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Morning Devotional...


The Wonder of Prayer

Daniel 4:35. "All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, 'What have You done?'" John 14:13. "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do,m that the Father may be glorified in the Son."

These two verses are seemingly contradictory.  On the one hand God Himself is the sole Actor - He does it all.  On the other hand, though, You are the actor, and whatever you ask is what's done.  This is the great mystery of prayer.  On the one hand God is absolutely sovereign, but on the other hand your requests will be fulfilled.  He plans it all, but yet you ask and receive.

The stupendous reconciliation of these two seemingly contradictory ideas is so simple!  As simply as I can put it, it is this: God in His sovereignty has determined to use your prayers to accomplish His purposes!  You actually become part of His wonderful work and eternally planned design!

He intends to use your fervent, passionate prayers as a part of His sovereign providence!  Can you believe it?  Don't stop with mere understanding - PRAY!
Al Moak

Morning All,

  Al,    Thank you so for this mornings devontioal, I like the fact that God uses us in his plan here on earth, It makes me realize how important our ears need to be in tune to Fathers word..

This is my post from last evening, I reposted it so that we could keep Laura in Prayer today.

A Big hello to all of you and please forgive my absence but this is so very important,

I just recieved news that my younger sister Laura who has had several heart surgories  (5) , yesterday morning in the shower started having severe chest pains;  and is now in the hosiptal, 

   As I write this they are doing a angyo cat scan to determine the size of a aneurism on the aorta of her heart, she needs prayer so badly, and I need to know she is recieving it.

Please all who read this stand in agreement with me that all will be well acording to the lords will.

PS as of last nights cat we have no word yet from the Doctors, this morning we get news. I will keep you all postes, and Thank you all for your loving kindness.

Thank you all, God Bless you, Alma

Good morning.  It is good to see everyone and to read the posts.

Alma, may God bless your sister, Laura.  We pray for good news today.

Yesterday we had another good day as we met to worship God.  Last night we had a special service with our preacher giving the kids a great lesson as he carved a pumpkin.  He washes us clean.  He cleans out the goup.  He gives us eyes to see and a mouth to speak the truth.  Etc.  After the devotional we went down to our fellowship area for chili and hot dogs.  Then we went outside for "Trunk or treat."  It was a lot of fun.  There were around a thousand kids and parents.

Matt 18:4-6
4   Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5   "And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.
6   But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
(NIV)

Papa John              

Father, we never know what's best - only You know that.  But You are pleased to use our prayers to accomplish that "best," so we pray that Your absolute best will be done in the lives of Alma and Laura.  Oh God, give wisdom and insight to the doctors in this case, and spare Laura if that is indeed Your best for Your glory and for Laura and Alma themselves.  We look to You, dear and loving Father and God, through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen to Al's Prayer.

Good Morning I am all ready to go to Tai Chi class and to work. Just stopping in to say Good Morning.

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I just realized that I haven't posted since Saturday morning. 

Marilyn, we don't change out times here yet...starting next spring we will.  But I was talking about the power company working on the power lines after the accident the other night.  But no power outage again.  I have two alarms..one in each bedroom, 3 VCR's, an oven clock, the microwave, and two TV clocks to set.  Oh, yes!  The clock on the answering machine.  Plus I have 4 clocks that are battery operated and then two that never need setting...pc and my security system pad.  That's enough for me to know what time it is.  Plus I wear a watch all the time! 

The Bands of America competition was great.  My g-nieces school didn't make top 10...5 out of the top 10 were Indianapolis area schools
So we left RCA Dome and ate Chinese in Noblesville. 

Then yesterday I ran the lights.  Then came home and did my outside work to prepare for winter. 

My body feels it too.  So many stairs to climb at the RCA Dome.  And I went up and down two flights of stairs at church 5 times yesterday.  Then all the yard work...my back sure feels it. 

Tonight I am going back to church for the Hallelujah Festival.  There will probably be 500 kids there plus the parents.  A Chili cook off, cake walk, games, candy, candy and more candy.  But I am having a fasting blood draw at 8:45 a.m. so no candy for me! 

Pat, I saw my first 'beast' this morning on Pete's Pond.  I love the birds calling in the back ground.  I saw several egrets in the pond but then here came a wildebeast.  Ugly animals, aren't they?

Karen, congratulations on your job...I can't imagine anyone wanting a job...  

Last night I was speaking to Ruthie on Yahoo.  It was mid evening so middle of the night in Botswana and all of a sudden, we both heard a massive splashing and I went to my Real Player screen and there in the moonlight were about 7 elephants getting a bath!  My goodness I thought that they'd be sleeping.

Then an animal that sounded quite like a huge dog started barking and if it had been here in Guelph, it would have been "just another dog" but I wonder what that was! 

Then in the dark again, I saw something that looked like a lion or cheetah slinking along the shore of Pete's Pond.  It was eery seeing it in the blackness with only the moon shining.

I'm so enjoying this and will certainly miss it come December 8.

Thanks for the update, Alma.  We'll continue to pray for you both.

Think this fits today...

Hi, friends,

I'm back from Atlanta. It was a good visit - peaceful and the children as usual were delightful. Georgia is beginning to put 3 and 4 word sentences together. And, she has named me "Ranny" I think a contraction of "Grandma." Sister Kassie is called "Sassie." Arent' babies just precious!

Alma, I've already asked for God's will to be done in your sisters and your lives.

I took off work today, knowing I'd be really tired after returning from Atlanta. It's a good thing I made that decision. There were many accidents, so my trip stretched from its usual 4.5 to 5 hours to more than 7. In one instance, several emergency vehicles were on the scene and people kneeling around someone lying on the ground all stood up at the same time. So, I spent a good part of the trip praying for those who were involved in the wrecks, those assisting them, and, yes, for those who were caught in the traffic jams. So many times people react with rage when they are hindered on their way, and commitments can be broken, babies and little children must be pacified. I was grateful that there's a steady stream of good Christian stations to which I could listen while waiting for traffic movement.

My son and I have had major plumbing problems. Hopefully the will be taken care of by end of today. My budget will be strained for several months, but plumbing problems must be taken care of promptly.

Y'all have a good day.

Ruth Ann

Hi everyone.

First of all Alma I am certainly praying for your sister and the family involved.  Having dealt with heart problems for many years I sometimes think my family suffer as much as I have.  I pray that the doctors will be able to correct the aneurism on the aorta.  

Marilyn, if Gloria had not lived in your area very long or been active in your church that may have had an effect on the number of people attending the service.  It was good of your church to be prepared with all the food should there have been a large turnout.  It sounds like you are getting to see much more of your grandchildren now that you live where you do.  

Carol, I remember how enjoyable it was to buy the items for the Christmas ShoeBox for the Samaritans Purse program last year.  It was the first time we had done that.  I am sure we will do it again this year.

Janet, it sounds like you had a wonderful day at church and I am sure your pastor and family appreciated it.  It also sounds like a lot of the gifts were of personal services rather than just something purchased off a shelf.  I certainly hope the physical therapy will help Beth.  How far do you have to drive to get to Dodge?  Your decorating sounded so nice.  You are so artistic.  Did you get a lot done on your painting the other day?

Judy, we may have to follow your approach and turn out the lights after the candy is gone this evening.  Last year we had many tots come to the door.  My wife bought three bags of candy but don't know how many that will treat.

Nita, unfortunately grief must go through various stages that only time can heal or at least soften.  That day that there will be no more death is something to be greatly anticipated.

Al, that was a very good devotional this morning.

Papa John, I don't think I had ever heard of "Trunk or Treat" until this year.  One of the local churches is doing the same thing.  That lesson using the pumpkin sounds like it was very impressive and something that would be remembered.

Etta Sue, I believe you have more clocks than we do.  I keep finding something that needs to be changed.  I don't bother with the answering machine since my caller ID here in my office records the time.  Your activity at the church this evening sounds like a very good idea and something that would be a lot of fun.

I just had a long telephone conversation with a good friend.  

Pat, that must have been quite a site on your Real Player.

Ruth Ann, glad to see you are home safely.  Hope your plumbing problems are over by the end of the day.  Those are never pleasant.

Hope everyone has a very enjoyable day.

Just here for a bit as I have a lot to do before tomorrow !! We are finally ... yes finally tomorrow is the day that we will be closing on the sale of our OLD HOUSE in TOWN !!  So, we are very happy about the news that we got today ... so I will be back sometime tomorrow to share in the news so take care and see you all soon !!

Hello all and Thank you for all the prayers going Lauras way, as of yet we are still waiting for the doctors to come in, they are saying around noon, they have so many sick people, it must be a ware on the doctors too, We wait in patience knowing that is what god wants us to do.

Not to mention better to keep all calm at this point..


Thank you all again, Alma

I'm going to keep checking in here, Alma.  I know that when you can, you'll let us know.  This must be such a trying time for you.

I guess you're glad that the house deal will be over soon, Karen.  That's quite some graphic.  Quite the flashing.  Is that just an ordinary animated gif?  I haven't tried any scripts yet.

Yes, Larry, I do enjoy Pete's Pond--both day and night.

Alma we are waiting to hear from you.

Cornelia and I just did our reading for today, the 21st and 22nd chapters of Luke. 

Luke 21:1-4  As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury.  He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins.  "I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others.  All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on." (NIV)

Papa John             

We are just in the door from Dodge City.  It took quite a while for the doctor to evaluate Beth, beginning from birth to date; and I needed to be there to help answer questions.  She will be working HARD for at least three hours a day, 7 days a week.  No phone calls nor visits until after 4 PM.  Oh, how I pray they can help her!

Larry, yes, I did get a lot done on the painting.  It is almost finished except for the edges of the tray.  I really enjoyed going into my studio and working; must do that more often now that things are settling down a little.  Dodge City is 80 miles from here, so I hope I don't have to go there very often.  Darrel went with me today, which I so appreciate.  He is such a dear man, and has been so good to my kids, especially Beth.

Pat, I hope I can figure out how to see Pete's Pond.  I feel like I'm missing out on a special treat.  

Ruth Ann, I am so glad you are safely home, and hope they do get finished with the plumbing problems by day's end, maybe already by now.  Time spent with those dear little grandchildren is so precious, isn't it?

Alma, I will be watching for updates on your sister.

Karen, congrats on closing on that house.  Some things seem to take forever, don't they?  But then once it's over, we wonder why we were so anxious.

Al, really good points in your morning devotional.  Yes, God allows us puny little creatures to influence the Almighty God of the Universe!!  How awesome is that??  Think about it!!

Papa John, we were posting at the same time---good to see you!  What is Trunk or Treat?  Does it involve candy in the trunks of cars? The pumpkin carving illustration is a very good thought.  Abby really enjoyed carving her pumpkin, and talking about the "slop."  I believe that was sort of a new word to her, so she used it a lot! 

Janet, Ruthie figured it out.

She's so enjoying it.

It will be over on Dec. 8 and I've so enjoyed it.  At night when I can't sleep and I come down here to read some of Al Moak's Psalms, I put it on just to listen to the birds chattering.  Amazing sounds and to think that it's all live and happening right at that moment.

TIME FOR A SMILE!


ARRIVING AT OUR condominium on Kauai, Hawaii, my daughter-in-law reported that she had heard an unusual bird call. She wondered if anyone recognized it, describing the sound as a "pock-pock-pock." Our son accompanied her outside, and moments later they returned. She had identified a sound commonly heard on the island: tennis rackets making contact with the ball.

--Contributed to "Life In These United States" by Judith Bunker

i everyone. Sorry I have been so scarce. I have been here just not posting.  much.  Been busy doing nothing much.

This kids went home early this morning. Gilbert's trip was  fair, business was not as prosperous as he expected after expenses. But I had a great time with the kids.

Here is something to make you laugh.:


My son Zachary, 4, came screaming out of the bathroom to tell me he'd dropped his toothbrush in the toilet. So I fished it out and threw it in the garbage. Zachary stood there thinking for a moment, then ran to my bathroom and came out with my toothbrush. He held it up and said with a charming little smile, "We better throw this one out too then, 'cause it fell in the toilet a few days ago."

TTYL

Janet, different ones agree to set up the trunk of their car with some theme and the kids go around to each one and get candy.  Some of the "places" are set up by groups, life groups, different classes, individuals, etc.  Anyway this is in the parking lot.  I don't know any more about it.  The kids really enjoyed it.  We had a parade through the gym with the kids in their various costumes.  This event had been advertised and we had a lot of people who were visiting with us.   


Papa John             

I tried to stay awake and close the door at 10:00, but-------sorry, I just can't make it.

So there is a new NEM posted for you to continue your comments and sharing.

Here's a link to our new NEW EVERY MORNING