Christian Photographers Community

Daily Chat => Thoughts for the Week => Topic started by: Pat on December 23, 2005, 12:35:08 AM

Title: New Every Morning~December 23
Post by: Pat on December 23, 2005, 12:35:08 AM
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"Let the year be given to God in its every moment!"
~G. Campbell Morgan~




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Morning Devotional...


Trials and Pain:
Happiness is Not the Goal

You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. 
--2 Timothy 2:3-4

That we are born to be happy is scarcely questioned by anyone. No one bothers to prove that fallen men have any moral right to happiness, or that they are in the long run any better off happy. The only question before the house is how to get the most happiness out of life. Almost all popular books and plays assume that personal happiness is the legitimate end of the dramatic human struggle.

Now I submit that the whole hectic scramble after happiness is an evil as certainly as is the scramble after money or fame or success....

How far wrong all this is will be discovered easily by the simple act of reading the New Testament through once with meditation. There he emphasis is not upon happiness but upon holiness. God is more concerned with the state of people's hearts than with the state of their feelings. Undoubtedly the will of God brings final happiness to those who obey, but the most important matter is not how happy we are but how holy. The soldier does not seek to be happy in the field; he seeks rather to get the fighting over with, to win the war and get back home to his loved ones. There he may enjoy himself to the full; but while the war is on his most pressing job is to be a good soldier, to acquit himself like a man, regardless of how he feels. 
Of God and Men, pp. 48-49

"Oh Lord, redirect my focus. Help me today to be a 'good soldier of
Jesus Christ.' Amen."

Title: Re: New Every Morning~December 23
Post by: karmat on December 23, 2005, 12:49:24 AM
Hi all!  I think we are done.  Shopping, that is.  Now to wrap it all!  ;)

congrats Jane, on #8 (if you don't know what I'm talking about, read yesterday's NEM ;) ).  I think you definitely need to take a camera along!

I am sleepy and have a busy day tomorrow, so nite nite all!
Title: Re: New Every Morning~December 23
Post by: Pat on December 23, 2005, 12:57:44 AM

Night Karma!

We need some captions folks!  CLICK HERE (http://tinyurl.com/bq8e2)


Title: Re: New Every Morning~December 23
Post by: Jane Walker on December 23, 2005, 01:26:09 AM
Thanks,Karma!   ;)  I know what you're talking about and I know, from past experiences with this scattered family, that the only way I get pictures of the grandkids (forget about the greats) is to take them myself.  ::) The next trick is to get them to stay still long enough for me to get a shot at of them.  It used to be some sort of game I think ... whenever they saw Grandma with her camera they'd disappear or start making silly faces or some other stupid activity!   >:(  Maybe a newborn will not have heard of the "tradition" of Grandma's camera.   :D

I think I will get in on the after Christmas sales to pick up a gift for li'l Ms Makayla ...  :thumbsup:  Always figuring the angles, y'know....  ;)
Title: Re: New Every Morning~December 23
Post by: Pat on December 23, 2005, 01:31:20 AM

Night Night, Jane...

Title: Re: New Every Morning~December 23
Post by: Jane Walker on December 23, 2005, 01:32:58 AM
Nite, Pat!    :cool:
Title: Re: New Every Morning~December 23
Post by: Adri on December 23, 2005, 02:34:06 AM
Thank you all for your warm welcome to the site.

You wanted to know more about me....

Pat is right, I'm from Port Elizabeth in South Africa.  My father is Vernon, he is the one teaching me how to let go and move forward, in his own fatherlike way.   :)

I have 2 sisters...Jeanette 22 and Yelanda 9. Jeanette is my father's daughter, like me, and Yelanda is my mother's daughter from her second marriage.  We love that little girl to bits and spoil her to much. I also have 2 brothers...Laurens and Arnold...they are not my real brothers, but they are my brothers as I see them as such. I love all my siblings.

At this stage of my life the most important thing is my relationship with God.  I know that for that to happen I have to make the first move as I know that He will never pressure me into doing anything....free will and all.   ^-^

I have realized through what I've read on the site and through my father and his wife that God is Good all the time.  He never left me, it was me who left His side.  But i'm slowly getting use to the fact that i can't go it alone and that He will never leave me.

Thank you all again and may your Christmas be filled with love and beauty.  May we not forget the true meaning of this special day.

<3 Adri
Title: Re: New Every Morning~December 23
Post by: Jane Walker on December 23, 2005, 03:50:10 AM
Aaahh ADRI~You understand much more than most people do.  God loves you so much more than you can imagine.  Just surrender to His gendle tugs on your heart.  As Nita has already said: Just respond ... He will take care of all the rest.  I will be praying that you come to the fullness of His truth -- for you -- He loves you so much more than you can even imagine ... Let Him take care of all the uncertainties and questions that arise in your mind ... Just let go ... He will be there to catch you in His everlasting arms of love....
Title: Re: New Every Morning~December 23
Post by: nards656 on December 23, 2005, 07:50:07 AM
Good morning, everyone! 

Welcome, Adri.  Very glad to have you on the site.

In case I don't get another chance to post, I just want to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas.  This is a very special time of year, to me.  I really hope that all of you can truly enjoy the presence of God in your life on these very special days. 

Gotta get to work now :)

Nard

Title: Re: New Every Morning~December 23
Post by: Pat on December 23, 2005, 09:18:54 AM


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It Came Upon a Midnight Clear  (http://www.christianphotographers.com/sounds/christmas/itcame.mid)
(Click to hear music)

There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby,
keeping watch over their flocks at night.
An angel of the Lord appeared to them,
and the glory of the Lord shone around them,
and they were terrified.
Luke 2:8-9


Words: Edmund H. Sears
Music: Richard S. Willis, 1850




It came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth,
To touch their harps of gold;
Peace on the earth, good will to men,
From Heaven's all gracious King.
The world in solemn stillness lay,
To hear the angels sing.


Still through the cloven skies they come
With peaceful wings unfurled,
And still their heavenly music floats
O'er all the weary world;
Above its sad and lowly plains,
They bend on hovering wing,
And ever over its Babel sounds
The blessed angels sing.


Yet with the woes of sin and strife
The world has suffered long;
Beneath the angel strain have rolled
Two thousand years of wrong;
And man, at war with man, hears not
The love-song which they bring;
O hush the noise, ye men of strife
And hear the angels sing.


And ye, beneath life's crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow,
Look now! for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing.
O rest beside the weary road,
And hear the angels sing!


For lo! the days are hastening on,
By prophet-bards foretold,
When with the ever circling years
Comes round the age of gold;
When peace shall over all the earth
Its ancient splendors fling,
And the whole world send back the song
Which now the angels sing. 



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Title: Re: New Every Morning~December 23
Post by: Pat on December 23, 2005, 09:20:53 AM

Freezing rain here in Guelph this morning!  So looks like at least for awhile, I'll be in the house.

So nice to see your post Adri! 

Hi Jane and Nards
Title: Re: New Every Morning~December 23
Post by: Larry Hanna on December 23, 2005, 09:46:03 AM
Hi everyone.  Pat, I wish I could share some of our sunshine with you.  It is suppose to get into the high 50's this afternoon.  I was hoping we would get the 70's that Janet spoke of yesterday.

Janet, it sounds like you had a perfect day for flying and a very memorable experience.  Were you a little nervous?  I think I would have been.  However, there is something very special about flying in a small plane. 

When we moved my folks from NW Missouri to where my sister lived in Northern Iowa we chartered a plane and I about paniced when it arrived and I saw what a small door it had with pulldown steps.  Believe me it wasn't easy getting my dad in the plane as he had his leg amputated and was also dealing with a terrible bed sore.  Fortunately, there were several men at the small airport that came out and helped lift him into the plane.  Mother could walk but we basically had to lift her up each step.  Needless to say it was a memorable experience.  However, it made a trip of only three hours from one nursing home to the other rather than a long and very difficult car ride. 

Adri, thanks for telling us a little about yourself.  It sounds like you have a very nice family.

Jane, know you must be excited about your upcoming trip to see your daughter in California.  Hope the weather improves out there by next week. 

Marilyn, hope you are feeling better this morning.

We had a small group at the senior center this morning but a nice time was enjoyed visiting. 

Hope everyone has a wonderful day. 
Title: Re: New Every Morning~December 23
Post by: Marilyn on December 23, 2005, 10:55:41 AM
Good Morning Oh yes I am feeling better this morning. I have just finished paying my bills online, I needed to get that done. Later I will be cleaning my house.

Not much to say just now but I will be back later.
Title: Re: New Every Morning~December 23
Post by: Etta Sue on December 23, 2005, 11:21:57 AM
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Al ~ I sure hope your prophesying abilites are wrong.  We have enough snow as it is but it is melting now.  Yesterday was the first day in December that it got above freezing.

Larry ~ So happy that you daughter-in-law's surgery was fine.  I can't believe she will be going home so soon.  Time's sure have changed since my husband had back surgery.

Janet ~ Whew!  77 degrees?  Are you sure you were in Kansas?  Maybe that plane took you south into Texas!  Tell Abby hello for me!

Marilyn ~ So glad you are feeling better and hope that Gilbert and the family comes over tomorrow night.  It isn't fun being alone on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day...but if we have to, we endure it.  A great time to meditate on why Christmas is celebrated.

Pat ~ I know Marilyn didn't intend on sending her ailments to you.  Fight it off and enjoy Christmas....even reading the Christmas story will bring joy to your heart.

Jane ~ Wow!  Eight greats!  I love Makayla's name!  Sounds Hawaiian! 
And do remember your camera, Grandma!  I must remember mine Christmas Day!

Adri ~ For someone so young, you are so wise.  So true that Christ doesn't stray from us...we are the one's going the wrong direction.  Look up to God and you will never stray!  Keep your eyes upon God.

Karma ~ I can't imagine the joy you will receive watching your two little ones on Christmas morning...it will make all the work of shopping, cleaning and cooking disappear!  Give your little ones a big hug from Grandma Etta....and that big guy around there, too!

Nards ~ Merry Christmas to you, too!  It is a special holiday for many of us....  I used to think it was because of the gifts we gave and received.  Now it is so much more.  To think that Christ was born over 2000 years ago and in our hearts, it was like yesterday.

Mieka ~ If you are looking in....God Bless you, little one!  May your Christmas Day be Merry! 

Papa John ~ I will remember if I need a bean snapper to call on you.  What a chore.  That was my job when I was little...helping Mom snap beans for canning!  Have a great Christmas Day with 29 people in your home.  God Bless You and Cornelia!

I sure hope I haven't missed anyone.  Forgive me if I have and remember you are all in my heart as we celebrate the season of Christ's birth!


{{{HUGS}}} {{{HUGS}}} {{{HUGS}}} {{{HUGS}}} {{{HUGS}}}

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Title: Re: New Every Morning~December 23
Post by: Janet on December 23, 2005, 11:28:01 AM
Good day!  It isn't nearly as warm here as it was yesterday, but still not bad.  I could hardly believe how God blessed us with such a perfect day for flying yesterday.  The plane they rented was a little four-seater, and on our little flight, I got to sit up front with Mark; Abby and Darrel in back.  There was no wind at all, and not a cloud in the sky!  God was truly smiling down on us!

I asked Mark if he could fly to NY and bring Beth home; he said she couldn't get into the plane, which is true.  I really don't think he is quite ready for that long a flight yet, anyway.

Larry, I was surprised in that I was a little nervous early in the morning, thinking about it, but when the time came, I wasn't nervous at all.  Mark was very professional in all his actions; and Darrel was impressed that he was dressed in his pilot's uniform and LOOKED professional as well.  He got a little over four hours of flight time in, which will help him along in his program.  And Dad footed the bill!  That was a nice Christmas gift to all of us.  Mark took all of their employees up, and then flew to Dodge City to take his other Grandma for a ride.  So he had a great day.

I need to go to town for a bit, but hope I will have time to post some of the photos I took from the plane later.  Always something demanding our time, isn't there?

Hi, Etta Sue!  I came back to wish you a Merry Christmas, too!  I LOVE your cute graphics.  It's fun to enjoy the efforts of others, as I don't know how to do that fancy stuff.

Papa John, thank you for putting in the Scripture yesterday that the devotional reminded me to think upon....I appreciate your posts so much.
Title: Re: New Every Morning~December 23
Post by: Marilyn on December 23, 2005, 01:14:35 PM
I can't believe the nerve of some people. I told Fay the DR had me off work for a few days (She heard two days she has selective hearing) and just awhile ago she called and wanted to know where I was.  She wanted me to come and wash a sink full of dishes and check her mailbox. At first I told her I would then I thought better of it and called her back and told her the reasons why. She got very upset with me and very angrily said well we will just have to straighten this out I am calling Bob. That is a friend of hers who does things for her when I am not available and also a few other things, but in her anger I am sure she told him a bunch of assumptions. She tends to assume a lot of untrue things. So I called him and explained what was REALLY going on.

Sorry to have dumped this on you all. I just needed to tell someone.
Title: Re: New Every Morning~December 23
Post by: Al Moak on December 23, 2005, 02:35:30 PM
Tch, tch, Marilyn - mustn't get sick.  It's against the rules.  :P

If others come on here who are more photography oriented than I am, please either go to the Introductions folder or, possibly also on here - address Steve Mc. who is a friend of mine seeking the answer to a photography question.
Title: Re: New Every Morning~December 23
Post by: nards656 on December 23, 2005, 02:46:28 PM
Quote from: Al Moak on December 23, 2005, 02:35:30 PM

If others come on here who are more photography oriented than I am, please either go to the Introductions folder or, possibly also on here - address Steve Mc. who is a friend of mine seeking the answer to a photography question.

Posted a response, Al, but he may want / need more information, so keep me advised.
Title: Re: New Every Morning~December 23
Post by: Marilyn on December 23, 2005, 03:23:19 PM
Hey Al I guess me getting well isn't in Fay's best interest. The reason I am off work is so that she won't get whatever it is I have. I told her that on Wednesday when I went and did her grocery shopping even tho' I had just come from the doctor's office.   :ticked:

She gets things so out of context and then she believes that is the way it really happened or what she really heard. and Then she tells it that way forever. This I know for a fact to be true. I have seen it in action so many times I can't count them. :uglystupid:

She's 96 and can't help it (I assume) :D
Title: Re: New Every Morning~December 23
Post by: Chris & Margit Saunders on December 23, 2005, 04:53:29 PM
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Title: Re: New Every Morning~December 23
Post by: Chris & Margit Saunders on December 23, 2005, 04:54:57 PM
Merry Christmas folks, may God bless you all with health and Godliness.
Regards Chris & Margit xx
Title: Re: New Every Morning~December 23
Post by: Janet on December 23, 2005, 05:22:29 PM
Thanks, Chris!  That is so beautiful!  And Merry Christmas to you and Margit, too!
Title: Re: New Every Morning~December 23
Post by: Larry Hanna on December 23, 2005, 05:30:00 PM
Very pretty Chris and Margit and Merry Christmas to you both and all our CP folks.

Marilyn, at 96 it is probably pretty amazing that she remembers anything.  I remember that my mother got ideas in her head, such as their neighbor spying on them.  She made dad cut up the one credit card he had as she just knew this neighbor was going to break in and steal it.  The mind does such strange things when the links aren't working correctly.

I have found the Internet to be very slow this afternoon.  It was fine most of the day until about 3 pm.  I wonder if it is just overloaded.

Title: Re: New Every Morning~December 23
Post by: Janet on December 23, 2005, 05:48:57 PM
Hi there, Larry.  My mom is 89 and she surely does get things mixed up, too.  She gets most of it, but still.......and we just have to overlook all of that.  She is really sharp, considering her age.  I think most of the problem is that she can't hear much of anything.

Marilyn, try not to get upset over Fay.  She IS 96, after all.  It's great that she can still function as well as she does.  Having said that, I do know that it can be very aggravating when they do such things, but try to work off the stress somehow and don't let it get you down.

>:( >:( >:( I have tried twice to upload some pictures to the gallery, and twice have gotten an error message that says file size exceeds the limits.  I compressed and resized them.........twice.  Phooey.
Title: Re: New Every Morning~December 23
Post by: Marilyn on December 23, 2005, 06:29:03 PM

Dear Children;

As you well know, we are getting closer to my birthday. Every year there is a celebration in my honor and I think that this year the celebration will be repeated. During this time there are many people shopping for gifts, there are many radio announcements, TV commercials, and in every part of the world everyone is talking that my birthday is getting closer and closer.

It is really very nice to know, that at least once a year, some people think of me. As you know, the celebration of my birthday began many years ago. At first people seemed to understand and be thankful of all that I did for them, but in these times, no one seems to know the reason for the celebration. Family and friends get together and have a lot of fun, but they don't know the meaning of the celebration.

I remember that last year there was a great feast in my honor. The dinner table was full of delicious foods, pastries, fruits, assorted nuts and chocolates. The decorations were exquisite and there were many, many beautifully wrapped gifts. But, do you want to know something? I wasn't invited. I was the guest of honor and they didn't remember to send me an invitation. The party was for me, but when that great day came, I was left outside, they closed the door in my face .... and I wanted to be with them and share their table.

In truth, that didn't surprise me because in the last few years all close their doors to me. Since I wasn't invited, I decided to enter the party without making any noise. I went in and stood in a corner. They were all drinking; there were some who were drunk and telling jokes and laughing at everything. They were having a grand time. To top it all, this big fat man all dressed in red wearing a long white beard entered the room yelling Ho-Ho-Ho! He seemed drunk. He sat on the sofa and all the children ran to him, saying: "Santa Claus, Santa Claus" .. as if the party were in his honor!

At 12 Midnight all the people began to hug each other; I extended my arms waiting for someone to hug me and ... do you know ... no one hugged me. Suddenly they all began to share gifts. They opened them one by one with great expectation. When all had been opened, I looked to see if, maybe, there was one for me.

What would you feel if on your birthday everybody shared gifts and you did not get one? I then understood that I was unwanted at that party and quietly left.

Every year it gets worse. People only remember to eat and drink, the gifts, the parties and nobody remembers me. I would like this Christmas that you allow me to enter into your life. I would like that you recognize the fact that almost two thousand years ago I came to this world to give my life for you, on the cross, to save you. Today, I only want that you believe this with all your heart.

I want to share something with you. As many didn't invite me to their party, I will have my own celebration, a grandiose party that no one has ever imagined, a spectacular party.

I'm still making the final arrangements. Today I am sending out many invitations and there is an invitation for you. I want to know if you wish to attend and I will make a reservation for you and write your name with golden letters in my great guest book. Only those on the guest list will be invited to the party. Those who don't answer the invite, will be left outside.

Be prepared because when all is ready you will be part of my great party.

See you soon. I Love you!

Jesus
 
Title: Re: New Every Morning~December 23
Post by: Pat on December 23, 2005, 10:24:58 PM

Janet, look at the file size in your Windows Explorer.  It will tell you the size.

In Paint Shop Pro, you open the image, then resize the DIMENSIONS to about 800 pixels wide and then go to FILE/EXPORT and keep clicking on the optiming arrow till it's around 100K

If you have a photo that is around 100K, you are fine and you won't get that message.

Title: Re: New Every Morning~December 23
Post by: Pat on December 23, 2005, 10:29:32 PM


TIME TO VOTE HERE (http://www.christianphotographers.com/community/index.php?topic=5085.0)


Title: Re: New Every Morning~December 23
Post by: Pat on December 23, 2005, 10:30:08 PM


Thanks Marilyn for that!


Title: Re: New Every Morning~December 23
Post by: Pat on December 24, 2005, 12:03:22 AM

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve!  I can hardly believe it.

CLICK HERE (http://www.christianphotographers.com/community/index.php?topic=5086.0)