they are only mentioned in one of the Gospels (Matthew), and no number is given. It is the fact that three gifts are mentioned is why it is assumed that there were 3 kings. However, there may have been more........ :-D


A prayer for this day:

Lord Jesus
may your light shine our way,
as once it guided the steps of the magi:
that we too may be led into your presence
and worship you,
the Child of Mary,
the Word of the Father,
the King of nations,
the Saviour of mankind;
to whom be glory for ever.

- Frank Colquhoun


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)



Thank you for those words kandj, I will leave them for today's thought. <3


We managed to get to church together again yesterday and it is good to see my husband chatting with friends once more. We have been pleasantly surprised by the numbers in church since Christmas as usually, numbers tend to fall a little bit due to continuing festivities etc. However, that doesn't seem to have happened this year which is very heartening. :-D


I have been thinking about Vera's widowed friend and Emma's young friend and wondered how Christmas has been for them.......


Love to all Cx :-)

The clock of life is wound but once
and no man has the power
to tell just when the hands will stop
at late or early hour.

To lose one's wealth, is sad indeed
to lose one's health is more.
to lose one's soul is such a loss
that no one can restore.

The present only is our own
so live, love, toil with a will
place no faith in tomorrow
for the clock may then be still.

Robert H.Smith (1932-1982).

I have been clearing books for the charity shop today and this poem fell onto the floor, written in my own handwriting, but I don't remember writing it or where the words came from..... however, I thought this worthy of sharing here today.

Praying now for the patients in hospital and all who care for them tonight.

Remembering all friends in prayer x

Good morning :-)


Welcome back from your holidays Sylvia - and a very happy and peaceful New Year to you too. :-)


As we are entering the season of the Epiphany, I will leave you with the collect for today:

O God, who by the leading of a star manifested your
only Son to the peoples of the earth:
mercifully grant that we, who know you now by faith,
may at last behold your glory face to face;
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. Amen.

Cx :-)

Happy New Year to all on this thread


May the coming year be a good one for all of us, and may there be peace in the world.

Good morning :-)


Thank you for the contributions my friends........it's always good to see you. :-)

I have found a Celtic prayer for the New Year and thought I would share it.....


NEW YEAR'S BLESSING PRAYER - FOR CLOCKS AND CALENDARS

Lord, You who live outside of time,
and reside in the imperishable moment,
we ask Your blessing this New Year's Day (Eve)
upon Your gift to us of time

Bless our clocks and watches,
You who kindly direct us to observe the
passing of minutes and hours.
May they make us aware of the miracle
of each second of life we experience.

May these our ticking servants
help us not to miss that which is important,
while You keep us from machine-like routine.
May we ever be free from being clock watchers
and instead become who journey through time.

Bless our calendars,
these ordered lists of days, weeks and
months, of holidays, holydays, fasts and feasts-
all our special days of remembering.
May these servants, our calendars, once reserved for the royal few,
for magi and pyramid priests, now grace our homes and our lives.

May they remind us of birthdays and other gift-days, as they teach
us the secret that all life is meant for celebration and contemplation.

Bless, Lord, this new year, each of its 365 days and nights.
Bless us with new moons and full moons.
Bless us with happy seasons and a long life.

Grant to us, Lord, the new year's gift of a year of love. Amen.


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

Thank you for the anecdotes Cynthia, it is always good to have a little laugh which is a real tonic for most of all.

Just playing The Millenium Prayer sung by Cliff Richard and will share these wonderful words with you all as we look forward to many blessings in New Year.

The Millennium Prayer.

Words of The Lords Prayer sung to the tune of Auld Lang Syne (appropriate imho).

Our Father who art in Heaven,
Hallowed be Thy name
Thy kingdom come
Thy will be done
On earth as in Heaven.

Give us today our daily bread
And forgive our sins
As we forgive each one of those
Who sins against us.
And lead us not to the time of trial.

But deliver us from evil,
For Thine is the Kingdom,
The power and the glory.

Our Father who art in Heaven
Hallowed be Thy name
Thy kingdom come
Thy will be done,
On earth as in Heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive our sins
As we forgive each one of those
Who sins against us.
And lead us not to the time of trial.

But deliver us from evil
For Thine is the Kingdom
The power and the glory

Let all the people say Amen.
In every tribe and tongue.
Let every hearts desire be joined
To see the Kingdom come.

Let every hope and every dream,
Be born in love again
Let all the world sing with one voice
Let the people say Amen.
Let the people say Amen.

‘Religion arises not out of sacerdotal invention or chicanery, but out of the persistent wonder, fear, insecurity, hopefulness & loneliness of mankind’.

(C&P from ‘The Story of Civilisation’ by American Historian - Will Durant 1885-1981).

Enjoy yours Cynthia :-D :-D :-D

Good morning :-)


How about some smiles at the beginning of this new year? :-D


An atheist went on holiday to Loch Ness in Scotland. While out in a boat fishing, the Loch Ness Monster reared up and hissed at him. The atheist cried out, "O my Lord, HELP!!"

A voice from Heaven came down and said, "I thought you did not believe in Me!"

Replied the atheist, "A minute ago, I didn’t believe in the Loch Ness Monster either."

***

"Dear Lord, I pray that you will put one hand on my shoulder and the other over my mouth, Amen"

***

The parish priest called to visit an elderly couple. The old gent said, 'When I die I'm going to leave everything to my dear wife'.

'He already does that Vicar,' replied the wife.

***

My grandson was visiting one day when he asked, "Grandma, do you know how you and God are alike?"

I mentally polished my halo while I asked, "No, how are we alike?"

"You're both old," he replied.

***

A young couple invited their pastor for Sunday dinner. While they were in the kitchen preparing the meal, the minister asked their son what they were having.

"Goat," the little boy replied.

"Goat?" replied the Pastor, "Are you sure about that?"

"Yes," said the youngster. "I heard Dad say to Mom, 'We might as well have the old goat for dinner today as any other day."

***

A Jewish rabbi and a Catholic priest were good friends. They were at a community picnic one day and the priest was eating a ham sandwich. "You know," he said to his friend, "this ham sandwich is simply delicious. I know you're not supposed to eat ham, but I don't understand why something as good as this would be forbidden to you. Why don't you break down and try one?"

To which the rabbi replied, "Sure, at your wedding."

***

The Lord is my programmer, I shall not crash.
He installed His software on the hard disk of my heart. All of His commands are user friendly.
His directory guides me to the right choices for His name's sake. Even though I scroll through the problems of life, I will fear no bugs, for He is my back-up.
His password protects me. He prepares a menu before me in the presence of my enemies.
His help is only a keystroke away.
Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life and my file will be merged with His and saved forever.
Amen

***



Faithful With Much




At a Wednesday evening church meeting a very wealthy man rose to give his testimony.

"I'm a millionaire," he said, "and I attribute it all to the rich blessings of God in my life. I can still remember the turning point in my faith, like it was yesterday:

I had just earned my first dollar and I went to a church meeting that night. The speaker was a missionary who told about his work. I knew that I only had a dollar bill and had to either give it all to God's work or nothing at all. So at that moment I decided to give my whole dollar to God. I believe that God blessed that decision, and that is why I am a rich man today."

As he finished it was clear that everyone had been moved by this man's story. But, as he took his seat, a little old lady sitting in the same pew leaned over and said: "Wonderful story! I dare you to do it again!"

***


Enjoy your day.......Cx :-D :-D :-)

As a "popper-inner" can I just say thank you to all the regular posters who have kept this thread going through 2014 and wish everyone health, happiness and peace in 2015.

Good morning :-)



A New Year

God grant us this year a wider view,
So we see others' faults through the eyes of You.
Teach us to judge not with hasty tongue,
Neither the adult ... nor the young.

Give us patience and grace to endure
And a stronger faith so we feel secure.
Instead of remembering, help us forget
The irritations that caused us to fret.

Freely forgiving for some offence
And finding each day a rich recompense.
In offering a friendly, helping hand
And trying in all ways to understand;

That all of us whoever we are ...
Are trying to reach an unreachable star.
For the great and small ... the good and bad,
The young and old ... the sad and glad

Are asking today; Is life worth living?
The answer is only in, loving and giving.
For only Love can make man kind
And Kindness of Heart brings Peace of Mind.

By giving love, we can help this year
To lift the clouds of hate and fear.

- Helen Steiner Rice


I join with kandj in wishing everyone a very Happy, Healthy and Peaceful New Year.


Cx :-D <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

You beat me to it Cynthia. I have this verse pinned on my kitchen board and find it a great comfort, but I have never known all the verses.... it is inspiring!

Thank you to Cynthia and everyone for your postings which I do appreciate.
My thanks also for all the support and kind words and prayers these last months.

As we each step forward in faith, reaching out into a new year full of hope and anticipation I would like to share this verse with everyone tonight.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29 v 11.

Wishing everyone a Healthy and Happy New Year, with many blessings in 2015.

Good morning :-)


And so another year comes to its end. How quickly time passes by.

Each year brings its own sorrows and its own joys and we trust our heavenly father to be with us through the ups and downs of life. It has been good to travel life's road in the company of those who find this thread helpful.


God Knows

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 day in the lone East.


So heart be still:
What need our little life
Our human life to know,
If God hath comprehension?
In all the dizzy strife
Of things both high and low,
God hideth His intention.


God knows. His will
Is best. The stretch of years
Which wind ahead, so dim
To our imperfect vision,
Are clear to God. Our fears
Are premature; In Him,
All time hath full provision.


Then rest: until
God moves to lift the veil
From our impatient eyes,
When, as the sweeter features
Of Life’s stern face we hail,
Fair beyond all surmise
God’s thought around His creatures
Our mind shall fill.

- Minnie Louise Haskin



Cx :-)

Good morning :-)



Yet more disasters in this world of ours........such sadness for so many families.....



Lord, we pray for those who mourn,
for parents and children,
friends and neighbours.
Be gentle with them in their grief.
Show them the depths of your love,
a glimpse of the kingdom of heaven.
Spare them the torment of guilt and despair.
Be with them as they weep beside the empty tomb
of our risen Saviour,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.



Cx :-)

Such distressing news for the family, Bridget.

I shall pray for these children x

Good morning :-)



My word, it's cold these mornings.......brrrrrr


"Joy to the World," the carolers sang out
As last minute shoppers scurried about,
Desperately seeking that one special gift
That would give Christmas morning a magical lift.

As an old man stood standing, listening to the song,
Midst all the madness of the bustling throng,
In a shaky, hoarse voice he began to join in
Singing the words of the famous old hymn.

One by one people stopped with their madness
To join with the old man for a moment of gladness.
By the time the carollers finished with singing the song,
The whole throng was united as they all sang along.

As if by magic from out of the sky
Church bells rang out from a chapel near by.
And when it was over the people greeted each other
With messages of good will they shared with one another.

You see, that magical lift the shoppers sought for so long,
Was not in the buying or scurrying along.
That magical gift so desperately sought
Was the Spirit of Christmas—which could never be bought.

--Tom Krause


Remembering those who have asked for prayer.....Cx :-)

Remembering all in prayer those who are in need
of comfort and support at this time.x

Good morning :-)



That was very sad news indeed Bridget and so distressing for the whole family.

However, children can surprise us and be incredibly resilient at times like this. It may well be that, as they have not seen their mother for a long time, they will be able to deal with the situation in a better way than we imagine.

We will hold this little family in our prayers..... <3


The Collect for today:


The Collect

Heavenly Father,
whose children suffered at the hands of Herod,
though they had done no wrong:
by the suffering of your Son
and by the innocence of our lives
frustrate all evil designs
and establish your reign of justice 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. Amen.


Cx :-)