Thoughts for the Week of Apr. 15

[Pat]

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Morning Devotional...

Prayer:
The File-card Mentality

As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? --Psalm 42:1-2

When religion loses its sovereign character and becomes mere form this spontaneity is lost also, and in its place come precedent, propriety, system--and the file-card mentality....

The slave to the file card soon finds that his prayers lose their freedom and become less spontaneous, less effective. He finds himself concerned over matters that should give him no concern whatever--how much time he spent in prayer yesterday, whether he did or did not cover his prayer list for the day, whether he gets up as early as he used to do or stays up in prayer as late at night. Inevitably the calendar crowds out the Spirit and the face of the clock hides the face of God.

Prayer ceases to be the free breath of a ransomed soul and becomes a duty to be fulfilled. And even if under such circumstances he succeeds in making his prayer amount to something, still he is suffering tragic losses and binding upon his soul a yoke from which Christ died to set him free.
Dr. Tozer in Of God and Men, pp. 79,81

"Oh, Father, I pray that prayer might never become for me 'a duty to be fulfilled.' In a real love relationship communication is a delight, never a duty. Fill me with that freedom in my times with You. Amen."

As the Deer Panteth for the Water
(Click to hear music)

Written by Martin Nystrom


Psalm 42:1
"As the hart panteth after the water brooks,
so panteth my soul after thee, O God."



As the deer panteth for the water,
So my soul longs after you.
You alone are my hearts desire,
And I long to worship You.

Chorus
You alone are my strength, my shield;
To You alone may my spirit yield.
You alone are my hearts desire,
and I long to worship You.

I want you more than gold or silver,
Only You can satisfy.
You alone are the real joy giver
And the apple of my eye.

Chorus
You alone are my strength, my shield;
To You alone may my spirit yield.
You alone are my hearts desire,
and I long to worship You.

You're my friend and You're my brother,
Even though you are a King.
I love You more than any other
So much more than anything.

Chorus
You alone are my strength, my shield;
To You alone may my spirit yield.
You alone are my hearts desire,
and I long to worship You.

[Pat]

Please pray for Judy McKenna today.

We don't know as yet what time her surgery is but the doctors have said that it will be a minimum of 5 hours and probably more.

[Jane Walker]

Judy McK has a special place in my heart and you can be assured I am praying for not only her and Norm but for the doctors and eveyone who touches their lives this day ...

Thanks, Karma for the link to Nard's photos ... He may not be thrilled about it all but I really appreciate your continued updates and these photos ... God is indeed an AWESOME God!!   

[Marilyn]

I am praying for Judy Mckenna as well.

Karma I looked at the photos of Nards and am praying for him too.

[Carol]

Just checking in - today is the huge day for Judy.  Blessings to her and the family.

We have visitors and they are slowly moving - he didn't feel well yesterday  but is coming along today.  Going to ask what they would like for breakfast.

later, Carol

[Al Moak]

O Father, I pray for Judy McKenna and her husband.  I pray You'll give the doctors extra special insight and wisdom as they work.  I pray You'll also bless that work and make it very effective for Judy's healing and welfare..  Oh Father, we just look to You for great and evident mercy in Judy's case.  Through our Lord Jesus Christ.

[karmat]

I'm praying for Judy as well.  hope all goes super great, and fast!

[Larry Hanna]

Hi everyone.  It is sunny but in the low 40s here today.  After coffee I stopped by the cleaners and then got a haircut, which I needed.  Our son and his wife are in town this morning for a doctor's appointment and he said they will call us and we will meet somewhere for lunch.  I am looking forward to seeing them as it has been several weeks.

I am thinking and praying for Judy today as she once again is subjected to surgery.  What an ordeal.  

Karmat, glad to read that Bernard is doing well and enjoying being home.  Each day he will likely feel better than the day before and then one morning he will awake and notice a drastic change in how well he feels.  At least that was my experience.  Bernard, enjoy all the special treatment because it will come to an end before long.  Karmat, don't forget to take care of yourself as well, that is very important.  I am sure the little ones were most happy to see daddy back home again.

Pat, that was another fine devotional.  Dr. Tozer really hits the nail on the head.  He must have been a powerful preacher and teacher.

Etta Sue, the grass shouldn't grow very much while it is in the 50s.  

Ruth Ann, glad you are feeling better and you must have needed the rest.  

Janet, several years ago Rebecca St. James gave a concert at our church.  We were not able to attend it.  Our youth minister has a talent management company for Christian singers and thus has many contacts with artists.  We have several concerts a year.  I am sure it was fun to watch that "corny" play.  I well remember being in plays when I was in highschool and they always had laughts associated with them.  

The housekeeper is here today and I expect the yard people today also.

[Etta Sue]

Great devotion, Pat!  I, too, love that verse.

Karma, put a brick on Nards and hold him down.  His body will tell him when he has done too much but men need someone else to tell them to slow down.  MEN...

I just got through talking to Ivalou on the phone and told her about JudyMc.  So there is two of us in Indiana praying for Judy and Norm today.

It is warmer today.  I took my trash to Kaye Don's and their garage door was open.  I haven't seen them since they got home.  I can't tell from my house if they are home or not and when I drove past a few times, I still couldn't tell.  So I went in and they were loading their truck to go to their daughter's in Michigan.  They don't let the dust settle!! 

I do believe I had better mow the lawn today since I have a doctor appointment in the morning and Euchre tomorrow afternoon. 

a.m. p.m. a.m. p.m. a.m. p.m. a.m. p.m. a.m. p.m. a.m. p.m.

[karmat]

Still thinking of and praying for Judy.

Etta Sue -  i hadn't thought of a brick.  That is definitely an idea.  he doesn't go back to the doctor until May 3, and I don't know what I'm going to do with him.  He's already up and moving around alot!  Of course, he is resting, too, so as long as he's doing that, I won't complain a lot.

[Janet]

I'm anxiously awaiting word about Judy Mc.....and praying.

Karma, I could only see the one photo of Nards, but he looked great!  (How do I find the others?)

Terrible, terrible situation at Virginia Tech today. 

It is so hard to believe that two days ago we had 10 inches of snow on the ground, and now it is all gone!!!  Amazing.

Not much new around here, I guess.

[karmat]

Janet,  If you look at one of the pictures, underneath, there should be a link that says "Galleries -- Bernard's Surgery" or something like that.  It should take you to the rest of them.

[Janet]

I found 'em, Karma, thanks.  He sure looks like he's been through the mill, but bravely going forward.  God bless him.

[Nita]

Hi, all.

Karma, I just looked at all of Nard's pictures.  I know he must be weak still, but he looks really good.  Love his pretty gown and cute "friend" too.
Be sure and let him know that we all voted that he should mind his wife and rest whenever she says so!  I'm sure his doctor agrees with us.  

Any word on Judy yet?  Bless her heart.

Janet,  a friend called me this morning about the tragedy in at VA Tech.
I've been watching the news online, and heard more tonight on tv.  I don't have cable so missed some of it.   I can't imagine.  I just can't imagine the fear of parents, and the kids hiding under desks.  It's so sad.

I'm ready to have homemade chili and Jiffy cornbread.  We have light rain and it's coolish, so it sounded good.

Nothing like the weather others are having!!! 

I'm praying for all the needs here.

I've been coming in and reading some, but not posting.  I decided I needed to at least let you know that I'm alive and kicking. (where did that phrase come from? I'll check on that. I like to know how things started.)

I've started sentences a few times (on here) and would conclude that it was boring so erase it, try again, more boring, so erase again.  Pretty soon all I had was "Hi".  So I erased that and ........well, you didn't even know. lol

Blessings, Nita

[Pat]

Hello folks!

Here I am. 

Right at this precise time, I'm more concerned about Norm.  He's forgetting everything.  It's almost like he's had a mild stroke but wouldn't let me take him to the hospital when we got back to guelph so I just went in and made him tea and got him settled down.

Re Judy:

When we got down there, I went right to the room and there was Judy sitting in her bed staring at the door and when she saw me a great big broad smile.

Then she started to weep.

Apparently, on Saturday, she had another x-ray.  (She had had one on Tuesday when they decided to operate on the RIGHT hip)

Well, the x-ray on Saturday, showed that the LEFT one (the one that was so good on Tuesday) was now dislocated and the surgeon decided this morning to operate yet once again on her poor LEFT hip to try and save it.  So today wasn't the biggie although for me this was big enough.  That will be next Monday.   The surgeon felt that he just couldn't do it sooner as it would be bad for her to have deep anesthetic so soon.

So, she's very, very "down".

We stayed till supper tiime and then headed up the road to Guelph and Norm is really not himself.  I had to stop the car and get his oxygen out of the back for him to use.

So, please pray for both of these folks.  They sure need it.

[Ruth Ann Bice]

We didn't know, Nita, but God did!

I got some encouraging, some as-is, and some "wish it were better" news about the bloodwork. 3 month reading on diabetes control is EXCELLENT, hemoglobin is barely climbing, so must continue with the 3 iron tablets a day, and since cholesterol was worse (and no dietary change) doc laid it off to the cholesterol med change and doubled the dosage.

Coughing still persists, but OH, how much better I feel!

I'm so thankful for a continuing good relationship with my employer. There had been quite a bit of uncertainty due to some management changes at the beginning of the year, but things are going along nicely, so am not nearly as apprehensive as before. Also, of course, by staying with the same firm, my retirement pension check will rise when I finally take it.

I'm thankful it's warmer here in Nashville, too. The ole bones simply creak and whine and protest very loudly when it gets cold.  

Dudley, I always check to see if I'm logged in. It's really great that you're anxious to participate. Maybe you needed to log in again. I look forward to hearing your "voice" amongst us.

Well, must go. It's up-n-atem again tomorrow morning. Y'all have a good night's rest, and my prayers are that Judy has done well throu her surgery and that Karma and Nards will rest, as well.

Ruth ann

Edit - I'm certainly sorry for Judy's bad news. Oh, dear! How much CAN this poor couple endure?

[Etta Sue]

I am off to my doctor appointment...my yearly.  Woohoo!!  Will stop in later.  I am praying for Norm and Judy as I type. 

And Karma, you might need a BIG brick!  Did I mention that? 

God Bless You All

>^<+>^<>^<+>^<>^<+>^<>^<+>^<>^<+>^<>^<+>^<>^<+>^<>^<+>^<

[JudyB]

I was up far too early this am.  I have 4 meals ready for John, (2 beef and 2 pork chops) and his breakfasts, as well as lunches.  Did I mention I was up really too early.... I don't do well in the mornings.

We had a great time at small group last night.  We have been studuying the end times.  It is amazing the diversity of opinion in the group and there has been no harsh or loud words by anybody.  The best comment I have heard is "No one will be saying 'I told you so' in heaven!"  How true.  When we all get home there will be no discord.  The fact that there is no discord in our group can only be a "God thing".

I have been praying for the needs here, Judy and Nards included.  My memory is not good, but God knows the needs and if I forget names He knows them.

Also The situation with the mass shooting at the school.  That is so sad.  So very sad.  I pray there will rise up Christians to minister to those hurting families.  Father God, send your workers to the hurting that give them the words that they say the right thing, your words, to this community.  Father there is so much pain and so many Why's when you are the only One with the answers.  Send the Comforter Lord.

Well I need to scoot.  John needs to head out shortly and I am not quite ready.

God Bless everyone
JudyB

[Larry Hanna]

Hi everyone.  

It is indeed a sad day in our nation. My good friend Rod is a Virginia Tech graduate and this has really hit him.  I have been watching the news alot.  I think it is very unfortunate that so many of the news commentators seem to have nothing better to do than to blame the university president.  This was a situation we have never had before.  I am sure the officials made the best decisions they could with the information they had.  Hind sight is always better.  It is just sad.

Pat, you certainly had your hands full yesterday.  It would have been enough to be with Judy and get the discouraging news that she had received.  However, the situation with Norm is a whole new situation.  Don't they have some children who might be interested enough in their parents to assume some responsibility?  I don't mean to be critical but if this were my parents I would be doing all in my power to be available to them.  

I just don't feel very chatty today so think I will sign off for now.

[Pat]

Hi folks...

Can you please post a welcome to Dudley where I've started it please?  It's encouraging for new folks to see a welcome to them.

http://www.christianphotographers.com/community/index.php?topic=6066.0

Thanks!

[Janet]

Pat, I am so sorry to hear the latest news on Judy and Norm.  We cannot understand why they face such trials, but we know that God knows all about it, and He is their strength.  I'm glad you are there, as a loving friend and support to the both of them, but please don't forget to take care of yourself.  You've been through way too much lately, as well.

Ruth Ann, good to have your update, too.  Still praying here.  Your computer advice worked like a charm, and it was so thoughtful and kind of you, thanks again.

Larry, I don't feel chatty today, either.  Such sad times for our country.  "As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be in the end times............"

Prayers continue for Karma and Bernard, for Pat, Judy and Norm, and for all of those on the VT campus and everyone connected to them.  How can a person become so completely evil, to commit such a horrible carnage?  At times like this I find it comforting to remember the verse that tells us "Where sin doth abound, grace doth MUCH MORE abound."  And how we need the GRACE of God in these times.

Errands to do, be back later.

[Etta Sue]

I felt great before seeing the doctor.  Now I am down and I am seldom down.  She says I am diabetic.  I have been borderline, now I am one!  My glucose was 124...normal is 65-99.  But my Hemoglobin A1c was 5.8...normal is 4.8-6.0 so that was good.  My triglycerides was high at 208...normal is below 150.  My BP was 142 over 70 and she now says I have high blood pressure...never before was it as high as today but the nurse kept saying things that wasn't right and I was correcting her...THEN she took my blood pressure.  So now I am on one more pill that is for kidney protection...also will help keep my bp down.  I go back in one month for a non-fasting bloodwork.  Then in July for a fasting bloodwork and a doctor appointment a week later. 

I called an ENT and I have an appointment with him next Monday morning for my hoarseness in my voice.  Will keep taking the Prilosec until he tells me not to take it. 

I finally get my cholesterol down and my triglycerides go up!!  Now I need to cut out my sugar!!  And that should help my glucose also! 

I just feel down today!!

[Al Moak]

Etta Sue - I sure know how you feel.  If I could drop about 30-40 pounds I probably wouldn't have this leg swelling problem, but I can't seem to do it, even though I've cut out almost all fats, cut way, way down on any sugars (we use Splenda), cut way down on one meal each day, etc., use the treadmill for 25 minutes/day, etc.  Just doesn't seem to make any difference.  Not going up in weight, just not down.  Please pray for this old geezer who can't seem to lose any weight!

And I pray for Etta Sue, Father.  I pray she'll be able to get this latest problem fully under control quickly through Jesus Christ our Lord.

[Janet]

Etta Sue, I can sure understand your being down today.  None of us likes to get a bad report.  But, as Al said, there are ways to control blood sugar and cholesterol, without taking medicines.  But, unfortunately for those who don't like to exercise, they all involve more movement.  I haven't lost weight, either, but can really tell a difference in how I feel if I get lax about my workouts.  If I just make myself get up and go work out, the whole rest of the day goes better.  I don't know much about triglycerides.

Your blood pressure wasn't that high, and you were feeling stressed.  So, before going on meds, I would have it checked several more times, at different times of the day.  We got one of those wrist BP monitors, it is easy to use and accurate.  I wish you all the best, and try not to be discouraged.  I heard just last week that even 15 minutes of walking per day can do wonders for you, and it doesn't all have to be done at once; you can do 5 minutes at a time in the beginning.

We just watched the solemn convocation from VT.  Such a sad, sad time. 

[Marilyn]

did you stop to think that  maybe some of the victims were Muslim. Not all Muslims are bad only those who are those  who are doing the killing. There are good and bad  in all faiths.  I have met some so called Christains who  are very  bad too.  I think it is good that they included all faiths.

It is pouring rain here again. (So what else is new?) I don't usually hear it in my house but I can sure hear it now.

Etta Sue the diabetic specialist that visits my patient says that normal is  80- 120, 124 isn't high. Someitmes my patient's BG reading is 149 when I get there in the morning.

[Ruth Ann Bice]

Etta Sue, I've been a diagnosed diabetic since the turn of 1990, and my doctor feels it actually started with a terrible illness that involved liver, pancreatitis, colon and gallbladder back in late 72-73. So, you're well on the way to finding success with your control.

You're motivated and so that will work well in your favor.  As for the high blood pressure medication, my doctor put me on it before the high b/p appeared just this February. That was in the early 90's and he was very specific that his reason was to help protect my kidneys. They've learned that something about our higher blood sugar readings have to do with the ability of the tiny capillaries that filter the kidneys have an opportunity to become clogged. So, blood sugar control, exercise, lowered salt intake are very important.And following the prescribed medication routine exactly. The only way they can learn to help us get regulated is by following the treatment outlined to the letter. Then they can work with us until the treatment and management of this new lifestyle goes well.

Also, since carbohydrates are converted by the body into blood sugars, we need to watch our intake of them, but not cut them out entirely.  Carbs encompass breads and grains (including vegetables like corn, potatoes, green peas, and others), and fruits, as well as sugars are carbohydrates. Also, I learned to restrict fats (but again, small amounts will help stabilize blood sugars, so don't dut them out. In fact, don't cut almost anything out entirely, but ask your doctor to arrange for you to meet with a nutritionist as soon as humanely possible. I've done it 4 different times in these 17 years to help me keep abreast of how to cook, plan, eat out, etc.

Also, it only took 4 weeks of writing down every bite I ate, and being sure during that time that I weighed and measured every bite put into me, that I was able (by testing 2 hours after each meal) what was good for me versus the big no-nos.

I'll be happy to talk with you online or by phone at any time. Just send a private message and I'll share the pertinent information with you.

Hold on, my child, hold on! Joy comes in the moring.

Today has been a difficult day. I learned that a well loved associate will be leaving our company at the end of my disability after the second hand surgery May 10th. I'm certainly grieving for that person and the loss of a great professional association.

Y'all have a good rest of the day.

Ruth Ann

[JudyB]

Ruth Anne I sent you a PM. 

I am tired tonight, so I am off to bed.  I have to let the dogs out one final time then I am gone.

Mom has sore legs tonight.  Could be diabetes related.  Kassie has really loved helping Opoe, (grandma) and tonight warmed up towels in the microwave and wrapped mom's legs and feet in the warm towels.  So kind.

John headed out today.  Late leaving so he will be driving later than he likes. 

Night all
JudyB

[Pat]

Hi Everyone...

I'm going down to see Judy again and I'll give her your love.

She's in a very hot room and needs a little fan.

[Pat]

Spring's coming!

Is it where you are?

Have you taken any photos of any signs of spring?

[JudyB]

Spring is coming.  In taking John to his truck I passed anoutcropping of rock and there was this wonderful little waterfall off the top of the rock.  I am taking Mother to the Doctor tomorrow, I am also taking John's camera.  I will see what I can do, it is a busy section of road so I have to be careful.

It is a cool day, snow is all gone, we have heard robins and seen other birds.  This year I am putting out 3 - 4 humming bird feeders, and the girls and I are building a pond.  We are going to put a couple of seats by it for Mother to sit on.  It will be restful for her.

We have physio therapy coming today.  She is not looking forward to this, they will be teaching her how to walk so she doesn't shuffle.  Hopefully this will prevent falls, which are a threat.

Got to go, they are coming early and she needs to be up and ready.

Pat I pray for Judy, Is there a laptop she could take with her to the hospital?  It would ease the feeling of being disconnected? 

Love you all
JudyB