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Morning Devotional...


Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.
John 12:3

Mary took the alabaster box of ointment, broke it, and poured it out upon our Lord. He was worth it!

Her gift was valued by Judas Iscariot at three hundred denarii, but Judas determined that Jesus was only worth one tenth of that and sold Him out for a servant's price.

Mary had offered a whole pound of spikenard, but Nicodemus, who came to Jesus by night, brought one hundred times that, when he prepared His body with Joseph of Arimathaea.

What is He worth to you?
--Rex Trogdon

Blessings All, hope you are all well.

I thought this daily encounter reading has real insight; 

DON’T WASTE YOUR PAIN--INVEST IT

"Dear Brothers [and sisters], is your life full of
difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, for when the
way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. So let it
grow, and don't try to squirm out of your problems. For when
your patience is finally in full bloom then you will be
ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete"
(James 1:2-4, TLB).

In almost every trial we face, God is seeking to "tell" us
something. Sometimes the only way he can get our attention
is when we're hurting sufficiently to stop and listen.

That has certainly been true in my life. On once occasion
God used an accident and a brief time in the hospital to
get my attention and to "speak" to me. The decision I made
as a result ended up changing the total course of my
life--much for the better, I might ad. Another time God
used a major crisis and loss to expand my work
tremendously. He used another setback to get me started in
writing. That was over three decades ago and I'm still
writing. God has used all of these setbacks to bless
others.

When you are hurting, you can be sure that God has
something to say to you too--something for your good. Ask
him to help you to hear what it is, and to give you the
courage to do what he is telling you to do. Whatever it is,
you can be certain it will enrich your life and that of
others.

So ... never waste your pain. Invest it wisely in your own
growth and then in helping other fellow strugglers along
the way.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to see that you
want to use all the trials that come my way to help me grow
and to change my life for the better. Help me thus to never
waste my pain but to invest it wisely. Thank you for hearing
and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

 :) :)A beautiful good day to all :) :)

What a good idea, Gareth, about pain & sorrow.  This brings to mind the Bible verse........
"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thess 5:16-18)  and so many times when I am hurting emotionally or even physically I tend to withdraw rather than to use the opportunity to invest this pain into my spiritual growth.

Off to have a good day at work, and then out to supper with friends who have birthdays in August.

Pat, this IS a good way to start the day.

Good morning, friends,

Well, it's another day to spend with our Lord. Aren't we blessed that His mercies are renewed afresh to us every single morning!

Y'all have a good day today and a great day tomorrow. I will most likely be able to post again tomorrow evening after the trip to Atlanta.

Ruth Ann

Good Morning, Gareth, Kathy and Ruth Ann...


Gareth, what a wonderful Daily Encounter today.  It sure means a lot to me today. 

Quote

So ... never waste your pain. Invest it wisely in your own
growth and then in helping other fellow strugglers along
the way.

Good Morning<  today will be a good day for me because I am walking with Jesus. He is my strength in my times of trouble,  I trust in Him to bring all things  into  his glorious presence today. I have spent many hours in prayer already this morning and prayed through the situation with Gloria. I am confident that God will go before me and make all thins right.

Sooo I am glad to see you all today, Pat I have had an answer to one of the emails we discussed last night. It was Good news. Zee will be here this weekend.

Well I need to get ready for work.

TTYL

Thanks Marilyn!

Now...  Here's a friendly reminder to you all...  ;D

It is raining in Nashville this morning.  Rain is good. 

Matt 5:44-45
44   But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45   That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.  (KJV)

Good to see each one.  God bless you all.


--- Old Papa John          <:))))><<   
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Sonja ~ I crochet.  I only knit dishclothes.  But if I had a nickel for every item I have crocheted, then money-wise, I would be on easy street.  I am making an afghan for Carol, my step-granddaughter's wedding.  Needs to be done by September 18.  I can usually get afghans done faster than this one but I don't like this pattern so I don't work on it faithfully.  I am 5/7th done though!  Email me about your hats and I will see what I can do. 

Karma ~ I am so happy to see you are functioning again!  When babies first start mending their little parts, they can sure make Mom feel out of it!!

Liz ~ Me thinks you need to use Wasp Spray as your perfume of choice!!!!!

I read all the posts but I can't remember what was stated.  Jerry had me to download Spybot.  I did and I kept having all these annoying windows come up that I had to 'change' or 'deny'.  He told me to uninstall and reinstall but not select Tea Timer.  I did.  But I still had all these annoying windows that I had to click 'change' or 'deny'.  >:( >:( Maybe it is because I have XP and he doesn't but I uninstalled it again and just rebooted.  Computers can be so aggrivating......right, Pat?

It is rainy today.  Cold.  Only 61 degrees right now.  My trap is still set so the groundhog wasn't hungry for apple last evening. 

This evening, Judy, a high school classmate, and I are going to a fish fry at a Wesleyan Church.  The pastor is Jerry, another classmate, whose wife, Sue, is another classmate.  Should be fun.

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"The joy of motherhood:  What a woman experiences when all the children are finally in bed."

The weeks keep flying and flying.  Hard to believe it is friday already.  Was a long day at the Bible School here.  We interviewed 17 prospective students who were trying to enter the Bible College.  We ended up with 16 new students, a very small class, but God knows who we need.  I felt pretty good about my Russian, for the most part I was able to understand everyone (there were 2 people from small villages who spoke with a terrible accent and different words that I could not understand).  So I'm tired now from having to pay total attention to it all in Russian (without an interpreter) for 6 hours. 

John - So how do the Vols look this year?  Or are you a Vandy fan in Nashville?  We get to see a little NFL off the satellite here, but not college games.  I can only follow the Vols off the net.  Used to be able to listen to the games on the web, but they now want you to pay for them all, and I'm not going to do that...

Yes, Etta Sue--computers can be quite, quite aggrevating!  LOL

Hi Papa John...  I agree about the rain.  My water bill will be so low this year as I've not needed to water the garden at all.

Hi Mike!  You must be doing quite well with your Russian.  I can't imagine learning that language.  It seems so difficult to me.  Good job!

I'm a Vols fan!  I'm a Vols fan!  Of course I live in NC, so my husband (and most of my family) are Tarheel fans.

We have a family reunion tomorrow, so I'm not sure if either of us will be in or not.

I hope everyone has a remarkable wonderful weekend!!

love
karma

Wait a minute - I'm considering not being a Tarheels fan anymore for a couple of reasons.  I can't believe it, but it's true. 

So don't make any terrible accusations, there, wife :)

Hey everybody!

Nard

Hi Shufords!!!!

Great to see you both.  Have a great weekend away.

I've never even heard of a Vol or a Tarheel!!!   ::) ???

University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill) teams are the Tarheels.  University of Tennessee teams are the Volunteers (Vols). 

So now you know :)

Oh!!  Thanks!  Who should I cheer for?

LET'S SING!!!

You can NORMALLY cheer for both because they hardly ever play each other.  Karma pulls for the Vols all the time.  I pull for them in football and women's basketball, but up till now I have been a Tarheels men's basketball fan.  I'm reconsidering.  Lotsa clothes in the closet with the logo, so it could be expensive to realign....

Pat - the only one that is important to know is Vols.  That is short for Tennessee Volunteers, the College team from Knoxville, TN.  They are consistently one of the best (though sometimes inconsistent) college football teams in the nation.  So don't worry about Tarheels, Bulldogs, Gators, or any of the other names people might try to throw at you.  They simply are not worth bothering about.  Once you know the Vols, you don't need to know anything else :-)

Typing this as I start singing.... 

Oh, boy.

:)

 ::)

Oh, dear!

For all ladies who bake for special events.

Alice was to bake a cake for the church ladies' group bake sale, but  she forgot to do it until the last minute.  She baked an angel food  cake and when she took it from the oven, the center had dropped flat.

She said, "Oh dear, there's no time to bake another cake." So, she looked around the house for something to build up the center of the cake.  Alice found it in the bathroom   a roll of toilet paper.  She
plunked it in and covered it with icing.  The finished product looked beautiful, so she rushed it to the church. Alice then gave her daughter some money and instructions to be at the sale the minute it opened and to buy that cake and bring it home.

When the daughter arrived at the sale, the attractive cake had already been sold.  Alice was beside herself.

A couple of days later, Alice was invited to a friend's home where two tables of bridge were to be played that afternoon.  After the game, a fancy lunch was served, and to top it off, the cake in question was presented for dessert.

When Alice saw the cake, she started to get out of her chair to rush into the kitchen to tell her hostess all about it, but before she could get to her feet, one of the other ladies said, "What a beautiful cake!"

Alice sat back in her chair when she heard the hostess (a prominent church member) say, "Thank you; I baked it myself."

 Oh boy indeed!
Hillbilly songs! Enough already!  lol :) ;)

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http://www.geocities.com/Nashville/Opry/2130/Rockytop.mid

come home it's suppertime. :)

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Valley/3595/midi/suppertime.mid

Thanks, Chris and Margit.   What's for supper?    ??? :D

Hi everyone and welcome our two new members to CP. i..e, Cazann and  Sarah Elizabeth.

In just a few minutes our friends are stopping by to pick us up and we are going out to eat, as we often do, and then they will come back here and we will play some games for awhile.  It has been several weeks since we have done this and so am looking forward to the evening. 

I have been gone most of the day as left at 6 am to go walking, then had men's coffee at the Senior Center, drove an hour and had an echocariogram done.  Then stopped by a computer store to look at new laptops (didn't buy one-yet!) Then I stopped to return something at a store and then stopped to have a blood test done and to pick up a prescription.  The last stop was at the library to pick up some things for Pat.  Needless to say when I got home and had a bite of lunch that I felt the need for some rest. 

I will have to catch up here on CP probably tomorrow.  Just wanted to say Hi to everyone today.

 ::)Love that cake story, Pat...LOL

Nards:  You have me totally confused....and not a difficult thing to do either.....so, perhaps I should just root on a Canadian football team. (I'm not a football fan; don't understabd the game at all...LOL)

anyway, I haven't any news worth talking about....its been a dull overcast day here in Guelph, and I've just lazed around.  Tomorrow I need to get "cracking" and get the ironing done up.  I hope everyone's day is going well, and that you are all keeping well.

A warm welcome to our newest member, Cazann.

Judy - sorry to be confusing!  Which part was it that confused you the most?  The names or the games?

EEEEEEEEEeeeeeee Hi ms McKenna  (((hug)))  ;D

(((((hug))))) Mr Bernard

Ms Marbeth I wish for you a MOST happy birthday for all the year. I am so sorry I was not here to say it yesterday. (((hug)))  :D

Hi ms Ruth, and Ms Marilyn.  8) ;D 8) ;D

Papa John  I get to stay with my family only for some weeks now and I must go back to the Xizang for many month. :-[  I wish I can stay here too and I miss you when I can not come here to share a time with you.  :-[ You did go to the China for some days and it is my wonder if you did get to eat American when you are there?  ??? ::)

Mr Hanna  It is nice to see you here too.   ;D

Ms Alma, I did live in the Malibu California for some years and today I live in the Xizang. :-\  but my family live in the California. It is where my heart will forever know is my home.  :'( :-\  I know where is the big Bear California,  8) I did go there to see some snow not long ago. It is very nice to see you here and I love you that you help ms Cheryl. It is the treasure of the earth to love a friend.

I love you mrs Bice.   ;D 8) I will SO love to cook for you and my Papa John. I am not a good cook for the Chinese food, silly, yes?   :-\ But I did not ever learn to do it.  :(  I only know some and it is not food for a event.  ::)

Ms Kathy, I am sad to read of you friend.  :'(  It is very nice to see you when you are here.

Hi ms SARAH , HI MS JANE  ;D ;D

Ms Etta Sue, I pray you will not hurt the groundhog.  :(  How can you have a groundhog day if you do not have a groundhog any more?  ??? Perhaps if you take him away, we will not get to see if there is a summer any more.  :-\ ??? ::)

Hi ms Janet (((hug)))  8)

Ms SONI SonI soNI SoNI sOni   ;D ;D ;D

WELCOME Ms Sarah Elizabeth (OHHhh I like this name, it is very beautiful)

Ms Karmat (((hug))) I know I am the one who is bless that I can come here. And I thank you that you did bring me to meet so many wonderful friends here. I love you and I miss you SO much when you are not here.
OH Oh and I did think a good name I like for my soon new baby girl you will have soon. Her name it is Milise Bernard Janet Patrica RuthAnn Janet Jane Papa John Moak Sue Janet Jenny Sonja Kathy janet Marilyn McKenna Liz Janet Gareth Etta Sue Skief Margit and Janet and Chris Jane Hanna Jeanne Lee Shuford.  :P  8)

I know it is perhaps a big name, but I like it.  ;D 8) ;D ::)


Hi Cazann, I know you will like it here.   8) 8) 8)

Where is my Mum?  

Since it is now August 21st, are we going to have a topic for the monthly photo challenge?  or are we skipping August?  Just wondering....

Hello Mieka, :D

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Hello Mr Chris, the picture it did not work I think.  ;D

Perhaps some music will be nice  :P

( if you click here it will not work)

Just a Closer Walk With Thee
Text: Anonymous
Music: Anonymous
Tune: CLOSER WALK, Meter: Irr. with Refrain
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1.   I am weak, but thou art strong;
   Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
   I'll be satisfied as long
   as I walk, let me walk close to thee.

Refrain:
   Just a closer walk with thee,
   grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
   daily walking close to thee:
   Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

2.   Through this world of toil and snares,
   if I falter, Lord, who cares?
   Who with me my burden shares?
   None but thee, dear Lord, none but thee.
   (Refrain)

3.   When my feeble life is o'er,
   time for me will be no more;
   guide me gently, safely o'er
   to thy shore, dear Lord, to thy shore.
   (Refrain)

Hi, Mieka,sorry there should have been a picture, here's one, little fish,and God loves the little fishes!
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SKIEF, I’m for the Vols.  When Vandy is playing someone else I am for Vandy but can’t get too excited about them.  Thanks for ROCKY TOP.  Are you from Tennessee?

KARMA, I’m glad you are for Tennessee and it sounds like you keep Nards pretty well in line.

Pat, Skief has given a good explanation.  True you should root for the Vols.  That was a great cake story.

MIEKA, we didn’t eat American in China.  We ate Chinese and I really liked it.  Well, at one hotel in Beijing we had American for breakfast, bacon and eggs with toast and it was like being back home.  We left from Hong Kong and went to Beijing and while there we went up to see the Great Wall of China.  From Beijing we flew over to Xian and saw the Terra Cotta figures.  From there we went to Shanghai and had a cruise over to the Yangtze River before flying back to Hong Kong.


Ps 98:8-9
8   Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy;
9   let them sing before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity.  (NIV)


--- Papa John          <:))))><<   
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Jane, it's  "if it"  with gravy,
my mum used to say " if it's there,, we'll eat it "  :)

Papa John  I did live in the Shanghai for most all my life in the China. I did live near to the Yangtze. to me it is Chang-jiang. It is the end of the Chang-jiang in the Shanghai. But today I live in the Xizang. It is where the Chang-jiang will start. It is as a Chi is for the sea a Yangtze it is Chang-jiang and very long to bring a life to all of the China.

:-\ ??? ::) did you undarstand this?

I did not travel much when I am in the Shanghai. At times we will go on a boat very far, but I did not get to see much there. When I did come to live in the USA I get to see much more of what is the China. the USA some have much more money to see this things and many place others do not get to see. I am very fortunate that i did get to come to the USA. and I have shame at times that I do not wish to go back at all.  :-[ :-\

Dear Mieka - we do not want you to go back at all.  You have a shame because it is your home, but we love you and do not want you to go back.  But if our Lord Jesus Christ goes with you, then we will see you one day.

MEIKA:  How xcited I am to see you posting at almost the same time that I am online!! ;D  Meika:., that quite the name you have picked out for the new Shuford baby!! ;D  I'm sure they will use it...LOL

Nards:  I re-read my post.....guess its the name I couldn't figure out.  Now after going over all the posts, its "Volunteer" that I was wondering about.

Its unusual for me to sit at the computer on a Friday night.  Usually we are out for supper and visiting friends.  Its kind of nice just to have an evening home, and time to watch the Olympics.  Have you all been watching them?  Isn't it incredible how those gymnastic athletes can twist and jump the way they do......fantastic!

He will be with me Mr Moak, and you will be with me too. (((hug)))

I think I will take every one with me when I must go, ok?  ;D I will take you all in my heart.  8)

But I think some of you must diet so my heart is not so heavy when I go.  ::) :o 8)

Hi Meeks!  I'm here!  I'm here!

That's quite a name you've picked out for Karma and Nards' baby!  HAHAHAHAHA!


Mike, we aren't doing the August Challenge.  Karma and Soni both sort of decide what is going to be the next subject and I work with them and Soni was very busy with things and Karma wasn't well and I was having a lot of stress trying to deal with a sick car and then a sick computer so we put it off till September.

Chris I think that the site where you were getting your animated gifs won't let you deeplink anymore as they don't show.  All are red X's.

Hi MIEKA, my dear friend.  I choose not to think of the time when you must leave, I'll just enjoy every day that you are here ... that seems the best way.  We used to sing a song that had the phrase in it: "Why think of tomorrow, just live for today; I'm following Jesus each step of the way."  Sounds good enough for me, how about you?

Thanks, Chris ... I love "if it's with gravy!"   :D

Long time no see....  ;D

I was wondering why the photo forums, the bi weekly and monthly ones haven't been updated?  ???

Hi, guys and gals!  I'm just stopping by to say goodnight.  I have had a VERY busy day, got a lot done and am bushed!

Mieks, there was no Janet in the baby's name.......... :'(  But I love you, anyway!

All the invitations are in the mail, I have more people to call, but the plans are shaping up!  I want Beth to be so blessed!!

My son and granddaughter were here today, which was a special treat, as we don't see them nearly often enough.  Katy is now almost as tall as me!  (My big grandsons would say "That's not saying much, Grams.)  But Katy is only 11..........she's going to be a BIG girl!!  :)

I will be away judging an art show tomorrow, will try to catch up after that!  But still have a lot of work to do on Beth's album, too.

I'm doing a weight loss challenge and have lost seven pounds since Monday!! ;D ;D ;D

Sorry to be short today, too tired to think of much.

I haven't been here (or online at all)for at least a week and this will be a quick visit tonight.

It all began last weekend when we were able to get Gene's son, daughter and son-in-law and my son, daughter, granddaughter and grandson all together for a wonderful afternoon at Alice's farm.  We missed Alice's husband by one day.  :-\

Since then I have been working full time and diligently reducing the contents of my hard drive.  When I started working on the pictures I took on Saturday (tons of them) I got the message that my hard drive was "dangerously" near full.  And I was so sure 30 gig would be impossible to fill up.   ::)

Nice devotional, thanks Pat.  About that dance.....I think it was more like a geriatric Riverdance, with arm movements ;)

This morning Wendy and I went to the Mall and then over to Sally Ann.  It was the day for their truck to deliver a new shipment.  I got a couple of good books.  One for Amanda.  Think it was called Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul....or something.  They are rather nice books. 

Had a surprise call from an old friend who was on her way to Chemainus Theatre, with her daughter(who is a teacher in a Christian School) and surely was pleased.  They stopped in for a cup of tea and a nice chat.  We used to go to the same church in Victoria and have been friends for many years. Not often possible to get together like that.  So a nice Day!

Loved that music Chris & Margit.  I used to play the 5 String Banjo many moons ago.  Good Stuff.

Must go and finish my laundry now.  Sort of late....who needs a schedule at this stage in life!  Here is a little chuckle (I hope):

A father was approached by his small son who told him proudly, "I know what the Bible means!"
His father smiled and replied, "What do you mean, you 'know' what the Bible means?"
The son replied, "I do know!"
"Okay, said his father. "So, son, what does the Bible mean?"
"That's easy, Daddy. It stands for 'Basic Information Before Leaving Earth.' "


Pleasant dreams all and God Bless.

Liz

Well Ithought I should get in here and post before Pat closes the door. Had a good day today. It was a do nothing day at Gloria's house, I ministered to her the whole time I was there after first telling her what she was not going to get away with in her treatment of me if she wanted me for her friend and to work for her. After that it was all up hill. Praise the Lord. I got a lot of Bible teaching in as well  as giving a bit of advice on what not to watch on TV.

Mieka it is so nice to see your cheerful posts so many times in one day. I love you little fish. It will be so sad when you have to leave to go back to China, Do you know yet how many months you will have to stay there and will you be able to come back.?

Jeanne I have been wondering where you have been. Good that you got in some good family time with all the kids. I am trying to get in so family time this Sunday with Gilbert, Sarah and the kids. When I called tonight I called the cell phone and they are at the Humboldt county fair in Ferndale.

Jenny if you pop in--in the morning Iwill see  you on AIM at tea time.

Jane I put printed that out and put it in my Bible, thanks sis.

TTYL

Quote from: ChevyGal on August 20, 2004, 08:49:29 PM
Long time no see....  ;D

I was wondering why the photo forums, the bi weekly and monthly ones haven't been updated?  ???

It's so good to see you here...

Back in Post 41, I posted this to Mike...

Quote

Mike, we aren't doing the August Challenge.  Karma and Soni both sort of decide what is going to be the next subject and I work with them and Soni was very busy with things and Karma wasn't well and I was having a lot of stress trying to deal with a sick car and then a sick computer so we put it off till September.

We had a great day in here.  Sorry I missed it.  The family and I were very busy.  I'll be in tomorrow for sure though.  ;D

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