Christian Photographers Community

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The meaning of sanctification is “to set apart,” or “separate.”  Considering that the whole earth is in rebellion against God, sanctification is therefore  a process of separating those who have repented of their rebellion from those who remain in it.  It doesn't necessarily involve physical separation or social separation, but it must involve separation in thought, motivation, and behavior.

The Apostle Paul says, “How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?”  The point is that every true Christian has died to sin!  What an astounding statement!  Have you died to sin?  It's not a question you can answer flippantly.  But what does it mean to die to sin?

Does it mean that you don't sin anymore at all?  If that were the case, John wouldn't have to say as he does, “If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Every believer who is honest with himself knows we still sin.

If you’re really a Christian, then at some point you’ll have to think to yourself, “Well, that's really wonderful that my Savior died to sin and that I'm therefore dead to sin in Him.  But here it tells me that I should therefore no longer live in it - I should stop sinning!  How do I do that?  I hope you really do ask that question, because you should!  If you don't, perhaps there should be doubt whether you care - doubt that you've really passed from death to life.

But we’re told that we should “walk in newness of life because ”Christ was raised from the dead.”  What it means is that we can be “alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  We can live that life, in other words, because we live it in the living Christ - in our living, loving Lord, by His Spirit.  He dwells in us and enables us to do as He did!  It's called spiritual life, because it's life that comes from His Spirit.

In other words, brothers and sisters, it's a spiritual battle, but one we can win through our living Lord!  Just remember, though, that  a battle conducted in conjunction with the Holy Spirit of the living Christ, is a battle that involves prayer, knowledge of the Word,  encouragement by brothers and sisters, experience, - and all of the above over and over again.  But our Lord is ALIVE, and by His Spirit, albeit through blood, sweat, and tears, we can win!

That's the message of sanctification.  It tells us that we can - and must get into the battle - walk in newness of life through the resurrected Christ by His Spirit.

There’s going to be pain and frustration, but still you must give yourself over to the Spirit of the risen Christ and to a battle against sin that you can win!  As the apostle says, “Present your members” - your arms, your hands, your feet, your emotions and brains - EVERYTHING - to your risen King, and, by His Spirit, He will help you in the battle.
[/size]Al Moak


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One cool autumn day, Bridgette hurried home from school.

"Mom!" she called as she opened the door of her house. "Is lunch ready? I'm starved!"

"Almost ready, dear," answered her mother.

"I just can't wait another minute--it smells so good. You fix the best lunches, Mother."

"Did you ever think that there is Someone else you should thank?" asked her mother.

"Do you mean Dad?"

"Of course we must thank your dad, for he works hard to give us our food, but I was thinking of the One who makes the plants grow."

"You mean God! Does He really give us all our food?"

"Yes," Mother answered. "When God made the earth, He thought of putting all these things here for our food. Now He sends the sunshine and the rain to make the fruit and vegetables grow until they are ready for us to eat."

"But God doesn't make our bread, does He, Mom?"

"Before people can make bread," Mother answered, "God must make the wheat grow, for bread is made of wheat ground into flour. All the things we eat must first be made to grow. That is why we pray a blessing, thanking God for our food."

"May I pray the blessing this time?" asked Bridgette.

Together they closed their eyes and folded their hands while the little girl thanked God in this way:


"It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord" (Ps. 92:1).

Adapted from 365 Bedtime Bible Stories, by Thea Heinemann and Dorothy Ferguson. Copyright by Western Publishing Company, Inc. Reprinted by permission.

Good Night Everyone...

I do hope that all of our friends "south of the border" have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day tomorrow.

AMEN! Brother Al and Sister Pat,

Ephesians 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.

Colossians 3:17  And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

1 Corinthians 10:31  Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Love In Christ,
Tom

As the following editorial emphasizes, there are many Thanksgivings in the American history.
These were times when God was honored, praised and given thanks.  Thanked for welfare, for provision, for all things received.

Today  much of the focus has shifted, from the Giver of all things, to man, to self's accomplishment, even to the season, as if nature was an entity onto itself with no regard to it's origin or to it's creator.  Even the feast (Turkey) itself has become the sole focal point...too sad.

When I think of all that is missed in such a Thanksgiving.
I know what all I have received, the good and the less good (such only in that I have not seen the good in it - yet), all from the hands of God, my Loving Father, there is ample cause to give thanks each and every day...without fail.

To all of you, our American friends, a happy Thanksgiving.  Let your thanks be to God.

In His love,

Margit and Chris too
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Posted on Thu, Nov. 25, 2004
 



THE SUN NEWS
EDITORIALS

Coronado's Thanksgiving

First New World service took place in Texas


The first recorded Christian Thanksgiving in America occurred in Texas on May 23, 1541, when Spanish explorer Francisco Vasquez de Coronado and his men held a service of thanksgiving after finding food, water and pasture for their animals in the Panhandle.

Another Thanksgiving service occurred June 30, 1564, when French Huguenot colonists celebrated in solemn praise and thanksgiving in a settlement near what is now Jacksonville, Fla.

On Aug. 9, 1607, English settlers led by Captain George Popham joined Abnaki Indians along Maine's Kennebec River for a harvest feast and prayer meeting. The colonists, living under the Plymouth Company charter, established Fort St. George around the same time as the founding of Virginia's Jamestown colony. This site was abandoned a year later.

Two years before the Pilgrims on Dec. 4, 1619, a group of 38 English settlers arrived at Berkeley Plantation in what is now Charles City, Va. The group's charter required that the day of arrival be observed yearly as a day of thanksgiving to God. Captain John Woodleaf held the service of thanksgiving. Here is the section of the Charter of Berkley Plantation that specifies the thanksgiving service:

"Wee ordaine that the day of our ships arrival at the place assigned for plantacon in the land of Virginia shall be yearly and perpetually keept holy as a day of thanksgiving to Almighty god."

In addition to 1619, the colonists perhaps held service in 1620 and 1621. The colony was wiped out in 1622.

Thus Spanish, French and British colonists held several Thanksgiving services in America before the Pilgrims' celebration in 1621. Most of these early Thanksgivings did not involve feasting. They were religious in nature, i.e., worship services of thankfulness to God.


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Dennis Rupert 

         

       
 

   

Good morning everyone, my thoughts this morning rest on the Holy Comforter. God gave us Jesus, that we may be grafted in God’s Holy branch. Then he sent the Comforter to help us and to guide us on our quest for paradise. I have felt his presence many times, when I am thinking of doing something that is wrong. He pays me a call and lets me know what God thinks of that. I would be lost without his guidance. He helps to keep me on the almost straight and narrow. Truly, Gods mercy is shown to us through this wonderful guide. I thank God for all the wonderful tools that he gave us and I thank him for saving a sinner like me. Everyone have a blessed Thanksgiving Day and don’t forget to give thanks to God for his blessings.

Thanks Chris and Margit for such a lovely reminder.

Al ~ Thank you for the lovely devotion and to remind us how thankful we should be for our salvation through Christ Jesus.

All ~ I wish I could take credit for my graphics but I can't.  They are ones that I have saved from emails and websites.  But I am so happy that you enjoy them and hopefully gives you a smile when you view them.

Nita ~ We have lost 7 teenagers in the past month due to auto accidents.  A very sad time for friends and relatives of these students.

Beth ~ Sorry about your postponement of your Turkey dinner.  I do think we need to have a cyber dinner for ya.  Let's all bring our favorite dish to Beth's house!!!!!!  Let's see.  This year I will bring Corn Bread Salad!!! 

We have a skim of snow on the ground this morning.  31°F.  Sun is shining oh so bright.  But last night, our power was out 3 times.  Out long enough to have to reset clocks.   ::)  The airport at Indy was having flights coming in but some going out....depending where they were going...were being postponed.  It was really windy...coming from the north...always a bad sign.  Raining first and then turned to snow before bedtime.  One of Ivalou's daughter's and her family came yesterday from Ohio...six of them.  Today another daughter and her family is coming from Ohio...5 of them.  Her son lives about 15 miles away...5 of them.  One of his married daughter's is coming with hubby and her big tummy if she isn't in labor.   ;)  So with Jerry and I that makes 21 at Ivalou's for Thanksgiving Dinner.  And Jerry and I only have to walk 70 steps from my door to her door!!!  I love it.  That is only one great thing that I am so very thankful for today!!!

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"Practical guide for successful living:  Put your head under the pillow and scream."   

What a great idea, Etta Sue...

I'll bring SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE!

Quote from: Logar on November 25, 2004, 08:32:09 AM
Good morning everyone, my thoughts this morning rest on the Holy Comforter. God gave us Jesus, that we may be grafted in Godââ,¬â,,¢s Holy branch. Then he sent the Comforter to help us and to guide us on our quest for paradise. I have felt his presence many times, when I am thinking of doing something that is wrong. He pays me a call and lets me know what God thinks of that. I would be lost without his guidance. He helps to keep me on the almost straight and narrow. Truly, Gods mercy is shown to us through this wonderful guide. I thank God for all the wonderful tools that he gave us and I thank him for saving a sinner like me. Everyone have a blessed Thanksgiving Day and don't forget to give thanks to God for his blessings.

Thanks so much Logar for these lovely thoughts today.

Nita, thank you for your comments.  Paul reminds us that of “faith, hope, and love” that the greatest of these is love.  Love enables us to follow the difficult requirements of the new life in Christ. It isn’t hard to do good those who hate you if you love them.

Ruthie and Kathy, it is always good to see you drop back in after you have been away for awhile.

Janice, I am so sorry about your nephew who passed away in an accident back in the summer.  It is so sad that in a split second happiness is changed to sorrow.  Each day I read in the paper about fatal accidents and I think about the families who are devastated.

Al, thank you for the thoughts this morning about the fact that salvation = change.  I thought of the old song, “Love lifted Me.”  I WAS sinking deep in sin.  Then because of the love of God my whole life was changed and for 58 years I have been trusting Him.  Praise God.

And a good morning to Pat, Tom, Margit, Beth  Logar, Etta Sue, and the others who will come in today.

Col 4:2  Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.[/b] (NIV)

I will bring the Mince Meat Pies.

--- Papa John          <)))><<   
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HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL OUR U.S. FRIENDS



LOVE RUTHIE

Yes, Papa John, I agree with you that it's wonderful to see our friends that have been away return--Ruthie and Kathy.  

Here's a hymn just for you, Papa John...






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Thanks, Ruthie.
And may blessings be to you today also!  It's ok - go ahead and give thanks anyway, even though you don't have a T. Day!

I just feel like singing today...

     
   Good afternoon  everyone I was just off watching the movie"ET"
Today  is the day of thanksgiving but as I look back on the past few months and weeks I have thought that perhaps  all of us including myself should be thanksul to God everyday for everything as his word says "Give thanks unto the Lord all the Earth and  the key word is all,all give thanks,give thanks for all,I don't think I do that enough and not going to wait for the New Year to start.I have a lot to be thankful for,and just want people toknow I am speaking it out now.I am more grateful now and seeing myself prosper and be in good health as my soul is prospering.I thank God for all His goodness and the blessings I am recieving.My blessings asI count them one by one are family and friends,both that I know and don't know and now my best blessing whose name happens to be John
and for which I pray and thank God for each and every day for he has been such an achor to me a lot of times I have been on a sea lost and wondering what to do and there he is sent to me straight from the arms of the dear sweet savior offering me his hand to pull me out of the sea and back to a port of safety,Thank you John your'e also my lifesafer,though the Lord is my life Savior.Thanks for the  cyber meal I really am trying to be good and not over eat and so far so good,Beth

                                Surrender.


November 25   

Spiritual Warfare and Sin: My Kingdom Go

Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 
--Matthew 6:10

It may surprise you that Aldous Huxley, often a critic of orthodox
and evangelical Christianity, has been quoted as saying: "My
kingdom go is the necessary correlary to Thy kingdom come."...

Certainly His kingdom can never be realized in my life until my
own selfish kingdom is deposed. It is when I resign, when I am no
longer king of my domain that Jesus Christ will become king of my
life.

Now, brethren, in confession, may I assure you that a Christian
clergyman cannot follow any other route to spiritual victory and
daily blessing than that which is prescribed so plainly in the
Word of God. It is one thing for a minister to choose a powerful
text, expound it and preach from it-it is quite something else
for the minister to honestly and genuinely live forth the meaning
of the Word from day to day. A clergyman is a man-and often he has
a proud little kingdom of his own, a kingdom of position and often
of pride and sometimes with power. Clergymen must wrestle with the
spiritual implications of the crucified life just like everyone
else, and to be thoroughgoing men of God and spiritual examples to
the flock of God, they must die daily to the allurements of their
own little kingdoms of position and prestige.  Who Put Jesus on
the Cross?, 173-174.

"Lord, I quit, I resign, I'm no longer 'king of my domain.' I die
this morning to 'my own little kingdom of position and prestige.'
Rule in my life today. Amen."

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Quite a nice site at the top of the page,

http://thegoodnessoflife.com/

Quote from: Chris & Margit Saunders on November 25, 2004, 02:50:59 PM
Quite a nice site at the top of the page,

http://thegoodnessoflife.com/

That's a beautiful website, Chris.  I've sent it to a few friends.

You find the nicest URLs!  Thanks so much.

Thanksgiving Forecast

Turkeys will thaw in the morning, then warm in the oven to an afternoon high near 190F.  The kitchen will turn hot and humid, and if you bother the cook, be ready for a severe squall or cold shoulder.

During the late afternoon and evening, the cold front of a knife will slice through the turkey, causing an accumulation of one to two inches on plates.  Mashed potatoes will drift across one side while cranberry sauce creates slippery spots on the other.  Please pass the gravy.

A weight watch and indigestion warning have been issued for the entire area, with increased stuffiness around the beltway.  During the evening, the turkey will diminish and taper off to leftovers, dropping to a low of 34F in the refrigerator.

Looking ahead to Friday and Saturday, high pressure to eat sandwiches will be established.  Flurries of leftovers can be expected both days with a 50 percent chance of scattered soup late in the day.  We expect a warming trend where soup develops.  By early next week, eating pressure will be low as the only wish left will be the bone.

We've missed Jeanne Lee for quite some time.  I got an email with some news that I thought I'd share with you all.  Maybe you should click on "Members/J/Jeanne Lee" and send her a "Get Well Message".

Well, now I've gone and done it!

Last Tuesday on my way to a Legion Auxiliary meeting I stubbed my toe and fell against the brick steps, managing to break my right wrist.
I'm very grateful to the Lord for looking out for me - if I'd been up one step higher I would have landed full on my face on the cement floor of the entry way.

With the cast, rather than splint, I can type fine, but boy oh boy am I having fun manipulating the mouse! LOL It's just a small, very fine break and after the first couple of hours there hasn't been any pain at all - and it's creating some real challenges. :-) I'm so surprised at what I can do with my left hand. Worst part is keeping the cast dry. Even with a plastic bag held with a rubber band I was told to keep it away from the shower... you should see me HAHAHAHA! Poor Gene has to wash all the dishes now but he's so good about it. So we've switched jobs for the duration - now he washes & I put away.

I'm glad I can at least type - otherwise I'd be out a lot of work (and money) for the next six weeks. I was warned that there'd be some swelling for a few days and I should keep my hand elevated, so even the typing will be kept to a minimum until that passes. I sure don't want to do anything to aggravate the situation.

So don't be surprised if I'm amont the missing for a while.[/color]

To send Jeanne Lee a "Get Well Message" using our PM (Private Message), click on the link below and then "Send this member a personal message."

http://christianphotographers.com/community/index.php?action=profile;u=20

I hope that she gets many!  Tell her we miss her!

Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate it today.  Our family just left after a very nice time of being together and sharing a wonderful meal that Pat had been working on for a couple of days.  Now we have some really great left overs and Pat said she doesn't plan to cook for a few days.  I assure you I won't starve.

Pat, thanks for sharing the message from Jeanne Lee and I did send her a little note.  Certainly glad the break wasn't any worse and hope she can join us here again soon.
Also, thanks for the beautiful graphic for the holiday.  The Thanksgiving forecast is so cleaver.

Al, great devotional this morning.  As I read it I was thinking that at this time with the war on terrorism and the war on God that is occurring in the USA and other countries that this message of being set aside is certainly evident. 

I appreciated the special postings regarding Thanksgiving from the posters today.

A special welcome to gi_joe05.

Etta Sue, that is certainly a houseful of folks today.  It sounds like it will be a memorable occasion.  Hope your weather hasn't been a negative factor.

Good to see everyone posting today.  It has been a very nice day.

Happy Thanksgiving Day to all of you from the Shuford household!  We're not back "online" yet, but we're at my Mom's and I wanted to stop in for a moment. 

So much to be thankful for, and one of the things is CP!!

Karma also says HI!

Nard

Happy Thanksgiving from me and my family too

I had a very nice Thanksgiving dinner at gilbert's house. He and Sarah made Tamales 3 different kind, Pork, Beef and Chicken. I ate too much. It was that plate of desserts that did it.

Hope y-all had a great day.

TTYL

Nice to see some of our American friends checking in after having their Thanksgiving dinner. 

Today has been a very cold and chilly day here in Guelph.  Snow flurries have been "flurrious"!   

Tomorrow, I go out for lunch.  It's the "Take a Senior to Lunch" and I'm taking a friend and after I invited her, another friend invited us BOTH and also her mother so that's a very nice gesture.