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Morning Devotional...


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"Love...is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it pays no attention to a suffered wrong."
(1 Corinthians 13:5, Amp)

Have you ever tried to forgive someone and found you simply couldn't do it? You've cried about it and prayed about it and asked God to help you, but those old feelings of resentment just failed to go away.

Put an end to those kinds of failures in the future by basing your forgiveness on faith rather than feelings. True forgiveness doesn't have anything at all to do with how you feel. It's an act of the will. It is based on obedience to God and on faith in Him.

That means once you've forgiven a person, you need to consider him permanently forgiven! When old feelings rise up within you and Satan tries to convince you that you haven't really forgiven, resist him. Say, "No, I've already forgiven that person by faith. I refuse to dwell on those old feelings."

Then, according to 1 John 1:9, believe that you receive forgiveness and cleansing from the sin of unforgiveness and from all unrighteousness associated with it including any remembrance of having been wronged!

Have you ever heard anyone say, "I may forgive, but I'll never forget!" That's a second-rate kind of forgiveness that you, as a believer, are never supposed to settle for. You're to forgive supernaturally "even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you" (Eph. 4:32).

You're to forgive as God forgives. To release that person from guilt permanently and unconditionally and to operate as if nothing bad ever happened between you. You're to purposely forget as well as forgive.

As you do that, something supernatural will happen within you. The pain once caused by that incident will disappear. The power of God will wash away the effects of it and you'll be able to leave it behind you once and for all.

Don't become an emotional bookkeeper, keeping careful accounts of the wrongs you have suffered. Learn to forgive and forget. It will open a whole new world of blessing for you.



Scripture Study: Luke 6:27-37 

 Catching Monkeys.

In India they catch monkeys by cutting a small hole in a gourd that is anchored to a tree or to the ground. The hole is just big enough for a monkey's hand to slip through, and there is some food inside. No monkey can resist reaching in and grabbing the food, and of course when it does it's clenched fist is too big to pull back through the hole again. So there the monkey is, stubbornly holding on the food that isn't doing it a bit of good, until someone comes along and puts the monkey in a sack. All the while it could have gotten free just by letting go.

What are you holding on to that keeps you from taking the next step?

Janet,

I loved the devotional this morning.  It is so true of us to not forgot things that others have done to us. Life is so much easier when we let go.

I hope everyone has a wonderful day today.  My husband is already gone for the day! (Golf tournament) So the kids and I will have to find something to do on this beautiful spring day.

Later,
Samantha

Spiking One's Behavior


"And the people said unto Joshua, The Lord our God will we serve, and His voice will we obey" (Joshua 24:24).

Shortly before his death, Joshua called all the tribes to Shechem where he challenged them to choose between their God and the gods which their fathers had served in Egypt and Mesopotamia (v.14). It was a great moment, for the era of conquest was closing and the period of settlement was beginning. It was an important time in the history of Israel when goals and priorities were being set. Joshua knew that he soon would be gone, and he could see problems ahead.

Joshua developed the basis for why the people should serve the Lord God. He reminded them of God's provision and faithfulness through the recent exodus and their wilderness experience and conquest, as well as the establishment of their nation, but he also knew that the people were fickle and easily led astray. However, three times they vowed: "God forbid that we should forsake the Lord, to serve other gods" (v.16); and "Nay; but we will serve the Lord" (v.21); and as above in our text.

Upon this profession of commitment to the Lord, Joshua made a covenant, set them a statute, and made an ordinance. Then he wrote the agreement in the Book of the Law, set up a stone as a witness to the agreement, and rehearsed that to which they had agreed-"lest [they] deny [their] God" (v.27).

What a solid way of settling an issue; and we can profit from this model:

We should make sure we understand why we should serve God on any matter of importance that has been wavering; then we should write the decision down-date it, and sign it. Then put up a mark of remembrance somewhere in our daily path (a stake, or spike, or something visible) and rehearse verbally and frequently what we agreed to, "lest ye deny your God." KBC  [/b]

take pictures samantha!


i hope everyone has a wonderful day!

Janet Thank  you for the devotional. For a long time I had trouble with forgiveness twoard someone who had hurt me terribly. Even though I had said to them with my mouth " forgive you" it was not in  my heart. Every once in awhile I still have dreams in which I am very unforgiving toward that person, and I wonder if I have really forgiven them. Have I really left that pain behind?

I must get ready for work now, early, because I am meeting Jenny online at 8 am my time for a chat.

TTYL

Janet ~ Thanks for the devotion.  I am/was one who thought you could forgive and not have to forget.  This devotion tells me that when you forgive, you are to forget also.  Can you forgive the person but not the deed?  That is what I try to do.  I forgive the person for what was done but I don't forget what was done.  Does that make sense?

Smokey the Dog ~ I remember when I first got cable TV many years ago that I watched a show on Africa.  It seems that bees would make their hives in termite hills and the monkey would try to get the honey.  The same thing happened....they would make a fist with the honey comb in their tiny hands and wouldn't let go.  But also the tribemen would know where the honey was when they saw a monkey at the termite hills.  Also monkeys are curious.  The tribesmen would put out salt pellets.  The monkey would eat the salt.  He got thirsty and would go find water.  Thus the tribesmen would find water by following the monkey.  Both very smart and essential to each other.

Samantha ~ It is bright and sunny here today, too.  I am hoping to sit out in my swing under a tree with a book this afternoon.  Ah...sounds so good after being cooped up all winter.

Marilyn ~ Do tell Jenny hello from me.  I miss her cheery posts.

Karma ~ Hi to you and the family!!!

Like I said, I am hoping to read a book sitting in my swing.  I love listening to nothing and every thing.  First, you think...it sure is quiet.  Then when you really listen....it is really noisy out there!  We take so many things for granted....even the sounds around us.  While reading my Bible this morning, I noticed both my kitties were watching Kitty TV.  Lots of birds out there.  Ali chatters when she sees a bird.  Inky looks at Ali as if to say....Why are you making that funny noise?  I have heard Inky 'chatter' a couple of times but nothing like Ali.  Funny that they know birds are their prey.  I didn't teach them that and I am their Mommy!!!

Good morning on this beautiful April Saturday!  The sun is shining, God's in His heaven, all's right in my world. 

We had a good time last night at the play.  It was funny and light-hearted, and I didn't have to "strain my brain" trying to figure out deep and hidden meanings.  Whew!  Wouldn't want to overtax myself.    But, really, when I attend a play, I go to be entertained, not to be burdened with the problems of society or the world.  (Okay, off the soapbox, Janet!) 

They are having Spring Fling out at the Civic Center this weekend, so after I eat breakfast, I am going out to walk through and see what is happening.  This is an annual event, and I believe they said they have over 60 exhibitors this year, plus the food venders.  Probably I will see many things I can live without! 

Thanks, Pat, for posting the devotional for me.  This morning, my computer actually turned on, on the very first try!!!  WOW!

I wish you all a very happy, contented, God-filled and pain-free day!

Hi Everyone...

I have a friend coming to prune my apple tree and so while I'm waiting for him, I just thought that I'd check in here.

Nice to see you all.  Glad you had a good time last night, Janet and happy your computer came on today. 

Janice also phoned and she's going to drop in as well as they want to go to the mall so what was going to be a somewhat lonely day has turned out to be a little bit busy for me and that's just fine.

Ohhh, someone is here now and I'm not sure who but I'll be back.

April 16   

Prayer: The File-card Mentality

As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O
God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come
and appear before God? 
--Psalm 42:1-2

When religion loses its sovereign character and becomes mere form
this spontaneity is lost also, and in its place come precedent,
propriety, system--and the file-card mentality....

The slave to the file card soon finds that his prayers lose their
freedom and become less spontaneous, less effective. He finds
himself concerned over matters that should give him no concern
whatever--how much time he spent in prayer yesterday, whether he did
or did not cover his prayer list for the day, whether he gets up as
early as he used to do or stays up in prayer as late at night.
Inevitably the calendar crowds out the Spirit and the face of the
clock hides the face of God. Prayer ceases to be the free breath of
a ransomed soul and becomes a duty to be fulfilled. And even if
under such circumstances he succeeds in making his prayer amount to
something, still he is suffering tragic losses and binding upon his
soul a yoke from which Christ died to set him free. 
Of God and Men, pp. 79,81

"Oh, Father, I pray that prayer might never become for me 'a duty
to be fulfilled.' In a real love relationship communication is a
delight, never a duty. Fill me with that freedom in my times with
You. Amen."

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Darrel and I went out and walked around the Spring Fling show.  I won a tee shirt and a tire balancing job; and we both signed up with a kinisology/chiropractor for a full exam including any needed X-rays, usual value $200-300, for $15 each.    I had fun, as when they have things like that, I always see people I haven't seen in a long time.

Pat, glad you are having a busy (and fun) day today, too.

http://our.homewithgod.com/ewerluvd/hymndevotionals/6_27.htm

Forgiveness is great, forgiving means being set free as we set others free, this act of forgiveness reminds us of the utter depravity that was in our rebel hearts when God graciously forgave us, we are pardoned and as we look back to that great day of pardon by  Him, we are indeed able to forgive and forget the sins of others comitted against us.
We need forgiveness too, for we hurt others most every day with our harsh words and deeds and careless  actions.
So then, as He has cast all our sins into the depths of the sea, let us forgive and forget also, and cast the sins which others commit against us out of our minds forever.

Hi everyone.  Another very lovely, sunny and beautiful day here in Georgia and the forecast is more of the same at least until next Friday.  Our son just left to go home.  He came over and increased the memory in my computer up to 512 megs and has written to the man he bought the defective memory from to see about a replacement.  While he was here he was able to spread the fire ant killer over the yard.  It is a once a year application and really does the job.  I wanted to get it applied before the ant hills started appearing, as they are in some other yards of my friends.

Liz, I hear you on the cost of the medicine.  I take so many medications that just the reasonable co-pay I have is now running into a sizeable amount.  If I didn't have drug coverage on my health insurance don't know how I could afford all this medicine.

Janet, sounds like you had a very nice time last night at the play and then again today at the Civic Center.  I agree with the other comments about what a fine devotional you posted today.

Marilyn, glad to see that you are feeling good today. 

Pat, sounds like your expected slow day has taken a turn to one being more active.  Sure you will enjoy your visit with your daughter.

Etta Sue, hope it has been a day where you could be outside.  I enjoyed your and Smokeythedogs comments about the monkeys.  It illustrates a tenet of life that we must let go of sometimes to be free.

Welcome to all the new folks who are joining us here on CP.

Ruthie, sounds like you are staying very busy with your EE activities as well as health issues.

Ruth Ann, you certainly got good news from your doctor.  Sure sorry to hear of your difficulties with the work project but better you all found the problem than having your client discover it. 

A special hi to everyone posting here today.

Well, I've had a busy day.

My friend brought her husband here to prune my apple trees and then spray them.  He's done a great job.  It was such a lovely day too and Barb and I sat out and watched as Harvey did all the work!  We enjoyed coffee out there.

Then my daughter Janice came with Phil and their little guy, Jonathan.  Jonathan wanted to show me all that he won in their district science fair and show me photos.  He did his project out of a book I gave him for Christmas so it sure made him happy to tell Grandma that it was that book that made him win.  I told him that he got the idea from the book but it was his hard word that got him the prize! 

And they've just left now.  So now my house is very quiet.


On Photography Cafe, today's Photo of the Day was so interesting.  I thought I'd share it with you all.

Congratulations Karma.  Ya done good gal.


The lunch at the Oriental Buffet was fabulous. I had little tastse of a lot of thing, some Sea Weed, Chicken on a stick, Egg drop soup, chinese donuts,broccili and beef, and a bunch of other stuff.  All you can eat for $5.50 Senior lunch price.

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TTYL

Marilyn, your lunch sounds great!  Glad you enjoyed yourself.

I did, it felt good to be able to take someone else to lunch, I have been blessed by many of my church ffamily. I felt good to be on the giving end for a change.

I also went to the Dollar Tree and bought astuffed toys for the doggies. They are sure spoiled.

Still raining here  Jenny says hello and that she still prays for us here. Etta Sue she wants you to tell Jerry a special hello.  I told her about Jerry.

Gotta go take a shower and put on my jammies.

TTYL

Time to lock the door...  CLICK HERE