General Chat

Good evening :-)

I have been hithering and thithering today and thought I had popped on here this morning - obviously not!

Thinking about those who are spiritually immature....


So what does a spiritual infant look like? Actually, it looks and acts a lot like human infants. They’re self-centered, cry-babies, impatient and helpless.

They arrive at church thinking, “What can I get out of this?” Then, they sometimes leave saying, “I didn’t get a thing out of that today.” Church is all about them.

Spiritual infants are impatient. “Why did you leave that church?” “We were not having our needs met.” Ever heard that? This is the worldly customer/provider approach to Kingdom work. The church is there to provide services which members pay for with their offerings; if the services are inferior, they withhold their money or even leave. Such is the nature of carnal devotion.

Father, we pray for ourselves and for others in our circle of family and friends to become increasingly mature in Christ. Some have been content not to grow. We’ve continued to live as infants in Christ, settling for the milk of the Word, not ready to move on to solid food—sometimes for years. Forgive us and change us; help us to be willing to grow, to become more mature in our walk, our understanding, and our application of Your Word. Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

As we approach May – one of the loveliest months of the year - we remember the growth which spring brings…..and we think of our own growth, in various ways.

Yesterday, at church, we heard a good sermon about the True Vine….especially the quote from the reading "How can I know unless someone tells me?" was the Eunuch's question to Philip. It is still the question today.

Heavenly Father we are called to abide in Christ, to rest in His love, to remain connected with the Lord Jesus and to depend upon Him in all things. We are called to share him with others, knowing that He alone is the true and living Vine - so that our lives might bear much fruit and glorify our father in heaven. Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Goodness me, I got on here quite quickly this morning! :-D


The Collect (special prayer) set for today

Almighty God,
through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ you have overcome death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life:
grant that, as by your grace going before us you put into our minds good desires, so by your continual help we may bring them to good effect;
through Jesus Christ our risen Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The gospel tells the wonderful story of the True Vine.


Love to all Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Thank you Emma but please don't worry about responding on the posts, I just hope you find them helpful and thought provoking <3

I've had quite a hectic week what with one thing and another. Our kitchen ceiling has been stripped and repapered.......I am still finding little bits of the stuff in the strangest of places. We had a leaking pipe repaired and a small cupboard built to hide the pipes in our downstairs loo. All this was from a chap from church who has just started his own business.......we like to support home industries!



Our final look at spiritual growth through the Lord’s Prayer…

" For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours. Now and for ever. Amen."

Lord, as I seek to grow spiritually, keep me humble and mindful. Humble in how I consider myself, mindful in how I consider you. In all things, may you be the one who is praised, honoured and glorified forever. Amen.

Cx :-)

As always Cynthia another week of
enjoying your posts. Thank you.

I feel I should add to them but I find it difficult
expressing myself at times.x

Good morning :-)

Day five of Christian growth through the Lord’s Prayer

"Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil"

When Jesus taught His disciples to pray these words, He was not implying that God would ever encourage us to sin. Scripture makes this clear:

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone (James 1:13).

He was showing us that we are surrounded by all kinds of temptations and distractions and that we need to stand firm. Jesus therefore emphasized the need for humble dependence on God. He called us to recognize our human frailty and to acknowledge that we, on our own, are no match for our triple foe: the world, the flesh, and the devil.

"Lord, from this moment on I choose to walk away from anything I know to have a bad effect on my life. Keep me safe from the work of the evil one." Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


How lovely to receive 3 pieces of good news in one day Vera - it certainly makes up for those days when we feel grim and downcast. <3


Growing our Christian faith through the Lord's Prayer........


"Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us"


As we experience God’s amazing forgiveness, we are called and empowered to forgive those who have wronged us. But, if we choose not to forgive others, then we are disobeying the Lord’s teaching and miss out on the full benefit of being forgiven.

God’s purpose in forgiving us is that we might be reconciled to him and to each other.

Lord, you died that we may be forgiven, please help us to forgive others. Amen.


Cx :-)

Thank you for this week’s thoughts Cynthia. I think the Lord’s Prayer is so familiar that we are all guilty of reciting it without really thinking about it.

Great news about the little boy’s recovery from meningitis.

They say things come in threes and yesterday I had three pieces of good news so I am feeling very thankful today and thinking of those who aren’t so fortunate.

Good Afternoon....... :-)


Growing as a Christian – through The Lord’s Prayer. "Give us today our daily bread".

We need God in all areas of our life (physical, spiritual and mental), and this is a daily need. We need to come back to God regularly, each day- indeed, many times each day and many ways, for we can quickly become independent and self-seeking.

Jesus reiterates this daily dependency when he exhorts us to not "worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself" (Math 6:34, NIV)

"God, teach me to be truly dependent on you. Remind me daily that every material thing that I have - even my own body - is from you and for you."

Love Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Growing as a Christian – through The Lord’s Prayer

"Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven"


Lord, change the way I think about my life. May you become the centre of everything.

A verse from St. Patrick’s prayer is very fitting for this.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Yes, the little boy with his parents and grandparents came to church yesterday and it was lovely to see them all. He was given a 'Brave Boy' award and his parents were given 'holding crosses' - small wooden crosses which fit into the palm of the hand. There was also a 10 day old baby in church..............awww I had to have a hold of course!!

For today:

Spring is here, but I am not convinced that spring has ‘sprung’ yet. No doubt though, the keen gardeners are busy planning and planting and watching for the first signs of growth in the garden.

It’s the same for Christians – we need to plan and plant in order to get some growth in our spiritual lives.

Something to look at this week…….using the Lord’s Prayer as a guide. "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name"

Spiritual growth begins with worship. God is holy! If we are made in the image of God, then we too, must seek to be holy.

Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit,
That my thoughts may all be holy.
Act in me, O Holy Spirit,
That my work, too, may be holy.
Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit,
That I love but what is holy.
Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit,
To defend all that is holy.
Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit,
That I always may be holy.
- Saint Augustine (354-430)


Cx :-)

Amen to your prayer Cynthia.

How wonderful, God bless him.

Good morning :-)


The Collect (special prayer) set for today…..

Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life: raise us, who trust in him, from the death of sin to the life of righteousness, that we may seek those things which are above, where he reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The gospel reading for today tells the story of the Good Shepherd.

It seems as the though the little boy who was so desperately ill with meningitis may be coming to church with his family this morning. That's rather nice.... <3

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Gas men! arrrghhh. I have had them digging two great holes outside - they have been crawling in and out of the little cupboard under the stairs - and forever knocking at the door for some reason or other. I think they have finished inside now but we cannot get the car on the drive yet. Its a scrabble to find a spot to park and you can almost see all those affected lining up to get their car in a space across the road!

To cap it all, I have realised that our gas boiler is due for its annual service today! Hey ho. No rest for the wicked. :-D

To end our week of looking at Peace in its varying forms.....

Thank You, Lord, for complete peace, for perfect peace, for a peace that keeps my heart from being troubled.

Come now and fill me with Your peace. Thank You for the perfect peace that comes when I put my trust in You. Let it wash over me and flood my innermost being.

Show me the ways of peace, keep me in the paths of peace and guide me in the decisions that lead to peace. Jesus, be my peace today. Amen.


Love to all. Cx :-)

I was thinking of the Flanders and Swann ditty as well Elizabeth. I hope you are all sorted now Cynthia - I certainly don’t like the sound of 5.30am starts!

I’m not really a great fan of HSR’s poetry but I do like the garden verse that Emma posted

Amen to Cynthia’s prayers for peace this week - “Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me”.

Sending Kandj a ((hug)) <3

Cynthia :-)

Have the "gas men" been-eth?

I am reminded of the Flanders & Swann song about the Gas Man !

Elizabeth

Good morning :-)

Thank you for that Emma - its one from HSR that I have never seen before that I can remember.

Towards the end of our week at looking at the various types of peace - Peace in families and relationships

Lord God,

I give you all the members of our family. You know them all so well and love them all. I ask that you would cover us with a rainbow of hope.

Hope that draws us together to work out our differences.
Hope that helps us to celebrate together and care for one another.
Hope that rides like a banner in our lives and watches over us wherever we go.
Hope that overcomes adversity and gathers strength to overcome.
Hope that guides us and gives us vision for our future alone and together.
Hope filled with love.
Hope that fuels faith.
Hope that breathes peace.

May our family live in you
Underneath your promises.

Amen.


Cx :-)

My Garden of Prayer

My garden beautifies my yard
and adds fragrance to the air.
But it is also my cathedral
and my quiet place of prayer.
So little do we realize
That TheGlory and the Power
Of He who made the universe
lies hidden in a flower.

Helen Steiner Rice.

For all those who are uplifted by their garden x

Good morning :-)

Up with the lark once more as we wait the gasmen - for the 3rd morning on the trot :-|

Everything keeps being delayed for one reason or another.......and, each time I find myself nodding off, one of the workmen knocks on the door!


In our thoughts of peace this week.....

Lord,
We pray for peace in our communities today.
We commit to you all who work for peace and an end to tensions,
And those who work to uphold law and justice.
We pray for an end to fear,
For comfort and support to those who suffer.
For calm in our streets and cities,
That people may go about their lives in safety and peace.
In your mercy, hear our prayers,
now and always. Amen

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Awww poor kandj. Sending (hugs). Hopefully, the sessions will get easier as they progress. You are going through such a hard, hard time bless you. You are still in our prayers <3

I am not sure if I am coming or going - the gasmen did not appear when expected, but called later to say that they will be coming TODAY.....arggh.... Up again at about 5.30 so let's see what happens.

Our week of prayers for peace.

Peace in the Middle East


God of peace, bearer of hope, we seek your help for the peoples of the Middle East.

Quiet the clamour of war and guide us towards peace.

Where there is hatred and division sow seeds of calm and openness.

Where there is destruction help us to rebuild.

Where children are crying bring an end to tears.

Shelter your peoples and protect them, guide them and keep them from harm.

Show us how to break down the barriers of history and fear and breathe whispers of hope. Amen.


Cx :-)