PEARL'S PEARLS; encouragement & inspiration.

  • Welcome to Christian Forums, a Christian Forum that recognizes that all Christians are a work in progress.

    You will need to register to be able to join in fellowship with Christians all over the world.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

Pearl

Well-Known Member
Staff member
Encounter Team
Apr 9, 2019
11,524
17,503
113
Lancashire
Faith
Christian
Country
United Kingdom
Does it cost money to run a forum like this? I mean, there is no advertising - THANK GOD! Is it all on a volunteer basis? I never see donations asked for.
I have been asked to donate on some sites but not on here yet. I hope they don't get ideas now :eek:
 

Nancy

Well-Known Member
Apr 30, 2018
16,816
25,468
113
Buffalo, Ny
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Don't worry Nancy, I've watched a few times over the years and they are spectacular and got full marks for both artistic impression and technical merit. Nobody has done it before or since. They are in their 60s now and still look good on the ice. And I think they decided at the start of their partnership to just remain friends and keep it purely professional so that the ups and downs of a relationship wouldn't harm their performances. There was a TV drama about them last year. Chris Dean is married to skater Karen Barber, who with her then partner Nicky Slater were the UK's number two pair at the time. Nicky Slater gave up his ice dance career when he became a Christian.

"Nobody has done it before or since."
That's for sure.

For sure! I haven't even seen any couples skaters come even close to them.

"And I think they decided at the start of their partnership to just remain friends and keep it purely professional "
I love them even more because of this ♥


"Nicky Slater gave up his ice dance career when he became a Christian."
I wonder why he felt he needed to give up a career that could have potential to glorify God?
I am glad to know you know who my most very favorite of all time, couples skaters are...but then, I thought you would know them better than I ♥
xo





 
  • Like
Reactions: Pearl

farouk

Well-Known Member
Jan 21, 2009
30,790
19,232
113
North America
"Nobody has done it before or since."
That's for sure.

For sure! I haven't even seen any couples skaters come even close to them.

"And I think they decided at the start of their partnership to just remain friends and keep it purely professional "
I love them even more because of this ♥


"Nicky Slater gave up his ice dance career when he became a Christian."
I wonder why he felt he needed to give up a career that could have potential to glorify God?
I am glad to know you know who my most very favorite of all time, couples skaters are...but then, I thought you would know them better than I ♥
xo




People have different personal stories and convictions. I guess the matter of whether he should do ice dancing would be in some ways similar to other career decisions that Christians make. I can think of a lot of examples.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Nancy

farouk

Well-Known Member
Jan 21, 2009
30,790
19,232
113
North America
I don't think they were ever married to each other although people wanted them to be. They weren't a couple off the ice. But they still dance on a show called 'Dancing on Ice' where they are judges. And I'm sorry I can't watch the clips as they won't open.
Torvill and Dean are a blast from the past, so to speak...:)
 

Pearl

Well-Known Member
Staff member
Encounter Team
Apr 9, 2019
11,524
17,503
113
Lancashire
Faith
Christian
Country
United Kingdom
Torvill and Dean are a blast from the past, so to speak...:)
Not in the UK. They are regular judges on 'Dancing on Ice' and sometimes do a routine.
 

Pearl

Well-Known Member
Staff member
Encounter Team
Apr 9, 2019
11,524
17,503
113
Lancashire
Faith
Christian
Country
United Kingdom
A Story of Winter Trees. Thursday 15th December 2016

I love trees at this time of the year; they are so beautiful when the leaves, flowers and fruit have long gone and all that remains is their naked trunks and branches as they stand seemingly dormant over the winter months.

The other day, as I stood at my bus stop, I was admiring the naked trees across the road and, convinced that there was a lesson in there somewhere, I asked God to show me what it could be.

Today standing in the same spot and looking at the same trees he gave me the answer.

During spring summer and autumn the trees are lovely in their leafy coverings but only when the leaves have fallen and they stand naked at this bleak time of year do they show their true strength; what they are really made of; the part of themselves that stands firm in all weathers.

God showed me that we Christians are like that; we have our growing times, our times of fruitfulness and glowing beauty but only in the bleak periods during the storms and troubles of our lives do we show our true strength as we stand firm in Christ against the odds.

upload_2019-8-18_22-22-25.jpg
And it seems that the older and more knarled the tree the more beautiful it is when it is starkly naked during the winter months. So perhaps this is also true of Christians.

And if you look closely at those trees that are seemingly dormant at this time of year, you will see the buds already forming on those bare branches which will burst forth to create a new, fresh, different beauty come the spring. Perhaps we are like that too.
 

Helen

Well-Known Member
Oct 22, 2011
15,476
21,157
113
Faith
Christian
Country
Canada
Lovely Pat. Excellent reminder to us. x
 
  • Like
Reactions: Pearl

farouk

Well-Known Member
Jan 21, 2009
30,790
19,232
113
North America
A Story of Winter Trees. Thursday 15th December 2016

I love trees at this time of the year; they are so beautiful when the leaves, flowers and fruit have long gone and all that remains is their naked trunks and branches as they stand seemingly dormant over the winter months.

The other day, as I stood at my bus stop, I was admiring the naked trees across the road and, convinced that there was a lesson in there somewhere, I asked God to show me what it could be.

Today standing in the same spot and looking at the same trees he gave me the answer.

During spring summer and autumn the trees are lovely in their leafy coverings but only when the leaves have fallen and they stand naked at this bleak time of year do they show their true strength; what they are really made of; the part of themselves that stands firm in all weathers.

God showed me that we Christians are like that; we have our growing times, our times of fruitfulness and glowing beauty but only in the bleak periods during the storms and troubles of our lives do we show our true strength as we stand firm in Christ against the odds.

And it seems that the older and more knarled the tree the more beautiful it is when it is starkly naked during the winter months. So perhaps this is also true of Christians.

And if you look closely at those trees that are seemingly dormant at this time of year, you will see the buds already forming on those bare branches which will burst forth to create a new, fresh, different beauty come the spring. Perhaps we are like that too.
Psalm 1 has the reference to 'a tree truly planted'... :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Pearl

Pearl

Well-Known Member
Staff member
Encounter Team
Apr 9, 2019
11,524
17,503
113
Lancashire
Faith
Christian
Country
United Kingdom
Psalm 1 has the reference to 'a tree truly planted'... :)
It does farouk. It talks of trees planted by streams of water whose leaves do not wither. But the trees in my illustration do wither so it is a bit different.
 

Pearl

Well-Known Member
Staff member
Encounter Team
Apr 9, 2019
11,524
17,503
113
Lancashire
Faith
Christian
Country
United Kingdom
My Father Is The Gardener *

You, my Father are the Gardener;
I was just a little seed
That you tended Lord,
And nurtured;
Caring for my every need.

With you, my Father, as the Gardener
I grew into a little tree
That you cherished, Lord,
With kindness;
Always watching over me.

With you, my Father, as the Gardener
I couldn’t help but grow and grow
As you fed me, Lord,
With wisdom;
Teaching me what I should know.

Though you, my Father, are the Gardener
I’ve been through some painful days
As you’ve weeded, Lord,
And pruned me
With your bright and burning gaze.

Glory to you, Heavenly Gardener
For the work begun in me.
Continue working, Lord,
I pray you,
Till I am a fruitful tree.

5th May 2008
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tone and Nancy

Nancy

Well-Known Member
Apr 30, 2018
16,816
25,468
113
Buffalo, Ny
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
My Father Is The Gardener *

You, my Father are the Gardener;
I was just a little seed
That you tended Lord,
And nurtured;
Caring for my every need.

With you, my Father, as the Gardener
I grew into a little tree
That you cherished, Lord,
With kindness;
Always watching over me.

With you, my Father, as the Gardener
I couldn’t help but grow and grow
As you fed me, Lord,
With wisdom;
Teaching me what I should know.

Though you, my Father, are the Gardener
I’ve been through some painful days
As you’ve weeded, Lord,
And pruned me
With your bright and burning gaze.

Glory to you, Heavenly Gardener
For the work begun in me.
Continue working, Lord,
I pray you,
Till I am a fruitful tree.

5th May 2008

Beautiful Pat. I am now going to do a mini study on "seed" ♥
It seems that everything, including humans all come from a "seed"...Humans, animals and vegetation.

"Gen 8:22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease."
This seems to speak to the laws of nature, we reap what we sow. So, that could be speaking of a "spiritual" seed too. Yikes, this could be a HUGE study!!! Lol.
xo
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Tone and Pearl