Christian Photographers Community

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Morning Devotional...


They gave Him a piece of a broiled fish....
Luke 24:42

Worship is giving to the Lord that which brings Him delight.

The risen Lord Jesus had asked His disciples for something to eat. His hunger was not of necessity but of desire, and to show that He really indwelt a risen body.

All they had was a piece of fish and an honeycomb--not much of a banquet for the risen Lord of the Universe! But they gave it to Him, and "He took it and did eat it."

We may not feel we have what He is worthy of, but let us bring all we can to Him in worship and He will accept it.
--J. Boyd Nicholson


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In November, 1850, thirty year old Fanny Crosby had been attending numerous revival meeting and had answered the altar call, hoping to find peace for her soul.

But on the 20th of the month, the audience began to sing "Alas! and Did My Savior Bleed," a hymn written by Isaac Watts in 1707. It was when they sang the words, "Here, Lord I give myself away - 'tis all that I can do," that Fanny realized that all she needed was to yield herself. She said: "I surrendered myself to the Saviour, and my very soul flooded with celestial light. I sprang to my feet, shouting 'Hallelujah.'"

Isaac Watts said of his hymn writing, "I have made no pretence to be a poet. But to the Lamb that was slain, and now lives, I have addressed many a song, to be sung by the penitent and believing heart.

From:  http://schfrs.crosswinds.net/hymns/alas.htm

GOOD MORNING  10.40 AM in Holland

PAT thank you for the devotional this morning also for the nice poem and the hymn yesterday evening. I am happy that your computer also is allright now.

SUE thank you for the mail from Pat yesterday.

JANET a nice story yesterday thank you

TODAY the last day of this year
tomorrow a new year what will it bring us i don't no
we wait.
This day is terrible for dogs a lot dogs are afraid for
firework our dogs also the rockets are nice and a lot people have hold firework from Germany that is forbidden to use in Holland but they do it and that is
an eafening noise then the dogs are bark.
I will be happy when this day is over.

The sun is shining in Holland but it is cold 2*C

Psalm 29:11
The lord gives stenght to his people;
the Lord bleses his people with peace.

I'LL TRUST YOU STILL

I see Your hand,Lord,
in everything around me,
and in every aspect of my life,
I seek Your will...
I see Your plan,Lord,
in all the years behind me,
and in the days and years to come,
I'll trust You still.

I wish you also today a BLESSED DAY
BYE LOVE RIA

945 a.m. England.

Dear Pat
Thank-you, that was beautiful and I listened to the music also.

Ria.  Hello dear sister.

Iain Have a wonderful "Hogmanay"...."Lang may your lung reek" Have I said that right? I had a lovely boss years ago, David McQuillan from Glasgow, he was always saying that to me...What does it mean Iain please?

Chris is away tonight so it will be the first New Years eve I ever spent alone. I will pop in to see you all later to Pat's "warm" hearth.

Lovce Jenny.

           Hogmanay

I just found an interesting site "Edinburgh's Hogmanay"

Re the origins of the  word "Hogmanay":-

Gaelic  'oge maidne' ...'New Morning'

Flemish  'hoog dag'...high day

Anglo Saxon  'Haleg Monath' ...Holy month

Norman French  'hoguinane' ...gift at New Year

Good Morning
Here it is the very last day of the year. Time for our New Year's resolutions.  I usually make the same ones over and over...spend more time with my LORD, reading His Word and praying.  For many years I read the Bible through..but the last few years I have been taking my time and concentrating on the passages more in depth.  I have enjoyed many different versions this way.  
My other resolution is to lose weight (that's surely an old standby )

Since Christmas I have had a very sad time.  My 60 year old bachelor cousin died of a massive heart attack on Christmas day.  He was wrapping presents on Christmas Eve and had the heart attack.  He called 911. but then was unconscious when they came so there was no ID on him.  At the hospital they worked on him for 8 hrs and could not help him.  He taught at a college in Tampa, FL.  His sister & her family missed him on Christmas day when he didn't show up and when they went to his house, the police were there trying to find the next-of-kin.  Soooo sad.  But the saddest part is that he was not a Christian.  I feel like I hear him calling out from the depths of hell.  I guess I will never be able to accept the fact that some people turn away from Jesus or just think He is a character in the Bible and that our Bible is just a book of "good stories."

Then the next day, my close friend died of lung cancer.  Yestday we had the funeral and I had to play the organ..this was hard because she was like a daughter to me and my co-worker for the last 15 years.   Although she had fallen away from her participation in the church she knew the LORD and had accepted Him years earlier.  I thank God that this one will be with Him and I will see her again.  She was just 44 leaving behind a 14 yr old boy and a 17 yr old girl.

I covet your prayers for these two families.

By the way, what is Boxing Day?

I am so sorry for your lose Kathy,  60 years old is young , Take heart because the lord let him hold on for 8 hours. We don't know for sure what went on during those 8 hours. He may have found the lord and be singing with angles this morning.
It is such a comfort to know when our love ones knows the lord when they pass on.  The pain of losing them is real but you know they are in a much better place.

Hi Kathy! I am sorry to hear about your sad day.  I will be praying for you today.  ((((hug))))

Hi Diana! It is nice to see you posting.  How are you?  Get any cools shots in any of the challenges on DPC?   I have one in the poster challenge.  

Mike has the day off...wooohooo....we will be having some weekend fun.  

Talk to you all later
Soni

G'mornin y'all.  I've had nothing but trouble this morning trying to get into CP.  Every time I went to it my computer crashed - totally (couldn't do anything but move the curser around).  Than I booted up again, tried again, same result.  So then I changed my home page, booted up and went to CNN.  That worked fine.  Then I came to CP the back way, as it were, and finally got here.  Don't know about this "home page" bit.  I'll have to check it out.  Anyone else have any problem?

Good Morning: Pat thanks for the devotionaland the hymns last night andthis morning.

Al:  I have CP as my home page and don't seem to be having any trouble gettin on today. Alrhought I have had some trouble in the evening the last 2 nights. I haven't been able to get on Hotmail for a couple of weeks.  It gets about 1/2 there and stops.

Kathy I am sorry about your cousin and your friend, I will hold you up in prayer.

Diana_g so nice to see you back hear again. I have missed your posts.

Where is Rachelle? Oh Rachelle Where arfe you?

Going to check my email be back later.

  WHEN I SAID, "MY FOOT IS SLIPPING," YOUR LOVE, O LORD
 SUPPORTED ME.   WHEN ANXIETY WAS GREAT WITHIN ME,
 YOUR CONSOLATION BROUGHT JOY TO MY SOUL.
                            ( PSALM 94:18-19 *NIV )

Jenny!!! You are a terror, why would you want your lung to smoke?

Hahaaaaa  it's "lang may your lum reek."
A lum is an old scottish word for chimney,
or chimney stack, and the wish is for you always to have coal or logs  to burn, a hot fireside to sit by lol.
Reek is a term for smoke, but also for a strong smell, if someone "reeks" of perfume or body odour, well enough said!
Marilyn, dont forget to spray your terminals with a protectant, now that you have cleaned them, or cover them thickly in petroleum jelly.
This helps stop moisture and corrosion building up, ok?

Pat, great to have you back!

Karmat, I agree with you,
no man can convert another, it is entirely the work of the Holy Spirit to convict of sin, we cannot repent unless we feel the heavy weight of sin upon us, and the urgent need to flee to Christ for redemption, but remember this, many a person has been saved by a word of scripture spoken to them by a Christian who was concerned about their lost state, and the Spirit took the word spoken, and powerfully used it to bring that well needed  conviction of being "lost."

There are many great testimonies from people who were brought to Jesus by having a scripture spoken to them, which afterwards, burned in their hearts, and gave them no peace,
I myself, if you read my testimony was convicted of my miserable state, by God's Word.
And I love Him so much ..

http://www.hispeace.org/html/artic02.htm

Subj: Insight for Leaders  
Date: 12/31/03 5:01:05 AM GMT Standard Time
From: lmi@flash.net
To: tozer@litmin.com
Sent from the Internet (Details)



December 31    

Trials and Pain: Prepared for Whatever

Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the
mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and
the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.  
--Psalm 90:1-2

Yet I do not advise that we end the year on a somber note. The march,
not the dirge, has ever been the music of Christianity. If we are
good students in the school of life, there is much that the years
have to teach us. But the Christian is more than a student, more than
a philosopher. He is a believer, and the object of his faith makes
the difference, the mighty difference.

Of all persons the Christian should be best prepared for whatever
the New Year brings. He has dealt with life at its source. In Christ
he has disposed of a thousand enemies that other men must face alone
and unprepared. He can face his tomorrow cheerful and unafraid
because yesterday he turned his feet into the ways of peace and
today he lives in God. The man who has made God his dwelling place
will always have a safe habitation.
The Warfare of the Spirit, p. 148

"Thank You, Father, for all You've taught me this past year. Thank
You for the stretching experiences. Thank You for Tozer's wise
counsel. Thank You for the privilege of serving You. Thank You for
Your love and grace. Amen."

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

Thanks Chris I was planning to do that.

Thank you Chris for those words.  They hit home with me too.

We are having mild weather here, +1C or 34*F.  We are expecting freezing rain and snow.  I hope it is either rain or snow and leave the freezing out of it.

Well cheerio for now
JudyB

 
http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/events/hogmanay/tradition/

http://web.ripnet.com/~nimmos/auld_lang_syne.html

Pat, it is wonderful to have you back online with us!  We missed you.....  Now we can all pray in the New Year together!

I am feeling some better this morning, I slept late and got a good night's rest.  I'm hoping to be completely back to myself in a few more days anyway.

My, the house is quiet!   Sounds GOOD!  Oh, how I do love my grandkids, but when you are feeling yucky is not the most advantageous time for them to visit.  But we take what we can get, right?

My son in law and Curtis and Mark left at 5 this morning to drive to Tempe, Arizona for the Fiesta Bowl game on Friday.  GO WILDCATS!!

Here is an amusing little story I thought might give you a grin.

A BODACIOUS CHRISTMAS GIFT
by Donna Siefker

Emery is one of those people who really is a genius. He
is a gentle soul, who would do absolutely anything for
anyone and everyone. However, he just has no common sense
whatsoever and really is not mechanically inclined.

Emery lives up by Lake Michigan, so they get a lot of
lake-effect snow. Two winters ago, if memory serves me
right, they received quite a bit of snow, and he decided
to help his daughter remove it from her sidewalks.

Now, I know what you're thinking: What does this have
to do with a pet? Please, just follow me here, and you
will see what I'm talking about. Emery's daughter, Shelly,
has a large Great Dane named Bodacious.

Bodacious had only one flaw. He hated to get his feet in
the snow, or even in grass, so he was constantly relieving
himself on Shelly's sidewalk. If you know anything about
Great Danes, you can understand just how big these piles
can be -- about as big as horse droppings.

Emery proceeded to get his daughter's snow blower out
of the garage. He managed to get the thing started and
running -- that took him almost an hour. Shelly was
absolutely petrified that her dad was going to get hurt
with this snow blower, knowing he is kind of like Tim
Allen. Every time he tries to use a power tool, he ends
up in the emergency room. Well, she had every right to
be worried.

About half way down the driveway, the snow blower began
to make a loud noise, then continued to sound as if it
was going to explode. Emery thought the snow blower had
sucked something up that was lodged in the spinning
blades. He shut the whole thing down, however, he didn't
wait for it to completely stop. He bent over the shoot
where the snow comes out.

Well it happened. The snow blower had sucked up one of
those gifts that Bodacious had left the night before,
one that had become frozen. Shelly told me that gift
came flying out of the snow blower just as her dad was
leaning over it. Needless to say, it knocked Emery out.

When he came to in the hospital emergency room, he had
two black eyes and a small gash on the bridge of his
nose. Shelly told me the doctor and nurses had a hard
time taking care of him because they were laughing too
hard.

When Shelly told me about the Christmas gift from
Bodacious, I laughed until I cried. So please, when
you're out snow blowing this winter, be very careful
of what lies underneath that snow!

--Donna Siefker   dsiefker@apelima.com

hahahahahahaaaa....that was a good one, Janet!  Thanks for the laugh.

Janet you have the most delightful way of posting.

So full of life--glad you are here sharing.

Karmet, I agree with Sonja, your post on witnessing was so heartfelt.

You and Sonja , are a delight to hear from ones so young.
I know the good LORD is smiling with joy to hear your words and to think that you have children who will benefit from your love for the LORD.

Oh, yes,just keep sharing--one person can do so much; just concentrate on "your own back yard" and watch where your love for the Lord to spread.

Nita, you are a dear; I knew that you would know what I was feeling.

So busy and too stressful that last few weeks that I was feeing the guilt of not spending the time I wanted with the LORD.

Well, I got it yesterday; too sick to go to work or even do housework; not the flu ; just a bad head cold.  I sound worse than I feel.  

Just have to rest my throat.

Can't even shout to every one have A HAPPY NEW YEAR.

I love your posting Kathy on spending more time with the LORD in the coming year.

Can't get any better than that.

The best resolution for the new year;  wouldn't it be wonderful if more and more and more and more people would think that way!!!

Instead of looking and thinking about short terms rewards; look for the long term end which is eternity with our Heavenly Father.

My prayers for all will be to learn more about HIM and learn to discern HIS messages to better ourselves to witness for HIM.

Oh, to be more Christ like; what a great idea for all.

Take care,

Love in Christ,
Joyce

Well I am off to work shortly. It is raining pretty good here in McKville and I had to go out to buy groceries for Fay in this rain.  Well it is all part of the job. Good thing I have a plastic hat to cover my head and a Brollie (isn't that an umbrella).


TTYL

Here is something I am printing out which I think will be helpful in dealing with stressful situations, month by month.  I hope it will benefit some of you as well.

>>  A Year of Hope for Stretched Out Moms
Whitney Hopler
Contributing Writer

A son who chooses the gay lifestyle. A daughter with a serious drug
problem. A son who dies accidentally. A daughter who falls prey to a
cult. A lost or rebellious child can cause great pain in your life. But
even if your heart is breaking, God will lift you out of despair. Taking
a year to focus on healing can give you the hope you need.

Here are some steps in the healing process:

January: This is a month for new beginnings. Know that you can move
beyond your trauma and make a brand-new start in your life. Don't fret
about what is already done, which you can't change. Instead, seek to
make the most of the present, and rejoice that you still have a future.
Ask God to give you the grace to let go of the past and face His future
for you well.

February: This a month to focus on love. Realize that God's love never
fails. Ask Him to help you forgive your child, and love your child
unconditionally - without judging, condemning, or seeking revenge. If
you can't communicate with your child, strive to show God's love to
someone else, and prepare to be blessed along with that person.

March:  This is a month to deal with reality, even though it seems cold,
gray, and lifeless. Be honest with yourself, God, and others about your
thoughts and feelings. Then get rid of any bitterness that is
contributing to your depression. Look for the light of Christ shining
through the grayness in your life. And when you find it, show someone
else the way, too.

April:  This is a month to lighten up and learn to laugh like spring is
just around the corner. Remind yourself of God's promises in Scripture,
and claim them for yourself.  Learn to laugh, and do so as often as you
can.

May:  This is a month for hope. Choose to believe that you will get
through your sorrow. Recognize that God can use the trauma you've
experienced to teach you things you couldn't have learned otherwise. Ask
Him how He wants you to grow through and past it. Remember that God is
your heavenly Father, and that you are His beloved child. Give him the
burden of your sorrow so it won't weigh you down.

June: This is a month for "decorating your desert" - taking positive
steps to change your life and the world around you. Start a "joy box" by
decorating a shoe box and filling it with things that bring you joy.
Collect comic strips, greeting cards, dolls, or anything else that works
for you. Once you practice looking for joy, you'll be able to find it
everywhere around you (whether it will fit in your box or not).

July: This is a month for remembering that no tragedy lasts forever.
Relinquish your guilt, shame, and regrets by confessing your sins and
accepting God's forgiveness. Remember that Christ's work on the cross
has made it possible for all sins to be forgiven completely.

August: This is a month for learning to laugh at what you felt was
impossible to accept before. Thank God for all your blessings, and ask
Him to help you cope with your troubles. Seek the maturity that comes
from gracefully living in your current circumstances.

September: This a month for memories. Ponder your positive, constructive
memories of the past. Find the good in all your memories - even your
hardest ones.  Make new memories for the future.

October: This is a month for learning to accept God's will. Remember
that God always walks beside you, no matter what you face. Decide to
trust every part of your life to Him. If you're communicating with your
child, refrain from giving him or her your opinions and try to focus on
listening instead.

November: This is a month for letting go. Let go of your child, fully
entrusting him or her to God's care. Whenever you're tempted to take him
or her back, pray for God to do more for your child than you could ever
do alone.

December:  This is a month for celebrating. Notice how you've grown in
maturity over the past year, and rejoice. Remember that your rebellious
child's life isn't over yet, and God still has more to do in his or her
life. Be patient, and keep loving people around you while you wait to
see what God will do.

Adapted from Fresh Elastic for Stretched Out Moms, copyright © 2003 by
Barbara Johnson

Hi Everyone!

I'm running around like a hen with it's head cut off!  LOL

I had little Rebecca here having a "camp out" with Grandma since yesterday afternoon and so with her here (as you know Janet), nothing of importance got done by me!  Just lots and lots of cuddling!  We watched "Finding Nemo!"  I think that's such a delightful movie.  I thought of Janet swimming around with those fish!

Then this morning Terena came over and helped me wrap all of the grandkids gifts so that tomorrow we'll just pile them into their car and head up north to Janice's home for our big Christmas day.

Now, I have about 3 little things left to get and then I'm done and then I have some web stuff to do on this site.  I feel so far behind with some of the Administrator duties!  But you all got along just fine without me.  

Talk to you later on this Hogmanay day!  I remember getting "first footed" when we lived in Ireland by the family across the road.  Every year there was a race to see who could do it first!  LOL

Must go and I'll be back!  I promise!

glad that I stopped by--what a great posting.

Janet, I am printing it out now and I am going to
put it with my new calender.

My son and wife gave me a great calender for 2004--all
bible verses.--going to put this printout with it.

going to leave early and go home and nurse this head cold.

We live only about 30 minutes from NYC -TIMES SQUARE--and I never ever had the desire to go there.
Now I can imagine how long it would take to get over the George Washington Bridge with all the beefed up security.

I will watch the New Year come in from all around the world on my couch with a delightful cup of tea --maybe Earl Grey --and a bit of honey for the sore throat.

Wishing you all well.

Back to work and computer on Friday.

Talk to you then.

Love in Christ,
Joyce

Wow!
Thanks Pat for putting that photo there,
may God bless us all this coming year with joy and peace in believing.

Wanted to share this message that I read from Charles Stanley:

He said"

Let me share an example from my own life.

For years and years, I had a dog— a German schnauzer whose name was Rommel. Every afternoon, as I pulled my car into the driveway, there came Rommel to greet me.

Many times, he would seem to stand at attention at the top of the drive, as if he were saying, "Welcome home, sir. Everything is under control here!"

Now sometimes, I had to correct or discipline Rommel for something he had done or for the occasional accident around the house.

However, no matter what I did—whether it was spanking him or not giving him enough attention from time to time—he never seemed to love me any less. He was always happy to see me, and he always wanted to be with me.

One day while I was playing with the dog, the Lord spoke to me. I looked at that pet and said, "Rommel, no matter what I do, you always love me. I'd like to be that kind of friend."

This realization taught me something about Jesus. He never changes and His love never waivers, no matter what I do or how I treat Him.

He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

If a dog can exemplify this simple truth, we should aim for nothing less.


See you all next year.

Love in Christ,

Joyce

Thanks to Janet, Joyce and Chris and Margit  
     
Such encouragement as we enter a new year                                                
I didnt expect to see Chris tonight but the lounge door opened at about 5 p.m. unexpectedly and in  he walked with two huge bouquets of flowers for me....Oh dear, "tears in His bottle again"...God is so Good...Praise Him.  


Dear Ones I wish you all a Very Happy and Peacefilled 2004 in Jesus' Name

Joyce - its so nice to see your posts....I have missed you!  Please get better soon.  So far both Norm and I have missed getting the cold and flu.  Golly, with everything else we've got wrong.....we don't need that!..LOL

Our dog, Rags, is just like Charles Stanley's dog that you talked about....such a faithful friend.  That was a good example.  Oh that we would be a trusted friend to someone, like the Lord is to us.

I am just enjoying some cookies and a delicious cup of coffee at the moment.  Tonight we are going to a house party at a couple's home.  We are all friends from church, and have been together every New Years for the past ten  years.  There will be 18 of us there.  Norm and I hosted this group in the year 2000.  Its always a fun night.....its "pot luck".  You eat what you bring.  It always amazes me at the variety of food, and the way it balances out.

What is everyone else doing?  Pat's family Christmas is tomorrow, so we know what she is doing!

We have our Christmas "undecorating done"....its always nice to get the house back in order again.

I wish you all a VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR.... AND GOD'S RICHEST BLESSING IN THE YEAR 2004!

...Norm and Judy