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Morning Devotional...

Psalm 35

Many of David's psalms were written while he was king of Israel.  Thus any problem he was having was a problem for all the people, and his salvation in the midst of the problem was their salvation as well.  Any attack upon David himself was an attack upon the Davidic kingdom.  That's true for the present Davidic kingdom as well, the one that's ruled by his greater Son – our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Any attack experienced by David – or us – is an attack on Jesus Christ.

What David - and his kingdom - needed to know was that the Lord was right there in the battle with him, that He and his Lord were fighting on the on same side against the same enemy. And he needed to know that the Lord was saying to him, "I am your salvation!"

If God answers this prayer, says David, then those who seek his life, those who plot how to hurt him, will be seen for what they are, and they'll be defeated and blown away, as he says here, "like chaff before the wind."  What David wants is public vindication.  He wants his enemy to be seen falling into the very pit he made for David!  That way it'll be a great victory for the justice of the Covenant Lord, and all His people will rejoice with David as he sings, "And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord; it shall rejoice in His salvation!  All my bones shall say, 'Lord who is like You, delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him, yes the poor and the needy from him who plunders him?'"

But who is this "enemy" that David had?  David tells us that he was a supposed friend, one for whom David himself did only kindness, for whom David, in fact, gave himself sacrificially so as to do him good.  Yet when David himself was experiencing trouble, this turncoat rejoiced and gathered many together to try to kill him.

With this kind of enemy in mind, then, David asks the Lord, "How long will You look on?  Rescue me from their destructions!"  And he continues by saying, "just as I'm praying now in the assembly of Your people, so then, when You save me, I'll give thanks in the same assembly!  So don't let them win, those who have hated me without a cause!"  

Apparently they were accusing him as though he himself were the villain, but he prays that the Lord Who sees all will not be silent, but will make it plain that David wasn't the villain - but that they themselves were the guilty ones.  He prays that they'll be defeated, ashamed, and confused.

He prays that all God's people, all those "who favor my righteous cause," on the other hand, will soon "shout for joy and be glad," that they'll be saying, "Let the Lord be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant."  When this happens, sings David, "my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness and of Your praise all the day long!"

How can we apply this to ourselves?  Jesus Christ is our King, and the world sees Him as the villain in our day.  People see both the Lord Jesus and His Church as being obstacles in the path of their "progress."  But hopefully, just as in David's case, that Church has been seeking only the good of its enemies. There comes a time, though, when those enemies must be seen for what they really are, and they must be brought to confusion and public defeat. God's justice – His Son's justice - must finally be seen by all to prevail.  His Church can even now be praying for that justice.  Do you?  Echo the apostle when he says, "Come quickly, Lord Jesus!"
Al Moak

Here's a hymn that reflects these thoughts.  Just click to hear the music.

Thanks Alan for a wonderful devotional.  As we set off to Winchester, VA for a few days, this certainly is a wonderful message to go on.

Have a great few days, everyone.

This is my very favorite carol of them all.  Isaac Watts knew his Lord!  He rules the world with truth and grace - and makes the nations prove the glories of His righteousness.  He's doing it now, and He will do it unto eternity!

That's a wonderful one, Alan.  We sing that one all year in our church.  What wonderful words!

This was an insert in our church bulletin yesterday:



If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.

Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.

Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way.

Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can't.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails. Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust, but giving the gift of love will endure.

The Christmas Cantata was wonderful with the adult choir and the children choir singing.  The name of the program was 'Start at the Manger'.  Great songs with a great story line.  Afterward there was a Cookie and Punch reception in the Fellowship room in the basement.  A great night and also seeing everyone dressed in their festive wear. 

This week is my busy week with added baking.  I will not have time for myself to do much of anything extra.  Tonight is Photo Guild and since Kitty is an officer, she has to be there early so I need to be at her house at 4:30 instead of 5:30pm!  I have my covered dish made..it is cooling. 

I am off to get a shower and then eat a bite for lunch!!

Not above freezing yet.  Gloomy today but at least it isn't snowing!

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Hi, friends,

Well, today has been fix-a-car day with our family. My daughter's car is in the shop for a brake overhaul, and I took my little PT Cruiser for its first oil change since I've had it and it seemed one of my tires was low so I asked them to rotate and balance and fix what was wrong. Well, it ended up being co$tly, of cour$e! I do remember hitting a pot hole not too far from home, and that bent the rim.

At least, now I have a car that doesn't go "bump in the night" and also that I know is protected all the way down to -35 degrees! So, that relieves lots of potential concerns.

Y'all have a great rest of the day.

Ruth Ann

No, I didn't work too hard today!    The other cook was a friend from church, and we worked well together.

The dinner at the Home was nice, and all five of Beth's guests showed up.  That made her happy.

Our weather has been unbelievable!  Really nice most days, yesterday was just spectacular, you only needed a long sleeved shirt outdoors.  The wind has come up now and they are predicting snow tonight or tomorrow.

We have had several windy days with lots of tumbling tumbleweeds.  They are such a nuisance, and a real pain to get rid of.  If you burn them, they make a really, really hot fire.

Cute little baby, Marilyn.  I can barely remember my own children being so small.  There was a three day old baby at the dinner tonight, and I got to hold him for a minute---my, he felt so tiny!

Pat, hurry back, we miss you when you are away.

I have been awake since 3:00 AM, so I'm fading...........

Well, it's just not like me to be first in here!  c'mon, you easterners - it's after 10 there.  You should be on here telling it like it is!

Well, Al........the way it is here is white!  We had a little snow last night, so it's cold here and windy.  Too cold for Darrel's outdoor project on a system, so we are going Christmas shopping instead.

Had an email from pastors...they are in Addis Ababa, Ethopia, and she is very sick, the baby girl is sick, and they are begging for prayer.  Tough situation.

I need to get a couple things done here, right NOW!  See you later.

Well, I'll say this about that: I'm glad i never had to pull wires and install systems in the midwest in the winter!  Especially outside!  It was enough to have to stand on the very top of a 12-foot ladder while using both hands to do the job! (This was in the gymn of a school, and the girls were whizzing the volleyball around the base of the ladder while I was up there!)  But at least it wasn't outside in the snow!

Much better to go shopping.

Don't you wish that you could hear Christmas music much longer?  Just love it - cannot sing or hear Away in a Manger[/without tearful eyes.  Now, I feel that Christmas is closer to the last one - where did that year go?  Snow and wind here and we have the luxury of waiting to get out later this morning.  

Jeanne Lee:  Thank you for the reminder to not get too involved into our "good deeds" when the most important ones pass by too quickly.  Looking back on my life, I sure do wish that I had taken more time with the four children and we just love that we have the time for visiting and being with our children and grands now.  

Janet:  It must be terrible to be sick in another country and fearful too as that is a third-world country.  Praying for the family.

Marilyn:  A lovely picture.  Take care.

Larry:  So sorry that you and Pat waited for a call.  Perhaps your son will feel remorse enough that this won't happen again - praying on this.  

To our Canadian friends:  Apologies to the short-sighted news concerning your country.  Only disasters and sad things are in the news - I guess that gets people's attention.  You should be proud that your country isn't in everyday world news - we have enough scoundrels and misfits to fill all the media forever - not proud of our biased news at all.  

I have been listening to Christmas music for over a week now.  My CD player hold lots of CD's so all my Christmas CD's in in there and it randomly picks songs to play.  Love it.

Photo Guild was wonderful.  A guest was there showing us some of his photography...one of which was first place at a National Black and White contest.  Another was third place at the same contest.  Great pictures but I tend to think B/W is dismal and dark.  To me nothing beats color photos.  I have yet to see a color shot turned to B/W and the latter is better! 

Anyway, the food was great and then we saw a Pro Gold Show video of one of the members portraits that she has taken and then another video of all the members best photos of the year.  We each got to bring home the 2nd Annual Kilbuck Photo Guild 2008 Proshow DVD.  Wonderful photos.

When I got home last night, I was to put in my user name and password to get into Windows Mail (Vista's version of Outlook Express).  I used every user name that I could think I could have possibly used and every password but none worked.  So I called Embarq.  They said Windows Mail was down but I could go to MyEmbarq and get my mail and use it there.  Still no Windows Mail today.  When it is up again, I shouldn't have to use my user name and password to get in it.

I have called all the 60 Chix today that doesn't have email to remind them where we are going Thursday.  I keep thinking I need to pass that chore to someone else but then I so enjoy talking to some of them on the phone. 

I need to 'bag' three small gifts for Red Hats tomorrow and I am done with necessary chores for today!

Woke up to rain today...but the temps are nicer.  But that wind is still fierce!!  Windy Indy!  About all the snow is melted...time for some new fallen snow now.  Since Kansas is getting snow, we may in a day or two!

Good Morning, I have been home all morning,, I changed the time I take my client and her dogs walking to the afternoon because it is too cold for her in the mornings. Yesterday  when I got there she was  so sick and wanted to go anyway so we went, She almost passed out on me before we got back to the car. i called her daughter to make sure she would take her to the Doctor. This morning I called her live in caretaker to make sure that they did that.

So I baked another batch of cookies for Keith, It will take these with me on Thursday.

Etta Sue your Photography Guild sound very interesting and fun. Good for you keeping  busy.

Hi everyone.  We are under a tornado watch until 3 pm and are suppose to get 2 or more inches of rain today and tomorrow.  It wasn't raining when I went to coffee this morning but by the time we life around 9 am it was raining had.  I had planned a quick trip to Walmart and to the Post Office but decided it could wait until the weather improves.  So will stay in today although have to get out tonight for choir practice.  It has really warmed up yesterday and today.

Yesterday morning Pat and I did our Christmas shopping for our 4 great grandchildren.  The adults will be getting small monetary gifts.  Other than to get each of them a little book I think we are basically done.  I still need to get something for Pat.

Al, thanks for the Devotional for this week. 

Etta Sue, it sounds like you have been very busy with the Christmas Cantata and your photo guild.  Hope you are not getting too much snow.

Marilyn, what a cute great grandbaby.

Ruth Ann, glad you got your car back into tip top shape.  It seems it doesn't take much to ruin a rim.

Janet, glad your day was too hectic when you worked a the care home.  It is nice that all of the guest Beth invited attended the dinner. 

Carol, I have talked to my son since the weekend.  I have no control over what he does or thinks and I know when I have expectations I am really just sitting myself up for disappointment. 

Good Morning lots of rain and wind here today.
I have recently come home from our ladies prayer meeting .
I am getting ready now to attempt tp bake some Christmas cookies
Al-great devotional. I continue to pray for you.
Larry I am sharing a picture of my Christmas tree that I said I was decorating (hope its ok to share here)
God's blessing to each and everyone.

Good  Morning, I am heading to Oregon  in a few hours. I will check in from there later or tomorrow. Must get  busy now.

Larry, how many times have I done exactly that--high expectations, and the disappointment that follows.  I, too, am learning not to do that, at least I am trying!

Darrel and I went to Garden City yesterday afternoon.  We got some things done, and also gave an estimate for another alarm system.  However, I didn't accomplish much toward Christmas.  Oh, well, it is coming anyway, and it isn't about the gifts!  We need to remember that.

I hate watching the news these days, it almost seems our once proud, strong, beautiful country is disintegrating before our eyes.  What an idiot the governor of Illinois seems to be.  

I have a lot of errands to run today, tying up loose ends.  Also want to work on some gifts I am making.  Darrel is going to Liberal to do some alarm work.

Al, were you doing alarm work in the incident you mentioned?

I need to write a letter for Beth, so I'm going to do it right NOW!  

I came back to tell Melody--that looks like a beautiful tree, but the photo is so small I can't tell much about it!

Janet I have downloaded it in again to a bigger size so you can see it better. Hopefully Its not to large here goes!

Well, we go to WINCO today - discount grocery store.  We save approx. 20% there.
Janet - the particular system I was installing at that juncture was a clock system in a school.  I did clock and alarm systems.

Thanks, Melody--much better, and it is beautiful!

Thanks, Al.  I had no idea you did alarm systems.  Cool!

Beautiful Tree!

We have had snow, snow, snow and more snow.  The snow banks are so high it is difficult to see around/over them to get onto a road.  Many cars and trucks in ditches, rather snow banks.  This has been an incredible year for precipitation.  It has been non stop.

Not much else here, have a great day folks.

JudyB

Another busy day.  Today was Red Hats.  We went to a local restaurant and then to the Queen's home to play games.  We each were to take 3 inexpensive gifts.  Then we played a game to distribute the gifts.  I got three ornaments, a shelf sitting Santa and a bag of homemade candy.  When I got home, I decided to put out some Christmas.  I told myself that when my back started aching, I was going to quit.  I only put out my fiber optic tree and since you can't put large ornaments on it, I used suction cups and put some ornaments my picture window.  I like it.  I just had to put out my Cat Nativity and hung wreaths on the outside doors.  My back started hurting so that will be it!!  I did wrap a few presents. 

And I am doing some laundry, too.  So now I am resting with the bag of homemade candy tempting me!!! 

Tomorrow is 60 Chix and then to go to WalMart for some card stock so I can finish making my Christmas cards for the church members.  Also have a few items from the grocery area that I need. 

No, our snow is all gone.  We had a couple of days above freezing so it is gone.  BUT...remember my deck is resin and when I left today for Red Hats I turned into an acrobat sliding everywhere.    I don't know how I stayed upright but I did.  I finally got to the railing and stopped sliding.  When I came home I tried to come in the back door but remembered I had the screen door locked on it!  So I had to come in the house on the deck very carefully!

Just received a jury summons - and we have only lived here less than 4 months. 

Larry:  I do understand about children and their families - we (and I am sure that you and Pat feel this way) are always grateful for any attention towards us. 

Melody:  Our tree is quite sparse - yours is lush with color.  I did pick up new fabric today and may be able to get a new tree skirt made before Christmas. 

Marilyn:  Have a safe trip! 

Janet:  Don't blow away with those tumbleweeds.  Some people spray them silver & sell them. 

Carol--yes, or use them for Christmas trees!  But we have enough to supply the world, I think!  One gal who sold them said it cost so much for the boxes to mail them, but she sold them for big bucks.  Guess city people will buy anything! 

I got most of my errands done today, have to work again tomorrow.  I am making some Christmas gifts, not too happy how the first one turned out.  I think I got in too big a hurry...

Etta Sue, I remember you love ice skating, are you trying to become a skater?  Glad you made it to the rail in the upright position!!

Hi, folks, this cold kept me away from the computer for a couple of days. I'm back now, but still coughing.

My son's interview with the apartment leasing manager is tomorrow morning.

Hopefully we'll both be able to get moved soon. I'm through sorting and throwing away for the most part, so now's time to do the packing. Filled and labeled a box earlier today, and will prepare several more tomorrow.

I have a beef roast with stew veggies cooking in the slow cooker - it should really smell good tomorrow morning. Now, to decide what to do with the ground beef I got on sale yesterday. I think I'll fix a meatloaf, some meatballs, and possibly some patties for "steak n gravy."

It was easy to do Christmas shopping this year - primarily gifts for the girls, and shopping cards for everyone else.

Well, y'all have a great rest of the day.

Ruth Ann

Well here we are, another day and a day closer to Christmas.  John has headed to Winnipeg again, this run makes for good miles but it also is a rough one because our weather comes from the west.  Thankfully it is clear and dry at the moment.  The worse he has to contend with is the cold temperatures.

With all the snow we have the forcast is for even more.  By Monday we are to have snow rain and freezing rain.  I can't help but wonder if this will ever end, the precipitation I mean.

Today is a half day, so I am staying at the store and working on Christmas presents.  (THere is a machine which I cannot afford at $2000 I want to use).  I will have at least one outfit completed.

I must go time has run away from me today.  Bye for now and know I am praying for the needs represented here.

Judy B