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Morning Devotional...


Rejoice with me;. . . I have found my sheep which was lost. 
Luke 15:6

Many years ago in a humble Irish cottage, John Darby sat at the bedside of a dying shepherd boy.

With a prayer to God for guidance, he asked the lad how he had acquired the terrible cough.

"Aye, sir," he said, "it was about a year ago. I went out into a cold stormy night to search for my father's lost sheep and didn't stop till I found it. The poor creature was tired and helpless so I just carried it home on my shoulders."

Mr. Darby then had the perfect message, the gospel story of the lost sheep in Luke 15.

The boy drank it in and found safe passage Home in the arms of the Good Shepherd.
--E. MacLelland

March 25   

Pastoral Ministry: Read or Get Out of the Ministry

A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding
will attain wise counsel.
--Proverbs 1:5

When a very young minister, I asked the famous holiness preacher,
Joseph H. Smith, whether he would recommend that I read widely in the
secular field. He replied, "Young man, a bee can find nectar in the
weed as well as in the flower." I took his advice (or, to be frank,
I sought confirmation of my own instincts rather than advice) and I
am not sorry that I did.

John Wesley told the young ministers of the Wesleyan Societies to
read or get out of the ministry, and he himself read science and
history with a book propped against his saddle pommel as he rode
from one engagement to another. Andy Dolbow, the American Indian
preacher of considerable note, was a man of little education, but I
once heard him exhort his hearers to improve their minds for the
honor of God. "When you are chopping wood," he explained, "and you
have a dull axe you must work all the harder to cut the log. A sharp
axe makes easy work. So sharpen your axe all you can."  The Size of
the Soul, 33.

"In the busyness of life, Lord, help me to always guard time to
sharpen my axe. Amen."

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Have a blessed, restful, Good Friday.

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/l/i/lintgrav.htm

With the Rich in His Death

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"And He made His grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death; because He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth" (Isaiah 53:9).

It is generally recognized that the amazing 53rd chapter of Isaiah, written over 500 years earlier, is the most explicit and complete exposition of the substitutionary suffering and death of the Lord Jesus Christ in all the Bible, including even the New Testament accounts. And this prophecy that His death and burial would be with both the "wicked, and with the rich" is surely one of the most remarkable. How could such a prediction possibly come to pass?

Yet it did! Unjustly condemned, not for any violent or deceitful acts, but only for telling the truth, Jesus was crucified between two wicked criminals, yet He was buried in a garden tomb lovingly built by a rich member of the Council that had condemned Him to death.

Furthermore, that elaborate tomb had almost certainly been personally designed and built ahead of time by Joseph in specific anticipation of using it to fulfill Isaiah's prophecy. That wealthy owner of the tomb lived in Arimathea and would never have built a tomb for himself or his family near Calvary, the place of crucifixion. But he and a friend on the Council (Nicodemus) had somehow come to believe in Jesus and His gospel and decided they were the ones that should render this service.

Perhaps, as they looked up at the body of the Lord on the cross just before removing it for burial, they remembered His words to Nicodemus three years earlier, when He had said: "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:14-15). They had indeed, believed, no doubt suffering severe loss, but they had done what they could for Christ. HMM

I enjoyed reading about the instructions to read even the secular in order to gain insight into what other opinions and feelings.  It isn't always easy. 

Carol

Good Morning. Today is a day of remembering what Jesus Christ has done for us on the  day that he was arrested and stood before the people who cried out for his crucificxion. It is a day of remembering to confess our sins  and to be thankful that our sins have all been taken by Jesus to the cross at Clavary.

Please join me today in remembering what we have in Jesus Christ. If it were not for Jesus where would I be? I would probably be dead. He delivered me literally from the desert wilderness and set me upon the rock of His salvation. I was there in the Mojave desert when Jesus came and rescued me from my sinful self and delivered me  out of the darkness and into His marvelous light.  

It has been 7 1/2 years since my deliverance and no one will take me from His hand, He is my light and my salvation, my rock and my fortress. He is my bridegroom and my husband. He is my advocate and my intercesor. He is my EVERYTHING. I love Jesus with all my heart, mind, body and soul. I am so thankful for my salvation.

Hi Everyone on Good Friday:

I listened to Larry King Live last night.  Joni and the other lady were wonderful.  Apparently tonight the husband of the other lady who was in the same situation as Terry Schiavo and recovered, will be on tonight.  He is a medical doctor and did everything he could to get his wife therapy.   

I really believe that money is behind Michael Schiavo's reasons for doing this.  He is running out of the money he was given, so Terry needs to die.  I agree that the parents should be allowed to care for their own child if they want to.  I would do the same thing.  I saw Pat Robertson say that some two-bit judge is running the State of Florida.   The biggest error in the whole thing is that if Terry actually said that she never wanted to be "hooked up"  it was NEVER WRITTEN DOWN so this statement is just heresay.   That's what the whole case is based on, and that could be totally wrong!  So she will die because of something her husband said that she said!  Disgusting!

I have been praying that God will have them put back the feeding tube to preserve her life and someone can talk to her about the Lord.   Still praying.

Love Ruthie

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Hi Everyone...

Yes, Ruthie, I watched Joni and the lady called Kate Adamson on Larry King last night.  It was a wonderful program to listen to.



Well, it's a lovely sunny day here today.  I might go out and see if we have any spring bulbs poking up through the earth. 

I hve posted an udate on Joanne and Jennifer in the prayer thread.

Really some good thoughts posted here today.  I, too, think we should continue to "sharpen our axe" all through life.  But I also believe we need to be discerning about the kinds of things we read, watch or listen to, guarding our hearts and minds from evil.

Darrel and I worked out for two hours today!  Whew!  I didn't realize how long it was until we left to come home.  I was really sore all over before we went, but worked the soreness out.  I asked Kristi when that needle on the scales is going to start dropping, and she assured me that my body is just "moving things around"; that the muscle I am gaining is heavier than fat, and also burns many more calories, even at rest.  She said one of these days that needle will plummet!  I'm waiting.........but working hard while I wait. 

We have a turkey cooking, and I am going to make other dishes too for Sunday.  We just went to the grocery store and Dollar General to get a few things we needed, also some plastic eggs and candy for the kids' egg hunt.

I talked to Daine this morning, and she said Abby missed 2 1/2 days of school this week because of a fever and headache.    That ruined her perfect attendance record.  She is feeling better now, though, so we are happy about that.

Well, it's back to the kitchen for me!  Hope you are all having a great day.

Hi everyone.  It is another beautiful, sunny day here in Georgia.  It is in the mid-70s.  Pat is feeling much better today and even felt up to getting out and going to the craft store.  Of course, she will be in pain when she gets back but at least she was able to get out.  I went to the "Y" first thing this morning after the Men's Coffee and was able to walk the treadmill for 30 minutes.  I think I found the right settings of not going too fast and with only a very small tilt.  I had planned to do it for 10 minutes but just kept walking until I had the 30 minutes done. 

Marilyn, you gave a very powerful testimony in your posting above.  Glad to see that you will have a few more days to recover from that cough.  Hopefully by Monday you will be feeling much better and the rains will be over.

Ruth Ann, glad to see you are being able to walk further.  Hope you have a good trip on Monday but know that travel must be very difficult for you. 

Pat ... what happened to my Easter Bunny ?  I can make it smaller to share ... so do let me know ok ??

Late again but since I am late, I got to spend more time with Jerry today.  I have posted a new update on him  here.

It was rainy and gloomy today but I was uplifted when I left the hospital....thank you, God!!!

Thank you Larry I was wondering if anyone read that or wanted to join me in doing the same.

Sometimes it seems like we are all only interested in posting what WE want to post I am sure guilty of doing that and fail to comment on other's posts. But you Larry as so fathful in commenting on everyone else post.
Thank you brother for being the way you are.

Quote from: Marilyn Fisher on March 25, 2005, 09:58:32 AM
Good Morning. Today is a day of remembering what Jesus Christ has done for us on the  day that he was arrested and stood before the people who cried out for his crucificxion.

I can only say AMEN to what Larry has already said......your testimony is a great example of what Christ can do........

While I was not in the Mojave Desert, I WAS in a spiritual desert in Sept 1972.  He changed me completely, the path that I was on has ceased to exist.  I am on a new course...destination Heaven and all points in between.

Good Friday is NOT just another day.

Let's try this again ...

This is my special surprize that I thought that I posted earlier today & so I am sending along the link so I hope that everyone can see it ... ENJOY & I will be back on Monday so ... HAPPY EASTER ONE & ALL !!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v219/MBEAR/Special%20Pictures/bunny2.jpg

That was really cute, Karen, thanks.

I just got home from the Easter Pageant at the care home where my mom lives.  It was very well done, meaningful, and involved many volunteers from the community.  It really exalted our beloved Lord and Savior.

I promised myself I will not stay on this computer so long tonight, so..........bye for now! 

Hi everyone ,I got great news johns mom got to go hme  yesterday after being in hospital for 8 weeks,she is on oxegen  so keep praying for her recovory and thanks from both Mary and John and me for your prayers.Beth

Howdee!  I have had the busiest week.  Competitions coming up the first 2 weeks of April.  We have been practicing everyday for about 4 hours.  Fun fun!

Hope you all have a wonderful Easter.  We will be boiling some eggs tonight and after dance practice tomorrow we will be coloring them.  I love coloring eggs.  I need to get the story about his resurection out so I can read that while coloring.  I am also going to go see a play on the resurection tomorow night.  Fun! 

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

Love Soni

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Well, here I am back and am now reading the posts of today.  I had company come and they took me out for supper and have just left.  It was a nice day.

Thanks Chris for the terrific devotional from Dr. Tozer.  It meant a lot to me today.  Interesting about John Wesley.  What a great hymn!

Thanks for sharing that devotional, Marilyn...  And thanks so much too for the testimony you've shared today  What a wonderful 7 1/2 years.  I was saved as a young child at my mother's knee.  Many times I've strayed from the Father's direction in my life but so wonderful to find myself in my Heavenly Father's wonderful hands forever.  Marilyn, what a lovely graphic.  You'll have to teach me how to do that one!

Yes, Ruthie, it's been such a trying time watching the TV and the news this week.    I feel so sad for the outcome of this case.

Thanks TBear for the Easter wishes.  I hope you'll have a wonderful weekend.  I'm sorry but I'm not sure what you are speaking of when you ask me what happened to your Easter bunny though.  Maybe I might be missing something?

Hi Janet...   I'd like some of that turkey!     I agree with you when you say that we "should continue to sharpen our axe all through life"  If we all did that it would be good.  Definitely we need to be discerning "about the kinds of things we read" and I'd like to add and to the places where we go and the company we keep. 

Sounds like you, Larry,  had a lovely time with the Men's Coffee time, and the treadmill!  Wow.  I have to get my treadmill moved in the basement so that I can watch the TV instead of staring at a blank wall.  It might encourage me to walk further.

God bless you, Etta Sue, as you continue to check on our Jerry and update us.  Thanks so much for your faithfulness.

Thanks for your added comments, Ed.  I'm so happy that the Lord changed you completely.  What a wonderful Father we have!  Praise His name.

Hi Beth!   Great news of John's mother.  Thanks for letting us know.

Sounds like you'll have a lovely family time, Soni.  Get some photos!

Well, better get this posted.  Then I'm off to get another pain med.

Love y'all!

Well  got my hair cut today it is much shorter now, just the way I wanted it. Still long enough to put it  up  and to braid.  It is just a little over shoulder length.

I did post an update on the Nelson ladies in the prayer thread today.I got to talk to Joanne on the phone this morning.

Thank you Pat I have been posting my devotional every day this week because it is Easter Week and the devotional remind me of those things that Jesus did for us at Calvary. This week I have been trying to really hear what the Lord is saying to me in my prayer time and in my Bible  and devotional reading. For the most part He hs been dealing with me in regard to my faith.

I thought  had a lot of faith  but it keeps coming back to me that I need to increase my faith , that nothing is imposible for those who believe.

C~u~manana

It's that time again!  Good Friday is coming to a close, so come to the new day's thread and keep on posting!

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