Christian Photographers Community

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• Mini Challenge #5~"LEADING LINES"     Get your camera out and take some photos for our new challenge!!

• Mini Challenge #3~"PETS"   Congratulations to all who entered and to the winners!!

• Garden Visitors  Let's post photos of insects, little critters, etc. that visit our gardens.

• DMC's Paintings! Read all about Dave and please leave a comment to encourage him.

• Etta Sue in the Koinonia Gallery Please visit and leave a comment. 

• Your Day in Romans   Great study in the Book of Romans.

• See the last photos uploaded to our Gallery

• Talk about Photoshop Actions  

• We're VOTING for a Caption #13! Vote for your top 4 captions for this hillarious duck!

 

Morning Devotional...

God And King Cophetua


I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again (Philippians 1:6, NLT). 


Dear friends:

God's great love for us does not cause Him to wink at our sins and sinful nature.

Just the opposite: Because He loves us, He works to change us. It is often said, "He loves us too much to leave us the way we are." God is not a doting and indulgent uncle, but a loving and wise Father who has our long-time interests at heart.

Christian philosopher and writer C.S. Lewis (1898-1963) wrote: "To ask that God's love should be content with us as we are is to ask that God should cease to be God. Because He is what He is, His love must, in the nature of things, be impeded and repelled by certain stains in our present character, and because He already loves us He must labour to make us lovable. We cannot even wish, in our better moments, that He could reconcile Himself to our present impurities -- no more than the beggar maid could wish that King Cophetua should be content with her rags and dirt..."

An unknown author has written: "Longfellow could take a worthless piece of paper, write a poem on it, and instantly make it worth thousands of dollars -- and it's called genius. Rockefeller could sign his name to a piece of paper and make it worth millions of dollars -- and it's called riches. A mechanic can take material worth only five dollars and make it worth five hundred -- and it's called skill. An artist can take a fifty-cent piece of canvas, paint a picture on it, and make it worth thousands of dollars -- and it's called art. Jesus Christ can take a worthless, sinful life, wash it in His blood, put His Spirit in it, and make it valuable to God -- and that's called sanctification. The Lord is in the business of taking rough, raw material and using it -- transforming men by His power to be the extension of His work in the world."

In industry, there is a term called "work in progress." That is certainly what we are!

Do you sometimes get discouraged with yourself and your spiritual progression? Don't. Remember Paul's words of encouragement in our theme verse, above.

Yours for helping to fulfill the Great Commission
each year until our Lord returns,

Bill Bright

Janet:  Thanks for devotions - am always a "Work in Progress" while on this earth. 

Pat:  It is always great to see your smiling face -

Carol

Hi everyone.  Just back from coffee and Pat and our daughter have now left to do some grocery shopping at Aldi's and Krogers.  We have an 11 am appointment to take our cat in to see the vet.  He needs his yearly shots and also a checkover to be sure he is ok. 

Janet, you are wise to get the doctor involved.  I can't even imagine trying to staff 24-hour home care.  It appears you have Beth situated in a place that can provide that care. 

Pat, that is a very good devotional today.  Sure wish you could share a little bit of that rain with us.  We may be ordered to forgo outside watering during daylight hours starting today.  The Corps of Engineer mistakenly released 22 billion gallons of water from Lake Lanier, which is our water source, and now we face a water shortage.  I am worried about my yard as two days ago fertilizer was applied and if we don't get rain soon or, even if we do, if it is subsequently very dry my yard will probably be burned up.  Neither Pat nor I are able to get out and water with a sprinkler and the yard is just too big anyway.  I had a standing order with my landscape company not to apply fertilizer in these conditions but they hired a subcontractor and communications broke down.  I will just have to hope for the best.

Marilyn, I am glad you found the extra work to help out.  It sounds like the lady got her moneys worth.  Sorry about your other client.

Karmat, sorry you can't find time for a little vacation. 

Jane, that was quite a trip you took.  Glad you are home safe and sound.  It takes a few days to get over that many hours in a car.

Etta Sue, hope the man is able to help you with your solar heat situation.

Need to get busy as have a lot I want to accomplish today. 

Sometimes it takes the wip (Work In Progress) to wip us into shape.  As Paul said, "And not only that, but we also glory in tribulation, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance, asnd perseverance character, and character, hope."  May we thank our God even for the tribulations in life, knowing that He's growing us.

Hey there everyone,  am just running through here on my way to work. Gotta leave in two shakes.

Shake Shake.

 

Janet ~ Personally I think Beth is where she should be.  At least, you and Darrel knows that she has help when help is needed.  If she were to get better in time, that would be another thing.  But it seems she won't.  I would fear if you brought her home, in time, you would have to move her again to the nursing home...that would be hard on all involved once again.  Just my honest opinion.  Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.   

Jane ~ That is a long drive in 3 days.  I drive half that in two days and that can become tiring.  So glad you got your papers signed and notarized and meet up with some friends.  And if you head east to Indiana, you had better let me know!   

Marilyn ~ Sounds like you earned your $50.  Housecleaning isn't easy.   

Pat ~ Thanks for posting the new challenge.  Now to get busy thinking!!  I can picture in my mind 'lines leading away' but not 'lines leading toward'.  Hmmmm.

Carol ~ Good morning.  When I read your posts I always think of you breathing that clear mountain air of the Rockies!

Larry ~ The gentleman that came to look at my solar heat system is trying to establish his own business.  He, like many others, is thinking of ways to save money due to the high cost of gas and electric.  A lot of homes in this area had solar heat installed in the mid '80's so he is thinking this might be a great specialty field to get into.  He doesn't know if he can help or not but he did say, if replacement parts are available out there, he would get them!   

Al ~ We are all W.I.P. until we enter heaven.  Then we will say,
'It is finished!'

Karma ~ Today I noticed that my calender says today is the first day of summer!  The longest day of sunlight of the year, too!  The last half is almost beginning!!   

I had a great visit with Kitty yesterday.  Seems she had never done Disk Cleanup, Scan Disk or Defrag on her desktop or her laptop.  So we did all that.  She was having trouble using her DVD copier and today she says it is working now.  I don't think maintenance fixed that problem but at least it is working now.  She also fixed a great lunch for us.

Euchere was great.  Such a variety of ladies and we all seems to enjoy each others company.  And when you change partners 7 times, you really get to meet all of them. 

And the heating/A/C man seemed positive that he will find replacement parts even if he has someone make them. 

Today is laundry and packing for another road trip to Grand Rapids.

I will be back later to post tomorrow's devotions.  (I leave the light on over the desk to remind me.)

I am not what I am going to be
I am not what I want to be
But Thank God I am not what I was.

John is in Ohioo today and he is shut down.  That means simply that he doesn't have enough hours on his logbook to go any further driving.  It is a touchy point.  There are so many drivers who would push it and go onyway, but john won't.  The other drivers that push on are the ones who give every driver a bad name.

We have had a break in the heat.  It is about 68*F (20*C) and there is a cool breeze.  I have a sweater and jeans on to stay warm.

Good pictures Marilyn  You look wonderful Jane.

Have a lot to acomplish today so bye for now
Judy

Quote from: Etta Sue on June 21, 2006, 11:18:20 AM


Jane ~ That is a long drive in 3 days.  I drive half that in two days and that can become tiring.  So glad you got your papers signed and notarized and meet up with some friends.  And if you head east to Indiana, you had better let me know!   

Etta Sue that's even a longer drive in 2 days!  I left home at 4:45 a.m. Sunday and returned at 9:40 p.m. Monday!     Yup, it can be, and was, pretty tiring but once I passed that "wall" I was wide awake and had no problem. Well, except for a certain portion of my anatomy that is still uh, well it's still tired!   

Thanks for the comments, Nita, JudyB and Pat and Janet ... I don't know why I "don't ever change" but I've heard that for years!  Okay with me as long as it's meant as a compliment.    

Y'all take care now, y'hear?  I have an appointment to donate blood this afternoon and then my neighbor wants me to come and help her get her new computer up and running.  She thinks I know what I'm doing .... little does she know it's all trial and error.   

Always Compliments Jane.  When I was driving We went long distances, It is a hard way of life, But we got to see a lot of scenery. 

Was talking to my cousin is CA, his son who has the cancer is going to be undergoing more surgery.  He is very tired.  Please pray for Johnny, and the family over the next little while, I will update you as I get information. 

I have to go, I have my timer on and my 15 minutes of a break is over.

Bye for now, love and prayers to all
Judy

Jane ~ I don't know what I was thinking.  It is 225 miles to Grand Rapids one way.  I would rather drive the State highways.  About a 6 hour trip counting stopping for lunch.  Interstate is about the same time but 30 miles farther.  Not too bad.  I use to drive from Anniston, Alabama, to home on one day.  550 miles of Interstate.  Now that was tiring!!

Janet,

Thank you for giving us the good Word from Dr Bright.  We have rain here this (Thursday) morning for the first time in a couple of weeks.  That is unusual for the rainy season.

"Lines..."  I bet this will have everyone coming up with some fun pictures!

In His Grip,
Kevin

I am just home from a long day of....stuff.  The man from the Center for Independent Living came and we went together to talk to Dr. Plumlee, from there to the Care Home to talk to Beth.  He filled out pages and pages of questions/answers, estimating how much time Beth needs for each thing she requires help in doing.    I agree with those who say she is better off where she is; and it is certainly less stress on me and Darrel.  Dr. Plumlee is not happy with the situation at the care home; he says they aren't even trying to make things so she can do better, ie, better grab bars, etc.  So he is in favor of her coming home, provided Danny can get the help she needs.  Even then, it is up to us to hire the people, and I'm not sure we can find reliable help.     What a dillema.

Then I remembered that my driver's license expired on my birthday!   So I filled out my test, took the form to my eye doctor, he gave me a quick eye exam, I took the paper to the court house and now I'm legal again for four more years.  Whew! 

I hope everyone is doing well.  I think the rest of this week will be used helping with wedding preparations.

Later!

Janet

I guess I'd better post so y-all will know that I have been here.

Have you seen Etta Sue's photos in the challenge? They are so fantastic. Right On! Etta Sue good job.

I am talking to my neighbor Mimi about maybe taking on a job a couple of nights per week at $150. per night with and elderly gentleman. It would entail giving him is night meds making sure his alarm was around his neck and sleeping there. Cleaning him up in the morning. Not really a lot of work.

She tells me that he is not a nice man but she thinks if I can deal with Fay he will be a piece of cake.  Mimi is the one who told me about this place being up for grabs/rent. She is in my Tai Chi class and has a great vegetable garden that she shares with me.

A couple of ladies from church and I are going to the fair Friday on senior/disabled day, get in free. We want to go look at the quilts and other displays.

I am going to Bible Study in awhile, We are on lesson3 in the John bevere video series  Heart's Ablaze.

Janet I have to agree with Larry and Etta Sue. I don't think Beth should be coming home, It is going to be a great  burden on you to find  people that you feel are good enough to take care of Beth. You know she will be calling you to come and help and you will feel so guilty if you have to say NO! to her, which you probably won't do.

C~U~Manana

We just called a niece in Fort Worth.  She loves getting a phone call since both her parents have passed and there was no one to say "atta girl" for a run she was in for raising money for Leukemia. 

The air conditioner is making terrible noises so tomorrow we will pull it all apart and clean it good then restart.  Good grief, always something.  We could live here without it - air, I mean, but we would have to be in the basement all the time.  Can't believe that I lived through having two babies during the summer in this heat but we did in those days - lots of quick cool showers to cool off & a kiddie pool in the backyard. 

Janet:  Glad that you have your license & especially glad that you are legal & not illegal.     It h as to be the responsibility of the home for Beth that they take care of the proper equipment.  There has to be some way to force them to do the right thing - there must be someone to talk to at state level.  They have regulations as well. 

Etta Sue:  How long will you be driving for med appointments?  Your summer must be zipping by pretty quickly.

Carol

Early to bed....early to rise.  That's me, again!

But ya'all may continya postin' rat cheer!