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Morning Devotional...


Creation and the Gospel

John 1:3

"All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made."

What does the Bible's teaching on creation have to do with the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Are these just two separate and unrelated biblical teachings? Christians often ask us, "Shouldn't we just worry about the basics? Why worry about a teaching like creation?" Indeed we should be concerned with basics.

But what happens to Christ's work of salvation if creation is not true? If evolution is true, then death came into the world long before the first humans and their sin. If death is not a result of sin, why did Christ have to receive the penalty of sin-death on a cross. So in challenging human origins, evolution challenges the origin of sin and its effect on humanity. And in challenging this, evolution challenges the very reason Christ came to earth! He becomes just a misguided being on the wrong planet! The Bible tells us that all Scripture was given to make us wise unto salvation. That includes Genesis. The first chapter of St. John's Gospel tells us that all things were created through the Word-the Word who became flesh.

We see that Word in action in Genesis 1 when we read, "And God said . . . ." That Word who made us and everything is the very same Word who came and purchased our salvation.

So Genesis, beginning with the first chapter, is actually the beginning of God's revelation to us of the Person and work of the Son of God-our Savior Jesus Christ. If we reject God's revelation about our Savior in Genesis 1, we have only part of a Savior-and only part of Christ is no Christ at all!


Creation Moments

Good morning to everyone.  Thank you Pat for the morning's devotional.  I have that scripture reading placed on my living room wall.  Coming to an understanding that evolution is a misguided theory was a great revelation to me and it was the revelation that brought my friend Nigel (the one with MS) to a saving knowledge of the Lord.

Just looking at this morning's scripture reading from another angle; I used to sing a song that contained these words:

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If God created the heavens and the earth and this proves that He is more than capable of keeping us all right to the very end of our lives.  I love that thought.

God bless everyone and I trust that you all have a good day.  Thank you to those who were gracious enough to welcome me back to the group.  It's nice to meet up with you again.

Anthony.

9.30a.m.

Goodmorning Anthony....
Thanks for reminding us that Jesus "carries"...."I HAVE MADE AND I WILL CARRY ...TO GREY HAIRS I WILL CARRY YOU"........I had been praying that for Christopher.

Another dull and damp morning but I pray that the aftenoon will be sunny again...It changed after lunch yesterday.  You never can tell how a day will turn out.

Thank-you for all the "messages" yesterday...re my email problem.  When I finally got back in at 9p.m. there were 14 messages waiting......SPY BOT slows up Windows XP....

I deleted Spy Bot.  I have some Microsoft Patches and McFee etc., I've also checked my Firewall.....I am deleting all these Ads that keep coming in.  Had one for cheap cigarettes from Ireland last night with a link....DELETED!

May the Lord "shower" you with Blessings today  folks..
NOT BURST PIPES!!!

Love Jenny.

This wonderful doctrine is the foundation of our faith. Our standing before a Holy God is the same in time as it will be in eternity. As Christians, we stand before our King 'just as if' we had never sinned!

Truly remarkable!

It sounds to good to be true, but it is true. Our pride will often get in the way and prevent us from enjoying the liberty of the Gospel. Pride will just not accept that we have been freely pardoned. Pride demands that we have a part to play. Pride wants to earn salvation!

Why is it so difficult for me to take God at His word?
Why must I make life difficult for myself? Why must I try and improve on what God has done and what He offers needy sinners in the Gospel.

I readily accepted my justification and the forgiveness of my sins when first I believed. It was no problem to me then. I came as a beggar, crying out to God for mercy and He gladly answered my prayers.

Now I labour and fret over the least thing. Molehills become mountains of my own making, and the plain paths become ever so crooked and rough through my own planning. I just cannot step back and leave it all to God. I seem to want to keep hold on the reins that determine my own destiny.

How foolish can I be?

God's way is perfect, my way is folly! God's plan of salvation was perfected in the bowels of Eternity. It is a glorious redemption made possible by an amazing sacrifice. God in the flesh dying in my place on the cross at Calvary.

What can I possibly add to that? Nothing but my sin. Humility is taking God at His word. Pride will not! It is the truth that sets us free. If I try to keep the law by my good works in order to please God then my salvation is no longer by grace.

Think about it! What is grace? Basically it is getting something for nothing that we just do not deserve.

GRACE! God's Riches At Christ's Expense.

Our duty in life is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. The only way that I can do this is to believe on Him. I can only enjoy God if I know that my sins are forgiven and that I have boldness to approach Him as my Father and not as my condemning Judge!

It is God who has set us free, why then do we so often bring ourselves into needless and painful bondage? Pride, pride, pride! It is a sin that I hate or perhaps love! I put it into practice so often that I must labour to rid myself of it's shackles. Only when I swallow it do I enjoy peace. A peace that passes all understanding.

My friends labour this day to be free. Allow the work of grace to envelop your soul, leaving no place for pride or works. Flee everything that bears your own fragrance and let the open wounds be cleansed by the balm of Gilead. You and I both know that we do not deserve this mercy. But remember, it was not you or I who purchased it.

It was Christ! The cost was His life. Dare we refuse this free offer today? I think not. Enjoy your God today. Stand before Him just as if you had never sinned.

LOL

Your brother in Christ

Iain

Hello and a Great Blessed Day to all:
Believe-it-or-not yesterday I posted here..but it went away in cyber space.  Maybe it goes to somebody else?  
Glad to see you posting, Anthony..welcome back!
Thank you Mieka for your post yesterday..I wanted to ask you how do you pronounce your name..Meeka or Miika?
I've been out of touch over the weekend as my sister spent time here with me and we started our winter 'quilt' project.  No time for the computer but I am still praying.  
Another great devotion, Pat.  What a great explanation of creation!  Faith is so important in believing.  I liked the explanation of Jesus and creation being one.  I thank God for these morning devotions.  
Must go get ready for work..I leave in 15 min.

1.45PM
Thank you Pat for your good devotional
also thanks Iain for your good words i also read often
in APPLES OF GOLD i have found it on your website.
Anthony i also have good read your words this morning
"If He carries the weight of the world upon his shoulders then my brother?sister i know He'll carry you". Yes He is also carry me and He give me no more to care if i can care.
Also i thank all the people who are praying for me.
Now i have balm on my back that is not for healing but
for the pain. I also have called my own doctor. When i have been to the hospital with my back and the result
of the pictures has get our doctor but he was on holidays there was an other very young doctor and he
has only writen in the letter for my chiropracter the hips and the vertrebrae are not standing good.
My chiropracter has put them right.
But now the assistent from my own doctor is also back
from holidays. Now she say to me you have not enough calcium in your bones but she said it is not
osteoporosis. But that is the reason that you have
pain when the chiropracter is coming to much on your
back.
Fryday i must go to my own doctor and i must go the
assisten was saying to me back to the hospital but
now an other hospital. But the doctor they there was in the holidays he has not writen in the letter that i have not enough calcium in my bones. He can not seen that. I was angry. I say must i wait till i have ostoporosis? She say no but that is the reason that
you get pain when he is given you a treatment.
This is a long story but Fryday i go to my own doctor and he is good.
I hope that you all can read this i know i have make
mistakes.
This morning a friend has helped me with my work
that was pleasant whe also have had a lot coffee.
In Holland we are drinking a lot coffee not tea

I wish you all a very good day
God bless you and He is with you all days of your live
Bye for now  RIA

Here i am again
It was a very long story i hope you all can understand
But the chiropracter i pay not himself.
That is paying THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE
I make him not rich

Bye Ria

Well, I have just popped home from work and thought I would look on the forum for some more uplifting words.  Thank you Ian for the exposition on justification by faith.  It seems that this doctrine has caused such controversy in the church down through the development of the church and many christians who have gone before have suffered dreadfully for upholding this truth.  Thank you Ian for bringing it to our attention today.

Jenny, you wrote:

Quote"...."I HAVE MADE AND I WILL CARRY ...TO GREY HAIRS I WILL CARRY YOU"

I am so glad to realise that God who has started a work in his church is able and willing to complete it.  I love the verse in the gospels that tells us that "...having loved his own, he loved them to the end."  He begins a  good work and brings it to completion - what a lovely thought.

Maria, I am so sorry to hear about the pain that you have.  I have never suffered in this way and find it hard to find a comforting word, but I do pray that the Lord will give great grace during these days.  Thank you for coming onto the forum while you are in such pain, it is a delight to have met you.

Kathy, it's good to see you today and thank you for your welcome back.  It's good to read everyone's messages again.

I do pray that everyone's day is going well and I'll pop in later on to read how everyone is doing.

Anthony.

Do you need some encouragement today?  I just received this, and find it very uplifting!


"The things which are impossible with men are possible with God." (Luke 18:27)

Right now you and I are standing face-to-face with situations in our nation that need to be changed. Some of those situations look totally impossible. But they're not. Because this country belongs to God.

He's the One Who brought the United States of America into existence. He had a special purpose for it. He needed a country where the gospel could be preached freely and not suppressed.

It was God Himself Who stirred the heart and mind of Christopher Columbus and planted within him the dream of charting a new course to the West. Columbus said so in his own journals. He wrote: "It was the Lord Who put into my mind--I could feel His hand upon me--the fact that I could sail from here to the Indies. All who heard of my project rejected it with laughter, ridiculing me. There's no question that the inspiration was from the Holy Spirit because He comforted me with rays of marvelous inspiration from the Holy Scriptures."

Who brought Christopher Columbus to America? God brought him. This is God's nation. He raised it up, and it's not going to be taken away from Him.

The next time you're tempted to look at situations in this country as impossible, remember Who it belongs to. Then you can discover America just like Christopher Columbus did--by faith.

Scripture Study: Psalm 106

Good Morning Everyone!

I had such a short night!  Do you ever have these nights where you keep on looking at the clock and see it has just moved about 10 minutes from the last time you checked?  LOL  That was the kind of night I had.  Sometimes you can blame these nights on coffee but I didn't have any yesterday.  It was my "water day".


Anyway, it's lovely to see your posts.

QuoteOur duty in life is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. The only way that I can do this is to believe on Him. I can only enjoy God if I know that my sins are forgiven and that I have boldness to approach Him as my Father and not as my condemning Judge!

Iain, thanks for the reminder of what our chief end is--to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever!  Thanks for the very meaningful words to all of us today.



Anthony, that's a good verse to have on the wall.  What a terrific reminder that truly our God is able.  Anthony, do you go out to work now?  I do hope that you are experiencing better health and that this is now possible for you.



Sorry you've been having so many problems with your email, Jenny.  I sure hope that now you have it straightened out.    You mention about the dull day you're having.  It's the same here today.  But I don't mind it as it's pleasant to work in the garden without perspiration dripping down onto my glasses!  


Oh, dear Ria...  I'm truly sorry that you are experiencing so very much pain in your back.  I'm so happy that the National Health pays for the chiropractor's services.  It doesn't hear in Canada.  So going to a chiropractor is something for only those who can afford it or have a medical plan that covers it.


Kathy, hope you have a good day at work and then come back and join us later.  I'm sorry that you lost your post.  It happens so often on the internet.  

Good Morning Janet!

Thanks for that reminder.  

Quote"The things which are impossible with men are possible with God." (Luke 18:27)

What a great thought!  Oh that we grasp the true meaning in that verse!  

What are your plans for today?  I hope you have a good one, Janet.

Thank you Anthony and Pat for your words
but i am so afraid that i later get osteoporosis
I hope it not
I love you all
Bye Ris

MOCHA MARK!!!

I received this in an email.  I received great 'food for thought' from it.  Hope you enjoy it, too!

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36 WAYS TO REDUCE STRESS

1. Pray

2. Go to bed on time.

3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.

4. Say "No" to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.

5. Delegate tasks to capable others.

6. Simplify and unclutter your life.

7. Less is more.  (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)

8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.

9. Pace yourself.  Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time: don't lump the hard things all together.

10. Take one day at a time.

11. Separate worries from concerns.  If a situation is a concern find out what God would have you to do and let go of the anxiety.  If you can't do anything about a situation...forget it.

12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.

13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.

14. K.M.S.  (Keep Mouth Shut).  This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.

15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.

16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.

17. Get enough exercise.

18. Eat right.

19. Get organized so everything has its place.

20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.

21. Write thoughts and inspirations down.

22. Every day, find time to be alone.

23. Having problems?  Talk to God on the spot.  Try to nip small problems in the bud.  Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.

24. Make friends with Godly people.

25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.

26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good "Thank you, Jesus!"

27. Laugh.

28. Laugh some more!

29, Take your work seriously, but yourself not at all.

30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).

31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most.)

32. Sit on your ego.

33. Talk less; listen more.

34. Slow down.

35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.

36. Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before.  GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU.  

    "If God is for us, who can be against us?"  (Romans 8:11)

Thanks to all for their inspirational posts.  Much enlightening today.

It is another cloudy, 100% humidity day today.  I am beginning to understand why people get sad when there is a lack of sunshine.  I am ready to see the sun shine again.  Today I am going to attempt to see Jerry.  The water is still high and some roads are still closed.  He lives across a creek/river that is still above flood stage but I will try and, yes, I know better than to drive in standing water.  The news is very saddening.  So many poeple have lost so many possessions because of this rain and some businesses have closed causing jobs being lost as well.  God is in control...we just have to have faith that He knows why he causes us suffering and grace to accept it.

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"It's frustrating when you know all the answers, but nobody bothers to ask you the questions."

Thank you Etta Sue for your message i love it
and i must for the first time this day
I Love your all it is very nice to be with you i have found real christians
God bless you all
My name is not ris  BUT  RIA

Good Morning Pat, Iain, Anthony, Ria, Jenny and Kathy. Also to all those who will come in to visit today You too Janet.

The devotionals are wonderful today and very thought provoking.  I just finished reading Micah today. In my prayer time this morning I didn't have requests so I spent the time praising and worshipping God for all the blessings I have seen in my life as well and in the lives of others.The many answered prayers. God is so good All the time.

Anthony: how is your mum? Are you still having those awful headaches?

Jenny you are such a blessing to me, thank you for the inspiring email you send me and the card I received by regular mail yesterday.

TTYL

Etta Sue, I've been watching the news about Indiana on the TV and people being drowned or missing in the swollen rivers.  It's awful.

Hi Marilyn.  I almost stepped on you!  HAHAHA!  Hope your day will be a good one.


Ria, I take a prescription drug called "Evista" which is supposed to "PRODUCE" bone and it seems to be working as my bone density test was better after three years.  

RIA, don't you take calcium?  The coral calcium is said to be the best, that's what I am taking, and it helps me to sleep.

I had a night like Pat's only for me, it was only one or two minutes that elapsed between looking at the clock.

Etta Sue, would you please send me those stress reduces via email?  Thanks.  I have trouble printing out only selections from here.

Hello to all of you!  Hi Marilyn!  Got more stuff to sort, see you later!

Hello all.  this is short as I am posting from Bernard's parents.  We had to take Travis to the dr. this morning -- that asthma thing again.  The dr. felt he was doing as well as expected and to keep giving him inhalers and his nebulizer treatments.  

I think I mentioned that a week or so ago, we suspected that lightening had zapped our modem.  Apparently, though we are not sure, it got some sectors on our c drive as well.  Bernard started the scan disk and defrag last night to "clean it up" about 10:30 or 11.  This mornign at 10, it was still going!    

I can get on CP and DPC at home, but I can't get Yahoo.com or google.com, and the browser we were using doesn't run, either.  Ugh.

Anyway, I hope everyone has a good day, and if I am "quiet" that is why.  

Love
kamrat

I'm so sorry, Karma!  

Get that computer fixed, Bernard!  We need you folks on here!  

I dislike hearing of these little children with asthma.  Give him a special hug from me.

  A HellO to everyone today  

And a welcome to Mr Mocha Mark today too.

Many good words here today again. I SO love to come here and read.

Ms Kathy
Thank you Mieka for your post yesterday..I wanted to ask you how do you pronounce your name..Meeka or Miika?

Ms Kathy, honest, I do not know what is the correct sound from these.  
My name it is "Mi Eka Chi" many call me "meeks" or "Mieka"
I never think of how the words will sound to others   I am not a much help with this I fear. I think perhaps my friends here can tell you better than I.  

Good morning ... I just received a phone call regarding my Pastor Bev.  Please keep us all in your prayers today, okay?  Our God is still in control ... I'm so glad He's God and I'm NOT!

7p.m.

Dear Jane,
I am sending ARROW PRAYERS for Pastor Bev.

I am going to be thinking of her and praying for her throughout the hours ahead even during this night. I don't sleep much and God uses the time for prayer.

GOD BLESS PASTOR BEV

Anthony:  How good to see your posts.  You look so cool with your sun glasses!  

Carol

It is now sprinkling rain and I am hearing thunder, so I think it is time to shup down the computer until I see what is going to happen around here today.

Got a call for another job I will check on it tomorrow after work. It is in Sunny Brae. that's where Al lives.

be back after awhile

Hello everyone, it's taken me all day to get on here and actually post something, though I've peeked in a couple of times.  Good to see everyone posting.  Etta Sue, I'm sorry about all the flooding, what a terrible predicament.  I hope you're alright over there.

Meika, great to see your smiling face and sunny cheerful posts!

Pat, you must be pretty busy today!  Of course I'm always glad you can get on and post!

Karma, I agree with Pat, we need you folks on here!  How's the study going?  I think you mentioned you were starting a women's study, right?

Jane, I've been praying for Pastor Bev, keep us updated.

Ria, how's your back doing?  I've been praying about that too.

Well, I have a little too much energy to sit at the puter any longer, so I'm going to go blow off some steam.  God bless you all and hope you have a great evening.  Jen.

This seems appropriate this afternoon...

  I pray for you every day ms Jane. And for ms Pastor Bev too.

I hope it is a wonderful day for everyone