Thoughts for the Week of May 21

[Al Moak]

Step 1:Are your works good enough?

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Morning Devotional...

Psalm 15:1, 2.  "Lord, who may abice in Your tabernacle?  Who may dwell in Your holy hill?  He who walks uprightly and works righteousness and speaks the truth in his heart."

The most common philosophy in this world about man's relationship with God says that we can please him by doing enough "good works" - by leading lives characterized by good behavior.  In the common view, such a life is one in which the good outweighs the bad.

Does the Bible contradict itself, then, when it says, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but acording to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit"?

That's actually not a contradiction.  We really do have to be saved by good works, after all.  Only it's not by our own good works!  As the Apostle told us in 2 Cor. 5:21, "For He made Him Who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

All the righteousness so beautifully described in Psalm 15 is definitely required of every human being in order to be pleasing to God.  But thanks be to God - it's our Savior's own beautiful and perfect righteousness that is deposited to the everlasting credit of every true believer!

Make no mistake - you and I can only be saved by good works!  But it is Jesus Christ Who has done them!  Oh how great should be our thanks!
!Al Moak

AMAZING GRACE
(Click title to hear music)

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my Shield and Portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, Who called me here below,
Shall be forever mine.

When we've been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We?ve no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we'd first begun.

[Larry Hanna]

Hi everyone.

Al, a fine devotional message.  The Bible is clear about works and yet we never seem to learn the message.  We do the works because we love Christ and the works he did to see that we could have salvation.

We had a nice day with our daughter and a friend of hers.  We got to the church just before the service began and they had a special choir program and then were having a bar-b-que lunch on the lawn.  The choir, which was composed of members from various churches who have formed because they love to sing, provided about 9 pieces in the service.  There was then just a very short sermon and the reception of new members, which included our daughter.

We decided not to stay for the luncheon at the church, although we were kindly invited to do so, and went to the Country Buffet.  Pat is eating a very limited diet and she could find things to eat there.  We then took our daughter to Krogers for a few items that will run her until her payday on Thursday.  We then came home and took a nap as both Pat and I were pretty tired. 

Karmat, that is a funny story but can understand your feelings of panic.  I bet the kids love the green tongues. 

Marilyn, it sort of strikes me in a funny way that tamales are sold to raise money for a trip to Germany.  Glad the tamales were good.  It has been awhile since I had a tamale.

Pat, it sounds like you and Ruthie had a very nice time yesterday out there burning the midnight oil. 

Hope to stay home for the rest of the day after coffee and stopping by the bank this morning. 

[Samantha]

Al,  great devotional.  It spoke volumes to me this morning.  We are just poking along down here in Mississippi.  Still looking for a church to attend.  It is so hard to find the right one. 

Marilyn, I thought the same thing about the tamales.  Seems like they should be selling some type of German food. (German Chocolate Cake sounds good about now!    )

Not much going on in my world, but enjoy reading about everyone else.

Later,
Samantha

[Marilyn]

On Saturday at the Health Fair I was offered a 30 minute free weight training  workout with a personal trainer.    I think I may be doing that this afternoon during my afternoon break. She was trying to lure me away from Curves by also offering to wave the  initiation fee of $250.  However at Curves I pay $29. per month and at Health Sport I would have to pay $41. per month, I will be staying with Curves.

Larry and Samantha. I think the tamales were easier to package. They had a bake sale a couple of months ago.

Good devotional this morning Al. Thank you.

[Pat]

What a wonderful way to start the week, Al.  Thanks for that good word.  Love Amazing Grace too!

Yes, Larry, burning the midnight oil for sure!  Where we met is just about half way between Ruthie and I and we said we'd phone each other when we got into the house and when I got in, the phone was ringing and it was Ruthie!

So happy that you had such a good time on Sunday with your daughter, larry.


I must try tamales, Marilyn!

Samantha, it's difficult to find a good church these days.  I'm experiencing that right now.

[JudyB]

Yes I too enjoyed the thought for the week.

I have been exploring the In Touch web site.  There is a lot of good stuff there.

John is heading out today.  I will be back to read more!

God bless you all.

[Janet]

Hi, Kids!  I'm home again, thanking God for another safe trip.  Now there are just two of our grandkids yet to graduate high school.  That doesn't seem possible, but it's true.

I just heard on TV that some people in Hong Kong had tried to get them to give the Bible an "indecent" rating, because of sexual and violent content!!  What a nutty world we are living in these days!  (It did NOT pass.)

I shall return!

[Marilyn]

I went to the Gym this afternoon and went through the weight workout with Sara the trainer. I like it. It wasn't hard and was a better workout than I am getting at Curves. I have done free weights and the weigh machines before but the machines are a lot better and different that those of years ago. I got a good ab workout and it doesn't even hurt. I may be switching to  the health club at the end of the month.

Glad you are back home Janet now get some rest (is that possible )

Judy d do you get to see In Touch on TV. Charles Stanley is a great teacher.

GOOD NITE

[JudyB]

Well I have had a great day, I am heading down to Pat tomorrow, but rather than early it may wind up being later.  I have perscriptions to get picked up, and I have to wait for the mail.  Even if I see the mail lady she won't give us the mail, we have to wait till it is in the bos, even if I am standing right beside the box!  Thus the day will run later than I wanted.

It ia late, I am turning in.
Good Night all
JudyB

[Ruth Ann Bice]

Hi, death of a friend (delivery of card and $ to widow's home), work emergency, etc. this evening.

I have saved a bit of 2-hnded time for us tonight. Stitches came out this morning; am allowed 1/3 of an 8 hr workday use of left hand now, and started therapy exercises in right hand (tendon flexion-wave like a baby does fingers to palm then open 20 repeats, 4 times daily).

Too late to read. Will do that tomorrow evening if there's time.

Ruth Ann

[Jane Walker]

Hey there, all y'all .... I have read all the posts and made mental notes of the prayer requests and praise reports ... just don't have time to comment individually at the moment.

I will be heading south -- toward Sacramento, CA -- in the morning.  Joy is expecting me and has made read their "mother-in-law cottage" where she says I will be very comfortable.  I have a few things to take care of and hope to get in touch with at least some of the family in the next few daze.  At the moment I am planning to return by Saturday.  You never know, though.  As Joy says: when you're retired you can pretty much do as you please .... yup.... that's true!

I will have access to a computer at Joy's so should be in here at least to read a few times in the next three or four days.   

See y'all later............

[Larry Hanna]

Hi everyone.

It was a good night for sleeping here and I didn't want to get up this morning.  It is a good thing I have a definite time to leave the house each morning as it gets me up and going.

I had a very enjoyable day yesterday basically just staying home and working on some projects here in my office.  A couple of people called for help with the computer and fortunately I was able to help them over the phone.

Pat is suffering once again with her fibromyalgia.  We went out to eat last night and tonight are planning on going out with our friends and then they will come back here to play games for a little while. We do have a meeting to attend this morning.  So I won't have too much time available to me at home. 

Jane, glad to see you are going to be able to visit with your daughter in California.  Have a great time.  It is nice they have a guest house for you to use.

Ruth Ann, glad to hear you are now at the point where you can use both hands again.  I am sure that must have been a problem at times.

JudyB, hope you have a nice trip to Guelph today and can spend sometime with Pat.  Your mail delivery situation sounds like a typical government regulation, whether it makes any sense at all.  I don't think we have such a strong prohibition here and know they will hand the mail to you if you are standing at your box when they deliver.

Marilyn, it sounds like you liked the new workout.  Hope that all works out to your liking.

Welcome home, Janet.  The years go by so quickly and the young folks graduate from HS so quickly.  You do have a few years before Abby will graduate. 

Pat, that is pretty amazing that you both got to your homes at almost the same moment.

Samanta, are you getting any of the smoke from the fires here in Georgia or Florida?  I just heard we are going to see some of the effects of the smoke again today here in Georgia.

[Samantha]

Morning y'all,

Larry, I think I'm too far away to get anything from the fires.  If we have, I haven't seen anything in the papers about it.

Just checking in early today, got lots to do, and don't want to do any of it!

Later,
Samantha

[Jane Walker]

G'Morning everyone!   I am ready to leave for the long drive to Sacramento.     It should be a much more enjoyable drive than in the winter snow/rain/ice and fog. 

I will probably be able to access Joy's computer once in a while during the week, so I won't be too far away from y'all.

Yes, Larry, Joy and John have fixed up a little cottage in the rear of their house.  Originally it was a storage room, then Joy made it into a studio for her painting.  Their renters ruined it though.     One man tore up the flooring and was growing marijuana out there!!!    I guess there was quite a bit of work for John to restore it to liveable conditions.

We are hoping to get all the family (Jean's kids and grandkids) together for a "family party" while I'm there.  Joy says she has been wanting to get them over to her house ever since she's been in town but it never seems like the right time.  We'll make it happen.

Well, I gotta get to gettin' or I'll never get there.  This is always the hardest part of any of my (many) travels --- getting out in the car and starting!!     I expect to return by Saturday.  We'll see...........   

[Al Moak]

I thank our Lord with you, Ruth Ann, that you are beginning to get your hand back.  And Jane - may you have a safe and pleasant trip over to Sac.  Wish you were going down the coast first - we've got a new restaurant in place of the Village Pantry now.  It's called The Chalet, and it's really quite good and inexpensive.

We're going to do a trip up to Olympia, WA beginning on the 10th, back on or about the 15th.  Our granddaughter is graduating from HS the night of the 12th, so we gotta be there.

[Etta Sue]

I am back from Michigan.  Ivalou and I had a great time.  We stayed at The Shack Bed and Breakfast and was pleasantly surprised at our faciities.  You can check the bed and breakfast out here.  None of those rooms on the website was like ours.  We each had a canopy log bed without the canopy.  And we were upgraded to a hot-tub room!  So quiet!  And right on a lake! 

Graduation was great for David, our g-nephew.  So tearful at the end when David and his friend gave the farewell speech.  Some of his classmates came to them and hugged them.  Then David's younger brother, Steven, came from the stands to hug his big brother.  Sniff!  Sniff!

Tonight is Beef and Boards.  One of the ladies can't go and instead of them trying to find someone to go in her place...Ivalou was called this morning for her to find someone.  After about 8 women being called, we finally found someone to go!!  Tonight is 'Wizard of Oz'.  I am anxious to see how they make everything fly around during the tornado!

 

~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^

[Marilyn]

Good Morning to one all all who enter in today. I pray that Jane has a safe and wonderful trip to Sacto to see the family. So good to hear from Ruth  Ann that you hand is coming along just fine.

Larry I am praying for the Lord's guidance on whether or not to change to Health Sport Fitness Center from Curves. So I will wait on the Lord to let me know how or if to budget it in to my monthly expenses or not. It is now in His hands and I expect an answer before the end of this month.

I have a Product Seminar to attend tonight and will be speaking on the product for Joint Care, I invited several of the people that I met at the Health fair to attend but you never know  if they will show up.


Got to go to work now.

[Janet]

Jane, hope you have a wonderful trip and a good family visit.

Ruth Ann, glad you get to use both hands now, be sure not to overdo it!  So good to see your posts.

JudyB, have a good visit with Pat.  Wish I were coming along.

Larry, I hope Pat is feeling better today.  Fibromyalgia is such a painful condition, and so unpredictable.

I am going to school to eat with my Youth Friend for the last time this term, at lunch.  We will make a calendar for her to keep track of the days until we meet again, also will put our birthdays and whatever else she wants on the calendar.  She is a little sweetie.

Etta Sue, at Justin's (grandson) graduation, each senior, after receiving their diploma, took a white rose out to their Mom in the audience, gave them big hugs, and a kiss.  Very sweet.  And Kerri managed not to cry!  She was afraid she would, and Justin told her not to. 

Piano lesson today, then she will not be teaching this summer.  I am sorry about that, wish we could keep going.

Darrel's shoulder repair surgery is tomorrow.

[karmat]

Janet, I'll remember Darrel in my prayers

From Kristi --
iiet yyl'k

[Janet]

Thanks so much Karma.  Give that sweet Kristi a hug for me, will you?  And Nards and Trav, too. 

[Marilyn]

Praying for Darrell this morning.

[Larry Hanna]

Hi everyone.  I started this posting before leaving for the senior center and the start of a pretty busy day.  We had a special meeting of our  men's Friday morning coffee group to present a graduation/birthday card to the daughter of the lady who was the city administrator when the senior center opened about 12 years.  This little girl, who came over to the Senior Center about every Friday morning for 5 years, has now grown up and we took up a special collection and gave her a crisp $100 bill to give to her in a special card.  About 10 of our men remembered to come on Wednesday.    When this young woman was little we always had a sprinkle donut for her as that was her favorite.  We dropped the donuts several years ago as none of us needed them, mostly due to health issues.  However, today we had a special cake and it was decorated with sprinkles.  She, her mother and grandmother came and we had a nice time and I think she enjoyed it. 

This morning we have Bible study with our pastor and tonight is choir practice again.  This is about all I can handle in one day. 

Janet, the white rose is a very nice touch for the graduates mothers.  I'm sure it was a special time.  Sorry to hear your piano lessons are suspended for the summer as you need to keep practicing.

Marilyn, I hope your Product Seminar goes well this evening.

Etta Sue, glad to have you back from your trip and know you will enjoy the play this evening.

Al, glad to see that your trip for your granddaughter's birthday has been worked out.

Jane, sure hope your daughter is able to get your family together while you are in California.  Sure that will be a special time for you.

Good morning Samantha and Karmat and all who join with us later today.

[Ruth Ann Bice]

Good morning,

Well, so many good messages to read this morning. Hugs to everyone.

I'll be praying for Darrell today.

[Marilyn]

The product seminar went very well. But the desseerts were decadent. Key Lime pie, Carrot cake, two Chocolate cakes, Peach pie, Strawberries with  chream cheese frosting for dipping, brownines, and chicken. Did I eat som? Oh my yes I did I tasted everything. No weighing today that's for sure.

Time to leave now for Curves. See y-all later,

[Carol]

Hello all - we are back in Montana after driving to the coast of Washington.  There, we had a marvelous visit with two nieces & two children.  They loved the flannel quilts I was able to finish and said that no one ever "made" anything for them....so sad as they are ignored pretty much by my youngest brother.  Imagine only seeing children once a year & grandchildren too when you are perfectly able to drive over there & also never inviting them.....sometimes people make such terrible decisions in their lives.  So sad.  My parents were quite neglectful so I understand the pain from their perspective. 

Anyway, gas was the highest all over Washington.  They need to clean out those politicians who vote everything for higher taxes in that state - will never happen. 

Janet:  Read about your Curtis becoming 2nd. Lt.  I dated & married my 1st. Lt.   Special prayers for those AF guys!

Spoke with all my children on Mom's day.  Don and I caught the ferry to Victoria, B.C. and just loved seeing the stunning flowers.  Came back to where we parked the car and then drove through an island area and on another ferry.  Boy, I miss everything but would never leave the family.  The weather was been so nice this entire month wherever we go & that is plain luck. 

The only downer was my one cousin who claims to be a Christian so often - she asked one personal question about our middle son three times and always does this to rile me.  He is not married, lived for years with a gal who was previously marred - for the love of the Lord, I cannot change this fact.  We love our son - love his mate.  Cousin continutally brings up this subject.  I have prayed to no end about this - why I cannot tell you.  This cousin always asks if he is married - then tells me that she and her mother were talking about this yesterday or something to that effect.  Lord, grant me peace.  I have wept over these facts and nothing changes....

Thankfulness for a new job for this same son.  He is so reluctant to change but a job offer came along.  He just agonizes over decisions and we keep praying.  This is be good for him in the long run. 

Must really do something about how we are eating the minute we get home - beginning a little now.  Nice to be half-way home but we will surely miss this mountain and lake view. 

Carol

[Samantha]

Hey Larry,

Today we now have the smoke from those fires.  I thought something close to my house was burning, but heard no sirens at all.  I'm sure it is worse where you are. 

Those who can, would you say a quick prayer for us today?  God know exactly what we need, and has always provided.  Thanks!

Later,
Samantha

[Etta Sue]

What seems like a very simple thing to do is very taxing and I don't feel that I am iliterate on the computer.  But I have been almost 5 hours getting a new email address and changing outlook express so I can receive emails with the new address.  Two online chats and I think I finally got it.  As soon as I post this, I will change the email address in my profile. 

'Wizard of Oz' was VERY good last night.  Toto was a real dog.  So gentle and every time Dorothy held him up to her face, Toto licked her face!  So cute.  I was very pleasantly surprised at how they performed the whole show! 

Well, my day is about gone but I need to scoop on!!

{{{HUGS}}} {{{HUGS}}} {{{HUGS}}} {{{HUGS}}} {{{HUGS}}}

[Jane Walker]

Well HELLO from California! 

The trip down was really long and tiresome and, when I got here, it was HOT!  I left home with long sleeves and a vest sweater ... very quickly shed those when I got into "my" little cottage behind Joy and John's home.

John was just ready to leave for several days when I got here and he said I could stay in his room in the house if I wanted to be closer to Joy so we could visit all hours of the night.       

I had to dig him about that ... "Oh, no, my mother-in-law is coming, I gotta get out of here!"     That's okay with Joy and me 'cause we are doing our own thing anyway! 

We are still trying to get hold of the family (or at least some of them) to arrange a get-together .... still "we'll see...."

Joy says I am welcome to stay as long as I want ... maybe through the Memorial Day weekend and return next Tuesday.  Dunno how that will play out.  I've often been told "company is like fish ... after about 3 days it starts to stink!"   

I'll get back to all y'all later.  Just wanted to check in and let you know I made the trip in good form and am trying to adjust to the change in climate.

[Marilyn]

Good to hear from y-all Jane. Thanks for  letin' us know ya got there ok.

Janet  how is Darrell?

[JudyB]

Hi Gotta run

I am at Pat's and having a great time with her.  She just called that dinner is ready.

Good news on the eyes, she saw that I have cronic high blood pressure and there has been changes because of that, but otherwise all is well.  Praise God He is good all the time.

Remember that I am praying for ALL the needs represented here and I KNOW that God DOES answer prayer.

Bye now
JudyB