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Morning Devotional...



But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word. --Acts 6:4

Well, we have great churches and we have beautiful sanctuaries and we join in the chorus, "We have need of nothing." But there is every indication that we are in need of worshipers.

We have a lot of men willing to sit on our church boards who have no desire for spiritual joy and radiance and who never show up for the church prayer meeting. These are the men who often make the decisions about the church budget and the church expenses and where the frills will go in the new edifice.

They are the fellows who run the church, but you cannot get them to the prayer meeting because they are not worshipers....

It seems to me that it has always been a frightful incongruity that men who do not pray and do not worship are nevertheless actually running many of the churches and ultimately determining the direction they will take.

It hits very close to our own situations, perhaps, but we should confess that in many "good" churches, we let the women do the praying and let the men do the voting.

Because we are not truly worshipers, we spend a lot of time in the churches just spinning our wheels, burning the gasoline, making a noise but not getting anywhere.
Dr. Tozer in Whatever Happened to Worship?, 16-17.

"Lord, make the men in our church, especially the leaders, men of prayer and worship. Please don't allow us to try to lead others where we have not been; don't let us spin our wheels because we are not worshippers. Amen."

Oh boy Pat that devotional really hit the nail on the head big time. I see that every week right in my own church.

I just found out today that I will be without a job in a few days. My patients son is moving her into a Board and Care home even as I type this. However she will still be in her place for a day or two. I will be helping her with her transition from one place to the other.

The most important thing for the elders is that they feel happy and safe where ever they maybe living. Now I will not have to deal with the phone calls a all hours of the night, just because she woke up and don't know the time. Or lifeline calling me because she is confused about what time I come into work for her.

I just pray that it will not be very many days in between jobs and that I have another right away. So as you read this please say a little prayer for me.

I have been ofered a part time job on Saturdays as Relief manager at  a friends local storage facility. It is the Hide-away storage places. I will start training  soon, I have done this work before.

That is a very good and very necessary devotional, Pat.  I wonder, though - was it quoted from someone, and, if so, who?  I ask because I'd like to take a quote from it for a thing I'm writing on worship.

And Father, I pray You will provide Marilyn with another job quickly through our Lord Jesus Christ, and may it even be a better one.

Thanks Marilyn.  I enjoyed it as well.  It sure spoke to my heart.

Al, I've added "Dr. Tozer" to the sentence where it says the book it's from and the pages.

Dr. Tozer in Whatever Happened to Worship?, 16-17.

Thanks, Pat, for the devotional.  I almost knew it had to be Dr. Tozier, tho!  That was before you added the reference.  Very timely and appropriate to a lot of areas in our churches.

Pat I have copied the devotional and sent it on to my pastors. We have a man on our board who hasn't been to church  in months let alone ever coming to prayer meeting. But I saw the family in the church parking lot on Saturday having  yard sale. Plus we are short two board members who have left the church.

The kettle   is on for a fresh pot of tea and the coffee is always fresh!

Lots of wheaten bread this morning with fresh lemon curd!

Enjoy!  

Wow I was sure having withdrawal symptoms. I am so glad we are back on.

So much to say and now I am at a loss for words.

Yesterday we got Ruth moved into the Board and Care home. I will be paid for this week at my regular pay rate. I will be working next week with a friend organizing her office, doing some filing etc. I was also offered a couple of days work by one of the men at the senior center. So I am sure I have enough to tide me over until I get another job. I am just hoping I can pay the bills.

I went o Costco this morning for a few items then I went to see Ruth  and keep her company or awhile, I am trying to help her through the transition and get settled in the new place.

time to fix my supper.

I'm so very, very happy that we're back online.  It's been terrible viewing that big blank screen.

I'd like to publicly thank Ian, my dear son, who has helped us get back online.  He has a very close friend who has had a very serious heart attack and now must have (and maybe already had) triple bypass surgery in London, Ontario and that's why Ian was unable to help us last evening.

It's just so good to be back now.

CP withdrawls are over.   

I have just finished reading a book written by Robin McGraw -Inside My Heart.   Choosing to live with passion and purpose  This is a book that I would recommend for anyone to read.   

Have a wonderful evening.   

Ruth

I have just noticed the spell check button and now I am asking how come it is not working?

I'm so glad we are back on, I missed us! 

Pat, I wish I could taste the wheaten bread, and not just cyber.  Sure sounds good.

I have done a whole lot of nothing these past two days.  I hope I don't get too lazy, but my arm and hand sure feel a lot better.

Saturday is Abby's 10th birthday, and she is full of hopes and plans for that.

I'd better stop typing now. 

Hi everyone.  I am also glad to see we are back online.  I kept checking and knew it would be restored in due time.  Thanks Ian for your help to your mother and to all of us.

Pat, that was a powerful devotional and before I saw you had written it I also felt it must have been Dr. Tozer.  His words are always so powerful.

Marilyn, I have also said a little prayer for you that you will not be out of work very long.  Do you work through an agency or department of health?  Glad you have some short-term jobs in view to carry you for a little while.  I was saddened to read of the two ladies you spoke of having the terminal cancer. It is hard to imagine not having a tongue.

Etta Sue, glad to see you back home.  It sounds like you had a nice time.  I bet your kitties were glad to have you back home.

Welcome to John81.

Sarah, it sounds like you needed a couple of days off.  Hope you were able to get rested a bit.

JudyB, thanks for the anniversary wish. 

Janet, I miss your wonderful postings but glad to see you are minding your doctor and giving your arm and hand a rest.

Carol, our daughter has been working two days now and seems to be liking it.  Yesterday was tough as it was very hot here and the air conditioning in their training facility was broken.  They called off the day at 2:30 as it was unbearable for them all but they got to count the full day as work.  Today she said it was a lot better and they are beginning to learn the computer system. 

It is getting late so will just say good night.

Thanks to Pat, too, for keeping on top of things and keeping us running so smoothly here.   

I really thank you for posting Dr. Tozer's words here, Pat.  I'm writing a paper on the subject of worship just now, so it's likely I will quote from that.

Well, it's been a very tiring couple of days and now, I must get to bed.

Thanks to everyone for being so patient. and for praying.

Whew! 8:15 a.m. until 9:45 pm certainly makes for a very long wor day - and this one filled with computer crashes, 2 corrupted records I had to track down from 3/20/2007!

The computer tech (really a wizard) quizzed me, fiddled with the computer, had me run through some of my "daily antics" and finally said, "Mrs. Bice, I truly believe your computer is the hardest working computer in North America!" With the "fiddling" he did and etc, along with the strange things I've noticed in the past 3 weeks (and logged just-in-case), it's not crashing each time a program (you know - just trying to open up Microsoft Word, for instance) either stalled after a 10-minute wait for it to open, froze the Word program itself, or crashed the entire computer.

At any rate, yesterday was marginally "positive" with the up/down/sometime/maybe trainee. Today he didn't show up, and didn't call in until after 1 pm Eastern time. All last week (the 4 days minus the Fourth holiday) it took him upwards of 2 3/4 hours to complete a task that I completed with my boss watching the work on screen, in 26 minutes flat. (Even with the slow starts of various software packages!)

So, when you don't hear from me, it's not because nothing's happening down here - likely too much is happening! 

Nite, all.

Whew!  That was terrible not hearing from my friends for so long.  Glad we are all back together again.

I just got home from a hilarious show at Beef and Boards.  The show was called 'Smoke on the Mountain'.  The year was 1938.  It's Saturday night at Mount Pleasant and Reverend Oglethorpe has invited the Sanders Family Singers to provide an upliftin' evening of singin' and witnessin'.  The audience is invited to pull up a pew and get ready for a rollicking good time.  More than two dozen songs from 'Amazing Grace' and 'I'll Fly Away' to 'Church in the Wildwood' and 'Wonderful Time Up There' and hilarious stories from the - more or less - devout Sanders, provide a richly entertaining show that will have you clapping, laughing, cheering and singing along.  I do believe out of all the shows I have seen, this one is the best!! 

Tomorrow is Red Hats Society!  We are going to an art gallery somewhere!

We're back.

I just came in to check and here I are.

Etta Sue, I have the tv on, and a song was playing just as I saw your cute kitty bouncing to the music coming from his headphones.  I had to watch him and smile till the song was over. 

ok, now that I know we're back I'm going to bed. lol   

Oh, Pat....I love the devotional.  Dr. Tozer is always and forever so timely.  I wonder if there's anyone who doesn't think he was a true man of God?  I've not read one thing that didn't prick me or stir me or encourage me in the Lord.   Not many Christian authors have I had such high regard for.

Night, all.   Nita

Hi everyone.  Just wanted to stop in and say good morning.  We are suppose to have rain here today.

A couple of days ago I helped a friend with her computer.  She picked it up from me yesterday but when she went to plug it in found the power cord wasn't with it.  My friend forgot to put it back with everything else when he finished getting it working.  So he will give it to me this morning and I will go back to this friends house to help her get it up and running.  She had installed a video cam and it fouled up her computer. 

Etta Sue, glad you had such a delightful evening.  It is too bad we don't have more of these things available although I probably wouldn't attend anyway.  I remember years ago we loved to attend the Dinner Theaters in Kansas City and then in Virginia or Maryland.

Ruth Ann, it doesn't sound like the trainee is going to be able to learn the job or perhaps doesn't want to do so.  I hope I am wrong.  It sounds like you are about ready for a new and more powerful computer.  I was just reading about a quad processor that is coming out.  You could work 4 times as fast.  I am sure that is just what you want to do. 

Pat, hope you were able to get a good nights rest.

Hi Everyone!
Just dropped in to announce that my first book 'Kidz Battle Zone' was released here in Australia on 07/07/07.  It was a wonderful occassion with children at our kids camp praying to release the book!  The response to the book has been amazing! All praise to Jesus!!

I've set up a website for the book. You are all more than welcome to have a look and sign the guest book:  www.kidzbattlezone.com

We are all doing well - it's our coldest month now - LOL!  My hubby George, leaves for India again in early August. He will be away for 6 weeks this time, so I'd appreciate your prayers for him and us, while he is gone.

God bless each one of you!

Hi Everybody,

[Misty saunters in with a mug of Bushells tea in one hand (strong, white, no sugar) and his regular plain buttered (real butter not that margarine stuff that he can't eat) rice cakes. Misty not only has to worry about what comes out of his mouth, but what goes in to it as well.

He smiles and gives a big friendly wave of his rice cracker (he forgot last time and used the wrong hand and had to go back for another cup of tea).]

Heard the voices, smelled the coffee, so I thought I'd pop in before I go off and try my hand at a gallery and stuff. Nice to see a caring and sharing group here. LOVE the cat. I only recently learned how to animate gif images myself a couple of months back. Praying too Marylin that the Lord has some good things planned for you on the employment front.

Sadly the devotional is so tue even though I am privileged to know some excellent exceptions to that rule. Some wonderful worshipping warriors who are not afraid of the intimacy to which we are called. Sadly today's world discourages intimacy (that's platonic intimacy), especially between men. But we are not of this world and we need to understand and embrace the spiritual intimacy to which Jesus calls us. We are not men running and organisation ... we are men in battle!

Men in battle form some of the most intense, deeply personal, strong, enduring and intimate bonds because they share more than just pleasentries - they share life ... and death!

Thanks Misty for the prayer. I can use all of those I can get.

I have been to Curves already this morning and one lady knows someone whose mother is going to be needing a caregiver when she gets out of rehab recovering from a fractured hip. Right up my alley. I learned all the physical therapy for that when Ruth fractured her hip.

However, The lord has been speaking to me about doing more for him too. I must talk to my Pastor about this. I know  and all y-all know that I wear  many hats at church doing all the things  I do plus filling in for  anyone who doesn't show up. Adult Sunday school secretary, greeter, intercessor, going ½ hour early to make the coffee and set up the fellowship hall for the Sunday school teacher, operating the power point for the over head, inputting songs into power point, altar worker etc. But I feel like God wants to stretch me even more. There isn't much left for me to do is there?


Wow I gt to go to my Tai Chi class this morning, I haven't been for a few weeks I need the focus, relaxation and the workout.  Then I am going to Ruth's house to get some stuff for her, and take her to lunch her in McKinleyville at the Senior center. This afternoon is mine all mine. Yippee  Bible study tonight.

Must get started here.
C U L8ter

Nita ~ Glad you like the bopping cat.  It made me think of my new cell phone.  You can upload songs onto it.  I figured that on VCast they wouldn't have my type of songs...50's music and Christian music...so I uploaded from my pc.  I have 175 songs on it now.  Think of this....an almost 65 year old with her cell phone earplugs in her ears and bopping to the music!  Okay...that's enough thinking!!   


I am all ready to go to Ivalou's and watch for our ride to Red Hats.  We are going to an art gallery in Zionsville.  It is at an old church converted into an art gallery.  Will let you know more about it when I get back. 

I pray that everyone has a God filled day!!

Guess I missed out on 'missing' the site....was in Victoria and didn't tune in!
We are having 90+ heat and not used to it at all...from 60's & low 70's to 90's is a little much all at once.  No air conditioning in the house as not used to that much heat in this part of the country.  Think that may soon change if this becomes normal.

Karen, congrats on your book and I checked out the site.  Are those your lovely kids in the pictures???  I plan to go back and check things out further when time permits.  You have a merry face...it makes me smile

Etta Sue, this person is nearly 10 yrs. older than you and still bopping with the music!  Never too old to be HAPPY!

Misty, thank you for an interesting post.  You might want to know that my reference in posts about MISTY is about my MainCoon cat.  Just so there is no confusion.  Right now she is suffering from the heat and not at all pleased with life. 

Marilyn, I am praying for you to find steady work again.

That was a helpful devotional, Pat.  Sometimes I feel something is wrong with me for seeing depth lacking in our churches now.   Glad to learn others also wonder.  So much posturing and performing.....so little genuine caring and devotion. 

Lots of things waiting to get done.  The kids had a great time in the States and brought back piles of ironing for me to do.  Also some neat little presents....Poor Squeek (Wendy's cat) was so lonely and wanted me to hold her all the time.  She is looking much more content now!

Pleasant Day/Evening and God Bless.

Liz 

Listening to music from Pandora's - thanks a bunch Larry!

I have been cutting and sewing less expensive fabric just to practice before cutting the nice fabric for Laura's quilt.  Time for a break now.  Two crock pots going, one with veggie soup and the other with a chicken getting it ready for soup later. 

Prayers for all - especially for good and fair wages and jobs!!!!!!!!!

Carol

I just wanted to thank Ian for taking care of the site for us!
I'm still here you guys!  Thanks for your prayers!  I'll soon celebrate my 63rd bday.
I'll have to try and stop by more often!
Shalom.

I am going to risk typing a bit today, to share a blessing.  This morning I went to the Care Home to see Mom and Beth.  When I walked into her room, Beth looked at me, then at the floor and confessed "I have been really naughty."  I asked what she'd done, and she said that all this time she has been blaming ME for her being in the care home.  I reminded her that it wasn't my idea, wasn't my decision, I did all I could for her for as long as I could, and she agreed that was all true.  But, she said, she blamed me, and the staff, ad the doctors, and anyone else she could think of, for her fate.  She recalled that it broke my heart as much as hers when she had to go there, and she apologized to me for blaming me, even in her mind.

I asked what brought about the revelation, and she said they had sent someone from Mental Health to talk to her (they have been promising this for a year!) and that she's been talking to the chaplain, too.  Anyway, now that she is over that hurdle, I hope she will have more peace of mind about her situation, even though it hasn't changed.  Thanks for reading.

Hi, Liz!  Hi Carol, Etta Sue, Larry, Al, Misty, Marilyn, InspiredGal, Nita..........everybody!

OH!!  Nita, go to biblesondvd.com and look--they are advertising the Bible plus lots of extras, for only $29.95 a set.  Might be just what you want.

PINKIE!  So good to hear from you.  Happy Birthday, and God be with you.

Well, I just wrote a long (and whiney) post and it disappeared into cyberspace so that tells me I didn't need to be posting it in the first place!    

I was confessing a bad attitude toward someone whom I considered was harrassing me for over a week.  I will, instead, ask you to pray for me that I will keep my attitude under control when she calls me again tonight.  I have prayed and confessed and I really don't want to be mean or rude to this person. 

Pinkie~It really is great to see you again!  Let me, also, wish you a happy birthday (when it arrives) and I look forward to seeing you around here more often.

Janet~That is really a very good reason for you to "risk typing" today.  In fact, your post about Beth is what prompted me to write  about my "problem."     However, I will not repeat it.   

I think I need to stop while I'm ahead ... see y'all later ......

Good on you, Jane!  Positive thoughts will bring positive results....?  Now, I thought about sunshine and here we have 100 deg. and rising.  Help!!

Janet, your post inspired me to come and say how happy it makes this person to learn that Beth understands you only want what is best for her.  I pray for her on a regular basis, as do many here on CP.

Did some ironing, not a lot.  Now am taking a book and going outside to try and find some sort of shade....also to check on Misty and make sure she is okay.  Heat is so hard on animals with a lot of fur. (Also those of us without fur) Trying to find someplace that will do cats, so we can have her fur trimmed and all that stuff.  They seem to only like dogs around here.....

Pinkie, I think of you and it is good to see you post. 

                                             

God Bless,

Liz