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Morning Devotional...


But the Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him. --Habakkuk 2:20

I think we are the busiest bunch of eager beavers ever seen in the religious world. The idea seems to be that if we are not running in a circle, breathing down the back of our own neck, we are not pleasing God!

When Jesus said, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15 KJV), Peter probably leaped to his feet and, no doubt, scooped up his hat on the way out. He was going to go right then!

But the Lord said, "Peter, come back, and 'stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high' (Luke 24:49)."

I heard a Christian leader warn recently that we are suffering from a rash of amateurism in Christian circles. Christianity has leveled down and down and down. We are as light as butterflies-- though we flit, flit, flit around in the sunshine and imagine that we are eagles flapping our broad wings.

Sometimes I think the Church would be better off if we would call a moratorium on activity for about six weeks and just wait on God to see what He is waiting to do for us. That's what they did before Pentecost.
Dr. Tozer in The Counselor, 95.

"Lord, this morning I'll stop for a while at least to 'just wait on God.' I know You're wanting to work, and I for one am willing to wait this morning to hear Your voice and discover what You want to do for me today. Amen."

Just a reminder...

I would like everyone to please go to our Prayer Request area and read about Gord Brown.

CLICK HERE

Pat, the devotional is so precious.  Thank you.

Thank you for that devotional, Pat.  It's far, far better to be moved from within by the Holy Spirit and by awe and reverence than from without by flesh and sweat.  Oh God, move me by Your Spirit, and move me first to love and worship You in all things and at all times.

Thanks for that, Pat.  It is exactly what's been on my mind lately as I rush about doing this, that and the other---all good things, but I'm asking myself, "What eternal value is there in what I'm doing?"  So, you have added to my food for thought.  My favorite pastor used to tell us a lot, "You need to THINK ABOUT what you're THINKING ABOUT!"  So true.

But, having said that, there are things to do and I'm ready to get with it.  I am being ruthless in the cleaning out of stuff.  Yesterday I made one pass through my closet, got three garbage bags of clothes out to give away.  And there is more to go.  I think we will be in the garage again today.  s soon as the 700 Club is over, I'm ready to start!

We lost another good man when Charlton Heston died, IMO, of course.

Janet, this de-cluttering is just a horrible job!

My garage is so crammed full.  I will tackle it after the wedding.  I'll get a dumpster or something and put stuff in it.

I need to do a lot of  donating from my closet and drawers too. I just seem to get more and I don't know where  it comes from.

Good service yesterday morning  The sermon was on "Am I making Progress?"  The points were The destination (Heaven), The Route (to get there) and  The Roadblocks.  To reach the Destination there were 14 things to do. Grow in faith, Grow in grace and knowledge, grown in love toward each other, the fruits of the Spirit, the BE- attitudes, read the Bible, Pray, tithe, give, witness,  memorize and meditate, fasting, repent.

The Roadblocks are rebellion, pride, Bitterness, unconfessed sin.

TTYL

Pat ~ Garage cleaning should NOT be on your agenda for your honeymoon!     But, then, you will have help in cleaning the garage with Paul around. 

I know I am a descendant of my Mother who was raised during the depression.  I have a tendency to not through good things away.  I look through my closet and drawers and think, 'I will use this for working outside'.  I am sure getting a lot of 'working outside' clothes...and this is for one who doesn't do a lot of work outside other than using the riding lawn mower!!

It sure is springlike in Indiana today.  Suppose to get to 69°F....warmest day of 2008 so far!  It is bright and sunny.  I think after lunch I will put out my bistro table umbrella, get a book and read for awhile in the shade....AFTER listening to God's creatures chirping and singing.

That sounds like you had a good sermon, Marilyn. 

Etta Sue, we'll be doing the same thing in his home in Falls Church, VA--getting it ready to sell.  So guess we can do it here too!

I'M MISSING COLIN!!!

Quote from: Al Moak on April 07, 2008, 09:53:28 AM
Thank you for that devotional, Pat.  It's far, far better to be moved from within by the Holy Spirit and by awe and reverence than from without by flesh and sweat.  Oh God, move me by Your Spirit, and move me first to love and worship You in all things and at all times.

Yes!  Al I am in complete agreement!  I read the devotional last night, but didn't comment.  It is really good -- and so true!

All y'all talking about cleaning and decluttering ....    I've really been trying to do that for a while but, instead of getting less mess it looks like it's just growing!  

My neighbor introduced me to a new "mini-mall" in town that sells on consignment.  She has a spot there and is sharing it with me.  We'll see if any of this stuff is worth something to someone -- somewhere -- sometime.  

Heading for the UPS store in a minute.  I have a package to mail for my daughter's birthday on Friday.  Yup, this is my "baby" and she'll be 47!     Time sure does  seem to pass quickly all of a sudden!

Hi Pat!  You came in while I was rambling ... Hope this is a good day for you and yours.  I'm praying for Gord Brown today.

Hi everyone.  It has been a busy day for me so far but think the running is over for today.  After coffee I stopped by the gym and walked 14 laps with my friends and then I went to see my good friend who has liver cancer.  He appears to be weaker and my visit was very brief as know talking can be very tiring when you are already weak.  His son suggested that afternoon visits would work out better and we will certainly do that in the future.

Ruth Ann, I am thoroughly convinced, based on my own experience with a parent having dementia, that there is a time when a care facility is better for the person and the caregivers.  It is truly an exhausting experience to deal with this on a 24 hour basis. 

Pat, it has been probably 25 years since I played the organ or piano in church.  In our little home church I was often the organist and then in some smaller churches over the years.  The last time was in the early 80's when we were charter members of a church and the regular organist had to be gone.  I very seldom play the piano anymore and know I should. 

I look forward to the men's finals for the basketball season tonight and it is my prediciton that Memphis will probably beat Kansas.  Just hope it is a competitive game.
I came home for about an hour and made the mistake of pulling about a dozen weeds from my yard and was really exhausted.  Don't think I will do that again as it just isn't worth feeling that way for so little accomplished. 

I then met two friends for lunch at Ted Turner's Montana Grill and had chili made with bison and a nice house salad.  He places high value on his meals but the food was good.  A regular hamburger is about $9 and up depending what is added to it.

Pat, I liked your devotional and our pastor spoke about the exact same thing in his sermon yesterday.  We had a unique experience in that we shared our worship with the congregation of the Church of South India that has been meeting in our old santuary (now youth center) at the same time we have our traditional service.  We shared communion and their pastor participated in the service. 

Well, I am going to try, for the 3rd time, to post.  Keep getting interupted.

Thank you for a real nice devotional, Pat.  I agree with Al:

QuoteIt's far, far better to be moved from within by the Holy Spirit and by awe and reverence than from without by flesh and sweat.

When the Holy Spirit lives quietly inside us, it seems as if a sort of built in radar keeps one on the right path.

The painters have finished my suite and most of upstairs.  Gone for a week until other things are done, plumbing, hardwood, etc.  Still lots of painting left...The real painter is good.  His daugher and helper are terrible.  Damaged my expensive screen/glass door, broke the light fixture in the bathroom....She would be painting and talking on her cell phone at the same time...taking off to go home, etc.  The poor Dad is stressed beyond.....

At the moment, bathroom tub upstairs is being removed and a new shower unit installed.  This will be a big help as Wendy has much trouble getting in and out of the tub to shower.  It is one of those step-in units.  The floor people are tearing out carpet in prep. of installing the hardwood.  Ah, Noise.  Squeek in here on my bed, sleeping by the computer.

Talk about garages...this one is so full we can hardly walk anywhere.  Most of it will be sold at a garage sale, when the area has their big Spring Sale, or we will have our own.  It is all quality stuff and what is left will go to the Sally Ann.  So weeks of work sorting and preparing for that....

I am going to Victoria to hide out for the day, tomorrow.  Need to get a new shower rod, and other small things.  Plan to have a nice relaxing time and walk by the seawall, if weather permits.

Yes, Janet, it will be worth all of this when done.  Means only painting will need re-doing in about 10 yrs., when they will most likely sell.  All depends on Wendy's health...This home will retain it's considerable value and be attractive on the market.  The 'kids' are in their fifties now and one has to be prepared for whatever lies ahead.

Time to go and do some more work.  I have prayed for Gord. and will go and vote again.  Thanks, Etta Sue, for that update about Opra.  I am not a fan of her's and nothing much shocks anymore.

Pleasant Day/Evening and God Bless.

Liz

 Hi, everyone; It's raining today. I was hoping to take some pics today.
Oh well, maybe It'll be sunny later this week.

  The plants are just starting to turn green. Which is good, because I'm tired of photographing dead plants and trees!

WAHHH!!!  I lost my whole long post!   

So I watched the last of the Championship game, and Kansas came from 9 behind to win by 7 in overtime!!  Go, Jayhawks!!

Pat, I was thinking of you today and wondering if your garage was still full (you had told me earlier that it was).   Yes, it's a huge job!  Today, we hauled another pickup load to the pit, a load to the senior center, and have another load started to go to the center.  We got maybe 1/4 of the floor cleared out, mopped twice and painted.  The garage is 100 X 35 feet, so it's a huge area to do, but we are making great progress.  And I do NOT think we will be collecting nearly so much stuff from now on!

Etta Sue, I have always had a really hard time getting rid of "good" stuff, too.  But FLYLady says, "If you don't love it, if it doesn't make you smile, get rid of it!"  So out it goes!  I find it much easier to just give it away than to have garage sales, which I dislike--a lot.  It's going to look so nice in the garage by the time we finish.  But boy, that's hard work.  We are both so tired this evening we can barely move.   So we are going to do this now---

See you another day.  Tomorrow I have an eye appointment, a chiropractor appointment and work in the afternoon.  Full day.

Good morning, friends,

I really appreciate the devotional for this week. It seems like with the upcoming retirement, etc., maybe God is whispering in my ear, "Be still and know that I am God."

This morning's the pre-op visit for that little thumb surgery next Tuesday. Hopefully it will be very simple and the recovery quick and relatively painless.

It's great when y'all report your pastor's sermon topics. Often I think for days on what I read here.

Oooooh, I shudder to thinka bout the decluttering about to happen in THIS house!! 

Much love to all - have a good day.

Hi everyone.

I have a few minutes before having to leave to attend a  meeting.  As usual my day started with coffee aa the cafe and then we went to the church and walked several laps and then I stopped and filled Pat's car with gas and went to Krogers.  Now enjoying some quiet time at the computer before heading out again.  Fortunately, I don't have anything on the schedule for this afternoon or evening.

Ruth Ann, sure hope your hand surgery goes very well and as you say isn't too painful. 

Janet, you are in inspiration with all the de-cluttering.  I have a storage shed out back of my house that needs a good cleaning out.  Unfortunately, every time I consider doing that I decide it can wait.  There are a lot of empty boxes from computers and printers, etc. that can be disposed of and I need to clean off a bunch of things from the shelving as don't even remember it is there.  I shocked myself the other day when I was looking for something and discovered I had a bookcase out there that I once had in my office.  It is one that breaks down into pieces.  Our daughter has a bunch of stuff stored out there that has been there for years that needs to be gone through and greatly reduced in size.

Liz, I am sure it must be frustrating for the good painter to have to deal with the messes the poor painters leave behind.  I hope they are going to replace/repair what they broke or damaged.

I will be looking for word that Gord has gotten to come home from his procedure.  Generally a ballooning does not take long to recover from particuraly if there has not been a heart attack. 

Hope everyone has a wonderful day.

Morning all!

Just thinking about the devotional.  It is so very hard to "just wait" in this day and age.  We often associate waiting with idleness.  Instead it is being proactive.

This has been a busy week.  John is leaving today, tuesday instead of Sunday evening, or Monday morning.  Keep his regular dispatcher in prayer, sounds like he is dealing with cancer.  As far as we know not a Christian.   

We are finally for the most part snow free.  There was not much to start with but the temperatures didn't climb too quickly and the snow was slow in melting.  In the bush there is still snow, that takes time as the trees keep the area cool and sun free.

Well must go and get work done.  God bless to all
JudyB

Hi Larry and Judy

Snow is leaving here too.  Lots still in the shady areas but out where the sun hits, it's gone.  Must go and rake up the winter debris soon.  But I'm also getting ready for the trip south next week.

I got another load of stuff taken to the center, after my first appointment, now getting ready to go for the second.  Housekeeper is here, so at least the carpets will get vacuumed today, that will help.

I'm working this afternoon, so you all have a great day!

Larry, I think almost everybody has those areas that need de-cluttering.  All except one sister of mine--she gets rid of stuff!!  Quickly!  She's the only one in my family who does, though.

Hope Gord and Noreen are having a good day today.

Hi Janet!

By the temperature "thingy" in your signature, it's chilly in Kansas!

I wish I could get rid of the stuff in my garage.

Janet ~ I am glad you mentioned Flylady.  Kitty was talking about how disorganized she was and I told her there was a daily thing that is sent in email telling her what to do each day but couldn't remember what it was.  FLYlady.  Is there a website that Kitty could go to to get started? 

I can't say I am disorganized.  I try to put things in a place.  My spare bedroom closet is the most disorganized.  Well, the whole room is.  When I don't know what to do with something that needs to stay dry and in a contant temperature, it goes in that bedroom/closet.  My basement is wet when it rains and my garage is not insulated and sometimes wet also. 

I need to get my deck bleached again.  The northside gets yucky looking but so pretty and white after bleaching.  Kills weeds underneath, too.  Two birds with one stone.  I can do the bleaching myself if I work slow...that is the problem...I want it done NOW! 

Today Ivalou and I are going to Kokomo to see the photos at the Kokomo Art Association.  She is gone right now to her high school class lunch that they have once a month.  She should be back by 1pm.  Hope I am ready by then....gotta run 

   Hello, I hope you all have a good day.
I know I will. Even though it's still cloudy, I'm going to take some pictures.

    How do you guys get the temperature thing on your posts?

Hi Scotty...

You go to http://www.wunderground.com/ Type in your city in the Search place and then you can get the code there.  You scroll down to where it says, "Free Weather Stickers® for Your Homepage!"

Pick a small one so that the page won't take a long time to load. 

 Thanks, Pat!

Not many of us here today!  Is everyone on vacation or just super busy?

Yes, there is a website, Etta Sue--- FLYLady.com.  Maybe all small letters--anyway, she can find it easily enough.  It generates a lot of emails, but you can always delete when you haven't time to read them.

Pat, why can't you get rid of the things in your garage?  Just wondering..... 

We had another sad thing happen here.  A 14 year old girl was riding a 4 wheeler in the sandhills near Syracuse, hit another rider head on and was killed.  She was the only grandchild of one of Darrel's classmates.  I surely do feel bad for the parents and grandma.  That makes 5 teen girls killed here in a little over one week.

Hi, Scotty!  Did you get any photos taken?

I need to get to bed.

Hi everyone, new here and wanted to check in and meet all here. I've read your posts and you seem like a great bunch of people. I'm glad to be here. The devotional really made me think about who is doing the planning in my life. Me or God. I was forced to realize that most often I do all the planning and then and only then try to figure out if it was what God wanted.  I do it with the best of intentions but it should be the other way around. I have been in a discussion with atheist on the DPChallenge.com website and while I will probably never know if I have done any good I am at least trying to plant some seeds.  I have felt God's Holy Spirit speaking through me to them and that is what is most wonderful.  I have had to pull my own tongue back in at times when it refused to obey but by and large I feel I am doing some good so Praise God.  I just uploaded two photos to my new gallery if you want to take a look. Hope to get to know all of you better as time goes on. God bless.

Hi everyone.  Had one of those lost days when I was just too tired to do anything.  By the time I got home from my meeting at noon I had had it.  Glad to say I feel like myself again this morning.  I won't be walking, a least this morning, as it is Bible study with the pastor morning.  There is no choir practice this evening since our schools are in spring break this week and there is no Wednesday evening program at the church.

dponlyme, welcome to the CP site.  We always enjoy having new folks join with us here and hope you will post often.

Janet, your community is being hit very hard with the teen deaths.  Hope you didn't wear yourself out yesterday afternoon with your work.

Time to head out for coffee this morning.

It looks like I haven't posted here since Monday. I don't know how I missed yesterday, I was here several times reading.

Yesterday after work I had my nails done again and she put little tiny flowers on each nail so they look very pretty. I keep admiring her work.

I am almost ready for my trip I only have to add the last minute things to my backpack and write out the instructions for Bill who is taking care of the dogs  on how much and when to feed them. It is wonderful to have such nice neighbors, so the dogs don't have to go into a kennel. I will probably take them with me next time.

Well it is time for me to leave to pickup Willa  and go to Curves for our workouts.
Later

Welcome, dponlyme.  Hope you come back often.  You are to be praised for trying to change an atheist's beliefs.  Hope that those seeds grow...another victory for God!   By the way, do you have a name other than dponlyme?  That's kind of hard to pronouce.  And also, we are neighbors...I'm from Indiana.

Today is Red Hat Society day.  We are to go to Fishers, IN, to a small restaurant on the Monon Trail...used to be a railroad track but since most trains have left Indiana, this is now used for bicycling, running and walking. 

Cloudy but suppose to become sunny this afternoon.  And if I get home early, I plan to call my car guru's to see if I can take my car today for them to fix my A/C.