Christian Photographers Community

 

Good Morning (it is still evening here, though)

thank you Janet, this is a great devotional.  Finding the still, quiet place to really fast and pray.  It seems in a busy lifestyle, fasting and prayer are hurried all too often.  I think it is a discipline that is lost on the fast paced generation of today. 

Repenting.....turning from our wicked ways....LORD help us....the church seems to sugar coat the wickedness.....right in the congregation....at times in the pulpit.  Lord send a repentant spirit to take hold of this generation's christians.....We all need to fall on our faces to turn from wickedness.....our wickedness....eeek, hard to say about myself!.

In this month...this time of year when halloween brings out all the evil movies and such...it serves to remind us to do some serious praying for our world.  Turn from the wickedness and embrace the Holy of Holies. 

Thanks again, you gave me something to think about.  I guess that was the idea, right?

Hey JOY!! You're the firstest!   

I just checked out your photos of your place.  Really nice.  I can only imagine what it must be to live there all the time rather than just on vacation or passing through to someplace else.  God is so good ... all the time!

Janet~as Joy already commented: Great devotional for today.  Thanks for keeping us on our toes --- er, I mean knees.   

I'll be back later ... Y'all have a great day in the Lord.

Good morning everyone.  The third person to post.  Someone has got up early or stayed up late 

Thank you Janet for the devotional.  It is easy to blame the moral decline in our society upon society, but someone once wrote that the moral state of a nation is only a reflection of the moral state of the church within the nation.  I'm not sure if that is absolutely correct, but certainly the bible does say that 'Judgement begins in the house of God.'  Thanks again for the devotional and the challenges that it is bringing.

I have the flu this morning, so I am sorry for the shortness of the message.  I will come back later to read all of the posts.

Have a great day.

Anthony.

Hi everyone.  I am once again reading and writing from the technical college while my daughter attends her math class.  I don't mind driving her here but it means I have to miss out on most of my morning coffee time at the Cafe.  We were there for about 30 minutes before we had to leave to get here.

We have another truly beautiful weather day.  It is bright and cool and this sweatshirt feels very good this morning.

Nothing much on my schedule today.  Janet, I had to chuckle when you mentioned that Pat and I had a busy schedule.  We are both at a point in our lives, healthwise, where we have to pace ourselves and thus try to limit, if possible, our activities to one or two things a day.  You are the one that has such a frentic schedule.

We also had a wonderful church service on Sunday (don't think I wrote about this yesterday--if I did just mark it off to a senior moment!)  The young children, basically 3 through elementary school age, did everything in the service except preach.  Our minister then preached a sermon related to Jesus telling his disciples to let the little children come unto him.  This was a combined service so our church was full.  Following that we had a church-wide picnic that was held in our fellowship hall and there was a very large turnout.  It was also nice that we were able to get home around 1 pm for a change.  This was the third week in a row I had had a meal at the church following the Sunday worship service.  We enjoyed the fellowship and the food was good.

Ruth Ann, your weight loss has been very good.  I think Papa John and I have in common regaining some weight we had lost previously.  Guess I just like to eat too much.

This computer doesn't facilitate referring to previous postings so will not try to make very many individual comments today. 

Hope everyone has a good day. 

Quote from: Rainbow on October 18, 2005, 05:55:54 AM

Thank you Janet for the devotional.  It is easy to blame to moral decline in our society upon society, but someone once wrote that the moral state of a nation is only a reflection of the moral state of the church within the nation.  I'm not sure if that is absolutely correct, but certainly the bible does say that 'Judgement begins in the house of God.'  Thanks again for the devotional and the challenges that it is bringing.

A very interesting point, and one that I wholeheartedly agree with.  In this area, our churches are so steeped in tradition and ritual, sometimes I think they have forgotten they are supposed to hvae a relationship.  Now, please hear my heart, tradition and ritual aren't necessarily a bad thing, but when you do them just because that's the way great-grandmommy did them, and Jesus is nowhere in the equation, things start to break down.  We start feeling that we are "okay" because we have gone to church for so long.

If everyone who claims to be a Christian had an "alive" relationship with Christ in front of the world, I think opinions of us would be alot different.

We didn't get to go to VA/KY because of transmission problems, so we are taking little day vacations this week.  Yesterday it was a little zoo near here and putt-putt, and today it is Pigeon Forge and Cades Cove for sightseeing and shopping (and putt putt).  Travis likes miniature golf almost as much as he likes real golf. 

Gotta go finish clearing off some memory sticks.  Back tonight, maybe.

Good Morning. Janet I will have to agree with those who have previously written that you have posted a devotional that  really hits us between the eyes. I think I have been confessing this nations sins for the last 5 years and asking God to heal our land. Thank you Jesus for people like Janet who signs petitions and for websites like American Family Association for sending out  those petitions. I too sign petitions.

This afternoon when I go to Versal's place it will be doing the house cleaning, it doesn't take long and is not hard her place is as small as mine. Tomorrow I am taking her to town to buy a dress for her Grandson's wedding and gifts for her twin great grands birthday.

Yesterday she blessed me with a $20. gift. God is so good. The ladies at WM's blessed me with a bag full of food, and I put back all that I did not need, they gave me way too much and I didn't want to take more than I need.

Sorry to hear that you are fluish today Anthony I am praying for you right now.

Larry have you heard anything yet about your daughter getting her drivers liscense back?

Joy It is so good to see you  posting here last night. I will go to the gallery and see you photos as soon as I get this posted. I still pray for Bry too.

Pat I forgot to mention your photo I am happy that you changed it and put one of the real you insted of the kitty.

I woke up in the early morning hours with a headach, I haven't had a bad one like this is sometime, I got up about 5:30 and took a pain pill and turned on the heat to warm the house.  I pray that it will go away before I go to work I do not like to take more than one of the pain pills during the day when I have to work and drive my car. Sometimes they make me feel slightly slow.

Be back Later going to the gallery now.

Just popped in to reply to some of the messages from last night and this morning.

Marilyn, it's good to hear you had some sleep last night eventually.  It's strange to hear about warm weather as our cold winter seems to be knocking at the door now, but generally speaking we are doing well considering it is October.

I just you have been praying for me.  Thanks for that.  I am feeling much better at the moment.  I will be praying for your headache as soon as I finish here.

Larry, I'm glad you can get a cleaner to help you out a little.  It is surprising just how much work needs to be done in a house isn't it?  Larry I am presently with a mechanic who is absolutely excellent.  I have never known anyone who is so conscientious.  It makes such a difference.

Pat, I've never seen a Racoon.  It must have been a bit frightening to hear a crash like that.  When we hear a crash, we know it's only the neighbours throwing things at each other (and that's no joke either).  I hope you get some better nights sleep as the week goes by.

Janet, sorry to hear you are not feeling well, but it is a delight to read of your possitive attitude.  It's good to hear about the good preaching you have been listening to from Dr Wang too.  I trust all goes smoothly during the coming appointment.  It was interesting to hear about your Spanish learning.  I would like to learn Spanish too and it is very similar to Italian I believe.

Etta Sue, mincemeat pie is a bit too rich for me, but if I have a small amount of it I love it.  It seems like many of us aren't getting much sleep lately.  Perhaps we ought to make it a matter of serious prayer.  I'm glad you enjoyed the services though.

JudyB it's good to see you posting.  I don't know who Kassie is, but sounds like your daughter.  I hope she gets better speedily.

Ruth Ann, it's good to hear about the weight loss.  I think it's more than a matter of what we look like.  The heart has a lot of pressure as the weight goes up.  I hope you continue with it.

Papa John, I am sorry about the lack of sleep, it really seems a bit of a problem with many on the forum.  At least when we can't sleep we can use the time to contemplate the goodness of God.

Joy, I haven't met you before.  God bless you and thank you for being a praying person.  It is so important to pray at all times and in all circumstances.

Sue, not another bad night's sleep  I hope it's not down to mincemeat pie.  I hope you get a better night tonight.

Hi Jane, it's good to see you posting.

Karmat, I'm sorry to hear about your car playing you up.  Hope you can get it sorted out soon.  It is an interesting thought about the relation between the church's spiritual condition and the nation's.  I wonder what other people think?  Good to see you posting though.

See y'all later.

Anthony.

Thank you, Janet, for the devotional.  It's sometimes helpful to realize that the passage in 2 Chron. is addressed to Israel, not any modern nation.  Today's Israel is the Church, so the message is addressed specifically to those of us in our Lord's Church, and the message calls for repentance, humbling of ourselves, etc.  The promise, then, is that if we will do those things then God will bless.  It's a call for the Church of our day to repent!  God grant it.

Al, just missed you posting.  Great thoughts and thanks for the encouragement.  It is easy to forget that there is a promise of blessing after humbling and repentance.  We can look negatively at these things some times.  Thanks for the thoughts.

Anthony.

Yes, Al, I agree.........it says "if MY people..." and His people are the church.  And I have been reading in Jeremiah lately; and the similarities between ancient Israel and today's church are striking.  I hope all of you will express your opinions as well.

Anthony, sorry you aren't feeling so chipper today.  Get better quick!

I slept better last night, so am feeling better today.  We took Beth with us to exercise, but Kristi says she doesn't know how much help she can give her, as the message doesn't seem to get from Beth's brain to her legs/feet.  She turns one foot in really badly, stretching the ankle muscles, tendons, etc.  But she can help her regain some upper body strength anyway.

It is that time of year again~~~time for flu shots.  So we are going to get ours today.

I have more to say, but Darrel wants to go soon, and I need to change out of my exercise clothes before I go anywhere, so..........I shall return! 

Last Thursday night at the Mary Kay make over I was asked which of my relationships was the most important to me, My answer " my relationship with Jesus Christ" the reply to that was "I like that answer."  I didn't even have to think twice or have any other relationship in my mind.

That said. Not everyone in church is a "Real" christian. They may call themselves Christian but the things of the world are more important to them than their relationship with Jesus Christ. God just doesn't come first for them.  As I sort through the stuff to downsize, I come across things that used to mean much to me now they have no meaning at all so those things are being given away. Possessions were idols for me at one time, not any more.

If more of God's children would  humble themselves and confess the sins of their respective nations, they would be surprised at the amount of sins they can actually name.  I think  even our condoning of certain things our society is a sin on our part. Do you look the other way? I do at times.

We may not be able to  actually "DO" anything about  those things, but we can sure use our computers to write letters to  our congressmen, senators and even the president, we can sign petitions and use that way to take action against the sins of our nations.

OK I will get off my soapbox here.

Good morning, friends,

Imagine! I'm here in the daytime!

The test was over quickly and she has prescribed a medication that will help the valve between stomach and esophagus to close better. Yet another Rx to fill. At least this one wasn't too expensive.

I'm sleepy, so will rest awhile. Maybre more later.

Ruth Ann

Quote from: Joy on October 18, 2005, 12:23:19 AM



Repenting.....turning from our wicked ways....LORD help us....the church seems to sugar coat the wickedness.....right in the congregation....at times in the pulpit.  Lord send a repentant spirit to take hold of this generation's christians.....We all need to fall on our faces to turn from wickedness.....our wickedness....eeek, hard to say about myself!.

Joy, this is so true!  Repentance seems to have been forgotten in so many churches today and in so many Christian's lives.  We MUST repent of our sins to truly be born again.  Oh that we might all recognize this fact.

Quote from: Rainbow on October 18, 2005, 05:55:54 AM
Good morning everyone.  The third person to post.  Someone has

I have the flu this morning, so I am sorry for the shortness of the message.  I will come back later to read all of the posts.

Have a great day.

Anthony.

Oh, Anthony, I'm so sorry!  I had a bout of it a couple of weeks ago and it just didn't seem to want to leave me!

Get well quickly my friend.

Anthony, sorry to here you have the flu, I hope you get well quickly.

Well, I have a ton to get done today so I must be off, but I will come back later if I get a chance.  Have a great day everyone.

God Bless,
Teresa Dawn

Hello to the rest of you today.  It's already after noon and my lunch is in the microwave warming up (at least it won't burn in there!   )  I have to go to the bank as well and pay my Avon bill.  Hope I have enough in the account to do that.    

I'll be back.  I also want to get into our Gallery and see anything new that's been posted and put my comments in.

I think that it's encouraging to see comments under the photos.  You all know that I'm sure.

Talk to you later!

Teresa Dawn, you posted while I was composing! 

How are you today?  Can you post a link to that other forum where you and Smokey the Dog are members?  I lost my link.

Also, Teresa Dawn, did you know that Anthony is in England?  I forget what part of England you came from originally.

Such wonderful words in this old hymn...

Good morning everyone!  It is still morning for a few minutes in Indiana. 

Not much going on today here.  Bright and sunny but a little chilly.  My furnace likes that.  The electric likes that.  I like that!! 

Hopefully tomorrow, Kitty and I can go picture taking/looking.  It is beginning to turn to fall colors here.  Mostly the green leaves are falling though.

.

Photo found in our CP Gallery today...

Here's a topic in our forums that maybe you've missed?  It's really good.

CLICK HERE

Quote from: Rainbow on October 18, 2005, 10:36:55 AM

Joy, I haven't met you before.  God bless you and thank you for being a praying person.  It is so important to pray at all times and in all circumstances.

Hi Jane, it's good to see you posting.

Hey Anthony!  I have to brag a bit here -- Joy is my daughter. (Also, she is Bryan's mother, if you have read any of the posts regarding him and his experience in Iraq, and beyond, with the US Army)  She and her husband John live in Puerto Vallarta Mexico.  She and her sister Dot and I had a really nice vacation/reunion trip this past July.  I am most appreciative of "my girls"

ONLY TEN PEOPLE have voted!

Would you like to do a crossword on David?


David the Shepherd Boy and King of Israel

Jane, thanks for introducing me to your daughter and I do remember the posts regarding Joy's son Bryan.  What a terrible place Iraq seems to be.  I can't even imagine the trials the soldiers must be going through.  

I have seen a photograph, I think, of you with your daughters, but I can't remember where I saw it now.  Will go back to the relevant thread and see if I can find it.  I thought it was you with your sisters at first, until I read to post underneath  

God bless you all anyway.

Anthony.

I'm back for a little while.  We got our flu shots, ate at the Sr. Center, went to sign some papers, picked up prescriptions, etc, etc.  Then I came home and got Beth and took her for her flu shot.  The girl told me to just bring her paper and insurance card in and she would come out to the car and give the shot.  That saved me loading and unloading the wheelchair; and I really appreciated it.

Pretty soon I will go to Pat's and put her color on her hair and she will give me a haircut!  Love these deals! 

Now I have a question to pose for you, and I would appreciate your opinions.

When we were on our way home from S. Dakota, we had arrived in North Platte, Nebraska and ate supper at Applebees.  We were nearly the last ones seated, thus the last ones to come out of the restaurant.  When we stepped outdoors, there was a young woman, probably in her mid-20s, sitting on a bench strumming a guitar and singing.  She had a bag at her feet, no shoes, no jacket (it was chilly) and seemed oblivious to all around her.  Before I could pray and ask what to do, we were boarding the bus to leave.  As we left, someone from the restaurant came out, said something to her, and she picked up her guitar and bag and went inside.  The comments I heard from fellow travelers were like this:  She's stoned!  She's strung out!  She's crazy!  What does she think she is, a hippie?

My instinct was to go over, put an arm around her and ask if she needed something, but there was no time.  I know the people I was with would not have understood my actions (some of them, anyway) but that was my instinct to do.

What do you think?  As Christians, how should we respond to such a person?  It has been weeks ago now, and I'm still pondering the situation.

See you later!

Janet, it's a realy toughy Janet.  In the city where I live it wouldn't be safe to go to someone and ask them anything.  There are so many young men and  women who have ulterior motives when looking as though they need help.  I can think of an incident a few weeks ago when one of the men was asked for money.  The police noticed and told my friend about the young woman - they knew her well.  I think though, that you cannot tar all people with the same brush.  It will be interesting to see what the others have to say.

Anthony.

Thanks, Anthony.      (The photos are in the gallery)

Janet~I would have the same instinct as you.  It is truly a shame, as Anthony says, to have to "be careful" of people who appear to be in dire straits.  Probably I would have offered to buy her a meal at that restaurant -- at least she would be inside where it would be warmer.  The people in the restaurant seemed to have that impression.  (Or was she just a "plant" and since the place was closing they had her come inside?  hmmmm)  One needs to always be aware of the leading of Holy Spirit and allow Jesus to move through us.

I am sorry that I have not been around much & yes ETTA I know I owe you E MAIL ( lots ) so I am sorry that I have been very busy with all sorts of things.

But I am here to share some good news with you & that is that we will be closing in on our OLD HOUSE sometime next week so I am asking that you keep it all in prayer !!

Well a good friend sent me this web site so take a look this & I really think that you will like it too !!

I'll be back later to share with you when we do close so take care everyone & I send you all lots of love & prayers too !!

http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/enter.cfm