General Chat

Good morning :-)


We are now in the season of Advent – a season so often associated with chocolate calendars.

Unless we Christians actively share the Christmas story, Christ will continue to be written out of Christmas. If Christ is being written out of Christmas – we need to put him back by sharing the Christmas story so it's heard and loved.

I thought it may be an idea to have our own Christian calendar on this page during Advent and I came across the following link from the Methodist church…….it can be used every day. It’s something a little different. I will post the link each day to make it as easy as possible for everyone to follow. Sorry I can’t provide the choco-lates :-D


http://www.methodist.org.uk/prayer-and-worship/advent-and-christmas/advent-calendar

(scroll down each picture for an explanation)


Cx :-)

I have enjoyed your special prayer for today Cynthia,
thank you.

What lovely news from kandj.
I'm sure her husband will grow stronger with every day
and with the help of kandj and their family his improvement
will continue to grow.

God bless x

Good morning :-)

I know what you mean Emma and, each time a story breaks about the misbehaviour of a so-called Christian, my heart sinks and breaks. I then have to remember all of the sincere and hardworking Christians I have met over many years. Those who are willing to go the extra mile or feed the hungry or visit the sick. Those who have given wise advice and comforted those in distress. Fortunately, the good outweigh the bad, and for those I am thankful :-)


The Collect (special prayer) set for today

Almighty God,
give us grace to cast away the works of darkness
and to put on the armour of light,
now in the time of this mortal life,
in which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility;
that on the last day,
when he shall come again in his glorious majesty
to judge the living and the dead,
we may rise to the life immortal;
through him who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

The gospel for today is Jesus telling us “In my father’s house there are many dwelling places”.



I am pleased to say that I have received a very heartening update from Kandj.....

I quote……

Our daughter has been here on the train just for today and it is always good to have her with us. She has organized me 3 Tesco delivery slots and over a coffee and a toasted teacake we have "shopped" and secured these three suitable time slots early. I do wonder now why I have always refused her offers to do the on-line shopping!

The family are coming here over Christmas which is pleasing hubby and me too. They usually fly off to somewhere warmer but everyone wanted us to be together after such a worrying month. How blessed are we???

Hubby is making a good effort to work with the Physio and get his legs moving again. She is helping and encouraging him to give him back the confidence he has lacked since his recent fall. Helen and I are SO PROUD of him. The Sister and Staff Nurse were both busy when we left at end of visiting but quickly told us that a discharge date for him has been decided at this mornings ward meeting. I will find out tomorrow.

This isn't a surprise as hubby is clear of the pneumonia and stable on medication after his heart at-tack (not suitable for surgery), although he is clearly weak and weary now that he is back onto his feet there is little else that the staff can do for him and the Rehab Unit beds are so sought after

I have already asked that the Community Physio call here and continue to do the leg exercises and a referral has been sent to the Wheelchair Assessment Unit as the wheelchair that hubby was previously supplied with is no longer suitable and I welcome this new assessment in here.

I am sooooo tired, but there is a definite improvement and progress which is something to give Thanks to our Lord for healing powers and strength for me and our family during this past month. "Thank you Lord Jesus".

Thanks to you too Cynthia for ongoing prayerful support. Would you please pass on this update and thank all the lovely GR friends who have offered prayers, thoughts and so many kind words over so many weeks.
Each one has helped to lighten a heavy load and have been appreciated.

Blessings to you right now.

<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

Love to all, Cynthia :-)

When I think of all the so called Christians who
believe they are true to their faith but have done
terrible things to others ie priests, ministers, nuns etc
I feel that for years they have been preaching
to us to do good in the name of the Lord.

For myself I suppose I'm in the lukewarm category, I
don't go to church, I don't put my beliefs on to others but
I do believe.

Thinking of all in need of comfort and prayer at this time x

Good morning :-)


I know exactly how you feel Vera, and the phrase 'I must do better', went through my mind too. And so a last few sobering thoughts for me to work on.....



Lukewarm people will serve God and others, but there are limits to how far they will go or how much time, money, and energy they are willing to give.

Lukewarm people probably drink and swear less than average, but besides that, they really aren’t very different from your typical unbeliever. They equate their partially sanitized lives with holiness, but they couldn’t be more wrong.

Lukewarm people think about life on earth much more often than eternity in heaven. Daily life is mostly focused on today’s to-do list, this week’s schedule, and next year’s holiday. Rarely, if ever do they intently consider the life to come.

Thinking of the life to come as it were, I have been rather shocked this week to hear of the death of my last uncle at the ripe old age of 93 bless him. He was one of those people about whom you would say 'He was a character'. He certainly was, and I have very many happy memories of time spent in his company as a child. He and my remaining family all live in Buckinghamshire so I am not able to travel down - given my present circumstances.

He and my aunt had no children, and his executor was the last but one of my remaining cousins - his nephew by marriage. I thought of the work my cousin would now have to deal with.

However, that is not to be because my cousin died 48 hours after my uncle. How strange is that?

On that cheering note.....................my love and prayers to all. Cx :-)

Thought provoking theme again this week Cynthia. I am horribly afraid that to a large extent you have been describing me. I think my report would read "Must do better" :-(

I hope Kandj has found her OH improved today. They are still in my thoughts <3

Good morning :-)


Such lovely news from kandj I agree..........and she is very welcome to our support and prayers..... <3


A few more thoughts (which have made me think) about Lukewarm Christians.



Lukewarm Christians are moved by stories of people who do radical things for Christ, yet they do not act. They assume such action is for “extreme” Christians, not average ones.

Lukewarm Christians rarely share their faith with their neighbours, co-workers, or friends. They do not want to be rejected, nor do they want to make people uncomfortable by talking about private issues like religion.

Lukewarm Christians gauge their morality or “goodness” by comparing themselves to the secular world. They feel satisfied that they are nowhere as horrible as the guy down the street.


Sobering thoughts but oh so true. We press on..... :-(

Love to all. Cx :-)

That’s the best news I have heard all week. I am so pleased for Kandj, her hubby and family. I will keep them in my thoughts and pray that Mr Kandj’s strength will grow more each day.

Wonderful news kandj.

If You Believe,
you will receive whatever
you ask for in prayer.

Matthew 21:22

Hello all

An early phone call from the ward Sister telling me that hubbies MRSA is cleared.
Prayers indeed heard and answered and such a huge relief. So Thank You Lord!!!

Tuesday was a very difficult day that we both would rather forget about BUT yesterday was so much better as the Physio is working hard and my lovely hubby is doing all that is asked of him and between them his legs are so much stronger. We both can see the light at the end of the long dark tunnel and have been held closely and carried daily just like the FOOTPRINT words. I have spent time each day in the hospital chapel and although felt drained going in there, I have been uplifted and renewed in spiritual strength leaving this special quiet oasis in a busy hospital.

My special thanks to Cynthia for her ongoing support and also to all who have travelled this difficult path with us. Your prayers and kind words are appreciated.

Great is Thy faithfulness, great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand has provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.

Cynthia
We thank you for your daily postings.

Thank you for sharing news about kandj and her husband and it's lovely to read that progress is being made and they can look forward with hope and we give thanks for the great input that has made that possible.

Saint Andrew certainly was a pioneer who suffered for his faith...... nothing lukewarm about him at all.

Good morning.... :-)

First of all, another update from our friend kandj......after a series of ups and downs, it seems as though her husband has now turned a corner towards recovery. He is able to get in and out of bed by himself thanks to the physio he has been receiving bless him. Kandj sounds so much more positive and that can only be a good thing. We continue to hold them both in our prayers. <3


A break from lukewarm Christians to a red hot Christian…….

Today is St. Andrew’s Day


Saint Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland, Greece and Russia and was Christ's first disciple.

He was born between AD 5 and AD 10 in Bethsaida, the principal fishing port of Palestine. His parents were Jona and Joanna; his brother was Simon. Jona, along with his business-partner and friend Zebedee and his sons James and John, was a fisherman.

On the banks of the Jordan, Andrew met John the Baptist: he was the first disciple and the first apostle. It was he who brought the boy with the loaves and fishes to Jesus before the feeding of the five thousand.

After a life of proclaiming Christ, he was given the choice of being offered as a sacrifice to the gods or being scourged and crucified. By his own request the cross was diagonal. He, like his brother Peter, felt himself unworthy to be crucified on the upright cross of Christ.

He hung for three days on the cross, fixed not by nails but by rope round his hands and feet. Even in his last agony, he continued to preach. So ended the life of Saint Andrew.

We thank God for his life and years of service – and pray that he will encourage us to turn from being ‘lukewarm’ to ‘red hot’ in the service of Christ.

Cx :-)

Thought provoking indeed Cynthia.

Thank you for the update from kandj, thoughts and prayers
to them both and family x

Good morning :-)


Continuing from the sermon we heard on Sunday........we look at some points re 'Lukewarm Christians'. Very thought provoking.......

Lukewarm people attend church fairly regularly. It is what is expected of them, what they believe “good Christians” do, so they go. Isaiah 29:13

Lukewarm people give money to charity and to the church as long as it doesn’t im-pinge on their standard of living. If they have a little extra and it is easy and safe to give, they do so, After all, God loves a cheerful giver, right? 1 Chronicles 21:24, Luke 21:1-4

Lukewarm people tend to choose what is popular over what is right when they are in conflict. They desire to fit in both at church and outside of church; they care more about what people think of their actions (like church attendance and giving) than what God thinks of their hearts and lives. Luke 6:26, Revelation 3:1, Matthew 23:5-7 4.

Lukewarm people don’t really want to be saved from their sin; they want only to be saved from the penalty of their sin. They don’t genuinely hate sin and aren’t truly sorry for it; they’re merely sorry because God is going to punish them. Lukewarm people don’t really believe that this new life Jesus offers is better than the old sinful one. John 10:10, Romans 6:1-2.


Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm :-(

With those sobering thoughts in mind, I send love and prayers to all - especially thinking of kandj.....xxx Cx :-)

Just popped in before bedtime because I realised I hadn't given the update on kandji's OH. He is still very poorly and Kandji is spending a lot of time with him and helping out bless her. It will be good when he is clear of the nasty MRSA bug.

Their family have been very supportive and loving which is a great comfort to them both.

Kandj is so very grateful for all the prayerful support and kind words from her friends on here and would like to thank you all. <3

Thoughts and prayers for kandj and her husband <3

Good morning :-)

Very pleased with my new laptop but having to adjust to some of its different functions. At least I can type properly now! :-D

I’ve been looking for some thoughts on what is a ‘Lukewarm Christian’ and found some interesting reading. I’ll break it up through the week.

Someone wrote………

“I went through an entire Sunday service assured in my polished ensemble only to face the fact that there was a big purple glob of lipstick on my tooth tarnishing my entire look. Isn't that frustrating? When you think everything is ok only to find out it never was? This is how I think about being a lukewarm Christian. You have the look but there’s just one problem: the look is not enough. Being lukewarm means you say you follow Jesus but really in your heart you don't. It's when your actions and heart for God don't match.”

Hmm food for thought.

Praying for kandj and OH Cx :-)

Good morning. :-)

Nyx that is a simply glorious picture thank you so much. The colours are incredible and the detail is amazing. There isn't one I have in mind specifically as I am having enough probs just using this ipad. No doubt I would get used to it in time but, having been trained on the old manual typewriter, I find laptops much easier than these fiddley little things.

Our Christmas Fair was a great event despite the grotty weather. We were shocked that so many people turned up to support us but it was fantastic and we raised 2,300 pounds - I can't find the pound symbol on here. :-D

Yesterday's sermon was worth sharing - not all of it obviously, but we were asked if we were 'lukewarm' Christians?? There is no point going to church week by week if we don't live a Christian life during the week. You could have heard a pin drop such was the effect on the congregation. Certainly food for thought.

I am picking up my new laptop this morning.......yipppeeee. Normal service will be resumed. :-D

Thinking of and praying for kandj and her husband. <3

Love to all. Cx :-)

Cynthia if you have a particular image you want posted, I can do so :-)

. Toomyvara St. Joseph's Church Window Tu Rex Gloriae Christe by William Earley 1933 ...

https://tinyurl.com/ybdt38gn

Chosen simply because I love the glorious colours of stained glass. :-)