Christian Photographers Community

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Morning Devotional...


Transformed by Grace

He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. 
Mark 16:9

Mary of Magdala was the victim of a fearful evil. She was possessed not just by one demon, but by seven. These dreadful inmates caused much pain and pollution to the poor frame in which they had found a lodging. Hers was a hopeless, horrible case. She could not help herself, and no human power could set her free. But Jesus passed that way, and without being asked and probably while being resisted by the poor demoniac, He uttered the word of power, and Mary of Magdala became a trophy of the healing power of Jesus. All seven demons left her, left her never to return, forcibly ejected by the Lord of all.

What a blessed deliverance! What a happy change! From delirium to delight, from despair to peace, from hell to heaven! Immediately she became a constant follower of Jesus, listening to His every word, following His winding steps, sharing His busy life; and in all this she became His generous helper, first among that band of healed and grateful women who ministered to Him out of their means. When Jesus was lifted up in crucifixion, Mary remained the sharer of His shame: We find her first watching from a distance and then drawing near to the foot of the cross. She could not die on the cross with Jesus, but she stood as near to it as she could, and when His blessed body was taken down, she watched to see how and where it was laid.

She was the faithful and watchful believer, last at the sepulcher where Jesus slept, first at the grave where He arose. Her loyalty and love made her a favored beholder of her beloved Master, who deigned to call her by her name and to make her His messenger of good news to the trembling disciples and Peter. Grace found her useless and made her useful, cast out her demons and gave her to behold angels, delivered her from Satan and united her forever to the Lord Jesus. May we also be such miracles of grace!

Charles H. Spurgeon

Just about any Spurgeon quote is a great way to begin a week, and this one is particularly uplifting...to think that He uttered a single word, and made the useless useful!  May we all be recipients of such grace. 

Amen! Ken... Amen!

Colin said, "I thought I would sit down and write this poem this morning after what happened to me last week!"

Thank you Pat for sharing this poem of mine! Hello to everyone and I hope you all have a blessed day

Found on Facebook...

Just scrolling around FB this morning and I found this lovely photo of one of our own!

I left an update from Facebook about Glenn's Dad.  (Smokey the Dog)  here

Hi everyone.  It is another overcast and relatively cool morning here in Georgia. I went to coffee at McDonald's this morning and now have the rest of the day free.  I will attend a meeting this evening and that will be it for today. 

Janet, the last year we had an invasion of those little ants into our kitchen.  I got something called  Terro Liquid Ant Baits and it took about 24 hours or so and we never saw another ant.  Several other folks have used the same product with success as well.  I don't blame you for not staying for the dance after the wedding.  We did the same thing at our nephews wedding once the dancing started and the loud band was playing. 

Ruth Ann, hope that back pain goes away for you quickly. 

Carol, I expect Pat would agree with you on using the rotary cutter.  Do you have a lot of different rulers in various shapes and sizes?  I thought Pat had about everyone and last week she bought another one. 

Pat, thanks for the devotional from Charles Spurgeon for the this week. 

Colin, great poem and nice to see your name appear on a posting for today. 

Judy, good pictures and very nice smile. 

Pat, thank you for this week's message from Charles Spurgeon.  Our needs for His love and forgiveness may not be as obvious, but we are all just as needy.

What a great picture of Judy!  Thanks.  And thanks for sharing Colin's picture and poem.

And Colin, great to see your post.  I hope we'll be seeing you here more often.

Great to see all of you this morning!  Time for lunch; but I will probably be back later.  I am having some problems with Facebook and I guess I will take this machine to somebody who can help me resolve the problems. Ugh.

We went to the gym and had a good workout, later I will visit Beth and maybe take my computer to the shop.

OOOOOOOO my goodness I have forgotten about coming over to share news ... So, tomorrow when I get on in the morning my FIRST STOP will be come here and tell you all the news so till then I am heading offline for the night so I wish each and everyone a good night !!

Love, ME

Not fair!  You shouldn't tease us that way!     We'll be waiting tomorrow morning, so don't be late!   

here's a picture of Keith and I at his 50th class reunion on the 20th of last month. Oh by the way he is now going to have the cataract surgery. I talked him into it,.

It's sooooooo good to see you Karen!!!!


Nice photo of you both, Marilyn

OK ... I am here to share the news -

# 1 - The newest and most important news is about my daughter ... About 2 months ago they had a sign up sheet at work for the employees to sign if they were interested in going FULL TIME { 40 HOURS } an so she came home an had told me about it ... I asked her if she was wanting to do this and she said " I am going to TRY " so ... she signed up an so then there was the LONG WAITING CAME to see what would happen. Soon ... the list came down and there were 7 names on the list w/ her being one of them. She was the only one on the list that had little less then 1 year working !! And so it would be something to see if she got it ... Well this last weekend her BOSS called her into the office to sign ~ some paperwork { COS - change of status } & she asked what it meant ... her BOSS then told her that the HEAD OFFICE accepted her offer

... so DRUM ROLL PLEASE - My daughter will be starting FULL TIME this weekend on Sunday as a CASHIER and so she is so very happy & excited too. It came at the right time ... In September she turns 26 & goes off her dad's insurance and so with working FULL TIME she will have FULL BENEFITS !! And then more PAY means she can get her COLLEGE - LOANS PAID OFF !!  So, I am one VERY HAPPY MOM !!  Her fiance does not know of the news just yet & so he will find out here on our next visit { which is the end of the month & also it is her anniversary gift to him } to share the news with him.


# 2 - Our friends daughter that I shared the PRAYER REQUEST about ... Is doing well and improving each and every day and might be coming home on FRIDAY this week after 18 long weeks of being in the hospital and rehab ... so please continue to keep her in prayer !!


So there you have it MY FRIENDS ... UPDATES so I will return again soon to share more as time allows. Because my husband and I have been very busy with canning ... as we put up 14 quarts of fresh green beans last weekend and then last night we did another 7 quarts.  So, I have a lot of pickles to make up into FREEZER PICKLES so I had better head off and get caught up in other places ... so take care and see  you all soon again !![/font][/size]

Hi everyone.  We escaped another day yesterday without rain in our area.  Only a 20% chance of rain today with a high of 85.  I am going to look for a new watch this morning as mine has stopped keeping good time.  I also need to mail a package to our son and will attend a meeting.  That will be it for today.  Yesterday, after Pat came home from her weekly massage we went to our new favorite Mexican restaurant for lunch. I enjoy the quiet afternoon and evenings. 

Janet, wish I could help you but I know very little about Facebook as seldom visit that site. Maybe it will be a simple problem to solve when the tech looks at the computer. 

Jeanne, I agree with that these "cliff hangers" on messages to come later do pique our interest. \

Karen we are waiting.    Now I see you have solved the mystery and congrats to your daughter getting the 40 hour a week job.  She must be a very good worker.  It is a relief to have full benefits on a job.  Glad your friends daughter is now doing better.  Eighteen weeks away in the hospital and rehab is a very long time.

Marilyn, nice picture of Keith.  I hope he will be completely satisfied with the cataract surgery.  I know my wife was and had no problems with the healing and sees so much better. 

Karen, your updates are indeed cheerful and worth waiting for.   

Marilyn, that's a great picture of you and Keith.  I'm glad you were able to talk him into having the cataract surgery.

Karen, thanks for the update and congrats to your daughter.

Marilyn, good photo of you and Keith---are you in the dog house?  That's what the background looks like to me.  Were their sports teams called the bulldogs or something, perhaps?  Inquiring minds want to know! 

I went to the dentist at 11:30, so missed eating with Darrel, as I didn't get out until 12:30.  I decided to try a new Mexican eatery on Main street---bad decision, as I didn't get my food until 2:00!  I do not think I will be going back there!

My sweet Abby just arrived, so I need to get off here and talk to her!

Janet:  Apparently, you went to a Slow Food Place - get it?      As for Face...., I can barely stand the thing because there are all these posts from unknown people attached to my mail as they have replied to people on my list.  It is insidious! 

Stitches out this morning on something that was a small thing, barely could call it surgery two weeks ago.  So, to feel better, we had breakfast out and I had pecan pancakes while Don ordered mandarin orange crepe - the small orders.  Stuffed from even the smaller  size of the meals.  I walk up the street tonight for quilt club and Don meets the husband of friend for a light supper & most likely fierce battle of Cribbage.  Tomorrow is a neighborhood group in the afternoon called Needle Arts and the 2nd week of every month gets to be rather hectic from all this visiting. 

Karen:  good jobs are scarce so congrats to your daughter! 

There is indeed no place like home!   We flew out of Baltimore too darn early this morning, and Leah and I parted ways in Denver - she to Santa Fe and me back home to Montana.  Despite my stomach bug, we did have a good trip and she was healthy for her audition at Sight and Sound Theater yesterday!!!  Thanks to all for your prayers, now I hope she can escape the bug entirely.  She felt the audition went well, but there is some pretty stiff competition for only 10 openings in the conservatory.  She made the stand-by list last year, which I felt was a pretty good accomplishment.  She'll know by Sept 1 if she made the cut.  If so, we'll probably be moving her to PA in December.

As much as I prefer the drier Rocky Mountain climate, we were blessed by some relatively nice weather as we wandered through parts of DC, MD, VA, NJ and PA.  The worst was this morning at 4 am....80 degrees, raining and 100% humidity in Baltimore....yuck!  We were able to fit a few historic sites into our time; Mt Vernon, US Capitol tour, Independence Hall, and a scattering of other monuments along the way.  Mostly was nice to spend time together, as I haven't seen much of her since she started college a couple years ago.

So, in a nutshell, we were indeed the fortunate, yet unworthy, recipients of God's grace throughout our trip.  What a blessing it is to be in His family!

Welcome Home, Ken!!!

Wish I had been in Virginia the last few days and we could have met up for coffee! (or tea, or whatever)

It sounds as though your trip was successful, despite a stomach bug and not-so-perfect weather.  Spending the time with Leah must have made it worthwhile.    Of course, you know we'll be watching for those photos!

Something new has been added to Christian Photographers! 

For serious photographers looking to perfect their product, and those who want to learn more about photography, there is now a Critique Corner.  Start with the instructions on how to take advantage of this new service  HERE

Janet yes  they are the Bulldogs that is the reason for the dog house.

On the 14th at 8:00 AM, I am going for a scope.  I am a little nervous, and trying to keep busy to not dwell on it. 

Several have private messaged me and I have not answered.  I will when this all is over...It may take a day or two.

We have had rain and thunder storms most of the day, there are communities north of us who are under a flood watch.  We need to get back in to the bush to get more wood, and the weather is delaying us.

Our big boy, Zeke, had a nasty sting on his leg.  The vet wasn't worried about it, and we left him and Rambo with the kennel that we use.  By the time we got home the swelling was down, and he was moving as good as new.  Both Him and Rambo like the owners of the kennel and their price is good!

You're tougher than me, Judy...I've been avoiding the scope for some time now   I will keep you in my prayers.  The verse under your avatar sure helps when we risk letting the scary stuff get the better of us....Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.

Thank you Ken.

Hi everyone.  It is a totally glorous day here in Georgia with a very low humidity and a light breeze.  We went to Blble study and then to Dunkin' Donuts as usual.  The rest of the day is clear.  Pat did talk with our DIL yesterday and she seems to continue to be doing better and putting on a few pounds. Nothing else on the schedule for today. 

Janet, we find that Mexican restaurant's are usually very fast with the food. 

Ken, from the weather report I heard you were fortunate to have left the Baltimore area when you did.  Nice you could share the special time with your daughter.  Do hope she gets one of the slots in the conservatory.

Marilyn, the school where I went to college uses the sports name of Bulldog's as well. 

Ken, what a lovely little devotional thought to Judy!  Thank you for that for the rest of us as well as Judy.


Hi Larry.  Sounds like you like Mexican food!!  I haven't tried much of it...only Taco Bell.  Is that Mexican? 

Well, I'm going to share another of Scotty's prayers like I shared with you all before.  It's really blessed my heart today.


Heavenward by Scotty Smith
A Prayer for Hearing the Spirit's Voice
13 Aug 2014 02:24 AM PDT

     For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.  Rom. 8:15-16

     Dear heavenly Father, on any given day a number of voices contend for our attention. There are the voices of  the past—sometimes shouting, sometimes whispering, always seeking to disrupt our peace and rob our joy. "You still don't have a clue, do you? You haven't changed one bit. Why would God ever love someone like you? Didn't I tell you you'd never amount to much? If people really knew who you are . . ."

     Then there are the  voices of the present—often hijacked by our defeated enemy, Satan. His incessant scheme is to tempt, seduce, and then condemn us—doing everything possible to rob us of our enjoyment of the gospel. Then there are the voices from the future, usually fueling our fears with suggestions like "You're not as sharp as you used to be, are you? You'll probably be forgotten, won't you? You'll eventually end up alone, right? Why do you think God would let someone like you into heaven?"

     But then there's the voice of the Holy Spirit. Oh, how we praise you for that one voice which transcends and trumps every other voice—the gossiper of the gospel, the herald of our healing, the bearer of beauty, the messenger of mercy, the singer of sanity, the cantor of Christ—God the Holy Spirit testifying with our spirits that we are your bought, belonging, and beloved children. How we praise you for the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

     Abba, Father, by the Spirit of Sonship, continue to free us from all of our slavish fears—past, present, and future. May the Sprit speak so loudly; every dark voice will be quieted. May he speak so clearly; every deceiving lie will be silenced. May he speak so convincingly; every paralyzing doubt will be routed. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus' tender and triumphant name. Amen.