General Chat

Good morning :-)

Jesus said: "I am THE gate".

The Narrow and Wide Gates

Time and time again, the Bible makes it clear that only those who follow Jesus can enter Heaven, and this is where the narrow and wide gates come into play.

Jesus teaches that following the crowd through the wide gates leads to spiritual death.

However, going through the narrow gate signifies a deliberate, conscious choice to follow Jesus, distinct from the easy ways of the world.

The choice is ours.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Gates. Many of us have one……..wooden, maybe, or metal? Fancy or plain……bolted or the full security bit.

Yesterday, we heard that Jesus told his disciples that he was THE Gate.

What is a Gate?
A gate is an entrance to a restricted area that also serves as a wall separating it from the outside world. A gate or gateway is a point of entry or exit from a walled space. It can give you more control over who enters and who does not. It functions similarly to a door, but on the outside.
In ancient Israel, gates were central to city life, functioning as entry points, defensive structures, and places of governance. Elders and judges often sat at the gates to administer justice, witness transactions, and resolve disputes.

There were other gates too!


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Collect (special prayer) 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.

In today's Gospel we learn of Jesus being the Good Shepherd who protects His sheep.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Putting on the whole armour of God. So, what helps us in our battle? We live in a troubled world.

The Sword of the Spirit
All the armour is worn or used for defensive purposes, to keep the bad things away. But the sixth and final piece listed in Ephesians is offensive.

The sword of the Spirit, which is the Bible.
You are protected with all the other pieces, but this one points you in the right direction. Knowing God’s Word helps you attack the devil. Satan knows God’s Word is true, and when he hears it from your mouth, he doesn’t like it! Using the truth of Scripture makes him back down.

Having God’s Word in our hearts and on our lips is a tactic that can send the devil running in a hurry.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)



Yes indeed, thank you kandj! <3

I was having some work done and got carried away! :-D

Putting on the whole armour of God. So, what helps us in our battle?

The Helmet of Salvation
The fifth piece of armour is the helmet of salvation. Equally as important as protecting your heart in battle, a soldier absolutely must protect his head.

Being confident that God has saved you and forgiven your sins is the best way to defend your mind from the lies and the challenges in life that the devil will attack you with. When you accept Jesus, God has saved you. Things may not always go your way, but we are saved from our own sin and the evil around us in the end. That's some serious protection!

Cx :-)

Hello all

I hope everyone has had a good and happy
St George's Day today.

Good morning :-)


The Armour of God and The Gospel Shoes Of Peace


A battle won’t go very well if you’re just stuck in place. You’ve got to move forward. You certainly wouldn’t wear flip flops for a race; that would make you unprepared to win.

Likewise, your feet can’t be unprepared when you’re fighting against the devil. The Bible says these shoes will “prepare you to tell the good news of peace.”

Our job as Christians is to be ready to share the Gospel with others – that’s the good news of how Jesus came to save us.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Putting on the whole armour of God. So, what helps us in our battle?

The Breastplate of Righteousness
You're likely to end up with some cuts and bruises on your arms and legs in battle, and those probably won't stop you from fighting. But very few soldiers can survive a wound to their heart.
That’s why a breastplate is essential. It is the second piece that protects some very vital organs inside your body, including your heart.

As followers of Christ, we should all be striving to live righteously. That means doing your best to do what is right and good according to God's Word and avoiding what the Bible says is evil. When we strive to live like this, we are protecting our spiritual hearts, just like a breastplate, from the damage that sin can inflict on our hearts.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

You're very welcome kandj <3

The Armour of God

We will be celebrating St. George's Day this week, which reminds us that we, as Christians, are facing a constant battle against evil in this world and that we need protection to help us get through. So, what helps us in our battle?

The Belt of Truth
First and foremost, we’ve got to have a belt to hold everything in place. Without a belt, the rest of our uniform might fall apart. We don’t want our pants to be sagging, for goodness sake, so buckle that belt tight!

The Belt of Truth helps keep us grounded. In this world, people sometimes make up their own truth because it makes them feel good. However, as a Christian, the truth must come from God and His Word, not made-up opinions for what feels right in the moment. Buckle up with the Bible!

Cx :-)

Hello all

Cynthia, very many thanks for last week's "Doubting Thomas" postings, they were all very interesting but for me, the 16th April one struck a chord and really resonated with me personally.

Happy Sunday blessings to all looking in today.

Good morning :-)

The Collect (special prayer for today)

Almighty Father,
who in your great mercy gladdened the disciples
with the sight of the risen Lord:
give us such knowledge of his presence with us,
that we may be strengthened and sustained by his risen life
and serve you continually in righteousness and truth;
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.

In the Gospel for today, we hear the story of the journey on the road to Emmaus.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Resurrection in the Garden

The frost has loosened its silver grip,
and earth exhales a breath of green;
from furrows dark, the tulips slip
like prayers from lips once still, unseen.
A robin stitches dawn with song,
its thread of gold through lilac air;
the shadows know they can’t stay long—
light spills like wine, abundant, rare.
The stone is rolled from winter’s tomb,
and every bud becomes a flame;
the world, reborn in petal bloom,
whispers the ancient, risen name.
Jesus.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


As a butterfly soared overhead, one caterpillar said to the other, "You'll never get me up in one of those things."

Yet for every caterpillar, the time comes when the urge to eat and grow subsides, and he instinctively begins to form a chrysalis around himself. The chrysalis hardens, and you'd think for all the world that the caterpillar is dead.

But one spring morning, the life inside the chrysalis begins to writhe, the top cracks open, and a beautifully-formed butterfly emerges. For hours it will stand stretching and drying its wings, moving them slowly up and down, up and down. And then, before you know it, the butterfly glides aloft, effortlessly riding the currents of the air, alighting on flower after gorgeous flower, as if to show off its vivid colours to the bright blossoms.

Somehow, the miracle of the butterfly never loses its fascination for us. Perhaps because the butterfly is a living parable of the promise of resurrection.

Cc :-)

Good morning :-)


A shabbily-dressed old man came into church every day at 12 noon, stood before the Holy table for a few minutes, and then went away. He never missed a day and always appeared at the same time. Eventually, someone asked him why he did this.

The old man replied: “I’m not well educated to pray a long prayer, so I just stand here and say, ‘Jesus, it’s Jim,’ and then wait a moment. I’m sure he hears me.”

Soon afterwards, Jim was knocked down by a car and was taken to the hospital. The patients in his ward who were often grumbling became happier and said it was because old Jim was so cheerful.
But why should he be so cheerful and happy? When asked by a nurse, he replied that it was because of his daily visitor. The nurse knew he never had any visitors and asked him who came and when. “Every day at 12 noon, Jesus comes and stands at the foot of my bed, smiles and says, ‘Jim, it’s Jesus.’

Jim had discovered an honest and open approach to prayer. He had also found a simple trust in Jesus.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

A church was running a scheme to help distribute food baskets to needy families for Easter. To make sure everyone was taken care of, they had handed out numbers to the recipients that matched the basket they were supposed to receive. Each one contained a full Easter dinner—a whole ham, potatoes, bread, vegetables and a pie—plus enough staples to help feed a family for a week

A young man arrived and was invited in. He didn’t want to stop long because his daughter was in the car outside.

“I’m grateful for the food, but when I heard you were giving away baskets for Easter…well, I thought they would be Easter baskets for children,” he continued. “I promised my daughter one.” He glanced over his shoulder again. “I left her in the car because I wanted to surprise her.”

The helpers felt bad, but there was nothing they could do. The volunteers had put together food baskets, not Easter ones. They didn’t have the means to make up anything else. The man handed in his number, and they looked for the basket allocated to him.

One of the baskets seemed to have a bulge in it, and they wondered what it was. Looking more closely, they could see that it was indeed an Easter basket, filled with an assortment of sweets and Easter eggs. wrapped with ribbons and tucked inside with the food.

One of the volunteers must have added it by mistake! Then they looked at the man’s number and, would you believe it……………..
“Happy Easter,” they said to the man, handing him the only food basket with an Easter basket inside—the very same basket with his number on it. “Someone knew just what you needed.”

Someone sure did!


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Still thinking about Doubting Thomas...............

Loving Father,
When my faith feels fragile and my heart is clouded with questions,
remind me that You are patient with my uncertainty.
Help me to see that doubt is not the end of my journey,
but an invitation to seek You more deeply.
Give me courage to bring my fears into Your light,
and wisdom to trust even when I cannot see the way ahead.
Anchor my soul in Your promises,
and let Your peace quiet the storms within me.
I choose to believe that You are near,
even in the silence,
and that Your love will hold me steady
until my faith grows strong again.
Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Yesterday, we heard about Doubting Thomas.......... Yes, a follower of Jesus, but still doubting the resurrection. We can sympathise, because we all have doubts at some time.

There are loads of stories in the Bible where the main characters have doubted what God has either planned or what He wanted them to do. Moses, Elijah, and John the Baptist – they all had doubts.

It’s important to recognise our doubts because they can help us to grow and understand the faith a little better.

Dear Lord,
In these moments of doubt, I come to You seeking strength and reassurance. Help me to trust in Your plan, even when I don’t understand it. Strengthen my faith and remind me of Your constant presence. Guide me through this uncertainty, and fill my heart with peace. Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Sorry about yesterday - I get side tracked so easily! :-|


One pair of hands formed the mountains
One pair of hands formed the sea
One pair of hands made the sun and the moon
Every bird, every flower, every tree.

One pair of hands formed the valleys
The ocean, the rivers and the sand
Those hands are so strong, so when life goes wrong
Put your faith in the one pair of hands.

One pair of hands, healed the sick
One pair of hands raised the dead
One pair of hands calmed the ragging storm
And thousands of people were fed.

One pair of hands said I love you
And those hands were nailed to a tree
Those hands are so strong, so when life goes wrong
Put your faith into one pair of hands.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Keeping Easter alive

Jeremy was born with both learning difficulties and physical handicaps, and by age 12, he was still in second grade. His teacher, Doris Miller, often felt frustrated with him, believing he belonged in a special school. However, when she met with his parents, they expressed their concerns about transferring him, as he enjoyed being in class despite his challenges.
One day, Jeremy approached Doris and said, "I love you, Miss Miller," causing embarrassment in front of the class, but it melted her heart. As spring arrived, Doris assigned the children to bring in something that represented new life for Easter, but she forgot to inform Jeremy’s parents about it.

The next day, when the children presented their items, Doris was surprised to find Jeremy's egg was empty. She assumed it was because he hadn’t understood the project. However, Jeremy spoke up, saying, "Yes, but Jesus’ tomb was empty, too." This revelation moved Doris deeply, prompting her to realize the misunderstanding she had about him.

Three months later, Jeremy passed away, and at his funeral, 19 empty eggs were placed on his casket, a poignant reminder of his insight and impact.

Cx :-)

Good afternoon :-)

Keeping Easter alive
For a lot of people, gardening is a relaxing hobby. Have you ever thought about a Bible garden?
A Bible garden uses plants mentioned in the Bible to create a space that connects you with Scripture in a tangible, living way. Each plant becomes a doorway into deeper spiritual truth. This is a beautiful way to bring Scripture into your everyday life—right outside your door. You don’t have to have an enormous garden to enjoy this – make the most of what you have.
Olive trees are very popular at the moment – they require little care but are an attractive addition to a garden or even a small backyard. Olive Tree – Symbol of peace, endurance, and anointing. “But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in the house of God.” (Psalm 52:8)

You could even have a herb garden or window box with herbs based on the Fruits of the Spirit

• Lavender – peace and calm
• Mint – joy and refreshment
• Rosemary – faithfulness and remembrance
• Thyme – courage and self-control
The possibilities are endless.

Cx :-)