Putting on the Character of Christ

Just Continue That Thought...: “A great part of the disaster of contemporary life...: A thought by Dallas Willard (2014-02-01) from his book, Renovation of the Heart: Putting On the Character of Christ (p. 35). NavPress. K...

Hixon luncheon club

It was great to return to Hixon luncheon club run by a wonderful team of dedicated volunteers and talk to everybody there. As it is Valentine day tomorrow the tables were decorated with chocolate hearts. Vera and David who celebrated their birthdays today brought a superb selection of wine and non-alcoholic beverages.! Lunch was wonderful, it included minced lamb and a lovely selection of various vegetables followed by a choice of apple strudel and custard or red berries jelly. 

The quiz brought a lovely spirit of competitivity, every team had to write down the names of all the English counties that have a boarder by the sea! When my team was stuck I waved my mobile and offered to help them with Google map but I was promptly reminded that I should not cheat! Yep, I knew that of course. Ten minutes later Steven suggested the same thing and they all nodded ok. Shocking!!! Well the answer was, 'we can move the goal post when we want!' So we all had a good laugh!!!! Here are a few photos of everybody. Have a blessed day. 

The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
13 planted in the house of the Lord,
they will flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They will still bear fruit in old age,
they will stay fresh and green,
15 proclaiming, “The Lord is upright;
he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.”

Psalm 92 12-15

Amazing creation!

Good morning! Here is a small 'beast' I faced in Valras plage!

Let us praise the Lord for an amazing creation!
And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground - everything that has the breath of life in it - I give every green plant for food! Genesis 1:30
Have a blessed day :)

Kale or sprout?

I was wondering why the price of kale's s gone higher in some supermarkets but not at our local marke (Stone). I read the following in the Telegraph not in a health magazine!

For all the attempts by fashionable chefs to dress them up with pancetta, chestnuts or even hazlenut chimichurri, for many people there remains something fundamentally unpalatable about Brussels sprouts.

So it comes as something of a surprise to find that the humble - and much maligned - sprout has given birth to the latest 'superfood’.Born from a cross between Brussels sprouts and kale, the flower sprout has not only become increasingly popular with British shoppers but is now being exported around the world. Sales have grown by 300 per cent in the last three years and it is now being stocked by a number of leading supermarkets, including Waitrose, M&S, Asda, Sainsburys and the Co-op. 

The new breed of green vegetable, which was first developed fifteen years ago, is praised by its advocates for its sweet 'nutty’ flavour and versatility in the kitchen. Like kale and sprouts, the flower sprout is also classed as a 'superfood’ because it is a good source of vitamins and dietary fibre.

Voila! At the moment, its the vegetable that our two rabbits love the most...I should try it and then convince my hubby that it's tasty too! 

I'm off playing badminton at Weston village hall.

Have a blessed Monday.

The rich man

A rich Christian man was talking to God, "Can't I take it with me when I go?"

God always answered the same way, "NO!" 

Finally one day the man talked God into it and God said, "Okay you can take two suitcases full of anything you want." 

The man filled up two suitcases full of gold. 

When the rich man reached the pearly gates St. Peter asked the rich man why he had two suitcases. The rich man said, "It's okay I've already cleared it with God."

St. Peter asked him to open the suitcases,

!Then the rich man opened the suitcase, St. Peter said, "Why did you bring paving?"

You haven't got long!

As I am not working at the moment, I try to scrounge lifts in town whenever! With the view of saving some diesel. At lunch time, my hubby announced that he was leaving for town now! I was ready so off we went through the door then he asked me about the letter! Oups it was still there on the table in the hall! When we arrived in Stafford, he dropped me at the cinema. Don't forget, you haven't got long!
I walked all the way to the post office which is in WHSmith. This took me 10 minutes. No need to queue!
I picked up a book on Publishing companies and read two pages about ghost-writing. Interesting facts. I'd heard about it but didn't think it developed so much!
Time was ticking so I went back to Tesco through the park and took those photos. Right on time for a change.
What a beautiful day, a bit cold but so bright!

Hubby and I

I have a question for you! How do you deal with interruptions when you are blogging? Let me know! Have a blessed night/day! N.

The Lord gives wisdom!

Moral Benefits of Wisdom
1 My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you,
2 turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding,
3 and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding,
4 and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure,
5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. 

6 For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
8 for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. 

9 Then you will understand what is right and just and fair--every good path.
10 For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
11 Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.
12 Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse,
13 who leave the straight paths to walk in dark ways,
14 who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,
15 whose paths are crooked and who are devious in their ways. 

16 It will save you also from the adulteress, from the wayward wife with her seductive words,
17 who has left the partner of her youth and ignored the covenant she made before God.
18 For her house leads down to death and her paths to the spirits of the dead.
19 None who go to her return or attain the paths of life.
20 Thus you will walk in the ways of good men and keep to the paths of the righteous.
21 For the upright will live in the land, and the blameless will remain in it;
22 but the wicked will be cut off from the land,and the unfaithful will be torn from it.

Burns'night: photos and a video!

Steven and Alan

Last night, we went to Weston village hall for a night of fellowship and fun. 
The entertainment was fab, Doreen introduced the whole evening. 
Steven read the "Address to a Haggis", an ode that Robert Burns wrote to the Scottish dish before slicing it aptly. 
Angela and Hazel who is a Scottish lass presented a hilarious sketch based on a poem that Burns wrote, Hazel was using the Scottish parlance while Angela translated it in English. 
Viv and Ian entertained us by their witty repartees. Basically, shouldn't men follow the wise advice of their wives for if they did, they wouldn't be in trouble! 
Then we had a tasty haggis and potatoes and carrot mash!  

Liz and John

Alan and Pat

More photos to come...watch this place! :)

10 reasons to go biking

These are 1) it helps you sleep more deeply, 2) it gives you a younger look, 3) boost your bowels, 4) increase your brain power 5) avoid pollution 6) it means guilt- free snacks 7) get fit without trying too hard 8) burn more fat 9) spend quality time with your spouse/kid/friend  10) feeling tired, go for a ride. I will add another bonus: admiring the beauty of nature. I saw a hawk by the road outside Hixon, when I arrived on the bridge, a magnificent heron flew over my head, and there were many ducks and swans, without counting sheep and horses.
This afternoon, I decided to go for a ride up to Great Haywood. My reasons were mainly 5, 7 and 10 I came back riding on the canal bank and this added another mile. However it was rather bumpy and muddy in places. I' m so glad I was able to do it since there was no snow (the weather forecast was not quite accurate - for once)
Did you do any sport today?
Have a blessed evening. N.

Poetry!

Just to let you know I have updated my poetry page! Why don't you have a look!
Good night :)

More humour!

As a trucker stops at a red light, a blonde catches up. She jumps out of her car, runs up to his truck, and knocks on the door. The trucker lowers the window, and she says “Hi, my name is Heather and you’re losing some of your load.” 

The trucker ignores her and proceeds down the street. When the truck stops for another red light, the girl catches up again. She jumps out of her car, runs up and knocks on the door. Again, the trucker lowers the window. As if they've never spoken, the blonde says brightly, “Hi my name is Heather, and you are losing some of your load!” 

Shaking his head, the trucker ignores her again and continues down the street. At the third red light, the same thing happens again. All out of breath, the blonde gets out of her car, runs up, knocks on the truck door. The trucker lowers the window. Again she says “Hi, my name is Heather, and you are losing some of your load!” 

When the light turns green the trucker revs up and races to the next light. When he stops this time, he hurriedly gets out of the truck, and runs back to the blonde’s car. He knocks on her window, and as she lowers it, he says “Hi, my name is Kevin, it’s Winter in Michigan and I’m driving the SALT TRUCK!”

There are many more on my friend's blog, click here!

Have a blessed evening! N.

Holy Spirit, living Breath of God

My beautiful sister-in-law Pauline bought me a book called Holyfire from RT Kendall and I started reading last night. It's informative, clear and edifying. I also  discovered this  beautiful and powerful song by Stuart Townend. Here are the lyrics.

Holy Spirit, living Breath of God,
Breathe new life into my willing soul.
Bring the presence of the risen Lord
To renew my heart and make me whole.
Cause Your Word to come alive in me;
Give me faith for what I cannot see;
Give me passion for Your purity.
Holy Spirit, breathe new life in me.

Holy Spirit, come abide within;
May Your joy be seen in all I do—
Love enough to cover ev'ry sin
In each thought and deed and attitude,
Kindness to the greatest and the least,
Gentleness that sows the path of peace.
Turn my striving into works of grace.
Breath of God, show Christ in all I do.

Holy Spirit, from creation's birth,
Giving life to all that God has made,
Show your power once again on earth;
Cause Your church to hunger for Your ways.
Let the fragrance of our prayers arise.
Lead us on the road of sacrifice
That in unity the face of Christ
Will be clear for all the world to see.

Have a blessed evening!

Questions about life?

Just a notice to let you know that there will be an Alpha course starting in Salt village hall on Tuesday 20 January.

The aim is simple: to explore the meaning of life. Each week a different aspect of the Christian faith is introduced and explained in clear, simple language. After a meal, participants watch a presentation and have the opportunity to discuss and challenge what they have heard, express their opinions, and listen to the experiences of others in their group.
During the course, many people find faith in Jesus for the first time. Others have their existing faith deepened and refreshed. Some just finish the course with a clearer understanding of what Christians believe and why.
The course is open to anyone, regardless of current beliefs or affiliations to other Churches. Alpha is for everyone who wants to explore life’s big questions. Feel free to come along and bring a friend!

Have a blessed week. N.

Ghost boy by Martin Pistorius, a true story

In January 1988 Martin Pistorius, aged twelve, fell inexplicably sick, he lost his voice and stopped eating. Then he slept constantly and avoided human contact. Doctors didn't have a clue why!  Within eighteen months he was mute and wheelchair-bound. Martin's parents were told an unknown degenerative disease left him with the mind of a baby and less than two years to live.

Martin was moved to care centers for severely disabled children. The stress and heartache shook his parents’ marriage and their family to the core. Their boy was gone. Or so they thought.

Ghost Boy is the heart-wrenching story of one boy’s return to life through the power of love and faith. In these pages, readers see a parent’s resilience, the consequences of misdiagnosis, abuse at the hands of cruel caretakers, and the unthinkable duration of Martin’s mental alertness betrayed by his lifeless body.

We also see a life reclaimed—a business created, a new love kindled—all from a wheelchair. Martin's emergence from his own darkness invites us to celebrate our own lives and fight for a better life for others. I'd love to read this book so I add it in my retirement reading list or my holiday list!

You can read a preview  here.  

Who could possibly send me this joke?

I found a stray parrot in the garden this morning.

All he says is, "Good morning, you old fart."

Is he yours?