Christian Photographers Community

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

Was There A Virgin Birth?
by Adrian Rodgers

BIBLE MEDITATION:
"And the angel said unto her, 'Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a Son, and shalt call His name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David...and of His kingdom there shall be no end.' Then said Mary unto the angel, 'How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?' And the angel answered and said unto her, 'The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.... For with God nothing shall be impossible.'" Luke 1:31-37

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
There are people who sneer at the idea of a virgin birth. "Ha!" they say, "How could this happen?" The angel said to Mary, "With God nothing shall be impossible."

Do you believe that? If you have trouble with the virgin birth, your real trouble is with God. Be reasonable. If God could make the first man without a father or mother, don't you think He could bring His Son into this world in a virgin birth?

If you don't believe in the virgin birth, you have some character problems.

• The character of Mary. If Mary had a child out of wedlock, then Mary was an impure woman.
• The character of Jesus. If Jesus had not been born of a virgin, he would have been the son of Adam, and in Adam all die. Jesus Christ would have had the same human proclivities you and I have, who are by nature the children of wrath.
• The character of the Word of God is flawed, because the Word of God clearly, plainly teaches it.

ACTION POINT:
Your salvation is inextricably interwoven with the virgin birth. No virgin birth, no deity. No deity, no sinless life. No sinless life, no sacrificial death. No sacrificial death, no salvation. No salvation, you're going to hell. Jesus came to earth that we might go to Heaven; born of a virgin that we might be born again. Thank God for the virgin birth..


Devotions taken from the messages of Adrian Rogers.

Hi everyone.  We have another beautiful, sunny and cool day.  We will be leaving in a little while to drive back over to where we moved from to attend a funeral at 3 pm for a dear friend.  We will meet our good friends Doris and Eddy, probably at Ruby Tuesday's and have lunch and then go out to their home for a little while until it is time to go to the church for the funeral.  There is to be a meeting of friends after the service and after we have said our condolences to the family we will heard back to North Augusta.  It is a lot of driving in one day but we would rather be home and sleep in our own bed tonight. 

I will quickly read over the new postings, either before we leave this morning or while in the car and Pat is driving. 

We did a lot of shopping at COSTCO yesterday and later in the afternoon I looked for a new pair of house slippers I had purchased and couldn't find them.  I called the store and I had left them in the cart and they had been turned in.  So I was able to retrieve them by making another trip over to COSTCO, which is only about 3 miles or so from our house. 

Carol, I also found the football games but couldn't stay awake to finish watching the Clemson game, which they won and remain the only undefeated team in the nation as Iowa lost yesterday.  I also watch the Alabama/Florida game which Alabama won. 

As much as I detest shopping on Sunday, we had to make a trip to W Mart.  Christmas cards are all ready to mail here so we will drop them off at the post office.  This week is Don's birthday with a gift card from the fish restaurant - they deduct his age.  WOW.  We heard about a woman who went in and got her meal entirely free - 100%.  Double wow.  The place has been doing this for years - everyone signs up for their birthdays. 

Jeanne:  Thanks for devotions this week.  I think the immaculate conception isn't stressed enough and is kinda unspoken in church these days. 

Larry:  It sounds like you are able to attend today's funeral near your old home and get back in the same day - it will be tiring.  Safe travels. 

Hi everyone. We did have a good trip yesterday back to the Atlanta area.  We met friends for lunch when we got there and then went back to their home and visited for a couple of hours.  We then attended the funeral that was the reason for our trip.  It was a very long service and there were many people in attendance.  It was 4:30 before it was over and then there was visitation.  We had both decided it would take another hour or so if we attended that and so we just headed for home and got back a little before 7 pm.  Pat drove an hour each way and I did the other 90 minutes each way and that worked very well.  We were tired when we got home. 

Pat has a Christmas luncheon of the Women's Circles at church and I plan on attending a meeting at noon.  This will be the agenda for today.  Our son said he was going to try to get out to see us today.  It has been about a week since we last saw him so we hope he makes it out. 

Carol, I never heard of a restaurant discounting by age.  There are several restaurants here that will give a free meal to the person having the birthday or provide a free dessert.  The trip yesterday was tiring but did go well and we have today to recover with a light schedule.   

Hi, friends,

I've stayed in close today, but will have another busy week with taking my sister in law to appointments on 2 days and the badly disabled lady on Friday.

I understand, Larry, about sharing driving responsibilities and also about our various conditions and which one might take us. I'm so sorry to learn the prostate cancer has spread to the bone marrow. May our Lord grant you His grace which you exhibit to us every day.

Carol, I hope your hubby's birthday is a very good one.

The devotional was wonderful. I listen to Dr. Rodgers as often as I can. His teachings are so logical and easy to understand.

Well, it's late, so I'll sign off for tonight.

Much love to each of you here.

Ruth Ann

Hi everyone on a beautiful sunny morning.  I slept in a bit later today as had gotten pretty worn down from two days with no afternoon rest periods.  Yesterday Pat was able to get in to see the eye doctor at 2:45.  Apparently nothing seriously wrong with her eye and just a layer of cells scaling off of her very dry eyes.  He sent her home with some drops she is to use every waking hour and then is to see him next Monday to followup and do some further testing.  Today I have a 12:30 appointment with a new cardiologist as the one I was seeing since moving here has left the practice.  So I am going to the cardiologist who treated my wife prior to her surgery.  I may try to get to Walmart today although that could wait until tomorrow.  I just plan on having a quiet and slow rest of the day.

Ruth Ann, it sounds like you will have a busy week as you help others get to their appointments.   

I really haven't forgotten you!  I will try to get in here and tell you all about the beautiful wedding tomorrow if possible.  We had house guests until late this evening, so that makes it hard to spend time on computer without seeming rude.

OK, Janet.  You're forgiven...  for now.  I'm sure you know how anxious we are to hear all about it - and see some pictures. 

Hi everyone.  I am up before sunrise this morning as my sinuses seem to be giving me a fit.  It is suppose to be another nice day getting up to 68 degrees this afternoon.  I did see the new cardiologist yesterday and she has ordered an in home sleep study.  I have never had a sleep study and she felt it could be helpful.  Today should be a quiet one.  Pat has a luncheon at Ruby Tuesdayś with members of her craft group at Church.  I may go down and have coffee with the guys but haven´t decided for certain.  This evening will be our last Wednesday night dinner at church until after the first of the new year.  They is to be a play presented by the children of the church following the dinner so we will not be having the regular Bible study. 

Janet, I thought you probably had company still from the wedding or were just trying to recover by getting some probably needed rest.  Like Jeanne, I have been checking here a couple of times a day to see if you had written about the wedding but certainly understand why you have not yet done so.

Yup, Janet .... add me to the list of people wanting to hear all about it! .... when you're ready, that is.  I have seen some pictures on Facebook and they are lovely.

I was introduced to Bay Area Cancer Center yesterday, and got a very thorough explanation from my doctor.  She has ordered a bunch of tests for further understanding and then she will begin treatment.  She's not sure if I will need any chemotherapy, but if I do it will be only a "light dose" in pill form, and then I will have a pill form of hormone therapy for probably the next 5 years, to assure no recurrence.  First she wants me to have a bone density test and a PET scan.  With the holidays upon us these most likely won't occur until next month.

I was told I had the best surgeon in the area and "he did a great job" and I am healing very well.  I am feeling good and getting around as if there hadn't been a glitch at all!  I have no concerns about any further glitches in my future, either .... and I still plan to live many more years ... even if I am already 80! 

I am so happy to read that wonderful report, Jane!  Our God is SO good--and so faithful!

Jeanne, nobody has yet given me any photos I can get to you, but I'm sure they will soon!  I was rather busy and didn't get to take any, but Toni (granddaughter-in-law) was taking a lot, Beth's eldest sister Denise came from California, and she has a really good camera and was snapping away a lot, plus the hired photographer and videographer.  As Jane said, there have been a few posted on Facebook, and when I see those I repost to my page!

Today was busy with getting all the borrowed things back to Kristi, and we went to Liberal, too.  Quick trip there and back, then I went in to see Beth and John.  They are so happy it just makes my heart sing! 

I want to write a pretty detailed account of the wedding, which I will do in Microsoft Word, then copy and paste here; maybe in installments, as it may get to long for just one posting.  Both John and Beth had written (or I wrote what she told me to) words from their hearts for each other, which were so eloquent, tender and heartfelt, and I do have copies of those to share.

Mary was the last to leave, last night.  She has been a close friend of the family for many years, having grown up only about three blocks from us in Boise City, Oklahoma.  She wanted to put up the Christmas tree for me, and I appreciate that, as I had decided if I had to wrestle it down from upstairs and do it all by myself, that we just wouldn't have a tree this year!  She used all the purple ribbon and roses from the wedding on it, so we have a mostly purple tree--and I don't have to put those things away until after Christmas!

There were well over 100 guests who attended the wedding, and so many have told me it was the sweetest wedding they ever attended, that it was "perfect", and other nice things.  I felt it went without a hitch and everyone had a good time.  The lady from the Hutchinnson News was there, and got to talk to several people who have known Beth for a long time.  I am really anticipating her story!  I'm thinking it may be in next Sunday's paper.  (Just my guess!)

They got quite a stack of cards, and I had a basket there for those, as I know selecting a gift for them is difficult, in this situation.  John handed them to me this afternoon so I could see what they got; and I added up the checks and gift cards they got.  It totaled over $750.00!!    That will really help them!  And it doesn't include several gift cards that didn't have the amount on them.   

I am to go to Moscow tomorrow morning so I can "corral" the little girls while Curtis and Toni move back into their house.  They have been living with her parents for two full years now, since the youngest child got lead poisoning and they had to move out.  They have added on a lot and completely changed the entire house, and it is magnificent!  They so wanted to be in before Christmas!  And I think they are hosting this year.  We will have Christmas day here, though, as their house has steps both front and back and no ramp, so Beth cannot get inside. 

Then, on Friday, I will be going with John and some of the girls from the care home, taking Beth to Garden City to an ophthalmologist.   Her eyes are bothering her a lot and she can barely open them because the light hurts them.  Oh, how I hope it isn't the Neurofibromatosis on the march again.    Friday night is the Holiday dinner at the care home, and my painting meeting is Saturday.  (I haven't decided whether or not I will go, as I'm about to run out of steam!)  Saturday night we have tickets to the dinner theater in Dodge City.  Whew!!!


All this long story to say I won't have time to write the story for a few more days.  But I want to get it down while it is fresh in my mind!  And I am so pleased you all want to hear it!

God bless you, every one!!

Waiting for pictures.....

Listening to the Three Tenors (one passed away years ago) - nothing like opera singers singing Jingle Bells then, Ave Maria. 

Jane:  Your health news sounds very doable and I certainly hope it is easy and cures everything in sight.

So many monthly meetings and brunch at church today - no Bible Study.  The little children sang beautifully - so wonderful.  4 & 5 years old and they had memorized 3 long songs.  It put us all in the Christmas mood. 

Don's birthday was celebrated last weekend, and yesterday and will again be celebrated this weekend.  The terrific grandchildren called - he is so happy and thankful for the attention. 

Hi everyone on this Thursday morning.  It looks like it will be another nice day.

I have a busy morning planned and that will be it for today.  I plan on going to coffee and then to the Wisdom Class at church.  I haven't heard from the fellow who usually calls for a ride on Thursday's but if I do I will pick him up for coffee and then take him home before the class.  I also must try to get a haircut before coming home after the class.  There are a couple more errands I would like to do but they may have to wait until tomorrow.  After the dinner last night at church the youth presented a Christmas play they had written themselves that was very good and enjoyable. 

I read the postings since I posted yesterday and how positive and uplifting with Joan's good prospects to avoid any serious chemo and then the first report from Janet on the wedding and other events that keep her on the constant go.  Carol, glad Don can enjoy an extended birthday celebration.  I have always liked the three tenors as well. 

Good morning!  It's cloudy but very mild for this time of year and the local meteorologists say there's no snow in the near future.  This date last year we had almost 2 feet accumulated. 

Janet, it certainly sounds as though The Wedding of the Year was a resounding success.     We'll be watching for your story and pictures.

Jane, it sounds as though things in your future are optimistic.  Keep us updated, OK?

I have cartridge tapes and a couple VCR tapes of the Three Tenors.  They were not only all special on their own, but they had a wonderful way of interacting with each other as well.

Good Thursday morning!  I have been up since 4:30 and have done at least half a day's worth of work!  I finished the tree, only had to put on some ornaments, got nearly everything that was left from the wedding put away, got out a few Christmas things to set on the coffee table and corner table in the living room, etc.  (Isn't that just fascinating?)   

Now I am waiting for Toni to call and let me know they are ready for me to come help them.  So I'm checking my emails while I wait.

I want to start typing up the story of the wedding, too.  Jeanne, a friend said, a couple of weeks before, "This is going to be the wedding of the century!"   

It's to be nearly 70 here again today!  Amazing for the middle of December!  (Well, not quite the middle yet!)

I'm almost ready for a nap!

Janet: It is warm here today too - we ran errands and I had two emergency calls from the Sheriff's office in less than an hour.  One for an armed Hispanic man & lady near schools & in our area and the other was for a lockdown at a totally different school.  We never get calls on the cell phone like that so these were serious.  I told Don to look for helicopters and if they were over our area to not drive home.  Guess they escaped. 

What kind of a cousin sends a Christmas card and then a pack of old photos of their family side - for me to insert somehow into genealogy search?     As if I have time to do this....

Carol, maybe you should return the photos to her with apologies about not having time to do that for her.  As Larry reminds us, "NO" is a complete sentence!

Those grandkids of ours are SO happy to be moving back into their own house, and the little girls are really happy, too.  They will be sleeping there tonight for the first time in two years!  I had fun with the little ones today.

I called the reporter at the Hutchinson News this afternoon and she said the story on the wedding will probably run on Dec. 20th.  I told her I need a "bundle" of them!  She wants to talk to me some more before she does the story.  She said she was very busy and had a deadline to meet at 5:00, so we didn't talk long.

See you fine folks tomorrow!

Hi, friends,

I've "taken the day off" today.

So, not much to offer except I certainly enjoy the conversations in here!

Much love to all,
Ruth Ann

Hi everyone.  It looks like it is to be a cloudy day but is to get up to 70 degrees this afternoon.  I finally did get a haircut yesterday afternoon after about a 2 hour wait.  I had stopped at the barbershop before I went to coffee but there were 5 or 6 men waiting so I didn't stay.  After the Wisdom class I went back and there was still a backup of 5 men ahead of me.  However, I decided I had to get my hair cut so waited my turn.  Today Pat wants to go to Hobby Lobby or Michael's to get a Christmas wreath for the front door and a decoration for the mailbox and a couple of other things.  Our Electric company had a great offer in their last billing of 5 LED light bulbs for $1 each.  I decided I couldn't go wrong with that offer so ordered them and probably will receive them today or tomorrow.  We will use them in the new light fixture that we put up in Pat's sewing room.

Hello everyone. I had my Eye appointment on the 4th and the results are  I have small cataracts in both eye that aren't ready yet. Plus I have  dry Macular degeneration in both eyes more in the left than the right. He told me that  in some people the  cataract removal surgery and trigger  more of the the MD not to worry though because that is in rare cases.

I had Freckles photo taken with Santa in late October and that is what I am using for Christmas cards. Some of you may have seen the ;picture on Facebook as it is my profile pic.

I am just home from the trip to the eye Dr with Beth  She says Beth has an infection in her eyes, and prescribed antibiotic drops plus more drops to help with the light sensitivity  Now I have a short time until the dinner, which Darrel will have to drive me to and come get me.

It's been overcast and gloomy looking all day, but really nice, no wind and mild temps.  Weather man is predicting snow and hair for tomorrow evening!  Hmmmm.

I'm thinking that I will stay home tomorrow and get some rest!

See you tomorrow!

It is snowing in the hills and some of this will be here tonight.  A full day here with my over one hour annual physical - all is good and I was cheerfully told my blood is as good as a twenty-year-old (what about the framework).  Many blessings  .... it help me as I prepare myself to take on more things around here. 

Janet:  A quick recovery for Beth's eyesight - may the prescription work well and fast.  Stay in tomorrow and put your feet up!!

So far, 14 will be here Christmas Eve -

Hi everyone on another sunny day where we are suppose to get up to 75 degrees this afternoon.  I am off to a slow start for the morning as didn't get up until a little later and just not feeling very peppy so far today.  I just brought down the artificial Poinsettias from the attic to go in front of the fireplace. I plan to stay home today and rest up for tomorrow. 

As I was leaving the church Thursday our choir director saw me and said if I could wait a couple of minutes she would get me a copy of her CD's she had made and she gave them to me.  I am listening to the first one as I write and there are 16 Sacred songs on it.  The second CD is a Christmas CD with 14 Christmas songs.  This lady is a wonderful pianist/organist and directs are choir. 

Yesterday Pat and I went to Hobby Lobby and she found a front door wreath and some greenery for our mantel.  They had their Christmas items 50% off but these items were still quite expensive but should last us for the rest of our lives.  We then went to Cheddars for lunch and it was very good and no supper was required. 

We received some very alarming information yesterday that Pat's sisters great grandchild, who is six, probably has cancer.  The doctor's said they were 80% sure of it and they are doing a lot of tests.  She had fainted waiting to get on the school bus last week and they took her to the ER.  The ER doctor looked at some blood tests but never touched the child and her diagnosis was it was an over imaginative mother and nothing was wrong with the little girl.  She never touched her.  The pediatrician found all of her lymph nodes were badly enlarged and immediately ordered test and said she must be seen by a specialist ASAP. She is apparently  skin and bones and doesn't want to eat. Now they are awaiting test results and are doing more tests.  Your prayers for Abigail certainly are solicited.   

Marilyn, I also have some small cataracts that have started in my eyes but certainly not ready to be removed.  Sorry to read of the dry Macular Degeneration as that is very serious business. 

Janet, sorry to read about the infection in Beth's eyes and hope the drops help.  Pat is having a really tough time with her eyes being so sensitive and hurting.  She is using drops and eye lubricant that the eye doctor told her to do and will see him again on Monday afternoon.  We are now having to keep our blinds closed in the living area as her eyes are so light sensitive. I do hope you follow through on your plan yesterday to stay home today and rest. 

Carol, I told Pat this week that she had certainly become a high maintenance item with all of the medical appointments and procedures she has had done in the last three or four years.  Good news on your blood work.   

I did it!  I am home, and didn't get up until 7:01 this morning!  Even though my good friend and painting buddy called last evening and tried to talk me into going, I stayed home.  I had such a painful sore throat last night, but it's better now.  I think I will just take a nap, and then start on the wedding report.  I'm so glad not to HAVE to be anywhere this morning!  We do still plan to go to the Christmas show and dinner at the theater in Dodge City tonight.  (Live play)

Carol, great news on your blood tests!  But I really don't think you need to take on any more around there as it sounds as if you have plenty on your plate already.  But, like me, you will do what you will do! 

Larry, I will be praying for little Abigail.  I should remember her name easily as that's our granddaughter's name, even though we call her Abby.  That wasn't much of a doctor they first saw!  Imagine telling a concerned and distraught mother she was imagining things!  We know our children better than does anyone else!  How did such a person get an MD degree in the first place?  And Abigail's parent will need lots of love and prayer support too, as they begin this process.  May God strengthen them and provide answers for Abigail.  He IS still Jehovah Rophe, our God the Healer!

I shall return!  Love and blessings to each of you today!

Home from a very long quilter's brunch.  The group is getting smaller as so many are frail and others have passed. 

Larry:  Praying for the dear child and all the family. 

It is lightly snowing only about an inch of snow now.  Good day to catch up on sewing or take a nap after that long lunch - now to return phone calls from friends who moved away. 

Hi Everyone...

I've started the new "Thoughts for the Week" a wee bit early.   You can get there by clicking HERE

See you there!