Christian Photographers Community

 


Come and join us this week and share with us your plans and thoughts for the week!  We sing, share and encourage other members here.

Hope to see you posting this week!

• Prayer and Praise     Thanks for visiting this area of our site to share prayer requests and items for praise!

Today's promise: God forgives all sins, no matter how big

Why would God want to forgive?


"I will cause wonders in the heavens and on the earth — blood and fire and pillars of smoke. The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon will turn blood red before that great and terrible day of the Lord arrives. And anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. There will be people on Mount Zion in Jerusalem who escape, just as the Lord has said. These will be among the survivors whom the Lord has called."

Joel 2:30-32 NLT

If we say we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and refusing to accept the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong.


1 John 1:8-9 NLT


Bound by His Word


"Why would God want to forgive people who have spent a lifetime denying him and hurting him? Why doesn't he just zap them? In our humanity we say that certain people don't deserve forgiveness. In his sovereignty and perfect love. God says, "I love and forgive those who, to others, appear unsalvageable." This is just one of the ways in which God's thoughts are beyond our own. His mercy is so overwhelming that it can seem unreasonable to us. Are you willing to let God's mercy do as it wishes — with anyone?

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If His conditions are met, God is bound by His Word to forgive any man or any woman of any sin because of Christ.

Judy, great devotional and beautiful hymn this morning.  A wonderful way to start a new week.  Thanks!!! 

Marilyn, I didn't get it in for last week's topic, but I love your new avatar!

Thank you for the devotions. 

Ruth Ann:  Sending you a smiley face on your key episode.  I love the red truck in your restaurant trip. 

Update on local news about the little girl:  The young man in the blue car turned himself in and was released.  He was trying to find an ex-girlfriend and the mother of the young boy who ran  home and yelled for his mom  took a picture of the car and young man.  So, the awful people are still out there. 

Janet:  Driving in the fog is not fun at all.  It sounds like a stressful day is over now so enjoy this day of rest.

Hello,
I have a few more minutes but not long as I have homework to do tonight. My dad had a pretty big heart attack on June 25th. He was out helping at a fire and mom said he turned gray then said his check and arm hurt. Since they were out there on the ambulance he had a quick and fast trip back into town to get treatment. He had multiple labs done here and stayed a night at thworkie hospital here in town and then took a trip to Enid. We stayed in Enid from Wednesday afternoon til Friday afternoon. He had 2 stints put in and has another artery that could use stinting but they are unable to stint it due to the twists and turns it takes around the heart so they have put him on some medicines to control his pain with that blockage and are awaiting the heart to build its own bi-pass around the blockage. He is feeling back to his normal self and seems to be doing well except he has a hard time limiting his stress when he is the town administrator and several have been trying to make his job hard.
Ruth is a wild and ornery two year old. She is completely potty trained and working on being smarter than her mom. She is definitely going through the terrible twos but  I think we are starting to outgrow it a little.  I wouldn't trade her for the world she is goofy and smart and has a mind like a sponge. I'm not sure how to post pictures of her or I would.
As far as how I am doing, things are going great I work at the Lab at the hospital and have a great group of individuals that I work with. I am on call half the month for that and still am an EMT for the ambulance service here in town. My mom is the only full time paid EMT in the county so we stay at home quite often with one of us usually being on call for something. Now that I have typed a book about everything I should probably get to my homework for my second bachelors degree in education y'all have a great day
Sarah

Sarah, it's always great to see something from you.  Good that your Dad is coming along so well after his heart attack.  A blessing that it happened where and when it did, with the ambulance right there.

If you have pictures of Ruth on your computer, you can mail them to me (pairajeans@gmail.com) and I'll be more than happy to post them for you.  When you have some spare time (I know, what's that?) there are directions here on how to post them yourself, but meanwhile, don't hesitate to send them to me.  We all would love to see her - and you! 

A warning - Ruth will spend at least the next 16 or 17 years trying to prove she's smarter than Mom.   

Larry Spay and neuter is all we do at the clinic,  it goes pretty fast. There are two operating tables and while he is operating on one animal there might be 2-3 more lined up on the other table on days like yesterday. This weekend it was all Feral cats that people have trapped and brought in. The total for the weekend was 108. From what I saw on Facebook they had 48 cats today.  We are only open 2-4 days per week this week it was 4 Mon and Tue then sat and Sun. I only worked M, T. and Sat. I don't work Friday or Sunday. There are only 4 paid people working there the rest are all Volunteers. We are Non Profit.

Thank you Jeanne. hat photo was taken Sept @ after a 16.6 lb weight loss, I am still working on  the next 16 lbs. down.

Just a note to say hello and good night!  I'm beat, and my eyes are burning.  Up since 3:30 AM and working all that time except for the time spent in church.

Darrel seemed happy with his birthday party, and we had a houseful of  people.

Good night!  See you tomorrow!

It is great to hear from Sarah and Ruth!  Loved reading your long post!

And Larry, the urgency is me.  I have always been one that when something doesn't work right or breaks, I want it fixed...yesterday!  So therefore, everything is working in my house.  If I hear a weird noise and it doesn't stop, I get it fixed.  But yes, I will need to mow at least one more time and mulch up the leaves while doing that.

Yesterday we had terribly high winds.  Today the leaves on the ground are gone.  They aren't in Ivalou's yard so maybe they are in Kaye Don's! 

Today Senior Saints are going to the Indianapolis Zoo.  It has been years since I have been there!!  It's only to get to 62 degrees.  Suppose to be partly sunny but right now it looks like rain any minute!  Just hope it doesn't rain!  I can stand the cold. 

Hi everyone.  It is dark and dreary here this morning and we had a little bit of rain during the night.  It is suppose to become sunny and up into the low 70s later today.  Today my Monday Men's Luncheon group is going to an Italian restaurant.  This evening I have a meeting so that will be my day today.  I really enjoyed the Falcon's game yesterday, which ended with the Falcon's winning on a very long field goal and only 1 second left on the clock.  They are still undefeated this year and it is the first time in their existence that they have had such a starting record.

Judy, thanks for the devotional thoughts for this week.  It is a very good one.

Sarah, what a nice posting and very informative.  Your dad should be OK if he takes care of himself.  I have a little experience with heart attacks and stents and heart surgeries and am still going (sometimes slowly) but still able to have a good life.  Your little girl sounds like a normal 2 year old.  Enjoy each minute of your as time goes by so quickly.  Each age brings its own challenges.

Marilyn, thanks for the information on your clinic.  I didn't realize it was a not for profit clinic.

Hi Janet.  Hope you were able to get some rest last night and can have a slower day today. 

Etta Sue, hope you enjoy the zoo today and the weather cooperates.

Well, soon as I "brush" I'm off to the dentist. 

Son #1 and I made a grocery and new auto inspection & license plate outing this morning.

Larry, I thoroughly enjoyed the services. They really would like for me to play for them permanently, but I need to pray for a  DEFINITE push from our Lord. I played for 50 years at all services for chuches, so don't know if I'm ready to take on more responsibility like that - it's our Lord's direction I'm seeking.

Well, must go - it's open mouth time in 30 minutes. 

Ruth Ann

EDIT: I'm back, and, fortunately, the doctor can do a filling in that tooth that split - the $$$$ are too great for a cap at this time. WHEW!!! Now, I can probably sleep tonight.

Ruth Ann - God may indeed have another person in mind to play all the time - and you just part of the time.  God bless you in your thinking.

Oh, boy, am I tired tonight!  Was having a "J" night and took a sleeping pill about 1:30, and at 7:30 got a call wanting me to go to work!     I should have been there by 6:30!  Mix-up in scheduling....  Anyway, I dragged my groggy body out of bed and went and worked until 3:00.  Wasn't at all what I had planned for my day, but the residents appreciated having someone to feed them!

Tomorrow I go to Cimarron and speak to the Rotary Club about my book, and as always, prayers will be appreciated.  Since I am not familiar with that town at all, Darrel is going with me.   

Darrel's party was a success, I think.

Good to visit with all of you, as usual.  See you again soon!

Janet:  Many blessings to you as you speak in Cimarron.  The name always reminds me of the old cowboy shows. 

Al:  How is everything going these days?  Are you and Marbeth feeling well?  It sure is nice to see you posting.

We made a trip to Costco and talked about how some day we will give up on going to a big box store with our coupons only to just exhaust ourselves over parking, getting a tankful of gas there and just walking on all that concrete to stand in line. 

Thanks for asking, Çarol.  We're doing pretty well over all.  I'm still using a walker all the time, so I don't walk any long distances.  Please pray I'll be able to get along without it.

Al, please forgive me for not "speaking" to you last evening.  You are often in my thought, which means you are often in my prayers, as well.  Keep doing the things you need to do to regain your strength and balance, and it may hasten the day you won't need the walker any more.  (((hugs))))

I am dressed and ready to head out the door to Cimarron.  We will be leaving as soon as the house cleaner gal leaves....supposed to be at 10:00.  If you change your time, usually it means it will be a month before she gets here again!  So will let her do her thing, then we will leave.

I think the Lord may be calling me into another kind of service for Him.  I am enjoying the folks at the care home more and more, and they are alsing me to just stay a little while and visit.  Some have no family who come to visit them, and the days are SO long there.  I do have permission to interview two more for the little biographical sketches I'm doing.  Those little stories get them a lot of attention, and they love it!  (Even though some would never admit that.   )

I had another bad night, so am really feeling muddle-headed this morning.  I pray I can get my thoughts together for my presentation to the group to whom I am speaking.  I believe the Lord will help me.

Carol, thanks.  And I can really understand about Costco.  We don't have any in our area as yet, but the big Walmarts are bad enough.  So far, they don't bother me, but Darrel is starting to complain about how it wears him out when we go.

Well....NOW I am getting sleepy.  Why couldn't this have been during the night while I was tossing and turning and trying in vain to shut my mind off?  Maybe I will catch a little nap on the way to Cimarron, as Darrel will be doing the driving.

I will soon post another story for you to read.  And I found out who the lady's granddaughter is...the one who is mixed up, so I can finish that interview when I get hold of the g-dtr.

I think I'd better stop now!

Janet, my prayers are with you as you travel and as you give your presentation in Cimarron. 

Al, I know it can be frustrating at times to need the walker, but don't try too soon to get by without it.  I pray for the recovery of your strength and I just praise God that these helps are available to us in our modern days. 

Hi everyone.  It is a sunny morning.  We are just back from going out for breakfast as this is one of the days I no longer go to coffee.  We then went to Walmart and finally to a specialized shoe store where Pat ordered a pair of shoes.  Her feet give her lots of problems and it is difficult to fit her in shoes.  I need to get a card and money order in the mail for my oldest great grandson's birthday on the 19th.  He will be 10 years old.  That will probably be it for today. 

Ruth Ann, I can understand your reluctance to take on a permanent job of playing piano.  You often have days when you don't need to be out and that would put a lot of stress on you.  Glad you will be able to have your tooth filled.  You might be interested in a credit card called Care Credit that can be used for dental and medical care and there is no interest if the bill is paid off in a year.  This has worked very well for us as have had the three crowns done this year alone.  Of course I always pay it off before any interest would be charged.

Janet, am I confused as I thought you had decided not to work at the care home any longer?  Of course, whether you do or don't is none of my business but I am concerned about you pushing yourself so hard.  Hope your book speech has gone well today.

Carol, we have given up our Sam's Club membership because of the walking and large quantities that you usually have to buy.  Our closest Costco is at the mall and that is too far to go on a regular basis.

Al, the walker sure is better than falling.  I realize it is a pain to have to use it but know you are thankful to just be able to move around with that aid.

Good morning Jeanne.  It is amazing what aids are available to folks who need some help.   

So many times when I am reading the posts since I last posted, I am thinking of what I want to reply.  Then I read Larry's post and say to myself, that's what I was going to type, ask or say.  So....ready Larry's post and it is ditto for me!! 

The Zoo was a fabulous day.  We couldn't have picked a better day to be at the zoo.  While still home it was cloudy.  On the way to the zoo, it was partly cloudy and at the zoo, it was bright and sunny.  The trees were vibrant in color and we saw most of the animals.  The giraffe and the polar bear were hiding.  All the rest were out and about.  I got a beautiful shot of a tiger licking his paw and washing his face.  I got a shot of looking down on the back of a zebra...a view you seldom see.  Also the baby elephant and its momma.  The seals looked like statues and then raised their heads as if posing for me.  And this camera has 24x zoom so I got a really close up view of the rhino!  The rhino proves that God has a sense of humor!!

It was a really fun day with only 5 of going but we stuck together.  Five sets of eyes see more than just 1 or 2!  I was home by 4:30...my back was tired, my hips were tired and my feet were tired.  A good tired!

Today I am fine and this afternoon is Euchre.  Jane is coming to get Ivalou, Janet and I and off to Euchre we go!

I just love the picture of the year.  Thanks to DON for the picture from Babcock Park.

A short walk today and it just made me so tired for some reason. 

Etta Sue:  Will you be posting the pictures from the zoo?  LOL on Larry's ditto post.  Another thing that irks me is in the biggest and loudest stores, they have announcements that will jar your entire body and usually not understood at all. 

Carol, and then there are the stores that play awful "music" between announcements.  I never have to worry about impulse buying in those stores - I get what I want and get out as fast as I can.

Etta Sue, we need to see those pictures!   

Hello everyone, I don't remember how long ago I asked you to pray for my Grand daughter Kimberly who was addicted to heroin. well last night she gave birth to a baby girl by C-section. I don't know the name yet or if Kim is still addicted. she was when I spoke last to her 2 months ago.  here is a photo of the Baby

She's precious, Marilyn.  Thanks for sharing with us.  Do you know whether the baby has any ill effects from her mother's addiction?

Jeanne I don't know yet. But if Kim was still addicted the baby will be going through withdrawal symptoms  and will definitely be effected.

Well that's definitely something to add to our prayer list, Marilyn.  Please keep us updated?

Etta Sue, the Indianapolis Zoo was one of the stops on our recent trip, and I thought about you while I was there, and wondered how far I was from your home.  I did see the polar bear and got a couple good pictures of it.  We surely didn't have enough time to see all the animals, but that is a nice zoo.

Marilyn, so sad about the baby, and I will pray she is not affected by her mother's addiction.  That must be awful for a tiny baby to have to go through withdrawal.

My presentation was very well received and I sold seven books; also got another invitation to speak at a library event, so that was a bonus.  Then we came home by way of Garden City and stopped at Staples to ask about the books they had kept there after my book signing.  Due to a mistake on a label, it showed they were overstock, so they were sent "back" to the publisher!  And they were my personal copies, they hadn't been ordered from the publisher!  So they paid me for them in cash, apologizing and saying it was definitely their fault.  AND..Diane paid me for the copies she has sold in her store, so I will have quite a nice deposit to make in my book account!  Praise the Lord!!

I had a ticket to the concert tonight in Garden City, but am still so sleepy I knew it wouldn't be a good idea to go.  I could have had Darrel drop me off to meet the senior bus, but I decided the wiser choice for me was to come on home.  Plus I want to watch the debate tonight.

The older we get, the more we see the absolute necessity of making lists of thing we want to get from Walmart when we go.  I had only one thing on the list, forgot the list, and remembered that one thing just as we pulled into the garage! 

I may have time to catch a short cat nap before the debate--I hope!  Otherwise I know I won't be able to stay awake for it.

Jeanne Kim called me and said that Kendra Marie is fine,  but she didn't tell the hospital that she is an addict she told them she had taken Codeine.  So I am not sure how long it will take before the baby starts to show and effects or even if she will. Kim said she thinks she will leave the hospital tomorrow or the next day. so they may be out of the hospital and the baby may be suffering withdrawals.  I will have to keep in touch with Kim to know what is going on.

Oh, my heart breaks for your little one! What terrible things these addictions do to our loved ones.

I tend to agree with you both, Al and Larry. I can't see the reason in committing myself to a regular position, when I'm not even up to attending my own church each week. However, those sermons were good and their content was Biblical and showed sound theology, as well.

Etta Sue, last time I went to a zoo, we had the awesome experience, late in the day, of being able to see a just-born camel and how tenderly the zookeepers were treating the baby and how they were helping "mom" to recognize and accept her baby. What a miracle new life is!

Today involved meeting the schedule to play and sing a song for the Tuesday devotional (I only need to do this occasionally for many of the speakers provide their own music) and taking an elderly friend to the dentist, then taking both of us to get flu shots.

Also, I've so often learned that an experience and how it was resolved in my own life has allowed me to share and sometime gently guide someone who is experiencing a similar problem. It was another elderly lady I take to the doctor. She called. I asked if she had begun to take a particular medication and she explained she tried it for the first 2 days and then was afraid to try it any more. So, I asked her not to attribute the all over itching to the medication - since I knew it had long preceded those 2 days.

Then, asked what had changed - well, as we went into it, she had switched to a perfumed bath soap from the one she had used for years. Further, she was switching back and forth to various laundry detergents.

So, she did not want to call her dermatologist, saying she would "only" be able to speak with the assistant. After some explanation about how that doctor wouldn't keep the assistant employed if not a good one and that the assistant had been trained to work hand-in-hand with the doctor to help patients. She was advised to toss the perfumed bar of soap and purchase soap for sensitive skin - her son did that today and she plans to use it tonight. Then, she asked about laundry products, and the assistant will get the answer from the doctor and share it tomorrow.

My memory of such a situation stems from an episode with my own children well before the oldest was 5 years old. Fabric softeners had just been put on the market, and I tried one of them. Without realizing what was happening, all 3 boys broke out with huge whelps, especially on one cheek, both arms from wrist to elbow, abdomens, and legs from knee to top of foot. Why was that? Well, the doctor stayed to examine them, and determined with gentle questioning, that all 3 boys were stomach sleepers causing all the touch points to get whelps and also that the fabric softener had been used. So, with wisdom, he suggested going to a less harsh detergent and to refrain from the fabric softener.  VOILA!! Issue resolved. Now, almost 50 years later, my friend can profit from my mistake so many years ago.

Several of you have posted, but I don't remember all names. Please know that each post is read and prayed over. Our Lord (and me, too) loves us more than we even ask or think. What a great promise as I prepare for bed.

Dear me, I've "written a book!"

Goodnight, friends.

Ruth Ann

Marilyn, I pray that poor innocent baby won't have to go through withdrawal.  Our Lord is in control.  And please do keep us informed.

Ruth Ann, what a pleasure to wake up to read your "book" from last night!    It is so true that often experience is the best teacher.

Ruth Ann, I enjoyed your "book".  Feel free to write us another, anytime!  I also have some experience along that line.  Beth's skin was super sensitive from birth, and the doctor advised me to purchase Basis bar soap for her bathing.  They do still make that soap today, and I have recommended it to several people.  Experience is the best teacher, for sure!

Good morning, Marilyn!  Good morning, Jeanne!

I have spent some time with the Lord, prayed, and thought about today.  Made a list of things I need to  do, and asked Him to be in control of  everything I do, everything I say, and to fill my heart with love for every person I meet today.  Now I feel ready for the day!

I read this today and wanted to share it:

This is what the Lord says:
Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans,
who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord.
They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future.
They will live in the barren wilderness, in an uninhabited, salty land.

But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.
They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water.
Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought.
Their leaves stay green, and they will never stop producing fruit.
Jeremiah 17:5-8

I wish you all a blessed day!