Christian Photographers Community

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All things work together . . .[/b]

As the psalmist says, "The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against His Anointed." There you have the attitude of the worldly "authorities."  But the resurrection morning proves that, even at the darkest possible times, all things are really done in exact accord with to the will of God.

And that means ALL things. Sometimes we become discouraged, not by what others do, but by what we ourselves do. We sometimes even tend to come to the conclusion that God has cast us off, that we never were really related to Him in salvation at all. But it shouldn't be surprising to us if that were a lie of the Devil.

The disciples hadn't yet learned such things at the end of Jesus' earthly ministry. They were like us. Not knowing how their Lord could use even the most evil-appearing events.  So when our Lord quietly submitted to be taken prisoner, the eleven "all forsook Him and fled." Up to that moment, they may have thought He would work some miracle to have Himself freed, but when no miracle occurred, their courage dried up! Their former bold statements about willingness to die with Him evaporated! Fear of present danger overcame any faith in eventual outcomes.

But even their fears had been predicted by our Lord. He had plainly told them it would happen. Even such failure was under the sovereign Hand of God. He didn't make them fail - He simply let them do what came naturally. Maybe they needed to learn humility - that they couldn't rely on their own abilities and strength. Maybe they needed to learn to deal charitably with other people, people whom God wanted them to shepherd in the future â€" people like us! After all, they needed to realize that such people would often fail, and that they were to be dealt with humbly and gently anyway.  No matter what the reasons were, we can be sure that they were being equipped to serve - even through their failure.

And so are we. We need very much to know that even our worst failures are allowed in the perfect plan of our heavenly Father. Nothing has ever surprised Him. Nothing ever will. He knew all about each of us long before we knew anything about Him. He knew all our failings, all our foolish cravings and habits, all our laziness of spirit - before the foundation of the world. It didn't stop Him from choosing us or from determining that we will be perfected - sometimes even by means of our failures - until we finally stand perfect in His very presence for eternity!

It is 9PM here on the island and so I am not early today, simply late in posting.
Nice devotional Pastor Al.  Thank you.

We are finally having a warm Indian Summer and it is most welcome.  Probably going to end quickly so plan to be outside lots.  That flu virus has gone round and round here and Wendy is only now beginning to recover.  I seem to be replaying the past by fixing soup and juice for upset tummies.

If anyone recalls about the stray cat we rescued, it has a happy ending.  The family were in the process of building a new home and a friend was minding 'cat'.  It got lost.  So they were very happy when the SPCA called. They phoned here to say thanks to Wendy.  She drove many miles, when ill, to solve the problem as the SPCA is not close to where we live.  I can't get over the children throwing rocks at that beautiful, loving animal. 

So many sad posts on CP the past while.  I pray for all the problems and totally believe that God will do what is best for all of us who trust and hold tight to our faith.  Guess that is what makes us strong....

Pleasant dreams and God Bless.

Liz 

How about a silly little joke to start the morning?

Kindness to Animals

A minister was talking to a children's Sunday School class
about kindness to animals. He cited the Biblical references to
substantiate his case. "Now let's
suppose," he said, "that you saw a bad person cutting off the tail of a cat.
What Biblical quotation would you use to tell him of the terrible wrong he was
doing?"

"I would point out to him," one of the class said, "what God hath
joined together, let no man put asunder


;D

A very good morning to each and everyone of you.

Hi Liz

Pastor, thank-you.  You have given me good "food" this morning.

"There is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.
Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground;
Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant.

For now Thou numberest my steps: dost Thou not watch over my sin?
My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and Thou sewest up mine iniquity."         

Job 14:7-9,16,17.

Jesus is our 'Living' Water.  May we scent that water today and sprout new shoots....May we be invigorated

God Bless.
Jenny.

Good morning, friends,

The week's activities have nearly exhausted me. I'm going to work, but certainly wish I had the day to rest in bed.

Y'all have a good day today. I'll write more when time allows.

Love to you all.

Ruth Ann

Good morning to all!  It's pretty peaceful in Western North Carolina right now, just foggy.  I sure hope all of you have a good day!  Karma's on a big blast to do a bunch of Mary Kay work today (end of the month goals) so she may not be around.  If she is, y'all make sure she stays busy!  :)

Bye!
nard

Thanks Al, for the devotion today!  That is one of my favorite verses.  What a wonderful promise to those of us who are believers!

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Quote from: Pat Scott on September 30, 2004, 08:58:56 AM

If you take VIOXX for arthritic conditions, stop immediately!

What did I miss?  I take Vioxx.

Look who's online!  It's great to see you all!

I was taking it too, Ed. but I've thrown mine out today.

Watch CNN.  It's on every news broadcast today. 

This is a WORLD-WIDE pull of this medication by Merck (the maker of it).

Good Morning. Thank you Al good devotional.

Pat I used to take Vioxx but stopped about a year ago. I still have a few pills someplace they will now go down the Loo.

There had been some talk among the Pastor's family and me about moving on to a different church but as of last night we are NOT going to move on. We will stay and support the new Pastor whenever we get one. In the meantime we will continue to be faithful to the congregation in doing the jobs we each have.

There are some terrible rumours going around that are so off base that I pray the truth will come out. There are those who feel that a Membership meeting should be called and all the things being said and the plots be revealed. Yes there was a plot to make Pastor so miserable he would resign. I will leave it there, only God knows what should be done and will be done.

Today Gloria has an interview with a prospective new caregiver. Praise the Lord. I will have someone else to take over 3 days per week un til the end of ctober and then I will move to a different job. I have one lined up as a private pay job for 3 hours per day 4 days per week at $10.00 per hour helping someone organize their house and cleaning it.  It is the Pastor's sister who is in a wheelchair.

Must go now and do my excersises.

Fast Eddie It is on the news about Vioxx, causing heart attacks etc. Bad News.

TTYL:

LOL @ LIZ Cute joke.  ;D

Oh my, Pat!  ??? I will be watching CNN today.  I don't take it but I my dad takes stuff for his arthritis.  Not sure if it is that or not. 

Thanks Al, for the great devotion.  :D

Morning, Jenny, Marilyn, Ruth Ann, Nards and Fast Eddie!   :)

Good morning to the late bugs too.   ;D

I better get going.  Picture day today...I am going out in the rain and taking some pictures.  I sure hope I can get my focus right with my 70-200 lens.  :-\

I hadn't heard about Vioxx--must have come about late last evening after I left for church.  We have both taken some in the past, but not much.

Good to see all of you this morning.  It is cool and overcast here, and they predict a high in the 40s for the weekend.  We enjoyed our swim this morning.

I really don't have anything to say today---can you imagine that?

First of all, I didn't get an email notification for NEM yesterday.  Then I manually went to NEM yesterday and I didn't find my post!!!  I DID POST!  I KNOW I DID!  OH WHERE, OH WHERE DID MY LITTLE POST GO? 

Anyway, I am here today.  I was here yesterday but........

Bright and sunny again today.  No rain for weeks.  Really cool.  May have to turn on the heat tonight.  Ivalou is gone to Ohio.  Kaye Don and Barb are gone to Michigan.  I just don't like being here by myself so Jerry is here.  After lunch we are going to my step-daughters. Her husband had heart surgery and isn't doing very good.  Needs a pacemaker.  Without it, they only give him until Christmas.  So sad.  He has had 3 open-heart surgeries and one angioplasty...that I know of. 

Time to get moving.  Have to eat before we leave.

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"Lord, while You prepare a place for us, prepare us for that place."

Gosh, Janet, are you alright?.... ;D

Howdy folks. 
Well I went out of town to the kewlest place. 

I took lots of pictures and even got a shot for wild life challenge on dpc. 

This place I went to must be at least 100 years old.  It is abandoned but still has stuff in the house, like shoes, magazines, and even an old bed upstairs.

I did not enter the house but could see through all the broken windows. 

I am looking at the pictures now.

Be back in a few. 

Sorry Etta Sue to hear about your lost
post. 

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  \  / Charles Spurgeon's MORNING & EVENING
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                                          Tuesday, September 28, 2004



MORNING:

        "The Lord looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of
        men."
               -- Psalms 33:13

Perhaps no figure of speech represents God in a more gracious light
than when he is spoken of as stooping from his throne, and coming down
from heaven to attend to the wants and to behold the woes of mankind.
We love him, who, when Sodom and Gomorrah were full of iniquity, would
not destroy those cities until he had made a personal visitation of
them. We cannot help pouring out our heart in affection for our Lord
who inclines his ear from the highest glory, and puts it to the lip of
the dying sinner, whose failing heart longs after reconciliation. How
can we but love him when we know that he numbers the very hairs of our
heads, marks our path, and orders our ways? Specially is this great
truth brought near to our heart, when we recollect how attentive he is,
not merely to the temporal interests of his creatures, but to their
spiritual concerns. Though leagues of distance lie between the finite
creature and the infinite Creator, yet there are links uniting both.
When a tear is wept by thee, think not that God doth not behold; for,
"Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that
fear him." Thy sigh is able to move the heart of Jehovah; thy whisper
can incline his ear unto thee; thy prayer can stay his hand; thy faith
can move his arm. Think not that God sits on high taking no account of
thee. Remember that however poor and needy thou art, yet the Lord
thinketh upon thee. For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout
the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose
heart is perfect towards him.

Oh! then repeat the truth that never tires;
No God is like the God my soul desires;
He at whose voice heaven trembles, even he,
Great as he is, knows how to stoop to me.

We have had a nice day here in Pigeon Forge today.  We went over to Gatlinburg and had a real nice lunch at a beautiful Bed and Breakfast.  On our way back we stopped at several factory outlets.  Cornelia picked out a nice shirt for me  -- spending more money.

Ruth Ann, I hope you will get a little rest.  It isn’t good to burn the candle at both ends.

Well, I am going to watch the debate tonight.  Since this isn’t a political discussion I won’t say anything but I DO have my opinions and ideas.  I just pray that the best man for the job will win.

About Vioxx, I suggest that you not throw it away.  If you take it back to the drug store they will reimburse you what you paid for it.  Once before a medicine was recalled and I took the remainder back and they gave me back my money.

--- Papa John          <;D)))><<   
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Afternoon and just popping in to say hi. 

Where is everyone!?

soni

Look who's on line.

Do we have any sports fans here?  Let's see some photos of Sports in the byweekly challenge

Sports Challenge (http://christianphotographers.com/community/index.php?topic=3381.msg58755#msg58755)

 Â Hi Pat and everyone else,Thank you Pat for the mug.Isn't Meikas puppy a sweetie,I get to puppysit cookies 4 next month I think that will be fun with 5 bouncing puppies.I am doing better getting my self and legs in bed trying to overcome my paranoia of having to face the door,so now I am sleeping with my head at headboard instead of like I was  turned around with my head at foot of bed,maybe thats why I was having problems.Mom will be off to Wichita for a ladies retreat in the morning,so I'll figure out how to get my feathered beast covered,she's driving me nuts.Yesterday she said a new word,she said "Scooby Doo" cause I had it on tv ,she only talks when she wants too.I enjoyed todays devotional and Pat I always liked that song too.Well I am waiting for John to come on so  he can tease me endlessly again,he sure knows how to do that and if I try to get him to stop he only does it more,so I have to learn to be quiet.Thanks Pat for posting your pictures too I plan on going there next time I go to NY.take care all and God Bless us everyone.

 Pastor Al, I want to thank you for this morning's devotional.  It does give one's life meaning - our good works and our failures.

Also, I enjoyed the other postings of Liz, Jenny, Ruth Ann, nard, Pat with the song, Fast Eddie, Marilyn, Sonifo, Janet, Etta Sue and her little bear,  Jenny, Chris and Margaret, dear Papa John, and Primrose. (I think that I mentioned everyone).  It is always so nice to visit here and read everyone's comments.

I had ukulele practice this morning and little Willie was at the groomers during that time.  Little Willie is an elderly, blind Shih Tzu that I take care of for my daughter during her working hours.  It was a stray that she gave a home to, several years ago.  He is so well trained, likes people and doesn't like to be left alone.  Of course, he has me trained very well also, and we are great buddies. When I can take the time to do so, I'll post a photo of him in your photo gallery.

Have a good evening!   

Jenny, it is unusual for me not to have anything to say!  ;D  But I do have my quiet days.

I taught my little painting class today, also worked on cropping my trip photos to put into an album.  Boy, I took so many photos!  We are going to have a "picture party" and I want to have my album ready for that.  I got doubles of a lot of them so will have those to share with others.

I am leaving at 6:00 in the morning, so I won't be around until Sunday sometime.  I have promised to go get Abby for the afternoon and night on Sunday, we will then take her to school as we go through on Monday on the way to Amarillo for Darrel's heart dr. appointment.  We sure do a lot of running around, don't we? :-\

Beth, good to see you posting today.  I will come over soon and cover the squawker for you.  I am going to watch the debate tonight, for sure.  I just hope I can stay awake; I'm fading fast!

I wonder if Mt. St. Helens is going to blow again?  It is threatening.

You all be good while I'm away, and keep on posting!

Soni, I'm looking forward to seeing your new photos.

Hi All...
Just wanted to stop and say hi~I woke up sick this morning-so its been a very hard day-
I have an unspoken prayer request-But, am asking all of you to pray for my husband and I..
and our family. It is something that we really really need prayer for.
Thank You..
I hope all of you have a wonderful evening/morning..

Hugs
Rachelle

It is 10 pm and I am watching and listening to the Presidential debates and just now having a chance to read through the postings since I posted yesterday.  We had a busy day today as Pat had an MRI at 11 am and we had to drive the Interstates to the facility, which is about an hour away.  They were about an hour behind so it was almost 12:30 before she was finshed.  We then stopped on the way home for a quick lunch and then at the church so that we could fix the children's packets for the Sunday service.  Pat didn't feel like getting out yesterday.  Then we went out to eat with our friends and they stopped back at our house to visit for awhile.  So it is has been a busy day. 

Glad to see everyone posting.  Know I haven't posted very much but am tired so will see everyone online tomorrow.

Thank you Al for that great devotional this morning.  I know that "All things work together to them that love God, to them that are called according to His purposes"

I'm so glad that God is working all things out for me.

Love Ruthie

I don't take Vioxx, just calcium & magnesium and sometimes glucosamine with MSM in it.

Works for me.   God Bless and Good night Everyone

Love Ruthie

Soni --- I took some surfing photos recently (my first time doing that) and I think I got a few good ones. I'll have to see if I can get them printedup in the next couple of days...

Gregg

Well, it's that time again--time to lock the door.

Nice to see your post, Beth and I'm so happy that you liked your mug.  I wish it could have been more sweetie.  Enjoy your morning coffee and remember that I pray for you every day.

Gregg, nice to see you too.  Don't be a stranger.

Have you all clicked on the "Gallery" button above and looked at the few photos that have been uploaded?  There's some good ones.

I had a great supper tonight with Judy McKenna at a "Girlfriends Night Out" at a Baptist Church in Cambridge.  The meal was absolutely delicious!  Thanks so much, Judy for inviting me.

And today, I had a bone density test and a mammogram.  Plus a doctor's appt.

So, busy busy day for me.

Well, here's your link folks.

CLICK HERE (http://christianphotographers.com/community/index.php?topic=3455.0)