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  Psalm 23  Hear six-year old read Psalm 23
  (Thanks Sonja!)

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Morning Devotional...


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The Shepherd's Psalm--
Part (vi) [/td]
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In our last essay on this beloved Psalm, we discussed the frightening experience of "The valley of the shadow of death." During the intervening time, some of us have walked in that dark vale. For me it was the stark reality of a beloved sister's death. For other friends, perhaps it was the discovery that a dreaded disease lurks within. Some may have suffered difficulties of a very personal sort. The heartaches which must be borne alone bring the darkest clouds and the deepest wounds.

Surely a beneficent Creator has so designed our world that the beauties of morning follow the darkness of night. The day breaks:



So it is in the spiritual sphere; when the dark clouds and chilly mists of the valley of death swallow us up we can peer through the darkness and see the warm lights of His banqueting house. By faith we can say with the Shulamite maiden:

"He brought me to the banqueting house, And His banner over me is love." (Song of Solomon 2:4).

It is surely by no mere coincidence that the Psalmist reflects on his journey through the dread valley and then in the next verse speaks of a prepared table. This is undoubtedly the banqueting table of love which the Lord Jesus Christ has prepared for His own. Here we renew and strengthen our fellowship and communion with our lovely King. In the place of His presence we enjoy the regal glory of the King of Kings. We bring joy to His heart and refreshment to our own soul when we see the King in His beauty. As we gaze upon the lovely thorn scared brow and nail pierced hands, our hearts crave to love Him more. It is here that our hearts are tuned to praise His Name.

In His banqueting house there is rest and nourishment for the tired and drooping spirit. It is there, too, that we can tell Him of the somber skies and the rugged roads we have been plodding and in His tender embrace, we learn the truth of Isaiah 40:31. "But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint."

We do not need to await the end of our sojourn in the dark land for He can "prepare a table in the wilderness", and He does this in the presence of our enemies. My! How the enemies of truth are confounded when they expect to find us overwhelmed by sorrow and fear and come upon us feasting with our lovely King Jesus and enjoying our propinquity to Him.

Finding himself in this position, David says, "You anoint my head with oil". (Psalm 23:5) This is most assuredly the same oil with which the King himself is anointed. In Psalm 45:7 it is called "The oil of gladness". The anointing of oil in ancient days was most significant for kings and priest were marked out by such a ritual. How astonishing it is to read that He has "made us kings and priests to our God, And we shall reign upon the earth." (Revelation 5:10)

Beloved friends, the blessings of our salvation are much more than an insurance policy for the next world.

"My cup runs over".   Ah, this prepared table knows no rationing. There is a great affluence of spiritual things for us to feast upon. None need go away unsatisfied. These words call to remembrance Paul's epistle to the Ephesians 1:3-7: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace."

The prepared table is the daily provision for everyone who by faith in Jesus Christ has been saved by His abundant grace.







Discuss this devotional further Here if you wish.

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Jack Scott loved his Lord! He passed away on January 10, 2001 after a lengthy illness.
He is missed greatly by his family.

Well it is February 3rd already.  I'm not sure what Wiarton Willey told us about winter yesterday.   I  think he saw his shadow and now we will have 6 more weeks of winter.  

So many have posted in Introduce Yourself.   Such interesting posts!  

Thank you Pat for continuing the devotional in the Psalms with dear Jack teaching us.  What a blessing.

I have to go to EE tonight so will post after I get home around 10:00 p.m.

God Bless


Ruthie

I reckon I should go to bed now.

Nice and icy outside.  yuck.  give me rain, or give me snow, but that stuff is just miserable.  yuck, again.

QuoteBeloved friends, the blessings of our salvation are much more than an insurance policy for the next world.

Amen and amen.   Granted, salvation's promise of Heaven is awesome, but think of the joy, peace, and love we have that non-Christians don't.  I sometimes wonder how someone who doesn't know Christ can even get out of bed in the morning.

It's like something I heard one time --

For the Christian, this Earth is the closest thing to Hell we have to see.  For the non-Christian, this Earth is the closest thing to Heaven they will have.

Nite nite all!  See youns tomorrow!

morning all - hope all is well, im off to a graduate job fair today to try and sort my future out lol wish me luck )

9.30 a.m. U.K.

Good morning from a dull wet England...

Thanks again Pat. I am coming in later to read the devotional. My groceries are to be delivered soon...

Tragi, Best Wishes for today.  I shall pray all goes as you wish.

I popped in to see the last of yesterday's posts:-

Liz, re the "Drawing Board"...I thought also of The Potter, when his work goes wrong, he starts again and makes an even better pot...Jeremiah 18:4

"and the vessel he was making from clay was spoiled in the hand of the Potter, so He made it over reworking it into another vessel as it seemed good to the Potter to make it."

Judy B. I too do not have insurances on my property.  The Lord has protected me and my home in some amazing ways...must tell you all another time.He is so wonderful!  He has other things to do with my money. Doesn't He just bless our giving?

Ria Hallo dear sister, see you later.

Love and Prayers.
Jenny

GOOD MORNING  11.36AM in Holland

Pat thank you for part 6 from Jack's great devotional this morning it is a great Blessing for me and i think for us all
Thank you also for the hymn TRUST AND OBEY yesterday.

Hi Jenny here i am in Holland is it also wet again rain
and a lot wind but it is 12*C.

Now we have a long time talked yesterday what my husband must do when he is staying home every day. I say you can begin when the weather is better not so wet with painting the house
outsite. He say but i also go fishing a lot. When he was younger before i was married with him he has been Dutch champion play billiards. But in that time he must
every evening play billiards. But yesterday have 2 man
who also have play billliard when they where young
they are also no more working they have started a group to play billiard not to win more but for their pleasure only on monday in the afternoon. But he say
it is to soon now to say what i go do. I think also everything is go to soon so you have work and so you
are home there is a long time talk about his job but now at once this is his last week that he has work.


My fahter is doing well thursday he must to the doctor for control.

2 Corinthians 12:9
My grace is sufficient for you, for
my power is made perfect in weakness.

    YOUR MARVELOUS GRACE

              Rock of Ages...
    When i am at my weakest point,
           You are just beginning.
Lord, i abide in Your marvelous grace;
    I lean on Your never-failing love.

I wish you all a Blessed Day
Love and prayers  RIA

Good day!

I love all the introduction in the "Introduce yourself forum"  It is nice to meet all of you.  

Jenny~How are you today?  Do you play cards or put puzzles together? I remember going to my grandmothers house as a child and she would give all us kids a deck of cards.  We played until we lost them.  She also had a puzzle on the table of us kids to help her put together.  It was fun.

Ria~I am glad you dad is doing better.  Fishing sounds good. I love to fish.  I don't like to catch the fish, but it is sure fun sitting and enjoying the beautiful surroundings.  What is Billiard?

Ruthie~What is EE?  Hope you have a double good day going to EE!    

Karma~Icey, ewww...yuck!  You need spiked boots and spiked tires to enjoy it.
If you don't have them then grab a  
When Zachery and I were delivering papers we seen these weird footprints.  They boots with spikes.  We seen them on every block. For like 3 days we followed these footprints to every house and finally (duh) realized they belonged to the postman. hehhehe...talk about bad PI's.  


Good morning, Pat!  
What do you have planned for the day?  More Avon to pack? Shovel the walk?  I loved that picture of the birdhouses with all the snow on them.  Amazing how snow can stick to everything.  The wind blows so much here that it doesn't stick for to long to much.

Is Valentines Day a National holiday?

A friend of mine wants me to take a picture of her daughter for a photo contest in April.  I told her I would think about it.  I all depends on if I get my new camera and a few props, lighting and backgrounds.  
I plan to take Chandraya's photo for the contest.  

Lila Mae was a stink last night.  She is now in a toddler bed.  
She slept fine the first night, but last night she kept getting out of bed, turning on the light and playing.  I would go put her back to bed and she would get right back up.  It was 11:00pm before I got her to stay in bed.  She even took her pull up off. LOL...she said, she needed to go potty.  She is one busy little bug.

I will be back later.
 

hey ya'll just posting before i get to school so it is pretty much to just say HI ttyl
Sarah

Sonja ~  Chandraya is like Ali.  Well-behaved, laid back.  Only gets into what she knows is allowed.  Lila Mae is like Inky...does her own thing at all hours of the day or night!!!!  How is that comparing kids to cats???

What a day yesterday.  The doctor said I was doing fine but wants me to have some therapy.  I go this afternoon at 2pm.  Ivalou and I went to the bank before coming home.  She said my tire looked low.  I was parked halfway on a frozen rut so told myself to check it when I got home.  I forgot!  Later, I couldn't get the garage door to open with the opener.  I went out to the the paper and then to the garage to check the tire.  I took my keys and went in the side door.  I pushed the button to raise the garage door...it sounded weird.  I pushed it for it to go down and I heard loud popping noise.  I looked.  The top brace on the garage door was pulled loose.  So I manually raised it and pushed the button for the other door, thinking I would park my car on that side.  That garage door wouldn't open either.  Would raise 2-3" and then go back down.  It wouldn't open manually either.  So my car is sitting outside in the cold, the rain, the ice, whatever.  My son is going to come up and look at it and hopefully fix it. I emailed him pictures of the damage!!!

Now, I think God had a hand in this.  I NEVER have went to the garage to check anything like this.  He must have known if I waited until today, I would have been late getting to my appointment.  BTW, the tire is fine!!!

<)))><<~~<)))><<~~<)))><<~~<)))><<~~<)))
"If you're headed in the wrong direction, God allows U-turns."

LOL.. Etta Sue...I think your right.  Cats and 2 year olds are alot alike.  I wonder what tonights going to be like?    

Good Morning Everyone!

Quote"If you're headed in the wrong direction, God allows U-turns."

Wow, how true!  Thanks Etta Sue!  Sounds like you and your garage had a very interesting time!  My car doesn't know what it's like to be inside.  It's always been out in the snow, ice, rain, howling winds, etc.  (Poor thing...)

QuoteI love all the introduction in the "Introduce yourself forum"  It is nice to meet all of you.

Sonja, I do too and it was your idea!  I think it's a great idea.  I hope that everyone goes and posts an introduction of their own.  I'm putting an Avon order in tonight, Sonja.  Then it will come back in a week and I'll pack it then.  It's beginning to be freezing rain outside.    That's ok though as I go to London on Thursday so better today.


Glad you enjoyed the devotional, Ria.  I like hearing that!  


Hope you find out lots of interesting stuff at the Job Fair, Neil.  They didn't have those when I went to school.    I think they are great.  Maybe you'll be able to find something in the line of Photography.


See you tonight after school, Sarah.  Study hard!


Jenny, is it icy out over there?  Be careful on the roads in your scooter.

QuoteThank you Pat for continuing the devotional in the Psalms with dear Jack teaching us.  What a blessing.

Thanks Ruthie...   Only one more in this little series.  I've enjoyed it too reading through them again.  Amazing how much you can see each time you go through something like this.


Well, I'm going to go through more boxes and see if I can make a pathway through the garage!  

Good morning everyone - from what Jane calls the "left" coast.  Why would she be facing north?  Why not south?  It's all so confusing.
It's also all so rainy.  We are definitely getting our share of rain this year.  But I'm also glad to report to all you snow-bound people that we don't have any.  It's gotten down to freezing only a very few times this season, and it's only been early in the morning and when it's clear.  When it's raining, which it is right now, it's closer to 40-45 degrees (F).  During the day it gets up over 50.  The cedar trees that are all around this area love it.

SONJA I THINK YOU IN AMERICA ARE NOT SAYING BILLIARTS  BUT POOL
THERE ARE DIFFERENT KINDS OF POOL
BUT A LOT I ALSO DO NOT KNOW FROM POOL
MY HUSBAND WHEN WE ARE ON APLACE WHERE HE CAN PLAY POOL THEN WE ARE SEEING HIM NOT BACK


SONJA Valentine's day is not in Holland so as in America but it is coming to us even as
Haloween is the last years also Valentine day is coming.

And i must laugh Lila Mae is a lovely child


BYE LOVE RIA

Hi Sonja...  Valentine's Day isn't a national holiday--at least here in Canada.


Al, your weather seems to be similar to what it was like in Ireland when I lived there--except for the first year when they dropped hay and straw by helicopters into the fields for the cattle and sheep!  And the little boys played in the snow in their short trousers!  What a blizzard that was!  

Jenny I took out fire insurance when I first as a child became a Christian.  I didn't want to go to hell.  But as a satisfied customer, i have stayed in a relationship with our Lord.  The thing I love the most of Christianity is the fact that He didn't come to condemn. Often people say things that are taken wrong bu others.  that is when remembering  Romans 8:1 helps:  "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death."  In so manu areas of the church and society we are condemned and that kills who a person is.  I have had recent problems with being condemned, but this reminder put me back on track.

Soni and Karma, How interesting to hear about your little ones.  The little stories are so enchanting, keep them coming sisters!

How easily we get drawn into arguments with 6yo's.  I refuse to argue with the girls, we discuss, but the arguments are snipped at the root.  This little guy is a master at arguing.......and I have bitten.  Well silence is reining with me, and he is carrying on with the arguing.   Do not let any one tell you it takes 2 to argue! ! !  With this young man it takes ONE?   Whew!

I was speaking to John this AM.  He said to the trainee watch your speed it is only 90 km/hr.  My response was Oh so you are still in Michigan eh?  LOL (That is 55 to our friends south of the border).  We had a chuckle over that.  

Well I have a phone call to make, so Cheerio for now
Love Judy  

Good Morning> Pat I will print today's devotional when I get home from work.

Not a lot of time right now to doanything I must get ready for work.  

TTYL

3.50 p.m. U.K.

Pat, a lovely surprise...no ice.  A nice warm wind blowing.  I wrote to cousins in  Lincolnshire this morning and was able to go to the pillar box and post it this afternoon on my jallopy (scooter)....Thanks Lord!

My groceries were delivered early and I now have shelves, fridge and freezer full and the outcupboard has lots of cat and dog tins piled up.  There was a special offer on so I stocked up.  God is so good to me.  Praise Him!

Soni.  I have a wall-cupboard full to overflowing with jigsaw puzzles and now Tom my 9 year old grandson is interested! I just love jigsaws. My favourites are old cottages with pretty gardens around.
My eldest grandson Phillip is 16 in July and he's working now and going out with his friends. James the 14 year old is all for the computer. He has M.E.  so is at home a lot. Bless him! Little William is just 14 months old. and yes we shall have lots of fun together playing games...He's been walking proper for a week and its all excitement for him...They brought him to see me on Sunday and he was just racing everywhere and so thrilled to see Sunday doggie and stroke her.  He laughed away...Such a joy!

Oh gosh, Lila Mae is the boss at the moment isn't she...Its all a game for her Soni...new bed etc.,

Etta Sue   Thank-you for that about the "U Turn". It is particularly meaningful at the moment.  I am going to write it in my diary.

Hello to all on line at the moment.
God Bless.
Jenny  

I am ready for work and have some time to spare before I have to leave for Arcata. The sun is out at the moment, don't know how long that will last. There were some pretty hard showers yesterday and last night.  And cold early this morning. Happydpg and bebe snuggle up to me to keep warm as I turn off the heater at night.

On Friday Willa and I are going out to lunch so I will be getting off work early. I hope it is not raining a lot on Friday.

On Friday the 13th  before Valentines day we are having a fancy dinner at the church honoring the married couples but  those of us who are single are invited also. Valentines day is the anniversery of my Baptism 6 years ago. I got to chose the day of my baptism and Since I had given my heart to Jesus I chose Valentines day.

TTYL

Hi everyone.  We missed the icing yesterday, except for mild icing on the trees but none of the braches broke.  It is suppose to get up into the 50s today and the clouds burn away by 4 pm today.  I am looking forward to seeing the sun.

Today is Calvin Cove day and we will be singing hymns.  Pat has gone to get her hair cut so may not be back in time to go to the church with me.  She usually goes when I do and prepares the children's packets for the next Sunday.

I am sorry to say that my computer problems are not over.  Yesterday afternoon we lost the ability for all but my desktop to get to the Internet.  I also have lost the sound on my desktop so can't listen to any of the beautiful music I have available.  I also am having troubles getting Outlook to work to check my e-mail.  Fortunately we can check it via the Internet link so not a major problem, just an annoyance.  My son sent an e-mail this morning asking how the network was working.  I wasn't going to tell him until this weekend and suggested I hire someone who does network installation to come to the house and see if they can get the problems solved.  So far I must say I am not happy with the wireless network.  

Enough of my complaining.  I have so much to be thankful for and these are not major problems.

Jenny, glad to read that you are not so cold over there and that you pantry is now well stocked.  I went to the grocery store and stocked ours this morning as this is the first of the month and I receive my retirement check only once a month.

Ria, it sounds like your husband is beginning to think of some things to keep him busy.  You can always prepare a "honey do" list for him like Papa John's wife does for him or at least used to do.  My wife does that occasionally for me as well.

Good to see everyone posting and I wanted to comment to a lot of you today but seem to have run out of time.  I need to eat a bite of lunch before heading to Calvin Cove.  One other comment, Valentine's Day is not a holiday in the USA either.

Want some fun?

http://meph.eu.org/

Check this out. It's addictive but funny.

You click on his tummy to raise his bat. Then click his tummy to make him swing. The point is to hit the penguin as far as you can. I understand that the record was 556. yds.  Well, I got 587.1!!!  HAHAHAHA

If you would like to file a complaint regarding the Super Bowl half-time show, here is the site.

http://capwiz.com/afanet/alert4953551.html

The Boy & The Rose
--Rev. John R. Ramsey

In A Second Helping of Chicken Soup for the Soul, Rev. John
R. Ramsey tells how in one church a certain person provided
him with a rose boutonniere for the lapel of his suit every
Sunday. At first, he really appreciated it, but then it sort
of became routine.

Then, one Sunday, it became very special. As he was leaving
the Sunday Service, a young boy walked up to him and asked,
"Sir, what are you going to do with your flower?"

At first, the preacher didn't know what the boy was talking
about. When it sank in, he pointed to the rose on his lapel
and asked the boy, "Do you mean this?"

The boy said, "Yes, sir. If you're just going to throw it
away, I would like to have it."

The preacher smiled and told him he could have the flower,
then casually asked what he was going to do with it.

The boy, who was probably no more than 10 years old, looked
up at the preacher and said, "Sir, I'm going to give it to
my granny. My mother and father divorced last year. I was
living with my mother, but she married again and wanted me
to live with my father. I lived with him for a while, but
he said I couldn't stay, so he sent me to live with my
grandmother. She is so good to me. She cooks for me and
takes care of me. She has been so good to me that I wanted
to give her that pretty flower for loving me."

When the little boy finished, the preacher could hardly
speak. His eyes filled with tears, and he knew he had been
touched by God. He reached up and unpinned the rose. With
the flower in his hand, he looked at the boy and said, "Son,
that is the nicest thing I've ever heard, but you can't have
this flower because it's not enough. If you'll look in front
of the pulpit, you'll see a big bouquet of flowers. Different
families buy them for the Church each week. Please take those
flowers to your granny, because she deserves the very best."

Then the boy made one last statement, which Rev. Ramsey said
he will always treasure. The boy said, "What a wonderful day!
I asked for one flower but got a beautiful bouquet."

That's the thankful spirit. That's the gratitude attitude.
And it's that attitude that should guide our giving and our
lives. Like that boy's granny, God has blessed us so much.
God has been so good to us that giving shouldn't even be a
question. It should just flow from us naturally.

--Rev. John R. Ramsey, Second Helping of Chicken Soup for
the Soul. Adapted by Billy D. Strayhorn, Sermon: "The
Gratitude Attitude"

LOL LOL LOL  Pat that is too funny.  I got 513.9 with the penguin skidding across the snow! ! !

Janet I enjoyed the story.

The Gratitude Attitude.  How we try to teach gratitude to our children and fail miserably.  This story illustrates it isn't learned it is a realization of what we have and are greatful.  

Just some thoughts as I sat with the kids.  Melaura has the attitude.    I am so thankful for her too.

Bye for now
JudyB

Thanks for that nice little story, Janet.  


Because of health reasons, Paul encouraged Timothy to drink what beverage instead of only water?

• Milk
  
  
• Wine
  
  
• Grape Juice
  
  
• Orange Juice[/b][/size][/color]
  
  
  

A Paradox?

A real Christian is an odd number, anyway. He feels supreme love for the One whom he has never seen; talks familiarly every day to Someone he cannot see; expects to go to heaven on the virtue of Another; empties himself in order to be full; admits he is wrong so he can be declared right; goes down in order to get up; is strongest when he is weakest; richest when he is poorest and happiest when he feels the worst.

He dies so he can live; forsakes in order to have; gives away so he can keep; sees the invisible; hears the inaudible' and knows that which passeth understanding.

A.W. Tozer

Pat

"Take a little Wine for your stomache's sake".....O.K?

Janet That is a lovely tale.  Thank-you! I have memories of a loving grandma too.

It's raining now, but it's still much warmer than of late.  Please God it continues so.

I am going now as I have some reading to finish..."God's Raven's Must Fly".per Iain.

Good night and God bless all.
See you on Wednesday d.v.
Jenny.

JANET a lovely story it was nice to read

SONJA i also don't like to catch
fish but when my husband to a nice place then i go with i take a book with me and sometimes i see boots on the water that is nice.


I wish you all a very nice evening but in Europa it is being bedtime it is 10.26PM
in Holland  i SAY ALSO NOW A VERY GOODNIGHT
TILL TOMORROW SO GOD WILL
BYE LOVE RIA

Pat  WINE

It has been snowing all day.  the temp is +1*C or 34*F.  Much warmer, almost a heat wave! ! !

I have a 9yo with attitude right now.   OH my what she is doind reminds me so much of another young lady!  LOL

One of our dogs has been out all day.  You think he wants in?  No way he is having too much fun.  He is romping in the snow and playing with the neighbours dog.

Oh yes, does anyone know when pancake Tuesday is?  Is it today?  Victor has asked for pancakes for supper, so perhaps we will kill 2 birds with one stone.

Bye for now
Love J

Well, I've got a spare minute or two here, so HELLO to all of you.  It seems like lately that I barely get time to skim through what you guys read, let alone really digest it and reply appropriately.  Between work, web design, and music, it seems that there's almost not enough of me to go around.  But that's okay, I think, as long as I'm doing things I enjoy.  Travis always gets the first couple of hours after I get home from work, and usually he gets more than that  He's a very insistent and persistent youngster.  

Larry, just so you know, I hate computers  That's a sarcastic comment from a guy who spends most of his day in front of one.  I love what they can do but I hate the fact that they never seem to do it correctly without a lot of coercion.  What were your reasons for trying the wireless network?  Has it done everything wrong, or just caused system problems?

Ria, Jenny, you guys always make me smile with your fresh, honest look at the world.  Thanks.

Etta, I recommend a full body bath for both cats simultaneously.  Just kidding - the results would not be pretty.  Hope you get your garage doors fixed!  That is an aggravation, I'm sure.  

Where's Iain?  

Jeanne Lee, I honestly don't see how you guys up there deal with all that snow.  Wow.  I love to watch it and play in it, I just get frustrated at the aggravation it brings on the highways.  I hear a lot of folk from up north comment that "nobody down here knows how to drive on it" but I'm not sure that's the problem.  Maybe I need to spend a winter in the NorthEast to learn what's so different up there.  It just seems like you guys have a lot more snow but have LESS trouble with it.  Maybe I need to become a Yankee.  Hmmm.

I hope all of you have a GREAT day!  

nard