Thoughts for the Week~July 20

[Don]

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Morning Devotional...

The Essence of Idolatry

Verse

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Romans 1:21


Among the sins to which the human heart is prone, hardly any other is more hateful to God than idolatry, for idolatry is at bottom a libel on His character. The idolatrous heart assumes God is other than He is—in itself a monstrous sin—and substitutes for the true God one made after its own likeness. Always this god will conform to the image of the one who created it and will be base or pure, cruel or kind, according to the moral state of the mind from which it emerges.

A god begotten in the shadows of a fallen heart will quite naturally be no true likeness of the true God. "Thou thoughtest," said the Lord to the wicked man in the psalm, "that I was altogether such an one as thyself." Surely this must be a serious affront to the Most High God before whom cherubim and seraphim continually do cry, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth."

Let us beware lest we in our pride accept the erroneous notion that idolatry consists only in kneeling before visible objects of adoration, and that civilized peoples are therefore free from it. The essence of idolatry is the entertainment of thoughts about God that are unworthy of Him. It beings in the mind and may be present where no overt act of worship has taken place. "When they knew God," wrote Paul, "they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened."

Then followed the worship of idols fashioned after the likeness of men and birds and beasts and creeping things. But this series of degrading acts began in the mind. Wrong ideas about God are only the fountain from which the polluted waters of idolatry flow; they are themselves idolatrous. The idolater simply imagines things about God and acts as if they were true.

Thought

The essence of idolatry is thinking thoughts about God that are completely unworthy of Him.

Prayer

Lord, cleanse our minds, so that our thoughts of You will be pure and right and free from the polluted waters of idolatry.

From Devotions By Dr. Tozer

[Larry Hanna]

Hi everyone.  Another overcast day with a good possibility of rain.  We will be going to church and then getting something to eat, our usual Sunday. 

Karen, certainly hope your trip yesterday was enjoyable and you had a good visit with your daughter's finance. 

Don, thanks for the fine devotional thoughts for this week.  I appreciate your efforts and those of the other good folks who share devotional thoughts with us on a week by week basis. 

[Jeanne Lee]

Thanks for the new devotional, Don.  Dr Tozer's messages always make you think.

A hazy sun so far this morning.  The temperature and humidity are expected to begin rising little by little for the next three or four days and then start down again.  It hasn't felt much like July the last few days, but I guess that's coming to an end.   

[Janet]

Happy Sun day, everybody!

Karen, thanks for the anniversary good wishes, and hope you had a nice day yesterday.  I am a bit curious as to your mention of the prison--just my curious mind!  Is this a really good restaurant you've visited before?

Larry and Jeanie:  Since this is our county fair, the award money isn't a great deal, but it does give incentive to enter items in the fair.  The kids, especially are excited about getting money!    First place (blue ribbons) get $5.00 each, second (red) get $4.00 and white or third place gets $3.00.  They also have higher awards, such as Overall Grand Champion ($5.00) Reserve Grand ($4.00) and Judge's Choice (no extra money for this one. Since I had been extra busy leading up to fair time, I only entered three exhibits:  Two oil paintings and one scrapbook.  I won four blues, a purple award (don't know if there is anything extra for that one), a Judge's choice and an Overall Grand Champion.  That one means it was judged to be the best in the whole division.  That one was for one of the paintings, and the judge's choice was for the scrapbook I did on Abby.  I know, TMI!  Are you sorry you asked?  I figure I will receive $20 or $25 total.  For the three days of work out there, nothing--that's all volunteer!    Some years I enter all sorts of things in the Hobbies and Collections area, but not this year!

We had a great service this morning.  John and Beth came, so afterward we all went to Subway to eat.  We got out just after 11:00, so were almost finished when the rest of the church crowd started hitting the restaurants!    John has only one more week here with Beth.  It has just flown by!  Wish we could just keep him!

Our lovely cool weather is over and the heat has returned.      But it surely was wonderful while it lasted!!

[Carol]

We are home again.  all the animals were in their own spots while we went to critter sit.  One dog was very sick for more than a day but fine when we left.  this morning I have a medical appointment.  Yes, there are always coyotes around here and deer sometimes.  a neighbor was bitten by a coyote while riding a bike and last year. I Was threatened by three adult coyotes so, just turned around.

I never meant to Not care for the innocents in the Israel Gaza war.   Israel has given up land in three countries where now the rockets fire towards them.  This seems to never end. 

This is hard to type on an iPad.  All the mistakes are not mine 

we have haze from the Washington fires. 

Don, thanks for these devotions!!!!

[Janet]

Good morning!

I was up early to spend time with my Father, always the sweetest time of the day.  Have gone for a 40 minute walk and now am here--as you can see! 

My heart aches for Israel.  They are attacked without provocation, maligned, slandered, misunderstood, and the media tells outright lies about them and the whole situation, attempting to make it look like they are the aggressors.  BUT GOD who watches over Israel never slumbers nor sleeps.  He will see that justice is done, and we know He is faithful, true and trustworthy.  Since we were in Israel so recently, this seems all the more real to me.  I pray fervently for God's chosen ones.  May they VERY SOON turn to Jesus and receive Him at last as Messiah and Lord!

I will soon have to close my windows, as it is heating up again.

Did I tell you all that my children's book, Wheelie and Runt:  Two Unusual Little Pigs, is now out?  I hope it finds its way into the hands of many children and blesses them.  If you would like a copy, let me know.  My website seems to be down, I need to get my techie grandson on it!  But they are in a crisis just now, as they found out their house, built in 1927, has a lot of lead based paint in it.  Their baby, almost two, has high levels of lead in her blood, and they have been told they MUST get her out of that house immediately!  Then all the plaster and laths must be removed, the metal cabinets taken out and replaced, and on and on.  Huge job, and in crisis mode.  Where to live?  How to get the work done as quickly as possible, etc.  So I think my website will not be a priority for Curtis right now.

Okay,TMI about me and mine!  See you later!

[Larry Hanna]

Hi everyone from Georgia on this Monday morning.  It is still overcast and we must have had some rain during the night as the streets were wet this morning.  However, it is getting lighter outside so maybe we will see a little of the sun.  The temp was very pleasant this morning but the humidity seems to be going up.  We did get to church yesterday and Pat and I went to eat on our own.  I think my blood pressure must have been very low yesterday as I was very tired all day and spend three hours resting in the afternoon and then went to bed a little after 8 last night.  I am feeling more normal this morning.  Other than a meeting this evening I have no other commitments for the day.  The housekeepers are here this morning so we will soon have a clean house again. 

Jeanne, these cool days in July are rare and I certainly appreciate them.

Congratuations for the Overall Grand Champion and your other fine awards.  That wasn't TMI at all.  At least your prize money will help offset the cost of gas getting to and back from the fair all the days you had to be there.  Nice you were able to go out to eat with Beth and John. 

Carol, sure you are happy to be back in your own home and not the responsibility for the animals.  It would be very frightening to see a pack of coyotes.  They are very territorial.  Apparently each pack has their own territory (I learned this from the National Georgraphic special I watched last week on Yellowstone Park. 

Janet, terrible situation for Curtis and family in having to vacate their home.  Did they know of the lead paint when they moved in?  Don't you wonder how anyone survived when we all had lead paint?

[Janet]

Larry--No, none of us had any idea of the lead paint in that house!  It came as a big shock when the doctors determined that Jenna's  being so small for her age, slow to walk, eating barely enough to survive--all were because of the lead in her blood!  The said if she didn't show good improvement in a week they will have to flush her system by using IV meds that will bind the lead and help her get rid of it.  They want her to eat more.  She lives mostly on milk!  They had a trip to Houston planned before they learned this, to leave on Monday following the news they got on Friday.  So they went ahead and went, and through FB posts I have learned that Jenna is feeling a lot better and eating a lot better after being out of the house for only a few days.  They should be home now, and plan to move in with Toni's parents temporarily, until they can decide what to do.  Curtis is hoping that will not be for longer than 2 or 3 weeks.  If they hadn't learned what was wrong with Jenna, it could have led to brain damage and developmental problems to scary to contemplate.  God is good, He was protecting that precious baby!  The older two girls may have been affected some, too, but they said the younger they are, the more the lead will damage them.  I'm just glad they know the problem now and it can be dealt with and stopped.

Thanks for the congrats, Larry.

[Carol]

Janet:  Good wishes to you on the new book!  It sounds like you probably had a lot of fun in writing the children's book.  Lead in the paint?  There is probably a law out there that should have been disclosed by the real estate - seller and so forth.  They (the parents) should get some legal advice and I only say that because it could cause medical problems down the line for the baby.  Prayers for the family. 

Back from a heart treadmill test and passed just fine - giving thanks for that!  It was extra hard because I took atenolol this morning - they did not say I shouldn't only no caffeine.  So, the tech ramped up the speed and the incline and I have to tell you that I was huffing and puffing & my legs were aching.  Made it - giving thanks for getting through the test.  I got out early and could not find Don for a half hour and he is always so prompt I was getting very concerned.  He thought I would take longer - he cannot have the cell phone because he can't hear over it so this happens sometimes.      It is what it is.....

Larry:  We went through a few lectures on coyotes and one ranger said that she thought they were super smart to survive so long, even near a city.  They are not afraid of people here so we are quite wary of them. 

We stopped at a consignment store here and found a couple of things - 50% off on stuff today. 

[Janet]

Carol, I thought about that as well.  But we bought the house at auction--as is, no guarantees--which would likely mean no legal recourse.  It was part of an estate.   

I hope you recover from the taxing treadmill test and your legs won't be too sore.  Congratulations on making it to the end of it!  And be wary of ol' Wiley Coyote! 

[Ruth Ann Bice]

Hi, friends, I don't know why I haven't been on the computer much in the last several days. At any rate, I'm doing fine, and have had some times of eating with family and friends recently.

Love to each of you.

Ruth Ann

[Larry Hanna]

Hi everyone.  It is once again an overcast morning with rain in the forecast.  However, we didn't have any rain yesterday.  We are predicted to get to 82 degrees this afternoon, really great for a late July day in Georgia. I will attend a meeting this morning and then plan on being home the rest of the day.  Pat is going to the church for the doll makers for awhile and then out to lunch with a friend. 

Janet, that is a very scary situation with the lead paint and its effects on the little one.  Sure glad they found the problem and it can be fixed. 

Carol, always good to pass a tread mill test.  It has been a number of years since I had one and won't have to take any more because of the pacemaker/defibrillator. 

Ruth Ann, good to read that you are doing fine and enjoying eating with friends and family on occasion. 

[Janet]

We were surprised by heavy rains and some hail last evening.  They had not predicted any moisture for our area.  I have no idea how much we got, but the whole area in front of our house was awash, with the wind blowing waves across it.  Later, it settled into a nice gentle rain for a while.  This morning, only a few puddles remain.  I am curious as to how much rain we got.  Lots of runoff because it came so fast, but we are always so thankful for moisture!

I talked to Toni (Curtis' wife) last night.  She said when they went to their house to gather things for their stay with her parents, she just felt like crying, and Curtis was sick and felt like vomiting.  They had so many dreams for that house, and it seems to have turned to dust.  They aren't sure at all what to do.  I am praying for God to give them wisdom.  Curtis has two camera systems and one alarm system to install.  He has to keep working, or they will have no income!  Not an easy situation.  Prayers for them will be appreciated.

I wish you all a rainbow-colored day!

[Pat]

Janet, what awful news about Curtis and the house.  My goodness!  I feel so sorry for them.

I'm missing Karen's lovely graphics that seem to brighten up the pages.  Hope she's ok.

Hello to the rest of you.  I have a big job to do for the Guelph Hiking Trail Club website and I also have to cut the back lawn.  We've had so much rain off and on that it's really grown tall.

[Jeanne Lee]

I never realized that lead paint would contaminate the air.  I was always under the impression it was when babies used lead painted surfaces for teething, etc. that they would be affected.  Guess I'm still not too old to learn.  But what a terrible situation now for Curtis.  I join you, Janet, in praying he will be given wisdom, and be open to the Lord's leading to the solution.

[Marilyn]

Janet what a terrible situation for Curtis and his family. the health of those babies is much more important that the house.

I could use some prayer, I fell last night when I tripped over a chair that I had blocking the entrance to the kitchen. I hurt my left knee and my right hand. I must have some pretty strong bones to not have broken anything.  God was really watching over me for sure.

[Jeanne Lee]

Marilyn, thank the Lord you didn't break any bones, but I'm sure you're finding new muscles and some very pretty bruises.   

[Pat]

 

Oh, Marilyn...  Been there, done that!  Not pleasant!  Sorry you're sore today. 

[Pat]

Please see this Prayer Request folks:

CLICK HERE

[Ruth Ann Bice]

Hi, friends,

I went out and about today, enjoyed more of that great grilled fish dinner at Captain D's, and then a bit of shopping at Wal-Mart. Now, to have my quiet time and pray for those who have requested our prayer support.

Love to each of you.

Ruth Ann

[Larry Hanna]

Hi everyone.  It looks like the sun will be coming out today and get up to 87 degrees with only a slight chance of afternoon showers.  This is Bible study day and Pat is planning on going with me.  Nothing else out of the ordinary on tap.  We have decided to return the equipment to Comcast and not got with the television service, keeping on the Internet part.  By the time they add everything on to the bill there was no savings and we have had good service with Dish so will stay with them for TV. 

Janet, it sounds like you really have some fierce storms out in your area when it does rain.  Things will work out for Curtis and his wife even though it may not seem that way at the present. 

Pat, it seems that there is always work for a web master to do in maintaining a web site.

Jeanne, I sort of had the same idea as you about lead paint and the little ones eating it as it flaked off.  Live and learn.

Marilyn, sorry about the fall.  These aren't easy anytime and especially when we are seniors.  Hope there is no lasting damage. 

Ruth Ann, it has been years and years since we went to a Captain D's but think there is one not too far from us.  I will have to try it one of these days although fish is not my favorite food. 

[Jeanne Lee]

A couple days of July weather - yesterday the humidity started building with temps around mid-80's, only down to a sticky 70 overnight. and it's already feeling muggy at 80 ( only 8:30 a.m.).  This afternoon and evening we may get some "severe" storms followed by a quick temperature drop.  May even go down to 50 before morning and then a few days in the 70's!

[Pat]

This is very "Irish Weather" these days in Guelph, Ontario!  At this rate, the tomatoes aren't going to ripen!

[Pat]

I receive a devotional prayer in my email and today's especially was a blessing to me and so I thought I'd share it with you all.  I wrote to Scotty and asked his permission and thankfully, he granted that to me.

I pray that someone reading our Thoughts for the Week will receive a blessing as well from the thoughts and words in this Prayer:




A Prayer for Knowing God's Presence in the Storms of Life


     But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
Isa. 43:1-3

     Heavenly Father, your Word is a balm for the broken, ballast for the bewildered, and bread for the hungry. This isn't theory, or only good theology; it's experientially true. You've promised to "show up" and be enough, and you are. In the storms of life, you are nearer than the storms themselves.

     As Isaiah reminds us, you've created us and you've redeemed us. You summoned us by name, calling us to life in the gospel; and have given us the sweetest name imaginable—"Mine." No more condemnation; no more orphan-like spirituality; no more making a name for ourselves. We are yours and your banner over us is love. Hallelujah, many times over.

     Father, you don't promise we won't experience floods and torrents, fires and flames. But you do promise you will be with us, and that we won't suffer ultimate harm. To know you are near and to know you are good is all we really need. We will go anywhere and do anything, as long as we're convinced that you're with us and for us.

     We know ourselves to be "precious and honored in your sight," because of what you've done for us in Jesus. We praise you for the one and only truly indescribable gift—given for us and to us (2 Cor. 9:15). And since you didn't spare your own Son, we can trust you graciously to give us everything else we need (Rom. 8:32), in current and future storms. We don't have to be afraid of anything or anyone, for you are with us and you are for us. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus triumphant and trustworthy name.

Scotty Smith
Used by permission
Heavenward by Scotty Smith

[Pat]

"There is a phenomenal happiness
in those whose burdens are lifted
and whose stains are removed."
-Alistair Begg
http://tfl.to/Wj51pX

[Carol]

Pat:  Thank you for posting this soothing message. 

Everyone:  Take care

[Marilyn]

Tomorrow will be the last lesson on God loves Women, next week we will be starting a two part lesson on  Spiritual Armor and our Weapons un Ephesians 6:10-17. this is going to be  an awesome two lessons. I so look forward to Thursday mornings and bible study.

The bruising on my hand as moved upward on my arm about 3 inches, I am beginning to think I may have a hairline fracture. But there is so much going on this week with Keith's 50th HS reunion I just don't have the time it takes to go  get it checked out. next week will be better. The activities start Friday but Keith has a friend flying into Portland from Buffalo and driving here tomorrow and I still have a few things to get done around the house if they are going to be staying here. I did get  the bathrooms done today, a trip to the Farmers market in the rain, some cucumbers cut up  for marinated cucumbers, and a cake baked. Oh and a Crock-pot of chili beans cooking.

[WinterRose]

Well I am finally here to share ...

Our visit at the PRISON with my daughter's fiance went very well ... It is just hard to believe that he has been gone for 2 years on Sunday. We do miss him so much. You JANET which prison my daughter's fiance is at ... He is in Indiana { Miami Correctional Facility }. I am also glad that you enjoyed your anniversary wishes too.

Gloria ... The friend that I had asked for PRAYER for is doing really well & she is home. However we have not seen her at church yet but her husband is there and said last night ... she is doing well. So thank you for keeping her in prayer !!

So, right now I am here to ask too that my daughter went to work with a sore throat. She came home last night and went to BED so I am asking that you please keep her in prayer.

Well my friends I am heading off to get somethings done but here are two of the pictures that we had done over the weekend with my daughter's fiance.

[Jeanne Lee]

You voted!  And your votes counted!  Now see the results! 

The winners are HERE

[Larry Hanna]

Hi everyone.  The day started out sunny but now a bit overcast.  Only suppose to be 82 degrees today with chance of more showers as we had yesterday.  I have a light day with just my Thursday Men's Luncheon at 11:30 am. 

Jeanne, we are also having very muggy weather here and these afternoon rains, which needed, sure contribute to more humidity.

Pat, a friend at coffee yesterday morning brought in a big sack of garden ripened tomatoes.  I shared them with everyone at McDonald's, including the workers as there was no way Pat wanted that many tomatoes.  I still came home with 9 or 10 but they are small.  Thanks for sharing the prayer from Scotty. 

Marilyn, I have always found that when I have taught something I learn a lot more than I am able to impart to the learners.  It sounds like you are experiencing the same thing with your Bible study.  It sounds like you will busy at your house the next few days.  However, don't neglect your own needs for we must take care of ourselves if we are to be of help to others.

Karen, you are wise to be supportive of your daughter during this time her finance cannot be free to be with her.  Hope your daughter's sore throat doesns't linger or become worse.