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Morning Devotional...


He sent a man. . . He made Him lord.
Psalm 105:17, 21

Here the psalmist refers to Joseph and his experiences in Egypt where he was exalted to the highest possible position in the land.

There is here also, a beautiful picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was sent into the world as man, but in sinless perfection. He suffered the abuse of men, He was sold for a pittance.

Yet, at the end He was exalted to the highest place, God having made this Jesus both Lord and Christ. A future day will also reveal Him as King of kings and Lord of lords.

We admire Joseph, we adore Christ.
-Roy Hill

















HYMN HISTORY:

It is not surprising that such a magnificent opening line as "Crown Him With Many Crowns" should be used by different hymn-writers. But it is not known whether the two writers of this hymn ever met. Matthew Bridges was one of the considerable group of Anglicans who were influenced by Newman and Faber. Godfrey Thring, a much younger man, became a Prebendary of Wells Cathedral in 1876 and it was he who altered and rearranged Bridges' hymn so that both their names now go with it in the hymn books.

But even good first lines are not always fashioned straight away. The first line of this great hymn used to be "Crown Him with crowns of gold" - a line that was for many years popular in the United States, being considered more impressive than any other description.

The five verses celebrate the kingship of Christ each with a definite theme,

Crown Him the Lord of Love
Crown Him the Son of God
Crown Him the Lord of Life
Crown Him the Lord of Peace
Crown Him the Lord of Heaven

thus making the hymn a fine example of Christian teaching about the person of Christ. 

 "Crown Him With Many Crowns"  is a good hymn!
For some reason I hadn't noticed how pretty that pic of the Bible with the rose on it is. I saw it tonight and wondered if it was new, but went back and looked, and now realize it's on all of them.  Oh well, just another "New Every Morning" experience, right? LOL
Gina

gratefuleye

I am ready to walk out the door for church.  I have to get Jerry and then head south.  It is suppose to be a nice, warm day but it is still dark outside right now.

Jerry is taking me to Logan's Steakhouse for lunch.  Love those sweet potatoes. 

I am praying that everyone has a great day in God's house.

He is crowned, and He will be crowned - with all the majesty there could possibly be!  But oh that my own soul would crown Him Lord of each thought and action of my life even now! Matthew Bridges is an author whose writings are worth reading!  Thank you for both devotional and hymn, Pat.

Hi everyone.  I slept in this morning and it is now almost 9 am.  I will have to leave for church around 10 am as we are having a special choir rehearsal with the seniors in our church making up the choir.  Today is designated as Senior Sunday and following church there is a special banquet provided for us each year.  They always have a beautifully decorated room, in a Valentine decor, and a wonderful meal.  This is followed by special entertainment.  It is always a very enjoyable, if somewhat long day.

Thank you allfor the special Happy Birthday wishes and the special cards, I appreciate your efforts.  It was a very special day unlike any I have ever had before.  My son was here around 7 am and went to coffee with me and bought me breakfast.  We came back to the house for a little while and then we went to Fry's and looked around.  Then we went out to lunch and had a very leisurely lunch where we were able to talk about a lot of things, some of which we hadn't discussed before involving his grandchildren whom he has never seen as he has no relationsihip with his daughter.  Hopefully I was able to plant a few seeds that might someday lead to some type of reconciiliation. 

We then went to see the "Phantom of the Opera" and that was very enjoyable.  We got home about 5:30 and then we all went to Famous Dave's for one of their feasts.  I had received a gift card at Christmas time and we all really enjoyed the meal.  He left for home around 8:30 pm.  I was worn out but elated at the wonderful time we had together.  He also seemd to enjoy it so hope it won't be 64 years before we do it again.  A gift of time from a child to a parent or from a parent to a child is precious beyond words.

I didn't get to the CP cite at all yesterday as was exhausted after the big day and so went to bed and went to sleep.  Jane, so sorry to read of the new turmoil in Bry's life and I pray that he finds solace soon. 

Matt, you have a beautiful son.  What wonderful eyes.

TeresaDawn, it sounds like there will be a lot of activity in your household the next few days.  Enjoy the company.

Ruth Ann, I know that losing a pet that has been a constant companion is very difficult and even more so in someone with the illness that your son experiences.  Know you are very worried.

Janet, glad that Beth was able to so and participate in the dealing with her father's things.  It sounds like you will be busy today with Abby there to keep you company.  I look forward to seeing some photos of your new painting efforts. 

I haven't addressed everyone personally today but have read all of the postings.   Hope this will be a very nice day for each of you.

Just stopping in briefly.  I will be leaving shortly for church, and am not sure if I'll be back in today.  Have a great day everyone.

Good Morning Thank you Pat for the devotion and the wonderful Song.

I don't think I came back yesterday to tell you all that it is going to cost a whopping $50 to fix my car. The oil sending unit is bad and another has been ordered. He put in an old one that was he took off another car so I can drive my car until the new one comes in. Thank you Lord for answering my prayers.

Time for me to get ready for church I just wanted to stop in to tell you the good news and give you my Praise Report.

I had a wonderful sugggestion about finding a house from a friend who said I should put up a sign at the vet's office reading "2 loving dogs and their loving owner, a Senior citizen are looking for a place to rent."  Good suggestion HUH? I am going to do that on Monday and will put one up at the co-op of today.

TTYL

February 13   

The Holy Spirit: Wild-eyed Fanatics

Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things;
hold fast what is good. 
--1 Thessalonians 5:19-21

This is a crude illustration, but let me tell you what we did after
planting a field of corn when I was a young fellow in Pennsylvania.
To save the field of corn from the crows, we would shoot an old crow
and hang him by his heels in the middle of the field. This was
supposed to scare off all of the crows for miles around. The crows
would hold a conference and say, "Look, there is a field of corn
but don't go near it. I saw a dead crow over there!"

That's the kind of conference that Satan calls, and that is exactly
what he has done. He has taken some fanatical, weird, wild-eyed
Christians who do things that they shouldn't, and he has stationed
them in the middle of God's cornfield, and warns, "Now, don't you go
near that doctrine about the Holy Spirit because if you do, you will
act just like these wild-eyed fanatics."  The Counselor, 63.

"Keep us, Lord, from shying away from such valuable truth and
experience as the ministry of the Holy Spirit because of the
excesses of a few fanatics. We lose too much, and we can't afford
the loss. Amen."

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Beautiful graphic, Etta Sue!

Marilyn, I am so happy that your car repair is a minor one!  Hopefully the idea that you were given to find a new home works also!

Good morning, everyone ... I'm praying all y'all will have a God blessed day with Him.

Thanks, Pat, for the devotional message and hymns ... they always bring a blessing.

Etta Sue, you have outdone yourself with your graphics!  Terrific.  I'm glad you will have a wonderful meal at a favorite place with Jerry.  That's great for both of you!

Marilyn~ I know you are "barking up the right tree" this time!  You'll be rewarded with a great new place to live as well as a smoothly running car.  Praise God.

Larry~ Sounds as if you had a most wonderful day with your son yesterday.  And another great day for you today!  God truly is good -- all the time!
Thanks for your thoughts and prayers for Bryan.

I will be joining my friends to sing at the nursing home at noon today.  It is always a lot of fun to get together and we do enjoy ministering to these folk.  We have only recently added this second nursing home to our itinerary; we sing at another one on Friday.  These times are the only times we get together any more.  We used to all attend church together but that ended when the church closed.

Ruth Ann, I know you are trusting the Lord to help you keep Leslie's head above water during this heart wrenching time with a special pet and friend.  I'll keep y'all in prayer.

Gotta go ... I have just a few more things to get accomplished around here before leaving.

Y'all have a great day!   

Thank Jane for the "Barking up the right tree" statement. LOL But I love it. I have made a little sign with Happpy and Bebe's photos and a little blurb from me for the vet's office and will put it up tomorrow.

Raining here today  but  not hard a nice easy rain.

Whew!  I'm having another busy day!  Praise report!!   Beth felt well enough to attend church this morning!!  God is SO good!!  And she didn't seem overly tired after her day with her siblings dealing with their Dad's things, either.

Abby chose "Stone Soup" for us to read together last night, so today we had to make Stone Soup again.    She is getting to be more help all the time now; she can peel potatoes and carrots, and cut up the potatoes.  She also added all the seasonings to the soup, and the meat (hamburger because that's what we had.)  Our Stone Soup tastes a lot like beef stew.    I don't eat the stones.  Hahaha.

Abby and I also went over to Beth's and changed her bed, picked up stuff, and got her laundry going.  I have been back over to put stuff from washer to dryer, etc. a couple of times.  I got behind on things last week during my painting class.

Larry, you're sure right about a gift of time !  How I long to spend some quality time with my kids who ignore me most of the time.  It really helps that both Diane and Beth are close to me (emotionally, not talking distance here.)  I'm so glad you had that wonderful day with your son, and will believe with you that the seeds you planted will bear good fruit, and that a reconciliation will occur----SOON.  Relationships are the most important things in our lives, I believe.

Etta Sue, I am enjoying your graphics, even tho they are not complete nor animated on my computer.  Next time Mark is here, I will see if he can fix the problem.  He fixed my FTP last night, so I posted some photos in the RED challenge.

Nita, I'm so sorry about Leslie's doggie.  I hope he will be comforted and sustained, and realize the Love of God is greater far.....but also know losing the beloved companion of 15 years hurts very much.  Blessings to you both.

Jane, as you can see, I liked having the names put in color, so I am copying your neat idea!  Hugs to you and dear Bry.  He will get there, he will!!!

Pat, I am acutely aware of how little you've been in here lately, and am praying you are well.  We miss you, sweet lady!

About that car, Marilyn, I'm so happy!  I just felt in my spirit it was a small problem, and those are to be expected in a car which hasn't been on the road in a while.  They are usually small things, and not costly to repair.  Hope the Doggie notices help you find a home!

Soni, Soni, Soni!!!  I miss your chatty posts telling us about yours and the kids' activities!  Love you, girl!

Al, are you behaving yourself out there in Sunny California??  Huh?  Huh?  You'd better be, cause we might find out if you're being ornery, and then have to lash you with a wet noodle----or something. 

My back is really talking to me, think maybe I have overdone things again, so I'd better listen to it and get off here for a while.

Janet, it's so good to hear your praise report on Beth's progress. Still prayin, my friend.

Thank you all for your sweet support and prayers for us as we work through this bad time with Leslie's dog. I, too, am having great difficulty thinking of life in this house without her smiles and tail wags and lying faithfully so she can watch every move I make.

The church worship and sermon were just what I needed this morning, and lunch with friends was great, too.

I had to deal with a corrupted file, so went to work, in faith believing He would help me get the problem figured out with not too much time expended, instead of the several-hours process I was projecting.

Well, I logged in at 1:07, and logged out at 4:00, and had time to have a phone conversation with my boss as well.

Isn't God good! ALL THE TIME!

And, it's so good to see we have new members - a hearty, warm welcome from Tennessee. Y'all just dive right in a participate. We can't wait to hear from you.

Y'all have a good evening.

Ruth Ann

Jerry and I had a wonderful lunch after church.  I took him home and then stopped at the grocery for 4 items.  Then home.  As soon as I got in the door, the phone rang.  It was a step-daughter from Fort Wayne saying she was on her way here and was bringing her sister, Mary, daugher, Kathy and 3 week old granddaughter, Adriana.  What a wonderful surprise.  I was so happy to see all of them and especially to hold the new baby.  I hardly know what to do with them....they are sooooo tiny. 

They have left now.  It has turned very windy and cold.  So I am hoping it will be an early night for me tonight.

BEAUTIFUL ASHES

twoin1!

I was so elated to read about Marilyn's car repair bill (being so low, that is)...that I could hardly wait to get on and post.

Marilyn:  I will be praying with you, that a home for you and the pets will come very quickly.  Thats a WONDERFUL idea, your friend gave you.

Larry:  Wonderful that you could spend such quality time with your son.  I'll pray along with you, that the seeds planted will not be in vain.

Etta Sue:  Boy - you and Jerry sure find some "neat-sounding" restaurants.  Its making me hungry....and hungry for Janet's Stone soup.

Do we have that recipe on CP for Stone Soup, Janet?  It sounds very familiar.

Pat:  I sure hope you are feeling better.  We do miss all your posts.  I KNOW how you suffer with that neck pain.

Welcome, Welcome, Welcome....THERE.... 3 welcomes for our 3 new members!!

- Judy M.

Zacchaeus: The Little Man

Zacchaeus was the chief tax collector for Jericho, and the people hated him. He cheated the people by overcharging them on their taxes and became rich.

Many of you will remember the Sunday School song about Zacchaeus:

"Zacchaeus was a little man,
A very little man was he,"......

Jesus was coming to Jericho, and Zacchaeus wanted to see him, but Zacchaeus was so short that he couldn't see Jesus. So, Zacchaeus ran ahead and climbed a sycomore tree on the way that Jesus would pass. It's interesting to note that Zacchaeus was so small that he could have hidden instead, but he wanted to see Jesus. However, we should all know that we can't hide ourselves or our sins from Jesus.

Jesus looked up in the tree, saw Zacchaeus, asked him to come down, and said "for to day I must abide at thy house." Zacchaeus not only saw Jesus, but he met Jesus, and the life of Zacchaeus was changed forever.

The people were upset that Jesus was going to be the guest of a sinner, evidently forgetting that they were all sinners.

"And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold."

Zacchaeus was convicted of his sin and was saved that day. Zacchaeus sincerely wanted to see Jesus, and God provided a way. The same will be true for any man who wishes to confess, repent, and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour.

Luke 19:1  And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.
Luke 19:2  And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.
Luke 19:3  And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.
Luke 19:4  And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.
Luke 19:5  And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.
Luke 19:6  And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.
Luke 19:7  And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.
Luke 19:8  And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
Luke 19:9  And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
Luke 19:10  For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

There are many interesting contrasts, comparisons, and references that make the story of Zacchaeus much larger that what it appears to be.  Luke 18:24-27 seems to proclaim that it is almost impossible for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Yet, Zacchaeus was very rich, and he did enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The following portion of Scripture explains this apparent contradiction:

Luke 18:27  And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

The story of Zacchaeus is yet another example of how Christ extends His Grace to those who are the least deserving of it. One must also consider that Jericho was built under a curse, but our Lord and Saviour chose to pass through it. Our Lord knew Zacchaeus and called him by name to come down out of the tree. In reality, our Lord calls all of us to come down, humble ourselves, confess, repent, and accept Him as Lord. Our Lord will forgive the greatest of sinners and change them forever.

Romans 8:31-34  What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Romans 5:17-18  For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)  Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

Revelation 3:20  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Yes, Jesus is knocking on the door to your heart. Open the door and let him in.
__________

May God bless and guide all who love JESUS.

Love In Christ,
Tom

1Corinthians 1:18  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

Romans 5:6  For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

Larry, I hope you had a real nice birthday yesterday.  (I think I read one day last week that Saturday would be your birthday.)

Ok folks, how many times do you find young children more conservative than their mamma's?! MINE! I love this one church we've been attending, but the girls believe the music isn't right and that it's not "serious" enough in the lessons.
I do miss hearing the good old hymns, but as it's a good church I wasn't going to make an issue of it, but I suppose the girls need to be comfortable too and they aren't, so we may just have to keep looking for our new permanent church home here.

I'm mourning my lack of a scanner right now, I got a few wonderful shots of the Rogue. I was truly amazed because I still don't have a real camera, these were taken with a drug store brand instant camera and were absolutely gorgeous. If anyone wants to volunteer I'll send the photos to you snail mail so they can be shared on here!

My alarm clock died this morning so I bought a new one, I spent a couple extra dollars and got one that plays nature sounds for about an hour if you push a button on it, so you can fall asleep to it. I have it set on forest sounds right now and it's very nice. I'm glad I got it!

Hope everyone had a good day here. I've gotta get to bed, between getting up early for church, working all evening, and having to get up early and get the girls to school tomorrow I shouldn't be up playing on the computer but hey, I like you guys. 

Gina

Well it's way past time, but here we go to Mondday morning!
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