Christian Photographers Community

Morning Devotional...


Will you love your brother enough to be reconciled?

Whose responsibility is reconciliation? When brother offends against brother, who should seek the reconciliation?  Should it be the offending party?  Should it be the offended party?  The usual answer begins with the words, "It depends . . ."  But does it?  God says it doesn't.  God says that both parties are obligated.  Jesus said, "Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift . . . first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.  You can't worship God while your brother has something against you.

Jesus also said, "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone . . ."  You are obligated to go.  In both cases, you are obligated to go.

Reconciliation is so extremely important that it must never wait for someone else's initiative.

"He who does not love does not know God, for God is love." 1 Jn.4:8

Al Moak

Thanks, AL ... I have kept these words of Jesus uppermost in my heart for many years.  It follows the admonitions in Leviticus, chapter 3.  The offering spoken of here is for "reconciliation" and, in order to be reconciled to God we must first be reconciled to our brother ... doesn't matter why the relationship was broken ... we are commanded to mend it or we can't expect our relationship to God (our offering) to be accepted.

See y'all later ... <Jane didn't say she'd say anything ... just see y'all >

After I read that I realized that that is exactly what God has done.
We were the offenders, Yet He came to reconcile himself to us.
we were also offended by Him and he still came to reconcile!

2Cr 5:18-20    Now all {these} things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 19    namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20   Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

Well, today my little sister turns 19 (Her name is Nicki)

Still Sunday night really, I am going to be soon, I am tired.
Went to church this morning (or yesterday for all you people)e, usually we sit in the second row, not that it matters much, but today we found that rows one and two were reserved. Yep, big signs that said "reserved for scentless people" or something...odd...maybe someone is allergic??? Most of the people we sit with sat up there anyways, but my dad was wearing cologne today so we had to sit a few rows back instead.

So anyways, just as church ends, and I am getting up, someone says to me to go and get my classroom ready and rather than me picking the kids up, she will go and get them and bring them to me, so that i have time to get it ready while she gets them, and that way the kids aren't running around getting excited while I have to set up the classroom. So that's great I think and I go upstairs, and then she comes not with the 5-7 five-year-olds I normally teach (well 9 in the class, but usually only 5-7 on any given day show up), but with 17 kids aged 3-6. Big surprise. I told her that not all these kids were mine, and she said that apperently some teachers were missing, and then left, so I had 17 kids by myself today. I hadn't brought enough craft supplies, so some had to make do with construction paper and felts to draw a picture of a candle (the theme was to let their light shine) while the others used paper plates and cut out candle shapes and glued them onto the plate (red plates) which was the original plan. Anyways that worked out okay because half of them preferred to draw it anyways. Also I hadn't brought a snack today which was just as good because there wouldn't have been enough for the whole group. And the good part was that the little boy in my class wasn't the only boy, and found some kids to play with. Actually there were 3 boys in the group this time. (14 girls) Anyways, the time went fast, we made crafts, and then I let the kids choose and the broke off in groups of what they wanted to do, some got out the toys, one group did a big puzzle together, one or two kids kept drawing and making extra crafts, and about 5 of them played musical chairs (without music of course, they just flicked the lights really quick when it was time to sit down), and another group yet found some bells and made a singing group (3-6 year olds don't care that it isn't Christmas, and will sing jingle bells any time of year) so anyways, busy and loud, but fun all the same lol.

Teresa Dawn - sounds like a really fun time, and you are to be very much commended for being so flexible!  I'll bet you had fun, too.  And you didn't panic!?  I don't think I'd have known what to do!

Very quick hi today!!!!

Tomorrow's the big day, unless of course it happens today!

I though I posted but I see it got lost in cyberspace again.

Good Morning. Not much to say this morning. I am dealing with some issues about my car again. I am leaving it all in God's hands now but I may have a different car and no $$ in the bank to use for my moving. I will be trusting God for the $$ to move on. I will let you know how everything turns out.

TTYL

Wow, Karma! Excited I bet.

Good morning everyone.  I have a ton of dance pictures to thumb through and edit. 

Hope you all have a wonderful day.
Soni

Liz ~ Very interesting series of photos and narration on the little hummingbirds.  No, I can't imagine a tiny bird being a half-inch long.

Al ~ Thank you for the devotional.  Our sermons last week were on Cain & Abel.  Although Abel never had the chance of reconciliation because Cain killed him, many people in our church called a brother or sister that they had been estranged and reconciliated.  Two brothers hadn't spoken for three years and have decided to go fishing together.  Guess what one of them will be fishing for?

Teresa Dawn ~ I can't imagine being in a room all alone with seventeen 5-6 year olds, let alone trying to keep them busy with projects.  I only had one child and no grandchildren so most kids are foreign to me.  I love them to pieces but I am like a chicken with it's head off....terrible analogy...when it comes to kids.  You are to be commended for a great job.

Marilyn ~ I looked at your birthday cards on your clickable.  What love has poured out for you.  Wonderful!  Sorry about the lost posts.....I hate it when that happens....a quote from Dr. Phil.

Karma ~ What can I say?  I can just see the three of you down there in NC.  Should we go to the hospital yet?  Should we go to the Doctor?  But rest assured....little Tyra Kristiana will be here before you know it....Wow~  We are all excited for you!!!!  And thanks for posting the pictures of Trav. 

Sonja ~ Hi, busy gal!  I am so happy when you stop by with a few words.  We know you are busy but you make us feel loved when you say a few words.

Well, today it is gloomy.  I made a pan of brownies in my new stoneware from Pampered Chef.  But I forgot to line the pan with foil and grease it.  I seem to do those type things a lot the older I get...    So Jerry and I may have scraped-out brownies.  I was going to take them to Small Groups tonight but we will see. 

Thanks to all of you who checked out my latest pictures on Photographs Here.  It means a lot.

Hi Everyone...

I'm missing Papa John's green posts!  Anyone heard from him?  I hope he's fine.


Teresa, what a time you had!  What a wonderful teacher you are though if you can keep 17 of that age group in your attention.  And isn't it wonderful to see how our Lord works too causing you to forget the treats, etc. as there wouldn't have been enough for all? 

Thanks for sharing all of that.


Sorry about your car, Marilyn.  Awful to face this when we need our cars so much.  How's the house hunting going?


Ohh, Karma!   We're all so excited!


Etta Sue, it's so gloomy here today as well.  The sun tried to shine a bit very early on but got quickly hidden by fog.  I'm off to see your photos.


Thanks for the devotion this morning, Al.  It blessed my heart.


Soni, great to see you here today.  What a lot of work!  How many photos do you have to go through?  Is this for a client?


Hi Smokey...  Thanks for your thoughts on today's devotion.  It's just so good to read everyone's thoughts.


And Jane, you too.  Thanks for your thoughts as well. 


I can't stay on the computer long.  I'm experiencing some crazy neck and shoulder pain and I'm on the powerful meds today so I'm off for awhile...

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February 7   

The Holy Spirit: We Need to Repent

Do not quench the Spirit. 
--1 Thessalonians 5:19

It is time for us to repent, for our transgressions against the
blessed Third Person have been many and much aggravated. We have
bitterly mistreated Him in the house of His friends. We have
crucified Him in His own temple as they crucified the Eternal Son
on the hill above Jerusalem. And the nails we used were not of
iron, but of the finer and more precious stuff of which human
life is made. Out of our hearts we took the refined metals of
will and feeling and thought, and from them we fashioned the
nails of suspicion and rebellion and neglect. By unworthy
thoughts about Him and unfriendly attitudes toward Him we grieved
and quenched Him days without end.

The truest and most acceptable repentance is to reverse the acts
and attitudes of which we repent....

We can best repent our neglect by neglecting Him no more. Let us
begin to think of Him as One to be worshipped and obeyed. Let us
throw open every door and invite Him in. Let us surrender to Him
every room in the temple of our hearts and insist that He enter
and occupy as Lord and Master within His own dwelling.  The
Pursuit of Man, 71-72.

"Forgive me. Change me. Indwell me. Control me. Amen."

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Thanks for the nice devotional, Pastor Al. 

This has been a frustrating sort of morning.  I started at 5 A.M. to get rid of some problems on my computer, it was running very sluggish!  Spybot and Norton's didn't show the problem, other than a recurring  DSO Exploit on Spybot.  So used Microsoft Antispyware, McFee's Stinger....removed two worms and some other things.  Then again ran Spybot and got DOS Exploit.  So checked SN Virus folder, got info. and finally have removed that pesky DOS....all my updates were done, and it was a problem with Spybot.  At last, heavy sigh

Amanda has been trying to keep one of her new baby bunnies alive as it was losing weight at a rapid pace.  Brought it into the house, consulted other experts, fed it special food and drops, keeping it in a small cage in her room.  Despite all the love and care, it died last night.  So again Gramie had to find a box, blanket and prepare it for a spot in the ever increasing plot.  First it was the 12 yr. old cat, raised from a kitten.  Then a prize bunny who died giving birth, then a baby bunny that was tossed out of the nest, now this one.  I am getting more than a little tired and depressed.......We take our pets seriously around these parts!

The sun is out and the snow & rain has stopped.  Hope it gets warm, then things will look and feel like Spring again.  Wendy is a little better today and can take over the cooking....I am running out of ideas for the menu.

Sorry about your problems with the car, Marilyn.  I keep praying that you will soon find a new home that will be comfortable for you and the pets. 

Karmat, we are all thinking about you and your little family and praying for that happy day.

TeresaDawn, I love your posts and admire all that energy.  That also goes for TBear!

Must close now and get busy with something other than this pesky computer.
Hope everyone has a wonderful day.  This is a verse that I especially like:

" Let those who love the LORD hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked. "- Psalm 97:10

God Bless.

Liz

Liz, that's a wonderful verse.  That would be nice on a plaque and it's oh, so true.

I have been back at home since about 10 am. I am not driving that car again. The front end is all over the road and the left front wheel feels like it has the brake on full blast. Well anyway  that is the problem with my car. I have already soaked in $600. for the timing belt and seals last month and I am NOT going to put anymore $$$$ iinto it.

There is a person from the church whose mother can no longer drive and I had already expressed interest in her car. Low mileage 88 Chevy Celebrity, new battery, good tires I believe a 4 cylinder front wheel drive. I hope and Automatic although I do drive a stick currently.

I have $600.+  saved in the bank for a security deposit on a house, if and when God reveals it to me, that I am going to use to put a down payment on the car and will make payments on the last $400. they want for it unless they come down in price. 

I am trusting in God for the deposit $ that I will need when I find my house.

When I  prayed about it this morning I kept hearing in my heart to ask and you will recieve. Our Pastor has been talking about getting our church to look after each other's needs the way they did in the the book of Acts. When I called him this morning he confirmed that I should have let him know the problem. So many times people do not let their needs be known and therefore God's people  (our brothers and sisters) cannot help We act like we can handle all the problems on our own and don't let God do his job. So I have put the problem in God's hand and will trust in him.

TMI but I had to tell you.

TTYL

hello,
Sorry i haven't been online to post in so long been busy. basketball is in full swing and with less than a month left it is exciting. Last year of ball. Tomorrow is our last regular season game and it is against moscow. we have had some very rough games and had a rough practice today tring to get us ready for playoffs. well i would post more but i need to ice my ankle and elbow/shoulder. TTYL
Sarah

Then I got a bill in today's mail for over $7000. that some credit card company  says I owe them from 1987. It is not my bill!!!!!!!!.

Hi everyone.  Another busy day it seems.  I had to go to Wal-Mart this morning to pickup several things, including some clothes and a toy for our great granddaughter who turns 1 year old on the 11th.  I tried to go very slowly but it is a huge store and by the time I finished getting the items on the list I was exhausted.  Did stop at the Dollar store for some baby aspirin that I have to take and then came home.  I had planned to go to the store but knew I was getting too tired.  So I came home and Pat and went out to get a sandwhich and then I came home and had a nap.  I will go to the store tomorrow. 

Pat is having so much pain in her hip that I don't want her trying to walk through a big store.  She is going to have surgery as soon as it can be scheduled.  However, she doesn't see the surgeon until the end of the month so will continue to suffer with it.  It is not the joint but something on the outside of the hip that must be affecting the nerves and causing the pain.  We hope to go to Florida at the end of the month for her cousin's annual get together and to visit some friends but the trip is looking doubtful as she would be miserable and it is better to be home if you don't feel well.

Marilyn, that bill sounds like a scam for certain.  Hope your car situation works out.  It seems like cars are like a money pit and it never ends.  You are sure using some beautiful graphics from your PSP efforts.  Obviously you are learning a lot.

Pat, sorry to read your neck is bothering you and hope you are feeling better this evening.  I agree that it has been quite awhile since we have heard from Papa John.

Tbear, do you do very much webpage work?  It is a lot of fun to do webwork but also a lot of work, especially when you don't remember all the coding or leave out something and then things don't work like you would like them to.  I had that experience with the new webpage I created this past weekend.  Computers are so unforgiving.

Liz, sorry about the bunny but the life cycle goes on.  Glad you found the problem with your computer.  The humming bird photos were really something.

Janet, I really wasn't pulling for either of the teams yesterday but did expect the Patriots to win as they had the best team all year long.  Since Atlanta didn't make it through the playoffs I really wasn't too interested in the game and was doing other things on my computer so wasn't paying a lot of attention during the game.

Sarah, good luck on your upcoming tourney.  Hope your team does well.  It sounds like you are already banged up and the tourney hasn't begun. 

Al, a very good devotional today.  It accomplishes nothing to hold a grudge.

Jane, I thought you had something to say.  I think you may underestimate your witness to others as you express your leaning on the Lord

Teresa Dawn, it sounds like you kept your wits about you and were very creative with the Sunday School class.  Perhaps the minister is allergic to scents and wanted to keep the two front rows scent free. 

I wonder if Karmat and Nards are new parents by this time?  This is the big day.  I am looking forward to seeing the message from Nards.

Sonja, are we going to see some of the dance photos?  With 4 youngsters to keep up with I don't see how you have time for photography.  You must be very organized. 

Welcome Triplethreat and Austin.

Etta Sue, I expect those brownies are still going to taste very good.  I sure know what you mean about forgetting things.  It seems to happen to me all the time.  I sure like your heart graphic.

Nita, it is nice that your daughter could visit with you.  Know those are special time when our children come home to visit for awhile.

A special hi to Smokeythe Dog, Chris and anyone else posting that I have't mentioned..

Ohhh, Marilyn!  That's awful!  The bill and the car problems!  I'm so sorry that you are going through this.


Larry, take it easy my friend.  I'm glad that you pace yourself.  I do miss Papa John in here.  I pray he's ok.


Hi Sarah...  Nice to see you posting sweetie.  Enjoy school!  Soon you'll be out in the work force and you'll wish you were back in school


Well, I just saw Karma online on here so she's not in the hospital yet.  So I guess it's tomorrow for sure now--unless it's this evening!

Larry:  Wonderful  post.... You always seem to remember everyone.

Al:  Loved yyour devotion.  Thank you for that.  Its exactly what our Pastor talked about on Sunday...Communion Sunday.  I KNOW for certain, that there is discord between two members of our church.  I don't understand how they can sit there and take communion.

Marilyn:  I hope you are able to purchase that '88 car...and that its in good enough shape to make it worthwhile.  Cars are such an expense., but we can't manage without them.

Pat:  Ohhh - sorry your neck is giving you trouble.  You have been pretty good lately, I thought.

Teresa D:.  Good for you, taking charge of all those children!

Karmat:  Thinking of you for tomorrow! ((((HUGS))))

A warm welcome to Tripletreat and Austin.

(I almost posted "triplethreat"....LOL)....glad I re-read what I was typing...

Ok here is what I found out on that Bill. It is one that was in with my Bankruptcy filing back in 1987, 18 years ago. and Has already been charged off and taken off my credit report years ago. I don't know what this collection agency is trying to pull but they are not going to get any $$$$$$$$$$$ out of me. There's an old saying that you can't get blood out of a turnip. 

Hey there y'all ...  

I have been busily doing "stuff" around the house today, but I did read in here this morning <had nothing to say, tho>.  

Thanks, Pat and Larry, for your comments.  I do lean <heavily at times> on the Lord for all things.  I love Him and know that He loves me too and will always "be there" for me, no matter what the circumstances.  It just seems more than most people need, or want, to hear for me to pass along my comments.  

Marilyn, I sure do empathisize with you.  Doesn't it seem that whenever it rains it pours?  I can attest to the fact, from experience, that just around the corner there is sunshine and the answer to all your prayers!  Keep on keeping on and you'll see ... your pastor is right, too, to let you know that the body of Christ is to care for one another.  

I'm sorry, Liz, for the loss of treasured pets.  This life is full of losses, we know, but we can look forward to that time when there will be no more death or loss and God will wipe away all tears.

Larry, please let Pat know that I am praying for her as well as for you.  I know you know how to pace yourself and take your meds, but please don't try to do too much, okay?

Well ... I gotta go.  Something else needs done around here and I am the only one responsible so .... off to the races.  See y'all later.

Hi, friends,

Today was a busy day at work (aren't MOST Mondays!!!). But I shut down and left for home at the correct time.

I heard from my son. He's an entertainer in the UK, and was one of the featured singers on last night's Country Music Awards over there. He sounded really happy and upbeat.

Must go - things to do.

Ruth Ann

It has been a busy and trying day for me.  I had very little sleep last night, so I'm ready to crash.

I took Beth to the doctor today, and he says her wound is amost healed.  But her headaches are really terrible.  He thinks they should lessen some by next week--we hope so, anyway.

I am in a portrait painting class all this week, so won't be on the computer much at all.  But I will be thinking of all of you here.

Well I have another car. It is a V-6 automatic .88 Chevy Celebrity 4 door.Praise the Lord

Wonderful, Marilyn!  That's great.

Woohooo, Karma!  Only about 12 hours now. I bet you are getting excited to see your beautiful little girl.

Larry, I am very busy, but organized I am not.  The kids make sure of that.

Thanks Etta Sue!

Janet, I hope Beth feels better within the week.  I hate headaches.

That stinks, Marilyn.  Awesome about the new car.

Howdee, Pat.

I am off again.  Hope you all have a wonderful night and sleep.
soni

I'm not so sure the minister is allergic to scents, I think maybe someone else, because there hasn't been signs like this before and he has been there for 8 years or so now