General Chat

Love the Helen Steiner Rice words. Always put simply yet very thought provoking.
Thank you Cynthia.

Good morning everyone. Thank you for those words kandj.....your past curate must have been an inspiration for you to remember so much about him.


So glad that your dental problems are being sorted out John.......this getting old business is not funny at times is it :-D


Some thoughts for today :


We wouldn't enjoy the sunshine
If we never had the rain.
We wouldn't appreciate good health
If we never experienced pain.

If we never shed a teardrop
And always wore a smile,
We'd all get tired of laughing
After we had grinned awhile.

Everything is by comparison ...
Both the bitter and the sweet,
And it takes a bit of both of them
To make our lives complete.

~ Helen Steiner Rice ~


Have a lovely day. Cx :-)

It was only for more fittings in the end. So quite a pleasant appointment. And back again end of next week. Just hope that acute toothache of last week keeps away till then.

Sorry to raise a false alarm. But at least now I know what to expect - a partial denture top and bottom. So I won't have all my teeth removed like I was fearing.

Thoughts and prayers have been very much appreciated :-) :-)

A really interesting thread Cynthia. Very many years ago we were blessed to have a very gifted Curate. His sermons regularly included mention of Angels.
Mark used to remind us to always be kind to strangers as we could well be entertaining angels in disguise. I have remembered his words often.

ANGEL IN DISGUISE by JCP

You are my angel in disguise
You read my soul with your eyes
Your spirit has entered my heart
And it's my hope we never part
For you are so special to me
Without you, my heart would weep bitterly.

You're my angel in disguise
Your love comforts my cries
At night you guide me through the strife
And it is for that, dear angel
I owe you my life.

I think this is appropriate Cynthia and I am always pleased to think that there is an angel on my shoulder, in the day and night to guide and support me always.

I hope that John's Guardian Angel is helping him through the Dentist's treatment today. I am always very brave AFTER the treatment and when I am walking out of the door of the dental practice, so I am sending positive vibes to John right now.

Thoughts and prayers also for the tragic loss of lives caused by the storm.

Aren't you aware how you've been blest?
Can't you see you've no distress?
Don't you know how whole you are?
See where you've been, and just how far?

Lovely words yesterday, Cynthia. When I feel I am a total waste of time as a Christian pilgrim and not really a Christian at all, I just think about where I was before salvation 31 years ago. And how much I have changed since then - even this last year. Yes, I would like to be much better and much more effective. But it is wonderful to be able to do anything to help "Thy Kingdom come and Thy will be done"

in 1982, I was 36 and swore, smoked, blasphemed and drank like "normal" people. Within 12 months of my conversion I had stopped all of those things. Not a conscious effort - just I was aware the Holy Spirit was now indwelling me and I was responsible for his or her wellbeing as well as mine (body and mind).

And a fantastic and incredible journey since. I wanted to go down the "motorway" at 70mph or more when I was 36, yet I have been led up narrow and dangerous mountain paths with many a slip on the way ever since. But I become more and more confident after each obstacle that it is the only path worth taking. And I feel safer and safer as my body and mind become more and more fragile.

Anyway, test for me today. Teeth!!!! No idea what my young lady dentist is likley to do to me today. But it will not be nice and I thank you for your thoughts and prayers. I do need them. And so many others (who don't make a fuss about having teeth knocked out for dentures) ;-) need our lovely prayers today. :-) :-)

Good morning and I hope everyone stayed safe in the storms. Our thoughts and prayers go to the families of those who lost loved ones and those who suffered severe damage.


Someone was talking to me about angels recently and when I found the piece below, I thought I would share it with you. It's rather longer than our usual prayer but I feel it is worth it.


We are often blessed with the friendship of personal angels ... people who are so caring and supportive that they become angels for us. These personal angels bring a brightness and love that we cherish forever.


An Angel Is ... A Parent Angel

Our first image of an angel may well have been Mom or Dad ... the one who came to our rescue and reassured us in the dark of the night. For the child in all of us, a parent is the angel we seek to guide and protect us and uplift our spirits when the going gets tough. Parents need not be angelic or saintly to fulfill this roll! All that is needed is unconditional love, a willingness to listen, and a smile or hug when we need encouragement. This is how we learn to be angels for our own children as well.


An Angel Is ... A Teacher Angel

For many of us, our earliest memories of an angel relate to a favorite teacher. A teacher's role is to inspire us to investigate, delve, discover, invent, and understand far beyond our own belief in our abilities. A teacher who uncovered our personal gift or spark will remain for us the angel who created a turning point in our life, or the one who first let us know how special we were. Inspired by this personal angel, we can keep alive the curious child within us and continue to uncover our hidden treasure of talent or self-esteem.


An Angel Is ... A Favourite Relative Angel

Sometimes we need a special friend to confide in, an older friend who is wise and knowing and patient to the ninth degree. This friend is often an aunt, uncle, grandparent, cousin, or even a brother or sister. These personal angels fill a place that our parents cannot. They do not act as stern taskmasters or disciplinarians. They can be confidants and playmates, no matter how different their ages. What an honour it is to be an angel in this way, to fill a role that no one can!

An Angel Is ... A Neighbour Angel

There are times in life when we feel frightened or alone, when we seem to have no one with whom to talk or share our troubles. At these times, an angel often steps in, who lives right next door, or just down the block. This angel is a neighbour who stays with us, brings a meal, cares for our children, or does any of a thousand small things that mean so much. Imagine what a wonderful neighbourhood the world would be if we all decided to become angels for one another!

An Angel Is ... A Teammate Angel

Personal angels are often those who urge us to pull from our deepest selves the strength or precision that will win the day. These angels are frequently peers, compatriots, or schoolmates, who think of us as members of their team. Whether as part of a sports team or a team in business, these angels place their faith and confidence in us ... even when they have, at times, no logical reason to trust us so highly. To these angels, we are forever indebted, because their faith is what enables us to rise to the challenge and become the winners we desire to be.

An Angel Is ... A Minister, Rabbi, or a Priest Angel

Anyone who teaches us about the greatest mysteries of life can be an angel for us. These ministering angels reach deep into our souls to instill in us a desire to learn who and what we are. They bring us the understanding and wisdom we need to build a solid firm foundation of faith in our lives.

An Angel Is ... A Healer Angel

The heart of a healer is a generous heart indeed. The heart of a healer is the heart of an angel, who stays by you as long as you need, no matter what the personal cost. These angels are on duty day and night, bold and sacrificing souls who dedicate their lives to the health and well-being of others. They bless our hospitals, the healers within, and the sick who have come for relief, with their unyielding love, dedication, and energy.

An Angel Is ... Someone Who Makes Us Laugh Angel

In the midst of everyday life, when responsibilities grow heavy and time seems too short, someone with a sense of humor can bring a breath of fresh air. This angels helps us see the funny side of an event or remark, which helps us to avoid wounded feelings and lightens our approach to a given situation. A friend who helps us let go of our daily cares is an angel indeed and one who brings us a blessing when it is most sorely needed.

An Angel Is ... A Protector Angel

Those who offer their lives to protect others are surely angels in the flesh. Whether a soldier, police officer, fire fighter, or any other type of warrior, an angel of protection is one who is ready to make the ultimate sacrifice for the good and safety of others. These angels earn our respect and deepest thanks everyday. When they face danger for our sakes, we can pray for their protection and strength and ask that their own guardian angels bring them home safely.


Whether they teach us formally (in a place of worship or education) or through laughter, song, and play, the guidance of these angels makes a difference that will last a lifetime.


Hope you all have a good day. Love, Cx :-)

A good reminder Cynthia that we are blessed daily and have much to be grateful for.
I am liking the Virginia Ellis words, which are similar to the Helen Steiner Rice ones, but are all new to me and so thought provoking...... thank you.

Good morning everyone. :-)


Thank you for that list of hymns......I like them all, but have grown to really like 'In Christ alone' as I love the way the melody is so powerful and inspirational.


We had a good congregation yesterday and it was also the final service for our oldest Lay Reader. She admitted, during her sermon, that when she was first licensed as a Reader, she thought she would be able to go on and on and on. Unfortunately, her mobility is now very restricted and it limits her severely. She will, however, still be coming to church as and when she can and she was given a gift, flowers and cake (made by our Vicar's widow) as a token of our appreciation.

This service was followed by three baptisms and chaos reigned :-D


I know we have mentioned counting our blessings before, so here are some words on that theme :


Count Your Blessings

As I was walking down the street,
I met a lady with no feet.
Because she had no feet to use,
She did not complain she had no shoes.

Then as I walked further on,
I met a man who'd lost an arm.
He had no coat ... he had no sleeve,
I neither heard him cry nor grieve.

In a few more steps, whom did I spy,
But a stumbling man with a blinded eye.
He could not walk his path alone,
I did not even hear him groan.

Somewhere else along my walk,
I met a man who could not talk.
He could tell no one of his pain,
He did not grumble nor complain.

Another block brought me quite near
To a man who could not hear.
He never once had heard a hymn,
But he kept his anguish closed within.

In that same block, whom did I find ...
But some lost soul without a mind.
A lot of babble he did utter,
But no objection did he mutter.

Not much further did I go,
When I saw an old man moving slow.
His hands were gnarled; his back was bent,
Not one complaint did I hear him vent.

When my walk was nearly through,
I found myself approaching you.
You always say there's something wrong,
So, for that reason, hear this song.

Aren't you aware how you've been blest?
Can't you see you've no distress?
Don't you know how whole you are?
See where you've been, and just how far?

Can't you quiet your complaints?
Appreciate those men's restraints?
There, but for God's holy grace,
Could you be walking in their place.

~ Virginia Ellis ~



Praying that all keep safe in the terrible weather which is forecast. Cx :-)

Many thanks, kandj. Wish I had taped that programme. I know all those hymns well and would have loved to sing along with you :-) :-) Lady in my church is nearly blind and loves those sort of hymns because they are so familiar and words are so scriptural and meaningful.

We had 6 yesterday from Complete Mission Praise. Modern to me, what are called "songs" rather than "hymns". All nice, couple quite familiar. But I must start learning a few more of them and become a bit more "modern" and more confident with these modern "songs".

Despite humming a lot yesterday through most of the songs, I did enjoy service a lot. OT reading was from Joel Chapter 2. I liked verse 13: "and rend your heart, and not your garments"

Gospel reading was about the Pharisee and the tax collector (tax collectors were quaintly called publicans - I suppose they were Jewish public or civil servants working for Rome).

Jesus was very taken by the humility and enthusiasm of the tax collector, and was generally upset that the Pharisees knew the Law so well and generally adhered to it but had missed the central truth about rending your heart.

Young preacher (newly married) said that, if his wife went away for a few days, he was given a list of things to do. He hated lists generally, but because of their love for each other, he did the tasks much more easily. And he suggested the tax collector really loved God but the Pharisee's love for God had grown cold and been replaced by dull routine and forced adherence to duties and rules.

My prayer this morning is for our friends across the world (not only the storm battered UK) who are experiencing difficult and unusual weather conditions at present and having risks from flooding, bush fires, fallen trees and the like. May God wrap his arms round each and everyone of them and show how much he loves them. How much he loves you as you read this thread.

Amen.

Thank you to Cynthia and John for very interesting postings (as usual), and always really appreciated.

Hubby and I have just watched the recording of today's Songs of Praise edition from the Royal Albert Hall depicting The Big Sing of chosen most popular top 10 hymns in the UK.
For those who missed this very special programme this evening, here they are, in reverse order as they were presented:-

10. The Day Thou Gavest, Lord is Ended.
09. Make Me A Channel Of Your Peace.
08. Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer.
07. Abide With Me.
06. And Can It Be.
05. I The Lord of Sea and Sky.
04. Dear Lord and Father of Mankind.
03. Be Still, For the Presence of the Lord.
02. In Christ Alone
01. How Great Thou Art.

A brilliant event and a great sing-a-long for us two.

Many thanks, Cynthia.

May I wish a happy start to the blustery and colder week for everyone. Hope we don't have these severe storms that some commentators suggest, but lighter stuff is already blowing round outside as I write.

First, I wanted to comment on that lovely passage from Corinthians. Corinth was a small church in a big city, a city that worshipped a myriad of gods and had centuries of culture, trade and learning. In this little church, the Jewish diaspora who believed Jesus was their Messiah got together every week and prayed with people who had been worshipping all these Greek gods and had no idea even that there was only one God until Paul and his friends preached and wrote to them.

So I think it would have been more difficult for them to love each other than it would be for many groups who are brought together from different backgrounds. Can you imagine a small Anglican community in the shires joining in worship with a group of Moravians from a West Indian background? I remember a little village where I lived in Northants (Edeyrn pronounced Eden) had a Moravian chapel. Disused except a couple of times a year when a load of folk from a West Indian Moravian background would descend on the village to worship - most with strong Brummie accents :-) :-)

My hymn for this morning is:

"Will your eyes behold through the morning light
The city of gold and the harbour bright?
Will you anchor safe by the heavenly shore,
When life's storms are past for evermore?"

And the wind has just died down and sun is peeping through
:-)

Good morning everyone.....is anyone around? It was very quiet on here yesterday.


A lovely hymn for the first day of the week:


For The Beauty Of The Earth Hymn

For the beauty of the earth,
For the beauty of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our grateful hymn of praise.

For the beauty of each hour
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale, and tree and flower,
Sun and moon and stars of light,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our grateful hymn of praise.

For the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent, child,
Friends on earth, and friends above,
Pleasures pure and undefiled,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our grateful hymn of praise.

For each perfect gift of thine,
To our race so freely given,
Graces human and divine,
Flowers of earth and buds of heaven,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our grateful hymn of praise.

For thy Church which evermore
Lifteth holy hands above,
Offering up on every shore
Her pure sacrifice of love,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our grateful hymn of praise.


It's a while since this hymn was on here I think - here is John Rutter's version of it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gicd-GbtVyE



Have a lovely day. Cx :-)

Good morning everyone. :-)


John, for several years we used to have a dramatised version of The Passion read at the Good Friday service. One year, however, it was changed to a vivid and graphic account of Christ's suffering upon the cross - it was not easy to read nor to listen to. It did, however, bring home the absolute agonies of his suffering and some people complained that it was too gory!! Unfortunately, sometimes we have to be realistic to remind people that we do not believe in a fairy tale, we believe in someone who suffered greatly......for us. It reminded me very much of the saying......."No cross.......no crown".


LOVE IS............

Love is patient,
Love is kind.
Love is not jealous,
It does not put on airs,
It is not snobbish.

Love is never rude,
It is not self-seeking.

It is not easily angered,
It keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not rejoice in what is wrong,
But rejoices with the truth.

It always protects,
Always trusts,
Always hopes,
Always preserves.

Love never fails.

~ I Corinthians 13:4-8 ~




LOVE IS.........

Love is the best thing in the world ...
And the thing that lives longest.

Love is something to share with a wonderful person,
And once it's there, you've got to make it last.

Love isn't something to be taken for granted ...
It's something to be nurtured,
And cared for and caressed.

Love can last forever ...
If you want it to.

Love isn't tough and tentative ...
It's wonderful and gentle and tender.

Love is mysterious ...
But it asks that you keep no secrets.

Love is blind ...
But it asks that you see how happy it can make you.

Love is more like a flower than a tree ...
The wrong things can hurt it so easily.
But the right things can make it more beautiful
Than anything else your life has ever know.

Love is something to be treated
As the best of blessings ...
And as your own little miracle
That will keep coming true ...
As long as you want it to.

~ Author Unknown ~



Hope everyone has a good day....... Cx :-)

I enjoyed the What If questions. What if God wanted us to pay the price of sin? Now, that is a pretty terrifying thought :-0

Thankyou for concern over my teeth. Strangely the pain has been much less last 24 hours. Still can't eat anything solid like bread, so it is bananas, yogurt etc. But I nearly had full night's sleep last night, feel much better and looking forward to having my plates fitted next week.

Well, no good looking backwards. It will be happening!!!! I expect other people have tooth ache and then false teeth, but I never imagined it happening to me :-)

It is ridiculous, I know. Have just read this about the night before Jesus died:

"The flagrum, a short whip with small balls of lead tied near the ends of each thong, "is brought down with full force again and again across Jesus's shoulders, back, and legs. At first, the heavy thongs cut through the skin only."

The succeeding blows, however, "cut deeper into the subcutaneous tissues producing first an oozing of blood from the capillaries and veins of the skin and finally, spurting arterial bleeding from vessels in the underlying muscles."

The whip tears into the deep skeletal muscles to produce ribbons of bleeding flesh. "

Only the beginning of his torture. Could any of us even take that level of pain?

Cynthia, hoping that your OH is more comfortable since his eye operation and that you both have found time to relax together now.

The WHAT IF words certainly give food for thought, many thanks for your daily words.

John, I hope your toothache has lessened and you are trying to be brave for next week!

Good morning everyone and many thanks for that meaningful prayer kandj. :-)



There are a lot of 'What if's?' in life and the following words are thoughtful words.... :


WHAT IF?

What if GOD couldn't take the time to bless us today
because we couldn't take the time
to thank Him yesterday?

What if GOD decided to stop leading us tomorrow
because we didn't follow Him today?

What if we never saw another flower bloom
because we grumbled when GOD
sent the rain?

What if GOD didn't walk with us today
because we failed to recognize it as His day?

What if GOD took away the Bible tomorrow
because we would not read it today?

What if GOD took away His message
because we failed to listen to the messenger?

What if GOD didn't send His only begotten Son
because He wanted us to be prepared
to pay the price for sin.

What if the door of the church was closed
because we did not open the door
of our heart?

What if GOD stopped loving and caring for us
because we failed to love and care for others?

What if GOD would not hear us today
because we would not listen to Him yesterday?

What if GOD answered our prayers
the way we answer His call to service?

What if GOD met our needs
the way we give Him our lives???


What if GOD just didn't care???



Those words have certainly made ME think.

Praying that John's toothache has eased and that everyone is well..... Cx :-)

Might I just add a healing prayer for all who need one.

Lord, look upon me with eyes of mercy
May your healing hand rest upon me
May your life giving powers flow into every cell
of my body and into the depth of my soul
Cleansing, purifying, restoring me to wholeness
and strength for service in your Kingdom......... Amen.

:-D :-D Thanks very much Dermot ( I think) ;-)

John - a bit of belated advice concerning toothache (my dad's remedy anyway - take it or leave it!)

'Desist from shaving on a Sunday - do the task last thing on a Saturday night. You will never suffer from toothache'.

Occasionally, when the mood hit him, he added that it would work for some of the ladies too.

That was good news Cynthia. What wonderful work they do at Liverpool Eye Hospital. We are so lucky to have professionals in the Health Service.

Couldn't sleep last night. Found some Bonjela in very bottom of first aid box (which we must have used for the children who are now 31 and 28!!!!). And I sinned because at 4am I grabbed my son's bottle of best 30 year old whisky and rubbed it all round my teeth. It was kill or cure but left a horrible taste.

Bought oil of cloves for tonight, which I think tastes just as bad. But at least I am getting a little sleep and will get it all sorted out early next week.

I doubt anyone in the world is in as much pain as me at present. It is so difficult being a man :-( ;-)

Seriously, when you read some threads on here from carers and those in a lot of pain, it makes me feel I am very lucky indeed. I just hope that they can look forward to some respite also. I do try to pray for a handful of Genes "friends" every day.