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John 6:67

Our faith is so prone to change depending on our feelings. There may be times when we are so dejected and low that we even consider turning back. But where will we go? Who will have us?

Yesterday in my reading these words held my attention:- The writer was talking about three various phases of faith.

'The first phase of faith believes when there are favourable emotions, the second believes when there is the absence of feeling, the third form of faith believes God and His Word when circumstances, emotions, appearances, people, and human reason all urge to the contrary. May God give us faith to fully trust His Word though everything else witness the other way.'

Days may come when it is so hard to keep going. When we feel as though our prayers are not going beyond the ceiling. Endless, monotonous days with no change in circumstances, leave us dismayed and forlorn.

Within ourselves we may be saying that we just cannot go on. It is more than we can bear! Our paths remain crooked and the way is steeper than we could ever have imagined. Where is my Saviour when I need Him most? Have you asked that question recently?

Deep down we have a desire to be like Him, to walk closely with Him. We yearn for His favour and His blessings. We want His power to be demonstrated in our life. Instead however all we can see is a growing mountain of sin lying at our door. We are no longer aware of the blessedness of forgiveness and there is no peace in our souls.

Has the Lord changed? Has He turned His back on us? Is He saying to our soul today, 'will ye also go away?'
It is time for us to put feelings to one side and for us to return to our first works. Trust and obey. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

It was so simple when first we believed and the joy was tremendous. Why complicate things now? It is by grace that we are saved and that has not changed. We did nothing in the first place to earn our salvation and we can do nothing now to keep it. It is a gift from God. It is our duty to accept it. Will we have this man to reign over us?

Ask the Lord this day to give you back your focus, that you may indeed delight yourself in the one thing needful. He is the pearl of great price. Will you give Him away? Will you trade Him in order that your flesh may be satisfied for a little while? Will the flesh pots of this world fulfil your desires and make you happy? Will they bring you peace?

They may promise plenty, however their promises are empty and vain.

Christ alone can satisfy our longing soul. He alone has the words of eternal life. He is the bread of life, the water of life. He is life! The tomb where they laid His body is empty. Does that not speak to our souls about awesome spiritual power?

That same power is available to you and to me today. He can lift us from the dunghill and raise our spirits to feed on Him in heavenly places once more. It only takes a word from the Lord to change our lives. I often think of the power behind the words spoken to Matthew, 'follow me!'

He left all and followed Him.

Simon Peter replied, 'Lord to whom else can we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art the Christ, the son of the living God.' These are wonderful words! 'We believe and are sure!'

Let that be our goal today my friend. Let the world pass us by if it will, but we will make sure of our eternal salvation today.

If we are sure that He is Christ, then we will be sure that He will and has forgiven us of all our sins. If we are sure that He is the Christ then we can be sure of spending an eternity in glory with Him. If we are sure that He is the Christ then we can be sure that He loves us with an everlasting love.

He alone makes darkness light, crooked paths straight, rough places smooth, the blind to see, the deaf to hear, the lame to walk. In other words He does all things well. The individual care that He has over His own, those who are called by His name is without question.

Nothing shall separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. We are accepted in the Beloved. We are complete in Christ. Our lives are hid with God in Christ. It is no longer us that live but Christ in us, the hope of glory. Old things have passed away behold all things have become new.

I dearly want to encourage all those who are cast down today to be strong in the Lord and to be lifted up. If I could give you a helping hand I would. If I had a word in season I would give it to you.

I pray to God that each person who reads this post today will be blessed by God in such a way that all fears and troubles are put far from them. We would believe and be sure that Christ is the Son of God. Arise let us go hence.

LOL

Your brother in Christ

Iain

Originally posted to Thoughts on July 22, 2003

Iain's messages are so good that I thought I would revive this one.  Hope you enjoy!

Thank you, Judy.  That is indeed well worth "reviving".   :)

I wonder how Iain's health is doing. He was having terrible back pain if I remember right.

I'm in fairly often contact with Iain, and, surprisingly, last I heard he was doing fairly well.

Glad to hear that AL.

Hi, friends - I'm marking my spot today - hope tomorrow will find me here much earlier.

Ruth Ann

Hi everyone.  Not much to write about today.  Will soon leave for coffee and perhaps trying to walk at the gym.  We will be going to a buffet with the men's Monday lunch group today.  It is the same place we went a couple of weeks ago but only myself and one other man could attend that day.  I hope we have more turn out today.  Then have the rest of the day to concentrate on staying cool.

Judy, thanks for the devotional for this week.

Good afternoon. 

Another storm this morning.  Enough is enough! 

I did get the yard mowed yesterday.  It was getting tall with all the rain lately.  Parts of the yard still had water so it will really be tall the next time. 

Some of the fields are being drowned out.  Farmers do not like to replant but they will. 

Church services was very nice for Father's Day.  A great message. 

This week's promise: Blessings come from obeying God
What does freedom mean to you?

What joy for the nation whose God is the Lord, whose people he has chosen for his own.

Psalm 33:12 NLT

"I will cause your descendants to become as numerous as the stars, and I will give them all these lands. And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed. I will do this because Abraham listened to me and obeyed all my requirements, commands, regulations, and laws."
Genesis 26:4-5 NLT

This week's promise: God will wipe away sorrow forever
Is God concerned about our pain?

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous face many troubles, but the Lord rescues them from each and every one.

Psalm 34:18-19 NLT

He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way when he went by. He was despised, and we did not care.

Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God for his own sins! But he was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped, and we were healed! All of us have strayed away like sheep. We have left God's paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the guilt and sins of us all.
Isaiah 53:3-6 NLT


Crying ones

Through the pain and sorrow of Christ's experiences on earth, God has experienced the depths of human grief.



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You that are called born of God, and Christians, if you be not criers, there is no spiritual life in you; if you be born of God, you are crying ones; as soon as He raised you out of the dark dungeon of sin, you cannot but cry to God.
John Bunyan

Where is everyone? 

Another big rain last night.  Water is across the road just west of me and the sump pump is running every minute or so. 

Well, my laptop is in the shop again.  When I opened the lid yesterday, I had received a MSN IM from my friend in Mexico.  Had his name at the top but everything else was white.  I couldn't close it.  I couldn't open MSN IM.  I couldn't get the task manager to come up to close it either.  So when I got all caught up, I clicked restart.  The laptop shut down but wouldn't restart.  I tried restarting it by Windows finding the problem and fixing it.  Didn't work.  I tried it again.  Still didn't work.  So I called PC Help.  They said it sounds like a corrupted starting file.  So off I went to deliver my sick laptop..again. 

The desktop works but it is soooo slow.  And I can't get the printer to work on the desktop.  It has probably bit the dust...it is old! 

Tonight is Beef and Boards to see 'High School Musical'.  We may be the oldest ones there since it is a young musical.  But anything with singing, dancing and acting is my cup of tea. 

And more rain on the way!  Please, if you need rain, Indiana will give it to you!

Etta Sue, I hold my breath every time I start my laptop.  My desktop needs repair (I think only a power supply) waiting for the extra money to get it fixed.  So if my four year old laptop gives out I'm in big trouble.

Good mid-morning to everyone. I have been busy this morning trying to get a few things done before I go to the Podiatrist.  

Judy thank you for today's promise, I am so glad that Jesus is right there beside us when we are brokenhearted  and crushed in spirit. I have had to lean on him so many times and could feel the comfort of his arms around me comforting me  when I gave it all to Him; I felt my burden lighten and my spirits lift. In my weakest moments He made me strong.
Hallelujah!!

Thanks again.

Marilyn, been there, done that, felt that!  In fact I have physically felt His arm around my shoulder.   :thumbsup:

Hi everyone.  The day has really rushed by and now it is mid-afternoon.  It is very hot again here in Georgia but at the minute it is overcast. 

The lawn people were here earlier but still waiting for the trash company to come by.  We are in the midst of a change in our county regarding trash collection.  They have assigned areas and given one company all of the houses in that area.  It is effective on July 1st but the new company dropped off a new trash buggy and then after the collection last week the old company picked up the old trash buggy.  However, the old company should be picking up for the next two weeks.  People of pretty upset about the new plan, which had lots of opposition, and particularly by the fact that the full fee for 18 months will be added to our next property tax bill.  This will add over $300 to all property owners tax bill and will work a terrible hardship on many low income home owners.  If it is not paid they will file a lien on the property.

Last night I was able to get the new operating system for the iPod touch downloaded.  It allows you to put the individual applications into folders so was able to organize them and put the folders in alphabetical order.  I really like this new feature.  It has also added a spell checker.

Not much else going on here.  Etta Sue, sorry to read you are having problems with your laptop.  I seem to have some problems with my desktop and am going to have to run the windows repair program as some files seem to be missing that are needed to allow me to install new programs.  I have never run into this before.  Just have to be sure my file are all protected with backup.

Larry that is terrible, adding that to the yearly cost...Can anything be done about it?

We have had rain here for a couple of hours.  The gardens are doing so well.  John tilled the part we aren't using this year.  I had a small bag of fingerling potatoes that began to sprout.  Personally I don't care for the taste of a potato after it sprouts.  So I cut them in half and planted them.  They are growing, and now to wait to see if they produce any new potatoes.

John has headed out to Quebec we don't know where to from there probably the east coast.

Got to run, be back later.

I got the laptop back on our way to Beef and Boards.  Something still isn't right.  It took three tries and I finally got it to turn Windows on.  I guess I won't shut it off.  Just close the lid. 

Beef and Boards was High School Musical.  A little girl about the age of 8-10 sat beside me.  She sang every song.  Lots of young girls there tonight.  I liked the show.  Lots of singing and dancing.  Good show.

Hi everyone.  Will post early before coffee as have Bible study this morning as we continue to look at the book of Daniel.  Pat isn't going this morning and I don't plan on staying after the study to have coffee at Dunkin' Donuts.  I about froze in there last week.  Tonight is our last choir practice for a month.  Our choir director was ill on Sunday and had to go home after we sang the anthem.  Sure hope she is feeling much better now.

Judy, there have been hearings and protests from citizens but the county commission has the power to enact and enforce this trash situation.  We can only express our anger at the ballot box.

Etta Sue, unfortunately you will have to close down your laptop from time to time.  It doesn't sound like he has solved all the problems.  Did you try a system restore from a time when it was working ok?  I find this often solves a lot of problems.

Larry, I thought at first that was an exorbitant amount to pay for garbage/trash removal.  But then I remembered the lowest fee that I was quoted by our local collectors - $45 a month for two 30 gallon bags a week.  Less than two bags, no reduction.  More than two bags, an additional fee.  Since I can take my own to the landfill for $3 a bag and recyclables are free I thanked them kindly and hung up.  The problem with your situation is, of course, the lump sum for a year.

And that reminds me.  I need to go to the landfill today.   :)

All seems well with the laptop today.  But I didn't close it down. 

Now the desktop seems shaky.  I think I will install AVG on it and remove my old anti-virus that PC Help said wasn't that good when I took my laptop to them in April.  The desktop is old and slow like me. 

Today I am taking Ivalou to the dentist.  She seems to have a problem that she can't figure out.  She tries self-diagnosis so much instead of getting things checked out.  She wouldn't be going to the dentist but she got a postcard saying she was over due for an appointment.  So she goes today. 

Today is bright but hazy.  Rain is predicted!!  When driving through the countryside last night you could smell the damp musty odor.  Not pleasant. 

This week's promise: God will wipe away sorrow forever
Is God concerned about our pain?

Then Jesus wept. The people who were standing nearby said, "See how much he loved him [Lazarus]."

John 11:35-36 NLT

But as they came closer to Jerusalem and Jesus saw the city ahead, he began to cry.

"I wish that even today you would find the way of peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from you. Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you. They will crush you to the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in lace, because you have rejected the opportunity God offered you."
Luke 19: 41-44 NLT


Jesus' example

The story of Lazarus's death and resurrection (John 11:1-44) contains a profound teaching about sorrow. When Jesus arrived and was taken to the graveside, he wept openly. Onlookers were impressed with the power of his grief and immediately recognized it as an indication of his great love: "See how much he loved him," they said.

The tears Jesus shed that day forever validate the experience of human sorrow and grief. Even though we have the hope of resurrection and we know that for the believer physical death is not the final word, our tears and sorrow are appropriate and good. How comforting to know that God himself is willing to walk the way of sorrow with us! Is there any sorrow that you have been unable to express fully? You can share it with the Lord, for he understands your grief fully.

Hi to all,

very hectic at work so a "quick flyby"

If you have a chance, here's a very good website you might like to review and make you ponder...

http://www.greatdanepro.com/Pray%20For%20America/index.htm

Talk to you later

We had an exciting afternoon.  At about 1:41 there was an earthquake in the Ottawa and Quebec area. It was at 5.0 om the Richter scale.  We felt it at 1:44.  Apparently it was felt down to Chicago, and into Ohio!  There was also an earthquake in San Diego CA. Our whole house rattled!  The last one we felt up here was Jan.1 2000.

We are having a soft gentle rain.  Good for the garden, and water levels, which are down.

Well must go
JudyB

We haven't had an earthquake, at least that I know about, in almost 30 years.  That one was 5.6 but I don't remember where the epicenter was.

We've experienced mild quakes from time to time. First time my hubby and I were taking a class on the top floor of a very old building. All at once, the professor was being swayed one way, and our chairs went the other. I wondered if that old building would withstand the shock, and thankfully, it did.

There's a big fault near Memphis, TN, and we are about 3 hours drive away, so sometimes we feel those shocks.

I got a mistaken contact on my cell phone, and continued. So, I did a reverse number lookup - no one I knew. So, finally replied by saying that "you awakened an old lady from peaceful sleep." Next message was "Oh, so sorry. Wrong area code."

So, I decided to come to CP while wide awake in the middle of the night.

Hope all are doing well.

Ruth Ann

This week's promise: God will wipe away sorrow forever
Faith does not isolate us from sadness

Sing to the Lord, all you godly ones! Praise his holy name. His anger lasts for a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may go on all night, but joy comes in the morning.

Psalm 30:4-5 NLT

I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn't like the peace the world gives. So don't be troubled or afraid.
John 14:27 NLT

Truly, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy when you see me again. It will be like a woman experiencing the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives place to joy because she has brought a new person into the world. You have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy.
John 16:20-22 NLT

Ruth Ann, the middle of the night is such a scary time to get a phone call!   :eek:

Weeeellll!  I have discovered that when I have my external hard drive plugged into the USB port that my laptop will not restart.  I unplug the external and it will restart!  And I paid $50 to PC Help for ME to discover that! 

I also found out that my ISP has a great anti-virus.  I loaded it on the desktop and it told me an email had a trojan virus and that the attachment was removed.  I saw that email on the laptop and thought it was suspicious and didn't open it.  So I decided to uninstall AVG and install CenturyLink Online Security on the laptop.  That's when I discovered that the laptop wouldn't reboot with the external plugged in! 

I love it when things work out...

I took Ivalou to the DDS yesterday.  She has been saying that between her jaw and her check on the right side, the side affected by the stroke, it feels like there is an exposed bone.  Sure enough, it is true!!  The DDS thinks it was caused by Fosamax or Evista.  That is a problem with some people.  He said it should be very painful with the bone through the skin but with her not having all her feeling back, she is feeling it a little.  Today I am taking her to an oral surgeon to discuss what needs to be done.  I know she will have to be taken off of Warfarin and the Evista a few days and probably off of Evista permanently!  Ivalou has extra bone in the roof of her mouth and she had a tumor removed from her tongue and inside cheek once.  Lots of mouth problems. 

We had another storm last night but it didn't last long.  I guess there were several tornado warnings in northern Indiana.  Rain.  Rain.  Go away!! 

But today it is bright and sunny with some clouds to the west.  Not predicting rain until Sunday when we are to have our church picnic!

Can't believe we "felt" the earthquake in New Jersey.

Just enough to empty out federal buildings..I was too busy to notice.

Take care

Strange, there were supposedly some slight tremors around here but I didn't know about it until the evening news.  Of course, it may have been while I was having a nap.   ;)

We're under a "severe thunderstorm watch" for the rest of today and there's some very dark looking sky off to the north, so I'm not sure just how long I'll be here.  Looks like another on-again off-again day.   :D

Hi everyone.  This has been a busy morning but looking forward to a quiet afternoon and evening.

I saw my eye doctor for my annual eye exam.  I keep a close watch on my eyes because my father had glaucoma.  Happy to say there is no sign of that and my eyes are very healthy.  Only the beginnings of cataracts.  The doctor said it would be many years before I would need to have them removed.  He gave me a little stronger prescription but not sure I will have it refilled as I see very well with my current glasses and I really like what I have.  The only problem is that my eyes get very tired by night time.  I wonder if my age has anything to do with it.

Pat has spent the morning at the senior center.  She enjoys going there every once-in-a-while to work on puzzles or play games. 

Jeanne, that would be very high trash pickup cost.  I am not complaining about the monthly cost, which will be less than we have been paying, but rather having to pay it all at once. 

It has been awhile since we have felt any type of earthquake here but still remember experiencing some of them when we lived in Alaska.  I have an application on my iPod Touch that tracks earthquakes all over the world and it is eye-opening to see how many occur everyday, whether they are felt by humans or not.

Etta Sue, I would think that hole in Ivalou's month where the bone is sticking through would be a good sight to introduce infections into her body.  Glad you got your computer problems figured out. 

It is very hot here again today.  The mail just came so will get it shortly and then stay inside the rest of the day.  I feel for the people who have to be outside all day long and work in this heat. 

Granddaughter is visiting and we went into the hills for a hike - short naps in the afternoon.  Hot days now. 

Larry:  It is really summertime now.  You mentioned trash removal rate hikes and we found out that the now only one Denver paper is raising price 40% so many of our friends are quitting - as we did years ago just because it is so blatantly biased. 

This week's promise: Blessings come from obeying God
How can I please the Lord?

But Samuel replied [to Saul], "What is more pleasing to the Lord, your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Obedience is far better than sacrifice. Listening to him is much better than offering the fat of rams. Rebelling is as bad as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as bad as worshiping idols.

1 Samuel 15:22-23 NLT

If you love me, obey my commandments.... You are my friends if you obey me.
John 14:15; 15:14 NLT


True Friends of Jesus Obey Him

How do we demonstrate our friendship with Jesus? Quite simply, we do what he says. If we refuse, we have no right to call ourselves his friends.

In 1 Samuel 15 the Bible tells how King Saul disobeyed the Lord's command to completely destroy the enemies and their livestock. When Samuel asked the king why he heard the bleating of sheep and the lowing of cattle, Saul basically replied, "Oh, right, thanks for reminding me. We're saving those to offer to the Lord later!"

Samuel recognized a lie when he heard one and replied, "To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams." (1 Samuel 15:22 NIV). God wants the same from us, not some great annual recommitment that we soon break. He wants consistency. Regularity. Faithfulness. He wants our obedience.

Hi everyone.  Awaiting my neighbor to pick me up for coffee at the senior center.

My schedule is clear for today so will just stay in where it is cool and putter around a bit.  I have a little work to do to catch up on some month-end records for a group I serve as treasurer.  I am also reading the second (actually third) book of a Series written by Beverly Lewis.  I have read the Shunning and now reading the Reckoning.  This lady is a very good writer of Inspirational fiction.    

Carol,  I have been reading newspapers on the web for several years don't have a newspaper subscription.  I am not sure newspapers are going to survive in printed form.  The Atlanta Journal now has an on-line version that is an exact duplicate of the printed papers.  It includes all the adds and flyers in the regular newspaper. 

Ivalou's oral surgeon told her the best thing to do for the exposed bone is nothing!!  He said the exposed part is dead and will slough off and new bone will grow and the skin will cover the exposed area.  She was given an RX for a mouth wash that she is to use twice a day.  Come back in a month.  He says it wasn't caused by Fosamax or Evista.  That shows only in the lower jaw bone and hers is in the upper.  He thinks that early in her stroke when she had no feeling at all that she would pack food on that side (she knows she would do this because she could get food out with her finger) and when she talked or chewed it wore a hole!  He also said she was lucky that she didn't have feeling because it should be very painful!!  So Ivalou is a happy camper to not have surgery...mainly because of not having to go off of the Warfarin!

I talked with Ivalou this morning on the phone.  She seems happier knowing that her mouth is fixable without surgery! 

A bright and sunny day in Indiana with no rain predicted for the next several days!!  There is still water standing in Ivalou's field west of me.  The farmer may have to re-plant the corn there.  This year the three of us kids are surrounded by corn...a field north of us.  Ivalou's is west and south of me and Kaye Don's is south and east of him and Ivalou.  All planted in corn this year.  Soon we won't be able to see anything but corn!

Also a week ago today, I had Botox injections in my bladder for my spastic bladder.  I am a new person in a weeks time.  Freedom at last!  After 12 years of seeing a urologist and many medications and the Interstim Therapy implant (which I have turned off since it didn't work), I am finally in control of my life without restrooms being a priority!  And they have been doing Botox injections for years.  Last year Medicare  approved the Botox injections!  It is quite expensive without insurance but if I knew it would work like it does, I might have done it without insurance.  But I hadn't heard of Botox in the bladder until a couple of months ago!  I am a happy camper, too! 

That's great news Etta Sue for you and for  Iva Lou.. I so so glad to her of the Botox injections in your bladder. How do they do those injections?

Today I have a Photoshop lesson to do and I am going to make some new earrings. Yesterday I went upstairs to get some of my jewelery making things out of the tubs they are stored in. I have not been into those two tubs since I packed them before moving from the desert in 2003. I could not believe some of the stuff I had in those little drawers that needs to be thrown out. I  sure collected a lot of  junk, Yikes!!!

G'Mornin all y'all  ;)  I have been on a pretty wild merry-go-round the past couple daze ... I thought I was getting DSL with Verizon but, yesterday, discovered I'm "out of the area" for that ... So the Verizon guy I called said he could sign me up for Charter ... but they had just closed so I called this morning.  I was told by Charter that I am "just 1000 feet outside the area" for their service as well!   :-\  I was pretty disappointed as I am expecting my new DELL to arrive today and it sure won't be much good with dial-up. 

AHA then I remembered that my current ISP was offering "faster dial-up" so I went to my account to sign up for that .... there I learned that they also offer DSL ... and it IS available for me!  :thumbsup:  Yup, I just signed up for DSL with Peoplepc and the equipment should be here in a few days.  Whew ..... So now, Etta Sue, I am a happy camper too!    :D

I haven't been feeling too well lately, and so very tired.  I suppose all that running back and forth to California, and the stress that went along with it, has caught up with me.  Or .... nope, not gonna go there .... I'm sure -- nearly positive -- it's NOT that "O" word!    :D

I need to get myself something to eat (haven't even had my usual cuppa green tea) this morning before it's time for lunch.  I'll be back and talk atcha later .... don't hold your breath!   ;)

Guess who is home again!?!?  Lots of posts to catch up on, so I have been coming and reading some between laundry loads, etc.  And since it was 4 AM when we got home and to bed, a little nap was in order for this afternoon as well.

We had a lovely time on this vacation.  Nice to share it with the kids and grands (part of them anyway.)  And my birthday was the best one I can remember!  I did do one dive that day, and there was a videographer who dived with us.  He had dived with us the day before as well and was filming, so he got some really nice footage.  Five of the six of us went on my birthday, everyone except Darrel.  So as well as getting my day, there is Abby on her very first ocean dive!  She did really well, and the divemasters were very good to stay right with her, knowing she is a new and inexperienced diver.  Mark has the DVD and will make me a copy, also I want him to take some stills from it, as there were some expecially good things, such as a beautiful hawksbill sea turtle.  :)

The dive staff all wished me happy birthday, gave me hugs and high-fives, and made me feel special.  And acted truly shocked when I told them I was 70 that day!  :D  Gotta love 'em!  ;)  We had dinner that night at a steak restaurant there at the resort, and they served me a brownie with a little glass of some kind of alcohol set on fire (the candle, they said.)  They said not to drink it!  Ha.

Diane and Jeff also celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary while we were there, so for that occasion we ate at the Mexican restaurant there.  It is an all-inclusive resort, everything except the diving.  We paid for the diving extra, but by ordering two family packages of dives before we went it saved us a lot of money.

Anyway.....it was fun, made me realize how much I have missed diving these past few years.  I have now done 297 ocean dives!!  And Larry, not once has a fish nibbled on my toes!  ;)  One did in Hawaii while I was just wading, though!  ???  I know diving isn't for everyone, but I am so thankful I have gotten to experience it.  God created another whole world of beauty beneath the surface of the oceans.

Etta Sue, tell Ivalou I really empathize with her about her mouth problems.  Mine seem to be getting worse instead of better, really annoying.  Glad you outsmarted those computer problems!  :thumbsup:

Jane, that will be great for you, having DSL service.  You're gonna love it!  8)

I was so sleepy today that I didn't even make it in to see Beth and Mom, so must do that tomorrow for sure.

I really enjoyed the comments on Fathers Day, also Zeebers' post.  Thanks!

Welcome home Janet let me be the first  f the CP'ers to congratulate Abby on her first ocean dive. Where exactly did you go, I seem to have forgotten,.?

Janet, welcome home!  I'm so glad your vacation was every bit as great as you hoped.   :D

And now, the time has come to cast your votes!  What a wonderful collections of photos with humor (humour).  Check them out, choose your favorites and then vote HERE! (http://www.christianphotographers.com/community/index.php?topic=10137.msg150732#msg150732)! 

Jeanne:  I did vote - it sure is getting difficult because so many are super duper photos. 

Janet:  What an outstanding time with almost everyone in your family and it is lovely that Abbey was game to dive as well.  Congrats to you on your birthday.  Like the energizer bunny. 

                                                                                                      This week's promise: Blessings come from obeying God
Why is obedience important to my spiritual life?

Today I am giving you the choice between a blessing and a curse! You will be blessed if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today. You will receive a curse if your reject the commands of the Lord your God and turn from his way by worshipping foreign gods.

Deuteronomy 11:26-28 NLT

If you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all nations of the earth; for all the earth belongs to me.
Exodus 19:5 NLT

"Those who obey my commandments are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them, and I will love them."
John 14:21 NLT


Countercultural Obedience

To speak positively of obedience today is be profoundly countercultural. The valid suspicion of talk about obedience is grounded in the experience of authoritarianisms, both past and present. Obedience is confused with "blind obedience," which is normally odious. Obedience is confused with conformity, with going along, with asking no questions. But obedience really means responsiveness; it is related to the Latin audire, to hear, to listen, to respond appropriately. Obedience is not the surrender of responsibility but the acceptance of responsibility for what we respond to and how.

Richard John Neuhaus

Hi everyone.  It is hot again here in Georgia and it seems just being outside in it for a few minutes saps my energy.  This is about the 15th day in a row with temperatures over 90 degrees with a few more of the same forecast for the next few days.  

We had a very nice rain last evening, over one and a half inches.  It rained so hard the satellite TV was knocked off for awhile.  I spent a lot of time yesterday reading and finishing the Beverly Lewis book.  I really enjoyed her writing and read two of her books this week.  Our library doesn't have very many of her books but we have some friends who buy a lot of Inspirational fiction and am going to check with them to see if they have any they would loan me.  She writes Trilogies or longer series and I like to read them in order.  

Etta Sue, that was certainly good news for Ivalou and also for you.  Isn't it getting a little late to be replanting corn?

Jane, so glad you finally found a way to get DSL and can understand you must have been very frustrated with the other carriers when you found they didn't provide the service.  Guess you will be busy setting up your new computer as that is always an exciting thing to do.

Janet, welcome home.  So nice to read of the great time you all had on your vacation.  I hope Darrel felt like enjoying it as well.  It was nice you had some of your family with you.  I had no idea you had made so many dives.  Do you keep a journal of each dive?  Sure glad you came home with all your toes!  :)

Marilyn, it seems impossible that it has been 7 years since you moved from the desert.  I don't remember you mentioning making jewelry in the past.  

Jeanne, I am going to look at the photos and vote as soon as I finish this message.

I have a meeting to attend this morning and then will stay in where it is cool the rest of the day.  Hope everyone has a nice day.

Jane ~ You will love DSL.  You will never go back to dial-up!  And a new Dell!?  I can read the happiness in your post!  You go, girl! 

Janet Cousteau ~ Sounds like your vacation was just what you needed.  Now to quit that job and you have it made.  I didn't realize you have dove that many times.  Amazing.  And I feel elated to swim 33 laps at the pool!

Larry ~ I was raised on a farm but I can't remember whether it is corn or soy beans that can be replanted before the Fourth of July.  One can and the other can't.  Ivalou's corn was planted late anyway.  It is only about 2 foot high.  Most of the other cornfields are shoulder high or higher. 

Kitty and I swam yesterday.  It is finally getting easier for me.  I swam 33 laps and walked 3 laps.  The walking is resting.  I don't do free-style all the time....too tiring.  But I am able to free-style the whole lap now without floundering!!  Finally!!  And yesterday, Kitty was 4 lanes away from me so I discovered that I could go swimming by myself when she is busy. 

Our membership is due July 9th.  Last year we paid for Aquatics only.  This year we will have to pay for everything.  That means we have access to the whole facility...the workout machines, walking trails, bike trails, all swimming pools...in and out...and probably a lot that I don't know about.  Also basketball that I will never use!  It might be nice to have a workout once in a while, too!  Thinking about it. 

Well, I want to mow today.  I took a letter to the mailbox and the grass was still too wet but the sun has come out now.  Would like to get out there before it gets too hot.  Like Larry and Georgia, it is getting in the 90's lately...too hot! 

And then I have to make a big bowl of potato salad for the church picnic tomorrow!  What fun that will be.  Antique tractors, Silent Auction, Parade, Picnic and Fireworks!!  Whoo-eee!  And welcoming our new Youth Minister and his wife, Brad and Krista!

I wanted to mow yesterday.  Then the tiller was in front of the mower, and that was hard to move....then the mower wouldn't start!....What a time. We will try again today. 

Janet how wonderful a time you had...I am envious!

Etta Sue our corn is up about 6 inches!!!  We consider that good!

John is home today, for a WEEK!!! 

Last days are near.  At the G20 there are European countries pushing for a One World Government.  That was in the news this week.

Well got to go, I will be back tonight.

Good Morning one and all. Larry I have made jewelry off and on for  around 37 years. ore off than on. When I levied in the desert I  made a lot of jewelry in the 10 years I was there. I sold some gave and some away, plus I made Native American beaded  belts and belts  made from  leather and beads.
I made these yesterday.(https://www.christianphotographers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fpublic.bay.livefilestore.com%2Fy1ptWbGAWaJS1VbwICDvawiHccSJt-0OVX_9TfafgCxSVCp5X89urYBtDT0136aXcky908B4m9Leajbp8lYH8hI4A%2FEarrings.jpg%3Fpsid%3D1&hash=0a5f3b4332ccbd9612c5bf18307f0f27acd99887)

I think I need a camera with more Mega pixels, my photos  inside using the flash arent't coming out very good. they are dark.

Wow!  What a nice bunch of welcome home posts for me!  Thanks, you all make me feel special, and I KNOW each of YOU is.....SPECIAL, I mean.

I was hoping to make it to 300 dives on this trip, but Jeff and Mark used up a lot of our dives, and I wanted them to have a great time, so said nothing.  They also did one night dive, which I adore, but didn't do.  Now I wish I had gone, too.  It was an extra charge, but we were there, which is the hard part.  Next time!  :)

Marilyn, I didn't know you made jewelry, either.  I love jewelry but haven't tried making it.  There are quite a few around here who do that, and make some really nice looking things.  I would love to have the "junk" you want to get rid of, then I would try my hand at that.  ;)  Nice earrings!

Darrel bought me a really nice ring and pendant for my birthday.  They are Tanzanite, with Australian opal and white sapphires.  Those stones seem to be all the rage right now.  Tanzanite is considered a precious stone, which is a purple/blue color, quite intense.  The opal is mingled green and turquoise, also very pretty.  I had the ring sized for my right forefinger, as I have never had a ring for that finger.  Jeff also bought a similar set for Abby, as she has a birthday in July.  The ring is for a purity ring, he wants to have a little ceremony when he gives it to her.

There is an auction going on next door (one place over) at our former neighbors' house.  The husband and father of the family was killed about 10 years ago in his private plane, the mom sold the place, but kept two buildings full of stuff back.  Now she is selling the rest of it.  We went over to see them--the mom and both daughters are there, so good to see them again.  They also have two sons but they didn't come for this.  They used to go on the dive trips with us and we miss them.  All are divers except the Mom.

I must be feeling like a Chatty Kathy today, sorry.  Guess I just love visiting with my friends!

 :)  Good afternoon all and it seems that I have not been on this site for a long time. :)   We have been very busy with many different things going on in our life.  The grandchildren are keeping us busy and also many doctor appointments and they take up a lot of time.

Well it seems that you all are also very busy doing so many different things.  Yesterday we took our grandson to a very old ride that we have not to far away from where we live.  It is one of the only type of carousel rides left in the world and it is wotking great and it is over 100 years old and they only charge 5 cents to get on so we went on and took a couple of pictures of my grandson and gave the camera to my wife but we went for a second ride because the horse he got on did not go up and down and when my wife came back with the second ticket's I noticed that she did not have the camera I asked where it was and she said she must have left it on the seat well it was gone when I went to look for it.  This was no more than a few min.  It had both my memory cards in the camera pack.

Then we went to an other town and had to stop at a place that there was no parking as ti was so full so I parked at an other spot and my wife got out first then when she came back I went out and when I came back a person trying to go into a driveway just behind where I parked hit the bumper of my minivan so it was a crazy day.


Joyce Robson:  Thank you for the website that you gave us it was and excellent one and very inspiring :thumbsup:

Janet:  It sounds like you and your family had a wonderful time :thumbsup: it is so important to be able to spend time with our families :)

Judy B:  Hi to you and John I hope that all is well and say hi to all the family thank you for your songs and your words that you put in C.P.   the Lord be with you SIS. :thumbsup:

tALL OTHERS HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY IN God's HOUSE TOMORROW AND MAY YOU RENEW THE STRENGTH FROM WHAT THE PASTOR WOULD TELL US IN HIS SERMON AND HELP US TO USE THIS TO TELL OTHERS ABOUT THE TRUTHS OF THE WORD OF God.

Larry:   Hope THAT YOU AND Pat ARE WELL AND THAT YOU ARE BOTH NOT OVERDOING IT.  God BLESS YOU BOTH.  Gordy. :) :cp:

I used to do beading.  I made all sorts of things.  When Donna Marie from SrNet came to visit me from Austin, TX, I gave all my supplies to her for her church ladies. 

I got everything accomplished that I set out to do yesterday.  Yard mowed.  Some weeding.  Picked up sticks.  Made potato salad for today.  Fixed lunch.  And Inky and I had popcorn last evening and watched TV. 

I also helped my friend in Mexico fix his pc.  You can't have two anti-viruses on your computer!!  I told him and told him.  Finally he un-installed one and acted like it was all his idea!  Men!  ha!

Today I hope will be a sunny day until dark.  Why?  At 5pm we are having our church picnic with antique tractors, a Silent Auction, a parade and fireworks!  It is predicting rain.  We can have it in the church basement but a picnic should be outside, right? 

Everyone have a God-filled Day!

Hi everyone.  We had another good rain last night and a lightning strike somewhere really close to where we live as the thunder was extremely loud.  At least we only lost power for a couple of seconds.  It is sunny had hot today with the chance of more late afternoon thundershowers. 

Gord, Pat and I are doing OK.  She will have her second cataract taken off on the 8th of July.  We will be glad to have that over with and all the trips that are involved across the city.  Sorry to hear of your camera loss and also of someone bumping into your van.  We just never know when we leave the house what is going to happen but we can't live in a cocoon.

Etta Sue, hope you are able to have your picnic outside today although expect it will be very hot up your way as well as here.  Glad you got your yard work done.

Judy, the one-world government is really scary but it has been in the works for a long time.

We are going to church this morning and this will be the last Sunday the choir sings for a month.  We get the next four weeks off, which is our annual tradition.  I am finding that singing takes a tremendous amount of energy, particularly when you don't have much to spare.  I am no longer processing with the choir but just joining them as they reach the choir loft.  My voice is also suffering and not sure how much longer I am going to be able to stay in the choir.  My voice just locks up at some of the higher notes, particularly when you have to stay in that range for several measures.  I try to sing but it is like my throat freezes and no sound comes out.  I hate the thought of having to give up singing in the choir and will hold on as long as possible.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Sunday.

 :)  hI TO ALL.

Etta Sue:  Well you sure did get a lot of things done and you just amaze me how much strength that you have.  Have a great picnic.

Larry:  Hope that you also have a wonderful day.  I know what it is like to be having the trouble with not being able to sing as I have been having the same problems but God is good and seems to let me so far contiue to sing. Have a great day at church.

To all others have a wonderful day in the Lords house. :) :cp:

This week's promise: Blessings come from obeying God
What does God promise to those who obey?

Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with scoffers. But they delight in doing everything the Lord wants; day and night they think about his law. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season without fail. Their leaves never wither, and in all they do, they prosper.

Psalm 1:1-3 NLT

Here lets sing this as we head to church on this Lords Day.

I am really sleepy again.  One of those can't sleep nights...yawn.  Good thing this is Sunday, I can take a nap!

As I was leaving th care home yesterday, Debra (dietician) asked me, "Did you get your schedule?"  SCHEDULE??  And sure enough, she has me working four days this week.  I will work those, but not the next week, as Darrel has his pre-op on the 5th and surgery the 6th, in Amarillo.  I hadn't really planned to work when I got home.  So much for plans.

I have been reflecting back on my 70 years of life, and here is my conclusion:  God has been good to Janet!  :)

Larry and Gord, I hope both your voices continue to be strong.  I love to hear men sing!  Their voices are so rich.........not that I do not enjoy women's voices, but it is special to hear men sing together.

I have been here but not posting.

Pat: I really miss your posts It gives me the feeling that someone very special is missing.

Hello to Janet and so pleased that you enjoyed your vacation.

Marilyn: I sure wish I had the creative talent to make jewelery but I do have many other interests so I had better not grumble to much.

Etta Sue:  I would love to be able to swim but due to a bad experience I find it difficult to trust any teacher.  Relaxing and trust is something I do not do well. I can do some things in the water but it is very limited.

Larry:  You mentioned loosing satellite for a period of time I was thinking of changing from cable to satellite and was checking prices, because I did say to cable that I was thinking of making a change we are now paying less than half of the previous amount, money per month saved.

Our daughter dropped by for a few minutes to pick up some of mom's cooking as well as jars for canning that I now longer need I think that she gave them to me in the first place, these have the small tops and I really like the bigger tops. She does not need to spend $$$ on new jars.   Then she was on her way to her girl friend Janet's to help her celebrate her Univarsity graduation.   Masters Degree I think.   

Ruth G

Time to lock the door on yet another week.

There's a very important prayer request in the first post of the coming week's "Thoughts for the Week".

So, CLICK HERE (http://www.christianphotographers.com/community/index.php?topic=10245.0) to get there!