General Chat

Good morning :-)

Many, many thanks to Kandj and Vera for posting during my absence. I've had a lovely, if somewhat anxious weekend with my family. My son took part in the LL100mile challenge, running in aid of Cancer Research in memory of his cousin who died last year.

He has done extremely well but was advised to call it a day at 75 miles because of the state his feet were in. Not a pretty sight and, apparently, resembling Trenchfoot. He was in a lot of pain so it was the only sensible thing to do, He was gutted that he didn't quite finish but, to run almost 3 marathons in just over 24 hours is quite amazing. He has raised almost £2.5K. Well done to him.

Right.....on with the job!

Remember when…….?

In the old days, the housewife’s work week was ordered by a routine similar to this:
Monday - washday
Tuesday - ironing
Wednesday - mending
Thursday - cleaning
Friday - shopping
Saturday - baking
Sunday - church

Monday - Wash Day
Lord, help me wash away all my selfishness and vanity so I may serve you with perfect humility through the week ahead. Amen


Cx :-)

Thank you kandj for keeping the thread going in Cynthia’s absence. I hope she is refreshed by her break which she has more than earned. I have just been watching Songs of Praise and enjoying some of my favourite music and hymns, particularly Be Still My Soul which I would like at my funeral.

Hello all

Cynthia is fine and is enjoying a well earned break away with her family this weekend.

Collect for today.

Almighty God
who sent your Holy Spirit
to be the light and the life in your Church;
open our hearts to the riches of your grace,
that we might bring forth the fruit of the Spirit
in love and joy 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 forever. Amen.

Happy Sunday blessings to one and all.

Hello all

I hope your Saturday has been a good one.

"Be grateful for the small things, for big things
and for everything in between too." (Anon)

Have a Happy Weekend everyone.

Hello all

It's Friday again and the weeks pass quickly.

The village schools have finished for the Summer, so it will be busy out and about the next few weeks.

Good weather is forecast for the week ahead, so enjoy it all and take care everyone.

Good morning :-)

SPOTTED THIS:

" If someone asks about your educational background, proclaim boldly that: Church is my college. Heaven is my university. Father God is my counsellor. Jesus is my principal. The Holy Spirit is my teacher. Angels are my classmates. The Bible is my textbook. Temptations are my exams. Overcoming Satan is my hobby. Winning souls for God is my assignment. Receiving eternity is my degree. Praise and Worship are my slogans. If you are a child of God, bless you!”

Dr. Ben Carson



Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

SPOTTED THIS:

Louis Pasteur, one of France's most distinguished scientists, is famous for giving his name to the process of pasteurizing milk. He was widely honoured in his lifetime and received national recognition for his scientific work. Once, while on a train journey, he was quietly reading the Bible.

The man sitting next to him, unaware of Pasteur's identity, noticed he was reading the story of Jesus feeding 5,000 people with five loaves and two fish. The man commented, "You don't really believe that story, do you?" Pasteur responded, "Yes, I do believe it." The man, unaware of who he was speaking to, countered, "Well, I can't accept it. As a scientist, that story doesn't conform to scientific principles."

As the train started to slow and the man got ready to leave, he said goodbye and introduced himself. He was taken aback when the response came, "And my name is Louis Pasteur."


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Yet another busy week - sorry to have missed yesterday.


SPOTTED THIS!

When milk spoils, it turns into yoghurt, which is more precious than milk. When it ages, it becomes cheese, more valuable than milk and yoghurt.

Similarly, when grape juice ferments, it becomes wine, surpassing the original value of juice.

Life’s sometimes negative experiences don't diminish your worth. They enrich your journey, offering lessons that add to your personal value.

Christopher Columbus stumbled upon America due to a navigational error, and Alexander Fleming's missed step led to the discovery of penicillin.

Don't be discouraged when things go wrong. Growth and progress emerge from these experiences. God bless you.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Spotted this:

You are holding a cup of coffee when someone comes along and bumps into you or shakes your arm, making you spill your coffee everywhere.
Why did you spill the coffee?
"Because someone bumped into me!!!"
Yes and no.

You spilt the coffee because there was coffee in your cup.
Had there been tea in the cup, you would have spilt tea.
Whatever is inside the cup is what will spill out.
Therefore, when life comes along and shakes you (which WILL happen), whatever is inside you will come out. It's easy to fake it until you get rattled.

So we have to ask ourselves... “what's in my cup?"
When life gets tough, what spills over?
Joy, gratitude, peace and humility?
Anger, bitterness, victim mentality and quitting tendencies?
Life provides the cup, YOU choose how to fill it.

Today let's work towards filling our cups with gratitude, forgiveness, joy, words of affirmation, resilience, positivity; kindness, gentleness and love for others.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


The Collect (special prayer for today)

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.

St Mark 6. Today we hear how Jesus had compassion on the people because they were like sheep without shepherds.

Cx :-)

Goodnight everyone......it suddenly dawned on me that I had missed posting on here today.

Almighty God,
You have warned us through your Son Jesus Christ that those who follow Him may be oppressed and abused because of their faith.
We ask that you comfort and give courage to all your children who fall victims to unjust imprisonment, physical harm and intimidation at the hands of their oppressors.

For those who have given their lives in the fight for freedom to openly share and live out their faith, may they be welcomed into your warm embrace.

For those who persecute our brothers and sisters, may their spirits be touched by the incredible faith of those who they attack. And may they turn away from sin and open their hearts to your love.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.


Cx :-)

Hello all

Thank you Cynthia, all your weeks postings have definitely made me think.

"When it comes to life the critical thing is
whether you take things for granted
or take them with gratitude."
(G.K.Chesterton)

Good morning :-)

It makes you think, doesn't it?

Makes you think, doesn’t it?

CHINA

The Chinese government sees Christianity as a security threat and has blocked Bible apps and thousands of Christian websites. Surveillance using artificial intelligence and facial recognition technology monitors the country's 135 million Christians.

Christian schools and programs for minors have been banned, causing some Christians to leave China. Finding churches in cities has become difficult, and the remaining churches have become less formal to avoid government oversight. China is also influencing other authoritarian regimes to adopt policies and technology that negatively affect Christian minorities.

Please pray for the Christians in China.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

It makes you think, doesn't it?

North Korea remains the most dangerous place in the world to be a Christian, topping the World Watch List for the twentieth time.

Open Doors believes that many of the country’s 400,000 believers “are being held in labour camps and prisons for their faith”.
“Meeting for worship is extremely dangerous and must be done in utmost secrecy – and at grave risk. In May 2023, five members of a family were arrested as they gathered for prayer and Bible study.”

One secret believer told the organisation: “The thing I give thanks for the most is that Father God uses me to work as His servant. I desire to dedicate my life, until death, to glorify Him.”

Now that’s faith. Please pray for Christians in North Korea.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

It makes you think, doesn’t it?

Christians in Afghanistan have to make sure their faith isn’t discovered by the wrong people – but the church in the country is growing. They are part of a silent, worldwide group who don’t know each other’s names and may never see each other’s faces: the secret church.

More and more people are choosing to be part of the underground Afghan church. An Open Doors secret fieldworker in Afghanistan shares: “The Taliban enforce an extreme version of Islam, and they oppress the people who do not have the right to choose.

The people of Afghanistan are thirsty for love because, for decades, they have experienced war and misery. So when our servant leaders explain Christianity and the love of Jesus to them, it seems different to what they experience from the Taliban.

Would we have enough faith to be a ‘secret’ Christian in such circumstances? Please pray for these brave people.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

It makes you think, doesn’t it?

A young Christian man in Pakistan has been sentenced to death for allegedly posting on TikTok a photograph of a damaged Quran following the devastating attack on Christians in Jaranwala last year. The ruling, made under the country’s notorious blasphemy laws, has drawn strong condemnation from Christian leaders.

Please pray………..

That the young Christian will be acquitted of the charge and kept from harm.
That the blasphemy laws in Pakistan will stop being used to target religious minorities.
For protection, courage and peace for all believers facing charges of blasphemy in Pakistan.


Cx :-)

Hello all

Definitely food for thought with your post Cynthia.

St Swithin's Day today, he was the Bishop of Winchester and he died in 1862, the old poem says;

"St Swithin's Day, if it does rain,
Full 40 days it will remain.

St Swithun's Day, if it be fair,
For 40 days, t'will rain no more."

Thankfully we have had no rain at all today!

Good morning :-)

Yesterday, every one of us was able to decide as to whether or not we went to church – either physically or online. Thousands would have chosen to go and, thousands would have chosen not to go. The point is, we had a choice and we have the freedom to make that choice.

The story of the beheading of St. John the Baptist which we heard yesterday, is a touch gruesome – but it happened.

2,000 years on and people are still being killed for believing in Jesus.

Open Doors is an organisation which monitors where these atrocities are happening and it makes for sobering reading.
More than 365 million Christians suffer high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith.

4,998 Christians were killed for faith-related reasons last year

Makes you think, doesn’t it?

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Prayers for a more settled time for you Vera...... <3


Collect (special prayer) for today:
Lord of all power and might,
the author and giver of all good things:
graft in our hearts the love of your name,
increase in us true religion,
nourish us with all goodness,
and of your great mercy keep us in the same;
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

Today we learn about the beheading of St. John the Baptist.


Cx :-)

A lovely week of daily prayers Cynthia. Thank you. Thursday’s “Help me remain patient and calm in the midst of life’s chaos” particularly resonated with me. We do have some wonderful days but sometimes our life can be quite chaotic and Thursday was definitely one of those days when I was in sore need of patience. During the afternoon I was gritting my teeth and trying not to scream when I remembered those lines I had read in the morning and it really did help.

I wish all who look in a calm and peaceful Sunday tomorrow.