Christian Photographers Community

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Morning Devotional...



For I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
Philippians 4:11

For his flight home, my friend's comfortable aisle seat was taken by another person. As the plane was about to take off, my friend was hurried to a crammed section near the back, right beside the engine.

How quickly most of us would have complained and demanded something better!

But this person quietly settled into his new seat and started talking about the Lord to the man beside him. Before the plane landed, that stranger became a child of God!

As we go into today, let's think twice before we start complaining.

Our unexpected circumstance may turn out to be the brightest part of our day!
--Brian Cretney

Good morning everyone.  The devotional was really food for thought.  Even the apostle Paul couldn't understand that some of his difficult circumstances were actually sent by God. He prayed three times for them to be removed, but only got the reply - "My grace is sufficient for you, my strength is made perfect in your weakness."  What an encouragement to start the day off with.

I will be at home today and waiting for my sister to call.  She comes every Saturday to see how things are. 

I trust that everyone has a real blessed day today whether or not we are able to trace the hand of God in everything that comes our way.

Anthony.

From last night.

Pat, it was lovely to see the photograph from the top of Snowdon and so good to know you had good weather on that day.  It is usually pouring down.

Marilyn thank you for the graphic.  It was great.  I do trust that you had a good night's sleep. (Is that $50 story a true one  )

Ruth Ann the countryside around you sounds beautiful and I am glad that you were able to appreciate it even though things didn't go according to plan.  We often have our plans, but God has something better for us. (Thank you for your welcome back too.  It's like coming home.)

Sue, I don't think we've met before, but it is good to see you posting.

Hey Karma what a great article (and I never knew you both had a daughter.)

Hi Jane, good to see you again.

God bless all.

Anthony.

Good Morning Everyone!

This is Deck Day in Guelph!

I'm just sitting here waiting for my friend to come over with his soon to be son-in-law and we'll get busy with the deck.  So, I probably won't be around much at all till later on.

Yes, Anthony the day that photo was taken was a very hot day.  But I know what you are speaking of as many days we've climbed Snowdon over the years, it bucketed with rain.  Once on the Miner's Track, it rained so hard that it was leaking out the bottom of my cameral bag and I feared that all my gear would be ruined but it wasn't!

Well, Neil is here to do the deck so I'm off for now.

Talk to you all later.

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Hymn History...
Only the Lord and the man in question really know what burdens of sorrow and affliction were heaped upon the writer of this great hymn. One thing we do know, however, is that this beautiful and blessed hymn would never have been penned if the author had not known such trouble.

The man was Joseph Scriven and he was born near Banbridge, in the heart of the rolling hills of County Down, Northern Ireland.

After graduating from Dublin's famous 'Trinity College' he seemed set for a brilliant career and a happy life for he was also engaged to be married.

But then tragedy struck! His fiancée was accidentally drowned on the very eve of their wedding and Joseph Scriven was plunged into his first great experience of sorrow. In the providence of God it was this tragedy which brought him to a personal knowledge of Jesus Christ.

In 1845 Scriven sailed for Canada to start life anew and, hopefully, to leave all his sorrows behind. But it was not to be, for ill-health dogged him and he was forced to return to Ireland after only two months.

Two years later he again set sail for Canada to take up a teaching post. In this he was successful and later graduated to the position of private tutor to the children of a military captain.

Life, at last, seemed worth living and prospects were continually improving!

Again he met and fell in love; this time with a charming young woman of twenty-three. Soon they were engaged to be married.

However, bitter disappointment was once more to be his unhappy lot, for this young lady was suddenly stricken with a serious illness and died before their marriage vows could be solemnise&

Cheated, for the second time, out of the prospects of a happy marriage by the cruel hand of death Scriven, quite naturally, became the victim of severe depression and declining health. But despite all this he never gave up his personal faith in the Saviour.

By this time he had settled in Port Hope, Ontario, and was manager of a small dairy there. He became known as the local 'Good Samaritan', helping the poor and under-privileged, sharing his food with the needy and often giving them clothing.

However, all these good deeds may well have been forgotten if Joseph Scriven had not written twenty-four lines of poetry to comfort his mother who was suffering from a serious illness.

Through his trials and afflictions Scriven had come to know the Lord in a very personal way, not only as Saviour but also as a friend.

Thus, from the heart he could write:

What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear,
What a privilege to carry,
Everything to God in prayer.

As I say, Scriven wrote these words to comfort his ageing mother at a time of illness. He had not seen her since he had said 'goodbye' over ten years before and wasn't able to make the long journey back home to be with her.

So he wrote What A Friend We Have In Jesus, and sent it with the prayer that it would remind her of 'the never failing friend,' Jesus Christ. I'm sure it did.

Joseph Scriven never intended his poem to be published but a friend who visited him during his last illness discovered the lines and asked 'Who wrote these beautiful words?' Scriven's modest reply was 'the Lord and I did it between us.'

Soon it was published in The Port Hope Guide, a local newspaper. Remarkably, a copy of that newspaper was used to wrap a parcel destined for an address in New York City. when the recipient unwrapped his parcel he caught sight of Scriven's poem and arranged to have it published.

Eventually, it was seen by German-American composer, Charles Converse and very soon his simple, plaintive melody gave wings of song to Joseph Scriven's telling words.

Thus an Irish-Canadian and a German-American were used of God to bring blessing and encouragement to millions.

Thank you Pat for the devotional this morning. God so often puts us in  specific places where he wants us to be.  We need to take advantage of those times to witness to those around us. But how many time  do we fail to recognize that it was His hand that put us there and that there is a reason  for being there.

Hi Anthony great to see you posting this morning while those of us on the west coast here were still asleep.

It is raining here  has been since last night. It rains a lot here but we sure needed it at this time. I got a few more things unpacked yesterday and  loaded a couple of boxes into my car to take for donation. Lots more to do today though and I plan on doing some baking this afternoon , the oven in my new stove has not yet been used. I am going to make some small pineapple coconut loaf cakes to give away.

For now thought I am having my cuppa coffee and watching the morning news.

Pat I wish that sometimes out worship team would do some of the old hymns, in fact I spoke to  someone about them doing just that on Wednesday night and all I got in return was a funny look. no specific answer at all.

TTYL

Marilyn -- I agree.  I really really really like the "new" praise and worship stuff, but the "old" stuff is awesome too.  As the choir director, I try to do some of both, though our church prefers the older stuff (at least most of them).  The way I see it, if it is Biblically sound doctrine, and it lifts my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ up, I will sing it.  If it does not, I won't.  The age of the song is almost irrelevant to me.

Anthony -- Yep, Kristianna just turned 8 months old.  She's a sweety. 

Our vacation is on a bit of a hold right now.  ~grrrrr~  Don't know fi we will be able to go on Monday or not.  The transmission in the van is sounding funny, and I, personally, don't want to be stranded in the hills of West Virginia somewhere.  Bernard and his dad are looking at it today to see if it just sounds funny, or if it is actually funny.

Pat -- I hope your deck is everything you want it to be.  Wish we were close enough to enjoy it with you!

The deck is on hold for a few hours.

I had a phone call from Neil saying he got delayed somewhere near the border of Quebec and Ontario so won't be here now till after lunch.  My goodness he's going to be tired but he still insists on coming.

Sorry about your van, Karma.  Hope it's nothing serious.

I agree with you and Marilyn about the hymns.  If it's scriptural, let's sing it.  Lots and lots of the old hymns are just marvelous works and I'll sing them whenever I can.  I don't like it when I go to a church and just hear one line or a couple of lines being sung over and over and over. 

Now, I feel like another one.  I'm going to go and see what we can sing together...

BRB

Thank you for the songs This morning Pat. I wasn't asking our Worship team to do more than 1 of the old Hymns. I even told that person (they have only been there 8 months), that we have song books upstairs. Then she said well we sure cleaned out of lot of stuff on cleaning day. I sure hope they didn't get rid of the Hymn books without first offering them to the congregation. One of the older sisters purchased all those hymn books for the church. This person was the Worship Leader's wife.

I like the contemporary songs too, but there is more "meat" insome of the old hymns.

Pat do you have "Everlasting Arms."? I think that is the name of the song.

TTYL

Good morning everyone.  Thanks for the devotional Pat. 

Anthony, it is good to read your posts again.  I hope you are doing well these days.

Marilyn, I like the old songs too.  We sing a lot of the contemporary songs but our leaders do a good job mixing in the old traditional hymns.

Eph 5:18-20
18   Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
19   Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,
20   always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(NIV)

Papa John          <)))><<   

This one, Marilyn?

Good Morning Papa John!

Hope you're keeping well.

Thank you Pat.  I am doing very well.  Of course I have some physical problems like most people when they get up in years.  But my condition is so much better than a lot of my friends that I can't complain.  God has been so good to me and I have more blessings than I can count.   

Papa John

Good to see your name popping in here lately, Anthony.

I like some of the contemporary songs.  But I also very much appreciate many of the older hymns as well.  I believe music should in some ways imitate God's own creation - symetry, form, beauty, harmony, etc.  And the words to some of those old hymns are really wonderful.

Yes Pat that is the one. Leaning on the Everlasting Arms. Thank you. These old hymns are so ingrained in my being. These are what I remember most from the off and on years of going in and out of church. Most of them from my childhood but they are stuck there and Ilvoe it when the memories come back VBS etc.

Thank you, Pat, for the devotional as well as the hymns this morning.  

I grew up in the church and sang all the "old" songs, but it wasn't until I found myself in places where only the more modern ones were used that I realized the rich heritage I had.  Now, when we sing from the hymn book, I am surprised at how many people say "I never heard that before."  The words bear such meaning and I love them all.  Often, as you already know, there is a song that just fits the moment I am experiencing, or my heart's cry.  

The group that I sing with at the nursing homes use a great many of these older songs.  The residents nearly always know them and can sing along.  

I am going to a Bible Study in about an hour, so maybe I'd best get some breakfast into my stomach and head on out.

Pat, I know you are anxious to have your deck after such a long wait for it.  You will really enjoy it.

Hey there, Anthony!  

Marilyn, Karma, Papa John, Al --- and each one who comes in today --- Have a great day in the Lord!  

Jane

The devotional offers good advise.  Thanks, Pat.  Wish the teachers and BC Gov. would take it....teachers are out on an illegal strike, kids out of school, etc.  Only folks to gain are the lawyers.....

More rain here today.  I made dinner for the kids last night and Squeek came down to join us.  I had a floor lamp on beside a rug  and she was lying on her back, feet in the air, the way she does when the sun is out and and she is sunbathing   Now there is a cat, desperate for sunshine!

Nice joke the other day, Larry!  Wish I had the patience to learn all the tech. stuff that you have acquired regarding computers.  Spent my life working and evolving with them and now only do the most basic ... 

Congratulations, Karmat.  Nice article in your paper.  Hope the car will work and the holiday happens.

Wonderful to see so many posting and hope all will have a good day.  I must go and get the day started.  Uncovered the bird and he simply glared at me.  Not a song to be sung.  Guess I should have tried to sing along with the lovely hymns....yes, still like them the best. 

Here is a small smile:


You don't really believe . . . 


A lady is riding the subway, reading her Bible.

A man sitting next to her, seeming amused, asks her,

"You don't really believe what they say in there, do you?"

"Every word," she replied.

"OK," he asks, "how about the Noah story, the flood, the animals - do you
believe that?"

"Oh, absolutely," she said.

"What about God creating the universe in six days?"

"All true, I believe every word."

"What about Jonah - how could a man live for three days in the belly of a whale?" he asks.

"Yes, I believe that too," she says.

"Well, how could that be - I mean, how did he breathe?"

"I don't know," she said. "When I get to Heaven, I'll ask him."

"What if he's not in Heaven," the guy asks.

The lady replies. . .

. . . "In that case, you can ask him!"

                 

God Bless.

Liz

Quote from: Marilyn on October 15, 2005, 12:04:34 PM
Yes Pat that is the one. Leaning on the Everlasting Arms. Thank you. These old hymns are so ingrained in my being. These are what I remember most from the off and on years of going in and out of church. Most of them from my childhood but they are stuck there and Ilvoe it when the memories come back VBS etc.

Marilyn, I'm so happy we found the right one for you.  

Oh, Liz...  Where do you get these from?  

Here's another for all of us who attended the Bill Gaither Homecoming a few weeks back...

.

Watch that green blob.  Something amazing will appear in a few seconds!!

Pat ~ The Green Tomato Pie recipe wasn't in the Recipe area but it is now.  Click here for the Green Tomato Pie recipe.  Some people say it tastes like Mince Pie but I wouldn't know since I don't remember of ever eating Mince Pie. 

Karma ~ WooHoo!  What great accolades in your newspaper.  The writer did great and I love that picture of you. 

I about done myself in yesterday.  I put the battery charger on my Honda mower but it wouldn't start.  So I mowed the leaves with the Craftsman mower.  I blowed the grass off of it with my air compressor and put the Craftsman in the garage.  I tried the Honda and it started.  So I mowed the lane to the woods for my brother, Kaye Don.  Three trips back there.  Then I swept out the garage with the ShopVac.  I started hosing off the deck when Kitty came.  We talked for awhile and then I finished hosing off the deck.  I came in and cleaned up.  Then I ground 4 cups of green tomatoes.  It is been eons since I have made pie crust but I did.  Ivalou came over and she washed my dishes while I got the pie all ready for the oven.  Then my sister-in-law called to see if Ivalou and I wanted to play cards last night.  So when the pie was done, I walked over there.  We played two games of 'Hand and Foot'.  It was eleven when I got home but I just had to see how the pie was so ate a very small piece.  Tasted good but it didn't set up like it should.  But Ivalou and I will eat it.  I even called Tony and told him if he was out and about, that I had Green Tomato Pie! 

Now today, I need to grind the rest of the tomatoes.  I will buy crust from now on!!  But my crust was good...nice and flaky! 


.

Hi Pat,   I love the devotional today.   I hope that when I get on a plane I will be able to lead someone to the Lord.   What a wonderful way to start or end a trip.   Even while on a trip, talking about Jesus the King of Kings is an amazing thing to do.  Praise God.

A baptism at Peoples Church tomorrow.  Hope you all are wonderful!

God's richest blessings.

Love Ruthie

QuoteOh, Liz...  Where do you get these from?   

Well    .....Sometimes the Internet Waters are a tad stale!

Visited your Blog and it is terrific

Liz

WAHHHH!!!  I lost my whole, long post, and do not have time now to do it over!!   

Hello and welcome back home to Anthony, and I will try to catch up the rest later.  I have someone on their way here now and have to find something before they get here!

Just thought I'd drop in to say goodnight. I had forgotten just how rich the fellowship is on C.P.  I have really enjoyed reading everyone's comments and encouragements.  Sorry for such a short message, but I have left things late and need to get to bed.  God bless all and look forward to your fellowship tomorrow.

Janet it's good to see you again.  One of the first things I did was search for photographs of Abby - I was surprised to see how she had grown, but still very cute. I hope that all of the family are well 

Anthony.

Etta Sue, your recipe with  all that sugar, allspice, clove, and cinnamon, sounds like it might taste like Mince Meat Pie.  Don't tell me you have never heard of that.

We just got back from a nice walk in the neighborhood.  Well, Cornelia walked and I rode my scooter.  I don't get much exercise but I do get some good fresh air.

John said, "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day...",  Rev 1:10  Tomorrow old Papa John expects to have the same blessing and I hope you do as well.

Papa John          <)))><<   

Okay, here I am back to try this again!  My friend came and left, and we have eaten supper.  So while Darrel watches whatever on TV I will try to get my post done again.

Etta Sue, I haven't had green tomato pie, either, but doubt I will ever make one.  I have had mincemeat pie and didn't care for it--but I'll bet your tomato pie is better.  How many more times will you need to mow your leaves? 

I had to be in town today before 7 AM to help a friend with a garage sale.  She really wasn't ready---not a table in sight yet.  The person who promised to bring them, forgot.    So it was a really hectic morning, and I got plenty of exercise.  This lady is moving in with the lady next door because she is in deteriorating health and afraid to live alone.  Really, though, I think she is just lonely, as she can't see well enough to drive, so has to depend on others for transportation.  I do hope it all works out for her.

My sis and bro-in-law from Nebraska were in town to see Mom, and they came out for a couple of hours to see us and Beth.  They helped me turn her bed around the way she wanted it, as I was afraid I might damage her new linoleum if I did it by myself.  Sure was good to get to visit with them.

Anthony, Abby is really growing up!  She is 8 years old and in second grade, and still the joy of my life (well, one of them!  )  Thanks for thinking about her and looking for her photos.  When I have time to catch a breath, I will attempt to learn how to use the new gallery and post some more.  I sure have plenty! 

Larry and Sue, thanks for asking about our evening talk to the Kiwanis club.  I think they really enjoyed our presentation, as they had asked us to speak for about 30 minutes, and after an hour had passed, they were still in rapt attention and asking lots of questions.  I had taken some things we purchased in Thailand, and also photos and postcards, and Abby came along, dressed in her Akha Hilltribe costume we brought her, and she helped by passing around things for them to look at.  I think they enjoyed having a youngster among them. 

Marilyn, to quote another old song "The sun'll come out tomorrow!"  I hope the sunshine lifts your spirits, it usually does that for me.  We had another lovely day here today.  I think October is my favorite month, weather-wise.

Hi, Papa John!  Glad you are scootin' about in the fresh air!  Always good to read your posts.  Thanks for sharing.

Liz, you always bring me a smile; thanks for that!  I would love to meet you!  Best to Amanda and her job!

Hello, Pat!  How is the deck progressing?  It will soon be covered by snow, but spring is coming! 

Hi, Carol!  Good to see you posting so regularly, and I really enjoy reading what you and your hubby are up to, there in Colorado (or elsewhere!)

Jane, good to see you, too.  How is our guy Bry doing?

Hey there, Ruthie!

We have a special day tomorrow at church.  A close personal friend of our pastor is to be there.  He is from India, and he has a big work in India and Bhutan.  If I understand right, this fellow (Solomon Wang) was raised in India, was orphaned, and felt the call of God at an early age.  His adoptive family sent him to the US for his education; he would up in Nebraska and married a girl from Nebraska.  They now serve God together.  Our pastor is from Nebraska, too, so guess that is how they know each other.  Anyway, we are really looking forward to the services, both morning and evening.

Okay, I think that's about all I had said earlier, and I'm going to post this quick before it disappears!

Janet, so glad you persevered to post again.  Sounds as if you've been as busy as ever.

The gallery is so very easy to use and I sure hope that everyone gets in there to see the wonderful photos we have popping up in there.  Some of our new folks have some fantastic photography and we really need to see comments under them.

I'm so glad to see you back Anthony.

Liz, I'm glad you've visited my Blog.  My blog is there for one reason along and that is to glorify the Lord and to spread the gospel.  I pray that I'll do that in some small way.  It would be good to see many of our members with Blogs at that site as it is free and it's very easy to do.  Pam is one lady with a nice blog on the same site.  Hope she puts the URL in her signature here so that everyone can find it.  Maybe I'll get it and put a link in so that you can click and encourage her.



I must go and get a cup of tea.

I had quite a scare today for which I'm thankful to the Lord that it wasn't a lot worse.  I had a fire.

I was cooking ground beef in order to make some chili and then the washing machine started to vibrate in the basement and so I ran down to fix the load and level it and then the dryer stopped when I was there so thought I'd fold the washing to put the new load in and then the phone rang and well, you know the rest of the story.

I heard Geordie give a great big howl and so I ran upstairs to be met with such thick smoke and I smelled the meat.  I couldn't see but knew where the problem was so went through the smoke and carefully lifted the pan with the lid on it to the door and outside.  It burned a hole in the grass and earth where I put it.

then I went into the house and the smoke was thicker than thick to about 18 inches from the floor and tried to look for the dog and cat.  They were under my bed.

I opened all the windows, put on all the fans and it's stinks in here.  Andrew just came and said, "Mum, what's the smell?"

Anyway, the upstairs smoke alarm didn't go off.  So he's going to fix that for me.  It's not a battery one but it's electric.  Don't know anything about that but he'll know.

So, that's my news for today.