Christian Photographers Community

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Morning Devotional...



The God of hope.
Romans 15:13


The way to heaven, happiness and harmony in a world of disease, despair and death is to know our hope.

It is the blessed source of confidence for tomorrow and the happy secret for today's spiritual joy and peace. Oh, for eyes to see and hearts to possess God's antidote for the sorrows of this life.

Thank God, it will outlive the grave and outlast the years.

Besides being our anticipated heritage may it be our daily habitation—someday we will see Him.
—Les Rainey

Hope is such a strong, critical part of our faith, yet it is one of the most intangible, unexplainable tenets of our religion, I think.  Hope to a non-believer is utter foolishness, but to a believer is, well it just is.

It reminds me of a time 6 years ago (to the day, perhaps, or close to it).  My dad had just suffered a massive heart attack and was in a coma due to the swelling of his brain because he was "out" for 20 minutes.  My mother, brother, sisters and I all clung to the hope that he would get well again.

Most of the doctor's called this "false hope."  It was at that time I realized that not only is "false hope" an oxymoron, it is impossible.  The fact that we had hope meant it was real.  Because all things are possible with God, we can hope even in the most dire of situations.  As Christians, our hope is not unsubstantiated.  Our hope is built on Jesus -- King of kings and Lord of lords!!!!!!!!  <karmat starts getting excited here.  whoohooooos>

Karma, that is powerful

Thanks for that Karma.  It's given me thoughts to go to bed with.

Hi Suzanne.   I think it's about time we had a chat again.  LOL It's been a long time.  Are you at work?  Hope you have a good night if you are.

Thanks Karma!  Hope is a wonderful thing, and absolutely EVERY Christian has it, because it's been planted in our hearts by the Holy Spirit!  I hope everybody agrees!  Oh Larry, I'm so sorry they have put the damper on your transplant.  Is there any possibility of having it done elsewhere?  I pray our Father will intervene.

Larry:  I may have told you that I have a friend who underwent a heart transplant about five years ago.  It has been a constant struggle with long periods of staying in her own home away from contact with outsiders - because of flu potential and other reasons- and she has had numerous trips to Critical Care - not an easy time for her or the family, I could name half a dozen dangerous things.  I am praying that the ventricular assist will be the right answer for you.  

Pat: Many good wishes for you on your trip - enjoy and sleep well.  Thank you for reminding us that there is always HOPE.
Carol

Karma ~ Sitting at Jerry's bedside for seven weeks without hope would have been devastating for me.  Each day, if he had the tiniest improvement, I had hope that he would make it.  Then that last day...well, I still had hope...hope that God would take him to heaven BEFORE Jerry suffered too much.  We never run out of hope. 

Yesterday was a fine day.  Wonderful to be with friends that we 'talk' to in forums and emails.  Nice drive, too.  I purchased some groceries before returning home and then watched TV.  I am only behind 20 some shows on my Ultimate TV.  Caught up a little.

Today I am going to be with the little girls while Ivalou goes to her Red Hat Society meeting.  She is kind of the host today so she needs to go.  Otherwise she would have stayed home.  The girls are great little girls.  So fun to be with.  They will probably teach me a thing or two.

Then, Judy, my classmate and I are going out to eat this evening.  She is off work until Tuesday and wants us to spend some time together before her grandchildren come to visit. 

I will be back to post the NEM later....right, hopefully....the old one locked and the new one stickied!!

I discovered I have a camera again.  I posted some new pictures here.

Nice devotional and nice posts.  Karmat, you are so on target....

Cloudy day here on the island and looks like rain.  I was hoping for sunshine....but it will come along in time!

Today I am getting an addition to my TV.  The kids finally wore out their old TV and got a new, High Digital something or other and are giving me their Digital Box.  So I can watch all the old, old shows and get many more channels that I can probably ignore after testing    

Here is my favorite poem about Hope...posted it once a long time ago...


Hope is a thing with feathers

By Emily Elizabeth Dickinson


Hope is a thing with feathers
That perches in the soul
And sings a tune without words
And never stops at all.

And sweetest, in the gale, is heard
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That keeps so many warm.

I've heard it in the chilliest land
And on the strangest sea
Yet, never, in extremity
It ask a crumb of me.


Pleasant day all and God Bless.

Liz

Hi everyone.  Pat that was a very good devotional and I think it certainly expresses my inner feelings (along with the comments of Karmat) that I have always had hope.  Not hope that what I might have wanted was the only approach, but hope in knowing even if today is my last day on this earth I have no fear of the future as I know Jesus is preparing that place for me where all will be perfect. 

Carol, I am well aware that certain people have a lot of problems after the transplant.  My younger cardiologist had earlier totally discouraged me from even trying to get on the list saying it was a terrible operations and it had problems throughout the rest of your life with the possibility of rejection.  Therefore, it was a calculated decision but since (other than the cancer) I am really a very healty person I decided the risks were worth it to at least try.  Obviously this was not in God's plan for my life and I know the Father knows best for me. 

Etta Sue, I like your graphic in your message above.  I hope you enjoy the little ones today and that they don't wear you out too much to enjoy your supper.

Pat, I don't blame you about not wanting to worry about the AOL.  After the initial week of withdrawal from the computer you will probably be just fine.  

Ruth Ann, congratulations on the weight loss.  Sure that is one reason you may be feeling better sometimes.  Keep up the good work.  Hope you are able to attend your tent meeting but sure you will make the best decision considering all factors.

Liz, I agree with your posting about our personalities and the way we worship.  I certainly have no problem with those that are more expressive in the manner that Marilyn described.  Our congregation (one of those frozen chosen Presbyterians) is beginning to losen up some especially with our contemporary services.  When we have a joint service of both the tradtional and contemporary we now have quite a mixture.  We are still not dancing in the isles, although our previous interim pastor preached one sermon and invited people to do so as he sort of danced down the isle.  We weren't quite ready for that.   

I see it is about time for lunch.  Pat went to Bible Study at the church this morning and still isn't back so much have gone somewhere else.  I have choir practice this evening.

Larry, I think your attitude about the transplant is excellent.  However, I haven't given up yet!  I'm still praying God will reverse their decision in some way.  I have to go to physical therapy today to see about strengthening a muscle or muscle group around my left hip so that a nerve that's down there will quit hurting occasionally.  They think they may be able to do me some good, so I'm game to try.

Relative to demonstrativeness in worship - I find no Scriptural prohibitions on raising hands, clapping, dancing, etc., so I say, "Have at it, if that turns you on!"

Just wanna say Hello to all of you before I pack up and go home from work   Hope everyone is well. 

Hi Nards!  It's always so nice to see you stick your head in the door here.

Hi all u all

Pat, wonderful verse you picked for the devotion today.

Romans 15:13: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

I am sure all the readers are aware that this verse contains all the words of our positive faith.

I just want to mention them: hope, joy,  peace, trust, power of the Holy Spirit.

It seems to me that hope cannot be brought into the picture by the efforts of man alone.

I believe that hope is a gift from God or the Holy Spirit , if you will. 

It seems to me that when the Scripture tells us that "you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit", preceeded by those words;  "joy", "peace", and "trust" that only God can open and shut doors.

Have a good evening
boots

Boots, it's soooo good to see you.  Thanks so much for your added thoughts.

I've been singing this by myself here and so I thought we could all sing...

Thank you Pat

You're welcome, Marilyn...  Thought of you when I was singing!   

I knew you were. You know it is one of my favorite songs. I left a prayer request in prayers.

Ah the joys of parenthood.  Travis and Kristi have given me a present -- Pink Eye.  Loverly. 

So, I am trying to post-process/edit over 150 wedding pictures with good vision in one eye and fuzzy in another.  Should be interesting.

I'll check back in in a few. . .

The cat is out.  This door is locked.

You will find a new NEM here.