General Chat

Afternoon all, thought you might enjoy this article
which was in a Sunday newspaper today.

A new minister was visiting the homes of his
parishioners to introduce himself.
At one house there was no answer when he
rang the bell, but he did see the drawn curtains
twitch a little.
Not wishing to impose, he left a visiting card with
a note which read: Revelations 3:20
If you look that up you'll find it reads: "Here I am!
I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my
voice and opens the door, I will come in."
When the offering was collected after his service
the following Sunday, the minister noticed his visiting
card was in the collection plate with an additional
Bible reference: Genesis 3:10
He quickly looked up the quotation and chuckled
as he read the reply"I heard thy voice in the garden,
and I was afraid, because I was naked."

Emma :-)

Cynthia your post reminded me of a song that I have loved from my teens by Jamie Owens Collins.

Hard Times

Is that rain falling from the sky keeping you from singin'
Is that tear falling from your eye 'cause the wind is stingin'

Don't you fret now, child, don't you worry
The rain's to help you grow
So don't try to hurry the storm along
The hard times make you strong

Don't you know a seed could never grow if there were never showers
Though the rain might bring a little pain, just look at all the flowers

Don't you fret now, child, don't you worry
The rain's to help you grow
So don't try to hurry the storm along
The hard times make you strong
Make you strong

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2L6tmW8Tdw

The Lord's Day :-D :-D And a fine sunny start to the week down here in the beautiful South Wales valleys :-D

This is the day.
This is the day that the Lord has made,
That the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it,
And be glad in it.
This is the day that the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
This is the day that the Lord has made.

This is the day.
This is the day when he rose again,
When he rose again;
We will rejoice,
We will rejoice and be glad in it,
And be glad in it.
This is the day when he rose again;
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
This is the day when he rose again.

This is the day,
This is the day when the Spirit came,
When the Spirit came;
We will rejoice,
We will rejoice and be glad in it,
And be glad in it.
This is the day when the Spirit came;
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
This is the day when the Spirit came.

This is the reason,
The reason Sunday is so fine,
Sunday is so fine;
We will rejoice,
We will rejoice and be glad in it,
And be glad in it.
This is the day; Sunday is so fine;
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
This is the day; Sunday is so fine.

(Last verse was mine ;-))

Edit. Was writing at same time, Cynthia. Lovely words :-) :-)

Good morning friends......... :-)


Another Sunday is upon us and yes, more baptisms...........



It's In The Valleys I Grow


Sometimes life seems hard to bear,
Full or sorrow, trouble, and woe,
It’s then I have to remember,
That it’s in the valleys I grow

If I always stayed on the mountain top,
And never experienced pain,
I would never appreciate God’s love,
And would be living in vain

I have so much to learn,
And my growth is very slow,
Sometimes I need the mountain tops,
But it’s in the valleys I grow

I do not always understand,
Why things happen as they do,
But I am very sure of one thing,
My Lord will see me through

My little valleys are nothing,
When I picture Christ on the cross,
He went through the valley of death,
His victory was Satan’s loss

Forgive me Lord, for complaining,
When I’m feeling very low,
Just give me a gentle reminder,
That it’s in the valley I grow

Continue to strengthen me Lord,
And use my life each day,
To share your love with others,
And help them find their way

Thank you for the valleys Lord,
For this one thing I know,
The mountain tops are glorious,
But it’s in the valleys I grow!

- Tracy Mayfield




Hope you all have a good day.......Cx :-)

So very encouraging, thank you Cynthia . I hope you have a good day too.

<3 <3 <3

You're most welcome friends. :-)



Some words for today - very encouraging words too.....



HE IS!


When you are the neediest, He is the most sufficient.

When you are completely helpless, He is the most helpful.

When you feel totally dependent, He is absolutely dependable.

When you are the weakest, He is the most able.

When you are the most alone, He is intimately present.

When you feel you are the least, He is the greatest!

When you feel the most useless, He is preparing you.

When it is darkest, He is the only Light you need.

When you feel the least secure, He is your Rock and Fortress.

When you are the most humble, He is most gracious.

When you say that you cannot, remember that He can!

- Anon.


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

Amen to those wise words.

Thank you again <3

Hello Ruby - what a lovely thought from your pastor!

My parents bought me a brown leather satchel with a long strap which went over one shoulder. I really wanted one that had the short straps and which fitted over TWO shoulders. :-( :-D


A thought for those who are going through any troubles..........with love.


ADVERSITY CAN DISTRESS US OR BLESS US

The way we use adversity
is strictly our own choice,
For in God's Hands adversity
can make the heart rejoice -
For everything God sends to us,
no matter in what form,
Is sent with plan and purpose
for, by the fierceness of a storm -
The atmosphere is changed and cleared
and the earth is washed and clean
And the "high winds of adversity"
can make restless souls serene -
And while it's very difficult
for mankind to understand
God's intentions and His purpose
and the workings of His Hand,
If we observe the miracles
that happen every day
We cannot help but be convinced
that in His wondrous way
God makes what seemed unbearable
and painful and distressing,
Easily acceptable when
we view it as a blessing.

- Helen Steiner Rice



((hugs)) for those with problems. Cx :-)

....... 'May I never be too busy

To help another bear his load,

And I'll keep drinking from my saucer, Lord,

'Cause my cup has overflowed.'

I have so much to be thankful for, and Cynthia, that song is a favourite of mine. I especially like to hear Michael Combs' rendition of it.

We had an interesting service last Sunday. Since our students would be returning to school this week, the pastor asked them to bring their backpacks to church. He called them all to the front with their bags, and he asked blessings for the children and teachers and for their new backpacks. The little ones tend to tell him some very comical things sometimes.

I remember well my old school satchell - jam-packed with books at the weekends, but it was a far cry from todays colourful models, and it had to last me for years!

We are studying Nehemiah and Ezra at Sunday school. I find the bible fascinating - just wish I had not neglected it for so many years.

Rubyx

My cup overflows each morning, Cynthia. Many thanks. :-) :-)

One family we dwell in him,
One church, above, beneath,
Though now divided by the stream,
The narrow stream of death:
One army of the living God,
To his command we bow;
Part of his host have crossed the flood,
And part are crossing now.

Ten thousand to their endless home
This solemn moment fly;
And we are to the margin come,
And we expect to die;
Ev'n now by faith we join our hands
With those that went before,
And greet the blood-besprinkled bands
On the eternal shore.

(Charles Wesley)

Praise the Lord that the last great enemy of mankind (death) has been defeated by the blood that flowed from Calvary.

Thank you my dearest Cynthia. .... <3

Good morning friends....... :-)


We had a lovely time with our friends yesterday - the husband is quite a comedian, and we were roaring with laughter at some of his stories. They're a Christian couple and he's also a keen golfer - which is where he gets most of his jokes from
:-D


A thoughtful smile for today.



Drinking From The Saucer


I've never made a fortune,
And I'll never make one now
But it really doesn't matter
'Cause I'm happy anyhow

As I go along my journey
I'm reaping better than I've sowed
I'm drinking from the saucer
'Cause my cup has overflowed

I don't have a lot of riches,
And sometimes the going's tough
But with kin and friends to love me
I think I'm rich enough

I thank God for the blessings
That His mercy has bestowed
I'm drinking from the saucer
'Cause my cup has overflowed

He gives me strength and courage
When the way grows steep and rough
I'll not ask for other blessings for
I'm already blessed enough

May we never be too busy
To help bear another's load
Then we'll all be drinking from the saucer
When our cups have overflowed


- John Paul Moore.


I hope you all have a lovely day. Cx :-)

Thank you both :-)

Emma :-)

Thank you - it's a pleasure. I've sung that hymn many a time John....the words are very challenging. :-)


Today's prayer...



Hidden In My Heart

I keep the Word of God
hidden in my heart
And each day when I rise
with prayer my day I start

I try to fill my mind
with His undying truth
so that through out the day
I'm careful how I choose

I need discernment to apply
His word to all I do
And when I'm going thru a trial
I know His word holds true

The nature of temptation
makes sin look heavenly
Sometimes it's hard to recognize
when it's the enemy

That's when I reach into that hiding place
where Satan has no part
Deep in my soul where God's true Word
is hidden in my heart

- Norma Calderon




I have visitors today so must go and find a duster! :-D


Cx :-)

Jesus calls us! O'er the tumult
Of our life's wild restless sea.
Day by day his clear voice soundeth,
Saying: "Christian, follow me."

Jesus calls us from the worship
Of the vain world's golden store,
From each idol that would keep us,
Saying: Christian, love me more".

Words of Mrs Cecil Frances Alexander (1818-1895), wife of Angican Bishop of Armagh and Sunday school teacher of grandmother of an elderly gentle lady (Georgina) that I knew in Northamptonshire who had beautiful Northern Irish accent. Georgina said her grandmother used to praise teaching of Mrs Alexander at every occasion.

Have a lovely day everybody - and look to Him in all things, look to Him :-) :-) :-)

John, I also read Genesis 30:37 and fail to see the connection or relevance?? (sorry BananaNaNa).

I agree that Cynthia is a gem and a real inspiration to us all each morning in sharing wonderful prayers and blessings at the start of each new day.

I particularly liked the words yesterday but have been unable to add to this thread until now........ many grateful thanks to Cynthia for all her ongoing efforts which I feel are much appreciated by us all.

Genesis 30:37
"And Jacob took him (Laban) rods of green poplar, and of the hazel and chestnut tree; and pilled white strakes in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods"

It then goes on to say that the whiteness of the poplar, hazel and chestnut rods encouraged the flocks to conceive. I assume pilled is similar to whittled.

I am wondering if that was the right verse from Genesis :-S :-)

Have been trying trying to change my package from Sky (which I have always been happy with) to BT (which I have never been happy with but was quite a bit cheaper).

So upset this morning. BT are saying that my MAC number (needed to migrate between suppliers) is invalid. Had to phone a BT call centre somewhere in Far East. And got absolutely nowhere.

Reason I have had that rant is that we all must have starts to the day like that. Then I turned to this thread and is is like an oasis of calm and beauty in the midst of a complicated and stressful world.

Every morning I know there will be beautiful thoughts from Cynthia and from others. Many thanks to all of you, and Cynthia deserves huge praise for sharing her thoughts and devotions each day with us. :-D :-D Now to face the day and the public of South Wales totally refreshed :-D