Christian Photographers Community

2 Peter 1:4-8 says...

Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.







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Hebrews 10:23, 35-37 says...

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.

For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

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Morning Devotional...

The Shepherd Psalm--Part (i)

What do you think is the most loved portion of Holy Scripture? It may well be that great Gospel verse "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16). Thousands of children over the centuries have learned it at their mother's knee. I know I did and so did my children. What a wonderful statement it is. Many people down through the ages, since the Lord Jesus spoke these words, have received the peace and joy of eternal life through realizing their truth.

Perhaps one day I shall write an article on this grand old theme. But not today. Instead I want us to focus our attention on another great passage of scripture, almost as well loved, and dear to many since David, the shepherd king, was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write its lovely words. The portion of the scripture to which I refer is, as you will probably have guessed from my title, the twenty-third Psalm:

"The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever." [/list]

A jewel is best appreciated in all its sparkling beauty when it is viewed against the setting chosen for it by a skilled artisan. This brilliant gem is no different in this respect although more precious than all the world's lovely stones. What then is the setting chosen for this rare and beautiful rock of divine comfort? Well on the one side we have a prophetic picture of the Shepherd on the cross. See for example, Psalm 22:16-18. This is indeed an example of crucifixion written long before the awful death of crucifixion was invented by wicked minds. On the other side in Psalm 24, we are given a view of our Lord Jesus Christ Our Great Shepherd in His present glory and coming kingdom.

An old Irish preacher, James Irvine of Newcastle, Co. Down, used to explain it this way... "In Psalm 22, we see the Shepherd on the cross dying for His sheep. In Psalm 23, we have the Shepherd with His crook in his hand defending His sheep while in Psalm 24 we have the Shepherd with the crown on His head ruling His kingdom."

There is one who died for His people and now lives to reign eternally on the throne of the universe and I can call Him "My Shepherd". Is there anything more lovely, more comforting, more reassuring than this? If we bear this in mind as we study the depths and delights of the "beloved Psalm", its intrinsic value will be appreciated more and more.

Let us first look at the Person of the Shepherd.
Who is He, what is His character and what are His attributes? This world and the universe of which it forms a part had a beginning somewhere in the ancient past. This Shepherd of whom the Psalm speaks, entered this world of beginnings, yet He had no beginning. John's gospel, chapter 1 tells us that in the beginning was the Word. That is, when everything that had a beginning, began, He already existed. He goes on to inform us that the Word was God and was with God and then, Oh glorious truth, we learn that "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." (John 1:14).

Mary was given the inestimable privilege of becoming the virgin mother of the humanity of our Lord, but in His eternal being as deity, He had no mother, no birth, no beginning. He always was and is the second person of the Godhead. He is also "My Shepherd." He is and always has been absolute in holiness, unlimited in knowledge, power and glory. Yet if we are of His flock, we can say with full confidence, "The Lord is My Shepherd."

When our Lord walked upon the green hills of Israel in the days of His flesh, He said, "I am the good Shepherd: the good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep." (John 10:14). This is why it is so appropriate that the Shepherd Psalm is placed directly after a Psalm which prophesied the awful events of Mount Calvary.

You see, my dear friends, we cannot claim the wonderful blessings of the Shepherd Psalm unless, we have trusted Him in His life-giving death and are thereby counted among His sheep. The words of the Lord Jesus Christ as recorded in John's Gospel, 10:26-30 are very important.

"But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. I and My Father are one."

Have you believed in Him as your personal Saviour and Lord? He does not call on us to place our faith in anyone other than Himself. He does not tell us to hope in the apostles or any other persons, no matter how holy, blessed and exalted they may be. It is He who has loved us unto death. It is He who has borne our sins and carried our sorrows. It is only He who saves us from sin and to such as trust the good Shepherd, He gives eternal life, and they shall never perish.

Even if there were no other blessing to be found in Christ, this by itself would be wonderful news for sinners. Yet there are a multitude of blessings in store for all who come to Him for salvation from the penalty and the power of sin.

Many years ago, Thomas Kelly wrote a fine hymn which very nicely expresses the wonderful work that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished in His role as "The Good Shepherd."


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Can you honestly say, "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want" for time and for eternity?

God willing we will continue our study in Psalm 23 next week as we examine some of the blessings we can experience in Him on life's path.

---

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

REMEMBER CECILIA ZHANG?

They have the murderer of this dear little nine year old girl.  He was arrested yesterday morning.

Here's an article on it

Please pray for Cecilia's family.  This is very difficult for them as they knew this young person.

God bless everyone from CP today.  Happy birthday to Kay, Pinkie and Ruth Ann.  I trust you will all have a great day today.

Thank you for the devotional Pat (BTW, I hope you got my instant message ok yesterday.  I was sorry to miss you on MSN).  It is good to know that we are being shepherded through life, we would be in all sorts of trouble if we weren't.

The story of the nine year old girl is terrible.  It is impossible to know how the family must be feeling.  Thank you for telling us about this so that we can pray.

Have a great day and God bless.

Anthony.

Hello Ms Meika.  It's great to meet up with you again.  I love your signature photo'.  Your hair looks lovely in it 
Mr Anthony.

EZEKIEL 7 : 23  NIV
Prepare chains, because the land is full of bloodshed
and the city is full of violence.

God hates it when the innocent are afflicted with violence and bloodshed.
He hates evil and political corruption.
He hates courts that are false and leaders who are abusive of their power.
We need to rest assured that He will provide deliverance for His faithful followers
and administer justice to those who have abused or harmed other people --
if not in this life, for sure in the life to come.

PRAYER...
Father, thank You for assuring me that Your
justice will ultimately be done with those who
are violent, corrupt, wicked, and abusive.
Give us patience to wait in hope until that day
of ultimate justice is done.
In Jesus name i pray.  AMEN

                                                 PHIL WARE.

Ria   

Goodmorning  all 11.09AM in Holland   

PAT thank you for the very good devotional  writen by your dear husband Jack.
Also for the nice hymns yesterday and today.
I hope you get today your car.

PAPA JOHN i am sorry to read from your pain in your back but i love every day your writings. How is your brother Steve doing.

ALMA only the stairs then are we insite total readdy with painting then must outsite but that is my husband doing. Now the coming week we get laminate on two bedrooms
on one is laminate. Then the hole home is changed. All the walls, windows, doors insite are then light.

MIEKA i am happy to see you i love you Mieka

PAT thank you for the news over Cecilia poor little girl. But my prayers are for the parents.
I am happy that they have the killer.


HAPPY BIRTHDAY RUTH ANN 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PINKIE   

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KAY 

I WISH YOU ALL A NICE DAY

AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL 

Now i must in octobre to the eyespecialist yesterday i have called and i have say i have glaucoom. O was the the answer then are other glasses you not helping and so long as you can see is there no operation. I also have often retinitus there have i also the eyedrops for maybe must i use something others that must say the specialist.
But yesterday evening we are walking in the centre of Veendam and my husband say there is sitting a cousin from me on a terras but i could not see him. When we are coming closer to him then i see it also.
But the cousin has also glaucoom on one eye but he can nothing more see with that eye he get after the
vacantions an operation. But i have also been to the library i read only large letter books.

But people in Holland they don't no what they will. Weeks always what it is cold and what a rain.
Now it is warm but in Holland is it then also clammy. Now is it too warm
I love this weather this morning early was it raining but now is shining the sun. I am happy.

Colossians 1 : 16
By Him all things were created:
things in Heaven and on earth,
visible and invisible.

                                              QUIET BEAUTY

                                          I think God must love best
                                   the simple things, their quiet beauty,
                              the gentle ordinary things we often do not see.
                                          I think God must be pleased
                                    when we take time to notice small things,
                                              for all things He created
                                              hold a touch of majesty.

Love and prayerfullu for you all
Ria   


                                               

Dear Papa John, I just read about the trouble you are having with your back.  I do trust that the condition will ease during the coming days.  These bodies of ours have a tendency to decay and grow old.  We will be rid of them for good shortly.  Anyway, God bless you and strengthen you during today.

Anthony.

QuotePRAYER...
Father, thank You for assuring me that Your
justice will ultimately be done with those who
are violent, corrupt, wicked, and abusive.
Give us patience to wait in hope until that day
of ultimate justice is done.
In Jesus name i pray.  AMEN

Ria:  Thank you for the timely quote.  It is something that can be used for prayer when praying for an end to the violence in Iraq and the mid-east - Africa and South America.  So many sad places on this earth. 

Papa John:  I am praying for back pain to end as well. 

All:  I will not be in here as often over the next six weeks.  We are exchanging homes with a couple in Brussels and leave here tomorrow.  Today is planned for final cleaning of our house and we will stay with oldest son & visit some of the children before we go to the airport tomorrow.  Carol

Happy Birthday Kay, Pinkie and Ruth Ann.

The batteries in my wireless mouse ran out last night so I had to charge them up.  I read all the interesting posts from yesterday. 

Pat, glad to see your car will get fixed.

Well, we heard good news, (if you want to call it good).  Last night they arrested a young fellow who they said murdered Cecilia Zhang, the little Chinese girl who was abducted from her house.  They say that the motive was to get money for ransom.   Terrible!   Now the family will have some closure!

Love Ruthie

Hi everyone and  Happy birthday to Kay, Pinkie and Ruth Ann. 

We will be away most of the day as we are leaving shortly to go out to lunch with our former neighbors and very good friends of over 20 years.  We used to live across the street from where they still live.  We will then go back to their house and if they are feeling up to it will play a few hands of bridge this afternoon. 

They are in their early 80s and just celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary.  They are having a home built in a retirement community in Ohio and as soon as it is finished they will be moving.  In the meantime they are trying to cleanout and dispose of lots of things that they have accumulated in the 62 years.  She is a doll maker and has had a kiln for many years.  She has taught many classes. We will certainly miss them when they move.  We don't see them too often as we live quite a ways from where they live.  They are having a lot of health problems as well.

Papa John, sorry to hear that your back is so painful.  Hope the heat gives you relief from the constant pain.

Carol, hope you all have a wonderful trip these next 6 weeks.  Take care and check in when you can.

Ria, sorry to read that you have glacoma.  My father had that and successfully treated it with drops for many years to keep the presure down.  Hope the drops you are using keeps the damage from increasing.  Glad you are having some warmer weather.

It is about time to leave so will sign off for now.  Hope everyone has a good day.

Good Morning everyone: Pat thank you for part one of the Shepard Psalm. I have that  all printed out from the last time.

Ria thank you for your devotional too. I am sorry to hear how much trouble you are having with your eyes now. I will put you on my prayer list.

The grandkids will be here at 5 pm today to spend the night, and I am going to ask both Fay and Gloria if I can have tomorrow off. It is important to me to spend time with my family. Keep that thought in your prayers today, that they will give me this time with my family.

Must get ready to go now

TTYL

I do believe Ivalou had a very happy birthday yesterday.  She got phone calls from friends and relatives from out of state as well as many cards via snail mail.  She is one super person.  I am proud that she is my sister. 

Today I am going to the hospital to visit an elderly cousin.  Come to think of it, all my cousins are older than me since I am the youngest on both sides of my family.  But Kenny is 17 years older.  His wife has Alzheimers and now he has lung cancer.  His children are all from California and Arizona...I know 2 out of the five are here now.  I haven't seen Kenny for a long time because his wife didn't/doesn't do well with company but we have kept in touch through emails and instant messaging.  I have 17 cousins on Mom's side of the family and I am closest to him. 

Also I noticed I need to renew my driver's license.  So I might as well do that while I am in town.

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"What we need is more milk of human kindness in the cream of society."

Morning!  It is raining cats and dogs here. ;-)

I am going to go play in the rain.

Hello Everyone!

I'm late getting here!  I've been doing some things around the house and then answered a few emails.

Now I'm here!

It's great to see you here early in the day, Ruthie!  Did you see the article I put in about dear little Cicilia's situation?  What sadness for that family!


I hope you have a wonderful time with your grandkids, Marilyn...  Did you buy a big bottle of soap bubbles??


Oh, Carol!  What a fantastic time you're going to have in the next six weeks.  Maybe you'll find a library where you can get online?  Make sure you take passwords, etc. with you and log in here as often as you can.  We'll miss you.


Hi Ria...   I'm so glad that you enjoyed Part 1 of the Shepherd's Psalm written by Jack.  I thought that we'd do that again for the next 7 days.  I enjoy that Psalm and I know that each time I go through it, the Lord gives me some new thought on it.  I do pray for you, dear Ria, about those eyes.  I'm praying that the drops will work.


Larry, it's so nice to see you spending time with these dear folks who were neighbours.  This is going to be a big move for them all the way to Ohio.  Do they have family there?


Yes, Anthony, I received your PM just fine.  Sorry I was a bit tardy in replying to it.  It's so nice to see you posting each day on here.

Hi Soni...   What are you going to play with in the rain?  Are you just going walking or what?  LOL

How interesting, Etta Sue, to read about your cousins and family!  I come from a large family on my father's side and similar but smaller on mother's side.  It's so good to read that you are going to spend time with a relative with alzheimers.  What a horrible disease!  It was so awful to see Jack's sister deteriorate over the years with it.

Good morning! (or afternoon.)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RUTH ANN!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PINKIE!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KAY!!!

This is a busy month for celebrations, isn't it? 

I'm glad they caught the murderer of little Cecelia.  What a sad, terrible story.  I think anyone who could do such a terrible thing has to be under the control of the devil.  And I am not excusing them, just commenting.

Curtis is coming home today!!!  I will be so happy to see his face!  I expect to see that he is a bit slimmer than when he left for camp, too.  I won't get to see him until tomorrow or Sunday, though, because we have tickets to the dinner theatre in Dodge for tonight.  It is the first show in the brand new theatre, and is called "Anyone Can Whistle."  If I had known when we made the reservations that this was the night Curtis was getting home, for sure we would have picked another night!  (I know, I know, I am a nutty grandma, just crazy about those grandkids!)

We got a wonderful rain last night!  It was getting quite dry again.  Darrel just went out and said he thinks we got at least 2 inches!  Thank you, God!

I am going to go to the fair and paint little faces again for a while today.  It's worth it when you hand them the mirror and see those happy smiles!

Talk to you later!  Papa John, I hope your back is pain free today!

Hey, Janet!

Whatever happened to the little "love gift" you sent to Curtis?  Did he get it?

Are you making his favorite cookies right now?  What a nice time you're going to have!



Here's another article on our little Cecilia...  http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2004/07/22/zhang_development040722

Pat, I won't know about the care package until I can ask Curtis.  I hope he got it, but if not, I guess someone else did or it will be returned.

Hi Everyone, because I am on my holidays I am trying to get some things done.   I have an old antique chair that I am painting green with outside paint.   I hope to sit it outside on my verandah.  When it is done I will take a picture.   It has a high back with 6 or 7 spindles up the back.  Should be lovely when finished.   I like antiques very much.

I went to my doctor yesterday and she wants me to make an appointment with her father who is an opthamologist.   This will be a second opinion for my eyes.

Pat is your car finished yet?  It will be great to have it back eh!

Hoping to post later.   

Love Ruthie

Enjoy your holidays Ruthie, and get lots of rest.

Praying for your eyes

Good morning from BC, folks.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RUTH ANN, PINKIE, AND KAY!!!

Thank you all for your concern about my back and for your prayers.  I am feeling some better today.  This is problem which I have had for years and lately it seems to be getting worse.  I have been to a number of doctors and right now the conclusion is there isn't much that can be done.  I have bulging disks, arthritis, and pulled muscles.  I do have medicine for pain and have had at different times had various kinds of shots. 


Matt 28:18-20  Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.""  (NIV)



--- Papa John          <)))><<   
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I just had the most amazing experience.

I was outside with the dogs and cats and heard a bird in trouble.

I went toward the squacking and saw a baby red tailled hawk on the ground unable to fly.  The spaniel went behind it and I was able to catch the poor bird.  The whole time the parent was flying above making an aweful racket. 

I put this baby (the size of an adult robin) on the roof and let it go.     I hope it will be ok!   It is still squacking but it is at least our of range of the cats!   

They are beautiful birds, very colourful.  Unfortunately I didn't have the camera outside with me.   

Hope everyone has a good day.  Now I have to go back and read all the posts!

Love to all
Judy

   

The Church: Different From the World

Therefore "Come out from among them and be separate," says the Lord.
"Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you."
--2 Corinthians 6:17

The church's mightiest influence is felt when she is different from
the world in which she lives. Her power lies in her being different,
rises with the degree in which she differs and sinks as the
difference diminishes.

This is so fully and clearly taught in the Scriptures and so well
illustrated in Church history that it is hard to see how we can miss
it. But miss it we do, for we hear constantly that the Church must
try to be as much like the world as possible, excepting, of course,
where the world is too, too sinful....

Let us plant ourselves on the hill of Zion and invite the world to
come over to us, but never under any circumstances will we go over
to them. The cross is the symbol of Christianity, and the cross
speaks of death and separation, never of compromise. No one ever
compromised with a cross. The cross separated between the dead and
the living. The timid and the fearful will cry "Extreme!" and they
will be right. The cross is the essence of all that is extreme and
final. The message of Christ is a call across a gulf from death to
life, from sin to righteousness and from Satan to God.  The Set of
the Sail, 35,36.

"Lord, help me to be willing to be different. Forgive me for the sin
of blending in. I pray that our neighbors would see something
different in our church and our people and be drawn to the Savior.
Amen."

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY ONE AND ALL.

Happy Birthday Kay, Pinkie and Ruth Ann.

How are you all? We are doing well. I am still in my wheelchair and motoring along. Today the doctor changed my meds again to 800 mg and gave me loratab for the pain. Pray this works. I really hope to some day walk again and have my balance.
My mom is supposed to arrive on Tuesday. The kids are doing well. I have some new cute photos. My nurse's aide is wonderful. The church sent her to me and she's just a true true blessing.
She helps me get the house organized and cleaned up and helps me learn how to do things now.

Anyway, I will try and post more as I can sorry for my absence.

Hugs,
Shawnee

Shawnee, good to see you posting.  Hope the new meds will help.

Pat, yes our friends have a son that lives where they are moving plus other relatives.  This is where they were from originally.  We had a great time with them today as everyone seemed to be feeling better than has been the case the last few times we were together.  We went out to eat and then played 4 rubbers of bridge.