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Morning Devotional...

Psalm 36

This psalm tells us that there are two - and only two - kinds of people in the world.  According to the author of the psalm they are "the wicked" and "those who know You."  David wants to remind the people, of these two categories.  And he very much wants them to be in the second category.  He wants them to pray for the kind of light for daily living that can come only from God and from knowing Him.

With these purposes in mind, he tells them what "the wicked" are like.  He says, "there is no fear of God before his eyes."  In fact, that's the reason they are the wicked, the reason, in fact, for everything they think and do in life.  It answers the question, "Why are they like that?"  The answer is that they are the way they are because God means nothing to them.

In fact, the way the wicked see it, there isn't anyone watching them or caring about what they do. Simply put, they don't think there's a God Who cares about what we do in this world. David tells us that the wicked "flatters himself in his own eyes and denies any iniquity." In fact, says the psalmist, "He has ceased to be wise and to do good.  He devises wickedness on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not abhor evil."

You and I should recognize the description – It's a description of the relativism of our own day that says there's no God, so every man is therefore his own standard - what's right for you is right for you, and what's right for me is right for me.

But there is one thing we really need to be aware of: there really IS a God Who cares!  And those who know Him love His mercy and faithfulness, His righteousness and judgements, and His providence over all His creation.  They have discovered His lovingkindness and have put their trust in Him.  They're "abundantly satisfied with the fullness" of that lovingkindness, and they drink of the "river of Your pleasures" - the joy of knowing and loving the reaL and true God, the Foundation of all being.  Not only so, but they've even found that, knowing Him, they can actually understand life.  They speak to their God, and they say, "with YOU is the fountain of life - in Your light we see light."

So the people singing the psalm reaffirm their faith by singing these words, and so they become ready to pray.  The psalmist then leads them in the prayer of those who truly know God.  They sing, "Oh continue Your lovingkindness to those who know You, and Your righteousness to the upright in heart."  They pray that they might actually experience their God's dealing with them every day!  Their prayer seeks continuing realization of the Lord's reality, of His blessing, and of His care in their lives.

They close by praying to be kept from the influence of the unbelievers, lest they fail and fall.  It's like one of the things found in the prayer our Lord taught His disciples. He taught them to say, "Lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from the evil one."  That's the message of this psalm as well. 

So, how do you want your day to go?  Could you use this model prayer?  Will you seek every day to know the presence and blessing of a real and present God?

Al Moak

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

Thanks Al That a wonderful study on Psalm 36. I need to go back and read it again more slowly.

Church was great this morning Pastor Danny talked about his vision for the coming  year, There is a lot of remodeling going on in the building too.

Keith is on his way home from visiting with his sons in Portland. I'm staying in today as it is too cold to be outside, the dogs are all snuggled  on the floor beside me by the little heater that is behind my chair. They go out and come back is quickly.

I have been watching the news on Israel and Gaza since yesterday. I saw an interesting program on Fox News  late last night when I couldn't sleep about a young man, whose father is in the hierarchy of Hamas, who  converted to Christianity and is now living in San Diego. He told about how Hamas  tortures their own people. It was a very good program.

Thak you Al.

I am on my 3rd modrm.  I keep getting power surges through the phone line and blow modems.  Got a power bar with a surge protece and a serge protect for the phone line too. 

I will be back tomorrow and get caught up then.

I saw that program too, Marilyn.  And it was repeated today.  Very interesting that even though he knows there are orders out to murder him, he has no fear.  Must be a God thing! 

We made dinner for Beth and John, then I took them back to the home and brought the van back and put it into the garage.  We will leave around 10 to take John to Garden to get his train home, he is to leave at 11:30.  And I am already sleepy!

Anthony, it's great to see you posting again!  How are things with you and yours?  You asked about Beth...her physical condition is very discouraging, but her spirits are good, also her attitude at this time.  Her friend John has been here spending two weeks with her, which cheered her tremendously.

Al, good words for today, thanks.

I spent the afternoon looking for pictures and stories about our family to send my sister Shirley who is writing a book.  Maybe she should share the proceeds with me, you think?   

See you tomorrow!

What a wonderful devotional to read!  We did Psalm 121 together and then prayed and now on my last check through Thoughts for the Week, we've read another of your wonderful devotionals, Alan .

Thanks so very much!

We're getting ready tomorrow for our southward journey on Tuesday.  I have quite a full and busy day.

Pat

I enjoyed the devotional this morning.  I was speaking to an old friend who, when she found I had become a Christian, said, "each to his own."  I don't really know how to speak to such people, but it seemed to re-inforce what the devotional was saying.

Marilyn, I would like to have seen the program about Hamas.  With so many of them becoming suicide bombers, there must be an immense amount of pressure on some of them to do what they do.

Judy I am sorry to hear about the modem's blowing up.  New technology is useful unless it breaks down.  Hope you can sought the problem out.

Janet, I'm glad that Beth is keeping in good spirits and what a blessing for her to have a friend in John.  It must be a great encouragement for her.  Have a good day today Janet.

Pat, have a great day today.

Have a great day everyone.

Anthony.

Good Morning, I've been to Curves already even though my  right knee is giving me fits today, well, it is an ongoing situation with my  knee has been for  years. It does well for a long time then it  is just the opposite. I haven't  don't anything to irritate it it is just something I have to live with.

Raining a little here this morning,  not enough to be any problem.  Not much on my schedule today except go to work, I do need to go to the jewelers to have a diamond replaced in my mother's wedding ring, I will have one taken out of one of my rings. I have my heart set on using my mother's ring.


Have a great day everyone.

Thank you, Al, for the great devotion of Psalm 36.  Inspirational reading.

Not much going on today.  I need to call the 60 Chix about Thursday so will do that sometime today.  It is sunny, then cloudy, then sunny again.  But still cold.  Below freezing quite a bit.  But NO WIND.  The winds we have been having are fierce!  Sometimes you just want to yell STOP!! 

Listening to Bose...love it!

Marilyn the weather could be a factor with the knee.

Still working on inventory here in the store.  It has become quite a job.  The tough part is unrolling and then re rolling spools of elastic and trims.   he fabric is one thinf, maximum 10 meters on each but the elastic can have as much as 150 meters.  the rerolling is the hard part keeping the roll neat. 

My co-worker came in today with more boxes for burning and some patterns and fabric for me that she is getting rid of.  This is great, I love increasing my stash, and this is mostly childrens fabric, so I can sew for the grands if I actually get time!

No puppies.  Silly dog had a false pregnancy right through to the 11th hour.  Grrr I was looking forward to her puppies.  Well she will soon be fixed.  We are not going through this again.  She ia a good pet and I think this was tough on her too.

Got to run.  More unrolling to do.

I am awake!  And hope I can keep my eyes open until tonight.  John's train was two hours late, so it was 3 AM when Darrel and I got back home this morning.  Yawn......  And I have to work today.  I have no idea why the delay, but it was a short night.

Anthony, they repeated the program "Escape from Hamas" again last evening on Fox.  Do you get Fox there?  This fellow's father was a founding member of Hamas.  His 'awakening' came while he was in prison and watched Hamas members torturing and killing other Hamas members.  He later became a Christian, and has a powerful testimony.

Pat, praying for good travel for you and Paul.  I know you will be happy when the trip doesn't need to be made so often.

They are to deliver Beth's new recliner today.  I must go and pay the final half of its purchase price, and do a few more errands.  So I'd best get with it!

up and going this morning fixing to run out the door to go to several places like elkhart hugoton and back home oh well i get to spend time with the hubby so i'm happy! hope ya'll have a good day and all is well!

Hi, friends,

It's a cold day here in Nashville. I've packed more, given my son a few "honey-do" jobs, cooked chili, have a load of laundry drying and a load washing, ran the dishwasher, and now am dressing to go out and get the kitty some more food. He has a self-feed container for his dry "indoor kitty" food, and it's on its last bowl-ful.

Andrew, yes, it's nice to hear from you again. With those who cannot be witnessed to, our consistent lives will witness to them on a regular basis without our having to say a word.

My son will be over here sometime today. Hope he's doing well - he spent the weekend with my grandson (his only son) down in Birmingham, AL.

Well, best get moving - it's not getting any earlier. 

Ruth Ann

hey its seems like its getting colder here today and I think i will stay inside for the day BRRRRRRRR.
Al real good devotional really enjoyed it.
Pat may God grant you travelling mercies.
I hate travelling in winter around here.
Blessing to all!!             

Hi everyone.  I have had a really busy day today.  After coffee and walking at the gym, I spent the rest of the morning helping friends get their new computer in shape.  I showed them how to copy the files from the old computer onto a CD and then load them in the documents folder on the new computer.  Also helped with a printer problem and put virus protection on the computer.  I got to see the new Word 2007 version as had never seen it in action. 

I then had a men's luncheon to attend and when I got home rested for just a little while and then had a prearranged call with a friend and we talked for a long time. 

It is currently 60 degrees here and is suppose to get up to 66 degrees tomorrow and rain. 

Al, thanks for the new devotional for this week.

I have read all of the postings but am going to be brief tonight as am tired.

I made it through the day, and now I'm seriously considering my pillow.  Soon I will be     Ahhhh...

It felt really cold here today; thermometer said 39 but with that cold wind, it felt more like 9!

Pleasant dreams, everyone.

We had another bad snowstorm last night and I could not go to have a haircut for the 3rd or 4th time....told them I would see them come Spring!

My AVG was due for renewing and did it before Christmas so it would not expire.  Seems Internet Explorer had a loop hole that allowed a virus and guess who got dinged while downloading my program   I have spent the last two days having to do a complete System Recovery, then finding a way to again get the AVG to download without another virus ... finally loaded their temp free one and activated with my new license once it was on.  The tech. who tried to help me couldn't get it to load, so had to figure out a way on my own.  Boy, am I tired!  So many things had to be updated from scratch.  Then my Outlook Express wouldn't accept my password, had to go to them and put in a new one....Have not had any virus on the computer since switching to AVG two years ago...sort of funny it happened this way.   

Kind of like the snowfall last night.  Our street finally got plowed in the morning and the night brought more snow and another mess.  That darn little elf is working overtime again.....

Nice devotional, Al.  I am also going to go back and read it in more detail when my eyes can once again focus. 

Hope that you do show us some pictures, Sarah.  Glad your big day went well and that you are so happy.

The neighbours cat is inside at the moment.  We have been letting Billy come in to get warm, as they put him outside in all sorts of weather.  Seems they have a new puppy now and guess it takes time for them to get friendly.  Misty doesn't mind as she keeps trying to go out and gets cold and stuck in the snow.  So spends most of the day sleeping.  I keep thinking SPRING....if only it would happen.

Pleasant Day/Evening and God Bless.

Liz

  Hi to all.  I have read the posts and thanks Al for the devotional I will try to go back and read it again.

Anthony:  I am not sure if I asked you this before.  W

   I will try to continue where I messed up.

Anthony: Where do you live in the British Isles ?  I am from Glasgow many years ago and it seems funny but there are still a few things that I miss.

Judy B.  Hope that you get your problems fixed with the computer they can be a real problem.  Say hi to John and to Heather and give her my email address and tell her to send me an email.  God bless sis.

Paul and Pat.   Hope that all is well and that you have a safe trip to Virginia.

Al.  How are the legs coming along and what about the sleeping.  God bless.

Well must get some sleep. Have a wonderful week and gods richest blessings to all.

Hi everyone.  I realize it hasn't been very long since I posted last evening and really have nothing to add this morning other than a greeting to everyone.  We continue to be warm here as see it is currently 63 degrees and suppose to get up to 66 degrees today.  Tomorrow is to be a little cooler.  I heard it raining during the night.

A friend sent the following, which brought a smile to my face so wanted to share it with you all:


Hope everyone finds something to smile about today.

Good afternoon everyone.  It's still very cold here in the U.K. and driving conditions are bad, so the roads are very quiet at the moment.

Janet, I'm afraid I can't get Fox News at the moment, but may be able to get it later this year.  You don't normally hear of these things, which leads people to believe that ordinary people back Hamas.  It's good for the truth to come out.  I do pray that Beth will enjoy her new chair.  Being comfortable is important.

Sarah, nice to see you posting - still can't believe you're married.  I think you were 16 when you first joined the forum here.  Have a great day.

Ruth Ann, thanks for the advice on witnessing to people.  I think that you are right.  The lives that we lead speak volumes to the unconverted.  This old friend did comment that she thought I had become more caring than when she knew me.

Melody, that's how feel about the weather here at the moment.  Don't go out unless it's essential.  Hope you have a good day.

Larry, it's great that you are able to help people out with their computer problems.  I used to be interested in computers, but for some reason I struggle to use the things these days.  Oh, and by the way, I am definately not jealous about your 60 degrees - I would rather be shivering by the fire anyday ~ haha.  I just read the joke - great.  The things children say :-)

Liz, snowstorms are nice if you can look at them from a warm living room.  Have a good day today.

Hi Gord, I live in the Midlands in England.  I have never been to Scotland, but do have some distant family in Glasgow.  When my nephew got married his uncle attended in his kilt.  My friend just returned from a break in Scotland and mentioned how cold she was.  It's good to meet you brother.

God bless all and enjoy the day.  I just had a new digital camera come through the post today.  The Nikon D60, I am really looking forward to using it, but I don't think my memory card will come for another week at least.  It will give me time to look at the handbook.

Anthony.

Anthony. Congratulations on the new camera.  I am looking forward to seeing some of the pictures you take with it!

Liz... Didn't you know the word S N O W is a 4 letter word?  Especially this year.  Here in Northern Ontario we broke 7 weather records.  The most snow, the most rain, the lowest temperature and the highest temperature, were among the records that were broken.

Gors good to "see" you.  I will pass on the message to Heather.

I had little sleep last night 2.5 hours to be exact so I feel like a limp dishrag today.  Thankfully I am off today.  The repairs and alterations are rolling in again.....so I had better get at it.

Take a look at the pictures that have been posted.  We have amazing tallent here at Christian Photographers.

Have a good day everyone and God bless

Al:  Thank you for devotions - I just looked at Psalms 36 and the part that jumped out is:  vs 9 For you are the Fountain of life; our light is from your Light"  It says everything so plain and clearly.

Anthony:  You can be sure that you are filled with light and your old friend did notice the difference. 

Don just took off to drive to Fort Collins and spend time meeting three friends, separately.  He has missed them and only one of them was able to make it to his birthday party.  He says he is not going to tell anyone that he is from Minnesota any more.  The politics has turned so ugly there. 

Good Morning everyone. Not much new here yet today. 48° with light fog according to  the bottom of my screen.

Not much news today.  Just that I woke up to a skim of snow on the ground.  Then when I turned on the radio it was talking about all the accidents in the Indy area due to ice.  I came in the living room and watched out the picture window and sure enough, the traffic was crawling on SR32.  I have seen a couple of salt trucks on SR32 so traffic vehicles are moving faster now.  I have a couple of letters to put in the mailbox but I will wait until it warms up....above freezing.  Even if that is tomorrow.  It is getting foggy now. 

Must go.  Things to do.  I had visions of going to Noblesville for Taco Bell but not today.  Is that a sign of getting old??

I am like Liz...I may not be out until Spring!

No Etta Sue that is not old....It is a sign of being smart.  Dad gave me a teapot stand that said "Too soon oldt undt too late smardt!" I think we are all there.

I see smoke coming from our neighbours chimney but no shadow of smoke from ours.  Time to feed the shark.  At least this year we have enough wood to stay warm.

Be back later
JudyB

Etta sue I love your graphic today of the cat building a sand castle in the litter box.

Dear all.  I feel too tired to reply to everyone tonight.  I'm going to sit down and watch a Norman Wisdom movie and pop off to bed in an hour's time.  Have a good night's sleep everyone and see you tomorrow.

God bless,  Anthony.

This morning we went to a friends for coffee & cookies, their fire place was going and it sure made you feel ever so cozy.  Upon leaving we had several errands to take care of,  now according to the evening news we have more snow on its way with the weather being unsettled until Sunday. Glad I am retired.

Judy: Heard on the news that we are to get lots and lots of snow this winter.
About you internet we have filters on every phone line in the house in use or not. Along with the power bar.

Anthony: Good to see you back.

The Hockey game is on so will watch that before heading off to bed.

Ruth 

hows everyone doing.... i hope all is well... soon it will be back to EVERYTHING work and school combined... yay! not really but it will all be ok...anyways i must be off here and on to getting some things cleaned and packed and ready for transport also need to get paperwork complete for things such as name change etc. hope everyone has a good day\week!
Sarah

Hi, friends,

I can envision that the next days will be long ones in my life...got the approval for my apartment move and found out my apartment number, etc. So, I've already been online making changes in addresses --- YIKES! so many more changes that it may make me feel as if I'm on a treadmill!

I'll check in as often as I can, but in the meantime, please ask our Lord to guide me as I make these last preparations and finish packing.

Y'all have a great rest of the day.