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Morning Devotional...





There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears. Philippians 1:6 (The Message)


Personal Commitment to Growth

There comes a time when the true believer must take his stand on the oath and covenant of God and refuse to be shaken. He must lift high his happy affirmation, not in arrogance, but in faith and in deep humility. Perhaps his declaration of independence will go something like this:

I am not yet perfect, but I thank God and my Lord Jesus Christ that I am done with the past and I do now trust in my Savior for full deliverance from all my sins. I cannot pray like Daniel, but I shall never cease to praise God that He inclines His ear to me. I am not as wise as Solomon, but I glory in this, that "I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day" (2 Timothy 1:12). I have not the gifts of Moses or Isaiah or John, but I'll be everlastingly grateful that I have been given the moral perception to understand and appreciate such men as these. I am not what I want to be, but thanks be to God that I do want to be better than I am; and I am sure that "He who began a good work in [me] will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6).

Here I stand. I can do nothing else, so help me God.

We can't grow by our own effort and determination. But we can fully commit ourselves to God, trusting Him for empowerment. As we submit to His control, the Spirit will grow us!


Father, complete in me the transformation You have begun. For Jesus' sake

From Devotions By Dr. Tozer

Don, thank you for this morning's devotional.  Another reminder that we do not have control of our lives or circumstances, but we must leave everything to God and be fully committed to Him.  And that's not always easy! 

Hi everyone.  It is a sunny morning but will be close to 90 before the day is done.  We will attend church and out to lunch.  I have been busy this morning getting the bills ready to pay tomorrow.  I prepare them and Pat actually does the payment through the banks electronic banking.  I will take it easy  the remainder of the day, not very exciting but that is it and I like it that way.

Marilyn, sure hope you are able to see your son Ron when he is in California as 22 years is a long time.  Sorry to read of the MIL's health problems.  It is good that Ron and his wife can come to assist her.  Don't ever give up on reuniting with your other children.   

Jeanne, you must be getting some of the strong rains we have enjoyed in our area over the past couple of weeks.  Here with the humidity we feel "hot and sweaty."  :)

Jane, glad you had such a good time in California with your sisters.  It sounds like you need a big glass of ice water to help you stay cool. 

Ruth Ann, glad you checked in so we won't be worrying about you. 

Don, thank you for this week's devotional thoughts. 

Thank you Don a good message, and encouragement to grow.  We seem to forget growth at times, However if a child doesn't grow we become concerned, we should be just as concerned if we don't grow spiritually.  For This I Have Jesus!

Trust and pray.  Thank.  you,Don fr this special devotion


we are working on sorting things from the mountain house and a few other things   The altitude is over 8500 here so we work then rest.  Thankful that we have such helpful children who will be here in
Grand Lake this next month whenever they can to lift and haul furniture  We will take two loads hopefully for donations.  And fill the vehicle with our stuff when we retun home.  Am keeping my snow shoes and two pairs of hiking boots.  You never know.  One pair is for mud and slush

What a beautiful place to see Gods handiwork here in the mountains

Hi everyone.  Pat told me we had some rain early this morning.  I didn't hear it and is now just overcase and will be in the mid to high 80's today.  Today begins the seven week daily trek for the EECP treatments.  Pat will go with me today.  I will be using the GPS in my iPhone.  I have my audiobook ready in my iPhone and that will help pass the hour involved in each treatment.

Yesterday after church seven of us went to a new place for lunch, at least to me.  It is a place called Always Fresh. On Sundays it is a buffet.  I can say that in my recollection this was the best food I have eaten out in many years and perhaps ever.  It is all like home cooked and was just delicious.  It was $13 per person but included the drink and dessert and was more than worth the money.  There were several meat selections and a number of vegetables, salad, rolls (which I will bypass in the future to be able to enjoy more of the other food). 

Judy, I certainly agree with you on your response to Don's devotional thoughts this week. 

Carol, all that sorting sounds like a pretty big job.  Just don't overdo at that high elevation.  I would do well to get from the car into the cabin at that height.  Of course, you all are acclimated to the elevation.  How long will you be at the cabin?  I love the pictures of the mountains and streams that run through them.   

Here is a wake up call for all Christians.....from an Atheist. Not sure who the commentator is however the content is amazing.  This is what we should be like, how many of us are not embarrassed at our faith?  Listen to an atheist here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIkenSJ8A5E). 

It is a cool day so far, good day to get some work done.  Thankfully John is home today we can get this job at least mostly done!

Have a great day everyone.

Marble size hail yesterday and fog this morning but the sun is out now.  Just read the news at a coffee shop and we will check sons cabin for any damage but not likely. Donating another load today then driving to meet friends for an early dinner.

Bless the firefighters in Arizona and their families.  19 lost their lives yesterday. 

Larry, we are careful. We haven't been up the hill very often and realize the difference.  We also notice the difference at home upon returning from any drive to the flatlands.  That sounds like a really good meal out.   

Thank you Judy for that thought provoking video. It sure made me think about my own responses to people. All to often we as Christians preach to the choir when in fact we should be witnessing to the world around us. This witnessing can take many forms, such sharing your thoughts as people open doors with their comments, silent witnessing with how we deal with day to day situations and comments we make as issues in life crop up and I could go on. Its easy to talk to fellow Christians as we are like minded except for legalism. We need to direct our ministry to the unsaved   and stop preaching to the choir. Churches need to concentrate on preparing workers to go out into the world and teach truth to the masses. to often i have heard preachers who preached criticism rather than teach truth, preparing people to go out and be a witness. Lets set legalism aside and help each other grow in knowledge to evangelize. I admit that I have fallen short here myself but this video has stirred my spirit to not pass up on opportunities in the future. We should not hide our faith but carry it openly.

We are having a reprieve from the terrible heat and appreciate it so much.  They say low 90s all week for us.

So sad about the Arizona fire fighters.  We saw Gov. Jan Brewer on TV and she was having trouble even speaking, because of the emotion.

We are leaving shortly to attend a wonderful patriotic music show in Liberal. We have attended it the past few years, and it seems to get better each year.

I'm not addressing anyone by name today, but asking God to bless each one of you!

John has headed to bed, he did an amazing job of enlarging our powder room.  It won't be finished till next week.  I am excited to get it done.

Kassie has a dog, Stiches, that it looks like we are keeping.  She has adopted John as her master.  Follows him everywhere.

Well have a good night everyone I am off to bed as well!

No exercise at the gym today.  We are heading to Wichita again, to the VA, just a follow-up for Darrel.  We will pick up our silk carpet from the man who cleaned it for us.  He has relatives much nearer here, and is coming to visit them the 4th.  He was going to bring the carpet with him and we would meet him there; now he won't have to do that.  So nice of him to offer, though!

The patriotic program was just wonderful!  This makes 27 years that church has done them, and they expanded to three nights this time, as people come from all over the area to attend.  They bought a big warehouse type grocery store and turned it into a church, so they have a lovely, BIG auditorium, but still not enough room for the crowds for the LIBERTY show.

I think we are to have cooler temps again today.  Thank you, Lord.

Judy, it sounds like you and John are running a dog farm!  Or is that dog and bird?   ;)  Glad you are getting improvements done on your house.  We are getting ready to do some of that again, too, I can hardly wait.

I need to get Darrel out of bed so we can "hit the road!"

Blessings to all of you today.

Janet

Hi everyone on a cloudy and dark morning.  Yesterday went well but was a long day.  The GPS got us to where we were going but because it was the first EECP treatment there was a bit of preparation involved and rather than one hour it took two.  Pat went with me and we planned to eat after my appointment and were more than ready to do so as had had no lunch. 

We found an Appleby's using the GPS that was close by but when we pulled up Pat said they are closed as they are only open from 11-1.  We started to look up somewhere else to go and then it dawned on us that was 11am to 1am and they were open.  We had a good laugh and went in and had a nice late lunch early dinner.  By the time we got home we both were beat and I went to bed at 8 pm and slept well all night long. The future treatments won't be so long as all the first time prep is over, measurements have been taken so the right pads are available. 

I don't think Pat will go with me today as it was a lot of riding and waiting in the waiting room.  I need to make a quick trip to Walmart this morning and get a phone charger for the car.  My battery was about exhausted using the GPS and then listening to an audiobook for the hour I was on the table.  I will try to leave for Athens by 11:30 each morning but today will eat a bite of lunch before leaving so I can get home in time to rest a bit before the evening. 

Judy, I watched the short video on "listening to an atheist".  It does make one stop to think. 

Carol, the loss of the firefighters was terrible.  That is such a dangerous and difficult and hot job.  It sounds like you are making good progress in your cleaning out the cabin. 

John, very well said.  I have wondered sometime if we wouldn't be better off to not have these huge churches but more home churches?  Just a thought. 

Janet, glad you are not sweltering as you have been.  I see you and Darrel really enjoyed the Patriotic music show.  It must have been quite a production.

It is interesting how often the parents end up with the pets are children or grandchildren have but can no longer keep. 

This is JULY!  I'm not supposed to be cold!  But here I sit with warm socks, jeans and a sweater! 

Showers and heavier rain continue, with destructive flooding in many areas.  Many roads are washed out and one woman, 86 years old, was washed away in her trailer.  It was two days before her body was found in some of the debris from the trailer.

Thank you Lord, that although we are soggy there is no real flooding here.

Oh Jeanne that is terrible!  I can't imagine the terror she felt!

Larry it is the waiting that is tiring.  John has headed out again, with a trainee, going to MN. After the job we were working on he is looking forward to the rest!

The weather here is cold,Temps in the 50's at night and low 70's in the daytime.  I have had to close windows.  I have to clean up the mess that John left last night.  Thinking I will go for a burn permit and burn it all. That will get rid of it quickly!

Have a good day everyone!

Hello!
It is a bit cooler, and overcast, this morning but I love it.  My windows are open because I want that cool air to get in before it warms up this afternoon.   :)

Judy, I know the man who wrote that song ... Bob Kilpatrick was our youth pastor when my girls were teens.  He has an outstanding music ministry now, and has traveled to many countries as well as all across the U.S.  Written many songs, and even a few books, too!  His son is also a minister and has written books along with his father.

Just had to be a name-dropper here when I saw the song you posted this morning.   :)

That is  wonderful Jane?  Do you have contact with him?  Any way you could get some history (why he wrote it) on the song?  Love songs like this.

It's cool here too, but easier to work outside than if it is too hot. I don't think our house has gotten any warmer than 65. We've enjoyed getting the boat out into the water though.

Our grandson is doing well, and is gaining weight. My husband was able to go over last week with me so that he could see him. Our two daughters are going to be able to see him tomorrow. Since they all are teachers, the last few weeks have been too busy for them to get there. Our grandson's due date is tomorrow (Lol - hard to believe he's been here for awhile already) His first due date was July 13th, which I think was probably more accurate and which meant he came even earlier than full term.

My sister has been in hospital again, as the chemo is making her blood cell count too low, and she's pretty weak. She is still leaning on the Lord, which is good to see.

I haven't had much time to check in here, but have been praying as I read the posts.

Judy, he is on Facebook ... also has a blog http://bobkilpatrick.wordpress.com/ (http://bobkilpatrick.wordpress.com/) Just look for Bob Kilpatrick.  I'll see what else I can find for you.   
Here's his website: http://bobkilpatrick.com  

Thanks Jane!

We are home and taking a break from unpacking.  More stuff should have been donated so there is a stash being made in the garage with all the clean clothes.  We had double everything for the cabin just in case weather would take a turn from all the predictions - who is in charge of weather?  We know. 

Betty:  It sure sounds good for your new grandson and so nice that everyone can meet him now.  Prayers for your sister. 

Time to water our upside down tomatoes - they are thriving despite a short hail storm here at the house yesterday.  There was a big fire in Colorado Springs last year in Waldo Canyon - now, there have mudslides and damage from the loss of trees and heavy rain. 

Many of you have known "Tisie" aka Shirley over the years and will be saddened to read her post in Seniors and Friends this morning.  HERE (http://www.seniorsandfriends.org/index.php?topic=2737.msg587046#msg587046)

Hi everyone.  We are starting into a very rainy holiday period.  We are suppose to get anywhere from 2 ro 4 inches of rain between now and the end of Thursday.  I went to coffee this morning and then went for the last of the three blood tests I had scheduled and finally stopped at the church to leave the money we have collected to buy a washing machine for our family that just came here from Nigeria.  The father has been here for 6 years and graduated from seminary but just in the last three or four months was able to get his wife and 6 children legally into the country.  His wife has been doing all the laundry for that large family in their bathtub and they can't afford a washer/dryer.  I didn't stay for the weekly Bible study as just don't have the energy to try to squeeze that in and go for my treatment today.  The trips/treatments the last two days has left me very tired.  Pat is going to go with me today.

Larry, thoughts and prayers go out for you today.  I don't understand what the treatments are, but hope you get the very best results possible from them.  I would certainly hate to do laundry for a family of eight in the bathtub!  I did wash diapers for my first child in the bathtub, and when we got a washer and dryer, I was so happy I wouldn't even have minded if they had been plumbed into the living room!!

I'm so sorry to read about Tisie's husband.  She was so kind to me during Beth's long hospitalization in Wichita.  She came to visit me at the hospital, and later took me to get some prescriptions filled.  (I didn't have a car there.)  Prayers for peace for her today and in the days to come.

I have been to the gym, now it's time to shower and see what else the day holds for me.

Hi everyone on an overcast 4th of July.  We have no plans for today.  Pat is fixing some ribs in the oven and will make some baked beans and perhaps some potatoe salad and we have a couple of pieces of lemon pie left from a pie we got earlier in the week.  So we are having a quiet day.  I slept in this morning and am still tired.  Pat said she was so sore and hurt all over that she could hardly move.  I think all that riding and sitting in the doctor's office yesterday has taken its tool on us and glad I have a day off today form the treatments. It took two hours to finish my treatment as they had an emergency so was a half hour late getting started and then the tech had difficulty in getting the leads on my chest to read my heart beat.   I don't want Pat to go with me anymore as it is too hard on her and isn't necessary. It also didn't help that we drove back through some very heavy rain but it had passed our area when we got home.  More is expected today.

Janet, this website shows you a picture and gives some info on EECP.  Note the  blue pads with red edges.  These are the pads that are carefully strapped around your legs and hips from the ankles to almost your waist.  (I see several pictures cycle through so it may take a minute to get back to the one showing the patient and the machine control panel.) www.http://eecp.com/

Thanks Larry for that site. I have never heard of this before....I pray it helps.

I spent 2 hours weeding the garden this morning.  not a favourite job, however it needs to be done.  Most of the lawn is done, i overworked the mower, it quit. Went  out later and it started.  so I have that job to finish as well.  I picked up a burn permit so that may happen tonight, or tomorrow, I may wait till John gets home to light it.  With the rno's we have been doing there is a lot of scrap to burn.

Must go get at it!  Have a great day folks.

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A video for our American Friends

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4JMGSBI5Os

I have been out weeding again. The carrots are difficult to weed that and the vines (easy) will be the next. It is a hot and humid day. I will have to water today, the tomatoes are struggling.

The grass will be finished next, then back at the weeding.  First to eat and drink some water.

I hope everyone had a great day yesterday.

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HYMN HISTORY:
One of the surprises about devotional verse of the mid-nineteenth century is the way in which it sold. Edition after edition of verse by writers who would not be accounted poets in the strict sense were bought up. Anna L. Waring's poems had that welcoming experience. At the age of thirty in 1850 she published her "Hymns and Meditations", a small book of nineteen hymns which by 1863 had gone into ten editions, and contained thirty-eight hymns.

A Glamorganshire Welsh woman, her poems have the phrase and turn of one who not only had a genuine piety but knew how to express it. Four of her hymns have found permanent recognition: "My Heart Is Resting O My God", "Go Not Far From me O My Strength", "Father I Know That All My Life and In Heavenly Love Abiding".

The nineteenth century would have voted for the first named as her best hymn, but the twentieth, judging by the popularity of its choice, goes for "In heavenly love abiding". Not a robust or a bold hymn of discipleship, but one of calm and complete gospel assurance.

Wherever He may guide me,
No wants shall turn me back;
My Shepherd is beside me,
And nothing can I lack:

His wisdom ever waketh,
His sight is never dim;
He knows the way He taketh,
And I will walk with Him.
 


Luke 12:32
Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Hi everyone on a cloudy and potentially very rainy day again here in Georgia.  I got up this morning feeling better than I had yesterday, which was basically a lost day as spent most of it laying down as I ached all over.  I have to go for my EECP treatment and will leave here in a little over one hour and still need to get a bite of lunch in.  I was surprised this morning when my Cardiologist called me about my blood test results saying my sodium keeps going down.  He wants me to continue with the new diuretic for two more weeks and then have another blood test.  He said this could be due to the medicine, dehydration, which I feel it is not as drink lots of fluids, or the last thing is the continue deterioration of my heart.  Most of the fireworks around here were rained out and had been cancelled early.  I did hear some bangs but nothing to close to the house and they didn't last very long. 

Judy, you shouldn't be so hard on your lawnmower.  The poor things was tired.  However, I expect you were also.  Is this a riding lawnmower. Thanks for the video link.  I see you are doing more weeding and mowing today--not a fun day. 

Larry it is a riding lawn mower, 17 years old and needing replacing.  That is on the agenda for next year Lord Willing.  I am sorry you were so tired, however that doesn't make it a wasted day.  You were DOING something!

I have had this hymn running through my head as I have mowed. Came in to cool down eat and post this hymn here.

I Need No Other Argument. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2S1MWa96bc)

There are so many on FB which is just a fraction of our population who argue the Bible facts are made up. I need no other argument  than that He died for me!

Hi, friends,

I've been resting a good bit this week after taking a whirlwind trip over the weekend. So, finally, I felt like going out this afternoon. My oldest son and I ate at a Thai restaurant. I certainly like their food!

So, since I've rested all week long, I don't have anything to report except it's wonderful to be in the company of Christians. May God richly bless each of you as He alone knows what you need most.

Love to all,
Ruth Ann

Hi everyone.  It is suppose to be another weekend with some rain.  At least the temps have been good.  We had more rain last evening but not much and it didn't last long.  I felt about 99% better yesterday than on the 4th.  My treatment was on time and I learned of a new way to get into and out of Athens that is much simpler.  I was home by three pm.  Just my normal Saturday activities today although I need to get Pat a new cartridge for her printer but that may not be today.

Judy, sounds like that mower has given you many hours of mowing.  Hope you will be able to get a new one next year and this one holds up through this mowing season.  I agree with you on proof of the Bible.

Ruth Ann, I am not sure I have ever had Thai food more that  perhaps one time. I don't remember not liking it.  Glad you have been able to rest up from your weekend trip.  Glad to see your posting.

'Morning all.  Walked the three miles this morning and it seemed like a good time to purge a file cabinet built into my kitchen - it came with the house cabinets and there is a place for the laptop and printer so I call it my personal office.  Nice to be able to cook and work on the 'puter at the same time as Don is on the regular computer. 

I met a new-to-me neighbor who walks in back and smokes and had the opportunity to chat about how dry things are and how we have been finding cigarette droppings on the regular trail.  Maybe it will get into her head and we still can be good neighbors?  In the last year, about 1,000 homes have been destroyed by fire within a 40 minute drive from here.  She is the one with two dogs and other neighbors and us have watched her light up as she heads past our fences to the ravine.  Yikes. 

Daughter has invited us to stay with her and visit a couple of days and we are thinking it would be fun.  It is a long day for us to drive there and visit then turn around - this will be a treat.  We call it  sleepovers. 

Larry:  We really like Thai food - Pad Thai or Happy Family for me.  There is enough for three meals.  How are the treatments?  Are you fairly bushed each and every day? 

A youth minister is preaching tomorrow.   They are getting close to choosing a new pastor so two will be guest speakers one of these days.  I am taking a month class on Ecclesiastes (Looked up that spelling) beginning Tuesday morning.  Our dear neighbor who has cancer is doing so well; they walked over here and said they wanted to go out to dinner if we would drive - sure, just turned the oven off and walked out the door.  We had a marvelous visit.  Roast beef in the oven was perfect the next night. 

JudyB:  Many thanks for "In My Heart...." 

Hi everyone.  Another overcast morning with rain predicted sometime today.  We had another heavy but short-lived rain in the early evening and don't know about during the night.  Something happened to our internet router yesterday and it got all mixed it.  I worked with it for several hours and finally was able to reset it and get my network back for three of the four computer.  Still struggling with Pat's desktop and it isn't functioning correctly and keeps freezing up.  I just did a system restall but still not having much success.  Today is our 51st wedding anniversary and we are not going to church this morning but down to spend sometime with Stacey and share a lunch.  Pat has saved some of the ribs, baked beans and potato salad to take and reheat those items needed in the microwave that they have available in their day room.  There are tables and chairs where we can sit and eat and it works much better than in her apartment.  That will pretty well be it for today.

Carol, you have reason to be concerned about your neighbors smoking habits and dry conditions.  The last treatment went very well and I wasn't exhausted when I got home as found an easy route to use in and out of where the doctor's office is located.  Hope you are able to spend a couple of days with your daughter and family.  Nice you could go out to dinner with your neighbors and bet it really lifted their day to be able to get out like that and visit with friends. 

This has started off as a cool day. very nice and refreshing.  Had a good sleep last night, John has half a reno job done, and unfortunately he has to finish it today as he will be gone early tomorrow.  This is a difficult for truckers and their families to get any kind of serious work done, they are gone during the week when normal people get work done.

Last night I got all but 3 rows of beans weeded, Tomorrow I will finish the job.  John and the dogs all think Mom is grumpy.  I'm not really grumpy just achy (with bending to weed,) and tired.

Have a good day everyone!

Hi, Kids!  I'm back home again, after being gone for three days.  Went to Monument Lake, Colorado for a family reunion of my Mom's side of the family.  Her youngest sister is the only one left of her nuclear family, but it was really nice to see and renew acquaintances with cousins and other assorted relatives.  I rode with my sister Jeanie, who was taking her two granddaughters (8 and 9 years old) and who needed help with the driving.  It was so nice and cool up there!  And the kids all fished, and they all caught fish!  Lovely rainbow trout, and I got to bring a mess home, enough for one meal for Darrel and me.

I just got home an hour or so ago, need to go unpack and see what's new around here.  Darrel is reading, so not very responsive when I talk to him.

Good to read your posts, which let me know how you  are all doing!

Why do they call it a "mess" of fish?  It is a nice mess, after all.

Janet:  Monument Lake is south of us - about a half hour drive or so.  DD on the Senior site lives fairly close to me as well.  You had a good day for weather!  Glad that you had a nice reunion. 

We seem to have to keep fixing things on this computer and I sure don't want to ever get Windows 8 after seeing the problems with friends. 

Sorry I've not been in here this week but busy, busy, busy, travelling south for July 4th and visiting with Paul's children for three days.  Linda has returned now to Ohio and all is quiet again.

Now, it's time to start a new devotional for our new "Thoughts for the Week" and I'm excited as it was written by Iain Mackenzie over in Scotland.  I do pray that you will all enjoy it as much as I did.

CLICK HERE TO GET TO OUR NEW TOPIC QUICKLY (http://www.christianphotographers.com/community/index.php?topic=12687.0)