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Morning Devotional...

The dialogue that Friday morning was bitter.

From the onlookers, "Come down from the cross if you are the Son of God!"

From the religious leaders, "He saved others but he can't save himself."

From the soldiers, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself."

Bitter words. Acidic with sarcasm. Hateful. Irreverent. Wasn't it enough that he was being crucified? Wasn't it enough that he was being shamed as a criminal? Were the nails insufficient? Was the crown of thorns too soft? Had the flogging been too short?

For some, apparently so...

Of all the scenes around the cross, this one angers me the most. What kind of people, I ask myself, would mock a dying man? Who would be so base as to pour the salt of scorn upon open wounds? How low and perverted to sneer at one who is laced with pain...

The words thrown that day were meant to wound. And there is nothing more painful than words meant to hurt...

If you have suffered or are suffering because of someone else's words, you'll be glad to know that there is a balm for this laceration. Meditate on these words from 1 Peter 2:23 (NIV):

"When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly."

Did you see what Jesus did not do? He did not retaliate. He did not bite back. He did not say, "I'll get you!" "Come on up here and say that to my face!" "Just wait until after the resurrection, buddy!" No, these statements were not found on Christ's lips.

Did you see what Jesus did do? He "entrusted himself to him who judges justly." Or said more simply, he left the judging to God. He did not take on the task of seeking revenge. He demanded no apology. He hired no bounty hunters and sent out no posse. He, to the astounding contrary, spoke on their defense. "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."? (Luke 23:34 NIV)...

"they don't know what they are doing."

And when you think about it, they didn't. They hadn't the faintest idea what they were doing. They were a stir-crazy mob, mad at something they couldn't see so they took it out on, of all people, God. But they didn't know what they were doing.

Yes, the dialogue that Friday morning was bitter. The verbal stones were meant to sting. How Jesus, with a body wracked with pain, eyes blinded by his own blood, and lungs yearning for air, could speak on behalf of some heartless thugs is beyond my comprehension. Never, never have I seen such love. If ever a person deserved a shot at revenge, Jesus did. But he didn't take it. Instead he died for them. How could he do it? I don't know. But I do know that all of a sudden my wounds seem very painless. My grudges and hard feelings are suddenly childish.

Sometimes I wonder if we don't see Christ's love as much in the people he tolerated as in the pain he endured.

(Excerpt from: This is Love - The Extraordinary Story of Jesus
Copyright (Thomas Nelson, 2011) Max Lucado)

Thank you for the devotional today Jeanne.  This hymn by the Gaithers seems to just fit.    It has been percolating around in my head all afternoon.   


Bill Gaither
Then Came The Morning lyrics
 
They all walked away, with nothing to say,
They'd just lost their dearest friend.
All that He said, now He was dead,
So this was the way it would end.
The dreams they had dreamed were not what they'd seemed,
Now that He was dead and gone.
The garden, the jail, the hammer, the nail,
How could a night be so long.

Then came the morning, night turned into day;
The stone was rolled away, hope rose with the dawn.
Then came the morning, shadows vanished before the sun,
Death had lost and life had won, for morning had come.
The angel, the star, the kings from afar,
The wedding, the water, the wine.
Now it was done, they'd taken her son,
Wasted before his time.
She knew it was true, she'd watched him die too,
She'd heard them call Him just a man,
But deep in her heart, she knew from the start,
Somehow her Son would live again.

Then came the morning, night turned into day;
The stone was rolled away, hope rose with the dawn.
Then came the morning, shadows vanished before the sun,
Death had lost and life had won, for morning had come.

Then came the morning, shadows vanished before the sun,
Death had lost and life had won, for morning had come.

Morning had come.

   Good afternoon to all.  We pray and hope that you had a wonderful day in the Lord's House.  Our service for the dedication for our grandchildren went well.

Janet:  The Lord will give you the strength that you need tomorrow and it will go well we will pray for you .

Etta sue.  It sounds that you are very busy and how is Ivalou hope that you are well.

Larry.  Hope that you and Pat are well and it is good to here that your daughter is doing better.  I hope that you do not have to busy a weak.

To all  others on C.P. have a wonderful week and may the Lord bless you all and give you many opportunities to be a witness for him.  Gord and Noreen.

   Hi Judy B.  Thanks for that song from the Gaither's and it has a lot of meaning to it.  It is won of the ones that I liked a lot.  Great to see it on here.

Jeanne, thanks for sharing that powerful story of the crucification and Judy thanks for posting the works to  "Then Came The Morning".  I did a quick search on YouTube and found the video by Gloria Gaither and Guy Penrod (there are a number of others doing this as well).  If you have a few minutes you might like to view this.  Here is the link:  http://youtu.be/s2THlCm_GTQ

Gord we are doing well.  Just been battling a tired spell but getting lost of rest this weekend. 

We did have a powerful church service this morning.  I do wish I could share the anthem and offertory that we did this morning.  We did "Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs" by Mozart from the Messiah and then "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" by Isaac Watts.  It was an arrangement that was very soft at the beginning and then a triumphant ending. 

Hi everyone.  I see I was the last one to post unless someone slips in before I hit the post button on this short message.  Nothing really new here.  It is an absolutely beautiful day and suppose to get up to about 80 degrees after a cool start this morning.

We had planned to go to lunch today in a new place here in the town where I live.  However, I called them before notifying the guys with a reminder of where we were to met for lunch and found they weren't open on Monday or Tuesday.  So I selected another place we like to go with is called Shane's Rib Shack.  It is about 6 miles from where I live.  I have already been to coffee and to Kroger's for a few items and also to the post office to mail off the Netbook to my son and his wife.  We are not going to use it again and they think they can make use of it and we hope they can. 

I'll try to stop back by this evening and catch up on the postings.  Hope you all of North don't get too much snow or other storms today.

I think that peanut butter on pancakes, waffles and French toast stems from Kaye Don not eating butter on anything but corn on the cob.  (They were roasting ears back then!)  Still to this day, he doesn't use butter on bread, toast, biscuits, etc.  And in elementary school we used to have peanut butter, a dab of butter and syrup mixed together on bread sandwiches!  Tony still makes this and puts it on bread.  And Marilyn, I have used more syrup to make it thinner and put on ice cream!  Yum!  Yum! 

Rehab is over today.  Since the person after Ivalou cancelled out, Ivalou had an hour session today.  Then we ate at Taco Bell and then groceries at Marsh's.  As soon as I put my groceries away, I went to Kitty's house.  They are in Ohio so I am the kitty-sitter this week. 

Now to catch up online and then make potato salad to take to Ivalou's tomorrow for Euchre. 

Today we have a partly sunny day...sounds better than partly cloudy, doesn't it?  The temps are wonderful.  I drove back from Kitty's with the windows down and the sun roof open.  Love it! 

My Kids both adult and young love peanut butter on pancakes.  I love it on toasted tomato sandwiches.  Yumm With us it came from Mom and Dad not being able to afford butter all the time and pb was the substitute,

HAve a great day everyone!

Well, I love peanut butter so I'm going to have to try some on pancakes! 

It was sunny this morning but the clouds came in and now it's raining.  At least it's rain, not that other four letter word!   

Don's plane is delayed - what else is new?  They announced several new arrivals all about ten minutes apart - they should wait until the plane departs. 

A nice loaf of fresh bread just finished, it is a sweet bread and I put 1/2 cup of whole wheat flour in it for a little change.  Substituted regular bread flour for the ww flour.  To me, this smells better than perfume. 

Jeanne:  Thank you for devotions.  It is such an inspiring story especially important during this time in our history where anything from the Bible is met with disinterest and disrespect and downright attacks. 

Peanut butter on toasted whole grain bread.  Yum. 

It was a very difficult morning and this afternoon, my computer AND printer acted up, so I scurried to meet a deadline.

How great to relax and speak with a family member, and God continues to answer even more of those prayers I have prayed all these years! Thanks be to God for using any means to "bring them in" as the old song says.

I truly hope Janet was able to get through this day or memorial set aside for her mother - what a difficult time that is for each of us. Little sentence prayers went up very often for her and her family, and for those who couldn't attend.

Much love and adoration to our Father for His love for us.

Ruth Ann

Hi everyone.  We are to have another beautiful day here in Georgia. 

We had our AC checked yesterday and all was well.  We have never had to add freon to this system and it is going on 15 years in operation.  I then went to the men's luncheon and enjoyed an hour with three friends.  After lunch I stopped at Walmart to get a couple of things and it was 3 pm before I got back home.  I rested for an hour and went to bed rather early last night as was tired.  I had some work to do on the Golden Games and the scores from some of the competitions and a few pictures were available. 

This morning after coffee I have a 9:30 appointment to meet a friend and then meet with another person at the Methodist Church.  I have a meeting at 11 and then will go from there to meet with the ROMEO's for lunch.  This is the group of men from my church.  So it will be a busy day.  Pat also has a full day planned.

Ruth Ann, nice to read that your prayers continue to be answered.  Like you I hope that Janet's day went as she had hoped it would. 

Carol, hope Don made it home safely and sure he had many things to share with you.  The bread sounds wonderful and there is nothing quite like the smell of yeast bread baking.

Etta Sue, you had a very busy day yesterday.  How many days do you have to kitty sit?

Cloudy and chilly this morning with showers/rain later in the day. 

I have an American Legion Auxiliary meeting to attend tonight, but it's local and usually fairly short.  I've been secretary in this group for five years now and tonight should be appointment of a nominating committee for next year's officers (Fiscal year is Sept to August).  I think it's time for someone else to step in so I plan on declining a nomination. 

And then on Thursday another meeting - this time the county segment of the organization, and another nominating committee.  I've been serving three years as treasurer in that one and again I think it's time for someone else.  When I took over the books were a mess, just about impossible to backtrack to see what had been spent where for the last four or five years.  I have everything straightened out with simple spreadsheet records and it should be simple for someone to take over.

But we'll see how things go.  Of course if they can't get someone to agree to take either of these positions I'll just keep on keeping on.  As the Lord wills.   

Rain but like Jeanne says, better than that other 4-letter word.  The temps have dropped 3 degrees since I came in the living room.  Suppose to have thunderstorms all day, partly cloudy tomorrow and Thursday.  Spring!  But the birds are loving the rain.  I can hear them singing outside the door.

Kitty and Bob are to be back home Thursday so I am kitty-sitting three days.  Spot even jumped on my lap yesterday when I sat in Kitty's chair and Gwinn let me pet her, too.  Hungry for human attention, I guess.

When I get caught up here, I plan to go to Kitty's.  Then maybe Subway or may come home and eat.  Then at 3pm is Euchre at Ivalou's.  My potato salad is heavy so may drive it over there when I go to Kitty's!  Especially if it is raining!

Etta Sue:  You wouldn't want a rained out potato salad.  It sounds good to me - the potato salad, I mean.  

Don is safely home.  I watched him carefully as he was so exhausted last night but took a short nap in his chair and then he looked good enough to go to bed.  He said he was seeing double so that is why I was concerned but it did go away after a little nap.  Yes, a check-up is scheduled.  He loved the trip of "going home" and grandson really was impressed with the university & surroundings.  You have to know the weather was just terrible the entire time up north.  

Well, my intentions of starting to fill in the names & dates of relatives on Family Tree Maker sure went out the window.  More company is coming this time on their way to Minnesota from Arizona.  The bread baker has been busy every day. Time to go shop for groceries.  

Prayers for all those in the tornado areas.    

Nice day here on the island.....that is a change

My new computer came with a few glitches.  Faulty display driver, had it replaced online....but it messed up stuff.  So spent the past two days working on it.....found an interesting prog. in HP that allows to reload original software without touching the drivers.  I did not want to go that route....the display driver was now working fine.  So did the reloads as it seemed logical to assume the driver had corrupted the software.  Worked like a charm and now purrs great.  I could have sent it back for a new computer but was mad and would probably have just had another set of problems.  Nothing goes well these days.  Fortunately have worked on the things from mid fifties, so have learned a few tricks.  If any more problems, will return and get another.  Like this alot tho', so here is hoping.....

Read this and thought it might be of interest:

Remember making an apron in Home Ec? Read below:

The History of 'APRONS

I don't think our kids
Know what an apron is.
The principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath because she only had a few. It was also because it was easier to wash aprons than dresses and aprons used less material. But along with that, it served as a potholder for removing Hot pans from the oven.

It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.

From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.

When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids..

And when the weather was cold Grandma wrapped it around her arms.

Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow,
Bent over the hot wood stove.

Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron.

From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables.
After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.

In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.

When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.

When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men folk knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.

It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that 'old-time apron' that served so many purposes.


Send this to those who would know (and love) the story about Grandma's aprons.


REMEMBER:


Grandma used to set her hot baked apple pies on the window sill to cool. Her granddaughters set theirs on the window sill To thaw.

They would go crazy now trying to figure out how many germs were on that apron.


I don't think I ever caught anything from an apron - but love...

                   

God Bless,

Liz

Well, if anyone was wondering, I'm now here! (well, as much as I ever was, anyway)
By the way, we now are 7 inches above normal rainfall here.  Had sun yesterday and today though.

Al:    Good that you stopped by, please do not forget to return tomorrow.

Liz:    Love your apron story. It is so very true as my mom and the moms before her did the same, what my mom did not like was seeing the apron being used to wipe noses.

Yes we looked out the window and saw snow flakes, spring is here and winter is not gone yet.

By the day and with the help of prayers Mel is improving by the day if not the hour, he cannot wait until he sees the specialist on Thursday.

Ruth

Hello, dear ones!

I see you have been upholding me in prayer, and I FELT it, too--thank you so much!

I had four overnight guests instead of 6, and made supper for ten. My sister Doris brought home made breakfast burritos, so we ate those on Monday morning.  It was wonderful to have them all here.

My brother had said he wasn't coming for the service here, also Mom's last remaining sister, from Trinidad, Colo......but both changed their minds and came!  That was good.

The service was very nice.  Neither of the gals we asked to sing could be there, so we sang four of Mom's favorite old hymns as congregational songs, interspersed with the rest of the service.  After my pastor read the obituary and said a prayer, we sang When the Roll is Called up Yonder; then my sister Doris shared memories of Mom; then Shirley shared.  Then we sang Mansion on the Hilltop.  Then I shared my thoughts, also read a lovely poem nephew Lance wrote for Mom, then Jeanie shared. Next we sang When We All Get to Heaven.  Then nephew Larry asked if anyone else wanted to share, and a few more did; then he gave a wonderful and clear presentation of the plan of Salvation, and we closed by singing I'll Fly Away.

Everyone who talked to me afterward said they thought it one of the most fitting memorial services they had attended, and that Mom was honored.  I really think she would have been pleased, too.

Beth is feeling some better; the Dr. was supposed to come this afternoon after I left.  We worked more on her book, and am feeling really encouraged on that front.

I am going to Moscow to babysit the great-granddaughters in the morning, so if I make it in here, it will be later in the day.  Well, not later than I am today, but......

And, somewhere along the line, I'm thinking some sleep would really be nice!

Nice talking to you today Ruth.

Janet get some rest.  That will be the important thing for you now.

Good to see you Al.

Night all I am off to bed. Physio tomorrow, not sure of the time so I will have to call in the morning.

I learned recently that my only brother and his wife (Godly christian servants) have been asked to fly in to the real live Moscow in the former Soviet Union very soon. It seems that almost 8 years ago the summer they spent at the church "camp" outside the heat of Moscow in 2 dashas (sp?) that the church was able to acquire worked well when they went to serve while a missionary family returned to the U.S.A,. for medical treatment. My SIL brought spices in her suitcase and cooked for those at the campground who were so weary from serving the Lord and also their employers. How amazed they were to taste run-of-the-mill veggies and meats with spices. She also taught them English as a second language. My brother gave a course (translated in the native language) on Old Testament matters, and then a follow-up course on New Testament books. How Good God Is! Now, they can return and both old and new friends, as wellas my SIL and brother should receive wonderful blessings from God.

As for me, my cell phone "decided" to jump right out of my hands and land on the hard tile floor. OUCH! It promptly shut down. Well, I timidly turned it on, and waited a long time, and I kinda waked up, and thus far has let me test its workings. I believe it's gonna live till time to find another company who wants to provide le$$ costly service soon! How great is THAT!

I sure hope you can read this typing. May God be praised for His loving care of each of us.

Ruth Ann

Hi everyone.  Have a few minutes before coffee this morning and then after coffee we will attend Bible study.  We missed last week because of the Senior Golden Games.  Tonight is our final choir practice before the Easter service.

Had a very busy day yesterday with coffee, two meetings, the ROMEO's lunch, a brief rest and then worked on the computer with the Golden Games results and pictures for several hours.  I am caught up on that for the moment.

Janet, glad to see you back.  The service sounds like it was a wonderful celebration of life.  Enjoy those great grandchildren.

Ruth Ann, it is possible your phone is OK. 

Al, glad you are back online and also Liz, glad that you solved the driver problem.  It is rather discouraging to buy a new computer and immediately have problems with it.

Carol, do hope Don is feeling better today.  You all sure have a lot of company.  I know this is enjoyable but also very tiring.

Jeanne, it sounds like you have done your service for your organizations and that it is time others stepped up.

Time to head out and get the day started.

Euchre was so much fun yesterday...for me.  I came out the big winner.   Now we do 'donate' a little money but it isn't like we are breaking the bank or the winner can go on a vacation.  If fact, my winnings won't even pay for a meal at Mickey D's!!  But it was fun to finally come out ahead once!  (and they loved my potato salad!)

Then last night we had severe thunderstorms come across Indiana.  Thank God for me, the severity was south.  There were tornado watches but I don't know if any touched down or not.  At 11pm it was announced on TV that the storms had passed Indy and the little kids could be put to bed.  It was still loud thunder and bright lightening but at least the winds had died down.  As I looked out this morning, I see no limbs down...just bright green grass and lots of little and big ponds everywhere!  And the sump pump is pumping!

I am sure we are way above our normal for rain!

Ivalou just called and she wants to go to Pizza Hut for the buffet before rehab today.  So we need to leave by 12:30.  After rehab I can go feed and take care of Kitty's kitties!

Hi, friends, it was a wild night with tornado warnings sounding here on campus and bright flashes of lightning. How good God is. He shelters us, and even suring life's storms, He loves us dearly.

Ruth Ann

Hello everyone, It is good to hear that  everyone is safe and sound with all the bad weathers going on across the mid west and the eastern states. i see all the  devastation on the news and it is heartbreaking.

Janet it sounds like the memorial for your moths was a wonderful home going ceremony. On of the song that I think I would like at mine is I'll Fly Away.

Ruth Ann how wonderful or your Brother and SIL.


Al good to see you here.

I'm home!  Had a nice time with those little girls.  The baby really let me know she didn't know who I was when I went to get her out of her crib!  WAHHHHH!!!    I just set her on the floor and left her alone for about 20 minutes.  She stared at me the whole time, then I guess she decided I might not be so bad, after all....and we got along just fine from there!     Chelsea really hasn't been around me enough to know me, but Lexi (3) knows me.  Chelsea is just about to have her first birthday, May first.

I need to gather up a few items, I'm going to the little scrapbook thing at the library soon.


Ruth Ann, that's wonderful of your brother and sis-in-law, to share with the Russian people.  God loves us, every one!  

We have snow... Busses were cancelled.  I had physio today and found out that the ice pack that I want is only about 35 dollars.  That is good news, and they are ordering one for me.  I offered to pay in advance but the receptionist didn't want her bookeeping messed up...money in with no receipt. It will be a couple of weeks before it is in.

I haave read all the posts, interesting all of them.  MAy God bless each of you.

Hi everyone.  I got up a little earlier this morning.  Even though I slept very well last night it seemed to be a long night.  We did have some lightning and thunder and rain during the night but it didn't keep me awake.  It also warmed up a bit during the night and is now 60 degrees.

I have nothing on my schedule this morning after coffee and stopping at the grocery store for some items that Pat put on the list.  Then my plan is to reorganize my office and clean out quite a bit.  Last evening I took a big stack of religious music to the church and gave it to the choir directors.  They have put it in our church music library.  Since I don't play well enough to ever play again for others and certainly don't plan on signing solos again I no longer need the music.  I need to space more and am also donating a big stack of music to a charitable organization called "Fish" that our housekeepers are involved with.  I still have probably two feet of music left for my enjoyment but freed up some much needed space in my office. 

Judy, I don't envy you the snow and with busses cancelled it sounds like it was a pretty big one.  Hope the ice pack is helpful when you get it.

Janet, aren't the little ones delightful?  I so enjoy seeing the little tykes arrive and their pre-school and also when parents bring them into McDonald's.  There was the cutest little girl there yesterday, probably 2 years old. 

Good morning Marilyn.  Are you counting the days until your vacation?

Ruth Ann, sure glad you didn't get blown away in storms up in Nashville.  It has been a bit scary already this spring.

Etta Sue, when Pat and I used to play in a bridge group we would put in $1 per couple and that would become the prize for the winner rather than the hostess having to go out and buy something that probably no one wanted to have.  It was always nice to win.  Congratulations.  I keep hearing on the news about storms and tornadoes in Illinois and Indiana.  At least you have a basement to go to if you need to. 

Oh, What a Beautiful Morn-ning!  Oh, What a Beautiful Day! 

A day of sunshine is a day without rain!  Yay!  Indiana is floating away.  So much water in the ground.  Sorry, Kansas and Oklahoma.  Wish we could send some your way! 

Well, I was going to go swimming by myself but have decided to not do that.  If it warms up...it was in the 30's earlier, I plan to mow the grass since...here we go again...rain is predicted for the next few days...even Easter Sunday! 

I really need to mop the bathroom floor.  Hands and knees moping.  I like my Swifter Mop but it doesn't seem to keep it shiny so hands and knees moping it needs! 

Other than that...it's a nothing day. 

I knew the women of the church were going to have a baby shower for another to-be-new-mommy so I started a baby afghan about a month ago.  It is 3/4th done but I need to get serious and finish it since the shower will be in May sometime.  Another boy in the congregation at church. 

Oh, yes!  I forgot to tell you.  We got a new baby last week on the 15th.  They wouldn't tell us the name but Baxter George Zeller came into the world by C-section at 1:28pm on April 15th.  He weighed 8lb. 15oz and was 21.5 inches long.  Looks like Grandpa George and Daddy Adam.  Hope the congregation gets to meet him soon.

So many new babies in the congregation.  I love it!

Al:  Glad that you are alright.  You must be growing moss on the north side with 7 extra inches of rain.  Here, we are way below and the mountains loaded with snow so many are training for rescues of flooding just in case. 

Janet:  Nice day for you and the family and I like all of your songs.  Keep the best memories!

RuthAnn:  Going to the outskirts of Moscow - that would be most interesting.  We need to hear more about the good people supporting those in all parts of the world.  That would be quite an experience. 

Larry:  I suppose we do get lots of friends & relatives - it seems natural to me because my folks had the same.  Friends next week always go to a hotel because they do not want to invite anyone to their home - we have a great visit anyway & thankful that people care enough to stop by just to see us. 

Two days in a row, our new wireless doorbell has rung when no one is there.  My theory is that another wireless in the area is interfering.  Any ideas on how to fix this oddity or what else could be causing this situation?  Don put in a doorbell that is really loud so he can hear it - I am getting used to it.