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Morning Devotional...

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The innocent murdered in broad daylight! I say broad daylight but such was the darkness all around that the skies could not be seen. So many lives changed for ever as a result of carnage and cruelty.

Why, Oh! why did God allow such a thing? How could such a thing happen?  Things will never be the same again! Hearts broken, dreams dashed asunder and what of the future? Where is hope in all of this?

Blood flows from the innocent. The aftermath of murderous and evil minds.

Who can harbour such hatred against another human being? Is it all in vain?

Am I talking about an eye witness account of Ground Zero or an eye witness account of Day Zero?

We indeed remember all those whose lives were devastated two years ago today.

We sympathise with them as we mourned with them.

We must however look beyond THAT day to another such devastating day in our world's history. That day was the day we crucified an Innocent Man at Calvary. That day more than any other changed the lives of millions.

What goes through your own mind as you pass by? Was He just another 'good man?'

Was He a prophet? Was He nothing to you? I find it so difficult to
even write such words.

How anyone could possibly think of the King of Glory to be nothing?

A day will surely come when the tongue that confessed to Him
being nothing will be part of a body that will kneel at His coming.
The sacrifice of the Innocent One has given us hope in the year 2003. Our world may be in a terrible state, sin may be rife, church attendances may be poorer than ever they were and few, so very few give any thought whatsoever to the Truth of God.

That may well be the case but we must look above and beyond these clouded horizons to land that is fairer than day.

This my friend is not the home of the Christian. We are pilgrims passing through and it will not be long before we each cross the swollen river to walk the blessed shores of Immanuel's Land.

Do you yearn for such a day?

Does a fire burn within your breast as you contemplate an eternity with the One your soul desires to see?

Let us remember today, the greatest sacrifice of all. Looking back two years will fill our hearts with sorrow, looking back over 2000 years will fill our hearts with hope.

God bless America, and Stornoway, Manchester, Holland, Canada, Birmingham.......


Iain Mackenzie

Hello, everybody! Thank you, Pat, for your devotional; No, we will not forget! I've been offline for a few days. I'm getting injections in my knees, and I have to stay off them for 48 hours. I have to have one a week in each knee for 5 weeks, but then, they should be pain free for a year, or maybe more! The injections are nothing, but the inactivity about killed me! It will get better with time! I thank you all for your friendship, and love. I wish Gods' blessing on all of you today,
Love in Him,
Cami

Oh, Cami... how painful those injections are!  I do hope and pray that you will be pain-free for a year!    I hope that all will click on the link above too as well as read the wonderful devotion that Iain wrote.

Etta Sue I sure had a good time with you when you came to visit.  Meeting you and your sister was one of the highlights of my summer.  My family and I enjoyed the visit.  
You are so lucky that you got a hug from lila Mae.  She is so picky about who she goes to.  She liked you lots.  Thank you for taking time to visit along the way.  I can't wait till we meet again and this time see Jerry too.  

Thank you all for the warm welcome.  I will try to get in here more.  I must get myself to bed now.  I will come back in the morning.

I will try to get pictures ready and posted. It might take awhile.

Sonja

Good morning all.

9-11 is a day I will never forget.  I was teaching Elie Weisel's NIGHT  to a group of tenth graders when we heard.  We watched it on TV most of the day.  I still shudder when I see pics.

I think I like Ruth Graham's response the most.  When asked why God would allow such a thing, her response  (paraphrased, not a direct quote) was that it is because God loves us.  He loves us so much, he gives us the choice to follow him or not.  He loves us so much, he gives us the choice to live righteously or not.  If God did not love us, He could control each and every action that we took, and thus control events such as 9-11 as if we were robots or puppets on a string.

Glad to see you back Sonifo!  Hope school goes well for you this year.

I should be back later, though Thursday is going to be a busy busy day (though not quite as busy as Etta's was!)

love youns
karma

Thank you Pat for the very good devotional

11sept. 2001   -  11 sept. 2003

Today it is a very black day for America and for the rest on the world.
Many many people are died on 11 sept. 2001 also the
offenders. But their principals are living.
LET US PRAY TO GOD THAT THIS NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN.
And let us pray for the hole world wich is in greatest
distress.
I have tryed to translated  
PSALM 34:18-19
Are they crying, then the Lord is hearing
and He is saving then out all their anxious
The Lord is close the broken people from heart
and He release the defeated people from ghost.

Matthew 27:48
Also Jesus was crying with louder voice
My God, My God why have You me abadoned.

       GOD  BLESS AMERICA
I pray for the people
And God is with you all also today.

Bye for now
I love you all RIA

And each day we are hearing from terrorism.



Thank you Pat for the nice songs yesterday
The Lord is my Shepherd one of my lovely songs
Bye for now RIA

Good morning everyone!  
Thanks to Pat and Iaian again for the devotions this fine Lord's day...

Sonja....great to see you back here.....howis the homeschooling going? We are a bit slow at going...there have been many interruptions...but at least we have gotten started.....

Karmat...I agree and can testify about the Love of our God.....if we were puppets...we would not be here uplifting and praying for each other....

Ria.....thanks for sharing your thoughts on 9/11..it was a very sad day indeed...

CAmi...sorry to hear about those injections.....ouch.....I will be praying for you.

well am back now from our fall camping trip...it was really nice to get away..we only went for 2 nights but it was worth it....a bit on the chilly side at night....but it was very peaceful....
May God bless you all in a special way today.
Paulette.

Yes indeed we will remember Sept 11.  9/11.  I am sure we all remember where we were.  BUT  How easy it is to forget the death of our Saviour!  Yes, I will remember.  I will also remember that the second coming will be soon.  Praise God, Even so come Lord Jesus.

We have more nice weather today.  The trees are turning colour, the change is so very subtile.

I will put this in the Have you prayed but I will give a bit of info here.  A young man joined our military and has been busted by the military police for drinking an brawling.  He is born again, but the temptation of the world has him in its clutches.

Megan has poured boilling water on her tummy.  She is in a lot of pain.  remember her in the coming days.

Bonnie's situation at home is critical.

Have a good day my friends, Enjoy your day, rest in the Lord and remember he IS soverign!

Love Judy

Yes----Sept. 11----a black day on the calendar.  Calvary---a black day which turned on the bright light of hope for all time!  What a great comparison in the devotional today.  I like to watch the Internation Intelligence Briefing on Wed. nights, with Hal Lindsey.  He really studies the Word and keeps up with current events, and it is nice to have a good idea of what is coming on the earth.  We all need to live ready, folks!  Our time is growing shorter and shorter until the Glorious Appearing!

Ria, thank you for your thoughts for us here in America, and the verses you translated from the Dutch.  You have such a heart of love and compassion, and are doing so well with your English.

Cami, I hope those (ouch!) injections in your knees give lasting relief.  It really is trying, to lose mobiliity.

I will finish this later, Beth just came in, ready to go swim.  I was waiting for her.  I shall return!

Sonja!  It is good to see you here.  We miss you when you aren't around.  It is so nice that Etta Sue was able to visit you.

Thanks for the devotional Pat and Iain.  I will never forget that terrible morning especially when I saw in real time live when the second plane crashed into the other tower.  We knew then it wasn't an accident but an act of an enemy of our country attacking without regard to the thousands of innocent lives which were taken.  It was a sad, sad day in the history of the world.

Karmat, thank you for your words about Sept. 11.  We DO know God loves us regardless of what happens and he does give us a choice to follow him or not follow him.

Ria, thank you for your thoughts this morning.  I am like Anthony, your English is better than my Dutch, which I can't speak at all.  Cornelia and I were impressed when we visited Holland at how many people we met who spoke English.

Cami, sorry about your having to have those injections.  They aren't fun but if they help I know they will be worth it.  Recently I had 6 back injections but they didn't help.

Paulette, good to see you this morning.  It has been many years since we did any camping out.  I like a good a good bed inside.

Good to see you Judy B.  You are right that we must never forget the death of Jesus on the cross.  Where we worship we remember every Lord's day when we meet around his table and have the bread and fruit of the vine.

Janet, good to see you this morning.  I hope you enjoyed your swim.

I have to get ready now to go to the nursing home where it is my day to speak at their Thursday morning worship.

I hope you all have a nice day.


--- Papa John              <)))><<

I'm baaack!!  When we got to the pool, it was empty!  They are trying to repair that leak we found for them some time back.  I hope it won't be closed too long!

Sonja! so good to have you back!  I wish I were so fortunate as Etta Sue, and could visit your lovely family.  Well.......before too long, I hope!  It is fun to know that CP members do get to meet each other sometimes.  Please come in and post as often as you can!

Papa John, I'm so sorry the injections didn't help your back.  If I could, I would take away every pain from you.  Your words here are always so uplifting, and we appreciate you so much.

This is my class day again, so the afternoon is full.  I have some errands to do this morning, too.  How is your day shaping up?

Good Morning all,

I am working on getting a free Chat room for this website.  

I guess I am on a mission.  

Truly

John.    

The Face of America
By Susan Halm, Edited by Joyce Schowalter
Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, U.S.A.

September 11 dealt a stunning blow to the American psyche. For many of us, dazed and shocked, the urgent question we asked ourselves as we watched the carnage pouring out of our television sets was What can I do to help?

Local and national news commentators urged us to respond to the Red Cross's call for blood donations by participating in a blood drive. I have donated blood in the past, but nothing has approached the urgency I felt to donate this time. Tuesday night I told my husband, "We've got to go tomorrow."

We equipped ourselves with books to read and snacks to munch while we waited, figuring the line might be, oh, maybe an hour or two. When we reached our local Charleston, South Carolina, Red Cross, we couldn't believe it. At 11:00 A.M. the line stretched around the block.

It might be eight hours before we reached the head of the line — still, we walked to the end. And while we waited, I looked at the faces around me—and I saw the face of America.

I saw young and old, women with children, GenerationXers in T-shirts and tattoos, veterans, people leaning on canes and in wheelchairs, waiting to give what they had to our country. No one was impatient, no one argued or pushed ahead of anyone. We had a purpose and a goal - so we waited.

As we stood, local television and radio stations came out. They hooked up speakers for us to listen to music and the news from New York and Washington. They brought us American flags donated by locals to wave and stickers to wear that read AMERICA WILL PASS THE TEST.

Red Cross volunteers brought out food donated by local merchants: pizza, McDonald's cheeseburgers, sub sandwiches, delicious fried chicken, snack foods, fresh fruit, bottles of cold water and sodas. They fed us, answered our questions and told us what to expect when we finally reached the head of the line. They thanked us for coming out and for our "sacrifice."

One volunteer told us that television pictures of us waiting in line and giving blood were being transmitted to giant screens in the middle of the World Trade Center. He told us, "You don't know how much good it does for these guys to see you here. They come out of the rubble, exhausted. Then they see you on the screen and they go back in."

We were just Americans, doing what we do, finding another way to have fun, even in the midst of tragedy. We sang music from the speakers and we laughed, because Americans are people who love to laugh. We made friends and discovered common ground.

On a hot fall afternoon in Charleston, South Carolina, I saw the face of America. Our hearts are broken, but our spirit is roaring back. We have a common purpose and a common goal. We are once again the UNITED States.

(I thought this was good to read today.  Hope you enjoy it, too.)  Janet

John---good for you!  

Marilyn ~ I can hardly wait for you to get your new camera.  

Pat ~ When electrical tape stops working, try duck tape.  I hear it fixes anything!!!  And.....YEAH!  WE'RE NUMBER ONE!!!!

It is indeed a sad day for America and the whole world.  This not only hurt Americans.  All are hurting because of this tragedy on our soil.  I remember I was in the car going for supplies to renovate this house.  My first thought was....anger.  How dare these people interrupt our lives with this thoughtless act?  But, in hindsite, I truly believe that this terrible act brought people to God.  And therefore, love for mankind and for their country...wherever they are.

Janet ~ Your story of Charleston, South Carolina, brought to my mind. Christ gave his blood for us.....Charleston...and others....gave their blood for mankind as well.  

I know I have missed posting directly to people but I just don't seem to have time to do so individually.  I read all and love each and everyone of you.  God bless you all.

I have two loads of laundry on the line to dry.  Not much planned for today.  Just resting.  And thank you, God, for a great night's rest...after this root canal...and most of all, for a new morning so that I may glorify You in all I do.

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"The human tongue is only a few inches away from the brain, but when you listen to some people talk, the two seem miles apart."

We never like to hear it - but this world is in rebellion against God.  Perhaps we haven't even thought much about that.  Perhaps all we've seen have been a few law infractions here and there, a few robberies, murders, etc.  Sins, yes, but what about the entire human race disdaining even to speak about God, ignoring His laws, caring nothing for His creation, going about to please only themselves?  9/11?  Yes, but it was only a wake-up call.  A wake-up call to America, to which, thankfully, Americans have responded very well - yes.  This country is more united than ever.  We should be thankful for that.  But how about another response to that wake-up call - a response of repentance?  Have we as a nation admitted that we have sinned?  Have we said we were sorry to the God Who created us?  Have we surrendered to His Lordship over all?  Have you?
Why would God allow such a thing? Wrong question.  Why did He not allow much more?  Right question.  Oh let us come, this day in September, to our God, and let us tell Him we have sinned as a nation, that we don't deserve His many blessings, that we haven't even given thanks all that often.  Let us turn to Him again.  Let us vow to worship and serve Him today and every day.

It's great to see everyone checking in.

I've been watching the TV.  Such a sad day for some of the little children who lost fathers and mothers.

Thanks so much Al and Papa John for your thoughts...

I really enjoyed reading your thoughts too, Janet!

Thanks Etta Sue!  I'll have to get me some duct tape!

Interesting, Turbotech...  You'll have to get in touch with me.

Thank you Iian for the devotional and Pat for the site.  It brought tears to my eyes and pain to my heart having to relive the day. Then, Jesus's crucifixtion does the same as I think how He suffered for sinners like me.  Such a time for reflection.
Lunch time is over..
TTYL

Hi to all,

Was feeling very anxious today and ran to be here for the comfort that I know I will feel by HIS love and strength here.

You see I live less than 30 minutes away from ground zero.
We also work with the airlines (watching the activity from the airport is still too,l too vivid to comprehend) and we also work with fire fighters.

That day; just double whammied us here.

Today, the sky is so blue and clear--uncanny; it's almost the same weather as two years ago.

I told my husband when I looked out today I can feel the pain and hurt in those poor people who are touched by this.

But then "aren't we all touched by this"??

Only by the grace of GOD ; we will go on and we will be the better for this day.

Right now,the pain is still there.

Love in Christ,

Joyce

A terrible anniversary indeed.

And a sign of how short life can be, we must never take anything for granted, but by prayer and praise, enjoy the day which the Lord has made.

One day at a time, Jesus intimated in Matthew Chapter six, Verse twenty four.


The churches were full for a few weeks after 9/11.
People were feeling the need to gather together in their grief, and it helped to talk about it.
But mostly it was an emotional thing, and the world will always pull together during great calamities, eg. the wartime.
But now, the churches are emptying once more, because emotions  change by the day, and sometimes by  the minute.
Only Christians  attend fellowship regularly in time of trial, and also in times of joy, and in times of normality.

Some were brought back to God by the events which took place,  some were saved, and as usual many asked why God allowed it to happen, and that the catastrophy proved that there is no God.
We can pray though, that God will continue to use the tragedy for good, for nothing He allows to happen, is outside of His purpose.

When people discuss these things with us, it can be an opportunity to tell them that at least you DO know where you are going if you be called suddenly!

Father, we know that You work ALL things for good for those who love You, who are called according to Your purpose.
Keep us in peace, whose minds are fixed on You.
Regards , Chris.

8 p.m.



"In Our Lord's life Jerusalem was the place where He reached the climax of His Father's will upon the cross, and unless we go with Jesus there , we shall have no companionship with Him.  Nothing ever discouraged Our Lord on His Way to Jerusalem. He never hurried through certain villages where He was persecuted , or lingered in others where He was blessed .  Neither gratitude or ingratitude turned Our Lord one hair's breadth away from His purpose to go upto Jerusalem..................................Nothing must deflect us from going up to our Jerusalem....

"There they crucified Him".................that is what happened when Our Lord reached Jerusalem...that happening is the gateway to our salvation.  
THE SAINTS do not end in crucifixion: by the Lord's grace they end in glory.......

Our watchword in the meantime is "I, too go up to Jerusalem".
                                                       OSWALD CHAMBERS



God Bless and keep all of you in His Love....
Jesus is here.
Jenny.
                 
             

I have read all the postings today, including the fine devotional message.  I also watched in horror as that second plane flew into the tower and knew that our lives would never be the same.  Our country ignored the first attach in 1998 and I fear that our resolve will once again fall away as days and months go by without further attacks here in our country or those countries where we live.  We need to become more knowledgeable concerning who people believing in Islam are being taught as children and how they feel about us.  I heard a man on the Moody Bible Institute radio station last night who had come to America as a child to help convert people to Islam.  Fortunately he found Jesus but understands what a serious problem we have.  He spoke at length about the flight of the women in that culture and it was shocking.

This morning I heard read on the radio the manifesto written by Bin Laden in 1998 that calls for the killing of all non-believers in the Islam faith.  Very sobering.

Sonja, good to see you back posting.

Not going to try to address individuals today.

Thank youe veryone for what you have written with regard to Sept. 11, 2001. A sad day indeed.

Bea called me a t 7:30 am this morning and I had to rush to get dressed and to her house a radpidly as I could. She was having difficulty breathing. Once I was there she calmed down and the breathing became much easier. I got back home by 2 pm.

As I was opening my front door the wind caught the door and smaked me in the forehead, now I am a knot head. This ice is awfully cold on that knot.

I'm still trying to get my thoughts together, the morning was an upsetting one for bea. Then the memorial service on TV brought back all the horrified and sad memories of that day and I sat on Bea's couch crying.

Be back later

It is very sad to remember what happened two years ago but I think it is a must to NOT forget it.  When we forget, then we are leaving it wide open for tragedies to happen again.  I know that all of our leaders are not Christians but we still have to have faith that our leaders protect us all they know how to protect us.  But I am one to be thankful to God.  If our leaders do not protect us and my life happens to be taken suddenly, then I know I am headed for a much better place than this world.  I pray that for all of mankind to have that knowledge, trust and faith.

Thank you Pat & Iain.  Also Chris for your clear way of stating how things are...

I was at home having breakfast when my daughter phoned and told me to turn on CNN.  The first tower has just been hit and it seemed surreal.  Like a bad movie.  We suffered with New York and America and prayed and cried for many months.  It is something that the world simply must not forget.

Revelation is clear about what lies ahead for our world.  Non-Christians don't want to hear about these things and so many churches no longer will touch the subject....I guess that leaves it up to those of us who do hear and do believe.

Proverbs 29:25 tell us:  Whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.  So we have to try and help others to be safe in the days ahead.  God Bless, Liz.

Dear Knot Head (Marilyn)  Ouch!  We have bad winds here, too, and I have had many a fight with storm doors!  I'm so happy you finally got to order your digital camera, and know you will love it!

I well remember where I was and what I was doing two years ago today, too.  Those events are burned into our memories forever.

Paul Crouch (on TBN) is announcing that they are now broadcasting in CHINA!!!  Praise God!  About six years ago, when I was there on a Missions trip, we were on a bus, and they pointed out a new, huge TV tower, and I remember praying out loud, and claiming that tower for the broadcasting of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Chinese!  And today I hear of the answer to that prayer--God is so awesome!!

I'm going to get off this machine early tonight and spend some time reading (providing I do not fall asleep!)

I guess I've missed a couple of days again.  

On Tuesday we went to Elizabethtown for Gene's checkup at the VA clinic.  Gene suggested we stop someplace for lunch instead of just muching on the snacks we had taken with us.  It was such a beautiful day we took some side roads and a couple of trails so Gene could show me some of the places he used to camp and fish.  Then instead of getting from Route 73 to the Adirondack Northway to come home we came down Route 9 and into Schroon Lake.

We had lunch at a little diner called the Sugar Bowl (I think there's one in almost every town in the US).  Then a little more on Route 9 until we hit the Northway again, and home.  I took lots of pictures of the beautiful scenery in the Adirondack Mountains and some of the lakes and streams but I haven't had time to process them yet.  Soon.    It was really a terrific day - one of those perfect unplanned outings.

Then, yesterday was our 14th anniversary and Gene has been yearning for crab legs so we went to dinner at Red Lobster.   Of course we both ate way too much.  The Maitre D or head waiter or something stopped at our table asking if everything had been satisfactory and Gene mentioned it was our anniversary.  So when we asked for the check our waitress surprised us with one piece of chocolate (!) cake with a dab of whipped cream and one candle.  We each took a little taste and had her box it to bring home.

All in all we had two days of fantastic celebration of our anniversary!  

Hi Everyone:

Pat those were amazing pictures of a horrible event.  

I have heard David Epstein talk about how he had a church west of Toronto and a couple of years ago God called him to go to New York City.  Him and his wife wondered about God's calling but after he got there and set up church very close to the Trade Center, he knew.  After the attack on the twin towers many many people from all denominations came into his church to seek comfort and talk about important spiritual things.  David and his wife and other counsellors were able to touch many lives.  

There were also many stories of miracles that happened, where people's lives were spared.  
Praise you Heavenly Father.

Will touch base again later

Ruthie

I have just now turned on the 'puter for the first time today.  Busy, busy, busy.

Went and got my teeth cleaned -- no cavities!!  yea!!!

Did some laundry, had a Mary Kay facial with a cousin of mine, and now am waiting for my little boy and hubby to get home.  

Gonna skim the rest of the forums, now.

Smiles
karmat