Christian Photographers Community

Morning Devotional...


I am the Vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing. [/i]
John 15:5

What sobering words from the lips of the Lord Jesus.

He just said, "I am the Vine, ye are the branches."

We all understand that once a branch has been severed from the life-giving sap and energy of the vine, it will die and never again bear fruit.

So it is in our lives and service for God. Unless there is constant intimacy with Christ, we will become fruitless in our lives for Him.

May we learn to "abide in Him," and so maintain that link which is vital to our spiritual life.

"Without Me ye can do nothing."
--W. H. Burnett

Good thing I checked in tonight....I'm first again.

Celebrated my wifes BD today...she's now officially as old as I am.  When we first married way back in 1960....she could not wait until she was the same age as me (7 months separate us)  Now she says she can't wait until I'm a year older than her.

Our love for each other grows day by day.  We are at the best time of life and we're enjoying every minute of it.

God has richly blessed our lives in ways we never even considered possible.

Hello All-I am 2nd Here-
Fast Eddie-that is so wonderful about the love your wife and you share-My husband and I will be married 19 years in June-Its hard to believe-We have had a wonderful 19 years together and  I hope we have just as many more years-The Lord has brought us through alot of changes and now that we are walking closer to God I know that it will even get better.
For all of those that wanted to know if the price we were quoted on our House was low for our area-it is actaully higher-the gal said a couple months ago she would of said around 101 thousand but, since the market is high right now-she said around 119,000..Now, if we were in California as most of you said our house would go for around almost 199-300 thousand-I wished I could pick my house up and sell it there- ::)I am really not as disappointed as I could of been in the past-I have had so much grief living in this neighborhood-only because my kids get picked on so much-I would just like to try and start fresh somewhere else-I know in God's timing that will happen-I just get so tired of my kids not being even able to play in their own yard without being called names.
Its such a cruel world out their-my soon to be 11 year old said she has been called a gay/lesbian I just hate seeing my kids suffer like this and hurt like this-and its not just a once in a while thing-it is an everyday thing that we face here~so you see this is my desire for a change to give my kids a better place to live.
Anyway-Yes, its frustrating and it wears on me as a Mom-But, I can do the best I know how and thanks to the Lord his Mercy covers the rest.
Anyway-I do feel that the Lord has impressed on me to pray for a Home-so I will continue to do that.
Going to bed now-
Hugs
Rachelle

Goodmorning all 11.27 AM in Holland 

Pat i am you thankfull every day for the devotional and the hymn "ABBA FAHTER" yesterday was also lovely.

Al and Marylin i am happy to read that you have had a nice time with Chris and Margrit.
And i am also very happy that you love my little poems

Sonja how is Lila Mae doing today little poor girl give here a big hug from me.

Does someone from you know where KATHY  is i am missing here a long time and a lot more yesterday again 2 pages. And we are now such a lot members.

I am also feeling me not so good i think a little bit flu It is cold in Holland mostly dark but they say the coming week it shall be 17 - 18* C that is better.
My son Marcel thanks you for his birthday wishes. Larry he is also being 22 years. I remember me his birthday as was it yesterday. The time is going so soon.

Revelation 21 : 5
He who was seated on the throne
said, "I am making everything new!"

             A PRICELESS GIFT

       Anything entrusted to His keeping,
        anything turned over to His care,
     is changed into a new and precious blessing,
        a timeless, priceless gift beyond compare.

Love and prayerfully for you all
Ria               
                               

Just a cherry good morning. I need to rush off to work - overslept!!!

Ruth Ann

Surprisingly, I am not sore today...no much anyway.  I slept good and that helps a lot.  But it has been raining...not hard...and it is cloudy.  Julie and Dennis said they would be here at 9 a.m. so we will see.  It would be nice to have the edging and landscape cloth down when Tony brings more rocks.  I have been taking pictures so I will post a link when it is all done.  And yes, Janet, Survivor would fit the description...now if I had lost that much weight, I would be happy!!!


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"Life isn't always what you want, but it's what you've got--so stick a geranium in your hat and be happy!"

Quote from: Fast Eddie on May 12, 2004, 11:59:44 PM
Good thing I checked in tonight....I'm first again.

Celebrated my wifes BD today...she's now officially as old as I am.  When we first married way back in 1960....she could not wait until she was the same age as me (7 months separate us)  Now she says she can't wait until I'm a year older than her.

Our love for each other grows day by day.  We are at the best time of life and we're enjoying every minute of it.

God has richly blessed our lives in ways we never even considered possible.

Oh, Ed!  What a lovely post!   Tell your wife that all of us here on CP wish her happy belated birthday wishes!

Thanks so very much for coming and posting here today (or was it last night?)

Good Morning to you all. I received the following in this moring's email and decided to share it with you here.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
I Am Learning, Lord

My life has taken many falls

And tumbles 'long the way.

The many trials have left me

In a sure state of dismay.

For with each trial, I tried alone

To tend, and soothe, and mend,

Instead of giving them to God -

And on Him just depend ...

But, I am learning, Lord.

It seems that I was determined

To carry all the load.

I longed for smoother pathways.

Yet, I walked a rocky road.

Little did I understand,

God waited patiently

To pave a new beginning

With a better life for me.

But, I am learning, Lord.

It took a real disaster

To bring me to my knees;

To finally call upon the Lord

And say, "God help me, please."

He can, with no delaying,

With strong arms that could hold -

The weight of all my burdens;

He gladly took the load.

And, I am learning, Lord.

What a needless cross I carried,

All because I could not see -

What a friend I have in Jesus,

And the love He has for me.

Peace I find when troubles hover,

Though' the outcome is unknown.

For if yet the road is rocky,

I won't walk it all alone.

For, I am learning, Lord.

- Author Unknown

As Marilyn has reported, our time with Chris & Margit was delightful.  They're a wonderful couple, and we wish they didn't live so far away.  Chris and Marilyn have the photos, and they will post them soon.

Good morning.  Our friend from Canada who has been visiting for the past few days has just left to go see his son in Memphis.

In just a few minutes we are leaving to go to the nursing home.  Once each month I go to speak to their mid-week worship service.  I plan to talk about the first few verses of Prov. 1.  Cornelia is saying for me to put the computer down and to come on so I had better do that.  Back later.


--- Old Papa John          <)))><<   
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I'm in a hurry this morning, too.  I promised to be there to start working on the decorating for the banquet again at 10, so must run.  I will come back later, I hope!

MARYLIN what a lovely mail have you receive  thank you that have put it on CP

In the newspaper they i receive from the church was standing this i have try to translate it but it was difficult this must we not seen in all the terrible things they are happen on the world we also are seeing photo's from Iraq and daily is it on the TV there are no words for we only can pray and that am i doing every day but in our normal life.

FOLK SONG From BOLIVIA:

In the face of each exploit farmer
In the face of each unemployed man
In the face of each hungry child
In the face of each underprayed miner
In the face of each discharged workman
In the face of each push away Indio
In each face
is God more present
then in a Churchbuilding from brick.

A slap in the face of each exploit farmer
In the face of the young unemployed man
In the fave of each hungry child
In the face of each underpayed miner
In the face of each dicharged workman
In the face of each push away Indio
THAT IS A SLAP
IN THE FACE OF THE LORD.

EDDIE a happy birthday for you wife

Bye love Ria 

Quote from: Al Moak on May 13, 2004, 10:04:10 AM
As Marilyn has reported, our time with Chris & Margit was delightful.  They're a wonderful couple, and we wish they didn't live so far away.  Chris and Marilyn have the photos, and they will post them soon.

Al, didn't you take your camera??

Can't wait to see the mini CP bash pictures.  How exciting to meet new people from different countries.

Ria, Lila Mae is doing pretty good.  Her lip is still pretty fat, but seems to be healing up.

I don't know how much I will be on here for the next few weeks.  I have dance practice almost everyday for the next 3 weeks and if it isn't me it is Chandraya. 

Not much going on here, just excersizing and taking pictures.  It is really to cold to play outside.    I wish it would rain or something. We could really use the moisture. 

I better get going.  I have bills to pay and laundry to do. 

Love you all
soni

Give her lots of kisses, Soni.  Amazing what Mummy's kisses can do to these injuries. 

Hi everyone.  I have been on the run all day and just now have time to read the postings and relax a bit. 

Our cat, Mr. Tiggers, managed to hide under our bed last night as we had a storm earlier in the evening.  I thought he was with our daughter so wasn't concerned.  I about 5 am this morning I heard him meowing so got up to put him on the porch but he still wouldn't come out from under the bed.  About 15 minutes later he did come out and I put him outside on the screened in porch and just went ahead and got up.  It was a nice quiet time for my morning devotionals and Bible reading and I should get up that early every morning.

After walking at the "Y" and having coffee at the cafe I headed for the barbershop and then stopped at the grocery store and the post office.  Came home for about 15 minutes and then left to go to the library and then to our bi-monthly retirement luncheon.  We had 10 there and I had a very nice visit and a nice chef salad for lunch.  I was glad to get home a little while ago and a bit weary but have no where else to go today.  Pat has gone to her sewing group this afternoon.

My doctor called this morning, and that is never a good sign, and said the antibiotic I had taken for a month had not brought my PSA count down to an acceptable level and he wants me to see a specialist to see if I need to have a biopsy done.  I thought I was about through with doctors for awhile.  I will have to go back to the facility that is over an hour away. 

Rachelle, certainly sorry to read that your children cannot even play outside their own home without verbal assaults.  Where are the parents of these children?  I can understand your desire to change the environment for them.

Papa John, I am sure your Bible study at the nursing home is appreciated and that is a wonderful thing for you to do.  Where my folks were in the nursing home they had a beautiful chapel and had services every morning and one of the local congregations came on Sunday afternoon to present a worship service.  It met a lot to my mother to be able to attend.  They always sang two or three hymns and she loved to sing.

Sonja, glad to read that Lila Mae is healing up nicely.  It will soon be a forgotten thing for her but likely not for you and your husband.  It sounds like you and Chandraya will be dancing up a storm for the next several days.

Marilyn, that was a nice piece you posted.

Ed, you have been blessed with a wonderful wife just as I have been.  We have made a pretty good team over the years and I hope we have many more together.

Etta Sue, glad you didn't have any ill effects from all your work yesterday.  Wait until you start carrying those rocks! 

Pat, I thought that was an exceptional devotional message this morning.  We should always remember our source of strength.

A couple of days ago my wife got the following via an e-mail pertaining to Mothers and I thought it was very appropriate and so true.

Quote

                                                      MOTHERS

    For those who are lucky to still be blessed with your Mom this is beautiful. For those who aren't, this is even more beautiful.

The young mother set her foot on the path of life. "Is this the long way?" she asked.

And the guide said "Yes, and the way is hard. And you will be old before you reach the end of it. But the end will be better than the beginning."

But the young mother was happy, and she would not believe that anything could be better than these years.

So she played with her children, she fed them and bathed them, and taught them how to tie their shoes and ride a bike and reminded them to feed the dog and do their homework and brush their teeth.

The sun shone on them, and the young Mother cried, "Nothing will ever be lovelier than this."

Then the nights came, and the storms, and the path was sometimes dark, and the children shook with fear and cold, and the mother drew them close and covered them with her arms, and the children said, "Mother, we are not afraid, for you are near, and no harm can come."

And the morning came, and there was a hill ahead, and the children climbed and grew weary, and the mother was weary. But at all times she said to the children, A little patience and we are there."

So the children climbed, and as they climbed they learned to weather the storms. And with this, she gave them strength to face the world. Year after year, she showed them compassion, understanding, hope, but most of all .... unconditional love.  And when they reached the top they said, "Mother, we would not have done it without you."

The days went on, and the weeks and the months and the years, and the mother grew old and she became little and bent. But her children were tall and strong, and walked with courage. And the mother, when she lay down at night, looked up at the stars and said, "This is a better day than the last, for my children have learned so much and are now passing these traits on to their children."

And when the way became rough for her, they lifted her, and gave her their strength, just as she had given them hers. One day they came to a hill, and beyond the hill, they could see a shining road and golden gates flung wide.

And mother said: "I have reached the end of my journey. And now I know the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk with dignity and pride, with their heads held high, and so can their children after them"

And the children said, " You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates."

And they stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her. And they said: "We cannot see her, but she is with us still. A Mother like ours is more than a memory. She is a living presence."

Your Mother is always with you. She's the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street, she's the smell of certain foods you remember, flowers you pick and perfume that she wore, she's the cool hand on your brow when you're not feeling well, she's your breath in the air on a cold winter's day. She is the sound of the rain that lulls you to sleep, the colors of a rainbow, she is Christmas morning.

Your Mother lives inside your laughter. And she's crystallized in every tear drop. A mother shows every emotion.......... happiness, sadness, fear, jealousy, love, hate, anger, helplessness, excitement, joy, sorrow.....andall the while, hoping and praying you will only know the good feelings in life. She's the place you came from, your first home, and she's the map you follow with every step you take. She's your first love, your first friend, even your first enemy, but nothing on earth can separate you. Not time, not space...............not even death!

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QuoteBy Larry~My doctor called this morning, and that is never a good sign, and said the antibiotic I had taken for a month had not brought my PSA count down to an acceptable level and he wants me to see a specialist to see if I need to have a biopsy done.  I thought I was about through with doctors for awhile.  I will have to go back to the facility that is over an hour away. 

That's not good, Larry! You will have to keep us posted.  I will keep you in my prayers. (hug)

That was a beautiful story/poem.  thanks for sharing that.

Pat~I will!  (hug)

         

                karstmom27 To CP

                        RIA

Hello all! Thank you for the warm welcome a few days a go....I really enjoyed reading through it all! 

I have been updating my website (learning all that Html code)
and taken care of my small ones, Casey is only 2 months old now and hes starting to change, devolope personality, and stay a wake for longer hours. I dont want to miss anything he does when hes awake, he has the best smile..... a gift from God, I know with out doubt....So I will be praising God and thaking him for everything I have today and for directing me to this community.......I look forward to revisiting ......

Quote from: tolovemoon on May 13, 2004, 06:20:32 PM


Hello all! Thank you for the warm welcome a few days a go....I really enjoyed reading through it all! 

I have been updating my website (learning all that Html code)
and taken care of my small ones, Casey is only 2 months old now and hes starting to change, devolope personality, and stay a wake for longer hours. I dont want to miss anything he does when hes awake, he has the best smile..... a gift from God, I know with out doubt....So I will be praising God and thaking him for everything I have today and for directing me to this community.......I look forward to revisiting ......

So nice to see you!  I'm really looking forward to seeing photos of your wee ones.  Hope that will be soon.  What's the URL of your website? 

Pat

Pat, Larry, Ria & Rachelle:   My BW wants to thank you all for your rememberance of her BD. 

We went out to dinner to a really nice restaurant.  It is one that we only go to on one of our BD's.  They give the BD person a free dinner.  It's the only time Donna wants to spend that much money for one dinner.

Hi everyone and thank you for the warm welcome. Fast Eddie, I know I"m late in wishing your wife happy birthday but I hope she had a great day with you. That's great that they give you free dinner.
My boys like the free ice cream that they get for their birthday. It's like a real super treat for them.
I want to thank everyone for your warm welcome. I learned about this place from my dear friend Rachelle. She said since I love photography so much I should check out your website.
I was a professional children and family photographer with Lifetouch Portrait Studios aka Photography by JCPenneys for 7 years. I loved what I did and didn't stop doing it til we moved to Tulsa, OK. My husband is in the hotel industry which means we move A LOT!
Last summer the Lord brought us to Kansas where we have been for a bout a year now but every time we are in a place for a year we get moved on again.
I am also a homeschooling mom which has been a lot of fun. It's our first year of homeschooling and the boys have done very well.

Well I need to finish dinner but wanted to say hello.

Hugs,
Shawnee

Well, Shawnee, I'm glad to see you here.  I wondered if that was you.  You were speaking to Rachelle on the telephone last night when she and I were on AOL together! 

Please pull up a chair and just make yourself right at home.  There's always fresh coffee on and water boiling for hot tea (although today I must say that I would love to have some iced tea as it was so hot here today!)

I saw on TV tonight that Kansas had some really bad tornados!  Were they anywhere near you, Janet?

Well, we are coming toward the end of another day.  I hope it has been a good day for you.

Pat, as I write I am listen to "Just a closer walk with Him."  Beautiful.

Shawnee, (Kartsmom27), let me add my welcome to you.  We are glad to have you here in CP.  I hope you do well in your home schooling.  Our youngest daughter, Rachel, has been home schooling for 16 years.  Her oldest just graduated from college and her second has just finished his first year of college and she continues to home school her youngest who is now 13 years old.

When Jesus' parents realized Jesus wasn't with them on their journey from Jerusalem they went back and:

Luke 2:46-52
46   After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
47   Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.
48   When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you."
49   "Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?"
50   But they did not understand what he was saying to them.
51   Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.
52   And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.[/b]  (NIV)

I hope you all have a good rest tonight.


--- Old Papa John          <)))><<   
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Shawnee Welcome> I have made a nice Welcome card for you and have it on my website, I will post is as soon as I can get my pages opened.

We are glad that you have joined us here on CP. you will dearly love this site. i am praying for you. My daughter in law is 26 and she also has MS an has to have those tests every year to see how far it has progressed. She has to give herself shots three times a week.

TTYL

Night night, Papa John!  I so enjoy your posts.  Glad you enjoyed the hymn.


Make sure you all see the photos that Marilyn has posted of the meeting of Chris and Margit with the Moaks and Marilyn today.

They are great!

Such nice posts in here today!  Well, there are every day, but I especially like some of the things said today.

A big Happy Birthday to Fast Eddie's wife.  Today is also my firstborn daughter's birthday.  She was on my mind all day and I called her as soon as I got home to wish her a happy birthday and tell her how thankful I am to God for allowing us to have her in our family.  She is such a treasure.

We worked several hours today on decorating for the Mother-Daughter banquet, got everything done we could until after the dinner in there tomorrow, then will finish it.  It is looking pretty in there, and is really a big job.  I will take some photos, even though I can't figure out how to get them posted.  Pat, I need to talk to you about this card reader.  I think the pictures are getting lost somewhere.

Ria, you asked about the Christian Radio Station.  We are blessed to have two of them, parts of the same, but one plays contemporary music and the other the old favorites and Southern gospel.  They also have wonderful programs, like Focus on the Family, Janet Parschal's America, Charles Stanley and many more.  It is really great to have them available 24 hours a day.  I always keep the dial on my car radio tuned there.

Darrel and Mark are taking Mark's Dad Jeff's pickup and our enclosed trailer to move Curtis home from college for the summer.  They will be leaving in the wee hours on Saturday, home very late Saturday night.

I got up early this morning to swim, have been on the go all day.  We finished the safety driving course, and today our sheriff was there and taught every other chapter.  He was MUCH more interesting than the other guy!  So it went a lot faster (I mean it seemed like it did.)   Anyway, I am pretty tired, so think I will go to bed a little early tonight.

See you good people tomorrow!