Christian Photographers Community

"God Stuff"

2 Chronicles 34–36
John 19:1–22
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.

Today's Scripture & Insight:

1 Peter 3:13–18
Most of Mike's co-workers knew little about Christianity, nor did they seem to care. But they knew he cared. One day near the Easter season, someone casually mentioned that they'd heard Easter had something to do with Passover and wondered what the connection was. "Hey, Mike!" he said. "You know about this God stuff. What's Passover?"

So Mike explained how God brought the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. He told them about the ten plagues, including the death of the firstborn in every household. He explained how the death angel "passed over" the houses whose doorframes were covered by the blood of a sacrificed lamb. Then he shared how Jesus was later crucified at the Passover season as the once-and-for-all sacrificial Lamb. Suddenly Mike realized, Hey, I'm witnessing!

Peter the disciple gave advice to a church in a culture that didn't know about God. He said, "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have" (1 Peter 3:15).

Because Mike had been open about his faith, he got the chance to share that faith naturally, and he could do so with "gentleness and respect" (v. 15).

We can too. With the help of God's Holy Spirit, we can explain in simple terms what matters most in life—that "stuff" about God.

By:  Tim Gustafson

Greetings Everyone    Gee, I do  miss Larry.  One word sums him up, a Gentleman.  He had wit, never judgmental and although he was not a very well man, he put others before himself.    Ellie   

It took a little while but I found a way to check in on everyone.  Thanks be!!!

We have had oldest son visiting while he goes through a couple of days of hospital tests.  He drives from out-of-state to this world class hospital and they treat people just lovingly.  - about two times a year, he comes here.  We give thanks for every meeting - so fortunate to have this wonderful care.

Otherwise, I keep on keeping on with special cleaning care and cooking - Missing the closeness of friends and family - we can sit outdoors now spaced apart.

This city is still having criminal activities and they act up by throwing rocks and any meanness they can think of.  One son is working so hard getting glass replaced in the many buildings he has to handle  Stressful job - the wicked ones taunt and are pretty much out of control at times.  I still think our National Guard should have been brought in. 

Church is still closed.

Judy:  I didn't realize you had little piggies  - You two are very self-sufficient when it comes to living in the country.  How wonderful to have family close enough and they can help in your great garden.  Can you take a picture sometime as it grows? 


 

I''m so happy!  I actually got an email notification today!  Apologies for days of absence, My days get so busy, and at the end of the day I wonder why?  Why do I stay so busy I don't make those calls to family and friends I need to make, and do this, and that, and....  Sigh.  Again, I promise to try to do better!

Yes, Larry is much missed.  I wonder how his wife Pat is doing, and his son. I don't guess any of us on here hears from either of them, do we?

I used to tease "our" Pat about being OLDER than me.  She was ten days older, so that tells you how young I will be on the 19th.  My question is, "How did I get here so quickly?"    I do enjoy my life, I feel good, and am so thankful for all the blessings God gives me, every single day!  May I never fail to be grateful, is my daily prayer.

I enjoyed painting again today, painted a small seascape from a photo I took in
Ecuador, and finished one of a sea turtle.    Painting makes me happy and keeps me sane!

I'm getting new glasses.  They won't help the Macular Degeneration, but should help the double vision. 

Judy, that big garden sounds lovely.  I'd like to have just a small one, but our rototiller quit, and neither of us is able to do heavy digging anymore.  The ground here gets as hard as concrete when it's dry, have to soak it before we can dig.  So this year all our gardening is in containers.

We had horrible winds here yesterday--gusting to 80mph!!  It did a lot of damage, but I didn't see any here on our place, thank God.

Carol, glad you're still doing what you need to do and getting to see your kids. I wish I could see mine more often, but Kerri and her boys are too far away.

Jackie, good to see you're hanging in here with us. 

Ellie, hope all is well with you.

I will stop before this turns into a novel.  Good to "see" all of you today!

Hello everyone.  I wn\ent to the dr, last Thursday a week ago now. She told me When "I look at you I don't see 80" I don't feel 80 either.

All is well her on the south western coast of Oregon. Keith continues to progress in  the awful disease of Alz. Today I am going to lung  with two other Furry friends while the housekeeper is here.Although, Keith can stay by himself for  a wile  from time to time. He is here alone when I walk the dog.

Greetings Janet    Life is splendid, I would say it was splendid, if it wasn't!  Kept busy with hubby.  I have organised a daily physiotherapy programme for him, that suits his condition.  Sitting here with a glass of wine and sending you a message, what could be better.  Splendid thought, another glass of wine!        Ellie

Marilyn, it is interesting how close in age so many of us on this forum are.  We have watched several of our friends lose health battles and go on to heaven.  Heaven is looking sweeter to me all the time, as more and more people I love relocate there.  And with the terrible things going on in our world, in our own country, I am looking forward to making the move myself!  (Just not on the next load!)  Glad Keith is still able to be left alone for short periods of time.  And that you can get out with your Furry Friends friends.  We all need some "me time."

Hello, Ellie, good to see that all is splendid with you!  We all have our particular things that we need to do, and enjoying them makes them so much easier.

Hello, Carol.  I hope you are doing well.  And that we can meet in person sometime.  I always wanted so much to meet Larry and Pat, and he invited me to come, but that didn't happen, so I look forward to a long visit with him in heaven.  And with so many others....But we will have eternity to catch up, and I'm told that eternity is a long, long time! 

Judy, thank you so much for keeping this site going.  I know you are always busy, and I appreciate your efforts to keep us in touch.  My Mom used to say, "If you want anything done, ask a busy person."  I thought that sounded crazy, until I came to understand that those are the ones who get things done!  Anyway, big hugs and thanks and smiles for you today!

I had a frustrating day today, trying to get a title to John's car, which he seems to have lost.  This is the last (I hope) big piece of getting his affairs settled, and I will be SO relieved when it's all done.  But it's looking like we will need a lawyer to help with this part.

I pray God's peace and blessings on each one of you.  When I got home from trying to get the title straightened out, I was so tired that I went to bed and straight to sleep at 7:00. Now it's past midnight and here I am--but I'm going back to try to get more sleep.  Goodnight!

Greeting Janet   I have 30 minutes before I commence hubbys programme of exercises.  This old box of tricks as I call the computer is playing up.  could be an hour then        Ellie

This has been a better, at least less stressful day for me.  Got my hair done this morning, had a visit with my BFF Dee, and this afternoon, had a pedicure!  Oh, my feet feel ever so much better now!  Who gave me a pedicure?  ME!!  It was difficult, but I needed it so much.  But Darrel did polish my toenails! 

I hope more of you come in and say hello tomorrow.  You are missed!

This morning I just felt cranky. With an up and coming dr. annual visit coming soon, they mailed all different instructions.  So tired of all these changes when I try to enter information into the computer.  I just want to shout - Leave well enough alone! 

OK - I vented a bit so now that feels better. 

The riots are still going on here nightly.  So much damage and buildings unfit for workers to return.  I cannot understand the lack of reason for keeping business open and safe. 

Don is having pain all over and I mean all over - he cannot get in the Veterans Administration

 - only online and He did have about a half hour of pain free resting in the chair this morning.

We  had a visit from oldest son and sat outdoors thankful to chat in person.  They are driving through all the parks to his home in Montana.  It is beautiful now and perhaps they can see some newborn animals - especially the Bison.  His latest doctor tests show that he had Tuberculosis at some point.  He ran a company in Puerto Rico and had to be there a lot - the doctors say it is fine now and curable easily.  He cannot give anyone the disease so that is a blessing.  Isn't life interesting? 

Marilyn:  Can you get some part-time help and get out of the house - I am thinking the family might contribute to a caregiver at least a few hours a week. 

It is sunny and skies are clearer than ever - that is a good thing. 

 



   

from Chris

"They have left the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness.
He was rebuked for his sin, the dumb ass speaking with a man's voice forbade the madness of the prophet. 2 Peter 2.

If you love money, Love possessions
more than you love your Creator and Saviour then you are blind, and your blindness will lead you into hell.
There is hope for you if God in His great love for you intervenes in your life, He even gave voice through a donkey, which had more sense than a lot of people, certainly more than the covetous Balaam.
This man had his heart so fixed on honour and possessions that it needed something out of the ordinary to halt him in his tracks!
But don't count on miracles from God to change your ways, you might be going headlong on a covetous way of life, and He might just let you go that way, wake up, life is shorter than you think, people are dying all around you. Don't die in your sins.

Carol I have a friend of  mine as a housekeeper once a week  to do the cleaning. She will fix his lunch and keep him company while I get out for a couple of hours of respite. I wish I could ship him off to Vancouver Washington for a weekend so I could go to California to see Gilbert's new place and relax  without having to take care of Keith. If I take him there I have to be alert to his every move even as I try to sleep at night. He wouldn't be able to remember where the  bathroom is and I would have to get up and show him. We will be going there for Christmas but I want to go alone the first time. It is located  in an opening in the forest and I don't need Keith trying to give me directions that he has no clue about.

Janet I was thinking the same thing about the ages of our friends here on CP. I think about those we have sent on to heaven and also those who don't post any more, I wonder how Nita is doing. We live  so lose to each other and I never see her or hear from  her. She is probably within 4 miles of me 10 or so minutes.

Hello to everyone else, Jane Sherry, Ellie, Jackie, Judy,  Sue, Jeanne, Darlene.

Daily devotion from church - "Do not be anxious! "  This is from Philippians.
Our church posts a devotion daily - this one fits for all the days we are enduring.  Just going to get groceries is so hard on people - I am so fortunate that I can order online and drive up to the side door where they load the groceries.  The store demands - no tipping.  These jobs help the young people with a bit of income.  Now, I read, testing is going on for robots to be the checkers in near future.  How sad it will be to lose these jobs for many many seniors.

Yesterday was my annual physical - as required.  The parking lot was almost empty and only one other patient in the front area.  All of us in masks.  They had added a 2nd. door to the front as you go out, you do not walk through the waiting area.  No one took my temperature but I take it daily and so thankful for normal number. 

Judy:  Thank you for posting thoughts from

Middle son has finished his bout with Shingles and he is so happy.  Me too - We miss visiting so much, he can walk from his house down the hill and he often rode his bike for exercise. He still rides his bike but won't enter our house for safety sake.  Isn't this bizarre?

Time to iron

Judy:   Thank you for posting thoughts from Chris. 

Wishing everyone is well - so very thankful to come to this special place.   





 

 

Greetings Marilyn  Hello to good friend.  Ellie

Hello to all of you!

Carol, so good to catch up with you a bit.  So sorry your hubby is hurting so much.     Mine is very slow, but he is still up and going, doing a bit of gardening and such.  He enjoys the little dogs, so I guess they are earning their keep.    We went back to the gym today, it is fully open, with the only restrictions being to wash our hands both when arriving and leaving, and to clean every piece of equipment used.  And when I called to order two meals from the senior center, they said they are open again, as of yesterday, so we went there for lunch.  It was good to see people we hadn't seen since all this nonsense began.  Only a few were wearing masks.

We both went to the dentist yesterday.  They did take our temperature when we went in, that's no problem.
We have had one death in our county, but he had severe heart problems before he got Covid 19.

Marilyn, I hope you can find help so you can go to Gilbert's.  It's very hard, being a constant caregiver.
(((hugs))) --those are safe ones! 

I did another painting today.  Trying to loosen up with the watercolor.  I think it turned out pretty well.

We are planning to go back to Nebraska to see my dear sister again next week.  Her husband keeps telling me how bad she is, and she felt so much better while I was there.  She needs someone else to talk to besides him, and he needs some short breaks, as well. I'm so happy to be able to help them.

I am not at all afraid of this Wuhan Flu.  God says if I delight myself in Him and trust in Him that "NO plague shall come nigh my dwelling!"  And I refuse to live in fear.  I understand we all have our reasons for feeling as we do, and I am NOT criticizing anyone, just telling you how I am dealing with it.  We did get to have church in our building last Sunday, and it was wonderful to see everyone again!  How I have missed them!

Ellie and Jackie, come in and tell us what you have been up to!

Judy, thanks so much for keeping this site going for us.  I know you must get discouraged when so few post, but it is important to us, so I, for one, thank you.  I appreciate your efforts!

Marilyn, do you have Nita's contact information?  She might be really happy to hear from you!  And if you contact her, please tell her we all miss her in here.  I had no idea you lived so close to each other!

Thankyou everyone for posting and staying in touch.  I think of you all each day and try to find songs and posts of interest to everyone.

Janet you hit the nail on the head.  I have no sense of fear at all.  If I get covid and die I will be ahead of so many others... If I don't get covid, I will stay and continue encouraging and giving out the gospel in many ways so I will be ahead then as well.

 Philippians 1:21-23 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better.

Either way He has won!!!

Greetings Janet     What have I been up to?    I had an early start with hubby's physiotherapy programme, he does have a splendid physio 😊.    We, that is my friend and yours truly went out to lunch at a wonderful small restaurant.  Good food and what we call a chinwag, catching up on the latest gossip!   With Covid-19, if we follow the guidelines of plenty of hand washing, during the day.  Wearing a face mask, not a paper one, but a fabric one.  Wiping surfaces and door handles with antibacterial tissues.   Combined with keeping that 2 metre distance between whoever we meet during the day, we should remain Covid-19 free.    Ellie

But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
1 Peter 1:15-16

Chris Saunders
 
"The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night, when the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth and all the works in it will be burnt up.
Seeing that everything will be dissolved what manner of persons ought we to be, in all Holy conversation and Godliness.
Looking for the coming of the Lord.
2 Peter 3.
We cannot live like the world and be looking for Jesus returning.
It's impossible, its a complete no no,
It's one or the other, for if we are in the world and part of it we will be afraid of His sudden return. A thief does not advertise his coming, suddenly he is here, and it's too late.
Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour shall appear suddenly.. To the dismay of the worldly.
Live right, talk right, work for the Kingdom of God. Not like Jehovah's witnesses, who try to work for their salvation, but do the works that He called us to do after He saved us.
We are His chosen people.. Let's live like it.

Happy Birthday JANET

It is dark and threatening rain outdoors.  I just walked up to get the mail even though Don told me it was only a car sale card.  We can look at our mail through the internet before it arrives.  Is that ever neat - certainly not necessary but saves a walk up there in the snow at times. 

Our oldest son was diagnosed with Tuberculosis several weeks ago - they said it was probably caught in Puerto Rico (his business trips).  Today, the news is he does not have the disease - never had the disease.  This is a top hospital - no explanation, of course. We will take the good news.

Thank you Judy and Chris for your messages - keep on encouraging. 





 

Hello Friends!  Thanks for the birthday wishes, Carol.  My daughter called and said, "I can't believe my mother is turning 80!"  My answer?  ""Neither can she!"  But I am healthy, happy and well cared for by my heavenly Father, so the number of years doesn't matter!

We had a wonderful rain last night!  Not too much, but what a nice relief from the brutal heat and constant dry wind.  Thank You, Lord!  The little dogs were out early in the morning, and when the white one finally came to the house, she wasn't white anymore--she was a mudball.  So we began our day by bathing the dog.  She's really good about it; stands very still for us, so that's nice.

Darrel took me out to dinner tonight, and they gave me a Sopapilla Delight because it's my birthday.  I was so stuffed, so I took the dogs for a two mile walk.  That was plenty, just about wore me out.  And I still feel stuffed.  Ugh.  Why did I eat so much? 

I didn't sleep at all well last night, so I'm heading to bed now.  Sweet dreams, everyone!

Janet...sending BELATED 80TH BIRTHDAY WISHES..

Greetings Janet   And belated Birthday wishes from us both. 

https://capforcanada.com/4000-christians-murdered-in-burkina-faso-trudeau-provides-63-million-per-year/?fbclid=IwAR0l1Zql0WGWnseK8ps-FEF5xhGmrEK-zVWdSld-MddmZThnPG6G_v3ULE8


Revelation 6:9
When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained;

I read the above link, and was instantly reminded that those believers are under the alter of God.  Don't despair friends, this is end times, we who believe in Christ, will be with Him in glory!

EVEN SO COME LORD JESUS!!!

I am working with Keith's sons to set dates for when I can send Keith up there. They are working  to get them all together to spend time with their dad. I have arranged for a ride as far as Eugene and then one of the wives will pick Keith there. On the return trip it will be the same. and I can spend  3 nights and 4 days at Gilbert's

We have quite cool weather today, Rain and a dramatic drop in temperature.  John just started the furnace, it is that cool and very damp.  Yes we need the rain, and the garden is doing well. Sometimes I think the weeds grow faster.

Have a wonderful evening folks I will be back tomorrow!

Judy:  Sometimes we forget about what is happening in the world - thank you for your notice on parts of Africa.  Horrible times and it just is so irritating that politicians worry about gender equality when lives are being crushed.  How terribly sad.

Can you hear the thunder?  We are expecting an afternoon storm with damaging wind and hail.  We are hoping it passes before we pick up our grocery online list - the bring it to the trunk.  Everyone in Colorado heads for cover with out terrible hailstorms.  This place has had 3 new roofs since living her well, I think it has been three.  That is why we had to have a garage.  I always worry about the animals besides children - they are all being home schooled now.  I mean children, not the animals   

Marilyn:  I hope all goes well for your planned "vacation" - much needed!

Janet:  Can you hear the thunder from here?  It is headed your way.....

Greetings, friends!  I have been away again, to Nebraska to help and take care of my dear sister and brother-in-law.  They love having us come.  Sis is 84 and has had Multiple Myeloma cancer for close to two years now.  It started in her bones, now has left her bones and is in her skin.  It causes big knots in her skin, some as large as walnuts.  Some break open; some don't.  She has one on the bridge of her nose that is very troubling because she has to wear a sleep mask at night.  Anyway!  It's always good to be home again.  I promised her I will come once a month, and my wonderful husband doesn't mind driving me at all. Thank You, Lord, for Darrel.

It's almost time to leave for church, so this won't be long.  When I come back, I will tell you about my wonderful birthday party!!!