Christian Photographers Community

Morning Devotional...


As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow Me.  And he arose and followed him.
Mark 2:14

The call of Levi was surprising in that he expressed no previous spiritual interest.

It was sudden in that it came as the Lord was "passing by."

It was simple--"Follow Me"--requiring no rituals, debate or struggle.

And it was significant in that it opened the door of faith to "many" who followed Christ, as Levi's heart and home were opened to the Lord.

May we never doubt what God can do!
--Mark Kolchin

Thanks to all for the Birthday Greetings.  My brother phoned last night, other than that, it was just another day....Brightened by your cheery posts!

Like so many others, I enjoy hearing about the big and little adventures in everyone's life.  Encouraged by posts like the one where Jane told about her wood problem being resolved and the kindness of friends.  Or Gloria's phone call from someone she considered her'angel'.  Strength comes from sharing and knowledge comes from the many devotionals and favorite Bible verses that are posted.  Joy comes from hearing about the coming baby and pleasure from Sarah popping in to say Hi to all of us.  Courage comes from the strength of those who strive to cope with their problems and do it with dignity.  That is what makes this a worthwhile place to visit.

Pleasant dreams all and God Bless.

Liz

Good Morning everyone.
Papa John, I am a day late, but recognized the quote as being by Joseph.  Good question.  Ask another one, maybe I can catch it sooner. 
Pat, hello.  I try to get here as much as I can, but lately have not been able to get here.  We have been having one thing after another.  Earl's sister, who was in nursing home, died last week.  We had a lot of out-of-state relatives here.  We had funeral here at our church, and then 4 of us went with her for burial beside her husband, 325 miles away.    On top of that, Earl has been having one medical problem after another.  I had my share too, but doing OK from that now. 
I have learned the meaning of "The joy of the Lord shall be your strength".  He really brought me through all those miles that I was dreading. 
Everybody have a great day.  I am going to bed now.
Hasta Manana!
Love,  Janice

Goodmorning.

Thanks for the dev. Pat. 

Janice.  I thank-God for your faith at this time.  My word everything does seem to come at one doesn't it?  May our Lord continue to bless and uphold you and Earl.

Papa John.  ...and me, same as Janice.  Well I am the late developer...slow coach 

Liz that was a lovel post and very true.  Thank-you.

Rachel.  Hello again.  Oh yes more of Dexter...glad you are still looking after him.

Marilyn.  Praise God that He did work it out for you re Gloria., also re the lovely new fridge.  He always gives his children the best.  "If you ask for bread will He give you a stone.".

Rain, rain, rain...and still more rain and windy weather over here in u.k.

Let go and let God this day folks.

Jenny

Good Morning Everyone!

I'm going to hear the Gaithers tonight in Toronto so this will be another busy day for me.

Nice to see you drop in Janice but so sorry that you've had problems lately. 


Rachel, you're missed when you "forget"!     We love to hear from you.  Thanks for posting more of Dexter.


Hi Jenny!  You're having a lot of rain over there?  It actually looks like rain here but it hasn't made up its mind yet.  LOL


Glad you enjoyed the birthday wishes, Liz. 

I'll try to drop in again before I leave for Toronto.

Good Morning I am up early this morning. The Lord woke me up at 4:30 am to pray. I have been praying for the needs of Jane and Jenny and another friend of mine from church who will be undergoing Gastric bypass surgery on Oct. 19th.

I will only be going to Gloria's this afternoon long enough to vacuum up some glass for her. She will not be there as she will be at the GONA that I told you about yesterday.

The new PSP class will be starting Oct. 3 I am so looking forward to that. So I am happy that  weill not be working so many hours.

I have an appointment with a Mortgage broker Monday at 10 am to get the paperwork filled out to be prequalified to become a home buyer. Please keep this in your prayers. That if it is the Lord's will and He wants me to buy a house that eveything will just fall into place. I know that He will supply all my needs and He knows what those needs are.

Going to check out the other threads now.

TTYL

My, but it is great to read what all you people are doing even if it is just 'waving as you pass through'!  

Liz, you took the words right out of my mouth with your post.  I am uplifted and concerned about everyone's post...just don't put it in words.  Just know that the posts are read and silent prayers are said.

Janice, so sorry to hear about Earl's sister.  I know that has been a concern for you and Earl.  Just a thought...you didn't say your last good-bye to her.

Today is Saturday and Jerry and I are headed south to a big reunion.  It is cloudy out.  I have shut all my windows and turned on the A/C.  I don't mind driving in cloudy weather.  Just praying that the rain holds out for Tony and Charlene.  But we do need rain here....sorry, you southern people.

?º°`°º?ø,¸¸,ø?º°`°º?ø?º°`°º?ø,¸¸,ø?º°`°º?ø?º°`°º?ø,¸¸,ø?º°`°º?ø?º°`
"The more you complain, the longer God lets you live."

Hi everyone.  Today caps off what has been a truly beautiful week of weather here in Georgia.  It is predicted we will continue to experience similar weather unless we get some rain from the hurricane coming into Florida in the morning.  It all depends on the track it takes.

I have a  clear schedule for today.  I got up late so had to hurry to pick up my friend to go to the cafe for coffee this morning.  After I finish posting here I will work more on my church webpage.  I finally figured out yesterday how to improve the menu system I was using so have some revisions to make on some of the existing pages.

Liz, I thought your comments were excellent on the benefits received from participating on CP. 

Etta Sue, hope you have a good family reunion. 

Janice, sorry about Earl's sister but know she has been very ill.  Glad you are doing better.

Pat, I know you will enjoy the Gaither's tonight.  Is Ruthie going with you to the concert?

Marilyn, glad you got your refrigerator.  I was happy for you to read that you will have to be working less hours for Gloria.  How did her interview about her driver's license go?

Jenny, hope everything doesn't mold over there with all the rain. 

Rachel, I will check out the new photos of Dexter.  It looks like he is really growing quickly.

Chris, thought that was a good piece by Rev. Tozer. 

I have been missing the postings from Janet and several others we haven't heard from for a bit.  If you drop by please say hi. 

Beth, did you get your internet connection straightened out?  Know you will be happy to see your Mother and Darrel back home.

A special greeting to those who have posted and I haven't commented to.

Yes, Larry...   Ruthie bought the tickets way back in June or May for this concert so we'll be going on the subway together along with another of Ruthie's friends.  I've never been in the Air Canada Centre so just that will be an experience.


Marilyn, my PSP course started this past week but with my little trip to Niagara Falls, I'm already behind so I have to play "catch-up" in the next few days.


Hi Etta Sue!

Larry I have the automatic updates set on my computer and I thought I had it all downloaded automatically. However this morning  went I went to the update site to check it out it seems that I had it all but the most important part. The 79.80 mgs one.  Don't know how that happened.

Gloria's interview with DMV was ok I guess, I had to sit there and listen to her not be completely truthful about her diabetes, the constant dramatic fluctuations of her blood sugar readings. She is to get more papers filled out by her doctor, take the drivers and written test over again.

Pat I love to listen to the Gaithers. I just received a new CD by John Tesch  ": An invitation to Pray and Worship. A Journey to a Deeper FAith". It is in a little book witht he same title that he wrote. They are all instrumental. Except for he recites Psalm 103 NLT translation. John Tesch is a Messianic Jew and a wonderful Pianist and composer. I love his music. I got the book and CD free from calling in to an 800 number during his last concert at Red Rock. You would love this CD Pat.

TTYL

Did I tell y-all that my Chriopractor said to get a Tai Chi video? He said it is the best way to maintain  our bodies as seniors. It utilizes every muscle in the body in a gentle but effective way and helps us to maintain our balance. (Chi)

I have put an update in the P&P section about Albert, John's cousin.

This is a sad situation, and it is in http://christianphotographers.com/community/index.php?topic=1233.90

(I don't know how to do the one word links.)

Thanks

September 25   

Revival: It Requires Obedience

But why do you call Me "Lord, Lord," and not do the things which I
say? 
--Luke 6:46

It is my conviction that much, very much, prayer for and talk about
revival these days is wasted energy. Ignoring the confusion of
figures, I might say that it is hunger that appears to have no
object; it is dreamy wishing that is too weak to produce moral
action. It is fanaticism on a high level for, according to John
Wesley, "a fanatic is one who seeks desired ends while ignoring the
constituted means to reach those ends."...

The correction of this error is extemely difficult for it entails
more than a mere adjustment of our doctrinal beliefs; it strikes at
the whole Adam-life and requires self-abnegation, humility and cross
carrying. In short it requires obedience. And that we will do
anything to escape.

It is almost unbelievable how far we will go to avoid obeying God.
We call Jesus "Lord" and beg Him to rejuvenate our souls, but we are
careful to do not the things He says. When faced with a sin, a
confession or a moral alteration in our life, we find it much easier
to pray half a night than to obey God.  The Size of the Soul, 18-19.

"May this never be true of my life, Lord! I see the futility; I'm
convinced of the need. Now enable me by Your Spirit to live this
obedience. Amen."

---------------------------------------------------------------------
You are receiving this recurring mailing because you subscribed to
the daily Tozer devotionals from Literature Ministries International.

 "In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28).

    Annie Johnson Flint, that arthritic poet who herself wrote "through nights devoid of ease," put it this way:

In a factory building there are wheels and gearings,
There are cranks and pulleys, beltings tight or slack,
Some are whirling swiftly, some are turning slowly,
Some are thrusting forward, some are pulling back;

Some are smooth and silent, some are rough and noisy,
Pounding, rattling, clanking, moving with a jerk;
In a wild confusion, in a seeming chaos,
Lifting, pushing, driving, but they do their work.

From the mightiest lever to the tiniest pinion,
All things move together for the purpose planned;

Page 19

And behind the working is a mind controlling,
And a force directing, and a guiding hand.

So all things are working for the Lord's beloved;
Some things might be hurtful if alone they stood;
Some might seem to hinder, some might draw us backward;
But they work together, and they work for good;

All the thwarted longings, all the stern denials,
All the contradictions, hard to understand.
And the force that holds them, speeds them and retards them,
Stops and starts and guides them, is our Father's hand

Robert Browning Hamilton put it this way:

I walked a mile with Pleasure
    She chattered all the way;
But left me none the wiser
    For all she had to say.

I walked a mile with Sorrow
    And ne'er a word said she;
But, oh, the things I learned from her
    When Sorrow walked with me.

    Most of all, our suffering enables us to know God as we've never known him before. Job said of his own misery: "My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you" (Job 42:5). In the words of an old Audrey Meier song, God washed Job's eyes with tears so he could see.

When God wants to drill a man
    and thrill a man and skill a man
When God wants to mold a man
    to play the noblest part;
When he yearns with all his heart
    to create so bold a man
    that all the world will be amazed,
Watch his methods, watch his ways:

How he relentlessly perfects
    whom he royally elects;
How he hammers us and hurts us
    and with mighty blows converts us
    into trial shapes of clay
    which only God can understand,
While our tortured heart is crying
    and we lift beseeching hands.

How God bends, but never breaks
    when his good he undertakes;
How he uses whom he chooses
    and with every purpose fuses us;
By every act induces us
    to try his splendor out --
God knows what he's about!

        - Author unknown

   There you go.... some things to dwell upon when reality seems to bite you!

     
To be "in Christ" is to endure suffering,if you never suffer like other Christians, well, perhaps you should examine your relationship with God.
When you do suffer, it is not pleasant and is definately not something for which we would ask!
But if we regard it all as being from His loving hand, and that it is making us more like Jesus who was "made perfect through suffering"- Heb ch 2 v 10.
Then it can be endured with thanksgiving and praise, knowing that one day, we too shall be "perfect."
Truly as we abide in Him we shall see Life with a capital L !

 Thanks Pat for posting the pictures,my mom called me this morning they were in Indianapolis,headed to St Louis.they get home sunday night so metime,Happy belated Birthday to I'm sorry I forgot whose Birthday it was,anyway hope you had a good one,Beth

Well we left this morning around 9:00 o’clock and drove over here to Pigeon Forge.  It has been a beautiful day for us.  We took a nap after we got our stuff in the room.  We had stopped by the grocery and picked up a few things and right now Cornelia is fixing some corn beef hash and eggs for our supper.

I am writing this without first getting on line because I will have limited time on line and will not try to respond to the posts though I will read them.  I hope you are all having a good day.  Tomorrow morning we will go to church here in Pigeon Forge.  Maybe I will slip back in here tomorrow afternoon.

John 3:14-16
14   Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,
15   that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.
16   "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
(NIV)

--- Papa John          <)))><<   
[/color]

Just stopping by for a few moments.  I have prepared Spinach Lasgne for my supper and I think I used too much spinach, good thing I love spinach huh? 

After Fay's today i went to Gloria's to clean up the bottle of Blackberry jam that she broke on her kitchen floor last night. She wasn't there tho'

Got 2 inches cut off my hair. It is still long.

TTYL

Found a little time and have stopped in to expound on the happenings of the past couple of days!
The author who wrote:  'Life is like walking across a bog.  You can get sucked down without warning!', surely had it correct.....

For the past few weeks, Amanda noticed a cat around in the area and was horrified when little kids next door started throwing stones at it.  Seems the cat was looking for love.  Fortunately, the mom yelled for them to stop.  Amanda did not know it was a stray until it started hanging around our yard and also around the rabbits.  So she checked it out and found it thin and neglected, brought it food and found it was actually starving.  One thing let to another and it ended up in the garage, with lots of love, food and a small temp. litter box.  She discovered a tattoo and so it was decided to take it to the local vet and check if anyone would claim said cat...of course by now we have totally been wrapped around it's weak little paw. 

The vet found it belonged to owners in another area some miles down the highway....many miles down the highway.  Not likely to have wandered and most likely abandoned.  They gave us the phone number and details and Wendy made two phone calls, leaving messages.  NO response.  After much discussion (mildly heated, as I did not think we needed another cat, and neither did Ralph) we took it to the SPCA to get them to check and also see to it's state of health.  Decided that we will take it if not claimed and thus making the thing legal.  The family are known animal show  people and not inclinded to be this way....only thing is it looks as if they have split as a family, due to only the father's response on the answering machine.  Lord Love a Duck!!!!!

The cat is young and very loving and lovely.  If it did get lost, I am certain they will be happy to have it recovered and safe.  If not...guess Squeek is going to have some competition.  Lord Love a Duck!!!!


Pleasant dreams all and God Bless.

Liz

Jerry and I had a wonderful time at the reunion.  It was about 2 hours from Jerry's place so it was a nice drive.  I got to see one of my first cousin's and all of his 4 kids, spouses, and some of the grandkids.  Also it did seem wild that everyone there was related to me in some way or another.  Maybe it was my grandfather's oldest sister's g g grandchild but we were related.  We prepaid for a catered meal and luckily, I stayed on my diet.  Then we headed to Greenfield.  The simulcast for the 40 Days of Purpose was still going on but we just made a pit stop and came on home.  My eyes are tired from the A/C in the car and the night driving.  But all and all....what a great day!!!!

Hi!  We are back from church service and a special dinner tonight - honoring a friend who is a retired college campus pastor.  Also, a fund-raiser for the campus ministry.  It is a great place for students to seek answers and just talk - so important at a state college, maybe even more important than a Christian school. 

The camper is mostly packed and it has very little storage so I will put our food into coolers and we will take off tomorrow as we have never pulled this 500 miles before and want to take 2 days instead of rushing.  Fall leaves are turning and it should be crisp and nice going to Utah.  We will be gone 4 days and return to a houseful with family here to watch a grandson play hockey all next weekend. 

So, I am just writing to wish everyone a good week. 

Janice:  I especially wish you strength through this time. 

Praying for all in Haiti and now those in eastern Florida. 
Carol

Hi Everyone,

I want to ask all of you to be in prayer for my sister's 6 year old grandson.   He had a terrible accident the other day.  He got onto his dad's 4-wheeler (it was something he had been told not to do) his dad was in the kitchen and heard it start up.  Before he could get out to him, the 4-wheeler was airborn and ended up turning up-side-down on little Garrett.  Garrett is in Memorial Mission hospital in Asheville, NC, in ICU in critical condition.  He has 4 fractures in his skull and has damage to his brain stem.  He is in a coma. PRAISE GOD, he has made it through the first very critical 72 hours.

Garretts mother is my niece.  She has been saved recently so she is leaning on the Lord for her sanity.  My sister is so very heartbroken she can't hardly stand it.  Even though she is saved, this is her "little buddy".  He stays with her alot and he loves his meemaw.  She is so pitiful. She has only left the hospital once since it happened on Wednesday.  She dosn't want to be gone when he wakes up.  It just breaks my heart to pieces.

One other heartbreaking thing in this situation is my niece.  She was recently sentenced to 8 years in prison.  She is in the same prison that Martha Stuart wants to be in.  Bridget is 12 hours away and the warden won't let her go see her baby.  She is able to call but can't leave to go see him.  She is in there because of drugs and it is only her fault and satan's lures that got her there, so please pray for her too.

It's all very sad!!!  My sister has said that everyone in the prison has been counting down the 72 hours and that people there were praying that had never uttered a prayer before!!  God may be using this situation for good where we can't even imagine.

Please be in prayer that He will give the family back little Garrett and completely heal his precious little body!!!

Thank you!
Jona

oh, Jona! I am so sorry to hear about this little boy!  I will keep him and the whole family in my prayers. 

Time to lock the door.  Please join us in tomorrows
New Every Morning.