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Morning Devotional...


Mercy for the Believer
Alistair Begg

Have mercy on me, O God.
Psalms 51:1

When one of God's choice servants, William Carey, was suffering from a dangerous illness, the inquiry was made, "If this sickness should prove fatal, what passage would you select as the text for your funeral sermon?" He replied, "Oh, I feel that such a poor sinful creature is unworthy to have anything said about him; but if a funeral sermon must be preached, let it be from the words, 'Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.'" In the same spirit of humility he directed in his will that the following inscription and nothing more should be cut on his gravestone:

WILLIAM CAREY, BORN AUGUST 17th, 1761:
DIED-
"A wretched, poor, and helpless worm
On Your kind arms I fall."

Only on the footing of free grace can the most experienced and most honored of the saints approach their God. The best of men are conscious above all others that they are men at best. Empty boats float high, but heavily laden vessels are low in the water; mere professors can boast, but true children of God cry for mercy upon their unprofitableness. We need the Lord to have mercy upon our good works, our prayers, our preaching, our offerings, and our living sacrifices. The blood was not only sprinkled on the doorposts of Israel's houses, but upon the sanctuary, the mercy-seat, and the altar, because as sin intrudes upon our holiest things, the blood of Jesus is needed to purify them from defilement. If mercy is needed to be exercised toward our duties, what will be said of our sins? How sweet the remembrance that inexhaustible mercy is waiting to be gracious to us, restore our backslidings, and make our broken bones rejoice!

Wonderful devotional, Pat.  Thanks.   

I was going to post more,but now that I'm here, I find I'm just too tired.  So, see you tomorrow.

Saying prayers for son & wife who are driving all day from northern Colorado to Phoenix area.  Roads look snow-free so thankful.

Early to rise as the big trucks are out there ready to repave this side of the street. 

Hi everyone.  I have had a very frustrating couple of hours trying to get my laser printer to print what I want and not so to sleep all the time.  What should be simple isn't anymore.  Then the other Inkjet printer doesn't want to work.  Our son will be over later this afternoon and I will see if I can get him to get them set up so when you send something to the printer it actually works.  We had a very nice Sunday.  Today I will go to a meeting in a little bit and then play it by ear.  I don't have time to write more this morning as want to get through all of the discussion boards before I leave if I can. 

Good morning on a gorgeous Monday (at least here in my little corner of Kansas!)  Darrel and I have been to the gym; home to shower and change; then to bank, a grocery store that is closing  and the only bigger grocery store left here.  We ran into Grandson Curtis and he said he's like to have lunch with us, so we will meet him in a little while and enjoy visiting with him while we eat.  I did replace the iPad we couldn't get set up, got a refund, then bought another just like it.  I started the set-up but got stuck, so he said to bring it along to lunch.     Good to have some younger ones around occasionally to help us "more mature" folk!

Beth will be having surgery on both eyes on Thursday this week, so prayers are sorely needed for her.  I will be with her, as she doesn't ever want to have surgery unless Mom is there!  He did agree to do both eyes at the same time so we won't have to put her through this again, thank the Lord.

Larry, I sure hope you and Scott get your problems with the printers sorted out.  No fun at all when you buy new things and then they don't do what they are supposed to do!

I wish you all a wonderful day!

Prayers for Beth's eye surgery on Thursday! 

Janet, I will be thinking of you on Thursday and praying that our Heavenly Father will guide the surgeon's hands.

I read this from Joni today and it sure meant a lot to me:


A List of Tears


Dear Pat,

"Record my lament; list my tears on your scroll -- are they not on your record?"   Psalm 56:8

Think of all the tears you've ever cried.  That time at recess when you weren't picked for Dodgeball..  The Saturday night of the Prom when you sat home alone.   The job interview that went sour.  The time your neighbor down the street told you to "quit talking about religion."  The day your father died.  Your spouse left.

You may have thought no one noticed your red eyes.  Not so.  God saw.  What's more, He has every intention of rewarding your endurance through that pain. Why else would He meticulously chronicle every one of your tears?

Every tear you've cried - think of it - will be redeemed.  God will give you indescribable glory for your grief.  Not with a general wave of the hand, but in a considered and specific way.  Each tear has been listed; each will be recompensed.  We know how valuable our tears are in His sight - when the woman anointed Jesus with the valuable perfume, it was her tears with which she washed His feet that moved Him most powerfully (Luke 7:44).  The worth of our weeping is underscored again in Revelation 21:4 where "He will wipe every tear from their eyes."  It won't be the duty of angels or others.  It'll be God's.

I've cried a few times over not having use of my hands (though nowhere near like I used to).  I think it's ironic that on the day in heaven, when I finally get back use of my hands so that I can dry my own tears... I won't have to.

Make a list of the times you've cried from hurt, disappointment or physical pain in the last few years.  How might God recompense you?  Did you cry tears in the midst of praise or prayer?  These tears have special power with God, as we saw from Luke 7:44.   

Thank You for numbering my tears and recording in your books the pain I have experienced.  Nothing - not even my crying - will be wasted.  Bless You for that.

Blessings,

Joni and Friends

Thank you, Carol.  And thank you, Pat.  Joni wrote to Beth several years ago and it meant so much to her!

Hi everyone on a beautiful, sunny day where we expect to reach 84 degrees this afternoon.  Our main activity today is our Monthly Senior Luncheon at Church.  The speaker today is the president of the garden association of North Augusta and will speak about raising Camellias, which are apparently quite popular here.  One of the men in our Sunday School class is the International Vice President of the Camellia Society. 

My frustrations of yesterday with my printers is solved.  I found I had not rebooted my computer after installing the laser printer and once that happened it started to work fine and the way it should.  My son was able to get all of the printers set up on all of the computers.  This included the Canon printer that I thought couldn't be used with Windows 10.  So now Pat has a printer upstairs.  He got our hanging baskets hung on the back porch and I got the tomatoes and other plants potted.  So I am looking forward to a calm and much more relaxed day today. 

Janet, hope Curtis got you all set up on your iPad.  I agree about having someone younger to help out as we experienced with Scott last evening.  I know you all will be glad when Thursday is over and hopefully healing of the eyes can begin.  I will keep Beth and you all in our prayers. 

Pat, I didn't get the Weekly Devotional read until a few minutes ago.  It is a good one and thanks for sharing it with us as well the piece by Joni.

Hi everyone on another beautiful South Carolina Day.  It is going to be warmer getting up to 89 degrees this afternoon.  So far the only thing on the schedule will be the Wednesday night dinner at church and then Scott's visit following.  I will probably go to the grocery store today for a few items.  Pat has been dealing with extreme tiredness and didn't feel up to going to the Senior Luncheon and program yesterday.  We had a good meal and a good program dealing with the history of Camellias in South Carolina and in particular those at one of the bed and breakfast places where a number of new varieties were propagated. I won't be planting any however as the lady said they are very slow growing and won't flower much before 10 years of growth.  She said there were over 400 known varieties of these flowers. 

Hi Larry I didn't want you to thi nk you had been deserted. I do come to read a couple of times a day but don't always post.

I picked up my dress and shoes that had been at my friends home then I went to Tai Chi practice.

Tomorrow the Furry friend Humans are  going to be given a special tour of the new History Museum that was just finished  last summer. that will be interesting.

Hi, friends,

I'm back after having exhaustive virus search and computer tuneup.

I've read all the posts since I left.

Janet, I will pray for Beth tomorrow. Both eyes being operated on may be traumatic, but she  can likely tolerate that better than the alternatives.

Pat, thank you for the good devotional.

Marilyn, best wishes and congratulations on your wedding. I will be praying for your son.

I'm still having difficulty walking. Physical therapy is ordered, beginning Tuesday of next week. I had to go out to get the computer and accomplish a few errands. Wow! The pain is severe now. I find walking with a cane seems easier for me than the walker, but it's still open and ready to serve when I need it.

Much love to all. I know I've forgotten someone, but please know I care, and enjoy reading your posts.

Ruth Ann

Hi everyone.  It is a warm but overcast day with a chance of some thunderstorms this afternoon but the forecast is less threatening than it was yesterday.  I did go to COSTCO yesterday morning while Pat went to her crafts meeting at the church.  We did go to the dinner at Church last evening and Scott came out to the house for a couple of hours.  Today is my day to go to coffee after picking up my friend and then will attend the Wisdom group.  That will likely be it for today. 

Marilyn, glad you posted. Hope you enjoy the tour of the history museum.  Is this museum about local history?  I know we have such a museum in our beautiful city hall but I haven't tried to visit it. 

Ruth Ann, glad to see you back and hopefully your computer is in good shape. Sure hope the rehab helps your leg pain and gives you more strength in your legs.

Ditto to Larry's good wishes for Marilyn and Ruth Ann!

Larry, sounds like you have enough on your day's calendar.  I wish you joy in all your goings!

Today is Beth's eye surgery.  I sent out an email call for prayer for her yesterday and had several responses  When I visited her, I figured out she was trying to ask me to call the 700 Club for prayer, which I did, and held the phone to her ear so she could hear them pray.  I know God loves her even more than this Mom, and I trust her into His care, as I always have.  I so appreciate those of you who  do pray for her.  Prayer is our greatest privilege and our greatest, strongest, most effective weapon!

I must get around here and be ready to leave on time.  The care home got a new bus, and we are taking it today!  Beth's good friend Mindi asked if she can come and sit with us at the Surgery Center, and of course I said yes.  That will cheer Beth up to see her.  She lives only six miles from Garden City.

I did get everything on my to do list done yesterday.  That doesn't often happen!  That included getting my flowers set out in the old bathtub and the pots in front of the house.  We need some color to brighten our lives!  Thank God for the beauty of flowers!  I put the geraniums back outside that had bloomed faithfully all through the winter; and the new flowers are all petunias, which bloom so well and are so showy.

Okay----bye!

I was led to sit for a while with a cup of coffee and check in with you.  The devotion message is just beautiful and always to a perfect point.   Reading "Calling Jesus" is another way to help me through the day as well.

Hi everyone.  It is going to be another nice day.  We had no rain yesterday so glad I watered the yard.  In a little while we will leave so Pat can get to a 9:45 doctor's appointment.  It is a followup related to some blood tests ordered at her last visit.  After that the schedule is clear for today.

Janet, will check back later today, if I don't forget, to see if you have given an update on how the surgery on Beth's eyes went yesterday.  So nice that her good friend came to sit with you all during the surgery.  I love flowers and this year we have them both on our front and back porches where we can see them, the front from my office or when leaving or coming home and the hanging baskets are placed where we have a good view of one of them from where we sit in our easy chairs.  One of the baskets is petunias and the other is a mixtures of two or three different flowers.

Carol, I try to start everyday with a couple of devotional readings that I get in my email that includes Scripture readings. 

What a mighty God we serve!  He is GOOD--ALL the time!!

God blessed us throughout the day yesterday!  He was with us in tangible ways!

He made Beth tough!  She came through the surgeries a winner, again!  And when we took her back at 4:00 for the re-check, the pressure in the left eye was down from 48 to a normal range of 15!!!  Hallelujah!!  And she could see three times as far, even with the sedation and blurriness, than she had been seeing with that eye!!

Everyone at Fry Eye Center, and the Surgery Center went above and beyond in their treatment of Beth and us.  We couldn't have been in more capable, kind and caring hands.  Dr. Eric Fry is a wonderful doctor, (as is his father Luther, and Dr. Clifford, as well.)  Every person who had any contact with us at both the office and the surgery center were kind, caring and considerate.  I praise God for each of them.

And for you, dear prayer warriors---thanks and blessings to you from God our Father.  I thank and bless you from the bottom of my heart.  We felt the power of your prayers with us all day!

Beth is going back for another re-check this morning.  I didn't go, as there is a funeral I need to attend, and she was okay with that.  (This time!) ;-)

Thanks again, and we love and appreciate each one who prayed!

Janet, Darrel, Beth and John

P.S.  God is blessing us with another wonderful rain!!

Amazing Grace to hear the news from Janet. 

Janet, as I said in the letter, PRAISE HIS NAME!

Hi, friends,

Isn't it wonderful to be able to praise His name, all the time.

I know he bottles up our tears, but He surely appreciates our praises, too.

I was able to get out today. Now I'm back in and likely will stay in most all weekend, since one of our elevators needs a part and will be inoperable all weekend. That causes long delays, and right now my leg appreciates it when I don't have to stand too much.

God bless all of us as He knows we have need.

Love to all,
Ruth Ann

Hi everyone as another Saturday is upon us.  We are once again to get to 90 degrees or above with only a 20% chance of any showers today.  I have been awake since 4 am this morning and about 6 am I picked up my phone and read my email and the discussion boards before getting up and dressed for the day. 

I plan on making a quick trip to Lowe's for a tomato stake and a stop at the cleaner's to pick up a sports coat I left there a couple of weeks ago.  I should get a haircut but think I will wait until next week sometime.  I hope to get some reading done today as well. 

Yesterday we didn't get out of the doctor's office from the 9:45 appointment until a few minutes before 11 am.  We then went to Office Depot as Pat had a new quilting book she wanted fixed with a spiral binder and then tried to find Harbor Freight and JoAnn's Fabrics, which are at the same location, but the GPS led us onto a one lane road that was a dead end.  We gave up the search and headed back home but stopped at Texas Roadhouse for a good meal and Pat didn't have to cook last evening. 

Janet, oh so happy with the good news concerning Beth's eye work and it sounds like the results couldn't have been much better.  It sounds like she had a good doctor and caring team of people around you.  Hope her trip back yesterday was just as successful.  Nice to see you are getting some rain.

Ruth Ann, it sounds like it would be a good weekend to stay in your apartment and rest up from you outing yesterday. 

Darrel and I went to an auction this morning.  This lady has SO much STUFF!!  Over 700 collectible belt buckles (she and husband used to sell them), then hundreds of collector's plates, figurines, gnomes, snowmen, Santas, scads of sports stuff:  Chiefs, Steelers, Huskers, Cowboys--from figurines to mugs to clocks, etc.  Then there was a whole table full of Elvis stuff--everything you can imagine, including a scrapbook she had kept with every picture from newspapers she ever saw of Elvis.  Then the records, tapes, 8-tracks, DVDs, hundreds of books, dishes, furniture, oh, my!  I didn't see but one thing I wanted:  a red chair that matches the one I bought for my new little room.  I would like to have that, as have been wanting another chair in there.  We were there for nearly two hours and they were still working their way through those belt buckles, so we came home!  It made me happy that I don't have a lot of stuff like that to get rid of or leave for my family to mess with!!  She (the owner) is downsizing, and selling her house, to move to Oklahoma City to live with a lady friend.  They have been traveling together a lot ever since this one got divorced some years ago.  (No, they are not lesbians!  At least I don't believe so! )

John called and said Beth is feeling and looking better today than she has for a while, so I want to go see her.  I was there yesterday to see how her checkup went.  John said the doctor was pleased, even though the pressure was up to 28 in that eye; he said it should go back down.  Our local eye doctor will check it on Wednesday.

We have a dinner party tonight with our small group from church, so I made some cookies to take along with another dish.

Happy Saturday, and happy May Day tomorrow!

Time to start a new week HERE