Christian Photographers Community

---

Morning Devotional...


Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
1 John 4:10


This text takes in the basics of the gospel and salvation. Sins are mentioned here, our sins.

Our former attitude is here--not that we loved God. No, we were not lovers of God at all, yet despite all of that He loved us! "God commendeth His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:.

The Lord has "laid on Him the iniquity of us all" (Isa. 53:6).

Truly here is love.

Have you partaken of it?
--Reg Jordan

[/color]

Thank you Pat for that devotional reminding us about what Jesus did for us when He died on the cross.   "All our iniquities on Him were laid.  He nailed them all to the tree.  Jesus the debt of my sin fully paid. He paid the ransom for me"   Praise His Holy name!

Going to bed now.

Love Ruthie

GOOD MORNING ALL  11.27AM in Holland

PAT thank you very much for the very good devotional this morning and the lovely hymn
Love Lifted Me.
But Pat how is your back i pray for you my dear sister
in Christ.

Walking with my toe is a little bit painly
but when i am sitting then i have no pain.

It is sunny in Holland but the wind is very cold it has also the last night been -4*C. But i love this weather this is better then all the rain.


The new church The Free Baptist Church is growing. They are started with 30 people and the last Sunday there has been 260 people also not Christian. They must have a greater church.
But i say how is it possible the other churches there the people walk out or stay home. And there they walk in.HOLLANd is very small but there is happening a lot.

ZACHERY how are you doing today i pray for you boy.

MATTHEW 6 : 8
Your father knows what you
need before you ask Him.

       YOUR STEADFAST LOVE

    Teach me to wait patiently in the silence...
                 to trust Your guiding hand,
       Your perfect will, Your steadfast love
         even when i'm feeling most alone.

I wish you all a Blessed Day
LOVE RIA  

It is ages since I last wrote anything about my Christian experience and this is simply because I have been too busy worrying myself sick over things that may never happen.

I am a worrier by nature and no matter how strong I may think that my faith is, this is something that I truly struggle with. There is no doubt that as time goes by and various deliverances have been experienced that I am more aware of my folly and sin, yet it still takes a huge effort just to keep my head above the troubled waters.

It is never just one trial that seems to come my way at any given time. These come upon me like a flood, in various guises and from different directions yet they all cause they same turmoil.

I do not intend to list my difficulties today as I cannot see what good it would do and apart from anything else, it is enough for me to worry about my problems without you have to do likewise.

The last six or seven weeks have been truly dismal. I have had little or no communion with my Saviour, I have questioned myself endlessly as to where I went wrong and I have worried about everything under the sun! Before you ask, the answer is YES! This worry does lead to stress, which in my condition simply complicates things further!

About a year ago I put a selection of my photographs with texts into a couple of the religious bookshops in our town hoping for a sale or two. It was my first attempts in my new venture and I did not know how things would go.

To cut a long story short, I forgot all about my photographs until I received a phone call yesterday from the shop manager asking my to call in. I did so and to my surprise a number of them had been sold and she asked me if I could take one home with me as it had suffered badly from the dampness in the shop.

Of all the texts on the many photographs she could have given me, the text at our head was the one that I took home. 'Be anxious for nothing.'

It did not sink in right away; in fact I slept on it. I got out of bed at four o'clock this morning and long before dawn, light flooded my soul through this text. God in His love had kept that message away from other shoppers because the message was a personal one for me!

My eyes flooded as I thought of the love behind what had happened. God had given me, no handed me a message direct from the Throne.

How foolish I had been!! I call myself by the name of Christian yet what kind of son fears his father in such a way? Perhaps one that has been mistreated, and that is all too common in our day, but I had been showered with love and grace and mercy had followed me all my days. I had no reason for such fear or anxiety.

Time to turn the tables and time for rejoicing. Not one of the problems that I faced going to bed last night have been solved yet today I trust that my loving Heavenly Father will solve them all to perfection. I gladly cast all my cares and worries upon Him and was only too pleased to be able to leave them there.

It was His Word that made the difference in my life this morning. The entrance of His word gives light. It came when I least expected it and in a way that I would not have imagined. I thought that I would pass on this experience in the hope that other souls would benefit from the gift that I received.

He knoweth the way that I take and He does all things well. Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

I pray that this will prove a word in season for somone here today.

With much love in Christ

Iain

P.S. I have days of reading to catch up on and I hope that I will have time this evening to do so. Thank you all for your paryerful support and for cards, letters and emails. Much appreciated.

Hi everyone.  Iain, certainly good to see you posting this morning and what an inspirational message in your experience yesterday.  

Pat, another fine devotional this morning and "Love Lifted Me" is such a great old hymn.  Do hope this day finds your Pat improved from yesterday.  I was also concerned when I read that you planned to vacuum as that is really hard on the back.  

Ria, I am afraid that we also experience people walking away from our churches if things don't go the way they think they should.  Glad that your toe doesn't hurt while you are sitting and that it is getting better.  Stay warm.

Ruthie, enjoyed your interesting postings.  

It is about time for coffee and then have a full day of work on webpage updates for the Senior Golden Olympics group in our county.  I am also setting up a big database for them to keep track of the entries of about 250 people for the many events.  It is quite a large database and I have a lot more work to do on it.  So will be busy today.  Hope everyone has a wonderful day in God's blessings.  The sun in shining here, which is always welcome.

1.10 p.m. U.K.

Iain, Dear Brother, your presence fills me with joy.  I continue to thank God for your ministry in my life.

                 Trials of Pure Joy

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know the testing of your faith develops perseverance."   (James 1:2-3)

"The greater the suffering the greater the anointing.  If it is the anointing you want, then expect suffering.  If it is a great anointing you want, anticipate great suffering at some stage.  The anointing is the power of the Holy Spirit to make us do what we do with ease and without fatigue.

The main reason for "burn-out" and fatigue is almost certainly because someone has gone beyond his or her anointing; they went outside it rather than functioning within it.  It was because they could not accept the limits of their ability.  None of us can do everything,but to the person who is not content with the anointing or gift that he or she has, there will be trouble ahead.
It is humbling to accept our limits, but there is considerable joy and peace in doing so, not to mention an increase of anointing.

We can pray for a greater anointing - namely, an ability to do what we previously could not do in our own strength - but until that anointing has come, we must accept the limits of our faith and our ability."

R.T. Kendall

Iain.   What A timely reminder.  I do so relate to your post this morning.  

We have had mountains of snow.  (exaggeration is evident)
The east cost has had a bigger drop of snow, and John is heading to Maine on Monday.  I pray they get the roads clear before then    

I have Drake and Victor this weekend.  It is amazing how quickly he has complied to the rules.  One minor time out and boom, there were smiles and breakfast was eaten.    

Well off to get dressed to go out and will be back later on.  Bonesy will be on later too.
Love Judy

What a real joy it was to open up NEM today and see Iain's post!  Ah dear brother - God meets us right where we really are!  He knew you needed to be reminded of His Fatherhood.  He knew you needed to be reminded that His Fatherhood should never be distrusted, that it should be relied upon, that His love is totally in it, and that, contrary to appearances, the events of your life are only part of that Fatherly care that is always there.  Shall He not with Him freely give us all things? (Rom. 8:32)  Think of the Father giving His beloved Son to utter rejection upon the Cross.  Think how great that love is.  It is with the fullest measure of that love that He brings all things into our lives! And it never ceases.  It is upon you and in you and around you at this and every moment.
Oh that I too would remember these things!

Thank you Iain for sharing with us this morning.  I know exactly how you feel. I wish  I could articulate what is in my heart after reading your message but for now I have to be content with the example of hope and encouragement you shared.

Philippians 4:8 is one of my favorites when I dwell on the things that I should give to God.

God Bliss,

IAIN thank you very much
for your very lovely devotional this morning.
I am happy to see you back.
I hope you are allright.
But you are in my prayers every day brother
RIA

LARRY i stay warm it is to cold in Holland for summershoes and it is no looking
wintercoats and summershoes. No i am listening to my lovely Christian CD's.
RIA

Oh brother Iain how wonderful to see your posting this morning, how I have missed you.

Quote'Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.'


Philippians Chapter 4 Verse 6

Really spoke to me this morning, as I have been worying over a certain thing going on in my life that made me feel that I was not being obedient to our Lord.

Thank you Iain for coming here today and giving me that message from the Lord. Just as you received that message so have I.

Verse 8 also speaks volumnes as it tell us to think only on those things that are pure, lovely, of good report, honorable and worthy of praise. (paraphrased).  If we keep our minds focused on all those things how can we worry about anything, but in all our humanity that is exactly what we do.

TThank you Pat for the devotional and the beautiful Hymn this morning

TTYL[/b]

Troy is swimming today.  This is his last chance to qualify for state.

He shaved his head, legs, arms and stuff last night.
I will keep you all informed on his placement later.

I better get going.  Sorry I didn't read any posts.  I am in a hurry.

Soni

[/b][/color]

IAIN!!!  Welcome back, brother!  We have missed you.  And it is so good to read how the Lord used something you created, with His Words on it, to encourage and uplift and strengthen you.  He will never leave us or forsake us, but how easily we walk away from Him at times, into the gloom of doubt and despair.  I'm very glad to know that you are back walking in the sunlight of HIs love again!  (Now, STAY there!)    (((hugs)))

Pat, maybe a visit to a chiropractor is in order for you--??  I know they really help me if my back gets messed up, but it is usually my neck that causes me problems, not often, though, thank God.  I do hope you feel better today, and please don't overdo!  Take Lee's advice and take breaks from the computer often.  (Dr. Damon says so!)  

Zachery, how are you today?  Miss you, little brother!

Hi Sonja!  Is your Saturday a bit less busy or more busy than week days?

Ria, good to know you are doing well and the toe is not hurting all the time.

Hi, Jenny!  Stay warm!  It is cloudy and gloomy looking here, but I have Little Miss Sunshine here, so it's a happy day.  Grandpa bought her a Cinderella Teapot last night, and she is having an omelet and a tea party just now.  She's a happy camper!  Of course, she's always a happy little girl, and so much fun to be with, I love having her.

I got my pictures!!!  Hooray for the machines at Walmart!  I got them on a disc, so now I can post some later.

Good morning, Larry!  Hope you have a great day today!

I shall return!

Lovely, lively music in 'Love Lifted Me'!  It sounded so much like my mother playing the piano.  Is that chording?  She could read music but only played the right hand as the music was written and 'chorded' with the left.  Thanks, Pat!

Iain ~ Great to see you back.  You have been a worry to us...see, it is contagious.  In our Small Groups study we are studying 'Foundations'.  The next two weeks are on GOD.  The following is a quote from our book.

---

You may be having a hard time thinking of God as a Father because of the poor father you had growing up.  One of the most refreshing breakthoughs in your life will happen when you begin to see God as the Father you never had, to see God as the Father who fulfills what your father never was.

Start or strengthen this new perspective in your life by praying the following prayer.  (Pray those parts that are appropriate for your life and add to the prayer where you need to.)


Maybe you had an earthly father who, although he was not perfect, gave you the kind of love that put you on the road to finding a relationship with God through Jesus.  You need to pray,

[/size]

---

Larry ~ Looks like you will be busy today working on the webpage updates.  Sounds interesting but tiring, I am sure.

Jenny ~ Thank your for 'Trials of Pure Joy'.  Very interesting.

JudyB ~ Wish I could put Inky in 'time-out'.  She is one determined kitty!!

Al ~ Life would be easier if we all remembered constantly that God is right beside us.  That he is as near as our next heartbeat.  He does not just watch us; he is with us.

Fraser ~ God gives wonderful gifts and he certainly gave the gift of articulate words to Iain.  But remember God knows what is in your heart.

Ria ~ Good morning.  Do stay warm....it can get pretty cold out there.

Marilyn ~ Good morning.  I am praying that your day goes just the way you and God wants it to go.

It is another cloudy, gloomy day and right now 32°F.  A day to get a book and read...then take a nap!  Ali and Inky let me sleep in this morning.  I shut them out of the bedroom.  They are something else.  I thought Ali had me trained but now Inky is training me totally different.  
<)))><<~~<)))><<~~<)))><<~~<)))><<~~<)))
"The only joy some people get out of the truth is stretching it."

Still on page one? What's up with that? Where is everybody?  Look at me I am full of questions this morning.

Be back later laundry to do and house to clean.

Good Morning

I have my house half cleaned and took a break to come and see what everyone else was up to.

Have a great day everyone!

Soni I hope you get a photo of Troy the "Hairless".

Subj: Insight for Leaders  
Date: 2/21/04 5:03:22 AM GMT Standard Time
From: lmi@flash.net
To: tozer@litmin.com
Sent from the Internet (Details)



February 21    

The Holy Spirit: Spiritual Gifts

There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are
differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are
diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all
in all.  
--1 Corinthians 12:4-6

The time is more than ripe for a rethinking of the whole matter
of spiritual gifts within the church of Christ. The subject has
fallen into the hands of people for the most part extreme and
irresponsible and has become associated with fanaticism in its
various forms. This is a huge misfortune and is causing
tremendous loss to the work of spiritual Christianity in our
times.

Prejudices pro and con make the consideration of this subject
extremely difficult, but its neglect is costing us more than we
should be willing to pay. A revival of true New Testament
Christianity must surely bring with it a manifestation of
spiritual gifts. Anything short of it will create a just
suspicion that the revival is something short of scriptural.  
The Next Chapter After the Last, 80-81.

"Thank You, Lord, that since Tozer's time there has in fact
been this rethinking about spiritual gifts. May we continue to
see their proper functioning and renewed manifestation. Amen."

Iain, you are a star lol,
Margit and I were just this lunchtime discussing "Godincidences"  and here you are with a perfect example of how He works!

I think you need to  try and print out some positive scripture photos, bro, then pin them all up where you can see them every morning, it worked for me a few years ago when I was going through an "up and down" patch.
Wake up every morning and while still in bed say " thank You Lord for another day on earth, help me to make the most of it."
Every day at 6 am I read a printout of  some of Psalm 103,
yes, every morning, I never miss, I now almost know it by heart.
This starts my time of fellowship with my Saviour, before facing all that the day holds for me.
God bless you bro,  and He will too, cling to Him.

Etta Sue Have you thought of a cat crate for a time out??  It may work!

Well I have just picked up John and he is TIRED.  Fighting the weather takes a lot out of a driver constantly battling the weather.  I will let him tell you about a close call!

We have more snow falling, as if what we have already isn't enough!

Well I have soup on and need to peel and add the potatoes and veggies.  I am taking some for Mom tomorrow so had better go and finish it up.

Talk at you all later.

JudyB

8.30 p.m. U.K.

A.W. Tozer used to say that we could have as much of God as we want. When I first came across this comment I disagreed.  But I know now what he meant.  We do not prove how much we want of God merely by the intense desire at the moment.  We prove it by how we react to circumstances in life, and the opportunities given to us to do such things dignify the trials He hands to us on our silver platter.

When we are content with the anointing God chose for us, we do what we are called to do without fatigue. "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13).  When  I become mentally and emotionally fatigued in what I am doing, it is a fairly strong hint that I have chosen to move outside my anointing and what God specifically asked me to do.  As long as I do what He called me to do and no more, I will not be edging towards burn-out.

.....And yet I would like to have more anointing than I have!

If then it is a greater anointing I truly want, and I wake up with one enormous trial before me,. I should grasp it with both hands!  I must consider this trial 'Pure Joy'!  This is because the trial is a fairly strong hint from the Lord Jesus that I am going to receive the anointing I long for."......

Pure Joy.

R.T. Kendall

Iain, it is good to hear from you this morning.  Christians care for each other.  Whenever a brother struggles with his faith or his Christian life we come to help him as much as we can.  Jesus cares for you and his love waits for all of us to respond and accept the strength he wants to give us.  

Gal 6:2  Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. (KJV)

Well this week is almost gone.     It is true that older we get the faster time seems to pass by.  When each day passes by it is gone forever.  It is never repeated.  

Eph 5:15-16  Be very careful, then, how you live-- not as unwise but as wise,making the most of every opportunity,[/b] because the days are evil.  (NIV)

Col 4:5  Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.[/b] (NIV)

Each day is an opportunity to live as a Christian, to be a good example, to worship God, to grow spiritually, to rejoice in our blessings, to thank God.  There is an old Spiritual the slaves use to sing.  The refrain could echo up on the hill where the "Master" lived.  It had the line:  "The Lord sees all you do, and the Lord hears all you say, and the Lord keeps a' writing all the time."

I hope you all have a good day and a good Lord's Day tomorrow.

Heb 10:24-25 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-- and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (NIV)



--- Papa John    <)))><<
[/color]

Hi all!  Just popping in to say hi!

"The Band" that bernard is in is playing again tonight at some youth services.  I got some pics of them last night, I'll try to get some more tonight.  Travis may get up there with them tonight.  He had a bit of stage fright last night and wouldn't go up there.

Hello to everyone that was here today.  I don't even remember who all it was.  


Be a fish, Troy!


I do remember that Iain posted.  Glad to see you back here, brother.  I've been praying for ya!

Laters!

The Gnat
-Author Unknown

A few years ago, I worked for a company that sent me out on
the road to some of their remote sites to do maintenance work.
These sites were, for the most part, open fields approximately
100 to 160 acres in size.

On these sites were huge piles of metallic ores such as
manganese, beryllium, chromium, ferrochrome and many others.
Occasionally, these fields would have to be mowed and the
buildings would need repairs, so I would go out and do the
repairs, and if the weeds and grass hadn't gotten too much
out of control, I would use a tractor with a brush hog type
mower and cut it back down.

Sometimes, though, I'd have to call contractors to come into
the fields to mow the waist-high grass and weeds with their
heavier equipment.

This one particular site was in an isolated area of central
Pennsylvania that was prone to heavy rainstorms with an
extraordinary amount of lightning, possibly attracted to the
area by all the ore piles. It was surrounded by a 10-foot-high
cyclone fence for security, with gates to allow access to a
road that went through the center of the property.

That day was another very hot, mid-August day, and I could see
Kevin (the contractor) on the far side of the road, traveling
back and forth across the field, baking in the hot sun.

Around 1:30 P.M., I noticed some very heavy rain clouds coming
over the nearby hills and knew that another storm was coming.
I waited awhile to make sure that we actually were going to get
rained out before calling Kevin in from the open area, hoping
to let him get as much mowing done as possible.

When the sky started to darken and the wind picked up, I
hopped into my pick-up truck and went out to the field to call
him back to the building.

As I stood by the edge of the field waving to Kevin, signaling
him to get back to the shop building, the first few heavy
raindrops began falling. Then, as the first burst of lightning
lit up the sky and the first crash of thunder shook the air,
Kevin sailed passed me on his tractor like an eighteen wheeler
on Interstate 80.

After locking the gate on that side of the road, I got back
into my pick-up and pulled inside the second gate. The latch
was broken on this gate, and I had to wrap a short length of
chain around the gatepost, then through the edge of the gate.

By then, the lightning was closer, and the rain was just
starting to get a little heavier. I shoved the thick chain
around the post and threaded it through the diamond-shaped
openings in the fence on the gate, then held both ends in one
hand.

With my other hand, I took the open lock off the fence where
it had been hanging. Just when I was about to put the lock on
the chain, a gnat flew into my open right eye.

That stung! It stung so much that I instantly dropped the lock
and chain and put my hands to my eye, taking one step back at
the same time. Not a second later, lightning struck that fence
somewhere close by, and I saw the whole fence in front of me
light up and glow bright blue.

That beautiful but lethal shade of light blue from high-voltage
radiation nearly filled in all those little diamond-shaped
openings in the fence. I stood there awe struck, as I realized
what had just happened.

I was standing, wet, in rain, holding onto a chain that was
threaded through a metal fence that was just about to be struck
by lightning, when an insignificant insect, an annoying pest, a
bug, flew into my eye and saved my life. I was completely
unharmed, not even a tingle.

Now, I've always believed that we each have a guardian angel,
but I don't know for sure how they do their work. At night when
I lie down to go to sleep, I thank those guardian angels for the
work that they do. Who knows how many times they saved my life
and I don't even know about it.

--as seen in MountainWings

Hello Everyone!

I see that my post earlier has disappeared.  I posted but it's certainly not there now.  

I just wanted to say once again how wonderful it is to see our bro back posting after what seems like such a long absence.  Welcome Home, Iain.

Now, I don't know what else I said earlier.

It's great to see you all.

Make sure that you see JudyB's "Weather Bomb" photos from Prince Edward Island.  It's just so good that it was sort of contained in the Maritime Provinces of Canada, isn't it?  They had about a meter of snow in just over 12 hours and that's a lot of snow.

Great to see you all.  Thanks for all the nice little devotional type of writings you've shared with us.

Troy swam the 500 freestyle and the 200 freestyle and didn't make it to state.

He got a 5:45:47 on his 500 freestyle and was supposed to get 5:45:00 to qualify.  He was .47 of a sec off.    The first time he swam it he got a 6:23. He did so good though.  This was his second time doing this event.  He is still qualified to compete for GST.  He will be up agains other 13 and 14 year olds in the state.  He will do very good the coach said, because he is already qualified for most of the events.

I just want to say that I am so proud of him.  Him and I are going to start going to the local club and lifting weights.  He plans to swim all year long with GST.  

I need to go. Mike and I are going to  friends house to paint some blocks that are props for one of Chandraya's dances.

YES, TROY did well!

We're all proud of you, Troy!

[/b][/color]

WAY TO GO, TROY!!!  THAT'S A GREAT TIME! And you will continue to get better and better, too!  We are SOOO proud of you!