New Every Morning~April 18

Janet · April 17, 2006, 09:09:13 PM

Morning Devotional...

A Friend's Death

No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him (1 Corinthians 2:9, NLT).

Dear friends:

As I stood at the graveside of a friend who had battled cancer for several years, my mind raced back to preceding events, and how in His sovereignty God had used them.

It was that very cancer that had resulted in her receiving Christ, along with all of her family.

As I had previously met and prayed with her and her husband, their attitude was not critical, or unhappy, or as though they had been discriminated against, or "Why is God doing this to us?"

Instead, their attitude was, "We're grateful for this cancer because it helped all of us as a family to receive Christ and, in the process, receive not only new life for this world, but eternal life in heaven."

Also at the gravesite, a thought occurred to me for the first time in my life. I remembered that heaven is described as a place of such great beauty, where eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man what God has prepared for those who love Him (1 Corinthians 2:9). Then I thought about other passages about heaven, its beauty and magnificence.

It suddenly occurred to me that the most beautiful, and exciting, and wonderful moments of my friend's life was her last breath, and the next second following her last breath.

That moment was more important than her birth, more important than her marriage, more important that the birth of her children, and more important than all the honors and successes of her life.

The most important moments of her existence were her death and the split-second following her death. The Scriptures say to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. So, at that very moment, she was instantly in the presence of our great, incomparable, Creator God and fearless Savior, who died for her.

My departed friend, now with the Lord Jesus, had learned the greatest lesson in all the universe. That is, no matter what tragedies or heartaches may come our way, nothing can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:39). He is constantly reaching out to help us, to encourage us, and to bless us.

This realization further motivated me to tell everyone who would listen about Christ.

From this day on, may all of us take advantage of every opportunity to encourage others to also receive God's great love and forgiveness in Christ.

Yours for helping to fulfill the Great Commission
each year until our Lord returns,

Bill Bright

Marilyn · April 17, 2006, 10:30:42 PM

Janet that is so beautiful. Thank you for sharing that devotional by Bill Bright.
I still don't have much to say. I took the dogs for walks today after I got home, then I vacuumed like I said I would. I created another cute stationery, crocheted a bit and I am already yawning it is only 7:30.So I will sign off for tonight.

Nite all.

JudyB · April 18, 2006, 12:05:35 AM

Thank You Janet.

Pat Mel is upset with you over Geordie.

It is late and I am tired. So Night all

Janet · April 18, 2006, 08:57:18 AM

Good morning! We are going to swim this morning, so have to go a bit later, to avoid paying extra. $:-\$ So I am stopping by to greet all of you.

Awwww,,,,,,,,poor Geordie. Give him a hug for me (woof!) and tell him to get well quick!

I wonder what plans God has for me today?

JudyB · April 18, 2006, 09:05:06 AM

it has been a quiet morning here on CP. I pray everyone had a good night.

Janet how is Beth?

Papa John How is Cornelia?

Gord how is Noreen making out?

Anyone else I have missed know I am praying for each one here on CP.

Janet · April 18, 2006, 09:29:23 AM

Thank you for asking, Judy. Beth is enjoying a few days' reprieve between crises.

This coming weekend, Darrel is going on his Walk to Emmaus, and then the following weekend, it will be my turn! We are looking forward to it.

Carol · April 18, 2006, 09:49:36 AM

Janet: Thanks for the devotion - how strong people are to realize that the cancer was meant to bring the family together. I don't know if I could ever consider cancer a Godsend. What is this walk you are writing about?

Pat: I went back to find out what you wrote about Geordie. Do hope the meds help his possible kidney problem. Our youngest son now has three large dogs rescued (and I hope they rescue no more ) but the last one has been so expensive to treat and that dog is still in pain after operation & injections. Still, our son wants to get more tests (really, it is our DIL) - so we are really hoping something can be done for that poor dog's pain.

Well, I am treating myself to an entire morning in the sewing room & listening to a book on tape. Then, I am treating myself this afternoon to a session with a personal trainer at the gym - this is a darling little girl who is trainer & I mean little. I feel like a moose next to her. Anyway, I have a coupon for three training sessions for taking a survey.

Wishing everyone a wonderful day or evening.

Carol

marilyn777 · April 18, 2006, 10:20:28 AM

Nice devotion thanks for that one. I hope everyone has a good morning the sun is shining here but the wind is still cool coming off Georgian Bay. Just stepping out to stock up on critter food the dog is out of treats and quite put out. Have a wonderful day everyone.

God Bless
Marilyn

Pat · April 18, 2006, 10:24:23 AM

Good Morning to all at

I have a lot of other "stuff" to do today that I should have done yesterday but with the running around and looking after Geordie, I never got to it. Geordie is lying down here beside me. He ate a little bit of food today on his own and got outside for his morning ablutions by himself so that's a big plus. He can get down the stairs himself but can't get up them due to weakness so I'll have to carry him when I go but I do see some improvement over yesterday.

What a wonderful verse on our left sidebar today!

Today's Verse

----------------------------------------
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Romans 10:9-10

Pat · April 18, 2006, 10:25:44 AM

Hi Marilyn!

Great to see you posting today. I must get to see your photos. I never got to our Gallery yesterday at all.

The weather here in Guelph is terrific today. How's it up in the Owen Sound area?

Marilyn · April 18, 2006, 10:56:59 AM

Good Morning: The sun is out this morning Hooray. Buuuuut it is real cold it froze overnight I moved the car into the sun so it will melt before I leave for Jan's in just over an hour.

I am taking her to the dermatologist this morning and stopping by the medical supply house to pick up another water container for my humidifier on th CPAP machine. I am going for my Mammo this afternoon and get that over with. Yech

Good to see y-all here today Hi to the rest who will come in later.

TTYL

Marilyn · April 18, 2006, 11:06:58 AM

Happy Birthday

OK Tom
Gordo
Gregg
And
Kroztp

Etta Sue · April 18, 2006, 11:16:49 AM

Great devotion. I remember that immediately after Jerry took his last breath, every wrinkle on his face left. Beautiful to see.

Pat, I really like your Christian Photography animation! Did you make it yourself?

My heart is saddened today. Last night in Small Groups, our hosts, Pastor Mark and Deborah, let us know that they will be leaving our church. They will be flying to Floriday this Friday and Saturday so Mark can be interviewed for a Director's position at a Church Camp in Lake Wales. He also has a promising position available in Charlotte, NC. We know they are leaving...just don't know when. They will certainly be missed.

Photography lessons tonight. My friend, Kitty, is giving a lesson tonight.

Larry Hanna · April 18, 2006, 11:28:49 AM

Hi everyone. Janet, what an outstanding devotional message. Dr. Bright was a wonderful writer and certainly got his points across in a few words.

I am trying to record some of our sermons today to convert them to MP3s to use on our website. I have had quite a bit of problem getting everything set correctly but soon will have the first one recorded and hope I will be able to use it. This is something I have wanted to do for sometime and think we will use Christianpodders as our host and link on our website.

Pat, sure hope Gordie gets a lot better today. Pets are like small children in that they can't tell us what is hurting.

Etta Sue, it is better for you to be sad at losing your young minister and his wife rather than saying it is about time or something. God will send someone else to replace him.

Carol I hope you enjoy your personal training experience today.

It is beautiful here this morning, not very humid and a nice cool breeze. Pat has gone to her quilting guild today.

Happy Birthday to all those celebrating that special event.

Marilyn · April 18, 2006, 11:51:55 AM

Pat I forgot to tell you that Bebe, Happy and I are praying for Geordie.

Nita · April 18, 2006, 12:17:36 PM

So are Rocko, Tyson and me. We want Geordie to get well really soon and not hurt anymore. But we're sure glad he has a good mom who will carry him up the stairs till he can carry himself.

love, the Horner pack

Pat · April 18, 2006, 02:17:12 PM

Thanks everyone...

Geordie is sitting out on the deck. He's barking at the "big birds" but not running after them.

So I think he'll be fine in a few days.

Etta Sue, no I had a fellow on Photography Cafe do that graphic for me as he did one for that site. I wish it stayed showing longer at the end but I have no idea how to do that.

Also, I going to try and make it more transparent for our dark background on our site.

mybcjazz · April 18, 2006, 04:44:02 PM

Thank you Janet, for such a good devotional. I like getting in here later--get to catch up on everyone's news.

There are so many good pictures in the gallery lately. Take a look and leave a comment when you have a moment.

Gallery

In His Grip,
kevin

Marilyn · April 18, 2006, 06:36:01 PM

Pat Have Geordie come over the SN in Animal talk and fill in the pets on his condition. They all have their paws together for him.

Pat · April 18, 2006, 09:45:28 PM

Early tonight as I've had a day looking after Geordie and in between times running errands and tomorrow I have an appointment first thing in the morning and then have to leave at 12 noon to go to London to the Dental College. I'm going to take Geordie with me so I can look after him.

I haven't read any of the posts since I posted as I've been so very busy but I'll try to catch up tomorrow.

So, please feel free to post in tomorrow's New Every Morning and I'll lock the door a little early and get to my bed!

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New Every Morning~April 18

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