Christian Photographers Community

Morning Devotional...


Made for a Purpose

I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.
  --ISAIAH 48:17

JUST as God leads me I would go;
I would not ask to choose my way;
Content with what He will bestow,
Assured He will not let me stray.
So as He leads, my path I make,
And step by step I gladly take,
A child in Him confiding.
  --LAMPERTUS GEDICKE

HE has not made us for nought; He has brought us thus far, in order to bring us further, in order to bring us on to the end. He will never leave us nor forsake us; so that we may boldly say, "The Lord is my Helper; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me." We "may cast all our care upon Him who careth for us." What is it to us how our future path lies, if it be but His path? What is it to us whither it leads us, so that in the end it leads to Him? What is it to us what He puts upon us, so that He enables us to undergo it with a pure conscience, a true heart, not desiring anything of this world in comparison of Him? What is it to us what terror befalls us, if He be but a hand to protect and strengthen us?
  --JOHN HENRY NEWMAN

Well well I came in to say good night and here I am first to say Good Morning to all our brothers and sisters across the sea.

So good night on this side of the world and Good morning to the other side.

being a home-schooling mom is sure a full-time job, isn't it?

Hi Janet,
Yes it is a full time job but, I really love being able to teach my children.
I am in the process of making a school room in our family room as we don't use
it-other then the laundry room being down there.
Well, I will post more tomorrow I am busy getting ready for the day.
Hugs
Rachelle

Praise You Lord God of Hosts. This is the most wonderful devotional and perfect timing.

My son Christopher has just got a new job in the library at Cardinal Newman College and the words of the devotional are so meaningful for us both.

The Lord bless you dear Pat.
and all C.P'ers

Jenny.

Well, Jenny, I know he loves books because of the time he worked in the bookstore. How wonderful indeed to be able to work in a college library. Imagine the potential for research and self fulfillment through workign with books.

Y'all have a really good day today.

I'm leaving early since the President will arrive soon to make an address here in our fair city, and my workplace is within minutes of the airport, I imagine the roads will be blocked later on this morning.

Oh, yes, my son is still dealing with the terrible headaches. However, he has been successful in greatly reducing the number and type of medications he's taking, so that's encouraging. Thanks for asking.

Ruth Ann

morning everyone,
well i have an off day today so it will be easy..... which is probably good cuz i stayed up too late last night.. couldn't  sleep very much well anyways i need to finish getting ready to leave ttyl
Sarah

Marilyn - I deleted the post you requested.  

Hello, everyone!  Soni, thanks for the devotional

Maybe I'll get a chance to post more later, but I hope all of you have a great day!

Nard

Good morning to each one.  Just a little note this morning.  Yesterday was a little difficult for me.  I told Cornelia last night I didn’t feel good.  She wanted to know what was wrong and I had to say I didn’t know I just didn’t feel good.  Sometimes the aches and pains just kind of accumulate.  But there are better times to come.

Rev 21:3-4  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.  He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."  (NIV)

--- Papa John          <)))><<   
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Hi everyone.  Not much new here.  This afternoon I will go to Calvin Cove to sing with and play for the adult day care folks.  Then this evening Pat and I have been invited out to eat by the folks I helped with their computer last week.  We are going to a bar-b-que place.

Papa John, sorry to read that you didn't very well yesterday and do hope you are feeling better today.

Jenny, I hope your son enjoys his new position in the library.  I should think that would be a very interesting place to work.  The college libraries I have been in have such wonderful collections of materials of so many scholarly journals. 

Rachelle, it sounds like you will have a regular type school room to use.  I admire persons who do the home schooling as know it takes a lot of work and planning and dedication.

Sonja, thanks for the devotional today.

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Thank you Soni, I forgot to tell you that last night. Very meaningful to me today too.

I have been using my time off for some productive things around my house, I am cleaning out the boxes that have remained packed since I moved last year and getting rid of a lot of stuff and finding things I had no idea where they were. So far  have 4 big boxes to go to the Salvation Army. I also ran the virus scan on the computer.

Hey Papa John you can be feeling bad, the Joy of the Lord is your strength.  Starighten up will ya?

QuoteRev 21:3-4  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.  He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."  (NIV)

Oh the joy that day will bring to all of us. Thank you Papa John.

TTYL[/b]

Good morning (almost afternoon!)    I finally got a good night's rest....it seems like it's been forever!   Never take for granted the ability to sleep comfortably.

Last week, my daughter lost her new $200 retainer.   We went in to get molds made for a replacement and thank God, she found the lost one the very next day (so we didn't have to pay for a replacement!)    So yesterday, we went in to the dentist for an adjustment....and within an hour of coming home, she had lost it AGAIN!

We have searched high and low.  I have no idea where it could be.   She didn't go anyplace, so I know it has to be in the house someplace.  Please keep my patience, and finding that thing in your prayers!    She is 9 yrs old and the whole "responsibility" issue is very quickly becoming a problem.   Thanks!

Well, the doctor said that the blood test showed two items are elevated.  My cholesterol count is fine with a ratio 2.8% which is excellent but my liver profile is still higher than average and a new thing showed up.  It was a bunch of letters and something to do with cardiovascular.  Suppose to be a 3 or lower....mine is 5.3.  So he changed my medicine again and I am to go back just before Thanksgiving for another blood test and see the doctor right after Thanksgiving.  Hope this new medicine will do the trick! 

Ivalou and I went shopping and I purchased a king-size flat bed sheet.  I get too hot in the night.  I wake up several times sweaty but if I throw back the covers, I get too cold.  So I made the sheet a bedspread by trimming the edges down and curving the corners.  I slept soooo good last night.  I read that several of us had a good night's rest.   

The trap man brought back the trap.  So it is baited with an apple but no groundhog this morning.

I found out what Ivalou is going to do for my birthday.  Marge, one of the ladies that went with us to Precious Moments has her birthday the same day as mine.  Ivalou is taking all three of us to a little town about 25 miles away.  It is the home town of the Gaither's!!!!!  They have a Family Resource Center there with little specialy shops and a Latte Cafe.  I even printed out coupons for us at one of the shops.  I will be sure to take my camera so I can share our birthday with all of you.  I am hoping to purchase some CD's of the Gaither's.  If you have seen the video of 'The Gaither's at the Paramount', that theater is in Anderson...just east of me.  It is a beautiful theater.  It was closed for awhile but recently renovated and they have wonderful shows there now.  Ivalou and I saw the Temptations there last winter!!!!

Gotta get caught up on the net!!!

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'The rain falls on the just and the unjust, but chiefly on the just, because the unjust steals the just's umbrella.'

Greeting to all you wonderful people,

      I have been so caught up with Miss cheryl.. She is really doing well, this week.. I have been so tired from getting up 6 times a night to check on her..

      Soni, Thank you for the devotional, I am always ready to go where Father God wants me to.. I am so glad he is the leader in my life..

      Papa John, I am so sorry to hear your not feeling well.. I am lifting you up to our Heavenly Father today and always..

      Marilyn, It is so nice to see you. How are you?? I hope not to over worked.. I have finally got caught up with all my chores since they got behind with Cheryl so sick..

      Ria, Where are you?  I miss seeing you today.. God bless you..

     Larry, Hope you all have a wonderful dinner.. I love B-B-Q.. You do so much for others.. god Bless you..

     Ruth Ann, Hope your work day is great.. You are always so busy with work.. God bless you..

     Etta Sue, I hope all you have a great time out together.. Sounds like a wonderful day planned.. god be with you.

     All my love is sent to everyone here at CP...May you all rest in the Lord today.. I will be back later.. I sure missed everyone here..
    I feel so alone when I don't get here to see how every one is doing.. But I"m back.. HA

     

     

     

"Sanctified Afflictions are spiritual promotions~~Matthew Henry"  Janet - I hope I've got the right handle on this, but here's my thinking, anyway.  We all suffer at least occasional afflictions or various sorts.  Yesterday, for instance, a left my thumb in the car doorway, then shut the door (not very hard, thankfully).  No permanent damage to thumb.  Not even broken.  But hurt!  Now how could I find anything good in THAT?  Well, I read Romans 5: 3, 4 and see that it says, "...and not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character hope.  Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us."
It just means that we learn from experience, even hard experience.  But it has to be "sanctified" experience.  That just means that God seperates it from all other experience and blesses it in some way so that it produces ultimate good for us.  My thumb was used to make me turn to God (quickly) for help, and, later, for thanksgiving (because it wasn't permanently injured).  I don't turn to God enough during any of my days, so that was a good thing, though I don't recommend any one try deliberately to reproduce the experience!  
Simply put, God takes our experiences and blesses the results so that we'll grow and be blessed some way.
I think that's all Matthew Henry's quote means.

Thank-you for that Pastor. A word in season.
Jenny 

                                             Tuesday, August 31, 2004

\  / Charles Spurgeon's MORNING & EVENING



MORNING:

        "On mine arm shall they trust."
               -- Isaiah 51:5

In seasons of severe trial, the Christian has nothing on earth that he can
trust to, and is therefore compelled to cast himself on his God alone. When
his vessel is on its beam-ends, and no human deliverance can avail, he must
simply and entirely trust himself to the providence and care of God. Happy
storm that wrecks a man on such a rock as this! O blessed hurricane that
drives the soul to God and God alone! There is no getting at our God
sometimes because of the multitude of our
friends; but when a man is so poor, so friendless, so helpless that he has
nowhere else to turn, he flies into his Father's arms, and is blessedly
clasped therein! When he is burdened with troubles so
pressing and so peculiar, that he cannot tell them to any but his God, he
may be thankful for them; for he will learn more of his Lord then than at
any other time. Oh, tempest-tossed believer, it is a happy trouble that
drives thee to thy Father! Now that thou hast only thy God to trust to, see
that thou puttest thy full confidence in him. Dishonour not thy Lord and
Master by unworthy doubts and fears; but be strong in faith, giving glory to
God. Show the world that thy God is worth ten thousand worlds to thee. Show
rich men how rich thou art in thy poverty when the Lord God is thy helper.
Show the strong man how strong thou art in thy weakness when underneath thee
are the
everlasting arms. Now is the time for feats of faith and valiant exploits.
Be strong and very courageous, and the Lord thy God shall certainly, as
surely as he built the heavens and the earth, glorify himself in thy
weakness, and magnify his might in the midst of thy distress. The grandeur
of the arch of heaven would be spoiled if the sky were supported by a single
visible column, and your faith would lose its glory if it rested on anything
discernible by the carnal eye.

May the Holy Spirit give you to rest in Jesus this closing day of the month.

                             



August 31   

Evangelism: Coming Home

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive
you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. 
--John 14:3

Some years ago one of our national Christian brothers from the land
of Thailand gave his testimony in my hearing. He told what it had
meant in his life and for his future when the missionaries came with
the good news of the gospel of Christ.

He described the godly life of one of the early missionaries and then
said: "He is in the Father's house now."

He told of one of the missionary women and the love of Christ she had
displayed, and then said: "She is in the Father's house now."

What a vision for a humble Christian who only a generation before had
been a pagan, worshiping idols and spirits--and now because of grace
and mercy he talks about the Father's house as though it were just a
step away, across the street.

This is the gospel of Christ--the kind of Christianity I believe in.
What joy to discover that God is not mad at us and that we are His
children.... What a hope that makes it possible for the Lord's people
to lie down quietly when the time comes and whisper, "Father, I am
coming home!"  Echoes from Eden, 50-51.

"Thank you, Lord, for this incredible truth! And this is the message
of hope that we share as we proclaim the Gospel! Let me do it
joyfully today. Amen."

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Hello!

I have another busy day here.  School starts tomorrow for Chandraya and I start schooling the boys again.  We got some great math books for the boys to work through from the library.  I wonder if they would let me keep checking them out. hehehe...  or at least copy a few pages.

I better get.  hope you all have a great day!
Soni

I'm sorry for being absent but I have a great dose of the flu.  I've just been reading posts and had to reply to yours, Janet...

Quote from: Janet on August 30, 2004, 06:04:54 PM
Quote from this morning's NEM:

Sanctified Afflictions are spiritual promotions~~Matthew Henry

Would someone please explain this to me? I am not sure I agree with it...... But am willing to listen to an explanation. Then if it threatens my faith, I will discard it, because it was spoken by a man, not in the Word.

Matthew Henry's commentaries are well known and highly respected and this is from his commentary on Genesis 7:17-20...

17 And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth.   
18 And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters.   
19 And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered.   
20 Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered.

      We are here told,

      I. How long the flood was increasing--forty days, v. 17. The profane world, who believed not that it would come, probably when it came flattered themselves with hopes that it would soon abate and never come to extremity; but still it increased, it prevailed. Note, 1. When God judges he will overcome. If he begin, he will make an end; his way is perfect, both in judgment and mercy. 2. The gradual approaches and advances of God's judgments, which are designed to bring sinners to repentance, are often abused to the hardening of them in their presumption.

      II. To what degree they increased: they rose so high that not only the low flat countries were deluged, but to make sure work, and that none might escape, the tops of the highest mountains were overflowed--fifteen cubits, that is, seven yards and a half; so that in vain was salvation hoped for from hills or mountains, Jer. iii. 23. None of God's creatures are so high but his power can overtop them; and he will make them know that wherein they deal proudly he is above them. Perhaps the tops of the mountains were washed down by the strength of the waters, which helped much towards the prevailing of the waters above them; for it is said (Job xii. 15), He sends out the waters, and they not only overflow, but overturn, the earth. Thus the refuge of lies was swept away, and the waters overflowed the hiding-place of those sinners (Isa. xxviii. 17), and in vain they fly to them for safety, Rev. vi. 16. Now the mountains departed, and the hills were removed, and nothing stood a man in stead but the covenant of peace, Isa. liv. 10. There is no place on earth so high as to set men out of the reach of God's judgments, Jer. xlix. 16; Obad. 3, 4. God's hand will find out all his enemies, Ps. xxi. 8. Observe how exactly they are fathomed (fifteen cubits), not by Noah's plummet, but by his knowledge who weighs the waters by measure, Job xxviii. 25.

      III. What became of Noah's ark when the waters thus increased: It was lifted up above the earth (v. 17), and went upon the face of the waters, v. 18. When all other buildings were demolished by the waters, and buried under them, the ark alone subsisted. Observe, 1. The waters which broke down every thing else bore up the ark. That which to unbelievers is a savour of death unto death is to the faithful a savour of life unto life. 2. The more the waters increased the higher the ark was lifted up towards heaven. Thus sanctified afflictions are spiritual promotions; and as troubles abound consolations much more abound.

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  Talking Jesus Action Doll
12" with full articulation and he will recite the 10 commandments
What on earth is this?  Are my eyes deceiving me?

I know that by coming here only occasionally I don't have much of a voice, nor the eyes that see everything that is posted but my eyes could not overlook this.  Have I missed something that could explain this away?

Is this what we want to be known by, are we not representing a higher standard, a true knowledge of God.  I do understand that we are experiencing God on different levels, some as babes in Christ, some as a bit more mature, but in none of this growth we share in common do I see room for a talking Jesus doll.
A play toy for children or a stumbling block for babes?   Surely a "thorn" in the flesh of many, or am I the only one here that objects?

May the Lord give us His wisdom and discernment in all matters.

In His love,

Margit


       

Google Ads

If any of you see an ad that you don't think appropriate for our site, would you please send me the URL of the ad?

Google has "crawled" our site and automatically, ads appear at the top of the page to do with something on that page.  I've not seen anything about a Talking Jesus Doll.

But I might not have been on the same page, Margit.  For instance if you go to the Photos Here, area, you'll see ads to do with Photography.

Or if you go to the Kitchen, you'll see ads about recipes, etc.

Maybe someone mentioned something about a doll.  I don't know but if you get me the URL, it would help.

Margit, to try to explain a little more...

Pat has added Google's "Ad Sense" to the site. This is a "Pay Per Click" system that results in money for, in this case, www.christianphotographers.com.  Every time a user clicks on one of those ads, it costs the advertiser a certain amount of money, and a PORTION of that money comes to Pat.  She has done this to try to help defray the cost of running the site. 

Google has a very complicated and very effective way that they do these ads.  They actually analyze the page that you are looking at for content and context.  These are called "context sensitive" ads.  The idea is that they serve up ads for stuff that the person viewing the page MIGHT be interested in.  Sometimes, as we have witnessed here, there are factors that they don't take into account.  We talk a lot about Christianity and Jesus, so Google thought we might be interested in Jesus dolls.  Now that we've mentioned them a few times, we will probably see the ad even more. 

However!  Pat has the right to tell Google not to allow certain ads to be on the site.  If we see offensive ads such as these, we need to click on the link to see what the site url is, then copy that and email or PM it to Pat.  Then, she can go to Google and tell them not to serve that ad up any more on CP. 

Let's all please make sure we understand - neither Pat, nor the moderators, are telling Google what to put up ads for.  The context of our discussion does that.  We're not directly selling advertising to these sites or businesses.   We definitely don't want offensive ads on the site, so we need your feedback when you see them.  The Jesus doll, for instance, is not something that CP is trying to sell or even to promote.  But SOMEONE is, and that person is buying advertising time through Google.  As a result, Google puts the ad up on sites that they THINK would be interested.  Does that make sense? 

You may see ads for VERY anti-religious things.  LET PAT KNOW.  She will take care of it.  Please don't misunderstand and think that the site admins have suddenly become anti-religious.  This is very important.

Margit - thanks for bringing this up.  This is definitely one we didn't know about and would like to eliminate.  If anyone sees the link again, please email or PM the URL to Pat so she can block it.

Another thing, Google is VERY smart.  Please don't try the trick of clicking repeatedly on the same ad just to get money for CP.  It doesn't work that way - they know what you are doing when you do that, and they ignore it. 

To any who may have been offended by this particular ad or others like it, please accept our apologies.  We also ask that you help us find ads like these so that we can block them. 

Thanks!  I really hope it makes sense.

Excellent a n a l y s i s, Nards. I appreciate the thoroughness with which you discussed this. It has helped me a lot.

I clicked on an ad yesterday and saw some interesting information that I sent to my son about worship materials. Since he's a worship leader in their church, I thought it might help their praise and worship team.

Y'all have a good evening.

Ruth Ann

We have been away all day, so I'm just now getting here to CP.  Thank you, Al and Pat for the explanation.  It wasn't at all what I thought he was saying, and I'm really glad about that! 

I got the party pictures, and will work on those and get them posted soon.  I'm just really tired tonight, I think it's the past couple of weeks catching up with me.  Of course, several nights of not enough sleep add to the deficit.  We bought a "memory foam" mattress topper today, in hopes that will help us sleep more comfortably.  Report to follow in a few days..........

I barely even notice the ads, and haven't clicked on any, because my computer time is too long anyway and I don't want it getting longer.  Thanks, Nards, for the great explanation of what is happening.

Soni, thanks so much for helping Pat out by doing NEM today.  She needs to get over that nasty flu bug!  ((((hugs)))) to both Soni and Pat.

Someone from the Care Home just called to tell me that my Mom went today to have another basal cell skin cancer removed from her forehead (she has had many of those removed over the past several years) and that it started bleeding again---twice---and that now they have taken her to the hospital.  So I better go see about her.  See you tomorrow.

I have had so much trouble with my computer today. but Thank you Jesus I finally resolved the problem, but I don't know what specifically that I did because I did a lot of stuff. Uninstalling and reinstalling AOL for one thing., about 4 system restores. UGH.

I am still working on cleaning out that spare room and have  many boxes ready to go some place else. Any place else as long as threy are no longer here. I should have condensed a long time ago like before I moved. 

I have also cooked a big pot of stew, mmmm good. I am trying toeat some now but it is too hot.

Where is everyone today?

Pat I sure do hope you will be all well again soon, it seems that maybe Jenny sent her flou to you. Sorry Jenny.

TTYL

Well I know this is a little late for Tuesday morning but I'll still post.

I start school tomorrow. After this year I have one more and I'm starting to look into colleges. There are so many to choose from! Hopefully this year will go by fast. I don't know why I want it to, but I'm anxious to see what's next in my walk in life with God. Have a good night!

Hello, everyone! This is my first post in NEM, so, it might take me a while to get the hang of it.

My computer is finally fixed after two months, so, I can get on more now. (yay!) I had a meeting today with a woman who works at a local Catholic school. You see, I'm working on my "Eagle Project" for boy scouts, and I need to repaint her parking lot. Anyway, the meeting went well, so, that's good.

I hope that Pat gets better soon, it's unfortunate that she caught the flu at this time of year. Get well soon, Pat!

Quote from: Margit Rhone-Saunders on August 31, 2004, 04:51:27 PM
Ã,  Talking Jesus Action Doll
12" with full articulation and he will recite the 10 commandments
What on earth is this?Ã,  Are my eyes deceiving me?

I know that by coming here only occasionally I don't have much of a voice, nor the eyes that see everything that is posted but my eyes could not overlook this.Ã,  Have I missed something that could explain this away?

Is this what we want to be known by, are we not representing a higher standard, a true knowledge of God.Ã,  I do understand that we are experiencing God on different levels, some as babes in Christ, some as a bit more mature, but in none of this growth we share in common do I see room for a talking Jesus doll.
A play toy for children or a stumbling block for babes?Ã,  Ã, Surely a "thorn" in the flesh of many, or am I the only one here that objects?

May the Lord give us His wisdom and discernment in all matters.

In His love,

Margit


Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã, 

To be honest I would rather have a talking Jesus doll then an action figure or a barbie doll.  Why not?  Could teach the kids a thing or two that the parents aren't.  Just a thought.  No arguement here, just an invite for more thought.