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Morning Devotional...


"By one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified" (Hebrews 10:14).


We trample the blood of the Son of God underfoot if we think we are forgiven because we are sorry for our sins. The only reason for the forgiveness of our sins by God, and the infinite depth of His promise to forget them, is the death of Jesus Christ. Our repentance is merely the result of our personal realization of the atonement by the Cross of Christ, which He has provided for us. "... Christ Jesus ... became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption ..." (1 Corinthians 1:30). [But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:] 

Once we realize that Christ has become all this for us, the limitless joy of God begins in us. And wherever the joy of God is not present, the death sentence is still in effect.  No matter who or what we are, God restores us to right standing with Himself only by means of the death of Jesus Christ. God does this, not because Jesus pleads with Him to do so but because He died. It cannot be earned, just accepted. All the pleading for salvation which deliberately ignores the Cross of Christ is useless. It is knocking at a door other than the one which Jesus has already opened. We protest by saying, "But I don't want to come that way. It is too humiliating to be received as a sinner." God's response, through Peter, is, "... there is no other name ... by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).  [Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.] What at first appears to be heartlessness on God's part is actually the true expression of His heart. There is unlimited entrance His way. "In Him we have redemption through His blood ..." (Ephesians 1:7). To identify with the death of Jesus Christ means that we must die to everything that was never a part of Him.

God is just in saving bad people only as He makes them good. Our Lord does not pretend we are all right when we are all wrong. The atonement by the Cross of Christ is the propitiation God uses to make unholy people holy.

Oswald Chambers

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My time on here has certainly been scarce lately but I've been caring for an elderly lady who has had so many illnesses lately and then a friend has altzheimers and I've been taking her places.

Oh, it's so good though to be busy.

That's a wonderful little message by Chambers!  It is absolutely true that our begging, even with all the urgency of conviction, is not what atones for us, nor does it usher us into God's Presence.  What Christ has done, and only what He has done - that alone is atonement.  When the Scripture says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness," it isn't saying that our urgent confession is adequate to "move" God to forgive.  Instead, it's saying that He is already faithful and just to forgive the confessed sins because of our Saviour's totally adequate atonement.

It is not our begging, but it is His finished work that will ever save us.

Thanks for the nice devotional.

I wonder why so many feel threatened by our Christian faith?  The local paper had a picture of a mother and small son, with the story about her pulling him out of school because they are teaching too much about Christmas.  Seems that she is Jewish and angry the school is making a false impression on her child.  Interesting thing is the response from some of the parents of different faiths, including muslim, saying that they enjoy Christmas and don't mind in the least!!   

Nice thing happened the other day.  The owner of our 1/2 cat, Billy, phoned to say a lovely thanks for all our help and give a report on his progress. They are really a lovely couple, busy with two small children and work.  I felt badly about my grumbling and deleted my post, not usually upset by people.  Was a bad day health wise and lately doesn't take much.....

Took my daughter and Grand out for lunch today, then we went and bought a couple of cases of dog and cat food, etc. and went to the SPCA with a donation of money, etc.  They are so grateful for help and take such good care of the animals at this SPCA.  We find it hard to see all the animals so looking for love.  Would vol. if it were closer as they have folks come in to brush and pet them.  A young vol. was sitting brushing and playing with them while we were there and they had the nicest little pup and a black cat in the office. 

No rain today and cold, but no more signs of snow at this time.  I hope we have had our quota for this winter.  Love Etta Sues pictures ... brrrr!

Pleasant Day/Evening and God Bless.

Liz

Liz, that's lovely that the new owner phoned you.  That means a lot--at least it sure would mean a lot to me.

How lovely to go out to lunch, Liz!!  Do it as often as you can.  We're not getting any younger! 

Love

Pat

Thank Al, for your comment on the devotional.

A friend and I have been studying in depth the devotionals in "My Utmost for His Highest" for about 4 months now and they have been just wonderful.

I will attempt another short post---good thing I can "see" my keyboard with my fingers, and hope for not too many mistakes.

We had a sweet surprise today.  Grandson Mark and his girlfriend Meme came up and spent the afternoon with us.  They sat at my computer watching a slide show of my Peru photos for quite a while.  We went to the Home to say hello to Beth and Mom, then Darrel and I took the kids to dinner.  (Mexican food.)

See you tomorrow, and hope the world isn't still flickering. 

Pat :  I saw your sentence about it being "good to be busy" and 2nd that - I was really on the go today and feeling so tired but your sentence brought me up.  It is fortunate to be able to be busy.  Both of us have had days when we could not do anything for health reasons and I tend to forget about that as soon as those days are over.  Anyway, really loved your devotion.

   Good early morning to you alll.  I  have been able to browse through the post's and it is great to here how you all doing.  My oldest brother is here from Scotland so we have been doing some things and some visiting a;; over the place so it keeps us very busy.   I cannot believe that my grandson is just over six weeks old the time goes so fast.  Also my granddaughter was born Sept the 20th. it is hard to believe that she is 2 months.  We are haveing fun when we are with them.

At the time of Christmas our kids will be here but our middle son and his wife cannot come as they live in an other province and we will miss them big time.

Pat:   Thankyou for your devotional it was great and also pray and hope that you look after yourself.

To  all who have contiued to post may you all have a blessed and successful  Christmas  and New Year . God Bless 

After having dug out from under the 9+ inches of snow we got over the weekend, it's nice to get out and drive around and not get stuck. Sunday morning was a trip after shoveling the driveway we took my truck to church. My wife's car would have bottomed out in the snow blocking our side street from the main road. Amazingly we actually had a church service, though I found out later there was an e-mail sent out telling people not to come to church because of the weather. There were about 20 people and everyone sat in the center section.

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Smokey:  Congratulations on making it to church & a few other members as well.  And, everyone sat together, not scattered.  Isn't it funny how people tend to go and sit in the same side and nearly the same spot?  We do!  I guess we like that view and it isn't too close and we can hear better from that spot.  The only problem on some Sundays when we have to drive to Denver right away - we can't get out really quickly.    Actually, I would hate to have any emergency evacuation of that - there is one other exit but mainly people go through one main door to the foyer.  To me, it isn't the best arrangement but I am always looking for emergency exits and how to get out of a building so - that is an oddity in itself.  Now, how on earth did I end up writing so much on this?  Anyway, glad that you made it over the snow.

Our streets are pretty good here but icy in the parking lots & we sure don't want to fall.  The news on that ice storm in the midwest showed people actually slipping and falling.  There are some ice cleats that you can buy that attach to shoes and you can walk on the ice carefully.  We never used to get ice storms but that might be useful - the ice cleats I mean - when ice happens.  

Enough about the weather.  I am waiting for Don - he has another terrible night's sleep.  He wakes me, not snoring but just waking up so often.  Perhaps he should go to a sleep clinic as I have encouraged.  

I have a haircut today and then we are meeting younger friends at a grill for dinner.  Yesterday, baked two meatloaves, and our dinner of a tiny roast at the same time and froze the meatloaves - then, baked carrot/granola cookies - cleaned the kitchen - washed & ironed.  My back...... Don's back is really bad right now and he has to use the heated pad that also vibrates.  Just one of our feeling achy & old times.  

Prayers for everyone - Carol

Colin     Your poem about the tree - it just shows with clarity what we can be reminded of at all times if we only open our thoughts to what the Lord wants us to see and learn.  Thank you for all of your creative works - a wonderful gift to all of us.

Carol

God's people eagerly watched and longed for the promised Messiah.  So many of the prophets spoke of Him and glowingly described His everlasting reign.  And then the announcement came to Joseph - "You shall call His Name Jesus, for it is He Who shall save His people from their sins!"  "It is He!!!!"  The long-expected One, the Christ, anointed as Prophet, Priest, and King, yet born in a manger!  He is COME!  He lived, spoke in God's Name to people who came thereby to know true salvation, was crucified, burried, and rose again to  the right Hand of the Father, and everlastingly lives to be our wondrous Advocate.  Oh blessed arrival!  Should not God's amazing love be reflected in the love we express through gifts to one another at this time of year?  Oh never mind that some don't want the word "Christmas" expressed in public.  Let's celebrate His advent, not a "Christ - mass.

Hi everyone.  It is 1 pm and I am just now eating my lunch.  I have had a very busy morning but the rest of the day shouldn't be so busy.  After coffee I stopped aa the drugstore for a couple of items and came home and wrapped the last 4 Christmas packages.  I thought I was through with that yesterday, except for Pat's gift, but she remembered three other gifts that needed to be wrapped.  Then I had somewhere to go for the rest of the morning. 

Pat, thanks for the devotional.  I always like Chamblers writings.  I have his book and believe it came with a CD with the material in a digital format, if I can locate it.

Carol, I got an e-mail last evening from a cousin in Devner saying our last living aunt had fallen on the 2nd of December on ice in front of the retirement community where she lives and laid out in the cold for over an hour before anyone found her.  She has been hospitalized and now is in a rehab center.  She thinks she will be able to return to her apartment but her daughter is very doubtful as she is really weak and will at least initially go to her house after the rehab.  My aunt is 86 years old.

Ivalou was told last night at the sleep clinic that she stopped breathing 85 times for at least 10 seconds during her first sleep test.  Last night she wore a CPAP to see how well that worked for her.  She will know the results sometime next week. 

I got up at 8am and called Ivalou to see if she would like to go to Lapel for breakfast.  So I went to the bank and got some money from the ATM machine.  Then to Woody's for breakfast.  I told Ivalou to order me some coffee while I go get stamps at the post office.  It was still closed...would open in 10 minutes.  So went back to Woody's.  We both had a great breakfast and talked to several people we know.  One is leaving for Florida for three months after Christmas.  Said Florida is a waiting room for Senior citizens!!  So after breakfast, I went back for my stamps. 

We then went to the drug store and ended up at the Dollar General.  So we shopped Lapel...and believe me, that is about the only stores for shopping!! 

A few minutes after I got home, the phone company van was in my drive.  Seems that at the intersection west of me, a snow plow knocked over the junction box and there was snow inside of it.  He cleaned out the snow and voila! no static on my phone! 

That's about it for now.  Bright and sunny in Indiana and the temperature is ABOVE freezing!!!  Hurray!  Now for a nice snow for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.....and then warm up to 70° and stay there!  I can dream, can't I? 

I love your poetry, Colin!  My folder is getting stuffed on my computer.  I just love going back and re-reading them all.

Just in to say hello

I have been busy with going to the chiropactor  twice weekly which is helping, he is giving me a rest until after the New Year then will check things out again.   Then somehow finding time to take my Aunt for groceries (she needed groceries when I had the least amount of time) I do my best and keep going.

Today we had to go to a workshop for the school bus all I can say enough is enough and I will be glad when my day of retirement arrives. It was to have been an hour and the speaker did not know how to shut up I left soon after the hour my time is valuable.  The rest of the day was fine infact one of the children gave me a Christmas Gift.

Blessings to all        Ruth

I loved that "Bell" piece!
I hope you don't mind, I posted it on my blog.

Hi everyone.  Have a few minutes before leaving for coffee and will go directly from there to the church for Bible Study.  Pat overdid yesterday and is paying the price today so told me she was staying home this morning.  This evening I have the last choir practice for the year.  We will be working primarily on one piece that we are doing Sunday and haven't practiced very often.  It is suppose to be a little warmer here today.

Etta Sue, glad you got your phone fixed.  Guess your phone calls were being filtered by snow.  It sounds like Ivalou definitely needs the CPAP.

Pat, I very seldom go back into my e-mail and usually only keep it for 60 days or so.  There are some exceptions that I keep a lot longer.  Fortunately with Gmail I really don't have to worry about exceeding my space to store.

Ruth, when are you retiring.  Unfortunately some people just cant stop listening to themselves talk.

Hope everyone has a good day and hi to all who stop by later today.

Smokey!!  So very happy you enjoyed that bell!  I had it sent to me in an email so it's great that you put it on your blog!

Larry, I love gmail just for that reason.  I don't delete anything but spam--I just archive it.

Good morning from another bright, sunny Indiana.  It is suppose to get above freezing so maybe the streets will clear along with my driveway. 

I am taking Ivalou to get her protime blood test today and then we will stop for groceries.  Saturday we are invited to Kaye Don's daughter's (Robin) home for Christmas with her family and her siblings.  I went last year and it is so much fun to be with them.  Kaye Don and Barb will be missed.  Then I will spend Christmas Day with Ivalou and her family!  So we need to get food in to prepare for both meals. 

Inky has been sick to her stomach and I finally realized...duh...that it was the substitute food I got when the vet didn't have the food I normally used.  I put food in their bowl before going to bed so they will leave me alone in the night.     Every night for three nights, Inky got sick and always on carpet!    Night before last, I got up, cleaned up the messes, threw all the substitute food in the trash and filled the bowl with their normal food.  She hasn't been sick since.  A different cat really.  Doesn't act scared.  Her eyes are tiny slits instead of big black 8 balls!!

Etta Sue, our pets can sure get sick with a different brand than they're used to.  I'm glad Inky is back to regular food and you've gotten rid of that nasty old make-me-sick-to-my-stomach food.  Must have been something in it Inky was allergic to...or maybe just the sudden change.  I'm glad it's all well there in Inky World now.

We are raining here, and more with winds is forecast. 

My daughter is coming today to spend a few days.  Her son, my grandson(hehe)lives here, and she has lots of friends, so she wants to stay till Sunday and visit.  She's a big gift giver, so she'll be loaded with those too.  She is a sweetheart.  She's the one who lost her husband to a motorcycle accident 3 years ago.  She shared with me that this year has been the hardest.    She's strong and I know she will be ok.

Just wanted to pop in and say good morning.  I won't be around for a few days.  That probably is no surprise, as I often am not around. lol  But just wanted you to know.  Blessings,  Nita

Good Morning I only have a few minutes before I leave for Tai Chi then on to work after that to the Hand surgeon and to my other job.

I need a recipe for Potato soup and there is not one in our recipes.

Etta Sue I am glad you figured out what was making Inky sick.  Our pets are so precious to us and we do need to see to all their needs. My two seem not to be able to get enough of my attention lately, it must be that I am gone all day and they miss me, so I do spend a lot of time petting them and spoiling them.

Marilyn, I remember Etta Sue posted a recipe for potato soup a long time ago.  Whether or not it is still there, I have no idea.  I remember it used instant potato flakes.

Our cat is so spoiled since she became an "only child."  She loves to take the ornaments off the tree.  This morning, she ate something off the tree and was having a terrible time, but ran from me and wouldn't let me see what she had in her mouth.  Seemed she couldn't get it up or down!  She's a sweet cat---named Dinah.

I am going along with Grandson Mark to Liberal this afternoon.  He has his final check with Dr. Rane from the burns he got at work last summer; and I need to buy three more gifts and get more of my Christmas cards.  And I love spending time with Mark! 

Curtis, Toni and the baby, Alexis, are coming today from Los Lunas, N.M. to Kansas, of course we look forward to seeing them!

My vision is really bad this morning, but I'm believing for it to improve each day.  It is very unhandy having to use a magnifying glass for everything.

Hi, Larry!  Hi, Etta Sue!  And Pat, and Smoky, and Nita, and Ruth, and Marilyn,  and.....all of you!  May you each have a wonderful day!

Hi Everyone!

It's about 1 degree celcius above zero and things are actually thawing out!  That's wonderful.  I heard that on Sunday it's supposed to be 7 degrees celcius and that's high!

I have a friend coming to stay for awhile and they'll be surprised after our week of freezing cold snow storms!!

Thanks to all who commented on my poem. Pat I tried to put in some more pics and have been told I am over the quota or something like that. Can you help me? Hi everyone else.

Well, it's definitely raining here today.  I think we'll stay above normal.  Thanks be to our Father, for watering and refreshing His earth.

I gotta get a little preparation done - I have two fellows as students in NT Greek at 6PM.  So I gotta run.