General Chat

Good morning :-)


The Collect (special prayer) for today:

Almighty and everlasting God,
by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified:
hear our prayer which we offer for all your faithful people,
that in their vocation and ministry they may serve you in holiness
and truth to the glory of your name;
through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen.


The gospel reading for today tells the wonderful story of the parable of the Sower.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Another weekend is upon us - it will soon be Christmas :-D


Meanwhile, some advice for us......

Take time to claim your strength; this is a gift from God.

Take time to have fun; it is God’s way of teaching you your strengths.

Take time to grow yourself; only you can grow you.

Take time to trust yourself; God trusts you.

Take time to be self-reliant; it is better than being dependent.

Take time to share with others; they will bless you and you will bless them.

Take time to have hope; you are a child of God.


Cx :-)

Hello all and a great big CONGRATULATIONS to Vera's Grandson and his team
for winning a GOLD MEDAL for GB in the EU Archery Contest......... WOOOHOOO

What an amazing achievement. All the hard training and ongoing commitment from
J and his family have come to fruition in a marvelous way. Definitely a proud moment for him and for all your family Vera.Thank you for sharing such happy news with us all

Happy Friday blessings for all looking in today. xx

~~~~~~~ a wave to anyone looking in.

You are right Cynthia. I admit to a tear in the eye when watching the award ceremony in particular. I am very proud and give thanks for his talent but I am more thankful for his attitude. Not once has he moaned when he lost or bragged when he won, but his tweets etc have been more about how great his team mates are and how much he is enjoying shooting with such a great team.

My thoughts are still with those youngsters whose talents are wasted because their families are unable or unwilling to give the time, money and commitment needed.

Enjoy your day whatever it brings

Good morning :-)

I see that Vera's grandson and some of his team mates have won a GOLD medal.....how exciting and how very well deserved for them. Now Vera, you had better go and lay down in a dark room to recover from all the excitement. I guess you got through a few tissues..........so very pleased for you. <3


People are now beginning to come and go on their summer holidays and we wish them all well as they travel all over this beautiful world. Meanwhile, I will be sunning myself at that famous resort known as 'Ourgate'.


May we walk with God this summer in whatever we do wherever we go.


Walking with God means... walking with honesty and with courage. Walking with love and respect and concern for the feelings of others.

Cx :-)

Hello all

Amen to your posting today Cynthia.

Vera, thank you for keeping us updated about your Grandson's archery events in Croatia. It certainly doesn't make for boring reading, in fact it is quite exciting to be told how far J has come in the EU archery contests. Nail biting time today then as he takes part in the men's team where they are seeded number 3. Good luck to them!!!

Waving now to whoever looks in to this Christian thread, have a good day today xx

Good morning :-)


Oh my word! It was all up and down yesterday for you Vera......you must have been worn out reading about the excitement. Sounds like great team work all the way round - hope today goes well for J. I have to admit that I didn't realise that archery was such a popular sport.



May you walk with God this summer in whatever you do wherever you go.
Walking with God means... walking with honesty and with courage. Walking with love and respect and concern for the feelings of others. x


Cx :-)

Good morning all
Thank you Cynthia and Kandj for your kind interest in J and his progress. It is much appreciated and it is lovely for me to be able to share my joy in my grandson with you.

Yesterday I was out for the day and no wifi :-(. The first thing I did when home was check the live updates. J and his partner were knocked out of the mixed team event by a pair from Switzerland, so well done to them. This morning it was the final elimination rounds in the individual event. J got through to the 5th round where he was drawn against a team-mate who is also his room-mate. A close match but the other lad took the round and has since gone on to defeat the number 1 seed for a place in the final on Friday, where he will meet another archer from Britain. So GB are guaranteed a gold and silver to add to the gold and bronze medals they already have from another type of shooting. Well done all the GB team. Tomorrow grandson will be part of the team of 3 lads shooting in the men's team event. They are seeded 3.

Have I bored you enough yet? Thank you for listening.

Thank you for today's prayer. In our rather frantic world it would be good if we could all take time to "stop and smell the coffee" as they say.

Today I am also giving thanks for the prolonged, heavy rain we had yesterday. It's made a mess of our garden but it is filling the reservoirs and pleasing the farmers. There's always something to be thankful for.

Good morning :-)

I bet your ipad is never far away Vera.......it must be so exciting for you :-D



Long warm days... The pace of life slows... A time for picnics and rest in the shade...

Lord, help me to rest awhile in the cooling shade of your presence. Slow down my restless heart and fill me with gentle compassion for all your people. Amen



Love to all. Cx :-)

Hello all

I'm joining Cynthia in offering Vera good wishes for having such a talented and
gifted grandson...... he really is doing remarkably well. Proud Grandparents time
and why not?? It's good to know that all J's hard training and commitment are
bringing him such good results........ we pray that it continues for him and for others.

Sending out lots and lots of ((hugs)) to all in need of them today. xx

Good morning :-)


Wow Vera - he is doing really well isn't he? I can understand your pride and would feel just the same. Keep us posted. :-D


Lord, draw me closer to You this summer. Teach me how I can pray no matter where I am or what I am doing. Warm my soul with the awareness of Your presence, and light my path with Your Word and Counsel. As I enjoy Your creation, create in me a pure heart and a hunger and a thirst for You. Amen.


Love to all Cx :-)

Very well done to your Boys' Brigade Juniors Cynthia. It's lovely to see youngsters achieving in this way.

I have been glued to my iPad most of the day following grandson's progress. He did so well in the individual qualification rounds that he has been "pre-seeded" through to the third round of the eliminations. Also as the highest placed British boy he has been put with the highest placed British girl to represent GB in the mixed team event, and he is also part of the GB male team. I think by the time he gets back he'll have muscles on his muscles :-D. Oh, and he broke a national record as well!

I am proud of J's sporting talent but I give thanks that he has grown into a modest, kind and friendly young man.

Hope the pain killers are working Kandj.

Have a good Tuesday everyone.

Good morning :-)

Its a wonderful experience for your grandson Vera - in so many ways and I agree with you about the youngsters who don't have the opportunity to go further in life. We have an active Boys' Brigade at church and, just recently, the Junior Section have won some sort of competition beating 300 other groups from around the world. Such good experiences for these lads.

Dear kandj, please keep taking the tablets :-D

All of us have so much to be thankful for each day. When we awake to a new day, when a friend is in touch with us, for the food we eat, for the water that flows into our homes, for flowers, birds, trees, our health: the list can go on and on.

Thanking God should be part of our daily lives. It is also good to tell God about worries and concerns: about jobs, relationships, family, health, whatever comes to mind. Sharing those thoughts with God will often help to lessen the burdens we carry. Take time -- lots of it -- each day to talk to God in prayer. If you spend time with family members or friends, en-gage them in prayer with you, and listen to how they share their joys/concerns/thanks with God.



Jesus, thank you for Summer. Thank you for light and warmth. Thank you for the sun. Thank you for the gifts of nature and for the annual cycles and seasons. Today, give us that grace again, to see you as the Creator, the One who lifts us up to be with you forever, even now. Amen.

Cx :-)

Sorry to hear you are still in pain Kandj. I hope it will go away very soon. That "sun has got his hat on" song is going to be going round my brain all day.

Thank you to Kandj and Cynthia for your good wishes for my grandson. He has had a couple of days of practice, today is equipment inspection and opening ceremony and competition proper starts tomorrow and continues till Friday. Of course, we want him to do well but the important thing is for him to enjoy the experience of meeting youngsters from so many other countries - 31 countries in all I think.

Because of the opportunities J has had I have been thinking of those youngsters whose futures are limited either through poverty or lack of parental care and commitment, and hoping that they will receive the help they need.

~~~~~~~~~~ a quick wave to anyone looking in. Enjoy your day.

Hello all

Definitely remembered the pain relief tablets last night but I kept laying on the left side of my face and waking myself up with the pain in my jaw. It is a warm and sunny day but a little breeze is making it much more comfortable for hubby..... and for me too. I have had this happy little tune going around in my head all morning......

The sun has got his hat on
Hip, hip, hip hooray
The sun has got his hat on
And he's coming out today.

Now we'll all be happy
Hip, hip, hip hooray
The sun has got his hat on
And he's coming out to play.

Just sending out a little (lop-sided) smile to whoever might need one today xxx

Good morning :-)

Poor kandj, you have really been in the wars, but its so good to hear that you are on the road to recovery - yes, it does help if you remember to take your painkillers :-D


The Collect (special prayer for today)

O God, the protector of all who trust in you,
without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy:
increase and multiply upon us your mercy;
that with you as our ruler and guide
we may so pass through things temporal that we finally lose not the things eternal; grant this, heavenly Father, for our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake,
who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen.

The gospel for today gives us those reassuring words from Jesus….

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest”.


Cx :-)

Hello all

I am an early bird this morning, I forgot to take my pain relief tablets before bed and
was woken early with pain in my gum..... silly me, but I am improving slowly and looking less like a hamster now thank goodness.

Vera I hope your Grandson has done well in the EU Archery competition. He is sure to have enjoyed the whole experience. You must be very proud of his achievements.

Cynthia your posting now has me remembering the words of this lovely old song.

I'm only human, I'm just a woman
Help me believe in what I could be
And all that I am.
Show me the stairway I have to climb
Lord for my sake, teach me to take
One day at a time.

One day at a time sweet Jesus
That's all I'm asking from you
Just give me the strength
To do every day, what I have to do.
Yesterday's gone sweet Jesus
Tomorrow my never be mine
Lord help me today, show me the way
One day at a time.

Happy Saturday blessings to all looking in today. xxx

Good morning :-)



Lovely morning here in the North West...........now to get some more washing out! :-D


One Day at a Time

One day at a time, with its failures and fears,
With its hurts and mistakes, with its weakness and tears,
With its portion of pain and its burden of care;
One day at a time we must meet and must bear.

One day at a time to be patient and strong,
To be calm under trial and sweet under wrong;
Then its toiling shall pass and its sorrow shall cease;
It shall darken and die, and the night shall bring peace.

One day at a time - but the day is so long,
And the heart is not brave, and the soul is not strong,
O Thou pitiful Christ, be Thou near all the way;
Give courage and patience and strength for the day.

Swift cometh His answer, so clear and so sweet;
"Yea, I will be with thee, thy troubles to meet;
I will not forget thee, nor fail thee, nor grieve;
I will not forsake thee; I never will leave."

Not yesterday's load we are called on to bear,
Nor the morrow's uncertain and shadowy care;
Why should we look forward or back with dismay?
Our needs, as our mercies, are but for the day.

One day at a time, and the day is His day;
He hath numbered its hours, though they haste or delay.
His grace is sufficient; we walk not alone;
As the day, so the strength that He giveth His own.

—Annie Johnson Flint




Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Thank you for your kind words Vera......it's always encouraging to know that someone is around. Very good luck to your grandson in the competition - he has done incredibly well. Please keep us posted. <3


For today:

Lord, here I am.
It’s another day – Friday.
For some people it’s the end of their working week.
The weekend break is ahead.
Time, maybe, for the family, the garden, sport, odd jobs.
So today Lord, I pray for families,
For parents and children.
I ask your blessing and peace
To be with every family.
Hold them together with a great love for each other.
Amen
“Love is patient, love is kind.”
1 Corinthians 13:4


Love to all Cx :-)

Poor you, Kandj, I hope the soreness and bruising feels a little easier today.

I know we don't always respond much but we do miss you when you don't post Cynthia. I am always amazed at how many different themes you find for us.

Yesterday I had to take a long coach journey. Our driver gave us a smooth ride and got us safely there and back. Today grandson flies to Croatia for the European archery contest, so thanks today then for all our transport workers and prayers for the safety of all who are travelling by land, sea or air.