Christian Photographers Community

Morning Devotional...


About Prayer

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."


Under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul here gives us instruction about successful prayer.  He tells us we need three things in prayer.  They are prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving.  What does he mean? 

The word translated "prayer" here is the word from which we get prostration - being on one's face before God.  The word translated "supplication" just means making one's needs or desires known.  So - successful prayer is first of all worshipful prayer, prayer that doesn't boast of self worth, but instead boasts of God's unlimited worth.  It doesn't say to God, "God, I want," but it says, "O God, You're wonderful! I'm unworthy, and I'll praise You no matter what Your answer may be."  Simply put, worshipful prayer doesn't say, "God," but it says "O God."

Then comes the requests.  We're told that successful prayer makes its needs and desires known to God.  Of course He already knows them.  He's the One Who's really made them known  to us. He gives us tasks to perform, duties to fulfill, etc., and we simply agree with Him.  So far, then, we're saying to Him, "O God, I want to serve You, and I need strength, wisdom, and other resources to do it.  Oh grant me these things that I may do what You want me to do!"

According to the apostle the last thing we need for successful prayer is thanksgiving.  Notice that this is open-ended - it's not thanksgiving because we presume we're going to get what we want, but it's just thanksgiving - being thankful that He is our God and because we know He will supply us according to His riches in Christ Jesus.  It's being thankful to Him for the answser He gives - His answer - which is always best and always good.

Dear ones - let's be much in prayer!

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Al Moak

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hello all!

hmmm, I wonder if these "up past midnight" nights could be why I'm tired the next morning?  ya reckon??

Have a good night, morning, afternoon (whatever it is when you see this) and I'll "see" you later.

karmat

My goodness, Karma!  You are an early bird!  (Late bird, actually.)  You better start getting more sleep, sweetie---you and the family need you to be rested!  Bless you.

I'm up way early again---not 6, not 5:15---today it was 4:20!!!   :o  How long will it take to get straightened out again?  We are going the wrong way here!

After I take Beth for her MRI today, I am going to make an attempt to get some things under that poor, bare Christmas tree!  I tried last night to call my youngest daughter and my son, so I would have some idea when to plan our family get-together----no answer from either one.  So I left messages, and hope I get called back.

My sister is driving Mom to Garden for her lens implant today, so that means I get to stay in town for a change. 

I haven't sent out a single Christmas Card---maybe I will do Valentines instead. :-[  I doubt anyone will miss much a card from me...........but I do want to do a letter soon.  I, too, enjoy the Christmas letters.  I do not agree with those who call them "brag letters" because I like hearing what loved ones and friends have been doing during the past year.  Several in our family send those letters, and I read every word!

If I were more computer savvy, I would use my own photos and make my own cards.  I never know quite enough---just enough to get me into trouble!

Ummmm..........this coffee is delicious!  Thanks to whoever made it, and I snagged a chocolate chip raisin cookie to go with it, too.

See you all later!

Hey I just lost the longest post I have ever written. Well needless to say I can't remember what I wrote. so I won't try to repeat myself.

I will say  to Bro. Al for the wonderful devotion on prayer.

Pat, RuthAnn and Larry I hope you are all feeling much better.

TBear I too love Teddy bears and have lots of stuffed animals in my home. I love your little graphics.

PapaJohn my thoughts and prayers are with your family during this time.

Janet, I have only wrapped 1 Gift and that is for my Secret Pal because we have to take those to church this coming Sunday. I have only sent out about 6 cards and sent e-cards to those in my email address book.

Gilbert is moving his shop into my shed for the next couple of months, Finances are very tight for the kids right now. He will help with the Electric bill because he will be running his Kiln on my 220. He also said he would help me to look for a place because he wants to run his shop out of wherever I move to. That would help both of us. He wouldn't have to pay so much to rent a shop and he would be giving me some extra $$$ to help me. So we would both profit.

Got to go now TTYL

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Hello everyone!  Have a great day!

Hello Everyone!
Running off to pick up my kindergarden kids from school soon (I do daycare in my home) but thought I would come check in here first.  Loved the devotion on Prayer.  Have a great day everyone, talk to you soon!!
Carrie

My day started with a phone call from Karen....TBear.  It seems her provider doesn't like cold weather.  Just thought of something.  Bears hibernate.  Maybe her ISP is hibernating because she is TBear.... Anyway, it seems when it is cold, her ISP won't let her get online.  She will be back when she gets it straightened out.  It was great talking to her again!!

Then it was breakfast and then I took some letters to the mailbox.  Ivalou was in her living room so I visited with her for awhile.  Her phone rang and I came on home.  I have my Bible reading done and now here I am.  Seems I have gotten lots of emails to answer and Jerry is having a hard time reinstalling MSN Messenger.  Trying to help him while we are both online. 

So happy to hear that Larry is doing well.  Sorry about Pat, Beth and Ruth Ann feeling ill.  Janet and Karma seems to have their candles burning at both ends.  Marilyn is house hunting and check hunting.  But all of you seem well....at least, not in the hospital.  Papa John is making his adjustments without Walker near by.

Tonight I am going to our local Lion's Club Christmas Dinner.  I am an associate member...my husband was a member so I am invited to functions but I don't have voting rights.  Also I don't have to pay dues!  It will be fun.  Kaye Don, Barb, Ivalou and I are going.  So I had better run......

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"In my father's house are many mansions....I hope yours is next to mine!"

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Hello all!  Still cold here in WNC (or at least I assume it is, we still have snow on the ground behind the house, but that is not always the best indicator).  I haven't been out, yet, to see.

I just had a thought.  The week after Christmas is usually pretty slow around here, so, instead of Christmas cards, I may send out New Year's cards.  Sortof a Year in Review at the Shuford house type thingy.

If I don't make it, I'll just join Janet at Valentine's day.  Of course that is right near my delivery date, so perhaps they will be birth announcements.  Kinda like the ones I never sent to announce Travis's birth.  Hmmm, Easter?  Fourth of July?  I love being able to procrastinate in advance.  It saves so much time!!

Well, I spent the better part of the morning straightening Trav's room, and I hear it coming apart now, so I had better go check.

Take care all!!

karmat

Howdeee!

Lots of things going on at my house.  I just got another photoshoot set up for the 23rd of December with 2 adults and a 5 month old.  How fun is that.

I better get going..the boys want to get some crickets for the reptiles.

December 16   

Trials and Pain: He Puts Me Flat Down

Now it came to pass at the end of seven days that the word of the Lord
came to me, saying, "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the
house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them
warning from Me." Ezekiel 3:16-17

I once heard a brother preach on the fact that the church should be
without spot or wrinkle. To get the wrinkles out of a sack, he said,
you fill it. To get a wrinkle out of a rug, you lay it down and walk
on it. God sometimes fills us, the preacher continued, but sometimes
He just puts us flat down so that everyone can walk on us!

King David long ago knew something of the latter method. He wrote,
"The plowers plowed upon my back: they made long their furrows"
(Psalm 129:3). I think David was talking about his enemies. And they
must have been wearing hobnail boots!

Ezekiel had just come to this kind of a low-ebbed, humbling
experience when God opened the heavens. In effect, God put His hand
on him and said, "Now I can use you. I have some words and some
plans that I want you to pass onto your country-men." 
Men Who Met God, pp. 117-118

"Lord, whether You fill me or 'put me flat down,' I want to be fit
to be Your servant. Use Your best methods on me today, Father, as I
submit myself for Your use and Your glory. Amen."

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WHERE is everyone today?

I've been out most of the day and was so looking forward to being able to read lots of messages but alas, only TWELVE!!!!

Hope we all post this evening.

Pat, with only a few days left before Christmas, I expect everyone is out doing stuff! (Just like you were!)  I got so sleepy I had to take a nap this afternoon.  I hope I can sleep a bit longer in the morning.

My daughter Diane called me to read me Abby's Christmas want list.  Along with some dolls and related things, she had written "Grandma to come and stay 10 days and 10 nights."  How sweet is that??   It has given me a warm fuzzy feeling all afternoon!  Curtis will be home Saturday night, I can't wait to see him and get some of those great hugs!!  Mark has been giving me some when I see him, too.

I got my framing almost caught up, now I need to get busy and wrap a few gifts.  I have some boxes and paper stored upstairs.

I did work on my photos a bit last night, will have some ready to post before too long.

Hi everyone.  I have had a good day today and think the anesthetic has cleared my system as I haven't felt the tiredness of the Tuesday evening and yesterday.  I went to coffee at the cafe this morning and then to Calvin Cove this afternoon.  I did rest an hour or so this afternoon but am feeling good tonight.  I wish all surgeries could go so easily. 

Tbear, with regard to your graphics, do you use Picasa that is available free from Google?  It is a nice program that lets you scan through all of your photos and graphics.  Picasa supports several file types, including JPEG (.jpg), TIFF (.tif), bitmap (.bmp), GIF (.gif), Adobe Photoshop (.psd), and movies (.AVI, .MPG, .ASF, .WMV). Tip Through an Options setting, you can select the file types you want to import into Picasa.  You talked about organizing them and know that can be a job if you have to lead each individually.

Al, thanks for the fine devotional this morning.

Sonja, happy to hear of your new photo assignment.  It sounds like you all have a very high energy household.  Hope Zachery enjoyed his birthday celebration. 

Karmat, I expect it was pretty cold up your way as it sure was down here.  They say we may have some snow here on Sunday as a cold wave is headed this way from up north.  Don't suppose I can ask you all to keep the cold and snow up north?   

Todd and Cirrus, welcome to CP.

Happy Birthday Bamabelle.

Etta Sue, know you will enjoy your Christmas Dinner at the Lion's Club.  My dad was a member for about 40 years and I remember they had special events like you are attending.  Hope you and Jerry were able to get the IM to work.

Marilyn, that sounds like a good plan that will benefit both you and Gilbert.  It should have an added advantage of allowing you to see your son more often.

Janet, I am sure you wouldn't have any problem in making your own cards.  We make all of our own get well and sympathy cards using the American Greetings program.  When my mother was living I wrote to her once a week and started using my own scanned photos of relatives and things sthat she might remember.  It was very easy to do.  We don't make our own Christmas Cards but did include a couple of pictures of our great grandchildren in the body of our Christmas letter.  Hope you will be able to sleep a little later tomorrow. 

Pat, hope you are feeling better.  Also hope that Ruth Ann and anyone else who isn't feeling well is doing better.

Carrie, Chris, Nards and those stopping by later today a special hello.

WHOEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

Please rejoice with me -- I do NOT have glaucoma!!!

Prescription for improving vision is to go buy the "refresh" tears and use 2 drops every 2 hours while working at the computer. I certainly can do that!

Praise the Lord for His wonderful goodness to such an unworthy person as me.

Ruth Ann

I received this in an e-mail today and wanted to share it with my CP friends.

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Ruth Ann, that is indeed wonderful news.  I rejoice with you.

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QuoteI love being able to procrastinate in advance.  It saves so much time!!

Karmat, I'm still chuckling.  I love the concept!

RuthAnn, no Glaucoma is fantastic news!

Larry, I would like to copy the Christmas version of First Corintians 13 and pass it on if I may.

Happy Birthday Bamabelle.
Welcome to all of the New Members and guests who stop by.
Hello to everyone else.

Now, I must turn off the computer, and get some baking and card writing and wrapping done.  I have my shopping done, but still feel very much behind time-wise.  Have a great night everyone.

Hello everyone.  We've had a busy week coming home, but things I think are returning a little to normal.  We left Sunday afternoon from Minsk, but when we arrived in Warsaw, Poland to catch our flight to Chicago, they said that the flight was not running at that time.  They then put us up in a nice hotel, gave us vouchers for the restaurant, and we spent the night there.  Then we left Monday afternoon and flew into Nashville at 6:45pm.  Of course when we were rushing to make our plane change in Chicago, we got the wonderful SSSS on our ticket meaning we were all chosen for the wonderful extra screenings and friskings and explorings in our baggage, etc...  They even did Noel (our 5 year old).  Oh well, I guess it is what you have to do. 

We actually arrived home about 10pm Monday night.  Knocked on the door, and Granddaddy opened it with a big, "What are you all doing here!!!"  Granny came out and her jaw was dropped to the floor.  It was a good reunion with our family as well as with Walmart, Taco Bell, Arby's, and other places around town.  We are still jet-lagging quite a bit, as it is 7:42pm and I'm ready to hit the sack. 

I did get my new Pentax *ist-DS, with an 18-55mm lens and the next day, my 80-300mm Sigma lens came in the mail.  Woohooo, I love this camera, I've taken over 600 shots with it just playing around in 2 days.  I also had to upgrade my Mother-in-law's computer.  She only had a 2gb hard drive and 60mb of ram.  The hard drive had only 244mb free.  There was also no USB port to upload pictures to.  So off we went shopping.  I have upgraded her computer to a pentium 3200, 160gb hard drive, 512mb ram, DVD burner, CDRW, and all the other bells and whistles...  Have been working the past day trying to get it all up and running.  It is doing pretty good.  Tomorrow the DSL modem gets here and she goes high speed. 

I'll try to post some pics from the new camera soon.  Let me just say it is really fun to use the DSLR, little to no shutter lag, able to take multiple pictures almost instantaneously, better control on zoom and other things.  I love it.

Well, enough rambling, time to rest.

Larry ~ I finally just dropped netpass as they did the same thing to me on hotmail, but that was no great lose. I rejoined netpass and used a different e-mail address and password. I just have to put everything back in my MSN IM again. It is fixed that way.

Got an email from the daughter that we've been praying for.  She was bursting with joy, telling us how God is providing for all of their needs.  This has all taken place since she decided to trust God and tithe her income.

She mentioned how the bills are always paid and how she is even ahead on some of them (she always was a penny-pincher and a good saver.) 

My son once accused her of still having the first dollar she ever made.  His grandfather reminded him "She couldn't have it....she lent it you you."

Oh, Mike, what a journey you had!  But what a lovely surprise for your grandparents.  I just love to hear of these sorts of happenings!  Glad you're enjoying the camera and really looking forward to some photos.

Hi Jerry!

Ed, what a lovely email you received!  That's so nice.  Praise God!


I'm so happy for you too, Ruth Ann.  My mother had glaucoma and it wasn't nice for her at all.  As a result all of us get tested often.  What great news for you.

I never did get in here yesterday. Sorry about that. The funeral and everything went well. Genevieve’s three sons, and all the grandchildren were there. Two of her grandchildren I hadn’t seen before, two precious little girls, 4 and 7. After the funeral we all met at my sister’s house. Loads of good food had been brought by the church and we all enjoyed a wonderful meal together. We didn’t get back home until last night and I was exhausted. I sat in my chair and went to sleep and Cornelia had to wake me up to go to bed.

One interesting thing happened. He was placed in a mausoleum. This building has several floors. We were on an elevator going up and I think there were too many on the elevator. Anyway about half way up the elevator stuck and wouldn’t to up or down. The man in charge couldn’t open the door. Then he was successful and the door opened but we were between floors. He pushed the red alarm. Nothing happened. With a cell phone he called the office. About fifteen minutes passed and some of the passengers were beginning to get anxious. Finally we heard a whirr and a movement and up we went. The door opened and we were freed. Whew!

It is good to see everyone.  Welcome home Mike.  Ruth Ann we are happy for your good news.


--- Papa John          <)))><<   
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Hello Everyone!!
I hope everyone has had a good day.  It has been a busy one here.  My son Bailey had his Christmas Concert tonight at school.  Correction, the Winter Hoilday Concert is what they call it as not to offend others since we live in such a Multicultural country.  Which don't get me wrong I would never purposely disrespect someone, however when Christianity becomes ignored that I do have a problem with.  
Actually this year's concert was not quite as bad as last years.  (even though my son's class put on a song/skit for Kwanzai not Christmas) We actually did hear and sing some songs that weren't just about Santa Claus. Last year Christmas was only acknowledged by Jolly Old St. Nick for fear of bringing religion in and offending some.   I don't think I heard a mention of Jesus at all last year. But I think that because of some complaints, this year they were not quite as refrained where religion is concerned.  There was a class that put on a skit about the birth of Christ and sang "Away in the Manger."  Overall it was nothing in comparission to the concert the kids put on at church last Sunday.  I guess I cannot expect much more from a public school though.
So after picking up my kids from school I was rushing making dinner, rushing through dinner and giving my son a haircut and a bath before heading over to his school.  So it is has been a busy night and I am exhausted so I think I am heading off to bed now.
Good night all,
God Bless!!
Carrie

Quote from: Skief on December 16, 2004, 08:48:32 PM
Hello everyone.  We've had a busy week coming home, but things I think are returning a little to normal.  We left Sunday afternoon from Minsk, but when we arrived in Warsaw, Poland to catch our flight to Chicago, they said that the flight was not running at that time.  They then put us up in a nice hotel, gave us vouchers for the restaurant, and we spent the night there.  Then we left Monday afternoon and flew into Nashville at 6:45pm.  Of course when we were rushing to make our plane change in Chicago, we got the wonderful SSSS on our ticket meaning we were all chosen for the wonderful extra screenings and friskings and explorings in our baggage, etc...  They even did Noel (our 5 year old).  Oh well, I guess it is what you have to do. 

We actually arrived home about 10pm Monday night.  Knocked on the door, and Granddaddy opened it with a big, "What are you all doing here!!!"  Granny came out and her jaw was dropped to the floor.  It was a good reunion with our family as well as with Walmart, Taco Bell, Arby's, and other places around town.  We are still jet-lagging quite a bit, as it is 7:42pm and I'm ready to hit the sack. 

I did get my new Pentax *ist-DS, with an 18-55mm lens and the next day, my 80-300mm Sigma lens came in the mail.  Woohooo, I love this camera, I've taken over 600 shots with it just playing around in 2 days.  I also had to upgrade my Mother-in-law's computer.  She only had a 2gb hard drive and 60mb of ram.  The hard drive had only 244mb free.  There was also no USB port to upload pictures to.  So off we went shopping.  I have upgraded her computer to a pentium 3200, 160gb hard drive, 512mb ram, DVD burner, CDRW, and all the other bells and whistles...  Have been working the past day trying to get it all up and running.  It is doing pretty good.  Tomorrow the DSL modem gets here and she goes high speed. 

I'll try to post some pics from the new camera soon.  Let me just say it is really fun to use the DSLR, little to no shutter lag, able to take multiple pictures almost instantaneously, better control on zoom and other things.  I love it.

Well, enough rambling, time to rest.

Skief, glad to hear you made it home alright. My family and I are quite familiar with the SSSS. We were unaware of what it meant until we passed through security going from Honolulu to Moloka'i. Our family of four was searched. It was quite hillarious though. The Security guards were kind and they had a great sense of humor. We had to do this twice. The remarks made by the security guards were quite comical.

Congrats on the new Pentax!

Got to go everyone, tomorrow's my last day until break and I have three tests tomorrow!