Christian Photographers Community

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...

• British parents set to lose right to spank
  Parents' right to smack their children would finally be abolished under a historic attempt to outlaw physical punishment within the home.

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

From our forums...

• Monthly Photo Challenge~Thanksgiving[/b] This is our second month of our new venture on Christian Photographers!  This challenge will last a complete month so start snapping those photos and show us anything that reminds you of Thanksgiving.[/size]

• November 2nd Bi-Weekly Challenge~BOOKS & SONG TITLES  Take a photo that illustrates your favorite song or book title.  [/size]

• Photographs with a Scripture Message  This section is sure filling up and it's wonderful to see what we can do with our photos and sharing God's Word with others.
  

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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:


[/b][/i]


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~                                                              

Pat...........

I want to comment on your devotional, but have yesterday's to enter.  Not sure, but this old bucket I'm using as a PC might be showing signs for replacement.  My e-mail is hung-up, and it's very hard to get CP moving.


Judy..........
We bombed out.  No guesses.


Ruthie and Karmat..........

I too am writing historical/Biblical fiction.   It's more historical than fiction, but must be counted as historical/Biblical fiction.   I've named it "A Passover Journey", and have over ten Intoductory pages plus two completed chapters.  I've been on thsi project as I've said for over two years and I'm trying to complete it this winter.  We'll see.  I'm so wrapped-up in it, and there's so much information to give.  I AM limiting it though.  Here's a very minute portion of the Intro..........

   A PASSOVER JOURNEY
                               by
                        Lee Kirkwood
                        2001-----


INTRODUCTION:

"You won't see Him, yet the central figure of this book is the Lord God, and through Him, simple men in total obedience to the traditions of their faith, leave their homes once a year to give sacrifice by traveling to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover. This particular Passover Journey begins with the Exodus story of Moses.   You will read of ancient Biblical history through the voices of village elders nearly 2000 years ago as they quote the prophets of god from the Old Testament."

9 a.m. England.

Thank-you Jack and Pat...
.
"Where shall I go but to the Lord" keeps going over in my head and I had such reasons to praise Him today. Indeed I need no crutch, save the covering of the precious blood of Jesus Christ...A Daily prayer...

My thoughts and prayers continue with Diane as they did during the night-watch.

Ria Good morning sister. The Lord bless you today and give you His peace...

I have a friend coming for a cuppa later so must get a move on...you know what a "slow coach" I am. A dear Minister friend of mine informed me that I am still in the race.  "The race is not to the swift", thankfully...It's the reaching and passing the post that matters...Amen!

Prayerfully,
Love Jenny.

GOOD MORNING YOUR ALL 10.40AM

PAT thank you for the devotional wich was writen by Jack he was very goodthis morning and the hymn yesterday

Also today i am feeling me not so good pain in my head and in my throat

ETTA SUE a very nice graphic have you made yesterday how are you doing that

Yesterday i have been to the church but there are not coming a lot people it is sad

Jenny goedemorgen I thank you for your words

Pat my prayers are for Diana


If we pursue mere earthly gain,
We choose a path that ends in pain;
But joy will stay within the soul
When we pusue a heavenly goal
                         D. de Haan

I wish you all a Blessed Day
Bye Love RIA

I have three or four days of reading to catch up with and I hope to do so this evening.

What a great devotional Pat. We all need divine surgery.

Here are my feeble thoughts for today:-


Without God we can do nothing. How often have I said that to people? Learning the truth and reality of that statement for myself and in my own life has been and is difficult.

Head strong, independent and stiff necked is how I may best describe myself. I am so keen to be in control of my own destiny that I think that I can work things out better than God.

The Lord's Day can be a long day for me especially when I am unable to attend the means of grace. I enjoy the time it gives me to study and to meditate, yet there are many hours when I allow my mind to wander.

I think and plan for the forthcoming week. By the time my head hits the pillow at night I have it all sussed out.

It is only when things go wrong that I recall the error of my way. It is pointless leaving God out of the equation! I commit my way to Him daily, yet I have the tendency to dictate the way in which my life will pan out. What then is the point of committing my way to God?

Oh! Wretched man that I am!

Moses knew that taking one single step without God's presence was pointless. He knew that should he go his own way then it would prove to be disastrous.

God's way was difficult enough, especially when the congregation moaned and groaned there way to the Promised Land.

He did however have the confidence and experience to believe that if God was with him then he could go through anything and this is a lesson that I must also learn. I must have this confidence in God that come what may in my life, as long as He is with me, then all will be well.

I do not mean that my life will suddenly become a bed of roses or that everything I touch will turn to gold, far from it. I must have the confidence that no matter what I have to go through in my life, whether it be further pain, illness, loss, shame or whatever else, I am happy to walk along this path because God is with me.

Reading this chapter I noted that the children of Israel all stood at the door of their tents as Moses went into the tabernacle. There was an air of expectancy among them. Would God accept Moses on their behalf? Could Moses plead their case for them?

Not until the cloudy pillar descended upon the tabernacle did they worship the Lord. God spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. I love this verse, it thrills my soul. Can you picture the scene? The Creator God talking face to face with His creation.

You may wonder at the boldness of Moses. Well wonder not my friends. We should have even greater boldness as we talk with our God.

(If any of you are wondering about what makes the Christian religion different from any other then surely this is one aspect. When questioned by a Hundu or Moslem ask them this simple question. Does your God talk to you?)

Mine does!

I too can stand at my door and look not to Moses, but to the sacrifice that Jesus made on my behalf. He bore God's wrath and curse that was due to me for my sins.

He nailed the ordinances that were against me to the cross. Through His death and the shedding of His blood sinners now have access to God.

I can now approach God in the holy of holies and speak to Him face to face as a man speaks to his friend. I can only do this if I am clothed with the righteousness of Christ.

This is God's own way of salvation and today I readily and heartily accept it. I believe today with all my heart and soul that Jesus of Nazareth died on the cross for me.

Life is not about standing still. We would like to be like Joshua who departed not from the tabernacle. We are on a journey and the rest of our life begins today. Yesterday with all its cares and worries is behind us.

God has seen fit to allow us the dawning of another day and we have the choice either to go our own way or to follow in His footsteps.

The way He chooses for us may be difficult with many obstacles. Hardship, loneliness and pain may be our portion for much of our journey, however I have said this before and I will say it again.

I would rather be with Jesus in the middle of a storm than to be standing alone on the shore.

There may be some today who dread what they may have to face in the coming days. Left to ourselves we would faint and fail.

Today our request should echo that of Moses. 'If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.' Through Christ we can do all things. Without Him we can do nothing.

I want the company of the God in whom Moses trusted all the days of my life. Whose company do want on life's journey?

LOL

Your brother in Christ

Iain

Aunt Pat,  Please pass on my sympathy to Dianne.  I will drop by with a card one day this week.

Hello everyone else, can't stay, just wanted to say hi.

Love Heather

hey ya'll
I'm EARLY!   i have to find something to keep me awake we went to an FFH concert last night at dodge and i got home about 10:30 finally got to bed around 12:30. so i'm tired but the concert was good! we had a lot of fun. please be in prayer for one of my friends he isn't a christian and he's unit got deployed yesterday to who knows where! at 9:30 last night he was waiting to leave. so he needs prayer! well i need to finish getting ready for school ttyl
Sarah

Good morning all!  Travis got me up with the rooster's again.  I've gotta start going to bed earlier; this is killing me.  hahahahhaha

Hello Sarah!  Good to see you so early.  I will remember your friend.  Have a great day.

I'm gonna go see what Hotshot is up to, he just got quiet.  Laters.

karmat

We are home after spending time with a daughter-in-law and I watched granson for one day since he had a cough from a cold.  We played school most of the day as he just loves learning new things.  

Ria:  Yes, the church attendance does seem to dwindle unless there is a major crises in this country.  Sorry about your church having fewer people.  

Pat Scott:  I just remembered that I posted or more than likely you posted for me  the pictures of family church in Sweden.  I can barely ask if they would still be around in here as we lost all our pictures on the computer last month.  Would anything still be here?  

Now I am going back to try to read what was missed over several days.
Carol

A quick good morning to everyone, and good evening to those on the other side of the world

Nard's quick thought for today - Whether or not someone is a Christian should not change my love for them.  Christ's instructions, at various times, indicate that I should love my neighbor AND my enemy.  This works both ways - I should neither treat my enemy badly because he is NOT a Christian, nor treat my brother badly because he IS a Christian.  Let's all reach deep into the well of love and draw out enough that it spills over to those around us.  

Boy, that oughtta keep me busy for a long time...

I'll check back in later!

Hi everyone.  Have appreciated the devotional thoughts today from Jack's writings and Iain's.  Nards, I appreciated your thoughts as well this morning.  It is good to see the others posting today.

I took my car in to Goodyear to get the tires rotated early this morning and then walked from there over to the cafe for coffee.  My friend gave me a ride back to pick up the car and it was ready for me so didn't have to sit and wait for it.  Our daughter has been sick with the flu all weekend and is not not feeling much better.  She will miss school today but contacted her English teacher with whom she had an important appointment this morning and was able to reschedule for tomorrow and if necessary will reschedule to Friday.  The teacher didn't want her coming up there with the flu, which made sense to me.  Sure hope my flu shot protects me and that Pat doesn't catch it.  We called the housekeepers this morning and they are rescheduling.

Ria, sorry to read that you are again not feeling well.  Hope you will be feeling better before tomorrow.

I need to get busy working on some other things.  

Larry I am having a problem with my computer.l I don't know if you can see this or not,

All the small type and the  signatures at the bottom of our posts is very small and very light in color. What can I do to fix that? I tried rebooting and that didn't do the job. I also forgot what you told me to do to enlarge the print.

Would you email me and let me know how to fix this problem?

Good morning, Thank you Pat and Iain for today's devotionals. Always excellent.

I finally put drapes up in my living room and dining area. The drapes were packed in a box that was on the bottom of the stack. I had curtains up  but they were not enough.

Karma are you doing well with the Mary Kay?

Well I have things to do this morning so I will be back later.

Good morning all.  

Thanks to all who commented on my Welcome graphic that I made with PSP.  It was fun!  And now I am doubly enjoying it with all the nice comments.

I am in a rush today.  Jerry's car is in the garage for brake replacement.  It should be ready today sometime.  Jerry is fixing me lunch.  So I need to get on the run!!!

Sonja, I posted some pictures of the fog here this morning.

»ïÏï«,¸¸,»ïÏï«,¸¸,»ïÏï«,¸¸,»ïÏï«,¸¸,»ïÏï«,¸¸,»ïÏï«,¸¸,»ïÏï«,¸¸,»ïÏï«,¸¸,»ïÏï«
"Something to be thankful for is that you're here to be thankful."

   KNOW THEREFORE THAT THE LORD YOUR GOD IS GOD;
  HE IS THE FAITHFUL GOD, KEEPING HIS COVENANT OF
  LOVE TO A THOUSAND GENERATIONS OF THOSE WHO
  LOVE HIM AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS.  
                    ( DEUTERONOMY 7:9 *NIV )

QuoteTo 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.

I have always been at a loss for words to answer this comment that my faith is a crutch.  Thankyou for a new perspective and answer.

Lee lets give another clue.  

It is from a christmas carol!  

Now Heather knowing my favourite carol should have got it!

Melaura, Bonnie where are you! You know this is my favourite too!

Nards I liked your thought of the day.  I should treat both enemy and brother/sister alike.  Respect, and His love flowing through us to both.  hummmmm interesting.

When I read this, I thought of our dear Mieka.  She truly does have a family, and a wonderful Father!

Trapped in a Fire!

Dear friends:

Their home on fire, a young boy was trapped upstairs.  The grandmother
attempted to rescue him, but she died in the horrible flames.  

A man who saw the fire climbed up an iron drainpipe to the lad's window.
With the boy clinging to his neck and with a firm grip on the
drainpipe, he lowered himself and the boy to safety.

Weeks later, a public hearing was held to determine who should be given
custody of the boy.  A teacher, a farmer, and the town's wealthiest
citizen all gave reasons why they should be chosen to give the boy a
home.  But the sad boy only stared at the floor.

Then a man walked to the front of the room and announced his desire to
adopt the boy.  He slipped his hands out of his pockets and held them up
for the crowd to see.  His palms bore hideous scars.

The boy cried out in recognition and leapt into the man's arms.  This
was the man who had saved the child's life.  His hands had been scorched
when he climbed up the hot iron pipe.  As the boy nestled in the arms of
the man who saved his life, the other men walked away.  Those scarred
hands settled the issue.

In the same way, our Savior's nail-scarred hands have settled the issue
for us.  Our Lord's sacrifice saved us and made us children of God.
Like the young boy, we have been "adopted" as God's sons (Ephesians 1:5,
NIV).

As believers, we are not orphans who are homeless without parents or
family.  We have an incredible parent, our loving Heavenly Father, who
cares for us deeply and cares for us each moment of the day.  We also
have a wonderful family, consisting of brothers and sisters all over the
world.  And we have a marvelous home waiting for us in eternity.

Even now, we experience comfort, peace, and a sense of belonging through
our Father's Spirit -- the Holy Spirit -- who has made our heart His
home.  We are very important to God because we are His dearly beloved
children.

For all these wonderful blessings, let us thank God for our Savior's
precious, nail-scarred hands.

Yours for helping to fulfill the Great Commission
each year until our Lord returns,


Bill Bright

This is a song my buddy sang in church yesterday.  Him and his wife are dear friends.  Her mother fell a few weeks ago and broke her elbow and hip.  with the severity of the ostreoporosis the pin they put in her hip let go so they had to operate again.  She has alshimers (sp) and seems to have forgotton how to swallow so eating is a problem.  She has MS and is trecking to the hospital daily to feed mom.  Perhaps you could pray for my friends.

Here is the song.


Some song eh?  

Amazing story Janet.  Your story right away made me think of Our Saviours scars for us.  

Marilyn, I added font size 3 to your scripture verse in your profile.  See if that is a better size.

I still don't see any changes to the size of poster's names or signatures.  All are the same for me as they have been.

I think that maybe too that since many have been adding the BOLD code to many messages, that the default is starting to look faint and small to your eyes.

I can't think of anything else.

Marilyn,

Have you changed any of the resolution settings on your monitor?  Here at work is different than at home, and it is noticeably smaller.

Hope everyone is having an awesome day.

Ria..........

The falling away from our churches is a sign of the times.  It hasn't anything to do with the "Great Apostasy" Ria.  Man (As I've said before) is seeking entertainment, where  Born Again Christians are seeking the "Meat" of the Word.  Those who simply want their ears tickled do not last very long in the pews.


Janet.........  

Your message is strong, and has depth.

Just received this "Another Sign of the Times" in my e-mail..........

"In a time when a single American atheist can get the Supreme Court to consider his demand that the words 'under God' be removed from the Pledge of Allegiance, the rest of us must pray that his lawsuit fails. An Alabama judge whose Ten Commandments monument offended someone has been censured. A U.S. Army lieutenant general who told people he was proud to be a Christian had to promise to keep that to himself. The message is clear -- if you believe in God, for God's sake, keep it to yourself!" --Alan Caruba **Tell that to the panel that removed Justice Roy Moore from office last week."

IAIN  thank you very much for your devotional this morning very good

JANET A very good story have you writen in your message today
thank you Janet

LEE i also say it are sign of the time that no own more is going to the church.
But i say are there not more terrible things in the world they also are sign of the the times now the attacks in Turkey and a lot more think also on Iraq it is so terrible

HAS SOMEBODY OF YOU PROBLEMS WITH THAT I WRITE
IN A LOT COLORS
PLEASE SAY IT TO ME THEN I WRITE IN BLACK

ALSO BLACK IS A COLOR THAT I LOVE.
IN THE WINTERTIME I HAVE ALWAYS ON SUNDAY AND WHEN WE ARE GOING OUT OR WE ARE GETTING FRIENDS  AND SPECIAL ON CHRISTMAS I HAVE BLACK
CLOTHES ON.
THEN THEY CALL ME THE WOMAN IN BLACK
BYE  
LOTS OF LOVE RIA

Quote from: nards656 on November 17, 2003, 09:37:16 AM

Nard's quick thought for today - Whether or not someone is a Christian should not change my love for them.  Christ's instructions, at various times, indicate that I should love my neighbor AND my enemy.  This works both ways - I should neither treat my enemy badly because he is NOT a Christian, nor treat my brother badly because he IS a Christian.  Let's all reach deep into the well of love and draw out enough that it spills over to those around us.  

Just so everybody knows....

I am no more able to practice what I preach than I am to be the man in the moon.  

Been a rough day around here

Praying for both you and Karma, Nards.  {{{{{HUGS}}}}}

Nards......I am stopping right NOW to pray for you.

Quote from: nards656 on November 17, 2003, 03:25:08 PM

Quote from: nards656 on November 17, 2003, 09:37:16 AM

Nard's quick thought for today - Whether or not someone is a Christian should not change my love for them.  Christ's instructions, at various times, indicate that I should love my neighbor AND my enemy.  This works both ways - I should neither treat my enemy badly because he is NOT a Christian, nor treat my brother badly because he IS a Christian.  Let's all reach deep into the well of love and draw out enough that it spills over to those around us.  

Just so everybody knows....

I am no more able to practice what I preach than I am to be the man in the moon.  

Been a rough day around here

Sorry for the modification on your post nard.  I hit modify instead of quote.  

I'm sorry your day is going not good.  I love you.

Thanks for praying Janet.