Christian Photographers Community

Come and join us this week and share with us your plans and thoughts for the week!  We sing, share and encourage other members here.  We also love to view your photos!

Hope to see you posting this week!

Come and join us this week and share with us your plans and thoughts for the week!  We sing, share and encourage other members here.

Hope to see you posting this week!















Morning Devotional...


So Delilah said to Samson, "Please tell me where your great strength lies, and how you might be bound, that one could subdue you.
Judges 16:6

Where does the secret strength of faith lie? It lies in the food it feeds on; for faith studies what the promise is-an emanation of divine grace, an overflowing of the great heart of God. And faith says, "My God could not have given this promise except from love and grace; therefore it is quite certain His Word will be fulfilled." Then faith thinks, "Who gave this promise?" It considers not so much its greatness as, "Who is the author of it?" She remembers that it is God, who cannot lie-God omnipotent, God immutable-and therefore concludes that the promise must be fulfilled; and onward she proceeds in this firm conviction. She remembers why the promise was given-namely, for God's glory-and she feels perfectly sure that God's glory is safe, that He will never stain His own insignia, nor spoil the sparkle of His own crown; and therefore the promise must and will stand.

Then faith also considers the amazing work of Christ as being a clear proof of the Father's intention to fulfill His word. "He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?"¹ Moreover, faith looks back upon the past, for her battles have strengthened her, and her victories have given her courage. She remembers that God has never failed her, that He never once failed any of His children. She recalls times of great peril when deliverance came, hours of awful need when as her day her strength was found, and she cries, "No, I never will be led to think that He can change and leave His servant now. Thus far the Lord has helped me, and He will help me still."

Thus faith views each promise in its connection with the promise-giver and, because she does so, can with assurance say, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life!"<sup>2

1</sup>Romans 8:32
²Psalm 23:6

   Good evening to all on C.P.    Well there has been lot's going on in our life since I was last here. :thumbsup

  Noreen has still had a lot of swelling and a lot of pain but again the Lord is so good and we did go for her pre op. for surgery and that was a very long day as they are so thorough about all the questions and all the other things that they do before surgery.   Surgery is on Thursday the 13th. and she will be so tired that day when it is over as we have to go to one hospital  to get what they call a pic line put in at 8 15 a.m. then we go to where she has the main surgery which is in downtown Toronto.   It is part of the large hospital called Sunny Brook which is hooked up with the University of Toronto.

The site that Noreen will be at is called Holland Orthopaedic & Arthritic Centre and they only have 65 bed's and the Doctor that she has usually can take 6 months to get into and prayer works wonder's and we got in in 1 and a half weeks and surgery in 1 and half months so god is so good.  We are not sure of the actual time of surgery but more than likely in the early afternoon so do value your prayer's again that the Lord will be with the Surgeon Dr. John Cameron.

To all on C.P.  I also need prayer as this has been a long battle and I need his strength which he has given to me all along the way.  Thank you. and I will try to keep you all posted on how thing's go.

                                    God's Richest Blessing's  Gordon and Noreen.

We had snow again over the weekend. It is now -2C and that can mean more snow.  It also "feels" colder than when it is -20C because of the dampness.  Cimi woke me up this morning, needing out.  That is so unusual for her.  Downstairs the boys had their needs as well.  My fur family have their needs met and now I can relax here.

Pastor John is working through Hebrews 13.  Yesterday he was speaking on "False Teachers". HE is hitting the hard topics.  So many pastors skirt the issues and tickle the ears. 

John is pricing a job in Moose Factory.  It will be nip and tuck if he is able to do the course before the ice breakup.  This is going to prove interesting.  If the ice is breaking up they will take him to the island by helicopter. I do so wish I could go with him, it has been over 20 years since we were there.

John is working on wood today, that will extend our oil and because it is poplar the house is warmer.  I am going for now, God bless each of you and have a good day.

Hi everyone on beatiful day here in Georgia.  It is going to be in the low 70's today and the sun is shining.  The housekeepers just left and the house is nice and clean and everything straightened up again, which is nice.  I will go to my Monday luncheon in a couple of hours and then a quick stop at Walmart for some items.  Pat just left for her massage appointment. 

Janet, I hope Abby's dance group did well in Oklahoma City yesterday.

Carol, it is nice to have visitors that don't want to stay with you.  It gives you some time to breathe.  Bad news on the old crown. 

Marilyn, I had heard that the movie took some license with not adhering to the Scripture exactly. 

Ruth Ann, hope you were able to catch up on your sleep last night.  It was a long evening. 

Pat, thanks for the new devotional thoughts for this week. 

Gord, I expect the next few days can't go by too fast for you all with the prospect of relief from pain in Noreen's knee when she has had a chance to recover from surgery. Gord, keep in mind that God will not give you more than he gives you strength to handle. 

Judy, wet cold is so chilling and seems to go right to our bones.  Glad your house is warmer with the poplar wood burning.

Judy shared this with me on Facebook and it's absolutely beautiful!

   Hi Pat.  Thanks to the link to the Celtic singers the are very good and then it so good what you can get if you continue on the U. Tube there is so many more groups to listen to.  Hope all is well with you and Paul.  God's richest blessing's to you big Sis.  All our love to you.   Gordon and Noreen.

Thanks for sharing that here, Pat.  Beautiful!  I do so love to hear men's voices in harmony.

The day is well on, and all I have done is go to the gym, home for a while, to the chiropractor and the nurse at Sr. Center for nail care (toenails.)  How time does fly.  Goodness.

My chiropractor told me not to do the mini trampoline for a couple weeks, as he thinks that may be the reason I am having severe back pain.  He said anything that is good for bone density is also detrimental to joint integrity.  I need some relief, as I haven't been able to do much at all.  Kristi told me to ask him and let her know what he said, and I will.

Larry, Abby's dance group didn't do very well at the contest.  Diane said Abby wasn't really that disappointed, as it wasn't all on her shoulders.  (She nad no solo dances)  Diane said they have been doing some pretty "weird" dances lately.  I sure need to go spend some time with them, I am missing them so.  And it's ridiculous, we are only 28 miles away!

Gord, I pray Noreen's surgery goes well and she has a supernaturally fast recovery; also that you have added strength to get through this time in your lives.

I did go through my closet yesterday afternoon and this morning after gym time, we took all that I weeded out and left it in the garage sale building at the Senior Center.  And as soon as my back is up to it, I will get back into my studio and do more "ridding."  But not today!  I am learning that I don't HAVE to do as much as I have always pushed myself to do!

Judy, wish you could go with John, that would be nice for you both.

I don't want to stay on here very long today, as I am trying to give my back a rest.

Hi, friends,

Pat thank you for sharing both of the inspiring devotionals for us this week. Both have application to my life, and I'm grateful for them.

Since I don't have much to report, I thought I'd share something that came in the mail. I hadn't seen it before, so hope it won't bore y'all if you already have read this:

Why Go To Church?
 
A  Church goer wrote a letter to the editor of a  newspaper and complained that it made no sense  to go to church every Sunday.   "I've gone for 30 years now," he wrote, "and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons.  But for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them.  So, I think I'm wasting my time and the pastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all." 
 
This started a real controversy in the "Letters to  the Editor" column, much to the delight of the  editor.  It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher: 
 
"I've  been married for 30 years now.   In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals.   But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals.  But I do know this. They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed  to do my work.  If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today.  Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!" 

When you are DOWN to nothing..... God is UP to something!  Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible!

Thank God for our physical AND our spiritual nourishment!   
 
"When Satan is knocking at your  door, simply say,"Jesus, could you get that for  me?"

   Ruth Ann Bice.      Great story and have heard this a long time ago but the last line is a very good one.  Thank you and God's richest blessing's.  Gordon.

Hi everyone on a beautiful day here in Georgia with the temperature expected to reach 76 degrees this afternoon.  Pat already has the house opened to let in some fresh air.  I have a light schedule planned for today.  I need to make a quick stop at the bank to cash some checks and then will attend my Tuesday morning meeting.  That will likely be it for today.  I am enjoying a book a good friend gave me a few days ago.  It is called "The One Year Book of Hymns" and is 365 Devotional Readings Based on Great Hymns of the Faith.  It gives the words of the hymn on the left hand page and the devotional on the right.  There are many hymns I have never heard before but with the Internet can look them up. 

Pat, I have the recording of the Celtic Thunder singing "Amazing Grace" and it is beautiful. 

Good Morning Gord. 

Janet, our current choir director is having our choir sing more without accompaniment and I really enjoy hearing the blending of the voices. Sorry that you may be having trouble with the mini trampoline and hope your back pain soon lessens.  Glad Abby wasn't too upset with the dance contest results.  Glad you are learning to slow down a bit.  It will still be there tomorrow if it needs doing. 

Ruth Ann, thanks for sharing that piece.  I think I have seen it before but it is a good reminder of why it is so important to keep up a spiritual life. 

Hi, friends,

After a restless night, I went to our devotions time downstairs this morning. A group of cadets from an Atlanta Salvation Army training college gave a wonderful presentation. It was so nice to hear how well their voices blended in song, and then, of course, the Lord used one of the cadets to present His message to us for the morning. What a friendly group!

When I returned to my floor, the apartment door was blocked with some heavy packages that were sent to me for safekeeping for one of my sons. So, it was time to be using my long-unused muscles for picking up and stowing in the car and then transferring to storage.  You would have giggled to hear me puffing and blowing! 

Next, a lunch with friends, and now it's about time for a bit of work in the apartment before taking a well-earned rest!

Much love to all of y'all,

Ruth Ann

Larry, that's lovely.  Maybe I should get it.  I loved hearing them sing Amazing Grace!

Ruth Ann, what a load to take to the car! 

Ruth Ann, I don't think I'd giggle about seeing you so short of breath!  And I'm sure those long unused muscles are screaming at you today. 

Good afternoon this yet another stormy winter day. We were going to go out but have decided best to stay home.

Larry: The Acapulco singing I truly enjoy less distraction.

Judy:  John will enjoy his trip to Moose Factory if he is able to get the arrangements complete.

Ruth Ann: How are your muscles feeling now?

Gord: Please be sure to let us know how Noreen makes out . From hospital to hospital seems like a lot of running around and especially if she is in constant pain.

To everyone that I have missed a very warm hello.   

Hi everyone.  Not much to write about today.  I did go to coffee at McDonald's and then to Bible Study and later to Dunkin' Donut.  However, my heart was letting me know it was still their and as soon as I got home I laid down for a couple of hours as was feeling very tired.  Glad to say after I slept for a little bit the chest pressure stopped and I feel much better this late afternoon.  We have a freeze warning for tonight until 9 am tomorrow.  Sure hope it doesn't get our Bradford Pear tree and the other flowering plants but certainly not in my control as to whether that happens or not.

Ruth, I spoke with Pat earlier this afternoon and she said they were having a real blizzard up her way.  It is wise to stay in on bad days if you don't have to get out. 

Ruth Ann, too bad your couldn't get someone to help you with the boxes to get them to your car. 

We're having some real winter weather here, too.  First about 8 inches or so of snow then changed to freezing rain.  Supposed to change to all snow again overnight and into early morning for a total of maybe 15 inches.  I'm sure glad I got my groceries and other errands taken care of yesterday while the temperature was 50F!

A warm hello to you, too, Ruth!

Boy, after all the reports of bad weather, I am almost embarrassed to tell you it is lovely here.  But just wait!  It will surely change.  Darrel told me today that this winter has killed all of our fruit trees except for two sour cherries.    This part of the country is very hard on trees.

Larry, I am glad you are feeling better.  I am, too.  My back hasn't hurt at all today, for which I am most thankful and happy! 

And I am one happy gal today!             We went to Garden to get me some new pants, as mine are really faded and frayed on the bottoms.  And.....Drum Roll!......I tried on size 12 (have been wearing a 14) they were way too big, so tried a 10--still too big, and Darrel said, "Maybe you should try an 8."  I said I didn't think there was any way I can wear an 8, as I never have.  But....I did, and they fit perfectly!!  Woo-Hoo!     (Happy dance!)  I haven't lost a lot of weight, but muscle is heavier than fat and takes up less space, and that's fine with me!  The clerk who was helping me told me to "accidentally" leave the size tags on them.     Sorry, TMI, but I am really excited!  That should keep me exercising and eating right, if anything can!

And I have some other exciting news, too.  My sister Shirley is coming Saturday to spend a few days with me.  I know we will have a wonderful time together!  God is SO good!

I want to watch the news.  Just hope it doesn't spoil my wonderful mood!

Hi Ruth!!!


Well, this has been a terrible day of snow!  I went to see if I could get out the door but there's about 1 1/2 feet of snow against the door!  I shovelled a bit (about 3 shovels full) and it's just too sore for my shoulder.  I need to get to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription and then a couple of things across the road at the market but can't get near my car! 

Pat, I know just what that situation is.  Been there!  Done that!  I have learned to keep opening the storm door and pushing away the top of the snow on the porch so I can open it in case of a dire emergency.  But unless it's a "life or death" situation, I'm staying right here where it's warm and dry.  Either someone will have to come shovel/snowblow me out or it will have to melt. 

Well, this was my side door into the garage which is a shorter distance to my car and I don't have a storm door on it!     When I opened it, a pile of snow ended up in the garage!

Oh well, maybe Andrew will be able to come and help later.  Not sure though.

That does make for more of a problem.  I hope Andrew can help.  Can he pick up the prescription for you?

Andrew came!

This is the path up to my door before he came:

Looks like a good entry for the Look Down challenge.     I hope he cleared it away for you.

It is incredible. we are north of Huntsville and not a speck of snow today, Lots of cold but no snow!  John is in North Carolina, (no where near Don) and headed down before the storm started and will be back after it is over!  Wow God was in that!!!

I received a distressed  call from Sharon my dear friend.  Her brother in law and nephew are in Mexico, the nephew was playing water volley ball, and somehow he wound up underwater.  I don't know if it was chlorinated pool water or ocean water. He is in hospital in an induced coma.  His eyes were reactive and he was pulling on the breathing apparatus, thus the induced coma.  This family are not Christians, ans they have asked Sharon to get her prayer teams going praying for the nephew.  It is interesting how people are willing to turn to God with a disaster like this.  Please pray for this family.  That they may KNOW God answers prayer!

Hi, friends,

You all are correct - I know where every one of those muscles is today! It doesn't sound like much but one package was about 4 feet long and weighed over 30 lbs. Then one of the other boxes was nearly as heavy. Lifting those things 3 times in one day was probably more than my muscles should allow.

Today, I managed to take myself to PT (thank goodness that's the lower muscles, not those for the arm and chest) and, although I had a slow start, ended up doing all the exercises and rode for 815 steps on the NuStep. Here's a photo of the machine.

http://www.amazon.com/Nustep-TRS-4000-Recumbent-Trainer/dp/B001EWHWZE

Then, a brief stop for groceries, followed by 2 calls from my wonderful older sons.

It was wonderful to have a call from a friend this evening detailing some definite answers to prayer and a witness from this friend that other doors seem to be opening.

Much love to all,
Ruth Ann

Hi everyone.  The sun is peeping over the horizon as I write and I think we escaped a freeze last night as a little after 7 am it was 34 degrees.  We did have some strong winds throughout most of the night.  I plan on attending my Retiree's Luncheon a 11:30 this morning.  I will have to leave an hour early to get there on time.  Pat and a friend are going to a quilting event and I hope she can stand up to it.  However, I am delighted to see her get out of the house and doing some things again.  In my devotional reading this morning I came across this and wanted to share it:  It is from the March 13, 2014 "Our Daily Bread", which I have emailed to me each morning.

God is our spiritual power source in every storm of life. —David McCasland

O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home! —Watts

It takes the storm to prove the real shelter.

Jeanne, it sure sounds like you will be housebound for a few days.  That is a lot of snow.  Glad you were able to get out and restock the cupboard. 

Janet, so sad to lose your fruit trees.  Glad you were feeling better yesterday.  Quite an accomplishment on the downsizing of the clothes you need.  You have done a good job.  Now you will have to get a whole new wardrobe.     You can do a Minnie Pearl and leave the tags on as she always did with her hat.  Sure miss that gal!  Nice you sister will be able to be with you for a few days. 

Pat, I was glad to see that your SIL have come and shoveled for you as you surely do not need to be handling a shovel. 

Judy, glad you missed the snow and I guess Pat got your share this time with Jeanne helping out as well.  So sorry to hear of your friends BIL and the coma.  I have prayed for this family. 

Ruth Ann, I do hope you don't try to carry such packages in the future.  Surely someone at your church or where you live would help you if you ask. 

Good morning, friends,

Thanks for your kind comments.

Y'all seem to be so good about addressing each person. I'll try to do better in the future.

Larry, those packages were blocking the main hallway, keeping occupants of 2 other apartments from getting in and out. That's why it was so urgent that I move it. Lunch hour for the apartment maintenance men is from 11 till 12, and it was past 11 at the time.  It's so kind of you to make those good suggestions.

Y'all have a good rest of the day.

Love to all,
Ruth Ann

I received a distressed  call from Sharon my dear friend.  Her brother in law and nephew are in Mexico, the nephew was playing water volley ball, and somehow he wound up underwater.  I don't know if it was chlorinated pool water or ocean water. He is in hospital in an induced coma.  His eyes were reactive and he was pulling on the breathing apparatus, thus the induced coma.  This family are not Christians, ans they have asked Sharon to get her prayer teams going praying for the nephew.  It is interesting how people are willing to turn to God with a disaster like this.  Please pray for this family.  That they may KNOW God answers prayer!

I spoke to Sharon just now and found out that the nephew is epileptic.  They are assuming he had a seizure in the water.  Dad had gone away from where they were playing, and didn't see what happened.  We hope to know more tonight. Mom has gone to Mexico to be with the father and son, she will let family know when there is more news. 

Please keep this family in prayer, that God will use this accident to bring them to the cross.

Thanks for that update, Judy.