Christian Photographers Community

'How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?'

Psalm 137:4

If ever our churches and our lands needed reviving it is now. There are so many Christians now that are downcast and sorrowful in spirit that unless the Lord does a mighty work in our midst our witness will be a sad and mournful one.

I do not know of any brother or sister who wishes to live their Christian lives with their heads down, yet for many that seems to be the norm. We seem to be a generation that has forgotten how to praise our God.

I cannot help but wonder if we have become so 'worldly minded' and so well taken care of that we do not have a real NEED for God in our lives. We have everything at our fingertips and we lack nothing. Perhaps it is not until some trial or difficulty comes into our lives that we even think of turning to God for assistance.

Is it because we lack nothing that we are not able to trust the Lord as we should? Do we really need to walk by faith when we have everything to hand? Are we not a people who like to have everything under control?

If a problem arises then we feel capable enough to handle it ourselves in our own strength. No need to ask God for help when we can manage ourselves!
This type of life is of no use whatsoever to the Christian.

The reason God has provided us with an armour is because we are in the middle of a battle. If we are not aware that we are fighting a cause perhaps it is because we have strayed that much from the narrow path that we have lost sight of our salvation.

Are we content to go through this life without scars and with the least amount of hassle? It is the case that we do not wish to offend anyone and are therefore unwilling to make a stand?

We do not seek spiritual highs and we definitely do not want any lows. Just let us live life without having to trudge along the rough paths.

Is it possible that all our desires focus upon ourselves and not on God? We may have a determined goal that we feel certain we can achieve, with or without God's help. Our aims in life may be quite legitimate and even worthy yet without God all is vanity.

We stop our ears whenever it is suggested that we are not as we should be. It is up to Pastors, Elders and Deacons to evangelise the lost. Let them get on with it! I may even back them with financial support but do not ask ME to speak or tell others about Jesus.

There are others. Perhaps a peculiar breed, a yard of different cloth. A people who yearn to honour and serve their King. This world for them holds little. No satisfaction is found for them outwith the spiritual realm. Christ is their portion and none but Him can satisfy the hunger and thirsting in their souls.

For them all is vanity but Christ. For them, perhaps wayfaring men and women, the place where their feet rest is not their home, rather it is quite definitely a foreign land.

Such can be the anguish and longing for their Homeland that they can cry like the children of Israel, 'how can we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?' It is a strange sadness that they carry.

They long for a place they have never seen and for the eternal company of a Saviour who died over 2000 years ago.

Often they weep and mourn because they are not different enough in their walk. They seek neither wealth nor honour of men. They would rather lose their lives in order that their King may be exalted.

It seems that trials and tribulations follow them each step of the way, yet they remain steadfast and even content with their portion.

They suffer loss yet soon it is turned to their gain. They live for the day of their death and they seem to be able to show joy even when all things seem to be against them. They could gain the whole world and not be satisfied.

Often they are misunderstood and only a few close friends seem to be able to talk the same language. Their desire is to be different. They seek the One thing needful and they love nothing more than to tell others about their wonderful Saviour Redeemer.

The Christian life my friend should be a spiritual adventure. Let us dare to be different. Let us not be ashamed to own Christ as our Lord and let us be more willing to deny ourselves that we may follow Him wherever He may lead us.

Can we pray like George Whitefield did? 'Lord make ME an extraordinary Christian.'

LOL

Your brother in Christ

Iain

P.S. - Sorry for the delay. I could not get onto the site as there was a server error.

Hi everyone.  It is good to see the site back up and running as that means power has been restored at least in the area of Canada where Pat's son has the server for the site.  I had just posted yesterday afternoon and was preparing to post a hymn when I got the same message that I am sure everyone got that the server could not be found or we had timed out.  After I heard of the power outage affecting Canada as well as the NE and midwest states I knew what the problem was and knew we would just have to wait until the power was restored.  

Iain, I think you are very right in your observations in your devotional this morning.  Perhaps the events of yesterday caused a great many people to think of their need for God.  

Karma e-mailed me about opening the new photo challenge when the power was restored.  So I did that a few minutes ago and locked the last challenge.  Check it out:  New Photo Challenge


My wife and I are leaving in a few minutes to spend the day with friends who used to be our neighbors when we first moved to Atlanta.  It has been about 3 months or so since we have seen them and we always enjoy our visit and usually play a few hands of bridge in the afternoon.

I look forward to coming back here later and seeing many postings.  May God bless and protect each of us today and comfort those who are battling with the problems associated with the power outage.

Just before the outage yesterday I saw a posting by Pat Scott on the SeniorNet website saying they had arrived at their destination and that they had had a great trip.  Everyone who was expected had arrived except for one couple who were to arrive by plane later.  It sounded like they were already having a very good time.  

Well, I'm glad our website is back up and running this morning.

Iain, as I read your thoughts this morning on the line in the Psalm --
"How shall we sing the LORD's song in a strange land?"  I thought of God's people in Babylonian captivity and how it was difficult for them.  And I considered how we today have been freed from bondage and how easy it is for us to sing and praise God even when circumstances are difficult.

Paul and Silas in prison, their feet in the stocks, were able to sing.  "And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them." Acts 16:25  

Good to see you Larry.  Sounds like as usual you have a busy day.

--- Papa John              <)))><<

 

Just got through reading Papa John's email about the CP outage, then, ten minutes later, CP was back up and running.  Wonderful!  Thank You, Father, for making it possible for us to get back on here!  Thank you, Iain, for the devotional.  You sounnded a lot like A.W. Tozer in those words.  He was much used in issuing wake-up calls to God's people, and we need them!  We won't feel badly in our Christian lives if we're content to just slip by!  Oh may God revive us again in the midst of the years (Hab. 3:2).

Praise God we are back up and running. I was getting concerned for our Canadian friends and Jeanne Lee too. Mostly I was concerned that all their refridgerated food would be spoiled.

Thank you so much Iain for the devotional. It looks like you wre able to get in before we were.

The sun is shining beautifully and I have just come back from walking the dogs. They don't get walked as much as the should mayber twice a week.

I had emails from both Ria and Jenny concered about not getting on here. Reasurred them both that we would soon be back up.

Be back later.
Marilyn

I am wondering where everyone is today.  I see only Iain, Larry, Al, and Marion other than me.

We have had a nice day today.  We were in this morning but did get out for awhile this afternoon.

I hope you all have a good night's rest.

--- Papa John              <)))><<

 

Goodness!  I've been trying all day to get in here and only just now got through.  Although obviously the site was back online this morning and we got our power back after only about  5 hours last night, there must have been something between here and Ontario that was breaking the connection.  

We didn't really have it all that bad here.  Gene and I took our books (#7 & #8 Left Behind ) and a couple of lawn chairs out to the shady side of the house where we were quite comfortable.  Then for supper I quickly took all the "fixins" out of the refrigerator and built us a couple of hero sandwiches which we enjoyed outdoors.  When the "skeeters" began to swarm we moved back inside and found that there was enough breeze coming through that it was cooling off nicely.  We're always well supplied with kerosene lamps, candles and flashlights and had them all ready but found we only needed one kerosene lamp while we listened to the radio and  the power came back on just before bedtime.

The Lord was good to us - it was actually quite enjoyable!  

I have been trying all day to get back in here, FINALLY!!! I took Bebe out for a walk on the beach this morning. That was an adventure, but I did get a couple of neat photos. I saw a seagull sitting on top of a stop sign and took a photo of that.

Papa John I am MARILYN not Marion. My My how quickly we forget at times   LOL

  Poor Marilyn!  Fame is so fleeting!  

Hey there!
I finally got in as well. Funny how we get so anxious about not being able to get in here!  
Glad to hear, Jeanne, that you weren't affected too badly.  It's nice to have an adventure out of the ordinary once in awhile.  
Iain, thank you for the devotional again today.  It's good to see Al, Jane, Marilyn, Larry, Jeanne, & Papa John were able to be here today at one time or another.  I'm sure many of the others have tried (as I did) and failed to find the door open.

Earl was discharged by the Home Health nurse yesterday.  He has not felt well today, hopefully now that he has quit taking the sulfa meds he will start feeling better.  

Maybe later tonight others will be here and post.
Blessings to all, Janice