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Morning Devotional...



A Word from Ken

Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.
--Psalm 34:2-3


I've never written one of my wife's devotionals before, but I wanted to do it today.  July 3rd is our anniversary.  I wanted to write about the time Joni survived a struggle against double pneumonia in the hospital.

Those nine days in the hospital were extremely difficult for Joni.  They were difficult for me, too.  I felt helpless, unable to do much for her except to press on her abdomen to help her cough.  I stayed at the hospital every night, making sure she had someone to be her "muscles" when she needed help breathing.  Quadriplegics like Joni have limited lung capacity, and many don't live through such an ordeal.  It's amazing she recovered.  Obviously God has much more work for her to do.

And me, too.  For all these years, we've shared a marvelous mission together.  And underline that word together.  Joni and I were never more "together" than when she and I were battling against her pneumonia in the hospital.  One would think a feeling of togetherness would occur over a candlelight dinner or a romantic vacation.  But isn't it just like God to strengthen our unity, deepen our commitment, and breathe fresh romance into our marriage through, well... dealing with pneumonia in a hospital?!
           

* * * * * * * *

The sense of being together is never stronger than when you are in the trenches with a loved one battling a common enemy side-by-side.  Stressful situations canbring us closer together.  Ephesians 2:22 says, "And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit."

Father, help me find someone today with whom I can exalt your name.  If an affliction, disappointment or illness is separating me from a loved one, give me the grace and wisdom to embrace them in the midst of hardship.  I want to be built up "together" with them... all for the praise of your glory.

Blessings,

Joni and Friends
www.joniandfriends.org

Pat:  Thanks for the beautiful story of Joni and her husband, Ken.  It is refreshing to read the touching and faithful words in this more and more secular world.  Thanks again.  Hugs to you.

Fire crackers in the neighborhood - every year - it is illegal but the law doesn't apply to those people. 

Our deck is still wet after being stained Sat. morning - something must be wrong with that formula although it is a good brand & we used it two years ago. 

Larry:  Grandson won one game out of the almost dozen he kept wanting to play - the cribbage I mean. 

Janet:  Always knew you had a great heart  - that was great news for you and Darrel.  good luck with the new little pet. 

We took our grandson to a state park this afternoon to watch miniature planes & the annual fee jumped from $30 to $60 so a lot of people turned around.  Sad to see.  It wiped out our cash but we do use the park and now will really use it more. 

Larry:  32 is very young.  My prayers for Stacey and her health.  Thanks for that comment on my brothers - I still love them.  My cousins are much closer and in both families they share faith and prayer with us so we don't feel left out at all - I guess it is the way our lives have been planned. 

Marilyn:  Your son still may come for a visit - hugs to you. 

Pat, a beautiful tribute from Ken.  As many of us know, the health problems of a loved one can certainly add to our devotion - both for the spouse and for the Lord.   

I can really understand Ken's words about being in the hospital with Joni.  For me, it has been Beth more than Darrel---but those times do bring you together in new ways, and cause you to realize how very much you love them!

Thanks, Carol.  New puppy is doing very well; Darrel is working on the housebreaking bit, with moderate success.  He still hasn't chosen a name for her, wish he would get that done!

When I got up this morning we had no water.  Simple fix, but makes you appreciate water, for sure!

I was hoping to hear from Shirley today, but nothing so far.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY, EVERYONE!!  And may GOD continue to bless AMERICA!

Good morning, friends,

Not much to offer from Nashville - I'm abiding by doc's orders to rest & rejuvenate this weekend.

May God be with our troops who endure so much for our freedom. AND, may God bless America and its leaders.

Also, may God be with our Canadian friends' country! You have a large, diverse country, and may God bless Canada's leaders.

Lord, be with us all today I pray,
Amen

Hi everyone on this 4th of July.  I watched the Peachtree Road race for the wheelchair division this morning while I had breakfast.  They are really an inspiration.  The racers go right by the apartment where my daughter lives.  She went out to watch some of the racers but came back in as it was too hot.

I have my Monday men's luncheon at 1 pm today and a meeting to attend this evening so it will be like a regular Monday for me and not a holiday.  Just back from coffee.

Janet, perhaps it was the Google Chrome browser.  I have been using it as my preferred browser for sometime and really like it.  

Pat, thanks for the devotional.  Very inspiring.

Carol, we have the same people in our neighborhood concerning firing fireworks.  I heard quite a few being shot off last evening and probably be a lot more tonight.  For a couple of years the people living next to us at the time would fire off a lot of them.  I have no idea whether the current family will do so or not and hope they don't.  At least we no longer have a pet that gets very scared of the noise.  That is quite a stiff fee to use your park.  With a lot of people out of work I am sure that higher fee would preclude a lot of people from using the park.

Janet, I remember so well the many times we visited the farm and Dad would have to get into the small space under the house to work on the pump for the water.  I am sure he didn't enjoy that at all but was just one of the things that was and had to be dealt with as there was no city water system.  At least we had very good and plentiful water on the farm.

Yes, Larry, that's it--Chrome.  Thanks.  All Darrel had to do was take the cover off the wellhead and using a long stick, tap something down there.  The renter left his water running on the yard all night, that's what caused it.  And we do have really good water and seemingly plenty of it, thank God.  I was listening to a couple of men in the waiting room at the doctor's office in Amarillo who were talking about us not being able to drill for oil, even though we have hundreds of years' supply....and then one of them said that WATER will be the big problem soon in the USA.  I thought to myself, well, for sure, we can't drink OIL.

I did go walk early this morning when it was lovely and cool.  It felt wonderful.

Fireworks!  With the money that was spent on fireworks in the addition that I was in last night, I could have bought a 2012 Luxury car with all the bells and whistles!  Such a waste of money!  Where Ivalou and I went, Chris has been un-employed for almost a year.  Only Crystal works and they are buying a new home, two cars and have two children!  Fireworks was a waste of money!  Besides there were too many little kids running around where Chris was shooting off the fireworks.  Scared me!

I got to see Brenna Rose..Rose is her middle name!  She was only 36 hours old when Mommy and Daddy came into Crystal's house.  They were only home from the hospital an hour!  Melissa looked great.  She said she felt wonderful!  No stitches so no driving restrictions so she said she is planning on going a lot this week!  Melissa is a hair stylist so she had a bow in Brenna's hair...her long, not 21 inches long, hair!  ha!  And noise didn't bother her a bit. 

Crystal's son, Connal, is 6 years old and he screams, shouts, yells, whams, bams, and slams!  Old enough to know better but Mom and Dad only talk to him in a calm voice and doesn't get his attention plus they don't follow through with what they tell him.  'You are going to your room if you don't stop screaming.'  He keeps on screaming and they ignore him!  Not a child I could be around for long without opening my mouth!

Tonight is the pitch-in at another niece's home.  Keri lives on Morse Lake northwest of me.  Ivalou and I have been there before on the 4th.  The fireworks are beautiful over the lake. 

Rainy today.  Wasn't suppose to do that according to the weather guessers!! 

Since Hawaii has a compass in it, I plan to put my old compass in Ivalou's car and adjust it.  And get her lawn chair out of the back of her car. 

And after last nights meal I am hungry for watermelon!!  There is a fruit and vegetable market on the way to Keri's so I am getting a watermelon!!

Good Morning Everyone...

I'm so happy that you enjoyed the little devotional today.  It meant a lot to me having spent many, many days with those I loved in the hospital just trying to comfort and encourage.

I've been enjoying watching the television of Kate and Wills (Duke and Duchess of Cambridge) aka Prince William enjoying their tour of Canada.  In a little while they are going to take place in a Dragon Boat race against each other!!!  That should be fun!  And Prince William is also going to fly a helicopter doing some rescue operation not done outside Canada and he hopes to take the maneuver back to Wales with him and pass it on to his RAF group where his every day work is flying helicopters.

Really nice to see the Royals being welcomed by all.

Etta Sue, I had a sister-in-law who didn't follow through , too.  My kids always knew that whatever I promised, good or bad, it would happen.

Pat, every news clip I see of Kate and Will, she looks as though she is thoroughly enjoying everything.  They are certainly a lovely couple. 

I just had to come back and share this story that a friend of mine just sent me.  I thought it was very good.

What a wonderful way to explain the need for Bible reading.  Thanks, Larry!

That is wonderful Larry Thank you!

Hello ALL,
SOrry i haven't been in to post been busy busy busy.... we are working on moving (YAY) and dad starts his new job tomorrow (he is nervous) soon the rest of the family will be moving too but we have a while to get things packed and ready to go.... we had a very quiet 4th of july being that the sell and ignition of fireworks was banned in our county and just about every county around us (i think the closest display was the lazer light show in amarillo or maybe woodward/hays.) not sure but i know it hasn't quiet seemed the same. BUT the residents have saved a lot of money this year and ALSO lots of lives/work of firefighters/land and homes. We are in such a severe drought that we cannot afford to really even be driving our cars down the road for fear of the slightest spark of anything lighting thousands of acres of land on fire let alone shooting fire up into the air for celebration. So anyways Ruth has went to sleep and i need to so i can get more stuff gone through tomorrow have a good day.
Sarah

Sarah, the nearest fireworks I know about were at Lakin last night.  I don't know why they allowed them, but so far, I haven't heard of any fires because of them.  Where is your new location to be? 

Well, guess who is going to work today?  Debra talked me into helping out one day a week for a while, and today is the day.  What was I thinking?  Barely any sleep last night, so a nap will likely be in my afternoon.  I had really bad dreams last night when I did doze off.  I do not like that!  When I woke, I prayed.......

Beth is really getting worn out.  They try to do too much while John is here.  And while I understand that, it is pretty hard on her.  Yesterday I could barely understand her at all.  I'm sure John must be tired, too.  He leaves tomorrow.

Larry, I really enjoyed what your friend sent you, thanks for sharing it.

Have a wonderful day, everyone!

Hi everyone.  It was a relatively quiet 4th in our neighborhood.  My immediate neighbors apparently did not fire off any fireworks and the noise I heard sounded like fire crackers in the distance.  There were several civic displays cancelled until tonight due to rain in isolated area last night.  We didn't have any in our area.  We have a thirty to forty percent chance of rain everyday for the next week. 

I guess we will be computer shopping again today or tomorrow as Pat's laptop died on her last night.  She uses it a lot when she is watching TV so know it has become very important to her.  She has never had her own new computer.  This is turning into an expensive month for electronics as we got the new TV, DVD and now a new computer. 

I had a need for my smart phone yesterday when we got the place for our men's luncheon and found it closed.  I was able to look up telephone numbers of three other places, two of which were also closed, and then contact the other two men who were joining us for lunch.  It really saved a lot of confusion.  I will probably find more and more uses for the data plan as I get used to using it.

Janet, hope you have a relatively easy day at work.  Just hope this doesn't become a creeping schedule where you will soon be working several days a week.  Remember that "no" is a complete sentence and no explanation need be offered.  I am sure Beth will have lots of good memories of these last few days that John has been there to brighten her days.  Hopefully more rest when he is gone will restore her to a rested state.

Thank you all for your comment on the piece my friend sent me.  I thought it was really good and you all were the first persons I wanted to share it with after my wife.

Sara, sound like you will be very busy getting ready to move.  Is this a distant move.  I know moving is always a challenge but also a bit exciting.

Pat, glad you are enjoying the Royals visit to Canada.  Wouldn't it be tough to be observed every time you step out of your house? 

Etta Sue, undisciplined children are tough to be around.  If the parents can't exert influence over them when they are small what is their life going to be when they become teenagers.  We all need boundaries to help us know the acceptable limits.  We took our children out often to dine or to other places and they did, as all children do, sometimes misbehave but they were immediately removed from the scene until they had calmed down. 

Just about time to leave for coffee.  I think the gym may be available so we may walk some laps this morning.  It has been several days since we walked as the church has been having summer camps for the children since school was out.  I will have to check the schedule but think this was an off week. 

The 4th of July fireworks over a lake was awesome.  The fireworks lasted about a half hour.  Some new ones this year.  Even a few Smiley Faces for the kiddies!  Then leaving was a bear!  So much traffic.  I had to go north and west to come south and east!  Normally would be a 25 minute drive took almost an hour!  But it was worth it.  And my Candy Crackers were a hit! 

Larry, loved the Coal Basket Bible.  I sent it to my minister.

Janet, just so 'NO!'

I don't make long distance calls on my land line.  But this month I had one on my bill.  It was to a small town north of me.  When I called to dispute, he called the number.  It was to a fax machine.  I got credit for $3.55 for less than a minute call!  Expensive call!

Today I have swim rehab.  I have rehab twice this week and a hair cut.  That's it! 

And I want to mow the lawn today!

Larry:  perfect story about the coal basket being cleaned after numerous times.  Sorry that Pat's laptop quit on her - with electronics it is always something. 

Etta Sue:  Your swim routine sounds very good for body and soul - refreshing and healing.  What fun to see and hold a newborn.  Yes, the couple is in trouble when they let the child be in charge. 

Pat:  We have seen some of the pictures of the Royals as well.  It is great that they came to Canada. 

We had numerous blackouts in the entire area last night right after dinner just at dusk.  One was a half hour long so I do have plenty of candles and lots of flashlights and I could knit and we just chatted missing the last part of a movie.  Who cares what happened at the end of the movie?  Finally finished the sweater coat knitting and it looks OK - will be used a lot after October. We do have an emergency wind up radio with a cell phone charger but it wasn't needed.  Boy, do we ever rely on electricity & water too as Janet would say. 

I have had an enjoyable time mowing the front portion of the lawn.  We have again this year a pair of hawks nesting in our eves.  They are not red tail, as they are too small for red tail and there is no "red tail"!  I have watched them fly to the bush and come back with food for the baby(ies).  When the come back they land on our hydro pole before going into the nest.  What a treat this has been! I wish I had a camera that would take quality distance photos.

Now to have a late lunch and get on with finishing the back portion of the lawns.

Hi everyone.  We enjoyed a nice rain last evening and it sure has greened things up once again.  The yard people were here yesterday afternoon so the yard looks very nice this morning.  We are having the house pressure washed today and the three sets of shutters painted a copper kettle color.  We have always had them a blue color, if I recall correctly, but blue really fades in the southern sun. 

Stacey is back in the hospital, at least overnight, with an asthma attack and a very high heart rate.  She called after 9 pm to let us know she was there.  We plan to go see her tomorrow and hopefully she will be out of the hospital.

I am going to Bible study this morning but Pat is going to get her driver's license as it expires tomorrow.

Etta Sue, glad they gave you credit for the wrongfully charged call.  Sounds like you had a fun fourth until it was time to head home.  The older I get the more I dislike big crowds.

Carol, my good friend is going to take the laptop home with him after coffee this morning and see what he thinks.  It hasn't been sounding well for some time and we have had lots of use from it.  Another friend showed us a new emergency radio he bought from L.L. Bean that recharges on solar power but also has a crank on it, it has an emergency LCD or LED light and a place to recharge your cell phone. 

Judy, you are something to enjoy mowing your lawn like you do.  You must really enjoy being outside. 

Have any of you seen the news footage of the dust storm that hit Phoenix yesterday and even caused a power failure.  That must have been terrible.

Well it's that day again - shopping at Winco.  I'm also hopefully going to get a blood draw today for a PSA test - may have to have something done about it, as I've had to get up every hour and a half at night lately.  Not fun at all.  And then I'll be going to the opthamologist (sp?) next Monday, probably to find out exactly when the cataract surgery will take place.  If I had my way, they'd put me in a hospital room and take care of the prostate and the eye all at the same time.  But I don't think they'll do that.

No, Al, I doubt they will do that!  But it would be nice if they would; might as well get it all done at once!  I pray you will get good reports on both situations.  But, having 'been there, done that,' I can assure you that cataract surgery is nothing to fear.  Painless, bloodless, and over quickly.  Then just wear those dark glasses as long as you are told, and you will be blessed with having much clearer eyesight once again.  Now, on the prostate, I have no experience!      But Darrel has surely had more than his share of it!  Recently, he called his urologist AGAIN, and was told to take the antibiotic 4X per day for a month (Had been taking one a day for over two years, and every time he went off them, the infection returned within three days!)  He did that, then took two a day for another two weeks, then one a day for two weeks.....and, Praise God!  So far, the infection hasn't returned again.

Larry, I think that handy dandy flashlight with the extras might be a good investment for most of us!  Has all the bells and whistles---flashlights aren't what they used to be!    Nor is much of anything else in this electronic gadget world.  I sure hope Stacey is better by now and back home from the hospital.  It's so good she is close and can get to the hospital on her own and you don't have to make the drive each time.

Today John leaves to go home to New York.  I know they will miss each other so much.  Just wish there were some way they could be together......

Today is Red Hats day, they have decided to go to a little restaurant about 15 miles out in the country which is run by the Mennonites and have pie and coffee.  I expect some will go earlier and eat lunch too.  Don't know what I will do yet.  John's plane isn't until around 4 this afternoon so I have time.

Work went well yesterday, but I do not want to work many days a month.  I have just so much energy, even though more than lots of people my age, and don't want to use it all there!

Please send up a prayer for John's safety as he travels home, and for Beth who seems to be near exhaustion.  I expect she will sleep for a week!

Al I hope the date for your eyes come up soon.  The other problem, like Janet I know nothing about.  Thankfully john doesn't have that problem....yet

Janet It is good that John and Beth had a good time together,  She can sleep when he is gone and savour the memories.

Larry isn't the rain wonderful!  it washes away all the dust and leaves everything refreshed.  We had a thunder boomer around 7 this morning and then the rain with more rumbling.  It is over now and everything looks so refreshed.

I have a bit of mowing left but will wait a bit for everything to dry somewhat  before I start.

Yesterday JOhn was part of a challengehis Volvo, a Peterbilt and an International.  They had to weigh at a DOT scales in Milton, drive to Windsor, then back to Milton re weigh and have fuel added to bring the trucks back up to their starting weight.  The Peterbilt and International companies flew in their "experts" to drive and "tweek" the engines and the Volvo decided to trust John.  They tweeked the engine and yesterday off they went.  The winner of this challenge will get a contract for power units to bring the company up to quota, so this was a BIG deal.  When they got back to Milton they were all about equal in fuel. 186 Litres and one was 185.5 Litres.  That was according to the scales.  But according to the on board computers John was the winner at about 2 - 3 Liters lower than the International and 5 Liters below the Peterbilt.  So in realit although in John's mind he won,  there realy was no clear winner.  He had a lot of fun with this.  The Fellow from Chicago for International drove back with John and would like John to be a test driver for their units....and has told Laidlaw to hold JOhn close to their chest as he is an excellent driver...Well we KNOW that!

Kassie has to work today.  From 1 - 9.  Tomorrow is physio. and after that she is going to a friends home and out on a date with the boyfriend.  Home by 10!

Got to run.  Haven't eaten yet and my tummy thinks my throat is cut!

Swim rehab was great yesterday.  A few different exercises were added.  I haven't weighed but I know my clothes aren't as tight as they were.  That's a plus! 

And I got my watermelon!!  Even on sale.  And my favorite kind.  A seedless watermelon.  So good!!  Also got corn on the cob!  Love summer foods!

I got the yard mowed.  Parts of the lawn barely needed mowed.  It only rained a little for the whole week so the grass didn't grow as much.  But it is done for another week.  Looks nice.  Also did some weed eating along the drive. 

After that was a shower, some watermelon and watching TV.

Today is a do nothing day!  Yay!

About the only time we have power outages here is when someone has an accident and hits an electric pole.  Then it isn't out very long.  I remember used to, if the wind blew very much, we didn't have power.  Same way with satellite TV.

Watching the fireworks the 4th was very restful.  It was the drive home that was stressful.  It seems Hawaii has wider blind spots than the Malibu.  But...yesterday morning, I raised the seat!  What a difference!  I feel like I am in control of Hawaii now!  So much better!  Love those power seats!!

And I stopped at Verizon.  I had a minor problem with the Droid.  1) Slow to show my icons after closing out a program.  Drew showed me how to clean out the cache and set the program to 'Force Close' when done.  2) Also asked about Kitty's Latitude that always shows her about 4 miles from her home in the middle of a field when she is home!  He said she needed to uninstall Latitude and re-install it. 3) Also how much it would cost to have Verizon as my internet provider for my laptop and desktop.  I am thinking about giving up my land line phone but I also would have to change my email address everywhere.  I would save $20 a month.  4) And I asked how easy or hard it was to get Bluetooth to work with Hawaii and Droid.  So Drew went to the parking lot with me and I have Bluetooth working on the car and Droid now.  Now I need someone to call me while driving.

Just what do you 'see' when you have cataracts?  My right eye...well, no matter what, it is out of focus...like looking through water.  The left eye is clear and sharp.  Right eye is fuzzy, out of focus and would be vary scary if both eyes were the same.  I wouldn't be driving at all if both were the same.  Even with new glasses the right eye is the same as with my old glasses!  And, I, too, don't know anything about prostrate problems...not even a husband with the problem!

I don't know what it would be like to have a friend stay with me a week and being so tired but I felt after VBS, I could sleep a week.  Friday night I slept better than I have for years!  Since then, I am back to normal...normal for me, that is.  Up every 2-3 hours.  Too hot.  Too cold.  Turn from one side to the other.  Angle across the bed.  Kick a foot out.  Throw the covers off to cool off.  Then get chilled and put the covers back on.  Fight for a pillow from Ali.  Every night's a battle!  And that's with the ceiling fan on.  Without it on, I probably wouldn't sleep at all!

But I know the fun that all had at VBS was so memorable!  Just need to remember how tiring it was when VBS time comes around next year!

Well, I must get busy doing nothing!

Etta Sue Check this out.  HERE It tells the signs and symptoms.  Perhaps you need to get that eye checked!

The temp hasn't risen like I expected, I will be wearing a sweater today!  The clouds and dreariness is back!

I think I am following you around Judy

Thanks for the eye info you gave to Etta. Have to check it out; my DIL father has the problem, my son had a new lens put in but is having problems, and lastly,I will admit I HAVE to have my eyes check --same problem as others are saying.

Judy, I'm glad you posted about John!

I, myself, think that John is the best driver ever!  I have every confidence in his skills and many years ago when putting him through the bus driving skills at Langdon's came to this conclusion.  I had no doubts at all about the results of the test run yesterday and now I hope that they will declare him a winner!

Today's from Joni are very meaningful to me:



Two Lenses

Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.  For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men.
--Lamentations 3:32-33

The Lord took no pleasure in my broken neck.  Like any father who has compassion on his children, it pained his heart to see me hurt.  Yet at the same time, it pleased the Lord to permit my accident.  My spinal cord injury was something he sovereignly designed in and for his good pleasure.

God's ways are so much higher than ours, he has the capacity to look at the world through two lenses -- through a narrow lens and a wide angle one.  When God looks at a painful event through a narrow lens, he sees the tragedy for what it is.  He is deeply grieved.  In Ezekiel 18:32 he says, "I take no pleasure in the death of anyone."  God feels the sting in his chest when a child dies of cancer or a husband is killed in an accident.  However, when God looks at that same event through his wide angle lens, he sees the tragedy in relation to everything leading up to it, as well as flowing out from it.  He sees a mosaic stretching into eternity -- it is this mosaic with all its parts, both good and evil, which brings him delight.

* * * * * * * *

In the span of a single verse, the Bible asserts "the Lord brings grief," yet "he does not willingly bring... grief."  God tried this out on himself.  He willed the death of his own Son, but he took no delight in it.  God saw how Jesus' death would demonstrate his incomprehensible mercy, as well as bring his people to glory.  God often wills what he despises because -- and only because -- he has a wide angle view on the world.

Lord, too often I have only a narrow-lens view of my world -- give me your perspective and may I rejoice in the beautiful mosaic I will one day understand.

Blessings,

Joni and Friends
www.joniandfriends.org

Pat, that is beautiful!  I'd never heard that, but I truly believe it.  Oh that we would trust Him Who sees the end as well as the beginning.