General Chat

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.

"If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.

Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day. The darkness and the light are both alike to thee."

Wednesday evening's thought (verses 11 and 12 of Psalm 139). How deep are the thoughts of King David. As I look across my valley this evening and see the twinkling lights everywhere, it is amazing to think that God sees all that panorama as clearly as he sees my valley swathed in sunshine in the middle of an August day.

:-) :-)

If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

(Psalm 139 verses 9-10)

And the evening meditation on Wednesday from Psalm 139 (vv 11-12) is even more relevant to your words from HSR about prayer this morning, Cynthia :-) :-)

Good morning. :-)

We have some wall plaques in our home too.........I particularly like the red Celtic openwork cross which has the words ..."The Lord bless you and keep you". Our grandson, when he was learning to read, was very proud to be able to read it to us. :-)



Not What You Want But What God Wills

Do you want what you want when you want it?
Do you pray and expect a reply?
And when it's not instantly answered,
Do you feel that God passed you by?

Well, prayers that are prayed in this manner
Are really not prayers at all,
For you can't go to God in a hurry
And expect Him to answer your call.

Prayers are not meant for obtaining
What we selfishly wish to acquire,
For God in His wisdom refuses
The things that we wrongly desire.

And don't pray for freedom from trouble
Or pray that life's trials pass you by,
Instead pray for strength and for courage
To meet life's dark hours and not cry .....

...That God was not there when you called Him
And He turned a deaf ear to your prayer
And just when you needed Him most of all
He left you alone in despair.

Wake up! You are missing completely
The reason and purpose of prayer,
Which is really to keep us contented
That God holds us safe in His care.

And God only answers our pleadings
When He knows that our wants fill a need,
And whenever our will becomes His will
There is no prayer that God does not heed.

~Helen Steiner Rice ~


Have a good day. Cx :-)

I love those plaques with such simple and yet profound words, Susan :-)

Not sure if you know why I am copying out Psalm 139, 2 verses at a time. We were discussing Celtic Christianity last week and I was looking at what happens during a particular Celtic week of meditation. One part of it was a morning and evening meditation from Monday till Saturday of the 24 verses of Psalm 139 - two verses per meditation period :-) :-)

Sounds like a plaque I have on my wall John


Bidden or not Bidden God is present :-)

"Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there."

This is KJV (Ps 139 vs 7-8). In NIV, it is:

"Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there."

Thankyou, kandj :-) Amanda Bradley's words are new to me.

My mum was v keen on light opera and was a patron of South Staffs Amateur Operatic Society and loved to appear on stage when she was younger. At her funeral, we had the leading soprano from that Society singing "Climb Every Mountain" Nowadays, that seems a normal thing to do in funerals, but was a bit unusual then (1988). Very emotional and lovely service for everyone, and a very full church. Mum was always very fit and well and only 21 years older than me, and I was convinced she would outlive me. We never know why some lovely ones are taken so early, and others who seem to deserve life less hang about for years and years :-S

Verses 5 and 6 of Psalm 139:

Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

Edit. Was writing at same time as you, Cynthia. Half-witted is the best we can hope for, probably:-) Loved that notice for helpers to read. And lovely words too :-) :-)

Good morning.... :-)


I'm not sure about being 'witty' John, but I can certainly be half-witted at times...... :-D

Rather like our late vicar, I must admit that I always try to diffuse potential 'situations' with a touch of humour. It works well in church life generally I find. :-D

In the meeting room kitchen - which is fully equipped with equipment for serving meals etc., there are several laminated posters on the notice board.....eg

'We are the willing, led by the unknowing,
are doing the impossible for the ungrateful.
We have done so much, with so little, for so long,
that we are now qualified to do anything with nothing'.


'The impossible we can do immediately.
Miracles take a little longer.'


:-) :-)


Anyway, today's thought is about chlldren:


Children Learn What They Live


If a child lives with CRITICISM,
He learns to CONDEMN.

If a child lives with HOSTILITY,
He learns to FIGHT.

If a child lives with RIDICULE,
He learns to be SHY.

If a child lives with SHAME,
He learns to feel GUILTY.

If a child lives with TOLERANCE,
He learns to be PATIENT.

If a child lives with ENCOURAGEMENT,
He learns to be CONFIDENT.

If a child lives with PRAISE,
He learns to APPRECIATE.

If a child lives with FAIRNESS,
He learns JUSTICE.

If a child lives with SECURITY,
He learns to have FAITH.

If a child lives with APPROVAL,
He learns to LIKE HIMSELF.

If a child lives with ACCEPTANCE
and FRIENDSHIP,
He learns to LOVE in the world.

- Anon



Have a lovely day.....Cx :-)

I agree with Emma, today's words are very inspirational.

I came across Amanda Bradley's poems a long time ago when life was throwing many challenges at me. This poem helped me through a bad patch, and I would like to share it today. It is another Amanda Bradley poem.

FOLLOW YOUR DREAM

Follow your dream,
Take one step at a time and don't settle for less,
Just continue to climb,
Follow your dream.
If you stumble, don't stop and lose sight of your dream
Press to the top.
For only on top can we see the whole view,
Can we see what we've done and what we can do;
Can we then have the vision to seek something new,
Press on,
Follow your dream.

You see me, whether I am working or resting;
you know all my actions.

Even before I speak,
you already know what I will say.

Verses 3 and 4 of Psalm 139 (Good News Bible).

For evening meditation in Celtic devotions on Day One (Monday to Saturday)

Your thought for today Cynthia has lifted me. <3

Thank you.

Emma :-)

You so do yourself down, Cynthia. You are very funny. Not quite as witty as late Vicar, but at least you can claim to be a half-wit, as I am often called :-) ;-)

And that thought for this morning is very uplifting.

Back on more familiar ground with first two verses of Psalm 139:

"O Lord, thou hast searched me.

Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off "

Quite sobering words. God knows everything about each of us, even our innermost thoughts. Most of us know virtually nothing about God, and even the most devoted saint only knows a very little.

Meant to say........yesterday went well - all things considered. The retired vicar took the baptism service in a slightly different way to what we are used to but it was fine.

Things are slightly higgledy-piggledy as everyone comes to terms with the fact that there is 'leader at the helm' but we will get into the swing of things hopefully.

I have been asked to keep our late beloved vicar's 'wit' going.........arrrgghhhh.......sometimes I feel totally ....witless!!!! :-D

Good morning all.... :-)


kandj, I sometimes wonder where the church would be without the retired clergy who are willing to step in and help. I have known a few clergy who, once they retire, wish to remain 'out of sight' as it were but, by far, the majority are more than happy to assist.

It may be something to do with the fact that they were 'called to serve' and they are happy to continue serving as part of their vocation.


A thought for today:



Each Life Affects Another

We may not always realize
That every thing we do,
Affects not only our lives
But touches others, too!

For a little bit of thoughtfulness
That shows someone you care,
Creates a ray of sunshine
For both of you to share.

Yes, every time you offer
Someone a helping hand ...
Every time you show a friend
You care and understand ...

Every time you have
A kind and gentle word to give ...
You help someone find beauty
In this precious life we live.

For happiness brings happiness
And loving ways bring love;
And Giving is the treasure
That contentment is made of.

~ Amanda Bradley ~



Cx :-)

Cynthia, St John Chrysostom words all new to me. We often have older clergy who fill in locally when needed. I don't think clergy ever really retire, and where would we be without them?

John, your pilgrimage sounds wonderful and how blessed you are to have Penrhys so near to your home. I have visited the Roman Catholic and Anglican chapels in Walsingham on a pilgrimage many years ago. I also have visited Ladyewell Shrine and have special spiritual memories of fellowship at all three pilgrimages.......bliss!!

The book of Job never fails to remind me to count my blessings.

We are having a variety of prayers from just about every Christian tradition. Thankyou Cynthia and all of you. Wonderful. What amazes me is that we all pray in a very similar way, and have done for very many centuries.

Hope service and baptism went well this morning, Cynthia.

We had an excellent service today. Only a local preacher but he was really on top of his text - which was the well-known but difficult passage about Jesus telling the rich young ruler to lay aside all his wordly wealth and follow him. Of course, the rich man hesitated. Wouldn't we?

The Old Testament reading was from Job, and he reminded us that Job was about the wealthiest man in the world and he was forced by God to lose everything. His wife died, all his children died. He lost every possession. Yet he finished up having a wonderful life on earth and in heaven and is still remembered thousands of years later.

If I get really disheartened, I love to read passages from the Book of Job. Then my problems are as nothing :-) :-)

Good morning everyone and what interesting posts......thank you. :-)



I am not very familiar with the rites of the Orthodox church, but I know that they have inherited a very rich tradition of prayer. Here are two examples:


"He who is able to pray correctly, even if he is the poorest of all people, is essentially the richest. And he who does not have proper prayer, is the poorest of all, even if he sits on a royal throne."
St John Chrysostom


Grant unto me, my Lord,
that with peace in mind
I may face all that this new day is to bring.

Grant unto me grace to
surrender myself completely to Thy holy will.
Instruct and prepare me in all things for every hour of this day.

Whatsoever tidings I may receive during the day,
do Thou teach me to accept them calmly,
in the firm conviction that all eventualities fulfill Thy holy will.

Govern Thou my thoughts
and feelings in all I do and say.
When things unforeseen occur, let me not forget that all cometh down from Thee.


Teach me to behave sincerely
and reasonable toward every member of my family
and all other human beings, that I may not cause confusion and sorrow to anyone.

Bestow upon me, my Lord,
strength to endure the fatigue of the day
and to bear my share in all its passing events.

Guide Thou my will and teach me to pray,
to believe, to hope, to suffer, to forgive, and to love. Amen.



I will soon be off to church - another baptism this morning and a friendly retired vicar to take the service for us. It's never easy to find clergy who are free to help out and the retired folk are very, very valuable to us.

Have a good day....... :-)

Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts.

And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139 verses 23-24)

What a way to finish the week. With the words of King David, the 28 x gt grandfather of our Lord Jesus Christ :-)

I always knew that Walsingham was a great place of pilgrimage. But had not realised the importance of nearby Penrhys in the Rhondda until today.

There is a modern white statue at the side of the road in this little village that stands between the two Rhondda valleys at a height of about 1,000 feet with the hills either side up to 1400 feet. The original statue was destroyed in the times of Henry VIII and I quote:

"It is said that Bishop Latimer threw the Penrhys statue out of the west window of St. Paul's. The Walsingham and Ipswich statues were as a matter of fact burnt by Cromwell at Chelsea, though the image of a Welsh saint had been burnt a few months earlier at Smithfield.

About 60 of us made our way up to Penrhys this morning for a 5 hour pilgrimage. We held a service in the modern chapel of Llanfair (St Mary) in the village, went down to the well which is covered by a small chapel-like stone building and then sat round in an open air amphitheatre and had readings and prayers. We sang hymns, our voices thin in the mountain air. We looked down into the Rhondda Fawr valley 600 feet below.

As we came up from the amphitheatre at the end of our pilgrimage, there was another smaller group of about 15 praying and reading scriptures close to the modern statue. A truly inspiring day for me - the first time in my life I have been involved in anything quite like that. :-) :-)