Christian Photographers Community

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Morning Devotional...


Failure and Success: The Small and the Great

..Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
--1 Peter 5:5

Some time ago we heard a short address by a young preacher during which he quoted the following, "If you are too big for a little place, you are too little for a big place."

It is an odd rule of the kingdom of God that when we try to get big, we always get smaller by the moment. God is jealous of His glory and will not allow anyone to share it with Him. The effort to appear great will bring the displeasure of God upon us and effectively prevent us from achieving the greatness after which we pant.

Humility pleases God wherever it is found, and the humble person wil have God for his or her friend and helper always. Only the humble are completely sane, for they are the only ones who see clearly their own size and limitations. Egotists see things out of focus. To themselves they are large and God is correspondingly small, and that is a kind of moral insanity. 
This World: Playground or Battleground?, 34.

"Lord, help me never to be too big for a little place. In humility let me serve and revel in You as my 'friend and helper always.'
Amen."

Please post your messages of condolence and sympathy for our dear Nita, HERE

Pat ... and everyone ... Nita just called me and it was not Kyle who was killed but her son-in-law Jim (Rene's husband).  He was killed in a motorcycle accident.  Rene and Jim live in Phoenix where Jim trains airline pilots.  This is still a tragedy, but I need to let you all know that Kyle is still alive and Nita will not be going to Phoenix.  Rene has good friends to support her through this initial shock and grief.  Continue to keep the family in prayer.

Thank you for the devotional, Pat.  So true!  How often good fortune only takes people away from God.  They begin to feel big & powerful and forget who blessed their life....power going to the head, rather than the heart. 

I am so sad over what has happened to Nita and her family.  They will need much prayer.

Amanda started her new job today.  It is so scary starting out at that age and I know she feels great stress.  As Sue knows, it requires a lot of resposibility to handle the cash and customers.  I think Amanda is rather overwhelmed and it would be nice if some of you could remember her in your prayers. 

I agree, Janet.  We seem to be in the beginning of end times.  Hal Lindsey and Pat Robertson have been talking about this ....  Certainly scripture is unfolding before our eyes:

"For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows." (Matthew 24:7-8)

"And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;" (Luke 21:25).


This is a time to stay close to our Lord in both word and deed.  I find so many here are a great encouragement in my life and I pray to many others who visit the site.
A time to treasure each day and try to be happy and a blessing to others....

God Bless.

Liz

Thank you, Jane. 

Our prayers are with Nita and Rene at this time.

What a tragedy.

Just thought I'd show you all a sample of some of the work that has been uploaded to our Gallery...

Good morning as I head out the door to work. 


Ruth

Just checking in again. 
Thanks, Pat, for sending out the e-mail about Nita.  I've not been at work these past few days due to some very successful foot surgery last Friday.
I enjoy the songs on NEM and have sung through each of them.  I am just not "Photo" literate yet.  Maybe someday soon, though.  I do enjoy the fellowship here when I come.  I feel quite inadequate because of no photos. 
I pray that each of you will have a wonderful day. Here in SC it is still cloudy and cool.  Not enough for the heat...but a sweater in the house feels good.
God's blessing to all.....kathy

Good morning brethren,
 
If anyone would pray for me, I'd appreciate it so much.  It's only a few weeks since we finally began to recover from the 2 hurricanes that hit our town last September. ('04)  It has been a struggle, though I thank God we still have a home.  Our home sustained damage, and only recently repairs have been made.  Some still need fixing, but we're trusting the lord.

   I said all that to say, that since then, I've had a great amount of difficulty thinking clearly. Unfortunetly I've been absent-minded, and forget things, and misplace things, etc.  It seems I just can't think straight. I know God has given me a sound mind, but I'm having difficulty finding that sanity!  lol

   Anyway, last Friday I received an email from the National Wildlife Federation. (NWF) I could barely believe my eyes as I read that they want to use one of my pictures in their upcoming anniversary issue. It's like a dream come true!!!

    It's turned to a nightmare though.  In my search for the original file, I just keep finding low res copies.  The entire cd on which it was, seems to have vanished.  Having my picture in their magazine is an opportunity of a lifetime.   I've spent two ENTIRE days going through my cds, thinking it must be on a mislabeled one, to no avail.  They wanted the picture yesterday. (high res) I'm still going through more, but I need to respond to their email from yesterday.
   
   I covet the prayers of my brothers and sisters.  I will so much appreciate it.

Thank you!

In Christ,

Grayce aka itsbygrayce

Good Morning Everyone...

My thoughts and prayers are with Nita and Rene this morning and dear Kyle. 

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Grayce, what a terrible time you're having and yes, I will pray for you that you will get over this time of forgetfulness and also, Grayce, that you will find the high resolution copy of that photo!  What a wonderful opportunity to have one of your photo published!  That is just so amazing.  I really like your work.  That flower above is just so crisp and clean and just an amazing capture.


Thanks Jane, for keeping us updated on our Nita.


Hi Marilyn!


Kathy, please don't be concerned that you don't have photos to upload but please feel free to go into the gallery and comment.  It's such a lovely place.  I find that I'm in there a lot now that we have the added space and bandwidth.  So glad, too, that you are enjoying the hymns and songs we put in here.  I'm always so happy to see your name pop up! 


Enjoy your day driving those children, Ruth!


PLEASE remember, folks, to click on the photo above that GRAYCE took and leave your comments there.

Thanks so much Pat.  I KNOW prayer works wonders, in spite of our short-comings.  Hallelujah!!!

Happy Birthday Karma.

Good morning all.  I've posted in the nice thread opened for my family.

Rene is so, so calm.  It scares me.  I know you who have lost loved ones understand that calmness.  I know God is holding her and enveloping her in His grace.  I just also know there will be a time when it all crashes in on her and I want her to be here with me. 

Ruth Ann, I think I may have received a call from you just now?  I see a Nashville number popped up on my Callwave.   You are all so kind.

Happy Birthday, Karma.

Nita my prayers are for you and your family.


Nothing new here today. I am leaving for Tai chi class shortly, So I don't have much to say right now.

TTYL

Nita:  I am so sorry to learn of your son-in-law's sudden death.  You are so right to wait a while and your daughter may need you much more in a few weeks than right now since she has a group of friends to help her through this.  

Pat:  Thank you for the email - I have copied all of the instructions.  My main problem seems to be daily - too many things & events pulling me in too many directions.  Sorry, I am trying to get organized again & run my life better - it was actually easier when I just went to work & never thought that so-called retirement would be so busy.  

Marilyn & Janet:  I think both of you remarked about the snowfall.  We had heavy rain for a day and a half here and that would have been a huge snowfall but south & into Denver suburbs, lots of tree damage.  One son lost a tree even though he got up twice during the night to shake limbs.  We now have a pretty sight looking toward the mountains - a thankful to be alive view!!!

Carol

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Carol, have you taken any photos of the snow?  I still have to pick apples from my tree so the snow can stay away for awhile.  And I have to finish the deck on Saturday with my friend.

'Grease' was great last evening.  The dinner was great and I could relate to about all the issues in 'Grease'...the hair styles, the clothing, the songs, this issues.  But guys in my era didn't dance...not here in the midwest.  But it was a very enjoyable evening.  Funny, how we are getting know other people that go to Indy to this dinner theater.  And we all can choose which nights to attend.  I have a second cousin that lives less than two miles away and we see her about every dinner theater night!!!  Funny!!

This afternoon is Euchere.  A fun game with some neat ladies.  Ivalou is going to her Red Hat Society group and hopes to be back in time for Euchere.  We will wait on her anyway. 

It is gloomy outside today.  I don't know if it is misting rain or not.  Just gloomy.  But the farmers haven't been out much this week!!

Hello!  I'm just stopping by to greet you in between errands and chores.

Nita, I am so sorry about the loss of your son-in-law, and it will be good that you can be with Rene when she needs you the most.  I expect she is quite numb at this point.  I will continue to pray for her, Kyle, you, and the rest of the family.

I am up to my neck in "stuff" today~~~trying to finish organizing things at Beth's, making trips to town to get what she needs; doing her laundry, doing my laundry, helping a friend get ready for a garage sale (widow lady in bad health with nobody around to help her) and on top of all that I must prepare for giving a talk at the Kiwanis Club in Hugoton tomorrow night.  Nothing much to do........

We seem to have gotten some rain in through the west wall of our house, had to empty a closet, blot up the carpet as best I can, and have a fan blowing on it now.  Always something, it seems.  But at least we aren't four feet deep in water and muck, so I am thankful.

I hope you all have a good afternoon.  Bye for now!

Hi everyone. 

Such sad news regarding your son-in-law, Nita. 

Our daughter told us this morning that when she woke up last night one side of her body was numb and she couldn't move either her arm or leg.  It lasted about an hour.  She wasn't able to go to her class again this morning and I fear that her schooling may be coming to an abrupt end.  She called her doctor and he said he was fairly confident it wasn't a stroke or TIA (which had been my first thought) but another degradation caused by the Peripheral Neuropathy and that there really wasn't anything they could do for it.  I think we are going to have to get her downstairs and we are considering redoing our dining room into a bedroom for her.  We really don't use it very often and it is a little bigger than either of the two bedrooms that Pat and I use as offices.  It would not take much remodeling to add doors as there is an entrance from the kitchen and then a wider one from the dining room into the living area.  We will also need to have a couple of other doorways widened so they will accommodate a wheelchair as it appears to be only a matter of time before she may need it.  Needless to say I am feeling very concerned.  I think that she is finally beginning to accept what may be ahead of her as she has pretty much remained in denial up to this point.  She said the doctor had told her sometime ago that this would likely happen.

I just got word that her car is ready to be picked up so my friend and I are going to get it.  I may not get back here today as have choir tonight. 

Larry, I am so sorry to read your account of your daughter's condition.  I know you and Pat must be terribly concerned.  Please don't let yourself become overly anxious about this, to the point that you jeopardize your own health.  How grateful we all must be for the safety of God's love when things seem to just pile up and we feel overwhelmed. 

My son-in-law (Joy's husband) is undergoing surgery at this moment for a malignency on his 7th vertebra. 

It seems there's always something ... as Janet says.   

So many really difficult situations I've read about today. I hesitate to comment for fear I'll forget someone, but I'll try, and please understand that my brain is reeling from the suffering my dearly beloved friends are enduring.

Nita, my love and prayers for you and your family. How painful this must be for the entire family.

Jane, I'm so sorry about the malignancy and the need for your son-in-law's back surgery. I'll remember them in my prayers.

And, Grayce, I understand about memory woes. I'll ask a special blessing on you.

Janet, your love and support of Beth is phenomenal. May God grant you and your hubby special insight and strength to help Beth.

Larry, I'm so sorry to hear of the problems with your daughter's health. As I'm enduring some of my own, I can understand the need for accommodating to her problems. I certainly was sorry to learn of the recent setback you had, and pray that your strength will increase.

And, I have hit a snag in my recovery. Apparently the skin on my ankle and leg is very fragile after the almost 4 months in a plaster cast. I have developed two very large (maybe 3 inches in diameter) blisters that are very weepy. So, an emergency visit to the doctor resulting in his giving me some telfa pads to try to absorb the moisture, no more baths for that leg until the wounds are closed, and I must keep something between the ace bandage and my skin, since both blister areas developed where the ace bandage touched the skin. Other smaller blisters (not yet weepy) have developed, too.

So, I need to ask that while we rejoice that the bone is growing back, the healing power of our Lord will be administered to these wounds and that He will allow them to heal.

Ruth Ann

Ruth Ann, I will be praying for your skin problem to clear up in record (supernatural!) time.  As your "tag" verse says "His compassions they fail not, they are new every morning.  Great is His faithfulness."  What a comfort to know this!  (((hugs))))

Jane, sorry about Joy's husband, and hope the surgery will be pronounced a complete success.  So much sickness and so many problems in this old world.  We just must keep looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

Larry, I can honestly say I understand about the problems with your daughter.  We are living with similar circumstances.  It is a lot of work for us to allow Beth to feel she is independent!  But we hope she can continue to manage (with our help) for some time to come.  I am after her now to get up and try to move around more, so she doesn't lose what mobility she does have.  She also has neuropathy and experiences a lot of numbness; at times cannot move her legs.    We try to take it one day at a time and do the best we can.

Tomorrow is a very busy day for us!  Mark (grandson) is making his first cross-country flight; plans to be landing in Hugoton about 9:00 and wants Grams and Poppa there to see him!  Then at 2:45 is Abby's program, then at 6:00 the Kiwanis program where I will be speaking about our trip to Thailand.  I hope I have a s-l-o-w week next week! 

I need to get to bed!  See you tomorrow!

The cat is out.

Time to lock this door.

You will find a nice, new NEM here.