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Morning Devotional...


"Thus saith the Lord God; I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them."  Ezekiel 36:37

Prayer is the forerunner of mercy. Turn to sacred history, and you will find that scarcely ever did a great mercy come to this world unheralded by supplication. You have found this true in your own personal experience. God has given you many an unsolicited favour, but still great prayer has always been the prelude of great mercy with you.

When you first found peace through the blood of the cross, you had been praying much, and earnestly interceding with God that he would remove your doubts, and deliver you from your distresses. Your assurance was the result of prayer. When at any time you have had high and rapturous joys, you have been obliged to look upon them as answers to your prayers.  When you have had great deliverances out of sore troubles, and mighty helps in great dangers, you have been able to say, "I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears."

Prayer is always the preface to blessing. It goes before the blessing as the blessing's shadow. When the sunlight of God's mercies rises upon our necessities, it casts the shadow of prayer far down upon the plain. Or, to use another illustration, when God piles up a hill of mercies, he himself shines behind them, and he casts on our spirits the shadow of prayer, so that we may rest certain, if we are much in prayer, our pleadings are the shadows of mercy.

Prayer is thus connected with the blessing to show us the value of it. If we had the blessings without asking for them, we should think them common things; but prayer makes our mercies more precious than diamonds. The things we ask for are precious, but we do not realize their preciousness until we have sought for them earnestly.


~Charles H. Spurgeon







.

Another Fun Poll

See above the Devotional for a fun poll to vote in.  What is YOUR favorite sandwich?

Please take part!

Thanks for this great devotional, Pat.  On phrase caught my attention:  "God has given you many an unsolicited favour,..."  Oh, that is so true!

The poll says "choose all that apply" but only allows one vote. 

(Poll is fixed, Jeanne.  Thanks!)

I really enjoyed the devotional, prayer poem, and the hymn, Pat. Thank you for them.

It's so good to hear from everyone since I last was here. I was fearful about the predicted snow today, so instead, listened to several wonderful sermons on BOT radio. Now, it's time to prepare for the evening's rest once again.

May our Lord gather you up real close to His bosom tonight. May you rest in Him.

Love to all,
Ruth Ann

Pat thank you for that devotional.  A timely reminder.

You missed PB and Tomato as well as Salmon!

John has headed to bed.  It has been an eventful day today.  His meals are ready, I am trying to change things for him and not the same old, same old. 

I have a bit to do before bed so I am off for now.

Thanks for the message, Pat.  I really like the context in which Spurgeon places prayer.  Oh how I wish we had more spiritual leaders like him today!

It looks like I missed out on last week's conversation, and I may miss out on most of this week as well.  I don't remember the last update I gave here, but we ended up cancelling the memorial service for my grandmother in SD, and instead will have it on Sunday the 26th in CA.  And, instead of me "saying a few words," I was asked to lead the service.  So, for a guy who has preached a few sermons, but never anything like a funeral service, this is going to be stretch for me!  With the Holy Spirit's guidance, I am confident I can get it done, and I'd still appreciate your continued prayers.  My youngest daughter and I will take to the road tomorrow, and after I wrap up some business in Utah, we will continue on to CA, returning early next week.

I gleaned through last week's posts, and am thrilled to see Al is back and has a target date to get back home.  Etta Sue seems to be taking to the highway like me, and am glad her journey was safe and joyous.  Marlo, glad to see you getting back and maintaining a grateful attitude.  Betty, I truly hope your father's surgery was successful, and wish him a quick recovery.  I know there were many more events mentioned, and I apologize for not addressing each of you, however all of you, and your requests, remain in my prayers.

May His grace and mercy fill your lives this week!

It is well,
Ken

Thank you Ken for your words this week.  I will be thinking of you and your daughter as you set off to CA.  I will pray that the Lord will help you through this service that I'm sure will be a wee bit difficult.  You'll do fine with the Lord's help.  And, yes, I so wish we had more preachers today like C. H. Spurgeon.  I enjoy his devotionals each morning and night.

Quote from: JudyB on February 19, 2012, 11:15:47 PM
Pat thank you for that devotional.  A timely reminder.

You missed PB and Tomato as well as Salmon!

John has headed to bed.  It has been an eventful day today.  His meals are ready, I am trying to change things for him and not the same old, same old. 

I have a bit to do before bed so I am off for now.

PB (Peanut Butter?) is up there, Judy.  I'll add Salmon

Thanks for the prayers for my Dad. He has come through the surgery without too much discomfort, and is recovering at home. Judy, I'll let you know if/when I'm up in North Bay for his other surgeries. My sister from Sundridge was able to be with him this time.

Larry, the ipod touch project seems to be getting on its feet. The students love them, of course, and although I'm not sure if they're doing more than playing games at this point, I think it will be interesting to see what the teachers use them for. I'm glad they're similar to the iphone and ipad - makes it easier to learn.

Pat, thanks for the devotional. It's so good to know that God is in control, and that He wants us to pray to Him. He has blessed us in so many ways.

Have a good week, everyone.

Hi everyone.  After a cloudy and rainy day yesterday it appears that today will be sunny and a bit cooler than we have been having.  After church yesterday we went out with 6 other folks for lunch and then had a restful afternoon and evening.  We have been watching Downton Abbey on PBS and really enjoying it.  Today after coffee we walked about 3/4th of a mile at the gym. I have a men's luncheon at an Italian/Greek restaurant.  I do have something I have to do this evening and will be gone for a couple of hours. 

Pat, I voted in the new poll.  What a variety of sandwiches.  Thanks for the new devotional thoughts for the week. We need remember that God is always in control of our lives and seek his will for our lives rather than our own.  He know what is ultimately the best for us.

Ken, I would be to emotional for lead a service.  I even got emotional at my folks 50th wedding anniversary celebration and it was a happy time.  However, here in the south it is quite common for family members to speak in the services to give remembrances.  I am sure you will do very well.

 

Ahhh yes Pat, Peanut butter is there but not Mom's combination that we all still love in this home, Peanut butter and tomato!

Ken I too will be praying for you.  This is a difficult time as memories flood you and others.  But you can do it with the Lord's help as Pat has said!

Had a "J" might last night, and as John had to leave early this AM I stayed up.  Struggling with my mind racing and unable to shut it down seems to be the cause.

I have to get the fire going, it seems to have stopped cycling, and is hungry for more wood.

Thanks for the music, message and poem.  I try to do my best and let God do the rest. 

I am certainly glad I came home Saturday.  I read about two of my friends on FB driving on I-75 in Tennessee and were more or less stranded because of SNOW! 

We had a beautiful day here yesterday and today. 

Small groups was great.  We have one young man that really gets us to thinking.  You make a comment and he will agree or disagree but doesn't leave it at that.  He will show you scriptures that backs up his thoughts and yours.  I like that.  It is not all wrong but this is what God says.  We aren't going very fast through Romans...in fact, still on chapter 1, but the knowledge is great!

Today I am doing another load of laundry and then I am done catching up from vacation....other than recorded TV shows. 

Dryer just quit....off and running...>>>>>>

How do I put down that my all time favorite sandwich is a Breaded Tenderloin Sandwich with everything on it?

Good Morning one and all. Overcast, Dreary, heavy mist and rain describes what I see out my window this morning. I have been to the gym, the dishwasher is drying the dishes and the washer and dryer are going . I will be leaving for Yoga class shortly. I met a different yoga teacher who goes to the same gym as I do and i was invited to one a class she was teaching as a sub for another teacher who quit out in Charleston on Saturday. It sure  makes my back happy  after a yoga class.

Nice to see everyone who has been here and thank you Pat for the devotional for this week.

I don't see peanut butter and molasses,  or peanut butter and cream cheese, or peanut butter and honey.  I guess just peanut butter covers about anything you want to put with it.  Judy, I've never tried it with tomato - but I will!

Jeanne, you know Katie Sturtz...  Well, one day I was speaking to her on the telephone telling her I was enjoying a sandwich of peanut butter and tomato and she said, "Oh, that's great but even better is peanut butter with dill pickles!"  I had never heard of that but thought I'd try it and sure enough, it's absolutely delicious!

Peanut butter and dill pickles!!    I grew up on that!  In fact, that was our school lunch for years and when the other kids found out they were always wanting to trade with us (my brothers and me).... I could end up with fried chicken, pie, cake ... all sorts of stuff we'd never have from home.  In later years, my brother and I discovered that ketshup goes well with peanutbutter, too!   

Yes, Jane, they are sooooooo good. 

I now get the round little 100 calorie bread thingies.  They are so thin and sliced in half.  I spread with natural chunky peanut butter and some slices of dill pickles and yummy, I so enjoy this!!!

Have any of you tried corned beef and mustard or corned beef and jelly?

Well, I've tried Corned Beef and Mustard but NOT corned beef and jelly--unless maybe jellied cranberries!!!


HI AL!!!

It's sooooooo good to see you here. 

Al Corned beef on rye with Hot pepper jelly would be wonderful.


Al,  Good to see you here!!!

That's a good choice, Judy!

Now I'd love to have a jar of that!!!!  Wonder where I could get a bottle of the good stuff!

I've never had PB with dill pickles, but it sure sounds like worth trying.  My oldest used to like PB with sardines - don't know if he still does.  I'll have to remember to ask him.

And of course we mustn't forget the fluffernutter!

Pat I think I have an extra one here, I will bring it the next time I come down.

Wow!  Lots of peanut butter and...combinations I never had heard before!  One guy I knew loved peanut butter and mustard!  Tomato with PB sounds strange, and PB and dill pickles even stranger....but I am strange enough and curious enough to try them! 

Well, I am back in the painting mode!  Didn't take long at all; in fact I completed a painting today, of an old-time couple (I have no idea who they are, ancestors of my sister Shirley's husband) but it made an interesting study.  I did it in sepia tones, and it was fun!  I hope to get some photos of my great granddaughters so I can paint them.  They are so darn cute!

One member of this class who has come for years is dying of cancer.  The teacher will go to her house in the morning if Paula is up to it, to help her (really do it for her!) paint a portrait of her youngest grandchild.  That is her goal, to get that last one painted before she dies.  Sad.  They were going to start this afternoon but Paula was just too exhausted.

Hey, Al!  So good to see you again.

We had a beautiful snow here today!  Huge flakes the size of quarters!  And wet!  It didn't last long and melted quickly, but was incredibly beautiful!

PLEASE see this Urgent Prayer Request for Matt and Lana Cretzman who were involved in a car accident on icy road this morning in North Carolina. 

They are doing deputation work in preparation for being missionaries in Cuba.  Matt and Lana attended Faithway Baptist College which is just near Toronto and they were working with Kitchener Baptist Church before going south to the USA.

Azlynn, their 3 year old daughter was killed in the accident.

http://www.christianphotographers.com/community/index.php?topic=12160.0

Hi everyone. I think we are to have another nice day today after a chilly night.  Yesterday was certainly bright and cheerful.  We had a nice call from our son and DIL last evening just to chat for a little bit.  It was very enjoyable.  We had four men at our men's luncheon yesterday and had both a good meal and a good time.  Today should be pretty easy as just have coffee this morning and then have a meeting to attend at 11 am.  The rest of the day will be free.

Etta Sue, our pastor can also use a whole hour to discuss one phrase of a few verses of the Bible.  We spent quite a few weeks on the Apostle's Creed and it was quite interesting. We seldom ever see a tenderloin sandwich on the menus around here but that was a given in NW Missouri as I grew up.

Pat and Jane, I have never heard of peanut butter and dill pickles in a sandwich.  Of course, I really don't care for peanut butter.  We have started using the sandwich rounds rather an buying loaf bread and really like them. 

Al, I haven't tried that either with the jelly.

Jeanne, it has been years since I have eaten a sardine and can't say I ever liked them but we would often have them at home along with a lot of Spam (not at the same time).

Janet, how nice of your friend to paint the portrait for the lady and sure it will mean a lot to her. 

Pat, I saw the urgent prayer request.  My how that family must be hurting emotionally as well as physically.  So sad.

Hi Marilyn, Judy and Jane. 

Hi Larry!

Janet I just finished your book.  What an amazing story.  Would you pass a message on to Beth for me?  Tell her that the miracle is her being alive with all the problems and having the testimony that she has and encouraging and leading others to The Lord we serve.   If she had been healed outright, out Lord would not have been able to touch as many souls as have been touched. That in and of itself is the miracle!  Keep on keeping on Beth!

John had an experience today.  Ontario law states that the driver has to make sure there is no snow on the roof of his trailer.  Another law in Ontario states that no one can go above a certain height without special gear to make sure they don't fall.  These laws conflict.  On his way out of his pickup the police stopped him saying they could charge him with having an insecure load.  He had a pile of snow on the trailer 2 feet high that came off the roof of the place he picked up the freight.   Thankfully he knows the law and explained the problem to the officer.  They escorted him to the next town where there was another truck driver who had the ability to help him remove the snow load.  God is good.  Now he is able to fight the problem with knowledge not "what if". 

It is an overcast day, but thankfully warmer than yesterday.

Have a great day folks!