Christian Photographers Community

Link of the day...[/font]

• Moody Broadcasting Network This is the site Larry was telling us about where we can listen to Christmas music!  

• Creation Moment Listen to the Creation Moment every day for a new creation moment!  We can learn a lot from these!  Terrific if you are home schooling. Have you clicked on this link lately?

Verse for Today...[/font]

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."[/color]
~Phillipians 4:13~   [/list]


Quote of the Day...[/font]

 "One Almighty is more than all mighties."
~William Gurnall~[/list]  


Some News We Should Know About...

• New Trade Center tower design unveiled: Dueling architects reach creative compromise
  NEW YORK - After months of debating the size and shape of the tower that will rise at the World Trade Center site, two world-renowned architects on Friday announced a compromise design for what could be the world's tallest building.

• Photo Moment: Garlic-Fried Crickets a National Delicacy?[/b]    

From our forums...

• Let's Get Started Making a Web Page!  We're sure that many of you would like to post your own photos!  Well, join Jeanne and Sonja and learn how you can do it.

• Monthly Photo Challenge~SIGNS OF THE SEASON[/b] During the month of December, show us how you decorate your house, your town, etc. for the Christmas season!

• December 1st Bi-Weekly Challenge~AROUND YOUR TOWN  

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Morning Devotional...


[td]WALKING IN THE OLD PATHS
Jeremiah 6:16
By the late Jack Scott



How Great a Sinner Are You? [/td]
[td] [/td] [/table]


Although it occurred about thirty-six years ago, not long after I first arrived from Ireland, I remember the conversation as if it happened yesterday. I had been "volunteered" to be a part of an evangelistic team whose task it was to visit every home in Toronto with the message of the Gospel. We were representing first and foremost the blessed Lord Jesus Christ, and secondly Jarvis Street Baptist Church, a well known historic evangelical church near the city centre.

I had made several calls that evening but only one stands out in my memory. The house was an older well kept, ivy covered brick home in a respectable and affluent area of the city.

The man who opened the door in response to my knock was well groomed and very polite. He had the kind of confidence which is born of success. I introduced myself and explained the purpose of my visit. He smiled indulgently,

"My dear fellow", he said, "This is a respectable neighbourhood. We are all good people around here."

He paused for a moment and then went on. "I'm quite religious and I'm not really a great sinner. The message you have is for great sinners."

For a second or two, I prayed quietly. "How shall I answer this man?" I felt a little intimidated for a moment, but I composed myself quickly.

"Sir," I said, "If a man broke the greatest of all of God's commandments, would that make him a great sinner?"

He looked a little puzzled and then the air of confidence returned. "Yes, I'd say so." He replied. "But I'd never do anything like that."

I quickly opened my New Testament at Matthew 22 and requested him to read aloud verses 35 to 40 inclusive.

He took my New Testament and began reading with a look that said, "Oh, I'll indulge him for a few minutes."

He read the words clearly...at first:

"Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."

By the time he got to verse thirty-eight, his look of confidence had begun to ebb and so had the colour in his cheeks.

When he finished reading, his eyes were toward the paved door step.

"No one keeps those commandments", he almost whispered.

"That is true." I replied. I then went on to quote Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God."

The man nodded his agreement. The Holy Spirit was working through the Word of God convicting him of sin. He listened receptively as I related to him the story of redeeming Grace and of the Saviour who bore the penalty of sin on Calvary. I rejoiced that the good news is that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ alone.

R. A. Torrey, a famous American preacher of a bygone era, when he was in Australia, was approached by a man who looked like a boxer. He said to Torrey, "I am not a Christian, but I am moral, upright, honorable and blameless, and I'd like to know what you have against me."

Mr. Torrey looked the man straight in the eye and replied, "I charge you, sir, with high treason against Heaven's King!"

God's great commandment is that we love Him with all our heart with all our soul and with all our mind. To disobey this great commandment is indeed high treason against the King Eternal. Since Adam transgressed in the garden of Eden no one except the Man Christ Jesus, who is God manifest in the flesh, has kept this the greatest of all commandments. Since we have broken such a weighty commandment as this we have absolutely no hope of earning salvation by our good works.

As we read in Titus 3:5, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us." And in Romans 3:20, "Therefore, by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight: for by the Law is the knowledge of sin."

No, there is no justification by good works or keeping the law, but there is justification through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. In Romans 5:1, we read these tremendous words, "Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ."

My wife sometimes sings an old hymn which declares the divine principle of salvation by grace alone. Do you agree in your heart with the words it proclaims?



When we have entered into a living union with Christ, through faith in His precious blood, the shackles of sin are broken and we are enabled to do the works which please God, not in order to earn eternal live but because we now have it abundantly.

The Apostle John in his first epistle explained, "These things have I written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life." (I John 5:13).

The Lord Jesus Christ himself said: "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: and the good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep." (John 10:10 & 11).

Are you working for that which you can never earn, or are you trusting in what Christ has accomplished for sinners?

Posting this again in case Darryl didn't see it...

I get to be first again!  It is 11:48 PM and we just got home from the party.  We had such a good time, very congenial group.  We ate and visited and laughed and talked and had a good time of praising the Lord together.  It brought back bittersweet memories of our time in our old church before our beloved pastor died.

Anyway, just came to shut down for the night, will come back in the morning to read the devotional and talk to you some more.

P.S.  Everyone said the chili was very good!

Got my sleeping TAS picture made.  Would have liked to shoot a couple more, but he turned over and about brought the tree down upon himself.  He's still asleep, though.

I think I will go to bed.  I'm sitting here barefooted, so my feet are like ice cubes.  Hehehehe, wonder if Bernard will notice.

nite ntie

WELCOME DARRYL COX TO CP
RIA

Thankyou Pat for sharing Jack's words this morning.  They do speak to me especially as I have been thinking on the "Power of the Blood"., and in view of the tragic happenings across the road from me yesterday..I did post in Prayers.
I am going to study the verses which Jack used for his door-to-door ministry as I pray for my neighbours. I love this hymn...the words are wonderful for me.  I had a picture of you going round the hosue singing it and I visualised you in the kitchen cooking the dinner,so happily singing hymns. Thank-God for your happy memories this Christmas-time dear sister. You do know your husband is with Jesus and that you will meet again.........
                 "In the Sweet Bye and Bye"

Ria I do pray for you, re your eyes.  Have a good rest this weekend dear.  Get well soon. Love You.  

Blessings to all who come this way today.
Jesus knows your heart and He will help you.
All is not lost.
Love Jenny.

Must apologise for my tardiness in visiting all you fine friends here in C.P.

Norm has been quite ill the last few days., and I just didn't have the "gumption" to do anything around here, much less post.

I'm concerned with all the work Christmas entails...hope that my family will come early enough to lend a hand., also I hope they understand why there are no Christmas decorations up.  Norm wasn't well enugh to get the various boxes from the basement, ...and I sure couldn't cary them up.

We do have a wreath on the door, and one on the brick wall at the front of the house.

This is the first Christmas I haven't decorated....perhaps next year.....we'll see.

- Judy .

Thanks for the note to visit Moody music, I believe Larry mentioned the site.  It is really nice.

Karmat:  There was a year that I put the Christmas tree inside a playpen - a certain toddler wouldn't stay away.

Pat:  I always love to read Jack's messages.  How on earth did he ever have the bravado to go door-to-door?  I could never do so as I am much more a listener than a talker and I hope that is all I am called to do in this world.  

Judy:  Decorations are not what Christmas need be about so don't feel discouraged at all - sometimes, the season needs to be a little bare so we all remember what we are to worship.  We have had all kinds of Christmas times - once with a new baby and three very small children, I actually cooked a processed turkey and very little else.  Once, out of work and things were pretty bare & ugly tree sat on a table.  Once, most of the time was spent visiting at the hospital.  All in all, if I make it to Christmas Eve service, everything else dissapears and it is always wonderful.  I know that everyone will only be seeing you and Norm and happy to be with you.

Carol

Hi everyone. It's been a while since I have had an chance to post anything on CP due to busy schedules just before Christmas. But That doesn't mean that I didn't think about you folks. I have been running hard as well as training, with everyone wanting everything done at the end of the year. this past week I was in Wisconsin and went through snow everyday of the trip as well as freezen rain an sleet on a couple of days. But God was at the wheel and I rode as his co pilot and we had another successful trip. I'm only home today and will be back on the road tomorrow to Tennessee for Tuesday delivery and hurry back for Christmas. Have many things to do today but will check in tonite when I relax to read some of your postings.
Merry Christmas and God Bless.

Bonesy, how nice to hear from you again!  May God continue to keep you safe out on the highways, and Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Judy Mc., I'm sure that whoever is coming to your house is coming to see you and Norm, not decorations!  So relax and don't be concerned about all the "trimmings," God knows your heart.  Bless you, dear.

Carol, I have experienced many kinds of Christmases, too, but the reason for the season always remains constant, doesn't HE?

Pat, I love that devotion from dear Jack, good to read it again and be reminded that no matter how "together" someone may appear, if he or she doesn't have the Lord in their heart and life, they have emptiness inside.

WELCOME TO CP, DARRYL COX!!

I feel so refreshed after last night's good time of prayer and praise with friends.  My, how we all miss our church where  we all felt like family and had such wonderful times of prayer and praise at every service!  I guess we need to do as Lee said the other day, and band together and form a new church.  We are all going to different churches now.  And no one is satisfied where they are going.

My coffee is ready, so I'm going to get a cup, then look at the photos!

Pat~Awesome devotion!  I like all the verses that Jack listed.  I will write them all down and hopefully remember them.  

A friend of mine told me that she thinks that as long as she does what is right and doesn't sin then everyone will go to heaven.  I had no idea what to tell her so I just listened to her.  I now know what to say to her.  Thank you!  Please pray that I will be able to help her become a Christian or I should say that God will work through me. She just might buy the book "the purpose driven life" so we can study together.  I pray that she will buy it.  

Janet~You were out late.    It is nice to hear you had a great time.  BTW~Great pictures of the noodles. mmmm...looks so good.  What are your plans for the day?

Jenny~I missed you yesterday.  Glad to see you posting.  I visualized Pat doing the same thing.  How are you doing today?

Karma~I just love that picture of Tas.  He is so cute.  How did you get him to go to sleep by the tree.

Judy~We forgive you, just don't let it happen again.  
I will be praying for you to get well.  Hope you have a great day.

Carol~Christmas tree inside a playpen....hahahahaha...hehehehe...that is so funny, good idea, but funny.  I'll be thinking of you everytime my tot gets into the tree.   Have a blessed day, sister.

Hi Bonesy!  I am glad to hear that God is driving with you.  He has also been driving with my dad as he goes through the snow and ice.  Praise God!

Hi Ria! How are you today!?  Are your eyes doing better?  I am still praying for you.  Love you, sister! Thanks for the link to the baby princess. She is a cutey.

My Agenda for the day:

1) Go shopping with Zachery.  Yipeee!!!
<soni jumps up and down with excited>

2) Go to Perkins with the better half (hubby).
<soni realizes she better do alot more jumping to keep weight off from going to Perkins>

3) Spend special time with the girls.  Maybe color or go for a walk if it is nice.

Not sure what my hubby has planned.  I am off to get ready while everyone is sleeping.

Hope you all have a good day!

Soni

GOOD AFTERNOON  16.35PM

PAT THank you for the devotional writen by your dear husband Jack.

This morning i have put salve in my eyes and in my left eye i have get a pain terrible.
We have called a doctor in the weekends we must go to the hospital.
In the week our own doctor has surgery in his own home.
Now the doctor in the hospital tas taken a control to my eyelens now i may not more put salve in my eyes
this weekend a patch with something cools for my left eye. and monday back to my own doctor.
We just are coming home. Tomorrow i write not
maybe i take a look with one eye.

BUT I WISH YOU ALL A BLESSED WEEKEND and i hope till MONDAY

BYE I LOVE YOU ALL
GOD BLESS YOU ALL

This is such a busy time of the year. Thanks for the great comments and the devotionals.

Y'all have a wonderful day. Ria, please take care. I've had many eye problems, and certainly understand how difficult it is to function with eyes that aren't working correctly. We'll pray with you for healing.

Jenny, I'll check the prayer forum for a description of yesterday.

Goodness - I certainly hope Norm improves!

Y'all have a wonderful day.

Ruth Ann

Welcome    DARRYL COX     to  CP.     I know

you will enjoy it here.



God Bless

Ruthie

Ria, I hope and pray that your eye gets better.  That can be so discouraging.

Last year, we bought a little bitty fiber optic tree and put it up in the corner on a card table.  TAS could look but not touch.  This year, we put it down lower where he can see it.  We turned it on and the colors started shining.  He walked over adn tried to blow them out!


I was thinking last night of all the things God has blessed me with.  One of them is a wonderful husband.  He always goes out of his way to make me feel special and loved.  It's the little things he does --  gets up with TAS so I can sleep a few more minutes (in theory any way), doing the laundry, takes me shopping, helps me set up my pictures, takes me riding around to take pictures, etc. etc.  He is truly awesome.

I challenge each of you ladies to post at least one thing your husband does (or did) that is/was totally special to you.  Brag on him a bit.    Once you start, you may be surprised how much you can come up with!

Good Morning Pat thanks for Jack's wonderful writings again.  

Jenny I missed you yesterday.

Ria I am praying for your eyes.

I am doing both jobs today and I will try to find out how Al and Marbeth are making out. Maybe I can call  the real estate agent.

must go check prayers.
TTYL

[shadow=black, right]DARRYL COX[/shadow]

Thank you Pat  for that favourite verse.....


I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO

STRENGTHENS ME.       Phil. 4:13


God Bless


Ruthie

Glad you enjoyed that verse, Ruthie!  I remember in High School at Earl Haig, we had those I.S.C.F. meetings and I always asked for number 160 in the hymn book!  The chorus of that hymn is Philippians 4:13 and that was my favorite verse.

Thank you Pat for that devotional by Jack....   Because it is one of my favourite subjects  evangelism,   I will read it again and comment.    I agree with Jack totally and will be very happy to post about it later today when I get back from Keswick.  


Love Ruthie

Sorry for not responding to everyone but my neck and right arm is giving me fits.  Just like it was a few weeks ago but a lot worse.  Kept me awake some last night.  I know it is something to do with the way I sit and work at this computer.  Sharp pains like a hot knife stabbing my arm and then it feels like it is being twisted.  Really painful.  The last time it took rest and time away from the computer.....so!!!!!!

My step-grandson came last evening and we ordered parts for my new computer....should be up and running in, say a couple of weeks.  Scary to me in all that I would like to have on the new one that I already have on the old one.

Jerry's son still isn't here.  Hopefully tomorrow after church!~!!!!!

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"Families are like fudge...mostly sweet, with a few nuts!!!"


HAVE A GREAT DAY!!!

Hi Karmat.... I'm so glad you have an awesome husband.    That's what all good women should have.   Enjoy!


Love Ruthie

Merry CHRISTmas Everyone!!!

Amen, and Amen !!

That was a beautiful story from Jack.
Pat, just think of the multitude of fruit that is being born every day from the word of God that Jack had sown, even to this day, and by God's Grace will continue on.

Thank you for your work in the Lord. May the Lord bless you and keep you, and may that beautiful Hymn continue in your heart.

"Thy work alone, my Saviour,
Can ease this weight of sin;
Thy blood alone, O Lamb of God,
Can give me peace within"

Tom

A SPIRIT OF FORGIVENESS

A terrible malady is paralyzing America's families, a malady I believe is at the root of every problem which destroys families today.

Though it is known as a "Christian nation," America now holds the record for the most divorces...abortions...run-away children. Our cities are wracked with violent crime. Metal detectors are standard equipment in schools.

The name of the horrible malady is "unforgiveness." It is Satan's greatest tool to blind Christians and the world to the glory of what Jesus accomplished on the cross.

The good news is this: Just as unforgiveness has incredible power to steal and kill, the power of forgiveness is remarkable!

"See to it that...no root of bitterness springing up, causes trouble, and by it many be defiled." (Hebrews 12:15, NASV)

Are you a victim of spiritual root rot? Let me give you some sure ways to recognize bitterness, and some practical steps to deal with it. There are ten sure signals of unforgiveness. The bitter person will be:


Barren - Lack of concern for others; consumed with self-pity; preoccupied with self.

Biased - Super-sensitive; touchy; paranoid and fearful.

Brief - Have few friends; too busy for close relationships.

Brittle - Afraid to meet new people; inflexible; fear rejection.

Blind - Show little or no gratitude; negative; no joy.

Bigoted - Harshly critical; dogmatic and extreme.

Brutal - Holds grudges for long periods of time.

Base - Stubborn; sulky.

Bleak - Gloomy and cold; distant.

Bizarre - Severe mood swings; no sense of stability.
How can we overcome unforgiveness?

"He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (II Corinthians 5:21, NASV) God charged your account to Jesus and credited His righteousness to you.

Our blessed Lord whose birth we celebrate said: "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10:10) It is not His will that we live in spiritual poverty.

Realize that forgiveness is not for the benefit of the individual who hurt you, so much as it is for your benefit. And, unforgiveness will harm you more than the individual who offended you.

If you are holding a grudge against anyone, for any reason, please pray with me:


Dear Father,
Thank You for forgiving me of my sins. Thank You for the cross. Thank You for the empty tomb. Thank You for Jesus.

Please help me to remember that my battle is not with other people; it is with spiritual forces that are in rebellion against You.

I know that I will be disappointed, even hurt, from time to time. Help me to see those situations through Your eyes, and to learn from them. Please help me to forgive others as Jesus forgave me.

Right now, I ask You to bring to my mind the names of individuals against whom I am harboring a grudge. Help me to respond to those hurts in a way that honors You and leads to true restoration. Father, in the name of Jesus, and by His power, I choose to forgive those people, and I ask you to bless them. Remove the root of bitterness I have allowed to grow in my heart. Bring healing and liberty. In Jesus' name, Amen.

If this devotion is a blessing to you, please forward this to a friend or family member.  

Janet

Thanks for that Janet...meaningful.  I had just sent my new e mail address onto someone I have problems with., she must also have problems with me as she isn't a Christian and the onus is on me therefore...hard though it be. Your posting was a confirmation in Spirit... Thank-You Jesus.

Jenny X

Subj: Insight for Leaders  
Date: 12/20/03 5:09:45 AM GMT Standard Time
From: lmi@flash.net
To: tozer@litmin.com
Sent from the Internet (Details)



December 20    

Trials and Pain: The Ministry of the Night

For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping may
endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.  
--Psalm 30:5

But there is a limit to man's ability to live without joy. Even
Christ could endure the cross only because of the joy set before
Him. The strongest steel breaks if kept too long under unrelieved
tension. God knows exactly how much pressure each one of us can
take. He knows how long we can endure the night, so He gives the
soul relief, first by welcome glimpses of the morning star and then
by the fuller light that harbingers the morning.

Slowly you will discover God's love in your suffering. Your heart
will begin to approve the whole thing. You will learn from yourself
what all the schools in the world could not teach you-the healing
action of faith without supporting pleasure. You will feel and
understand the ministry of the night; its power to purify, to
detach, to humble, to destroy the fear of death and, what is more
important to you at the moment, the fear of life. And you will
learn that sometimes pain can do what even joy cannot, such as
exposing the vanity of earth's trifles and filling your heart with
longing for the peace of heaven.
That Incredible Christian, pp. 122-124

"Thank You, Father, for the ministry of the night, for the lessons
of pain. But thank You, too, that we're not alone in the night.
Thank You for the morning star and the glimpse of the light of
morning. Amen."

May I say a word of warning,   all of you folks who post your adresses and itinerary on this board are forgetting that outsiders can read this, they will know when your home is empty and also when your kids are alone!
Please be more careful, some people just need a few suchlike details to steal your identity and order goods in your name or worse!
I dont want to be alarmist but do be sensible not careless.
Your's in love Chris.

Hi everyone.  Great devotional thoughts in todays postings.  

Chris, that is good advice indeed.  

Ria, sorry that you eyes seem to be no better and hopefully what the new doctor suggested will have helped a lot by Monday.

Welcome Darryl to the CP site.  We will be looking forward to your photos using that new camera.

Etta Sue, thanks for permission to use your graphics.  I am planning on using your Christmas Tree graphic on the SeniorNet Book Exchange heading for a few days as think it is outstanding.  Hope you have a great time with Jerry's family and that your arm and shoulder starts feeling better very quickly.

Pat, I liked your quote of the day:

QuoteQuote of the Day...

 "One Almighty is more than all mighties."
~William Gurnall~

Judy, as all the others have advised, please don't spend a moment in concern on lack of decoration for the season.  I am sure your family is much more concerned about you and your husband than they are about how your house is decorated.  Sure pray the new year will bring medical improvement for Norm and that you will stay well.

I went to coffee this morning at the Cafe but had to leave early as had told our neighbor that I would meet with the group at the entrance of our subdivision as the landscaper was to be there.  One of the neighbors, who live in the house at the entrance has been creating a terrible scene in insisting that we have no right to take care of her side of the entrance.  We have checked with a lawyer and the police and county officials and we do so today was to be the showdown.  I think they were out of town.  I got out of my car there but didn't stay as it was much too cold for me to be outside.  My cardiologist just yesterday told me to avoid being in the cold weather so I just came on home.  The entrance work was done and it looks very nice.  A little bit latter I went to the YMCA and started my daily walking program.  Each 5 laps of the gym there is 1/3 of a mile so I walked 5 laps and then rested for 5 minutes and repeated that two more times to get in a mile of walking.  The doctor would like for me to do that everyday so I am going to try to do so.  It is a nice place to walk out of the weather and nice and flat.

Hope everyone has a good day.