Christian Photographers Community

Morning Devotional...


I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:14

Perseverance is tremendously important in the life of the believer.

Were the Christian life a 100 meter dash, we would do reasonably well. However, the race set before us is a marathon, requiring abiding steadfastness.

Abraham Lincoln said, "I'm a slow walker, but I never walk backwards."

Thomas Edison maintained, "Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up."

Winston Churchill urged his listeners, "Never, never, never, never give up!"

"Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it" (1 Thess. 5:24).

Keep on.
--W. Ross Rainey

Thank you Pat, yes I try to keep walking forwards, without looking back, keeping my face towards the Lord. It has been a corker (beautiful) of a day here, I hope Spring stays a while, we need the light to brighten us up!!!!!  ;D As I get ready to bed down for the night, (making sure my 5 cats are outside) I think of you all there getting ready to start another day. Isnt God good?........

Goodmorning Pat, Soni and Jean.

A perfect devotional this morning.  Thank-you.  Just exactly what I needed. I can't seem to get motivated this morning. I too am a "slow walker"...slow at everything   :-[ and I am trying not to walk backwards. Didn't someone say "He who doesnt go forward goes backward"...

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith: who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds."

Hebrews 12:1-3

As I typed out the above dear Judy Mc came to my mind.

Judy Mc How are you.  God bless dear.  Thinking of you. :-*

Love to all.
God Bless.
Jenny.

                    Happy Birthday to Etta Sue

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Just a quick note as I have a mammogram scheduled this morning. I go to a special women's clinic and pay about $65 as opposed to going to the hospital and I believe that is over $120 now.  With our deductible, must pay anyway and do appreciate the clinic. 

It is crisp and cool this morning just as it should be in this part of the world at this particular time of the year.  Another great gift.  There are just so many gifts that it is impossible to think of every one. 

Carol

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May you have a blessed birthday!

Carol

Etta Sue, hope this birthday is most wonderful and that the new year will be one of peace, joy, and if possible good health and lotsa wealth!

Y'all have a wonderful day today.

Ruth Ann

Good Morning, Thank you Pat for the devotional I needed that today.

My fridge is working again,. The repairman called yesterday and told me to defrost it anyway so I did using my hair dryer and all is well today. So I will pick up my food fromthe church when I go to bible study tonight.

TTYL

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR ETTA SUE!!! I hope this is one of the best years you have ever had!  I pray all God's richest blessings in your life this year, and for many more.  (((((hugs))))))

It is chilly here in SW Kansas this morning, you can really feel fall in the air.  I have a dentist appointment at 10:10, to get my smile polished.  ;D

I got all of Beth's work caught up yesterday, now I hope to do the same (HA! Fat chance!) with mine today.  I am working on gradually decluttering the house, baby steps at a time, but it is making a difference.  The older I get, the less I can deal with clutter around me.

I have a list of names of people who will call Beth while we are away; we now have the trailer so that if need be, she can get out of it by herself, so I am feeling better about leaving her here.  Between trying to care for her needs, helping my sister and my Mom, it gets pretty hectic.  I am SO thankful to God for excellent health, so that I'm able to do what needs to be done.  God is Good......all the time!

Beth is working on thank you cards.  She said she is making 8 of them a day until she gets them all done.  She loves using rubber stamps to make cards, so I gave her a bunch of those for her birthday.  That's something she can still do.  Yesterday when I took her to town, the block where we had to go has no handicapped parking, and no ramp up onto the sidewalk.  I set her wheelchair up on the curb, thinking I could get her from the car to the curb and she could just sit down in the chair.  Well, she couldn't make it.  Her left foot absolutely refused to move, and I was supporting her, so I couldn't move it for her---she couldn't reach the car, a nearby tree or the chair.  We were stuck and she was very afraid she would fall.  I called to a young woman walking down the sidewalk and asked if she could please help us, and she did, thank God.  I hope He blesses her real good for her kindness.  So things are getting more difficult for Beth all the time.

I'd better hit "post" before I bore you too much........zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz   ;D ;D

Janet you are such an inspiration for the rest of us. May God richly bless you.

Hammer1958 is better known to us as John, Beth's friend.  We sure do welcome you.

Thank you all so very, very much for all the birthday greetings here and in email.  All of you on Christian Photographers are an inspiration to me and when I grow up I want to be just like all of you!!!!!   :-* :-* :-* :-*

Thanks you, Sarah, for asking your questions....I believe, we all have pondered that question.  Thank you, Al, Mike, Karma for the answers that God answers in His Book.

I am sad to realize that Mieka is 'on the road again' but oh, so happy to read that Mieka has applied to live in America.  That gives me hope that we won't have to keep saying....hurry back....we miss you, Mieka.  And thank you for the email...a much loved surprise.  

Yesterday was wonderful spending time with Ivalou, Marge and Betty.  The Gaither Family Resource center is great.  Weird that it is only 25 miles away and I hadn't heard of it before.  I did purchase the VHS of 'Back Home in Indiana' that was filmed live at the Paramount Theater in Anderson.  The Paramount has had many famous people perfrom there over the years and then it closed.  It was refurbished in 1996, I believe.  I was there last year to see 'The Temptations'.  It is very ornate on the inside and the accoustics are fantabulous.  I also bought a CD and then Betty surprised Marge and I with a CD for our birthdays.  We ate at the Latte Cafe at the center.  I got the Greek Salad with Greek dressing...a new venture for me and ½ Roast Beef Sandwich.  Both were wonderful and a great presentation.  The center has a lot of gifts and products to purchase...some reasonable but most very pricey!!!  

Today Jerry, Ivalou, Kaye Don, Barb and I are going out to eat...a tradition in our family.  I have chosen Olive Gardens...love those salads.  

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"Just when you think you are winning the rat race, along come faster rats."

Pat, Etta, Sonifo thank´s for the welcome words!

A little question: how do I get my personal photograph in my profile?

Lednam

QuoteBy Lednam~Pat, Etta, Sonifo thank´s for the welcome words!

A little question: how do I get my personal photograph in my profile?

Lednam

Lednam, click on the Profile icon at the top and go to Forum Profile Information and click on I have my own pictures then type in your url address and hit change profile.

Hi everyone, we finally got power back early this morning after having it out for about 24 hours.  We have had almost 6 inches of rain but fortunately haven't had any more rain today, as was originally predicted.  I am ready to see the sun again.  There are still a lot of folks in Georgia without power.  Rachel, glad to see that you had your power back.  I am certainly not complaining as we experienced nothing compared to what is happening in Florida. 

Happy Birthday Etta Sue! 

Welcome to Lednam and hammer 1958. 

Etta Sue, it sounds like you had a great day yesterday.  Enjoy the Olive Garden today.  We ate at an Italian restruarant last eveing with our friends.  It is called Carrabeas and has very good food.  We then went over to these friends home, along with the food from our nonworking refrigerator and freezer, and played UNO for a couple of hours.  They had not lost their power.

Janet, I haven't had a chance to look at your photo's from Beth's party but will do so shortly.  It sounds like it is becoming a real challenge to try to take her out.  However, great that you can still get her out as know that is good for her state of mind.  You certainly have your hands full.  Glad you will be able to get away for a little vacation.

Maryland, if your refrigerator is suppose to be frost-free it sounds like it isn't working very well.  Glad it is now working.  It sounds like you need to work a few less hours and glad to read that Gloria was accommodating to your request.

Carol, know you are happy to be back in your own home.  You live in a beautiful State for certain.

Jenny, thanks for thinking of me.  I am happy to be able to say I am feeling good today and the shortness of breath and severe tiredness seems to have left.  Hope it stays away. 

I am not going to be able to comment to everyone individually as I was very far behind.  I have read all the messages and it was nice to see all of you visiting here.

Thanks for the welcome everyone, it's nice to be made to feel at home.

I came in early yesterday and I missed the eternal security issue.  I do not believe in eternal security, but the longer I am a Christian, the more eternally secure I am.

I have walked on both sides of the fence and know what I knew in my heart of hearts.  At 12 yrs old I accepted Christ as my Savior and was baptised in an Assembly of God Church.  My SS teacher gave me what I now consider "bad information"

He told me that if I died with unforgiven sin, I would go to hell.  Well, I tried to be good and could not.  Every time I turned around I was asking God for forgiveness....I wanted to be completely current in my forgiven state.

I was walking the sidewalk in my town, realiized that I could never be sin free.....I said, "I give up" and walked away from God....for 20 years.

Watching Billy Graham one night, I asked Jesus to come into my life and a wonderful change took place.....something that had never happened before...even the first time 20 yrs earlier.  I was new, I felt new and I acted new and my habits became new (over a period of time)

Charles Stanley believes in eternal Security and so do a number of other radio preachers.  Stanley asks you to point to a time when your life changed.  If you cannot point to an exact time, then he says "It is likely that you never really committed yourself in the first place."

I know that I could point to a time at age 12 when my life changed...and I could also point to an exact time when I rejected God and did things my own way.

For 20 yrs I lived the life of a fallen man and all of the time I knew what I needed was God in my life.  I always said "Not yet."  Finally I made a deal with myself.  I said that I would become a Christian when Billy Graham came to Detroit in 1976.

In 1972 God said to my heart "Now."  I did and guess what?  Instead of going forward at the crusade in 1976....I worked at it every night and saw hundreds, nay thousands come to know Christ.

Was I saved those 20 yrs of wandering?  I don't think so.  I chose to reject God and that may just be the unforgiveable sin.

Am I wrong in thinking so?  I don't think so.  I have yet to read any Scripture to denouce my "heart of heart"feelings, but I have read some that have caused me to give it deep thought.

Has my brother who died recently, gone to Heaven?  He was saved and baptisted the same as me in 1952.  He too walked away and unlike me....never came back.  He said "I believe the same as you, but there must be more to it then asking for forgiveness, it sounds too easy."

This is where I hope that my theology is wrong.......  I missed so many opportuinities to talk to him and yet I did talk to him about his salvation.

Hmmmmmm...... It was his rejection of God, not my failure to talk to him about God that has determined his final resting place. Or was it?

It saddens me to think that I am right about his final destination.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FROM THE UK, ETTA SUE! :D

Thank you Pat for the devotional.   I especially love "Faithful is He who calleth you, who will also do it"  in 1 Thess.

I was about to post last night when my "wireless mouse's" batteries ran out.   Because I can't find another pair, I have to take out the ones in my mouse and charge them up.   Well after all night they are "good and charged up"

It is raining here.  I think it is the tale end of "Charley"  the hurricane that ravaged Florida.  What a terrible thing.  I hope the next one, forget its name, doesn't hit Florida again.   Enough!

My sister was a missionary in Mauritius.  That is an island where "cyclones" are prevelant.  Wow, sometimes there is no electricity for 3 weeks! 

My "serviceberry tree" that I planted in July seems to be doing well, but my "Magnolia" had all the leaves turn brown and drop off.  The garden centre doesn't know if it is because of all the rain or some kind of other problem.   This happened last year.  I will give it one more year and then pull it out and plant something else.   If anyone knows about Magnolia Trees, please let me know the remedy.   

I will read the posts and then respond later.     God bless

Love Ruthie

Hi Ruthie.  It's so nice to see you posting.  It seems like a long time.  I hope you have a look at the challenge photos and also at the prayer requests.

What kind of batteries does that mouse take?  You must get a couple of new ones.  Yes, we're getting rain tonight and we've been told that it definitely is the remnants of Frances that has worked its way up from Florida.


Well, I'm happy to say that I definitely am sure of my eternal security.  I was arrested by the Lord and I'm eternally in the hollow of His hands never to escape. 

Fast Eddie, good to read your testimony, and I hope with you that your brother is waiting in heaven.  None of us knows, only he and the Father.

I got Beth's microwave moved, and a cord so she can use her little grill, did more cleaning there, and then got rid of two huge bags of clothes from our closets, which had "shrunk" while hanging there. >:( ;D  So I'm making progress, little bit by little bit.  It is hard to convince Darrel to let go of stuff, more so than me, and I'm bad enough. :-\

I think I will lie down for a little while, I had a bad night again last night.  I think the stress has been more than I realized.  I want to go to church tonight, because we missed it (here) last Sunday, and will be away for the next three Sundays as well.  We did attend church in Manhattan last Sunday.

WISDOM is knowing what needs to be done; SKILL is knowing how to do it; and VIRTUE is doing it.

Hello to all who have been here today and all who willc ome in later. I am not naming names.

Larry I don't know for sure that my fridge is  working right at all. When I came home from work today there was still a couple of slots in the ice cube tray that were no frozen and the coils under the freezer are all iced up again. And just think I brought home everything that goes back inthe freezer. So I turned it up and put everything back in, we'll see what happens in the next day or two. The repair man told me to leave the doors open for two days, to defrost it. But that isnot  what I did.  can't go without my fridge for two days.

got to catch up here
TTYL

Whew! Thank goodness today was a "Friday" for me - I'm headed to Atlanta to see the kids tomorrow and Friday, returning on Saturday. Will work 1/2 day Friday afternoon meeting clients, so it won't be ALL plan, but maybe I can relax a bit.

I had difficulty finding a computer file from January 2002. Thank goodness, I'm fairly well organized and found it in the folder I so neatly tucked it into many months ago.

It will prove that a recent rush, rush data job was done correctly, according to the data map provided by the company that sends the file each month.

WHEW!!!! I just swiped Brother Al's handkerchief - needed to wipe the sweat from my brow.

Hammer, it's wonderful to see you here. We hope you'll feel part of us from the begnning and know that we love Beth and Janet and will open wide our arms for you, as well.

Y'all have a wonderful couple of days.

Ruth Ann

JANET WROTE: Fast Eddie, good to read your testimony, and I hope with you that your brother is waiting in heaven.  None of us knows, only he and the Father.

What troubles me about eternal security and Charles Stanley's approach:  How many people are walking around thinking that because they have said the right words they will go to Heaven.  How many are counting on eternal security and when in reality they do not have it, if that is possible.  (Just wondering)

Was this what Jesus was talking about when He said that He would say, "Depart from me I knew you not."

Or at least a partial interpretation...as Scripture has multiple meanings at times.

Want to see Al Moak's newly painted home?

CLICK HERE (http://christianphotographers.com/community/index.php?topic=3333.0)

Locking the door a bit early tonight as I must be up early tomorrow to go to London.

CLICK HERE (http://christianphotographers.com/community/index.php?topic=3227.0)