General Chat

Good morning :-)

Emma, I join the others in passing on my condolences and love on the death of your sister-in-law.

I know you are particularly fond of Helen Steiner Rice poems and send this in love.....



"May tender memories soften your grief,
May fond recollection bring you relief,
And may you find comfort and peace in the thought
Of the joy that knowing your loved one brought...
For time and space can never divide
Or keep your loved one from your side.
When memory paints in colours true,
the happy hours that belonged to you."

~Helen Steiner Rice




Meanwhile, the work continues on our downstairs loo. Yesterday, we had the builder hammering away, the electrician drilling madly and a friend from church repairing the curtain rail which I had accidently broken.......ooops! It was reminiscent of a mad house, but at least the work is getting done. :-)


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

Dear Emma

I am very sorry to hear of the passing of your SIL.

May she rest in peace.


Take very gentle care of yourself
Sincere wishes to you and your family
Elizabeth,
xx

How sad Emma. My condolences to you and your family. May your sil rest in peace.

It's good to see you posting Kandj. I hope your husband grows stronger every day.

Keeping in my thoughts all who are in need of support at this time

Oh Emma, that is such sad news. I am very sorry to look in and read this.

The poem is very well known and I have often heard the words read out at funeral services as they do bring some amount of small comfort to the bereaved.

I have a copy of this Footprints poem pinned on our kitchen noticeboard and find the words calming and uplifting in my darker moments.

I send my condolences and sympathy to you and all your family right now.

My sister in law passed away last Wednesday
and I received this well known verse on a Sympathy
card yesterday from a friend on GR.

One night a man had a dream.
He dreamed he was walking
along the beach with the Lord.

Across the dark sky
flashed scenes from his life.
For each scene, he noticed
two sets of footprints
in the sand,
one belonging to him
and the other to the Lord.

When the last scene
of his life flashed before him,he looked back
at the footprints in the sand...
He noticed that many times
along the path of his life
there was only one set of footprints.
He also noticed that it happened at the
very lowest and saddest times in his life.
This bothered him and he questioned
the Lord about it.

"Lord ,you said that once I had decided
to follow you,
you'd walk with me all the way,
But I have noticed that during the most
troublesome times in my life
there is only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why
when I needed you most you would leave me."

The Lord replied "My precious, precious child,
I love you and would never leave you.
During your times of trial and suffering,
when you see only one set of footprints
in the sand,
it was then that I carried you."

R.I.P. Joan x

Good morning :-)


Those poor men, digging away at the drains in freezing rain.......I kept them going with lots of hot coffee :-)


A prayer from the Celtic tradition today:


Through the day
As the sun scatters the mist
at the dawning of a new day,
So you calm our fears and anxieties
if we trust you.
You give us strength and courage
to live our daily lives
knowing you are with us
and we do not walk alone.
As the midday sun warms us,
we feel your protecting arms around us
and sense your loving presence.
As the sun sinks in a kaleidoscope of colour
you give us hope and renewal.




With continuing prayer for our friends. Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


So nice to see kandj popping in once more and such good news about her husband's return home. <3


We are mid-way to having our downstairs loo fitted. It has involved the demolition of one wall and the building of another - what a mess brick dust makes...... :-S
Today they are supposed to be starting on the drains...........should be interesting. :-D


For today:

People’s Problems

Everyone has problems in this restless world of care,
Everyone grows weary with the crosses they must bear.
Everyone is troubled and their skies are overcast
As they try to face the future while still dwelling in the past.
But people with their problems only listen with one ear,
For people only listen to the things they want to hear,
And they only hear the things they are able to believe,
And the answers God gives they’re not ready to receive.
So while the people’s problems keep growing every day
And humans try to solve them in their own willful way,
God seeks to help and watches, waiting always patiently
To help them solve their problems, whatever they may be
So people of all nations may at last become aware
That God will solve the people’s problems
Through faith and hope and prayer.

- Helen Steiner Rice


Love and prayers to those in need of any kind..... Cx :-)

Glad to hear your husband is back home and I hope he continues to improve each day.

Thinking of you and others who are in need of strength and support

Kandj welcome back and am so pleased that your
husband is home again.
May he continue to improve and regain his strength.

To all family and friends in need of support you are in
my thoughts and prayers. x

My thanks to Cynthia and everyone on this Christian thread for ongoing support, words of encouragement and many prayers over the last few months. Hubby is indeed home and it's a huge relief once more to be together again. Still a way to go.

Light Within

At difficult moments in life
whether through ill health
or through feeling overwhelmed
with so many worries and cares,
we can find ourselves
facing a darkness within.
We can grow despondent.

You, Lord. are the radiant light
that can penetrate our winter gloom,
and lift our weary spirits.

Lord, as the sun dawns ever new
after a night of darkness,
dawn anew in my heart and mind
to illuminate and uplift me!
Brighten my days with the wonder,
of your radiant light,
so that I may rejoice in the splendour
of Your love for me. Amen

Sending blessings to all who need it today.

Good morning :-)


The Collect for today:

O Lord, raise up, we pray, your power and come among us,
and with great might succour us;
that whereas, through our sins and wickedness
we are grievously hindered in running the race that is set before us,
your bountiful grace and mercy may speedily help and deliver us;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
to whom with you and the Holy Spirit, be honour and glory,
now and for ever. Amen.


With love to all.......Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


I know exactly what you mean Bridget.......churches ARE places where people meet to chat and catch up with friends and I think that is good, especially for those who may live on their own or who are in need of friendship or comfort. It's a matter of making sure that it doesn't become a 'holy club' rather than the sacred place where friends meet to break bread together. :-)


Kandj has been in touch to say that her husband is now out of hospital again, so that is good news. She must be quite exhausted with all the comings and goings of the last few months. We continue to hold her and her husband in our prayers and I know how much she misses the fellowship of her church bless her. <3

For today:

Does Prayer Change Things?

They say that prayer changes things, but does it REALLY change anything?
Oh yes! It really does!

Does prayer change your present situation or sudden circumstances?
No, not always, but it does change the way you look at those events.

Does prayer change your financial future?
No, not always, but it does change who you look to for meeting your daily needs.

Does prayer change shattered hearts or broken bodies?
No, not always, but it will change your source of strength and comfort.

Does prayer change your wants and desires?
No, not always, but it will change your wants into what God desires!

Does prayer change how you view the world?
No, not always, but it will change whose eyes you see the world through.

Does prayer change your regrets from the past?
No, not always, but it will change your hopes for the future!

Does prayer change the people around you?
No, not always, but it will change you~the problem isn't always in others.

Does prayer change your life in ways you can't explain?
Oh, yes, always! And it will change you from the inside out!

So does prayer REALLY change ANYTHING?

Yes! It REALLY does change EVERYTHING!



With love to all....Cx :-)

Cynthia

Thank you for your lovely word re me being back on here.

I still believe in 'God ' however I do not believe that he came down from the sky etc,,,,,
I believe that he was respected by many people and explained how we live and how we should help anyone who is in need.

I still say my prayers but no longer go to Church and this is because most of the people are there just to chatter to each other and then leave.

Another event re going to church is that in this busy busy time it enables us to be quiet, thoughtful, pray for all we need and say thanks for helping me.

Some times I do think about other people who have a different views and I do not know anything about their belief exept the Jewish people who have been in my life since I was very young,

Bridget who is so pleased that we are all thinking about our belief .
<3

Good morning :-)


Hello Bridget - lovely to see you here.

Your words made me think of how special our church buildings are......as you say, they are places where we can stop and gather ourselves together in this busy world.

When I lead the baptism preparation classes, I always explain that the church is not only the building itself, but that the people who worship there regularly (and in fact, keep it open), are also 'the church'.

With this in mind, I found the following verses which I thought were rather apt. Apparently, it can be sung to various tunes.........


God, bless Your church with strength!
Wherever we may be,
Upbuild Your servants as we work
In common ministry.
Urge us from fledgling faith
To venture and to soar
Through open skies, to sing the praise
Of Christ whom we adore.

God, bless Your church with life!
May all our branches thrive,
Unblemished, wholesome, bearing fruit,
Abundantly alive.
From You, one holy vine,
In freedom may we grow;
Sustain us in our mission, Lord,
Your love and peace to show.

God, bless Your church with hope!
Despite chaotic days,
May we in chaos shine to light
A pathway through life’s maze.
May justice be our aim,
And kindness ours to share,
In humbleness O may we walk,
Assured our God is there!

- John A. Dalles


With love and prayers to all Cx :-)

Like many people on here I also love Christmas and have done so as long as I can remember.
However, my. Family live in so many different places including different countries we have not all been together for years. We do speak to each other on Christmas Day with makes us cry at times but always feel so much better.

I am a Christian And brought up as a Cathalic, and I also believe that sitting in a church is not required to just think of God but to consider any thing one may need to decide on, to think of hard and good times and sometimes just to have a quite time in this fast world,
Bridget

Good morning :-)


Thank you so much for that Susan.....the graphics are amazing.

In fact, I won't add a prayer from myself today as I think Sue's link says so much. <3


Continuing to pray for those who have asked for prayer.


Cx :-)

Good Morning


http://youtu.be/sE9std-lwXQ

Remembering all family and friends in need of comfort. x

Good morning :-)



A modern version of something which is so familiar to many of us.......


The Good Shepherd


You, Lord, are my shepherd.
I will never be in need.

You let me rest in fields
of green grass.

You lead me to streams
of peaceful water,
and you refresh my life.

You are true to your name,
and you lead me
along the right paths.

I may walk through valleys
as dark as death,
but I won’t be afraid.

You are with me,
and your shepherd’s rod
makes me feel safe.

You treat me to a feast,
while my enemies watch.

You honour me as your guest,
and you fill my cup
until it overflows.

Your kindness and love
will always be with me
each day of my life,
and I will live forever
in your house, Lord.


With love and prayers to our friends who are in need. Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


I always find it interesting when youngsters start to question faith issues Vera and, though I am happy to discuss and share my faith with them and to set an example, I never force my faith onto them. Much better that they listen, observe, discuss and explore these things for themselves when the time is right.


And on that theme.......the following is quite apt for today : :-D



Whenever your kids are out of control, you can take comfort from the thought that even God's omnipotence did not extend to God's kids. After creating heaven and earth, God created Adam and Eve. And the first thing he said to them was "Don't"

"Don't What", Adam replied.
"Don't eat the forbidden fruit." God said.
"Forbidden fruit? We got forbidden fruit? Hey, Eve... we got Forbidden Fruit!"
"No Way!"
"Yes, WAY!!!"
"Don't eat that fruit!" said God.
"Why"
"Because I'm your Creator and I said so!" said God, wondering all the while why he hadn't stopped after making the elephants.

A few minutes later God saw the kids having an apple break and was angry. "Didn't I tell you not to eat that fruit?" God asked.
"Uh huh." Adam replied.
"Then why did you?"
"I dunno." Eve answered.
"She started it." Adam said.
"Did not!"
"DID so!"
"DID NOT!!"

Having had it with the two of them, God's punishment was that Adam and Eve should have children of their own. Thus the pattern was set and it has never changed. But there is a reassurance to this story. If you have persistently and lovingly tried to give them wisdom and they haven't taken it, don't be hard on yourself.

If God had trouble handling children, what makes you think it would be a piece of cake for you?

:-D :-D :-D


Remembering kandj and her husband and all others who have asked for prayer. Send love and prayers to them all. Cx :-)