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Morning Devotional...





Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith.
1 Peter 5:8-9


As we move farther on and mount higher up in the Christian life we may expect to encounter greater difficulties in the way and meet increased hostility from the enemy of our souls. Though this is seldom presented to Christians as a fact of life it is a very solid fact indeed as every experienced Christian knows, and one we shall learn how to handle or stumble over to our own undoing. Satan hates the true Christian for several reasons. One is that God loves him, and whatever is loved by God is sure to be hated by the devil. Another is that the Christian, being a child of God, bears a family resemblance to the Father and to the household of faith. Satan's ancient jealousy has not abated nor his hatred for God diminished in the slightest. Whatever reminds him of God is without other reason the object of his malignant hate. A third reason is that a true Christian is a former slave who has escaped from the galley, and Satan cannot forgive him for this affront. A fourth reason is that a praying Christian is a constant threat to the stability of Satan's government. The Christian is a holy rebel loose in the world with access to the throne of God. Satan never knows from what direction the danger will come. Who knows when another Elijah will arise, or another Daniel? or a Luther or a Booth? Who knows when an Edwards or a Finney may go in and liberate a whole town or countryside by the preaching of the Word and prayer? Such a danger is too great to tolerate, so Satan gets to the new convert as early as possible to prevent his becoming too formidable a foe.

In case you haven't noticed, you are not popular with Satan! Why? You are an object of God's love; part of God's family; an escaped prisoner of the evil one and a danger to him.



In You I stand, Lord. In myself I am easy prey for Satan. In You I am strong. Praise Your name!"

From Devotions By Dr. Tozer

Hi everyone on a nice 77 degree morning here in South Carolina.  I am ready for Sunday School and Church but still need to read the Sunday School lesson.  After church I will stop and get something to bring home for our main meal of the day.  I seem to be gaining a wee bit more confidence in the kitchen as each day passes.  Last evening I fixed the hamburgers and we finished up some left overs.  Now I am going to have to cook some more things for our meal on Monday.  Pat is only slowly, if at all, gaining ground.  She was able to sleep laying down yesterday afternoon and then again last night so guess that is a step forward.  She is still experiencing the muscle spasms when she stands or moves a certain way.  Nothing else on the schedule for today. 

Janet, the word "lazy" just does compute when I think of you and the very busy and full schedule you have.  The peaches sound great.  Our season is over here so will rely on the peaches from COSTCO that are frozen.  We have found the quality of their fruit, and everything else, is grade A.  Pat has been enjoying the frozen strawberries, some of which are huge.  I know that Pat appreciates me but sometimes gets frustrated with me, but it doesn't last. 

Carol, it sends a chill through me when I read that any of our friends here take a fall.  Sure glad you were not hurt more than the bruises.  A new router always requires changing many passwords on various devices we have.  I hope that is all straightened out for you.  When you said you only "made a few dishes" for today it brought to mind that Pat always does the same thing for special occasions. 

Don, thanks for getting us started with a very solid devotional for this week.  Satin never gives up in trying to trip up God's children. 

Don, thank you for the devotional this morning.  We do know and need to remember that the devil is always trying to lead us away, but our God is stronger.  One sentence in the study especially makes me smile and is a fine reminder of how we appear to the devil:  "The Christian is a holy rebel loose in the world with access to the throne of God."

Hi everyone.  When I checked the weather forecast earlier this morning it said we had 96% humidity and no chance of rain today or for the next several days. It is not suppose to be as hot today as over the weekend. This will be our usual Monday with my noon meeting and then Pat's 4 pm appointment with the chiropractor.  I plan on doing some cooking today as we have eaten up all of the leftovers.

Jeanne, always nice to see a posting from you and sure hope you are gaining some strength and feeling more chipper.

Hi, friends,

It was good to catch up with y'all this afternoon. I've enjoyed the Olympics, and tend to be sorry they're over, but in a couple of years, the Winter Olympics will be occurring.

I've had some prayers answered for one of my children. Oh, how thankful that makes me.

Y'all have a good day.

Ruth Ann

Hi everyone.  We are in for another nice mostly cloudy day with it getting up to only around 91 degrees this afternoon.  In a little bit I will leave for a dental appointment to have my teeth cleaned.  Pat was suppose to go as well but a few days ago realized she wouldn't be able to make the appointment and cancelled it for now.  The rest of the day I will do some cooking, making some more sausage muffins for Pat, some macaroni salad for me and some other things for supper.  We are going to put some chicken in the crock pot.  I will stop at Aldi's on the way home from the dentist to pick up some fresh vegetables as they go quickly. 

Microsoft did an automatic major update on Pat's laptop and it has really messed things up.  The keyboard doesn't want to work and it is putting in a notification message about every second saying the security is turned on and yet when I look at that in the control panel it assures me everything i fine.  I haven't a clue about what to do and so will wait until Scott is here tomorrow evening and see if he has any ideas.  I saw something yesterday that millions of computers have been adversely impacted by this update.  Not good.

Ruth Ann, glad to see you had some prayers answered for you.

Larry, it sounds strange to have you say you don't know what to do about a computer problem!     Hopefully Microsoft will issue a correction to fix it (Yeah right!  ) and you and Scott between you will have Pat's computer running again like a top.

Beautiful, Pat.  Thanks!   

Hi, friends,

Today has been a quiet day, since I had a J night last night. 

I talked with a friend, and we agreed to have lunch tomorrow along with a mutual friend. We are members of the same church, so it will be great to have wonderful food and even better Christian fellowship.

Pat, I have read that message before, but always read it completely and think about the great assurances it brings to mind.

Larry, all three of my sons live at some distance from Nashville, so I tend to feel helpless about their problems, but draw strength from knowing that prayer changes things. My daughter lives in the Nashville area, but her busy life keeps me from seeing her very often, so again, prayer for her and her family is the solution.

Y'all have a good rest of the day.

Ruth Ann

I just read the devotional that Don shared with us again.   Thanks Don.  I love Dr. Tozer's words.

Thought
In case you haven't noticed, you are not popular with Satan! Why? You are an object of God's love; part of God's family; an escaped prisoner of the evil one and a danger to him.

Larry, I'm so sorry that Pat is in so much pain.  I sure know how that feels and it's debilitating.

From time to time, I'm going to share some lovely thoughts from a friend on Facebook.   She's also a good friend of our Max Alderman.

Judith Moravek is a brilliant photographer and she also uses Paint Shop Pro to create lovely works of art while spreading the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanks, Pat.  That is really beautiful with a very apt scripture.

Hi everyone on this beautiful Wednesday morning.  We will be in the low 90's this afternoon and no rain in the forecast. In a few minutes I have to leave to go for an appointment at the Pacemaker Clinic to have my pacemaker/defibrillator checked.  Pat has another chiropractic appointment at 4 pm.  Scott will be out this afternoon and will be fixing the supper for us, which I am more than ready for a break. 

It seemed like I was working in the kitchen all day yesterday.  Of course, that is an not the case but sure seemed like it.  I spent for 10 am until noon at the dentists as he found a cavity under a big filling and had time to fix it while I was there so that is what happened. 

I have read all the messages posted since yesterday and am bypassing individual comments for today.   

Pat:  Thanks for posting the beautiful picture and scripture as well.

I am sipping coffee and eating the almost last piece of a wonderful chocolate cake.  Yum. 

Ruth Ann:  I had a late breakfast a iHop with 8 of us from the Wednesday church group - they are off for the summer.  One leader is a missionary now here taking care of his mother for some time.  There are more but this is almost all who sit at our round table. 

Giving thanks for being able to sit at the sewing machine a couple of hours today.  This has been a miserable month of pain but is finally subsiding.  We have a rain/sun day with moisture winning.  It is a day of wearing my heavy flannel shirt. 

Larry:  Best to you and Pat - I hope the chiropractor will be helpful for her and of course, hoping for you to get an A+ in your visit.   

Just read a report on the Red Cross at the Louisiana flood disaster stopping a policeman who was praying with a flood survivor.  The Red Cross told him to not pray in their area.  That is another reason I will not support the Red Cross but give only to the Salvation Army. 

Really?  Has no one posted since the 21st? I lost my email notifications--AGAIN--and got behind.  But I'm back again.

I have been really dragging all day today so am off to bed,  Hope I can find you easier tomorrow!

Carol, I just read your post.  That's TERRIBLE!  Darrel said when he was in the Army, the Red Cross served coffee and doughnuts to the men on the front lines AND CHARGED THEM FOR IT!!  He certainly won't contribute to them, either.  Salvation Army, yes.

NOW I'm going to bed!

Hi everyone.  It is now 79 degrees and we are headed up to 93 for a short time this afternoon.  I don't think it reached 90 at all yesterday, which was nice. 

Scott did fix us a delicious dinner last night and we enjoyed his visit. He rolled the Windows 10 Updates back on his mother's laptop and it is now working again.  He also turned off the automatic updating of any future updates on our three computers running Windows 10. 

I have a light day planned today.  I will soon pickup my friend at his retirement home and we will go to coffee.  After I return him home I will stop at Walmart, which is very nearby for a prescription and a few items.  I will be riding the electric cart today.  Not taking the ACE Inhibitor apparently is reducing the amount of blood getting through my heart and it has sapped my energy and think it is affecting my thinking a little bit.  Pat has her third Chiropractic treatment of the week today at 4 pm.  There is no Wisdom group at the church this week as the minister can't be there.

I did get a good report on the check of my pacemaker/defibrillator yesterday and no adjustments were needed.  She said I had between 3 and 3 1/2 years left on my battery before the device will have to be replaced.   

Carol, nice to read that you felt like sitting at your sewing machine and the pain is finally subsiding. I wonder who gave the Red Cross the authority to tell someone they couldn't pray out in the open.  That was ridiculous and I hope the person ignored such a demand.

Janet, hope you are feeling peppier today and had a good nights rest.  My Dad wouldn't support the Red Cross either for the same reason that Darrel experienced.  I agree about the Salvation Army. 

After a couple of days with low 80's and low humidity and open windows, the humidity is back and that means I need the a/c back running again...  at least if I like breathing.   

Yesterday my friend and I went food shopping.  This was my first real outing with the "portable" oxygen and I wanted to see how much time I would have on the small tank.  We were out about an hour and a half, plenty of time still left on the oxygen but it just about did me in.  Just about all I could manage was to put away the freezer and refrigerator stuff and then I just collapsed on the couch for the rest of the afternoon.  Glad I did it yesterday, when the humidity and temps were both pretty low. 

It is 91° on our back deck. I was going to take Freckles for a walk but not with it that hot out there, I don't want to burn her paws. Now only is it toohot for her but for me as well.

Hi Everyone...

Raining here this afternoon but how we've needed the rain.  But it's made it humid and sticky now outside so I have my A/C on as well. 

Glad you did the "test" run Jeanne with the oxygen.  Now that gives you a little idea of how long you have out there.
 
Carol, that's awful about the Red Cross.  My goodness! 

Hi Janet.  Not sure why you are having trouble with your email notifications.

Ruth Ann, I don't think I've ever been in an IHOP.  Not sure if we have them here in Canada.  I've seen many of them in the USA but never felt like a plate of pancakes. 

It's awful that Pat is having such pain Larry for so long.  Nice that Scott came and gave you a hand with the meal planning.

Isn't that really hot for you Marilyn?  Good to watch the doggie's paws.   

Let's all think and pray for Jane this evening as she thinks about her daughter Joy down in California not doing so well health wise.  I know that as a mother, that's where her thoughts would be.  I will be praying especially for her this evening.

Off to have some supper.  Not feeling like making too much though.

Hi, friends,

It's so good to hear from all of you today. I'm caught up on resting, I think. However, I needed rest after yesterday's activities. After eating with my friends, I went to get a much needed haircut and then on to shop for a few groceries.

It's very hot here in Nashville, too, with "feels like" temperatures exceeding the 100 degree mark when temps and humidity are factored together. I will begin walking in the hallway on Saturday. Thankfully, it's not too stuffy out there, even though the hallways are neither air conditioned nor heated in this building.

Y'all take care, and know I pray for you.

Love to all,
Ruth Ann

Pat, I'm learning a whole new way of living.   

On the news tonight, big splash about Franklin Graham holding a rally in New York State and a planned protest against his program.  It sounds as though a protest would be harmful, but I think it will just draw more attention to the work of the Lord.  It is planned to have a similar rally in each of the 50 states before the presidential election. 

Hi everyone.  It is a beautiful clear morning and we are headed to 93 degrees this afternoon.  The only thing on the schedule today is to take Pat for a mammogram at the hospital this morning.  The hospital is now providing a free car parking service at the door of the hospital.  There is also no charge for parking.  The housekeeper will also be here this morning and the yard was taken care of yesterday.  So we will be in good shape. 

Yesterday turned out to be an another exhausting day and by the time I finished shopping at Walmart, even riding the cart, I was done in.  Fortunately we had an easy supper with homemade chicken noodle soup from the meat and broth left over from  over from fixing the chicken in the crock pot a couple of days ago. 

Jeanne, glad you were able to venture out but can image how tired you must have been by the time you got home.  Those oxygen tanks sound very heavy to deal with and the hose you use in your house, along with the noise of the unit, would certainly take some getting used to.  However, I hope the oxygen makes you feel much better. 

Marilyn, nice of you to be concerned about Freckles paws in the heat.  I guess here the dogs are used to the hot surface as we have two or three people who walk their dogs on our street although we all have wooden fenced back yards. 

Pat, certainly glad you have the A/C to help you stay cool.  We have IHOP's all over the country.  They serve many other things than pancakes and a lot of them are open 24 hours a day, if I recall correctly.  I just checked and there are two of them in Augusta, GA.    My Pat may be just a fraction better but it looks like it is going to be a slow process.  However, the Chiropractor told her at the beginning it would probably be 2 weeks before she noticed a big difference.  Next week we will complete the two weeks. We are closer to our son emotionally than we have been since he was a child.  He told us Wednesday evening that we were his life.  However, I suggested to him gently that he needs to develop a broader life of his own as we are not going to be always around.  We are so thankful that God led us here when he did so we could be his support at this time in his life. I do think of and pray for Jane as she waits by the phone for that dreaded call.

Ruth Ann, too bad your hallways are not headed and air conditioned.  Glad you got rested up.

Good Morning Everyone!
 
It's a nice morning here in Guelph.  I have to get my car in to the garage.  Wiring problems.  When the turn indicators are used, the high beams go on!  The A/C works on speed 1, 2 and sometimes when not expected, it will work on 3!  And the air isn't all that cold when the A/C is on.  So lots to check.  I even had smoke coming out of the turn indicator on the steering wheel!!!  So, we'll see.

This morning I got up to take the dog out looked at the clocked and said to keith oh it's 5:15. I took Freckles out, turned on the coffee pot and went back to bed for a little bit, I got up put on my clothes came out to get a cup of coffee , looked at the clock at it was only 4:15, Apparently  it was only 3:15 when I looked at the clock in the bedroom. anyway we've been up since then. I think I will have to turn on a light before looking at the LED display on the clock radio from now on, and possibly put on my glasses. 

Yes Pay that is HOT for the coast well this area.:2funny:

The visiting nurse made her final visit yesterday.  The insurance covers only a set number of visits and they've been filled.     So now it's down to the last visit from the PT which may be the last one today.  Things will sure seem quiet - the first week or so from the hospital it seemed as though I should have a revolving door.     Guess that means I'm at the point where I can handle things myself.  The next follow-up appointment is on Sept. 8 and then we'll see what's next.   

Marilyn, that's awful when you do that.  I've done it as well.   Guess it's all a sign of us getting older!

Yes, I'm cut off the OT now too, Jeanne.   They come for just so many visits and then you're on your own.

My clock problem is when the a.m. and the p.m. time are both dark - I have a hard time deciding whether I fell asleep watching TV or reading, or whether it's really almost time to wake up for the day.  I've finally come up with a solution but it only works with the digital clock.  If the extra red dot is "present" it is p.m.  If that dot is "absent" the time is a.m.   

Creative idea, Jeanne! 

Beth's birthday is coming up again on Sunday, her 54th.  We will eat lunch with her and John, then are planning a small party for her at his apartment complex.  She surely isn't looking good at all.

I'm so sorry about Joy, and Jane as well.  What a sad situation.  Except for the sure knowledge of being together in heaven for eternity!    The darker this world gets, the more homesick for heaven I become.

Pat, I sure hope you are feeling better now.  Are you able to drive again?  Sorry about the car problems, and they do sound strange.  Beth's van wound up costing us over $1000 in repairs.    Things just cost an amazing amount anymore, it seems to me.

Larry, I'm so glad you did move there to be near Scott.  I think it has not only been good for him, but for you and Pat as well.  I surely hope both of you feel better.

Darrel made a gallon and a half of his wonderful cherry/pineapple ice cream this morning for Beth's birthday, and I will bake cookies in lieu of a cake.  He's hoping for ice cream to be left over, I think! 

Ruth Ann, good you got rested up!  I haven't seemed able to do that lately.

Jeanne, good you are doing better, too.  We don't like it when our friends are having problems!

I was in the garden on Monday, and the first time I reached down and touched a plant something stabbed me!  That's what it felt like.  I first thought it was probably a yellow jacket, but my finger swelled up like a sausage, got red and feverish, and I thought it would get better in a few hours.  It didn't.  It just got worse and worse until this morning it was (and is) hurting clear to my shoulder, so Darrel said I probably should see the doctor.  I went; he said it was likely some kind of bee, and that I have a secondary infection.  He prescribed an antibiotic, and told me to buy an antihistamine and to take 2 Ibuprofen every 2 hours.  It's hurting up to my neck now.  I really think that if one were to get stung by a swarm of those rascals, it could kill you!  I tried ammonia and also Prid, trying to draw out the venom.  Nasty little varmint! 

Time to find something for supper!  And I am happy, because I got an email notification today!!  Yea!!

Hello from Michigan:  The fog is slowly lifting.  I am beginning to notice the flower bed needs weeding as the gardener is no longer available.  The house gets cleaned at a reasonable rate.  And I have nearly settled into a routine.

I spent month in Florida and other spots.  My son recently moved there for health reasons so I drove his trailer and lawn mower to him.  I miss him, his wife and the kids.

Just checking in to say "Howdy."  I re-read you posts from when Donna was going through the cancer process.  They meant just as much to me today as they did then.

God is using her death by using me to minister to friends and family that are losing their spouses.  It's happening all too much lately, but at my age it is almost a weekly thing. 

A friend sent me a small book "Grieving With Hope" by Tim Wesemann.  It helped me and God is using it to help my friends.

Hi everyone on a warm and soon to be hot Saturday here in South Carolina.  We will be up in the mid-90's again today with no predicted rain. 

Yesterday was basically a day of rest for me.  I did take Pat to her appointment yesterday and she got a very good report with no indicated problems.  She suggested we stop and have a good lunch and then I wouldn't need to cook last evening.  Believe me I jumped at that offer.  We stopped at Ruby Tuesday's.  While she is still having pain when moving she obviously is feeling some better although still needs the walker or a cane to get around. I did not end the day exhausted as I had been for several days. 

This morning I will take to the church some fabric that Pat has cut out for the pillows the women of the church are making for cancer patients. They had a large group of women show up for this event last year and it was on a Wednesday.  They are expecting a larger group today and they assemble a large number of small pillows in a couple of hours time.  From the church I think I will see if any of the guys have come to coffee and if so join them for awhile.  I will put together a salad to go with some food we have already in the refrigerator and that will be our dinner tonight.  So certainly not a hard day.

Pat, I liked the big graphic you posted on "Every Knee Shall Bow".  It sounds like your car needs some serious attention.  Do you still have the Saturn?

Marilyn, does your clock have large numbers on it.  The one I keep on my bedside tables has numbers probably 2 inches tall and I can read it at night without my glasses. 

Jeanne, maybe with fewer visiting folks you can get more rest. Please don't overdue and have a setback. I sometimes will wake up from an afternoon nap and have to think whether it is the morning or afternoon.   

My finger and arm are better today.  And what a good night's sleep I had, I think due to the Sudafed I took before I went to bed.  I slept clear up to 7 this morning!    But it is Saturday, so no problem!

I went out to the Farmers' Market and visited with my granddaughter-in-law and the two oldest girls for a while, got to hold the youngest little one some.  He's a busy boy!  I am praying these little encounters will lead to a restoration of the relationship.

When I got home, I baked the cookies for tomorrow, so we are almost ready for Beth's birthday.  I went to see her and she looked some better than yesterday, for that I am thankful.

It's time to start packing for the trip to Michigan!  This time next week, we will be on the road.  Be back home the evening of the 11th.

Nothing else new here, see you tomorrow!

Our grandson and his dad are down from hiking up a mountain this early morning - thankfully.  the concern was there has been snow for quite some time at the tops - I'll get the full report later. 

Ed:  Hello to Michigan.  You are supposed to drive to Florida in the winter.  Sending you a prayer for your "new normal" life - wishing you peace and courage.

Larry:  You may actually have jumped out of the car at the offer to eat out and not cook.     Hooray, Pat is able to get around - may she feel better each and every day.  Her quilting group sounds like they are having so much fun - with all that work. 

Janet:  I sent you a private message on this board - or email on this site.  I don't know what it is called.  So glad that your finger and hand feels better. 

In case I forget tomorrow:

  Beth  

I have posted a long over due update on Joy's condition Here for those of you interested, and praying. 

I'd like to introduce you to a new week of fellowship.  Join us Here