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JennyW: Hello Janet! I check every day. I wish everyone would get going again! I miss seeing pictures and reading posts! 2025-01-24, 06:54:04

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Thoughts for the week ~ December 12

Started by Al Moak, December 12, 2010, 06:33:43 PM

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Al Moak






Worry is just plain sin.



Morning Devotional...


Psalm 56

The key to this wonderful song of faith is verses 3, 4 -  "Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.  In God I will praise His Word; In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?" As often was the case with David, the fires of affliction were the inspiration for the psalm.  But what he was learning was that those fires couldn't hurt him!  He wrote the song so that his people might learn from his experience.

To understand, we need to realize that at the time to which this psalm points David's affliction couldn't have been any worse. In fact, he was in mortal danger.  He makes that clear when he says, "All day they twist my words; all their thoughts are against me for evil.  They gather together, they hide, they mark my steps, when they lie in wait for my life."  But what made it bearable was that he had recourse to One Who can change things, to One Who is over all the works of men, to One Who hears him when he prays, and, above all, to One Who CARES.  

So, with the added realization of the total righteousness of this God, David could pray, "Shall they escape by iniquity? In anger cast down the peoples, O God!"

Finally, not only is He a righteous God, but David knew that He also remembers all.  David can therefore pray, "You number my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle; are they not in Your book?"  

It all leads to a reiteration in Vs. 11: "In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid.  What can man do to me?"  The repetition just tells us that this is a lesson David has learned  well.  His focus is upon the unseen God rather than upon the enemies he sees around him.  The conclusion is that God, Who is unseen, is able to do far more than man who can be seen.  In fact, when in God's protection, David cannot ultimately be harmed.

It was the same in Christ's day.  Consider Jesus the greater Son of David, when He was surrounded by the Sanhedrin and by Pilate's court. Even all those enemies could do no more than what God allowed them to do.  The unseen God, the unseen eternity - these were the facts that were perfectly real and visible to His faith.  The result was that He knew that nothing ultimately harmful COULD be done to Him - even at the Cross, for even that awful experience could only result in the destruction of Satan's power, the freeing of His people, and His ultimate rule at the right hand of the Father!

So it must ever be for all God's dear people.  Because of Christ's ultimate triumph, because of His present reign, because of His intercession - man can do nothing ultimately harmful to any of them.  Let David's trust be ours as well in every one of our emergencies.

[size=pt1]Al Moak[/size]





WHAT GOD HATH PROMISED
(Click to hear music)


This is what He has promised us eternal life.
1 John 2:25

Words: An­nie J. Flint, 1919.
Music: Will­iam M. Run­yan, 1919



God hath not promised skies always blue,
Flower strewn pathways all our lives through;
God hath not promised sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.


Refrain
But God hath promised strength for the day,
Rest for the labor, light for the way,
Grace for the trials, help from above,
Unfailing sympathy, undying love.


God hath not promised we shall not know
Toil and temptation, trouble and woe;
He hath not told us we shall not bear
Many a burden, many a care.


Refrain


God hath not promised smooth roads and wide,
Swift, easy travel, needing no guide;
Never a mountain rocky and steep,
Never a river turbid and deep.


Refrain




Janet

Very nice, Al.  I didn't even realize that was a song; I had seen it many times on the backs of funeral folders, and it's a wonderful poem.  I hadn't read the later verses, either.  Thanks for that.

Well, I have started on my gift wrapping!!  Yea!!  ;)

I think we are going to Garden tomorrow, should get the shopping completed.  This week has lots of things on our calendar!

My book Rising Above available at JanetDamon.com

JudyB



Colin

#3
LITTLE BABY BOY

God's only Son spoke creation long ago
Made the stars to twinkle and the sun to glow
He fashioned the heavens and made the earth
Left glory of the highest for His lowly birth

Cold the night air over the Bethlehem din
The crowded streets, no room at the Inn
Precious babe in womb, to go on not able
Mary found shelter and gave birth in a stable

O starlit night of such wonder and awe
When shepherds looked above and angels they saw
Telling of a birth in heavenly light glowing
The Saviour in a manger where cattle were lowing

A message of joy, they spoke of peace and goodwill
To the shepherds that night on a lonely cold hill
Still the message rings out again and again
There is peace and hope and goodwill to all men

The baby birth proclaimed from angels on high
Was of Jesus the Saviour who was born just to die
A manger of straw made up His first bed
A cold stone His last when in tomb He lay dead

No longer babe in a manger or man in a grave
He is King on His throne and willing to save
Goodwill towards you, hope peace and joy
From eternal God once that little baby boy

Colin Moffett
The Country Poet

JudyB

Thank you Colin. 

QuoteNo longer babe in a manger or man in a grave
He is King on His throne and willing to save

This is so true, too often we think of Him as a baby or dead saviour on the tree, instead he is the I AM.

We are struggling to "dig out".  There are 4 foot driftf around John's truck and our van.  John has called the farmer that helps us with this but it will take some time.  The winds were heavy last night, we wondered if the spruce tree at the front of the house was solid enough to prevent it falling over.  It didn't this time.  RuthV has her car stuck half way up her driveway.  Thing to realize we don't have driveways that are 2 car lengths long.  They are long and windy.  I pray they can get it blown out and the car moved safely.  Ruth if you come here today perhaps you could let me know just how long the driveway is?

Time to sing.  Perhaps another fun  one?


JudyB




White Christmas
(Click to hear music)


Words & Music: Irving Berlin 1942

   

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten
and children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white

 




JudyB



Etta Sue

No internet again!!  Hopefully tonight!!  Snowed in and no internet!




JudyB

Etta Sue we need to get out and take pictures!


Janet

We are just ready to leave for Garden City.  See you later.  (Still not a flake of snow here!)
My book Rising Above available at JanetDamon.com

Etta Sue




I opened the laptop around 11 and the internet was on!  So here I am.

I decided to take Ivalou and my trash by car today since I didn't want to 'hop' snow drifts to Ivalou's house.  Well, I drove in her driveway and she has a drift across her drive as high as the hood on my car.  So I had to 'hop' after all.  But the trash is out and my feet were frozen since snow went down into my boots. 

I just got through eating some lasagne that was part of our dinner Saturday evening.  It sure is good!  I can't image it being better when fresh!  The place makes their own pasta so that really means fresh! 

Tonight is our Christmas party at Photo Guild.  My turn to drive.  So far, I am going to venture out.  The roads seem open.  And traffic seems to be going pretty good.  Just not taking this one road since it is narrow, hilly, and drop offs on the sides.  Will stay on city streets even though they aren't in the best neighborhoods of Anderson. 

I am staying warm but earlier I looked at Droid and the weather chill factor was -1°.  Brrr!  Actual temperature is 16° now.  I know that isn't as bad as way north...hi, JudyB...but bad for Indiana.

My friend in Mexico sent me an old photo to see if I can work on to sharpen and make a better photo.  I love doing that!

Keep warm, folks!!



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JudyB

#11
Well a major job that I have been dreading is done.  John is home so we tackelled it together.  I love working with him we work well together, anticipating each others moves.

Janet I will send you some of our snow.  Etta Sue I am glad John is not driving in this.  He drove out of your area not long before it hit.  Good weather all the way but the snow followed him.  You can blame him or us as this weather front is coming from the artic.  Brrrr it is cold, and the wind is colder.

Time to sing again.


JudyB




I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
(Click to hear music)

Suddenly there was with the angel a great company
of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace,
good will toward men.
Luke 2:13-14


Words: Henry W. Longfellow, 1864

Music: John B. Calkin, 1872



I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.


And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.


Till ringing, singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to men.


And in despair I bowed my head
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."


Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men."






RuthV

JudyB: Thank you for the lovely Christmas songs!

We are partially dug out. Everett said he did about 160 feet; we have approximately 220 feet. I dug the car out and backed it down the hill into an area I cleared at the bottom. The wind is still blowing so I'm sure we have more work to do later.

The driveway is comes up beside our house, at the low end of the lawn for about 160 feet and then turns right, up a fairly steep hill to a flat area between the barn and house. In order to plug the car in, during the winter, I need to get it past and beside the end of the barn. At -15 degrees C  (5 F), the car starts, so it's not critical that I get it up the hill tonight.
   
We do have a snow blower attached to the tractor, however it's a puzzlement to Everett and he finds he can get more done with a manual shovel

Larry Hanna

Hi everyone.  We have had some snow flakes today, just a few widely spaced flakes and you can't even see them on the ground or anything else.  However, it is very cold and has been windy here today.  I used my neck muffler to cover my throat and it sure felt good.  We even moved to a table at McDonald's that is away from the windows where we usually sit.

As soon as I got home from coffee this morning we packed up the car and took our daughter back to her apartment in Atlanta.  On the way we stopped where she needed to pick up a prescription for the drug to help control the pain from the neuropathy in her legs.  Otherwise she would have had to take the bus and train and another bus to pick it up and then reverse the trip.

I attended my Monday Men's luncheon and had a great time of fellowship with my friends.  I came home and took a nap under my electric blanket.  Will stay inside until morning and stay warm.

I have been seeing on the news the bad weather for you all North of us.  We had several counties in Northern Georgia that cancelled school today because of the snow.  Hope you are all careful with the snow shoveling.  It was shoveling snow in Maryland in 1987 that signaled to me that I had heart disease.  Fortunately, I didn't have a heart attack at that time but remember my kind neighbor coming over and lending a hand as it was a heavy snow. 

Al, thanks for the devotional and Judy thanks for posting the various hymns and seasonal songs.

RuthV, does your car complain when it starts and it is so cold and hasn't been plugged into the heater for the night?  We had such a heater on our car when we lived in Alaska in the late 60s as there was no garage available.

Etta Sue, hope you are able to get to your photo guild meeting tonight.  My wife is suppose to have her quilt guild meeting tonight but feel certain she will not be going as it is just too cold for her to get out when she doesn't have to do so.  Glad you got your Internet back.

Colin, seems like old times seeing our poem here on CP.  Thanks for sharing it with us.

Janet, hope you enjoy your participation in the play at your church.

We did our Christmas Cantata last evening and it was pretty well attended and the folks were very kind in their praise.  It did go very well and the orchestra was great.  We did have a very unfortunate thing occur during Sunday School yesterday in that someone entered our church office and stole the money, cash and checks, that had been collected to pay for the Christmas dinner last evening.  They also stole two credit cards.  The money had been left in an envelope in a desk drawer and not locked up although we have a huge safe.  They don't usually lock the office during Sunday morning but expect that will change.  Fortunately nothing else was taken or damaged. 


Janet

I am almost embarrassed to tell you that our temps were near 60* again today!  Sweatshirt was just right!  And--if it isn't going to give us any moisture, I would just as soon it stay like this!

Larry, so sorry to hear of the theft at your church.  We had a similar incident a few years back, and since are much more careful about leaving any money unsecured.  Now, should you pray that God will punish the offender, or give the money as unto the Lord, and pray the thief will be convicted of his/her sin and come to know the Lord through this experience.  I think the latter, and the Lord will repay the money to the church in His own way.

We are attending a Seniors SS Class Christmas party tonight at the church, should be fun.  We Seniors have felt totally left out of things for the past 5 1/2 years under former pastor, so it is nice to have something for us this time.
My book Rising Above available at JanetDamon.com

Janet

I popped back in to thank Colin for the lovely poem, and to say--don't be a stranger!  We miss you here!
My book Rising Above available at JanetDamon.com

Ruth

Colin:  Your poem was food for thought. Thanks
Janet:  Please enjoy your lovely warm days.
Etta Sue: I remember those snow banks very well. 

We got more snow, wind and yes the drifting.  On went the winter coat and boots yes it is winter

I went to Bolton for an appointment then had a couple of errands while there. Tomorrow it will be back over to Bolton to get the van rust checked for the winter.  Before or after I then will have to go to the dealers to have a tire checked Mel says that I must go but he was not to pleased with something they had said to me the last time.  He does not like the bitting words but when I get them he does not remember to understand.

Al: Thanks for starting the week with Psalm 56.

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.  Proverbs 3:6


JudyB

Ruth John can help him with the tractor, he was raised on tractors and will help if asked.  I hope the wind doesn't undo all the work you have done.

Sorry to hear of the loss Larry. 
Often we don't plug in the car till the temp really drops.  When we get to _40 we need to plug in.  Today John said the car grumbled a little but started.

The farmer came and blew out our driveway today.  Lloyd has said that he will look after it for us for the season.  With my shoulders I am unable to do anything as far as shoveling goes.  I pray the sind doesn't undo all that he did.

Time to sing


JudyB



Gentle Mary Laid Her Child
(Click to hear music)

"She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger." Luke 2:7



Words: Joseph S. Cook, 1919

Music: "Tempus Adest Floridum," from Piae Cantiones, 1582



Gentle Mary laid her Child lowly in a manger;
There He lay, the undefiled, to the world a Stranger:
Such a Babe in such a place, can He be the Savior?
Ask the saved of all the race who have found His favor.

Angels sang about His birth; wise men sought and found Him;
Heaven's star shone brightly forth, glory all around Him:
Shepherds saw the wondrous sight, heard the angels singing;
All the plains were lit that night, all the hills were ringing.

Gentle Mary laid her Child lowly in a manger;
He is still the undefiled, but no more a stranger:
Son of God, of humble birth, beautiful the story;
Praise His Name in all the earth, hail the King of glory!






JudyB

My goodness we are all sleepyheads today.

I was speaking to Ruth Ann last night.  She asks for us to be praying for her and her family.


Etta Sue




I didn't drive last evening.  One of the girls called and asked if I would like for her to drive.  She has a newer car that has positive traction or whatever.  I don't know if mine does or not but it really takes common sense and thinking ahead in this weather when driving.  But she drove anyway.  I was glad all except I drove to Kitty's and had to get in a cold car to come back home!

This weather is bad.  It is slick out there due to rain on Saturday evening and then the temperature dropped to single digits with snow.  So there is ice under the snow.  Salt won't work in low temps so only sand will help intersections and roadways.  Then a plow comes through and there goes the sand!  Only higher temps will help this.  And the present temperature of 16° isn't helping today.

Even my heat pump was blowing cool air in the house so it is shut off for now.  Between the solar heat, the electric fireplace and the furnace, I am warm and toasty. 

Tomorrow morning I am to leave at 6:20am to take a church lady to a surgery center for a colonoscopy and whatever you call it that they check her throat also.  She's to be there at 6:45am.  Her DIL will be coming later but said she couldn't get Edith to the center that early.  But I will stay until someone comes or bring Edith back when they release her. 

Then at 2pm, I am to go to church and help sort Christmas Cards.  Our church has boxes to put your Christmas Cards to members in...no stamps that way.  Then my Sunday School class sorts them, puts rubber bands around them and then they are passed out this Sunday.  Real nice that way. 

But I am in today.  No where for this person to go!  I have leftover lasagne and leftover mac and cheese for lunch.  Good eating today! 



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Larry Hanna

Hi everyone.  It was really cold here this morning, down to about 18 when I went for coffee.  It has been nice and sunny and the wind hasn't blown today like yesterday so not too bad.  I had a meeting this morning but don't have to go anywhere this evening.

Our daughter got out early and went to her doctor appointment at Grady Hospital.  When she got there the power was out and they were seeing no patients today.  So she has to wait until Thursday and then wait to be seen. 

Judy, glad you have been in touch with Ruth Ann.

Etta Sue, your weather sounds terrible.  Sure glad you don't have to depend on the heat pump for your only source of heat.  I thought I was going to freeze when we lived in Maryland and had only a heat pump,especially when it froze up.  Couldn't ever seem to get warm in the house.  Certainly nice of you to take your church friend for her medical appointment.

Janet, I am sure our church will survive without the funds that were lost in the thief.  I just hope it wasn't a member of our church.  A police report was filed and the members are asked to provide information regarding the checks that had been used to pay for the meals.

Ruth, I am not sure what a rust test is?  Are you required to do this by law or is it just something that you want to have done. 




Janet

I'm not feeling up to par today, and it's been a busy one.  I hope I'm not contagious (don't think I am) as I have Beth's dinner to attend tonight--like, right now!
My book Rising Above available at JanetDamon.com

JudyB

Larry Having the van rust checked means that it is getting a rust protection coating on it. With the amount of salt and calcium that is put on the roads we need to do something to protect our vehicles.  Also the de-icer that is put on to stop ice buildup on the roads, eats away the coating on the wiring of vehicles.  Not pretty.

There was so much blowing I had to shovel off the ramp and sidewalk...... Not a good idea.  Now to get into pain killers!  lol

Etta Sue do you know where Solway MN is???  That is where John is heading.  Thankfully the snow has eased, but the blowing is still a bit of a problem.

Janet hoping you feel better soon. 

Time to sing again.


JudyB






O Holy Night
(Click to hear music)


O Holy night, the stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Til He appeared and the soul felt it's worth
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoyces
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
Fall on your knees

O hear the angel voices
O night divine!
O night when Christ was born
O night divine!
O night, O night divine!

And in His Name, all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we
Let all within us praise his holy name
Christ is the Lord!
Their name forever praise we

Noel, Noel
O night, O night Divine
Noel, Noel
O night, O night Divine
Noel, Noel
O night, O holy Divine







Al Moak

Father, I pray for whoever stole the money, etc.  I pray You'll bring them to disgust for what they've done and then to repentance before Your Throne. Oh God, use this, I pray to bring glory to Your Name through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Al Moak

Janet - I don't think you're contagious, and I hope your disease isn't either!

JudyB

Hey Al  a friend was asking how you were last night.  How are you doing?


Al Moak

Thanks for asking, and thank him for asking.  I'm still trying to get rid of the last vestiges of this cold that I contracted a couple of weeks ago, but otherwise I'm about as good as can be expected considering the condition I'm in.  I don't go out and run any races.