Christian Photographers Community

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Morning Devotional...


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'He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of God.'
Luke 9:20

While I love nothing better than to be surrounded by my family, something I hope will be the portion for many at this time of year, I am acutely aware of those for whom this time of year holds nothing but dread. We come to the close of yet another year in our history and for some it has been the hardest year of their lives.


Some have been told the dreaded news that they are suffering from cancer. Some have suffered heart disease and their lives have changed forever. Some have watched and nursed loved ones who have suffered from strokes and are now unable to communicate with their families.

My thoughts however are much with those who have suffered the loss of a dear one in this last twelve months. Their year started out full of hope and expectation yet devastation and even despair would meet with them as the year opened up.

Mums and Dads, brothers and sisters, husbands and wives, children, aunts and uncles have now left empty place at our tables.

I wanted more than ever to be a means of encouragement to all those of my brothers and sisters in Christ who have suffered in any way this year. The only way I can do this is by talking about the one thing needful, 'The Christ of God.'

It is a time of year when much of the world - for one reason or another - has the name of our Saviour upon their lips, but I have to ask the question - What does Jesus really mean to me?

Jesus Christ is first and foremost the Lord my God. I see Him as the Creator God who created all things by the word of his power in the space of six days and all very good. He breathed life into the corpse that was to become man.

I view Him as One who is to be worshipped by all men, though few in our day bow the knee. His ways are not my ways and His thoughts are way beyond anything that I can imagine. He is supreme, He is the ultimate, He is God.

Jesus is also my Saviour. I believe with all my heart and soul that He chose a people for Himself to be saved for all eternity. He calls them His elect. I believe that I am one of them. How do I know that I am one of them?

Well there was a day when I had little or no thoughts at all about God, Heaven, Hell, life or death. God changed that! Through the workings of His Spirit I became aware of sin – my sin. I became aware that I had sinned against God and as my Judge He would have been absolutely just in sending me to a lost eternity.

His Spirit not only made me aware of my sin, but also of my need of a Saviour. My mind was enlightened in the knowledge of Jesus and why He had been born of a virgin in Bethlehem. He had been sent by God to save the world from sin. He was sent as God's sacrifice for my sin.

He paid the penalty that was due for my sin on the cross at Calvary. There God judged Jesus as if He were judging me and my sin. There I believe Jesus Christ the Son of God died for me and for my sins. It is here that my soul journeys each morning. This journey is as necessary for me today as it was the first day I believed.

I see Jesus as my righteousness. The Bible talks about the old man and the new man. I believe that the old man was crucified with Christ and a new man was raised with Him.

I now walk in newness of life with a clean heart and a right spirit within me. Is this pride talking? No, it is faith. Some days I find it easier to believe than others but thankfully God does not change as I do.

Your sins and iniquities I will remember no more.

I am as righteous in the sight of God today as I will be in glory. I can say this because my life is hid with God in Christ. It is no longer I that live but Christ in me, the hope of glory. I am adorned with His righteousness which He purchased for me with His own blood.

Does this mean that I have no sin? No my friend!! I am riddled with sin from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet there is no soundness in me. I am a wretched man, a sinner of the highest order and this sin is ever before me. The good that I would do, I do not, but that which I would not do, that is what I do.

It is because I see my sin so clearly each day that I see the urgency of having a Saviour and I know of none other name under heaven given among men whereby we may be saved than that of Jesus of Nazareth. He saves His people from their sins.

He came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.

I view Jesus as my Best Friend. He is my constant companion and I talk with Him throughout each day. I do not spend my days on my knees nor in a closet, I simply talk as I walk with Jesus. No matter where I go or what I do, He is there.

I am still learning that without Him I can do nothing. I would not step out of my house if I thought for a moment that He would not be with me. If thy presence go not with me carry me not up hence.

I can say whatever I like to Him and He will keep all my secrets. He never turns His back on my cries for help, nor does He laugh at me when I get things wrong. When others have forsaken me He comes even closer because He understands me when others do not.

I do not have to make an appointment to meet with Him, neither do I have to wear anything special. I simply come as I am. He has never yet turned me away though there have been days when my vision has been so impaired through unbelief that I have lost sight of Him. I hate these days and I would gladly be without them.

The thought of spending an eternity with Him sends my soul into raptures. He is love, He is favour, He is altogether lovely and the peace that He floods into my soul from time to time is beyond words and past understanding.

As a sheep of His flock, He is my Good Shepherd. He protects me from evil and from all types of danger. He leads me to green pastures where my soul can delight itself in fat things. A good book, a testimony or a word in season are gifts from His hand. His Word is my guide book.

He is my guide. He leads me in ways and in paths that had I been left to myself I would never have gone down. He has shut many doors and hedged many paths in my life. Often I have been angry and frustrated with Him, yet He has not held this against me. He has gently led me in the way that I should go.

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths.

Sometimes I have felt that He has been slow with His guidance, but perhaps that is simply my own impatience. He has promised to meet all my needs yet there have been days when the bills have piled up and there is no sign of clearing them.

My God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

He knows that I worry about such things and He knows that I do not seek riches. He knows that I am happy if I can pay all my bills on time, yet I have to confess that He keeps me waiting! He has never failed to meet my needs, yet still I worry!

The guidebook that He has given me has often changed the way in which my days have turned out. Many a morning I have opened the Book with nothing but doubts and fears in my mind only to be challenged and strengthened by what I have read. Truly the words in the Book are alive!

Some days I read my Bible and all I see is black letters on a white background, while on other days I cannot put it down. It is more up to date than any newspaper and I could not live without it.

I remember one morning in particular this year. I had slept in for a Doctor's appointment and I never go or do anything without reading my Bible and praying first thing in the morning. This day I just had no time so I picked it up and kissed the Book instead!

He is also my refuge. Many a day storms have raged in my soul and have blown me off course. Dark clouds have encompassed me and doubts, fears and depression have sunk in. I look in vain to friends and loved ones for help but it is beyond them.

Troubles have come in like a flood and threatened to overwhelm me completely. I would have drowned in defeat had it not been for the strong arms of Jesus.

He has pulled me out from many a deep mire. He has hidden me in the clefts of the Rock when circumstances have contrived against me. Days have come when the waters have gone over my head yet He has proved to be my Lifeline on each occasion.

The troubles that afflict the just in number many be, but yet at length out of them all the Lord doth set him free.

Sorrow and pain have made up not a few days of this year yet He has provided a balm for my needy soul. When I have felt all alone in this world and the thought of facing yet another day makes me cringe, He sends His love in a letter, a card, an email or a telephone call. Oh! For arms to embrace Him and for feet to run after Him.

I wish that I could count the number of times this year when I have murmured against Him, but sadly I cannot. I dread to think of the times that I have failed Him or let Him down.

I hang my head in shame when I consider His love and His goodness to me. He is simply wonderful. I am not greedy and I am happy to share my Friend with anyone else who will accept Him as their Redeemer.

Come see a man who told me all things that ever I did. Is not this the Christ?

If I have to ask of Him a gift or two it would be this – 1) That He would give me wisdom and 2) That I would have a more consistent walk today and all the days that follow.

My prayer for you is that He would ravish you with His love. For those who are as yet strangers to grace and to God then I beg of you accept God's gift to you today.

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.

I could go on and on but I have to sum up. I have thought for a little of what Jesus means to me and I have to echo the words of Peter – 'He is the Christ of God.'

My wish for you at this time? That you would know the blessing God commands – Life that shall never end.

What does He mean to you today?

With all my love in Christ. Sending Christmas greetings to all who are associated with Christian Photographers.

Your brother in Christ

Iain

It's Chris's birthday today and Margit sent this to be posted for her...

Oohhh, How nice, MARGIT!   :)  

Awww, HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRIS!!!

My presents are wrapped.  All of htem.  WooHOOo!!!!!

Merry Christmas Eve everyone!

nite nite

Happy Birthday my beloved brother. Did you get your bus pass in the post? Tee Hee!! Have a lovely Christmas folks.

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IAIN thank you very much for the devotional this morning very good GOD BLESS YOU.

SONJA  thank you for the very nice CHRISTMAS cards.

PAT thank you very much for the hymn THE FIRST NOEL. Very nice.

JANE thank you for the beautiful picture about THE FIRST NOEL
very good .

CHRIST OUR PEACE
Peace must be more than a word
embossed upon our Christmas cards,
echoed in the season's carols,
or painted on a storefront...
It can be found only in a Person,
experienced only in a Presence...
For Christ, and Christ alone is our Peace.

Luke 2:14

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth
peace to men on whom his favor rests

BYE LOVE RIA


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HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRIS
HAVE A BLESSED NEW YEAR.

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Iain...Lovely. Thank-you dear brother.  A peace-filled Christmas for you and yours.

Chris have a wonderful birthday.  

Pat.  I hope you feel much better this morning dear sister.  Prayers for you continue.

Love Jenny

Trials and Pain: We Forget

And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not
receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that
they should not be made perfect apart from us.  
--Hebrews 11:39-40

Then there is the matter of constant consolation and peace--the promise
of always feeling relaxed and at rest and enjoying ourselves inwardly.

This, I say, has been held up as being quite the proper goal to be
sought in the evil hour in which we live. We forget that our Lord was a
man of sorrow and acquainted with grief. We forget the arrows of grief
and pain which went through the heart of Jesus' mother, Mary. We forget
that all of the apostles except John died a martyr's death. We forget
that there were 13 million Christians slain during the first two
generations of the Christian era. We forget that they languished in
prison, that they were starved, were thrown over cliffs, were fed to
the lions, were drowned, that they were sewn in sacks and thrown into
the ocean....

There was much distress, many heartaches, painful bruises, flowing
tears, much loss and many deaths.

But there is something better than being comfortable, and the followers
of Christ ought to find it out-the poor, soft, overstuffed Christians
of our time ought to find it out! There is something better than being
comfortable!

We Protestants have forgotten altogether that there is such a thing as
discipline and suffering.
Who Put Jesus on the Cross? pp. 17-19

"Forgive me for complaining, Lord, about the few trials I've
experienced. I've suffered nothing like the former saints-yet I so
easily forget that and chafe at the discipline and suffering. Forgive
me. Amen."

A W TOZER

Thanks folks! :)
And especially you dear wife! :D
I used to hate my Christmas eve birthday when I was a kid, but as I got older, and especially after God captured me,  I found it a great privilege to have it the day before the greatest one of all, our Lord and Saviour.
All of our lives are in a continual state of change, sometimes it may seem for the worst, but as we behold Him, we are being changed into His likeness, and that is what is really important, " He grew in favour and in stature with God and man."
Oh to trust when we cannot see or even feel,
just to keep on going and trusting, looking ever upwards till the light comes so comfortingly upon us.
Hope you all enjoying  my birthday folks, I sure am!
:) ;) :D

PS. Enjoy the THURSDAY BIRTHDAY  more lol. ;D

Hey, change is good for you, do something unexpected today break the routine !
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Dear Pat,

thank you for the favour.   ;)

Dear all,

as Chris and I are celebrating his birthday,  but more so, as we are celebrating our Saviour's birthday tomorrow, I am reminded of how hectic we can let this time of year become and want to share the following with you.
           

God's Refreshment

"The journey is too great for thee" (1 King 19:7).

And what did God do with His tired servant? Gave him something good to eat, and put him to sleep. Elijah had done splendid work, and had run alongside of the chariot in his excitement, and it had been too much for his physical strength, and the reaction had come on, and he was depressed. The physical needed to be cared for. What many people want is sleep, and the physical ailment attended to. There are grand men and women who get where Elijah was--under the juniper tree! and it comes very soothingly to such to hear the words of the Master: "The journey is too great for thee, and I am going to refresh you." Let us not confound physical weariness with spiritual weakness.

Streams in the Desert  Dec. 24/2003

    ----------------------------------------------------

Wishing you all a lovely holiday, true joy in your hearts and homes.  May God's gift reign triumphant in all that you encounter daily, today, tomorrow and all through the year.
His peace to you and yours.


In His love,

Margit and Chris too

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRIS!

It is early and yet so much in the way of devotional thoughts have already been posted for today.  Iain, thanks for the devotional and thanks to all of the others for sharing those special thoughts and writings.  Each one causes us to think about things we probably would not have thought about today.

Chris, happy birthday.  I liked your graphic.  

This afternoon we are having our family Christmas get together.  Our son will be over around 3 pm and we will share a meal and our Christmas gifts.  Our daughter will be here as well.  For many years, when we lived in Missouri, we always celebrated with one of our families on Christmas Eve and the other on Christmas Day.  

This morning, after coffee at the cafe, I will go walking again.  We had a nice sing along at the adult day-care center yesterday as they had a good number of folks there.  It will be 2 weeks before I will be seeing them again as they are closed next week.

I want to wish each and everyone of you a very Merry Christmas as we remember the reason for the season.  

Happy Birthday Chris from me as well and guess what.....it is my son's birthday today as well....he is turning 5 today.....and that is a gift to us.....he was born 8wks early and he had many problems at the beginning.....he has a shunt in his head....but today...you would not know it.....he is just a little charmer and smart as a whip.....and quite the character....let me tell you....just ask Pat.....she knows what he is like...he always calls her...." Pat Scott".....every time he talks to her......it is very funny really...but he loves her and he is always asking me how she is doing and can we go visit her........
anyway.....just wanted to stop in and wish you all a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS THIS TIME AND I PRAY THAT CHRIST IS THE FIRST ONE WE THINK OF AND TALK TO EACH DAY AND ESPECIALLY TODAY AND TOMORROW......AND MAY YOU ALL BE BLESSED BY THE REMEMBRANCE OF HIS SPECIAL BIRTH AND THE CELEBRATION OF JOY ....WHERE WOULD WE BE IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE STAR IN THE EAST THAT ANNOUNCED THE BIRTH OF OUR SAVIOUR.
IN HIs Grace. Paulette.

Good Morning all! :)

We haven't really met yet, so here goes...My name is Kathryn and I live in Montreal, Canada.  Married to my husband Mark and mom of 2 boys Trevor and Bryan.  Have known my Lord since the age of 13, and that seems a very long time ago.  I stumbled through my teens and twenties grasping for Jesus.  I strayed from time to time, but always knew He was there.  Praise Him that HE never left me.  I'm 38 now and am still growing in the wonderful knowledge of our Lord.  I hope I never stop learning something amazing about God and the wonderful relationship that he yearns to have with us.

I want to let you know that the site has been a great source of encouragement.  It's wonderful to see so many brothers and sisters in Christ.  Praise The Lord!

Christmas Blessings!
Kathryn

HI Kathryn!  It is nice to meet you!

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I WISH YOU ALL A MERRY BUT

ALSO A BLESSED CHRISTMASS


LOTS OF LOVE  RIA


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Hi Everyone!

I have a busy day today as I'm travelling to my daughter's home.  And before that I have a few things still to buy from the grocery store.  


Thanks so much Iain for that very timely devotion this morning.  I do hope and pray that all stopping by our site will take just a few extra minutes to read your words this morning so near to the wonderful day commemorating the birth of our Saviour.


I'd like to say how happy I am to see JUST KATE or KATHRYN posting.  I've been watching for you for a long time!  It's nice to have someone else from Canada and you are a first from the province of Quebec!  So please feel welcome here.  Just join in whenever you wish.  The coffee is always freshly brewed (it's Tim Horton's  ;) ) and the water is plumping in the kettle for a nice pot of tea.


Happy Birthday Chris.  Thanks for that Dr. Tozer devotional.  It's wonderful!


Yes, Paulette, Ben is a wonderful little boy!  He always says, "Hi Pat Scott!" so I say, "Hi Ben Yates!"  Then we have a chuckle together!


I've been wondering how your eyes are, Ria.  I do hope that they are getting better and better each day.


Have a wonderful day today, Larry and Pat!  We'll be having our family get together on January 1


Sonja, that's a good reminder for all of us..."From the cradle to the cross" and all for us.  What a wonderful Saviour we have!  Yes, let's remember the reason for this season.


Good to see you popping in Sue.  Give your parents a hug for me.



Margit, thanks so much for that from Streams in the Desert.  I must look out the copy that I have.  My mother gave it to me many years ago and I used to use it every day.

I love the poem you gave us to read today.  Let's read it again...

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We miss having you drop in each evening, Lee.  I hope you don't stay away too long.  I wonder if you got the email with that program in it that you wanted?


Chris, I hope you have a wonderful birthday today.  One comment in your message today really stood out for me...

QuoteI used to hate my Christmas eve birthday when I was a kid, but as I got older, and especially after God captured me,  I found it a great privilege to have it the day before the greatest one of all, our Lord and Saviour.

Isn't it a wonderful thought to realize that as Christians, God "captured" all of us?  I find that awesome.

I hope you have a great day.  I'll try to stop in again a little later before I head out of town.


Love to you all.

Welcome Kathryn to the CP site.  Thanks for posting and letting us know a little about yourself.  I look forward to your further postings.

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRIS!!!![/size][/b]

You mean they even have birthdays in England?  I was hoping there might be someplace where we could go and not get older.  Oh well, one day older is one day closer to the everlasting Kingdom!

WELCOME KATHRYN!!!!![/size][/b]

It's so good to have you come in here to join with us saved sinners!  Hope we'll be seeing much of you.

Good Morning Iain thank you for the devotion.

Pat I pray you will have a safe trip. To all others who are traveling today or tonight I pray for your safety also.

I have all my gifts wrapped and it feels so good to be able to have gifts for everyone this year after so many years of not even being with my family. Only 1 Christmas in 9 years was I with my family and that was last year.

This morning during my prayer time  the Lord put on my heart to pray for all those who will be away from family or loved ones. Those who have lost their loved ones, and those who are the lost from their loved ones. Having been there my heart goes out to all of them.

I got to sleep in for an extra hour this morning before Bebe and Happydog insisted on my getting up to ,let them outside and to fix their breakfast.

The rest of my day is going to be spent doing whatever comes to my mind to do.

Soooo TTYL

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHRIS!!!

WELCOME TO CP, JUST KATE!!

We are going to our daughter's today, after 2:00.  They are closing their store then, and we will have supper together and open gifts with them.

Where is Mullet???  I miss our happy little ray of sunshine!!  Come back in here, Zachery!!

I really enjoy everyone's nice graphics.  And I wish you a blessed and happy Christmas Eve.

Thanks Marilyn, for the prayers for safe travel today.  I'm taking Geordie with me and leaving Lauren home alone!  Awwwwww.... poor kitty!


I forgot to say that


About 6 or 7 of us last evening had the most wonderful time with Mieka on Yahoo Chat.  She was in a hotel in Kathmandu waiting for the trip to the airport to fly back to the USA.  She'll be in Utah for some of the time and back to her family in California.

It will be so nice to have Mieka back with us for a little while at least before she returns back to Tibet.

At about 9:30 pm last night, they were just getting ready to leave for the airport so I'm sure she's landed by now!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRIS!!!!!!!!!!!

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WELCOME KATHRIN!!!!!!! HOPE YOU WILL FIND THIS SITE PRETTY FUN, AND FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

I hope that EVERYONE puts their birthday in their Profile here on CP.

If you click on Chris's name, you'll see a little birthday cake in there!  Isn't that cute?  Chris, did you see it?

I didn't do it.  The software does it.

Sonja, that's beautiful!

Posting this for Ria.  :D

Celebrex isn't working for me.  My pharmacist said to take Tylenol WITH the Celebrex.  Now it isn't as intense but it is all the time!!!  Took my last Celebrex this morning.  Pharmacist said to take Ibuprofen when Celebrex is gone.  Called the doctor this morning.  I have an appointment Friday 8:50am.  Wouldn't call in an RX without seeing me.  So I am expecting pain for a few days.  My best recollections tells me this started last Thursday morning!!!!!!!!!

I have some pictures of Daniel (http://christianphotographers.com/yabbse/index.php?board=7;action=display;threadid=2004;start=0#lastPost).  Just click on the red.  

It is going to be a white CHRISTmas in Indiana!!!!  Hopefully Jerry's two kids and families will get here from Ohio...a two hour drive on a good day!!!  Snow is coming down real good right now.    But my DIL sent me an IM saying they were stopping by sometime today.  

Got to get off of here.  This arm is driving me bonkers!!!!!

<:))))><<~~<:))))><<~~<:))))><<~~<:))))><<~~<:))))
"When you stop believing in Santa Claus, you get  underwear for Christmas."

Thanks Pat!  I hope you have a safe drive.  Don't forget to wear your seatbelt.  :)
And most important, don't be getting those kids up to early.   Presents are fun but the kids need their sleep. ;) ;D hehehehe....

Thank you Etta Sue, for the graphic you posted!!
Thase are some cute pictures of daniel!!

Have a safe drive Pat!!

Go to practice forum and put a picture you drew in the forum< your very own picture so we can vote!>.
I thought everyone would like to do a little somthing diferent! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;)


                           love Zachery

We are having a nice day here in Middle Tennessee.  I worked very hard on this.
Ha!  Thanks Etta Sue.

--- Papa John    ;D          <:))))><<

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LOL  Great job, Papa John!  You did well in your Paint Shop Pro lessons!  

Thanks Sonja...  I'll drive carefully.

Hi Zach!  How's my boy?

Nice graphic, Ria.  Thanks Sonja for posting that for Ria.

I'm so sorry, Etta Sue, that you're having such trouble.  I do know that celebrex must be built up in your body over a period of time and that's one thing I didn't realize when I started taking it.  I only took it when I had pain and it didn't work but after awhile it does for me.  I hope you get relief.  Ice packs help too.

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SONJA THANK YOU THAT YOU HAVE PUT
THE PICTURE ON NEM I LOVE YOU

PAPA JOHN I AM ALSO HAPPY TO SEE YOU I WISH YOU AND CORNELIA ALSO A BLESSED CHRISTMASS.

PAT TAKE CARE ON THE ROAD WE CAN NOT MISSING YOU DEAR PAT.

BYE LOVE RIA :-* :-* :-*

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When I was a little boy Christmas was the most exciting time of the year.  I know that it IS "more blessed to give than to receive."  But it was blessed to receive.  When I was about five years old I remember getting a sweater.  I was so proud of that sweater.  The weather was mild and I remember showing the sweater to my friend who lived across the street.

Christmas has a different kind of excitement for me today.  I am so proud when the children and grandchildren come in.  I think of how wonderfully God has blessed me.  I have a wonderful wife God gave me fifty-four years ago.  We have three beautiful daughters.  They are grown now and two are married with their husbands  and with their own children.  God has given us six grandchildren.  How exciting it is when we all get together.  Four granddaughters are married so they bring their husbands with them.  There are 17 of us with a great grandchild on the way.

But what makes it more exciting, more than presents, more than family getting together, is the fact that we are thinking about our Savior who was born in the little town of Bethlehem.  "Christ the Savior is born."  Actually we don't know WHEN he was born but a day has been selected when we all can think about that day so many years ago when our Jesus was born and the love and grace of God began to be revealed to us so that today we can put our faith in Christ who died on the cross to redeem us and give us the hope of everlasting life.  

Thanks be to God who loves us so much he gave his only son to save us.  What a wonderful gift.

--- Papa John    ;D          <:))))><<

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Oh, thank you for that, Papa John.  Families are so important.  

When my whole family was together was probably in 1984 or so. Many have been added since that day and my mother is no longer with us. I think I miss her most of all. She has been gone now since 1997. I can not get through Christmas without thinking of her and how much she loved the Christmas season and the family get togethers with her brothers and sisters and then with my family.

Hi all.

Just popping in to say "hi" and Merry Christmas.  We are spending the night with Bernard's parents tonight, then will be gone all day tomorrow, so if we aren't "present" that's why.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

                  Captured by God.


http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/m/a/makecapt.htm

good afternoon ya'll,
WE are busily cleaning house and getting ready to go to hugoton to spend the evening with my dad's family then we will come home and spend tomorrow with just my mom and dad me and my siblings my nephew and broinlaw. it will be fun i guess. sat will be when i'll spend time with my mom's side of the fam. well i'll talk to you later i've got to clean house for tomorrow
Sarah

 :) I am at my home today in the California. It is just as I pray it will be. The lights and the trees and the fire and the food. I am warm for a first time today for many days.

I often did not undarstand why my family will travel so much. I did not undarstand why they have such a wonderful home and they are not ever here to enjoy it. Today I undarstand. This wonderful home it is not a home of what is real. It is a place to go to be with ones I love. It is a place in time to share a moment with others and to bring hope to ones that have nothing at all. Today there are 10 more brothers and sisters here in my home. I meet some of them today for the first time. The food is wonderful, the kitchen it is clean the friends are every where.

It is for me the most best Christmas ever. Jesus is in my home. With us today there are many here that do not even know His name. They are now my brothers and my sisters here. It is strange to me today I am a guest in my own home. When I was on my first day here at my new home in the USA I did have a many fears. Today I can be a help i think.

It is my hope today that everyone will take a time to say hello to a stranger and to wish them well. Soon there will not be a strangers any more.

I pray everyone will have a warm heart for the Christmas. The gift it is not under the tree at all. The greatest gift is love.

God is love, I hope he is in your home and in your heart as I find Him here with me this day.

A Merry Christmas Every One!!!!!!  8) I love you all.

PAT, I am doing good :). hope you feel better :'(.

I'm going x-mas shopping today AGAIN!!!
HE!!!HE!!! Fun :D

SARAH, hope you hve fun tomorow and the cleaning to go by fast!!hehehaah ;D

merry christmas all

 ;D Hi Ms Soni !!!!!

A Hello mr Mullet  ;D it is very nice to meet you.

A MOST happy birthday Mr Chris!!! (Hi ms Margit)

Where is ms Mum Pat???? I do hope it is a fun day for you Ms Pat.

Ms Karmat and Mr Bernard  ;D a Merry Christmas.

Ms Jenny, you are wonderful, I SO love your kind heart.

MS ETTA SUE !!!!!! I love you and mr Jerry too, please say a hi to him.


I am not certian how much I can use the computer for my short time here. and I know there are so many that have a family together and a wonderful time to share with others. So it is my wish to just to tell again how much I miss the CP when I am away and I love you all my friends.

((((((((((((((((((((((((HUG)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

Ms Mieka!
I am so glad you are back in a warm cosey house with all your brothers, and sisters of the Lord.
It is great that you got back to the USA safely and unharmed, GOD hase truley blessed us with you being able to be here and talk to each other from so far away in places we would'nt be able to if we lived in the past.
Just think we would not have even been able to speak to each other, and that shows us that god is great.

With God all things are possible. I forgote wich book that was in.

love you Mieka

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I'm so happy that you had a good flight home, Mieka.  


We love you so much


Now, I'm on my way to my daughter's home and I'll be back tomorrow sometime.

Love you all and Chris, enjoy your birthday!

Got this from the doctor in an email...


IMPORTANT HOLIDAY TIPS...

Carrot sticks: Avoid them. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving fudge.

Drink as much eggnog as you can. Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip?  It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have two. It's Christmas!

If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people's food for free.

Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food.

If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of a jolly elf, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention.

Same for pies. Apple. Pumpkin. Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

Fruitcake? Avoid it at all cost.

If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party then you haven't been paying attention. Reread these tips. But hurry! Cookieless January is just around the corner.

Thanks for that hymn, Chris.  I'll have to download it and have it as one of our regulars.  I really like the words.  I appreciate being a captive of my Saviour's.

Thanks so much.

I hope you tell us what you did for your birthday and what you had to eat and did you have a cake?  Any photos?

---

I've just printed out Iain's devotional and I'm taking it up to Janice's so that we can discuss it together.

What jumped out at you when you read that today?  Several things meant a lot to me.

 ;D HAhahaha This it is too funny ms Pat.

I spend much time to cook and to help with the nutrition for so many each day. This is just as I think it should be. But only for 1 week ok.  ;D Have a fun day ms Pat.

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WELCOME HOME DEAR MIEKA
I HAVE MISSED YOU
I LOVE YOU MIEKA
AND GOD BLESS YOU
RIA


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It is 10.20 PM in Holland i close the computer and wish you all a goodnight
and tomorrow a Blessed Christmass Day.
My father is coming tomorrow. When my mother was alive then the hole family are coming together but since
she is gone in jan. 2002 each one is staying in his own home and that is making me sad.
This afternoon we have taken something for Christmass to the graves of my first husband, my mothers grave and the the grave of my husbands parents. Everyown in Holland is doing that.

But i wish you all a Blessed Christmass
Goodnight  Bye Love Ria :-*

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I really think you should come up to northern California, but, if that is not possible, then I give to you the biggest cyber ((((HUG))) possible.

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Love to you all from me.

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Tonight is our candlelight service and usually we have an overflow crowd.  So I had to get extra greeters for tonight - a couple of the men will be more "ushers" than usual, finding seats for late-comers and the bulletins will be handed out by two of our teen-age members.  

I really love this ceremony.  The little ones from the Sunday School take part in a skit and we sing lots of Christmas hymns.  Everyone is given a small candle as they come in and for the close, all the lights are turned off and the candles are lit, row by row from the back to the front while we sing Silent Night.  It's a reminder to me that just as it starts with one little flame and gradually spreads throughout the church, our faith began with just a tiny Babe and His light has spread through the world.  I usually wind up weeping.  :'(

Oh Jeanne that sounds so lovely.

Thanks for the devotionals

Happy Christmas to you all from a mild and warm Yorkshire!

ken

A merry Christmas to Mieka and all of my Brothers and Sisters,
I think I've eaten too much lol! ;) :D
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Chris you Nut. Go to bed.

Cornelia has been busy cooking today for the crowd which will come tomorrow.  The house is quiet now but will be noisy when the family starts coming in.

We are getting ready to go to church.  It will be a happy service as we are reminded of how Jesus was born in Bethlehem.

It has been a good day here in CP because we have had Mieka with us.  Her sweet love seems to effect us all.  God bless you all this Christmas season.

--- Papa John        <:))))><<   (https://www.christianphotographers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fjohnmurphreenashville.homestead.com%2Fcandles.gif&hash=be9f927f5fa3b12a5520ea61921622c12d2141e6)

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HI, Papa John!!  I loved your little story about your family.  It brought tears to my eyes.  :'( Good tears. God has blessed you with such a great big family.  I hope and pray my family is as big as yours when I get your age.  :D hahahahaha...I got a chuckle from you stealing  borrowing Etta Sue's   graphic.  ;) ;D I would never do that! hehehehe....


I also agree, Mieka   is very special.  She is a precious gift from God.  I love you, Mi!  God has awesome plans for you!

Pat!  hahahahahahaaa...I laughed so hard while reading that.  I had to get Troy so I could read it to him.  Thanks for sharing that!

Hi Marilyn! You did a great job with your graphic.  Very creative!

We have church in a few hours so I am off to get some stuff done around the house.

Love you all,
Soni

Quote from: Mullet on December 24, 2003, 03:19:52 PM
Ms Mieka!
I am so glad you are back in a warm cosey house with all your brothers, and sisters of the Lord.
It is great that you got back to the USA safely and unharmed, GOD hase truley blessed us with you being able to be here and talk to each other from so far away in places we would'nt be able to if we lived in the past.
Just think we would not have even been able to speak to each other, and that shows us that god is great.

With God all things are possible. I forgote wich book that was in.

love you Mieka

Zachery, you make your mother proud.  Reading this made me cry.  Sometimes you amaze me with your knowledge.  God has blessed me with such a wonderful son to raise. I wouldn't give you up for the world, son.  I love you!  :-*
BTW~I had a great time with you today.  

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LOL

Am I all alone in here now?

I have prepared my Vegetables for tomorrow. Washed and cut them rolled them in olive oil and placed all but the potatoes is the big roaster pan ready to go into the oven tomorrow. Leeks, parsnips, celery lots of garlic, carrots, new potatoes, cubed tofu, and a sprig of fresh rosemary. Sound good to you? i hope everyone tomorrow likes it.

Sarah has made Pecan pie and Cheescake, turkey and stuffing.

And I have eaten almost a whole pound of Whitmans candy.

(https://www.christianphotographers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.webpost.net%2Fhi%2FHisOwn%2Fo01.gif&hash=5b768c2718e4f534959a50e6bc79826d34616226) I just couldn't remain silent after the awesome day I've had with friends and all y'all right here on CP!   :D

This morning I went over to Nita's and we had the "traditional" Christmas brunch with (some of) her family, and then so much fun with the white elephant gift exchange...and exchange...and exchange...!  I am so blessed to have such wonderful friends!  My own family is far removed from me at this time, but we still have the internet and telephone so we are not totally cut off from one another.  

I also had a most enjoyable time chatting with MIEKA yesterday evening.  I am soooo happy that you are back "home" with all of us, my dear little sister, MIEKA ... even if it is only for a short time.  I have faith and trust that you will once again be with us for a much longer (perhaps permanent) time soon.  

We do, indeed, serve an awesome God.  

Take care, all y'all, and I pray y'all have a truly blessed and peaceful observance of CHRISTmas...

Enjoy!
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1a.m. Christmas Morning.  England.


I have just enjoyed the Midnight Communion from Manchester Cathedral.  Oh the singing, it was beautiful.

Happy Christmas Everyone and God Bless you all.

Love Jenny

The Very Merriest of Christmas' to one and all.  

Before we did our usual lighting of candles at our Christmas Eve service, our Pastor asked us to think of how much difference the light makes.

We lit candles and turned off the lights.  The whole church was lit up.  I had to think of the difference the Light has made in my life......Where I was and where I am.

Now, I am seeing the difference that the Light is making in our kids lives and in their kids lives, too.

I am thankful that in 1972, Jesus interrupted  my life......

Mieka, it is so nice to 'see' you again.  Welcome back!

Kathryn, welcome.  My late husband's family was from Dorion, just west of Montreal.  Your city is a beautiful one and I do miss some the ethnic foods.  There is nothing like Montreal Smoked Meat on Rye from Ben's, and just the thought of some French Poutine is making my mouth water!

Chis, when you said you'd eaten too much, I trust that means that you had a good birthday dinner complete with birthday cake?  I remember my late husband's FIRST birthday cake.  It was the second Christmas we were together and he accompianed me to my Uncle's for Christmas dinner, and my Aunt decorated a cake for him.  He had never before had a cake on his birthday which was Christmas Day.  He always found Christmas a difficult day, and now I find that at some point in the day I am little bit sombre as I remember him.

Thank you everyone for the devotionals and music today.

I am having my family for dinner tomorrow and am looking forward to it.

Good night everyone and have a Blessed Christmas.

I am sittting here watching the BBC news on Public Television.. All is quiet here at my house. . If it was later I would go to bed but it is only 7:05 p.m. too early to go to bed. I have been at this computer so much today that I have a pain in the back of my neck. Talk about a pain in then neck. :o ::) Oh well I thought it was funny.

What is everyone one else doing tonight? I know some have traveled to other places but I think some of you are still at home.

I have seen on the news about the problem with beef, at least one cow. I don't eat much beef anyway and then up here most of it is homegrown organic beef, at least the little beef that I do buy occassionally.

We are just about to watch a Movie!!! ;D

FUN!!!!!! ;D
that is a close up on a smiley!!!hahaheheheh

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Janet Look we are the only ones online!!!HEHEHE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
how areyou?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'm excited for x-mas mmmmmm................
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~           I bet everyone else is to!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Merry Christmas all!!!

Goodnight all ;)

Aw, shucks, Zachery!  I just missed you!  But it is good to see your happy posts in here, anyway.  Love you, kid!

Mieka!  How wonderful it is to get to read your cheerful and kind words in here again!  We have missed you SO much.  How I love you, girl!

Marilyn, we just got home a bit ago.  We opened our few gifts to each other, and then I decided to check out what's been happening on CP, while Darrel is watching some old movie on TV.  We had a good day with the kids and grandkids today in Hugoton.

Pat, I hope you are feeling completely well now, and are having a good time at Janice's.

Papa John, it's always good to read your posts.  Enjoy that family of yours tomorrow!

My grandson Mark gave me a copy of The Purpose Driven Life, so now I can start reading it, too.  I hope some of you are still using it, so we can talk about it.

Curtis gave me more memory for my computer, and a promise to come install it and reformat the whole machine.  I'm not sure when he will get to come, but before he goes back to college, anyway.

Abby gave me a little stained glass angel holding a little sign that says "Best Grandma."  So sweet!

We will go to their house again tomorrow for the noon meal, then on Friday Mark and I will drive to Salina to pick up the younger grandsons for a very few days.

Etta Sue, I am sorry your arm is hurting.  I hope mine doesn't get worse.  I know I shouldn't have my keyboard so high.  I pray you get relief soon!  (((hugs)))

Merry Christmas, Everyone!!

Here I am up here at Janice's.  Boy!  This connection is S-L-O-W!!  Anyway, have a great Christmas day and I'll be home sometime tomorrow.

Here's a link to tomorrow's topic...

http://christianphotographers.com/yabbse/index.php?board=2;action=display;threadid=2006 (http://christianphotographers.com/yabbse/index.php?board=2;action=display;threadid=2006)