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Morning Devotional...


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The preacher was a rugged looking man.  His face was burnt brown with exposure to the relentless Judean sun.  Dressed as he was in a camel hair tunic encircled by a leather belt, he struck the figure of a manly sort of man.  His message to the gathered crowd was in keeping with his no nonsense appearance as his voice echoed across the river on whose banks he stood in sandled feet.

For days now, he had been preaching to the people who assembled from various parts of the province and each day the message was similar.  It was quite unlike the sermons heard every Sabbath in the local synagogues.  This preacher cared not for the empty praise of men, nor did he  Pharisee like exalt himself above the level of the people.  Praise and personal aggrandizement might be sought by the professional teachers and synagogue rulers, but John the Baptist cared only for the Glory of his God.

His message spoke of coming judgement on the nation and of One who was much greater than himself who would soon come to deliver the repentant.  At the close of each sermon people who repented of their sinful ways would be given the opportunity to come and be baptized in the river to mark their change of heart and thus prepare themselves for the coming of Messiah and His kingdom.

One day a group of religious leaders came down from Jerusalem and asked for baptism but the preacher refused.  He could somehow see beyond their outward puritanical appearance and into their hard unrepentant hearts.  There could be no baptism without a change of heart and a transformed life.  Without these it would be a meaningless ritual.

An interesting and profitable time could be spent examining the birth, life and death of the preacher but a "greater than John the Baptist" beckons for our attention today.  John pointed this One out for us.  One momentous day He made His way through the congregation in the river valley and walked with decisive steps towards the Baptist.  By the power of the Holy Ghost, John recognized the one who approached.  Pointing to Him he called out with clarion voice,  "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world"  John 1:29.  John had effected the greatest introduction ever performed by mortal man.  He had finally answered the heart cry of Isaac on Mount Moriah, "Where is the lamb for a burnt offering?"   Genesis 22:7.  The Lamb who would fulfil the promise of thousands of lambs slain on the great altars of Tabernacle and Temple was revealed that day to the sinful sons and daughters of Adam.  The old Temple service would soon end, the need for it eliminated and a new and living Way into the presence of the Holy made plain.


The Lamb would accomplish what the Temple lambs could only foreshadow.

Isaac Watts wrote well...


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Have you trusted the Lamb of God to take away your sins?  There is no other way to be made fit for the Kingdom of God.  Will you join in the grand chorus of heaven to sing heaven's song?





I am a dreadful singer.  My mother once told me that I sang as sweetly as a crow.  I am not hurt by this.  I recognize it as being true, but one day I will be able to join in that glorious song, because the Lamb has shed His blood for me.  What an anthem we will raise up there.  Will you be joining us there or will you be weeping and wailing among the eternally lost?
If you have not done so before you need to come in repentance and like John acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ as the "Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world", as the Saviour slain for your sin.

Those of us who are His by faith must surely seek daily to worship and glorify the Lamb who is worthy of all praise and honour.  Let us join hearts and hands to extol His Name—Let us say "Lamb of God our souls adore Thee."

Those who sing the great refrain "Worthy is the Lamb" will be from every "people and tongue and tribe and nation."  There will be no racial prejudice, for all will be one in Christ.  Surely this is what the Baptist meant when he said, "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world."   (John 1:29)  For all the redeemed of every color and tongue will join as one in praising the Savior in the eternal ages.

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

MIEKA~ You became a Christian the moment you believed in and accepted Jesus as the Son of God and your Savior.  You do not have to wait to learn more or become a better person or anything else ... You ARE a Christian--a child of God--(one of His sheep  ) and nothing will change that ... you can certainly continue to grow in knowledge ... that can and should continue as long as you live, actually.    

Hey there, ETTA SUE~ Guess your neighborhood was really having a mowing good time today.    Glad you got your house looking the way you wanted it to, and Jerry got fed and all's well that ends well, right?

PAPA JOHN~Thanks for sending the homing pigeons out to alert the troops about the party.  I do understand about the "bed by nine or else" syndrome, too.  At least you can enjoy some of the party ... popcorn is always a good thing!  

Gotta say "hello" to all y'all that have been here today.  I never take notes so therefore never remember everyone's name who has posted here.  I tend to just nod and smile from my position over here in the corner and enjoy all the conversation that hums around in this cozy place.   You know how 'tis, doncha?   Anyway, since Pat said "no lurkers" at this party I knew I better get myself out of the corner and at least speak up a little!  

Right now I'm heading back for seconds on the food so...see y'all later!

WooHoo a party!!!!!!!!!

Unfortunately, I decided to do Weight Watchers again, and I have used all of my points today, so I will just sip on some ice water, thank you.

On second thought.  It is a cyber party, and that means cyber food.

I will bring brownies, ice cream, and hot fudge so we can all make hot fudge cakes!!!!!!!  

WooHOo!

[size=+3]WooHoo[/size] is right, Karma!  Bring it on!       It's a cyber party!

Goodnight or is it goodmorning.

Ruth

Pat - a superb devotion this morning. His ministry goes on.

It was good to see that you were all in party mood last night. No hangovers today I hope!!

...there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.'

Proverbs 18:24

What do you look for in a friend? Is it someone you can confide in? Is it someone who you can depend upon when times are difficult? Is it someone who shares the same interests or hobbies as ourselves or is it someone who brings the best out in you.

As a result are we always seeking their company?

My friends have rebuked me when I needed it. They have corrected me when I have gone wrong. They have encouraged me when I doubted. They strengthened me when I was weak. They visited me when I was in hospital. They gave when I had nothing. They pray for me continually.

What about those folk in our world without any friends? Drunkards and addicts who, when they had money in their pockets or dope to give away had numerous 'friends.' Now however loneliness is their companion.

How do we look upon such? Is it at all possible that we could end up as they are now?

There are widows and widowers whose best friend, the companion who shared the journey with them is no longer there. They face each night an empty chair where once their friend communed with them. They make for their beds each night with a heavy, aching void in their hearts.

Their are children who are bullied at school or harshly treated by unloving parents who wonder if they will ever find a friend who truly cares about them.
Many a single child would love the company of a brother or a sister to play with, but for now it is not to be.

There are also Christians who are going through very trying and difficult circumstances in their lives and they yearn for the company of someone who cares.

Someone who would perhaps sit and listen to them as they tell of the awful burden they have to carry.

It is truly a gift from God is you find a Christian friend in whom you can confide in. A soul mate who will not gossip away your secrets. That indeed is a friend.

As Christians we have the Best Friend anyone could wish for. His name is Jesus Christ. The carpenter's son from Nazareth is also God's Son. Would your friend lay down his life for you?

It happened to many during the great wars. They would not have done so for their enemies though!

This Man did!

While we were yet sinners Christ died for the ungodly. He died for those who hated Him without a cause. You and I! He died for those who saw no beauty in Him that they should desire Him. You and I! He died for those who spat in His face, mocked Him and crowned His head with thorns. You and I!

Can you see the love that this Friend has for you? His arms are outstretched on the cross at Calvary. Do you remember asking your little ones how much they loved you? What did they do? They stretched out both arms as far as they could and said, 'this much!'

Can you see His love for you as God's wrath is poured out upon Him? For whose sins? Yours and mine!
This same Jesus no longer lies in the grave. He is risen! He has given His people certain wonderful and underserved promises of which none of us are worthy, though they have been purchased with blood.

Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. I will never leave you nor forsake you. I am with you whithersoever thou goest. As I was with Moses so I will be with you. What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and grief to bear, what a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer.

Will you allow Jesus to be your Best Friend today?

Your soul needs Him. Leave all your anxiety and cares behind and lean with all your heart and soul upon the finished work that your Best Friend accomplished at Calvary.

You know you can tell this Best Friend anything you like and the beautiful thing is this. He will not tell anyone else about it! He deals with your problems Himself.

It is His delight to stick close by you each step of the way. Make sure my friend that you are not pushing Him away when you need Him most! You and I need Him more today than ever we did. Thankfully He is here.

May you know His presence with you this day and always.

LOL

Your brother in Christ

Iain

  It was a wonderful party for Mr and Mrs Hanna.

I think I am the only one awake now   I ate all the popcorn and the fudge and everything.  

How are you today Mr Iain.
I also love the words from Mr Jack Scott. these are all such a treasure to me.

And these words from you today Mr Iain. are the words of a friend. I thank you that you share your thoughts with me here.

I wish for everyone a wonderful day today.

Just a very quick "Good Morning" as I set out for Hamilton.

What a good time you've all had!

Thanks so much Iain for that word from God today.  It sure helped me.  What a wonderful thought.  I was telling a fellow in England who just lost his mother the day before yesterday the very same thing about our Friend who sticketh closer than any brother.

I'm in a very big hurry so will chat later.

Have a good day everyone!

Hi Mieka!

Hi everyone and thank you all for the party yesterday.  I am sorry I wasn't online last evening to participate very much.  However, guess what?  Yesterday Pat made Etta Sue's recipe for the Zucchini Bread and it is delicious.  In fact, I just had a nice slice of it for my breakfast this morning with a banana.  Have to admit I had a slice of it last night as my supper.  Really terrific Etta Sue.  

Mieka, I am so happy to read that you have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal lord and Saviour.  

I haven't read the devotionals for today yet so will get back later to do that.  Just not feeling very peppy this morning.  

Pat, all during my growing up years, my favorite verse was the one that Jack wrote about in today's devotional.

I always thought how wonderful it would have been to say that as Jesus was coming toward a group I would be in. I often imagined trying to feel worthy enough to wash His feet or to unlatch his shoes. And, imagine the honor to be able to weave his robe! Or to go to the garden, pick the vegetables and cook a meal to serve his needs. I often wondered how the cobbler felt who made His shoes...

That one verse helps me to see how small I am - how like a little speck I am in the scheme of things, yet to know that He chose to take all my sins upon Him to die for my salvation is the most precious gift anyone could ever give.

Behold, the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world.

Ruth Ann

Gee, Jack and Iain's words today fit in my heart.  I am so glad that Christ Jesus is closerthanthis every nanosecond of my life.  

Larry ~ Great that you have tried the Zucchini Bread.  I am not one to say, 'I told you so', but 'I TOLD YOU SO!'

Jane ~ I got everything done yesterday so I could do my favorite thing today....get my car serviced.  Yuck!  The smell of rubber and oil!!! Yuck!

Karma ~ You can have all the cybercalories you can get!!!  BTW, Ali loves the new kitty TV.  No mini-blinds to obstruct her view of the boidies!!!  Give Travis a hug for me!  Can he say Etta Sue yet?

Mieka ~ No tummy ache this morning from eating all that cyber food?  You sure did put it away!!!  

Ruth Ann ~ Good morning.  Hope your blahs are better today.  

As I said to Jane, I am going to get the car serviced this morning.  Then have lunch with Jerry.  It is a very high humidity day so hopefully, we will be inside a lot today with the A/C running full blast!!

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"We must accept finite disappointment, but we must never lose infinite hope."

Pat & Iain:  As I am feeling a little down this morning your words are a great comfort to carry with me today and the days to follow.

Yes that was a wonderful party the other evening.

Mieka:   I am filled with so much joy to hear that you have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour.     Time for another party as you learn and grow in God's word.

May God Bless you all
Ruth

Worthy is the Lamb!  James Langran wrote a hymn with those words:

Lamb of God!  Our souls adore Thee, while upon Thy face we gaze;
There the Father's love and glory shine in all their brightest rays
Thine Almighty pow'r and wisdom all creation's works proclaim
Heav'n and earth alike confess Thee as the ever great I AM!

Lamb of God Thy Father's bosom ever was Thy dwelling place!
His delights, in Him rejoicing, One with Him in pow'r and grace.
Oh, what wondrous love and mercy!  Thou did'st lay Thy glory by;
And for us did'st come from heaven as the Lamb of God to die!

Oh to have One like that "sticking closer than a brother!  Those two devotionals work so well together!  Amen and amen.

Just a quick note to say hi to everyone.  I am getting ready to head out the door and make some sales.

Aunt Pat, thank you for Uncle Jack's words this morning.  I don't know, but just reading them makes me feel like he is still with us in some way.

Iain, I have decided that I am going to read your words when I come home after work.  I think if I read one devotional in the morning and one in the evening I will be well rounded...

Larry, I am going to say a special prayer for you today, asking that you get your pep back.  this is a really difficult time in your life, and my thoughts, love and prayers are with you and Pat.

God bless everyone,
Please have a great day.

Love
Heather

Let's sing the hymn that Al quoted.  I'm not sure what tune you're accustomed to singing it to, Al but this fits!










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OH, GLORY!!!  OUR LITTLE MIEKA IS NOW OUR SISTER IN THE LORD!!  I AM SOOOO HAPPY ABOUT THIS NEWS!!  Mieka, you will continue to learn and to grow in the Lord every day of your life.  We never learn it all!

I noticed no one answered you about your Buddha.  I really am no authority, but I would say that if you sold it and used the money for the Kingdom of God, that would be the best solution.  The Bible says "the wealth of the ungodly is laid up for the righteous" so I'm thinking that any money that is brought into the Lord's work, especially with the right heart attitude, is acceptable to Him.  Pray and ask God directly what He would have you do with your Buddha, He will have an answer for you.  He sometimes uses other people to give us answers as well.  God bless you, little one, for your willing heart.  That is God's most precious treasure.  And to think you are beginning to tithe, with an offering above that, shows you are desiring to please the One who died for you.

You had other questions; I will go back and reread them and try to answer later.  My husband is waiting for me to go somewhere with him now.  Back later!

Hello everyone!

Thanks for the devotionals this morning.

Animal sacrifices had been made throughout the centuries.  God required them of his people even at the time of Cain and Abel.  The law of Moses required all kinds of animal sacrifices.  But none of them could actually take away sins.  But there is one sacrifice which could and does take away sin.  The Lamb of God.

John 1:29  The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! (NIV)

Heb 10:3-4 But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. (NIV)

Heb 10:9-10  Then he said, "Here I am, I have come to do your will." He sets aside the first to establish the second.  And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.  (NIV)

The Bible story of redemption is so beautiful as God's plan unfolds.  Peter said,  "For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect." (NIV)

There IS a sacrifice God wants us to offer.

Rom 12:1-2  Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-- this is your spiritual act of worship.  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-- his good, pleasing and perfect will.  (NIV)

I hope you all have a nice day today.

--- Papa John              <)))><<
 

Good Morning< I was already here but did not post. Thank Pat, Iain Al and Papa John for the devotionals this morning.

I didn't make it to Big bear yesterday so we are going to the local Chinese place today for lunch.
I have already been busy packing some more and putting togethr some boxes. I think when Iget there I will need to buy more of the rubbermaid containers, since it is so wet there and I do not want mold to start growing in the boxes. So far I have discarded 5 garbages bags of clothing to rummage sales, thrift stores and a friend. Back to work now.

TTYL

Meika Welcome to the family.

I have thought long and hard over the issue of the budda.  In God's eyes it is an idol or a graven image.  That is one of the Thou shalt not's of the Bible.  Exodus 20:3  Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

God also gave specific instructions to how these images were to be dealt with.

Deuteronomy 7:5  But, thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire.

I think your question shows the degree of thought you have put into this.

QuoteOH and, sadly, I look for a new home for my Buddha   My mind is a puzzle for this. And in shame i say he has been a friend to me. (it is why i thought perhaps Buddha and God are the same, because GOD did hear my prayer)  I think a Christian will say to a  SMASH HIM.   I just can not do it. I have pray about this now many times

.

As you work through this I know you will listen to the Holy Spirit continue to talk to you.  The fact that you would question it is proof that he is speaking to you.

Meiks  your Lord Jesus is gentle,  rest in the arms of your Lord and let Him guide you in this important and difficult decision.

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GOT IT!!!

Ursula!!!  

I'm back, and have gone back to read Mieka's questions again.  Mieka, God doesn't have any problem with us having riches; but He does have a problem with the riches having us!  If your heart is clean before the Lord, and you do not desire wealth "to consume on your own lust" but rather that you may help others, then He smiles on that!  There is plenty of wealth in the world; unfortunately, much of it is still in the hands of the ungodly.  But that is going to change!  (I read the rest of the story!)

If I don't get busy on that painting job I need to do (not on canvas, but on walls and ceilings this time!) it won't get done today!  Talk to you all later!

Janet-I know what you mean about that!  I've been painting the walls and ceiling in our hallway!  In a house as old as ours, it takes a lot of time, we have to fill in all the nicks and grooves first!  But it's almost completely finished now, and then I'm doing the upstairs.  Oh well, it keeps me busy while I'm out of work!

Hehe, Ben and Hannah were all excited because we bought them swimming goggles.  They look so cute with their little eyes made huge inside the goggles.  They wear them around the house, saying, "They help me see better!".  We are leaving tomorrow to go camping until Friday, when we pick mom up from her conference.  It'll be a lot of fun, I love camping.  I'll be back on the weekend though.  Jen.

Hey, Jen!

I don't remember you asking permission to be away from us that long!!!

Jen, I hope you and your family have a wonderful time camping before you pick up your Mother on Friday.  

I just read the devotional messages for today from Pat, Iain and Papa John.  My what powerful messages.

Pat, I like you Administrator Message graphic.  Very pretty.

Marilyn, using the plastic boxes sounds like a good idea.  I have done that for a lot of our storage.  They are relatively inexpensive and I have some clear ones that lets you see some of the contents without having to dig through them and they stack well.  My wife uses the plastic boxes to store her quilting fabric.

I did not feel up to driving down to my treatment today so my wife drove.  My blood pressure had been pretty low this morning and she told me when I got there it would probaby be higher having been the passenger.  Sure enough it was!  

Heather, thank you for remembering me in your prayers.  I know you have a full plate with your new job and we are all pulling for you to make those sales.  Will you then build the webpage for that person?

I have far from mentioned everyone today so please consider yourself included in a big Hello!  

Larry I too have some of my quilting fabric in those boxes as well as yarn in another 2. But I have so much fabric I could open a store LOL. Still have a lot of fabric in just plain boxes all that has to go into the plastic.

I had lunch with my friend, Lemon Chicken, I am going to miss the China House, they are so friendly and inexpensive but very good food. Now I need to take a nap.  

Ms Marilyn your friend is name Lemon Chicken?

It is too funny.    

OOPS. my friend Mona, I ATE Lemon chicken.
Thank you http://www.webpost.net/mi/MiekaChoy/mieka.gif for bringing tha boo boo to my attention.