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Morning Devotional...


Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits.
Song of Solomon 4:16

Here the bride is likened to an enclosed garden whose fruit is reserved for her beloved.

As winds blow upon the garden, fragrance is wafted over the wall to the world outside. Whether it is the cold north wind of adversity or the balmy south wind of ease, the aroma is the same.

May our garden be a place where Christ loves to dwell, and may the fragrance from it be a sweet testimony to the outside world.
                                                             --David J. Logan

Wow, I didn't realize what time it was!!  

I'm still here.  I'm looking for  a story that I think about every time I hear the song "In the Garden" that Pat posted a day or two ago.  I can't find it anywhere, so I am assuming it is not verified, but it is cool nonetheless.

A missionary/preacher was captured and thrown into jail for his religious beliefs.  When he refused to renounce his Christ, they gave him the most undesireable job they could think of -- cleaning out the area underneath and around the prison latrines.  

At first, he was disgruntled and discouraged, but then he realized that this was the one place where he was totally alone and able to worship, pray and sing without fear of punishment for no one wanted to be anywhere near him.  

His Garden was there.

Just thought i would share that.

Thank you, PAT...and each of you, for your prayers.  I went over to the hospital this evening and stayed with Bev for an hour or so.  Another lady there needed a ride home so I left to bring her home.  She thought she might want to go back later tonight and I told her to call me when she was ready and I'd return with her.  I haven't heard yet (and now I'm online so...  )
Anyway, I want to tell you that "Til the Storm Passes Over" is a favorite of mine, too.  I sang the alto with another lady often when I was in Oklahoma... It seems so appropriate right now, too.  We are indeed watching the clouds form and the winds blow ... but I know I am safe in the hollow of His hand while the storm passes over ... I posted in the prayer room about Bev and I won't repeat it here ... just know that I appreciate each one of you so very much ... and the poem that Elizabeth posted has been printed out and I plan to read it to the ladies tomorrow at our meeting.

An update: ... Bev went to be with Jesus at 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3.

She is with Him...where she always longed to be.  I'll see her in the morning!

WONDERFUL WONDERFUL WONDERFUL
                        JESUS

My soul doth magnify the Lord: and my spirit hath rejoiced in God My Saviour.
For He hath regarded: the lowliness of His handmaiden...........from henceforth all generations shall call her blessed.


Thank-you Lord Jesus for the beautiful life of our sweet sister Bev.

Praying for her loved ones and friends....

Jenny.

Thank you, JENNY!  I have posted an update in the prayer forum ... Bev left a testimony to His greatness even as she left this life ... I will see her in the morning.  

Pat - I love that text.

All the spices have their own particular fragrance and they have all been planted by the Great Husbandman.

The spices are the graces implanted into the regenerate heart. Each one a gift from God.

Like the devotional said - it is when the winds blow that the fragrances are released for all to enjoy. We may not appreciate the cold, bitter of adversity, yet it only this wind that will release the sweetest of all fragrances.

I am not sure if I shared this with you before or not, but here goes.

In the late 40's and early 50's there was a perfume factory in Glasgow. At the end of each shift many folk would get onto the tram and head home. Everyone on the tram would know who worked in the perfume factory and who did not. They carried the fragrance with them.

May we carry the fragrance of the Ancient of Days with each step that we take today.

LOL

Your brother in Christ

Iain

Good morning all 11.00 AM
Thank you Pat for your devotional i can use it.
Jane i pray for you now Bev is going to our Lord Jesus
May God give you the power to care this i am thinking on you.
I have had a good night.
AND I SAY THANK YOU TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
PRAYING FOR ME.
YOU ALL ARE SO KINDLY FOR ME. I LOVE YOU ALL.

One woman in my family she haves osteoporosis.
She can no more walk and is sitting with pain in an
wheelchair.
And now i have i my head must i also about years
sitting in a wheelchair?
I am afraid. But this day i take a look to calcium tablets.
I am praying to God for help and power.
What will be my future.
But then i am thinking no one knows what his future is.
That only knows God.
OUR FUTURE IS IN THE HANDS OF OUR GOD.

HUGS AND  BLESSINGS FOR YOU ALL
Bye for now  RIA

Good morning everyone!  Elizabeth, I have to say, that was such a lovely poem you shared yesterday!  I love it.

Pat, did you get that giant pantry moved yesterday?

Ria, how are you feeling today?  I'm praying for you.

Good to see everyone posting this morning.  I hope you all have a wonderful day.  Jen.

Hi Pat:

I was hoping to be the first person to post today, but forgot about the time change in other parts of the world.  Thank you for the neat devotional.  

Ruthie

Jane:  How wonderful for you to be so upbeat about the personal loss of your good friend, your Pastor Bev.  Now she is pain free and in the arms of Jesus.  

Carol

G'mornin' y'all.  May our God greatly bless each and every one who comes here today!
Elizabeth - I wondered - are all the fires out up there now, or are they still burning?

Well it looks like rain here today, in fact it has already been raining some.  We will probably stay here most of the day taking it easy and then tomorrow morning we will take off and go back home.

When we get home where I have that fast wireless connection to the internet I will try to catch up a little here.

Last night in our reading we were in Ezekiel and came across this familiar passage:

Ezek 33:7-8  "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.  When I say to the wicked, 'O wicked man, you will surely die,' and you do not speak out to dissuade him from his ways, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood.  (NIV)

I believe this contains a principle which reminds us of our responsibility to share the gospel today with everyone we can.

I hope you all have a good day.

--- Papa John              <)))><<

 

What a multitude of posts to respond to but time doesn't allow it for me.  I am glad that others enjoyed the '36 Ways....' as I did.

Today I am taking Jerry for an appointment to see his neurosurgeon.  Then I want to stop and see Charlene (DIL).  She had surgery yesterday.  Then if it isn't too late, mow my yard.  So busy, busy, busy!

We went to Staples yesterday so I could purchase PSP8.  They didn't have it.  Then they called a Staples a few miles farther away.  They didn't have it.  So when I got home, I ordered it online.  $10 less and still a $30 rebate for a previous version of PSP.  Good deal.  And, yes, Anthony.  Since I have taken some online tutorials about PSP, I love it.  Just don't have enough time to really use it effectively.  

Also, I got a call from Ivalou.  Her pump works fine!!!!!!  This was a new water pump just last summer.  When the water was gone, she turned on the breaker and the pump worked fine.  Probably has a safety like our Ground-Fault Sockets for bathrooms and places where water might be.  But Praise God.  

I also posted some photos in the Photo Area.  Photos are ho-hum but I did have some fun with them.  

»ïÏï«,¸¸,»ïÏï«,¸¸,»ïÏï«,¸¸,»ïÏï«,¸¸,»ïÏï«,¸¸,»ïÏï«,¸¸,»ïÏï«,¸¸,»ïÏï«,¸¸,»ïÏï«
"Discretion is putting two and two together and keeping your mouth shut."

Papa John, that is indeed a sobering thought, and a timely one for me.  As I was swimming this morning, I was praying for the staff at the pool, and the Lord convicted me that I need to share the Good News with them.  So I immediately prayed that He will provide an opening for me to do just that.  Thanks for sharing those verses today.

I have made my way through many albums, now have a stack of nine large ones left to do.  Whew!  What a job.  But I want to finish it, so I can box up each sibling's photos for them and get the mess off my dining room table.  One "perk" of this job is, I get first pick!  The rest of them did NOT want the job!

It seems a shame in a way, to remove all the photos from the albums, after all the work Mom did in getting them in; but they are the old acid kind, self-stick, with the plastic page covers, and boy!  are they hard to get out!  I have to take a sort of knife and go under them carefully to prevent tearing them.  But I'm getting there!

Today is my class day, so I only have a few hours this morning to get things done.

Jane, I'm right there with you, in spirit, as you deal with the loss of dear Pastor Bev.  ((((((hugs)))))) to you.

Be back later!

Etta Sue.....I love your words of wisdom....."Putting two and two together and keeping your mouth shut"........This is sooner said than done!

I have just got back from a journey on my scooter to the shopping precinct UP THE MAIN ROAD....as opposed to the little shops and the little post office...for those who like to "see" where I live.

The greengrocery shop is very good and has lots of offers...I can't believe what I got for £5....(Google has a converter)....4 tins mushy peas, 5 tins dog food, 1 tin cat food, 2 bags of potatoes(nice condition Ria), 3 packs of best biscuits and 1 shower spray cleaner.

Iceland are delivering my main shopping in the morning..I shopped on-line....Got very annoyed because my server cut me off 3 times and I had to start again...Drat it eh Marilyn?

It is a most glorious afternoon here, very hot and sunny but I felt a nice breeze as I came home down the service road....better than the pavement, no bumps....My hips can't stand it on the pavement!

I met Ryan and Cragi and James this morning as I popped to the little post office before lunch...They stopped to chat.......I DO FEEL OLD!!! THEY ARE LOVELY YOUNG MEN. I do pray for the Lord's hand on them. Jane brought me the Anglican Communion at home yesterday and we prayed for the young people in the area Pastor Al.......The new vicar is nice but goes everywhere by car....He doesn't drive but a man from church drives him about.....HOW WILL HE SEE THESE LADS IF HE SITS IN A CAR.....I am so upset about this....

Oh, I logged on for a reason and am forgetting....RE THE DOCTOR......PRAYERS..
Christopher has just phoned to say Dr. Brown has accepted him as her patient....
THANK-YOU ALL FOR YOUR PRAYER OUTPUT.
LOVE YOU ALL...
I am staying put at the present practice for now and will change later in the day....

Blessings upon all and each..
Love Jenny.....(CUP OF TEA AGAIN NOW..Not that green rubbish.)

Good morning all.  Thanks for the devotional Pat.  So many interesting posts.   Etta Sue, I love your 'wise wisdom' and think I will start putting them in my journal.

Iain, that was an interesting story and thought provoking.  Have found that some Christians do not leave a pleasing fragrance and the scent lingers on and on.  That is not the case on this site.

Papa John, sometimes it is really hard to share with people.  They are so certain that being 'nice' is all that is required and the rest will be okay.  You are right tho' and we have to keep gently trying...

Al, the fires are anything but over and the whole Province is in a state of emergency.  The cost to people in the Interior and Kootenay areas can't even be described.  So many on evacuation alert still and again!  Cost to the Province is estimated at 7M per day.  I understand that fire is needed to renew forests and at one time this was not the serious problem that now exists.  Today, it means total devastation to so many families.  We are not in danger here on the island, tho' extremely dry and could turn into a serious problem if rain doesn't come soon.  It is again in the forcast, so hope this time we get some.  Prayers are needed for folks on the mainland.

I am so sorry Jane and will pray for Pastor Bev's family.  It is so hard to say goodbye, even for a little while.

Must go.  God Bless, Liz.

Good Morning everyone. I am late getting in here, but I wanted to get ready for work first and check out my dryer that I bought for $30. at the Salvation Army. It works just fine but the door is a little bit sprung and I will have to put on one of those sliding latches to keep it in place, No proiblem tho' I can do that myself.

Wonderful devotion this morning Pat, and Papa John. I have used that scripture in Ezekiel a few times when witnessing to others. The first time I becare aware of it, I was so convicted.

Jenny  I recieved the book in the mail yesterday, I will be sending you a card iun a day or two, as soon as I can get to the post office.

After work today I need to see about another client if she is out of the hospital yet. I msay be leaving my present job, depending on how much care this new lady needs. From what she told me she is pretty bad off. Please pry for Mrs. Kidd, she was hemorraging and was  to have a Dand C yesterday. she's 77.

Now to check the other threads here.
Marilyn

Oh how I love you all!  Your love just pours off this computer screen right into my heart!  And, PAT, thank you, so very much for that song this morning: "Safe in the arms of Jesus" ... perfect for where Bev is right now.

RIA, and JENNY, and JANET, and ELIZABETH and CAROL, and MIEKA  :-*and all who shared their heart ... Thank you, I love you!  I know there were others who wrote regarding Bev, but at the moment my mind is a bit mushy.    Sorry, I have read each post here and felt your love and concern with every word.  I know God will bless you today ...

Thank you Pat for the song
SAVE IN THE ARMS OF JESUS

That song we have also sing it when my mother have died in 2002 and now we can sing it for Bev
God is with you Jane
Ria

So many posts already! and I have been uplifted by the morning devotional in Song of Solomon..both Pat & Iain have brought new understanding to this for me..Then Papa John has reminded me of my responsiblity to share the gospel with those who are lost.  
My prayers are with Bev's family and friends.  Pat's song "Safe in the Arms of Jesus" is so fitting.  Jane has been keeping us updated on this saintly Christian woman and it is such a comfort to know that she is there with Him now and in no more pain.  
Etta Sue! Yesterday's post with all the "to-do's" was great!  Thanks for your many informative posts.  
OK it is now time to get back to work. I just took my lunch break here at the computer and I see my time is up.   God Bless all! kathy

I am sorry for being so late in logging on to the site today.  I got terribly behind with things.

Thank you Pat for the devotional and for those who added thoughts to it.  It reminds me of a verse of scripture from Corinthians:

"Now thanks be to God who always leads us to triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.
For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.
To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life..." 2 Corinthians 17: 14 - 16.

Some people who are sympathetic to the gospel will find Christians to be a pleasant fragrance, but to the ungodly and devilish person, we will be a stench in the nostril.  It is a blessing to be disliked for the cause of Christ.

I read every message today and thank you all for your words.  Jane, I was sorry to hear about the pastor departing this life.  When a friend of mine was recently translated I couldn't get that scripture out of my mind that states that the Christian does not mourn like those who have no hope.  Bereavement is hard to face, but what a blessed hope the Christian has underlining the whole affair.

God bless all and thank you for your encouragement today.

Anthony.

For  Pastor Bev.


I am standing on the sea shore,
A ship sails in the morning breeze and starts for the ocean.
She is an object of beauty and I stand watching her
Till at last she fades on the horizon and someone at my side says:
"She is gone."

Gone! Where?
Gone from my sight -m that is all.
She is just as large in the masts, hull and spars as she was when I saw her
And just as able to bear her load of living freight to its destination.
The diminished size and total loss of sight is in me,
not in her.

And just at the moment when someone at my side says,
"She is gone",
There are others who are watching her coming, and other voices take up a glad shout:
"There she comes"
- and that is dying.  An horizon and just the limit of our sight.
Lift us up, Oh Lord, that we may see further.
Bishop Brent
1862  

Thank you Chris and Margit ... I have read that before and I will take it to Pastor Ron.  We will have a memorial service for Bev Sunday at 2 pm ... I know there will be a huge crowd there because of all the lives that have been touched, and blessed, by Bev.

Jane, I am so sorry to read that Bev has left this world that brought her so much pain., I know she leaves a large empty space, but I'm glad, as I know you are, that she has gone to such a wonderful and perfect place and rests in the loving arms of Jesus.  

Yes, JEANNE.  I met with our Women's Ministry group this morning ... we talked about Bev and shared some scriptural insights, etc.  

One lady, who has been close to Bev for many years, told of an experience she had one Sunday at church.  She was standing at the back of the church and said to the Lord "Lord, just look at all these people; they are so full of faith; what will happen if my friend dies?"

She said He answered "Your friend will never die.  She passed from death into Life a long time ago."   She said to me ... "But that didn't really answer my question did it?"  She meant he didn't tell her what would happen to "all these people."  I told her "all these people" are HIS and He will decide (already knows) what will happen to them/us ... He is still God and He is still in control.  There will be many questions and pain as each one works through their own beliefs and examines their faith.  Many questions that may never be answered ... We leave that to God.

This is my first visit here today and Jane I was saddened to hear of the passing of your dear friend but, as you will know, you will be seeing her again.  

I had a very busy day today and so am not going to try to make individual comments.  I have read all of the postings and the devotionals.

We are leaving very early in the morning to go to Kentucky to attend the 50th wedding anniversary celebration for some friends who joined our church here at the same time we did and then moved away a couple of years ago.  There will be four couples from our church going and are going in two cars.  We had planned to return on Sunday but there is a Shaker village close to Lexington, Kentucky that is apparently very interesting so we all decided to stay an additional night and visit the village.  We will be driving back on Monday so will probably not be posting before Tuesday.  I am not taking my computer with me since this is a very short trip.  See you all next week.

I've had a busy day, and am tired, but wanted to pop in and read what has been added since my morning visit.

I wish you all a pleasant evening and blessed, restful sleep tonight.

I picked up another client today, the one I mentioned in an earlier post.

I am going to Gilbert's house for dinner. and trying out my dryer.

more later when I get back home.

Marilyn