Thoughts For The Week~October 10, 2010

[Jeanne Lee]

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Captivated by Grace
Dr. David Jeremiah

For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!
1 Corinthians 9:16

Recommended Reading
Acts 9:1-6

A homeless pit bull now named Eisenhower "captivated audiences with two days worth of activity on the Eisenhower Expressway" in Chicago. He dodged traffic for two days before being rescued by an animal protection charity. How does a homeless dog "captivate" a city? It means people's attention was riveted as they watched the news reports; they became fans of the dog, pulling for him to stay safe. They devoted time to talking about the dog and expressing concern.

The same could be said about the apostle Paul when he was captured and captivated by the grace of God. He had been a persecutor of Christ and His church, but the very One he persecuted reached out to him with love and forgiveness. Paul never got over being a recipient of the grace of God; he remained a "captive" of God's grace the rest of his life. He said, "Woe is me" if I do not fulfill the purpose for which grace was extended to me.

Are you captivated by God's grace? Give thought this week to what God has done for you and how evident your "captivity" is to those around you. God's grace becomes irresistible over time.

"Christian doctrine is grace, and Christian conduct is gratitude."
J. I. Packer

[Carol]

Jeanne Lee:  Many thanks for your new Thoughts - It is a good story that reminds us of what we spend our thinking time on in this day.

Ruth:  What is a pepper squash?  Tastes like what? 

strolling:  thanks for your post about family.

Larry:  We were just sick about the Twins losing to those expensive New Yorkers.  Ugh. 

Janet:  If you just say that you are "where you should be" instead of a week behind - no one will know. 

We did not make it to church because:
(1) I slept late,
(2) I fell like a dead tree onto concrete yesterday - straight on my face & one arm
(3) I have a purple nose, teeth are still tingling, and my lips look like I had a messy collagen surgery - the big lips that movie stars pay for & they look weird.   

Grateful for oldest son who was there & he drove me to get ice and Neosporin & an advil right away.  Don & I were walking with him to a big field just to watch our grandson play the trumpet in his band - the band made it to finals but I didn't get to hear or see them. 
Just so thankful that I can take an Advil and still work around the house - also, sold a gas dryer on Craigslist today to a Vietnam Vet so that was a good thing.   

[Janet]

Today I am where I should be!  (Thanks, Carol.)  Actually, I am!

Church was good today, one of the laymen spoke, and he is a great preacher!  I am thinking maybe he is called to preach.  He gave an invitation and several responded, thank God.

Larry, sorry you had to miss church today.  I'm guessing you are probably enjoying football this afternoon.  That's what Darrel is doing.

Etta Sue, sorry you fell, that concrete doesn't give a bit, does it?  Glad you were able to go ahead and swim which was probably the best thing you  could have done.

Carol!  OUCH!!  So sorry you took a tumble.  It is incredible how much damage a fall can do and how quickly it happens.  No wonder old(er) people are so afraid of falling!  I do hope you will be back to normal soon.  You should have Don take a photo of you with your "Hollywood lips."  And you didn't even need Botox!

Marilyn, glad you are doing well.

This one painting I did went through so many transformations!  Goodness, it doesn't even resemble what I started with; but was a great learning experience.  There are still several things I want to do to it, and that's where I am headed (studio room) as soon as I finish here.

Happy Thanksgiving to all our Canada friends!!

I cam back to tell Carol I'm happy to hear you got the dryer sold!  That's good.

[Jeanne Lee]

Carol!  

[Carol]

Jeanne:  You took my picture!

Janet:  Thanks - selling the gas dryer that was a highlight for me. 

I fell asleep in the chair.  No pictures, sorry - it is scary. 

Larry:  I'll check in with you tomorrow - did you get a restful day? 

[Al Moak]

Carol - I'm glad you aren't hurt any worse than you were.  Those things can happen so quickly - leaves you wondering what really did happen or how.  Anyway, may our Father bring quick healing and comfort to you.  I had a fall in the bathroom about 2 1/2 months ago, bruised my left back large muscle.  Thankfully, it's pretty much completely well now.

[Marilyn]

Hi Al How is Marbeth doing?

Carol do be careful.

Etta Sue I hope you are felling OK too.

Jeanne Thank you for the devotional. I have always like David Jeremiah his sermons always hold my interest and cause me to look forward to his next one. I have watched him for years, i don't get TBN  here in Oregon but I get to watch  him when I go to California and stay at Willa's house.

[Larry Hanna]

Hi everyone.  It is such a beautiful morning that I am sitting on our screened/windowed porch using the laptop.  I tried to use the little Netbook computer but really dislike it so switched to my regular laptop.

Happy to be able to say that I am feeling a lot better than I have the last four days.  I am weakened by al of the inactivity but went to coffee, got a haircut and will go to my Monday men's luncheon.  Yesterday I was thinking I wouldn't make the luncheon today but it just goes to show me that I never know what tomorrow will bring so no need to worry about it. 

The housekeepers were here this morning so everything is spotless again.  Now we have to do our part and mess it up during this next two weeks.    I expect the yard people here later today.

Carol, so sorry to hear of your fall.  I worry about my wife falling as her knees are giving her lots of problems and she is having muscle spasms in her hip that are very unpleasant.  I have to wonder if that isn't caused by favoring the one knee so much.  She did some cooking over the weekend and that really brought the spasms on as being on her feet seem to trigger it.  Carol, good to hear of your quick sale of your dryer.  I need to keep that website in mind when we get ready to get rid of some of our furniture and things. 

Marilyn, nice to see you posting again and to know the pain is tolerable and that you are able to do more than you expected. 

Al, glad you have pretty well recovered from your fall.  It seems our balance gets worse the older we become.

Janet, it is amazing what can be found in your paintbrush in terms of what the final painting will be.  It must give you a great sense of satisfaction to view the final results.  Glad you had a good church service.

Jeanne, thanks for the devotional thoughts for this week.  It has been awhile since I have heard David Jeremiah on the radio.  Is it still cool up your way?  We are going to get to about 85 degrees here today.

[Etta Sue]

Ouch, Carol.  Sounds like you did a better job at falling than I did.  Ouch!  Yesterday I was a tiny bit ouchy on the backside but by evening everything was fine.  No after pains at all now.

Larry ~ Sounds like you are feeling better today.  Don't over do things, please.  Listen to your body!  We want you around for a long time!! 

I got my laptop back and my wireless back with a new router.  Also my printer printed wireless but I tried to print just now and it wouldn't print from the laptop to the printer with the laptop in the living room.  But I looked at the printer and the wireless light wasn't on.  Now it is. 

So everything is looking up again.  So many problems in the last few weeks...there was no way but up!

Tonight is Photo Guild where Kitty, Cherie and I are in charge of refreshments.  Hope they get their fill!

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[Al Moak]

Marilyn - thanks for asking re/Marbeth.  She's mostly doing pretty well the last week and a half or so.  We found that Meclazine (OTC at the local drugstore) works quite well for the dizziness, so that seems to be behind us now, thanks be to our Father.  And the chiropracter seems to have taken care of the headaches pretty well. Just pray it all continues.

Carol - there's a new rule for you.  You are no longer allowed to have falls.  May our Father keep you from them.

[Marilyn]

Al thank you for letting me know re Marbeth, I think of all y'all so often and really should give you a call when I am in California. I always stay in McKville at Willa's house there behind the church and go out to Blue Lake via Azalea road, So I am almost going right past your place. My next trip to Ca will probably be at Thanksgiving.

I am doing a little better each day and today I am taking it easy, I think I have done much more than I should have in the first few days after my surgery. I am anxious to get to the point where I don't have to take any of the pain pills.  I don't like having to take  the narcotic type drugs for pain..

[Carol]

There is nothing like housework, shopping for needed groceries, and getting a tire fixed to get a girl out in the public.  I was talking to someone who sits next to me at bible study at a store and she didn't recognize me. Best of all was a wonderful phone call from the son who was with us - it was so special. 

Al:  I have skipped posts and did not know of your bathroom fall.  That can be so dangerous.  Thanks for the note on falling no more. 

Marilyn:  We keep telling each other not to fall!   Be careful too.

Larry:  A haircut - I need one, bangs are dragging & a haircut makes me feel so nifty. 

Etta Sue:  You had a fall too?  Good gracious - it seems to be catching.  Hang in there. 

Here is a statistic I just heard:  One in Three over age 65 will fall.  So - we have filled that quota.  Let us go skiing, we can do anything now.

Thanks for all of the positive thoughts in here.  There is always so much to be grateful about and it is good to chat on these thoughts. 

[Larry Hanna]

Hi everyone.  The sun isn't up yet but it is suppose to be another pleasant day.  I don't have much on my schedule today other than coffee and to attend a meeting.  I got up feeling good this morning.  I am hopeful this will be the beginning of a long period without the chest pain and other things that go with it. 

Our Atlanta Braves couldn't win the baseball game last night so their season is over.  I watched most of the game, something I haven't done all season. The manager was retiring after being involved with baseball for 51 years.  He had a very successful career.

Carol, I like your last comment about there being so much to be grateful about and a positive attitude does wonders. 

Marilyn, please don't overdo and cause a setback in your recovery.  Most things will wait until you are able to tackle them.

Al, that sounds like a good report on Marbeth.  Certainly glad she is feeling better.

Etta Sue, I know it is a good feeling when your computers and related equipment are working as they are suppose to do. 

[Al Moak]

Larry - I'm sure you'll be elated to run into one of these today - I am a long-time SF Giants fan, as were my father/brother before me.  Yea, Giants!  Sorry to see Cox leaving/retiring, but, as you say, he's had a very long, successful career.  Now he can just sit back and watch/listen.

[Carol]

Rain and low 40's this morning.  We sure do need rain. 

Time for   

Al:  Thanks for the update of a positive note on Marbeth.

Larry:  Always great to read that you are feeling good. 

[JudyB]

Lets see if this posts.  Sometimes my puter lets me post other times I am out of luck.

We had a wonderful afternoon yesterday with good friends.  Shared a meal and great conversation.  We decided to take a walk in the bush and had fun watching their little dog try to heard our 2 young dogs.  She kept looking at Cimi for direction and approval at her job.  Interesting how she knew Cimi was the alpha!  She is a beautiful dog, Called Autumn, and is about 8 or 9 months old.  Our little male carried his ball much of the way, only to drop it long enough for one of us to throw for him.

We have the fire going, it is warm inside, but outside the sun is shining and really a beautiful day.

Marilyn as your hand heals make sure you don't overdo it. 

Carol falls, fires, and construction spells stress.  Take time to breathe, and careful of those falls!

Well to see if this will post!

[Jeanne Lee]

You made it this time, Judy!   

[Etta Sue]

Photo guild was superb.  But they didn't eat much.  So I am sharing my apple slices and pumpkin cheesecake dip with Ivalou.  So much leftover! 

I have done a load of laundry and have made 2 pastor appreciation cards.  Also 2 cards for their wives.  Now to print them and get them in the mail.  I doubt if I make it in time for today's mail, though.  But all of October is Pastor Appreciation Month.

Time to find something for lunch.  Bet I have apples and dip for dessert!   

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[Etta Sue]

Karma!!

[Janet]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KARMA!!

Yesterday was my husband Darrel's birthday!  I think you MAY be a few years his junior, though.    I hope you are having a wonderful day. 

I have been doing some painting yesterday and today, am planning on sticking with it better than I have been doing.  Not good to let it go so long between times.

Can you believe that I have only been outdoors once today, and that was to get the mail from the mailbox?!?!?!?  I can barely believe it myself!  That surely doesn't happen very often.

Carol, glad you felt up to going out to run errands today, in spite of your fall.

Larry, so nice to read you are feeling better today!  Keep it up! 

I need to get a family reunion letter out, havent done that in a while now.  Tomorrow we go to Amarillo for Darrel's hearing aids and for him to see the other doctor.  He is still fighting that awful infection. 

See you next time.

[Jeanne Lee]

At 7:30 this morning the outside thermometer read 25 degrees!  The scary part of this is that it won't be long before I'll be saying it "only" went down to 25 overnight. 

[Etta Sue]

I have been mesmerized while watching the rescues at San Jose Mine in Chile.  I can't imagine all the emotions that are felt there.  I know I shed tears when each miners is rescued up!  Thank you, God!

Another day of lazy!  I have nothing to do to day!  Yesterday I did do a load of laundry, printed 4 greeting cards and crocheted a fringerless mitt.  Today nothing on the agenda!  There has not been many days like this!  Thank you, God!

I got another g-g-nephew yesterday...Jude Elliot, born at 5:04pm October 12, weighed in at 7lb. 14oz. and 20.5" long!  Family doing well!  Thank you, God!

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[JudyB]

Humility, not humiliation

"You rescue those who are humble, but you humiliate the proud."

Psalm 18:27 NLT

The high and lofty one who inhabits eternity, the Holy One, says this: "I live in that high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I refresh the humble and give new courage to those with repentant hearts."
Isaiah 57:15 NLT


About this week's promise
"May God's grace give you the necessary humility. Try not to think—much less, speak—of their sins. One's own are a much more profitable theme! And if on consideration, one can find no faults on one's own side, then cry for mercy: for this must be a most dangerous delusion.

C.S. Lewis

Humility is not effacing oneself. It is not destroying one's sense of self-worth. It is honest recognition of our own worth, our worth as God sees us.

Pride elevated us above others, and often above God himself. But to destroy one's sense of self-worth is also unacceptable, for it denies the value God placed upon us when he created us in his image and when he sent his Son to die for us.

Christ did not die for worms but for people he loves very much, and those people have great worth or value in God's eyes.

To see ourselves as God sees us—that is our goal.

[JudyB]

Hey it worked. I am able to post today. 

Etta Sue it is so touching seeing those miners rescued. 

We have rain today.  After a week and a half of sunny and beautiful weather the rain is back.  All the leaves are off our trees, and have been for about a week.  Thankfully I took pictures before the wind blew.  I have several good ones, but it is taking time to edit.  Folks lets get those pictures into the competition.  Enjoy the fun of seeing the best of the best.  Every picture is so good. 

Many up here in the north are struggling with the cold and flu viruses.  You walk into rooms and see kids and adults alike coughing into their sleeves.  At least their hands are not contaminated. 

I am working on a sweaters for my grands. 1 done, 2 3/4 done and I have the yarn for two others.  This is the year of the sweater.  if there is yarn left over I will add to them hats and mittens, but that is not my focus at this point.

I am off, have a great day folks.

[Carol]

JudyB:  Is there wool in the sweaters?  I went to the storage closet and pulled out a wool blanket last night.  Slept so comfy.    I am trying to learn & making a sweater for myself.  I still prefer to quilt but this has been nice while recuperating.  

Janet:  some things just have to be done whether a person likes it or not.  Yes, I have been out & really careful - now to go for several days of grandsitting - but she is so easy.  I did ask our daughter to not let the darling girl go to the mall with friends on Saturday as I would like to visit with her more - her whole neighborhood of friends just do too much of that & I have never approved of youngsters going to shop without a purpose.  

Today is the monthly meeting of sewing/knitting group in the little neighborhood & I plan on bringing my really inept beginning of a sweater.  

SonIL has an interview at 5 PM Rocky Mountain Time - please pray.  

Amazing rescues - and we know that faith has been a huge factor in the well being of these miners in Chile. How wonderful to hear this news.  

[Larry Hanna]

Hi everyone.  Another good day all around.  We had Bible study this morning, visiting with friends at the donut shop and then lunch with the group.  I then had a nice rest and am looking forward to choir this evening.  Hopefully I will be able to sing with the choir this Sunday as missed last Sunday.

Carol, I am pulling for your son with his interview today.  I understand the concern we parents feel when our children do not have work.  I expect the knitting group will not be critical of your efforts as they all had to start out at sometime.  Glad you are enjoying it.  My wife has two quilts ready for the backing.  She works on them as she feels up to it.  I accuse her of just wanting to cut fabric into small pieces so she can then sew it back together.

Judy, the leaves haven't even started to fall down our way although the colors are beginning to appear.  It doesn't look like they will be particularly pretty this year but still too early to tell.  We are needing rain.  I liked the writing you posted on humility.

Etta Sue, I am sure it is a happy day for the family with the new born.  The older I get the more I enjoy seeing little ones.  There were a couple of real cute children with their mother at McDonald's this morning.  The little boy was all smiles.  Isn't it a shame when we have left over dessert that we just have to clean up.  (Guess I need to get real.)

Janet, a belated Happy Birthday to Darrel.  Hope you have a good trip today and Darrel gets some good news.  That infection has been a tough thing to conquer. 

Happy Birthday, Karma. 

I think they now have been able to get 22 of the 33 miners out.  I was touched by something I read this morning that one of the miner's said that he knew God was holding his hand the entire time he was buried. 

[Pat]

I JUST have to share this.  We're all watching intently at the miraculous rescue of the miners in Chile and here's what I found (note especially the third paragraph!):



Chilean Miners Rescued – God gets the glory
Posted on October 13, 2010 by John

Today's dramatic rescue of the 33 trapped Chilean miners serves as a global platform to put the Glory of God on display.  The miners have been trapped in the San Jose copper mine, Chile,  since August 5th, a total of 69 days in a tunnel more than 1,970 feet underground.  Rescuers have designed an escape tube 26 inches wide to hoist each miner to the surface.  As of this writing, the rescue mission is ongoing with more than half of the miners being rescued in a dramatic event that has captivated a worldwide audience.  As one news story notes, the event is being seen by an estimated 1 Billion people.  Another story notes that the miners were sustained by eating 2 spoonfuls of tuna and a sip of milk every 48 hours for the first 17 days in temperatures exceeding 90 degrees.  In a surprising twist of selflessness, the miners actually began to argue, not over who would exit first, but who would exit last.

So how then can God get glory from an epic disaster that drew the attention of the world?  As Mario Sepulveda Espinace, the second miner rescued, stated "I met God.  I met the Devil.  God won."  And as always, God did win.  Along with additional food, water, medicine, survival clothing, and handwritten notes, a Chilean evangelist sent 33 copies of the Bible down to them so that the miners could "find inspiration and hold up for the 4 months they have ahead."  The 4-months was an early estimate for the expected rescue.  Chilean engineer Igor Bravo, member of First Baptist Church of Santiago, was responsible for sending down the Bibles, Bible studies, recordings of sermons and Christian music down a series of small shafts through which the other supplies were sent.  "I had to help in some Christian way," Bravo said. "If there is an opportunity to share the Gospel — even if we're extremely occupied — and to contribute to the Christian cause and evangelism, it's something that's in [my] blood."

3 of the 33 trapped miners are reportedly evangelical Christians, yet it is being reported that 2 more of them have made professions of faith since being trapped.  One of the original 3, Jose Henriquez, has been leading Bible studies for the miners each evening.  "It [Bible study] started out 5, 10, now 20 participants," Bravo said. "[The people on the surface] have José Henríquez identified as the spiritual leader; they call him 'The Pastor.'"  Additionally, the family members of the miners have been witnessed to by Pastor Marcelo Leiva, of Vallenar Baptist Church of Vallenar, Chile.  The wife of one of the miners has also become a Christian since this disaster.  "This has been a testimony to what the Lord can do in a person's life," Leiva said. "Those that are the children of the Lord have been those that have shown, even in the midst of the storm, a testimony of peace, tranquility and trust in the Lord."  Pastor Leiva has also been able to witness to other family members, Chilean policemen, and foreign press, including a Japanese reporter.  As the rescue mission takes place and will soon be coming to a close the on-site Gospel sharing will likewise soon end, but Pastor Leiva maintains his obedience.  "Let's do our job and fulfill the purpose for which God brought us here," Leiva said. "Not to just have a protagonist role without sharing the Gospel.  Because this camp, in a few more days,is going to close and the people will return home. Pray that we, the children of God, will do our job."

And herein is where God's glory takes center stage.  Through this disaster that could've taken the lives of 33 miners, God has sent His Gospel message forth through the faithful ministry of one man below surface along with two of his brothers in Christ and then used them in conjunction with Christian rescuers and pastors at the surface.  In doing so, God's Word went forth and penetrated the hearts of two of the miners and so far one family member.  The Gospel is literally being spread underground and on the surface giving greater insight into the passage from Mark 16:15, "Go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel to the whole creation."   When we read of passages such as Matthew 28:18-20 or Romans 10:14-15, we too often think these refer to someone who is "called" to be an overseas missionary or a pastor of a congregation.  The truth is, this rescue is an example of how these verses are being lived out precisely the way they were intended, in an everyday context by everyday Christians, and these miners along with their rescuers are a testimony to the saving power of God's Word when proclaimed by those who faithfully follow Christ.

"For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek." Romans 1:16 NKJV

Additional Sources:

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=33842

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2606473/posts?page=1

http://www.crosswalk.com/news/commentary/11639415/

http://hotair.com/archives/2010/10/13/video-the-television-event-of-a-lifetime-2/

[Jeanne Lee]

Pat, thanks for sharing that wonderful testimony!

[Larry Hanna]

Hi everyone. 

Pat, what a wonderful story and the rescue of the miners has indeed captured the attention of the world.  I know all of my friends have been talking about it and I plan to share the piece you posted above with them as I had not heard this before, other than the quote from the miner and also that one of the miners said when he reached the surface that God had held each of the miner's hands and that there were really 34 down there, the 34th being God. 

Pat is attending her Weekly Bible Study that her friend is teaching.  As soon as she gets home we are headed to Atlanta to have lunch with our daughter and to spend some time with her.  Originally she was planning on coming out for an overnight stay but has decided not to do this today.  It does make it much easier on us not having to make two trips in two days. 

It is suppose to be only up to 73 degrees today and tonight a hint of frost. 

Hope everyone has a nice day.

[Etta Sue]

I kept flipping back and forth between CNN and Fox News.  Once Michael Moore was on Larry King Live.  Ugh!  He was asking why can't Christians accept the fact that evolution is right since scientists have proven we evolved by evolution?  Because scientists are wrong!!  I flipped the channel back to Fox real quick and didn't go back to CNN until the top of the hour! 

What a day yesterday watching the TV.  I cried each time a miner reached the surface.  And God had to be the 34th one in that mine.

Today is my Class of 1960 lunch.  I missed last month...sick.  Then I am planning on going swimming and then get some groceries in since Kaye Don is having a fish fry Saturday and I need to pitch something in!

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