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Morning Devotional...

SAMUEL'S DISAPPOINTING SONS
1 Samuel 8:1-5 NLT

As Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons to be judges over Israel.  Joel and Abijah, his oldest sons, held court in Beersheba. But they were not like their father, for they were greedy for money. They accepted bribes and perverted justice.

Finally, the leaders of Israel met at Ramah to discuss the matter with Samuel.  "Look," they told him, "you are now old, and your sons are not like you. Give us a king like all the other nations have."
What positive lessons have you learned from others' mistakes?[/size][/color]

Israel wanted a king for several reasons:

1) Samuel's sons were not fit to lead Israel.

2) It was hoped that a king would unite the tribes into one nation and one army.

3) The people wanted to be like the neighboring nations. 

This is exactly what God didn't want.  Having a king would make it easy to forget that God was their real leader.  We cannot ask God to lead our personal life if we continue to live by the world's standards and values, for God requires obedience.

Faith in God must touch all the practical areas of our life. 

Is God the leader of your life?
The Best of the Bible--365 Must-Read Bible Passages[/i]

An excellent post Etta Sue with much to think about.

I all too often allow other things to reign in my heart and I quickly lose my peace as a result. Today I want Jesus to reign and I want Him there for evermore.

Even so, come Lord Jesus.

Love to you all.

Praying for yourself Etta Sue and Jerry at this difficult time. He is in good hands.

Your brother in Christ

Iain

Good Morning

Etta Sue:  What powerful thoughts to carry in my mind.
Iain:  Good to see you again.

Yesterday morning as I headed out the door for work I could hear the music of the birds and now today we to expect rain which is one of God's tools to wash all the dirt and grime of winter away.
I will be going between rain drops as I head out to work and then a little later when I go out to have my hair done.

Ruth

Etta Sue, excellent devotional.  Thank you for that.

Iain, good to see you again today.  I'm wishing a blessed and comfortable day for you today.

Hi, Ruth!  Enjoy the raindrops today!  Spring is arriving, and I've been hearing the songs of the birds, too.  As John Denver said in his song "Sunshine on my shoulder makes me happy." 

Step aerobics is a little later today, at 8:30, because Kristi is speaking to one of the gas companies' employees safety meeting this morning.  So I get to post before I go today.

I'm still praying for a miracle for poor Terri S.  Hearing all the coverage on TV about it, along with all the legal wrangling, brings to my mind the scripture that admonishes us "Don't be weary in well-doing, for in due time you will reap, if you faint not."  So that is what I cling to when I hear all the complaining about the stories about Terri.  God can still do a miracle for her.  (I haven't turned on the TV yet this morning.)

Darrel is off to Liberal to work, and my class is this afternoon.  God bless each of you today!

The Heart of Worship

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"God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24).

The Scriptures are emphatically clear that God desires much more from His children than outward ceremonial acts of devotion. This verse penetrates all superficial conformity and zeros in on the heart with laser precision. We can confidently conclude that those whose worship flows from the heart are pleasing to our heavenly Father. In fact, "the Father seeketh such to worship Him" (John 4:23).

If God is looking for true worshippers, shouldn't we be fervently and reverently preparing our hearts for worship? Shouldn't our hearts long for God to be praised that we might proclaim with David, "All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name" (Psalm 66:4)?

God is protective of the worship He receives and deservedly so. Only the Almighty can rightfully demand our wholehearted veneration with perfect holy jealousy, and insist that we must "worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God" (Exodus 34:14). We should respond with humble hearts filled with thanksgiving, eager to "Give unto the Lord the glory due unto His name" and "worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness" (Psalm 29:2).

After the disciples witnessed our Lord walk on water and calm the seas, they worshipped Him without any hesitation saying, "Of a truth thou art the Son of God" (Matthew 14:33). This spontaneous heartfelt worship came as a result of simply spending time with Jesus. When we abide in our Savior and diligently seek Him, our hearts will draw irresistibly near to God and we will yearn to cry out with the psalmist, "O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker. For He is our God; and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand" (Psalm 95:6-7). MDR

Good Morning: Good Devotional Etta Sue, I have just started reading Samuel this morning.

Yesterday I had an emergency, I got a call on my cell phone about an hour after I got to Fay's house from Versal, she had fallen and was in great pain, when Fay heard me ask if she needed to go to the hospital she told me to go ahead and leave. Fay doesn't know yet that I have taken on another job.

Anyway after 3 hours at the hospital , the ribs are badly bruised but not broken, Thank you Jesus. As we sat in the waiting room I held her hand and prayed for her, I could hear other people coming and going from the waiting room, I think they came in and  saw us praying and left. One thing about me I will pray for someone anyplace and at anytime it doesn't bother me what people may think about my praying in public places.

So today I am going to all 3 jobs after my 8:15 Dr. appointmet to get the results of my xrays of my neck and shoulder and the results of my blood test. I already got the results of my mammogram in the mail.Those were All Clear.  Thank you again Jesus.

I hope you all do not mind my posting additional devotionals.

TTYL

Good Morning All.  I have already lost it today.  After my Bible reading I called Select.  The nurse yesterday said I could call but all they could tell me would be 'stable or unstable'.  I asked if they had a set up to use a code word so I could get more information and he said no.  So I said 'stable or unstable' is better than nothing. 

So I called today.  I was told that they could tell me nothing on the phone, not even that he is in the hospital.  I understand the law but I was told I would be told 'stable or unstable'.  She asked who told me that and I told her Dave, the nurse yesterday.  (As soon as I say I am a Special Friend, they immediately turn things off.  I understand that part of why they want same-sex marriages and people who live together.  Some friends are as close as a husband or wife.)  I tell them that I am Jerry's closest friend in Indiana and that I can't be there every day.  I started crying.  They connected me to another lady...Julie.  She started in with the blah..blah...blah of Indiana Law.  I told her I understand that but why was I told that I could call and get a 'stable or unstable' answer.  She still said they can't tell me that on the phone.  Then she said that I could come in and set it up with a code word that his daughter would agree too so they can give us information on the phone.  I told Julie that I asked about this to Dave, the nurse, and he said it wasn't available.  So please inform the nurses that when asked to inform the friends and family of the patients that it is available. 

I told her that they have my home number and cell phone number on file.  She said that if anything would have happened or changed drastically, I would have been called then and I should feel that everything is the same as previous.  It just isn't the same as talking to someone and hearing them say that Jerry is resting, the same, alert, holding his own.

I should have told her that I was the one that found Jerry and without me, Jerry wouldn't be in Select Specialty Hospital...he would be in Heaven with his Maker.  Or to go into his room and I am the one that made the card with pictures of a yellow and white cat and a black cat and the words 'Get Well, Daddy!' on it. 

Me, just venting.  But here you are, visiting one that you have been told there is nothing more that can be done and then you are treated like this. 

Thanks to all who have commented on my devotions.  I have a book 'The Best of the Bible...365 Must-Read Bible Passages'  that I have read every day for over 4 years.  Each day they seem new to me and I love the life application questions and answers at the end of each days reading.  Some of the Bible verses to read are quite long so I try to find the shorter versions of them. 

Marilyn, the devotions you post gives great thought to me.  We should walk with God always in every thing we say and do.

Terry Schiavo has died.

How sad.  I hope htat she knew Jesus, and now knows peace.  I pray for her family.

Amen, Father, to Karmat's prayer.
Thanks for the good devotional, Etta Sue.  Oh how we need to keep our eyes on Jesus, not on other people!  We need to quit envying "the nations around us" for the situations in their lives.  Oh that we might instead follow Jesus only.

I just lost my whole post, because of that stupid little locator bar popping up.  And I'm not doing anything to cause it, either.  I hate that thing.  Grrr.

I was saying that I think we will hear and see the effects of the Terri case for a long time to come.  I pray that our legislature will enact laws to prevent such a thing EVER happening again, and that the Judicial branch will be reined in, so they cannot commit JUDICIAL MURDER ever again.  What an ugly blot on our whole country.  What a very sad day. 

Etta Sue, I agree that those "privacy laws" are a crock.  Most of the time, they are stupid, cruel and unnecessary.  It is another example of going way overboard because one or two people complained.  I'm so sorry you are being treated this way.  (((hugs)))

Kansans are voting on April 5th as to the definition of marriage.  I pray the legislation passes with a wide majority.

Gotta go, see you later.

"Almost all of America mourns the passing of Terri Schiavo who this day
has gone to God. We say "almost all of America" because we know there are
some who seemed to eagerly await and even hasten her painful death. Terri
Schiavo never made her wishes clear, that she would want her feeding tube
removed in this type of situation, yet an out-of-control state judge and
an unfeeling husband decided that she should starve to death. This is a
dark day for all of America."

---Austin Ruse, President, Culture of Life Foundation.

My heart is heavy--heavy for you dear Etta Sue and heavy for the Schiavo family.

Etta Sue, this is such a trying time for you and I'm truly sorry that you are having to go through this.  I'm praying for you.

March 31   

Pastoral Ministry: Please Pray for Me

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the
faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and
not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. 
--2 Timothy 4:7-8

Will you pray for me as a minister of the gospel? I am not asking you
to pray for the things people commonly pray for. Pray for me in light
of the pressures of our times. Pray that I will not just come to a
wearied end--an exhausted, tired, old preacher, interested only in
hunting a place to roost. Pray that I will be willing to let my
Christian experience and Christian standards cost me something right
down to the last gasp! Who Put Jesus on the Cross?, 60.

"Lord, I pray for all of my fellow pastors and Christian leaders. Help
us, like Paul, and like Tozer, to finish strong. Amen."

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Etta Sue, I do know how you are feeling, stay close to the Lord at this time, He will carry you through.


http://www.platuglen.dk/Sjove-seatninger-4/hug.gif

Folks,  regarding the spoof website that I posted a few days ago, (you all know the one.)
Let us keep our Christian wits and discernment about us, some things that seem to be Christian and true, are not!
But they seem so alike the true teachings that it is so easy to be careless, and just take it all as gospel, there are many counterfeits in the Christian life, we must "test the spirits" and weigh all things, ok?
God bless you in your testing and weighing. 

I am in big trouble with my doctor.( Not Really) But my Cholesterol is back up, it's at 248 from 200 in just the last 6 months. I have been taking lots of niacin and lecithin but wasn't particularily watching what I ate. Now I have to take the statin drug again for 3 months then another lipid panel. Just what I did not want to do.

I have told Fay that I cannot be eating the things that she eats because that is what got my cholesterol up again.

I have to stop all butter and margerine, shortening(allthe stuff Fay wants me to cook with for her) and use only olive or canola oil no red meat at all. Lots of Veggies and fruits. Well it looks like I will be going strict vegetarian instead of goofing off and eating meat and dairy products. well maybe not so strict vegetarian but mostly vegetarian, still eating fish and some poultry now and then.

The results of the xrays of my neck and shoulder shows that I have degenerative disc disease in C-4,5, and 7. in my neck. That's a fancy term for arthritis in the cervical vertabrae, She is sending me back to Rehab for more physical therapy on neck. Last time the PT was for my upper and lower back.

I  hate getting old!!!!!!!

Marilyn---it is much better than the alternative!  (Unless the alternative is being with the Lord; that will be a good thing!)  Have you tried taking fish oil capsules?  I have been told they are very effective at lowering cholesterol.  I am taking flax seed oil right now for that purpose, have stopped the statin drugs because they cause joint pain.  My cholesterol is high, too, but down from last year.  Last year it was 335, now it's around 264 or so.  I'm not going to sweat it, because my HDL is at a high number, so it makes the ratio pretty good.  And many doctors say there is no connection between a high cholesterol and heart attacks anyway.  But I am eating healthier too and trying to take off a few pounds.

That find bar at the bottom is really irritating!  It stops you from typing, and you can't get rid of it except by closing the page you're working on.  I'm about ready to go back to IE with the problems I was used to! 

Hi everyone.  I am really late getting here toda so am going to be brief.  First of all, Etta Sue I feel for you.  We keep running into this same brick wall with the HIPPA regulations.  I guess the lawyers have the doctors and hospital so afraid of being sued that there is no common sense involved.  I was talking to my sister-in-law earlier this evening and she said the daughters of her former husband have run into the same problems trying to get information on their father, who is back in the hospital with a blood clot.  The daughter in California was told today that even though she was an authorized person to receive information they wouldn't tell her anything because she could be an imposter.  Stupidity but sometime we are seeing in so many places in our society where political correctness now rules supreme.  Sorry for the rant but that is how I feel.

I mentioned here last week that I had the VO2 test done.  My cardiologist called me this afternoon with the results and everytime it is the doctor on the phone it seems to be bad news.  He told me my score on the test was only 12.5 which indicates a very weak heart that is not strong enough to supply the oxygen the body requires at the time of any stress.  He is referring me to the Kaiser heart transplant coordinator and I will probably be starting the long process of seeing if I qualify to be added to the transplant waiting list.  Doctors consider this a true measure of your heart's ability to keep you going. In most medical centers, a Vo2max score of 14 (in ml/kg/minute) or less qualifies you for heart transplant.  Of course, I must be free of cancer before such an operation could be performed.  So I have some interesting days ahead and guess this helps explain why I am tired a lot of the time and much exertion leaves me very tired.

Marilyn, sorry to hear that your Cholesterol is back up and hope the diet and medication will get it back down.  Sorry to hear of Fay's fall.

Janet, I use Firefox all the time and I don't have such a "find" bar at the bottom of my screen.  I would think you may have some spyware or other type program running.  Does this only appear when you use Firefox?


Think it is time to turn in as this has been a full day.

Janet I take Flax Seed oil twice a day also with the niacin and lecithin. Now having to take the statin drug I will only be taking the niacin in the morning and the statin at night. I was happy when I got off the Lipitor. At least she is only having me take the drug for 3 months but I think it takes longer than 3 months with the drug and the diet and excersize.

Oh Etta Sue I forgot to tell you that I am praying for you sister, I know how frustrating the hospital thing can be.

Nite All.C~U~ manana

Marilyn, ask her to prescribe Lovastatin (Mevacor) as it is much less expensive than Lipitor, and not quite so many side effects.  But all those statin drugs are real bears. Lipitor almost killed my sister.

Larry, I'm so sorry to hear this news.  Have they ever suggested you using oxygen?  I will pray more fervently about your heart, and that you are given favor in the decision process as well.  Yes, that find bar only pops up on Firefox, and I don't know what causes it.  It keeps me from typing another character until I close the page and start all over again.  Very aggravating.  It has a little x to close it, but it doesn't do it.  Of course, I am not very computer literate, which makes it even more maddening.

This has been a rather strange, surreal kind of day.  Tomorrow will be better!

Hi, friends,

Well, I really had a busy day. Thank you all for praying for me.

First, the doctor's report. My electrolytes are still a tiny bit low, but stable, so no changes are indicated at this time. Tomorrow I'll have a couple of tests. Hope I'll be able to post results later.

Larry, my prayers are with you (and your wife and family). This is a scary time for y'all. Somehow, I believe God has additional plans for you and that your work here is not finished yet. So, we'll be praying with you as you work through this time.

Marilyn, good luck. Lipitor really made me ache, so I'm on something different now and feel ever so much better. Also, my cholesterol is way down and the bad stuff is low and the good stuff is in normal boundaries. So, doc's pleased at the moment.

My assistant's mother in law is quite ill. So I did both jobs today. Long day, but lots done.

Etta Sue, how frustrating!!! I'll continue to pray for you as you work through this maze and as you support Jerry.

Pat, hope you're better.

Y'all have a good evening. G'nite - y----a------w------nnnnnnnn.

Ruth Ann

Time to lock the door...  CLICK HERE