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Morning Devotional...

Psalm 48

The people have come, early in the morning, to worship their covenant God at the temple on Mount Zion.  As they came, and as they heard the trumpet blowing and calling them to worship, they could look up ahead and see the majestic temple itself.  It was a very imposing sight, a sight that could never be forgotten. But the meaning of that wondrous building was even more overwhelming – it was the place God had chosen to meet with His people.  It was a very special place, a place where the people could quietly and reverently come each day to worship and praise Jehovah.

The song led by their worship leader this particular day was appropriate to the imposing view they had before them.  They sang, "great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in His holy mountain.  Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion on the sides of the north, the city of the great King!"

It must have seemed so very natural to sing of the great King Who ruled from this holy mountain over all the kingdoms of the world.  As the early-morning sun glistened on the high walls and as the rams horn sounded for the people to gather, they came. And as they came, they sang of their sovereign God, of His holy temple, and of His chosen nation Israel.  It had to be a thrill just to be there taking all this in!

Even foreign kings passing by would have to be impressed as they saw the imposing temple and heard the praises.  They might even feel conviction for their sin of worshipping other gods, and they might then leave this city with the thought that this God Who was being worshipped just might be the true and only God!

It was wonderful for Israel to have Jehovah as their heavenly King!  They would gladly sing, "We have thought, O God, on Your lovingkindness (It was that lovingkindness that made them – or us - His special people) in the midst of Your temple!" In awe and wonder they would realize that they alone, of all the peoples of the earth were worshipping the only, the true and the majestic GOD of gods and LORD of lords.  

It was only reasonable under such circumstances to sing as they did,, "According to Your name, O God, so is Your praise to the ends of the earth; Your right hand is full of righteousness!" And it was only right that the special people of such a God should sing to one another, "Let Mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of Your judgements!"

Finally, the song closed by telling the people to carefully observe the capitol city of their great God, to "walk about Zion, and go all around her, count her towers; mark well her bulwarks; consider her palaces; that you may tell it to the generation following.  For this is God, our God forever and ever; He will be our Guide even to death!"  They were thus encouraged to "Pass it on!"  

In our own day as well we should sing this song.  Christ's Church is the Zion of our day.  It's an inheritance our children too should treasure.

We don't have an earthly temple.  Instead, today, God's people gather as His Church in many places, and He meets with them wherever they are.  But just as much as in former days, they need to be aware of His awesome Presence and of His lovingkindness to allow them access to Himself.  They need not inspect a city, but they can carefully inspect the Church, the people of God, and they may observe His wonderful works in each and every life.  They observe the gifts He has given whereby they can even be used in the upbuilding of that blessed Church.

In other words, the symbolic has passed away, and the true has come - the majestic temple is no more, but the true City, the even more majestic Church, has replaced it. Each of us can and should see what our God has done and is doing – "our God forever and ever, our guide, even to death!"

Al Moak


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

Thank you for that devotional today, Al.  We need always to remember the Church is not a building but the body of believers.

Al I don't remember that hymn at all.  Thank you for the devotional.

Ummmm here is the the fallout of not bring able to get onto the internet.   AVG messed up my connection so that I could not get onto the internet at all, it kep on disconnecting me from the server.   I have deleted (uninstalled) AVG and voila, I am back!

Judy, I'm sorry your trouble was with AVG but very glad you've solved everything.  And I'm SO glad you're back!   

Welcome back Judy, and hope the fruatration goes awaqy quickly.

Al, I enjoyed the devotional--thank you.

Carol, I agree with you, we have so very much to be thankful for, I do sometimes feel ashamed for feeling grumpy over what I might not have any more.  And our lives change in various ways as the years keep rolling past.  Hearing you describe some of the things you cook makes my mouth water!  

This is the first time today I have been able to get online.  And it is past 11 P.M.  I blame it on all the kids being home and on computers, but that might not be the reason at all.

We woke up to a veritable winter wonderland this morning!  It was just spectacular!!  There was a heavy fog last evening and night, and it had frozen on every tree limb, bush, high line wire and weed!  As we left for church, the sun was shining, and by the time we got out, all the frost was gone.    I am disappointed that I didn't look out and see it earlier and go out to take pictures.

Some friends called and invited us over for sandwiches tonight, so I made some banana nut bread and we went and had a great visit.  Darrel said he had no idea it was as late as it was when we came home, but it was good to visit.  We don't do that nearly enough, so will try to do more of it in this year of 2010.

It is past my bedtime, and I think I hear my pillow calling me!  Sweet dreams everybody---or have a good breakfast, as it will probably be morning before anyone reads this.

hello all,
i hope all is well! i am off today to try and have this baby again... induction starts in just a few hours.... i must leave now... have a good day...hopefully this one will be the day

Sarah will be praying.

Have a great day everyone. 

Hi everyone.  It is 16 degrees here this morning but our house is warm.  This will be a whopper of a heating bill but I am thankful for the heat.  I sure hope my granddaughter and her husband got the furnace in their mobile home fixed.  I think they were relying on space heaters.

Today is the funeral of my last aunt, who lived in the Denver area.  My sister and I went together and sent flowers from our families.

I just have one activity on the schedule after coffee this morning.  Our men's group is going to Shane's Rib Shack for lunch.  I will stay in the rest of the day.  The housekeeper is coming this morning and perhaps the yard people, although there is really not much for them to do.  I think they just deal with any leaves on the ground during these winter visits but I pay on a 12 month contract so they make an appearance whether needed or not.

Al, thanks for the fine devotional for this week and posting the hymn. 

Judy, I hope you have added some type of virus protection for your computer.  I am using Avast now and really like it on both my laptop and the desktop.  The Microsoft One-Care service I have used for a couple of years has been discontinued.  It is important to run some type of virus protection.

Sarah, I hope this will be the day for you and the new baby. 

Janet, those visits with friends are very enjoyable.  This is what we did the other day with the rib dinner Pat fixed. I can imagine the frosty conditions you so enjoyed.  We used to have these kinds of mornings in Alaska where everything was covered with frost.

Jeanne, it sure isn't fun to get shocked when you touch some medal for from the light switches.  We have a humidifier on our furnace and it helps.  I just worry when it is so cold that the line may freeze as it is in the attic but I have insulation on all of the pipe I can and the water keeps moving so should be OK.

Hope this is a very nice day for everyone.  Everyone stay warm today.   

Looks like today will just be a duplicate of yesterday, but maybe with a little less snow.  I sure wish summer would hurry up and get here!   

Jeanne, we can't have summer yet - we have to spring into it.

OK, Al.  But around here there's usually very little of that season.  And whatever it takes I wish it would hurry!   

I am back online, at least for now, so will hurry and post!  It seems I may get another chance to photograph the frosty conditions, as frost is building up on stuff again today, and the sun hasn't come out yet.

Darrel has gone to the doctor again (regular one this time) so I am praying he gets some answers.  This is too long a time for him to be sick and I am very concerned about him.

Our PT Cruiser is giving us some problems; engine light flashing on and running rough.  Darrel said it is probably sparkplugs or a broken wire, so he took it to the shop this morning and the man said yes, that's what it is, plus it needs a new timing belt.  So it goes into the repair shop on Wednesday.  It is so good to have another car at times like this!  The mechanic said these cars need new timing belts between 55 and 60 thousand miles, and ours has 62,000 on it, so that's pretty good, I guess.

I think I might try to do a little scrapbooking today.  I have stacks of pictures needing attention!

Jeanne, I don't want summer just yet, but do hope it warm up in your area and you get some relief from all that snow!  About your car, I read a testimonial on Flylady.net about their new "rubba sweeper" that it works really great for getting snow off vehicles.  Want to borrow mine?  

Sarah, I do hope this will be the birthday of your little one.  May God bless and keep you both in His loving arms, and come back and tell us about her---and of course we want to see pictures, too!  Hugs to you.

My daughter Diane and grandson Mark are in Kansas City at market.  I hope the weather isn't too bad there, and especially hope road conditions are good for their return drive tomorrow.  I'm so glad Mark is with her, lots of time she goes alone.

Happy Monday to you all!

Amen to that Jeanne.  John has spent time trying to clean snow off the truck.  He goes out tomorrow, so we have another day together.  The neighbor has cleaned out our driveway for us. Our snow blower doesn't work, which is so frustrating. Having Clinton clean up the drive makes things easier for us.  John is going to put plastic up on some of the windows today, in preparation for the deep freeze that we are expecting.

Janet you posted just ahead of me.  I am continuing to pray.

Al ~ Thank you for the devotion and music for this week.

Marilyn ~  I got your email of PSP links.  I see the first one is closed until Jan 14.  Hope I remember to join then.

Larry ~ Big M?  It's a gal thing.  Menopause and hot flashes!  Now you know!

Sarah ~ I am praying that today is your little girls birthday and that everything is fine with Mommy and baby!

I went to the bank this morning and to Dollar General.  Then home to put things away.  By then it was time to get Ivalou and take her to the doctor's office for a blood draw.  She has an appointment Wednesday to see the Nurse Practitioner.  She is feeling about the same as she was before the stoke when she was taking another medication to prevent gout.  She told them today, she was feeling really good but now she isn't. 

Then Thursday she goes to out patient rehab to have Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy.  I am going to ask if I can pay and swim...all they can say is yes or no! 

So a busy week again and earlier all I had to do was take her to the doctor's office today! 

Oh, yes.  I have church council meeting this evening but that is only for an hour! 

John has the basement windows covered, and we have a virtual heat wave going in the house.  One kitchen window is done, the other will be soon.  It is amazing how drafty these old houses can be.  To fix that will mean tearing out the walls and reinsulating them and re-drywalling inside. 

I was wondering Marilyn are the PSP courses free?  Could you send me the info?  I would love to make cards like you do.  That is talent. 

Etta Sue did you get the emails?  I love the graphics on the ones I sent you ...Just don't know how to put them on my emails, especially the butterflies.

Well I have Kassie's Cadet uniform to iron, I usually leave it for her to do but decided to surprise her for tonight.

I will be back when I get home from Cadets tonight.

Hi everyone, Judy check your email I sent you the link.

Went to exercise this morning, I sure did need that. I see it is now starting the rain  that we are supposed to have all week long again. Of course it is to be expected this is Oregon.

Judy, the lessons and tutorials for PSP are free, but the application is not. 

Al:  Thank you for the devotion.  There is a church in Seattle that was burned to the ground, arson.  When the people gathered on the following Sunday - the pastor told them that they themselves were "the church". So true.  A great lesson for all of us.  I hope that you are staying warm and dry!

Sarah:  Next post from you - we are all waiting and praying. 

Janet:  Forgive me if I every sounded like I was chastising you - I certainly did not mean to.  I thought about what I wrote later - and I do know you, of all people, are so quick to bounce back from anytime of feeling a little blue.  Prayers for Darrel's appointment. 

Larry:  Now your note sounds like you have no family left in Denver.  Is that so? 

News that Mayo Clinic in Glendale, Arizona is dropping Medicare patients - must bring cash.   Hmmmm, better save about a few thousand at least.  I thought the Mayo was in Scottsdale, AZ. 

Wednesday Bible Study for Women begins and I have promised to drive my neighbor because she is is from the south and just hates this cold weather.  I will warm the car just for her & drop her off - she agreed to go.  She is the one who invited me in the first place.  She is a great new friend.  Sometimes God just drops you off where you least expect to live and you are lucky to find some terrific new friends who have the same values - now tell me that my life isn't planned and I will argue with you.    



   

Carol, the thought of your chastising me never even crossed my mind--honest injun, as the kids used to say.  Thanks for mentioning Darrel's appointment.  They did a culture and found he has a really nasty infection.  Gave him a big shot of some powerful antibiotic and he has to go back every day for the next four days and get a shot a day.  It was either that or get an IV inserted and go let them put the med through that.  I sure hope this takes care of it.

Carol, there are now several Mayo Clinics around the country.  The original one is in Rochester, Minn.  I sure hope others do not follow suit in not taking Medicare patients, but who knows what bad times we are in for if they allow that so-called health care debacle to pass?!?

Etta Sue, hope they let you swim!  I love swimming.  I plan to go back to the gym tomorrow.

Judy, good you and John are getting some of the drafts stopped from invading your house.  It will save you money as well as heat.

I barely stuck my nose out today.  But when I was outside this afternoon, it was really nice, only needed a light jacket.  Forecast is for the coldest weather here in 20 years though, on Thursday and Friday.  We'll see.

I spent a few hours this afternoon cropping photos to get into scrapbooks.  So now I can start Lexi's second year book.  Go me!  

I also got several things done that I had been putting off, that always feels good.

See you tomorrow.

I was just talking to Pat.  Geordie is no longer with her, the vet did what was necessary this evening to stop a serious seizure.  Please keep our Pat in your prayers, he has been her best friend for the past 13 years.
(June 14, 1997-January 4, 2010)

http://www.christianphotographers.com/community/index.php?topic=8051.new#new

Pat, so sorry to hear about Geordie,  Oh, how we love our pets!

Pat, I know your heart is breaking now ... There will be a better day ... just not now.      

Geordie was not your "pet."  He was your friend, and you were his.  But the God Who gave him is your God, and His love is still yours.  Oh may He fill you with His goodness through Jesus Christ.

Judy, thanks for passing on the sad news.

Pat, I am so sorry for your loss of such a great friend.

Pat ~ So sorry to hear about Geordie.  I never met him but I am looking forward to meeting him and Jack some day.  How is the cat doing?  Can't remember her name...Lauren...maybe.

JudyB ~ If you want graphics/animations in your emails, when you find one you like, right click over it, select Save As and remember where you save it.  Then if you want to insert it into an email, go to Insert at the top of your emails and select either Attachment or Picture.  Picture will put the animation where you want the graphic/animation.  Attachment will have to be opened.  Try one and send it to me for practice.

Marilyn ~ Thank you for the links.  I like to print my instructions so I have them later for references.  I did see one tute on Frames!  My cup of tea!

Ivalou got her blood drawn and her glasses tightened.  One of her lens fell out four times now.  Hopefully this time they are fixed.  Then we ate at Bob Evans.  

What was going to be a leisure week has turned out to be a busy week.  Today I am going with 4 other ladies out to eat and then back to one their homes to play Euchre.  Sounds like a fun day.  

Tomorrow I take Ivalou back so she can see Nurse Andrea.  I am sure that the gout prevention medication is causing her to feel tired, no appetite, and just not herself.  Hopefully she can get a medication that won't have her feeling that way.  We have to be careful because the medication caused her protime to go out of whack!  Protime is a number that shows the thickness/thinness of her blood and how to take her Warfarin.  Just isn't fun getting old!

Then Thursday I take Ivalou to the rehab center for therapies.  I imagine she will be scheduled to more therapy.  We are hoping not Tuesdays and Thursdays....they are mine and her busy days.  

Friday I need to clean house and Saturday is NEW MATTRESS DAY!  I tossed and turned last night.  I think it would be great to sleep for at least a few hours in the same position.  Although I get a lot of exercise in the bed and getting up and down for the little room in the house!  

Then next week, it will start over again!

Pat:  You have some wonderful memories of your good dog Geordie.  He looked sharp in all of his pictures.  A big hug to you! 

Janet:  Well, that was really good that Darrel went to the doctor for tests and they found an infection.  It sounds like strong medication. 

Congratulations Don on your picture for the mini challenge.  It is refreshing and so lovely.  I can almost hear that waterfall.  Here, the water would be frozen solid. 

Well with all that happened last night I chose not to post the good news.

Kass went to cadets with full anticipation.  Uniform spiffed up, boots with a looking glass shine, hair done....She was being promoted from Flight Corporal to Sargent.  We just had to be there!

We were and as the promotions were handed out, she was bypassed.  John and I were upset for her, and she stood rigid in the "at ease" position staring straight ahead.  I am not sure I could have done that.  The tears were close when she came to us, but she didn't break down.  I have never seen her exert such self control! I insisted she take John and go see the Captain to see what had gone wrong, what she needed to do to actually get the stripes that had been promised in July.

After some resistance they went to Captain Munsel, he looked at her and said "Oh you are here!  I had you marked absent!"  OK you get your promotion next week!".
"Thank you sir....can I go to on the seniors trip?"  
"Yes Go!"

It seems the cadet who was taking attendance marked her absent even after she corrected how he pronounced her name.  As a result she was bypassed.  At any rate she gets her stripes next week.  I am so proud of how she handled the whole thing.

Judy, thanks for keeping us informed about Geordie.  I was just thinking about him yesterday and wondering how he was doing.  

Pat- love, hugs, thoughts and prayers for you today and in the following days.  It is so hard to lose such a good buddy, and Geordie was truly one of a kind!  

Small correction:  I said our Cruiser has 62,000 miles on it, and it actually has 82,000!

We have the hoarfrost on everything again today but not as heavy as Sunday.  If the sun doesn't come out, though, it might get that heavy again; then I can get photos!

I have been to the chiropractor today, Darrel is getting ready to go get his shot from the Doctor.

I talked to my sister Shirley up near Emporia a while ago and she says they have a light, fluffy snow and a temp of 3* up there.  It's in the 20s here, no snow in our outlook.  Boy, parts of the country are really getting the snow dumped on them!!  That old global warming at work!  

Etta Sue, I hope they can find a gout prevention med that will work for Ivalou without any complications.  You do stay busy, as several here do.

I need to package up Shirley's book and get it sent back to her, as I have finished the editing.

Edit:  Judy was posting as I was typing.  Congratulations to Kass!   Way to go!!

Janet that is what you call togetherness!

House is cold have to empty ash and restart the fire.  That is a job I really dislike.  I would love to turn a thermometer and have instant heat....