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Morning Devotional...


 
Protected by Love

"Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven."  (Matthew 5:44-45)


Love your enemies...turn the other cheek...to most people that sounds like a pretty weak way to handle somebody who's causing them trouble. But, the truth is, it's the most powerful way there is. It's the way Jesus did it-- and His way never fails.

Do you remember when Jesus went back to Nazareth and the religious folks were angry with Him and wanted to push Him off a cliff? What happened? He just walked right past them, and no one could lay a finger on Him. Another time they decided to stone Him, and He didn't retaliate that time either. He just walked off. No one could touch Him.

When Jesus walked through that crowd, He wasn't afraid. He knew they couldn't hurt Him because He was walking in the love of God.

When Jesus said to turn the other cheek, He didn't mean for you to stand there and have your brains beaten out. He meant for you to stand there in love and in faith believing that the protecting power of God that accompanies that love would keep you safe. He meant for a man to swing at you and not be able to hit you!

The story of Nicky Cruz as recorded in David Wilkerson's book, The Cross and the Switchblade, is a perfect example of that. Nicky was reputed to be the most ruthless gang leader of his time. Yet, when David Wilkerson stood in front of him, telling him about Jesus, Nicky was totally unable to hurt him. He thrust his knife at David several times. But every time he did, David just said, "Nicky, you can cut me into a thousand pieces and every piece will still say, 'I love you and God loves you.'" Because of love, Nicky couldn't get his knife close enough to David to hurt him. A supernatural force always stopped it short.

"But I don't have that kind of love!"

Yes, you do. Romans 5:5 tells us that the love of God is shed abroad in your heart by the Holy Spirit. All you have to do is make the decision to be motivated by that love rather than your own human feelings.

My friend, love never fails! You don't have to be afraid of failure anymore. In fact, you don't have to be afraid of anything. If you're walking in the love of God, you're living the most powerful kind of life there is.

Scripture Study: Matthew 5:38-48   

I am in so much pain please pray for me.

I'm so sorry, Marilyn.  Before I go to bed, I will definitely pray for you again.  Just did.

What a good verse for all of us on the left sidebar:

I dont like asking for prayer requests, especially considering I just joined, but I have a bunch of ulcers in my mouth and tylenol doesnt seem to be taking the pain away.

I will pray for you Marilyn. God Bless you!

I am sorry you are in pain, Marilyn.  Have prayed and will do so again later.

I will also pray for you Cherryl.  Don't know if you mean cankers, but I use a wonderful Herbal Med. from the drugstore.....Canker Care.  Works really well and stops the pain.

Having a heat wave here in BC.  Misty became very ill and I put her on my bed and turned the fan on her, with ice cubes in a pan.  Did that for a full day before she finally recovered this morning.  She didn't move, wouldn't even take water with an eye dropper.....I slept on the sofa as she is usually in the garage at night.  What we go thro' for pets......

Not that many folks have air conditioning in their homes, even newer ones like this.  With forced air heating there is some sort of pump that will cool the house, but this is a different heating system.  Normal weather is much cooler...same as Washington State across the water.  Guess I will have to look into a portable air conditioner next year if this is going to be a constant change to our weather. 

Takes time to adjust Blood Pressure meds Ruthie.  I have been on two Beta Blockers, twice a day, for many years.  Was trial and error until a balance and right meds were found.  Better to change the meds than the doctor!

Time for another cold drink of lemon water.  Pleasant Day/Evening and God Bless.

Liz

Hi everyone.  Woke up early again this morning so it appears I may be the first posting actually today.  We had a fairly cool day here yesterday for Georgia in July just up into the 80s.  We really appreciated it.  The lawnmen were here yesterday and now my yard looks very nice again after the rain and the manicure. 

Not much on my schedule today so will keep working on various projects.  I got several things done yesterday that I had been putting off.  Pat is going to her quilting guild this morning so will have the house to myself.

Liz, you are indeed a pet lover to give up your bed for your pet.  Hope the heat wave breaks for you soon.  It looks like the whole west coast is having terrible heat problems. 

Marilyn, so sorry to hear you were in such pain last evening.  Hope you were able to sleep and find the pain lessened or gone today.  Did you do a lot of lifting yesterday or something to bring on the pain?

Janet, thanks for your fine devotional thoughts today.  God does protect us if we will let him by maintaining our strong faith.  Perhaps Abby's folks will be able to visit with Beth while you are gone and bring her dog for a visit.  That would certainly help break up the time for her.  Nice to see you so enthused about your new business venture.

Hi Ruth.

That was a beautiful photograph Pat.  I can see why it was a winner.  Has it cooled any up your way?

Ruthie, 71 is a good number when it comes to the weather.  Do hope you are able to get your blood pressure under control.

Etta Sue, what a schedule.  You sure can't say you don't have anything to do during your retirement years.  I know you will be happy to have Karen visit with you. 

JudyB, I think a lot of people are getting portable generators.  Our power usually isn't out too long but has been out up to 3 days.  I have a heating source and figure that while the heat may make us very uncomfortable we will probably survive.  I grew up on a farm in NW Missouri before the days of A/C and central heating and so understand the kind of weather that Janet often describes for their area.

CherryBlossom, sure hope you find something to give you relief from the mouth sores.  When I was a child I used to have a few canker sores and they really hurt.  I am praying for comfort for both you and Marilyn.

I got a call from Nancy yesterday and we aren't going to Grand Rapids this week.  So I will be driving them to Bloomington, Indiana University, tomorrow and then Grand Rapids next Thursday and Friday.  I feel like I am getting a vacation.  Now what to do on Thursday and Friday.  Hmmmm!

Waiting for the computer man to come...his first time here and he is late.  Then I called a repairman for my A/C...when it is hot, it gets hot in here, too.  Need that fixed too so he is to be here at 9:30 and then I need to mow the lawn.  After that it is getting ready for Karen and to visit with her.  That will be fun!

Well it's a nice, cool, semi-foggy morning up here on the "Lost Coast" of northern California.  I would estimate it to be about 50 degrees (F) here right now.  I'm going to try to get to the fitness ctr. this AM.  Marbeth won't be going there yet for a couple of more weeks I think.  She's doing well, though, puttering around the house, washing the dishes, etc.  But no lifting or heavy exercise.  She still has a fair degree of swelling around the incision area, and it's causing stiffness in her neck.  Overall, though, she's doing well.

Liz, I'm really surprised at the temperatures up that way.  I don't recall it ever getting that high for that long before, what with the ocean on one side and the sound on the other.  I'm beginning to like the area we're in here more all the time - never too hot, never too cold.

By the way, Pat - one of these days that frog is going to pop an eyelid doing that!

YEAH ... I get to spend time with ETTA !!  My daughter and a couple of her friends are attending a concert close to where ETTA is so I am tagging along to go and stay with her so it is going to be fun for sure so ... keep us in prayer as we travel today ...

See you all sooon !!!  Have missed all of you !! 

Great pictures of candy!   Especially the dark chocolate!    I love dark chocolate and they say it is GOOD FOR YOU!     Weather good.   Have a nice day.      God Bless

Love Ruthie

Good Morning I am still  nursing the pain, I didn't sleep all that much last  night and the pain this morning is mostly in the shoulder cap and some pain near the upper spine, I am sure that the nerve is pinched.

I am taking Ruth to the Gym for the hot tub this morning and then to the Arcata Senior Center for lunch.

I got a call last night from Willa's SIL who asked me to come and help with some packing for someone in one of the Mobile parks, I will be paid  to help.
As long as I don't have to do any lifting I should be ok.

Praying for you Cherry Blossom

TTYL

Sorry Marilyn that you are having pain in your back.   Do you know a good chiropractor?    I go to one that uses the activator.


Love Ruthie

Welcome Cherry Blossom!!!

AL:  It sounds like Marbeth is doing well - nice that you can be there to help.

LARRY:  I am sure that your son will be back as often as possible to visit.  You never know what may happen down the road; you may be able to be closer once again. 

We spent three days visiting with the children and had a joint summer birthday party.  good to be home.  There are clouds in the sky but only ten drops of rain - reservoirs are low but still no sign of water rationing.  I feel that the real estate and developers want to keep it quiet - we are running out of water for the growth is too quick. 

Still the awful mideast news & Iraq.  We listen to different t.v. news - much too much personal opinions in the newscasts. 

Best wishes for all who are in pain. 
Carol

Carol, I certainly agree about the newscasters inserting their own slant on the news!  I usually watch Fox News, and even they can get a little opinionated sometimes.

I've had another busy day today.  Up and out of here at 7 to drive to Syracuse (50 miles) to deliver a Reliv order, home to go to Liberal with Darrel, stopping both ways in Hugoton.  We took the dogs over today, as we don't know what the next two days will hold!  And when we got home, there was a call wanting an alarm system installed over in Satanta, so it's good we have taken the dogs already.

It was good--as always-- to see Mark, Abby and Diane.  Jeff was installing a sprinkler system, so we didn't get to see him.  Diane says she will drive up at least once while we are away to check on things here, sure do appreciate her for that!  We didn't ask; she volunteered. 

Marilyn and CherryBlossoms, praying you are both better by now.

I'm off to Leoti in the morning to judge arts and crafts at their fair.  And I am running out of days before we leave!    Whew!

I need to make a few calls, so I'm outta here!

Not better yet. I don't hurt as mch if I am laying down.  But Still must work and do a few things around the house. I am really getting a lot of use out of this ice pack tht I bought at the Medical Supply house.

Hey there all y'all ... 

I just returned home a couple hours ago from a trip north.  A friend asked me to accompany her to visit her grandkids in Spokane.  Well, my daughter and granddaughters live in Spokane so, of course, I accepted the invitation. 

We left Friday afternoon and only went as far as The Dalles before stopping for the night.  It was 112° there!  Saturday we went on into Spokane and it was also very hot there!!  My daughter doesn't have air conditioning but she does have fans to stir the air...Trouble with that is that we didn't stay inside.   

First, Dot took me to a picnic then downtown to a memorial for a friend then, that evening, out to the big Julysh pow wow.  Very, very high temperatures and this grandma is not supposed to be in the sun or the heat!!  Somehow I managed to survive the heat, the crowds of people and the walking and standing and walking some more.  It nearly did me in but I'm pretty tough after all I guess ... I took a licking and I'm still ticking.

My friend came for me yesterday morning but she had been told she MUST stop at Albany, OR so that's where we were last night.  Of course, she has family there so we went to visit and play with the new baby, etc.  Then back to the a/c in the motel. 

This morning we drove only as far as Eugene before stopping again for a grandchildren fix for her ... That's okay, I was just along for the ride and have nothing seriously pending here at home anyway.  It was after 3 o'clock when she dropped me off here at my home on the coast and a much cooler breeze greeted me.  It may have been hot for here but it doesn't compare to what I've been exposed to for the past three daze.   

We had a wonderful time of getting to know each other a bit better and I enjoy the kids whoever they belong to!  It's also great to be home again in my own little place where I can find peace and quiet and relax all I want.  Like "they" say: It's good to go away and visit but it's GREAT to come home again!

I'll be around for a while so ......... y'all have a great rest of the evening and I'll be talking atcha later.

Howdy there, Miss Jane!  Good to have you back, and so glad you didn't roast!!  My, it was so miserably hot here today, a person could hardly stand to be outdoors! 

I had to go take Beth 2 1/2 gallons of good well water.  She was nearly out, and dislikes the chlorinated town water.  Also brought her clothes hame, washed them and have them in the dryer.

Here's a switch!!  Diane gave me a whole stack of clothes today--pants, shorts, and a couple of tee shirts.  Most were new, still have the tags attached.  They do not fit her, but most do fit me.  I said it's a switch, because usually I am giving her stuff.  Nice!

I sure hope I don't forget to do something important before I leave!!  It's that "did I turn off the iron?" kind of feeling........

Goodnight, dear folks!

Janet:  I enjoyed your devotional.

Marilyn & CherryBlossom I am praying that you both feel better very soon.

Pat:  What is POTD ?

Al: Praise the Lord it is good that Marbeth is getting well.

Early this morning we had our lawn sprayed and I think we have more weeds then grass. This is the first treatment in many years so it will perhaps be next year before we see a change at least it is a start.

I returned to the Good Feet Store and they changed one of the orothics so time will tell about any real change. These orothics have a livetime guarantee but something about a 25% charge if changes need to be made after the 30 day period you figure. Even this evening my lower back is in pain but I am wondering if it is a weather change. I should be fine in the morning.

It was yet another hot day here.

Ruth

Pat thanks for the weather thingy.

I'm so late.  Was at a meeting most of the evening till now.

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