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Morning Devotional...


How to Plan

The preparations of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.
Proverbs 16:1

Recommended Reading
James 4:13-16

Dating back to the Roman Empire, one of the hallmarks of jurisprudence in America and other nations is the presumption of innocence. That is, a defendant is presumed to be innocent until he is proven guilty. As the Romans put it, "The burden of proof is on he who declares, not on he who denies." Presumption in this case protects individual rights, but in the spiritual realm presumption is not advised.

The apostle James suggested as much when he said that presuming to know God's will without inquiring is unwise. He used the example of a group of men planning to start a new business in a distant city; they were totally confident their plan would be successful and therefore profitable (James 4:13-16). But James said such thinking is arrogant and boastful; God might have a different plan in mind. "Instead [we] ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that'" (James 4:15). Man can plan, but God has the final say (Proverbs 16:1).

Do you have plans for today? Whether they are simple or complex, submit them to God for His approval. Invite Him to guide your steps along the way according to His will.


"Whether you shall live to reach home today or not depends absolutely upon God's will."
Charles H. Spurgeon

  Jeanie, I enjoyed Spurgeon's words this morning--thanks!
My goodness!  It is almost 11:00, and I am the first one in here!  That's unusual, but it is also unusual for me to be at home at this time.  We attended church last night, and I planned to go to Hugoton to church this morning, but plans do get changed!

We had a really severe storm in the night.  I woke at 2:00 to a strange , loud sound.  I sat up in bed and Darrel said, "That's hail!"  It was hailing, stones varied from penny to half-dollar size, and the lightning was flashing without pausing, a really bright light show!  I don't know how much rain we got, but it was really pouring!  We have puddles and water standing in the ditches by the road.  We didn't suffer any damage to our house, but Jim, who rents Beth's trailer called to report that every window on the west side was broken out of the trailer.  So Darrel is over there trying to figure out how to cover the windows against more predicted storms in the next three days.

The storm also knocked our TV off the air, so I have enjoyed listening to gospel CDs this morning.  I thank God for his protection, as I feel so very blessed that we did not have any broken windows.

I will be leaving later today to drive to Fowler for my class.  The wind is blowing really hard.  Darrel just came in and said it's blowing too hard for him to stand on a ladder with a piece of plywood.  And Jim is working today........   Darrel only got one window covered before he had to give up on it.

I just hope the rain is a drought-breaker.  I'm afraid all the wheat in our area was destroyed, though.I don't know how widespread the hail was, but the TV is back on now, so maybe we can get some news about the storm.

Larry, thanks for the information on you D-I-L.  I have known a few women who had no physical excuse, they just didn't want to cook.  Our former pastor's wife said she didn't like to do anything unless she could do it perfectly, so she just refused to cook.  Pretty lame, I think.  And I don't know that any of us do anything PERFECTLY anyway.  Oh, well.

I will miss you all for the next several days, but I shall return!  Stay well, and keep trusting in the Lord.

My goodness, Janet!  What a storm that must have been.  Thank the Lord that you and Darrel were protected from damage or injury.

Yes, Jeanne.  I just went out to survey the damage, and it took out any hopes of peaches or cherries for this season.  Leaves and fruit all on the ground.    But God is good; all the time.  He has reasons for everything that happens.

I am back from my trip to see Savannah graduate, I was gone from Thursday last, until yesterday, I stayed at my friend Willa's house so I also had a great visit with friends. She wanted me to stay until today and go to church with her to my old church but  I really had to get back here to go to my church here.  I am still trying to get the  Bible study class  together in my thoughts, This Thursday will be the first meeting and I am planning for it to be more of an introduction with  testimonies, since I don't know most of those who will be there. I also want to get a Prayer chain set up so we will be discussing that as well.  Proverbs 31 keeps coming into my thoughts so It looks like God wants me to study that first then take it to the others.

Janet:   What a storm.

We went to our daughters yesterday as Mel was borrowing a table saw from her partner, it was a short visit but it was good to see her again.

Today has been quiet but I did enjoy sitting out with a book. 

Marilyn, good to know you're home safe and sound and that you had such an enjoyable weekend.

I was going to say "good luck" with your bible study group, but of course, "luck" has nothing to do with it.  We know it's the leading of the Holy Spirit, if we let Him lead, that makes these studies a success.   

Hi everyone.  It is a beautiful Monday here in Georgia.  There is no rain in the forecast for today.  Just my normal Monday activities on tap for today.  The housekeepers are here and about finished.  Pat is headed out to get a massage as she has missed a couple of weeks. 

Jeanne, I really like the devotional thoughts you shared for us this week.  Thanks. 

Janet, that sounds like a terrible storm.  Glad your didn't have damage to your own home.  Only Christ was perfect but we often seem to think we have to try to be perfect or we have failed.  Have a great time painting. 

Marilyn, glad you are safely back.  Our minister asks our Bible study group what we would like to study.  We recently started having studies on the text that will be used on the coming Sunday's lesson.  We are finding it very worthwhile.  We have studied individual books of the Bible, themes in the Bible and other things. 

Ruth, always nice to see your children even if the visits have to be short. 

Today is Monday so now to see what each day turns out to be like.

This morning I went for blood work this is a normal 6 week check.
Then later on I went to a Factory called Gracious Living - they sell patio furniture etc.  I was looking for plastic lawn chairs that just might be red, no such luck.
Dinner is on cooking and it is going to be leftovers.

About 2 p.m. we got dumped on with rain no lightening but lots of wind. I think it lasted for half an hour then the sun came out and so far no more.

Marilyn: Good to know that you enjoyed the visit with family. Did you travel alone?

Judy: Did you get down to Woodbridge on Sunday? It would be a long drive for one day or perhaps you stayed overnight some where.

I have 2 of the same cannot get rid of one blame Ruth

Hi Ruth we had intended to drop in yesterday but ended up dropping Max where he was staying. That was quite a ways north of you guys. Have to make it another time.

Hi, friends,

I needed to take a weekend away from electronics, but I'm back now.

It was good to be at the Y today to get in a bit of exercise. Then, of course, I was pretty tired when that was over. Step by step, little by little, I sense improvement.

Much love to all of you,
Ruth Ann

Luck has nothing to do with our lives but I. Do say Good Luck sometimes. 

we are still in Tucson working on the house. It is a little larger than the condo we sold and has a spacious garage with a full washer  and dryer.  Yes we do shop for bargains but mattresses to be delivered are new and the two love seats as well. Don refreshed the finish on the table today and spackled then painted some spots on walls after taking out nails.   there is record setting heat now and I am finding swollen ankles if there is no rest and feet up often. we have the air on in the house but have been working in the garage.. Not nice. 

Janet.   thank The Lord you are all safe.    Good that Beth was safe away from the trailer. 

Going to do the daily free puzzle on this iP ad now. 

Hi everyone.  It looks like we are to have another typical Georgia spring day with a low possibility of some scattered thundershowers this afternoon and evening.  I have a quiet day planned.  I will attend a meeting this morning and that should be the agenda for today.  Pat is meeting a long time friend at a buffet for lunch. 

Ruth, very often we have an evening meal consisting of some left overs from another meal.  They are always good and somethings are actually better the second time around, particularly those with tomato in them.

Carol, I hope you and Don don't overdo in your preparation of your second home in Tuscon.  It sounds like it is very nice and bet you will enjoy having your own washer and dryer there. 

Hi everyone.  It looks like another beautiful, sunny day here in Georgia getting up to about 82 this afternoon.  It looks like I was the only one who posted yesterday.  I will be gone all morning as this is Bible study and then will likely go over to Dunkin' Donuts for and hour or so. Pat isn't planning on going this morning as she had a full day yesterday. Nothing else on the schedule for today. It was 52 years ago today that I first went to work for the Federal Government and now have been retired for 19 years.  It doesn't seem possible. 

Larry:   I will join you today.

The past couple of days had been very humid and also rain thrown in. I did grocery shopping for 2 homes and because I was buying bottled water I asked Mel to come along, he made the comment that the list had only so many items but more got added is that not what always can happen.  I the larger order to Aunties and always she is glad to have family visit.  Yes going over there which is a l5 minute drive I encountered road repair.  Replacement of guard rails.   Now it is to do a little house work, before my favorite TV show comes on.

We need our friends to arrive her on CP

Ruth yes I traveled alone to California. Keith had to work and take care of our critters.

Not much new here, got off work at 1:30 today, went to the farm store to buy dog food and i did a few lessons  online for the Essential Oils. Got my outline  printed up for tomorrow's bible study and printed out the lesson plan for Proverbs, 31:10-31. Checked those scriptures out in my Nelson's Study Bible and the Amplified Bible as well. Made up a notebook to keep the lessons in. That's it for today

Hi, Ruth, Larry, and Marilyn, (and all others who came to read but not post),

A lady in the apartment building is almost past walking, but needed to go out to do banking, etc., after being housebound all spring. Now, it's really hot here - 89 degrees today. She, of course, really needed to have some browsing time in the store, so I didn't get back to my apartment till 9:30.

Ah, well, it could be that I will need a ride in the future, so it's good to pay it forward, isn't it.

Best wishes with the Bible study, Marilyn. Larry, you're such a computer guru - it's nice that you've taught yourself so much. Ruth, glad to hear you're coming along with your recovery.

Y'all have a good rest of the day.

Ruth Ann

Hi everyone.  It is an overcast morning and the possibility of rain and perhaps isolated severe storms this afternoon.  I have nothing on the schedule that will take me out of the house.  Pat plans on seeing a movie this afternoon with a friend and she may want to go out to eat this evening.  I do have a list of tasks to work on once I finish reading and writing on the message boards this morning. 

Ruth, I bet your aunt appreciates very much not only the shopping you do for her but the precious minutes of your time you give to her with your visits.  We seem to have a lot of road work always going on in places around Atlanta and also our little community. 

Marilyn, this is the day for your new Bible class.  Breathe deeply and let the Spirit take control and you will be fine.  It sounds like you are well prepared. 

Ruth Ann, you are so giving of your time to take friends to places they could not get to by themselves and helping them.  God puts Angels into our lives in many ways. 

Yes today is the day, in about  and hour I will be seeing who shows up. I don't know most of the ladies by name just by sight, I really feel inadequate to do be teaching others, I've never been a good public speaker, but I will ask the Lord to guide me and to open my mouth  and put the words there that He wants me to say.  Prayers from y'all will be very appreciated.

hello friends: 

Marilyn: How did your Bible Study go.
Ruth Ann:  You give of your time and at the end of the day I can be sure that you are so grateful.
Larry: It is good to see you visit every day.

We have had a busy couple of days with extra phone calls, but come the weekend that should settle down.

My BIL called this morning to let us know that at his place it is cold and farther north of him they had snow. It is also cool here but will get warmer tomorrow.
This morning we went for foot care then had lunch out. I also needed to do some banking as well.

Marilyn, by now your class should be finished.  When I have taught in the past I often find I learn more from others as the lesson is discussed.  The first of anything is always the most difficult because of the unknown.

Ruth,  we had a pretty hot day up around 90 degrees but no rain so far. 

Pat and I just got back from having dinner out at a little diner type place called Cup and Saucer.  It was very good.  I enjoyed a small steak and Pat had the fish dinner.  She wasn't feeling up to cooking tonight as had been gone several hours today.  She was disappointed in the movie and said the senior matinee price had gone up to $8.50.  It was suppose to be a comedy but she and her friend didn't see much that was funny.  I spent about 4 hours working the the Advanced System techs trying to get Pat's laptop so that it didn't lose the internet wi-fi connection overnight.  I think the problem was fixed but won't know until morning.  I am getting my money's worth of service on the computers as it seems there is always something. 

Only 4 were able to come today, 3 were newbies to the Bible so anyway it went great, i am learning more right along with them we discussed Proverbs 31 and how we could relate it to our lives today. It was a fun group.

Well, what a long day yesterday!!  I took my time driving and spent some time just sitting in the car now and then just to rest my hip.

I went to bed and then couldn't sleep!  Today I had some web work to do for the Guelph Hiking Trail Club webpage and now await the lady who sent me the text to see if it's what she wanted it to look like. 

I cut my front lawn and then started the back as both were so very, very long but the plug kept on coming out of my plug on the back wall of the house and I finally gave up and came in.

Jeanne, what a wonderful devotional!  Thank you!  I really enjoy anything that Charles H. Spurgeon writes!

Pat:  In other words, you have a quiet electric lawn mower since you mention it being plugged into a socket.  Maybe the prongs are bent?  What do I know?  I try to fix things but I don't always know what I am doing. 
Nice that you are still involved in the hiking club. 

It is so hot here in Tucson.  We will leave for home in several days and it can't come soon enough.  There is a truly awful thing happening in the city of Phoenix - the government (Feds) are filling busloads of women and children who are caught illegally entering the country in places such as Texas and Florida.  They (unannounced to citizens and governor of Arizona( have put hundreds of the displaced children and women on these buses and literally drop them off in downtown Phoenix.  Thank the Lord - there are volunteers to give water, food and help in so many ways.  Every day is hotter and hotter and the powers in charge keep sending these poor poor people with little ones to a miserable and dangerous situation. 

Today is my great granddaughter's birthday .... it was three years ago that I was rescuing my homeless granddaughter from the streets of Chicago.  She had just given birth to this baby girl.  Now, three years later, here is the photo Becky shared on Facebook:


She's come such a long way in three years ... but there have been many set backs, and she is struggling again.  We continue to encourage her and her efforts to make a better life for herself and her daughter.

Hi everyone.  Just a quick check in this morning as posted last evening.  Today will be another quiet day as after coffee plan on staying home the rest of the day.  Pat has some midday plans .  We did get some rain last evening. 

Jane, what a happy looking child.  It must make your heart soar to see the transition in these three years. It has been a fast three years.

Carol, I haven't heard or read anything about dumping illegals in Phoenix.  What motivates this behavior.  I know you will be glad to get home to Denver and some cooler days and nights. 

Pat, glad to see your are safely back at your home in Canada.  Sorry to read of your sleeping difficulties but suppose it was your body reacting to the punishment of the long trip. Hope you had a better nights sleep last nigh.   I used to have an electric mower.  I liked it as didn't have to deal with having gas and oil on hand when I wanted to mow.  However, keeping track of the cord and constantly moving it wasn't fun.   

Marilyn, glad your class went well and it is the quantity of people that is important but the people who make themselves available for the study. 

Jane, what an awesome photo of a dear little girl.  Thanks so much for sharing her with us.  I remember that time well when you dealt with the problems your granddaughter had.    


Larry, yes, I really like my mower.  I found that I just couldn't pull the cord with my old mower to start it. 

Quote from: JudyB on May 26, 2014, 12:34:28 PM

      Saturday was Pat and Paul's Anniversary. 

Happy Anniversary Pat and Paul!     

Thanks for this, Judy.  I missed seeing it while I was down in Virginia. 

Hello everyone, I'm just passing through today to say HI and hope you are all doing well.

I've been my usual busy self so far today and we are going out for dinner this evening with the group we always meet with on Friday at the Mexican restaurant in the mall.

Jane Karman is a real cutie.