Christian Photographers Community

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Morning Devotional...



Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.   Eccl. 9:10


On the road to Damascus, a smitten Paul asked for a task from the Master. Have we done so?

Following the pattern of today's society, we often may say "Someone should..." and thereby wash our hands of responsibility.

But under the Lord's direction we can and will be shown what He has for us to do each day. While we sometimes look for the "big picture" type of tasks, our Lord obviously delights in those who are faithful in the little things.

Instead of being sidetracked by some overall plan for our life, Scripture speaks volumes about today and all it has for us. Small deeds done are better than big deeds planned.

Do something for Him today.
                                                                   ~Rick Morse~

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Well it is still early so I decided to come here one more time before I go to bed. Our Bible study tonight was on Are we Listening to God? If we are are we also being doers of what we are hearing Him say to us? If we are being "hearers of the word and are being obedient to what we are hearing then we should follow that by being doers of the Word. When we do this then we are reaching out to others, we are loving others, and we are doing those things which God has commanded us to do. Then we are walking in God's glory  also. I'm not sure this is making sense to y-all, but it made sense to me. My notes are still in the car.

It sure is windy here tonight and cold. It never did get up to 85 today. The wind is blowing so hard that just the sound of it caused my Happydog to hide behind my chair. He is usually outside most of the day but not today.

Well Good night again this time I am really going to bed.

God Bless you all and to all a good night.

Hello everyone,  Janice here, posting Wednesday night.  Late as usual.  I have not had time to read the posts but wanted to report on our situation here.  I thank you for all your prayers, for I know you are praying for us.

Earl had a Thallium/Adenosin  stress test today.  The cardiologist told us tonight that there is some blockage behind the heart, but there had not been a heart attack.  However the goal in finding the cause of the heart failure/fluid buildup situation was to know if it is heart related or kidney related.  It is both.  

He said he recommends we do not do the heart cath right now because of his age and the situation with his kidneys.  (Damage caused by ibuprofen usage for arthritis for 20 years).  He said it could possibly cause the immediate shut down of his kidneys, and that would mean dialysis.  He will treat it with meds and hope that is all he needs, if not then we still have the option of the heart cath.  

He will get some sort of renal test done tomorrow.  They are still draining off fluid, it  totals over 2 gallons now.  

Good night, friends.  I need some sleep!  
Love in Jesus,  ~Janice

I hope you get some rest Ms Janice.


Do something for Him today.

I hope everyone will post what they did for God this day.

I have no Idea what to do for Him today...... I need a Ideas.  

Good morning everyone.  What a long night of the soul last night was - no sleep at all and feeling yuck this morning.  I even met up with Meika before she went to bed  

Thank you Pat for the devotional.  It reminds me of the scripture relating to King Hezekiah:

"And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered."

I do hope and pray that we all might be as enthusiastic towards the people of God.  These are nice thoughts for this afternoon.

God bless all and I look forward to your fellowship today.

Anthony.

Janice, what a traumatic time for you and your husband.  I am so sorry to hear about the illness that Earl is suffering.  Thank you for keeping us informed and prayer and more prayer is what we need to do I think.  This could be the thing that we do for Him today.  The Lord richly bless you both.

Hi everyone.  Anthony, I agree that we must keep Earl in our prayers and Janice as well.  I sure hope the medicines will be able to keep him off of dialysis as know that is not a pleasant, though sometimes very necessary, thing to do.

We are having rain here this morning.  It started around 5 am.  We are getting some thunder in the distance now.

I am feeling the results of the heart cath on Monday.  Didn't feel very good last evening and went to bed at 8:30 as was very tired.  Not feeling too good this morning but it may be related to the new medicine I am taking.  Things progressed well yesterday in that I talked with the EECP nurse and got the referral from my cardiologist in the mail.  The nurse has contacted my doctor to get my records and I have a consultation with the cardilogist at the EECP center on the 28th.  

Pat, the devotional this morning makes one think of how often we here that the solving of this problem or that is someone else's responsibility.  I have often wondered who the "they" is we here so often referred to in news articles.

It is time to go have coffee with my retired friends that will get me out of the house for a little while today.  Hope everyone has a good day.

"Do something for God today."  A great thought Pat.  I couldn't help but think of the familiar:   Matt 25:37-40  "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'  "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'  (NIV)

Janice, thanks for keeping us with Earl's situation.  We continue to remember him in our prayers.

Mieta, what do we have in the works to do today?  Well I guess we hesitate to say, "Look at me, this is what I am doing for the Lord."  Right?  But most everyday there are little things as Christians we can do for the Lord.  Today we are going to the funeral of a friend who passed away day before yesterday.  It was announced at church that we wanted to furnish food for the family because many were coming from out of town.  Cornelia is baking a half of a ham this morning which we will take to help feed some 60 people who will gather at the home after the funeral.  One thing you can do is to be kind to others.  Go out of your way to say something good to someone which will make him/her feel better.  Just be nice to others.

Anthony, I'm sorry you didn't sleep well last night.  I have a night like that now and then and the next day feel yucky all day.  I hope you sleep better tonight.

Larry, I hope you take care of yourself.  Don't try to do too much.  We pray that your treatments whatever is decided will be just what you need.

--- Papa John              <)))><<

 

Good Morning: What will I do for God today. Well I will just have to wait and see what opportunity He brings my way. Maybe He will bring me someone to pray for, or to give a ride, What ever He brings me I pray that I will recognize His hand in it and that I will be obedient to Him.

That stray dog showed up around here again yesterday looking thinner thatn before, i put food out for her, but I don't know if she came back to eat.  I put it by the big bucket of water where she came to drink the last time she was here. I never put food ouside because I don't want coyotes in the yard, but I had to at least make the effort to feed that poor dog.

I will be back. TTYL

This is so weird I came in here last night and saw different post.  I must have been so tired because I thought for sure Anthony had posted last night at 10:something.  Hmmmm..... I must get to sleep earlier.

I will keep in mind today all the things I do for the Lord today.  

Chandraya has dance this morning so I am off to get her ready for that.  

Larry I will be praying for you. I hope you feel better.

I found the conversation about forgiveness interesting.  Most of us Christians, I'm sorry to have to say, don't know what forgiveness is.  It isn't getting rid of all bad feelings - we really can't do that.  But what we can do is to deliberately decide not to dwell in our minds on the wrongs done to us.  And we can absolutely not bring them up in conversation.  The Greek for forgiveness is quite descriptive - it means to remit.  You are owed a bill.  You give the person who owes it a piece of paper on which is written that it has been paid in full - you will no longer hold it against them.
So we can do with others in our lives.  We can simply decide not to bring up the debt in our minds or in conversation.  Dismiss it.  Deliberately stop dwelling on it.
And, we certainly can and ought to honor mothers and fathers - no matter what they have done.  But what does that mean?  It doesn't mean we have to enjoy what they've done or said.  It does mean we pray for them and do good to them - as much as possible.  But we don't have to love what they've done.  Their sin is sin.  We must call it by its name - sin.  But we can forgive it in our own mind and heart (see above).  Evil is anything God's Word says is evil.  Evil is anything God's Word says is sin.  But we can forgive the people who have sinned against us.

  It was my wish today to do something ONLY for God today. Every day I try to be kind to others. sometimes I try to help when I can at the mission.

I know if I do these things to help others, God say I do this unto Him, but, it was my wish to do something ONLY for God today.   I had a giggle and thought I will plant for Him a flower on the hill today - only for Him. and only I will know it. (I thought Mr Anthony would like this too, because Mother nature get most all the flowers and God must create them all  ) (I love you Mr Anthony  ) But then I thought my flower would be a idol   because every time I look at it I would think of God, and perhaps I will pray by this flower at times.   So a flower is not so good Idea, I think God put them just where he want them already, yes?
I decide to use "my gift" today. I have never thought to do it. I will see if perhaps I can help to teach the deaf children to read. I will start at the library and ask them and then to the city councel building. I hope someone will help me find a way. And I love you God  

Have a good day everyone, OK?

Mr Hanna I am So glad to see you here, I am happy you get to spend some time today with friends.

Ms Marilyn I am sad about the dog   I hope he will find a home.

Mr Papa John, your words are always SO wise. They are just what I need at times. It is my wish to one day have this gift of words. I hope I can one day be of help to others, as you are today to me.

It's so good to see so many people posting today.  Papa John, I loved the scripture quote from Matthew.  I am glad that we are not called upon to do the impossible.  Just a cup of cold water given in christian love can honour God.

Larry, you are really going through it at the moment aren't you?  I do trust that you will start to feel a bit better through the day and the results will be good news.

Sonja, hope all goes well with the dance lessons.

Al, I am so glad you mentioned honouring Fathers and Mothers - how wicked it would be to place one above the other.

Meika,

QuoteI had a giggle and thought I will plant for Him a flower on the hill today - only for Him. and only I will know it. (I thought Mr Anthony would like this too, because Mother nature get most all the flowers and God must create them all  )

So the Father gets to do all the work and the Mother enjoys the fruits of His labours - how true of life  Seriously, I do hope that your plans regarding the deaf children can come to fruition.  Remember, that sometimes we make plans and later we realise that God has a different idea for us, but I am sure that the Lord will guide you to something that will honour Him.

I am going to do some housework now, so I will see you all later.

Anthony.

Thank you, Pat, for the devotion for today.  It reminds me of hearing once....'well, we all can't be executives.  Some one has to pick up the trash'.   It takes all types of people to work in God's world.  I feel the little things we do for God is just as important as the big things.  We all can't be ministers/ missionaries.  But thank God, there are ministers/missionaries.

Good Morning Marilyn ~ It sounds like you had a great Bible study.  Very powerful message.

Janice ~ You better believe we have been sending prayers up for Earl and you.  My, 2 gallons of fluid.  He must have been very uncomfortable and in pain.  He is in good hands...God and the doctors.  Get your rest and rest assured, we all will continue praying for Earl and you and the rest of your family.

Mieka ~ Yes, do something for him today.  I am praying that all I do today is for him.  I pray that I have a right mind to give God all the glory today and every day.

Anthony ~ Sorry to hear of your sleepless night.  My morning devotion was about sleepless nights.  Get up, read your Bible....devote that time to God.  Say prayers for others.

Larry ~ Sorry that you are feeling the effects from your heart cath but that probably is to be expected.  But happy to hear you are going out for coffee with your retired friends.  That is good medicine.

Papa John ~ Our church has dinners for funerals as well as my sister's church.  When mom and dad passed away, it was so nice to go to the church for dinner and fellowship with friends and relatives.  A wonderful jester.

Sonja ~ What is really confusing is when you take a nap...someday you will do that...and when you awaken, you think it is morning but it is really evening.

Al ~ I like your forgiveness definition.  But I have heard that you have forgive but you may never forget.  How does that fit in?  Or is it when we forgive, we must forget...so we won't bring it up again.  

Mieka ~ What a wonderful idea...to help teach deaf children to read.  When I was young I learned the alphabet in sign language.  I still know it but I don't know any of the....what do you call it?....phrases or word signs.  That would be wonderful.   But then your idea to plant a flower for God is good too.

My morning started late today.  I slept so hard that I didn't want to get out of bed.  Maybe my mind was saying sleep good because you have to get up real early tomorrow.  Ivalou has to be in downtown Indy by 7AM.  That is early when you are retired!  

I am missing Jerry on IM this morning.  He was to be to the church by 7AM to set up the sound system for some women who were renting some rooms in our church for the day.  Home Extension Homemakers...or something like that.  Then he goes back tonight for rehearsal since we are manning the lights and sound this Sunday.

I am going with Ivalou to her church tonight for a Mother/Daughter Banquet.  They even asked me to be a greeter at one of the doors.  That will be great.  I will get to see and talk to people I maybe haven't seen or talked to for years.  I am looking forward to it.

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"Always take your rainbow with you!"

Good morning, all! Sorry that I didn't post yesterday; I'm still grieving, and I didn't want to bring anyone "down". I did read the devotional and the posts, and that helped. At church. last night,Pastor spoke on "Why I Believe In Hell", and just as soon as he started, our tornado warning sirens went off, so we all had to go into the hallway, and he finished the lesson there! There were several tornados sighted, but none touched down, thank you, Lord! Oh, well, that is spring in central Illinois! You folks all take care, and I will check in later. I have to do some missionary cards for our Lord today, and I'd better get busy!

It is just wonderful to drop on by and see that someone has acknowledged my little posts - I will really try to make sure that anyone who mentions something to me will not be forgotten.  I tend to read things through but not always take notes.  

Sonja:  Thanks - your note is so appreciated.  I am glad that your camera is working.  

Marilyn:  Your message means so much to me - am sorry that Happy Dog was scared of the wind.  

Etta Sue:  Thanks for your message - you have such a good outlook on life.

Pat:  Do something for Him today - This should be foremost in our minds on a daily basis.  Thanks for the reminder.

Mieka:  Teaching deaf to read - what a wondeful idea.  

Larry:  Continued prayers for your health and med stabilization.

Al:  Your post about forgiveness and the dismissing of any sour ideas is so good.  It is so unhealthy to keep a grudge and not the Christian attitude.  

Don is much better today and can move his left arm.  Sore but mending.  Thank all of you for your concerns. Carol

"Al ~ I like your forgiveness definition.  But I have heard that you have forgive but you may never forget.  How does that fit in?  Or is it when we forgive, we must forget...so we won't bring it up again."  
Etta Sue - we're not called upon to forget, but we are called upon to not dwell on the wrong.  Our memory is hard to control, but what we do with it - that's the important thing.

Hello Cami!  

You were posting at the same time.  It must be so stressful to hear the sirens and waiting for the all-clear.  You can say anything in here - we are good listeners.  Carol

Hi all,

Just some quick thoughts I had when reading your postings--thought I would share them (hope I can remember them all)

Janice, my prayers are with you.

Larry, praying for quick recovery for you.

Meika, You have already done something for the LORD today.  You have received a thought from GOD and you chose to act on it.

By expressing your desire to please HIM only and posting it here; has all of us who read it thinking. Thinking about HIS love and how we can please HIM.

Yes, Meika, you have already succeeded in your quest to please the LORD.

Thank you , dear one,

Etta, you mentioned angels and boy did that bring a smile to my face.  My Daughter in law started giving me angels so long ago.
I know that angels are mentioned in the bible but if you ask some people if they ever saw one; they would hesitate and probably say --no-- but did they ??

WHen I went on SN forums; I was directed(the good LORD placed it in my heart) to go to the religious forums.  I knew nothing much to contribute but oh, sweet Al was there and his bible studies were awesome; so is for me to understand.

Then our dear Nita (she is posting here now in photos) and Janie shared their love for the LORD. In all of their troubles they made HIS love for me come alive.

Dear Nita posted and email to me directly at a time when I needed it the most. She saw my need for comfort and how I thirst and hungered for the LORD --my dear cousin passed away from cancer of the liver at such a young age and it troubled me so.  

But Nita's email comforted me so that I wondered;

Aren't these special people who come into our lives at special times when we need them sent from our Heavenly Father ??

By the way, my cousin who passed on was named --Anita ---

Just a thought,

Love in CHrist,
Joyce

Quote from: Cami on May 15, 2003, 12:40:00 PM
Good morning, all! Sorry that I didn't post yesterday; I'm still grieving, and I didn't want to bring anyone "down".

Ms Cami,

I hope you will forgive me.
It is my wish to be a friend. And while you grieving it is ok to share your trouble with a friend.
When my friends are sad I too am sad, but it is only to take some of the sadness from them so they do not need to carry it alone.

when I am sad I think of these words, it is often a help to me.
When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight. ~Gibran Khalil

there is good even in bad sometimes.  

Cami ~ I didn't realize you were a neighbor.  Central Indiana and central Illinois.  I am NE of Indy, tho.  We certainly did have a lot of bad weather last night.  I haven't turned on the TV or the radio today so I don't know if there was any damage by the storms or not.

Carol ~ So happy to hear that hubby is better today.  Don't think about what coulda been, think about what is.  But thank God that He had his loving arms around hubby when he fell.

Al ~ Good.  I find that I forgive and it is out of my mind.  Then something I see or do brings it back momentarily.  Then I remember that I forgave that...go on...or give it to God.  

Joyce ~ Yes, I believe we have angels in human form as well.  People that are there with you at the right time and the right place.  Later, you realize they helped make a very significant change in your life.  

Mieka ~ You have wonderful words of wisdom....

QuoteWhen my friends are sad I too am sad, but it is only to take some of the sadness from them so they do not need to carry it alone.

What a wonderful thought.  I am always at lost for words when I attend a visitation at a funeral home.  I pray that I will remember these words.

Hi, friends,

I couldn't check in yesterday so, of course, you discussed a topic that means a lot to me - forgiveness.

I'll go back and read what y'all have written. Before I do that, though, I am reminded of the phrase in the Lord's Prayer, "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who tresspass against us."

Once I had a most heinous act perpetrated upon one of my children. I grew pretty bitter because essentially that child's life was forever altered by what was done.

There came a time when I HAD to be around the perpetrator. I didn't see how I could do this. Finally, I was reminded of that phrase and how COULD I do otherwise than to forgive, ask God to hold out His big hands to catch my feelings about that person and to know I was placing that person in His hands, then I turned hands down and released this to Him. (I guess some folks might call that a "hands down commitment.")

What RELIEF! After I cried many tears, I slept well that night. And, although I have had to have casual contact with that person for many years, there is no animosity left. However, I will admit to being very careful what I say and do in their presence.

Ruth Ann

Hello Everyone!

Well, I'm just in from Hamilton.  I had to take my neighbour down to the Cancer Centre and we stopped for a cup of coffee on the way home.

It's so nice to be able to see all the posts that you've made today.  Today is a drizzly day...  It's not raining heavily but it's raining enough to need the wipers on every so often and too wet to work in the garden.

Carol, how are your plans now for moving?  You aren't, right?  I forget!  


I'm so sorry that you are going through all of this with Earl, Janice.  It's just sounding like what I was going through with Jack very often.  That fluid sure makes it painful around the heart.  I've been missing Jack so much the last few days and just reading what you're going through brings back all those memories again.


Too bad you didn't sleep well, Anthony.  Hopefully you'll have a better night tonight.


Hello Mieka!


I'm glad that you're able to get to have coffee with your friends, Larry.  I do pray that you'll be feeling better soon.  I will continue to pray for you my dear friend.


Thanks so much for your little devotional thoughts, Papa John.  


Are you having a good day today, Marilyn?


How's Zachery doing, Sonja?  Is he feeling better now than he was?


I always appreciate your posts too, Al Moak!  What a good little explanation on "forgiveness"!  Thanks for that!

QuoteI am so glad you mentioned honouring Fathers and Mothers - how wicked it would be to place one above the other.

Anthony, I don't think anyone was placing one above the other.  It's just that Father's Day still has to come!  That was always a great day in our home.  Jack loved it!  
In my circle of friends, Father's Day and Mother's Day are treated similarly.  In fact I think maybe Father's have a better time sometimes getting BBQ tools and other hardware and Mother's get only flowers!  


Glad you enjoyed the devotion, Etta Sue.  It's good to hear that it was a blessing to people.


Cami, I got your email regarding "I'm a llama".  If you click on the "Profile" button, you can put whatever you wish in that area.  It's just that the software puts that there for everyone when they first register.


Carol:  

Quote- This should be foremost in our minds on a daily basis.  Thanks for the reminder.

That's so true.  


Joyce, it's great to see you posting.  I hope we'll see you every day!  I hope that Nita is starting to feel better and that we'll see her here again very soon.


Hi Ruth Ann...  As far as forgivness is concerned, it really is difficult sometimes, isn't it?  I admire people who can forgive people so quickly when wronged.  


Well, I must go and do my Avon order and my bank deposit and then I'll check back in here a little later.

Papa John ~ I hope you aren't going to use the excuse that your last grand daughter has gotten married so I can't post any more photo's of yourself and the lovely Cornelia.

I am home for a short! The seminar was for the Hancock County Memorial Hospital. They had Dr. Kaiser from Colorado as speaker and it was about the cost of hospital care and what the Hospital community and the churches can do to help. There were a lot of dignitaries from around the area there. The Mayor of Indianapolis wife was there and a state senator and mayor of Greenfield, Doctors, police and well if you can imagine who was there they probably were. It was a great speech and the question and answers afterward were also interesting!

Well I have been browsing through here and SN, doing some typing for my web site. To Bebes Pet Page I have added a new paragraph of the story of Rainbow Bridge, I found the story in a book here at the libray that I was browsing through and copied it to the site. I had made reference to it a couple of times in reference to Papa Johns dog wrinkles and Geordie's pal Victor. Other than all that it has been a quiet day at the Lucerne valley Library. I am well and blessed as always. I sure am thankful that Ido not suffer with any sickness or disease. I am a very healthy person.

TTYL

Marilyn

Well, just stopping in for a sec.  I have to leave in an hour.  I love spending time with these women at Ivalou's church so I know it will be a great time.  Besides the men are doing the cooking tonight...

It is quite cool and I don't have any idea what I am going to wear...

It is way early but I will have to get to bed soon after I get home because of rising so early in the morning.  So I pray that everyone gets a good night's rest tonight.  No night prowlers, okay?  

God Bless All of You..

Quote from: Pat Scott on May 15, 2003, 04:53:40 PM


Hello Mieka!

Everyone get a SO many words, and I only get a "hello mieka"
are you mad?  

Mieka ~ You made me LOL.  You are a cutie.


Okay, Pat....Mieka wants an answer!!!!!

  I did not post fast enough, I think she is gone

I am having a slow day here.  Lila, Chandraya and Zachery are all sleeping and Troy is delivering the newspapers.  

I am wondering if i should sell my garage sale stuff on Ebay or in a garage sale this summer.  
Does anyone here know anything about selling stuff on ebay?  What are your thoughts?

Pat, Zachery is doing good.  They did more blood work on him and it shows he is still pretty low on iron so we will up the dose to 750 mg a day.  That is a lot, but he needs it.  He is looking good other then that.

Mieka, did you go to the library?  I haven't had the chance yet.  

Mieka, I will give you more than a "Hello Mieka."  I wanted to say something more about this quote from you.
 

QuoteWhen my friends are sad I too am sad, but it is only to take some of the sadness from them so they do not need to carry it alone.

It made me think that this is exactly what we are told to do in the Bible.   Rom 12:15  Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.  (NKJ)  One of the most wonderful chapters in the Bible is the 12th chapter of Romans.

Good to see so many in today.  I wish I could comment on everyone's thoughts but I won't try today.  I haven't been feeling as well today.  I think it is because I ran out of some of the doctor's pain medicine.  Cornelia called to get the prescription  renewed.  So I should feel better tomorrow.  My troubles are so small compared with most people's.  Larry, I'm praying that you will get just the right solutions to your condition.

Anthony, take care brother, and sleep well tonight.

--- Papa John              <)))><<