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Morning Devotional...





We live by faith, not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:7


A fanatic is somebody seeking desirable ends but ignoring constituted means. Seeking to get out of the religious rut is a desirable end. It is right and it is in the will of God. But trying to do it in a manner that is not according to God"s constituted means is all wrong and gets us nowhere. When they want to get blessed, some people try getting worked up psychologically. There are some who, while they have not studied psychology, are master psychologists. They know how to manipulate audiences, knowing when to lower their voices and when to raise them, when to make them sound very sad and all the rest. They know how to get people all worked up. . . . Some people try group dynamics. We all sit around together and practice togetherness, and by practicing togetherness we finally work up some spirituality. What is needed is some old-fashioned, salty horse sense. I am sure there are 189 mules in the state of Missouri that have more sense than a lot or preachers who are trying to teach people how to get the blessing of God in some way other than by the constituted means. When you get people all broken up, dabbing at their eyes and shaking, what is the result? It does not bring them any closer to God. It does not make them love God any better, in accordance with the first commandment. Nor does it give any greater love for neighbors, which is the second commandment. It does not prepare them to live fruitfully on earth. It does not prepare them to die victoriously, and it does not guarantee that they will be with the Lord at last.

Faith acts, resting on God"s promise and power, whether there is accompanying emotional fervor, no emotion or adverse emotion. We live by faith. There may be feeling and sight or there may not.



O God, I am inclined to act by feeling rather than by faith. Help me to discern the difference. In Christ"s name.

From Devotions By Dr. Tozer

Someone must really need to hear this because my computer is crashing every few minutes, thought I was not going to be able to get it posted.

I know what I will be doing this after noon and tonight. Format and clean install.

Hope everyone has a great week!

Good one, Don.  Jesus told us he's the only way to salvation - acceptance of his death and resurection.

Amen Jeanne, I am so thankful for Gods grace and that he was willing to accept me as I was without having to do anything except believe. You did take notice that I said as I was because once I believed then He started working on me. I am a work in progress.

The only thing that can keep you out of heaven. UNBELIEF!

Hi everyone.  We start the day partly cloudy and expect to get into the lower 70's this afternoon.  Not bad for the 1st of February.  I have a 1:15 pm appointment today with the doctor and will find out whether I need to use a sleep machine or not.  After I finish reading and writing on the discussions I will pay bills for the month and that will be about it for the day.

Don, that is a fine devotional.  To me the Bible is clear in telling us that we must believe in Jesus Christ if we are to be saved.  This is a fine Devotional Thought for this week.  Thank you for sharing it with us.

Good morning, friends,

It's a rainy day here in Nashville. but should clear up this afternoon.

I think I'm finished with that data analysis. I created "just one more graph, please" today. Although they take a bit of time to produce, it's always an interesting and absorbing task for me.

Don, how difficult it was for you to prepare the devotional thought for this week! Thank you for your work - most definitely, we must believe in the life and death of our Lord, and that He died for our sins.

Y'all have a good day.

Ruth Ann

Don:  Thank you for devotions.  We love going into a church where we feel the calm and quiet before service begins so we can give thanks and have our private prayers.  Now it is so popular with the young parishioners to have jazzy and loud music - we are trying to accept their need versus our need.

On church - we must be the only Christians in our class on Why of the Holocaust and every once in a while there is a zinger against our faith - it is interesting and we are not about to let anyone know until perhaps the last class.  Eye opening.  Their feelings go back centuries. 

Ruth Ann:  Perhaps I have mentioned this before --- Don commuted to Nashville for many weeks, he would fly from Colorado on a Sunday early afternoon and return on Friday night.  Lovely people - they gave him full tours of the city and countryside and he left with such warm feelings. 

Lots of problems with my 5 year young iPad but it seems to be working alright now with what I could find on the internet.  If the blank screens appear again, it will be off to the Apple fix-it store.  Weather has turned and we now have the storm that appeared in California and actual snow this morning.  Lots more snow at home with about 16 inches.  The hummingbirds have fresh nectar - they are so tame that they now come right to our face when we are bringing their sweet boiled then cooled water. 

Hi everyone on another sunny morning.  Yesterday we got up to 73 degrees and today is headed to 75 degrees.  Today is our dental day for both Pat and I to have our teeth cleaned this afternoon.  This is a new dentists office for us.  Based on my doctor's appointment yesterday I do have some sleep apnea and the doctor has ordered a 3 month at home study to see what my oxygen level is at night to help determine whether I will need to use a CPAP machine or not.

Ruth Ann, glad you enjoy your data analysis work. Hope you did see the sun yesterday afternoon.  By mid-afternoon here it was warm but cloudy. 

Carol, unfortunately history seems to be getting somewhat ignored and our younger generation isn't informed about the terrors of the past and the reasons behind them.  I feel it is most alarming that the Nazi movement seems to be gaining new emphasis and extremes are occurring in many places.  I saw robins in my yard yesterday for the first time and the birds were really chirping this morning.  We haven't seen any hummingbirds yet and as soon as we do I know Pat will be putting out the feeder for them.  She really enjoyed watching them last year as had a great view of the feeder from her easy chair. 

Hi, friends,

I'm awaiting a call to take my sister-in-law back to her apartment. She's having a medical treatment in one of the outpatient clinics located in one of our hospitals.

In the meantime, I've kicked back and enjoyed a quiet day.

Carol, I don't remember that Don had commuted here. I really like living here - everyone I've met is certainly nice and friendly, too.

Larry, it sounds like y'all may be looking for a great springtime. I, too, need to set up an appointment for getting my teeth cleaned.

Y'all have a good day.

Ruth Ann

Hi everyone on a cloudy but warm 68 degree morning.  We will only get to 72 degrees today and expect afternoon and early evening showers for a couple of days.  We did see the new dentist and hygienist yesterday and liked both.  Neither Pat nor I had any additional dental work done after having our teeth cleaned.  The office is easy to get to and the dentist is fairly young so should outlive us and we should be set with a dentist for the rest of our lives.  I think this completes the cast of doctors and dentists here in this area.  Last evening we went to a diner in North Augusta that has been there for 52 years.  It is a landmark and we hadn't eaten there before.  I don't think we will be putting it on our often repeat list but it was OK.  Today's schedule is light with only dinner at church tonight and the Bible study to follow.  Our son will join us again for dinner. 

Ruth Ann, hope you all weren't hit by any of those bad storms that came up through Mississippi and Alabama.   

Don is off to another acupuncture treatment this morning and I have been trying to enter some prompts for the genealogy classwork - suddenly stumped so I shall wait for "The Brain" to come home.  That is what my mother called Don. 

It does sound like nice weather for Larry and all - but I did seem some tornado damage somewhere in the southeast.  Yikes, that season is upon us. 

Hi everyone.  It rained all afternoon and as far as I know all night and is still raining lightly this morning but suppose to stop around 10 am.  It is much cooler this morning and will get to only 59 degrees today.  This will be my typical Thursday as will pick up my friend to take to coffee, take him home and then go to the church for the Wisdom group. 

Yesterday morning I was called by the company doing the oxygen test and a nice lady brought out the little unit.  I had not understand the doctor correctly that this was just a one night test. So I did the test last night and will take the equipment back to their office this morning as it is just down the street from where I go to coffee.    I am hoping for a good report indicating I do not need oxygen or another test using the CPAP machine. 

Carol, there was a tornado that struck Columbia, South Carolina, which is about 80 miles from us.  Hopefully the severe weather has moved on and I hope the same is true for you all with some warmer weather to occur.  They always say that two heads are better than one.  Hope the genealogy problem was easily resolved when Don got home from his treatment.   

Rise and Shine!  It is warmer today after freezing nights here.  On the news, there are pictures of a jaguar in the Tucson area - the only known one in the USA.  It is beautiful  - I just hope no one harms the animal but sure would not want to meet it in the wild. 


I packed the genealogy away yesterday - and will ask for assistance from someone at the club.  Breakfast is ready - we are slow pokey today. 

Hi, friends,

It's a bright, sunny, cold day here in Nashville.

I took someone to the Salvation Army Golden Agers group today. Seems some people were a bit grumpy today. Maybe it will pass and next time all will be good.

Now, to get a couple of packages sent off to two of my sons.

Y'all have a great rest of the day.

Ruth Ann

Hi everyone on what looks to be a magnificent day here in South Carolina.  The day started at 30 degrees but should get up to a sunny 50 degrees this afternoon.  I have nothing on my schedule for today although may make a quick trip to the credit union and then across the road to Walmart for a couple of items and to get some walking in for the day. 

Carol, I saw the news piece on the jaguar around Tucson.  It was a beautiful animal. 

Ruth Ann, nice of you to take someone to the Golden Agers group but too bad some people have to share their grumpiness with others.  We just never know what others are going through and a smile is usually a welcome site even when we may not feel like smiling ourselves. 

Hi, Friends,

Larry, I agree with you about the need to be grumpy doesn't need to be shared.

Today was the cleaning lady's day. This was a new lady, and I certainly hope she is assigned to me again. She was personable, did all I asked her to do plus more, and did it well.

I didn't get out to send those packages, so I think that's my planned activity this afternoon.

Oh, yes, I have a tiny little check to cash.   Its amount may cover a small burger and senior size drink. <chuckle>

Y'all have a great rest of the day.

Ruth Ann

I'm trying not to be grumpy today ...     I have just received some discouraging and disheartening news concerning a family member.  My heart is hurting and I am hiding right here for the duration. I only come to ask that you keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

Hi everyone.  We are expecting to have a sunny morning and an afternoon with a mixture of sun and clouds but no moisture.  It will not get overly warm today as it will be somewhere in the 50's.  Yesterday was a quiet day and today should be no different.  I have nowhere I plan on going so will just take things slow and easy today.  I will probably watch a little college basketball.  Last evening Pat and I watched the first episode of the O. J. Simpson story and then watched the last episode of Downton Abbey.  We enjoyed both programs. 

Ruth Ann, glad you were pleased with your new cleaning lady.  We are pleased with the lady we hired to clean our house and hope she will continue to do this work for a long time.  Your check sounds like the two I cashed yesterday, both of which were reimbursements from the Sunday School class to Pat for sending out cards from the class to members for birthday's, Anniversaries, and sympathy. 

Jane, it seems you have had a lot of discouraging and disheartening family news over these last several years.  I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers in the upcoming days. 

I keep expecting for Janet to pop in and leave us a message saying they are home.  I do hope they have had a wonderful trip and can come home rested and refreshed. 

Hi, Friends,

It's me again. I'm about ready to head out the door for a bit of fresh air and sunshine.

I'm so very sorry about your distressing news, Jane. I'll be with you in prayer about this situation.

Larry, slow and easy is a very good way to go on some days. Hope you feel better right away.

Our Presidential primary is set for March 1, but early voting begins on Wednesday. So, I definitely need to pray for our Lord's direction about this matter.

Y'all have a good day.

Ruth Ann

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