Christian Photographers Community

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Link of the day...[/font]

• Islands of Inspiration As photographers, if you like looking at photos, this is a wonderful site to see photos of the Isle of Lewis, one of the Western Isles off Scotland.

• Creation Moment Listen to the Creation Moment every day for a new creation moment!  We can learn a lot from these!  Terrific if you are home schooling.

Verse for Today...[/font]

"I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." [/color]
~Acts 20:24  NIV[/list]


Quote of the Day...[/font]

 "Service is the overflow of superabounding devotion."
~Oswald Chambers~[/list]


Some News We Should Know About...

• Trapped Polar explorer on last rations
  POLAR explorer Pen Hadow remained trapped on the roof of the world yesterday, his food running out and his mental health at risk from fear and isolation.   The first man to trek unaided to the geographic North Pole has provisions and fuel to last two days on half rations.  

• Photo Moment: 6.5-Acre American Flag Made of Flowers [/b]  

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Morning Devotional...



That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones?                                    Joshua 4:6


Memorial Day is held to visit the graves of loved ones, particularly veterans.

President Lincoln, speaking at the Gettysburg National Cemetery, included "that these honored dead shall not have died in vain."

They did not--millions of slaves were liberated. The believer recalls receiving his freedom through Christ's sacrificial work and is entitled to recite, "Upon a life I did not live; a death I did not die, I stake my present and eternal destiny."

Truly, His death was not in vain (Heb. 9:17).
                                                                                   --Edwin Fesche






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Good morning Pat.  Great reminder for us all. How are you doing?  Have you had to go back to the dentist at all?  How's your garden coming along?  My brother built another railing on our front porch and trampled mine. .  But they are bulbs so they'll grow back again next year. .

Well, I'm on before I start work, so I shouldn't stay too long.  I just wanted to pop in and say a quick hello.  God be with you.  Jen.

Hi each and everyone on another beautiful Georgia morning with the sun shining.  

Marilyn, how marvelous to have been able to have this conversation with your daughter and it obviously has opened the door to better communication.  Your joy was so obvious in your message.

Janice, I don't believe heart failure can be cured because it comes from a weak heart muscle but they certainly can control the situation.  If you have a minute you might want to look at the WebMD site on the Internet or do a search on Google as sure there must be lots of information available.

Pat is going to the Social Security office this morning for an appointment to apply for her SS.  A few extra dollars will certainly come in handy.  

It is time to go have a cup of coffee with my friends.  Will try to get back later.

Good Morning to all.

A GREAT BIG WELCOME TO IAIN....was just browsing through some of your photos........wow.....they are just beautiful.....isn't God's world just AWESOME to look upon!!

Good Morning to you Larry.....have a great time with your coffee pals and God bless your conversation.....

Pat.... what a wonderful devotion this morning......we do not know what our lives look like to others....but when we live our lives for Christ and let Him be in control....He is the One Who will write the pages in  and on our hearts for the world to see when we give Him complete control and obedience to His Word and His Word alone.

Anthony.....where are you these days......miss your posts brother....

Well am off to read some bible to the little ones and do some laundry.....
Take care and God bless all who enter here today.
Paulette.

Good Morning Everyone!

It's always so nice to come in here and read the messages.


It's encouraging to have Iain register here.  Let's make him feel very welcome at CP!

Hi Jen!  I think I go back to London on Thursday.  I still have to hear from my new student dentist to make sure.  For the next several weeks, I'm still helping to teach the computer course at the Evergreen Centre (Senior Centre) here in Guelph.  I really enjoy that!


I hope you enjoy your coffee with your friends, Larry!  It's so nice that you can do this so often.

Hi Paulette!   I must get down to put some laundry in as well.  Haven't grandchildren here most of the weekend sure results in lots of used towels!  I love hanging the wash outside on nice days.

Francy Lou's surgery is at 2 p.m. Central time today.

Gotta get to work!

Ruth Ann

Marilyn ~ Your post really made my heart smile and this little bear dance.  I do believe another lamb has been brought back to the fold.  Now to figure out which lamb was lost...

Janice ~ Good to see you posting.  I know what you feel about things catching up with you.  The stress can be overwhelming.  There is a simple solution.  Give your cares and concerns to God.

Today is Ivalou's last visit to Indy for her eyes.  The driver should be here in a half hour.

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"God promises us daily bread--not flour for a year in advance."

IAIN!!!
We visit every day.  We talk about our children, grandchildren, local politics, aches and pains, sorrows, triumphs.  We discuss the Sunday sermon, our reading of scripture, a new book that touched or troubled us.  We post photographs.  We sing.  We laugh a lot.  Sometimes we cry.  We make an effort to listen intently.

Our visits to CP is our holy time.  As we read each others posts and look at each others pictures, we posts our thoughts, hopes, and fears to each other and to God.  Our posts are a manifestation of Christ in the world.  Being part of the Body of Christ is not a private walk with Jesus; it is two or three people gathered together with Christ in their midst.  When we show compassion or 'listen' with love, we are expressing Christ.  We are being the church in the world.  Even though we aren't perfect and we don't have all the right answers, we experience Christs's presence in these times together.

Who needs someone to listen???!!!

Good Morning: Let me continue here with some of the things Carole and I talked about yesterday. She will be getting her BA in Psycology in the fall  and pland to go on and get her masters, Then she wants to get in some Bible College and a ministerial degree. to be a Christian counselor. She has been saved for a long time. This absolutely thrills me,as a mother.

Now we need to work on reconciliation between Gilbert and the rest of his siblings. I understand now why Ron doesn't contact me. It isn't because he doesn't care it is because of thie stress in his life. But God is able to do everything above what we can ask or even think.

I will never stop praying for my family, I KNOW with out a doubt that God answers our prayers and that He will work all things together for the good of those who love the Lord and anr the called o His purposes. God is so Good. Amen?

Pat, as I read the devotional this morning I thought of the Lord's Supper.

1 Cor 11:24  and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." (NIV)

Jen, I hope you have a nice day at work.  One of the nice things about retirement is sitting here drinking coffee and waving to our neighbors as they go off to work.

Larry, yes, those few extra dollars will come in handy.  Seems like things keep going up every day.  Everything goes up except our income.  But I am thankful we have enough, so much more than many people over this world.  We are having a beautiful Tennessee morning here.

Paulette, as you wrote about giving our lives to the Lord I thought of Paul's statement in Galatians 2:20: "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (NIV)

Ruth Ann, have a good day at work.  Give us a report on Francy Lou when you can.

Marilyn, I hope this reconciliation with your children continues.  I know you are excited about this new development in your life.  

Etta Sue, I like the dancing teddy bear.

And welcome to Iain.  Come in and tell us something about yourself.  We welcome all the new people who register here.

--- Papa John            

 

Janice ~ I have congestive heart failure. If I watch my sodium intake along with taking my medicine, I am pretty much okay! I started out on Oxygen for four years, but I didn't use that as directed, because I knew that if I did I would never get off of it. It does damage the lungs farther according to one of my doctors, so I only used it when it was necessary, but What I am trying to say is with meds and restraint, I am doing better now that I did in the first five years. So I believe it does get better with proper maintenance! My Heart failure is caused because of emphysema which caused the right side of my heart to enlarge because it was hard for it to push the blood through my lungs! It also caused my B/P to be extremely high and now with 4 aspirin-2 in the morning and 2 at night, a Narvasc 5mg, an Accupril 40mg a day plus Lasix if and when I feel the least bit uncomfortable, I am managing very well. I did use Nitro for Angina it caused, but due to reaction with another medicine I had to quit using the Nitro.----------- Prayer Helps the most I believe!

 Wahhh!!!  Lost my post, again!

I will come back later and redo it, I had talked to each of you,      

Many thanks indeed to you all for your kind welcome. It's a long way from me to you, yet we are united in Christ, not just for the short spell we may have on this earth but for eternity. Here are a few thoughts that I wrote the other day on the following text:-

'All things are possible to him that believeth.' (Mark 9:23)

The years seem as though they are flying in, yet some days last forever! Do you know the feeling? Yesterday, I watched as my eldest son received his 6th year graduation certificate. He is now leaving school, yet is seems like only last week that we took him by the hand for his first day in Primary.

Each new day has its difficulties and hurdles and when waiting upon the Lord for Him to fulfil certain promises, the hurdles just get higher!

As Christians we should be reconciled with the fact that we are at war. There will be battles to be fought and enemies to be overcome and we should not be surprised when new trials come our way. We have not been promised an easy ride. What we have been promised is that God is on our side. If we were to lean upon Him as we ought, our way would be smoother and our paths plainer.

I have failed many times through impatience, doubts, fears and not a little frustration, yet still my God abides faithful. Why does He put up with me? Why can I not simply learn a lesson and pass on to the next one without making the same errors over and over again? The desire to serve the Lord with passion and with zeal has not altered, yet I am no nearer reaching that goal today than I was 5 or 15 years ago!

I could easily wallow in self-pity and even depression if I constantly viewed my failings, but I don't. I realise that I am a sinner and that I am in constant need of a Saviour. I am thankful today that I NEED Him. If my life ran smoothly without any testing then there is no doubt in my mind that I would backslide straight to the gutters once more.

He sends trials and testing with love. They are for our eternal benefit and for the welfare of His Church at large. Often we fear that He tests us beyond what we are able to bear, yet still we go on. Hitherto has He helped us and not once has He failed us. The Lord is always good to us, yet all too often we think harsh and unkind thoughts against Him.

Such thoughts are from the pit and should not be given any room to fester in our minds. Away with them! It is our blurred vision that is the root cause of the way we view our trials. We are wrong, our thinking is wrong and God is always right! If you do not believe me on this point then I am sure that He will prove it to you Himself in time.

Trials are hard there is no question about that. Life can seem like endless misery for many, especially when there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel.

Trials do not last forever though often we think that they do. Things change daily though we may not have the vision to see these changes. Do not give up hope my friend, God does not take days off. He is constantly working out His purposes and no enemy can thwart Him.

I have often found that He will use a brother or sister to speak a good word at just the right time for my soul. This I have proved will be enough to keep me going until He sends the next token of His love. He could leave us without any such favour, yet that is not His way.

Today I am content and I have a great measure of peace in my soul. I am reconciled to whatever the Lord has in store for me. There seems to be no point in surrendering my way to Him each day then complaining when I do not like the way things turn out. Love should be everything or not at all. Let me be absolutely content to be clay today in the hands of the Potter.

All things are possible to him that believeth. Mr Spurgeon once said, 'the easiest way to believe is to believe!' Do not try and tell anyone who is 'trying' to believe to believe as they will find it impossible to do. Tell them instead to stop trying! The total surrender of all that we are into the loving arms of the Good Shepherd brings peace even in the midst of chaos! May you find such peace for your own soul today.

Your brother in Christ
Iain

WELCOME IAIN
WE ARE GLAD
TO HAVE YOU JOIN
US HERE.
COME ON IN

Iain, I'm so happy that you posted that.  What wonderful thoughts on Mark 9:23.

I look forward to seeing photos of your family as you find time during the coming days.  I'm so very interested in the island where you live.  Jack and I were happily involved with the Faith Mission both here in Canada and at home in Northern Ireland and it was on your island that the revival took place.

Maybe you'll be able to tell the folks here a bit about that revival as you will know much more about the beginnings of it than I would.

Thanks for posting and I do hope that we'll see more from you each day.

Iain: we were posting at the same time. I've just ready the most wonderful post, Thank you so much, With the things that have happened recently in the lives of my family I really needed to hear just exactly what you sid. I do believe the Lord has sent that message today especially for me. Thank you Lord for sending Iaian to the rescue. He is the angel you used today to set me free and I do believe that "All things are possible for those who believe"---- "I belive Lord help my unbelief."

God bless you Iain.

Okay ... I'm coming out of the corner to say "hi" to everyone and to [size=+3]WELCOME IAIN!  [/size]  
IAIN~ I have been to your website and enjoyed the tour through some very wonderful messages and testimonies ... even managed to take in some of the examples of your photographic talent.    I want to thank you for the message you shared here this morning (for us it's morning ).  I so completely agree with your thoughts:

QuoteToday I am content and I have a great measure of peace in my soul. I am reconciled to whatever the Lord has in store for me. There seems to be no point in surrendering my way to Him each day then complaining when I do not like the way things turn out. Love should be everything or not at all. Let me be absolutely content to be clay today in the hands of the Potter.

This is how I feel too!  It is so good to be "restfully available"(as Major W. Ian Thomas writes) to His Life within, working through us, as we surrender all to his leading.

NITA and I had a wonderful time yesterday.  We noticed that all her family, and just about everyone I know around here, had gone away for the holiday ... so we decided to go "out of town" ourselves!  Although it wasn't very far out of town, we did leave the area and drove slowly and with many stops to the little town of Winchester Bay and out to the ocean there ... around the lighthouse ... down all the side roads we came to ... and then (since the restaurant there was very crowded) we drove a little further to the town of Reedsport and had a leisurely lunch.  It was soooo good to be together and enjoying all of God's creation and fellowship with Him.  This doesn't happen really often for us but I sure love it when it does.  
She had her camera with her but the lighting wasn't conducive to picture taking ... too much shade among the trees and just a bit overcast in other spots ... I guess the beautiful day and all the scenery was just God's gift for us to enjoy this time!    

Y'all take care ... I'll be around, and may just pop in again some time y'never know...

Have a look at what one of our Photo Challenges for June will be![/b][/size]

CLICK HERE[/u][/center]

Hi Jane...

I see that you've added to your message since I first read it.  Thanks for doing that.

I sure wish that Nita would come and post.  I really miss her and hopefully, you'll tell her that.

Don't you forget...no "lurking"!  Just say "Hi!"

LOL

Dropping in to say Hello, since "no lurking" is allowed .

Welcome Iain, glad you've joined CP.
Hope you all had an enjoyable holiday.It's bad to work for me. I have some meals to put together for the freezer. It's always nice having extra put up.
The family and I went back to the park, where the ducks where. I'll be visiting the lab soon, hope to share some more picture of that.

Have a nice day.
Denise

Glad you dropped in Denise!  It's great to see you.

Hello everyone.  Pat, I hope your appointments go well for you.  It's a long drive.  I go to the dentist tomorrow for some work.  I bet you enjoy your teaching!  I think it's great!

Papa John-I'm looking forward to retirement!  Only another fourty three years to go!  

Anthony-where have you been?  Haven't seen you on in a while!

WELCOME TO IAIN!!

Hope you enjoy your time of fellowship with us.  

Well, we have prayer meeting tonight so I must be off.  God bless you all.  Jen.

Good afternoon/evening everyone!  

What a wonderful day here today.  Ivalou has been released from the Indiana Eye Surgery Center and has her appointment for the optomitrist to check her eyes.  Hopefully she can go to the pharmacy and get reading glasses if she can find some that are bifocal reading glasses.  She wants to wear them all the time since that is what she is used to.  She forgets her reading glasses....I had to read the menu at Red Lobster to her...

I have my first week's lessons on PSP done.  Five to go.  But I have to print them first.  Some fun projects so far.  

It is nice and sunny today with a mild temperature of 73°F right now.  Wonderful.  I am afraid that when it warms up....it will WARM UP!  Then it means the A/C will be on constantly!  

I thank Iain and his wonderful post.  I am off to the photo area to see if he posted some photos....whoooosh!

Iain, thanks for the lesson on the power of believing.

Marilyn, it is true that often if we listen, if we look, we will discover the very thing we need that very day.

Jen, those 43 years will pass by before you know it.  The older I get the faster time flies.  I understand better now the words of the Psalmist who wrote:  "The length of our days is seventy years-- or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away."  Ps 90:10  (NIV)  

Etta Sue, don't you just love these last days of spring when it is just right to sit outside or in an open window and enjoy the gentle breeze.  It warmed up to 75 here today and it is just perfect.

--- Papa John              <)))><<

 

Wow - thats sure a wonderful post Ian (oops, I spelled your name wrong)...sorry!

Marilyn:  Wonderful news that you have been able to witness to your family!  

Etta Sue:  Please tell Ivalou, that I wish her well with the eye surgery.  I had the same.... on both eyes, and did very well.

Pat - I didn't know you were teaching at the Senior Centre.  Wish you would "drop in here", on your way home!...LOL

Hi Judy...

The class is over at 11:30 but I must leave it at 11:15 to race to London for my 1 pm dental college appointment.

Sorry about that.

But if I don't have a London appt., I'll definitely drop in.  I've had them the last three weeks and had to get someone else to drive Larry those days to Hamilton.

I'll look forward to seeing you, Pat!

I've just made a big batch of spaghetti sauce!....you do like spaghetti don't you?...haha

On way Ivalou could handle it is to get one of those "little old lady who hangs her eyeglasses on her chest" chains. I did that until my prescription eyeglasses came in. Certainly kept me from having to hunt for them.

 

Ruth Ann

I am posting the here so everyne will see it. The lady that I drive to church, my frined Martha Stokes. was rushed to the hospital this evening. She keeled over walking in for her ride to the doctor. We don't know anything yet. The paramedics had to use the defibrillators on her. Her grandson is a wreck. Pastor and Peggy have gone tot he hospital to be with her. I will let you know if I hear anything, PLEASE PRAY.

She's gone on home to be with the Lord.

Papa John, I believe you.  I sit back and wonder where the past few years of my life have flown, and what I've done with them.  I wouldn't want to retire now.  I haven't been through enough, accomplished enough, fought enough, or had faith enough to enjoy it if I did.  I believe the very hardest of life's difficulties only serve to shape us for the retirement to the New Jerusalem.  I've often lamented my lack of testing.  I don't mean I will go looking for hardships, but I think they are a test for a purpose, and given only when we are ready in the Father's eyes.  I lament more the fact that He has not yet found me ready.  I hope and pray that when He does, I will be strong enough in Him to go through them serenely and clinging to Him.

God has burdened my heart with an awareness of how shallow life here is, and a deep desire to look unto higher things.  But I fall short so often when I get distracted by the life here.  However, God has been faithful and He has promised to complete the work He has begun in me.  I believe that with all my heart.  What greater hope have we than that He will complete a work in us and we will go Home to be with Him?

Well, here I am rambling again.  Lol, sorry, I have a tendency to go on and on.  I should be checking a few more things and heading off to bed.  God bless you all.  Jen.

Marilyn I must've come in just as you were adding that last sentence to your post.    I'm sorry and will be praying for your friend's grandson.  This has to be very hard on him and the rest of the family, but she is safe and free and well and happy in the presence of the Lord.  While we rejoice for that, we are also sorrowful for those who remain and feel the loss.

I'm so sorry, Marilyn.

If Jane hadn't posted about your last sentence, I would have missed that.  After reading your post, I went away to pray for your friend.  I'm glad that she's with the Lord though.  We'll remember to pray for her family that remain behind.

Marilyn, I know you are grieving the loss of your frind and I, too, will be praying for her grandson and you.  I have read where your dgtr has been in touch with you. I am so glad for this area in your life that is opening up.

Iain , so glad you are joining us.  I am the one who has the fewest posts...except for you.  (grin)
Your pictures are great!! I have been to your site and seen some of them.  I will go back again and again.
You have such a good eye for photography.  Thanks for sharing this talent God has blessed you with.

Thank you all for your prayers I sure have been in need of a lot of prayers lately. But the Joy of the Lord is my strength. Everything will work out for the good... you know the rest. Well my friend Martha is now with Jesus in her glorified body, no pain, no sickenss, she was ready to go, her husband was a godly man and preceeded her by 4 years this month. Praise the Lord for His goodness and mercy.

Welcome Ian[/size]

Welcome Iain[/color]

Pat:  Thanks again for today's devotion.  

Marilyn:  It was fantastic to read about your long conversation with your daughter.  <<<<<Hugs>>>>>  Sorry about the lose of your good friend.  A real roller coaster time for you.  

Larry:  Pat and I must be the same age as I just signed up for SS also and that will be interesting.

We have to make another trip tomorrow for Don's pre-op for his hand surgery scheduled in two weeks.  It is busy around here.

Peace,  Carol

There are many items that we hope all will remember to pray for among our members.  

Check out the "Have You Prayed About It?" area in Manna for the Soul for an update.

Now, it's time to lock the door but let's continue the discussion in tomorrow's thread.  

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