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Morning Devotional...

ABRAHAM'S PAINFUL DECISION
Genesis 22:1-19 NIV
   
   Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!"

   "Here I am," he replied.

   Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about."

   Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about.  On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance.  He said to his servants, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you."

   Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, "Father?"

   "Yes, my son?" Abraham replied.

   "The fire and wood are here," Isaac said, "but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?"

   Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And the two of them went on together.

   When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.  Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.  But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!"

   "Here I am," he replied.

   "Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son."

   Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.  So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided."

   The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, "I swear by myself, declares the LORD , that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son,  I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring  all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me."

   Then Abraham returned to his servants, and they set off together for Beersheba. And Abraham stayed in Beersheba.

What do you have trouble giving up to God??[/size]

Why did God ask Abraham to perform human sacrifice? 

• Heathen nations practiced human sacrifice, but God condemned this as a terrible sin (Lev. 20:1-5). 
  
  
• God did not want Isaac to die, but he wanted Abraham to prove that he loved God more than he loved his promised and long-awaited son. 
  
  
• God was testing Abraham.  The purpose of testing is to strengthen our character and deepen our commitment to God and his perfect timing.

Through this difficult experience, Abraham strengthened his commitment to obey God.  He also learned about God's ability to provide.[/size][/color]
The Best of the Bible--365 Must-Read Bible Passages[/i]

Pat, what a wonderful email from your brother.  Brothers are wonderful, aren't they?

Well, here it is January 13th.  A happy memory day and a sad memory day for me.  My grandmother was born on Friday, January 13th.  My Mom and Dad married on Friday, January 13th.  They celebrated every Friday, the 13th, as well as January 13th, by going out to eat somewhere.  Then 18 years ago, on January 13th, Mom and Dad were going out to eat to celebrate their 54th anniversary.  They didn't make it.  A flatbed semi was backing across the highway into a drive just 3/4 of a mile from here.  Dad didn't see the truck.  Dad's side of the car hit just behind the gasoline tank of the tractor.  Dad was killed on impact.  Mom was flown by helicopter to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.  She didn't know Dad had died even though Kaye Don told her.  But she was still traumatized and it didn't soak in until about 10 days later.  Mom was at Methodist, then a Nursing Home in Noblesville for rehab, then to St. Vincent's Hospital in Indy and back to Riverview Hospital in Noblesville.  She was away from home 56 days and still couldn't put her weight on either leg.  But thank God, Mom didn't have internal injuries.  She came out of the accident fairly well.  January 13 rolled around and us kids didn't know how Mom would take it.  But when my husband and I came to the house, she was all dressed up and ready to go out to eat.  I mentioned that I didn't know if she wanted to go out or not.  Her answer?  'Well, your Dad and I had a lot more happy January 13th's than the one last year and Dad wouldn't want me to stay home because he can't go with me."  God bless Mom.  So now I have to remember to be happy today because if Mom was still with me, she would be happy.

Good Morning: Etta Sue I  snagged your dogs. Thank you for the dovotional this morning.

This morning I am taking my private pay client to get a lense replaced in her glasses and then to the Mall to shop at Ross's. I may get me a decent  dress coat, if they have any on clearance. I love shopping the clearance racks even if I don't buy anything.

Got to go get ready now going first to Fay's to prepare her breakfast and make sure she has something for lunch if I am late getting there.

TTYL

Good morning.  Well I haven’t been here for a couple days but I am dropping in for a minute this morning.  We are having rain today and it is almost dark outside.  We are getting ready to go to the nursing home where I am speaking this morning.

Later today we go to a funeral home visitation.  We may get wet getting in and out of the car.

Marilyn, enjoy your shopping.  Cornelia knows all the bargain places and these days she doesn’t buy anything that isn’t on sale.  We have to watch our pennies.

I hope you all have a good day.

John 3:14-21
14   Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,
15   that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.
16   "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
17   For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
18   Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
19   This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.
20   Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
21   But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."
(NIV)

--- Papa John          <)))><<   
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I hear ya'll about shopping clearance racks.  Why not??  I hate to pay full price for something.  On the other hand, when you find something that is an additional 15 or 20% off of the first 50% off, that is cool.  My mom is one of the best bargain shoppers I know.  One time she went to a OshKoshB'gosh outlet and bought clothes for the grandkids (7 of them).  The total should have been over a $1000, but it was only like $750.  Then she found a coupon book that had a coupon for 25% off or something.  She went back to the store, but they wouldn't honor the coupon (it was only a matter of minutes later).  So . . .she returned all the stuff and bought it back with the coupon.  Oddly enough, the clerk wasn't too disgruntled; she understood mom's position.  The manager though . . . .Mom only shops a couple of times a year, but when she does, she finds some good sales.

I'm trying to find some good sites on pain management during labor.  We had a class over three years ago, and seemed to really help (the breathing exercises and stuff), but I figure I have forgotten most of it.  And with only a few weeks left, whoohooooooooooo.

My son has found some stickers, so I am going to investigate the source and make sure they don't end up where they don't need to be!!!!

Have an awesome day, ya'll.

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Good Morning everyone! Thanks for that devotional this morning Etta Sue.  I know that there are some thing I should be giving up for God.  I was just reflecting  and praying on a few last night actually.  The Purpose Driven Life book has brought some of that to my attention.  I am really enjoying the book.  My friend Tammy that I mentioned before is taking the course along with me and my church and she is starting to know God for the very first time so I am very thankful to God for that!  I spoke with her on the phone last night for about an hour and she was very excited about all of this and wants to get herself her own bible for the very time.  I did not mention that I had wanted  to buy her one as a gift because I want that to be a surprise.  She has never read the book ever so she was asking questions on how to and which one should she get and what not.  So it is very exciting to see how God is catching on to many people around me.  
Well I better go finish up my dishes in the sink before my water turns cold.  I filled up my sink but it was too hot so I thought I would jump on here for a bit but now unfortunately I must go do my dishes!!!  
TTYL  

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Carrie ~ We are fortunate to live in a country that has many versions of the Bible.  I have only been a Christian since '98 and I had a hard time understanding the Bible...I kept dissecting the sentences and putting them in my way of talking and thinking.  Finally I found a version that I really could understand.  Now I am back to NIV and love reading that version. 

TBear ~ Our weather report today is ditto to yours.  Lots of rain out there and suppose to turn to snow.

I went with Ivalou this morning for her to get a blood test and then we met another lady for breakfast.  No shopping today.  I had to rush home to check out my basement...no need to run the sump pump yet but I know I will before the day is gone. 

Also I haven't seen Stray Cat since he...car;)...was rubbing against my legs and ankles going to the mailbox and back.  Perhaps he found the rest of his nine lives and has moved onto someone else's house.

Etta Sue    God bless YOU.

nuary 13   

Personal Life: The Knowledge of God

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to
teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you
have come to need milk and not solid food. 
--Hebrews 5:12

Probably the most widespread and persistent problem to be found among
Christians is the problem of retarded spiritual progress. Why, after
years of Christian profession, do so many persons find themselves no
farther along than when they first believed?...

The causes of retarded growth are many. It would not be accurate to
ascribe the trouble to one single fault. One there is, however, which
is so universal that it may easily be the main cause: failure to give
time to the cultivation of the knowledge of God....

The Christian is strong or weak depending upon how closely he has
cultivated the knowledge of God....

Progress in the Christian life is exactly equal to the growing
knowledge we gain of the Triune God in personal experience. And such
experience requires a whole life devoted to it and plenty of time
spent at the holy task of cultivating God. God can be known
satisfactorily only as we devote time to Him.  The Root of the
Righteous, 7-9.

"Lord, I'd like to devote the remaining years of my life and
ministry to the 'holy task of cultivating God.' Help me to know You
first, and then out of the overflow of that growing knowledge can
come whatever ministry You choose to bless me with. Amen."

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Nice devotional, Etta Sue.  I love the dogs......

We are still experiencing cold and more snow was forcast.  Has not happened yet!  I finally broke out of the house and went shopping with Wendy yest. as it was her physio day.  The streets and roads are pure ice and not nice  I am supposed to go to the dr. tomorrow and dread having to walk around on the ice in town.

Found yest. posts really encouraging and did much to brighten this day.  First Squeek tossed her breakfast upstairs in the family room. Wendy came storming down asking for paper towels and tossed Squeek into the Laundry Room. Not a good start to the morning.   Sneaked in and comforted Squeek.  She seems fine now and I have let her return to the upstairs and hope that is the end of it.  Made her take Hairball Medication...not an easy task.

Read in the paper that as Thailand is trying to recover, one of the Thai royalty, Princess Chulabhorn and her entourage, are staying in our province on a private visit.  A $2,000.00 per night suite for 3 nights, special food from a restaurant that has catered to her since 1988, then heading to Whistler, for an even more expensive holiday.  They had tried to keep this fact secret from the public.  Am I the only one who feels a tinge of disgust?


Time to smile:

Questions

Child:  Mommy, why do dogs bark?

Mommy:  Well...

Child:  Who painted the sky blue?

Mommy:  Honey, it's like this...

Child:  Why isn't God married?

Mommy:  Ahhh...

Child:  Are we almost there yet?

Mommy:  I hope so.

Have a nice day everyone.  God Bless.

Liz

We have to be like this small lizard folks, clinging on and enjoying the Sonshine!



http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh361.sht

Hello Everyone,

It is 4:37pm this was my first oppurtunity to get on and read the devotional for the day. It was beautiful.

It is getting really rainy out right now, it is going to be quite a lovely drive home.

Have a great evening everyone,

God Bless,
Jennifer

Back from my shopping trip I spent $45.00 for $150., worth of goods. I got a real nice pant suit and top an a couple of unmentionables. I was spending Christmas money. Then we had lunch at the Sizzler, a nice leisurly lunch as Fay said for us to take out time and for me to come back at 3 pm.

I ran into one of the youg people from church and she told me she had something for me in her car. She came back with two litle Christmas gifts 1 was a large cinnamon flavored Candy Cane and the other was a small ornament  witha bell attached and my name on the bell. She is the one who took care of thd dogs one year ago while I was in the hospital. Yes it has been a year.

TTYL

Today is a "record breaking day" in Toronto, Canada.  Today the temperature went up to 18 c or around 55 f.   People were walking around in their short sleeves.  But it will drop again.  More rain or freezing rain.   Up and down is not good for our health. 

My cats go outside, but now it is raining and they are getting all wet.

Pat, I love the look of New Every Morning.   I had a look at the pictures of reflections.  They are very beautiful. 

Love Ruthie

Hi everyone.  I have had a pretty busy day.  Right after coffee Pat and I left the house to make a 10 am dental appointment for cleanings.  We have used this dentist for well over 20 years.  We had a pleasant surprise as found that we now have dental insurance as a part of our health insurance and it covers 70% of routine dental care.  Also we both got good reports and had no new cavities. When we finished there we went to my retiree's luncheon that was just down the road.  We went from there to our church as this was Calvin Cove day.  I was about 15 minutes late but had left word that I would be a little late.  By the time we got home we were ready for some rest. 

We are having rain here this evening but it was again pretty warm today.  A plane slid off the Atlanta airport runway a little while ago but fortunately no one was hurt.

Etta Sue, Thanks for the devotional. 

Marilyn, it sounds like you are a good shopper.  It is nice to have some special gift money for some special purposes.

Liz, I have to agree with you in being disgusted.  Considering they are expecting the rest of the world to come to their aid perhaps the money could have been better spent at home.  I am a bit disgusted with the way our military in Indonesia is being treated and they have now been told they have to get out by the end of March.  They are not even allowed to setup a base camp and have to return to a ship overnight.  I am sure this attitude does not represent the poor people who are being assisted but the arrogance of the government. 

Carrie, it is exciting that your friend is seeking the Lord. 

Hope everyone is staying warm and dry.  See you all tomorrow.

Wonderful devotion today.
I had such a wonderful day yesterday.  Some history on what is going on first...
I had 1/2 way obeyed God when he called me to the music ministry.  When I turned in my resignation to the hospital 2 months ago, the administrator didn't want me to leave and talked me into staying on a part-time basis and gave me more money.  We really need the money and so I stayed and was working both places part time.  I felt very convicted on that this weekend as I was driving home from leading worship sunday morning.  I felt God saying,"What are you doing? Didn't I tell you to go full time into music ministry and I will take care of the rest?  Then why have you not fully obeyed?"  I talked to my husband when we got home and he agreed.  I put in a second resignation the next day (Monday).  On Tuesday I met someone that produces Christian music and is interested in doing a project with me, they finally found a replacement for me that will really work out wonderful, and the next day my husband got a raise.  3 prayers answered in 2 days.  God blesses us so much when we obey and trust in him!!! Praise the LORD!!!

Etta Sue:  A wonderful devotional.

It has been very warm today and yet this evening perhaps snow and much colder tomorrow no wonder we are getting sick.


Ruth

Hi, friends, It's supposed to get really cold tonight and tomorrow. After near record highs this week, it will reel really odd for the temps to be actual wintertime temps again.

First time this year I worked over tonight. Hope I can continue lightening my load so this will be a once in a while thing, not every night.

Must go - the laundry is calling and there's no one to answer but me. <grin>

Ruth Ann

Jennifer_jo that is certainly good news. Trust in the Lord always and He will give you the desires of you heart.

Ruth Ann you are getting cold weather and the storms that have already been here and gone on to other places. These stroms have wreaked havoc on the nation. The mud slides, floods, deaths, etc. right here in our own nation.  Another el Nino.

That's all folks.

Good to see you stopping by, Papa John.  I always appreciate the scripture that you put below your posts.  I am like Cornelia....Norm gets a list almost every day.  That reminds, me., ..I have a couple of more small things to add to tomorrow's list!

Its almost 12: midnight, and I'm listening to a talk on Darwinism on the T.V.  Its Ted Koppel's program.  From what I can hear, its a debate on evolution verses Creationism that is being taught in the public schools.  Wish I had turned this on when the program started, at 11:30.  I'm just catching the tale-end of it.

Earlier, I watched "A Man Called Peter".  true story of Peter Marshall.  What a heart-warming movie.  This is the kind of movie that should be shown earlier, so our young teens could see it.

Etta Sue:  I was so "moved" to read the piece about your dear Mom and Dad.   What a terrible tragedy that was, to have your dad killed, and your Mom so seriously injured.   Just terrible.  It must have taken you, Iva Lou and Kaye Don so long in coming to terms with this.   I gather that you wern't saved then either.  Were your siblings saved then?   Bet you sure needed lots of hugs then.

I'm thinking about little miss Stray....anymore sightings of her/him?   I hope she's okay!

Little Rags is at my feet just now....so unusual, as he is usually at the end of the bed, calling me...yes, Rags gives a little "groan" when he thinks its time for his nightly treat ( a biscuit). - he is quite a character!

Well, time to lock the door...  We won't put Etta Sue's cat out tonight as there's a bit of a blizzard outside.

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