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Morning Devotional...



READ: Genesis 22:15-19

  "I swear by myself declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you" (Genesis 22:16-17a).

When Abraham gave his son back to God, then God said the promise of fruitfulness would be immediately fulfilled. The rivers of living waters would now begin to flow out from him to bless all the nations of the earth as God had promised. It was when Isaac came back from the dead, so to speak, in resurrection power that God said, "Now the fruitfulness of your life will be manifest."

Even God's gifts to us are of no value until we are willing, if necessary, to lose them so that God might reign without a rival in our hearts. When we have to come to that place to which the Spirit of God wants to bring us, that perfect relationship with the Father when God means more to us than anything, and we are even willing to give up the very gift that God has given, then in resurrection power that gift will be a blessing to everyone it touches.

We all have been given gifts from God. Maybe God has given you a special talent, and you are asked to take a job where perhaps you can't use that talent. You wonder about it and perhaps rebel over it. But remember Abraham, and give it back to God. Face the possibility of not using that talent, and the God of resurrection will take that talent and return it to you and make it a blessing to many hearts. Perhaps you have a loved one, and a situation arises in which you have to part from that one or break that relationship. This is a struggle, but Abraham's faith says that if God asks you to do it, then there is blessing beyond if you obey. Maybe you are living in a situation of comfort and happiness, but you are needed in another place that is not as pleasant, and you say, "Lord, why do I have to give up my home and my relationships that I enjoy and go there?" Remember, however, that if God calls, you must obey.

Beyond the apparent heartbreak and death lies resurrection. In the resurrection of that experience, God will give you back that gift and make it a blessing. Is not this the record of every man and woman whose life has ever counted for God, who have been willing to give up the very areas they thought were God's choice blessing for them when God called? In so doing, God made them a blessing. It can be in minor or major areas. This is the principle of the cross throughout all our lives. This is what makes resurrection life possible. When it looks as though we are throwing away every chance of blessing, God transforms in a moment the very thing we give up into the most richly rewarding and meaningful experience we have ever had.

I dare you to act upon this! I don't know what this sacrifice might be for you, but I know this is true, and God has written this account so we may know that this is His way in the affairs of people.

   Thank You, Father, that beyond the heartbreak, there is resurrection. Give me the grace to act on this great promise.

From the Writings of Ray Stedman

Hmmmm!  I wonder where I posted my post that I made this morning.     I know I posted one but can't find it now!!  If anyone finds it, let me know!!   

Church was awesome and then 6 of us ladies went to Applebee's for lunch.  Ivalou and I are going to leave around 4:30 to go to the church picnic.  That should be fun.  It has cooled down quite a bit and is suppose to be cooler all week. 

Janet ~ I told her in the post I made this morning that my library allows you to download books onto the computer and you can read them there.  Maybe Darrel could check with your library and see if they have that service also.  But perhaps there are books on the web available anyway.  Have laptop, will travel!

I can't think of what else I wrote this morning.

Thanks Etta Sue.

We went to a different church today, one that is about 15 minutes from home.  It was a good service.  Melaura has a new friend of the male persuasion.  He wanted John's approval to "see" Melaura.  We told her the only place where it would be convenient was at church .  HE came and sat with us.  Seems like a nice enough young man, not born again, but he did enjoy the service and he left knowing the way of salvation.  Pray for Chris that he comes to a full knowledge of Christ as his Saviour,  

After we went to a local restaurant for coffee and we (the girls and I) had some fries as well.  After we all had an ice cream.  It is raining and is to rain the most part of the week.

John has to take a fan out of the parts van and put it into the one we are using.  This will be a job for tomorrow.  Hopefully it will stop raining long enough got him to get the job done.

The pastor stopped us and invited himself out for a visit when John is home.  It is so nice to have him do that, much like Pastor Dennis did.  We do miss Pastor Dennis.

Well must go for now, will be back later.

Etta Sue I will look

What a L=o=o=n=g day this is!  But I'm sure it is even longer for Beth.  She is getting grumpy, hope that means she is getting better

Etta Sue, I guess I can look for books on the internet (thanks for the suggestion) but it isn't comfortable, and I have to jump up every few minutes to do stuff for Beth, so a paperback book is more convenient.  There is a group of ladies at our Senior Center at home who share books, and I asked Darrel to go get me some there.  Meantine, I will find other stuff to do. 

That is a great devotional; thanks Pat and Etta Sue.

I must try to get my mind off going home, or I will soon get depressed.      While I am so thankful to God (and Darrel) that I CAN be here with Beth, I am still homesick.  If I were someplace with Darrel, that would be different.  Sigh............

Also, I am so very thankful to still have my room at the R.McD house, what a blessing that is.

Beth needs to turn again.  See you later.

Janet, obviously you are where the Lord wants you and so He will give you the strength and peace you need.

Pat was planning on stopping in New Hampshire next after the fiddle concert in Vermont and then heading for Virginia.  She expected to be off line until at least Tuesday while they put some more finishing touches on the new house.

Jeanne:  Thanks for the update on Pat's house.  It sounds like perhaps they will finally be able to move in soon. 

Janet:  You could be cloned - Never Mind - sorry about all of your stress and Darrel even feeling low. If you want to go to church with someone who visits, mention it - I really think that they would welcome you with open arms and find someone to drive you to service.  Sometimes people forget to offer help and especially as they see you as a strong and very capable person.   

Liz:  And, you have concerns about Ralph - prayers for your thoughts.

Larry:  Good idea for Janet to check into the chaplain as she has not mentioned it but surely a large hospital has one on staff.  I am glad that you have some time to read a book.

Etta Sue:  Thank you for helping us into the new week.  Are you having storms and hot weather?  I have been wondering as we sure have the terrible clouds and they all head east. 

A wonderful sermon this morning.  We stayed for coffee and I chatted with a gal who is with the Kingdom craft  group that knits prayer shawls & baby things.  They promised to help me so I would like to make some shawls or baby caps for the stash they keep on hand.  There is no quilting group - bummer - as I really would like to help in that way but it is so much more fun to do this in a group than by myself at home.  At home in my basement, that is where I work on my own gifts.  Learning to knit but I can't knit and talk at the same time - yet.   

I can imagine that Pat and Paul will be so glad to get moved into their new home and settled.

Janet, I could never read a book, and enjoy it, on a computer.  I can see how it wouldn't work for you either.  Bless your heart, when this is all over and Beth has recovered, you will likely crash.  God is so wonderful to sustain us during these long trying times.  I can't imagine what Beth would do without you.  I know I've seen in hospitals where, if a loved one is there, and willing to do, the nurses will back off and let you.  So many times we've ask ourselves (my sisters and I when my brother was in the hospital and dying and my mom, and my dad)what would they do if we weren't here??   The nurses were so kind, but were sort of scarce.  I guess it's that they have so many to care for, and they want to get to those who have no one.

A lovely, but windy, day here. The sky is so blue, trees so green, and the colors of flowers everywhere.  I can't thank God enough for making our earth in so many colors.  He only does perfect.

Thanks to you all for me moving Pat's devotion here.  I always copy and paste mine but I tried 'moving' Pat's and it worked.  Even looks like Pat posted it in that it has her profile picture on it! 

I have to be at my throat surgeon's office by 11am.  Just a check up for him to do the flexible laryngoscopy to see if I have any signs of a new tumor on my larnyx.  I hope some day I will only have to see him once a year or even less. 

Our weather has been beautiful...last week in the 90's.  Yesterday at the church picnic it was great!  74 degrees and gusty winds.  We had a silent auction and I paid for a full body massage.  I have never had a massage!  The minister's daughter is trained as a masseuse.  I love Sarah...she is a cutie pie and her personality overflows.  She will even bring her equipment here when I want the massage. 

I don't think I would enjoy reading a book online either but if you don't have a book in your hands to read, that would be an alternative. 

I had better go get dressed for going somewhere.

Etta Sue:  I was wondering how that happened - you did a great job. 

We will surely have to turn the air on today because I can't see any clouds coming from the west and it has already heated up - went for our walk and there was a little breeze that helped so much. 

Etta Sue Thank you for the help.

Well the new fan is in the van and will know soon if John's work paid off.  Then on to the chicken coop.  He is putting in a box to house day old chicks.  We will then move Dana's dog house close to the coop to protect the chicks.  She will do a great job.  (Dana is the doberman.)

So many things going on in the lives of those on CP.  May God go with you each step of the way.

Hi everyone.  I have had a busy morning and just got home a little while ago.  After coffee we walked at the church gym.  We had it all to ourselves this morning as Bible School is over and there are no camps there this week.  I then drove up to Kaiser to have blood drawn as have a physical coming up in a few days and this way the doctor will have the test results.  When I got back to our town I stopped at the barber for a haircut and then to the bank to cash some checks.  In a few minutes I will leave again for my Monday men's luncheon.  Today we are eating at Steak and Shake.  I am ready as couldn't eat breakfast this morning.  

It is a little cooler here today and much less humid.  I hope we get some rain sometime this week but pretty sure it won't be today.

Janet, I can understand why you wouldn't want to read a book on the computer although there are thousands of books available that are no longer under copyright.  Do you enjoy doing crossword puzzles?  There are a number of sites available, including one that I do everyday on a website called MyWay, which I use for my homepage.  It turns the letters red if I make a mistake.  

It is time to leave for my luncheon.

Oh Larry Steak and Shake!!! Such memories you have brought back.  Tifton GA there is a Steak and Shake and we would go into there before delivering at the Target just around the corner.  I love their chili and noodles with extra cheese.

Well the van is running properly with the new fans.  Now we are working on the chicken coop to get it ready for the chicks tomorrow.  It is always an exciting time having new babies in the House, except that these will be in their official home.

I will be back later.

Another Monday, and this is day 32 here in the hospital.  The days and evenings are really long........

Beth ate good this morning, but it all came back up.  She did eat a banana later and it stayed.  They are really concerned about her nutritional status; she has lost over 40 pounds so far.  But she does drink the Ensure and that has a lot of nutrition in it.

I found an old Readers' Digest Condensed book at the R.McD; and it has a book in it called Voices from the Kansas Frontier, really interesting, about the women who were the pioneers in Kansas.  I don't want to carry it back and forth as I walk, so am reading it in the late evenings there.

Larry, I don't care too much for crossword puzzles, and I am finding it harder and harder to concentrate.  I am blaming it on fatigue.......and stress.....That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

We had a visiitor today from home, one of Beth's caregivers from the care home.  Janice had shoulder surgery here in Wichita and came today for a checkup.  Her visit was like having a fresh breeze and sunshine come through the room!  Too bad she couldn't stay longer.

Beth was up in the Barton chair for an hour this morning, and they changed her wound vac dressing right after she ate lunch.  She has to have morphine before they do that, so now she is napping.

I think Darrel will be coming up for the weekend, Maybe on Thursday.  I sure hope so, anyway!

Hoping to read a good report from you, Etta Sue--and thanks for being so faithful in sending messages.  Love those short funny quotes.  Smiles are good medicine.

Thanks also to Jane, Marilyn and Shirley!  Please keep those AND the prayers coming!

Hi Everyone!

Here I am in Pennsylvania.  We arrived in the middle of the night after I missed a turn on the highway.  We arrived and have enjoyed a lovely visit with Paul' sister since.  She' a great cook!

We'll leave here after supper and then head down to Fallss Church, VA

Then we'll start to get the carpet ordered and figure tuff out for Winchester house.

Talk to you all soon.

A new week and so far we have had 2 Storm's.
This computer is causing grief, I must type ever so slow. We have high speed but something is not doing its thing. Hope it is not the memory board.

I am thinking of you all, I am headed over to the Prayer & Praise.

Ruth

Etta Sue:  Good wishes for your flex test on your throat. 

I see a little part of a rainbow  - someone is getting God's promise.  No rain but huge clouds so someone is also getting rain. 

I got a good report from the throat surgeon.  He said I am one of the few that have had a tumor on their larnyx and it didn't return in a year or two.  It was two years ago this month that I had the second surgery to laser the area to kill the cancer cells.  He could barely tell which side he worked on and I don't have to return until December 28th!  That's not a year but better than 3 months!

Vista has a sidebar with gadgets.  I downloaded a mini-radio and have found Acappella.  It is Christian music.  Love it.  Especially listening to it on my Bose speakers!!

Pat ~ I imagine all of us have missed our exit at least once.  I did it in Missouri.  Ivalou and I were just talking and we went 24 miles out of our way.  I could have made a U turn but knowing me, I would have gotten caught making an illegal U turn on the interstate! 

Today is Euchre at a classmates home.  I just got a call from another lady and I will ride with her to Bev's.  Best get on the ball and get caught up here and be ready when Karen arrives. Also doing some laundry.

Cloudy today but the temperature is wonderful!! 

You aren't a very chatty bunch today.  

Etta Sue,   on your throat checkup!  Sounds like a God thing to me!

News from the hospital:  they are attempting to wean Beth off IV antibiotics and have her take them orally.  The drawback is that they cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.  So far, her tummy hurts and she feel nauseated, but no vomiting.  She is still eating very small amounts.

Someone from downstairs just brought the mail, with the comment, "I sure wish I was this popular!"  There were 8 pieces of mail!!!    My sister sent a pillowcase embroidered with "Jehovah Rophe., the Lord who heals you.  Exodus  15:26."  The rest were get well cards and cards of encouragement.  Three of them were signed by dozens of friends from the Ulysses Senior Center.  That sure brightened our day!    Whatever do people do without friends----or without the Lord?

This is day 33 here, and counting.........I was feeling really low a couple of days, but yesterday I sort of got my "second wind" and feel I can keep going.  Praise God.

Interesting note:  personnel here at the hospital keep asking Beth and me if we are sisters!  She doesn't seem to mind, and it makes me feel I may not look as worn as I feel!

Pat, are you anxious to get moved into that great new house?  It sounds like a mansion!    So glad you and Paul found each other.

Darrel will be coming up again this weekend.  Wish gas wasn't so expensive.

Beth sat up in the Barton chair today for an hour again.

Sorry, I am rambling.  See you later.

Our chicks arrived today.  The enclosure john built was too big so we went back to the hard plastic swimming pool and put them in that.  A little more confined and we are able to keep them warmer that way.  When they get out of the pool we will remove it and give them the larger area,  That will be a couple of days to a week.  Cimi is enthralled as she was the last time.  I will try to get some pictures and post the updates as I am able.

Must get some mowing done while it is dry.  We are to have rain for the better part of the week Yippee good for the garden.

Bye for now.

Hello everyone...

Janet, I'm so happy that there is a little bit of improvement in Beth's condition.  I pray for you each day that the Lord will give you the extra strength that you need at this time.

Yes, it will be good to get moved. 

It's the birthday today of three of our members!

Hi everyone.  We are having a really beautiful day here in Georgia, espeically this morning when it was a bit cooler and low humidity.  It has warmed up to 90 degrees now and the wind is blowing, something we don't have too much of down here.

Stacey had to call 911 after midnight to go to the ER due to angina she could not get stopped.  She had been having it on and off all day and it had been controlled with nitro, but after midnight she took 4 nitro five minutes apart without any effect.  We are told to do three and then call 911.  They did a chemical stress test on her this morning and were suppose to do the second part of an echo, I think Pat told me, after 3 pm.  We should hear from her then.  If they don't keep her in the hospital tonight we may need to go down to get her back across the street to her apartment.  We will be down there tomorrow around noon as I have an appointment to have my pacemaker checked.  I know Stacey is in God's hands so am trying not to worry since there is not one thing I can do about this situation that will be of any help to her.

Pat, glad to read that the house is in final stages of preparation.  I know that carpeting and applicances are usually among the last things to be done before it is finished. 

Happy Birthday to Iain, Oldiesmann, and Jeannine.

Judy, little chicks are so cute.  I remember when we used to get them in the spring on the farm as I was growing up.

Janet, it sounds like another improvement in Beth's condition.  Also really glad to see that you are not feeling a down as you were for a couple of days.  So glad that Darrel will be spending the weekend with you and Beth.

Etta Sue, it is always encouraging to receive good news in followup appointments, especially when it involves something as serious as you had. 

Ruth, that doesn't sound like the motherboard of your computer but rather something related to the browser you are using.  You could do a check by loading wordpad or notepad and seeing if you have the same typing problems. 

My good friend Rod gave me a RAZR Motorola phone that is a beauty.  It was the state of the art 3 or 4 years ago but he was no longer using it.  I ordered a new battery for it, which came yesterday, and recharged it yesterday afternoon.  I spent the evening trying to learn how to use it.  Since I have had a Motorola phone many of the functions work the same.  This is just a much better phone, with a nice built in camera and it has blue tooth capability.  I am sending my old phone to Pat's sister as it is better than the one she has. 

Congratulations on first place, Kevin.  It's a beautiful photo.

Happy Birthday, Michael.

Janet, God is good.  A second wind is very appropriate for the way He lifts us, isn't it?  You surely needed it. Bless your heart.  I'm so glad to hear all the reports that indicate Beth is recovering.  Sisters? lol  Yes, you are in the Lord.

Etta Sue:  A wonderful report - a miracle for sure. 

Larry:  Enjoy your new phone.

Janet:  I don't write as often but please know that I never forget about you and Beth and Darrel. 

Pat:  On missing a turn-off.  We have all done something odd and while Don was snoozing in Montana, I turned off to get gasoline at a huge bridge and turn-off and suddenly found the car surrounded by sheep.  We still laugh about it - another bridge to nowhere!  And, hundreds of sheep from wherever.  No gas or any buildings either. 

It is hot here today and I am grateful for air conditioning even though I would very rarely use it. 

I really love that song, Pat. Thanks for bposting it.

Well, after the 15 of July, I probably will be more able to come on a regular basis to my 2 favorite websites.

Thanks for being yourselves, and for bringing confidence and inspiration and more lchristian love into my life.

Ohhh, enquiring minds want to know why July 15 is so special.  I know it's very special for Judy as she was born on a very hot day back in 1949 and I won't ever forget that day when I got a gift of a new baby sister!