Christian Photographers Community

Morning Devotional...


SPIRITUAL REPUTATION
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 NIV

Paul, Silas and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Grace and peace to you.

We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia--your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead--Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.
How do you think others would evaluate your spiritual life?  All of us should respond to the Good News as the Thessalonionas did:  Turn to God, serve God, and wait for his Son, Jesus Christ, to return from heaven.  We should turn from sin to God because Christ is coming to judge the earth.  We should be fervent in our service because we have little time before Christ returns.  We should be prepared for Christ to return because we don't know when he will come.
The Best of the Bible--365 Must-Read Bible Passages[/i]

Seems like it has been a long day.  I am sorry that some of you haven't been to see the Victorian Dinner pictures.  I saw them this morning but this evening, it says it is having a high volume of traffic and is temporarily unavailable.  That is good and that is bad...if you know what I mean!

Ruth Ann ~ Great news about your medical test!  Hooray!  I know that is a relief.  Glad you can listen to your music tonight, too.

Marilyn ~ Sorry about your having to move in a few months but hopefully you will find a place that doesn't have ceiling showers.  I know it isn't funny but sometimes we have to make humor out of tragedies. 

Well, the cat is crying and I need to let it back in so I can go to bed and sleep. 

See ya'll tomorrow!!!  Nighty, night!

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"I'm going to celebrate a traditional American Christmas -- the tree comes from Canada, the ornaments from Hong Kong, the lights from Japan, and the idea from Bethlehem."

Oh Etta Sue:  May I quote that?.., about the traditional Christmas I mean.  That is so good.  I must write it down, and I think I'll write it in the back of my bible!

Great devotional from you Pat for December 7th.  I am REALLY looking for the Lord's return.  I get thinking about it...then I get an real excited feeling in the pit of my stomach.

Does anyone get that feeling?

Wonder how Papa John's BIL is doing?  No news is good news I guess.

A dear friend of ours had to put their 3 yr old dog down today. He had kidney and liver failure.  They hung on as long as possible.  The sad part is, their little boy is only 9 yrs old himself, and he is so broken hearted over it all.

I don't know how to help them... I'd feel bad like this , if it were Rags... Norm especially would take it the hardest, as its really "HIS" dog!/  Rags sleeps at the bottom of his bed.

A warm welcome to all our new members.

We are doing well, averaging one or two a week!

TTY all later today!

- Judy

hello everyone,
I'm just comming in and out... i've got to get to school so i'll ttyl....
Sarah

Good Morning; Etta Sue you have done another woderful job on the devotional. Yes we do have to make light of the bad things in life that happen to us.  But God is faithful to do all things for his children that they NEED. Not necessarily the things they WANT, which may be frivolous, but those things tha twe NEED. So I have posted a prayer request HERE Please everyone pray for me. I really need prayer.

TTYL

I am up now.  I got a great night's rest.  It was raining in the night and windy.  Still raining and windy this morning but quite warm for this time of year...59°F.  It is surprising that we haven't had snow yet this season.  But I like it that way.

Today I am doing some laundry and tonight Ivalou and I are going to a niece's to a Jewelry party.  It is silver jewelry and I haven't gotten into silver jewelry as yet.  I have Turquoise and Silver Authentic Indian Jewelry but that is it. 

Ali is sitting on my desk talking to me.  She is telling me to quit typing and get her treats for her.  Really!  She is saying that!!!   

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I am very sorry that I did not welcome you aboard right away but I must have missed you in the list so I'm making up for it today and so ... please forgive me ok ? I'm here just for a little while as I've a lot of housework to do today so I might be back in again later today when I've some more FREE TIME.  So, till the next time I want to leave you with a little something I found in the book that I have called: LISTS TO LIVE BY

HEAVEN IS A PLACE ...

With no hunger ...
With no thirst ...
With no death ...
With no sadness ...
With no more pain ...
With no hard labor ...
That is beautiful.
That is magnificent.


Blessings to you & yours,
TBEAR

Some Humour


Subject: A Handful of Peanuts
A tour bus driver was driving a bus full of seniors down a highway.  He was
tapped on his shoulder by a little old lady.  She offered him a handful of
peanuts, which he gratefully munched up.After 15 minutes, she tapped him on
his shoulder again and handed him another handful of peanuts.  She repeated
this gesture about eight times.
The ninth time, he asked the little old lady why they did not eat the
peanuts themselves.  She replied that it was not possible because of their
old teeth, and they are not able to chew them. "Why do you buy them then?"
he asked puzzled. The old lady answered, "We just love the chocolate around
them."

Marilyn:  Great joke and I love chocolate as well.  Haven't thought of that idea though.

It was terrific to hear from Janet.  After all, she is very busy riding elephants and looking at ruins in Thailand. 

Etta Sue:  YOu have beautiful pictures of the Victorian luncheon.

Papa John:  It must be stressful for all to know that your relative could have such a sudden death. 

Someone asked about Jenny and she is very busy these days and doing well.

Carol

Ewwwwww, Marilyn!!! LOL

I have another busy day today.  Does life ever slow down when you have 4 kids? hehehe... I love it!

Great devotion, Etta Sue!

Cute graphics, TBear!

((hugs)) to everyone!

Soni

Good morning folks, I’m feeling a little under the weather. I might have picked up a bug. I’m staying home and trying to improve my condition. I’ll take this time and commune with God on my condition.

Hi All

Nice job Etta Sue

Hi everyone ... I have been in and out here, since returning from Eugene on Sunday evening. 

I need to let y'all know that my grandson Bryan, and his mother, are in the Sacramento area.  Bryan has rented a room in a home with a couple for $400 and he has a cell phone as well as use of the phone in the house.  He was to submit his application at Gold's Gym yesterday and he and Joy will be working on getting his DMV records cleared so he can get his driver's license.  Joy is staying in the home of a friend who, also, has given her the use of an "old" Cadillac for the time she is in the states.  I may drive down to visit with them after my doctor appointment on Friday.  Joy says, if Bryan isn't working, they may come up here for Christmas with me.  Otherwise, Joy will make the trip by herself. 

I have a couple friends who are really anticipating Joy's arrival in Coos Bay because, they say, they really, really need a massage! 

MARILYN ~ I am praying ... God has everything under control, y'know.

I need to get to the store for a few groceries and then I'll just hibernate through this incoming storm.  All I need is a good fire crackling in the stove and my pantry well stocked.  I can enjoy the rain and wind just fine from there! 

Y'all take care, now, and I'll be back .... Promise!!

Hello Jerry.

And a good day to you all.

I just talked with my sister and she thinks they are going to move walker from Special Care to a regular goom today.  He seems to be making some progress for the present.  It may be they will move him to a rehab nursing home for a little while before he can go home.

Marilyn, I pray things will work out for you and you will find a satisfactory solution to your housing problem.

Etta Sue, thank you for the good devotional.

I remember 63 years ago today.  On that Sunday we had come home from church.  The radio was on and an announcer interupted the program and started reporting about Pearl Harbour in Hawaii being bombed by the Japanese.  Our lives were changed that day as we were dragged into that horrible war.  And now, 63 years later we are in another horribble war.  In our prayers let's not forget to pray for our country and to pray for peace on earth.


1 Tim 2:1-4
1   I urge, then, first of all, that requests,prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone--
2   for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives  in all godliness and holiness.
3   This is good, and pleases God our Savior,
4   who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
(NIV)

---Papa John

Hi all!

Hey, Pat, are you online?  I am trying to insert a picture as an example in the photo questions section, and don't know how.  HELP!

Ursula

Just saw your post and replied there before coming here, Ursula.

PM me if you need to. 

I'm just sitting here trying to settle down after a silly nasty fall outside.  I needed something in my car and I walked ever so gently on the ice but slid and landed on both my knees.  I have ice on them right now and I'm having a hot cup of tea.

You didn't break anything, now, Pat?  They say that icing always helps to reduce inflamation (so you don't get two big purple spots on your knees).

Yes, they are turning purple.  Yuck!

But I have ice on both.

Yuck!!!  But you could always say, "... a lovely shade of purple."  ))

Got the picture in!  I feel successful now, and I'm going to strut down the stairs (my studio/office is way uphill from the house), in the snow, carefully avoiding any icy spots, and also indulge in a cup of tea.

Talk to you all later.

Quote from: Ursula on December 07, 2004, 01:16:10 PM
Yuck!!!  But you could always say, "... a lovely shade of purple." 

Got the picture in!  I feel successful now, and I'm going to strut down the stairs (my studio/office is way uphill from the house), in the snow, carefully avoiding any icy spots, and also indulge in a cup of tea.

Talk to you all later.

FORGET THIS ONE, PLEASE!  I SHOULD ALWAYS QUIT WHEN I'M AHEAD.  I WAS TRYING TO DELETE THE EXTRA PARENTHESIS.

LOL

HAHAHAHA!!!!  Nice to laugh when your knees are both throbbing!

December 7   

Trials and Pain: Criticism and Abuse

But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel,
even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. 
--1 Thessalonians 2:4

"Let not thy peace depend on the tongues of men," said the wise old
Christian mystic, Thomas a Kempis; "for whether they judge well or
ill, thou art not on that account other than thyself."

One of the first things a Christian should get used to is abuse....

To do nothing is to get abused for laziness, and to do anything is
to get abused for not doing something else.

Was it not Voltaire who said that some people were like insects,
they would never be noticed except that they sting? A traveler must
make up his mind to go on regardless of the insects that make his
trip miserable....

One thing is certain, a Christian's standing before God does not
depend upon his standing before men. A high reputation does not
make a man dearer to God, nor does the tongue of the slanderer
influence God's attitude toward His people in any way. He knows us
each one, and we stand or fall in the light of His perfect
knowledge. 
The Next Chapter After the Last, pp. 94-95

"Lord, I know this truth, but it's so hard to 'let not thy peace
depend on the tongues of men.' The stinging insects are so annoying!
Give me peace in Your approval today. Amen."

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Pat, would it be possible to try sprinkling some cat litter on the ice? That's what I keep handy at my house all the time and sprinkle it on the porch, steps and driveway if there's ice. I'm concerned that a fall would do me in (the rest of the way).

I dashed home to let the dogs out. With my son out of town, the full responsibility for them falls upon me alone.

See y'all later.

Ruth Ann

             Hi all,well it was good to finally hear from my mom,she sure took long enough.I must admit I am a teeny bit jealous that she got to go elephant riding since they are my favorite animal and I collect them and always wanted to do that ,not just as a 10 min ride.I got a phone line put in my bedroom and had cable run in there for the tv thats in there but the tv is going out so there is no picture,just sound,so guess I'll buy another set but want one with built dvd and vcr. My pain has returned slightly in my back but I do not recieve that and refuse to have it,so pray and agree with me that it goes away.I don'tknow if I have gained more weight or not since last time I was weighed if so John will have to build up his muscles in order to push me up and down the ramp.I'll only be at home for one more week and then I will be free to go out more.I am trying to get both dogs certified as therapy dogs and then next yr I'll volenteer in the schools and go visit at the care home ,hope to be able to take dogs to school with me to see special need kids as we have a lot of them here .I also hope both dogs can pass the temperment test required to pass in order to get the letters CTD  behind their names Meika Mouse CTD and Miracle Joy CTD.That stsnds for Certified Therapy Dogs. OOps mistake in the  word stands but i am not gonna go correct it.Pat if you are online I am sorry you fell down on your knees,hope they are not too black and blue.Well be soon and John will be here ,my mom will be home 6 days before he is due to get here.I sure hope he has a good time and he will come back again.I hope to go to NY in the summer to stayI want to spend a lot of time with John and thats hard to do when we live 1700 miles apart.We plan on going to Canada,New York City,and of course to a Yankees game next time I get there.I hope to find an apartment I can afford that is handicapped acesseable and will take pets.I have no idea what I will do with Ruffles.She yells so loud sometimes if I try and keep her may get both of us thrown out.Well gonna go for now,thanks etta Sue for this mornings devotion.Take care and God Bless us Everyone.

Hi everyone.  It has been another rainy and dreary day here but very warm.  It was suppose to get up to about 70 today.  I spent the morning finishing my Christmas shopping for Pat and running a few other errands.  I didn't get home until about noon so ate a quick bite and then took a nap as was tired.  Pat had gone to Wal-Mart this morning and that always wears her down so she is still napping.

Pat, certainly sorry to hear of your fall on the ice and bruising your knees.  Know you really don't need any more aches and pains.  Do you have a lot of ice up there?  Is there any snow yet?  I see they are getting a lot of snow out in the West.

Beth, hope that your plans work out and also that you are able to get your dogs certified.  I didn't know about that program but know how the residents of the nursing home where my folks loved to see the dogs when they were brought in. 

Papa John, that sounds like good progress being made by your brother-in-law. I agree with you on staying very busy when you retire but not getting paid.  However, I find the satisfaction of doing some volunteer work means more than the money and just glad we can do things like that.  Some days it seems like I am busy but get absolutely nothing accomplished.

Jane, do hope that your daughter and Bryan are able to spend Christmas with you.  Hope the storm doesn't last too long in your area.

Logar, do hope you will be feeling better soon.  You are wise to get extra rest to fight off the bug.

Sonja, staying so busy with those 4 kids is what is keeping you young.  I think it is so great that your family seems to do so many things together. 

Etta Sue, thanks for the devotional this morning.  I still haven't been able to look at your Victorian dinner photos but haven't given up.  Guess they are just too popular.

Welcome choir4him to the CP site.  I take it from your screen name that you are active in your choir.  I hope you will tell us about it.  I sing in our church choir and enjoy doing so.  We are preparing our Christmas music at this time.

Marilyn, that little joke made me laugh out loud.  I hadn't seen that punch line coming.    Sure sorry you are experiencing new leaks in your roof.  That is such an awful feeling.  Certainly glad it didn't get your printer or computer wet.

Guess I had better get busy on some other things.  A special hi to all those who have posted and whom I haven't mentioned by name today.  I have read and enjoyed your postings.

I read the following today in a book by Dr. Joseph M. Stowell, who heads up the Moody Bible Institute. 

QuoteIf you were accused of being a Christian would there be enough evidence to convict you?

Certainly food for thought.

OH NO!  Pat, do we need to buy you a new pair of winterboots for Christmas?  You should be iceskating unless you wear the proper shoes.   I sure hope your knees don't bruise to much.

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sorry to hear about Your fall Pat, You got hit by the same storm that hit us,it was nasty and tough going there for awhile. beth I'm sure You know that it's only 10 days 17 hours 40 minutes and 40 seconds more till I arrive in Dodge City

Praise The Lord!

I have missed all of you and could not find the site after crashing several times on this old machine and as soon as I was up again, several trials were thrown our way and so I will
apologize for not being here, but I sure would not have been much fun.

I dont know if I mentioned that I got a chance to attend the Women Of Faith conference in St Paul and was blessed immensely by the messages and the teachings. We were women
18,000 strong for two days, laughing, crying and having fun in the name of Jesus.
I was personally set free from many hindering challenges and I just know that many others recieved deliverance and got set free from some hanging on stuff in their lives.

Well, no sooner do I come home than I am beset with "stuff". Isnt that the way it always is when you have a wonderful time in the Lord, a good fellowship, or simply breathe a long breath that is not filled with crisis.  At least it seems that way for me.

When that happens I have the tendency to crawl away from others so as not to bother anyone with what seems like ongoing prayer requests about the same thing and though I know it usually is not the case, I start to think that people get sick of the same thing and
think, "Isnt she done going through that"?

Anyway, I will share that my son with AIDS got evicted from his apartment due to renewed drug abuse and has not been to many of his dialysis appointments. Also my one and only brother may be either dead or dying as we speak and due to a long term problem in our relationship ( Let me tell you, I have groveled, cried and begged to no avail) left instructions that I would not be allowed to know when he passed on. When the word got to me recently that he is in a hospice, I called all over the place and some of the places will not give out personal information.

When I tried sharing this with another prayer group, a few members told me that I should go right out to Meridian MS and see my brother anyway. They dont know that I barely have enough money to feed, clothe and take care of myself and my grandson. Others sent me scriptures on forgiveness as if I had been the one to keep us apart all of these years. The general consensus on my son, is that he is a no good bum who is getting what he deserves.
I was shattered and retreated further.

My approach to prayer is this. If someone tells me that their deadbeat ( sorry for use of this word) dad who never fed them a day in their lives and beat them including their mother on every waking day of their lives, happens to be dying, I do not need to remind them of what they did to justify my not caring, not praying or worse yet, judging the situation from where I sit, there fore de-valueing the person who is in trouble to suit myself.

I tried telling people that Raymond is my baby brother. Well, to some people, a man born in 1953 has never been a baby, but how vividly I remember dancing up and down on the floor of our garden apartment in March of that year, watching Daddy tenderly lift mother by her hand as she cradled that little bundle of blue close to her chest, and when they finally let the five and a half year old Zenobia hold this miracle, I was vowing in my mind and heart that he would never be hurt. I made good on that promise as I saw him grow. A timid lad who never desired to stick up his knuckles, was Raymond. On the other hand, I had no problem in leaving a kid in the dust and knuckling up whenever challenged. If someone messed with my "baby" they may as well know that they were on my schedule to have their clocks cleaned.
This young man sang like a bird in our junior choir, depended on me and mother for everything which could have been a mistake after daddy was gone due to the divorce. We doted on him and protected him and he became a man who did not know how to take care of himself.
I left to get married and he has held it against me from that day on. Exactly forty years of anger.

My son is another story, and since he is my son, I will not let the story go on forever. I will say that as he was about to enter into the world, his daddy and I, a verrrry young married couple with a sixteen month old already, were thrilled and frightened to be parents of two. I was just nineteen when he made his entrance. My husband worked two jobs and we did the best that we could, up until the divorce and then I became a single mother. No need to go into that story. As I have tried to raise the son of this particular son, to be a man of God , and he is growing up to be just that, I have seen the demise of a good man, caught up in the worlds craziness....gone from a business man to a man who has slept in shelter, under the railroad crossings, etc.

He is now bent on killing himself with drugs and continues to run away from the nursing home and is led back by the police because his stage of AIDS has graduated to "endangered".
How am I holding up? Sometimes I dont know. I keep working on my writing, I keep doing my little daycare, I keep praying.  You must know that I know the difference between the boy versions of these grown men, but they are so deep in my heart that sometimes I wish others could have known them "when".

As we approach the holidays I am holding up for my grandson's sake. His mother is also missing. He continues to stand on the corners on weekends, ringing his Salvation Army bell, teaching his little class of five to seven year olds, and saving money to buy a hat and scarf for a man who works as a janitor at his church, oh and a Walkman for this fellow, while I think to myself, I have no idea what I can do for my grandson himself, as money has been very tight.

I believe I have raised a fine young man who will go places for the Lord!

Well, thats my story so far. We are looking at better housing and waiting for answers from
several landlords.
I miss all of you and hope you understand why I have been away. Sometimes I dont understand why Im not here, because youre a fine group of people and I should be sitting
in your midst, praying for and with you.  For my negligence in that area, I ask forgiveness.

In Christ
Zeebers