Christian Photographers Community

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Morning Devotional...


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'He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of God.'
Luke 9:20

While I love nothing better than to be surrounded by my family, something I hope will be the portion for many at this time of year, I am acutely aware of those for whom this time of year holds nothing but dread. We come to the close of yet another year in our history and for some it has been the hardest year of their lives.


Some have been told the dreaded news that they are suffering from cancer. Some have suffered heart disease and their lives have changed forever. Some have watched and nursed loved ones who have suffered from strokes and are now unable to communicate with their families.

My thoughts however are much with those who have suffered the loss of a dear one in this last twelve months. Their year started out full of hope and expectation yet devastation and even despair would meet with them as the year opened up.

Mums and Dads, brothers and sisters, husbands and wives, children, aunts and uncles have now left empty place at our tables.

I wanted more than ever to be a means of encouragement to all those of my brothers and sisters in Christ who have suffered in any way this year. The only way I can do this is by talking about the one thing needful, 'The Christ of God.'

It is a time of year when much of the world - for one reason or another - has the name of our Saviour upon their lips, but I have to ask the question - What does Jesus really mean to me?

Jesus Christ is first and foremost the Lord my God. I see Him as the Creator God who created all things by the word of his power in the space of six days and all very good. He breathed life into the corpse that was to become man.

I view Him as One who is to be worshipped by all men, though few in our day bow the knee. His ways are not my ways and His thoughts are way beyond anything that I can imagine. He is supreme, He is the ultimate, He is God.

Jesus is also my Saviour. I believe with all my heart and soul that He chose a people for Himself to be saved for all eternity. He calls them His elect. I believe that I am one of them. How do I know that I am one of them?

Well there was a day when I had little or no thoughts at all about God, Heaven, Hell, life or death. God changed that! Through the workings of His Spirit I became aware of sin – my sin. I became aware that I had sinned against God and as my Judge He would have been absolutely just in sending me to a lost eternity.

His Spirit not only made me aware of my sin, but also of my need of a Saviour. My mind was enlightened in the knowledge of Jesus and why He had been born of a virgin in Bethlehem. He had been sent by God to save the world from sin. He was sent as God's sacrifice for my sin.

He paid the penalty that was due for my sin on the cross at Calvary. There God judged Jesus as if He were judging me and my sin. There I believe Jesus Christ the Son of God died for me and for my sins. It is here that my soul journeys each morning. This journey is as necessary for me today as it was the first day I believed.

I see Jesus as my righteousness. The Bible talks about the old man and the new man. I believe that the old man was crucified with Christ and a new man was raised with Him.

I now walk in newness of life with a clean heart and a right spirit within me. Is this pride talking? No, it is faith. Some days I find it easier to believe than others but thankfully God does not change as I do.

Your sins and iniquities I will remember no more.

I am as righteous in the sight of God today as I will be in glory. I can say this because my life is hid with God in Christ. It is no longer I that live but Christ in me, the hope of glory. I am adorned with His righteousness which He purchased for me with His own blood.

Does this mean that I have no sin? No my friend!! I am riddled with sin from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet there is no soundness in me. I am a wretched man, a sinner of the highest order and this sin is ever before me. The good that I would do, I do not, but that which I would not do, that is what I do.

It is because I see my sin so clearly each day that I see the urgency of having a Saviour and I know of none other name under heaven given among men whereby we may be saved than that of Jesus of Nazareth. He saves His people from their sins.

He came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.

I view Jesus as my Best Friend. He is my constant companion and I talk with Him throughout each day. I do not spend my days on my knees nor in a closet, I simply talk as I walk with Jesus. No matter where I go or what I do, He is there.

I am still learning that without Him I can do nothing. I would not step out of my house if I thought for a moment that He would not be with me. If thy presence go not with me carry me not up hence.

I can say whatever I like to Him and He will keep all my secrets. He never turns His back on my cries for help, nor does He laugh at me when I get things wrong. When others have forsaken me He comes even closer because He understands me when others do not.

I do not have to make an appointment to meet with Him, neither do I have to wear anything special. I simply come as I am. He has never yet turned me away though there have been days when my vision has been so impaired through unbelief that I have lost sight of Him. I hate these days and I would gladly be without them.

The thought of spending an eternity with Him sends my soul into raptures. He is love, He is favour, He is altogether lovely and the peace that He floods into my soul from time to time is beyond words and past understanding.

As a sheep of His flock, He is my Good Shepherd. He protects me from evil and from all types of danger. He leads me to green pastures where my soul can delight itself in fat things. A good book, a testimony or a word in season are gifts from His hand. His Word is my guide book.

He is my guide. He leads me in ways and in paths that had I been left to myself I would never have gone down. He has shut many doors and hedged many paths in my life. Often I have been angry and frustrated with Him, yet He has not held this against me. He has gently led me in the way that I should go.

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths.

Sometimes I have felt that He has been slow with His guidance, but perhaps that is simply my own impatience. He has promised to meet all my needs yet there have been days when the bills have piled up and there is no sign of clearing them.

My God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

He knows that I worry about such things and He knows that I do not seek riches. He knows that I am happy if I can pay all my bills on time, yet I have to confess that He keeps me waiting! He has never failed to meet my needs, yet still I worry!

The guidebook that He has given me has often changed the way in which my days have turned out. Many a morning I have opened the Book with nothing but doubts and fears in my mind only to be challenged and strengthened by what I have read. Truly the words in the Book are alive!

Some days I read my Bible and all I see is black letters on a white background, while on other days I cannot put it down. It is more up to date than any newspaper and I could not live without it.

I remember one morning in particular this year. I had slept in for a Doctor's appointment and I never go or do anything without reading my Bible and praying first thing in the morning. This day I just had no time so I picked it up and kissed the Book instead!

He is also my refuge. Many a day storms have raged in my soul and have blown me off course. Dark clouds have encompassed me and doubts, fears and depression have sunk in. I look in vain to friends and loved ones for help but it is beyond them.

Troubles have come in like a flood and threatened to overwhelm me completely. I would have drowned in defeat had it not been for the strong arms of Jesus.

He has pulled me out from many a deep mire. He has hidden me in the clefts of the Rock when circumstances have contrived against me. Days have come when the waters have gone over my head yet He has proved to be my Lifeline on each occasion.

The troubles that afflict the just in number many be, but yet at length out of them all the Lord doth set him free.

Sorrow and pain have made up not a few days of this year yet He has provided a balm for my needy soul. When I have felt all alone in this world and the thought of facing yet another day makes me cringe, He sends His love in a letter, a card, an email or a telephone call. Oh! For arms to embrace Him and for feet to run after Him.

I wish that I could count the number of times this year when I have murmured against Him, but sadly I cannot. I dread to think of the times that I have failed Him or let Him down.

I hang my head in shame when I consider His love and His goodness to me. He is simply wonderful. I am not greedy and I am happy to share my Friend with anyone else who will accept Him as their Redeemer.

Come see a man who told me all things that ever I did. Is not this the Christ?

If I have to ask of Him a gift or two it would be this – 1) That He would give me wisdom and 2) That I would have a more consistent walk today and all the days that follow.

My prayer for you is that He would ravish you with His love. For those who are as yet strangers to grace and to God then I beg of you accept God's gift to you today.

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.

I could go on and on but I have to sum up. I have thought for a little of what Jesus means to me and I have to echo the words of Peter – 'He is the Christ of God.'

My wish for you at this time? That you would know the blessing God commands – Life that shall never end.

What does He mean to you today?

With all my love in Christ. Sending Christmas greetings to all who are associated with Christian Photographers.

Your brother in Christ

Iain

It's Chris's birthday today and Margit sent this to be posted for her...

Oohhh, How nice, MARGIT!    

Awww, HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRIS!!!

My presents are wrapped.  All of htem.  WooHOOo!!!!!

Merry Christmas Eve everyone!

nite nite

Happy Birthday my beloved brother. Did you get your bus pass in the post? Tee Hee!! Have a lovely Christmas folks.

[size=+2]HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRIS!![/size]

IAIN thank you very much for the devotional this morning very good GOD BLESS YOU.

SONJA  thank you for the very nice CHRISTMAS cards.

PAT thank you very much for the hymn THE FIRST NOEL. Very nice.

JANE thank you for the beautiful picture about THE FIRST NOEL
very good .

CHRIST OUR PEACE
Peace must be more than a word
embossed upon our Christmas cards,
echoed in the season's carols,
or painted on a storefront...
It can be found only in a Person,
experienced only in a Presence...
For Christ, and Christ alone is our Peace.

Luke 2:14

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth
peace to men on whom his favor rests

BYE LOVE RIA

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRIS
HAVE A BLESSED NEW YEAR.

Iain...Lovely. Thank-you dear brother.  A peace-filled Christmas for you and yours.

Chris have a wonderful birthday.  

Pat.  I hope you feel much better this morning dear sister.  Prayers for you continue.

Love Jenny

Trials and Pain: We Forget

And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not
receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that
they should not be made perfect apart from us.  
--Hebrews 11:39-40

Then there is the matter of constant consolation and peace--the promise
of always feeling relaxed and at rest and enjoying ourselves inwardly.

This, I say, has been held up as being quite the proper goal to be
sought in the evil hour in which we live. We forget that our Lord was a
man of sorrow and acquainted with grief. We forget the arrows of grief
and pain which went through the heart of Jesus' mother, Mary. We forget
that all of the apostles except John died a martyr's death. We forget
that there were 13 million Christians slain during the first two
generations of the Christian era. We forget that they languished in
prison, that they were starved, were thrown over cliffs, were fed to
the lions, were drowned, that they were sewn in sacks and thrown into
the ocean....

There was much distress, many heartaches, painful bruises, flowing
tears, much loss and many deaths.

But there is something better than being comfortable, and the followers
of Christ ought to find it out-the poor, soft, overstuffed Christians
of our time ought to find it out! There is something better than being
comfortable!

We Protestants have forgotten altogether that there is such a thing as
discipline and suffering.
Who Put Jesus on the Cross? pp. 17-19

"Forgive me for complaining, Lord, about the few trials I've
experienced. I've suffered nothing like the former saints-yet I so
easily forget that and chafe at the discipline and suffering. Forgive
me. Amen."

A W TOZER

Thanks folks!
And especially you dear wife!
I used to hate my Christmas eve birthday when I was a kid, but as I got older, and especially after God captured me,  I found it a great privilege to have it the day before the greatest one of all, our Lord and Saviour.
All of our lives are in a continual state of change, sometimes it may seem for the worst, but as we behold Him, we are being changed into His likeness, and that is what is really important, " He grew in favour and in stature with God and man."
Oh to trust when we cannot see or even feel,
just to keep on going and trusting, looking ever upwards till the light comes so comfortingly upon us.
Hope you all enjoying  my birthday folks, I sure am!


PS. Enjoy the THURSDAY BIRTHDAY  more lol.

Hey, change is good for you, do something unexpected today break the routine !

Dear Pat,

thank you for the favour.  

Dear all,

as Chris and I are celebrating his birthday,  but more so, as we are celebrating our Saviour's birthday tomorrow, I am reminded of how hectic we can let this time of year become and want to share the following with you.
           

God's Refreshment

"The journey is too great for thee" (1 King 19:7).

And what did God do with His tired servant? Gave him something good to eat, and put him to sleep. Elijah had done splendid work, and had run alongside of the chariot in his excitement, and it had been too much for his physical strength, and the reaction had come on, and he was depressed. The physical needed to be cared for. What many people want is sleep, and the physical ailment attended to. There are grand men and women who get where Elijah was--under the juniper tree! and it comes very soothingly to such to hear the words of the Master: "The journey is too great for thee, and I am going to refresh you." Let us not confound physical weariness with spiritual weakness.

Streams in the Desert  Dec. 24/2003

    ----------------------------------------------------

Wishing you all a lovely holiday, true joy in your hearts and homes.  May God's gift reign triumphant in all that you encounter daily, today, tomorrow and all through the year.
His peace to you and yours.


In His love,

Margit and Chris too

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRIS!

It is early and yet so much in the way of devotional thoughts have already been posted for today.  Iain, thanks for the devotional and thanks to all of the others for sharing those special thoughts and writings.  Each one causes us to think about things we probably would not have thought about today.

Chris, happy birthday.  I liked your graphic.  

This afternoon we are having our family Christmas get together.  Our son will be over around 3 pm and we will share a meal and our Christmas gifts.  Our daughter will be here as well.  For many years, when we lived in Missouri, we always celebrated with one of our families on Christmas Eve and the other on Christmas Day.  

This morning, after coffee at the cafe, I will go walking again.  We had a nice sing along at the adult day-care center yesterday as they had a good number of folks there.  It will be 2 weeks before I will be seeing them again as they are closed next week.

I want to wish each and everyone of you a very Merry Christmas as we remember the reason for the season.  

Happy Birthday Chris from me as well and guess what.....it is my son's birthday today as well....he is turning 5 today.....and that is a gift to us.....he was born 8wks early and he had many problems at the beginning.....he has a shunt in his head....but today...you would not know it.....he is just a little charmer and smart as a whip.....and quite the character....let me tell you....just ask Pat.....she knows what he is like...he always calls her...." Pat Scott".....every time he talks to her......it is very funny really...but he loves her and he is always asking me how she is doing and can we go visit her........
anyway.....just wanted to stop in and wish you all a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS THIS TIME AND I PRAY THAT CHRIST IS THE FIRST ONE WE THINK OF AND TALK TO EACH DAY AND ESPECIALLY TODAY AND TOMORROW......AND MAY YOU ALL BE BLESSED BY THE REMEMBRANCE OF HIS SPECIAL BIRTH AND THE CELEBRATION OF JOY ....WHERE WOULD WE BE IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE STAR IN THE EAST THAT ANNOUNCED THE BIRTH OF OUR SAVIOUR.
IN HIs Grace. Paulette.

Good Morning all!

We haven't really met yet, so here goes...My name is Kathryn and I live in Montreal, Canada.  Married to my husband Mark and mom of 2 boys Trevor and Bryan.  Have known my Lord since the age of 13, and that seems a very long time ago.  I stumbled through my teens and twenties grasping for Jesus.  I strayed from time to time, but always knew He was there.  Praise Him that HE never left me.  I'm 38 now and am still growing in the wonderful knowledge of our Lord.  I hope I never stop learning something amazing about God and the wonderful relationship that he yearns to have with us.

I want to let you know that the site has been a great source of encouragement.  It's wonderful to see so many brothers and sisters in Christ.  Praise The Lord!

Christmas Blessings!
Kathryn

HI Kathryn!  It is nice to meet you!

I WISH YOU ALL A MERRY BUT

ALSO A BLESSED CHRISTMASS


LOTS OF LOVE  RIA

Hi Everyone!

I have a busy day today as I'm travelling to my daughter's home.  And before that I have a few things still to buy from the grocery store.  


Thanks so much Iain for that very timely devotion this morning.  I do hope and pray that all stopping by our site will take just a few extra minutes to read your words this morning so near to the wonderful day commemorating the birth of our Saviour.


I'd like to say how happy I am to see JUST KATE or KATHRYN posting.  I've been watching for you for a long time!  It's nice to have someone else from Canada and you are a first from the province of Quebec!  So please feel welcome here.  Just join in whenever you wish.  The coffee is always freshly brewed (it's Tim Horton's   ) and the water is plumping in the kettle for a nice pot of tea.


Happy Birthday Chris.  Thanks for that Dr. Tozer devotional.  It's wonderful!


Yes, Paulette, Ben is a wonderful little boy!  He always says, "Hi Pat Scott!" so I say, "Hi Ben Yates!"  Then we have a chuckle together!


I've been wondering how your eyes are, Ria.  I do hope that they are getting better and better each day.


Have a wonderful day today, Larry and Pat!  We'll be having our family get together on January 1


Sonja, that's a good reminder for all of us..."From the cradle to the cross" and all for us.  What a wonderful Saviour we have!  Yes, let's remember the reason for this season.


Good to see you popping in Sue.  Give your parents a hug for me.



Margit, thanks so much for that from Streams in the Desert.  I must look out the copy that I have.  My mother gave it to me many years ago and I used to use it every day.

I love the poem you gave us to read today.  Let's read it again...

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We miss having you drop in each evening, Lee.  I hope you don't stay away too long.  I wonder if you got the email with that program in it that you wanted?


Chris, I hope you have a wonderful birthday today.  One comment in your message today really stood out for me...

QuoteI used to hate my Christmas eve birthday when I was a kid, but as I got older, and especially after God captured me,  I found it a great privilege to have it the day before the greatest one of all, our Lord and Saviour.

Isn't it a wonderful thought to realize that as Christians, God "captured" all of us?  I find that awesome.

I hope you have a great day.  I'll try to stop in again a little later before I head out of town.

WHERE'S OUR MULLET???
Love to you all.

Welcome Kathryn to the CP site.  Thanks for posting and letting us know a little about yourself.  I look forward to your further postings.

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRIS!!!![/size][/b]

You mean they even have birthdays in England?  I was hoping there might be someplace where we could go and not get older.  Oh well, one day older is one day closer to the everlasting Kingdom!

WELCOME KATHRYN!!!!![/size][/b]

It's so good to have you come in here to join with us saved sinners!  Hope we'll be seeing much of you.

Good Morning Iain thank you for the devotion.

Pat I pray you will have a safe trip. To all others who are traveling today or tonight I pray for your safety also.

I have all my gifts wrapped and it feels so good to be able to have gifts for everyone this year after so many years of not even being with my family. Only 1 Christmas in 9 years was I with my family and that was last year.

This morning during my prayer time  the Lord put on my heart to pray for all those who will be away from family or loved ones. Those who have lost their loved ones, and those who are the lost from their loved ones. Having been there my heart goes out to all of them.

I got to sleep in for an extra hour this morning before Bebe and Happydog insisted on my getting up to ,let them outside and to fix their breakfast.

The rest of my day is going to be spent doing whatever comes to my mind to do.

Soooo TTYL

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHRIS!!!

WELCOME TO CP, JUST KATE!!

We are going to our daughter's today, after 2:00.  They are closing their store then, and we will have supper together and open gifts with them.

Where is Mullet???  I miss our happy little ray of sunshine!!  Come back in here, Zachery!!

I really enjoy everyone's nice graphics.  And I wish you a blessed and happy Christmas Eve.

Thanks Marilyn, for the prayers for safe travel today.  I'm taking Geordie with me and leaving Lauren home alone!  Awwwwww.... poor kitty!


I forgot to say that

MIEKA IS IN THE USA!!
About 6 or 7 of us last evening had the most wonderful time with Mieka on Yahoo Chat.  She was in a hotel in Kathmandu waiting for the trip to the airport to fly back to the USA.  She'll be in Utah for some of the time and back to her family in California.

It will be so nice to have Mieka back with us for a little while at least before she returns back to Tibet.

At about 9:30 pm last night, they were just getting ready to leave for the airport so I'm sure she's landed by now!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRIS!!!!!!!!!!!

HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!!!!

WELCOME KATHRIN!!!!!!! HOPE YOU WILL FIND THIS SITE PRETTY FUN, AND FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.