General Chat

kandj. Verse 15. "I will make you a new sharp threshing machine". Perhaps he has made one for Cynthia's church.

Cynthia, it is the church that your old Vicar crafted that has become the magnet for people seeking the Lord. And he would be the first to admit he was just one part of it at one point in time. Churches are the local community and anyone at diocesan level does not really understand the love and fellowship and personal interaction.

It is worse in Methodism. Few Ministers stay for more than 6 years, and you get used to a lovely one and he or she is posted to the Hebrides or Cornwall and some new inexperienced and wet behind the ears Minister enters scene left. Several times it has seemed a most inappropriate change.

Yet looking back over 30 years and probably about 7 different Ministers (and 3 or 4 retired Ministers also) each of them was the right person at that time. None of them have been skilled in every area of Ministry, but they have all added rather than subtracted to our local churches.

Your thought for the day, Cynthia. I am a pessimist by nature (no disappointments in my day as I am always ready for them), so just read the first half of each point. How true. Perhaps I will struggle with the second parts later. :-) :-)

Many thanks kandj...........I also meant to say thank you for the words by Gregory Gore too. We press on in faith, hope and trust :-)


It's a bit grey here today but, at least it's a new day..........hope these words help someone.



Attitude Determines Altitude!

I woke up early today, excited over all that I
get to do before the clock strikes midnight.
I have responsibilities to fulfill today.
I am important.
My job is to choose what kind of day
I am going to have.

Today I can complain
because the weather is rainy
or I can be thankful that the grass
is getting watered for free.

Today I can feel sad
because I don't have more money or
I can be more grateful
for the many things that I already have.

Today I can grumble about my health
or I can rejoice that I am alive.

Today I can lament over all that my parents
didn't give me when I was growing up
or I can feel grateful
that they allowed me to be born.

Today I can cry because roses have thorns
or I can celebrate
that thorns have roses.

Today I can mourn for my lack of friends
or I can excitedly embark upon a quest
to discover new relationships.

Today I can whine
because I have to go to work
or I can shout for joy
because I have a job to do.

Today I can complain
because I have to go to school
or I can eagerly open my mind and fill it
with rich new tidbits of knowledge.

Today I can murmur dejectedly
because I have to do housework
or I can feel honored
because the Lord has provided
shelter for my mind, body and soul.

Today stretches ahead of me,
waiting to be shaped.
And here I am, the sculptor
who gets to do the shaping.

What today will be like is up to me.
I'm the one who gets to choose
what kind of day I will have!

~ Author Unknown ~



I hope everyone makes the best of today...... <3

Cynthia, my church has been forced to cope with diocesan decisions that have caused great upset and division within the congregation. It is hard not to criticize.

Isaiah 41 v 13, has always helped me and I hope it will help you too.

Hi kandj,

The diocese doesn't seem to work like that these days. They speak - we jump!

Unfortunately, it is patently obvious that the diocese only cares about one thing. Money. It is as though they have lost their way. Very sad.

John, ongoing thoughts and prayers for the tragic event at Lampedusa.

Cynthia. A very challenging time ahead for your church family. Very sad decision!

The chosen Priest-in-charge will need support to move your parish forward after the sudden death of your very popular vicar. Is this to be a permanent position? Wouldn't your churchwardens have to be involved and your PCC be asked for their opinion before such a notice was announced in church?

I agree this new appointment isn't allowing his wife and daughter time to adjust or your close congregation chance to grieve. I sometimes wonder if the church hierarchy are living in the real world..... this insensitive decision too cruel and much too soon imho.

It was the mustard seed story in the Anglican church today too John... :-D


Things were somewhat difficult at church this morning. It was announced that a 'Priest-in-charge' has been appointed.....a neighbouring vicar. Many folk think it is far too soon as it is barely a month since our lovely man died.

I tend to agree with them. His wife and daughter are still living in the vicarage and struggling to cope with both their grief and the worry of finding a new home.

Sometimes I feel that those at the top are so busy running a 'business' that they forget what we are all about. :-(

Have really enjoyed those last few posts. It made me think of that lovely hymn by John Bunyan:

Who would true valour see,
Let him come hither;
One here will constant be,
Come wind, come weather.
There's no discouragement
Shall make him once relent
His first avowed intent
To be a pilgrim

We had our sermon from Luke Chapter 17 verse 6: "And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine (cedar) tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea. And it shall obey you."

We so underestimate faith. We look for it, yet as Jesus later said in this chapter. "The Kingdom of God is within you" We can do anything if we have sufficient faith.

Very stirring and challenging, I thought. And I was very pleased that our Minister said quite a long prayer in support of these refugees from the Horn of Africa who perished in the seas near the Italian island of Lampedusa. I think it is 111 survivors and several hundreds perished in the Mediterranean. It so shocked me that at the end of a dreadful journey across Africa, they perished when they could almost literally see Lampedusa and a new life of freedom. :-( I just hope that the Italian authorities do everything they can to look after the survivors.

Thank you both for the prayer and poem.

Emma :-)

Cynthia, I came across this poem and thought it appropriate to follow your words.

THIS JOURNEY THAT I AM ON

This journey that I am on
Sometimes has been crooked and seemed very long
Sometimes it was exciting and fun
Other times like a sad, sad song.
Many times there were bumps in the road
Often I felt I was carrying a heavy load
There has been joy and pain, laughter and sorrow
Memories of yesterday and thoughts of tomorrow
But all along its paths I trod
My Lord was with me
Loaning me his staff and rod
He watched over me, heard every sigh and moan
And as always is guiding me through
This journey that I am on.

written by Gregory W.Gore

Good morning all......I thought the Grocery Store words were really good too.....very thought provoking. :-)


As I prepare to set off to church and to face another morning where no-one is quite sure what is going to happen, I offer this little prayer:


Dear Lord, as I arise
And bend my knee to pray
I ask please place your guiding hand
Upon this busy day

All my yesterdays are said and done
Tomorrow may never be
But I give you full reign over this day
To make the best of me

May each little word I speak
Be filtered through your love
May all my thoughts be connected
To the heavenly courts above

And use my feet to take me
To where you want me to be
Guard my eyes that they would only
See what you want me to see

Give me a heart that longs to show
Others the way back home
And with these two hands help me
Fashion glory for your throne

From the great expanse of eternity
One day is all I can borrow
So help me Lord to take care of today
And we’ll talk again tomorrow

By Anita Humbertson



So let's see how we get on..........with love, Cx :-)

Cynthia, I haven't come across today's poem before but enjoyed reading it,
the punch-line gives real food for thought! Thank you.

John, Thank you for sharing your thoughts on Psalm 139 verses.

Emma, I also agree that Heaven's Grocery Store is so lovely to read.

Cynthia how lovely is Heaven's Grocery Store,
never seen it before, thank you <3

Emma :-)

Good morning......we seem a bit quiet at the moment. Hope everyone is okay. :-)



Thank you for those words John...... :-)



A smile for today...

Heaven's Grocery Store


I was walking down life's highway
A long long time ago.
One day I saw a sign that read
"HEAVEN'S GROCERY STORE."
As I got a little closer,
The door came open wide,
And when I came to myself,
I was standing inside.

I saw a host of Angels,
They were standing everywhere.
One handed me a basket and said,
"My child, shop with care.
Everything a Christian needs
Is in that grocery store,
And all you can't carry ...
Come back the next day for more."

First I got some PATIENCE,
LOVE was in the same row.
Further down was UNDERSTANDING,
Needed everywhere you go.
I got a box or two of WISDOM ,
A bag or two of FAITH,
I just couldn't miss the Holy Ghost,
For He was all over the place.

I stopped to get some STRENGTH and
COURAGE to help me run this race;
But then my basket was getting full,
And I remembered I needed GRACE.
I didn't forget SALVATION ,
Which like the others was free,
So I tried to get enough of that
To save both you and me.

Then I started to the counter
To pay my grocery bill,
For I thought I had everything
To do my Master's will.
As I went up the aisle,
I saw PRAYER and I had to put it in,
For I knew when I stepped outside,
I would run right into SIN.

PEACE and JOY were plentiful,
They were on the last shelf.
SONG and PRAISES were hanging near,
So I just helped myself.
Then I said to the Angel,
"How much do I owe?"
The Angel smiled and said,
"Just take them everywhere you go!"

Again I politely asked,
"How much do I really owe?"
The Angel smiled again and said,

"MY CHILD ...
JESUS PAID YOUR BILL A
LONG TIME AGO!"


~ Ron De Marco and Friend ~



Love to you all.....Cx :-)

Thankyou Cynthia. That is exactly how I felt when my dad was gravely ill 35 years ago. He had always been there, always strong. Suddenly he was very frail and I stuttered the words I had never said - "I love you". He had had a heart attack and I thought he would recover - only just celebrated his 60th birthday and he had always had good health and never been to a doctor. But he had another massive heart attack a few hours later and was dead. Each person seems so permanent in our lives. My mother in law was born 2 days before dad in January 1918 and she is still fairly well at nearly 96!!!

Psalm 139 meditation (verses 17-18) for this morning (Friday) brings us to where we started last week. I found the last verses very difficult, so will quote them from MSG version of Bible:

"Your thoughts—how rare, how beautiful!
God, I’ll never comprehend them!
I couldn’t even begin to count them—
any more than I could count the sand of the sea.
Oh, let me rise in the morning and live always with you!"


The final verses for Friday evening and Saturday thoughts are:

"And please, God, do away with wickedness for good!
And you murderers—out of here!—
all the men and women who belittle you, God,
infatuated with cheap god-imitations.
See how I hate those who hate you, God,
see how I loathe all this godless arrogance;
I hate it with pure, unadulterated hatred.
Your enemies are my enemies!

Investigate my life, O God,
find out everything about me;
Cross-examine and test me,
get a clear picture of what I’m about;
See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong—
then guide me on the road to eternal life."

Good morning all.... :-)



I love the reality in the Scottish blessings John - they make me smile :-)


I have never seen the following poem before, but I think that, although it has a sadness about it, the words are extremely meaningful:


If Tomorrow Never Comes

If I knew it would be the last time
That I'd see you fall asleep,
I would tuck you in more tightly,
And pray the Lord your soul to keep.

If I knew it would be the last time
That I'd see you walk out the door,
I would give you a hug and kiss,
And call you back for just one more.

If I knew it would be the last time
I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise,
I would tape each word and action,
And play them back throughout my days.

If I knew it would be the last time,
I would spare an extra minute or two,
To stop and say "I love you,"
Instead of assuming you know I do.

So just in case tomorrow never comes,
And today is all I get,
I'd like to say how much I love you,
And I hope we never will forget,

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,
Young or old alike,
And today may be the last chance
You get to hold your loved one tight.

So if you're waiting for tomorrow,
Why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes,
You'll surely regret the day,

That you didn't take that extra time
For a smile, a hug, or a kiss,
And you were too busy to grant someone,
What turned out to be their one last wish.

So hold your loved ones close today,
And whisper in their ear,
That you love them very much and
You'll always hold them dear.

Take time to say "I'm sorry,"
"Please forgive me," "Thank you," or "It's okay",
And if tomorrow never comes,
You'll have no regrets about today.

~ Norma Cornett Marek ~



Something for everyone to think about...... Cx :-)

kandj That NLB translation is really nice. So intersting to see all the different translations. There were 54 scholars who compiled the KJV (Authorised). And probably quite a few compiled each of the others. And they can each see a verse slightly differently. And, of course, our Bibles can be from 17th century right through to today.

I really chuckled (went limp) at the first of the blessings this morning, Cynthia. And I have never been in church in Scotland, but I do remember going to a Welsh service in Holywell in N Wales. I said a quiet prayer at end of service, lifted my head and all congegation (about 30) had left chapel and were wallking home!!! And Minister had gone through to the back to tidy up and count the offering!! I shuffled out.

Anyway, evening verses today from Psalm 139 vv 15-16) are:

"My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them"

And a bit easier to understand in The Message (MSG) Translation:

"You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,
how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
all the stages of my life were spread out before you,
The days of my life all prepared
before I’d even lived one day." :-)

Cynthia, your church family will find it all very strange without your vicar, but the good thing is that you are all pulling together and working as a team to continue to provide the church services for all who need them, so well done to you all. It is not easy during an interregnum but it is a challenging path now and a good way to help and support one another.Your vicar would be pleased at how well he has taught you all.

John, a slightly different wording in New Living Translation bible
Psalm 139 v 13-14.

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother's womb

Thank you for making me so
wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous-
how well I know it.

Verses 13 and 14 of Psalm 139 for this morning:

"For thou hast possessed my reins; thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.

I will praise thee. For I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvellous are thy works, and that my soul knoweth right well."

The Good News version of Bible renders these verses as:

"You created every part of me;
you put me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because you are to be feared;
all you do is strange and wonderful.
I know it with all my heart."

As I look into the mirror this morning, it is amazing how even the decaying bits of me have been quite wondrously made. I still have ears that hear, eyes that see, legs that work quite well. And a brain that sort of functions. And even if we lose many of our faculties, there is still so much to be thankful for. And best of all - we will always have a soul that tries to serve our maker.

John Milton's sonnet on his blindness:
"When I consider how my light is spent
Ere half my days
In this dark world and wide
And that one talent which is death to hide
Lodged with me useless, though my Soul more bent
To serve therewith my Maker, and present
My true account, least he returning chide,
Doth God exact day-labour, light denied,
I fondly ask; But patience to prevent
That murmur, soon replies, God doth not need
Either man's work or his own gifts, who best
Bear his milde yoke, they serve him best, his State
Is Kingly. Thousands at his bidding speed
And post o'er Land and Ocean without rest:
They also serve who only stand and wait." :-) :-)

Good morning all.....I love that saying kandj :-)


It was quite difficult to lead last night's Baptism prep class without our Vicar being there. However, we rallied round and did our best and worked together as a team. :-)
We use a PowerPoint to illustrate the meaning of Baptism and I sometimes find it quite difficult to explain that Baptism is, in fact, a form of death. I just hope the PP picture helps. :-S


For today - I had to smile at these two Scottish blessings :


May those who love us, love us.
And those who don't love us,
May God turn their hearts;
And if He doesn't turn their hearts,
May He turn their ankles,
So we will know them by their limping.



Be ye our angel unawares

If after Kirk ye bide a wee,
There's some would like to speak to ye,
If after Kirk ye rise and flee
We' all seem cauld and still to ye.
The one that's in the seat with ye
Is stranger here than ye, maybe.
All here have got their fears and cares,
Add ye your soul unto our prayers,
Be ye our angel unawares.

— Scottish Blessing


Enjoy your day. Cx :-)

I really believe that yesterdays words are so very true! Thank you Cynthia

How blessed we are if we have little ones around us. I have these words on my kitchen cork board and love them so much, it reads:-

One never stands as tall as when one kneels to help a child....... how very true this is.

Thank you John, I am following you with the Psalm 139 daily readings....... enlightening.