General Chat

Thinking of David and his family and friends this morning, as they meet for his service and to say Goodbye.

Good morning :-)


A grey rather miserable day and we are soon going into tier 3 - but we still smile :-)



Dear Lord, help me remember what a difference it makes when I make time with You a priority in my morning. Awaken me in body and spirit each day with a desire to meet with You and to hear You speak words of affirmation, assurance, and wisdom over my heart as I prepare to go into my day. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Lovely responses from other members re David...... <3


So far this morning, I have spilt some milk and boiled my porridge over........looking forward to the rest of the day............sigh. :-D

I may need this prayer :

Good morning, Lord! Today's a new day, a chance for a new start. Yesterday is gone and with it any regrets, mistakes, or failures I may have experienced. It's a good day to be glad and give thanks, and I do, Lord. Thank you for today, a new opportunity to love, give, and be all that you want me to be. Amen.


Cx :-)

Very sad news indeed, RIP David


It is also a grey day, but it is very still, no breeze at all.

Today is the 5th day of advance voting in our provincial election ...... called very suddenly 3 weeks ago by our Premier who has been holding together a minority government with the help of 3 Green members of the legislature. We're hoping to get there later in the day.

He still had 6 months left in his tenure, and has done a superb job especially during the last 6 months during the covid crisis, but said he thought the people needed a say now in how to proceed through the next year or two.

Was he right? Who knows??

We'll find out in about 3 weeks time ........ the official voting day is Saturday, but there may be as many as 700,000 mail-in-ballots to be counted after the official count of in-person ballots has been completed!


Keep safe, keep calm, keep healthy, as numbers rise all over the world.

As you say, grey news for a grey day. David suffered so much in recent years; now he’s free of pain. I shall miss his posts as his questioning always made me think. RIP David <3

Thinking of Ellen and praying for strength and comfort for her.

I have put a note on Mel’s long running thread as David was an occasional contributor there.

Very sad news, RIP David and my thoughts and prayers are with Ellen at this sad time <3

Hello all

Sad news to read at the beginning of a new day.

I do agree that this obituary could well relate to our friend David, as so many details fit in.

RIP dear David, and rise again in glory.

Condolences to his wife Ellen and to the family.

Good morning :-)


A grey day here and I have posted a 'grey' thread on the General board. It rather looks as though our friend David has died. I googled yesterday and found the following:

David IRVINE
(Fawdon) David passed away peacefully in hospital on 3rd October aged 74 years, Beloved Husband of Ellen (Nee Wallis), loving Brother of Ralphy and Dennis and a Much loved uncle. Friends please meet for service at the West Road Crematorium, Newcastle on Thursday 22nd October at 11.45am. Flowers maybe sent c/o Richard Bird Funeral Services, 57 Great North Road, Gosforth, NE3 2DQ, Tel 0191 5111412


I have asked that if this information is wrong, then please message me and I will remove it immediately.

If it is correct, then we pray for David and for his poor wife Ellen. We will miss his offbeat questions and answers - he could always begin a conversation which would leave us wondering where it was going. It could be fun though. May he rest in peace.


For today:

Lord, grant me courage as I go through this day. When I am tempted to give up, help me to keep going. Grant me a cheerful spirit when things don't go my way. And give me the courage to do whatever needs to be done. In Jesus' name, Amen.


Cx :-)

Hello all

Wishing everyone a peaceful stress free day today.

Keep well and stay safe everyone.

Good morning :-)


A flying visit and off to church......... :-D


The Collect (special prayer) for today:

O God, forasmuch as without you
we are not able to please you;
mercifully grant that your Holy
Spirit may in all things direct and
rule our hearts; 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 :-)

Good morning :-)


Those sayings…

I used an old saying last week, after I had been to the dentist ….it cost me ‘an arm and a leg’. There are several theories as to where this saying originated…..possibly during one of the major World Wars. The idea being that soldiers, because of their heavy involvement in war and being in the line of fire, can possibly lose a hand, foot, leg, or arm. Thus, the war would literally cost the person their arm or leg, which is a high price to pay.

Another theory dates from 1790 in a magazine called The Lady’s Magazine : Or Entertaining Companion for the Fair Sex, Appropriated Solely to Their Use and Amusement, and it reads: “This is my sole desire—my only passion; and in order to gratify it, I would give my right arm, and my entire fortune.”
Take your pick!!

And


‘A drop in a Bucket’, meaning a negligible amount, something that makes little difference. This comes from Isaiah 40:15 declaring God’s sovereignty and power over the nations,
“Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.”

Here, we are reminded that all the nations of the world, all created beings shrink to nothing in comparison with God our Creator. They are like drops in a bucket compared with the vast oceans. This shows that, small as we are, God loves us and gave his only-begotten Son to save us.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Good to hear from you my friends and I am glad you are liking my efforts :-D

I am totally confused as to which 'tier' we are in - I keep thinking of wedding cakes!!!


Those sayings…..

How often have we heard the words… he/she has a ‘chip on their shoulder’, usually meaning that some has a grievance or is feeling inferior.
The phrase is reported as origination with the 19th century practice of spoiling for a fight by carrying a chip of wood on one's shoulder, daring others to knock it off.

and

“Another one bites the dust” – a song from the rock group Queen and a saying we all know – meaning to be defeated or killed. This is taken from Psalm 72. 9 “May the desert tribes bow before him and his enemies lick the dust.” This is said to be a prophecy of the coming of the Kingdom of Christ.


Busy day ahead........

Cx :-)

Hope everyone is keeping safe and well.

Been popping in when i can and reading about St Francis. who is one of my favourites.

When i was a lot younger i saw the Franco Zeffirelli film Brother Sun, Sister Moon and have never forgotten it or its story of St Francis and St Claire. The music and film were so beautiful. If you ever get the chance to see it or listen to the song.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brother_Sun,_Sister_Moon


Cynthia your beautiful story brought all the memories back, and gave me a little peace in this ever changing world or worry.

Stay safe and well everyone. <3 <3 <3 <3

I am enjoying reading about the origins of the sayings Cynthia. Over the years I have been surprised at how many phrases that we use in everyday speech come from Shakespeare or The Bible.

I do hope David is making a good recovery and Ellen is coping well.

I had a lovely long phone call from my son and his wife this morning. It means so much as we have been unable to meet for so long. Now Essex, where my daughter lives, has gone on to Tier 2 of the new system, so no meeting indoors with her and my eldest granddaughter. I wonder what Christmas dinner in the garden is like? Well, I must just be grateful that we are all close in spirit if not in person.

Stay safe and well

Hello all

I'm enjoying reading your posts Cynthia. Thank you.

Dry but a cold wind so no gardening for me today.

I need to post a birthday card so I'll prayer walk around the village streets soon.

I do hope that David and Ellen are managing ok.

Take care and stay safe everyone.

Good morning :-)



Those sayings…..

Something you often hear…… 'Daylight Robbery' ….. this first came to prominence in the 1690s, when King William III was in dire need of money. Having exhausted all other options, he and his advisors devised a tax whereby houses with more windows would pay a greater amount of money. Because of this, people would board up their windows to avoid paying the tax.

and

When none of us know what we are doing, it’s a case of ‘The Blind Leading the Blind’, which is taken from Matthew 15:13-14, “Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” In this parable, Jesus wants us to examine our lives as Christians – our outward religious acts as compared to what is deep within our hearts.

Lord may both our hearts and our lives always be true to you. Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Those sayings…….
‘Wet your Whistle’ - Many years ago in England, pub frequenters had a whistle baked into the rim or handle of their ceramic cups. When they needed a refill, they used the whistle to get some service. 'Wet your whistle' is the phrase inspired by this practice.

And

‘How the mighty have fallen’ …. something we have all said when a powerful person falls from grace. It’s taken from 2 Samuel 1:19, “The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!” where David is grieving over the fact that King Saul and his son Jonathan have been killed in battle.

Lord, help us to remember that you are there for us in our grief.
Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Those sayings.......

In Shakespeare's time, mattresses were secured on bed frames by ropes. When you pulled on the ropes the mattress tightened, making the bed firmer to sleep on. Hence the phrase......... 'goodnight, sleep tight.'

And

We’ve all heard of the saying ‘a fly in the ointment’ – meaning a small event that spoils something special. This comes from the Ecclesiastes Chap.. 10 vs. 1 ‘As dead flies cause even a bottle of perfume to stink, so a little foolishness spoils great wisdom and honour.’


Ecclesiastes is one of the Wisdom Books of Hebrew Scripture, along with Psalms, Job, Proverbs, and the Song of Songs. The book is concerned with the purpose and value of human life. But God's plan is hidden from man, who seeks happiness without ever finding it here on earth. It is in giving thanks to the Creator that one makes life worthwhile. The Book of Ecclesiastes is a reality check for the modern world!

Lord we give you thanks for all that you have given us.

Cx :-)

Hello all

Job was really tested and came through in the end.

Thoughts and prayers for David and for wife Ellen.

Pushed myself to do prayer walking today. Bitterly cold/wet, so I was very pleased to get back inside.

Interesting as always Cynthia. Thank you.

Happy Thanksgiving Sylvia. I hope that you can enjoy it despite these strange/challenging times.

Good morning :-)

Happy Thanksgiving Day Sylvia........it certainly IS strange this year - as Christmas will be possibly. We must make the best of it and, maybe, come up with some good ideas to cheer us up! :-D


Something a bit different. Most days we come out with sayings that we have grown up with, but we have no idea where they came from. A friend sent me some the other day and I thought I would share them and add a familiar bible saying as well.

In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts and it is said that in old England , when customers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them 'Mind your pints and quarts and settle down.' It's where we get the phrase 'mind your P's and Q's'.

And

Sometimes, on escaping danger of some sort, people will say they ‘escaped by the skin of my teeth’. This is taken from the book of Job 19.20 where Job is wailing about his hard life.

Other than being from Uz, the first thing the Bible tells us about Job is that he was righteous and godly, “blameless and upright,” a man who “feared God and shunned evil” (Job 1:2). Job was not only righteous, but also wealthy - a man greatly tested by God and even more greatly blessed by God.


We thank God for our many blessings.


Cx :-)