General Chat

The physical advantages of faith are few but we are assured that the spiritual & eternal advantages are infinite.

Still, us Catholics miss out a lot on this lovely planet for not having ladies on the altar or pulpit - except for flower arranging, etc plus dishing out coffee & cakes afterwards in the parlour, to revive our drooping spirit.

A great pity - but I suppose we all have to carry some load or other through life. They say that God has no favourites - just as well maybe.

Anyway, I might phone & have a word with Pope Frankie tomorrow about these old & faded traditions.

Amen!

Had a Sunday off today from being a PM. So it was nice to attend my own chapel.
About 20 of us, service was led excellently by a lady who is one of our members - what is called an Own Arrangement. She is really excellent, typically Rhondda and preached from Samuel when King David was selected. David's heart was right with God. Not to judge anybody by what they say or by how they look - but to try and see inside their heart.

Two of them had been to Llanwonno pilgrimage yesterday, Very very windy up there, and little church (Church in Wales) was full and they all had a wonderful time.

It would have been 100th birthday celebrations for lady over in Bargoed area yesterday. Not heard how that went, but I am sure it was a lovely day for everybody - and especially birthday girl. It is great to see someone born June 1913 who is still so lively and well :-D :-D Our God is indeed good :-) :-)

You're welcome Emma............sorry no tales of the vicar today...... :-(

I am also enjoying the work of Helen Steiner Rice,
Thank you Cynthia :-)

Emma

A lovely start to the day. And a lovely start to a new week, Cynthia. A day to charge up spiritual batteries. I am feeling more at one with Helen Steiner Rice each time I read one of her well-crafted poems.

Not sure we have ever had the Lords Prayer on this thread in over 6 months since it started.

This is how St Matthew recorded the words of Jesus to his followers during his keynote sermon from the mount:

"“This, then, is how you should pray:

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’

(New International Version of Bible)

I believe the end of the prayer that we are familiar with was added later.

Just think, as we say it today, that we are saying with Jesus "our Father". My father. Your Father. Our Father. :-) :-)

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


It's a very wet start to the week here but, nevertheless, many of us have a lot to be grateful for.........

As our vicar is off sick after his cataract operation, we are having a lady vicar this morning. She used to be curate at our church so we all know her.

I found another gem by Helen Steiner Rice


~ This is My Prayer ~

Bless me, heavenly Father,
forgive my erring ways,
Grant me strength to serve Thee,
put purpose in my days.

Give me understanding,
enough to make me kind,
So I may judge all people
with my heart and not my mind.

And teach me to be patient
in everything I do,
Content to trust Your Wisdom
and to follow after You.


And help me when I falter,
and hear me when I pray,
And receive me in Thy Kingdom
to dwell with Thee some day.


Cx :-)

There is a pilgrimage to Llanwonno today. How I wished I could have gone and reported back on a couple of hundred Valleys folk assembling in that lovely, romantic and remote spot between Pontypridd, Mountain Ash and Ferndale.

But this week is a 6 day working week for me with only tomorrow off. Been a really hot and hard week and was so looking to a day of rest and relaxation. Never mind.

I feel very fortunate that I am still able to work at a hard job that few young people seem to want to do. And am well and fairly fit at almost 67.

But most of all I am grateful that God looks after me every step I take. He notices when I have been good and when I have been bad. And I feel good when I am good in his eyes (not often) and I feel bad when I have been bad in his eyes. A Christian therefore is happy when his or her God is happy, sad when God is sad, and knows exactly what to ask forgiveness for.

And I am really happiest when Cynthia posts each day nice and early. And I love the prayers and notes of Emma and everyone :-) :-) :-)

Good morning..............thank you for the reminder about not losing heart Emma :-)


There are some, for whom not losing heart, must have been very difficult.......I think especially of the saints of old.....

I arise today,

Through the strength of heaven:

Light of the sun, radiance of the moon.

Splendor of fire, speed of lightning,

Swiftness of wind, depth of sea,

Stability of earth and firmness of rock.


I arise today,

Through God’s strength to pilot me:

God’s might to uphold me, God’s wisdom to guide me,

God’s eye to look before me, God’s ear to hear me,

God’s word to speak for me, God’s hand to guard me,

God’s way to lie before me, God’s shield to protect me.

From the snares of devils, from temptation of vices,

From everyone who shall wish me ill,

Afar and near, alone and in a multitude.


- St. Patrick



Enjoy your day............Cx :-)

Your vicar does make me smile Cynthia
and what better way to start the day.

Emma :-)

Edit......And he told them a parable to the
effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.
Luke 18:1

Many thanks for the Summer blessing prayer, Cynthia.

Your Vicar is brilliant. What a good relationship you must have for him to write like he does. And so funny. :-D

My little offering for this morning is another verse from a hymn by Mrs Alexander (1818-1893):

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

Have just opened an email from said Vicar.

In tiny, weeny print it says.....

Good morning. Feeling much better today and eyesight is improving. Do you need to borrow glasses to read this?



Doh! :-D

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

My vicar has just had a cataract operation done. The following day, I sent him an email asking how he was doing.

The reply I got?

ROUGH - in large letters!!! He is feeling much better now...... :-D


Today is the first day of Summer.......and so,


A Summer Blessing
(by Author Unknown)

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.


May you talk to God
This summer
And every day and
In every situation


Talking with God means...
Praying words of praise
For the beauty of creation
Saying prayers of thanks
For friends and good times,
Asking God's help
In all your decisions
Expressing sorrow
When you have failed.

May you talk with God
Every day Amen.



Cx :-)

Thankyou so much, Cynthia. I clearly remember the very first time I tried to pray in a public meeting. I was in my early 40's and had never really prayed except at side of bed when I was a child.

Everyone else in prayer meeting was so professional and I felt so inadequate. In the end, I blurted out, "thank you God for the lovely weather today.......errrrrr.......Amen"

And the others said afterwards it was a lovely prayer and thanked me :-) :-)

I am not sure I have shared this story, but in my old chapel in Northamptonshire, a lady sat behind me called Georgina. She had a soft Northern Irish accent and was in her 80's. Her grandma had told her about Sunday School in 1870's and how wonderful her Sunday School teacher was - the wife of the Rector, Mrs Alexander.

Mrs Alexander loved to explain the Creeds to her children. And parts of the Creeds are difficult for us adults, let alone children. So Mrs Alexander wrote a series of hymns for her students, including "All Things Bright and Beautiful".

Here is a verse she wrote for the children from "Once in Royal David's City":

And our eyes at last shall see him
Through his own redeeming love
For that child so dear and gentle
Is our Lord in heaven above.
And he leads his children on
To the place where he has gone.

Good morning.......

There are so many different types of prayer to be found - apart from those we pray ourselves.

It's a vast area to cover - from those which are very long - to those which are short and sweet.

There are prayers for specific occasions and prayers for global events.

There are those which are written in verse and those which are written in prose.

Prayers by famous people and prayers by children.

I'll do my best to give a good selection.



Meawhile.......I think this one is very apt for most of us at some time or other.



Lord,

Help me to remember
that nothing is going to happen
to me today that you and I
together can't handle.

Amen.


:-)

When he (Jesus) lived on earth abased
Friend of sinners was his name
Now above all glory raised
He rejoices in the same
Still he calls them brethren, friends
And to all their wants attends

O, for grace our hearts to soften
Teach us, Lord, at length to love
We alas forget too often
What a friend we have above
But when home our souls are brought
We shall love thee as we ought

(John Newton 1725-1807 - one of my favourite Christians of any age). How important it is to remember that Jesus loved sinners, his worst enemies. And we are taught to love our enemies as our dearest friends - however hard that might be in the heat of conflict sometimes.

Thanks Cynthia :-)

A lovely poem, Cynthia <3

A lovely poem, Cynthia, thankyou :-)

:-) :-) :-)

And a friend we have above all others :-)

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



Life is like a garden
And friendship like a flower,
That blooms and grows in beauty
With the sunshine and the shower.

And lovely are the blossoms
That are tended with great care,
By those who work unselfishly
To make the place more fair.

And, like the garden blossoms,
Friendship's flower grows more sweet
When watched and tended carefully
By those we know and meet.

And, if the seed of friendship
Is planted deep and true
And watched with understanding,
Friendship's flower will bloom for you.


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