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Link of the day...[/font]

• Seven Steps to Reading the Bible

• 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]

"Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn." [/color]
~Romans 12:15   NIV~[/list]


Quote of the Day...[/font]

 "Thanksgiving is good but thanks-living is better."
~Matthew Henry~[/list]


Some News We Should Know About...

• Firefighters want chaplains dumped  
  Six California firefighters have gone to federal court in an attempt to have the chaplain program ended at the state agency for which they work, reports the New York Times.   The government employees say the chaplains' corps of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention violates the Constitution by mixing church and state.

• Photo Moment: 19-foot giant squid captured by fishermen [/b]  

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Morning Devotional...


Crutches and Heart Transplants

         
His bitter countenance hardened to a sneer when I informed him that I was a Christian.

"Christianity," he snapped," is only a crutch for weaklings".

His eyes flashed hate against his Maker as he repeated this old tattered and silly platitude. It was obvious that rage was rolling and boiling within his innermost being.

What should I say in reply? Perhaps I could remind him that the sinner is lame and blind and in need of help and assistance on life's great journey. I could go on to say that Christ alone is able to support the morally lame and guide the spiritually blind. However, such an answer would have been inadequate and misleading.

It is indeed true that unregenerate man is "poor and lame and blind" and therefore, unable to walk uprightly and in a straight path before God Who is holy, righteous and just. But man's disease, in a spiritual sense goes far beyond the darkened eyes and the deformed feet. Both his sinful sickness and his spiritual penury are merely symptoms of a far more serious malady. Isaiah, the prophet wrote, "...The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faints. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it, But wounds and bruises and putrefying sores;...". (Isaiah 1:5,6) The sickening symptoms of this disease are vividly pictured for us by the Apostle Paul in Romans 3:10-18:


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This may sound awful, but remember it is God's diagnosis of the problem, and men left to their own devious devices will soon manifest such terrible conduct as that described. We only have to read of the acts of men in recent history to confirm the truth of it. Even the behaviour of "civilized" troops sent to keep the peace in war torn lands attest to thefacts of scripture.

Man does indeed seek out and use many devices to support himself as he travels through life. Indeed these props may appear to be of some help for a time, but by and by they crumble and break when they are most needed. These supports give a false sense of security and will be of no help at all when the poor forsaken soul stands before the Last Great Assize. These crutches have various names. A few examples are: socialism, humanism, atheism, psychology, religion and entertainment to name but a few. They all have some things in common. For example, their place of manufacture was Hell and their designer was the arch enemy of souls. His name is Satan. They are among the many and diverse tools which he uses to blind men to their personal depravity and to the real cause of the present distress of nations.

When God reaches down and imparts saving faith to a poor sin sick soul, He does much more than provide a crutch.  He performs a spiritual Heart Transplant.

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. (Ezekiel 36:26,27 NKJV)

As the new heart is thus given in grace, the unsoundness of the head is also dealt with. "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man." (Mark 7:21-23 NKJV)

To the one who calls Christian faith a crutch we can confidently answer, "It is not merely a crutch to the lame. Rather it is a spiritual heart transplant which never fails." The recipient of such a new heart as God gives will never die spiritually for he has eternal life.

Oh, that sinners may be moved to cry with Israel's king David "Create in me a clean heart, O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me." (Psalm 51:10 NKJV). Those who do this, trusting in Jesus Christ and His redeeming work on Calvary will receive new hearts and will become new creations in Christ. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17) This truly describes the experience known as the new birth. Those who have truly experienced it no longer need crutches for they are enabled to "walk in newness of life."

Beloved reader, have you received this divine surgery? You don't need to have your name put on a waiting list. God now calls sinners to repentance and faith in His Son the Great Physician of souls.

                                                                     ~Jack Scott~                                                              

Good morning, friends!

I can't believe I'm the one standing in the doorway with warm sticky buns and hot drinks for all! Oh, yes - there's also two frosty pitchers of juice in the fridge, if you'd like some.

Thank you, Pat, for the beautiful devotional. I've shown ChristianPhotographers to a number of people (and suggested they join and participate) who have expressed deep interest in the wonderfully spiritual nature of our communion here at this site.

Jack's analysis of the condition of those who do not beieve is astoundingly accurate. How I long for those who don't know Him to taste the joys of such wonderful fellowship.

Ruth Ann

A fine relevant post Pat. May we throw our crutches away and walk by faith alone.

Thankyou all for your welcomes.

Here are a few thoughts that I had this morning:-

'According to your faith be it unto you.' Matthew 9:29

Let me ask you a simple question. Is there one specific thing- desire – that you want more than anything else in this world? Is your God able to bring this to pass? Have you prayed fervently for this specific thing? If the answers to all the above are yes, yes and yes then allow me one more question. Do you have the faith to believe that God will answer your prayers?

No one can answer that but you. 'According to your faith be it unto you.'

I remember many years ago when I was in Sunday School. I would have been about 6 or 7 at the time and there would have been around a dozen in our Sunday School class. We sat on chairs in a circle with our teacher in the middle. Each week we would learn a verse of a Psalm, a verse of Scripture (which I still remember to this day) and our catechism.

One day our teacher took out of her bag a beautiful gold pocket watch. It was by far the most beautiful thing that any of us had ever seen. She placed it in the palm of her hand and went around the class offering it to each of us in turn. None of us took her up on her offer. Why? Well we all thought that she was kidding as this was just too good a gift for us to accept. She spoke later that morning about simple faith. The lesson that morning – take God at His Word!

Children are less likely to question things than adults are. We turn things upside down and inside out looking at them from all angles before we either accept or reject. By nature we are sceptical at best. Before we trust someone they must earn that trust, it is not a natural reaction for us. We may have confidence in the few close friends that we do eventually trust. They are however sinners and in time they to may let us down!

Has there ever been a time in your life when God has let you down?

There may have been times and situations when we have been hurt or tried beyond what we have thought to be just, but that does not mean that God has been unfaithful. The loss of a loved one, unemployment, ill health, pain, loss of income and stress are all hard blows to accept, yet God has upheld and kept us through such. If He gives the needed grace for all occasions that we experience is He not worthy of our trust?

Have there been times in the past when the Lord has answered your prayers in spectacular fashion? Has He ever answered a prayer while it remained a simple thought in your mind? Has God ever failed you? If not, then surely He is worthy of our trust. We do not need to be brain surgeons to work this out!

If, my friend you doubt that God will answer your specific request then test it against Scripture. Is what you are asking for within the circumference of God's revealed Will? In other words, is what you are asking for sinful or questionable? If not, then my friend you may have every confidence that such a request may be granted. 'According to your faith be it unto you.'

Many have waited many a long year for their prayers to be answered. This does not mean to say that their request has been denied. A delay does not mean no! God may have required that their faith be strengthened through exercise. Patience will not be granted overnight!

There is nothing as disheartening for the Christian soul as unanswered prayer. We all know what it is like when we feel as though we are spitting feathers and the heavens are as brass. It takes faith just to cling on! It is a fact that because we live in the 'instant' age we are disappointed if we do not see results as quickly as we would like. We have grown accustomed to a 'flick a switch' lifestyle, but that is not the way of the Bible. Do you give your children everything that they ask for, immediately?

If you and I have faith my friend then you may be sure that it will be tested. It may even be the case that if the Lord has given you a promise, the knife may well be put to the throat of the promise before being granted. The joy of answered prayer is sweeter than honey to the needy soul. 'According to your faith be it unto you.'

No doubt the two blind men following Jesus, tripped and stumbled their way towards Him. This seems to express my walk in following the Good Shepherd! They did however make their requests know unto God. They cried out to Him first of all for mercy. He asked them, if they believed that He was able to do this. When they answered, 'Yea, Lord' He touched their eyes and said, 'according to your faith be it unto you.

They received the one thing the wanted the most, they received their sight! Just imagine! The first Person they saw with their eyes was Jesus. My soul rejoices at such a thought.

I pray that our God will indeed answer your prayers today in like manner as He answered the two blind men. May He touch all our eyes today that we may see no man save Jesus only. This is my prayer for you today and I could not think of anything better. I'll close with the verses that close this chapter in Matthew.

And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciple, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

NOTE: I met my Sunday School teacher a number of years ago and I reminded her of that particular lesson. She said, 'If you had accepted the watch Iain, it would have been yours to keep!'

I ask the LORD to create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit every morning..and He is faithful and true.  No matter what comes along..He has me in the palm of His hand and I can walk through many valleys knowing He is in control.  Each day is an awesome experience is it not!  Even when it is darkest..I feel His presence.  This forum is one of the best ways we, as Christians, can share with each other.  
Thank you, Iaim, for sharing your faith with us. Your posts are really uplifting.
Ruth Ann..I am on my way!  Hurrah for the buns and refreshment.

We are having a real feast here this morning!  Not only sticky buns and juice, but TWO great devotionals!  Thank you, Ruth Ann, Pat (and Jack) and Iain!

And let me add my WELCOME, IAIN, too.  It was part of the post I lost yesterday.

We are getting ready to go swimming.  This week, the swim team is practicing in the pool, so we are going a little bit later.  Those kids can really swim!  (and they occupy all the lanes, too.)

I wish everyone a great day, and I will come again later to see what all of you are up to today.

Thank you Pat (Jack) and Iain for the wonderful devotionals this morning. They are both truly a blessing to me as well as all the others I'm sure.

One thing that I would like to say here is that God gives each of us gifts, as in the gifts of the Holy Spirit  as in 1 Cor. 14. One of those gifts is Great Faith. Faith to believe that He will be faithful to perform His word, for His word does not return to Him void but does what he sends it out to do and He watches over His word to perform it.

Therefore when we find God's promises in His word and we speak that Word over our lives or the lives of our loved ones, God is obligated to perform that word.  For example in Isaiah 49:25 it says..."I will contend with those who contend  with thee; and your children I will save." Then further on in Isaiah is states, "The word of God will not depart from your mouth, nor the mouths of your children, nor your grandchildren nor thier children after them from this day forward and forever." These are promises we should be speaking over our unsaved loved ones daily. Then  there are the promises in Psalm 91:14-16.Those are only a few of the promises. But we must have the FAITH to BELIEVE that these things will come to pass.

If we doubt God's word, What do think will happen? Will your prayers be answered? Don't you think we should pray specifically for every situation in our lives? Expecting God to answer? When we pray "if it be your will" How do we know what God's will is? Isn't His will in His promises to us in His Holy Word? Another Example is in Psalm 103:3 "He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.  We have the faith to believe that He forgives ALL our sins, why do we not have the faith to believe that He heals all our diseases. Whether they are healed on this earth or after He takes us home  we are still healed of all our diseases. If not here then there.

Ok This is long and could be controversial here as we have many different denominations in this family. I am stating MY beliefs which maybe different than yours. But I have used scriptural references to make my point and ask you the questions.

Again my thanks for the devotionals. They have cauused me to think and to answer in the way I have.

Good morning.  We have a bright sunny morning here with a little morning chill in the air but it is going to warm up to around 80 degrees Fahrenheit.  Summer is really on its way now.

Marilyn, I'm sorry about your friend.  The passing of a Christian is good news and bad news.  It is good news when one leaves this earth to go be with the Lord but sad for those who will miss the person.  Someone said that when a baby is born the people are happy and laughing and the baby is crying.  And when the person who is a Christian dies the people are crying but the person is laughing.

Ps 51:10-12  Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.  Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.  (KJV)

We often sing these words in our worship.  And as we pray this prayer we can come closer to God as we place our faith in Him.

--- Papa John              <)))><<

 

Great to see you all here today!  

Wow, Iain!
Faith is the hardest challenge for me.  I enjoyed your post very much. Thanks Would you mind if I kept it and sent it to all of my family and friends?

Hello everyone!  Sorry I am not posting very much. I am a busy person when the weather is warm.  

Talk to you all later.
Sonja

Good afternoon all:

Thanks Pat and Iain for the words of encouragement.
I needed that very much.

Welcome  Heather
The Lord is so good        

Ruth

Goodmorning everyone  

What a beautiful lesson for us today by both Pat and Iain. Thank you. I know I need to trust in the Lord more!
I've been encouraged today!
Denise

Good Afternoon Everyone!

Well, it's so good to come in here and read the posts!

I also really was blessed by your post today, Iain!  I hope you tell us a bit about yourself and your family!  I find that when I think of you living out there in the Atlantic Ocean on that island, I am so interested to know more!  Tell us what the gaelic under your photo means as well.  My youngest son was studying Gaelic for awhile way back when he was a teen.

Hello everyone:
Great day today.....all I can say is
WOW....what great teaching in here today.
just a short note...must be off .....driving one to the dentist and one to the doctor's/
take care and God bless you all.
Paulette.

Hi Folks,

Well the translation of the phrase under my profile is:-
'The eyes of love see nothing but good.'

This is the way I have want to live my Christian life, viewing others through these eyes.

Sonja, feel free to pass on whatever I may write. 'Cast your bread upon the waters.'

HEATHER BRUNET!
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???!!!

Papa John ~ I like this weather, too.  I like my electric bill, too!  I like my gas bill, too.  

Judy Mc ~ Ivalou is like a kid in a candy store.  SHE CAN SEE!!!

Ruth Ann Bice ~ A neighbor lady gave her a pair of reading glasses....mens.  They will do until she gets her prescription glasses.

Marilyn ~ Sorry to hear about your friend Martha.  Well, not really.  She is with God so how can we be sorry to hear of her going? She is with the Great Physician.  Give her loved ones extra hugs at this time.

I have been one busy person today.  I don't know why I try to do everything in one day but I just about did.  Laundry, dusting, sweeping, cooking, mowing, weeding.  And now I am so tired I can hardly sit here.  So I feel a nap coming on!!!

?º°`°º?ø,¸¸,ø?º°`°º?ø?º°`°º?ø,¸¸,ø?º°`°º?ø?º°`°º?ø,¸¸,ø?º°`°º?ø?º°`
"There was an old lady named Myrtle
who bought herself a new girdle.
She held in her breath,
it squeezed her to death.
Now the graveyard is fertile with Myrtle."

Hi to each and everyone.  Also a special welcome to Ian and to Heather.  Ian, after Pat posted the link to your website I spent awhile looking it over.  Obviously you have so much there that it would take days to read it all but it is super and I will be revisiting it from time to time.

Pat, I don't remember reading before the devotional writing from Jack.  It was particularly appropriate to me today as I saw my cardiologist this morning and Pat asked him if I would be a candidate for a heart transplant (not that I want to have one).  He said that I was not as I was too old and that it is a very tough thing to experience.  He just increased one of my heart medications, once again.  Of course, I know that is not what Jack was talking about with the spiritual heart transplant.

Ian and Marilyn, your devotional thoughts were also appreciated.

My next door neighbor and I made a brief visit to our coffee drinking friends who is now confined to bed and under hospice care.  We stayed only a couple fo minutes as he is getting so weak and his wife had told me that he was very confused today.  I think he knew both of us but it was easy to see he was quickly tiring so we were quickly in and out.  At least he will know that we are thinking of him.  He is a fine Christian man so better days are certainly ahead for him and his wife, who is 83 or 84 seems to holding up fairly well to the situation.  

Hi Larry...  I'm so happy that you enjoyed Jack's writing of today.  I also remember those many visits to the doctors when we asked if he could have certain procedures and the answer, when it was "No, you can't" was always so difficult to accept.  But the Lord's hand was in it from the beginning.  We realized that.  

Yes, I believe that having Iain (that's the gaelic way to spell our eldest son's name and my father's name) on the site is such a blessing.

I know that in time, he'll share with us about his life on that island.  Oh, how I'd love to go and visit there.  I especially have such a desire because of the revival that took place there.

I do hope and pray that Iain will share with us sometime in here about that happening.

Let's sing!

I love that song pat. How appropriate for today. Just over in glory land. That's where my friend Martha is today. Talking to all her friend and of cours to Jesus. Now she can walk without pain and breathe without the oxygen tank following her around. Just over in Glory land indeed.

I thought you'd like it, Marilyn.

I have grown to love it as well.

Attention everyone

I did not mean to offend anyone by my post this morning. We do have different beliefs here amongst us. I happened to believe the way I posted. I do realize however that each individual has to work out their own salvation. I didn't mean to imply that if we pray for them they will be saved by our prayers, No they MUST REPENT and ask Jesus to come into their hearts.
I pray that I have not  offended anyone here.
Marilyn

Thanks Marilyn...  Repentance is so important and it's one of the steps often forgotten by many.


Well, we're having such "British type" weather for the past week or so.  Drizzle, drizzle, drizzle!  What a time.  My lawn is getting longer and longer and I can't cut it as it's far too wet.

I have plants to put in the garden but it's just mud!  


Tomorrow is the computer class at the senior centre and then I'm off to London to the dental college.  So I'll be scarce tomorrow.


Thanks everyone for signing the Guest book.  Now, I'll put it on all of the pages gradually and that might help us to get noticed by some.  


I'll talk to you all later.

I'm still singing here!  I hope that our Mieka is having a good vacation.

Pat ~ I like your new sig photo. It is a bright spot on the page and I know it is you! Red is becoming of you!

Awwwwww....  Thanks Jerry!    (Jack thought so too!)


I've posted a lovely photo from our newest member from England, Chrismar.

CLICK HERE[/b]

Great new photo Pat, you look very pretty in red.
I don't think y-all have experienced the heat the way it is here today. 108 F. right now at 3:47 pm. I went to my car awhile ago to get something and burned my hand opening the door.AAAAWWWWGH Miserable. I have to drive to Bible Study in a couple of hours and my car has been in the sun all day, the A/C doesn't work and the drivers window is the only one that opens.  No trees to park under, 2 trees out by the road. So This is me today


I wonder what Hell feels like"  lol Oh Oh I don't ever want to find out either. If it is anything like this I would be praying for Hell to freeze over that's for sure. Hahahahahaha

My goodness, Marilyn!  That's H-O-T!!!

I have a sweat shirt on!

Haha ... my goodness Marilyn... looking at those flames above your name really startled me!

Pat - You do suit red very much. Speaking of the guest book., did anyone have trouble typing those "letters" just before submit?  Well, I am having trouble getting it accepted.  I don't know what I'm doing wrong.

Iain, you sure do write interesting posts.  We'd really like to hear about your family, what you do for a living etc.

Etta Sue:  Love your poem about Myrtle..That sure made me laugh.

....Judy

Boy, Marilyn, that is HOT!!  It has warmed up here to more seasonal temperatures, and we are hoping our garden plants start to grow better now.

I have some things to do here, so will see all of you in the morning!