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Oldiesmann: I'm not aware of any Jenny. Not sure why activity has died down on this site so much though 2023-06-12, 00:06:36

JennyW: Also, does anyone know other photo sharing sites that are Christian? 2023-05-16, 08:47:03

JennyW: Hello Everyone! I really miss activity on this site. I've been discouraged by photography sites where you have to sort through so much explicit content in order to see photos that truly glorify God. I'd love to see this site pick up again. 2023-05-16, 08:46:36

Janet: Carol, I am just reading this.  So sorry for your loss, glad your beloved Don knew the Lord and you have the assurance of his eternity  and that you WILL see him again.  Much love to you.  Janet 2022-06-18, 08:49:36

Oldiesmann: So sorry for your loss Carol. Praying for you and your family :( 2022-05-01, 17:13:05

Carol: My husband Don is with the angels.....Our family was able to hold  ourselves together for the last moments.  Juar rhoufhr you might want to know. 2022-04-29, 23:35:15

Carol: Thankful:  Don is home from hospital.  I found him unconscious with head outside on the floor and the rest was in the shower.  At the same moment, one son was walking through the front door to visit.  Two fire trucks came racing in and they took over After 2021-12-29, 22:01:26

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Thoughts for the Week~December 21

Started by Janet, December 21, 2008, 09:22:47 PM

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Janet







:) From Our Forums :thumbsup:



  • Prayer and Praise     Thanks for visiting this area of our site to share prayer requests and items for praise!








 



Morning Devotional...



HOW MUCH MUSIC CAN YOU MAKE?

Imagine this. A concert violinist is performing a difficult piece in
front of a large audience. Suddenly there is a loud snap that
reverberates throughout the auditorium.

The audience immediately knows that a string has broken and fully
expects the concert to be suspended until another string, or
instrument, is brought to the musician.

But instead, the violinist composes herself, closes her eyes, then
signals the conductor to begin again. The orchestra resumes where
they had left off, and now the musician plays the music on three
strings.

In her mind she works out new fingering to compensate for the missing
string. A work that few people can play well on four strings, the
violinist with the broken string plays on three.

When she finishes, an awesome silence hangs in the room. And then, as
one, the crowd rises to its feet and cheers wildly. The violinist
smiles and wipes perspiration from her brow.

When silence returns to the great room, she explains why she
continued to play in spite of a broken string.

"You know," she says, still breathless, "sometimes it is the artist's
task to find out how much music you can still make with what you have
left."

We know what she means, don't we? Maybe we've lived most of our
lives, and we have only a little time left. Can we still make music?

Maybe disease has robbed us of our capacity to work. Can we still
make music?

Perhaps a financial loss has left us impoverished. Can we still make
music?

Or maybe a meaningful relationship has ended, and we feel alone in
the world. Can we still make music?

There will come a time when we all experience loss. Like the
violinist, will we find the courage to discover just how much music
we can still make with what we have left? How much good we can still
do? How much joy we can still share?

I'm convinced that the world, more than ever, needs the music only
you can make. And if it takes extra courage to make the music, many
will applaud your effort. Some people have lost more than others, and
these brave souls inspire the rest of us to greater heights.

Just how much music can you make with what you have left? Let the
Music Begin...

--With thanks to KH Marolia
My book Rising Above available at JanetDamon.com

Marilyn

Wow Janet thanks that  is an interesting  Devotional and leaves me with lots of different thoughts. She must have been a great violinist. Having played the violin myself that was a monumental task for her. I must applaud her ingenuity. Awesome !!
"Good people take care of their animals, but even the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel" Prov. 12:10
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Jane Walker

Janet ~ Thanks, so much, for the devotional thoughts.  Very thought provoking and ... now I need to see about making music with what I have left.   <3

(Marilyn, I used to play the violin too)
Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass .... it's about learning to dance in the rain!

Pat


"Click for Waterloo Wellington, Ontario Forecast"

Liz

A really nice devotional, Janet.  Thanks.  It certainly does give one reason to evaluate life and all the blessings we have been given. 

Thanks for all the nice comments about the pictures.  Snow has continued to fall all last night and all today....it is both beautiful and awful.  SIL managed to shovel the car out and down to the highway, then on to the mall for badly needed groceries.  Could not get the vehicle back to the hwy. in order to get to work.  So is spending the night at home...much to Wendy's relief.

There will be much damage to buildings....like Judy mentioned about the barn roofs.  Loss of income to resturants and business, small farms, etc.  We are so lucky the power has stayed on and even if off, will still have gas heat and a stove for cooking.  Snug with warmth, food and all that great Christmas music here on CP.  This is supposed to continue through the whole week....so Misty had better get used to being inside!

Marilyn, I do hope that your dog will be okay real soon.  Understand how upsetting it must be... plus the expense.

I am glad that you have so many good memories of your daughter, Jane.  Thanks for the lovely music.

Yes, Maddie the Doxie is sure cute, Janet.  Bet yours is too.  It is my first experience with them and I am totally enchanted!

So many folks to thank for the music.  Wish it were possible to hear Larry's Choir and Melody's as well. 

Time to go.  Hope we still have power tomorrow.  It seems that all of Canada is being snowed under.  We will all have a 'White Christmas' this year.

Pleasant Evening/Day and God Bless.

Liz
CHANGE NOT THY FAITH WITH CHANGING TIMES

LakeLady

Janet, thank you for this devotion.  I have been reading the devotional  forum for a few weeks, still getting accustomed to the Christian forum.  This devotional however came at just the right time for a number of reasons.

I am currently going through a series of tests to see if my cancer has returned.  It is a really difficult time, trying to keep living in the present and not forecasting.  I know that God works all for my best, but it is still a bit scary at times.  Trying to make music (and I love to sing) can be difficult in times such as this.

Becky

Gord Brown

Good evening to all.  And as you all can see it  is late.  I have gone through many of the post's and Pat very sorry to here about the young lady.

Ruth :   Congratulations on your retirement.  You and I finished up with about the same amount of years driving bus I hope that you have many years of good health. :) :thumbsup:

My wife and I continue to keep verybusy with the grandkids and we just love them to pieces.  They are so much fun.

Al :  How are the legs? hope that they are getting better.

Well must get some sleep.  God Bless to all. <3
T Gordon Brown



melody

Good morning to all at Cp today.
It was a wonderful cantata we had last night . i have video taped it and I don't think I did a good job but I am going through it later and will see if I can get something that I can share. I would love for you to hear it . i believe it would just bless you has it did me.
It is snow here today, about 5-10 cm and cold we are expecting 100kil. an hour winds also ;D
May you all have a good day <3

Al Moak

QuoteAl :  How are the legs? hope that they are getting better.

Thanks for asking Gord.  They are indeed better.  They are still wrapped, but just to keep them better 'til the new compression stockings get here.  Then, hopefully, it'll be back to my ordinary shoes, etc.  It'll be wonderful!  Pray that they'll fit ok, feel ok, work ok.

Janet - GREAT devotional!  Just what I needed today!  I need to get busy making music with what's left.  Thank You, Lord, for that!

Carol

Lake Lady (Becky)  Praying for you on the results of further tests.  

Marilyn

Good Morning but I don't know how good it is. Here is what happened:

I have been up since 2AM I woke up to the most terrible smell and couldn't figure out what it was. I got up and checked to see if one of the dogs had an accident. Went back to bed, got up again checked the pilot lights on the stove and furnace and made sure all the burners were off went back to bed. Suddenly realized it was the strong smell of SKUNK, I have had this happen before. I opened the door between the house and the laundry room and oh my God was it ever strong, I thought the skunk was in there so I opened the back  door to let the fresh air in. I do believe that skunk was under the house that's what happened before. Now it smells strong in my bedroom. I am having to do a bunch of laundry today. Geez just what I needed at this time. The girls at Curves could smell it on me this morning too. Keith will be here tomorrow and the house stinks big time, I just  hope I can get the smell out by the time he gets here. I wonder if the dogs smell bad too. I can't bathe them here, all I have is a very small shower and it costs $26 for one dog and $33 for the other. One is long haired the other is not, so it costs more for Happy and I don't have the $$ to have them groomed. Oh boy if it isn't one thing it is another.

But I am still praising God, God is so awesome and he will get me through this too.

"Good people take care of their animals, but even the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel" Prov. 12:10
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JudyB

Short today.  minus 40 this AM, and the car wouldn't start.  Late for work.  Be back later.


Carol

Judy B:  Sorry that you are so SHORT today  :banana:  I am still as tall as ever.  Hope your day is good surrounded by all that white stuff.  It is here too but spotty now with the winds.

Janice:  Your email still has not arrived - I will check later.  This is strange.  I have looked into the spam and trash files too just in case it is there.  Good idea to skip the crowds - I noticed more coughing yesterday. And, now there is a report that the Tamiflu isn't working as well this year with all the kids of flu. 

Marilyn:  That is just terrible - I feel so bad for you.  Don't know how you will get that odor out - we had a terrible time cleaning a dog that had rolled in dead fish (don't ask me why an animal can do such a thing). 

Larry Hanna

Hi everyone.  We finally got the cold weather last night as it is down into the 20s.  However, it is suppose to warm up into the 60s again by Wednesday and for Christmas day.

I went to coffee this morning and it was cold in McDonalds.  We then went to the church gym and walked the mile.  However, apparently being out in the cold constricted my vessels as brought on chest and arm pain where I haven't been having that.  So will have to take it easy when it is so chilly.  I am fine.

Janet, I can really relate to the devotional you posted for this week.  I have given some thought to the sadness that can surround the holidays when long standing traditions are no longer observed.  I have to keep reminding myself that I must stay in today and not dwell on the past other than to recall the good times but know we cannot relive the past.  Pat and I were talking about this and Pat reminded me it was now time to build some new traditions when the old ones are no longer possible.  I am certainly not going to let what might have been keep me from enjoying and appreciating what is.

Yesterday I got a copy of the Messiah recording that was done on the church recording system and am so pleased with the way it turned out.  I will find a way to share some of this with you.  I offered to make the copies from the CD for the choir members so am now tasked with making 25 copies for them plus will make a few others to share with some friends and family.  I am listening to it as I type and it is glorious.

Marilyn, not the smells of the season you would like to have in your house I am sure.  Hope it fades shortly.

Al, glad to read that you are doing better.  Are you now able to sleep in your bed rather than having to sleep in your recliner?

Becky, welcome to CP.  We just like having new folks join us as it makes our online community that much richer.  I can understand your anxiety with your medical situation. 

Melody, I hope you will be able to share your cantata with us. 

Liz, you all are really getting hit with the bad weather.  Glad your SIL was safely at home.

Janice, sounds like you all made a wise decision not to venture out in such cold weather.

I have a light schedule for today.  I have a luncheon to attend at 1 pm today but nothing else on the schedule.

Samantha

Good Morning Everyone!

I've not been able to get on the computer for as long as I've wanted to, but have a few minutes today.

Marilyn, will be praying for your dog, and skunk situation.  There are no big or little prayers for God.  He wants to take care of ALL of our concerns. :)

I still need lots of prayer, if you think of it, remember me :'(

Still hanging on,

Samantha

I think we have found a new church for now, Praise God!
Choose you this day who you will serve; As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15

Isa 41:10     Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.



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Marilyn

I did find out that there is NO skunk smell on the dogs. But it sure permeated the house.
"Good people take care of their animals, but even the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel" Prov. 12:10
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Al Moak

Larry - still using the recliner.  My legs are still wrapped until the new compression stockings arrive (maybe this week, maybe next).  I thank God for a good recliner.

Marilyn - if you venture out, drive north (opposite to this way).

Pat

Where are your compression stockings coming from, Alan?  Jack had some from Switzerland.  But he could buy them here in Guelph at a medical supply store.

I will continue to pray for you.

"Click for Waterloo Wellington, Ontario Forecast"

Marilyn

Oh but Al don't you want to come to visit my house, I can't smell anything anymore. Maybe i am just used to the smell.  :thumbsup2:
"Good people take care of their animals, but even the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel" Prov. 12:10
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Janet

Brrrrr!  We have a hard and very cold wind blowing, something over 40 MPH.  The tumbleweeds are rolling to the north today.  Maybe tomorrow they will go south again.  Some areas, people can't even get out of their houses until the weeds are moved.  Yuck.  I do NOT like the wind.  Mild breeze, yes, wind, no.

I am so glad the devotional blessed so many of you.  I prayed it would do so.  And I was having some challenges while posting it last night.  While working on a framing job, I went upstairs to get out a sheet of foam core.  Well, don't ask me how, but I managed to upset a whole pile of heavy boxes of matboard, which knocked me down, pinning my feet under the boxes.  I couldn't get out from under them for a while; and Darrel was all cozy in the living room downstairs watching TV and couldn't hear me calling for help.  I finally got my feet out, and managed to get back downstairs.  So I had lots of aches and pains while I was posting the Thoughts.  I have messed up my neck and back, hurt my arm and have a really lovely big bruise on my leg just above the ankle.  But thank God, I am all right, and this, too, will pass.  Thank God for strong bones!

I worked today, 6:30 until 2:00.  I'm so glad I have an appointment with my chiropractor early in the morning!

I was thinking about Beth, re making music with what you have left.  She has so many loyal friends who love her and have stood by her for years.  I appreciate each one of them!

I wanted to post some music to go with the theme of the devotional, but had computer problems last night.  So I will post some now!

Small smile:  Where does a snowman keep his money?  In a snow bank!  ;) :)

My book Rising Above available at JanetDamon.com

Janet

#20



It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
(Click to hear music)

   

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Ev'rywhere you go;
Take a look in the five-and-ten, glistening once again
With candy canes and silver lanes aglow.


It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas,
Toys in ev'ry store,
But the prettiest sight to see is the holly that will be
On your own front door.


A pair of hopalong boots and a pistol that shoots
Is the wish of Barney and Ben;
Dolls that will talk and will go for a walk
Is the hope of Janice and Jen;
And Mom and Dad can hardly wait for school to start again.


It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Ev'rywhere you go;
There's a tree in the Grand Hotel, one in the park as well,
The sturdy kind that doesn't mind the snow.


It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas;
Soon the bells will start,
And the thing that will make them ring is the carol that you sing
Right within your heart.



My book Rising Above available at JanetDamon.com

Etta Sue



Janet ~ Thanks for a great devotion.  I kept thinking about a friend that lost his eye sight and went on to work at Indiana Bell and even ran the switchboard when they went on strike!!!  When you are given lemons make lemonade!!

Marilyn ~ Yuck!  Can't think of many smells worse than SKUNK!  Remember Teddy Bear Karen?  She loves the smell of skunk!!!  She's weird but don't tell her I said so!  Psst!  I have already told her she is weird for liking skunk smell!

Busy day!!!  Ivalou had a mammogram appointment at 9:15am and was done by 9:30am!!!!  I had an appointment with the throat doctor at 10:45am so we went across the highway and went in there.  When I signed in at 9:50am, I told them my appointment wasn't until 10:45 and explained why I was early.  She said if they could get me in early, they would.  I was called back at 10:10 and done by 10:35am.  Throat looks great and I don't have to go back until June 22.  Yeah!

We had decided to go to a Bar-B-Que place so waited where it was warm until 10 'til 11.  Well, we got to the Bar-B-Que place it was closed up...no longer there.  So we ate at a family restaurant. 

Then I went to Best Buy and bought Bose speakers for my laptop!  Merry Christmas to ME!  Wonderful sound!!!  Love them!!!!   

Then to WalMart for groceries for Christmas Day.

Kitty called this evening and asked if we could go somewhere for pizza.  She was having a bad day...a day where you take one step forward and  two steps back!  Said she needed to get away from what needed to be done, re-coup and then return and get things done!!!  So we had pizza! 

Now I am catching up on emails and the internet! 

And it was sure cold today.  It was a minus point 7 degrees when I got up with a wind chill of minus 22 degrees!!!!!!!!!  Only 11 degrees right now!!!!   Brrrr!



~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^






Marilyn

Well I think I got most of the skunk smell out of the house, Thank God it wasn't on the dogs. I had to sniff them real good to make sure. I put an open jar of vinegar in my bedroom and it seems to have absorbed  the  smell pretty good, however I did air the house good too and  put potpourri in my little potpourri crockpot.
"Good people take care of their animals, but even the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel" Prov. 12:10
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Pat

Glad you got rid of the smell, Marilyn.

I grew up with skunk scent a lot since we had bees and skunks love bees!  So they were continually around the beehives out back and then the dog would go and chase them and bam!!!!  Spray!


Janet, big hugs to you my friend!


"Click for Waterloo Wellington, Ontario Forecast"

Carol

Just when you try so hard to get the dog to mind - then they take off after a skunk, squirrel, or other animal. 

I have been calling relatives on SKYPE and a younger brother just won't go with that but insists on using his cell phone.  I have told him umpteen times that my calls won't register a phone number & he keeps forgetting so he doesn't answer when I SKYPE him. .  Aaaaaahhhhhh 

Al:  Good that you have the recliner as well but I am praying that you will be able to get back into your own bed at some time.  What about a foam cushion just to elevate your legs?  I had a  V-shaped one after neck surgery and it helped tremendously.  The hospital sent me home with it but once could be cut from a dense foam bought at a big fabric store. 




LakeLady

Whew! Only 2 more days until Christmas.  Since we had our gift exchange early (when family could get here) we now await Christmas with ease.  I was so dreading an early get together, now I find it relaxing.

Marily, I should have saved my "whew" for the concerns of a skunk.  We live in the country, on a house with a crawl space.  Having a skunk crawl in and make himself at home is one of my fears.  Glad you are doing better with the odor at this point.

There are so many medical concerns, much like our church.  Each time I read one, I stop and say a prayer for the one who mentions it and/or the one who is in need (not always the same person).  My prayer is always for peace and strength and then the particular difficulty.

Samantha, you mentioned having found a Church.  We moved a few years ago, and I told my DH that finding a new Church was one of the first things on our agenda.  It is where I expected to find new friends of like mind, at least in the mind of Christ.  We certainly are different in many other ways, which keep life interesting.

To each of you, grace and peace, and be safe.

Becky

Janet









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."




My book Rising Above available at JanetDamon.com

Al Moak

Pat - I don't know where they're getting the compression stockings.  The PTs where I've been getting the legs wrapped have ordered them, and they didn't say from whom.  Guess I should find out soon, as may have to do it myself later on.

Thanks for the thoughts, Carol.  I've tried a number of things, but may end up doing something like what you say.  The problem has been that every time I've tried sleeping in the bed again I've ended up hurting my hip.  Gotta see if that can be cleared up.

Janet

Al, if you want to try one, those wedge-shaped pillows are sold.  You can find them in those little catalogs like Dr. Leonards, and probably in the stores, as well.

Boy, I am loving my compression stockings!  What a pain saver they are!  Bless Dr. Friesen for telling us to go get them.
My book Rising Above available at JanetDamon.com

Liz

Here on Sunny Vancouver Island, longjohns would be the stockings to choose!



I stuck the camera outside the garage door, pointed uphill....
At least it stopped for today.  Due to start again tomorrow or Wed.
Bah, Humbug >:(

Small Smile(for Marilyn):

Why couldn't the skunk use her phone?

It was out of odor!
                                           ::)


God Bless,

Liz
CHANGE NOT THY FAITH WITH CHANGING TIMES