Thoughts for the Week~July 15

[Don]

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Morning Devotional...

Honoring Others Above Ourselves

Verse

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Romans 12:10


Another desire of the spiritual man is to die right rather than to live wrong. A sure mark of the mature man of God is his nonchalance about living. The earth-loving, body-conscious Christian looks upon death with numb terror in his heart; but as he goes on to live in the Spirit he becomes increasingly indifferent to the number of his years here below, and at the same time increasingly careful of the kind of life he lives while he is here. He will not purchase a few extra days of life at the cost of compromise or failure. He wants most of all to be right, and he is happy to let God decide how long he shall live. He knows that he can afford to die now that he is in Christ, but he knows that he cannot afford to do wrong, and this knowledge becomes a gyroscope to stabilize his thinking and his acting. 6. The desire to see others advance at his expense is another mark of the spiritual man. He wants to see other Christians above him and is happy when they are promoted and he is overlooked. There is no envy in his heart; when his brethren are honored he is pleased because such is the will of God and that will is his earthly heaven. If God is pleased, he is pleased for that reason, and if it pleases God to exalt another above him he is content to have it so.

Thought

Love for others promotes them above ourselves, even at our expense. It makes us encouragers, developers of people.

Prayer

Thank You, Father, for those whom You have used to develop me. Use me in honoring and encouraging others. For Jesus' sake.

From Devotions By Dr. Tozer

[Etta Sue]

I read but I forgot to post yesterday!!  Did you notice?  YOU DIDN'T!  Well, I'll be!!   

We got a really nice rain after the day before it was south of us.  Remarkable how a nice rain greens up the grass! 

Not much new around here.  Just reading, washing, cleaning, eating...the same O-same O!  Getting browner from sitting in the shade outside!  Getting rid of that pale look! 

Ready for church and it is 9am!!

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[Larry Hanna]

Hi everyone.  I slept a little late this morning as had no reason to hurry around.  I plan on going to church in about an hour but don't know yet whether Pat will go or not.  She had a pretty rough day yesterday until late in the afternoon when she began to feel better as the pain in her hip subsided.  We did go out to a local pancake house for dinner last night and it was good.  We were the only customers all the time we were there and in talking with them they said their trade is in the mornings and lunch and then later in the evenings.  They have a broad menu so it isn't limited to breakfast items.  Nothing else on the schedule for today so will just take it easy and prepare for the marathon day tomorrow as Pat has her surgery.

Judy, sorry to read you are suffering from the heat.  I think you are wise to scrap the old scanner rather than spend money on it (probably about as much as you will spend on a new one) for repair of the old one.  I do know we are getting solar flares from the sun this summer and that weather is on a cycle, although we often think it has never been like this before. 

Ruth Ann, knowing that others have had such fine results from the knee and hip replacements after suffering with these joint problems for so long is very encouraging.  Pat has faithfully been doing the leg exercises they told her about at the orientation session we attended a couple of weeks ago and I feel she will do the work to be better.  However, she doesn't suffer in silence so I may be the one needing the pain pills.  (That was a joke folks).  Thanks for the prayers.  We have many supportive friends and we love you all.

Don, a very nice devotional for this week. Thanks. 

Etta Sue, I thought I read a posting from you yesterday but perhaps it was from the day before and I just responded to it yesterday.  Nothing wrong with a quiet day and you don't seem to have too many of those.

[Marilyn]

Happy Birthday Judy

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[RuthV]

Happy Birthday, Judy!!!  What a lovely card Marilyn gave you.... just think! Cocker Spaniel Babies are soooooo adorable!!

[JudyB]

Thank you Marilyn and Ruth!

[Carol]

 Judy    We have one grandson's birthday this week and sending three other cards very soon so this is a busy birthday month. 

Larry:  Best to Pat as she goes to surgery - I believe it is Monday morning. 

[Ruth Ann Bice]

May God grant you (and Bonesy, too) a year filled with love, faith, and deep rooted joy, Judy.

And, Larry, I'll be praying with all the others as your wife prepares for this surgery.

Al, how are you doing?

Oh, dear, I could go on and on! Hey everyone, may the Lord bless you "real good" today.

Don, thank you for that great devotional.

Love to all,
Ruth Ann

[Larry Hanna]

Hi everyone from Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta.  Pat went back to be prepared for surgery a little bit ago.  Stacey is here with me.  Pat should go into surgery in about an hour.  We got up at 4 am and had no trouble getting to the hospital with time to spare.  We had a very nice church service yesterday and the contemporary music was not too loud and one lady sang a beautiful piece.  I felt led to write a note of appreciation to our pastor and mentioned how much I appreciated the volume being held down and what a fine service it was.  I think my issue with the contempory is strictly the volume issue.  They projected words of the songs on the two screens and I like that as well as can sing with my head up.

Happy Birthday Judy.

[JudyB]

Thank you everyone for the birthday greetings.  John and I had a good weekend.  HE is counting the months till retirement, and now so am I.  We have a  lot of plans in the meantime to prepare for that day!

[Carol]

Larry:  You were up early today.  Early medical appointments are best for us as we just like to get it over.     Good for you for giving the pastor feedback. 

[JudyB]

God is Love, His Mercy Brightens 
(Click to hear music)

"God is love." 1 John 4:16

Words: John Bowring, Hymns, 1825

Music: "Sussex," English melody; adapted by Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906




God is love; His mercy brightens
All the path in which we rove;
Bliss He wakes, and woe He lightens:
God is wisdom, God is love.

Chance and change are busy ever;
Man decays and ages move;
But His mercy waneth never:
God is wisdom, God is love.

E'en the hour that darkest seemeth
Will His changeless goodness prove;
From the mist His brightness streameth:
God is wisdom, God is love.

He with earthly cares entwineth
Hope and comfort from above;
Everywhere His glory shineth:
God is wisdom, God is love.

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[JudyB]

Larry the youth like the volume up.....That is not to say that we should comply. 

This generation often doesn't know or understand the word "NO".  We are having problems in Quebec and now starting in Ontario with the college level generation refusing to take the word NO without revolting.  I am praying the authorities stand their ground and don't cave in.

It is another hot one today.I have to go into the Bay again today,  John bought me a scanner for my birthday and I installed it.  It made this awful grinding noise every time I clicked the on button, so it is going back, along with my laptop so they can hear what happens. 

Be back tonight!

[Etta Sue]

Church was great and then four of us women went to Cracker Barrel for lunch.  The rest of the day was leisure with reading, napping, TV, crocheting and reading some more. 

Today is a lazy day.  I want to print some things for tonight.  My church is starting a group called 'Senior Saints'!  It is a group of Seniors who will be traveling to one and two day trips around Indiana and/or surrounding states!  I think it is a wonderful idea.  If the person doesn't think it is for them, then they can stay home but others can go!  Baseball games, attractions, museums, colleges, etc.  Anxious to see what all they mention tonight!

Not much more to mention today.  Praying for Pat and for her to have a quick recovery and will kicking up her leg soon!!

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

[Al Moak]

Judy - sure sorry the new scanner didn't operate as it should have.  You'd have thought their quality control people would have caught that.

I'm doing fairly well here at home, thanks be to our Lord.  Hey, I just learned something (maybe)  I am being told that margerine is more fat-forming than butter.  Anybody know?

[Jeanne Lee]

The younger generation really does prefer their "music" to be loud.  A couple of years back my grandson looked at the speakers for my stereo and said, "Great speakers, Grandma.  You must be able to get really loud."  I said, "I don't know, I never play it loud."  He said, "But, Grandma!  Music is supposed to be loud!"  When my three were in their teens, my favorite mantra was "turn it down or turn it off".   

[Marilyn]

I am leaving tomorrow  on the train from Eugene  to go to see  some of my kids that I haven't seen in 20 years. There will be 4 generations under one roof. i am going to take lots of pictures.

[JudyB]

Well Great news..... The scanner works, I took it back and there was a lock on the scanning mechanism that we didn't know about, and it works just fine.  So guess what I am doing tomorrow!!!

I went to a friends tonight to help their daughter with a job that was overwhelming her.  When I broke it down into small steps it was completed quite quickly!.

I am off and heading to bed very soon!

[Janet]

Hmmm...no email notices again, so I am two days behind!  Really good devotional, Don, thank you so much for that.  That was the gist of my prayer while walking this morning.

By now, Pat's surgery is over with and I pray she is doing very well, without a lot of pain.  Larry, may God bless you as you care for her.  You have such a great attitude about things, you continually inspire me.

Judy, glad the scanner problem is solved so you can do what you want to do.

Hi, Ruth Ann!  Marilyn, have a blessed time with family, and hope you get lots of good pictures.

Carol, have a great day!

Jeanne, I agree with you!  WHY did 'loud' become synonymous with 'good'?

Larry, good for you for giving feedback, that's what I need to do, as our music was much improved on Sunday.  We do need to let them know what we like, not always what we do not like.

I've been up for hours, got lots of work done already.  At 2, I have to be at the fairgrounds, and work until 7 this evening.  I'm sure I will be ready to come home by then, but they are having a concert by Reba McIntire's sister Susie, at 8, so I might stay for that.

Beth has an appointment with yet another surgeon today for a consultation preparatory to doing an endoscopy.  I don't have to go this time.

I didn't see a report about Pat's shoulder surgery---what is the news on that?  And is it the same shoulder she had surgery on a few years back, or the other one?  I pray she is doing well, but please let us know!

May God bless each of you today!  Please keep safe!

[Larry Hanna]

Hi everyone.  It was another really hot day yesterday.  They had late afternoon rain downtown Atlanta but we didn't get any of it this time.  I have talked with Pat three times already this morning and she said she got little sleep last night due to the constant attention she was getting.  She said she had her leg to 60 degrees so she seems to be doing fine and will be getting up today.  I forgot to take in her bag of clothing from the car before I left yesterday so definitely have to make a trip down today, but had planned to do so this afternoon anyway.  All indications are she is doing fine. 

Judy, it is a fun time when you can contemplate retirement and what it opens up for you when it actually occurs.  I do hope we are not going back into another situation like the 60s when our society took a less that desirable turn for many of our young people, who are now our leaders.  Not good for the scanner making a grinding sound but see you found the problem and it is fine.  It is interesting that how often large jobs broken down into doable steps turns out to be not so overwhelming.  Nice of you to help your friend's daughter.

Janet, I will be seeing Pat again in about three hours.  I have something to do this morning but will head downtown about noon.  Going to make a sandwich to take with me so I don't need to eat out again at lunch.  I didn't know Reba McEntire had a sister who was a performer.  What a difficult job to work in the shadow of Reba. 

Etta Sue, your "Senior Saints" sounds a lot like groups many of our churches and senior center have where occasional trips are planned.  They usually go in a bus so one doesn't have to drive, which is nice. 

Al, we haven't used margarine for many years as Pat was cooking something and put oleo in the skillet and it sort of turned to plastic.  At least butter is natural and that is all we use.  Glad you are getting along well at home.

Jeanne, been through that "turn it down" phase when our children were younger.  I like music loud enough to hear the tones but don't want it to hurt my ears.

Marilyn, what an exciting time for you seeing you children after all these years.  Hope it is  wonderful reunion.

[Carol]

When you turn into the driveway at your own house and the place is just rocking with music --- time to take control.  I remember that incident and really it only happened a few times.    

Another day - another idea.  We are going to the mountains to cool off and check on our cabin that is for sale.  Hardly anyone has looked at it --- this is a fact of the economy now.  The little towns are really hurting without tourists and the early fires around the state did not help at all. 

Larry:  I hope you get some of our rain as it finally did actually rain here.  Pat will be happy to be home soon. 

[Etta Sue]

Three things I have told Tony...You turn up the volume loud and break my speakers...You pay to get 'em fixed.  You get stopped for no seat belt fastened...You pay the ticket!  You get stopped for speeding...You pay the ticket!!  That was all said during the one time he drove my car after Bud passed away!!  He didn't have to pay out any money!  He never offered to drive my car again either!

Senior Saints...some things I am not interested in going to see but with a group, I will go.  For instance, downtown Indy!  I can find the Zoo, the Eiteljorg Museum, the Indiana Art Museum...but where do I park?  And Steve said he would rather rent a vehicle that will take all of us instead of car pooling, trailing someone or being in the lead.  I agree.  My all time favorite idea is taking the Amtrak to Chicago, spend the night and come back the next evening.  I haven't a clue what to see and do in Chicago but I just may find out!

I have been fed, inspired, exercised, fed again, shampooed and showered.  Now to wait until time to go to play Euchre! 

I had a 'J' night and didn't get to sleep until way after 2am!  Wish I could take a nap!!

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[Marilyn]

We will be leaving home around 1:30 , it takes two hours to get to Eugene from here, by the time we get there we will have to deal with traffic, pick up my tickets and boarding pass, and get a bite to eat before I board the train. I have tried to notify all that email me or send forwards to please not do so until after I return the 25th. Hotmail will automatically send out a vacation message to my contacts, but last month there were some people who ignored the fact that was not home. I will have my Netbook with  me but I will be deleting every thing without reading them except for the surveys I do to earn $$.

[JudyB]

Rough day and Last night was a real "J" night.  Stupid mosquitoes woke me up eating me alive.  They seem to get in somehow.   

Was up at 5 and working with my scanner.  It is amazing to me that it actually works!  Have a good portion of photos done, the balance that I originally set aside will be done before bed.

John is getting some more miles this week, tough when one person has the sway to sabotage drivers on E-Logs.  Electronic logs cannot be fudged with.  HE would rather the old way with drivers going over hours and pushing them past legislated rest.  I don't get how this one person has so much sway.  John was pretty upset when we talked on the weekend, after he calmed I suggested he pray for this man.  That is the best we can do!

Going for now have a good evening.

[BonnieA]

I am going over tomorrow, my day off, to help (our)Pat with her shower.  Seems like both the Christian, and proper thing to do; I have the time and the ability, after all. 

This little gesture on my part has helped witness to my sweet man, who was raised in a church-attending family but wandered away from his faith.  He hasn't understood why I would do such a thing on my day off.  I reminded him that he himself often does little random acts of kindness, simply because he can.  I am praying that he will soon come back into a close relationship with the Lord. 

Please pray for Gary. ^^^


I will be praying for each of you in the coming days, especially Larry's wife as she recuperates from surgery. 

[JudyB]

Ohhhh Bonnie thank you so very much!  And Yes I do pray for him and you!

[BonnieA]

I appreciate the prayers Judy.  When I look back on my life I realize that God always wanted me to be strong in the area of helping others.   I taught day care for many years; worked in retail and service industries, and now am working as a PSW.  You let me know that you were concerned, and He encouraged me to follow through.

Love you and truly am thankful for your place in my life.

[Larry Hanna]

Hi everyone.  It looks like we will be having a clear morning after a rainy yesterday afternoon and I think during he night. 

Pat seems to be doing reasonably well.  She wasn't able to do the rehab yesterday morning as when they tried to get her up she became very dizzy.  I spent a couple of hours with her from about 1 to 3 pm yesterday and shortly after I left they were able to get her up and with help walked from the bed to the room door and back and they had her sitting up in a chair for an hour.  Apparently the saddle block they gave her before the surgery hadn't worn completely off yesterday and she was also having some strange muscle spams in different parts of her leg.  Hopefully the muscle relaxant took care of that. 

I was so tired when I got home that I ate a quick bite of dinner and took my night time medicine and went to bed and was asleep shortly after 8 pm as couldn't keep my eyes open.  I awoke about 2:30 this morning and wasn't able to go back to sleep so just rested until about 6 this morning.  I haven't decided whether I will try to go to the hospital today or not. 

Stacey got good news yesterday that a handicapped low-income rental apartment on the ground level has become available fairly near to where she has been living.  It is to be available by the beginning of the month so she will be moving even though there are two months left on her lease that we will have to pay but don't want her to pass up this opportunity. 

Carol, hope you find your cabin in good shape.  One thing is for sure our economy isn't improving.  However, there are some signs that houses are selling better.  My good friends, who have had their house on the market for about two years, appear to finally have a good contract on it and they, in turn, have put in a bid for a house in a seniors community in north Georgia close to one of their children. 

Etta Sue, renting a van for a day for a reasonably small group is a good idea.  With several going the cost would be reasonable and you don't have to drive and park and walk. 

Judy, I can't imagine having to fight mosquitoes in the house.  That would be miserable.  What do you mean one person is sabotaging drivers E-logs? 

Bonnie, I am sure Pat will be most appreciative.  Our daughter-in-law plans to come over from North Augusta tomorrow to stay for a few days to help us out when Pat comes home from the hospital.  You are setting a good example for your husband.  What is a PSW?

Time to leave for coffee. 

[Janet]

Thank you, Bonnie, for helping our dear Pat!  We all love and appreciate her so much.  God will surely bless you for that kindness.

Larry, please stay home today and rest, sounds as if you need it.  Good news for Stacey, and time for that.  Glad your area is getting rain.

Judy, I don't understand what you mean about the guy sabotaging the e-logs, either.  But that is dishonest and unfair, and I hope it gets sorted out soon.

I had a call from Abby yesterday, and she decided she wanted to come to the Susie McEntire concert, so as soon as we closed taking entries,I drove halfway to Hugoton and met her and Diane.  Susie sounds just like Reba, and looks very much like her, too!  She is on TV on the show Cowboy Church, some people there say they always watch that and think she is even better than her sister.   

As soon as she was ready, I took Abby back to the same spot, where Mark met us.  It's always good to see him and collect some great hugs!  He has met a nice Christian gal who lives in Denver, and went there last weekend.  He said they really enjoyed each other's company and he plans to visit her again next month.  I have been praying for a good Christian wife for Mark.  It's time!  Was so good to see him happy and smiling, and he always talks to me about his life.  Love those grandkids!

I have to be out at the fair before 9 this morning and stay until the judging of our Art area is completed and we have everything displayed properly.  I have a wonderful assistant, and really appreciate Thelma.  She enjoys the book work part of the job, and I don't!  So we make a good team.  I do the 'gopher' stuff, and hang the art work, assist the judge, etc.

I hope you all have a wonderful day----stay cool!

[Etta Sue]

I had such a great night of rest last night that I am refreshed and ready to face the world!!  Now...what do I do? 

Euchre was fun.  I came out ahead!  That only happens maybe once a year!  Jane is a great cook.  She made homemade Peach and Coconut Cream Pie...so we each had an eighth of each pie!  Yum!! 

I really need to dust and sweep this house!!  But...I want to read.  Bet reading wins out!  What I really need to do is wash my car.  I ran it through a cheap car wash....wasted money.  It looks like milk on the driver's side of the car.  I think the rinse nozzle was clogged up!  Couldn't stand looking through that milky looking glass so I did wash the windows but after looking at the red on it, it all needs washed!!  Maybe I will do that when shade gets on the driveway!  Maybe! 

It was another hot day yesterday.  While playing Euchre, it was thundering.  I had left the sunroof open.  It was barely sprinkling when I went out to shut it.  But that was all we got!  We are in desperate need of rain!!  The farmers will be selling their corn to the companies that can that baby corn on the cob you find at salad bars!!  (Field corn isn't used for that, so don't worry!)

My Dad would be 100 today if he was alive!