Christian Photographers Community

Psalm 111:10 says...

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
        A good understanding have all those who do His commandments.
        His praise endures forever.






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Proverbs 8:14 says...

Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom;
        I am understanding, I have strength.
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Morning Devotional...

The Shepherd's Psalm--Part (iii)

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Perhaps you can imagine the scene. In the far distance, the sun shines over the misty blue mountains. Below them lie the upland moors covered with deep rich purple heather and golden yellow gorse. Immediately in front of us, and just beyond the field gate on which you and I are leaning, is a beautiful verdant pasture.

The grass is lush and wild flowers grow in colorful array. If we stand quietly, we can hear above the soft rustle of the wind, the musical drone of the honey bees as they gather nectar from delicate blooms.

About five hundred yards away, the cool, clear waters of a river flow serenely and silently towards the distant sea.

A little flock of sheep, some with lambs, lie peacefully undisturbed near the river's edge. If we were to look at them through our binoculars, we would see them gently chewing their cud as they draw nourishment from the abundant provision of fresh food. They surely are the picture of contentment and tranquillity. This is something like the picture that Psalm 23 calls to my mind.

"He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters." (Psalm 23:2) Why are the sheep in our little scene so peaceful, so content, so unruffled as they enjoy the warmth of the afternoon sun?

I think my shepherd friend, Johnny Crawford, would tell us that a flock such as we have described are free from fear, have enough to eat and are not plagued with parasites. If we remove any one of these conditions the sheep will not be at peace.

Has not God given us a lovely picture in Psalm 23 of the condition of His believing people? In Psalm 95:7, we read "For He is our God; and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand." Every good shepherd will care for his flock, removing the sheep from danger, providing medical treatment to prevent parasites and ensure sufficient food to keep them strong and healthy.

Our "Good Shepherd" has done so much more for His flock than the best of earthly shepherds. To start with He says to us in John 10:11, "I am the Good Shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep". He paid the ultimate price to purchase His flock and to deliver them from the fear of eternal death. "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?" (Romans 8:32).

In Christ our shepherd we have all we need for eternity. When we realize that "I am His and He is mine", fears quickly diminish and should fade away. When the Shepherd is present the wolf will seek some other prey. We need not fear man or devil, even if they kill us we shall live with Him.

If we are aware of His divine presence we will find food abundant for our souls and our spirits will rejoice in the Bread of Life, for He feeds us with food sufficient for our requirements. This He does as we seek to feed on His word and to find Him there. We can, with the Shulamite maiden experience the bounty of His hand. Listen to her words, "He brought me into the banqueting house, and His banner over me was love." (Song of Solomon 2:4) My friends let us feat on the good things of His word as we bask in the sunshine of His love.

"He leadeth me beside the still waters." Sheep like human beings need more than food to live; both need water if they are to survive. In Revelation 21:6, we read, "And He said to me, 'It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts'."

What is the water of life? The Lord Jesus when speaking to the woman of Samaria told her of "living water" which if a person drank he or she would never thirst again. "But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life." (John 4:14).

The Old Testament prophet Isaiah talks about that water in Isaiah 12:2,3 "Many people shall come and say, 'Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths." And the Lord Jesus Christ explains its meaning for us in John 7:37-39, "On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, 'If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.' But this He spoke concerning the Spirit whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified."

We see then that the water is the Holy Spirit whom we receive by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ the Great Shepherd. The Holy Spirit is needed to give life to those who are dead in sin. He is God's agent in the new birth as we are told in John 3:8 "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit". And it is His presence that sustains eternal life in all those who come by faith to the Lord Jesus for Salvation. It is He who enables us to become true disciples of the one who loved us unto death; the good shepherd who gave His life for the sheep.

If you and I are truly united by faith to the great Shepherd we can enjoy peace greater and more beautiful than any earthly scene. No matter what our material blessings or lack of them we have a peace that passes all understanding, food that nourishes for eternity and water that quenches the thirst for satisfaction in a way the broken cisterns of earth cannot satisfy.

To know this Shepherd is to love Him, and to love Him is to know Him in a way that can only be experienced by His flock. We will close this part of our studies with His gracious invitation as it is found in Isaiah 55:1-3a "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance. Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live."

Can you afford to reject this lovely overture of love and mercy? If you are one of His sheep, does not the knowledge of His love thrill your heart and cheer your spirit?

---

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

hello sorry i have been absent i've been enjoying my week off free from camps, domenic and anything that might be stressful how nice. now i am busily working to get things packed as i leave in the morning and haven't gottne much stuff packed yet  Psalms 23 is the verse that they read at my grandpa's funeral in march.he is missed but i know one day i will see him again as he accepted the Lord as his saviour only a few months before he passed on WOW what a story he has. please be in prayer for the church i attend because we will soon be looking for a new pastor this year has been a rollercoaster with the church   so anyways i must get back to packing so that i might get some sleep before we leave tomorrow i'll be back home on saturday. hope everyone has a good week.

Sarah

Oh, my Sarah...  Yes, it seems as if your church has had a roller coaster ride for sure.  I've been praying for your church since you last requested it so I'll continue.

I hope you have a great time away this week.

Hello Sarah it is good to hear from you today.  It is difficult time for your church as the pastor is leaving and you are looking for a  new one.  It is good that you ask people to pray.  Prayer changes things as the saying goes.

Hello to everyone this morning.  I am just getting ready for church.  My pastor and his wife are away this weekend and the assistant pastor is taking the services.  He is a nice man, he used to be a professional darts player, but now he is seeking the lost.

I have enjoyed reading about the Good Shepherd over the last few days.  I am sure that all of us have some trial to keep us busy, but I am so thankful that we can all trust Christ in this life - He  will guide us into green pasture.  I enjoyed Al's talk about God being our rock and fortress. No devil can move us - praise the Lord.

I trust that  you all  have a great day.  I will look in after church.

Anthony.

  Ms Pat I SO love the devotional for this week. it is all very good.

I have a VERY VERY good thing to share I am SO SO SO EXCITE for this.
I will show you here.

BEIJING (AFP) - China and the United States signed an agreement to double the number of airlines flying between the two countries and allow a nearly fivefold increase in passenger and cargo flights over the next six years.
The deal will see the number of flights operated by each side increase in phases from 54 round-trip flights a week to 249 flights by the end of the six-year period, said US Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta who is visiting Beijing. 
Mineta said the agreement was "very significant" as it will allow airlines from both countries to better meet the huge demand for passenger and cargo services that has arisen from increased trade and exchanges between the two countries. 
Chinese residents, especially students, however, have complained about the increased difficulties in obtaining visas to enter the United States since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
Mineta said he hoped the visa issue would be resolved by the end of this year, adding that the United States may be missing out as tighter visa restrictions are sending foreign students, who will be future leaders of China, to other countries instead.


It is a MOST WONDERFUL DAY FOR ME I AM SO happy!!!!!!! EEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeee.
it is my prayer I can come back more soon and not have a problems any more. 
Happy HAPPY hApPy HappY haPPY HAPPY HapPy EEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeee

I have a song in my heart and I can not go to asleep 

HI HI HI Mr Anthony 
It is VERY nice to see you. 

:dance :dance :dance :dance

ACTS 7 : 25  NIV

Moses thought that his own people would realize that God
was using him to rescue them, but they did.

Timing is everything.
Well, not everything, but an important thing.
God's plan and power provide us with everything.
Finding His timing for that plan and power is crucial.
When Moses took it upon himself to redeem God's people, he failed.
After being humbled in the wilderness, God called him back to deliver the people
at the divine moment and according to the Almighty's plan.
The results led to the Exodus -- the redemption and rebirth of God's holy people.

PRAYER...
Dear Heavenly Father, i am often impatient
and frustrated by having to wait.
Forgive me, dear God, for trying to rush
Your timetable and for assuming my plan in Your plan
Please give me wisdom to know what to do,
where to go, and when to act.
In Jesus name i pray for this patience and wisdom. AMEN

                                                                         PHIL WARE

I wish you all a blessed Sunday
Ria       

     



                                             CHRISTINAO

Good morning.  I am ready to go out the door to get Jerry and then on to church.  It is cloudy and cool...no, cold here.  It is 60F.  That is cold for this time of year.  I turned off the A/C last evening but the house heated up.  So instead of turning it back on, I opened the two windows in my bedroom.  Not a good thing.  Ali and Inky woke me several times trying to get behind the mini-blinds.  So between that and the nap yesterday, I didn't sleep very well last night.  Jerry may come here this afternoon to watch his race.  I am expecting a phone call from a lady on SrNet who is visiting her two children in Indy.  Can't miss that.  We want to meet for lunch.

God bless you all.

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"Being different isn't the same as making a difference."

Good morning!  I am up early, will watch my favorite preachers on TV before we leave for church in Hugoton.  Today I get to see my Curtis!  Yippee!  (Silly Grandma.)

In light of all the recent rulings against praying in the name of Jesus, and the Canadian Bible Society being forbidden to give out Bibles to new residents, I think the following is even more convincing.


INSIGHTS from Bill Bright
Reflections from the late Founder and President/Chairman Emeritus of
Campus Crusade for Christ International

That Name

You have kept my word and have not denied my name (Revelation 3:8, NIV).



Dear friends:

In a previous message, I mentioned the mighty and holy name, "Jesus,"
that name which is above every name, which every tongue shall confess,
and at which every knee shall bow.

Most scholars believe His Hebrew name, the name which Mary and His
friends called Him, was Yeshua, meaning salvation.  That is what the
angel told Joseph to call Him, "because he will save his people from
their sins" (Matthew 1:21. NIV). Jesus is an anglicized rendering.  But
we know that He answers to both! 

Have you ever mentioned the name "Jesus" in a secular setting, such as
at a social gathering or place of business?  If you have, you may have
noticed that things get suddenly quiet, or there are other interesting
reactions.

A Christian friend was standing in a line at the Post Office recently
and struck up a conversation with a man standing in front of him, who
began bragging about being a runner.  The man said that he runs seven
miles a day, and eats only raw fruits and vegetables, especially juices,
explaining how the nutrients in the juices go immediately into the
system to the cells.  He also said that while he ran, he meditated.

"Aha," my friend thought to himself," this is a good opening."  He
replied to the runner, "On what do you meditate?"

The man said that he was into yoga, but he was unclear as to what he
actually meditated on.  Perhaps he just caused his mind to go blank,
maybe uttering a Hindu yoga chant, opening himself up to demonic
influence -- a danger of New Age meditation.

My friend's next words were like a knife slicing the air, and when he
spoke, it was like truth and eternity itself suddenly invaded that Post
Office.  He said, "I meditate on Jesus."

A lady was standing next to them in line, overhearing the conversation.
Upon hearing the name of Jesus, she suddenly lit up and smiled, giving
an affirming nod, saying, "Yes, that's it."  Surprisingly, the man
himself seemed suddenly enlightened, agreeing that it was a good idea to
meditate on Jesus.  I have no doubt that runner will never be the same
and, in answer to my friend's prayers, he will finding himself running
and thinking about Jesus!

Let us always be ready to inject that powerful name whenever the Holy
Spirit gives opportunity. 

Yours for fulfilling the Great Commission
each year until our Lord returns,

Bill Bright

MAY WE NEVER BE ASHAMED TO PROCLAIM THE NAME OF JESUS!!!

Here I am reading NEM, etc instead of my daily devotional and lesson..but I did get a good devotional here from Pat, Ria and Janet.  Thanks.

Must get ready for SS & church.  Hope to get back on later today.

I believe that it is a slight bit cooler this AM. 

May all of us sing many praises to our LORD at worship today.  God is soooooo good.

Kathty It is soooooo godd to see you posting again, I have thought of you so often.

Mieka I am rejoicing with you about the news from Beijing. Woohoo!!!!

Thank you Pat, Ria and Janet for the devotioals this morning.

I have been chatting with Jenny on IM, she sends her love.

Must go now and get ready for church.

talk to you all after church and I will work on getting some more photos of our trip to the zoo posted.

Bye now

 

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
I was just peeking in to do some reading of posts without posting myself till later but when I saw Anthony's, I just was laughing so loudly here that I had to type something...


Mieka, I'm so happy for you my sweet one.  This is surely good news.  You must keep us posted, alright?

It is good to see each one today.  We went to early service this morning because we are having family over for dinner celebrating Rachel's birthday.  Rachel is our youngest daughter who turns 46 years old.  I think there will twelve or thirteen here for dinner.

Mieka, it is good to see you so happy today.  I hope the news or more flights between the States and China will be helpful to you in your travels back and forth.  We do love you our young sister in Christ.

Al, thanks for the information.  I'm not sure what our next move will be.

We had a great lesson this morning on the 139th Psalm.
Ps 139:1-10
1   O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.
2   You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3   You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
4   Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.
5   You hem me in-- behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me.
6   Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
7   Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
8   If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9   If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10   even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
(NIV)


--- Papa John          <)))><<   
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:dance @ Mieka! Mind if I join ya? 



LOL @ Anthony!  You really know how to move. 

I just got back from church.  We have big plans for the churches website.  I will have to show you once we get it all set up.  We are pretty excited.

Not sure what we will do today.    The boys are cleaning out their reptile cages and stuff right now, so I think I will get me somthing to eat.  mmmmmmmmm.... sounds good.  <---Soni licks lips.

25   

The Church: The Self-effacing Saint

For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state.
For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. 
--Philippians 2:20,21

In this day when shimmering personalities carry on the Lord's work
after the methods of the entertainment world it is refreshing to
associate for a moment even in the pages of a book with a sincere and
humble man who keeps his own personality out of sight and places the
emphasis upon the inworking of God. It is our belief that the
evangelical movement will continue to drift farther and farther from
the New Testament position unless its leadership passes from the
modern religious star to the self-effacing saint who asks for no
praise and seeks no place, happy only when the glory is attributed
to God and himself forgotten....

Within the last quarter of a century we have actually seen a major
shift in the beliefs and practices of the evangelical wing of the
church so radical as to amount to a complete sellout; and all this
behind the cloak of fervent orthodoxy. With Bibles under their arms
and bundles of tracts in their pockets, religious persons now meet
to carry on "services" so carnal, so pagan, that they can hardly be
distinguished from the old vaudeville shows of earlier days. And for
a preacher or a writer to challenge this heresy is to invite ridicule
and abuse from every quarter.

Our only hope is that renewed spiritual pressure will be exerted
increasingly by self-effacing and courageous men who desire nothing
but the glory of God and the purity of the church. May God send us
many of them. They are long overdue.  Of God and Men, 16-18.

"Lord, forgive me for my pride. Give me the humble spirit of the
self-effacing saint. Amen."

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It was nice to see the added posts tonight.  I am just about to go to bed and thought I would just pop and say goodnight.  We had a good day at church today, but quite a few empty seats tonight for some reason.  I enjoyed reading the scripture from Papa John and the daily reading from Chris.  These writings are tremendous.  I will have to seek out some books by the man Chris and read them for myself.  Sonja, nice of you to join in with the dancing.  If we all joined in, Meika might feel less self-conscious (if that's how you spell it).

God bless all and see ya in the morning.

Anthony

p.s. Have you seen my new sig pic.  Mandy is the little girl I am doing a web site with (link given in my signature).  It would rejoice her heart if someone signed the guestbook on the site.  I have told Pat a little about her.  If you sign the guestbook I will print off the comments and take them to her.  Thanks for listening.

Anthony I have just revisited yours and Mandy's website and left a note in the guest book.

Been home for church since about 1 pm, had to stop at the grocer on the way home for butter. My Fig jam that I made last week turned out very tasty, needed the butter for my toast and fig jam.

A wonderful service this morning. Pastor Dwayn is preached for the next few weeks on Faith. I am telling you that man is real. Pastor Dwayn is the best preacher I have heard in a long time. You really HEAR the Lord speaking through him, using Dwayn to speak to His church.

Well I am going to work on a few more photos for the Zoo pics thread. Hopefully  will get them posted today or tommorrow;

TTYL

We are back home, after a wonderful visit with Curtis.  He is such a great kid (man.)  He is quite mature for his age and just a great person to be around.  We brought Abby home with us, because the guys all have to work and Mom is going to Wichita to a Greenhouse Growers meeting.  She will be here (Abby) until Tuesday evening.

I don't think I will post any more photos on CP, no one hardly bothers to look at them anyway. 

Hi everyone.  I am late getting here today. Wecome  CHRISTINAO to CP.

Janet, please don't stop posting your wonderful photos.  I expect there are many like me who look at the photos but really have nothing to say and so don't leave a message.  That sure doesn't mean they aren't appreciated. 

We had a good Sunday school class this morning as we are studying "The Communion of the Saints".  Our sermon today was on prayer.  After the service we went out with another couple to the same place we ate last Sunday and when we got home I decided it was a good afternoon for a nice nap.  Have been trying to get caught up on reading posts here and on SeniorNet the last couple of hours.

Anthony, I saw your comment about not knowing what vbs stood for.  That stands for vacation Bible school that a lot of our churches have after the regular school year and it usually last for about a week.

Sonja, I know you will enjoy working on your church webpage.  I have been the webmaster for our church for over a year and find it a labor of love.  It can be a lot of work and requires weekly maintenance to keep it current.

It is good to see everyone posting.

Chris - I really, really appreciate Dr. Tozer's comments.  My sorrow, though, is that hardly anyone in our churches today would even recognize that their churches were the ones he was talking about.  What he's describing is so common that we think it's normal.  It isn't normal, and there's a desperate need for reformation and revival.  May our merciful God awaken us and glorify Himself.  And may He give us courage to oversome "political correctness!"

Hi, friends,

It has been a good day. Since we're so light hearted over Mieka's wonderful messages, I'll post about my own bit of fun today.

My birthday was on Friday. It was a good one, and I'm thankful to see another milestone behind me, fading into the distance as my Lord and I walk forward together into the future.

It is my custom to eat with some of the older ladies in our church at lunch on Sunday afternoons. I arrived at the restaurant first, so asked the owner's wife to set it up with the server to tell us that someone in the restaurant had paid for our desserts (that person, of course was to be me) and that we should choose the desserts we wanted.

Throughout the meal the ladies tried and tried to determine who their unknown friend was - was it a "secret admirer", a friend from years past, etc. It made for a delightful meal and they ordered key lime pie and a creme brulee - I ordered no dessert because of my diabetes. But they insisted that I take one taste of each of the desserts as I drank my cup of hot tea.

As we were in the parking lot I confessed I was their "secret admirer" and that they had just helped me celebrate a wonderful birthday. After lots of laughter and hugs, we all left for home in great spirits.

Y'all have a good day.

Ruth Ann

Quote from: Chris & Margit Saunders on July 25, 2004, 04:14:57 PM
25   


Our only hope is that renewed spiritual pressure will be exerted
increasingly by self-effacing and courageous men who desire nothing
but the glory of God and the purity of the church. May God send us
many of them. They are long overdue.  Of God and Men, 16-18.

"Lord, forgive me for my pride. Give me the humble spirit of the
self-effacing saint. Amen."

Thanks so much, Chris, for this inspirational devotional today.  I very much appreciated it as I see the need for courageous men to rise up who desire nothing but the glory of God and the purity of the church.

Oh that this might happen in many churches today.

Anthony, that's a lovely new photo.  It's so nice to see Mandy.  Did you tell her today about that Canadian lady?  Thanks for sharing her with us.


Janet, I'm sorry if I haven't commented often enough.  But please don't stop posting.  I'll try to do more--I promise.

Everyone else, I'm sorry I haven't posted to you all individually today but it's been "one of those days"!  You know--the kind that crops up every so often?

Ruth Ann, what a fun way to celebrate your birthday!  I have a friend who has a party for her own birthday every year--she says that way you get to have fun, can have any kind of party you want, and never have your feelings hurt because no one remembered! 

Anthony, I did leave a message on your site, and I like your new photo.  And I didn't even know you COULD dance!! 

The name of Jesus!  What a beautiful name!!!  I've found I can bring just about any conversation to a screeching halt when I hear someone use it in vain if I quietly ask "Are you speaking of a stranger or praying?"  The people I work with have become very careful about saying "God!", or "Oh my God!", or "Jesus, Mary and Joseph", or other such expressions in my presence. 

Janet, let me add my plea that you don't stop posting photos.  I'm usually so late coming here that I look at all the pictures, but don't take the time to post very much.  I'll try to improve, but if I fall down again, please forgive me.   

Janet I have sent you and IM re: your photos.

I have posted 4 more photos in Zoo pics thread, as that is all I can post on Photo Sense each day. I still have a few more and some of the Flower garden that I will put in a different thread plus a couple of the G-kids.

Thank you Janet for posting about Jesus, that beautiful name!   It is true that when the world says His name it is as a swear word. 

My son Kevin planted my new serviceberry tree.   It is so nice.   Only about 7 feet now but it will get quite big.  A serviceberry is a tree native to Canada, or at least to Ontario.

After all the physical work yesterday, I was aching this morning.  I think I will go to bed early. 
Good night everyone.   God Bless.

Love Ruthie