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Morning Devotional...





"Withstand (the devil); be firm in faith [against his onset] rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined knowing that the same (identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace...will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen (and settle) you."
(1 Peter 5:9-10, Amp)

No matter how long you've been living by faith, no matter how much you've learned about it, every once in a while you may suffer a setback. You may run into some circumstances that just don't turn out the way you expected.

If that happens, remember this: Those setbacks are just temporary. You may have lost a battle, but you're not going to lose the war. Just get up and go at it again.

"But I don't understand it," you say. "I did the best I could. I walked in all the truth I knew to walk in. Why didn't I get the victory?"

Because there was something you didn't know! It shouldn't shock you too much that there are things you don't know about the realm of the spirit. No matter if you  have been in the ministry for over 20 years; if you've spent untold hours in the Word. Yet it seems like the more you learn, the more you realize you  don't know.

So, when we get to a situation where we can't seem to get victory, we have to ask God for more wisdom. If you'll look in 2 Samuel 21, you can see a time when King David had to do that. His country had been suffering from a famine for three years and David just didn't understand it, so he inquired of the Lord. The Lord told him the famine had come because of something Saul had done! Isn't that amazing? Saul had been dead for years, yet what he'd put in motion in the realm of the spirit was still affecting his country.

David could have just given up when his usual confessions of faith and ways of praying didn't drive out that famine, but he didn't. He inquired of God for more wisdom. He used his temporary setback to cause him to seek more knowledge from God.

Follow his example! Overcome the habit of quitting because of temporary setbacks. Refuse to let them knock you out of the game. After all, this thing's not over till it's over. And the Bible says when it's all over, you'll have won. So just be steadfast in your faith. In the end your victory is guaranteed.


Scripture Study: 2 Samuel 21:1-6 [/b]

I was posting this in the other topic but then thought I'd put it here.


Janet, that's a fantastic "funny!"  Loved it and am going to send it to a couple of friends.

Thanks for all you do on this site, Janet.

Very good devotional, Janet!

Janet thank you for the devotional on Faith, I sure needed that this morning.

We had a Ladies Nite out meeting at the church last night. A lot of planning went into it. Lots of ladies told me they would come and there were only 4 new ladies who came. That was a total of 10 people there and enough food to feed  maybe 30. What a disappointment after so many have complained that there is nothing going on for the Women and that we never do anything.

Raining here again this morning it sounds like it is really coming down.

TTYL

Quickened

"My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word" (Psalm 119:25).

The grave circumstances which the psalmist was experiencing caused him to cry out to God and write Psalm 119. He felt his soul was laid low in the dust (v.25) and was melting for heaviness (v.28). There were those who were oppressing him (vv.121,134), persecuting him (vv.86,
157,161) and lying about him (v.69). He was in great affliction (vv.50,67,71,75,107,153). His enemies had almost consumed him (v.87).

In the midst of all these trials the writer knew that his only deliverance was for God to quicken him. He prayed eleven different times in this psalm for God to quicken him. The same word was used in Psalm 71:20 and 80:18. Quicken means to give life, restore, revive, renew, or stimulate. But how is this accomplished?

Quickening would come through God's Word, precepts, and judgments. "Quicken thou me according to thy word" (Psalm 119:25; see also vv.50,107,154). "I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me" (v.93). "O Lord, quicken me according to thy judgment" (149,154,156). The New Testament's emphasis is the same—"For the word of God is quick [living] and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword" (Hebrews 4:12).

Quickening would come through a remembrance of God's righteousness and lovingkindness. "Quicken me in thy righteousness" (Psalm 119:40). "Quicken me after thy loving-kindness" (v.88, see also v.159).

Quickening would also come by walking in God's way and not in man's vain way. "Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way" (v.37). "This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me" (v.50). NPS

Thanks, Suzanne and Marilyn, glad you enjoyed todays devotional.

I have had my workout and my breakfast.  Now to figure out what needs doing the most around here. Hmmm.........

I think I might call my eye doctor and have him look at my eye.  I sure would not like to ignore something that needs attention.  I only have one pair of eyes. 

We have a beautiful day of sunshine here in SW Kansas today. 

See you later!

Hope things are well with your eye, Janet.

I have a busy day of getting pictures ready for 4 gals. 

Hope you all have a wonderful day.

April 12   

Prayer: Not Asking for Anything

I love the Lord, because He has heard my voice and my supplications.
Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I will call upon Him
as long as I live. 
--Psalm 116:1-2

I think that some of the greatest prayer is prayer where you don't
say one single word or ask for anything. Now God does answer and He
does give us what we ask for. That's plain; nobody can deny that
unless he denies the Scriptures. But that's only one aspect of
prayer, and it's not even the important aspect. Sometimes I go to God
and say, "God, if Thou dost never answer another prayer while I live
on this earth I will still worship Thee as long as I live and in the
ages to come for what Thou hast done already." God's already put me
so far in debt that if I were to live one million millenniums I
couldn't pay Him for what He's done for me.

We go to God as we send a boy to a grocery store with a long written
list, "God, give me this, give me this, and give me this," and our
gracious God often does give us what we want. But I think God is
disappointed because we make Him to be no more than a source of what
we want. Even our Lord Jesus is presented too often much as "Someone
who will meet your need." That's the throbbing heart of modern
evangelism. You're in need and Jesus will meet your need. He's the
Need-meeter. Well, He is that indeed; but, ah, He's infinitely more
than that. 
Worship: The Missing Jewel, pp. 24-25

"Father, forgive me for so often just coming to You with my grocery
list. You've been so faithful; You've given me so much; You've
blessed so richly. It's time I just came, realizing my incredible
debt to You, and simply worshipped at Your feet. Amen."

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Good morning all...

Worship...  the thing we tend to forget to do.

When we see Jesus, I'm sure it won't be a forgotten thing.  It's so easy to let our eyes wander from Him and get focused on all the distractions around us.

An "oldie" but still funny to read every so often...

BRICKLAYER'S ACCIDENT REPORT

Possibly the funniest story in a while. This is a bricklayer's accident report, which was printed in the newsletter of the Australian equivalent of the Workers' Compensation board. This is a true story. Had this guy died, he'd have received a Darwin Award for sure....

Dear Sir:
I am writing in response to your request for additional information  in Block 3 of the accident report form. I put "poor planning" as the cause of my accident. You asked for a fuller explanation and I trust the  following details will be sufficient. I am a bricklayer by trade.

On the day of the accident, I was  working alone on the roof of a new six-story building. When I completed my work, I found that I had some bricks left over which, when weighed later were  found to be slightly in excess of 500 lbs.

Rather than carry the bricks down by hand, I decided to lower them  in a barrel by using a pulley, which was attached to the side of the building on the sixth floor.

Securing the rope at ground level, I went up to the roof, swung the barrel out and loaded the bricks into it. Then I went down and untied the rope, holding it tightly to ensure a slow descent of the bricks.

You will note in Block 11 of the accident report form that I weigh 175 lbs. Due to my surprise at being jerked off the ground so suddenly, I  lost my presence of mind and forgot to let go of the rope. 

Needless to say,  I proceeded at a rapid rate up the side of the building. In the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel, which was now proceeding downward at an equal, impressive speed. This explained  the fractured skull, minor abrasions and the broken collar bone, as  listed in section 3 of the accident report form.

Slowed only slightly, I continued my rapid ascent, not stopping  until the fingers of my right hand were two knuckles deep into the pulley. Fortunately by this time I had regained my presence of mind and was able to hold tightly to the rope, in spite of beginning to experience a great deal of  pain. At approximately the same time, however, the barrel of bricks hit  the ground and the bottom fell out of the barrel.

Now devoid of the weight of  the bricks, that barrel weighed approximately 50 lbs. I
refer you again  to my weight.

As you can imagine, I began a rapid descent, down the side of the building. In the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel coming up. This accounts for the two fractured ankles, broken tooth and several lacerations  of my legs and lower body.

Here my luck began to change slightly. The encounter with the barrel seemed to slow me enough to lessen my injuries when I fell into the pile of bricks and fortunately only three vertebrae were cracked.

I am sorry to report, however, as I lay there on the pile of bricks, in pain, unable to move, I again lost my composure and presence of mind and let go of the rope and I lay there watching the empty barrel begin its journey back down onto me. This explains the two broken legs.

I hope this answers your inquiry."
******

Hi everyone.  Not very energetic today so this will be brief.  I did go walking at the "Y" after coffee this morning and walked 15 laps around the gym, which is suppose to equal a mile.  Had a couple of other short stops to make.  Just got up from a rest period but am still worn out.  It seems to be taking me longer and longer to recover from any exertion.

Pat has gotten a firm date for the surgery on her hip.  It will be done on Friday, April 22nd at the hospital.  It is same-day surgery so she won't be staying in the hospital after the procedure.  She had to go for blood work, EKG, and chest x-ray this morning and tomorrow morning we have to go back to see the surgeon for the final paperwork. 

Janet, thanks for the devotional today.  Sorry to read that you and Ruth are experiencing eye problems.  Hope you will both get reports that it is nothing serious.

Marilyn, all you can do is help provide opportunities and not worry about those who don't wish to participate.  Know you were disappointed.

Have read all the postings.

WHAT a laugh.  It's like reading something Barbara Johnson writes.....I laurgh & laugh....then she writes such moving stories...I cry & cry.  All good for the soul.......especially today as I have the doldrums ,   Most days are up and thank goodness only a few are down. 

Janet, I loved the devotional on faith and then Marilyn's about the word Quicken, and Chris/Margit's on prayer and just being with God.  What a message today.

Larry, I pray that Pat will have as easy a time as I did when I had surgery on my leg/ankle.  They put in a steel plate and screws, and I had my first spinal. Praise God,  there was no headache (one of my horrors) and I got out of there in just a few hours after the surgery. They removed the staples yesterday and gave me a boot to wear 24/7.  But still have to keep my leg elevated and I CANNOT put any pressure on it yet for another 3 wks or so as  I return to dr for update.    I use the wheelchair at home..but when I go back to work next week there is no room for the chair, so will try to use the walker or crutches.  I tend to be rather unstable with the crutches and guess I will hop with the walker. 

Hi everyone yes I know it's been awhile since I posted last.Johns mom is doing well  better and better each day,I am too and so is John.Here is a joke I heard Joel Osteen tell sun on his program

there was a little girl sitting on her Grandfathers lap she noticed his wrinlkes and asked him "gramdpa did God make you'? Her grandfather said "yes he made me a long time ago""Did he make me too"? she asked,he replied "he made you a short time ago"?After complemating this she looked at him and said"He's getting better isn't He"?
You'll have to nevermind my errors in punciation I never did like grammer or english or learning punciation not too good at spelling all words either.well going to go talk to John now he is online,TC  Beth

Hello to Larry, Kathy and Beth, also to Jim.  Good to "see" you all today.

Beth, that is "punctuation."  (I am ducking the rotten tomato Beth hurls my way.)

I went to visit my Mom, took her some stuff, read her the Dixon family newsletter my cousin in California publishes, aslo the one for our family that I do each month.  I am trying to remember to ask Mom lots of questions about the family and WRITE DOWN THE ANSWERS because I tend to forget or mix up the names, etc.  I hope my mind is as sharp and clear at age (almost) 89 as hers is!

I didn't go to the eye doctor after all.  I decided to just pray and ask God to heal it, and it is feeling better.

Long post but I have been away!!!!!

Larry ~ Ivalou and I did have a great lunch.  While eating a bunch of Christian Bikers came in...about 20 of them.  All sizes, shapes and color.  Was really nice to hear their prayer before they ate.  I remember the pine pollen when we were in Louisianna at Ivalou's place on Toledo Bend....the Love Bugs', too!  It is amazing that you have same-day surgery for your hips...out patient.  No over night stay.  Amazing.  I am praying that Pat will be fine after the surgery...pain-free and very agile!

Marilyn ~ Has demolition started yet around you?  Probably will be pretty dusty and noisy for a while now.

Carol ~ I was told that Denver was having lots of snow.....now that those clouds are east now...we are getting rain.

CheckSix ~ How awesome...Honduras.  I am looking forward to pictures.

Chris ~ Thanks for your clickables.  It is awesome that we live in a multi-cultured world and no race or religion is above the rest.  Funny, I didn't know half the people mentioned were Jews...they were/are celebrities that have made a name for themselves.

Kathy ~ Oh, no!  Did I miss somewhere where you said you had fallen and broken your ankle before.  So sorry.  I am praying it heals double-time. 

Ruth Ann ~ Sounds like you have a super busy work week.  How are those swollen hands holding out?

Sonja ~ I hope you came back to tell us the good news.  Edit:

QuoteThe speaker called out "and 1st and over all for the petite solo division(ages 4-8)...." the crowd got silent and they played the song "Naked Mole Rap"  She stood up and started jumping around and ran to the front of the stage and grabbed her BIG trophy(almost as big as her!) Shocked  I was in tears Cry watching her reaction and knowing that she deserved it.  She worked so hard these past couple months.  Sometimes getting frustrated but never giving up.

I got tears of joy in my eyes reading this.  Give her a special hug from Aunt Etta Sue!!!  Would love to see you and Mike in your tap routine!!!  Foos Family....you rock!!

Ruth ~ It is always great to eat out with friends and catch up on each other.  Good food, too.  You don't have to cook if you eat out!

Pat ~ I must have forgotten that you had broken your ankle back in '96.  I have never had a broken bone...knock on wood!!!   I have done some yard work, too, and my muscles know it!!!!

Liz ~ I have checked out your photos and your funny about Holly Finkel is great....especially now that I am at the hospital so much.  Baby bunnies?  Late Easter, hunh?  Just kidding.  All life is precious and awesome.

Al ~ Thank you for the morning devotion yesterday.

Karma ~ Great picture for a 4th place win.  I can tell that is Trav's little hand shadowing Momma's.!!

Janet ~ No, I didn't miss you because I was AWOL, too!  I know you had a great time with Curtis and Mark and family.  They do grow up too fast, don't they?

Jim ~ Yes, all those festival and feasts in the Bible and Christians don't celebrate many of them.  Wonder why?

Nita ~ Hi, Nita!  Bye, Nita!

Pat ~ Quite a funny.  That sounds like a Workmen's Comp person asking questions.  Duh!

Beth ~ Hi there!  It is great to see you posting...that shows you are feeling much better.

I have been absent a few days.  I went out to eat with Ivalou after church Sunday and was just lolling around in the evening.  I got a phone call from Donna Marie...on SeniorNet.  I knew she was Indy visiting her two daughters and a son and was hopping she would call me this week.  So what happened next?  I hurried around and cleaned the bathroom real good, washed the shower curtain, put things away, used the feather duster and swept the whole house.

Monday morning bright and early, I went to see Jerry...he is a tad bit better...at least, not going backwards.  But he was sleeping a lot.  I told him Donna Marie was coming and I had to leave a little before noon so I would be home when Donna came.  He actually said out loud....Tell Donn Hi! 

So I got home.  Now Ivalou lives next door and Kaye Don and Barb live next to her.  They got home Sunday from Florida to stay until next fall.  Everyone was outside working in the yards....and mowing.  So I decided I could pick up twigs and watch for Donna.  Then I sat in the swing. 

Then I decided to get out the lawn tractor and mow.  I checked the cell phone and Donna had called so I called her back.  She took a wrong turn so I directed her to the house.  I still had some to mow when she got here so I finished mowing.  I saw three garden tractors taking limbs to the woods so I thought...'ah ha!  Help to unload my twigs' so I told Donna I was going to take limbs to the woods.

Well, when I got back...I sure did need a shower and to wash my hair....two head washings and two showers in the same day!!! 

Then Donna and I went out to eat and come back home and talked until 11 p.m. 

We got up this morning and had breakfast and talked some more.  She followed me to Noblesville and we ate Chinese....(Hi, Mieka!)  She left to go back to her daughter's and I went to Lowe's and then home. 

I have Donna's bed washed and ready for the next visitor.  Ali and Inky were indifferent to Donna but they both let her pet them. 

What a great visit with Donna!![/b]

matthew2000tx

---

jifarrar

Wow - thats beautiful, Etta Sue.

Hey - anyone notice?  I did....I have just past the 1,500 post!  Its fun seeing how many posts each one have done.

Its been a lovely day here in Guelph., and the forecast looks promising too.  I'll try and check back later, right now, Billy Graham is on.....I don't like to miss hearing him.

The demolition has not started yet but I see there has been a huge dumpster d elivered to the place on the other side of my back fence today. I can hear my landlord out back banging away of something or other. So it is about to start. and Yes I am sure it will be very dusty around here very quickly.

Versal and I went shopping at Dollar tree and the Salvation Army , I bought another purple silk blouse, two other blouses and a dress all for $8.00. I missed the Red Hat meeting this  month as I had to work this past Saturday.

Has anyone of you heard of Cholest-off made by Nature Made? It really works and even doctors are telling people to use it instead of the statin drugs. I ordered some online tonight and am going to stop taking the Zocor. My friend Willa is also buying me a bottle at Costco next time she goes.

TTYL

<lightbulb goes off in karmat's head>
Marilyn, if you can go off Zocor, you might find that some of your aches and pains diminish some.  My mom and preacher's wife were talking last night.  Both of them had been on zocor and both had terrible body pains.  Mom's was primarily in her legs and shoulders, but Patty's was so bad that there were times she couldn't walk up the steps.  Mom can go off of it, adn within days, the pain is gone.  Sometimes I think the side effects of drugs are worse than the condition they are trying to correct.
<lightbulb goes off>

We had Kristi's 2 month check up yesterday.  She weighed 13 lbs 7 oz :0 and was 23 inches long.  The doctor was pleased and said everythign was great.  I don't know if I've told you about our pediatrician.  When he saw Kristi for the first time, he wrote two prescriptions.  One was for vit. D drops, if I wanted them.  The other one though, he handed it to me saying, "This is the most important prescription I write for my patients, professionally and personally."  The prescription read "Pray for Kristi every day."  I thought tha was cool.

Well, gotta go.  Time to get the littel ones in bed.

Marilyn, I've been meaning to tell you that Zocor is also a statin drug.  I hadn't heard of the Cholest-off, but sounds like a good alternative.  Let us know how it works.  I have had to stop taking even 1/2 a tablet of the Mevacor, as my shoulder started hurting again.

My eye is worse again tonight, will see how it is in the morning.  I may still have to go get it seen about.

I think I will head to bed now, and read a while.

I see Karma agrees with me.  My sister was on Lipitor, and got so bad she literally couldn't get out of bed!  I had to go and help her; it was really bad.  She stopped taking it and is much better now, but it took a while, she was on a high dosage.

Karma, that is so cool!  A Christian doctor is a gift from God!

That's really, really interesting about Cholest-off.  I'm definitely going to look into it.  I've been taking either Lipitor or Pravachol for some time.

Also, Karma - Thank You, Father, for the Christian doctor!

I knew Zocor was a Statin drug and I have only been on it for aweek. When I found out that Willa's husband's doctor at the Veterans place took him off Lipitor and told him to take Cholest-off, I was ready to quit the Zocor. As soon as I get the Cholest-off the Zorcor is going away.

Thank you Karma and Janet for the advice., I appreciate it God bless you  both. I had the pain before I started taking the Zorcor, It is chronic pain from Cervical Arthritis and Scoliosis that has been around for a long time just worse at times. I did have a pain free day on Sunday the that old slime ball satan attacked me on Monday. I 've been pretty much pain free today  some  but only a little.

TTYL

Karma, that's just so wonderful to have a Christian doctor.  That's a great prescription to be handed.  Thanks for sharing that and also the news for our Marilyn--both you and Janet.

I haven't heard of that other one, Marilyn.


Well, time to lock the door...  CLICK HERE