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Morning Devotional


"When ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do."-- Luk_17:10.


IN CHRIST'S service there are no hours when we cease to be His bondservants, or pass from under His eye (R.V. marg.). We are always His, always at His disposal, always bound to ask, what He would have us do. In this there is no hardship, because He knows our frame, and understands the complex machinery of life needs time to cool and rest and recreate itself. We remember that our Lord bade His disciples leave the crowded lake-side, to come with Him apart and rest awhile. He knows that we need rest and change, but He would keep these hours of relaxation under His own command because they are often the most perilous to the soul's health.

How often, when we have been engaged in earnest service to others for Christ's sake, we are inclined to say: "Now we may have a good time for ourselves; we may relax the girdle, we may sit down to meat." We are inclined to act at such times as if we were off duty, and as though our Lord had no jurisdiction over us.

But it is when we have done our Master's work that He sometimes says to us; "You have been so taken up with My work that you have neglected Me. You have thought more of the depth and straightness of the furrow; more of the wool and safety of the flock, than of the One for whom you work. Give Me a little of your thought and love! Make ready where-with I sup; gird thyself and serve Me!"

Yea, our Lord Jesus wants our love, and He will not be satisfied if we give time, energy, and thought to His service, and forget Him.

When we have done all that Christ asks of us, we have nothing to be proud of. Our good works do not earn our salvation, nor merit anything at the hand of our Saviour. Our uttermost service is only our bounden duty and privilege. It is a blessed thing, when we are wholly yielded to obey Him, for His service is perfect freedom from envy, dissatisfaction with our lot, jealousy of others, and pride. The wonder is that He takes us into partnership with Himself (Joh_13:13-16).

Lord, we go to our daily work; help us to take pleasure therein. Show us clearly what our duty is; help us to be faithful in doing it. Give us strength to do, patience to bear; by our true love to Thee, make unlovely things shine in the light of Thy great love. AMEN.
Our Daily Walk by F.B.Meyer.

Hi everyone.  It is a beautiful Sunday morning.  I thought we were going to get some rain yesterday afternoon but it went just South of us.  The high today is suppose to be around 92 degrees with only a small chance of rain.

Pat and I stayed in again yesterday but will get out and go to Sunday School and Church and then Scott will join us for a good lunch at Texas Roadhouse.  I think he will come back to the house and spend the afternoon and hopefully early evening with us. 

Jane, just sending you a cyber hug this morning.  Words are not sufficient when the lose of our child is near but I certainly found it comforting to have folks just give me a hug.  I remember those and don't remember at all what they said.  May God comfort you today. It seems that John is reconciled to his loss to be.  Please be assured you and your family are in my prayers.

Janet, I wasn't feeling very good yesterday morning and was very tired.  However, after my afternoon rest/nap I felt much better and had a good night.  So far so good today.  I would have opted for the elevator over the stairs at the falls.  Your interviews with the older folks are surely treasures for them, their families and friends.  I hope the paper will continue to publish them for you. 

Ruth Ann, it is great that in this day and age we have the opportunity to watch fine programming, like Charles Stanley, when we are not up to attending our own church or perhaps in addition to our church.  The last devotional I used in our Sunday School class a couple of weeks ago was one from Dr. Stanley's website. 

Jane, thanks for providing us the fine devotional for our new week.  I haven't heard the hymn "Give of Your Best to the Master" in a very long time.  It is one of the hymns we often sang in our church when I was growing up.  (This hymn downloads and you have to click on the download to open the file and hear it.  I wonder how I know this?  )

Jane:  many thanks for the music - I did not recognize the song but that doesn't mean I have never heard it previously.  My prayers for you and all the family.

We went out for coffee - Don cannot go to church because the music affects his hearing loss - it actually makes him disoriented at times.  We think his problems are worse but the docs say his loss is the same and not deteriorating.  His hearing loss is more scrambled than just plain hearing loss.  A very different and difficult thing never to be cured, unfortunately.  We are making a decision this week whether to drive to Minnesota for his reunion or stay home - his arm pain is interfering with life and I can't see myself driving over 1,000 miles each way. 

Everyone has something going on in their lives - we try to remain focused on what is a blessing and there are many. 

Janet:  Well, we know our way around mostly in Denver and have the gift of retirement so we can usually avoid rush hours.  However, everything is rush hour here now so that isn't always true.  Sorry for the loss of your friend.  I do hope you walk in the Garden of the Gods sometime - we used to take our lunch and relax there at times. 

I found an obit in the paper this morning and it shows a fellow from my high school - much older, he was in the Pacific war.  So, I am writing to the bi-annual news letter we sign on for and giving them the information.  This fellow quit school to join the Navy and perhaps someone in Seattle will remember him.

Hi everyone.  It looks like we may be in for a break in the hot temperatures today with it predicted to get to only 88 degrees and as much as a 65% chance of some rain late this afternoon.  This should be a fairly quiet day.  I do plan on attending my Monday noon meeting and need to get some gas in my car and that is about it. 

We didn't get to Texas Roadhouse until about 4 pm yesterday.  That worked out well as was able to rest/nap for a couple of hours after getting home from Church.  We had a nice leisurely meal. When we got home Scott fixed a couple of printer problems that had been preventing Pat from printing from her laptop. 

I had another email from Pat Scott Halbach and she asked me to share with you the following:    "Pat is also unwell and isn't fortunate to have her 'right-hand man'--Jeanne!". 

Carol, it does sound like your planned Minnesota trip could be very stressing for you both.  I know you will make the right decision.  When my sister and BIL were here a few months ago we had to tell them it was highly unlikely we would be making the trip back to Missouri and Iowa again.  However, who knows what the future holds and we have an airport that is easy to get to and very small so no long walking involved.  We might make it to Kansas City by plane but certainly won't try the 7 hour drive from there to where my sister lives.  Does your church put their sermon's on their website so they can be listened to by those not able to attend the service?  Certainly understandable why Don would not want to be where that loud music is. 

2nd load of washing is ready with only a few things to iron.  We are going to try to find and buy a cover for our basement window well - to stop the rabbits from falling in the deep well.  Don has taken his walk, I have finished by back exercise, etc. so now to get busy again.  It is a wonderful Colorado morning here and the afternoon will be hot once more. 

Larry< I need to listen to the recorded sermons.   

Hi, friends,

It's been a quiet day here in Nashville.

I will go downstairs to the office to pay my rent and check my mailbox.

Today's my youngest granddaughter's 13th birthday. Time seems to fly by faster and faster these days.

Y'all have a good day.

Ruth Ann

Hi everyone.  It is an overcast morning following a night where we got 1 1/2 inches of rain that was much needed and appreciated. 

When I went to my meeting before noon yesterday I saw that there was work being done on the bridge over the Savannah river east bound on I-20.  There was already at last a two mile backup of traffic and more building all the time as I-20 gets a lot of traffic, especially big trucks.  So I decided to return home by an alternate route that was several miles further but where I kept going.  In the paper last night I read that the traffic backup, where there was only one lane across the bridge open, had gone on all day and evening.  I was certainly glad I had taken the alternative route home.

Nothing special on the schedule for today.  Pat may want me to pick up a few items at our local Walmart and I might go to Aldi's for some fruits and vegetables.  Pat asked me to get her walker from the garage this morning as her sciatic nerve problem is worse.  I knew she cried out each time she turned in bed last night, at least while I was awake. 

Carol, it doesn't sound like fun trying to get the rabbits out of the window well.  I hope you found the cover you needed.  It sounds like you try to get your work done in the morning when it is cooler. 

Ruth Ann, these grandchildren grow quickly as the years fly by.  My oldest great grandson is 13 already. 

We did not buy the heavy duty cover for the window well - this is an oversized window and the cover they make would be several hundred dollars and it was much too heavy for us to handle.  Mission not accomplished.

  It is cooler this morning - this and September are my favorite months. 

Hi, friends,

My time was occupied today by getting groceries, putting them away, and taking the shopping cart back to the storage area. I'm so thankful the apartment building has the shopping carts available to help us get heavy and bulky items to our apartments.

May Lord grant us a good rest, then walk with us tomorrow.  And may we praise Him for His wonderful love and care.

Ruth Ann

Hi everyone on another hot day here in South Carolina.  We had another 1/2 inch of rain yesterday evening so I am not going to water the grass tomorrow. 

It has been a busy morning.  Pat is really laid up with the sciatic nerve problem and had to use the walker yesterday and again this morning.  She is going to try to get an appointment with a chiropractor as she has to do something.  I fixed her breakfast yesterday morning and again this morning and also put together the dinner last evening, fortunately from left overs.  Scott will be with us tonight and I will ask him to prepare the hamburgers or whatever else we have for dinner.  I will go to Aldi shortly to stock up on some fruits and vegetables (I didn't get there yesterday as had no energy left after going to Walmart). 

I just dealt with a scam email supposedly from PayPal.  I won't click on links in such emails and went directly to PayPal and contacted them through customer service.  They told me my account is fine and to simply forward the email to them at the address she gave me and then delete the bad email.

Carol, has Don thought of fixing a chicken wire or mesh screen to put over the window well?  That would probably keep the rabbits out.  I know he is very capable with wood. Glad it is cooler out your way--please send it on to the Southeast.

Ruth Ann, in the first apartment building where Stacey lived for 6 years they had grocery carts that were suppose to be kept in a certain place right outside the basement door.  While usually there sometimes I had to hunt for one on the different floors as people were too lazy to take them back where they belonged.  Often they were left at the elevator.  There were mostly younger people living in the 15 story building so little excuse.   

Ruth Ann:  I am glad that you have shopping carts to pull your groceries into your apartment.  I admire your upbeat look on life - inspiring.

Larry:  So sorry that Pat has a sciatic issue - they can be troublesome and take time to ease the pain. 

Son loaned a full length massage pad for the floor and I fell asleep on it for just a bit - it does help but surely doesn't cure the backache problem. 

Don returned from the VA with new hearing aides and they definitely need to be adjusted so that will be another drive.  What he really needs is a cortisone shot in his shoulder and that is taking weeks -

Well, this is interesting.  My laptop totally shut down and the Windows 10 saved my message when everything opened again.  It has to be a first because everything would be lost previously.  Let us hope this isn't a one-time fluke. 

Hot today - weather for the baseball game is hot - then warm with rain - then a drop of 20 to 30 degrees and perhaps some hail.  We won't be at the game - --Yes, Don is talking about making our own cover for a window well.  He likes to figure out projects on all sorts of things and the neighbors really like it when he helps them. 

Hi everyone.  We awoke to a cloud covered morning but almost 80 degrees.  Our high today is predicted for 85 with a 65% chance of rain by mid-afternoon.

I woke up around 4 am this morning and couldn't go back to sleep.  Pat also got up early for her.  The morning chores are over as have taken out the trash to the street, flowered the flowers, fixed breakfast for Pat and I and have a big load of wash going.  Pat had to tell me what to do to get the washing machine started.  It has way too many bells and whistles.  It was easy when I knew what to do.  I will take her to the chiropractor in a little bit and sure hope he can give her some relief.  This is a first visit, of probably many, so not expecting too much but anything would be worth it.  It is here in North Augusta so won't take long to get there.  If I am not too tired I want to attend a concert tonight at our church.  It is a group called Tim Zimmerman and the King's Brass. 

Scott was here late afternoon and finished up the supper by fixing the hamburgers and then he kindly cleaned up the kitchen.  I had about done myself in getting the salad ingredients fixed and a few other things.  My shopping at Aldi's yesterday morning really left me tired for the rest of the day.  I am going to try to have a quieter and less stressful day.  I haven't decided whether I will go to the Wisdom class at the church this morning or not as am not going to coffee today. 

Carol, do you have any trouble getting up off the floor when you use that pad on the floor?  Glad Don got new hearing aids and once they are adjusted that he can hear a lot more than he has been able to hear.  I don't think our computers have yet installed the new Windows 10 Updates. 

Hello sorry for being AWOL for a few day. Last Friday we traveled to Vancouver Washington, (took freckles too) to see Keith's oldest son's new house. Wow it is so big, there is even a Mother in Law apt upstairs. Huge yard too; camehome on Sunday. 

Monday was a free day for me to get a few things done here, they Tuesday  was my ENT appointment and getting some things ready for my PSP groups. Yesterday was our visit at the Rehab/Resident Hospital near here with Freckles. Today we are going to the hospital for visits. Keep so busy.  Walking the dog 3 times a day almost a mikle every time to try to keep her from gaining weight since she has been on Prednisone..

Monday night was the national Night out at the Park put on by the First Responders and the Furry Friends has a station there as well, for of us with husbands and dogs  were there to represent the group.

Hi, friends,

Well, today has been reasonably quiet. The cleaning lady was here and took care of my  laundry and the apartment. It was so nice to see her  - she's a sweet lady.

Then, some poking around on the internet and now I'm wrapping up computer time with y'all.

Marilyn, that's a good bit of walking per day.

Take care, Larry.

Love to all who come here,

Ruth Ann

Hi everyone on what is expected to be a cloudy day with the temperature staying in the high 80's. 

I have an appointment with my cardiologist at 10 am to learn the results of the recent tests I had done.  Then will rush home as get Pat to take her back to the chiropractor for her first real treatment.  Yesterday was the initial visit and he didn't want to begin treating her until there were x-rays available.  So he sent us to an Urgent Care facility where she had the x-rays done.  I have taken care of the outside watering and fixed our breakfasts.  I did get the washing caught up yesterday and managed to get us an easy supper.  Today we will pick up a big lunch while we are out and then will just have a light dinner tonight so no more cooking. 

Marilyn,  you have had a very busy schedule since your weekend away.

Ruth Ann, glad you like your cleaning lady. 

Hope everyone has a good day today.

A cool day ahead for us and it is about time.  Thankful for the cooling because I have been back to my longer outdoor walks early in the morning.  Privileged to watch a young hawk going alone for the first season - they like to hide in the evergreen trees sometimes.  We had a coupon for Mimi's restaurant for breakfast and there was much too much food so the fridge is holding at least one full meal for me later .

We spent time visiting with our good friend yesterday and he is looking much weaker.  He cannot have chemo at this point because he is so weak.  Still, the most inspirational guy we know!  To keep germs from him, we do an elbow touch.

Hi, friends,

Today I had a couple of doctor's appointments - one for the diabetic foot doctor (the report was great) and one for the eye doctor - that one went well, too. My macular degeneration has not progressed further, there's no retinopathy, and no signs of glaucoma.

Y'all have a great day.

Love, Ruth Ann

Hi everyone.  It is a bright and sunny morning and headed to 93 degrees. 

We watched the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics last evening and it was quite spectacular. We are now watching the first contests of the Skulls Rowing and the Bicycle racing.  I have quite a few tasks to accomplish today but am going to have to take them in little segments with some resting in between.  I did fix Pat's breakfast.  She wants me to make some sausage muffins that she likes and will get our dinner in the crock pot as we are having roast beef and vegetables. 

I had a really long morning yesterday.  My appointment with the cardiologist was at 10 am.  I wasn't called to an exam room until 11 am and then spent another hour or more waiting for the doctor.  I should have rescheduled the appointment as Pat needed to get to the Chiropractor.  I thought there would be plenty of time to get home and get her to her 11:30 appointment.  Now she won't see the Chiropractor until Monday afternoon.  I had some good news and some not so good news from the tests I had a few days ago.  The Carotid arteries are fine and the Echo was OK.  However, the PET showed their was an abnormality with the blood vessels feeding the left side of the heart.  The doctor took me off of the ACE Inhibitor medicine and prescribed a new medicine called Entresto, which is to reduce the risk of death and hospitalization in people with certain types of long-lasting (chronic) heart failure.  I have to be off the ACE Inhibitor for 36 hours before starting the new medicine, so will start is twice a day on Monday.  I stopped on my way home and bought chicken meals for our main meal of the day and that was about it. 

Carol, we had a Mimi's in a big mall in the county we moved from and ate there a few times.  Their was a lot of food and as I remember they served muffins that were delicious.  Glad you are able to get out and walk now and hope that helps your back.

Ruth Ann, it sounds like you had a very satisfying doctor's appointments.  Hope you have a peaceful and relaxing weekend. 

I did get my treadmill time in this morning - then, everything became very busy with Don having a long-lasting nosebleed.  It finally got a bit under control and he could use a product called Wound Seal.  Recommended by a neighbor, it is a powder with an applicator that when inserted into the nose (in this case) that instantly stops the flow of blood.  I highly recommend keeping something like this at the ready in house and car.  We found ours at a Safeway pharmacy. 

So, I was trying to get dressed in between helping Don - fingers ready to either call for help or get him to the car and to the hospital ER.  Prayers helped - and we did get everything stabilized. 

Our neighbors have invited us for dinner tonight and everything will be perfect and delicious. 

Ruth Ann:  Giving thanks for your health report of a stable diagnosis. 

Larry:  Prayers that your new medication will solve the problem.  That good old crock pot is a nice way to put together an easy and tasty meal or two. 

It is a quiet day - our daughter's birthday.  We chatted with her this morning and she has to go to NYC early tomorrow (a Sunday) for a special meeting with her tech company job.  She was born in Denver when it was a super hot August.  No A/C and no fan either. 

Hi, friends,

It's been a quiet day here in Nashville. While preparing to go into the e ye doctor's office, the toe of my walking boot got hung on the cu rb, so down I went. A doctor and a man who was leaving the office helped me to my feet. So, I've been moving a bit gingerly today. I really am grateful if I had to fall, someone noticed me go down, and the gentlemen were there quickly to help me up. When I came out, I had no sooner gotten into the car but there was a deluge of rain.

Even in the bad times, God made it better by keeping me dry and I have no broken bones, just stiffness and soreness. He surely is good to us.

Y'all have a good day.

Ruth Ann

Hi everyone on another hot and humid day but with the chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon.  I will be going to Sunday School and Church in about little bit, pick up something for our main meal today and then spend the rest of the day quietly and restfully.

It seemed like yesterday I spent most of the day in the kitchen.  Not being a cook everything I do in the kitchen seems to take a long time.  However, I got it done.  I actually fixed some sausage muffins for Pat's breakfast for the next few days and they turn out well.  I fixed sort of a soup/stew for our dinner last night although the crock pot did most of the work. 

Pat is not feeling any better but fortunately when she is sitting in her easy chair her sciatic nerve does spasm or hurt. 

Carol, good to see you found something that stopped Don's nosebleed.  He sure is having a time with those. 

Ruth Ann, sorry that you had another fall but glad you didn't break anything and there were a couple of people to help you get up.  We can usually find something positive even in bad situations, as you pointed out.

Boy!  I got kicked out again and got days and days behind!     But I found you again!!

Darrel was sick with a bad UTI again last week, so that meant a trip to the doctor.  I thought I was never going to be able to get him in!  I'm going back to the gym again, and have been sore from that.  I guess I think I should still feel 50, instead of 76!   

Larry, we got some lovely Colorado peaches yesterday, two boxes, and I thought of you and those wonderful Georgia peaches you got some time ago.  These are  really good, and I'm putting them up a few bags at a time, as standing and working in the kitchen gets my back to hurting.  We have another box ordered through the Senior Center, so I want to get these taken care of before they come in on the 18th or 19th.

And in between, I'm catching up on the laundry.  Always something to be done!

Good to read all the messages here, and again, I will attempt to stay up with things!