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Morning Devotional...



When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
2 Timothy 1:5

Thank the Lord for godly mothers!

He has a very special purpose for mothers--to raise children up into men and women for Him.

I thank the Lord for the example my mother showed me when I was a child, and continues to show me today. She is a reminder of what the Lord will do through someone who has dedicated her life to His service.

May we let them know how special they are and how much they have meant to us over the years!

Remind them that not only does the Lord value them, but we do as well.
--Crawford Paul

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Happy Mother's Day to all of you moms, gramas, etc!  I think I had better get a post in while I can!  My computer is still giving me fits.  Now my curser freezes and just will not move.    It took me about 15 minutes to get on this time.

My trip with Mark was lovely.  He is a neat boy to spend time with, and we enjoy each other's company.  We also got to see my daughter Kerri, who lives in Salina where Mark will attend college.  She met us on her lunch hour and even treated us to lunch!    Then, after our tour of the campus and meeting several of Mark's Pilot Instructors, we went by Kerri's house and visited with the other grandsons for a while.  After that, we headed on over to Manhattan and spent the evening and night with Curtis.  He has another job now, working as a DJ in the Student Union bowling alley.  Mark and I bowled, then played one game of pool.  I am really a terrible pool player!  And I hadn't bowled in many years, but didn't do too bad, considering.  Anyway, it gave us something to do until 1 AM when Curtis got off.

We had to leave before noon in order to get home in time for Abby's dance recital last evening.  Of course, that was very enjoyable, and Abby did a great job.  She had been at the school since 4:30, so thought she was starving by the time it was over!  Her parents, Mark and I and Abby went for pizza, then I came on home, and it was really nice to sleep in my own bed again!  The couch at Curtis' is okay for a nap, but very lumpy to try to get a night's sleep!

Diane and family gave me a nice Mothers DAy card, and she said she has a gift for me in the office at the store, but they were swamped there yesterday, and she didn't have time to find it.  Their entire parking lot and the street were full of cars when Mark and I got back about 5, so I sure understand that.

I hope everyone enjoys the wonderful presence of the Lord in your respective services today.  I will TRY to get online again later.

Good Morning and Happy Mother's Day to all Mommies, grands and anyone who has been blessed to touch the life of a child. I have to say that in spite of everything, I am blessed to be the mother of Steven, Michael, Karen Nikole and David. Grandmother to their eleven and blessed to celebrate another day dedicated to celebrating mothers.
I am remembering fondly my first attempt at motherhood and how young I was, trying to deal with a baby and husband. God showed me that there was no eighteen year old built that could imagine the depths of parenthood much less the responsibility for the care and feeding of a hubby who worked two jobs and had no clue as to what women "did all day". In my teenage arrogance, I assumed that the "Mommy Fairy" would hit me on the head with a wand and I would suddenly become an efficient and responsible person.
NOT!
I bumbled and fumbled my way through. I learned to take tips and advice from seasoned women that I
once thought to be meddling busy bodies and I learned to be humble.
I now am that so called seasoned woman and have raised so many...including my grandson. Yet, there are still things to learn. Thats whats so great about this journey with the Lord....there is always more to learn!
Blessings
Zenobia

Thanks for those words, Zeebers!  I have been there and done that!  Not exactly the same but the experiences are similar, I expect, for most of us.  Motherhood is surely the most difficult and most rewarding calling given to women.  And I wouldn't trade it for anything!

It is time to shut this machine down and dress for church.  God bless!

 

Today's Daily Word - Sunday, May 08, 2005

Mothers

God bless mothers as they care for their children from hearts of love.
Mothers, you care about and for your children in every way. Your hearts are so filled with God's love that it flows from you to your children without ceasing, no matter what they have done or how grown-up they may be. You not only hope for the best for your children, but you also guide them in being their best.
Being a mother is written on your hearts, so you are there in the middle of the night to comfort a crying infant or to pray for an adult child who is going through a challenge. You are protectors, teachers, and mentors who realize that children are gifts from God and one of the greatest investments in life and the future that you can make.


"When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, 'Woman, here is your son.' Then he said to the disciple, 'Here is your mother.' And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home."--John 19:26-27  [/b]

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers here on CP.  I have such wonderful memories of my mother and grandmother.  God truly blessed me with a very loving and caring mother who I now know sacrificed so much so that my sister and I would have a warm and unworried place to grow up.  We lived in the country and my folks worked extremely hard to make a living.  I never realized we were poor in worldly things because we were rich in love within the family.  I do not grieve for my mother as know she is now whole again and with the Lord and I will one day see her again.  

Here is my special gift today to all the mother's or those that are feeling low today.  This is a beautiful hymn sung by Frank Boggs called "A Quiet Place".  It is a large file (over 2 megs) so if you have a dial up connection you may want to pass on listening or perhaps do other things while it downloads.   


Ruth Ann, I certainly hope you will have someone come in to do your heavy cleaning.  We have a lady who comes every other Monday and cleans the entire house.  My wife really isn't able to do it anymore nor am I. We really enjoy having it all clean and sparkling at one time.  Unfortunately I also have to have a landscape company come every other week (on the same Monday) to do the yard.

Zeebers, it was good to see your posting again.  It has been a long while and we have been missing your kind words.

Janet, hope you were able to get rested up from your whirlwind couple of days.  What better way to spend your time than being involved with your grandchildren and children.  Don't know about sleeping on that sofa but guess it was better than the floor. 

Pat, don't overdo in preparation for your company.  Remember they are coming to enjoy your company and not evaluate your housecleaning.  The older I get the more I enjoy time spent in the company of friends.  Think that is why we enjoy going out with the group after church most Sundays.

Marilyn, your dog looks very nice from his haircut.  It sounds like he wanted to be showed off with his new "do" when you went to visit Fay.

Pat is not going to church again this morning.  She said she thought she was a bit better but doesn't need to be sitting the two hours in the pew.  She is hoping to be able to go next week.  I sure hope she is better as she has certainly suffered the last few days.

Hope everyone has a good day.

I am off to church  in just a few minutes. Thank you Pat for today's devotional. Here is another good one that I enjoyed reading.

May 8 - A Wonderful Mother-in-Law

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"And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God" (Ruth 1:16).

It is customary to honor our mothers and grandmothers on this special day, and this is surely appropriate. But what about mothers-in-law? Sadly, these good women are too often the object of rude jokes. Perhaps some particular Mother-in-law may warrant this kind of treatment, but that would be a rare exception. Most of them (at least in this writer's experience) are sincere, caring women who appreciate and encourage the chosen spouses of their children.

A wonderful example in the Bible is that of Naomi, the honored Mother-in-law of Ruth. This is one of the most familiar and best-loved records in the Old Testament.

Ruth was a young widow in the land of Moab, living with Naomi, an older widow originally from Israel. Naomi and her husband and their two sons had migrated to Moab because of a severe famine in their home land. But Naomi's husband and two sons had all died there in Moab, leaving Naomi and two daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth. When Naomi felt she should return to her home in Bethlehem, Israel, Ruth insisted that she wanted to go with her.

Ruth was thus not only willing to leave her own country, but even to abandon her pagan Moabite religion and to worship Naomi's God-the true God-in order to be with her Mother-in-law. What a wonderful godly example Naomi must have been to elicit such love and loyalty from young Ruth!

Then as a testimony of God's amazing grace, Ruth herself was honored by having King David become one of her descendants, through Boaz, her new and honorable second Israelite husband (Ruth 4:21-22). Naomi indeed was a very special Mother-in-law. HMM

Judy Mc~The red heart says 'May Your Heart Smile Today'.  I made it myself.  Sorry you couldn't read it.  Actually it was a Funeral Service for Jerry.  But he was cremated so there was no burial.  The kids are going to have a Memorial Service in Ohio (I don't know when yet) and going to see if they can bury Jerry's ashes over their Mother's grave.  If not, I don't know what they will do.

Marilyn ~ I don't even spend $35 for my haircut!  Ivalou cuts my hair and I am very happy with it.  Thanks for the devotions.

Ruth Ann ~ I sure hope you can get some home cleaning.  I know with your arthritis and all, it must be very hard to clean your house.  Me, I just get so hot I feel like I am burning up from the inside out.  Not just cleaning...anytime. 

Pat ~ How is your arm doing?  Must be better today if you plan to clean.  Don't clean too good or your company won't want to come back to a spotless house.  Always leave something so they will know you aren't perfect.  Works for me....

Janet ~ I know what you mean....very nice to enjoy the company of family but oh so nice to be in your own bed again.  Glad you had a great time with grands.

Zenobia ~ I was a Mommy, too, at 18 and it sure was a learning process.  I still wonder why marriage and parenting aren't taught in school.

Yesterday I spent several hours upgrading my GPS online.  I had to download the software and then install it in my GPS.  First, it didn't recognize my GPS so I changed Com ports.  Finally, I got it done. 

I miss Jerry.  I went out to the garage but my remote on the outside of the garage didn't open the door.  The battery holder was loose and I noticed the battery was rusty.  So I came in and got another battery.  Still wouldn't work.  So I came in the house and got the instructions.  I programmed it back to the factory settings and re-programmed it.  Still doesn't work.  I think I have to do something at the motor area.  Jerry would have it fixed lickety-split! 

Church was long today.  The audio man didn't get a recording of the first service so I had 48 tapes to duplicate plus 3 for last week after the second service.  It takes 5 minutes to duplicate 3 tapes so that was 1 hours and 25 minutes just duplicating.  I didn't leave church until 1 p.m.  Perhaps I need to check each Sunday to make sure the first service is being recorded.  Jerry did. 

Tony and Charlene are bike riding.  Last I heard Tony said he would see me tonight.  But right now I am home all alone after eating a lunch out all alone and all alone sitting here at the computer.  But I know I am not forgotten....just all alone.  But I am not lonely....there is a difference.

May 8   

Preaching: John 3:16

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 
--John 3:16

I have heard that John 3:16 is a favorite preaching text for young
preachers, but I confess that as far as I can recall, I have never
had the courage to prepare and preach a sermon with John 3:16 as
my text. I suppose I have quoted it as many as 15,000 or 20,000
times in prayer and in testimony, in writing and in preaching, but
never as a sermon text....

I think my own hesitation to preach from John 3:16 comes down to
this: I appreciate it so profoundly that I am frightened by it--I
am overwhelmed by John 3:16 to the point of inadequacy, almost of
despair. Along with this is my knowledge that if a minister is to
try to preach John 3:16 he must be endowed with great sympathy and
a genuine love for God and man....

So, I approach it. I approach it as one who is filled with great
fear and yet great fascination. I take off my shoes, my heart
shoes, at least, as I come to this declaration that God so loved
the world.  Christ the Eternal Son, 85-86.

"Lord, I take off my 'heart shoes' this morning as well as I
contemplate this awesome thought. I bow before You in fear and
fascination before this text--but also just at the incredible task
and privilege of preaching and teaching any portion of Your
inspired Word. Amen."

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Bless The Prophets, Ministers, and our Brethren

Bless Them who have labored in The Vineyard of God

Bless Those who have Died for Their Faith in The Lord

Bless Our Fathers and Mothers; Sisters and Brothers

Bless Those who have helped Pave our Road to Heaven

Bless Those who have helped make it Easier for Us

Bless Those who have Gone on Before to Glory

Bless Those who Left Us Their Stories of Love

Bless Those who have lived Their Lives for Jesus

Bless Those Who Have Shared Their Souls With Us

Amen Amen

Stopping in for a moment to echo the sentiments of
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY
for all mothers, and all who ever had a mother.   

QuoteEtta Sue--Tony and Charlene are bike riding.  Last I heard Tony said he would see me tonight.  But right now I am home all alone after eating a lunch out all alone and all alone sitting here at the computer.  But I know I am not forgotten....just all alone.  But I am not lonely....there is a difference.

I am doing the same thing!  I took myself out for a nice Mexican lunch today and returned home to be here ... all alone but certainly not lonely! 

God bless all those feeling lonely and blue today ... or any day.  He can and does comfort and make your heart sing again.  He is a very present help in time of trouble.[/b]

Well, today has not been lonely for me. My son from Atlanta came to Nashville, took me to breakfast, then went to my church with me. How great it was to stand with him during the song service. He hurried back to Atlanta right after church to be with his wife and the girls the remainder of the day.

Then, I had lunch with my usual Sunday lunch bunch.

Stopped at a store to get something I need to prepare food for a grieving family, and ran into a couple who are long time friends!

So, I'll enjoy the good memories from today for quite a long time. I appreciate the ability to remember. It's such a tragedy when our elders or those injured in accidents lose that capability. During the alone times, I reach into my "treasure chest" of memories, blow a bit of dust off a treasured moment, and picture it and all the signs and sounds and smells making up that memory. What a blessing to be able to do that!

Y'all have a good day.

Ruth Ann

Hello again!  I am not alone, nor lonely.  Praise God!  I was going to take my Mom out to dinner after church, but Darrel said he was planning to make a big meatloaf, so to just bring her here.  So when she asked where we were going to eat, I said "To the House of Damon!"  She knows Darrel is a good cook, and the restaurants are always so crowded on Mothers' day, so a home-cooked meal was a treat for her.  Beth asked, on the way to church if she could take me out to lunch for Mothers' Day, so we had her over, too, and I told her she can take me out another day.

I am not caught up on my sleep yet.  The night before Mark and I left, I got maybe 30 minutes of sleep, then the night on Curtis' couch wasn't too great, either.  I slept really well last night, but am still feeling sleep deprived, so a nap might be on my agenda this afternoon. 

Ruth Ann, I hope you do find some help with your housework, and am so glad your son could be in church with you today.  I know that is a special treat.  I was so happy when all of Diane's family came to church with us for Easter.

See you later!

Gilbert called me just before I left for church this morning.  Then they came over after church and brought me a beautiful card and plant.  After they left I microwaved a Budget Gourment  entree and ate 3 cinnamon rolls.I will be going on to prayer meeting at 5 pm. In the meantime I am all alone here at my computer typing this to my CP family.

Janet I hope you soon begin to feel rested.

Ruth Ann: Good to hear that you had a nice breakfast with Mark.

Jane and Etta Sue you are braver than I am I don't go out to eat alone, But I will go get food to go and bring it home.

Pat I hope you had a pain free day today with your family.

TTYL

Marilyn, are you afraid to eat out alone, or is it just that you aren't comfortable doing it, for other reasons?  If I want to go eat alone, I will, it doesn't bother me in the least, but it is just so much more fun to share with someone, isn't it?  I'm glad your kids/grands came by to wish you a Happy Mother's Day, too.  Man!  I wish I could eat 3 cinnamon rolls and stay as slim as you!  It just isn't fair! 

I need to call my sis, as it sounds as if there are changes in our Family reunion plans.  See you later.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY SISTER'S IN CHRIST !!
Ok ... I just wanted to send wishes to all of you out there ... I'll post again tomorrow & tell you all about my full weekend so do check out in the PHOTOGRAPHER HERE THREAD - MY LITTLE GIRL - ALL DRESSED UP as I have posted picture of my daughter all dressed up for her big night FRIDAY this past week.  So, I must head out so take care & see you all soon !!

No Janet I as not afraid to eat out alone,  I do feel uncomfortable about doing so though. I have done it many times in the past, but more and more am getting uncomfortable sitting all alone in a restasurant. It sure isn't any fun not to have someone to visit with as I eat., so I just don't go alone anymore. Two of my clients take me about once amonth so it really is no biggy at all.

Happy Mothers Day

Marilyn:  If you lived closer I would find time to go out with you.

Pat:  Please take care of yourself.

This morning I went to Church with Sue and actually met with some old friends that are now attending her church.  At the conclusion of the service each mom was given a gift pack with a small devotional - pen - and heart shaped pin with a cross in the middle  but that was not enough each mom was then given 2 carnations, mom's and guest moms were treated a like.  Following the service Sue & I were treated to Mother's Day lunch at Swiss Chalet.  After our good byes I headed for home but first stopped and purchased a bouquet of flowers to give to Sue's great aunt so that makes her my aunt.  She was wonderfully surprised.  Aunts like to be remembered as well she never married and we her nieces and nephews are her only family.

Hey I had better shut up before someone closes the door.


Ruth

Happy Mother's Day-Almost Over.

I stayed home today.  Kim invited me to lunch, but didn't mention it earlier, so I'd just eaten.  Later she brought me flowers and a card.  My daughter in Pheonix  sent a card and Ebay gift certificate. She also called this afternoon. I had a nice day, but as others have said, alone, but not lonely.

Marilyn, I think only twice can I remember going to lunch or dinner alone.  I guess I wouldn't mind, but I always end up thinking I can find something at home to fix.  If I went alone, I think I'd take a book or something to read while waiting.  I know lots of single people eat out alone all the time.  And for me.........it feels like a splurge or something, not practical.  That must be a hand down from my parents.     It DOES cost a lot to eat out and eat well.  Maybe that's why lots of people go to the Senior Center to have lunch. 

I didn't go to church today.  I might get my car back tomorrow.    Yipee!

Janet, how did Darrel's meat loaf turn out?  I hope you all had a nice time with family.

Ruth Ann.....yes, memories are really treasures, aren't they?  Even those which were and are painful to think of, still that is our history, our journey, and I agree with you.  The ability to recall is a blessing.

Ty and Rocko are wanting out again.   Oh, I'm so easy!  Out we go.

Now, it's time to lock the door.

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