Christian Photographers Community

 










 



Morning Devotional...

ANOTHER HARD LESSON
Numbers 21:4-9 NIV
   
They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!"

Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died.   The people came to Moses and said, "We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us." So Moses prayed for the people.

The LORD said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live."   So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived. 

What can you do to avoid repeating mistakes?[/size][/color]

When the bronze snake was hung on the pole, the Israelites didn't know the fuller meaning Jesus Christ would bring to this event (see John 3:14-15). 

Jesus explained that just as the Israelites were rescued from death by looking at the snake on the pole, all believers today can be rescued from eternal death by looking to Jesus on the cross. 

It was not the snake that healed the people but their belief that God could heal them, which was demonstrated by their obedience to God's instructions.  In the same way, we should continue to look to Christ (see Heb 12:2).
The Best of the Bible--365 Must-Read Bible Passages[/i]

Just getting here, and am the first!  Yea

I have car troubles.....went to put the window down, and now can't get it back up, it is off the track.  I just purchased the vehicle 3 weeks ago, and purchased a used vehicle warranty package with it, so I do hope that the repair is covered......Thank goodness that it is not my only choice of vehicle to drive (just my preferred one as it is mine).  It will be Friday at least before I am able to get it looked at for repair.

Now must head off to bed as I have a full-day scheduled at my "part-time" job in the morning (later that is, as I guess technically it is now morning)

Who is more guilty?
A man who commits a crime once or a man who commits a crime over and over again?


My humble(not popular) opinion is they are both 100% guilty of committing a crime.
I think this is how God sees it, He does not Judge you on the amount of sin or how great the sin is.  If you have sinned once you are not welcome in his house.  If you have sinned a bjillion times you are not welcome into His house. 
The bible states "for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God"
But The good news is, is that we can all accept the gift of eternal life through Jesus.  The only way we are getting into His house is if we are covered in the blood of the man who has never sinned.  His blood will seporate us from our sin as far as the East is from the West.   God will only see that our guilt and shame was bought with a price. 

I have been a Christian for 8 years now and I still struggle and for those who say they don't are decieving themselves.  I think it is still the same.  One sin is just as bad as a multitude of sins in the eyes of God. Not to Justify sin as "not that bad" but to put sin as "It is that bad"  The only difference between a non christian and a christian is nothing but the blood of Jesus.  I am in love with Jesus and that is why I strive not to sin.  A heathen in not in love with Jesus and has no reason not to sin that is why a christian, in the eyes of us carnal people, look to be "alright"

Here is my point
Do not judge!!!!
We cannot see like God sees.
Janie was hurt because someone thought they had the eyes of God
This Challenge is to all of us.
It is so easy to put a lable on someone.

To all of you who have read this post thanks and sorry if you think I am stepping on toes. 

I am not a regular person.  I am, in the eyes of most, a strange cat.  Maybe my wallet is not fat, Maybe my hair is died jet black, maybe my mind wonders too much,  maybe I smell.

Maybe my wallet is fat, maybe I dress like everyone else, maybe I am as sharp as a knife, maybe I smell real good.

I have been misjudged and it hurts.   I am not the only one.  I bet all of us at one point or another has been misjudged and wee all know it hurts.  So, again, a challenge to my brothers and sisters.  Do not judge.


Love you all
and go vote!!! (kidding)




   

Hi everyone.  I was here late last night and now appear to be the first one up this morning.  I think I may be coming down with a stuffy head and cough (hope not) and couldn't sleep early this morning so got up at 4:45 hoping to get some web work done.  When I came to my computer I found the server was down (verified it by calling) so did some other paperwork and in a little while I came back up.

Today is Calvin Cove day so this afternoon I will go to the church to sing with and play for the older adult day-care folks.  I also need to go to the "Y" and walk sometime today.  Beyond that I hope to have time to work on the computer as have a number of projects underway.

Etta Sue, that was a fine devotional this morning. 

Janie, like you I have found that a smile and a pleasant comment is usually well accepted and often solicits a smile and response in return.  I met a man at the cafe just a few months ago by going to his table and introducing myself and he and I have become very close friends in a very short time.  Had I not made the effort I perhaps would never have made his acquaintance.  He had just moved from another state.

Matt, I agree with you that a sin is a sin and I fear that people in general choose to grade their sins and let themselves off the hook (God doesn't) because they are commiting only a minor sin in their eyes.

Sue, a car window that won't go up isn't a good thing, especially up North.  I should think your car warranty should cover the cost of fixing the problem.  One of my cars also has a problem with one of the pwer windows so we just don't roll it down.  It is awkward sometimes since it is the driver's side window and I have to open the door if I am at the drive thru for banking. 

Hope everyone has a very fine day. 

Good Morning Friends ...

TBEAR is here to check in and let you know that MY FEVER still has not left me so I am still coughing an hurting and so ... I do hope that it will leave me soon ... as I miss being here & the other boards that I'm a part of ... but sometime I will get back online ... so I just wanted to check in and say HELLO & let everyone know that I am alive & well !!

So ... I am going to back upstairs and find some FOOD that will stay inside me ... so take care & see you all soon. Next week ... Thursday I get the test results ... so pray that they come back with good news. And, I will pass along the news too

See you again soon !

Sorry I was absent yesterday. It was not a good day, but thanks to God, His mercies are renewed afresh each morning.

Y'all have a good day, and I'm gonna try.

Ruth Ann

T.Bear:  Sending you a little prayer for good health.

Larry:  I hope you are not coming down with a cold.

Pat:  So nice to read that you had a good night of sleep - six weeks of disrupted sleep is awful.

It is good to read the posts from all - Al, Marilyn, and everyone who keeps this place going so good.  Carol

Hi Everyone...

It's so good to have someone new from across the big pond. RobW! 

Rob, I hope you feel welcome here in our little website.

Thanks for your post, Matt.  Good words there for sure.  And thanks too for doing your little bit on this site with the little comps using our photo manipulation software.

Sorry you are still sniffling, TBear.  Hang in there.

Carol, great to read your post as well.

Ruth Ann, I sure hope that you're keeping better now...at least a bit?  Praying for you every day.

I hope your cold doesn't get worse, Larry.  Not fun at all.  I wish i could go to Calvin Cove with you sometime, as I love to sing and work with seniors.

So sorry you're having car problems, Sue. 

Janie, I'll be praying for you on Sunday and I think it might be a good idea to have a chat with your pastor about how you feel.  Looking forward to the pictures of your daughter singing.  That will be so good to see.

Lots of things this side of Glory, we just don't understand.  Maybe these words will help us.  Let's sing together.

Digital art challenge #5
http://christianphotographers.com/community/index.php?topic=4259.0

Morning everyone! 

Have a wonderful day!

Hello, friends.  I didn't make it in here yesterday at all.  Five carloads of us "Red Hatters" went to Dodge City to see a play put on by one of the Dodge City Chapters, about a group of women getting together to form a chapter of the Red Hat Society.  Of course, everyone wore their red hat and purple clothes.  There was a big crowd there, with eleven chapters represented, and it was quite a sight to see all those ladies decked out in red and purple!  It was a really fun day, and we all enjoyed it.

My ladies aren't coming today to paint, so I am going to try to finish my paintings from the portrait class.  I hope my frames come today so I can finish that up, too.

Ruth Ann, I really hope you're feeling better today.  You, too, TBear, Larry, and anyone else who has been "under the weather."  And of course, Pat, I hope you are taking care of yourself as well.

The hardest part for me is to remember to always be nice to people
who are not as nice as we would like.

Joyce Meyer had a great sermon on this---here are some words that I hope
will help you on Sunday morning

How to Be Content 

...I have learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am.
—Philippians 4:11
The Bible teaches us to be content no matter what our circumstances may be. (Hebrews 13:5 KJV)

We are not to be upset about anything, no matter what is happening. Instead we are to pray about it, and tell God our need. While we are waiting for Him to move, we are to be thankful for all that God has done for us already. (Philippians 4:6.)

I have discovered that the secret of being content is to ask God for what I want, and know that if it is right He will bring it to pass at the right time, and if it is not right, He will do something much better than what I asked for.

We must learn to trust God completely if we ever intend to enjoy peaceful living. We must meditate on what God has done in our life instead of what we are still waiting on Him to do.

God loves you. He is a good God Who only does good things.

Be content knowing that His way is perfect, and He brings with Him a great recompense of reward for those who trust in Him. (Hebrews 10:35 KJV)

Trust God. Hide yourself in the secret place (in Him).

Pray This:
"Lord, I choose to trust You completely. Whatever the situation, I make the decision to be peaceful and content. In Jesus' name, amen."

Knowing that you have a fine group of people loving you and your family; praying for you
will make Sunday feel like a lovefest!!!!!

Take care and as always,

Love in Christ,

Joyce

Still morning here on the Left, so good morning folks.

Matt,  congratulations on the digital challenge win.  I've copied your new picture so I can work on it later.  It should be fun.

Yesterday was my 6 weeks post surgery appointment.  I was there before time, and waited 45 minutes after before finding out that he had just come in and was behind.  I told them I was fine and would be leaving.   My daughter needed to borrow my car, so I needed to get it back to her.  It isn't as though I need a release from the doc, so things are ok.  This morning I was back on my Gazelle.  I sure need to get to exercising again!

Heh, Rob W.  Welcome.

Ruth Ann, Larry, TBear.......Hope you are feeling better soon.  I've written your names down to remember to pray for you during the day.

Thanks to all who don't enter the little digital challenges, but vote for us anyway.  I know it takes a moment extra, but it's so appreciated.  This is a fun thing, and not complicated, for some of us who are still getting acquainted with photo editing programs.

I see sunshine!  Lilac bushes are budding, jonquils blooming, roses are healthy and growing green (for now), Spirea has signs of life, and my apple trees are doing their spring thing.  God is on the throne, and everything continues the same, as He allows.  Praise God for watching over our earth and all those who live on it.

Hi Nita,

glad to hear you are on your way to a speedy recovery.

God bless

I saw daffodils and tulips starting to sprout the other day and
now, well, they have a lovely cover of white fluffy snow.....

Guess its nature's way of keeping them warm for another few
weeks....

Take care

Love in Christ,

Joyce

March 3   

Pastoral Ministry: Acquaintance, Not Hearsay

And they said to one another, "Did not our heart burn within us while
He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to
us?"
--Luke 24:32

"It is one thing," said Henry Suso, "to hear for oneself a sweet
lute, sweetly played, and quite another thing merely to hear about
it."

And it is one thing, we may add, to hear truth inwardly for one's
very self, and quite another thing merely to hear about it....

We are turning out from the Bible schools of this country year after
year young men and women who know the theory of the Spirit-filled
life but do not enjoy the experience. These go out into the churches
to create in turn a generation of Christians who have never felt
the power of the Spirit and who know nothing personally about the
inner fire. The next generation will drop even the theory. That is
actually the course some groups have taken over the past years.

One word from the lips of the man who has actually heard the lute
play will have more effect than a score of sermons by the man who
has only heard that it was played. Acquaintance is always better
than hearsay.  The Root of the Righteous, 99-100.

"Lord, as I wait upon You this morning I want to hear afresh the
real sound of the lute. Deliver me from second-hand preaching and
teaching. Fill me with a first-hand knowledge of You, so that my
message might always be that of an alert eyewitness. Amen."

---------------------------------------------------------------------
You are receiving this recurring mailing because you subscribed to
the daily Tozer devotionals from Literature Ministries International.

Matt, I think I see what you mean about several sins being no worse than a single sin but in what context?
A "besetting " sin is a weakness that can bring  a person guilt and shame and  seperation from that wonderful presence of God.
We all know that we are weak and vulnerable in certain areas, there were certain things we did as unbelievers which we no longer do, or try not to do, but there's the rub, some old man sins try to once again raise their heads and we must not allow them entrance but instead take them right to the cross and the word of God saying, "Lord give me strength to overcome this evil thing, for it was nailed to the cross with You."
Unconfessed sin is the only real thing that can bring  seperation from the wonderful walk with God, the devil cannot do it, nor anything else in heaven or in earth, only unconfessed sin can, so we must keep short accounts with God and confess our sins to God as soon as He shows us them.
Also to be aware of the temptations to which we are most susceptible!
Regards, Chris.
ps. I would appreciate brother Al Moak's word on this.

BEEP BEEP!!      <soni drives by honking and waving at everyone>

Beep, Beep.., wave, wave to you too, Soni....always good to see your beautiful smile!

Janie:  Don't leave your church.  Your Pastor needs people like you, to remain.  Have a talk with him.  You will probably be surprised to know that OTHERS have had the same problem with that lady.

Etta Sue:  Wonderful devotion today

TBEAR:  Sorry you are still under the weather.  We miss you here!  Hurry and get well soon!!

Welcome Rob W.!!

Chris
Well put!!
I do not disagree a bit. 

I guess I should have mentioned confession to God.  I see that as part of being in love with God.  If I am struggling with something, (ie. finances) I will talk to a loved one.  Same in the spiritual sence.  Lord if I am struggleing with temptations please help me.  My flesh is not with flesh and blood.  I have to go to the lord to give me strangth.  I am not going to swing my fist at the devil and hope for a victory.  I am going to the one who saved me from these spiritual matters.  Confession is Vital and I should have mentioned it.  I supose the confussion is that I say we are still sinners just covered by blood and that is the only difference b/w a non believer and a saint.  When the passover happened in Egypt it was only the blood that protectred the survivors not their rightousness.  Not that we shouldn't seek rightousness.  That would be controdicting the word of Jesus Himsef.  Mt 6:33 Seek ye first teh kingdom of God and His rightousness and all these things shall be added unto you.   I hope I am more clear.
We are sinners saved by grace.  Not by our rightousness. 
If you believe we are saved by our rightousness than you are going to live a life of guilt because none of us are perfect.  We are only perfect because we are washed in His blood. 

Just finished supper and wanted to stop by and share something I received in the mail today.  I think it relates rather well with the discussion thread this morning on sin and our accountability.  It may be a little interest to those of you who are not USA citizens but you all probably face similar things within your courts.  I thought the piece was so well written that I wrote to the man who prepared it and sends out a weekly column and he said he was happy to have it shared.  So here it is:

Headline from today's news: Supreme Court Hears Debate on Ten Commandments in Public

The second definition for audacity given in The American Heritage Dictionary is "unrestrained impudence."  Impudence is a quality characterized by brash behavior or "impertinent disrespect."
The perfect illustration of audacity and impertinent disrespect is the judges sitting on the Supreme Court debating the commandments of God.   These nine folks must be either the bravest people ever to have lived or the most foolish.  One day, each of them will stand before the supreme, Supreme Court and the Judge of judges.   On that day, each one will have to explain why they felt they were qualified to hand down a decision concerning the laws God carved into stone with his own hand.  I would like to be a fly on Heaven's wall to hear those excuses!

However, as I sit here and shudder at the fate of these audacious people, I have to ask myself am I not, too, in their position?   Do I not daily decide which of God's Biblical teachings I will adhere to and which I won't?  Is that not the same as passing judgment on the worthiness of these teachings?   If God commands me to forgive and I don't, have I not judged forgiveness to be unimportant?  If God tells me to love my enemies and I don't, have I not judged that God was wrong by instructing me to do this?  If God tells me to give of my time, talent and monies and I don't, have I not decided that God's dos and don'ts have some flexibility and that I am qualified to judge where that flexibility is?   The Supreme Court of this country may very well decide that the Ten Commandments cannot be displayed in public places, but is it possible that I have already decided not to display God's commandments in my life?   I bet the nine Supreme Court judges would like to be flies on Heaven's walls to hear my excuses, too! 

Perhaps we had better prepare for our day in court by practicing our excuses now.   Here are some questions we may be asked of God on our judgment day.   Write down your excuses now in order to have them later.

Why did you not read my Bible?   You read the newspaper every day and spent hours on the Internet, but only picked up my Word on Sunday mornings.   How do you explain that?

Why did you not pray?  Every evening you devoted three hours to watching television while I was crying out to hear from you.  How do you explain that?

Why did you not tell someone about me?  Here you stand in Heaven and about to spend eternity with me while may people you came in contact with and some you knew quite well are going to spend their eternity in Hell, because you failed to tell them about me.  How do you explain that?

Why did you not feed the hungry?   You ate three meals every day and an abundance of snacks in between those meals.  You never went to sleep at night without your belly being full.  And yet millions upon millions did while you lived on earth and you did nothing to help.  How do you explain that?

Why did you not clothe those who were cold?   Your entire life, you possessed a coat to keep you warm, and yet you never removed that coat and put it on the back of stranger shivering in the cold.  How do you explain that?

Why did you not take a stand for the lives of those who could not speak?   For year upon year upon year of your life, thousands of babies were destroyed in the womb of their mothers and yet you never spoke up or spoke out.   How do you explain that? 

Why did you not forgive the husband that cheated on you or the wife that left you for someone else or the person who stole some of your money or the person driving the car that cut you off in traffic or the hundreds of others that slighted you or that you perceived slighted you?   Did I not show you the greatest example of forgiveness of all time by allowing my precious Son to suffer horribly and to die for you?  Do you think for one minute that you "deserved" my forgiveness?  Did I not tell you to forgive and forgive and forgive and forgive again?   How do you explain that you didn't?

In fact, dear precious one, explain to me about the times you lied, about the people you hated, about the anger that filled so many moments of your life.   Tell me why you ignored my teaching on how to live your life.  Tell me why you ignored it again and again and again and again and again and again.  Tell me, dear precious one, what qualified you to sit in judgment of my Words and to decided what to obey and what not to obey and when to obey and when not to obey?

Dear friends, columnist Ann Coulter uses this phrase, "the sordid misery of atheism."   She's right!   The misery that accompanies atheism must be terrible.   But there is a sordid misery of Christianity, too.  It is the misery that comes from knowing what God wants of you and making excuses for not doing it.   Someday, you will have to share those excuses with God.   Today, you have a choice.   You can prepare those excuses so you'll be ready to deliver them;  or, you can live the life God has commanded you to live so that He will never have to ask you the questions that will force you make those excuses.

All joy in serving a God that has told us how to live and only asks us to strive toward that high calling.

Brother Dan Andree

Brother Chris says he would appreciate my word on the conversation about sin/sins.  I hope he still appreciates my word after I give it!  The absolute necessity is to have a heart that hates sin because it loves God, a disposition to be rid of it because our Lord Jesus had to feel as if guilty of it while on the Cross.  When He said there, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?," the word translated "why" would be much better translated "for what?"  He would answer that the basis upon which He was desolated by His beloved Father was the guilt He actually bore for all His people.  He had to answer for my sins - every one and all of them.  It's only with that stupendous act as a backdrop that we can rightly answer the question as to whether many sins are worse than only one sin.  It's a backdrop that should overwhelm us to silence.  The awfulness of sin is so great when considered against that backdrop that we should no longer be able even to get the words out of our mouths!  And the arguement falls to nothing.  Sin is rebellion.  Guilt of sin is what our Lord had to feel.  It is horrible beyond our ability to describe it.  Never mind whether many or few.  Every act of rebellion amounts to placing guilt upon Him.  Will you stand at the Cross and whip your Savior again and again?  You do so every time you sin - and you do so for every moment your soul doesn't totally love Him - as it always should.

Great comments in here today.  I love it when we get good discussion going.

Janet, I'm so glad you had a great day yesterday.  Did the frame materials come?

Thanks for sharing, Joyce. 

I hope that all who are sniffling, etc. get better soon.

Thanks Al.

Larry, that's some article!  I heard about this subject  on CNN

just dropping by to say good night, my day was very... trying but i made it!

Night night, Janie.  Talk to you tomorrow.