Christian Photographers Community

Morning Devotional...


Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.
Exodus 19:19


In Jerusalem I enjoyed the morning broadcast in Hebrew, "Kol Israel."

The message they presented, Christ the Messiah, is the last message to the nation of Israel as well as the nations of the earth.

The voice in the wilderness is heard by all who have ears to hear. The still small voice can be heard by millions in spite of the din of war and the tumult of a world in revolt.

Thank God for the communications of our generation in so many forms and fashions, and that the message is still being heard--the glorious gospel of the triune God.

When was the last time I heard the voice of God in the early morning (Ps. 5:3); or His call from heaven (Heb. 12:25)?
--Les Rainey

I too am on way way to bed.  It was a long day.  I am almost completed my lift truck driver's training and will be happy when it is done.  Training is very hard work.  I then stayed about 3 hours late to try and do some "desk work".  I got home in time to watch the last 15 minutes of the Hockey World Cup game between Canada and Finland.

CANADA WON......YIPPEEE......
And now...good night everyone.

Pardon me....Good morning to others...I forgot that not all are in my time zone   

Yes, I finally got my computer back up and running.  We moved it into the spare bedroom downstairs and am making the downstairs livingroom a photography studio.  Things are a big mess right now, but it will soon look much better.

Woohooo...Canada!

Good Morning Pat, I told you I'd be in to visit again today and here I am.  Thanks for the inspiring devotional. The day always seems to go better if one's first thoughts are of our Saviour.

Sarah, I have heard of  "Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder", and your posting of yesterday described it very well.  Yes, that sounds just like my day sometimes becomes.  Have you heard this phrase?  "The undisciplined always pursue the unnecessary".  So, starting today I'll try making a priority list of things that need to be taken care of today, and put that list with the others that I laying on my kitchen counter; then, when I am sorting through my lists I'll always keep that particular one on top and refer to it when every I need something to do "next".  Isn't that the way it is supposed to work?   

Sue, Good Luck with your training.  It does in deed sound like very hard work.

Sonifo, moving really gets things stirred up, doesn't it - just hope that everything fits back into place as you had planned, right?

I'll be back later today.

Hello All on NEM
We got back from our cruise ( it was cancelled)   last Fri nite and I have been trying to catch up...before I posted  ,,,but cannot seem to do it.  So..I will post now

We spend the first of the week in Jax, FL with Hurricane Frances and unable to move from the motel.  Then back up to SC for a couple of nights at Folly Beach.  That was nice and I got to see and hear the ocean.

Back at work!   

A belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY to:  Etta Sue  Skeif, Mary Frances, Melvin, Fraser

A Big Happy Birthday today to:  Sarah and Darin

Grandson is spending the night and I must get him up for school

May all of us be a blessing to someone today.


Matt. 6:33

‘Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee. For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.’

Psalm 116 Verses 7 & 8

It has been a long time since I managed to put pen to paper or to be more precise, to hit these keys with any true conviction. It is not that I have not wanted to write; I simply have not been able to. I write what God gives to me, or what He puts into my heart. These last few months I have bee so troubled that I have been unable to speak or write.

It has been a period of spiritual education once more for the class dunce. In truth I have been dying. I have seen things in my own heart that I had not seen before. Thoughts have come into my mind that have been straight from Hell itself. I wallowed in my own mire and filth of sin. Being made more aware of the wickedness or the sinfulness of my sin is not pleasant.

There were many things in my life that required mortification. Thoughts had to be censored before being allowed to infest my mind. Self with all its pride needed to be put to death many times each day. Fears enveloped my soul in ways that were foreign to me. I thought that I was strong in the faith, but I have been shown to be the weakest of all Christians.

Never have I questioned my salvation, yet I have been reeling and staggering like one drunk and often at my wit’s end. My armour of vanity and pride proved useless as the arrows pierced my soul. I was unprepared for the ferocity of the attacks and of the venom, which they carried.

I longed for peace and I pled for cleansing and strength to withstand the onslaught, yet I sought refuge in all the wrong places. How could this gangrenous soul face His God again? How could this body of filth and corruption approach Holiness? My works proved futile and darkness invaded my utmost being.

It was not until I read the words at our head that light dawned. For the first time in many months the Living Word stopped me in my tracks and begged me to take heed. I found my condition and myself in this Psalm of David.

Verse 8 in particular caught my attention. I had been living daily saturated with various fears. I found three of these fears mentioned in this verse. Others may read more into this verse than I do; yet today I want to pas on to you a few thoughts that came to my mind.

I saw three particular fears that are common to almost all Christians. The fear of death, the fear of chastisement and the fear of backsliding.

I wonder if there has ever been a day when I have not backslidden from the King’s Highway. My life is one of perpetual procrastination. I am forever wanting to do good, to study more, to deny self, to be fervent in prayer, to shine as a light in this world yet I am an expert at postponing these good things until ‘later on!’

My dairy for tomorrow is already full!

My God is such a hard Task Master! His ways are just too strict for me and His laws are impossible to keep. The Bible is written for ‘perfect people’ not for the likes of me. I simply cannot live up to the standard that is set forth in His Word.

I try my best but it seems as though He always has a frowning providence over me and He is never pleased with my works. Every day seems to bring with it some new chastisement or other. Often I think that the day that things start to go right in my life will be the day that the tide stops coming in!

Death is coming to me; I can ‘feel it.’ How many times do I have to put up with these chest pains? They are all warning signs preparing me for the big one. Others have spoken to me lately of their fear of death, yet when analysed, they do not fear death itself, and rather they fear the thought of dying or the process of dying. I know that it is something I must face, something we all must face, but not today Lord, please.

With all these fears life is not worth living. It has become a perpetual nightmare of sorrow and pain. Surely there is a better way. Surely there is a way of escape. Surely there is refuge even for me the greatest of sinners. I am absolutely exhausted trying to find rest and peace!! I have no strength left.

‘Return unto thy rest.’

Those who are closest to me know that I want more than anything to honour my God, to live for Christ, to be a means of encouragement to others, to be the best father to my children, to be the best husband to my wife, yet here I am in need of encouragement and help myself!

I need to find rest for my soul. I have wasted too much energy trying to find a resting place on floating carcases. It is time to return to the Ark!

It is never too early to swallow pride and go back to basics and that is what I needed to do. The journey to Calvary is familiar to me yet I followed the path this time with a mixture of trepidation and excitement.  Would I be accepted back into His fold again after all that I have done? Was His blood powerful enough to cleanse such corruption as has been flowing through my veins of late?

‘Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.’

Words sweeter than honey to my needy soul. Jesus the Christ of God still loves me. In spite of myself He waits with outstretched arms and love in His eyes as the prodigal returns.

Light invades my soul and cleansing comes with such power that I see no man save Jesus only. Washed clean in the blood of the Lamb. The Lamb who was slain for me the vilest of sinners. My exhaustion has gone and my soul is energised once more. I pout on the whole armour and rest. I rest in the finished work of my Saviour Redeemer. In rest in the Ark. I rest safe in the arms of Jesus.

I am no longer backslidden as I follow in His footprints. I no see eyes of love instead of a frown and what about the fear of death? Well I am now living for that day! The Lord hath dealt bountifully with me.

May the Lord bless these few thoughts to our souls.

With much love to you all.

Your brother in Christ

Iain

Ohhh, Iain...   Words fail me right now but I'm going to read your words over and over.  Please know that you are in my prayers DAILY and the Lord bless you. 

Let's sing the verses Iain uses above in his writing...Psalm 116:7 & 8...

Iain, thank you for coming today. Just yesterday as I was driving home from work, I prayed for you.

Mary Frances, how good to see you.

And, these words are also for all my loved ones here at CP. May God richly bless each of us today and guide us in the paths He would have us go.

Ruth Ann

Good morning everyone, Pat I want to thank you for As the deer yesterday.

Dear Bro. Iain so goo to see you here again. I am praying for you Brother.

I wasn't able to get to Al's Baptism photos last night and probable wont be able to get to them until tomorrow afternoon as there is Bible study tonight and after work today I am off to the Physical Therapist.

Be Back Later[/b]

I've just read through your post once again--well, maybe 10 times, Iain.  What a feast!  What thoughts for all of us today!

Oh that we might all be able to say...

I am no longer backslidden as I follow in His footprints. I now see eyes of love instead of a frown and what about the fear of death? Well I am now living for that day! The Lord hath dealt bountifully with me.[/list]


Thanks dear Iain.

God bless you today and every day as you struggle with this constant pain.  Please know that I'm praying for your family as well.

ARRRRGGGHHH!!!  I just lost my post!  It seems to happen when you are in a hurry, too.  Drat!

HAPPY 18TH BIRTHDAY, SARAH!!!  I well remember when you were 15 and wanting to be 18!  See?  It didn't take so long, now, did it?    I am so proud of the progress you have made and are making in your life.  Stay close to God, and you will do just great.  I love you!  (((hugs)))

Iain!  So good to see you here after a long absence!  It sounds like you have been through a long, dark valley of the soul.  Please don't keep trying to do it in your own strength, Iain.  None of us can!  Just rest there in the sweet arms of Jesus for a while, then stay close to HIs side.  If you blow it, just run back to God, who will never refuse you, but will always welcome, cleanse, forgive, relieve you.  We love you, Iain.  (((hugs)))

Mary Frances, it is SO nice to see you back here.  God has been good to you, and for that, I thank Him!  Have a wonderful year in Him!  

Hi, Dear Pat!  I will chat with you later!

Dear Ruth Ann, you are a blessing everywhere you go!

Now I must run, have to get ready to go to Dodge City.

I posted some sunflower photos over in the Photos Here thread, if you want to have a look!

A word of warning folks!!

Yesterday my PC was hit by a virus which started dialling up a premium rate line on its own. British Telecom have just informed me that I have incurred a fee of over £204.00 for the last 24 hour period on my Internet connection which I must pay. I managed to clear the virus as quickly as I could however the Customer Services Dept of British Telecom have informed me that many are being caught out with much larger bills as they do not realise that anything is wrong.

Please be aware of such threats and make sure that your anti-virus software is up to date.

I hope that I am the only one to get it.

Thanks for your encouragement and prayers folks, its much needed and appreciated.

Your brother in Christ

Iain

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SARAH!!!!
Isn't it great to have Mary Frances and Iain back with us?  Welcome back, folks!

Janet, I have a lift chair.  It was Mom's and no one wanted it when we divided up her things.  It came in handy last winter when I was having so much pain in my arm and shoulder.  You have to use the electric to recline but I seldom use the lift part for myself!  Plus, it scares to kitties when they see the chair up in the air!!!!!!

Iain, today I don't have the fear of death.  In fact, I am looking forward to death so I can be with God for eternity.  I don't feel my health is to the point that I could die today.  I just said a quick prayer that when that day comes, that I still do not have the fear of death.  I look forward to my homegoing.

Marilyn, how did your appointment with the physical therapists go?  They seem to do wonders today.

Kathy, I know you were disappointed in not going on your cruise but I am glad you didn't.  I wouldn't want to be tossed around out at sea.  Sorry you were confined to a hotel room in Jax but so happy to see you made it through the storms.  Are you planning another cruise later?

Mary Frances, so glad to see you posting.  We missed you.  Are you still in Dayton?  Sending silent prayers to each other isn't far if you are.

Sonja, I am glad you have your computer up and running again.  They can be so cantankerous.  You seem to be computer savvy so I knew you could do it.

Sue, I know you will be glad when your training is over.  Learning new things can be taxing as well as boring.  Sometimes a waste of time.  Sometimes very useful.  

Pat, thanks for the devotional.  It was very meaningful today.

I am going to go to Jerry's this afternoon.  I have a couple of data CD's that are multisessions and with my Windows XP, I can only see one session.  So Jerry installed my old CD burner and old software in his pc with Windows 98.  So I am taking my CD's and some floppies and hopefully be able to save the data to floppies so I can put them in this pc and save again on CD's.  Sounds complicated.  Also I must remember to tell Jerry that my step-grandson got Windows XP for Jerry's new computer.
<)))><<~~<)))><<~~<)))><<~~<)))><<~~<)))
"Grandparents are similar to a piece of string--handy to have around and easily wrapped around the fingers of grandchildren."

Oh dear,

Poor Iain, he's got one too.

It would seem that folks who leave their computers on do get caught with huge bills.  I turn mine off. Now as I said yesterday I have international and premium numbers blocked.I checked with the telephone service today and it is in operation. All being well they cant get any money from me. I have changed my passwords too.   

As I am on here another dialler has popped up. I got rid quickly.
Whatever the anti-virus caught yeaterday was not this one.

The Daily Mail newspaper did a double page spread on this last week."Beat the Scam Mongers." Do you know they even get into Mobile Phones with rogue text messages.

For anyone in u.k. having problems there is a website you can check for lists of common scams and names of firms carrying them out:-

www.oft.gov.uk

"Be vigilant."......the enemy is prowling about in more ways than one.

Love you all.
Jenny.

Hello, all!

That is really a drag that folks can get away with this stuff, Iain and Jenny.  I am all cell so if they try this on me, they wouldn't get anywhere.  Nice and peaceful having all cell phones.  I don't have to worry about celisiters(sp?).

Still organizing my rooms.  I am loving the way everything is looking.  I didn't realize how much photography stuff I have.  Wow!  To much!

Be back in later.

Have a good day, folks!

OUR SECOND CHALLENGE OF SEPTEMBER!!
(Click on this link!)

---

PHOTO-SENSE

May I please request that if you have photos stored on Photo-Sense, will you PLEASE make sure that you comment on some of the other photographers' work there?

Neil lets CP members link to his site, even though it's taking some of his bandwidth but we must make sure that we comment on other folks photos.

And if someone has commented on one of yours, please reply.

Hello all!  Trying to get some stuff done today, so this is brief.

Happy Birthday Sarah!!!!

HELLO IAIN!!!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday, Sara! 18? I can remember the day like yesterday when I turned 18.  I was on my own with working at CSU.  Didn't have a car, but I had a bike.  Those were the days. 

Great new challenge, Pat!  I think we have a few sports fans on this site.

Mike wants to take me to lunch sooo...I better get going.

Soni

Iaian!
Ye daft gouk, yer a terror tae yersel man! lol.
God bless you,
much love to you,
His and ours.
Chris & Margit.

thank you all for the happy birthday wishes....
Sarah

September 15   

Revival: To the Individual Only

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each
one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he
has done, whether good or bad. 
--2 Corinthians 5:10

No church is any better or worse than the individual Christians who
compose it....

One consequence of our failure to see clearly the true nature of
revival is that we wait for years for some supernatural
manifestation that never comes, overlooking completely our own
individual place in the desired awakening. Whatever God may do for
a church must be done in the single unit, the one certain man or
woman. Some things can happen only to the isolated, single person;
they cannot be experienced en masse. Statistics show, for instance,
that 100 babies are born in a certain city on a given day. Yet the
birth of each baby is for the baby a unique experience, an
isolated, personal thing. Fifty people die in a plane crash; while
they die together they die separately, one at a time, each one
undergoing the act of death in a loneliness of soul as utter as if
he alone had died. Both birth and death are experienced by the
individual in a loneness as complete as if only that one person had
even known them.

Three thousand persons were converted at Pentecost, but each one
met his sin and his Savior alone. The spiritual birth, like the
natural one, is for each one a unique, separate experience shared
in by no one. And so with that uprush of resurgent life we call
revival. It can come to the individual only.  The Size of the
Soul, 14-15.

"Lord, make me sensitive this morning to my 'own individual place
in the desired awakening.' Whatever work needs to be done to this
'isolated, single person'--do it today, I pray. Amen."

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A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARAH

Sarah, I hope your day has been a great one.

Iain, I will only say that I am glad to see you again.

My days of training are almost at an end.  The afternoon session was cancelled for me as there were four of us that were to use one type of machine.  As I am "in-house", my last little bit was switched to tomorrow morning.  Then if need be, I could even change careers...but I won't because I really don't think that lift-truck driving is for me.  Learning how to drive them has increased my knowledge and now I will be able to talk with my customers a little more intelligently.   

Have a good evening everyone.

We are back home again.  We both seem to need hearing aids, but the cost is pretty prohibitive.  So we are thinking about it for a while.

I have to get a lot of stuff done before Friday night!  Goodness!  I'm feeling pressured!

Well, I guess I will go get busy now!

Sue, I learned to drive a lift truck years ago when I worked at Columbian Chemicals.  I liked it better than catching and throwing 50 pound bags all day long. 

QuoteI learned to drive a lift truck years ago when I worked at Columbian Chemicals.  I liked it better than catching and throwing 50 pound bags all day long.

Janet, I suppose that driving a lift truck would be the preferred alternative.  I will keep my desk job I think and just rent them to those companies that find themselves needing one. or two, or three, or even better....more!   

Janet and Etta Sue, I have had a lift chair for five years and it is great.  My doctor suggested I get one after I had a stroke.  I can get out of the chair without lifting up very much.  I do like to recline in my chair.  Medicare paid for the motor and mechanism which was about $250.00 of the cost.

Iain and Jenny, that is terrible for a virus which makes calls for which you get charged.  I have a cable connection and the computer isn’t connected to the phone at all.  I doubt if the virus could make a call from here.

Sonja, my photo equipment consists of my camera, so I am definitely an amateur.

Iain, we all have our struggles but we don’t all have the ability to express in words the things which go through our minds.  God doesn’t want us to live in fear. 

Heb 2:14-15  Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death-- that is, the devil--and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.[/b]  (NIV)

I Jn 4:16-19 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.  In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.[/b] The one who fears is not made perfect in love.  We love because he first loved us.  (NIV)


--- Papa John          <)))><<   
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