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Morning Devotional...

Psalm 31

This is a song for any who might be in deep distress, who might in fact even fear for their very lives, and who might know their own sins well enough to suspect that it's on account of those sins that trouble is being experienced.

David had actually known times like that.  As with us, there were times when He knew he had sinned.  At such times He was very, very ashamed of the sin, and suspected that all who knew him were ashamed of him as well, and that they were, in fact, avoiding him.  Not only so, but it always seemed to be just at that moment that he was also being attaced by his enemies!  And they were cunning, powerful enemies, enemies who could, and gladly would, take away his life.  He feared that his sin was the reason for it all and that the Lord might even have  forsaken him.

But he was determined about one thing: he was determined to maintain his trust in the Lord anyway, even if the Lord  utterly deserted him to his enemies.  He had called on the Lord, and he was determined to wait on the Lord, come what may.  He could say with Job, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him!"  He knew his only help had to come from God, so he stubbornly hung on in faith.

Many might give up under such circumstances.  This song was composed for them, composed to move them to "hang in there," no matter how desperate the circumstances. 

David himself had to confess, "My eye wastes away with grief - yes my soul and my body!  For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing (in other words his distress was not of short duration!); my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away . . . I am forgotten like a dead man; I am like a broken vessel.  For I hear the slander of many; fear is on every side; while they take counsel together against me, they scheme to take away my life!"

But the solution, the only soution, no matter how deep the distress and no matter how desperate the circumstances - no matter how long it had been - could still only be the Lord's grace.  As David puts it, "My times are in Your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me."  NO MATTER WHAT, he was going to trust the Lord!  He knew his sin, he'd confessed his sin, but he also knew he was dealing with a forgiving God - and He was going to trust him!

So, turning to the congregation, and having brought each worshipper this far in his song, David makes it clear that God WAS merciful, that God DID hear him, and in fact God HAD delivered him! It's as though he were directly communicating with each of these worshippers, and he wanted them to know that, though trouble couldn't get any deeper and circumstances any more desperate, yet he's been delivered, and they could be too!

He sings, "Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men!"  In summary of the goodness of his God, he sings, "For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before Your eyes; nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications when I cried out to you!"

David communicates the result of this "stubborn prayer" to each worshipper when he sings, "Oh love the Lord, all you His saints!  For the Lord preserves the faithful, and fully repays the proud person.  Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord!"

Dear ones, it's just as true for you as it was for David and the people he led.  Have you trusted the Lord? Have you laid your sins before Him and known the forgiveness that is in Jesus Christ?  Then HANG ON!  David's trouble, David's sin, David's distress - was greater than any you'll ever experience - and God finally delivered him! And, even more importantly, David's greater Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, experienced greater guilt, greater distress, greater desperation than you - or David - could ever experience, and He rose from the dead in triumph!  And so will you!
Al Moak

Here's a hymn that reflects these thoughts.  Just click to hear the music.

Dare To Be A Daniel .... Oh, how that brings back memories.  I sang that many times as a child, and growing up.  Thanks, Al, for the great commentary on Psalm 31   

Al Thanks for that wonderful devotional this morning. It is  indeed important to keep our trust in God no matter what is happening. I have heard of Dare to be a Daniel but just knew a few lines. I enjoyed reading it this morning.

It is cloudy here today and it looks like more rain could be headed our way
I am still trying to get use to my new lap top and vista windows. Who said technology was easy-not for me it isn't

Greetings and God's blessings to you all today.

Good Morning everyone.

I was asked about the sickies.  Kassie was diagnosed with strep.  She was on antibiotics and is now well....Elizabeth is suffering with headaches.  Really bad and tyleonal doesn't seem to help.  To bed and that helps, I suspect a viral infection....If it continues it will be into the walk-in.

This week is VBS.  Both girls are helpiong there.  They love working with the younger kidlets, and this adds to their volunteer hours for school.  I think too that they enjoy VBS for themselves and this way they can continue to participate.

We are having autumn weather.  I have been closing windows of the house it has been that cool.

Well gotta run  be back tomorrow.
JudyB

http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=cc139c89d0058895abc0

Please enjoy the video and I do hope you are all keeping well. God bless

Good Day from Highlands Ranch, Colorado.  We have been cleaning and working on things so Don & one of our grandsons is staining the deck today.  The Comcast people came today so we have internet but not in the correct room as that will take another person with an hour's work.  Digital TV is here right now. Don forgot that people are in the house & started to change his shirt - wouldn't want anyone to get excited.

Al:  Thank you so much for the Daniel writing. 

Lots going on right now & so I will sign off. 

Liz:  I am going to try to find another book by the same author. 

Hi Everyone!

Just popping in for the first time today.  Been a very busy day for me. 

Love your little graphics Melody and Etta Sue.  They sure bring a smile to my face!

Thanks for the wonderful devotions on a great Psalm, Al.  I so appreciate reading it.

Hi everyone.  The good news is that our daughter came through the heart bypass surgery well as far as we can tell.  They didn't take her from ICU until 10:30 (we had been told for a couple of days that would happen at 6 am).  We got to the hospital about 5:45 this morning and after they took her we heard not a word about anything until almost 5 pm.  This hospital doesn't seem to have any volunteers and there is just no communication with family members.  We didn't know where she would go after surgery or who would know.  She was returned to the ICU and is on a respirator for the night.  The nurse awoke her when we saw her a little after 5 pm and she nodded her head to indicate she was aware we were in the room.  We only spent about 5 minutes with her as she was sleeping and am sure drugged to help with the pain and the trama.

We are spending another night here at her apartment as we are close to the hospital and it saves about 2 hours of driving each day.  We plan on going home tomorrow after we visit with her.  We spent about 12 hours at the hospital today and we both are exhausted.  We should sleep better tonight.

I am confident that the many prayers have helped her endure this surgery and hopefully will speed her recovery.  Thank you all for your expressions of concern and for lifting her to our Heavenly Father in prayer.

Hi Larry...  My goodness, poor Stacey is going through so much.

Thank you for the update.  We'll be praying for her.

We had a terrible explosion in Toronto yesterday.  It was on the news all day.  A fireman lost his life.  Highway 401 was closed completely for nearly the whole day.

If you go to YouTube and do a search with something like "Toronto Propane Explosion" or "Keele and Wilson Propane" you'll see many, many videos of the massive blaze and explosions.

Here's one...  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-5WQbx-dzA&NR=1

100 homes uninhabitable after blast

Dramatic Video

Well, Larry, I am glad this particular leg of the ordeal is over.  I can't imagine what you and Pat must have been going through -- spending the whole day at the hospital and not knowing a thing!    At least you finally did get to see Stacy and know she is being taken care of.  Tomorrow will be a better day.  I can only imagine how exhausted you both are ... physically as well as emotionally.

Pat!  That's horrendous.  What a terrible thing to happen.  I pray for the family of that fireman as well as for anyone/everyone effected by this disaster. 

Larry, I am continuing to pray for you, Pat and Stacey.  There is no tougher job in the world than hanging around a hospital while a loved one is being treated.  Bless you.

We got home this afternoon, tired after our weekend of diving/training.  It was a really disappointing time, as conditions at Sandy Channel were terrible.  The water there is usually quite clear and warm; this time the visibility was only about 2 feet, and near the bottom it was totally black.  We never even found the dive platforms, nor any of the boats and other things that are there.  But our divers were good sports, did their skills and all passed their certification.  They said they had a good time, and I said if they enjoyed THAT, they would think they are in heaven when they go to the Caribbean or somewhere else where the water is warm and clear.  There were actually two thermoclines in the water this time, very strange.

We drove on up to Grand Island, Nebraska, to my foster brother's place and spent the night with them last night.  Darrel repaired an alarm system there for friends of Don's.

Carol, I would love to see your place when you get it all fixed up, bet it will be a real showplace.  Don't work too hard, though!

Larry, I don't think I did too well with my weight watchers plan this week, either.  I still don't have the point system figured out, especially when I have to eat out.  Guess I will see tomorrow night.  I did pass up a lot of good looking food, so hope I lost some weight!

I need to get some shuteye.  Hope to hear good reports on Stacey tomorrow.

Welcome home, Janet! 

Larry I have been praying for Stacey and have  put  her on the prayer chain with my client and her family too.

Welcome  home Janet sorry to hear that you were less than pleased with your dive trip.

Good morning to you all.
Larry   I am glad your daughter has come through the surgery and I am praying for a speedy recovery for her. Also praying for you and your wife to be strengthen also has this no doubt has taken its toil on you  both.
Pat I did hear about that explosion. They didn't say what caused it. It is very sad , praying for those affected.
colin I just just you have posted another video . I will view this later.
I have read each post and may You all have a blessed day.

Hi, everyone!!!  I think I am back now.  Like Melody, I am figuring out my laptop and Vista.  I went to post the other day and my 'brains' ( a note pad with all my shortcuts to put on my graphics along with user names and passwords for various website) was blank!  I got my graphics back on one and a few user names and passwords. 

Then I couldn't find out how to use the email from my ISP.  I called them and finally got that figured out.  I know eventually all will be much better.  Vista isn't the problems...it's everything else.

And Best Buy said they could come to my house and set up networking....for $159!!!  I have the wireless all done.  When I took my laptop out of the box and turned it on, I had internet.  All I need is the set up words and jargon.  I think I could do it myself by reading the Linksys instructions but like I say...I am brain dead now!!! 

Larry ~ So sorry to hear of Stacy having to have surgery on her heart.  Let's just pray that all her problems will be minimized now.  Look at you...without heart surgery you wouldn't be here.  Now you can tell her how to react and do things!! 

I am off of here to do more stuff!!! 

I sure have missed you guys.....

I am confused!  Sure feels like Monday to me today, since I "lost" Monday driving home (well, riding, anyway--Darrel was driving!)  I hope to get sorted out soon.  I have gotten all the laundry done, kitchen cleaned, also living room, so Monday's work is close to being finished.  Not that I do certain chores on certain days, but just do as it needs done.  Boring.......I know. 

Abby starts back to school tomorrow---yes, already!  Goodness, feels as if they just got out a couple weeks ago.  Could it be that at my age the perspective changes?  Naw!

Etta Sue, you do great with computer stuff.  I don't do very well at all.  If I don't do something for two weeks or a month, I forget how to do it.   

See you later!

I see I got a notification of this so I did something right!!!  When Janet posted I got a notification.  Love that feature.  Time for me to check the rest of the emails.

Janet ~ Lots of time I wake up and think what day is this?  What do I have to do today?  When you are retired you have 6 Saturdays and one Sunday!!!

Quote from: Etta Sue on August 12, 2008, 11:47:07 AM

Lots of time I wake up and think what day is this?  What do I have to do today?  When you are retired you have 6 Saturdays and one Sunday!!!

Boy that's for sure!  When I was living in Oklahoma, the difference in one day from the next was that on Sunday I'd "dress up" and (sometimes) go to church!  I still find myself, once in a while, trying to remember what day it is when I awake in the mornings!     Oh, well, every day is a GOOD day with the Lord ... and a day to rejoice and be glad!   

Hi everyone.  We had a good night's sleep last night and we both felt much better today. 

We visited with our daughter for about an hour.  She was sitting in a chair, very weak and obviously in pain.  They wanted her to sit up for 2 hours and when we left she still had 45 minutes to go.  Around 3 am she pulled the respirator tube out but fortunately was able to do the breathing on her own.  I am sure the next couple of days are going to be pretty rough for her. 

We came home after visiting with her as we had no clean clothes left with us.  The housekeeper is coming in the morning and then tomorrow afternoon we will go back downtown to see our daughter.  She didn't have the strength to speak very much today and was using an oxygen mask.  However, they were weening her off of the oxygen.

Janet, glad to see you are home safe and sound.  Too bad about the bad conditions you found in the water.

Etta Sue, you should be able to set up the security on your moden/router.  Actually if you don't have other homes close by other than you brother and sister, I doubt that you really need to worry about setting security as the signal is usually pretty limited in distance.  If you do set any codes be sure to write them down and also you might want to make notes on how to access the control page of the Linksys. 

Thank you all once again for your prayers and expressions of concern.  Pat and I have gone through a lot and this is just another of the hurdles we face in the process of our lives. 

Bless you, Larry.  After the ordeal you and Pat have just been through (and still are) you still take time to greet us and let us know how things are going.  Thanks for that, and the prayers continue.

WOO-HOO!!  I went to Weight Watchers tonight, and in spite of hours in the pickup, eating out for four days, etc., I lost 3 1/2 pounds!!  I'm a happy camper! 

Etta Sue, that's the first thing I think of in the mornings---what day is it?  What do I have to do today?  And if traveling, Where am I? 

The US guys are beating Argentina in beach volleyball right now.  Strange, the men wear more clothes than the women for that game.      I see no reason for the women to wear such skimpy clothes to play that.  Guess I'm an old fogie.

I need to go read my new stuff from WW, see what else I need to do this week.

No Janet yo are not an old fogie.  I agree with you on the subject of dress.  It is difficult with teen girls to teach them modest dress when the "world" is so un-modest.  Kass and Elizabeth do comply and I really have no complaints.  The problem I am having is with a boy 2 1/2 years older than kass beating up on her and she is hesitant to defend herself as he is younger.  She came home Friday with scratches and bite marks all over her arms.  She is staying away from that area from now on.

Larry I am so sorre that your daughter is having such problems.  Just know she, you and pat are all being prayed for during this difficult time. 

VBS is going well.  Elizabeth is working with 4's and 5's and thoroughly enjoying it.  There is one child that is a challenge, and she is learning how to be firm and fair.  She has such a soft heart that she doesn't like to correct.  She is learning.

Well Must go.  Know that each of you both posting and not are being prayed for.  God bless you this day.

JudyB

The Laptop is getting easier.  Things are smoothing out now.  Larry, I have the wireless router working wonderfully.  In fact, I installed it first with the desktop.  When I took the laptop out of the box, plugged it in and turned it on, I was on the internet.  What I need now is the networking between the desktop and the laptop so I can access files with each pc.  I did purchase an 8 gig flash drive but I didn't think it would work on the desktop...the case on it was too wide to fit...but yesterday I was showing Kaye Don and it worked!!  That will help a lot!!! 

Today was Red Hats Day.  Four of us went to a restaurant at the new shopping center about 7 miles from me....first time I have been there.  It is an open mall.  Almost like a little town with streets and parking areas at different places.  You have to walk outside to go to other shops....similar to downtown shopping years ago!!!!!  We went shopping to several stores but I didn't buy anything.  I spent my money on a laptop last week remember?   

Judy, Kass needs to learn how to defend herself!  Nobody should have to put up with that kind of treatment.  Grrr.

Good for you, Etta Sue!  You will have all your computer problems figured out soon.

I had a really nice half mile swim this morning.  On the 700 Club right now, they have a man who lost over 400 pounds!!  Goodness!

Michael Phelps continues to shatter records in the Olympics.  Man, what a swimmer!

I'm enjoying watching the Olympics and seeing sights in China on TV that I have seen in person. 

See you later!

WE just had some thunder and heavy rain here. But statrting to clear out now.
I am still not quite able to figure it all the workings of this new lap top. Seems like Etta Sue is smarter than me because I am still trying out to get this routter thing working
Larry continuing to pray for your daughters recovery
hope you are all having a blessed day

Janet I know she does, but the problem is he threatens if she does he will call the police and have her charged.   Children know their rights ....to the detriment of others.  Because she is older she won't defend herself.  She has a Captain in cadets that she is going to speak to and ask for help as to what she CAN doto defend herself.  We'll see

I am getting more and more sewing projects in to do, It is great to be able to do this for others, I do enjoy it so much and to be paid to do it to boot!   

I need a drink of something cold...probably apple juice and then back to work.

Love you all

Hi everyone.  We are staying at our daughter's apartment again tonight and came prepared to stay here for several days.  There is no reason for us to do all the driving back and forth and this location is so much closer to the hospital.

We got to the hospital around 3:30 this afternoon and found her appearing to be much improved from yesterday.  They had removed the chest tubes and she had set up 90 minutes this morning and 2 hours this afternoon.  She has been coughing up a lot of debris and they started an antibiotic and took a specimen to be sure she wasn't developing pneumonia.  Her voice is much stronger.  They had removed the bandage from her arm where they harvested the artery and it appears to be healing well. The scar is only about 2 inches long on the inside of her writst.   She says she feels like a Mack truck has run over her but that is to be expected.  We didn't stay too long as she was in considerable pain and they had given her some morphine.  They have been weaning her off of the morphine but gave her another dose as she was in such pain.  They are having a time trying to adjust the blood sugar level as it is too high.  Overall she appears much improved and I wouldn't be surprised to see her moved from the ICU before long. Tomorrow will be the third day and then she should begin to feel better.

We will be spending more time with her when she moves out of ICU as the level of care goes down a lot from what it is in ICU.

We got caught in the baseball traffic tonight and saw a lot of Atlanta we hadn't seen before as they had streets blocked off and we couldn't go the way we knew. We found Peachtree Street, which is a major street from south to north and stayed on it all the way to the apartment.

Judy, hope your daughter gets some good advice as to how to handle the bully.  She shouldn't have to put up with this.  Glad you are getting the sewing projects that you enjoy.

Melody, did you install the router software?  Sorry it is giving you problems.

Janet,congratulations on the WW success.  I am sure I haven't lost any weight this week as it has been very hard to control what I have been eating as we have eaten out a lot.  I have to weigh in on Friday but am going to have to guess and will probably just indicate the same weight as last week.  I know I have used up almost all of my weekly points.  Are you doing the WW's over the Internet?  I think they have a great site but it does take some exploring to discover how to use it effectively.

Etta Sue, I was pretty confident you would enjoy the laptop.  The 8 gig memory stick should make transferring your files very easy. 



Larry

Today I have cleaned out 2 huge tubs and 2 large tub of fabric and donated it to a Women's Ministry group that meets at Willa's house every Monday. I used to go when I wasn't working at that time. I am working on downsizing while the weather is nice and I can take stuff out of the shed sort and toss.

Tomorrow I have an appointment at the new Women's Health unit over at Mad river Hospital for my digital Mammogram. I haven't had one for two years. I went through my file here at home and discovered I didn't get one last year, called the Dr and they made the referral.

This morning at work I had to  wash all the pots, pans and casserole dishes left from a dinner for 12 by hand of course, I don't put those things in the dishwasher. There were 6 able bodied women and 5 able bodied men there last night and I still had to do those dishes this morning. The  son and DIL from Georgia left this evening adnd the next group couple will be here the 29th and the family dinners will start all over again. GRRRRRRRRR that I have to do all that work and they just sit around that is not in my job description as a caregiver..

Marilyn:  Can't you just drop a big hint that the "good family" will have to pitch in on cleaning the kitchen?  Why are you downsizing? 

Larry:  Stacey is so young to go through all of this - it does sound like improvement each and every hour.

Janet:  Wait until we get furniture - which will be in two weeks if the truck isn't stopped by the traffic jam on I-25 - you know that convention is going to really cause chaos in the city. 

JudyB:  What a bully.  That makes me so mad - the parents need to know but if they are raising a bully they don't care. 

We are heading for a quick trip to Fort Collins tomorrow and what else, final packing & cleaning.  Then, back here to get the basement work shop floor painted.  Don likes it painted because it cuts down on dust.  We had to buy two overhead lights today, a cabinet for the laundry area & I forgot what else.  I never know what day it is unless I look at the calendar.  We finally have telephone but only one phone works so that must be changed & need to buy more so we don't run upstairs for a phone call.