Christian Photographers Community

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Morning Devotional...

Tomorrow at 3:00 pm Eastern time, Joni Eareckson Tada is having a mastectomy due to finding out on Thursday that she has breast cancer.  

Special Message from Joni

and...

Watch and Listen to her here

Let's all pray to the Lord for Joni that the Great Physician will deal wonderfully with her.  As we pray for Joni, I thought it would be fitting to read the devotional she sent out today.





Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.  -- 1 Corinthians 11:1
                 


I just got off the phone with my friend, Bunny.  We haven't seen each other in ages, but I said, "Bun, you wouldn't believe how often I think about you.  For instance, I get into a situation and I say to myself, Lord, what would Bunny do?  What would she say to this person?"  I could tell she was blushing; so I quickly added, "Oh, I'm not imitating your holiness.  Just how you get there!"

This is what today's verse is all about.  The apostle Paul's comment to the Corinthians could be construed as self-deifying.  He sounds almost presumptuous.  Is he comparing himself to Christ?  No, Paul is not asking us to imitate his righteousness, for there is only one that is holy and he is the Lord.  Paul is asking us to imitate the choices he makes, to model his discernments, and his response to certain people and situations.  Paul knew that his fellow Christians would soon find themselves facing the sort of persecution he was already experiencing.  As their spiritual father, he wanted them to ask, What would Paul do if he were facing this mob?  What would he say to my accusers?

We imitate the methods and manners of the Christians who serve as our examples.  The Christ-likeness, the holiness and righteousness will then be added.  God wants us to "...be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity" (1 Timothy 4:12).

*  *  *  *  *

Who is looking up to you as an example?  A child?  A grandchild?  A fellow student?  Your neighbor or co-worker?  The new woman at church?  If you are growing in Christ, know this: somebody is watching and learning.  Somebody is thinking of you, What would he do?  What would she say?  How can you be an example?  Read 1 Timothy 4:12 again and go out and live it in sight of others.            

Lord, maybe it's best that I don't know who's watching and learning from me.  All I need to know is that I want to imitate you.  As I do, others will observe how I do it and be inspired to live the same way.  May I be responsible today to this high calling.


Blessings,
Joni and Friends
www.joniandfriends.org

Thank you Pat...This is a follow up of a theme I have been hearing this past little while. 

May the mind of Christ, my Saviour,
Live in me from day to day,
By His love and pow'r controlling
All I do and say.

Hello Dear Prayer Family

Thank you for sharing that prayer request for Joni Eareckson Tada. I have followed her life as a kind of beacon for many years and have been amazed time and again by her strength and obedience to our Lord!
Joni has had her challenges, and I am sure that she has teetered like many of us in her faith, but her smile and her endurance always leave me feeling humble as I mutter about the small stuff.

Last week I had a wonderful experience with two of my friends. Mary is seventy three and like me has raised all of her children ( eight, I think) and four grandchildren and it looks as if she might have to take on a three year old great grandchild. If you are thinking that she is frowing and saying, "No fair" it is just the other way around. She is asking God for the strength to do this if she has to.

My other friend is Alma, sixty five and has recently had a couple of strokes. I knew Alma many years ago when she was up and about and helping to make positive changes in the community. Well, she is now on a cane and has her times of forgetfulness ( don't we all?) due to her stroke. So, since I have done some work in our community garden, I offered to help Alma put out her garden plants as she was behind in the process having been in the hospital for so long.

Miss Mary, who is known as "Two-Mama" to her grands and great grands, and I decided to go over to see Alma. When we arrived, Alma was waiting and asked me if I would grab a bag of gravel and spread it around one side of her lawn as a border, I guess. Then she asked me to grab another bag. Each of these bags
weighed at least twenty pounds, but I didn't think of that and though my bad back protested, I finished the job as well as two other small ones, then we sat down to chat a bit.

I whined about this and that little thing and the two women looked at me calmly and one, ( I have forgotten which one) said, "You should be thanking God".
Again I set up a whine about "Well, I DO thank Him" and of course, they smiled at me indulgently and Alma said, "Look at you walking with no cane, when a few years ago, the doctor said you might never walk again, and the way you sprinted up the stairs like a young girl to get those heavy bags of gravel and she went on as I felt about three inches tall.

She is right. Like many people, I forget to thank God for the activity of my limbs and the movement of my mind. There are many people of various ages who cannot do half the things I am able to do. Yet, when my prognosis was grim, I begged God for healing and He was gracious and faithful to allow me to walk again.

Oh, I have a few hitches and I have my share of old folks pains, but for the most part, I have been given a second chance to mobility for however long.
Then I see the courage of a wonderful woman like Joni E Tada and I want to hang my head in shame, and rightfully so. She has been unable to walk for all of her young life. Yet, she has a ministry that is all about overcoming and trusting God in all things. She wrote once that this was God's will for her, and I remember feeling puzzled, as I was younger then and wondered how could this be?

Well, I am a few years and a few challenges wiser and I see that Joni got huge
doses of wisdom to fit everything she has faced.
Thanks so much for sharing this and thank you for allowing me the opportunity
to thank and praise God and remember how blessed I truly am!

Love and Blessings!
Zenobia

This week's promise: God will guard you from the evil one
Facing the spiritual battle

Finally, dear brothers and sisters, I ask you to pray for us. Pray first that the Lord's message will spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes, just as when it came to you. Pray, too, that we will be saved from wicked and evil people, for not everyone believes in the Lord. But the Lord is faithful; he will make you strong and guard you from the evil one.... May the Lord bring you into an ever deeper understanding of the love of God and the endurance that comes from Christ.

2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 NLT


About this week's promise

In order to be effective on the battlefield a soldier must be both well trained and properly equipped. The warrior must be alert for surprise attacks. So it is in our spiritual battle with Satan. Determined to destroy our faith by leading us into sin and discouragement, Satan attacks with blatant temptation and deceptive lies. The Bible teaches that the best weapons for this warfare are the Word of God and prayer.

The faith of the Thessalonian believers was being tried by persecution. Undoubtedly some of them were wavering, even failing, as the surrounding evil put them to the test. This was an important time for Paul to remind them that, no matter what happened, God's faithfulness would prevail over evil and strengthen them so that they could endure

Pat, thank you so much for posting Joni's devotional.  It's something we can all learn from.

Zeebers, thank you for the reminder not to whine about the small things...  or the big things.  Our Father knows what we need (as opposed to what we want) and is always there to uphold and comfort us and carry us through the not-so-nice things that happen, while He uses those things to strengthen us - if we let Him.

Hi everyone. 

Nothing much to write about today.  I did appreciate the messages above.  It is so easy to complain but know I need to keep in mind that I have so much to be thankful for and many others are much worse off than I am.  God doesn't give us more than we can handle and having a not so good day reminds us to appreciate the days that are good or better than the previous days.

Can't think of anything else to write today so will be brief.

The picnic was fine!  We started out outside under the pavilion. 

Some games were played...egg roll race, three-legged race, sack race.  Ivalou, another lady and I judged the tractors for the Smallest, Cleanest, Prettiest, Meanest and the one that looked most like its owner. 

We started eating.

Strong winds arose and the clouds got dark.  They moved the food and the silent auction into the basement of the church.

We all went inside for awards and then we had a welcome shower for the new Youth and Children Minister.  Lots of household items and gift certificates. 

Too windy for fireworks so they are postponed.  And it never did rain here but south of us was lots of damage by wind and rain!  Thank you, God for not raining on our good time at Clarksville Christian Church. 

Today I have an appointment with my ENT doctor.  Hope I don't have to go back for a year! 

Good Morning everyone!

It's a lovely day here in Guelph after a very blustery, hot weekend with rain, thunder, lightening and tornado warnings.  Wow!  It was kind of "iffy" at times as the windows rattled!


Nice to see you Zee!  Thanks for sharing with us.  And thanks for praying for Joni with us.  She's been a wonderful help since her accident to so many.

Sounds like you had the same weather Etta Sue!

Hi Larry.  We all have days with "nothing much to say"    

This week's promise: God will guard you from the evil one
Do I need to fear the devil's intrusion?

"But if I am casting out demons by the power of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. For when Satan, who is completely armed, guards his palace, it is safe—until someone who is stronger attacks and overpowers him, strips him of his weapons, and carries off his belongings."

Luke 11:20-22 NLT


The Stronger Man

Do not be misled: Satan is strong in power and cunning. He has laid low some of God's choicest servants because they underestimated him and overestimated themselves. Even Samson with all his strength was no match for Satan. Nor was Solomon with all his wisdom.

So how can you keep the devil and his buddies out of your "house"? A man stronger than the one who controls you must deliver you. Only one qualifies as stronger than Satan: Jesus Christ.

I want to make it clear that genuine Christians need not fear being possessed or controlled by demons; Jesus is not into a time-sharing program with Satan. The Bible tells us, "He who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him." (1 John 5:18)

Oh, Satan may knock on the doors and rattle the windows. He may threaten to "huff and puff and blow the house down." But he cannot enter because someone stronger has taken up residence. "Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world." (1 John 4:4 KJV)



From Breakfast with Jesus by Greg Laurie (Tyndale House) pp 55-56

Hi everyone.  I see it has been quiet here since yesterday with only a two or three postings.  Guess people are occupied with summer activities or vacations.  It is hard to believe that another month has almost passed.

Not been feeling up to par the last couple of days and it appears today will be the same.  I have somewhere I want to go this morning but will have to decide whether I feel up to it or not and may just stay home.  I have nothing else on the schedule. for today.  It will be in the 90's again today but then we are to have a few days in the 80's which will be welcome.  We may get some more rain today and tomorrow.

Pat is cooking some tomatoes this morning for her own sauce.  My friend, who has the big garden and sells his produce, has the best looking and Pat says the best tasting tomatoes this year.  She is also going to start looking for a new mattress and box springs as we need to replace ours. 

Etta Sue, it sounds like you had a delightful time at your church picnic.  How many tractors did you have entered in your contest?  Did you take any pictures?

Pat, glad you escaped any big storms.  It is always a worry when tornadoes and bad storms are predicted.

Judy, thanks for sharing the promises from the Bible.

I'm sorry you aren't feeling well Larry.  It's not pleasant.  I will be praying for you.  Actually, what I should say is that "I'll continue to pray for you as I have been for many years!"  Remember that long treatment you had to go through that was experimental back in the '90's? 

Just had the window guy come and do final measurements for two windows that must be replaced before winter.  They won't be installed till about mid-September which will work in well for the travel back and forth between Virginia and Ontario.  The windows being replaced are the original from 1985 when this home was built. 

Larry, it's not fun when you don't feel well.  But if you don't feel up to it, for sure you should skip whatever you had planned for today.  Like Pat, I'll continue my prayers for you. 

It's quite cool here this morning - in fact the stiff breezes that are blowing make it almost chilly!  But at least yesterday's humidity that made everything feel damp is gone.

I'm applying for a government grant for some needed repairs to the trailer and discovered the insurance company had made an error in the homeowner's policy.  They had my bank listed as a first-payee and there has never been a lien on this trailer.  I need the corrected cover page to include with the grant application and it's slow in coming.  If it's not in today's mail I'll have to call them again and maybe make a fuss. 

Larry ~ I did take photos but I haven't looked at them yet.  Not sure if they were of the tractors or not.  I'd say there were around 10 tractors...all local farmers.  One John Deere.  The rest were Farmalls.  That's why the John Deere won for the Prettiest.  The rest looked alike...   There were 4 kids tractors that were really cute.  Even a pink one!!

The ENT appointment went well.  I love it when I am told...'Everything looks good.  I will see you in a year!!'  I had the cancer removed from my larnyx three years ago. 

I then went to El Camino Real for lunch and home.  Not an exciting day which I those once in a while!

Today I have sprayed RoundUp in my rock landscaping.  It's been down long enough now that there is dirt above the black paper so grass and weeds are growing in places now.  Even thistles this year!  I sprayed around two sides of the house and two trees.  A gallon used.  Not to mix some more.  It's cool.  Only 69° when I sprayed.

I am taking Ivalou to get a haircut at 2:30.  Mine was cute too short the last time so I am not getting a haircut.  When it is short, it isn't curly.  I like it curly.

I went to the doctor yesterday to get the results of my blood draw,everything there is  normal and my  good cholesterol is 65 very good total cholesterol was 235 nothing to worry about.

He ordered a Pulmonary Function test while I was there and  it showed that I do not have Asthma but I do have COPD. That wasn't good news, however, I have had lung problems for so many years that it was not a shock to me to hear that news. He took me off all asthma meds and I will be getting a new inhaler and he changed my pain pills to Celebrex for the arthritis in my hands. Sorry to burden you all with my health problems. They aren't that bad.  and Life goes on!!

Jane and I went to the Fitness Center this morning, I had a problem getting the door open with my code so I used hers to get in. She had not arrived yet. When we were leaving I tried the code again it still didn't work, Jane pointed out to me that I was entering the one of the numbers wrong. So when I tried the right numbers the door opened. Talk about a Senior Moment DUH!!

This morning I am laundering everything off the bed we have been sleeping in and  thoroughly cleaning the big master bedroom at the back of the house so we can move back there  for these months that we don't have to turn on nay heat back there.

Good to see you posting Pat.

Psalm 42:5 (New King James Version)


5 Why are you cast down, O my soul?
         And why are you disquieted within me?
         Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him
         For the help of His countenance.

What hope do I have to face evil?

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord. He was seated on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple. Hovering around him were mighty seraphim, each with six wings....In a great chorus they sang, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty! The whole earth is filled with his glory!"

Isaiah 6:1-4 NLT


Lead on, O King eternal,
Till sin's fierce war shall cease,
And holiness shall whisper
The sweet amen of peace.
For not with swords' loud clashing,
Nor roll of stirring drums,
With deeds of love and mercy
The heavenly kingdom comes.
Ernest Warburton Shurtleff


The day of march has come
In 1887, Ernest Shurtleff was about to graduate from Andover Seminary. Ernest wrote a hymn for the entire graduating class to sing. He told his fellow seminarians, "We've been spending days of preparation here at seminary. Now the day of march has come, and we must go out to follow the leadership of the King of kings, to conquer the world under His banner."

Thus, "Lead On, O King Eternal" was written for a seminary graduating class. Our commencements are not always so dramatic, but there is no reason our eternal King cannot open a new door for us today. We can step out and march under His banner, "not with fears, for gladness breaks like morning where'er [His] face appears."



From The One Year Book of Hymns (Tyndale House) entry for January 15

Yesterday morning early I went out and sprayed Roundup.  Afterwards my eyes watered like pouring water in a sieve.  I sneezed and sneezed.  I found some Sinus and Allergy pills in the cabinet.  I took one at noon.  Within a half hour my eyes weren't watering and I quit sneezing.  So now I guess I need to keep Allergy meds around. 

Ivalou got a super short haircut.  She can't style her hair anymore.  Her right arm and hand won't let her to it.  So hopefully she can wash her hair and comb it and it will dry fine for her.  We didn't have anything else to do so we came back home.

I have done chores that are done every 3 months or so.  Clean filters on the A/C.  Clean filter on the air purifier.  I changed the bed linens this morning and turned my mattress.  This new mattress will never last 40 years like my old one did!!  And it took too long to make my two cups of coffee so I have ran vinegar through it.  Piddly chores but they are done for another 3 months or so. 

This afternoon Kitty and I are going swimming and whatever else we need or want to do before returning back home!

This time tomorrow half of 2010 will be in the past!

I will be back later!

Etta Sue, I'm glad to see you're back with the animations!   

Well, yesterday I kinda went further than Pat's "I don't do mornings" graphic - I didn't do afternoon either.

Now, my eyes are getting heavy, so will try to awaken at a much better time tomorrow.

G'nite - ummmm - g'morning, friends.

Ruth Ann

It's official.  Half of 2010 is done and gone!!   

Thanks, Jeanne.  I thought I will try the animations again and everything worked fine.  Don't know why they didn't.  Just know they do now.  Kinda sounds like the blind man saying I don't know who cured me from blindness.  I was blind but now I can see.

Kitty and I went swimming yesterday.  Another good workout.  After a year, I am finally enjoying 'swimming' instead of trying to 'swim'.  We stopped at Hobby Lobby and got our matt boards for our photography entries for the State Fair.  Then home.  No Chili's for chips and salsa yesterday. 

I sprayed some more RoundUp yesterday and still have some more to spray.  Maybe today. 

I called Ivalou and we are going to Noblesville for lunch.  Then WalMart and then to Staples to print my photos for the State Fair.  Then we are ready to mat them. 

It was quite cool this morning when I got up.  Only 61°.  It is almost 10:30 and only 65° now.  Bright and sunny.  But the weather men say to enjoy the coolness while you can.  It will warm up again by the weekend!!  I am enjoying the coolness...

Like Ruth Ann, I am sleepy.  We went to a LIBERTY program at a church in Liberal last night.  It was EXCELLENT!  But it also meant being up late, and I worked this morning, so am sleepy.  I work again tomorrow, then will be off for a while.

Darrel's surgery is Tuesday the 6th, in Amarillo.  Please pray he gets the very best result from that.

Larry, I am praying you are feeling better by now.

Nothing that seems to me newsworthy, so will see you later.

No interesting new from here either. I am dealing with some depression, but  will get over it in time. God is in Control and I know that my hope is in Him.

Can evil overcome me?

I look up to the mountains—does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made the heavens and the earth!

He will not let you stumble and fall; the one who watches over you and will not sleep. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never tires and never sleeps. The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not hurt you by day, nor the moon at night. The Lord keeps you from all evil and preserves your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.

Psalm 121 NLT


Protection for the soul

Psalm 121 is one of a collection of "songs of ascent" sung by Jewish pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem for one of Israel's great feasts. Basically it is hymn of trust that God will watch over his people as they journey along potentially dangerous roads, up through the hills of Judea to the Holy City.

Does God say that his people will never encounter trouble? No. The awful truth is that even Christians get robbed and mugged, raped and murdered. Statistics indicate that more followers of Jesus were martyred for their faith in the twentieth century than in the previous nineteen centures combined. You will not find any biblical evidence to suggest that believers are exempt from the ugly violence of a fallen world.

As Jesus said in Matthew 10:28: At worst, evil people "can only kill your body; they cannot touch your soul."



Based on Praying God's Promises in Tough Times by Len Woods (Tyndale) p 94

"I Lift My Eyes Up"

I lift my eyes up, unto the moutains
where does my help come from?
My help comes from You, maker of heaven
creator of the earth

oh how I need you Lord
You are my only hope
You're my only prayer

so I will wait for You
to come and rescue me
to come and give me life

Hi everyone. 

I appreciate the prayers and concerns.  I have been in the hospital the last three days as had another blockage in an artery.  I was still not feeling well Tuesday morning so decided to contact my doctor  and was able to see him within an hour of calling.  He then sent me to the hospital ER by ambulance and after 5 hours in the ER (I had a bed all that time) I was admitted for an angiogram on Wednesday.  That was done in the hospital across the street so took another 3 minute ambulance ride and thought my procedure would be at 10:30 but it didn't start until 2:30.  They found the blockage and put in a stent. 

I spent last night in this second hospital and expected to be released at noon.  However,  as I was having more shortness of breath the doctor decided to give me another 20 mgs of Lasix and it drove my blood pressure down until at 3 pm the bottom number was 40 and finally an hour later that number was up to 50 and the top number was better and I was released.  The doctor told me I will probably have shortness of breath for the rest of my life along with some angina due to the condition of my heart.  Right now I am feeling good but tired.

Oh Larry. You were missed here.  I will continue to pray.  I expressed my concern to Pat.  We are both praying.

Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour. Take a firm stand against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.

1 Peter 5:8-9 NLT

So humble yourselves before God. Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you.
James 4:7-8 NLT

Hi everyone.  Feeling fine this morning and attended my usual Friday men's coffee hour at the senior center.  I will take it easy today and just catch up on some things I need to do here at my desk. 

Hope everyone has a good day.