Christian Photographers Community

---

Morning Devotional...




The Lord is at hand.                 Philippians 4:5


A young brother was sitting dejected at his desk when an older brother walked into the office and, seeing his drooped head, called across the office, "Cheer up, brother, the Lord's coming!"

What a wonderful biblical response!

In light of His return, Paul tells us to comfort one another with these very words (1 Thess. 4:18).

This hope ought to cheer us up, too. He is coming personally and His coming is imminent. It is a glorious hope for it lifts our hearts and souls toward heaven.

Perhaps He will come today.
                                                                --James Comte

"Cheer up, brother, the Lord's coming!"
Perhaps He will come today.

If Jesus is very new in my life and I still have much to learn of him and what all is his wish of me here. Am I then not as much a treasure to him in heaven because I do not know him yet as well as some who know him for 50 years?

Many I know say they study His words now for MANY years. and they still need to study more.  

How will I know when I know his words enough? If he is to come today   I fear he will not yet be happy with me because I have not learn it all yet.  

If I die tomorrow, I am not certain if I am worthy of Him. It is hard to cheer up that he will come tomorrow if I am not yet worthy of him.  

Hi everyone on this Monday morning.  Once again we had a rainy weekend and it is overcast today with more rain predicted.  Everything is very green around here.  Hope my yardmen will be able to do some trimming and mowing tomorrow when they come.  It has been a month since much was done.  Fortunately the bemuda grass doesn't grow very tall so the front doesn't look bad except for some weeds.

It looks like we had busy folks yesterday by the number of postings.  

Pat, a fine devotional and it is certainly comforting to know that the Jesus is coming.  

The founding Pastor of our church, which is now 25 years old, was in the pulpit yesterday and gave a very good sermon on the meaning of Jesus' Life.  This was based on Hebrews 2: 6-18.  

I don't have too much on my schedule today but will be working on some webpages and a couple of other things.  See you all later.

Mieka, in my understanding of God and of Jesus. At the very moment you choose salvation - at the very moment you accept that Jesus is your Savior and that there is one God whom we worship, then you are immediately WELL LOVED and would be welcomed into Heaven with open arms even if you had no opportunity to study at all.

How much is enough learning? I've never known enough of learning about God - that's why I read the Bible over and over - it seems different times during my life, I've read and understood even the same passage of scripture and have been able to apply its message to me, though I'm in different circumstances.

Do not stop in your search for understanding - read a lot, pray a lot, ask questions, and above all trust that you serve a loving God - one who (even if you were the only person in the world) gave his only Son to die for your sins that you might have eternal life with Him.

Y'all have a good day - I'm going back to work today after being off all last week with the respiratory problems, so I need to trust that I'll have enough strength to remain all day and, if not, to be aware of my limitations and return home before I get too tired.

Ruth Ann

Good Morning Friends..
Good to see some of you this early in the morning.....and I pray that you have had a pleasant weekend.....

Mieka...in response to your question....it is nothing that we do of our selves that can make us worthy of His coming...as we accept Jesus Christ as Lord of our life...He is the One Whom the Father sees in our hearts...as we are willing to give up our will to Jesus....He is the One Who will help make us ready for the coming and return of Jesus Christ....
You are very much a treasure to Him now...He died on the cross for you....that was quite a cost....one life for yours....and yes ...He does treasure you very much indeed....and as you go about from day to day....He will teach you through His Holy Spirit and through His Word more and more about Himself and the things you need to know....
hope that helps a bit....
In His Grace...Paulette.

Mieka - you say,

Quote" If Jesus is very new in my life and I still have much to learn of him and what all is his wish of me here. Am I then not as much a treasure to him in heaven because I do not know him yet as well as some who know him for 50 years?

Many I know say they study His words now for MANY years. and they still need to study more.  "
Each of us is infinitely valuable to Him, not because of what we've learned, not because of what we've done, not because of anything in us, but because He gave Himself for us and it will glorify Him to keep us, bless us, and finally receive Him into glory.  There is no price we could ever pay that would make us better in His sight - salvation is to His glory, not ours"

How will I know when I know his words enough? If he is to come today   I fear he will not yet be happy with me because I have not learn it all yet.  "

"If I die tomorrow, I am not certain if I am worthy of Him. It is hard to cheer up that he will come tomorrow if I am not yet worthy of him. "

You and I will NEVER be worthy of Him.  It's HIS worthiness, not ours that counts.  He treasures us by the amount of the worthiness He offered on the Cross for us - the Price He paid is our worthiness!
Paul, in Ephesians 2:8-10, said, "for by grace you are saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God - not of works, lest any man should boast, for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."  Salvation is entirely a free gift and has absolutely nothing to do with anything we have done or can do.  We will never learn enough of the infinite God - we love Him and we want to learn more of Him until we come to Him in glory.  Then, after our hearts have been brought to accept His absolutely free gift of salvation through Christ - THEN - we want to do good works, learn more of Him, etc., etc. because we love Him, not to earn anything.

Pat S:  I just finished my first puzzle and it has been loads of fun.  Thanks ever so much.  

It is cloudy and cool here today and I have errands and exercise.  
Carol

Mieka---I believe we will continue learning about God through all eternity!  But that will not make us more valuable and precious to Him, for He already loves us with an everlasting love.  Bless you, my friend, you ARE his treasure, enough so that Jesus gave his life for you.

It is windy here again.........  

I attended Ulysses' high school graduation yesterday.  It still saddens me that this school no longer recognizes the Valedictorian and Salutatorian in their exercises.  I think they well deserve the honor and recognition of all their hard work.  After graduation, we attended a reception for Andrea, who used to date our grandson Curtis.

Pat, it sounds like you had a lovely day with all your company yesterday.  It's nice to be remembered with a visit!

Today Beth is having the biopsy on that lump in her throat area.  I pray it is NOT cancer.  Her aunt and cousin took her this time, because she wants me to be there for the surgery which will likely follow in a few days.  Continuing prayers appreciated.........

Darrel is going to Liberal today to check on his customers.  We know of one business that was totally destroyed in the tornadoes, and hope there are not more.  Tornadoes are so unpredictable!

I need to go get me some breakfast.  Swimming makes me hungry!  I did a half mile this morning.

Good Morning, Thanks for the devotional Pat. If only we could all greet people with uplifting words about Jesus. Most of the time we say things like "it will be all right" or just "cheer up". Wouldn't it be wonderful to be greeted with those words, "JESUS IS COMING".

Brother Al: you gave another wonderful mini sermon in your response to Mieka's questions.

Tenderheart and Ruth Ann also gave wonderful answers to those same questions.

Ruth Ann I pray you will be strengthened by God throughout this day as you return to work. Take it easy and don't do too much your first day back.

I shall return later.

Good Morning Janet we were posting at the same time. Iwill pray for Beth, you know I will.

I couldn't help but think of our precious Mieka when I read my Daily Encounter this morning! I will now post it for all to read with this thought, " Does not Mieka's questions lead us and is she not as a child to all the rest of us"




A CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM

"And a little child shall lead them..." (Isaiah 11:6, NIV).

"I had been a children's Sunday School teacher at a
particular church for quite a while," wrote one lady. "I
dearly loved it and its people. I had tried, on many
occasions to get Bob, my husband, to take an interest in
that church. He went twice, once because there was to be a
big dinner after, and the second time to see the Christmas
play, which I had written and directed.

"Bob owns Big Sun Tree Service, and a few days before
Easter, while trimming a tree, a branch hit him on the jaw,
causing it to crack. He did agree to go with me to church
on Easter Sunday. However, before we left he bit down on an
oatmeal cookie and ended up breaking his jaw and spending
Easter afternoon at the emergency room.

"The following Saturday I asked him if he would like to go
to church with me in the morning, and, remarkably, he said
'I might as well, I don't have anything else to do.' At
church, during the meet-and-greet time, one of the
youngsters, Ethan Moody, handed me a $5.00 bill. Puzzled, I
asked him if he wanted me to put it in the offering plate
for him, and he replied that this was his allowance, and he
wanted to give it to my husband, to help pay for the
dentist. I knew I couldn't give it back to him, because it
would hurt his little feelings, so I gave it to Bob and
quickly explained what Ethan had said.

"In that service when Pastor Ben gave the invitation, Bob
accepted the Lord. Later that day I asked him what had
prompted him to that decision, and he told me it was many
things adding up over a period of time, but that the icing
on the cake was when Ethan gave him 'his weekly allowance
to pay my dental bill.' That action had reminded him of the
times I had explained to him of how God, because he loved
us so much, gave up His only son to pay for my sins."1

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, like the child who expressed
his love in a tangible way, help me to do the same for
those in need who cross my path and whom you bring into my
life. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer.
Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

<)))><<

When copying, please include the following: From
   Daily Encounter (c) Dick Innes 2003. Subscribe
   from: http://www.actsweb.org/subscribe.htm

Thanks Jerry. Great story.  

Good morning everyone.

Janet, you swam a 1/2 mile?!  I can't even swim block.  I think I would drowned.    I will keep Beth in my prayers today.

Hey Mieka!  God loves you just as much as he loves the wise people in this world.  We just get special attention when we get there because we don't know as much.  

It is good to see you this morning Marilyn.  Have you sent the camera back?  I hope you get your other one soon.

I am off to eat breakfast. Janet made me hungry by mentioning food.  Have a good day all!!

Joan ~

QuoteThe shrimp on grits, roast beef, turkey & crabcakes were delicious as well as the appetizers beforehand.

Never heard of this before.  If that isn't a typo, this is definitely a Southern dish!  Sounds good!

---

Papa John ~ Good morning.  Now is the time to rest up after your great weekend.

---

Marilyn ~ Sounds like you had a moving service last evening.  I like those kind.  Powerful messages.

---

Pat ~ Seems like you had a wonderful day with your 12 guests.  Now you know why I like unexpected guests.  What you see is what you get....dust and all!!!!  

Pat ~ Thanks for the devotion.      

Quote"Cheer up, brother, the Lord's coming!"

Yesterday, in the sermon, Rev. David was reading about teenager with terminal cancer that refrained to take chemo or radiation.  Decided to see the world instead.   Quality instead of Quantity of life.  Went to Italy and other countries with her Mother.  Lived it up while she could.  David told us to live each day like we have a terminal illness.  That seems to go along with "Cheer up, brother, the Lord's coming!"  Both means you are meeting the Lord soon.

---

Mieka ~ We will never be worthy of God's love.  It is my understanding that heaven with Christ is yours if you accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior only seconds before leaving this world.  It isn't the length of time...just the acceptance.  We (and I am a new Christian) read God's Word because He says to read His word.  (The Holy Spirit nudges us to want to do this)  No one will ever fully understand His word but we strive to understand.  If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, he is happy with you....period.  I saved the following from once when Papa John posted.  I think it says it all.

I'm thankful every day for the gift God gives us in Christ,  the forgiveness of sins, the promise of everlasting life, the promise He will be with us each day, the assurance that we are His children and He is our Father.quote from Papa John sometime back.

First, you have to confess with your mouth that Christ is your Lord and Savior.  Romans 10:8-13 will give you more understanding.  My Study Bible tells me these verses tells you "How do I become a Christian?"  These verses give you the beautiful answer:  Salvation is as close as your own lips and heart.  People think it must be a complicated process, but it is not.  If we believe, in our heart and say with our mouth that Christ is the risen Lord, we will be saved.  NLT

---

Larry ~ Looks like your weekend for weather was the same as here.  Cloudy, overcast.  Looks like it could drop buckets any time.  Sure makes one appreciate the bright sunshine more after days of gloominess.

---

Ruth Ann Bice ~ Thank you for explaining to Mieka. It seems complicated but really very easy to know you have salvation.

---

Paulette ~ A different aspect in answering Mieka's question but right also.

---

Al ~ Another absolute truth spoken in Mieka's behalf.

---

Carol ~ Good morning....I like online puzzles.  I have two I do every day plus on CP occasionally.

---

Janet ~ I will be praying for Beth today.  I don't believe I have any graduations to attend this year.  Next year but not this year.

---

Jerry ~ It is a happy time for anyone to be 'Welcomed to the family'....even when reading a story like the one in the Daily Encounter.

---

Sonja ~ Good morning.  Breakfast sound good right now but I think I will wait for lunch.

---

As I said....today is another cloudy day.  At this very moment the sun is trying to peek through the clouds.  It is cool but may turn out to be a great day....weather-wise.  I got some much needed rest last night but I think I still need more....I feel a nap coming on shortly after lunch....  I see everyone keeps posting.  I had better get this posted before it becomes a mile long....


?º°`°º?ø,¸¸,ø?º°`°º?ø?º°`°º?ø,¸¸,ø?º°`°º?ø?º°`°º?ø,¸¸,ø?º°`°º?ø?º°`
"Most people are willing to change, not because they see the light, but because they feel the heat!"

Whew!  That was a long post.  Sorry......

Jerry: your devotional m,ade me cry   would you please stop it. Just kidding. I love to read ALL devotionals.

Etta Sue: it doesn't matter how short or how long the posts get, we read them anyway. It is nice to have touch on everyone else who has posted.

Sonja: I don't expect my camera back for at least 2 more weeks maybe longer. I just pray it will come before I move.

I spoke with my G-kids yesterday and they said G-ma are you gonna live in Jody's house with your dogs? (That is the next door neighbor) Can we come and spend the night at your house? Forest then says, but we'll have to ask mom and dad if we can g-ma ok? Aren't kids great? That is the most wonderful thing about my move up north, to be with the g-kids and watch them grow up.I pray that Gilbert will allow them to go to church with me. I keep praying that prayer and god is softenening his heart.

The landlorb brough up another car that is to be painted, it is only the body though as most of the 10 cars that he brought up here are. Now there are three in my driveway between the house and the garage. Right where we need to park the truck for loading. He says he will come up and move things around but he isn't too much of a neat person. They brought out one of the garbage cans and put it right in the front of the little trailer next tothe garage with the lid not all the way on. We do not have garbage service here,. We do but not at my house. everything has to be hauled off. I haul my trash on bag at a time tothe dumpster at the library.

Now this is too long. I have vented on you all again. Sorry about that. But what are friends for anyway.  

Marilyn ~ If your post was too long.....I know mine was too long!  I don't like for people to take advantage of me.  This was started with me when I moved here but I let them know that we didn't do that in town for my 32 years living there and I won't get used to it in the country.  Things such as borrowing things from my garage without asking or telling me.  I was told it was the 'neighborly thing to do'.  Not for me.  What is yours is yours and what is mine is mine, BUT if you ask, you may use it.  

Good morning, all. I found this in an email this morning, and thought I'd share it with you. It's called: The Many Names Of Christ
To the ARTIST He is the One Altogether Lovely.
To the ARCHITECT He is the Chief Corner Stone.
To the BAKER He is the Living Bread.
To the BANKER He is the Hidden Treasure.
To the BIOLOGIST He is the Life.
To the BUILDER He is the Sure Foundation.
To the CARPENTER He is the Door.
     To the DOCTOR He is the Great Physician.
To the EDUCATOR He is the Great Teacher.
To the ENGINEER He is the New and Living Way.
To the FLORIST He is the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of the Valley.
To the GEOLOGIST He is the Rock of Ages.
To the HORTICULTURIST He is the True Vine.
     To the JUDGE He is the Righteous Judge, Judge of All Men.
To the JEWELER He is the Pearl of Great Price.
To the LAWYER He is the Counselor, the Lawgiver, the Advocate.
To the NEWSPAPER He is the Good Tidings of Great Joy.
To the OCULIST He is the Light of the Eyes.
To the PHILANTHROPIST He is the Unspeakable Gift.
To the PHILOSOPHER He is the Wisdom of God.
To the PREACHER He is the Word of God.
To the SCULPTOR He is the Living Stone.
     To the SERVANT He is the Good Master.
To the STATESMAN He is the Desire of All Nations.
To the STUDENT He is the Incarnate Truth.
To the THEOLOGIAN He is the Author and Finisher of our Faith.
To the TOILER He is the Giver of Rest.
To the SINNER He is the Lamb of God that takes away the sins
           of the World.
To the CHRISTIAN He is the Son of the Living God, the Savior,
           the Redeemer and the Lord!
 

Good Morning Friends!

My!  It's so nice to come here and get fed over and over and over!  That's how I feel here today.

I was so sorry to read that you've not been well, Ruth Ann!  Glad that you're a little better now though.  Are you going to Calgary in August?


It's so nice to see our Mieka asking such wonderful questions and it's so nice to see all of the replies!


Larry, what is "Bermuda Grass"?  I've never heard of that up here.  This is the first holiday weekend up here in Canada when people start their gardening.  I'm going to go out and take a few wheelbarrow loads of triple mix around to my box I made to plant my veggies in.  It's 4 ft. x 4 ft. and I'm going to divide it into 1 foot square with string.  This is following the book entitled "Square Foot Gardening" that I've followed for quite a number of years.  I find the harvest is just great!


Nice to see you Paulette!  How was the Garage Sale on Saturday?


Al, what a good reply to Mieka!  We aren't worthy of His love and care but how wonderful that He does care for ME!!  I'm constantly in awe that He loved ME enough to die for me on that awful cross of Calvary.  I'm reminded of the hymn "I am not worthy the least of His favor, but Jesus left heaven for me!" and I can't remember any more of the words...


So glad you are enjoying the Jigsaw Puzzles, Carol!  They are fun, aren't they?  We'll try to keep adding to them.


Yes, Janet, we had a lovely day yesterday!  Lots of people coming and going but it was so nice.  



Marilyn, you are going through deep waters right now with that landlord and I'm truly sorry.  How many days now till you move?  


Oh, Jerry, thanks so much for the "Daily Encounter" today.  As Marilyn experienced, tears came quickly for me.


Did you enjoy your breakfast, Sonja?  I am thinking about lunch here!    


Etta Sue, it's a lovely day here in Guelph!  The sun isn't too hot and I'm glad of that as I must get out and move some earth from the front of the house (in the driveway) to the very back of the lot.  First I'm going to empty two composters though and that will be good in the bottom of my garden boxes.  


Well, I'll talk to you all next coffee break!

Now, that's close!  My post is just 3 seconds after Cami's!  

Hi Cami!  Great to have you here and that's a great list today!

QuoteTo the SINNER He is the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the World.
To the CHRISTIAN He is the Son of the Living God, the Savior, the Redeemer and the Lord!

Praise the Lord!

 

And He is a potter too, yes !!!

and Ms Pat is a potter today too.  

I love the answers i get here. I thank you Mr Moak and Ms Etta Sue, Ms Tenderheart, Ms Janet and Mr Jerry-  
(it was a lot of answers today).

I thought perhaps the potter has pots to honor and to dishonor and some are gold and silver and some are wood and stone.

I thought I am not a worthy pot yet, and not worth as others to him yet. I guess I will need to try fo ever to be worthy, yes? and I will never be worthy  

Pat: Yes I certainly am going through it with my landlord. His wife is very nice and he is just the opposite. She placates him. But he can lose his temper very quickly. Thier room mate has been up here a few times and is a very nice Christian man. They have been good to me though they are the ones who bought my car for me when my other car quit. I paid them back a little at a time for 2 years and made the last payment last week. They did replace the water yesterday by buying me another load of water. It is just that they think that since they own this property they can do anything they want to do here. Including going in and out of myhouse when I am not here. Well it will all be over soon.

Marilyn

Dropping in to say Goodmorning/Goodafternoon to all.
The discussion here this morning has been great.It is such a good reminder that no matter how deep we go with the Lord it is all by his grace and his doing for his glory. We are such a blessed people to be loved by God!

I hope to firgure out my computer problems today. Last night I downloaded an XP Service Pack, it took 3 hours  , I have a slow connection, huh!
So, I'll be giving it a test run to see if it will let me post photos?

Have a good day everyone.

Well, I'm late today.  I have been working on pictures and also have been doing some printing.  If anyone would like to see more wedding pictures you can go to my webshots albums and click on the first one and then click on see sideshow:

http://community.webshots.com/user/jpmurphree

I hope you are all having a nice day.  I'll try to get back latter and maybe have more to say.

--- Papa John              <)))><<

 

Mieka, we must remember that no amount of effort on our part can ever make us worthy of what God has done for us.  That is not what He desires---He only desires us to accept the gift He gave us freely, of His own will--the gift of Jesus as our savior.  That is the only action that makes us ready for Heaven.  It is His worthiness; His righteousness, not anything of ours.  Yes, it is hard to understand, it is one of those things we just need to accept by faith!  God loves you, Mieka, and so do we!

So some who are bad every day and they sin and are VERY bad, they will go to the Heaven too? only if they accept Jesus, yes?

But others who are good every day and try hard to do what is Gods wish.... they will go to this same Heaven?


i thought there will not be bad people in heaven.  
but they are not "bad", they are sinners..... yes?  

Pat ~ When Bev and I lived out at the farm and truck farmed we used the Square Foot Gardening book. It is the best way to garden even if you are growing veggies like we did. A lot less maintenance. We had three gardens 45 ft x 45 ft. I used a Craftsman Garden tractor with a rear pull behind tiller to work the soil! I used an old fold down camper that had been stripped out and pulled it with an International cub tractor to haul the produce to the house to clean and get ready to can or sell. I also had another Sears tractor with a plow and disc. It also had a dozer blade that made it handy to clear the trash off after harvest! I really liked the "Square Foot way!"  

Goodness, I didn't mean to make any of you lovely ladies cry, But I really did think of our little one here in CP.

PAPA JOHN ~ I just visited your photo page and really enjoyed all the photos from Rebekah's wedding.  That is a lovely family and, of course, you and Cornelia have to be very proud grandparents!  Everyone looks so happy, and I know they are and will be blessed with their faith in God.

Mieka, you do ask such insightful questions!

There will not be ANY "bad" people in heaven, because the moment they accept Jesus, they are made "new creations--behold, the past is done away, and the new is come."  So then they are no longer "bad."

And those who try to please God in their own strength and using their own ideas, even though we think of them as "good" people---they will NOT be in heaven, UNLESS they have accepted Jesus into their hearts.

Yes, we are all sinners, but if we have Jesus as our Savior, we ask Him to cleanse us from our sins,  and He does!  There will be no sin in heaven!

Quote from: Janet on May 19, 2003, 04:45:05 PM
"new creations--behold, the past is done away, and the new is come."

And those who try to please God in their own strength and using their own ideas

so a sin is maybe "bad" to me, because I know it to be wrong, but to a nother it might not be a sin at all, because they do not know it to be wrong.... yes?

OH My, I think I undarstand it, I do  
this is why we are not to judge others, yes?

Jerry, you asked for a new signature picture.  This one is from a picture made at the wedding Saturday.

- - - Papa John