Christian Photographers Community

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Link of the day...[/font]

• MyFaith.com   Lots of good information here.

• Creation Moment Listen to the Creation Moment every day for a new creation moment!  We can learn a lot from these!  Terrific if you are home schooling.

Verse for Today...[/font]

"so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation." [/color]
~Hebrews 9:28 NKJV~[/list]


Quote of the Day...[/font]

 "  No man is conquered until his heart is conquered."
~George Barlow ~[/list]  


Some News We Should Know About...

• Tough words make recent spelling bees difficult In 1925, Frank Neuhauser became the first National Spelling Bee champ by correctly spelling "gladiolus," a plant with sword-shaped leaves and brilliantly colored flowers.
  Compare that to "pococurante," meaning indifferent, spelled by 13-year-old Sai Gunturi on Thursday to make him the 76th national spelling bee champ. [/b]  Very interesting!  

• Photo Moment: Plane Silhouetting The Autumn Moon   [/b]  

From our forums...

Our first challenge of June![/b]  Father's Day!

Fathers' Day Cards For those with photo editing software!  Show us your work with photos!

• How about a Layered Salad for lunch?
  

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Morning Devotional...

O Lord, revive Thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.              Hab.  3:2


There was much to disappoint in the days of Habakkuk.

Within was the waywardness of Judah, without were the Chaldean hordes poised to invade. Yet amid these conditions, Habakkuk believed that God could bring revival among his people.

Our days are similar to those Habakkuk faced, and it is possible for us to become pessimistic and cynical in our attitudes.

O that God would give us this spirit of repentance, trust and optimism that looks for revival despite conditions around.

When God's people are revived, this reviving influence will spread abroad in saving power.  
                                                                                              --Wm. Burnett

Good Morning all! ! !
Pat I love your red top! very becomming, I enjoyed the devotional and remembered how dissapointment and hurt can be turned into Joy.  Here is a story I can relate to, and I laughed and cried as I read.  I hope all of you enjoy this as well.

The Hag, The Ogre, and The Chocolate Cake
By Jenefer Igarashi

I was right. Undeniably, un-arguably, hands-down right. I don't exactly remember all the details on what I was right about, but I can tell you it had something to do with a Wal-Mart gift card that his parents gave me for my birthday, which he wanted to use for car accessories. And this was a big deal, because I do not get to be that right that often.

I imagine some background is necessary... My husband, Geoff (known as 'My King' on good days), is the calmest, most literal, black-and-white guy around. He does not 'freak out', he does not 'have cows', he does not go on rampages, nor does he become irrational or unmanageable. These are traits common to me, which (unfortunately) I am well practiced in.
And while I freely admit that it is I, who generally behaves badly and instigates most conflicts, there are times when 'my king' can, and does, transform into an Ogre. This was one of them. And I was really excited about that, because it is not often that I get to 'freak out' about something almost justifiable.

Geoff worked the 'swing shift', back then, so I had plenty of time that  morning to foster my hurt feelings, fall back to my 'old nature' for counsel, become indignant, ponder the injustice of it all, and then launch a full-blown attack. Usually when Geoff sees me about to detonate, he is quick to calm the situation, but on this dark and tempestuous day (and to my surprise), he countered! Not only that...he refused to back down and even called me - the one clearly in the right -  'selfish' and 'spoiled' and 'contentious.' ME!  I was shocked and  flabbergasted. The man who rarely 'got into it' and who refused to be pulled into battle was practically loading the gun for me. What sport!

By the time he was ready to leave for work, he still refused to budge.  As he was walking out the door, I let him know it wasn't over, and to come home prepared for the onslaught I would have ready later that night. He sighed, looked down squarely in my face, tilted his head and commented, "You know, Jen, you are really ugly when you're angry" and then shot out the door before I could find something dangerously heavy to throw. But that was fine by me - he just hurt my feelings even worse  - simply translated, more ammo. It mattered little that my young daughters were all in earshot and taking mental notes to store in their, 'How to Be a Wife' folder. Frightful! They do not stop learning when our homeschool is out for the day. This is when the 'real life' lessons are learned. Was I humbled at the thought? No...I was too busy drawing up battle plans.

The next several hours were dedicated to the impending war. Memories were drudged up, scenes were imagined and hurtful words were scripted. I was ready. I was good and mad and fully prepared to do some damage. My flesh was totally in control - so you can imagine how torn I was when my Heavenly Father-in-Law (who gave me his son, Geoff, whom I was trying to destroy) stepped in with a shocking "suggestion."

Now, I am not a 'subjective' person. I am skeptical of those with stories claiming that 'God called down from heaven and spoke to them directly'. But who else could have planted such an outrageous, unthinkable, irrational thought in my rebellious little head? It was put on my heart, gently and very clearly, "Bake that man a cake." It was not me who would have thought such a thought. It was heinously out of place.

"Forget it," I nearly said out loud, "I'm sure! The one time I can finally triumph, the one time I can finally be right, You want me to deny myself the victory and just 'let it all go'? He'll think he was right all along, and then he won't change. And even more-so... Do You seriously want me to reward such bad behavior by baking the Ogre a cake? Ogres don't deserve cake! They deserve...well, they deserve flies and toads, slimy sludge-filled bogs and other horrible things."  This seemed like a really good argument, and I was pretty proud about my quick thinking.  

...But then that thought came again, "And what do Hags deserve?"  Yikes. So I found my cake pan and begrudgingly set about the task. I found the flour, I found the powdered chocolate, I cracked the eggs, and as I began melting the butter, something else started to soften. To my surprise, a memory of love, and of vows and of thankfulness to God for His mercy on such a sinner as myself began to edge its way in. Despite my 'rightness', despite my hurt feelings and despite my plans to destroy the man who hurt me, God used the simple act of serving my husband in obedience to dissolve my wicked agenda.

Obedience always brings reward. Soon, I began loving my husband, and a desire to please him welled up. God blessed the tiny shred of obedience that I dredged up, and He grew it. And it grew and grew and grew. As the rich smell of chocolate cake filled the kitchen and warmed my home, a new plan formed. A plan motivated by the same grace and love that God offered me, when He died for my depraved ugliness. The battle plans were shredded.

My children were called out, and I got on my knees and repented for being such a rotten example, and begged God to make me a better teacher.  And then we wiped our eyes and set ourselves to work. The recipe book came out and a full course dinner was designed. Candles were rummaged out of dusty drawers. A white lace tablecloth donned the dining room table. The children were employed at setting the house in order. Toilets were cleaned, walls were washed, and floors were scrubbed, while a sinful wife, desiring to obey her Lord stepped out in faith, and arranged a home filled with peace, and worthy to be enjoyed by a King.

The children were fed and then sent to bed a little earlier as the plan continued to grow. I was praising God for the precious gift of my husband. I was brimming with memories of when and why we first fell in love. And I was humbled at the thought of being such a hindrance to the man who truly did his best to serve our family. I marched upstairs and yanked out the "WOW!" dress from the back of the closet. And then I went to the table, sat facing the door, and waited anxiously, and nervously, for him to come home. No doubt he had used his time to prepare for the battle I promised. I heard the keys at the lock and sat up a bit straighter. It was him.

The door opened hesitantly, and cautiously, as if he expected to be met with flying pottery. When it swung fully open, though, he was completely caught off guard. He stared at me completely confused. He stepped out, checked the house number, and then came back in looking nervous. "What going on?" he asked suspiciously. His eyes darted to the meal...to the chocolate cake... to the dress... to the cake... almost to the dress, but back to the cake.
"Hello, my Love," I smiled.
He kept his hand on the doorknob, ready for quick escape. "Were you sniffing the kids' glue during arts and crafts?" he asked. I refused to be deterred, and within minutes of realizing my genuine sincerity, he not only accepted my surrender but also began apologizing for everything and anything he could think of. Even more, he began making promises to become a better leader, and shamefully begged me to use my Wal-Mart card on myself - even offering the checkbook to get something really nice (to which I refused and genuinely  countered that car accessories were much more important and obviously necessary). Yes, obedience brings reward. It became a very lovely evening. He was once again my King. I was once again his Queen. And the next day my children were happy little subjects with parents, who (on that rare occasion) modeled for them, Philippians 2:3 (KJV), "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves..." and James 4:10, "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and He shall lift you up", and for once, not Proverbs 21:9 - "It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house." These are the lessons I want for my children. Humility. Grace. Kindness. Obedience. What a heavy responsibility. They learn by example. And I am praying for God's grace that they will not be entirely ruined by learning from my 'old nature' (which still rears up its ugly head) of first responses.

I am praying that God will train me in humility, and that this would not be a rare 'exception', but how I would deal with opposition consistently. Because honestly, most days I dig in my heels and refuse to let go of my pride - even when I know what the wonderful results of  "baking a chocolate cake" will bring. Do I want to live my Christian life faithfully and honor God? Or do I want to cling to being right?  This should be so obvious, yet how we humans struggle! "And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ." 2 Thessalonians 3:5 (KJV).  And mine as well.  Colossians 3: 12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 1 Thessalonians 5: 15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men; Proverbs 12:4 A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.  

Jenefer Igarashi is the Senior Editor of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine
Copyright, 2002, 2003. The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. Used with permission.

Hello everyone!  

Pat~I love the devotion today.  I really like this:
O Holy Ghost,
revival comes from Thee;
Send a revival--
start the work in me.

When do we get to see those geese photos?

Karmat~lets hear those embarressing stories! I like the new photo you submitted on DPC.  

John~It is nice to see you posting so soon.  I love those photos.  I think you put a lot of emotion into your shots.  

Where is Janet?

Denise do you plan to homeschool your kids throught the summer?  I am thinking about keeping them up on their math and reading.

Good morning to the rest of you!!

Zachery goes in tomorrow for physical therapy for his knees and ankles.  Chandraya has a tech rehearsal for dance in the morning.  We have a busy day.  
I will be back later to read your posts.  Don't forget about the June challenges for Father's Day.  We would love to see some more posts.

Good morning everyone.  I've been away all weekend, I guess there's a lot I've missed!  I'll have to read over everything when I get back.  Great devotional this morning Pat.  I don't think I've thanked you lately for all the time and work you've put into this site for us.  God bless you.

It was a great weekend, I drove up to Timmins with my friend for her graduation.  It took us about ten and a half hours.  It was a great graduation though, and she graduated with honours.

I'm sorry this is such a short post, but I have to get ready to go to work.  I'll post more when I get on next.  God be with you all, and have a wonderful day.  Jen.

Hi everyone.  We had a bit of a stormy night with several periods of rain.  This is the day for the lawn service to come and mow our yard as it has been over a month and it is looking pretty rugged.  However, I am thankful for the rain.

Ruth Ann, I am happy for you that you can attend your granddaughter's piano recital.  I am sure it will mean a lot to her.  I also can also relate to the piano recital as participated in 7 of them as I grew up.  They were always held at our church.  I remember playing Nola at one of the recitals.  I also remember when our son was a teenager.  He had auditioned and was accepted to play in a multiple piano concert where they had 8 grand pianos playing at the same time.  It was great.  

Marilyn, that sounds like a good bargain on the leashes for your dogs.

I placed a bid on an item on eBay this morning.  This was my first experience and it is for a computer book related to webpages.  I don't expect to have a successful bid but decided to give it a try.

Jane, it sounds like you and Nita had a wonderful day together.  It is wonderful to have good Christian friends.

John, I thought your photos were outstanding.  Thanks for sharing them with us.

Papa John, that was a neat page you did for your granddaughter.

It is about time to leave for coffee at the cafe and my neighbor is picking me up at the Goodyear store where I am leaving my car for an inspection.  I also plan on getting some blood work done today and trying to get a few other errands done if I don't get too tired.  The contractors should be back again today.  

Hope everyone has a wonderful day.

Well good morning everyone...what a blessed day the Lord has given us today..the sun is shining, the birds are singing and my heart is singing the praises of my God and my Lord...
how about you....are you praising God for what He has given you today?

Pat...thanks for the devotional this morning....we will have to get together for that coffee with Judy very soon....

Good morning to you Al....enjoy your coffee time with your pals this morning....

GODLINESS/HOLINESS: The imitation of God. Living a set-apart life conformed to the will and image of God (john 2:6, John 14:20), The call to be a sanctified people-unique and set-apart.
Let us think on this today and bring glory to our Lord.
God bless you and keep your mind stayed on Him.
Paulette.

http://welcome%20jmsetzer[/font][/size]

Good Morning Everyone!

Thanks for posting that story, Judy!  That's a good one for sure!

Paulette, life is so hectic, isn't it?  We try to make plans but we try to do so much in our days.  We'll have to just make a date and time and go for it!  LOL

It's so good to see you posting Jen.  I'm glad you were able to get up north for your friend's graduation.  It's great to hear of her good results too.  Maybe you can introduce her to Christian Photography!

Larry, let us know about Ebay.  I have a lot to sell and wouldn't know where to start!  

Good Morning, Carol!

Sonja, I've been working on my Paint Shop Pro lessons as I had gotten a bit behind so now I may have some time today to get the geese photos ready to post.  

I wonder where Iain is??  

Well, I must get some housework done.  And some gardeing.

Well, welcome John!  (From another Lutheran in Colorado) Your pictures are just wonderful.  

I am groggy this morning from the annual book sale and would you believe that yesterday someone asked to donate more books for next years sale?  So, the trunk of my car is a travelling library until it makes it to the storage shed.  

I was able to read most of the posts here and catch up on the news.

Janet:  You would love this book sale and people do drive in from other states to visit and hit the sale.  

Papa John:  Your site on Martha is lovely and she is as well.  

I went to a quilter's guild meeting last night and in viewing old quilts, the speaker talked about how sewers would get their message across - their faith - their family, etc.  It was so interesting and now I will look a bit closer at antique quilts.  

Anthony:  Are you out there?  I have not seen you post lately.

Carol

Good Morning Pat!

It is nice to see your cheery smile this morning.  Carol

Thanks Carol!     Great to see you too!

  It's such a glorious day!   I was up early to take my husband ( Steve ) to work. It's so nice and cool and refreshing outdoors.

Pat I'm glad you got your packet from the school. I find the assignments really challenging.

Sonja We have until the end of June before we finish up our regular work. Then were going to work on our weak areas and do some fun unit studies. My son is interested in Computer and Electricity, so he'll work on those. My Daughter enjoys the Little house Series. We will use those in a unit study.

Today we are heading out early and driving over to Klamath Falls. This is about an hour and half drive. We had some good Homeschool friends who moved over there due to work. It will be a nice break for the kids and I.
I better scoot off and finish getting the kids ready.
Denise

Good Morning: Pat: thank you for the devotional this morning. I have posted another link to a great site for devotionals. The one I received today was awesome full of all sorts of interesting information (also good info for homeschoolers) and too long to post here. So check it out by clicking on the new link in Christian Links.

Pat I am really concerned for Heather, I do pray that family and friends with write recommendations to the court for her before the 10th. So she will have them to take with her.

Well I am going to read the posts from last night and I will be back shortly.

Here's a lively one to wake us all up this morning!

I didn't come to CP yesterday....big day.  PSP lessons to do, mow the grass....just too busy.  Did anyone miss me?

Jane ~ On the radio this morning they said our high today was to be 62°F.  Average high is 79°F.  Cold for us.  I am going with my sister today and I will be taking a jacket.  I like this weather except it is too cold to sit outside and enjoy my deck and furniture.  BTW, Ivalou is my beautician.  

JMSetzler
John ~ I have looked at your photos on DPChallenge.  You are one great photographer and an asset to CP.  Thank you for joining.

Al ~ Yes!  Yes!  Yes!  

Judy B ~ I love your story....great lesson to be had.

Pat ~ Are you still doing your PSP lessons?  They are time consuming, aren't they?   At least, for me.

URSULA
Denise ~ Klamath Falls?  Is that where the 'Trees of Mystery' are?  If so, I have been there!

Ivalou is having her car serviced today so I am going to ride along with her.  Then it is back home to PSP lessons.  Ivalou and I will be going to Dayton to her granddaughter's dance recital Thursday & Friday and back home Saturday.  Then Sunday will be filled with church and a Home Tour in and around Lapel.  So I want to catch up on PSP.  

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Two for one today!!!!
"The pessimist complains about the wind, the optimist expects it to change, and the realist adjusts the sails."

"I finally got my head together, and my body fell apart."

Yes, Etta Sue, I sent my link last night for Week Two.

Want to see them?

Click on Week Two

Good morning.  We went to the hospital yesterday afternoon for the steroid injection  and everything went well.  The doctor said I would probably be sore for several days and the nurse said I wouldn't sleep last night so I expected the worse.  However though my back has been pretty sore it hasn't been bad and I did sleep well.

Larry and Carol thank you for your comments on my website tribute to Martha Nell.  I am planning to do my other two granddaughters soon.  Rebekah was married last month and Ruth will be married next month.  Good to see everyone today.

--- Papa John              <)))><<

 

Welcome Ursula!

I just got this in my email. I thought it was hilarious.

Each evening birdlover Tom stood in his backyard, hooting like an owl - and
one night, an owl called back to him.  For a year, the man and his feathered
friend hooted back and forth.  He even kept a log of the "conversation."

Just as he thought he was on the verge of a breakthrough in interspecies
communication, his wife had a chat with her next door neighbor.

"My husband spends his nights ...  calling out to owls," she said.

"That's odd," the neighbor replied.  "So does my husband."

Then it dawned on them.

hahahahaaa....it would be funny to have seen or heard this!!!

OH SONJA!!!

That's hillarious!

Pat, your PSP lessons are beautiful.  There are certainly some unique items in your work.  I had never played around with tubes until a few nights ago and they are really neat.  

Etta Sue, I will be looking forward to seeing your work as well.  I wish I had the energy to tackle something like that but I just don't.

I am back from my errands this morning.  After coffee I picked up my car and went to the license bureau and got next year's tags and got my handicapped plate.  I then drove up to the Kaiser medical facility and got a prescription filled and left them some of my blood.  I was glad I had the handicapped plate as was pretty tired when I got there and would have had to part a long way aways.  I just placed the tag on the dashboard and wasn't very long in the facility.  When I got home I replaced the old tag.  

Papa John, glad to hear you got along so well and that you had a good night's sleep.

Denise, I hope you all have a good outing today.  All of our schools are out for the summer now.  

Welcome Ursula.  We are happy to have you joining with us and I look forward to your postings and getting to know you.

Carol, you just thought you were finished handling books for awhile.    It sounds like your sale was again a big success.

Paulette and Jen, nice to see both of your posts today.

Larry

Thanks Larry...  I find the Paint Shop Pro lessons relaxing to tell you the truth.  If I can't figure something out, I just go and do something else.  I really enjoy them.  Yes, tubes are awesome.  I just love working with them.  And it's fun making them.


Papa John! Hi  Nice to see you.  Was looking for your little devotional this morning.


I see Iain online so maybe we'll get a feast from him!  

Thank you, Pat, for your welcome.  I'm glad to be here.  

~Ursula

Thank you too, Sonja!  

WELCOME URSULA WE ARE
GLAD O HAVE YOU JOIN US.

Your welcome ursula

Pat~great psp work.  I can't wait to get more ram so I can learn how to do that.  

Huuuummmmmmmmhhhhhhhhhh Here I was two days behind and then I get to todays and you gabby people have written many posts already today. It looks like everyone is doing well.  

It was a surprising day at church Sunday! As Etta Sue and I were leaving the man who is the head of the A\V dept. stopped us and wanted to talk to me, so we went into the room where the tape duplicator is located and he asked if I would take over the tape ministry. I told him I would try it and he said that since this would be every Sunday, he didn't think it fair to ask me to do the audio board also. So the 15th of this month will be my last service doing the audio board and July I will take over the taping of the service and duplicating the tapes for the congregation. He also told me he is thinking that we may go digital and that will mean CD's also! I think I will enjoy my new ministry even better!

Doing Gods work is always fun

Larry~ it has rained all night here and is only going to warm to 63º today. It sure doesn't feel like June!


Welcome  J.M.Setzler
Welcome Ursula
Papa John ~ It seems that, the doctors don't realize that when you are in severe pain a little pain doesn't bother you. It kind of amazed me they even thought I would notice a little discomfort from the injections when I was already in P-A-I-N.

Jerry~Sounds like a fun job!  Sounds like you will be busy on Sundays.  What do they do with the tapes when they are done?  Our church records his sermons and the local christian radio plays them in the morning and evening.  

Papa John~Glad to hear you slept well after the injection.    I hope it will get less painful for you as time goes by.  

I just got back from Chandraya technical rehearsal.  Those kids are so cute when they dance.  She is so excited to dance Thur.-Sat. at the Camplex.  I will talk to you all later.

Sonja, our church records the sermons to take them to shut-ins so that they can enjoy the message.