Christian Photographers Community

I am ready and waiting for the insurance man to get here.  Looks like good roads out there so he shouldn't have any problems getting here.  He is from Muncie...about 45 minutes away. 

We are anticipating a new baby as a new church member anytime.  In fact, Mommy was due the 18th.  Last I heard, she is at the hospital.  Well, she went Tuesday but they sent her home.  She went back yesterday.  She is a tiny girl and Jessa is going to be a big baby.  She's the one that I crocheted the baby afghan in 5 days for. 

I am enjoying Christmas this year.  I think it is because I don't have all the decorations out and therefore, can reflect more on the reason for the season.  Love it!

Bye Jane and Hi Ruth Ann!

Oh, Ruth Ann, how pleased I was to see you were able to post this morning.    My prayers are for you to receive miracle healing, if it is the Lord's will.  And to know His peace and comfort through whatever He has in store for you.

I hope you'll be abundantly blessed this Christmas.

Hi everyone.  It has really turned chilly here today and the weathermen are saying they think we will have some snow on Christmas Day.  I heard them say there hasn't been snow on Christmas Day in this area since back in the 1800's.  Our son and his wife are coming on Sunday rather than on Christmas Day so hopefully any snow would not be a problem.  They also don't have to drive on any mountains and it is very flat between here and Augusta.

I am sitting here listening to the recording of our Christmas Cantata.  Always sitting in the back row you don't hear how it all comes together and I hadn't even realized that there was a soprano solo part.  I knew about the bass solo as was sitting next to the man who sang it.  I am going to try to put together a webpage to share with the choir and can share the link with any of you wanting to hear it.  It is a wonderful telling of the Christmas story.

Pat was to have breakfast with a friend of hers this morning but when she got to where they were to meet found that the friend was ill and couldn't make it.  She had left a message on the phone while Pat was at the grocery store and when she came home she didn't check all the messages.  So she came home to have breakfast.  We got our running around done early this morning so can stay in where it is warm the rest of the day.

Janet, I know the reaction to your painting truly touched you and I bet that will be a cherished treasure by Forrest. 

Ruth Ann, sure glad to see your posting as have been worried about you.  Fortunately I believe it was Judy had talked with you and let us know why you weren't posting.  If you are not up to posting but are reading just a simply Hi would cheer us. 

Al, I am nosy but why did you have to make the trip to Spokane so many times?

Carol, it sounds like you are all ready for overnight company and now they aren't coming.  At least you will have things ready when needed. 

Etta Sue, meeting at an eating place sounds like a great idea as everyone can enjoy the day without being worn out from preparations. 

Joyce, blessings to you this Christmas season.

Judy, I have made a note to check and see if I can find the music for the words you posted but if it is new am not optimistic. 

In the following devotional verse in Eccliasties really hit me....


Another busy Christmas?

"Just as being too busy gives you nightmares..."

Ecclesiastes 5:3 NLT


Christmas slippers
"While we are called to work hard, we must make sure that our work doesn't so preoccupy us that we endanger our health, our relationships, or our time with God.1

A woman died, leaving behind her husband and one daughter. The little girl soon became the very apple of her daddy's eye. He loved to spend time with her, but because he had to work, they had only their evenings together. After dinner each night they would talk and play games; sometimes she sang for him. He treasured every moment.

One night the little girl announced, "Daddy, I need to go to my room early tonight. I have something I have to do!"

He felt very disappointed, but he let her go. She continued this pattern for a solid month. Finally, Christmas Day arrived, and early in the morning she burst in on her daddy and proudly displayed a pair of crude crocheted slippers she had made for him. It was this project that had taken her away from her father for every evening that month.

Her father thanked her warmly and gave her a big hug, but then he said, "Honey, I would rather have had you with me all those lonely evenings than to have these slippers, as beautiful and comfortable as they are."

[As in the story of Martha and Mary], God wants our presence more than our slippers. He wants our devotion more than our work. It really is a matter of balance.2

1from the TouchPoint Bible with commentaries by Ron Beers and Gilbert Beers (Tyndale) p 1298

We all would prefer our childrens persence to the gifts they give, even though we love the giftf as well.

Slept in today , I was up late last night watching a "Different" Christmas special.  It was a touching one, called "The Gathering". 

I have things to do and must get at them.

i just got this from Joni and Friends:


Joni and Friends Daily Devotional
December 23, 2010
Dear Pat,
What Child Is This?


"You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus."                                                               

                                                                      --Luke 1:31





            If you ask the man on the street what he thinks of the babe of Christmas, you'll be surprised at the answers.  Just look at the folks who were there when it happened.



            The innkeeper was downright indifferent-a census had come to town, and he was busy ringing up the cash register.  Then there was Herod-he tried to destroy everything connected with the Christmas celebration.  Consider the shepherds in the field-only after the angels bent over backward to explain the celestial fireworks were their fears finally put to rest.



            The wise men were curious, poking here and there with questions until they found answers that satisfied.  Still others, like Simeon in the temple, waited.  Other people hoped, like Anna the prophetess.  Then there were those who, like Mary and Joseph, worshiped the newborn King.



            People haven't changed much since Bible times, and the man on the street responds in much the same way.  Are you, like the innkeeper, indifferent?  Too busy?  Are you still searching, looking for answers?  Or maybe you're frightened because the baby in the manger asks too much of you.  Stop to think how you would have responded had you been the man on the streets of Bethlehem that night.



There are a thousand different ways to respond to the news that a Savior has been born to deliver man from his sins.  But the fact remains that until a child was born, this world was cloaked in utter darkness, abandoned, hopeless, and lost.  But for unto us, a child is born, a Son is given!  There is only one response:  Worship and joyous praise!



Lord Jesus, I only have one response to Your birth:  Joy!  No more let sin and sorrow reign, nor thorns infest the ground!  For You have come to make God's blessings known far as the curse is found!

Blessings,

Joni and Friends
www.joniandfriends.org

Hi everyone.  Another beautiful and chilly morning in Georgia.  We are continuing to listen to the weather reports and they are still saying we have a good chance of some snow tomorrow and perhaps on Monday. 

I went to coffee this morning but the man who opens the Senior Center wasn't there.  One other friend was waiting so we spoke and decided to go on to McDonald's.  A little bit later two other friends joined us and we enjoyed a nice unhurried time. 

I was expecting to drive down to Atlanta this morning and pick up our daughter.  However, I called her from McDonald's and awoke her.  She indicated she had understood I would come tomorrow morning to pick her up, which had been the original plan.  I said that was fine and will do so tomorrow morning.  This means she won't have to spend three days here, which really wears her down as there is more walking here that she has at her apartment.  We don't plan our family Christmas until Monday and now that may be iffy should the snow come and make it difficult for our son and DIL to get here.

Judy and Pat, I appreciated the devotional material you posted yesterday.  Judy, I so agree with the father in your story as it is having a little of my children's time that is important and not the gift. 

I will go ahead and wish everyone a very Merry Christmas.  I expect traffic will be light here for postings tomorrow. 

Merry Christmas to you as well, Larry.

I'm just waiting for Paul to drive in.  We'll have a service tonight at church and that will be nicer.

Merry Christmas.

Ruth Ann:  So nice to see you posting.  My prayers for your recovery on your knee operation and the best care for your eye as well. 

We are going to the 2 PM service because of dinner scheduled after 5 tonight.  Will pick up son (who had smashed his kneecap in snowmobile accident).  He is managing fairly well. 

Pat:  Enjoy your Christmas service with Paul. 

Love to all,

Busy morning all ready.  Remember years back when I drove a couple to Indiana University for Speech Therapy for the man who had had a stroke a few years back?  Also drove them to Michigan for bio-feed back on his leg?  I read online that he passed away the 17th.  With all my busyness yesterday, I forgot to call her.  So I made a nice sympathy card for her today.  I don't think you are suppose to put letters inside sympathy cards but I did anyway.  All is in the mailbox.

Also doing some laundry.  And I have a pot of Chili on the stove for lunch and probably dinner, too.   

I also got a letter yesterday in the mail for Federal jury duty.  I have never served on a jury before.  I was thinking it was jury duty at our local courthouse.  Then I realized it is downtown Indy!  Just put the questionnaire back in the mail today.  If I am accepted I will be on call Feb 7 thru Mar 7.  They are to let me know two weeks in advance.  I won't mind doing it other than the drive to downtown Indy.  After doing it once, it will be okay! 

I am all caught up with my recorded TV shows.  Nothing but reruns next week.  So I suspect I will be doing a lot of reading, perhaps cleaning or whatever.  If the snow would melt, hopefully, I would do some swimming! 

Oh, yes.  Baby Jessa was born at 11:44 yesterday.  She wasn't as big as was expected.  7 pounds and a few ounces and 20 inches long.  That's a nice size baby but not for how huge Mommy was!  She will probably go home today sometime! 

Tonight is our Christmas Eve service.  Always a nice service.  Ivalou said that Marge wanted Betty, Ivalou and I to meet her somewhere for dinner and then go to Christmas Eve service.  I doubt if anything will be open that late.  I am sure everything will be closed by 6pm.  So Ivalou told Marge to call the restaurant to make sure they will be open.  Not thinking this is a good idea so I will probably have chili.

I am praying that everyone has a happy, safe Christmas Eve and a totally Merry Christmas!!

Hi everyone,

Here is my Christmas present to you all.  I have put together a quick webpage on our Cantata we did last Sunday evening and have used the recording that was made of the performance.  This is such nice music and the Christmas message is so well presented that I wanted to be able to share it with you all (unless you are Cantataed out.  It was a great joy to practice and then perform this with an orchestra.  I hope you will enjoy it. You will need to open the webpage in Chrome or Firefox or use Quicktime in IE8 as the files are m4a rather than mp3 files.http://gwinnettseniorgoldengames.org/larry2010/Index.html

Larry - thank you so very much!  I have a Macintosh, and I don't have the appropriate software, but I was certainly able to tell that the performance of that cantata was quite impressive - I'd like to have been there!  Praise the Lord!

I've listened to all of the singing and what a lovely performance it was too!

(Nice that Paul was able to attend the practice with you.) 

I have struggled several times to get on line today.....the joys of dialup.  All the kids are home from school and spending time on the internet.  The connection is at best 19.2 and more often 14.4  It seems all the communities around us are getting high speed...so soon it will be out turn.

Merry Christmas everyone and I pray each of you enjoy the day remembering who's birthday it really is.

I must go as John is waiting for me.

Merry Christmas to all at Christian Photographers,Let us all keep in mind That on this day the rich and poor received the greatest gift of all .The healing Grace Of God, Jesus Christ. God Bless You All.

Merry Christmas, CPer's! 

I am praying that everyone has a Merry, Safe Christmas. 

We had more snow last night in the night but I don't think it is bad on the roads.  A lot of people must be staying home.  Not much traffic out there. 

I am going to Ivalou's around 1pm for dinner.  There should be 18 of us for dinner.  Then we will play games around Ivalou's huge table.  And gifts for everyone!

Hi everyone.  It is a cloudy and chilly 37 degrees.  At least the snow and rain has not yet started.  They say we may have up to an inch of snow in the Atlanta area.  

I just got back from Atlanta where I picked up our daughter.  She will spend a couple of days with us.  

Pat made and apple and pumpkin pie this morning.  Yesterday she did the hams and cut them up, fixed the mixings for the green rice casserole, cut up the potatoes for the potato said and several other things.  She will make mac & cheese in the morning but think that is the last thing she has to make.  

Hope everyone is having a wonderful and blessed Christmas.  Jeanne, that is an interesting rendering the the young Christ child.  

CRPoppy, nice to see you posting and thanks for the Christmas wishes for us.

Judy, I can't even imagine trying to do anything productive on the Internet at 14.4 speed.  I am amazed that you can do what you do.  Hope this next year will be the one where high speed Internet comes your way.  

Pat, glad you were able to hear the music.  Al, can your Mac play regular mp3 files or does Mac have it's own mp3?  I checked and there are converters for m4a files to Mac mp3 files.

Etta Sue, sounds like you all have a very fun day planned.

Ready to enjoy a restful and peaceful day today.  Sure I will watch some football or basketball on TV.  

NIGHT OF HOPE

Night of hope
Long ago
Born a baby
Meek and low
In a stable manger bed
The Son of God lay down His head

Chorus.....

Rejoice with angels, sing with them
Praise the One born in Bethlehem
Come with gladness, come with joy
He's your King this baby boy

Night of joy
Long ago
A baby lay
Sleeping so
On a mattress of soft soft hay
The Saviour of men gently lay

Chorus.....

Rejoice with angels, sing with them
Praise the One born in Bethlehem
Come with gladness, come with joy
He's your King this baby boy

Night of nights
Long ago
Baby Jesus
Coming low
With all ours sins He can cope
The Saviour came that night of hope

Chorus.....

Rejoice with angels, sing with them
Praise the One born in Bethlehem
Come with gladness, come with joy
He's your King this baby boy

Colin Moffett

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyk0jBiT2IY

I hope you are all having a Blessed Christmas Day!

It's lovely to see those of you who have stopped by.  Great to see you, Judy!

Colin, welcome!

crpoppy, how true--we must remember God's great gift at sending his Son into the world to die for us--the greatest of gifts.



I only have a couple of minutes as I'm waiting to stir the Chex Party Mix that Pat Hanna got me started on.  We'll take it to the kids' home tomorrow.

I'll be back.



I got this from Joni and Friends:



p Outside


"In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength."                                                               

                                                                 --Isaiah 30:15





            It was a chilly night in Bethlehem.  People escaped the cold, damp air and crowded into the little inn at the end of the street.  They had left their donkeys and camels in the back stable, had shut the door, and were now laughing and chattering with distant relatives they had not seen in years.



            Family ties were renewed over bowls of hot soup and goblets of wine.  People broke bread together, swapping stories about their long journey.  A teenager boy strummed his lyre, and several fathers clapped their hands in time to the music.



            While balancing a tray of meats and breads, the innkeeper answered a knock at the door.  A man calling himself Joseph stood outside with his cloak pulled tightly around his head.  It was late, cold, and he and his young wife who was heavy with child needed a room.  The innkeeper could barely hear Joseph speak with so much background noise, but he managed to explain that there was no room-only an empty stall or two in the back stable.



            The innkeeper quickly apologized and slammed the door shut against Joseph.  Outside, Joseph stood and listened to the laughter behind the door.  He sighed deeply, turned, and quietly led Mary to the stable.  While a celebration of music and feasting continued behind the warm walls of the inn, yards away, the Son of God quietly entered history.



Sometimes the most special moments of Christmas happen not during a crowded party but in cool, quiet silence.  In the midst of bustling activity, God seeks out the quiet heart.



What a contrast between the serene stable and the busy inn.  If only someone had taken the time to peer out a back window, or leave the party to check on his donkey, just think what he would have discovered!  Perhaps he would have seen the angels, the shepherds, and yes, even the Son of God.



Come into my heart, Lord Jesus, there's room in my heart for You.


Blessings,

Joni and Friends

Colin, it's good to see you here.  Thank you for that lovely hymn.  

Pat, thank you for relaying Joni's message.   I love chex mix and used to make it often.  Of course until I get my teeth squared away it's out of the question, anyway.  

Things seem slow on here today.  I guess everyone in the area got new computers for Christmas and they're all online!   

"Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!"

Hi, everyone.  I haven't been in in ages and ages.  I haven't been able to access CP for whatever reason.  I thought it was just something on my computer, and didn't even mention it until Pat mentioned someone else, with my provider, not being able to get here either.

Yesterday I spent 1 1/2 hours with a Frontier tech trying to figure this out.  He took over my computer and checked everything........then contacted his supervisor and he led him to try some other things, but nothing worked.   He went to a site called ultraunblocker and could reach here via my computer that way, but no other way.

I finally convinced him to just let it go (he told me it had become personal for him. lol) and finally he did give up.  I felt like I knew him.  Jason was his name.  He told me to have a blessed Christmas, and I realized he must be a Christian.  I wished for him the same.

Today, I thought I'd try again, and here I am.  He must have found a way to do more after we hung up??  Anyway, I'm glad I can get here again.  I hope Marilyn can too.

I had a blessed and quiet Christmas.  Good night for now.  Nita

What a wonderful Christmas day spent with 18 family members and filling our tummies!!  And to top it off, I listened to Larry's Christmas Cantata from his church.  What beautiful music! 

Today we are having our Christmas Cantata after the Sunday service since the cantata was postponed due to bad weather earlier in the month.  After that is a cookie reception and then since I have plenty to eat here, I will come back home. 

And I will probably take a Sunday afternoon nap!! 

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas spent with your loved ones.  I did.

Hi everyone.  Sitting here reading and enjoying a cup of hot chocolate.  Our son and his wife gave us a nice assortment of it with different flavoring.  Mine was flavored with peppermint and very delicious.  It had to put in a couple of marshmallows.

Not since 1882, according to the newscasters, has Atlanta experienced a white Christmas.  Well yesterday was the day.  It started snowing about 4 pm and continued until we probably had an inch of snow on the ground.  Just took a couple of pictures of this historic event for our area. 

We had been planning for several weeks to have our family Christmas on the 26th, thinking that was the day our son and his wife would be able to be with us for a few hours.  Well yesterday about 11:30 the phone rang and it was our daughter-in-law saying they were about 20 minutes away.  They had always planned on being here on Christmas Day and my wife had just misunderstood.  Fortunately, she had most of the food prepared ahead of time so she quickly finished the potato salad and I helped get the table ready for the food and the other things ready.  We had a great day, enjoying the food and especially the time together.  We had a nice gift exchange and then we noticed it was starting to snow.  So they packed up their car and headed back to Augusta.  They called when they got home and had experienced no problems on the roads.  So we had a Christmas to remember. Needless to say my wife was exhausted as was I so we had a very quiet evening.

Nice to read about what each of you did yesterday. 

Our early church services were cancelled but our 11:15 service will be held.  I plan on attending but sure their will not be many people there. Doubt that we will have a choir this morning.  The rest of the day will be a restful one enjoying the company of our daughter who is still with us.

Etta Sue, glad you enjoyed the Christmas Cantata.  I know you are looking forward to the Cantata at your church.  How big of a choir do you have?  We had 30 this year and we have more men in the choir than I can remember us every having, which is great. 

Hope everyone has had a very enjoyable Christmas with family and friends and in remembering the reason for the season.

The celebration of Christ's birth, at least on the day we set aside for it, is past once more.  But let's endeavor to keep Christmas in our hearts every day!

You will find a clean slate for your very welcome posts, comments, stories and whatever you want to share here.