General Chat

kandj :-D :-D

Cynthia :-D To be honest, you have stirred me and worried me this morning. Many Christians (me included) do not pray like our ancestors prayed. And there may be a chilling truth in the humour.

I am fond of saying "we were entered in the Lamb's book of life before the beginning of time" and that is one of my sure and certain foundations.

But we also need to earn that place. We need to talk to God frequently and trust in Him. We can never assume, we can never rest on our laurels.

I said to lady Minister yesterday that I was concerned about the situation in Syria. She said Christianity was all to do with praying and doing things. What are you personally going to do to help Syrians? Hmmmmm :-0

Morning all and many thanks again :-)

Emma :-)

I think there IS a chilling truth in the humour of that poem John and I think it's something that most of us are guilty of at sometime - forgetting about God until things go wrong :-(

There are no 'right' ways to pray as we have said before. We just need to let prayer - however we do it - develop into a relationship with Him. :-)

A friend on here has just sent me this link......it's an interesting read. :-)


http://feastofsaints.com/whypray.htm


Cx :-)

Cynthia. It is indeed a very useful and interesting read. I like Mother Teresa very much. And Cardinal Newman. Should I say that as an arch Protestant? :-)

Someone drew my attention to the order of the Lord's Prayer. It is a list of petitions but the least selfish (God-centred) petitions are placed first and the most selfish (person-centred) ones last.

Hallowed be thy name
Thy Kingdom come
Thy will be done, in earth as in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread
Forgive us our sins/debts/trespasses - but only in the same way we forgive people who upset us.
Lead us not into temptation
Deliver us from the evil one

Prayer lists are almost always about sickness, lack of money, personal relationships. That is what WE want to pray about. I have yet to hear anyone shout out "I would like us to pray for the holiness and sovereignty of God".

Yet Jesus tells his followers that we should commence prayers by praying that God's name is above all others in our thoughts, words and deeds.

That we should pray for the souls of those we know, so that the fullness of the Kingdom is drawn in to the heavenly Kingdom of God.

That we listen to God's will, not our will. And it is the will of God that we should follow. It is not what we want, it is what God wants.

Hope that does not sound too preachy, but I do find every word of the Lord's Sermon on the Mount (Matthew Chapters 5-7) to be challenging. Especially when he tells them (and, by implication, us) how to pray. :-)

Thank you John and I follow what you are saying. I've often heard it said that, prayer is not supposed to be a 'shopping list' of our wants, there is so much more to it than that.


As a summary, I rather like the word ACTS as a guideline to how we pray...


A = Adoration (praising God)

C = Confession (saying sorry for anything we have done/said wrong)

T = Thanksgiving (thanking God for all the good things in life)

S = Supplication (our specific prayer requests)



As I have often used a Celtic Blessing, I thought that, this morning, I would use the blessing which is said by priests throughout the world on a daily basis.

When a layman has conducted a service, the word 'you' is transposed to 'us'.



The LORD bless you
and keep you;
the LORD make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
the LORD turn his face toward you
and give you peace.

And the people respond Amen.


Hoping everyone has a good day. Cx :-)

Amen indeed Cynthia.

Good morning to everyone who pops in here now and then and what about a hymn for today......an old favourite which I can remember hearing more as a child than I hear it now :-)



On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
the emblem of suffering and shame;
and I love that old cross where the dearest and best
for a world of lost sinners was slain.

Refrain:

So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
and exchange it some day for a crown.

2. O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
has a wondrous attraction for me;
for the dear Lamb of God left his glory above
to bear it to dark Calvary.
(Refrain)

3. In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
a wondrous beauty I see,
for 'twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
to pardon and sanctify me.
(Refrain)

4. To that old rugged cross I will ever be true,
its shame and reproach gladly bear;
then he'll call me some day to my home far away,
where his glory forever I'll share.
(Refrain)


.youtube.com/watch?v=CltrLsjsQl0?


I hope you are all well. Cx :-)

One of my favourites, too, Cynthia :-D :-D

I know you have left a message on Paula's thread - but possibly some of those who watch and contribute to this thread will not have noticed that thread.

Paula's brother in law (and indeed the whole family) is very much in need of all our prayers.

We also hold in our prayers all our friends on Genes who need prayers today. :-) <3

As one of the popper-inners I'd just like to say thank you to the regular posters who keep the thread going.

Vera

Thank you Cynthia, this hymn is my daughter's
favourite, she has loved it since she was a little
girl. Her granny, my mum, used to sing it to her.

Emma.. <3

Cynthia, The Old Rugged Cross may perhaps be considered a little old-fashioned for the modern Christian churches but I also love the words and meanings behind all the verses and chorus. Sadly I find myself singing this beautiful hymn far too often at funeral services lately.

John, I have already added to Paula's thread but feel that it is a thoughtful and kind gesture to ask for prayers here when Paula and her family are facing a very difficult day and a challenging time ahead. The power of prayer is awesome!

I always find that The Old Rugged Cross is a hymn which I can get really wrapped into - if you know what I mean. I love many of the new hymns but, somehow, singing the real old 'ranters' really lifts my spirits. Maybe it's a sign of age.... :-D

Thought for today.....


WISHING

Do you wish the world were better?
Let me tell you what to do:
Set a watch upon your actions,
Keep them always straight and true;
Rid your mind of selfish motives;
Let your thoughts be clean and high.
You can make a little Eden
Of the sphere you occupy.

Do you wish the world were wiser?
Well, suppose you make a start,
By accumulating wisdom
In the scrapbook of your heart:
Do not waste one page on folly;
Live to learn, and learn to live.
If you want to give men knowledge
You must get it, ere you give.

Do you wish the world were happy?
Then remember day by day
Just to scatter seeds of kindness
As you pass along the way;
For the pleasures of the many
May be ofttimes traced to one,
As the hand that plants an acorn
Shelters armies from the sun.


- Ella Wheeler Wilcox


Have a good day everyone. Cx :-)

Liking that one Cynthia..... thank you. Hope your day is good too.

I found these words on a bookmark and would like to share them if I may?

I shall pass through this world but once.
Any good that I can do, or any kindness that
I can show to any human being,
Let me do it now.
Let me not defer nor neglect it,
For I shall not pass this way again.

kandj. Tha\nks for that. You do see wisdom in some strange places sometrimes. Bookmarks, wall plaques in halls of houses.

I just looked at this hymn this morning (Charles Wesley):

"Jesus has died that I might live,
Might live to God alone,
In him eternal life receive,
And be in spirit one.

Saviour, I thank thee for the grace,
The gift unspeakable!
And wait with arms of faith to embrace,
And all thy love to feel.

My soul breaks out in strong desire
The perfect bliss to prove;
My longing heart is all on fire
To be dissolved in love.

Give me thyself - from every boast,
From every wish set free,
Let all I am in thee be lost;
But give thyself to me.

Thy gifts, alone, cannot suffice
Unless thyself be given;
Thy presence makes my paradise,
And where thou art is heaven"

Those are lovely and very true words kandj. Thank you. :-)


Another hymn I'm not familiar with John. Are you using the Methodist Hymnal? There are so many hymn books around - can't remember which one we use but I know it isn't Ancient and Modern. Will check when I go for lunch today.



For today:


Faith, Hope , and Love


Faith, hope, and love– more priceless than gold.

For if you possess them, you’ve riches untold,

For with faith to believe what your eyes cannot see,

And hope to look forward to new joys to be

And love to transform the most commonplace

Into beauty and kindness and goodness and grace,

There’s nothing too much to accomplish or do,

For with faith, hope, and love to carry you through,

Your life will be happy, and full and complete,

For with faith, hope, and love the bitter turns sweet–

For all earthly joys, and heaven’s joys too,

Belong to God’s children who are faithful and true.



Cx :-)

We are moving home soon so are busy sorting out all the boxes of stuff we have stored in odd corners or in the loft. We came across a box of bits relating to OH's aunt who died and was buried in America in 1993. Among the items was a Memorial Book which contained a number of poems and I wondered if I could share a couple of them with you.

God hath not promised
Skies always blue,
Flower-strewn pathways
All our lives through;
God hath not promised
Sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow
Peace without pain.

But God hath promised
Strength for the day,
Rest for the labor,
Light for the way,
Grace for the trials,
Help from above,
Unfailing sympathy,
Undying love.

(Annie Johnson Flint)

And one that I found particularly meaningful as music has been important to me:

How many of us stop to think
Of music as a wondrous magic link
With God; taking sometimes the place of prayer,
When words have failed us 'neath the weight of care?
Music, that knows no country, race or creed;
But gives to each according to his need.

(Unattributed in the book)

John, a new hymn to me also.
I live quite near to The Old Rectory at Epworth which was home of Susanna and Reverend Samuel Wesley the parents of Charles and John Wesley who went on to develop the Methodist movement with their 7 sisters and eldest brother Samuel.

Cynthia.... Faith, Hope and Love...... riches indeed for everyone to enjoy.

SuffolkVera..... what a treasure trove of gems you have there.

Thank you all for sharing such special and meaningful words.

kandj :-) I am not a gardener at all. But I love to visit old 18th century gardens to see what they were like. And Epworth Rectory is excellent, and a lovely walk through a gate at the back to access the village church. My outstanding memory of my last visit there was that they had a ghost on the top floor when the Wesleys were children about 1710.

And there was a serious fire there when the Wesleys were plucked from the burning just before they (edit - would have) perished. John Wesley always afterwards referred to himself as a "brand plucked from the burning"

Cynthia. I was looking at a hymnbook called "Hymns and Psalms" which was the main Methodist hymnbook from 1983 till a couple of years ago (now "Singing the Faith" is replacing it slowly). Here is a baptismal one (expect you will get sprinkled again tomorrow) written by Derek Farrow (b1925):

Lord, look upon this helpless child
Before she knows you're there;
Surround her with protective love,
Enfold her in your care.

Your church on earth, O Lord, affirms
By clear baptismal sign
What you from heaven made manifest
By merciful design.

By merciful design and love
Through Saviour Jesus' birth,
You succour every one that's born
To serve you here on earth.

These joyful parents strengthen, Lord,
And help them to provide
A Christian home, where faithfulness
And patient love abides.

Thus may all children brought to you
Be nurtured in your way,
And so in goodness and in truth
Your Spirit's fruit display.

Good morning everyone and thank you for the conversations - they made lovely reading..... :-)



Vera, I know the first poem you quoted and have always thought how true it is. I don't know the second one, but again, very true indeed - music can help when words fail.
I do hope your move goes smoothly - I absolutely loathe moving house.


Thank you for another new hymn John and, you may be surprised to know, I don't think we have any baptisms booked in for tomorrow..... :-D

I forgot to look at a hymn book whilst at church yesterday, but I have a feeling we may use Hymns for Today's Church. Will try and check tomorrow.



For today:


A Cheerful Heart

To make our lives more meaningful,
it takes a cheerful heart...
and loving life and living it
each day as a brand new start.

It takes a positive attitude
when trials come our way...
and having the strength to carry on
and taking the time to pray.

Life is what we make it,
for the time that we are here...
so start each day with a cheerful heart
and see miracles appear.

- Jill Lemming.



Cx :-)