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Morning Devotional...





The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. John 1:14a

It may shock some people to be told that Christ is not an American. Nor was He a Jew merely. He was born of the seed of Abraham of the line of David, and His mother was a Jewess of the tribe of Judah. Still Christ is vastly more than a Jew. His dearest name for himself was "the Son of man." He came through the Jewish race, but he came to the human race. He is Everyman's countryman and Everyman's contemporary. He is building a kingdom of all nations and tribes and tongues and peoples. He has no favorites, "but in every nation he that fearest him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him." Let us remember that the gospel is a divine thing. It receives no virtue from any of man's religions or philosophies. It came down to us out of heaven, a separate thing, like Peter's sheet, wholly on its own. It is something given of God. It operates in the individual heart wherever that heart may be found. Any form of human government, however lofty, deals with the citizen only as long as he lives. At the graveside it bids him adieu. It may have made his journey a little easier, and, if so, all lovers of the human race will thank God for that. But in the cool earth, slaves and free men lie down together. Then what matter the talk and the turmoil? Who was right and who was wrong in this or that political squabble doesn't matter to the dead. Judgment and sin and heaven and hell are all that matter then. So, let's keep cool, and let's think like Christians. Christ will be standing upright, tall and immortal, after the tumult and the shouting dies and the captains and the kings lie stretched side by side, the "cause" that made them famous forgotten and their whole significance reduced to a paragraph in a history book.


Christ did not come to a particular people in a particular area of the world. He assumed a certain ethnicity. He took on full humanity. But He came to be the Savior and Lord of every man and woman. He belongs to all peoples who will open their hearts to

O Christ, You are praised and worshiped today in hundreds of languages and cultural forms. You are no more my Lord than the Lord of other believers around the world. But You are my Lord and my God

From Devotions By Dr. Tozer

Good morning!  I am all ready to leave for church so can't tarry since I haven't been out since Wednesday and I have no idea if I can even get in my garage, let alone to the garage! 

Just a note!  Be sure you have time when you start reading Janet's book.  It is a page turner!  I love it.  I finally put it down right after Beth and John vowed their love to each other!  A nice thought to go to sleep by.

Later...All!

Etta Sue, thank you!  What a lovely thing to read this morning!

I have lots to do today:  Church, then this afternoon clearing out the rest of the tall cabinets in laundry and bathrooms, so Lon can install the other ones tomorrow.  And we have to be in Garden City early in the morning for Darrel's cataract surgery on his right eye.  And, I have more books to package so I can mail them tomorrow!

So I will come back later to see what's happening with all you dear friends!

Don, thank you for this morning's devotional.  Certainly a timely reminder from Dr. Tozer in these days of political arguments and mud-slinging.

Janet, do you ever slow down?

It was down below zero again last night, but hopefully we're going to have a few milder days and nights this coming week. 

Hi everyone.  What a stormy day we experienced yesterday and it appears we may be in for more of the same today, hopefully without the tornado warnings which we had yesterday.  Several places around Atlanta had over 3 inches of rain and we had a lot in our area as well.  Fortunately, I don't think any place got hit by a tornado.  I was gone all morning and then enjoyed a nice quiet afternoon and evening.  I spent several hours reading a good novel and listening to music.  I should finish the novel today as have less than 100 pages left.  Today we will go to church and out to lunch, assuming Pat is feeling like attending church when she arises this morning.  Then I will have a quiet afternoon and evening.  Our poor daughter is suffering so from the rash and welts from the new infection she is experiencing.  She called her mother late last evening to inquire as to how many benedril tablets she could safely take in one day as she hadn't kept the box from the pills she had.  Hopefully she was able to get some sleep.

Etta Sue, I would have to declare an emergency if I didn't have something sweet in the house.    I am looking forward to getting my copy of Janet's book. Maybe you can read and hour and then knit an hour. 

Jeanne, my mother gave us sugar bread as well and I always loved it.  Also a little cinnamon added was good.  Sometimes she would mix up some powdered sugar frosting and put it between soda crackers or graham crackers and I also liked that.  Pat makes the graham cracker type cookies on occasion and they are still very tasty.

Ruth Ann, I just checked the weather channel app on my phone and it is currently 52 but that looks like it will be the high for the day and that more rain is forecast.

Don, thanks for the devotional reading for this week.  Dr. Tozer really is a good writer and deep thinker that causes us to think as well.  I had never considered things in the way he expressed them.

Janet, don't work too hard today.  I will be watching my mailbox this next week for the book.

This has been a long hard haul with this computer, I finally took it to a techie who actually knew what the problem was.  This is an older computer that was refurbished, but not set up for Windows 7.  Having 7 on made things slow down to a stop.  It has taken time but at least I am up and running again.

A CP friend has very graciously offered me a laptop, thank you my friend, and this will be a really big blessing.  I won't get caught in this kind of shutdown again.

Now to go back and read all that I have missed.  That is going to take time.

Judy, it's great to have you back with us!  You have been missed!   

Jeanne, Thank you and the rest of the moderators, for keeping up here with "my" duties, I knew the site was in good hands.

Janet thanks.

Mel and Doug arrived home with a couple of fish enough for a diner.  They day was so lovely that they sat out in the sun rather than their portable fishing hut.

I have a windows cell phone and yesterday day with the sun shinning I took a picture and did it ever pick up the colors.   I will be doing more this way I am sure.

Figure skating is on the TV this afternoon so I will be enjoying that.

Larry it is so sad to read of the problems your daughter is having. It breaks my heart but pray for her I did.

Judy:  It is a good feeling to know you are back on line again.

It is very windy here today and there has been a few sprinkles of rain add to the wind. I could see the fur  blowing on our long haired cat, Grubby, when he was out on the deck. The wind died down enough yesterday that I  finally got out to take the dogs for the first walk in over a week. I like to keep Happy moving as he has some arthritis in his hips at age 14. He'll be 14 in May.

well, here I am, folks.  Things are pretty much the same with me, except that I no longer have a catheter, which is a big blessing.  I still have some urinary problems, but if those can be solved, I think going home may become a possibility.  May God make me willing to received everything as from His Hand.

Al, great news that you are progressing.  I'm praying you'll soon be going home, and that complete healing will be the next news.

Hi Al  I've been praying for you and hope you get to go home soon. at least you haven't had to deal with the wind and rain where you are. But outside it is still there. How  is Marbeth doing?

Jeanne, I'm afraid if I slow down something may be gaining on me!  I just naturally go at a pretty fast pace, but I do take time off, too.

My pastor announced this morning that next Sunday, he will close the service a little early and give me time to speak, then have a book signing!  Isn't God good? 

If you are following my blog, you might want to go there and read what happened at church this morning with Beth!

Ruth---YUM!  I love fresh fish!  Good for your guys!

Judy, welcome back!  And NO MORE computer problems is my prayer for you!

Larry, sorry poor Stacey is still feeling miserable.  The days get long and the nights even longer when you don't feel well.  I had a bad night last night, my fault, as I forgot to take my pills in the morning, then took them in the evening--big mistake, as one is a water pill!    So I think I feel a nice nap coming on.  I have done the week's laundry so that's out of the way.  We have to leave early in the morning for Darrel's eye surgery.

Al!  Great to see your smiling face!  And may God grant that you will soon be home and completely recovered from this trouble.

Blessings to each of you!  I have a nice little list of names to which to mail books tomorrow.  That is so wonderful!

Hi everyone.  I just checked our weather and see we are to have some thunderstorms this morning and early afternoon but to have a little sunshine by the end of the day and to get up to 60 degrees by late afternoon.  The big activity for today is our Monday men's luncheon.  One of the men and his wife volunteer at our County Hospital.  The hospital is opening a new multi-million dollar heart center tomorrow and he has arranged for us to have a tour of the facility today along with some other parts of the hospital.  After the tour we will eat our lunch in the cafeteria of the hospital.  I don't think too many of our men plan on attending as one is sick with a cold and another has training for the Red Cross volunteer job he wants to do.  However, am sure it will be interesting. 

Judy, welcome back.  Glad to hear you will be getting a laptop as well.  You will have a lot of messages to read to catch up.

Ruth, thank you and everyone here for the prayers for our daughter.  She has so many health issues and suffers so much of the time.  She is also expressing more often how tired she gets with doing very little.  Hope you enjoyed the fish.

Marilyn, hope your weather improves as you all sure have been hit with some bad stuff.  Glad you could get outside with the dogs and I bet they were glad

Al, that is great news.  I am sure your strong faith has helped you weather this storm you have been experiencing health-wise.  Glad you are rid of the catheter.

Janet, how nice of your pastor to give you the speaking opportunity and the chance to share about your book with the congregation.  Has he read the book?  I know Darrel will be glad to have this eye surgery out of the way.  It doesn't take them long anymore and the recovery is quick.  Dealing with the eye drops isn't a lot of fun but certainly doable. What a remarkable young man you encountered at church yesterday.  Thanks for directing us to your blog.  Just a suggestion that you might want to ask Curtis to bold your type as it is very faint, at least on my computer screen.  I found it does help to highlight it.  For some reason more websites seem to be going with this very light blue type, which may be fine for young eyes but not so much for older ones, although I have great eyesight.

Thanks for the morning devotion, Don.  Isn't it great that the Lord of kings and beggars is our Lord also?  While political parties and social ideologies may try to claim Him as their own, He, and his saving Grace, is for all.

Al, I am heartened to hear of your progress, albeit not as quick as you'd like.  I will continue to pray for your healing and ability to return home soon.

Larry, I failed to respond to your comment about  Coeur d'Alene in last week's post...I agree, that area is awesomely beautiful regardless of the season or weather.

Judy B, it is nice to see your smiling face here with us again!

I arrived in Coralville, Iowa last night, after being challenged by countless miles of freezing fog, black ice and all the other normal driving hazards.  I guess the good thing about driving in conditions like that is that there weren't too many other idiots like me on the road!

May God's blessings be upon each of you this week.

It is well,
Ken

I finished it!!!!  Where is book #2!!!  Just saying everyone will be blessed by Janet's word.  Anyone with any type of crisis will be blessed with hope!  May God continue blessing Beth and Janet!  And Janet, I read your blog of yesterday....you done it again!  I suddenly had tears of thankfulness for the teen in his compassion for Beth. 

Small groups was great last evening.  We are studying about Heaven.  Do you believe in heaven?  What on earth lets you know there is a heaven?  One person said that when you look how beautiful the clouds and sky is,....that is the underside of heaven.  How much more beautiful heaven will be...we cannot imagine!  The seasons...Spring brings new life.  Summer is our glory years.  Fall is our declining years.  Winter brings death.  Then without fail, it is Spring again!  That's new life in heaven!

My Cinnamon Roll Cake was delicious even if it didn't look like the picture.  Could be because not enough flour...I ran out with about a third of a cup more needed.  But it won't be thrown away! 

Driving home after dark last night, it was above the freezing mark so my driveway was still snowy and slushy.  I went to bed real early to read and finish Janet's book.  Around 2am, I was waken by strong winds and heavy rain hitting my window!  This morning it is 48 degrees and not a sign of snow anywhere.  Everything is yucky brown, wet, dark and windy.  The flag pole across the way is bending and dancing with Old Glory flying straight out!  It's days like this that makes us appreciate the sunny days all the more!

I have no place I need to go so I think I will turn on a light and crochet! 

It will be great to be able to read the book. My order's in and paid for. Now, to remember to send in my donation to Christian Photographers next month.

I've enjoyed typing up a file of my daughter's poems. I found the rough draft when working on the apartment after it got so messed up with that maintenance procedure. Now, she'll have an electronic file of good work she did when in high school.

Now, a couple of close friends are calling for me to meet them for a bit of lunch. Will talk with y'all later!

Love,
Ruth Ann

I was awakened during a sweet dream this morning by Darrel.  Usually I am the first to wake, but it was time to get ready to go to Garden.  He was worried about his surgery and hadn't slept well, he said.  But the surgery went very well, for which we praise the Lord!

Etta Sue, thank you for your kind words, so encouraging!  I really would like to write another book, but am wondering what to write about!  The lady at Dr. Fry's office who also has NF (I told you about meeting her) said she read it, loved it, and cried, because, she said, "I have walked that walk.  I had so many of the same experiences, and it feels o good to know somebody understands!"  She said she is going to read it again, maybe several times!

I am really sleepy, need to get a full night's sleep, which hasn't happened for several nights.  Maybe toningt will be the night!

I need to call Curtis and talk to him about the blog type.  Thank you, Larry, for your suggestion.  And, if he figures out a way to do it, Etta Sue, would you mind being quoted?  He wants to make it so folks can put their comments on there.

I'm excited about the way the book is being received so far.  Several have mentioned my book and Heaven is For Real in conjunction, which is a real compliment!  Wow!

I didn't get home in time to get books mailed today, but they will surely be going out tomorrow, all that haven't been mailed yet!

Janet ... I just have to say "ditto" to all that Etta Sue wrote about your book, and then double that a few more times!!  I have been reading all afternoon since picking up the mail .... for sure it is a "page turner" and I thank you, ever so much, for writing it and for including me on the list of those privileged to receive it!     (I would like to have enough $$$ for everyone I know to get a copy!) 

When I lived in small-town Oklahoma, there was a woman and her adult son with NF.  I often saw them in town, and felt so badly for the way the townsfolk shunned them.  I really admire Beth's spirit and attitude through all her challanges and struggles.      

Don:  Thank you for devotions so timely.

Larry:  Sorry abut Stacey's skin problems.  I hope the meds work right away. 

It was good to read about Pastor Al and he may really be on his way home very soon.   

We again went to the Presbyterian church here and the men's choir was just wonderful.  The speaker was one of the congregation and he cited the books by Strobel, who speaks at our home church.  Then, Don met a pilot who knows of Don's old friend - another pilot as well.  A very small world. 

I was awake all last night for no reason at all and tried reading which makes me sleepy but it did not work.  Now, I will catch up on sleep and it is almost 9 PM here so the timing won't be so far off.  Our daughter arrives on Thursday so this will keep us hopping and driving. 

After 1 in the morning...Having a "J" night. Had a couple of disturbing calls that have sent my mind racing.

I am excited about getting a book Janet, please email me the details so I can get the $$$ off to you.

I have a book I read many years ago that I am reading now.  It is "Without A Trace" forget the author.  IT is set in the Upper Peninsula of MI.  Interesting as this is an area that John drives and talks about a lot.

Going to go and have a bite to eat and go back to bed. 

Janet, I received my copy of your book Saturday and finished reading it early this morning.  What an amazing writing, you did well.  And the book will be a blessing to many people, not only those who live with NF, but those of us going through other types of trials as well. 
Beth - how admirable, her indomitable spirit of hope and willingness to give God the glory, I think she must have inherited that sense of her standing with the Lord from you, Janet.  What an amazing story, and so many tragic events that could have sidelined her spirit so long ago, but only made her (and you) stronger.
Thank you for writing this book, it certainly makes me feel as though my trials are so puny compared to yours

Blessings to all who enter this room today.  I do not have time to address each one, but I hope you all have a good day.
Love, Janice

With all the wonderful reviews and the fact that Beth is OUR Beth I can't wait to get my book.

I am off to the Senior Movie this morning, It is Joyful Noise with Dolly Parton and Queen Latifah.

I am so much looking forward to receiving Janet's book. I like in Near-Northern Ontario, so I know it will take a bit more time.

Janet, I would be honored for you to quote me and put it in your blog.  Wow!  I was just stating the facts...ma'am!

I went to the pool this morning.  Then dropped off two Chemo Wraps at the hospital.  Then I had breakfast for lunch and a small independent restaurant where food has flavor and it isn't out of a can!  I then went to 'Deals'.  It is kind of like a Dollar Store but has different prices.  When I need gift bags, I go to Deals.  I made a baby afghan a few months back for a new baby girl due March 7th.  The baby shower is this Sunday at church.  So I got the bag, a ribbon and a card and a whole lot of other stuff!!  At least, I got what I went to get! 

Now I am catching up online.  Kitty and Bob are wanting to take me to Bonge's Tavern this evening.  This place was started by parents of one of my classmates.  They are both deceased...even my classmate...and the new owners has kept it the same as years ago.  If you go to the website, be sure and check out The Chalkboard.  I have heard the meals were very pricey but I didn't know they were that pricey!  And in the summer, people go and have to wait.  They party outside in the parking lot!  IF we get to go this evening, I will let you know about it tomorrow!  I have never been to Bonge's Tavern and it is less than 10 miles away! 

Tomorrow I plan to go to another old friend's home and visit.  We were best friends as little girls.  Her dad owned a cycle shop in Anderson and my dad had a cycle until I was a teenager!  So he belonged to the Anderson Cycle Club and they traveled as a group to a lot of places.  This was before helmets and such!  Her dad's name was Ray so Ralena and I spent a lot of time together.  I would spend time at her house between Christmas and New Year's and she loved coming out here in the summer where we could play outside and back in the woods.  Ralena lost her husband last June after 50 years of marriage.  She is having a hard time getting over it...if you can ever get over it.  Anxious to see her again in person rather than emails and FB.

Another stack of books went into the mail today!  And thank you for your wonderful comments!  I will try to get them into the blog asap.

Darrel's check with our local eye doctor went really well.  Dr. Copeland said his eye looked like the surgery was a week ago, not just yesterday!  Praise God.  And Darrel says things already look brighter.  The surgery took all of 12 minutes--amazing!

We continue to have beautiful weather here, hard to believe it is January!  Wonder what February, March and April will bring?  I trust God they will be nice months as well, with abundant moisture, of course! 

My mouse just quit this morning, no place locally to get another one, so I hunted up an old corded one to use.  It will get me by for a while.

I need to go to Staples.com and get that mouse ordered.  Hope it doesn't gnaw its way out of the package before it arrives! 

Hi everyone.  After coffee this morning I went to the dentist to get my new permanent crown.  I then made a fast stop at Office Depot to purchase a table for my office and then attended a meeting.  It   is a glorious today.  It isnow 64 degrees and there is no dampness as it is sunny and calm.  I just assembled the little laptop table, which I am using to hold my keyboard on the tilting portion and not having to stretch to type as I have had to do for a long time.  I think I will like the little table.  It has a separate flat surface to the right to hold the mouse.  For all the time I have been in this house I have used the mouse on my desk top.

Yesterday my men's luncheon group had a very nice tour of the new heart center at our county hospital.  It is a $33 million dollar facility and really the state of the art.  They are doing their first open heart surgery case there today but have been doing angioplasty and stents for about nine months and the quantity has far exceeded the expectations.  Our county was the largest in the United States without a dedicated heart surgery center within its borders but creating one had been fought by two of the big city hospitals, including court cases.  However, it finally got the necessary approvals to build the center. 

Stacey heard from the doctor's office today that she has an unidentified bacterial infection and the medicine she is taking should take care of it.  That was good news.

Pat's desktop is acting up and I have to get her hard drive backed up.  I just hope I haven't waited too long although have an external hard drive and program that is suppose to totally back up the drive and be bootable and from which you can work and then restore the computer.  I am thinking it is about time for her to get a new desktop as the one has was the same age as the desktop I hope that recently failed and I replaced. 

Interesting postings today but it is getting late and I have to look into the problem with Pat's computer so will make no individual comments today.

I have had a most wonderful day with Auntie. I took her Shopping then when we got back to her home she started putting  groceries away, this in turn allowed me to help her.

What a wonderful husband he even had diner ready when I arrived home.

Janet:  I am waiting for your book to arrive. 
            Is it possible that your mouse needed a new battery?   Also do not forget that even the keyboard uses batteries as well. Something that I had to learn.

Larry:   I pray that Stacey will be well soon.

Janet:  Good news for Darrel.

Judy:  I hope that you had a better day and that you will rest well this evening.

Yes, I've also had to replace my batteries, so I'm really careful to turn it off each time I power down the computer.

It was a wonderful day, but tomorrow er, better change that to TODAY will be quite busy. I'm training to be a SHIP volunteer to help elders choose the correct insurance coverage when renewal time comes each year. I'll be busy Wednesday and Friday.

We had a wonderful Bible study tonight - and the supper we brought in was good, too. It's amazing, that even with a few people, it seems God prompts us to make just the right dishes to have a well balanced meal.

Well, gotta say goodnight. Y'all know how much I love y'all, and our Saviour most of all.

Ruth Ann