Christian Photographers Community

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Morning Devotional...

My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?  Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning. 
Psalms 22:1

Have you ever cried out to God with such despairing utterances as these?  I have.  Amid the deep black void of moonless night, my loneliness threatened to pull me into a swirling, spiraling eddy of emptiness.  The sound of my own raspy voice screamed out from my inmost beings: "God, if You really exist, show me how to find You!  I don't know where You are!"  Church hadn't met my needs.  People who promised love only provided pain.  While my clenched fists beat against my bedroom wall,  twelve years' worth of tears,  a maelstrom of anger, hurt, and frustration, flowed freely.

He showed me the cross.  The year was 1973.  I left my knapsack of grief on the bloodstained ground beneath His wooden cross.  And I never looked back.  He has met my every need in surprising, miraculous, and incredible ways.

Jesus, separated from the Father because of our sin, reached the ear of God with His own desperation.  He experienced for us this ultimate terror...that we would never be forsaken or walk alone the road which leads to Calvary.

Where are you today?  On the road, walking toward Him?  Sitting down, too bewildered to even formulate questions?  Or are you kneeling, as I did, right at His bleeding feet?

Prayer-
Lord, no matter what hazards are down the road, You've got a signpost ready to hang on whatever misleading marker is already in the ground.  And the Son is shining ahead.

*wonders why it is the 28th again*

Can't stay long, though just thought I'd say goodmorning (even if it is still night )

We apologize for CP being unaccessible for so many hours.

I went to bed with a silly headache last night and then got busy with some things this morning before checking my computer and hadn't noticed. 

It's good it's back now and everyone is just going to have to talk more today to get this NEM filled up!  LOL

Thanks Soni, for the devotional.  I should have come earlier to start my day with it and I would have noticed that CP was down.  Actually, it wasn't really down.  Our main webpage at http://christianphotographers.com was fine...it was just the forums that weren't connected.

Ian is moving very soon so I'm not sure what that will mean as he will be moving all the servers to a new location so we might in the next couple of weeks be down again while he does that.  Grandma will only be babysitting little David so it won't be me that will help with that end of things as they move their business to a new location.

I'm glad that many of you are on the Yahoo email list so that in times like this we can still communicate.

In case you haven't yet joined this list, here's the address:

Christian Photography Email List   Click on "Join" and I'll get you on it asap!

hello everyone!!

Cold, snowy, and sleety here in WNC.  Travis and nards are both finally getting better, I hope.  Now, if I can just stay away from it. ;-0

Haev a good day, all!

hawk329 !

Jerry told me that CP was down and he was unable to lurk and read.  He came over early this morning and shortly after, it started snowing.  I watched the highway and the cars were moving okay so Jerry and I went to Lowe's.  I have been checking online about Electric Fireplaces.  With my last bottle gas fill up, it cost me $8 a day to heat this 1,200 sq. ft. house.  And the front bedroom is shut off.  I have new windows, plenty of insulation in the attic and brick outside.  So I checked out the Electric Fireplaces.  Lowe's had the same brand that I was checking out.  Well, they were on clearance!!!  I saved $300 and I am even having it delivered Monday.  Can't wait to see how it works and it will have to save some money I spend for gas. 

Well, I missed going to my church last Sunday and I am hoping I can get there tomorrow.  A lot of snow is predicted but when Jerry and I came home from Noblesville it was melting on the roads.  Also after church we are going to Tony's for lunch.  Charlene is having her family, Jerry and I for lunch because it is Tony's 44th birthday!!!  Now THAT makes me feel old.  I am not old but Tony is getting there...

I am finally here after a long wait to get into the site. WOW ... I wanted to write but it was down this morning so I am here for abit this afternoon then I am on my way out to take my daughter to a youth parti but I will be back later.  So, I pray that all is well with all of you today.

Etta ... I checked out the web pages that you sent & so I'ill be looking into them more later today and so thanks for sending them my way. By the way do you like to eat eggs ? Just wondering I came up with a new recipe with eggs & spinach & bacon so I might be posting it later so be sure to check it out !! 

Well sorry for the short note but I really need to head out so I will return again soon !![/b][/size][/font][/color]

ry 29   

Personal Life: Seeking Approval

Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince,
rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 
--2 Timothy 4:2

I cannot believe in the spirituality of any Christian man who keeps
an eye open for the approval of others, whoever they may be. The
man after God's own heart must be dead to the opinion of his
friends as well as his enemies. He must be as willing to cross
important persons as obscure ones. He must be ready to rebuke his
superior as quickly as those who may be beneath him on the
ecclesiastical ladder. To reprove one man in order to gain the
favor of another is no evidence of moral courage. It is done in
the world all the time.

We'll never be where we should be in our spiritual lives until we
are so devoted to Christ that we ask no other approbation than His
smile. When we are wholly lost in Him the frantic effort to please
men will come to an end. The circle of persons we struggle to
please will be narrowed to One. Then we will know true freedom,
but not a moment before.  The Price of Neglect, 141.

"Lord, does anyone ever really get over the desire to seek the
approval of others? That is a battle for which we are totally
dependent on You for victory. Help me today to be content with
only the smile of Your approval. Amen."

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Yesterdaywe drove over to Knoxville to visit our daughter and son-in-law.  We plan to go back to Nashville tomorrow after church.

Soni, thanks for the thoughtful and well written devotional this morning.  I think o how God changed my life so many years ago when by God's grace he saved me through the cross of Christ.

I tried earlier to post here and couldn't get in and now it seems to be working fine.  I am using my son-in-law's computer and I tbattery hought it was the computer's fault.  I brought my own laptop but forgot the power line and the went down soon after I turned it on.

I hope you all have a good day and a good Lord's day tomorrow.

Papa John

http://www.lillyofthevalleyva.com/music-shouttothelord.html

Well it is now afternoon, just as I was leaving Al paged me and told me cP was back up. On well had to got o work anyway. I have been at fays all morning until just  a little while ago

Last night when I called Gilbert to remind him that today was a grandma Day he told me he was going to be pretty busy today and if he could work that into his sched ule the ok. Well so far I have not heard from Gilbert. It is such a beautiful sunny but cold day here in McKinleyville too. Perfect walking the dog weather so that is what I am going to do now.

TTYL

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The love of God is greater far                     
Than tongue or pen can ever tell
It goes beyond the highest star
And reaches to the lowest hell
The guilty pair, bowed down with care
God gave His Son to win
His erring child He reconciled
And pardoned from his sin

Could we with ink the ocean fil
And were the skies of parchment made
Were every stalk on earth a quill
And every man a scribe by trade

To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry
Nor could the scroll contain the whole
Though stretched from sky to sky

Hallelujah 3x

O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints' and angels' song

http://www.wtv-zone.com/Mary/GospelMidisN-Z/the-love-of-god1.mid



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YaWWWWWWn! Good morning, folks.

Um - the clock on the computer tells me my body just THINKS it's morning. Actually I've rested almost all day today - very tired from my trip and from all the extra duties in Atlanta.

John, hope your birthday is great.

Tbear, I love spinach and eggs. In fact, that's what I may fix for my dinner. I like to make a little nest in the spinach, then drop in a couple of eggs and let them "poach" to desired doneness. Yummy.

Y'all have a good day.

Ruth Ann

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TBEAR, I am so sorry to hear about your friends death.  I will be praying for her husband and family..and for you, too. 

It is a very, risky surgery and needs to be done only as a last resort with plenty of pre-planning, diet, counseling, etc. 

 

Hi everyone.  I wrote to Pat early this morning in anticipation that we would probably lose power and I wouldn't be able to access the Internet.  However, it is now 4:30 and we still have power and heat.  We also have icy roads and they have now extended our winter storm watch until 11 pm tonight.  It was suppose to end at 4 pm.  We haven't stepped out of the house today and probably won't tomorrow as I can't risk sliding into a ditch as neither Pat nor I am able to walk very far in the cold weather.

We are going to hate missing church tomorrow as we are having a going away reception for our Associate Pastor after six years of loving service to the Lord expressed through our congregation.  I wouldn't be surprised if the services are called off tomorrow so maybe the reception will be rescheduled.

Ruth Ann, you about ruined my appetite with the spinach and eggs.  UGH!  Glad you like it.  If the spinach was uncooked it would be all right and I would want the eggs scrambled. Glad you are home safe and sound as you sure wouldn't want to be on the roads around Atlanta today.  They are only plowing the two right lanes of the Interstate and having trouble keeping up with that.  There have been many wrecks and road closings.

Happy Birthday to John in UK.  Hope this was a very good day for you.  Please drop in here at NEM on occasion and say hi.

Janice, good to see you posting yesterday.  I certainly hope the kidney transplant is successful and the young fellow can enjoy a normal life. 

Chris, I thought the piece by Tozar on "Choices" was very good. 

Karmat, hope the storm wasn't too bad up your way.  Glad to see you post the Nards and Travis were feeling better.  They need to be well to welcome that new baby into the family.  Bet the excitement level is high.  My sister and I are 3 years apart and my mother used to tell me about how excited I was awaiting her arrival and having my little suitecase packed to go to my grandmother's house when that day arrived.  Sure you are probably counting the hours at this point.

Judy, stay warm and if it warms up please send some of it south as it is right down cold down here.

Pat, thanks for sharing the message from Janet's daughter concerning the progress that Beth is making.  I hope the doctors are keeping her comfortable and that she will soon be able to get out of ICU.

Marilyn, hope your little grandson was able to come over as know you sounded pretty disappointed that he might not be able to get there today.  I am sure he would be disappointed as well.

Sonja, thanks for the fine devotional this morning.  Hope that Zach is feeling better by now.  It sounds like your photography business is really keeping you busy.  Are you and your daughter still dancing?

TeresaDawn, these cats can certainly be onery, can't they.  I bet that was a shock when the curtains came down. 

Pat, it must be quite a job to move a busy involving a lot of servers that have to be dependable and available 24/7.  Hope that move goes well for your son.

Welcome hawk329 to CP.  I look forward to your posting so we can get to know you.

Etta Sue, your electric fireplace sounds like it might be the thing.  One of my coffee drinking buddies built a new home 3 or 4 years ago and it is all electric and he says he bills are very reasonable.  I guess you don't have to worry about venting an electric fireplace.  Does it have artificial logs?  You will have to post a picture of it when you get it.

Papa John, do you leave the battery in your laptop all the time.  When I bought this Toshiba laptop they told me not to leave the battery in it if I ran it plugged in as it would shorten the battery life.  They also said that the battery life is only a couple of years.  I am suppose to get a new battery in a couple of years with the extended warranty that I purchased on the laptop.  However, most of the time I leave the battery out.  I do try to let it discharge about once a month and then recharge the battery

Tbear, I see by your posting above that your family must agree with me on the spinach and eggs.    I am so sorry to read of the loss of your good friend.  I know that is very serious surgery.  My neice had it done about a year ago but fortunatley so far she hasn't had any complications.  I know that my sister is very concerned that her daughter isn't doing all that she is suppose to do.  My neice has 3 little ones and was very overweight.  I know you are very saddened.

Well I hope I haven't missed anyone in my posting, but of course, include everyone in my greeting so if I didn't mention your name just know you are included and that I enjoyed reading your postings here on CP.

Happy Birthday, John!!!

Welcome to anyone I've missed!

I think I have cabin fever.  I told bernard I was going to go stand on the porch for a while, just for a change of scenary.  Bit nippy for that, though. :-(

Larry--Thanks for the suitcase idea.  I ahve been trying to figure out a good way to get Travis excited about spending time away from Bernard and I when the baby is born.  I may let him pack it.  Or at least help.

TBear -- I'm really sorry about your friend.  I have read that that surgery can be dangerous.  I'll be praying for you adn her family.

I think I'll go sit in another room in a desperate attempt to change my vantage point.  maybe take a picture or sumtin.

laters

Good day brothers and sisters from Southwest Oklahoma. This is another day that belongs to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Praise His Name and be glad in HIM!

Sonifo, Thank you sister for a beautiful devotion to start the day with. "At the Feet of JESUS" is a proper place for all of us.

Love In Christ,
Tom

1 Timothy 6:12  Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

Hebrews 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Romans 3:24  Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Larry, thanks for the information about the battery.  Actually I seldom use the battery anyway.  A few times the power has been off I have used it then.  I think now it works for about an hour or so.  Of course if I hadn't forgot to bring the power cord I wouldn't have had any problem this time.

We have had a quiet day here.  There has been some rain and ice but I don't think it has been too bad like down in Atlanta.

They are getting ready to have hamburgers for supper.

Papa John

Forest and I went to the movies and saw "Racing Stripes" . His favorite part of the movie was when the Pelican did something on the mean lady's hat. He tlad me she got what was coming to her. It is a good kids movie and I love kids movies.

TBear I am so sorry to hear about your friend. I will be praying for you and for her family.

I have a friend who had a similar surgery at the beginning of this month. Similar only in that is is for losing weight.  She had a part of the intestine removed sothat the food does not say in the system  as long.

TTYL

TBear, I'm so sorry to read of your good friend.  It's so difficult to bade farewell this way. 

Sounds like you had a nice time with Forest, Marilyn.  That's great.  It's so imporatant to have a good grandparent/grandchild relationship! 

Time to lock the door.

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