Christian Photographers Community

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• NEW Mini Challenge #7~"TRASH or TREASURE"     We had a three=way tie for first place so now have to break the tie.  {lease vote again to see who will choose the next topic!!

• Carney     See this photo by Barbarian!

• Garden Visitors  Have you taken any photos of visitors to YOUR garden?

• A Tennessee Tale   I found this to be such a blessing to read submitted by ohenry.

• See the last photos uploaded to our Gallery

Morning Devotional...

WALKING IN THE OLD PATHS Jeremiah 6:16 By the late Jack Scott 13.  The Shepherd's Psalm-- Part (vii)

The man stood erect and perfectly still on top of a wee knoll.  At his feet impatiently sat two little border collies, their ears upright and their keen noses smelling the air.  Across the valley and high up on the slopes of the mountain beyond, small white objects dotted the landscape.  Half hidden in the green grass and purple heather the scattered flock grazed contentedly, unaware of the ominous stillness and the darkening sky.

Signs of the coming storm were not lost on the lone shepherd standing on the knoll. He raised his whistle to his lips and the two dogs stiffened their posture.  At the first blast, they were off like a shot from a gun.  Further blasts caused the two noble creatures to make a wide circle around the still unconcerned sheep.  On they went until they passed even the most distant sheep.  Continuing to obey their master's whistled commands, they slowly, gently, began to move the reluctant sheep towards their master.

Not one sheep missed the attention of the two dogs.  The dogs, although decisive in their work never once nipped at the heels of their charges.  The sheep began to move faster, showing signs of fear, they moved now as one body towards the shepherd as if to seek his protection from the dogs.

It is true that the shepherd could never accomplish his task of caring for the sheep without the help of his beautiful obedient dogs.  It is just as true that the relationship between dogs and sheep would be very different without the presence of the shepherd.  You see, untrained, uncontrolled, border collies can be very vicious, and very frightening.  These loving gently creatures have a natural instinct to kill sheep by tearing their throats open with razor sharp teeth.  Can we wonder that their presence drives the flock to the shepherd?

An old Scottish shepherd-preacher once said "God has twa dogs.  The yin He calls 'Goodness' and the ither He names 'Mercy'."

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. (Psalm 23:6)  Indeed so it is, that God's goodness and mercy are often needed, yet seldom truly desired.  Surely it is our fears, trials and yes, our conscience that drives us to the Good Shepherd and the protection of His presence.

It was the goodness of His grace that first showed us our sin and waywardness.  It was His mercy that drove us to see Christ as the only Saviour of Sinners, and it is His goodness and mercy that keeps us close to His side.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23:6)

Christians all accept the fact that through the eternal ages they will dwell in God's house.  Few realize that by faith we can enter that place of blessing while still living down here.  In the epistle to the Ephesians we learn that God has already made us to sit in heavenly places.

And raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:6)

We can appreciate our position as urged on by "Goodness" and "Mercy" as they are seen in the circumstances of life and we flee away to the peaceful, protective presence of our Shepherd.

Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree: that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. (I Peter 2:24-25)

To dwell in the house of the Lord is to live continuously in His presence.  Brother Lawrence (author of Practicing the Presence of God) learned while doing the most onerous and menial of tasks, to practice the presence of God and so can we.  If during our trials and temptations, our illnesses and the dark nights of our souls He came to visit us and bless us would we feel differently?  Of course we would; temptations would fly away, sorrows would abate and psalms of blessing would move our lips.

Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you'.  So we may boldly say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear, what can man do unto me" (Hebrews 13:5,6)

Yes, indeed we who are His, we who have been redeemed by His precious blood look forward with joy to our eternal home.  But we do not need to wait until we arrive above to enjoy the courts of Heaven; for we can dwell there now even in the midst of our wilderness journey.

Truly we can begin to enjoy, even down here the wonder that I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Assured of His presence, and the comfort of His home, both now and for all eternity, the believer can well heed St. Paul's injunction to Rejoice in the Lord always. And again I say rejoice. (Phil. 4:4)

These words to the Philippians were written by Paul while he sat in chains in a cruel Roman prison. Even there the Lord Jesus Christ was real to Paul; even there He knew the nearness of the risen, triumphant Saviour King. May we also dwell daily in the light of His presence.

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Jack Scott loved his Lord! He passed away on January 10, 2001 after a lengthy illness.
He is missed greatly by his family. [/color]

Pat:  This is what sustains me in trying times!

QuoteFor He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you'.

Thank you Jack.

Carol

Amen, Carol!

Thank you for posting Jack's writings, Pat.  I never tire reading them, and they are always a blessing to me.

Even though I've read each one several times.....there is always something "new" for me!

Hugssssss

Good Morning Everyone...

On my way to a little market stand I've been told about to buy some corn to freeze for the winter.  It's dreary-looking out but of course, I'll take my camera just in case.

Talk to you later

PLEASE click on the photos that are above constantly changing and leave comments in the members' albums?  It's so encouraging to get comments.

Good Morning. I am  working again today as Jan's Saturday caregiver is going out of town so I will take her to do her grocery shopping. I was ging to watch Forest play soccer but I don't think I am going to make it on time.

Janet I left you some comments on our photos.

Well I will be back later.

Well, it's shopping at Winco Foods and laundry today.  Winco is a "warehouse-style" market, where the prices are about 20 percent below other stores, so it's worth driving the 20 or so miles to get there, even with the gasoline prices at around $3.30/gallon.  Actually, I pay less by being in the Comerrcial Fueling Network.  I pay about $3.22 or $3.21.  It's quite foggy this morning - can't see very far.  It's a morning for being out near a lighthouse and hearing the foghorn sounding every once in a while (I can't, but it's that kind of morning).

Good morning everyone. Hope everyone has a glorious day !

Hi everyone.  It is a beautiful day here in Georgia.  I am awaiting Pat's return home.  They should be back within the next hour or so. 

Our daughter called late last evening saying she had been readmitted into the hospital with shortness of breath and feeling like another elephant was sitting on her chest.  I fear that the stent she had put in last weekend may have blocked but haven't heard anymore from her today.  I told her to keep me informed. 

Pat, thanks for sharing this series of Jack's writings again.  I am going to print them out so I can read them as a little booklet. 

I am very thankful today for my Savior and for some very loving and caring friends who I know I can rely on.  Life gets really tough sometimes but I know I must pray and rely on the direction God gives me.  I heard a country son on the radio as I was driving today  and its main theme was that sometimes the best gift God gives us is unanswered prayer.  That hit me right between the eyes as I had never thought about that before.

Hope everyone has a good day.

Busy day.  I am just now getting here at almost 3 p.m.

My son, Tony, called while I was still in bed.  Wanted to know if I was going to be home today.  Yes.  So he came before I got my first cup of coffee.  He changed the oil and greased my mower.  Then took the deck off and we cleaned the bottom of it....terribly caked with grass and dirt.  He removed the blades and since he left his grinder at home, he took the blades to his Dad's and sharpened them.  Meanwhile I cleaned my garage with my shopvac and drank my second cup of coffee.  Tony put everything back together and I told him...I want you to test run it before you leave to make sure everything is okay.  His answer....Maaaa-aaaaam!  But he did and everything was fine.  So he left and I mowed my yard.  Wow!  It looks like velvet now!  Cuts so good and no heavy clumps of grass anywhere.  But then it didn't grow too much this last week.  Dry in Indiana. 

Then I fixed my lunch and read the paper.  Now to get caught up on here and then shower so I will have clean hair for Sunday.

Larry ~ I didn't use layers for the 3D phoo but I probably should have used layers.  I used the selection tool and pasted it on a transparency.  Then cut out the part that stuck out of the frame.  On the old part I put a frame around it....then copied and pasted it on a new transparency.  Then copied and pasted the beak so it looked continuous.  I think that is how I did it.  I should have wrote it down. 

Kitty brought me a bigger carrier.  Ali has even went in it.  So maybe Monday I can take her to the vets.

Just a quick note to say that I heard from my daughter.  She had a stress test and she passed it.  The doctor isn't going to send her for another cath.  Needless to say I am greatly relieved.  God is good.

We are home from the Reliv training meeting in Dodge City.  Abby managed to get the kitten into the house; I caught her and petted and loved her for a while, then Darrel wanted to hold her, so maybe we will get her tamed down again.

Larry, I'm so relieved with you about your daughter.  And I am also so glad your Pat got to go to the quilt convention (or whatever it was called.)  That gave her a nice break, and came at a time when she really needed it.  Please give her a hug for me. 

I am going to see the comments on my China pics now.......Thanks for them!

I had a few moments this afternoon, and have thoroughly enjoyed wandering through the gallery. The photographers are great.

As is usual, a group of ladies and I met at a restaurant and ate. Then, my friend in the wheelchair and I drove to the mall and shopped a few moments - naturally I couldn't find what I wanted! Then we sat and drank diet lemonade and chatted. A great afternoon.

Y'all have a good day.

Ruth Ann

Ruth Ann, it is so good to have you posting again.  It sounds like a very nice day you had, and I'm glad for you.  (((hugs)))

Yes, Ruth Ann, I have missed you so much.

I'm so happy to see you posting.

We have been away most of the day but before we left the hydro flashed off. It seems that there was an accident on Hwy 27 that put lines down.  But I have taken a few minutes to check my computer time and that is ok.  no need to make any changes in the setting. We do use a power bar and when the computer is off so is the power bar. 

Larry:  It is good that you got the good word from your daughter. God is so good.

Pat: I am another that has taken a print out of Jacks -  Walking in the Paths.  I will be reading and re-reading from time to time.

Janet: I will be taking a quick look at you china pictures.

Ruth

Janet I have seen your new photos taken in China and left you come comments.

I have been enjoying the rest of the day after I got back home from Jan's and the dog's walks. I have my clothes out for church tomorrow and am ready for bed and just doing some things on the computer. Checking out some sites and my email.

Good Night all have a good night's rest tonight.

It's been a very busy day for me and now it's after midnight!  I must go to my bed.

We'll figure out the Challenge tomorrow. 

Now, here's a link for you to get to our new NEM.

Talk to you tomorrow.