Christian Photographers Community

No matter what I may be feeling like, no matter my condition, these words have an impact upon my soul. They are words that I need to hear time and time again. Often when I have found myself 'clinging' on, I have been greatly encouraged through these words.

They have also provided a great blessing whenever I have attempted something new or have been travelling.

The borders of the new land were on the horizon. New challenges and a land of plenty lay before the children of Israel. For forty long and arduous years they had traversed the desert places.

God's promise always before them, now it was time to inherit. The time of God's favour, yea the set time had come.

Long may we wait for promises to be fulfilled. Waiting is never easy. In fact it is probably the hardest task a Christian can be called to. It can be a very testing time. Long days and even longer nights often allow the mind and heart to wander.

Thoughts of being forsaken, forgotten or even mistaken race through the mind. The Lord often seems to hide His face at such times leaving us fearful and fretting.

Some may spend their days moaning and groaning to others. It helps get things off their chests but what good does it do? Hearing a colleague moaning and complaining all day long is tedious and it is not a good witness.

Wait on in silent hope my friend.

If we all remained in Primary School then we would make little advance in our education. Our learning would be stunted and we would remain as children in adult frames.

Faith, if it is left without hindrance or without testing will remain stunted and weak. When the time of testing comes it will crumble.

God does not want His church on earth to be weak and helpless, though in many senses we are. He wants us to be strong in the graces He showers upon us.

Every muscle in our body requires movement or exercise from time to time otherwise it will wither. Faith is no different. It may be a spiritual muscle but it requires exercise to become strong and useful.

It is at times of severe testing that faith shows its true worth. When all around us may be collapsing in a heap of utter despair; faith, hope and love can lift our souls to view the horizon of light that lies beyond our present predicament.

The thought of a new challenge and new experiences can be daunting. If we travel our path by sight then it will not be long ere mountains rise up before us. The just shall live by faith and faith must be exercised daily in order to make headway.

Joshua may have been shaking in his boots as he contemplated the task set before him. Moses had been a fine leader and how was he going to fill the great man's boots?

Each person has their own part to play and it does not really matter what this man or woman has done in the past. What is that to thee? Follow thou me. If a duty or responsibility falls upon us then we must do it as to the best of our ability. We are judged by God not by men's selfish standards.

It is all to easy for us to see the talents that other people possess. Talents that would make us believe that they were born for their present task. I find it very difficult nay impossible to think of myself as talented in any way.

There are many that I used to envy, but not anymore. I am what I am, where I am and by God's choosing, not mine.

Yes, I admit, I have fought against Him all of the way, yet such was His love for me that He never once gave up on me. I am fully persuaded that writing this post is exactly what the Lord wants me to be doing at this present time.

Satan has made mincemeat out of me on many an occasion. I had a greater fear of doing wrong that I had of doing right. I hope that makes sense but it shackled me in an unhealthy fear for days on end. It all boiled down to lack of trust and weak faith.

We learn by our mistakes and we also learn from those who have gone before us. Joshua was no different. He had walked side by side with his mentor throughout their wilderness trail, seeing the good and well as the not so good sides of Moses.

Joshua was not Moses!

We are not someone else. Joshua was different and so are we. What remains constant is God.

Joshua may have looked at his inadequacies and shrunk at the prospect of leading such a vast number into a new territory. We may also shrink from the task that faces us, thinking that it is beyond our capabilities.

My friend does God ask you to do something that He does not think you well able to do?
It is time to trust Him.

If Joshua were to go forward in his own strength he would fail miserably. If we go forward in our own strength then we also shall fall flat on our faces. God knows our frame. He knows our fears and our anxieties and that is exactly why He had these words written.

They were written for someone just like you. They were written for you.

You may be looking to God for great things to happen in your life. I rejoice with you but I give you a little advice on such matters. Try and find your God in the little things first.

Try and find your God in all that happens to you today, in every little detail from a phone call to a knock at the door, to a chance meeting in the street, to a flippant remark, to a child's smile, to a gift received yea even to your next breath.

If you are able to find God in the little things then it will not be long before all these little things add up and become a mountain of myrrh to your soul.

My friends look again at these words and see the enormity of the love that God has especially for you as you begin to realise that these particular words were written with you in mind.

LOL

Your brother in Christ

Iain

Good morning your all 10.40 AM in Holland
Thanks Iain for your words God bless you.
It is cold in Holland this morning and dark the sun is not shining I hope we are getting rain but on the radio
and TV i have heard we are getting no rain.
Welcome home Pat Welcome Etta Sue
I hope you have had a very nice time. But i Thank God
that you are coming safely home

Jenny how is your daughter doing this morning and you
have you had a little bit sleep this night i pray for you

I have listened this morning to the radio.
There were very nice christian songs on and a short
meditation about Truth and Hope. The question was
Where can we found that.I say my Thruth an Hope is in our Lord Jesus.

Janet how are you must you be operated on your eyes?
I pray for you Janet.

I wish you all a very good day and God bless you all

Love Ria :)

 :)  IS THERE ANY ONE WHO CAN TELL ME WHERE I
CAN FIND  THE BITHDAY CALENDER.

ONCE I HAVE SEEN HIM  BUR NOW I CAN NOT FIND THE
BIRTHDAY CALENDER

WHO CAN HEKP ME

LOVE  RIA ;)

Dear Ria - You will find the birthdays in the link marked Calendar under the main logo at the top of the page.

Belated birthday greetings from me to all that i have missed.

I do not forget you when I pray for you all each morning.

Hope you back is easier Ria.

Thank you Iain it looks of we the only people are this day
I have no more a lot of pain in my back only in the
morning when i wake up.
But when i walk and do my exercises then it is going better.
Thanks Iain God bless you :)

Good morning, friends. It's good to see everyone returning. Iain and Larry have done such a great job of moderating while Pat was away.

I read that Beth is having some urinary tract testing done, as will I - my tests will be at 1 and 2:45 this afternoon.

I trust both Beth and I will find solutions for our difficulties.

Y'all have a good day.

Ruth Ann

Good Morning!

Very nice Iain - and making me do some thinking.

Ruth Ann, my friend, you are in my prayers.  As you all are.

Have a wonderful day everyone.

Love to all, Francy

P.S. I went over to the Calendar to add that today is my birthday - the big 6-0 !  Funny, feels the same as 59, lol.

Hi everyone.  What a wonderful day the Lord has given us and I am especially grateful that our friends who have been traveling in Canada have now returned safely to their homes.  I know there have been many prayers offered for your safety and I hope you all, while probably tired from the long days on the road, are mentally rested from this nice change of pace.  I love to go and enjoy being away but am always very thankful to get back to my own home.

Iain, God is using your talents is a very powerful way with your writing and Christian friendships.  God gives each of us different  talents for his purposes.  I think that sometimes you are much to hard on what you expect of yourself as we probably all are, but I can certainly see your talents in your writing and photography and we will probably never meet face to face in this life.

Etta Sue, our pets really do miss us.  I know when we were staying in Missouri with my parents for those nine months our cat, Mr. Tiggers, was really put out and treated us pretty coolly when we returned home.  However, our daughter was here to take care of him so he wasn't alone for more than a few hours a day.  Pat, was Geordie and your new cat happy to see you?

Happy Birthday, FrancyLou.  Ria, that little Calendar button is something I find easy to forget to check very often.  Good thing someone mentions a birthday or most often I wouldn't even be aware.  

Ruth Ann, sure hope your test go well this afternoon and the same for Beth.

Marilyn, glad to read that you enjoyed your first day of caregiving.  It sounds like you are in the right line of work as you are a very caring person.  

Janet, hope today won't be as hectic for you as you indicated yesterday way.  As they say, don't forget to "smell the roses".

Jeanne, I agree with you on how slow time goes on a job when you are not busy.  Even here at home I stay very busy all day on my computer and always have more on my list than I will probably ever get done.  

I will try to help Pat out one more day on the hymns, in case she has too much to do today, so will post another hymn shortly.

May God bless each of us today.

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My you have a wonderful blessed day in the Lord.

Isn't it wonderful that God wants us just as we are for his purposes.  This is one of my favorite hymns:

Good Morning one and all.

Welcome Home Pat, Judy, Norm and Etta Sue, good to have you back. WE will be looking forward to an update on Jerry.

Gilbert tells me that today and tomorrow the Hospice thrift store in Arcata is having a 50% off sale on almost everything. I am going there after work to see if they have an electric clothes dryer.  I saw one there last week for $50.

Ruth Ann  I will remember you in my prayers today. Lets see my time would be around 10 or 11, are you eastern time or central time.?

Before I forget, I want to tell Ria that it was my mother I was talking about with the eye problems, not I.  Thank you for your concern, though.  My mom is 87 years old, and is going to move into the care home right away, as she can barely manage alone any more.

Larry, you are such a blessing to so many, and always are helping others.  It's our pleasure to know you!

Iain, I pray you have a wonderful, and healthful day!

Francy Lou, Ruth Ann and Marilyn---hello to you, and blessings to you today!

Darrel is still trying to catch up in his work.  The way it usually happens is very slow, then a flurry of people all wanting systems at the same time!  So I help him when I can.  Tomorrow we go to Moscow (yes, Kansas! ;)) to teach Scuba to some Scouts.

Beth is here with Mieka, we just trimmed her nails, and the bird Ruffles' claws.   They were really sharp!

I have bunches of "stuff" I want to get done today, but I wanted to stop by and greet all of you.  Back later.

VERY NICE HYMN LARRY  JUST AS I AM L LOVE THE HYMN


HAPPY BIRTHDAY  FRANCY LOU  
HAVE A NICE DAY

I have found the birthday calender Iain
But Larry now must i not forget also as you to take a look on the calender

Bye  Ria :) :) :) :) :) :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FRANCY LOU!!  AND MANY MORE!

Happy Birthday Francy Lou!  Have a wonderful and peaceful day.

Janet:  On the SS check, well it works out that we are losing an income in the same amount right in October when I get my first check.  So it goes but thankful to have a replacement.

Jeanne Lee:  Thank you for the greeting.  

Etta Sue:  I appreciated your e-mail.  Sorry about the fires and smoke destroying the views of the Rockies.  

We are pretty housebound as Don's hand surgery is hurting much more now even after two weeks - lack of sleep and so forth.  It isn't healing very quickly.  We expect things to get better next week when he will have the final stitches removed.  

Carol

I will second that, Al.

Welcome back --we will be waiting to hear tales of your trips.

Iian, love the part of your post about spiritual growth.

Told my son the other day about what I heard Charles Stanley wrote.

My son was complaining how it seems the last few weeks there are one problem after another.

He is right; can't seem to see that "rainbow" at the end yet.

I told him now is the time to develop and grow our spiritual muscle.  Of course , he looked at me strange until I said:

when you were weight lifting you remeber how hard it was to do 5 lb. lifts then you kept working out and the 5 lb .  lifts were too comfortable ; not hard at all so you went on and challenged yourself by going to the next weight class.

Jesus is giving you the power and strength to continue to grow and keep going forward not to grow stale in your faith.

Yes, there are problems and trials but with it ,

HE has provided you with "spiritual muscles" --use them and continue to grow.

You will be rewarded.

Take care and as always,

Love in Christ,
Joyce

Welcome back to all of our travellers.

Happy Birthdays to all of our friends today.

Iain:  I to have a greater fear of doing wrong rather than focusing with confidence on the things I do and know are right.

What a storm last night although it is cooler today, Constantly I am in prayer for the folk out in B.C. that have been forced to leave their homes due to the raging forrest fires.  My do they ever need rain.

Ruth

Good morning to all! Iain, that is a wonderful devotional! I'm afraid that I have to disagree with you about not being talented. These devotionals, that touch the lives of so many of us, prove otherwise! I pray that your back is doing better. Hi, Ria, glad you asked the question about the calendar; I had forgotten, too! Welcome home to our travelers! Francy, I wish you a very happy birthday; I'm not far behind you! Beth and Ruth, I will be praying for good results in your tests. Joyce, what you said to you son was terrific; I need to remember that testing makes us stronger more! Larry, thanks for the hymn; the music came through beautifully, and I love that song! I wish all of you a gorgeous, God-filled day!
Love in Him,
Cami

Hi Again...

I've been sleeping off and on today and trying to do some laundry, etc.  Getting unpacked after a long journey is almost as trying as getting packed to go on it.  But it was so wonderful to know that the Lord went with us.  We saw some terrible driving by some drivers but we weren't involved in any accidents nor did we have any trouble with the car.

Ria, it's so good to see you posting.  Glad you found the Calendar link.  We must all look at it as often as we can so we don't miss anyone's birthdays.  Everyone should make sure that they click on their profile and insert their birthdays in their profiles.

QuoteAnd the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee, fear not, neither be dismayed.'

Oh, Iain, what a wonderful verse and how true.  The Lord surely went with we three as we travelled to Calgary and the two in Etta Sue's car.

QuoteI am what I am, where I am and by God's choosing, not mine.

What a wonderful thought fact!  I am what I am, where I am and by God's choosing, not mine!  Amen!

Right now, I want to publicly thank both you, Iain, and Larry for taking care of the forums along with our wonderful Moderators while I was away.  What a wonderful team we have!

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To add your birthday to the Calendar, you just make sure that your birthday is in your own profile and then it's done automatically!  So, make sure you do that!  I just clicked on your name and see "N/A" showing where your birthday should be.  If you do it today, you'll even have a cake there!  LOL  

QuoteIain, God is using your talents is a very powerful way with your writing and Christian friendships.  God gives each of us different  talents for his purposes.  I think that sometimes you are much to hard on what you expect of yourself as we probably all are, but I can certainly see your talents in your writing and photography and we will probably never meet face to face in this life.

Larry, how very true!   We are so very honoured to have Iain among our members.  I pray that we'll have him for a very long time. Iain, we love you dearly as a close brother in the Lord.  I've been praying for you while I've been away and for you too, Larry.  How are you?  Has this treatment been good for you?

Hi Ria!  Sorry you were in pain.  I haven't read the past messages yet but hopefully, you are better now.  I do hope that the heat is lessening over there in Holland.

Thanks for the welcome home, Jane!  India and Sparky missed you a lot!

Oh, Carol, I'm so sorry about Don's hand.  I do pray that it will be better very soon.  Have they told you both how long to expect this terrible pain?  Yes, the smoke was awful in the mountains and as we were leaving Banff to return to Calgary, we saw yet another wild fire starting up destroying many trees.

Janet, sounds as if you're keeping just as busy as ever.  Is this scuba diving a one-time course?  I think I may have to join one of your classes!  

Hi Marilyn!  

Thanks so much for the Welcome Back, Al and Joyce!  It's good to be home.

Hi Ruth!  I think it's time to have another telephone chat!  Great to see your post.

Cami... when you say...

QuoteThese devotionals, that touch the lives of so many of us, prove otherwise!

I agree with you heartily!  We certainly love our Iain.

Hi Pat et all...so good to have you all back again - safe and sound!  
Fancy and I ought to get together!  Fancy - Nancy!  Happy birthday to you, Fancy!

I posted a picture in the photo section.  My latest creation!  Please stop by and take a peek!  

Pinkie:

When we were travelling back from Calgary, we saw a motorcycle (Harley, I believe)., the driver was  a member of the Christian motorcycle association that you belong to.

Pat talked with him.  He has a ministry with other motorcycle drivers., especially ministering to teens on bikes.

I must admit.... I used to look at guys like this, wondering how they could look the way they were., you know...long hair, rough unkept looking, and tatooed all over the place.  I realize now, the wonderful ministry they have, and how the kids and older bikers can relate.

I have a new respect for these Christian bikers, and the work they are doing!

Hi everyone. I am jsut home form work now. Worked 2 hours longer as we went shopping and to the Indian Health Clinic Farmers Markert for more veggies. The we stopped for a hamburger. Another great day.

WELCOME TO
ANNE COUGHEY

Thank you for joining us here on CP. Comne one in and tell us about yourself.

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It sure is great to know that our "bashers" are all home safe and sound.  

Thanks so much, Jeanne!  It's great to be home.

Great to be home, Pinkie!  Yes, as Judy says, we saw this elderly feller with his beard all tied down and he was a member of the Christian Motorcycle Assn.  It was good to talk to him.

I don't believe I have been on NEM today.  I kind of got caught up on the rest of the threads but by passed NEM.  

First of all, I want to tell all of you what a great person Sonja is and what a neat family she has.  When I got to her hometown, I needed my car greased and oiled.  So while that was being done, I called Sonja.  She told me where she lived and soon after we got through talking, my car was done.  We were less than a mile from her home.  Ivalou and I went there and Zachary answered the door.  What a neat little gentleman he is.  I told him we were where him and his family were a few weeks back...Devil's Tower!  He looked puzzled....like how did you know that?  Then Troy came up from the basement.  He is a handsome big young man.  Very polite.  Then little Chandraya.  What a beauty!  And so happy to see 'Etta Sue'.  Finally Sonja appeared.  Well, she is a beauty, too.  As pretty as her photographs.  She showed us around her home....you can see Sonja's creativity in each room.  Lila Mae was sound asleep which disappointed me.  But Sonja asked the boys to watch the girls so us big girls could go out to eat.  When we came back, Mike was there...what a handsome man he is and so personable....AND Lila Mae was awake.  We talked for awhile longer and I asked Lila Mae if I could hold her and she came right to me.  Sonja said that doesn't happen often at all.  Boy, did I feel special when I left that Lila Mae let me hold her.  So if you are ever in Sonja and Mike's neck of the woods, stop and say 'hey'.  A truly wonderful family!!!!

Thank you, Ria, for the welcome back.  It was a great trip and especially meeting Judy, Norm and Beverly from CP and renewing acquaintances with Pat.  

Yes, Larry, it is great to be home and safe from all the traveling.  It was especially great to sleep in my own bed and use my own pillow!!!!  Also to see Ali Cat.  She missed me.  Slept with me all night.

Ruth Ann, how did your tests come out?  I am praying that all is well.

Francy Lou, I take it that today is your big 6-0!  Happy birthday!!!

Marilyn, $50 for an electric clothes dryer.  Is that like in 'washer and dryer'?  What a deal!!!  Did you get one?

Janet, it seems you are always on the go.  Scuba diving lessons.  That sounds wonderful.  The humidity is so high here today, you could give them without a pool!!!!

Jane, thanks for the welcome back.  Glad to hear that Pastor Bev is doing so superbly great!!!

Carol, thanks for the thank you.  So sorry to hear that Don's hand isn't doing as well as expected.  When he awakes in the morning, it will be much better.....positive thinking.

Al, thanks to you for the welcome back.  Since I was a traveler, I guess you meant me, too!!!  Hahah!

Joyce, great thoughts about our 'spiritual muscles'.  I like that.

Ruth, thank you for the wonderful welcome back.  Yes, the fires out west are bad.  When I was approaching Calgary, I thought it was smog. When I stopped at a light, I noticed these little things floating around.  I lowered a window and smelled smoke.  It was ashes floating around. The sun looked like it was on fire!!!!

Cami, hello!  Glad to see you are posting.  We need new members to post.  The more the merrier!!

Pat, yes, we saw some terrible drivers, too, but it is still amazing that we had no close calls and didn't see one accident in the 4,347 miles.
Pssst! Pat!  Your 'Happy Birthday, Francy!'?  Was that all done with text, size, glow or was it a graphic?  Neat looking!!


Nancy, I checked out your newest creation in photos.  Neat.  I even 'saved' it and turned it right side up in my PSP to check it out.  Neat-0!

Judy, Harley Davidson!  I have never seen so many Harley emblems on everything from stores, billboards, welcome marquees to cycles.  We missed the rally in Sturges, SD, by a few days but the signs were all still up.  And still lots of cycles around doing their site-seeing.  And I thought the rally was for Gold Wing Hondas!!

Jeanne, thank you for the neat welcome back.  Was I gone?  Hunh?

It is good to be back.  I had the A/C so it wasn't as cool in here as usual.  It took all night for it to cool down...the humidity is so high in Indiana now.  Of course, it is....school has started!!

On another note.....when I moved here two years ago in November, I hired movers to move me.  Two ladies came and wrapped and packed everything in boxes.  I acquired these two little Scottie magnets...one white and one black from my mother who said they once belonged to my grandparents.  Well, when I unpacked, I didn't find my little Scottie dogs.  I figured the ladies wrapped them in paper and they were thrown away.  Well, I found them today.  On my desk I have a metal pen and pencil holder.  I was looking for something and took some pens out.  I looked in the holder and saw this white thing in the bottom.  My two little Scottie dogs!!!!!!

God Bless You All!!!!

Thanks for the prayers, friends. Fortunately, my problems can probably be resolved with about a years worth of antibiotics (not my estimate, the doctor actually said that). It looks like I won't have to undergo surgery. He did a couple of other things while doing the procedure which should make it more difficult for me to get these infections.

In fact, he gave me great means for optimism! He said that in about a month I'll awaken some morning an exclaim about how GOOD I feel.

This has been a difficult year physically with one sickness or another. He attributes it to this chronic bladder problem.

So, I'm looking forward to getting better. :D

Ruth Ann

I have had a busy month this month.  In preparation for school I helped a friend move her houser around giving her a large room for a class room.  

John is home tonight, He is really tired, so it is early to bed for both of us.

Ria mother received her letter and card as did I>  You should scan them and post them in the pictures or crafts section.  Pat what section should paper tole go in to?

Well it is off to bed and I will try to come back tomorrow.

Love to all
JudyB

Ruth Ann, I am so glad to hear that you have an optimistic report!

Nice to have our chatty Etta Sue back---boy, I want to go meet Sonja and her family, too!  Such sweeties, all of them!

Judy and Pat, we are so glad you're safely back home, and posting again.  We missed all of you.

Now, where has Mieka gone??

It is so good to "hear" all the chatter here!  I've missed all of you!

Thank you to all who welcomed us back.  It was a real thrill for me to meet Etta Sue, and her lovely sister, Ivalou.  I feel like I've known them both for a long time...not just a few days.  Isn't it wonderful to have a bond that is just so special when you meet other believers.

I've noticed now that when Norm asks me "is he/she a Christian?... he dosen't say " is he/she 'religious?'  That phrase., is he "religious" used to really irritate me.  I would always answer, "I believe they are a Christian...not religious."

Ruth Ann., I'm so sorry to learn that you have not been feeling well.  I sure hope that "years worth" of antibiotics do the trick.  Boy, that sure seems like an anwful lot of antibiotics.  I would be afraid that I'd become immune to them., however, This is where we have to trust the doctors I guess.

Francy Lou., welcome to the wonderful world of turning 60!!...haha.,..."been there....done that"...LOL

Jeanne:  Those are lovely welcome banners and birthday banners you have here...so colorful.

Janet:  Oh how we would have loved having you with us on the trip to Calgary!  When I looked at the back seat piled high with "stuff"., I recall saying to Pat., "now where would we have put Janet?"...haha... well, Janet, we certainly would have cleared a space for you.  We had a roof-top carrier, (no we wouldn't have put YOU there....haha).

How is daughter, Beth, Janet?  I'm still praying for her.

I hope Beverly pops in soon.  She had sinus trouble when she was away in Calgary, and felt quite miserable with it.  I'm anxious to hear how she is feeling now.

Marilyn:  I'm praying that the Lord supplies you with a dryer.  Let us know is you were able to purchase the one you mentioned in your earlier post.

Oh Etta Sue., I just have to tell you this.  Several years ago, my Mom gave me  a pair of those Scottie magnets that you have.  Like yours, they got wrapped up, and are nowhere to be found.  Boy, I'd sure like to find them too.  They are so special.  I'm so glad you found yours!

Now, where has Mieka gone??

Yes...I'd like to second that question!  I haven't seen her on for a while!

I think it would be great fun to meet in person - folks from CP!