Christian Photographers Community

Morning Devotional...

Is any thing too hard for the Lord?
Genesis 18:14


The promise of the Lord was so incredible that Abraham and Sarah both had a laugh about it--that they would have a son in their advanced old age.

But the Lord proved that the impossible is possible if it is His will.

Isaac's birth contradicted all common sense, all biological and historical knowledge.

We must never limit God in what He might do in our lives. He knows none of the limitations that are common to our experience, and He is able to work wonders that will never cease to amaze us.

He is the God of the impossible.

May our prayers reflect this when we ask according to His will.
--W. H. Burnett

Pat
Thanks for the devotional.
Yes we do try to limit the Lord, but thankfully God cannot be limited, though we can short-change ourselves of many blessings by our little faith.  This is what got our first parents (Adam and Eve) into trouble, in not trusting in the Lord to provide all that they could possibly need.
May the Lord help all us in our less-than-mustard-seed faith.

Jaymie and I were blessed this Sunday in that we attended a small Christian Ukrainian Church, located in a farm area in Northern California. The messages and Hymns that were sung were a blend of Russian and English, But it did not seem to matter about the language barrier, it was clear that we came to honor Christ and worship the Lord together, which we did with Joy. It was beautiful to hear the Hymns sung in Russian, The oldest daughter played the upright piano in a deep, rich old-world way, The singing was heart-felt and robust(no wall-flower style of singing would do). Later after the service two other brothers and myself were standing there looking across the goat field to admire the large beautiful trees in the background, the Ukrainian brother spontaneously led us in the first stanza of Amazing Grace.
After service we and a few other visitors were treated to wave-after-wave of delicious farm grown Russian food served by their gracious children,(about nine children still at home ).  As we were preparing to leave, we commented on how delicious their honey was, a few minutes later we were carrying a big slab of honeycomb on a plate still dripping with honey as we made our way out to the Van.
After prayer we departed with  "Slava Bogu"  (to God be the glory)!

Tom   

Well, Tom, after that lovely message, I think we should just sing "To God be the Glory".  What a lovely place you were at to worship our Holy God.  We had friends who were Ukranian and many times, we'd go to places with them to church where sometimes Jack would preach with Greg translating for him and the singing was so grand and it was just such a moving experience to sit there with these wonderful folk.






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We have a large tasteful laminated banner that reads "Never understimate the Power of God" in our Church.  Soon after I was inducted as the minister I had put it up above the Pulpit.  It caused a few titters and grumbling among some members as I had replaced an old banner that was past its sell by date by about 40 years. I am amazed at how little spiritual awareness there is in so many of God's people and how they limit God by their own unbelief.

Pat, thanks for looking at my photos at photo sense.  I was hoping to deep link those photos but I cannot find the URL.  I have a few more of Spain I will clean up and place in the gallery.

Ria, you mentioned you have terrible headaches.  Sometimes it can be caused by your computer monitor.  Several years back the doctors, and I were concerned by the frequent migraines I was suffering and they sent me for all sorts of tests.  I was living in South Africa and had to pay for all my medical bills.  A friend suggested I replace my monitor.  I did so and have not had a migraine since.

Blessings everyone.

GOODMORNING ALL 10.36 AM in Holland

It has been very silent on CP yesterday where are you all.
The pain in my head is over i am happy but it is raining in
Holland that is not so nice.

PAT thank you for the devotional this morning and the very nice hymn.

What i you now go tell maybe you will it not believe but it is true.
There have parents with there children been to Gambia
and they are coming home but they have left behind there 3 children in Gambia. The children are 15, 12 and 8 years old. But the children are walking on street and crying there are more Dutch people in Gambia now and they hear the children are talking Dutch. And the children have told everything to this people and they are going with the children to an embassy and the children have been in a children home there till there has been contact with the Dutch embassy here in Holland and the children are now
back in Holland also in a children home and the parents are in prison. But it is for sure that they never get back the children. This is happend for 1 1/2 week but was now on the radio and also in the newspaper. It is not to believe that parents such thing can do BUT IT IS TRUE
TERRIBLE.

Tuesday must i with my eyes to the doctor. But i have the one day more problems as the other.

Psalm 146 : 5-6
Blessed is he whose help is in the God of
Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God,
the Lord, who remains faithful forever.

     HE'S ALWAYS THERE
     
       He's always there...
to bear the burden, to share the hours,
    to strengthen the heart...
Our Loving Lord, our Faithfull Friend,
       the Ones who cares...
       He's always there.

Love and prayerfully for you all
Ria                

Thank you Gareth for your advise when i am on the computer from my son he has an other monitor and they is better for my eyes.
Thank you very much
Love Ria

          It Happened on Good Friday

On Good Friday 1912 two friends set off for a day's outing in what was then  quite a novelty - a petrol driven bus!  What they really wanted to discover was whether they really could travel by regular bus services from London to Rochester (on the river Medway) in Kent and back in one day.  So they left home quite early, but several changes and rather long waits for connections hindered them from reaching Rochester until late afternoon.

It was obvious that they would have to return by train after all and finding that the next one would mean an hour's wait, they decided on some tea and a walk by the castle wall to Strood Pier.

As they sat and rested, frightened screams were suddenly heard.  Down on the lower jetty were clustered half a dozen children screaming with horror.  One of their companions, a blonde-haired little girl, had fallen into the water and was being carried away by the strong tide to almost certain death. Without a moment's delay, Percy, one of the two young men, threw off his coat and plunged into the water after her.  He was soon at her side, holding her up and talking comfortingly to her to quieten her fears, as they were borne away by the swift tide.

From the opposite bank a man put out in a rowing boat and was only a few yards from them when Percy sank beneath the water.  His last act was to push the little girl towards the approaching boat.  She was saved, but there was no sign of her rescuer;  his body was recovered an hour later.

Next day Percy's brother was called to the inquest.  He never forgot the words of the coroner to Dorothy, the little girl. "I want you to always remember, my dear, that your life has twice been saved on Good friday - once yesterday, when Percy Henry Gordon gave his life to save yours, and once on the first Good Friday that ever was, when the Lord Jesus Christ died to save you."

The story of Percy's noble and courageous act is remembered, even today, by a plaque on the wall near the river in Rochester.  Yet his act in giving his life to save Dorothy from drowning is but a faint reflection of Jesus' love for sinners.  Neither death was an accident; Jesus came to earth to take our punishment for sin.  He died to set us free so that we can be friends with God.  Jesus said , "Greater love has no-one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13)  Jesus own  love exceeds even this, in that He laid down his life for those who were His enemies.

Discovered among Percy's belongings was a pledge which he had signed and dated.  It came from a Gospel Campaign that had taken place in his church the previous Winter. The Pledge Read:-

               My Resolve

I yield myself to Thee, Lord Jesus, spirit, soul and body; in the dark or in the light, in life or in death, to be Thine alone and forever.  Make the most of me that can be made to Thy glory and for the hastening of Thy Kingdom. 

The Lord took Percy at his word.  His prayer was gloriously answered.  God will answer every sincere believing prayer.  Will you make these words your own commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ?

Tract..Birmingham City Mission.England.

Good morning everybody. I just have time to say "hi" and thanks Pat for the precious devotional. I feel that I might very well need it this day.

Gareth, Jenny, Ria, and all:

I hope you all have a blessed day in our Creator's Son Usen,(Jesus)

I will try to be back on tonight after work.

Love to all in Christ.

Monty

Good morning.  I hope you are all doing well today.  I just dropped in for a minute.  The heating unit for the pool here burned out yesterday.  I talked with the owner and they are supposed to put in a new one today.  In the mean time the water in the pool is a little too cold for me.  But I am not complaining.  I think of the many wonderful blessings we have today and I thank God for all he has done for me. 

Last night in our Bible reading we read 1 Kings 11:42,-43,  "Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years.  Then he rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of David his father. And Rehoboam his son succeeded him as king.  (NIV)

I thought of how no matter how great, how rich, how powerful, or how wise one is the story of ones life always ends like this.  The king "was buried," and "his son succeeded him."  We have all heard the expression that the only things certain are "death and taxes."   Well, death IS certain unless we live until the Lord comes and even then  "this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.  1 Cor 15:53

So we can all rejoice today because we have Jesus as our Savior.  Paul wrote to Timothy this following good news.

2 Tim 1:8-10
8   So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God,
9   who has saved us and called us to a holy life-- not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,
10   but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.  (NIV)

--- Papa John          <)))><<   
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Good Morning, and it is truly a "GOOD" morning. Every post here has something special in it.

Monty, I  like the little proverb in your signature. I also like you frequent use of words in your native lanugage with the translation.

Ria the  news about the Dutch children being left in Gambia by their parents, is just terrible what some parents will do to their poor children.

Jenny The story of Percy and the salvation message  touched my heart.

ByGrace, I would have loved to be in that service with you and to have had such an abundant meal with your Ukranian friends. My Grandparents on my fathers side were from Odessa in the Ukranine. Well my father too, they left Russia in 1917, walking to France with 9 children.

Gareth I will go and see your photos on Photo Sense.

Pat I do not mean to put you last but you are not the least by far. I am sorry that you were not feeling well last night and I pray that you are feeling better today as you read these posts. Thank you for the devotional. Thank you for your hard work to keep this web site going for the rest of us.

I love you all.

TTYL

p.s. Sorry Papa John we were posting at the same time.

Yes Marylin it is very terrible with the children but i ask how can parents such terrible things do let your children behind in Gambia. Is is terrible i have there no words for. We take care about our children also are they
older and such young children they are left behind in Gambia.
But in every country i think can parents do terrible things with their children. And my son is being 22 and i have sometimes sorrows about him. Some people are very sick.
Bye love Ria

LARRY thank you very much for your advice i am gone to my Internet Explorer View Menu and change
Text size. Now is it awesome no problems more.
I am you very thankfull
Bye love Ria

Hello Marilyn,  don't worry if you leave me out.  You would have to work pretty hard to hurt my feelings.

It is always good to reach each post.  Sometimes I try to respond but usually I just speak to everyone in general.

I enjoy seeing Ria here everyday.  I too and disturbed by the story of people who left Gambia and just left their children there.  What are people thinking?

It is good to see Gareth, Pat, Monty, Jenny, etc. Nice story Jenny. 

I have to shut the computer down for now.



--- Old Papa John          <)))><<   
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Pat!  I hope that you are feeling better today. 

Enjoyed the message of slowing down and listening more.  Carol

Good Morning All! 

Praise God that Ria's problems with her eyes in reading the posts have been solved.  Good advice, Larry!

Papa John, you are so inspirational with your posts.  They always make my heart smile.

Marilyn, you seem to never be too busy to address each and everyone of us.  That makes me feel loved.

Monty, every day is a special day when you have Jesus in your heart.  What a wonderful gift from God.

Gareth, isn't it something when you change little things that there seems to be some who dislike the change.  And it is something when it seems to be the same people!!!

Jenny, your article on Good Friday is great.  Thanks for posting it.

Pat, I tend to leave you out but let it be known by me, at least, that your time and work on this site is much appreciated.  I am sure that we do not know what all is involved in keeping this site up and going and you are the silent one...not letting your wheels squeak as they turn.

Tom, I do believe that your attending the small Christian Ukrainian Church was fulfilling to your spirit.  They all sound like they appreciated your favors, too.

---

Jerry mowed my yard yesterday.  Weird, when I inherited this house, I also inherited a Honda riding lawn mower.  Last year, it was sporatic in starting.  Jerry said it needed a new starter but couldn't figure out how to get to the starter to replace it.  Sometime it would take up to 20 tries to start it.  Then sometimes I would give up and use the Sears lawn mower that Tony, my son, loaned to me.  Well, while I was gone, Jerry went out to the garage and the Honda started right up.  He picked up God's pruning of the trees in my yard and Ivalou's and took them to the woods.  Yesterday, the Honda started right up again!!!!  Weird!!!  But thank God!  I like using the Honda best.   

Last evening was our Small Groups Study.  We just fellowshiped around the dining room table eating snacks that all of us brought.  We are starting a new study...Bible 101 on the Basics of the Bible.  There is a lot I don't know about the Bible so I might as well start at the basics. 

Today, I am taking Jerry to get some groceries and he is returning home.  He has been here a week and is anxious to get back home.  [/b]

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"Love cures people--both the ones who give it and the ones who receive it."

Carol...it took me a long time to compose and I missed your post.  Good morning.  I am so glad you found your way back to CP!!!

Good posts today, I enjoyed each of them.

Ria, I don't understand how people can just go off and leave their children, either.  Terrible.  Here in the States, a mother stoned her three children to death, saying "God told me to do it."  The "god" she was listening to is NOT the God we serve, for sure!  She had a defense of insanity and got off, can you imagine?  You are right, there are many sick people in this world today.

But "Greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world."  God is still in control, no matter how dark things appear.

Papa John, the water was only 82 degrees in the pool here this morning, a bit chilly.  But we swam anyway, we need the exercise.  Good to read your posts, as always.

I have to go, may be back later.  Pat, I hope you are feeling better by now.

Hello to you all today...
I am right at this moment at the library using their computer.....so i will just say a quick hello and best wishes to you all...\
I took the kids swimming today and they had a wonderful time in the pool....they swam from 11:00 til 1:00 today....wow were we ever pruney when we came out of the water.......lol
May God richly bless you all this wonderful day....Paulette

Subj: Insight for Leaders 
Date: 4/7/04 5:01:37 AM GMT Daylight Time
From: lmi@flash.net
To: tozer@litmin.com
Sent from the Internet (Details)



April 7   

Prayer: Just Meditate for a Month

But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates
day and night. 
--Psalm 1:2

Let the old saints be our example. They came to the Word of God and
meditated. They laid the Bible on the old-fashioned, handmade chair,
got down on the old, scrubbed, board floor and meditated on the Word.
As they waited, faith mounted. The Spirit and faith illuminated.
They had only a Bible with fine print, narrow margins and poor paper,
but they knew their Bible better than some of us do with all of our
helps.

Let's practice the art of Bible meditation.... Let us open our
Bibles, spread them out on a chair and meditate on the Word of God.
It will open itself to us, and the Spirit of God will come and
brood over it.

I do challenge you to meditate, quietly, reverently, prayerfully,
for a month. Put away questions and answers and the filling in of
the blank lines in the portions you haven't been able to understand.
Put all of the cheap trash away and take the Bible, get on your
knees, and in faith, say, "Father, here I am. Begin to teach me!" 
The Counselor, 136-137.

"Guide me, Lord, as I take time throughout this whole year to
meditate on You. Tozer is stimulating me, but my real desire is to
hear from You. I'll get on my knees this morning, Lord, in quiet
expectation. Amen."

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To unsubscribe, e-mail: tozer-unsubscribe@litmin.com
For additional commands, e-mail: tozer-help@litmin.com

This may be one of those "I wish I'd thought of that!" things...............


How to Outsmart the Restaurant

"But, I don't want it al a Carte!!!"

We went to breakfast at a restaurant where the special was two eggs,bacon, hash browns and toast for $1.99.

"Sounds good," my wife said. "But I don't want the eggs."

"Then I'll have to charge you two dollars and forty-nine cents because you're ordering à la carte," the waitress warned her. "

You mean I'd have to pay for not taking the eggs?" my wife asked incredulously. "I'll take the special."

"How do you want your eggs?"

"Raw and in the shell," my wife replied. She took the two eggs home.

 

Oh my goodness, Janet!  That is hilarious.  I'm still laughing.

Sorry to have not been around much the past few days.  Bernard has been working 12 and 14 hour days, and by the time we get Travis home or get situated, it's all we can do to keep our heads up.  I have been reading though, and chuckling where needed and praying where needed.  I don't think I've chuckled when I should be praying.


Maybe this evening, if all is calm, I'll get back in here.  I just heard my cat in the living room (where she is not supposed to be, so I've got to try and catch her.

Later

Hi Everyone!

I had a pretty good sleep but got up feeling "fluish" again this morning so have been napping off and on.

Thanks for all of your nice comments.  Much appreciated.

What a great sign to have in your church, Gareth.



I'm so glad that you can see the text better now, Ria  What a lovely poem...  I'm going to share it again...




Jenny, thanks so much for sharing that lovely story from the Birmingham Mission.  It sure touched my heart as well.


MONTY!!!   Great to see you.  I've missed you the last few days.


What great scriptures you've shared with us today, Papa John!     I hope that the pool heater is fixed soon for you.


Marilyn, I agree with you...  "Every post here has something special in it."  It's great isn't it the fellowship we have together here on CP?


Great to see you popping in, Carol.  Hope that your computer problems are long behind you now.


Etta Sue, I so missed you when you were away.  Now, you're back, it's just great to see your posts on here.  Give that Jerry a big hug for me, ok?    Tell him not to be so "gabby"!   


Janet, what a wonderful verse to remember... ""Greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world."  God is still in control, no matter how dark things appear."  Oh, if only we could all remember that.


PAULETTE!!!!   How wonderful to see your post.  I hope that you'll go to the Library often.  I'm so happy to see you keeping in touch.  We'll chat on the phone or I'll drop in for another cup of tea.


Thanks Chris, for Mr. Tozer's words you faithfully bring us.  I so enjoy them and I do know that others do as well.  I think that this little paragraph needs to be repeated...

QuoteLet's practice the art of Bible meditation.... Let us open our Bibles, spread them out on a chair and meditate on the Word of God.

It will open itself to us, and the Spirit of God will come and brood over it.

HAHAHAHAHA!  Janet, that's a good one!  Thanks for sharing that with us!  I'm laughing still!


Hi Karma...  Yes, it's really something how our members are missed when we don't see posts from them.  I hope that Bernard's time working will lessen somewhat so that you both aren't over tired.


Now, it's supper time for me!  I'll be back later!

Hi everyone,

Janet, I had to chuckle at the story above because it hasn't been two weeks ago that a friend told me that he and a group of men from his church were meeting at a dining place for breakfast and had the exact same experience. 

This particular place has been closed for quite awhile.  Wonder if the owner's business practices contributed to the closing.

Ria, glad my little suggestion was helpful. 

One thing we call could do and I am going to try to remember to do each time I post is highlight my message after I write it and click on the "A with the up and down arrow above--which is the second icon from the right on the top row where it says "Add BBC tag". 

After doing this all you need to do is go to the beginning and change the 10 to as 12 or 14 and the print will be more readable.

The situation with the children abandoned by their parents in Gambia is so sad.  I understand there are many children Brazil, and probably many other countries, that are left to fend for themselves on the street.  In Rio they apparently live on the garbage dumps and are considered the lost children.

I have been gone all day as left early to go walking, then came back to coffee and then went directly to the garage to have the back brakes replaced and rotors turned on one of the cars. 

I didn't get back until eleven and we had to leave immediately as we had an 11:30 appointment with a financial advisor.  Following that Pat wanted to take one of her rings to the jeweler as the prongs had worn down and they needed to be replaced, so we went to the mall and left the ring. 

I had to stop by the pharmacy to pick up a couple of things and then we went to "Smokey Bones" ( one of our favorite places) to have lunch. 

The ring was to be finished by 3 pm so after eating we went back to the jewery store and the ring was ready and then we were finally ready to come home. 

Then this evening I am going to choir practice and Pat will attend the last of the Bible Study classes on Genesis that she has been attending on Wednesday evenings since early January. 

Needless to say I am tired so am not going to write anymore tonight.  Tomorrow should be a little quieter as just have an eye appointment early in the morning and then will have the rest of the day free. 

(Pat, I am not used to breaking up my paragraphs like the above.  Hope this is what you had in mind.)

I don't THINK I've worked any 14 hour days, but the 12.5 + the hour trip each way make it that way for Karma. 

Larry, I think that's fine.  I think that if we all post with the default font size and leave lots of white space, it will be easy to read.  I know that for some, the huge font is also bothersome to people so we have to realize we can't please everyone but we'll sure try.

In trying to figure out this font size problem, I've found that most message boards are font size 10pt as their default so if we do assign a size, let's try size 10pt for awhile.  Ria says that she's now able to see the text after enlarging it in her browser.

Gareth - I know precisely how you felt.  A little church of which I was pastor desperately needed new hymn books.  In the old one the pages were yellowing, and some were torn.  We had the money.  But a number of the people didn't want to change anything by getting new hymnals because that particular edition wasn't available, and they'd have to get a new one, one with some different hymns in it. 

Change is always fought against by some in churches.  And yet it is probably the very things they need most.

Nevertheless, I discovered in this incident an opportunity to pray specifically for certain of the people.  I probably spent more time than I otherwise would have in prayer for them.

And I prayed also for my own preaching, that our Father would use it to teach those particular people.  I prayed they'd receive the Word week after week after week until whole lives would be changed.

So - it can be an opportunity for prayer.

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Quote
I don't THINK I've worked any 14 hour days, but the 12.5 + the hour trip each way make it that way for Karma. 

Yea, yea, yea.  You're gone for over 14 hours at a time anyway! 

<karmat's smilies are still bizarre.  if you will notice their odd off the wall placement, and note that she was trying desparately to put them after the word "anyway">


Edit by Pat...Moved them, Karma

Papa John - you remind me of Psalm 90:12.  It says, "So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." 

The total of "days" is limited for each of us.  Let's use the ones we have for His glory.  Let's remember how few there are and thus be ready for what follows them.  May our days and hours be filled with good!

I've been thinking about that these past few days, because I've had a heavy cold that wants to turn into pneumonia.  I've been taking lots of vitamin C, etc.

The old saying is true: "Only one life, 'twill soon be past, and only what's done for Christ will last!"

Hi All

My it is slow here on NEM.  Seems like everyone is away.

This has been an interesting day.

Papa John I didn't know you had a road named after you!  Papa John Road! ! ! ! Also Papa John Cottages!

Wow folks he is famous!  In Northern Ontario no less!

The snow is about all gone, the creek that leads to South River, is down.  That is a good thing we don't need our road flooded.  The river is high and there is a hydro electric dam we pass every time we go to town.  The hydro people have lowered the dam and the water is rushing over really fast.  It is facinating to watch.  Wonder what fishing would be like this time of year?  Guess we have to wait for fishing season.

Well Bye for now

JudyB