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Morning Devotional...


GRACE ALONE

Both the Bible and human experience testify that all men and women are defective in character.  The Bible puts it this way:  "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God". (Romans 3:23)  Because of this, it is impossible for human beings to merit God's favour.  Isaiah tells us that "all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags". (Isaiah 64:6)

Keeping the Ten Commandments will not make us fit for heaven.  The Law of God was not given to prepare us for heaven, but rather to show us that we are sinners before God.  St. Paul the Apostle said "Therefore by the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin". (Romans 3:20)

The key to the problem is found in the New Testament:  "For by Grace are ye saved, through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast". (Ephesians 2:8,9)

God manifested His grace by sending His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to die for sinners such as you and I.  "God commendeth His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us".   (Romans 5:8 )



FAITH ALONE

In the light of God's absolute and infinite holiness, how can a poor sinner deserving of the judgment of Hell, be brought into an eternal relationship with God and enjoy the knowledge of sins forgiven?  The answer is profound and simple--BY FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST ALONE!

St. John the Apostle tells us that he wrote his Gospel for the purpose of bringing the truth of "faith in Christ alone" to us; he says, "But these things are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that believing ye might have life through His name".  (John 20:31)

St. Paul makes a similar statement in Romans 5:1.  "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom also we have access by FAITH into this grace wherein we stand and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God".   In Romans 1:17, Paul triumphantly proclaims "THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH".  

Will you, like Paul, stand in GRACE by FAITH or will you continue to sink in the mire of your own feeble "good works"?  All human "rationalizing" (be it ever so pious or profane) is always a substitute for faith.  God requires faith to believe that it is NOTHING OF SELF but EVERYTHING IN CHRIST.  

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever BELIEVETH IN HIM should not perish but have everlasting life".  (John 3:16)



THE SCRIPTURES ALONE

The blessed Son of God said of the religious people and priests of His day, "In vain do they worship Me teaching for doctrines the commandments of men".  (Mark 7:7)  He also said to them "Ye do err not knowing the Scriptures".

It is sad that in our day many religious and non-religious people are also in error for the same reason.  They follow human traditions and rituals and ignore what the Bible has to say.  St. Paul tells us that "all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness".

David the psalmist wrote, "Forever, O Lord, thy Word is settled in heaven".   (Psalm 119:89) and the Lord Jesus declared "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but MY WORDS shall NOT pass away".   (Mark 13:31)  It is that same word that shall judge us in the last day.  (John 12:48)

The Holy Scriptures alone must be our guide in spiritual matters.  There we find that when we believe to the saving of the soul, we should:

• Tell others of God's grace.  (Matthew 28:19)

• Join with other of like faith.  (Hebrews 10:25)

• Separate ourselves from ungodly systems. (2 Corinthians 6:16)

---

Jack Scott loved his Lord! He passed away on January 10, 2001 after a lengthy illness.
He is missed greatly by his family.

YOu know I can hear Jack saying this.  Thank you.

Heading to bed.  Night all.

I popped in very early, will be back after work and running errands.  I attended the service in Hugoton last night, and it was powerful!!  How we need to keep watch over the words of our mouths!!

Pat, thanks for the devotional this morning.  It's great that you were able to capture and save Jack's writings so that we may continue to profit from them.

Hi everyone.  I am awaiting the arrival of a friend as he was due here about six minutes ago.  It is warm this morning and we are expectiing some severe storms later this afternoon with possible high winds and isolated tornados.  As warm as it has been I am not surprised at the storms. 

I went with a couple of friends and walked some laps at the gym as know I need to get back to doing this.  I got along good this morning.  Also this is my Monday men's luncheon and we are going to an Italian place that we have been to before.

Janet, glad that your new minister has arrived and that your church is excited about having him and his family. 

Judy, sorry to hear that John has fallen and that Kassie has not been well.  I am sure John was delighted to get that call to take her to church. 

Jeanne, good to know you can get out if you have to.  Have the snows passed for now?

Pat, thanks for sharing the writings of Jack here in our devotional area.  I have always gotten something from his writings.

Larry ~ Thanks for looking at the Beef and Board pictures.  Those pictures were exactly the way the cast was dressed.  Beautiful costumes and very colorful!  Your Chili Show and Talent Supper sounds great!  Love the name!

Janet ~ I know the congregation is happy that the new minister has arrived.  May you be blessed by his sermons and his family in the coming years.

Jeanne ~ I know the feeling of almost being trapped in your own home.  I have three outside doors and could only go out one of them for awhile before the volunteer fire department men came and chipped the ice by my side door.  I knew then if I needed to get out in an emergency I could.  I may have fallen on the ice and perhaps broke some bones but that would have been better (in my mind) than burning in a fire or such.

JudyB ~ Prayers are with you, John and Kassie.  Illness and pain = shouldn't be allowed!

Gord ~ Be careful shoveling that snow!  Let the young ones do that.  We need you around!

Yesterday was such a great day.  Our brunch at church was delicious.  Several coats were worn that were unusual, ugly and old.  I got a $10 gift certificate at the local Bible Book Store for the unusual coat....my American Flag jacket.  Ugly went to a sports jacket for a basketball team that really isn't favored in Indiana...IU and Purdue here!  And the oldest was a coat that one of the ladies...older than me...wore in high school!  Fun day. 

Then I came home and made a Pineapple Angel Food Cake for Small Groups and went there at 6pm.  Love Max Lucado and his books.  Last nights lessons were about getting out of your shell and giving. 

Then I watched the end of the Oscars.  I hadn't seen any of the movies so I wasn't into the Oscars much this year.

Then the rains came!  Lightening, thunder, rain blowing side-ways!  At 5am the temp was 63 degrees and water was coming in my basement like a faucet turned on.  The sump pump would come on about every minute, pump out water for 5 seconds and turn off.  Again in a minute...  When I got up this morning, it was only 34 degrees.  It has stopped raining but windy and cold and the sump pump isn't working quite so much.  I about froze taking the trash this morning.  Water has been across the road west of me but now is okay.  Even saw a truck with a blade down pushing off debris from the flooding on the roads. 

And too think we didn't have any moisture for two months last fall.  And now so much snow and now rain.  The farmer's should be happy as long as they can get in the fields and plant!

Hi everyone, Not much going on here today, just the weather. Pouring rain and lots of strong winds. Gusts to 60mph.

I got a nice surprise in my email this morning from a Photoshop learning group. Links to download the new CS6 Full Extended, wow and it is taking forever to download.  If anyone wants it I can email you  the links. I have to removed CS3 and CS 5 from the Netbook and this desktop after I try see if this is a trial version or what.

Cousin came for a visit & stayed overnight while my coughing and all seemed to worsen.  I went straight to bed after they left and have been fighting this awful feeling for three days.  Feeling worthless.

Janet:  Super news on your new pastor & family.  They sound like upbeat and personable people that everyone will enjoy.  Wow on trying to move things in that wind. 

Judy:  Sorry about the fall on ice twice for John.  He doesn't need any pain. 

Pat:  It was so special to read Jack's writings.   

I must get better by Wednesday because two of my cousins want to meet for a lunch and I need to bring a hot dish. 

Marilyn:  You will have a lot of fun with your new Photoshop.  I just ordered a Family Tree maker since everyone keeps sending me stuff and they expect me to work on it.  Oh, good grief.  There goes the time I try to put aside for quilting. 

Etta Sue:  I really like Max Lucado's writings too. 

Nice and sunny today in Indiana.  Suppose to get to 50 degrees.  There are still some small ponds but they are getting smaller and smaller.  And the sump pump isn't running as much, either.  I am thanking God that the bad weather didn't hit Ivalou or I or in my immediate area.  Just 10 miles away was a small tornado that demolished a home and southwest of there, a lot of huge trees were pulled right from the ground.  They say the house was taken by a tornado but the trees were by straight-line winds!  Sure didn't know it was that bad when it was raining and blowing here!  A lot of sub-divisions had lakes that were previously streets and low spots.  A lot of basements have been flooded.  Thank you, God, for answered prayers.

I am planning on going swimming today...by myself.  Kitty has a busy work schedule this week and can't go swimming.  So I will go by myself.  Wish Ivalou could go but I really don't think she could go down the ladder or come back up.  There is a lift chair but I doubt if she would do that either.  So I will go alone.  I am convinced that come July when I need to renew my membership that this gal isn't going to do it.  Too costly for the membership and the 40-mile drive for each swim session. 

Marilyn ~ My photo guild mostly uses PhotoShop.  I can see where they can do more on PSP but I can also see that PSP does things that PhotoShop doesn't do.  I think PhotoShop is more for the professional photographer where PSP is for the amateur.  What do you think?  Do you use it for photography or graphics?  I don't know what graphics can be done on PS since I only see photos at guild. 

Carol ~ Sure hope that coughing gets out of your system soon.  That makes one miserable...not only the sore sides but the lack of sleep as well!  Sometimes during a coughing spell you just want to say 'Stop it!'

Can you believe it is March already?  Well, here March came in like a lamb! 



 

Etta Sue so far I have only used  PS for graphics, When I took the lessons we did a couple of photos, I have a website on Photoshop .com but I only have graphics in there for now, I am going to work on some photos  and  start another album there. PS is different from PSP, I would like to get proficient in both.

Sun here today, rain expected. This morning after Keith went to work I loaded up the dogs in my car and off we went,, first to the fitness center for my workout, then to Safeway to buy some milk and a 6 pk of eggs, then we went to the pet store to but food for all the critters. I came home and paid a couple of bills on line and had another cup of coffee while reading my email.

Carol, hoping that coughing is gone and you are feeling all perked up again.  No fun feeling bad.

Etta Sue, I'm thankful you didn't get the horrific winds or the tornadoes!

Yesterday turned out to be much busier than I had anticipated!  I worked from 6:30 to 11:30, had lunch at the Sr. Center.  Beth and I had been requesting for well over a week for her to move from room 409 to 406, across the hall.  Those rooms are all just closet-sized, so frustrating!  And they have angled walls, v-shaped corners, etc.  406 is a little more square, and the wall as you enter (bathroom wall) is shorter, making it easier to get Beth's long wheelchair in there.  Well, they stonewalled us for a week, then called me at 12:30 yesterday to say she could move between 2 and 2:30.  Right!  I was still there working at 6:30!!  And there were four of us working on it!!  Anyway, she likes the room, she can see out to the driveway and see my car when I come, and her stuff fits in there a little better.  We brought a bookcase which is tall and not very wide, and it holds lots of her photos, banks, pigs and elephants that always were piled everywhere making the room look messy.  And the girls often knocked things off and broke them.

In the midst of all the moving, my sister Shirley arrived.  She is staying with us, which is a treat.  We spent most of today getting a book signing together for her.  Her new book is really good!  I hope she sells a bunch of them!

Computer screen jumping, have to stop.

Hi everyone.  Been a very busy day so will make this short.  After coffee and walking at the gym I headed down to Atlanta to pick up our daughter and brought her home.  Then about 2:30 we all went to a friends house where all 7 of us played Mexican Train and then went out to eat at a Mexican restaurant.  We got home about 7 pm and I am beat. 

Janet, glad Beth was able to move to a better room. 

This is all for tonight.

Janet ~ I just thought of something.  Have you re-installed your browser?  IE, Firefox or whatever you use?  All of a sudden my 'go back' button didn't light up on Firefox and I searched 'Go back doesn't work on Firefox' and it said that Firefox was corrupted.  And to run my virus detector to make sure I didn't have any virus' and to re-install Firefox.  I love http://ninite.com/ .  About everything you need to install on a computer is there.  Just choose which one and download!  It won't hurt anything to re-install and it might just be the fix for your 'jumping computer screen' especially if it only does it when you are on the web.   

These days have been a blur.  Slowly getting better - I was very crabby this morning & felt badly after being so ungrateful. 

Janet:  I am so glad that Beth was moved.  What a job to change little things for her and now it will be easier plus it will be so nice for her to watch the action going out the window.  Can she see any flowers from that window? 

Etta Sue:  Know what you mean about sore ribs from coughing.  Scary, isn't it?  No pep here at all - Don ironed his own shirts today plus he has waited on me without complaint.  It is so nice to read when your son, Tony, stops by and checks on you.  I saw a town being near flooding called Nobelville or something like that & wondered if that was close to you. 

You mentioned Firefox - and we find that Yahoo mail seems to have a fit going through Firefox every once in a while.  Battling in the computer.

Well, I am worthless this afternoon & could not get to luncheon today - getting better.  May even pick up the knitting since the sun will hit the patio soon & I can go out and sit in the sun so that is amazing on the 2nd. day of March.  I do hope everyone is doing well. 

Yes, Noblesville was probably in the news as a street name Riverwood is under water.  When I was a kid, a little burg named Riverwood north of Noblesville always flooded and it seemed we went there every year to see the high water...even on the bridge over White River.  White River was to crest at 19 feet last evening.  I don't know what the highest it has been or what 19 feet even means, though. 

Going swimming yesterday, I had to cross White River about 7 miles south and you could tell there that some homes right on the river were flooded.  Bet their home insurance is sky high!!

And Ivalou said she was watching Fox News and heard them say Madison...she thought Madison, Wisconsin but when she looked it said Madison County, Indiana.  That is the county a half a mile east of me.  That's where a tornado hit and completely demolished a home and less than 100 feet away was another house that wasn't touched! 

So our last little storm made news in the nation.  Indiana only has two rivers...White River and Wabash River...both have crested now and are still overflowing their banks.  Did you know that Indianapolis is the largest capital in the nation that doesn't have a major river that can export and import cargo?  Read that somewhere. 

Busy day today but I did have Ivalou over for lunch.  This was about the first day since last fall that I felt that Ivalou could walk over here with no problems...no snow, no ice or no puddles to hop!  It was good to have her hear and to visit.  Missed that.

Tonight is Bible Study.  I am ready.  I read the lesson awhile ago!

Hi everyone.  I don't usually do this but just wrote about my day on Senior & Friends so have copied it and will share it here as well.

It is another beautiful day here in Georgia and is now 67 degrees.  Most days we don't have wind here in the Atlanta area.  Our spring trees and early flowers are really starting to be very beautiful.  I am also seeing some of the yards beginning to turn green. 

Yesterday I brought our daughter out to spend the night.  We had plans to play Mexican Train dominos and she went along and joined in the game.  Then the other two couple, my wife, daughter and I went out to, where else, a Mexican restaurant for dinner. 

This morning after coffee and walking at the gym I took her back to Atlanta and saw the had my 3-month check on my defibulator/pacemaker.  The doctor's office is located a very short distance from her apartment.  I have somewhere from six months to a year or little longer before it has to be replaced.  They can't replace the batteries in them but must replace the whole unit.  This evening I have a meeting I need to attend so will have to miss my regular choir practice.  Looking forward to a quiet day tomorrow as this has been a very busy week.

Etta Sue, I saw on the news last evening that the Governor had declared the entire State of Ohio a disaster area for flooding.  I wondered if where you were wouldn't also be impacted.  It sounds like things are improving and the snow and ice are gone for you.

Carol, I think we all have a down and grumpy day occasionally.  I feel very blessed that I am not prone to these days very often but had one last Sunday when I dreaded the entire day and it turned out to be great.  Hope the sun has brightened your spirits.

I see it has been pretty quiet here today.  Maybe others will stop by later and share a word with us.

Good afternoon everyone.  I have read the posts, but I won't comment. 

I had a good visit with Pat and Paul.  Pat and I always get to bed late and today I am sure she is tired as well. 

The doctor has given me the go ahead to loose the sling.  Woohoo now I can drive.

I haven't had my cup of coffee yet....  Aaron is coming and we are going for breakfast to Woody's.  Hope we aren't too late.  He called me and said another half an hour.  He works late so sleeps in late. 

Bible study was great last night and I learned a lot.  Andy Stanley is such a good speaker. 

Tonight I go to the minister's home for the Women Retreat Planning Committee.  That will be fun.  Ruth Ann is a great host!

They are saying that the rivers are still out of their banks but going down.  But this weekend we are to have more rain!!

Good morning from wet Oregon.  

Pat, I wanted to tell you I went to sleep last night listening to one of Paul Washer's sermons.  I downloaded some and put them on my mp3 player.  Now I have to listen again to see what  I missed.  I do like the way he ministers the Word.

I need to get busy quick and get to town to buy a present for my daughter, who is 38 today.  We're going down for Pizza and cake tonight.  Today is also "take-the-garbage-and recycling-down" so as you can see, I have much excitement. LOL

JUdy....whoohoo is good.  I know you must feel like a free woman.  I love visiting with my sisters, so know you and Pat had a nice time being together.

I'm finished with my coffee, so off to the shower and get my day going.  Have a very blessed one. ok?

Hi everyone.  Stopping by for the day as have several other projects to tackle.  I did go to coffee and then my friend and I walked at the gym.  Since I have been home I have updated a website that I maintain for our county Senior Golden Games and got a couple of other projects out of the way.  After I finish reading the message boards I will start updating the Games database for the new entries that I got earlier this week.  Just requires attention to detail.  However, last year the lady who check over them when I finish comes here and review them on the spot so immediate corrections can be made and printed.  While it is my goal not to make errors, for some strange reason a few always creep in. 

Pat has a friend who just came and they are going to work on a sewing or quilting project. 

I don't plan on going anywhere else today so will be able to take things at an easy pace.  Last night I attended a business meeting and it lasted only 42 minutes, which is unheard of in my experience when you have a group of people in attendance.  We were working on a special event we will be hosting on Saturday but things are well organized and committees have done their work.

Nita, I have never heard of Paul Washer.  Enjoy the birthday celebration with your daughter and the pizza and cake.

Etta Sue, glad to read that the flooding is subsiding but not good news that more rain is expected.  I heard this morning that we are to have about 2 inches of rain Saturday afternoon and early Sunday morning. 

Judy, I remember when I had the pacemaker/defibulator put into my chest that they told me to wear an arm sling until I came back to be checked.  When I went back I was then told I only needed to do that for 3 days rather than a week.  Different people giving different instructions.  My soulder was beginning to become stiff from the inactivity so was glad to be able to use it again.  I know you are excited to be "mobile" again.  Just don't re-injure yourself.

I've been having a wonderful visit with my sister Shirley.  Topday we had a book-signing for her at the library. (She just published her fifth book!)  She plans to leave in the morning for home.  She and I and Beth are planning to collaborate on a book about Beth's life, so I am getting excited about that!

I got called in to work this morning--my fault, I guess, as I could not decipher the schedule.    But I got off at noon so I could help with the book signing.

Need to get off here and fix us a bite of supper!  Let's see, one bite, divided three ways---we shouldn't gain any weight, huh?

Glad you've enjoyed the visit with Shirley, Janet.  I'll share the "bite" with you!  LOL

Quote from: Larry Hanna on March 03, 2011, 11:22:26 AM


Nita, I have never heard of Paul Washer. 

Larry, I posted earlier but seems my post went off into cyberspace!  LOL

It was wonderful to hear Paul Washer in person last June.  Paul and I were privileged to attend a "Deeper Life Conference" at the Faith Missing near to Guelph and what a great time of "banqueting on the scripture" that we had with him.

You can go to Sermon Audio at http://sermonaudio.com and type in under Speaker/Preacher "Paul Washer" and you can download over 400 of his sermons.  I have many of them on my computer and enjoy them over and over.

Good Morning How is everyone this morning? Well the rain has stopped for now,  it is supposed to be off and on for  a few more days. I have to take Happy to the Vet this morning for his monthly checkup. I am so glad I don't have to pay for these monthly visits as they are follow up  visits and The vet doesn't charge for any follow ups related to the  problem he is seeing the animal for. I do have to pay for the meds and any lab work. both dogs are do for the yearly physicals in My before they get their shots and Rabies Vaccinations. Oregon law  says  the Vets have to give the animals a yearly exam before they can give them the shots.  I think this is something new. Anyway it is only $19. for the physical.  Enough about my  dogs.

Nothing else on my  docket for today until we go out to get something for supper. Every Friday we  either get take out our go out to eat. I fell like having Mexican tonight.

I drove Ivalou to the doctor's office for them to take some of her blood.  Then we went to Bob Evan's for breakfast.  She thought about going to WalMart to find a gift for a new baby to be born in church but it started raining real hard and she decided she didn't want to get back out in the rain so we came home. 

Now we are to take our papers to our tax preparer at 1pm.  Whoo-eee! 

Then it is back home for the duration while it keeps on raining. 

I finished my baby afghan yesterday.  It sure looks like a boys afghan!  Dark brown with an edging of blue, white and dark brown variegated yarn.  Cute as a button!  Now to find a box to put it in! 

I didn't go to the Retreat Planning Committee meeting last night.  It seems Pastor Steve and Ruth Ann had been at the hospital ER for over 5 hours.  Their daughter, Sarah, was having some problems and Ruth Ann was bushed.  Sarah is in her 20's and single so Mom and Dad are still her comforts!

Hi everyone.  Just finishing up my lunch and about ready to rest for awhile.  It is only 39 degrees here and is cloudy and we are suppose to have a couple of inches of rain rather this evening and during the night.

I have spent the morning working on the database for the Golden Senior Games.  I am having some difficulty this year and think I am going to have to get in touch with my son for some help.  I will eventually get it sorted out and have time before anything is due but I hate wasting my efforts.

Pat, thanks for the link. 

I had to laugh when I read Etta Sue's post (I don't know how to do the quote thing) where she said Ivalou thought about going to Walmart for a gift for a baby to be born in church~   Embarrassing for the mother, I would think. 

My sister left this morning, sure was nice having her around.  We had a great visit.

I got a lot of things done today, paid bills, etc., laundry, made a couple scrapbook pages, worked on getting some framing lined out.

Now I will relax for a few minutes, probably will fall asleep, since I've been up since 4:00 this morning.

Janet and I are thinking alike as to Etta Sue's note about a new baby being born in church.     That would wake everyone up, for sure. 

Friday - I still feel so fatigued after a full week of coughing & being sick.  At least things are on the upswing and even the weather is more normal. 

Larry:  good luck with your work on the database this year.  Nice of you to volunteer all that work. 

I know that two people read my posts!!  Janet and Carol!  And I even re-read that post to make sure all the spelling etc. was okay!     But Heather would be in good hands if she had her baby at church since we have about 5 EMT's  that attend our little church.  Embarrassing for her but in good hands. 

Rain....rain...and more rain...  I think it rained all night because my sump pump ran all night!  So thankful for my sump pump!  There is water everywhere but still not across the road just west of me.  But I am sure that both the rivers in Indiana are rising again!  They are giving away free sandbags in Indianapolis...hope they have sand in them!   

And it is soooo dark.  I had to turn on the lights to make my coffee this morning!  I did take two letters to the mailbox when it wasn't raining for a few minutes.  Nice temp out there...Low 50's. 

I don't know what the day will bring.  Since this new baby's father works in the agriculture business and his grandfather is a farmer, I think I will crochet a pair of baby work boots for him so he can help grandpa with the cows!

Etta Sue you are too funny!

We have had snow...snow...and more snow. Non stop since noon yesterday.  John is due home tonight I hope they get the roads cleared before he gets here.  The company that has been contracted to do the Highways are not doing an adequate job.  There are far too many accidents.

It looks like a winter wonderland outside, I think I will get out and take some pictures.