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Morning Devotional...





This is one of the best explanations of why God allows pain and suffering that I have seen. It's an explanation other people will understand.


A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed.  As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation.  They talked about so many things and various subjects.

When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said: "I don't believe that God exists."

"Why do you say that?" asked the customer.

"Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can't imagine a loving a God who would allow all of these things."

The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument. The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop.

Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and unkempt.

The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber: "You know what? Barbers do not exist."

"How can you say that?" asked the surprised barber. "I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!"

"No!" the customer exclaimed. "Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside."

"Ah, but barbers DO exist! What happens is, people do not come to me."

"Exactly!"- affirmed the customer. "That's the point! God, too, DOES exist! What happens, is, people don't go to Him and do not look for Him.  That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world."

Quoteorginally posted by Pat Scott
Glad you got some sleep, Bob!  But 2 hours is definitely not enough.

Looks like thats all I'm going to get for a while. Talked to my doc, this afternoon, he upped my morphine to 40mg. So maybe when I take it, I'll fall asleep tonight.

Bob - I'm praying for you mate. I'm on the same stuff and it is not pleasant, nevertheless try and lift your weary eyes above the pain to the One who orders every breath that we take. Listen to what He says about your affliction and pain today, 'It is I, be not afraid.' If we can accept that whatever we are going through is pleasing to God then a ladder will be set up from our hearts to Heaven and glorious things will be revealed to you in the secret place. Lean heavily upon Him, He has strong shoulders and He loves nothing better than His children to be totally dependent upon Him for all things. May His strength be made perfect in your weakness.

Pat - A wonderful devotional which got me thinking.

This world probably expected God to come and save the world with legions of angels and fiery chariots, crushing satan and all His enemies under foot. Then taking up residence in a golden palace ruling over a world called Utopia.

My God was born of a woman, in a stable in Bethlehem. He lived in this world for a little over 33 years. He did not call the righteous to be saved, rather He called poor helpless, guilty sinners like me. He did not wash away my sins with a magic wand, rather He was nailed to a cross outside the walls of Jerusalem along with two common criminals. Soldiers spat in His face, they pleated a crown of thorns and placed it upon His head, they pierced His side with a spear. As He hung on the cross passers by mocked Him and laughed Him to scorn. He was forsaken of God and He died in my place on that cross.

This is the God that I believe in.

Having been in the tomb for three days He rose again from the dead and He now lives making intercession for His saints in Glory. His Kingdom was not of this world, something the deaf and the blind cannot understand.

I live for the day that I die, for that will be the day when I will be with Him forever, never to depart in a place where there are no more tears, no pain, no darkness, no anxiety, no strife and no sin. Until that day, I want to walk as closely to Him in this world as I can. I may have to suffer some purging and pruning along the way, but I am content to put my hand in His and let Him lead me wherever He wishes. He knows the way that I take, He does all things well and He will be my guide even unto death.

I am not ashamed to have Christ as my God and I would want the whole world to bow their knees and acknowledge that He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

With love.

Your brother in Christ

Iain

Another mild day in SC.  The morning sun has not come up yet and the fog is hanging close to the ground so I will be driving very carefully to work.

I'm starting back on the SB beginning diet as the holidays were my downfall. 

My prayer today:
Father, You did love the whole world.  You sent Jesus, the Savior..amen

Thanks be to God for His undeserved grace to each of us.

I pray that today I will be  His witness to all I see. 

Each post (including the devotional) has profoundly moved me today. May God draw each of us close to His bosom in a warm, loving Fatherly embrace.

Ruth Ann

Philippians 1:3 "I thank my God everytime I remember you, 4: always praying with joy for all of you."

I went to bed with a headache last night and it continues this morning. Isn't it strange how we pray for God to take away the pain and then run to the medicine cabinet to get an aspirin?  My heart goes out to those (Iain, Bob, RuthAnn) who suffer such debilitating and incapacitating pain daily. My headache seems so insigificant. I pray that your pain will dissipate and that your sleep will be sweet in the arms of the Lord tonight and when you wake up the pain will be gone. In Jesus name.

Etta Sue I am so glad that I was able to give you something you needed and wanted. I too have been downloading like crazy and getting nothing much else done. I did get my Tuesday graphic done and sent off. I wish I was as talented as you are with the animations.

Pat did you get your link?

Happy has another appointment withthe Vet this morning to recheck his ear. I am not going to give him 2 pills before he goes, I will only give him 1. last time he was  wiped out until the next morning. His ear looks a lot better and he has been reawl good about letting me put in the medicine.

TTYL

Wonderful devotional this morning, as always  ;D

Thanks, Janet!

(Marilyn check you PM's)!

Hello Everyone
I received this e-mail this morning from my aunt and thought I would share it with all of you!
The Holy Alphabet


Although things are not perfect
Because of trial or pain
Continue in thanksgiving
Do not begin to blame
Even when the times are hard
Fierce winds are bound to blow
God is forever able
Hold on to what you know
Imagine life without His love
Joy would cease to be
Keep thanking Him for all the things
Love imparts to thee
Move out of "Camp Complaining"
No weapon that is known
On earth can yield the power
Praise can do alone
Quit looking at the future
Redeem the time at hand
Start every day with worship
To "thank" is a command
Until we see Him coming
Victorious in the sky
We'll run the race with gratitude
X alting God most high
Y es, there'll be good times and yes some will be bad, but...
Z ion waits in glory...where none are ever sad!

"I AM Too blessed to be stressed!" The shortest distance between a
problem
and a solution
is the distance between your knees and the floor.
The one who kneels to the Lord can stand up to anything. Love and
peace
be
with you
forever, Amen.


PS: GOD LOVES YOUI just thought it was so beautiful I wanted you all to read it!!
Have a great day!!
Blessings, Carrie


Edited by Pat to remove the >

good morning from a cold ok panhandle.... it's expected that we will get an ice storm sometime today the team we are supposed to play is already haveing one and there is talk about not having the game today because we would travel into the ice storm going there and home into one that will be going on here. so who knows right now... we are also supposed to get some snow sometime but as of right now just ice... well i need to get going for a while ttyl
Sarah

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Well since everyone is posting I will post the prayer in yesterdays Daily Devotional and I will post all of todays Daily Encounter. First will be yesterdays and second will be todays. 8) ;)


My New Year's resolution is in the form a prayer:


"Dear Lord, Please give me ...
A few friends who know me and love me still,
A thankful heart to give you praise always and in
everything,
A trusting mind to keep on believing in you no matter what
the future holds,
A humble, pleasing personality,
A teachable disposition,
A thoughtful, kind, and caring touch,
A forgiving and understanding spirit,
A loving and accepting attitude to communicate your love to
every life I touch,
A worthwhile work into which I can put my best efforts and
thereby help make my world a better place in which to live,
and
A life that will make a difference not only in my world,
but in my street and, most of all, in my home.... Thank you
for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus'
name, amen."

:) ;D

New Year's Tips for Better Living


"Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy
safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give
you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this: He will make your
righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your
cause like the noonday sun" (Psalm 37:3-6, niv).

Here are twenty tips for better living in the New Year:

1. Rise and pray every day: "Again today, dear God, I
commit and trust my life and way to you. I'm available.
Please use me to be as Jesus to every life I touch."
2. Don't sweat the small stuff.
3. Remember these simple sentences: "I was wrong." "I am
sorry." "Please forgive me." "Thank you." Say them whenever
needed and say "I love you" often--whether needed or not.
4. Come apart and rest a while before you come
apart--stress is a killer.
5. Remember, "Nothing changes if nothing changes."
6. Don't nurse grudges: "Failing to forgive is like
drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die."
7. Carpe diem. Seize the day. Opportunity come to pass ...
not to pause.
8. Quit the blame-game ... it's choice, not chance,
determines destiny.
9. Control your thinking or your thinking will control you.
"What the mind dwells on the body acts on."
10. Invest your life in a worthwhile cause by having a
noble purpose for which to live--one that is bigger than
yourself--one that will help make your world a better place
in which to live.
11. Be a positive realist. You will always see what you are
looking for: "Two men look out the same prison bars. One
seeks mud, the other stars."
12. The greatest abilities are availability, dependability
and responsibility."
13. "There is no pillow as soft as a clear conscience."
14. "Smooth seas never make skillful sailors."
15. When God is silent. "I believe in the sun even when it
isn't shining. I believe in love even when I am alone. I
believe in God even when he is silent."
16. Cry when needed. "Every unshed tear is a prism through
which all of life's experiences are distorted."
17. Laugh a lot. It is still the best medicine.
18. Remember, "The bumps are what we climb on."
19. Fear not. At least 95 percent of the things we fear
never happen. Trust God for the other five percent.
20. Have faith and put God first with your time, talents
and tithe.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to so live.
Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully,
in Jesus' name, amen."

NOTE: "Tips for Better Living" is available on the ACTS
online store beautifully presented ... framed or
non-framed, at:
http://www.actscom.com/store/tips_better_living.htm.

<:))))><<

Hi Judy ~ Just because my smiley is missing doesn't mean I have forgotten about you.  (I deleted my smilley and I can't find it in my files.) 

Bob ~ I can't imagine pain that severe.  I am praying that your pain disappears miraculously!!  ARe you in Arizona?  What part?

Iain ~ Thank you for your post this morning.  One can't be reminded enough for what the Father and his Son has done for us.

Janet ~ I have read what you put in the devotion area before and it sure brings a great answer for when we are asked...'Where was God?' 

Carrie ~ I like your Holy Alphabet.  Really inciteful.

Sarah ~ Hi girlfriend!! !! !!  I can take rain, I can take snow, I can take blizzards but those ice storms...why did God invent them?  Stay in, girl.  Don't take a chance.

Ruth Ann ~ Like some others, I am having some pain in my right hip but I know it is nothing compared to you, Iain and Bob.  Mine is petty.  I am praying that all your pain leaves you today.

Kathy ~ Yes, the SB is going to have to start again.  The Christmas season wasn't good to me weight-wise.  But I loved every bite of it.   :o

Marilyn ~ I DREAMED about fonts last night!  Really!  But I would like to make an animation for each day of the month to put at the bottom of my first NEM post.  So if you have any ideas that are 3-5 words....let me know.  Anyone, let me know.  so far I have
Have a Great Day
Have a Nice Day
Have a Nice Day (with a smiley)
God Bless You Today
Have a Great Day (another one)
Have a Purrfect Day
Imitate Christ Today
Jesus Loves You Today
May Your Heart Smile Today

TBear ~ I am praying for your son.  Just know that you are not alone in this.  Take comfort that God knows all. 

Jerry ~ Great!  I knew you could do it!!! 

Well, then it rained.  When I went to the grocery yesterday, it was raining but the roads were good.  When I came home, the water was across the roads in a few places.  My basement still had dry spots on the floor.  But just a couple of hours later, I had to turn on the sump pump.  That means take the hose outside through the back door...meaning the back door is open about 3 inches from the floor to the top of the door.  Glad it wasn't real cold.  I let it run for maybe 30 minutes.  Then a couple of more hours, I ran it again for maybe 15 minutes.  I was downloading Fonts and finally shut down the pc around midnight.  Generally nature calls wake me about every 2-3 hours so I didn't set the alarm to check the basement.  But this time, I slept until 5:30 a.m.  Thank God, the basement had less water than when I went to bed!  But it is suppose to rain the next two days and maybe an ice storm that Sarah is sending us.   ;)  At least I have groceries in.  Just pray that the electric doesn't go off.

"One candle, like a single word of praise, may not light a dark room, but it can kindle the candle next to it, and the next and the next until the room, like the heart, is bright."[/b]

One thing we humans willingly ignore: the entire race is in rebellion against God.  All of that race - absolutely all - is guilty before God.  He is not required to save anyone.  He is not required to send His only begotten Son into the world to save any of this guilty race.  Yet He did so.  And then the human race to whom He sent that Son compounded its guilt by absolutely refusing Him and ridiculing Him.  In view of these things, should we really be complaining about His not blessing people, or about His allowing them to die, etc., etc.?  He is gracious, and we may pray to Him, and He hears us - that's mercy!  He is merciful, He sends His gracious summons via His messengers (missionaries), and He saves some even amongst undeserving humanity.  Should we complain that He does not save everyone everywhere?  Or should we be simply amazed that He saves anyone at all? He loves us!  He is merciful to us!  Let us worship the just God!

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Quote from: Marilyn Fisher on January 04, 2005, 09:35:00 AM

Pat did you get your link?

I'm confused.

Pat I sent you a link in email to Dafont site for  thousands of fonts check your email.

Quote from: Marilyn Fisher on January 04, 2005, 12:15:57 PM
Pat I sent you a link in email to Dafont site for thousands of fonts check your email.

Marilyn, I've just checked and nothing there.  Can you re-send?  I'd love to have it.


EDIT:  Marilyn, glad you told me about it.  I found it in my BULK mailbox!  I've rescued it.

Quote from: Pat Scott on January 04, 2005, 12:17:26 PM

BEREAN[/size]

(https://www.christianphotographers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fchristianphotographers.com%2Fforum%2Fgraphics%2Fwelcome9.jpg&hash=d734aa98d3d575b816128530bd44cd91b8d270a5)


We're so happy to see you here!

[/b]

Thanks for the very kind welcome

Al - I'm simply amazed that He saved me!!

Amen, Iain.  I am as well when I think that the Lord saved me!  I certainly didn't deserve it.

Welcome Berean!
Hi Pat how are you?  Did you read my post last night about my difficult friends?  Any advice?

Glad you found it Pat.

Etta Sue and Pat do you need a program to store all your fonts. I have "The Font Thing where all mine are.?

I also have The Font Thing.  I use it all the time.  It doesn't really store the fonts but it allows you to see what text you want to put on your graphic in all of the fonts in that folder.  I have all my fonts in a folder simply called "Fonts" and some secondary folders within that main one.  With The Font Thing, you can navigate to where you have your fonts so easily.  It's great.  I've been using it for several years.

Thanks again, Marilyn.  That's a terrific link.



We have a new MONTHLY CHALLENGE!

REFLECTIONS (http://christianphotographers.com/community/index.php?topic=3949.0)

Hello all!  Just stopping in while I procrastinate doing those things I need to be doing.

I really should be doing housework, or sumtin.  Yea, rah!

Have an awesome day, and I'll try to get back when I've accomplished something. :-)

It is cold and ice-covered here in our corner of Kansas today.  We are supposed to get snow tomorrow; I hope we don't because snow on top of ice is treacherous!  And my daughter Diane is in Kansas City and will be travelling home tomorrow, so I will surely be in prayer for her safety on the highways.

It is a really tough day for me, so I'm not saying much today.  Blessings to each of you.

Hi everyone, well I slept for 7 hours. I woke up and I have snow, in the front yard. I'm feeling a little bit better, but I still hurt. Least right now I can manage the pain. :)  I know that some of you said prayers, for me, and I thank you.

Well I'm off to take Yvonne to the doctors, normal check-up.

~Grace and peace~
Bob

Subject: Daddy, how was I born?

Little Zachary asks: "Daddy, how was I born?"

Ol' DAD SAYS, "Ah, my son, I guess one day you will need to find out anyway!"  Well, you see your Mom and I first got together in a chat room on AOL. Then I set up a date via e-mail with your Mom, and we met at a cyber-cafe.  We sneaked into a secluded room, where your mother agreed  to a download from my hard drive.  As soon as I was ready to upload, we discovered that neither one of us had used a firewall, and since it was too late to hit the delete button, nine months later a blessed little popup appeared and said: . . . .  "You've Got Male!"

nuary 4   

Personal Life: A Friend of God

And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and
it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the
friend of God. 
--James 2:23

After all, what higher privilege and experience is granted to mankind
on earth than to be admitted into the circle of the friends of God?...

It is well for us to remember that Divine-human friendship originated
with God. Had God not first said "You are My friends," it would be
inexcusably brash for any man to say, "I am a friend of God." But
since God claims us for His friends, it is an act of unbelief to deny
the offer of such a relationship....

The spiritual giants of old were those who at some time became
acutely conscious of the presence of God. They maintained that
consciousness for the rest of their lives....

The essential point is this: These were men who met and experienced
God! How otherwise can the saints and prophets be explained? How
otherwise can we account for the amazing power for good they have
exercised over countless generations?

Is it not that indeed they had become friends of God? Is it not that
they walked in conscious communion with the real Presence and
addressed their prayers to God with the artless conviction that they
were truly addressing Someone actually there?  Men Who Met God,
13-14.

"Compared with those saints of old, Father, I seem to know so
little of that conscious communion with Your real Presence! I pray
that throughout this year I might catch a glimpse of what that
means, and might increasingly move into the intimate joy of
experiencing You as a personal Friend. Amen."

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Iain and Pat - me too!  If our reward were upon the basis of deservedness, then everlasting torment would indeed be our lot.  But the problem in our day is that very, very few truly realize the greatness, holiness, and justice of God.  To offend the infinite is to incur infinite penalty.

Pastor Al:  You said exactly what I'd want to say...if I could say it....if you know what I mean.

TBear: I will pray for your son.  Its quite a burden, I know.

Welcome Berean.....and Iain...always so good to see you post!

Check out the chicken casserole receipe that we had for tonight's supper.

Mmmm good! :D

What I consider to be the greatest thing about God, is that He created Us. He owes us Nothing, We are his to do whatever He wants. but all He wants is for us to Be kind and loving to each other and to follow the path laid down by Jesus, He is always the one that reaches out to us, ready to forgive us. all we have to do is ask. God is truly Wonderful.

Hi everyone.  This has been a day that sped by and I don't have much to show for it.  Last evening our grandson called and asked his grandmother to sew the patches on his service uniforms before he leaves on Thursday.  So this morning we went to his mother-in-laws, where he and his wife and baby are staying, and Pat sewed on the patches on the sleaves of 4 shirts and one jacket.  It was not easy sewing but she had taken her portable sewing machine and after a couple of false starts she got the patches on.  I got to sit and hold our new great grandson for about 20 minutes.  Unfortunately he is still suffering with cholic so was a bit cranky but still it was a delightful experience. 

We then stopped and had a late lunch and I came home and had a nap.  Just now getting to CP to read the messages.  It was up to about 70 today but I have been following the ice storm in the midwest as my sister-in-law and granddaughter live around Kansas City.

Bob, sure glad to read that you were able to get several hours of sleep and the pain is now tolerable.  Hope that continues.

Berean--a big welcome to CP. 

Well, I am going to be brief tonight and am not going to try to respond to individual messages.  Hopefully I will have more time tomorrow.

My long post must have been lost in cyberspace. I hit the post button, but it never made it.

Tbear, I too love my children (unconditionally), as our Father loves us, but I must hold conduct standards up for when they're in my home.

How I empathize with the pain some of you are bearing. Truly, this is a time when we need to bear each other's burdens.

Beth and John, I feel so sad that you're so many miles apart, but happy you had a good Christmastime together.

Janet, please feel better soon.

Must go - time to rest.

Ruth Ann

Nite all going to kick back now and watch TV, been on the computer way too long. Like all the hours that I wasn't at work, Playing with PSP downloading fonts, and uploading to my web site. i changed the template of my website from Green to a floral purple. Go check it out, it looks a lot different and much better.

See y-all tomorrow,.

I am back, Looking on the tv to see if school has been called for tomorrow... the game was canceled there is snow and ice EVERYWHERE and it's only supposed to get worse so let the wrecks begin....i will stay in as long as the pager doesn't go off for us to go somewhere for anything... makes your nights interesting.... well i'm gonna go for a bit ttyl
Sarah

Lovely day today on Christian Photographers welcoming new folk and getting to know them.

Hi Sarah! 

Let's remember too that we have sadness on our site.  Folks are unwell and we must remember to pray for them--that they will feel the tenderness and love of our Heavenly Father and if it be our Saviours will that they will be made well.

Time to lock the door...

Join us in tomorrow's NEW EVERY MORNING (http://christianphotographers.com/community/index.php?topic=3952.0)