Christian Photographers Community

• Prayer and Praise     Thanks for visiting this area of our site to share prayer requests and items for praise!

We did absolutely nothing to earn God's love. We were born into sin; we were at enmity with God. We were unlovable and undeserving. Yet Christ still died for us. "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:6-8).

God's love is so abundant that He not only saved us from eternal damnation, but He adopted us as His own children. "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" (1 John 3:1). He changes our very nature upon salvation so that we can become more like Him. "No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God" (1 John 3:9).

Prayer: Thank You, God, for loving me so much that You would adopt me as Your own child even when I could do nothing to deserve it. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

"Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ" (Ephesians 2:3-5).

Jeanne:  Thank you for your setting up another week - the title Big Prayers is often so true.  So many never think about praying unless they are in "big trouble". 

A nice Sunday here - after our regular morning, we went out for coffee then stopped at a grocery store. We cannot figure out which church we like the best here - so we switch every so often.  With about six weeks here before we go home, the fridge starts looking rather weird.  I made a batch of egg salad for Don as he works hard on keeping his sugar numbers down so there are various things I try to keep on hand. 

Larry:  That was a bunch of talking with everyone in such a short time.  Fortunately, the drive back through some isolated desert was beautiful with flowers blooming.  I am cutting fabric and making little quail for something not decided yet. 

Happy Sunday!

No, Larry, I have never won a big prize at the health fair.  But I was sitting next to a friend a couple years back who won the big TV!  Does that count?    But the blood tests they do for us at no cost are worth around $200 if we had to pay for them, so that's certainly worth going for!

We went to Hugoton to church today, have our small group tonight, then plan to attend the movie Risen.  Beth and John will go tomorrow night, as she is too tired tonight.  He called to tell me she had already had them get her ready for bed.     She has very little stamina any more.

Happy Palm Sunday to you all.  I have never been in a church where they used palm branches, so I really don't know what that is all about.  I do know they spread palm branches and waved them as Jesus rode into Jerusalem before the crucifixion.

Jeff and Estie sang "Jesus, Friend of Sinners" this morning.  It's by Casting Crowns, and I'd not heard it before.  What a beautiful and meaningful song it is!

Carol, good to read your post, as always.  And Larry, always good to read what you are doing!

I think I will try to get a little power nap before time to go to our Connection Group.  Catch you later!

Hi everyone on a bright, clear 39 degree morning.  We should get to the low 60's this afternoon.  We had a nice church service yesterday with the little ones processing after the choir with the palm fronds with the littlest children at the end of the procession and oh so cute.  The middle school children's choir joined with the Chancel choir for the Anthem and they did a great job.  We didn't eat out yesterday as neither Pat nor I really felt up to it.  This morning Pat has a Circle meeting at church and I will go to my regular Monday noon meeting and then this evening is the men's meeting at church with the steak dinner.  Our speaker tonight is a chaplain from Fort Gordon. 

Jeanne, thanks for sharing the fine devotional thoughts for the week.  Dr. Youssef writes very well. 

Carol, since you are not year round residents in Tuscon it is nice you can visit different churches until you find the one that you really like.  I bet the flowers are beautiful in the desert this time of the year. 

Janet, didn't you win a very nice prize package at some event several years ago or am I totally dismembering.  The blood tests are really a nice savings and a benefit to the community in making folks aware of something at an early stage. Do most attendees take advantage of the offered service?  The palm branches are to help us remember the entry of Jesus to Jerusalem when they crowd shouted Hosana, which I just learned really means God save us.  Here is a better description of the word:  Hosanna is often thought of as a declaration of praise, similar to hallelujah, but it is actually a plea for salvation. The Hebrew root words are found in Psalm 118:25, which says, "Save us, we pray, O LORD!" (ESV). The Hebrew words yasha ("deliver, save") and anna ("beg, beseech") combine to form the word that, in English, is "hosanna." Literally, hosanna means "I beg you to save!" or "please deliver us!"

Thank you, Larry, for that explanation of "hosanna".  I had always thought it to be a praise word similar to Hallelujah, and am glad to know it means "I beg you to save!"  Very meaningful!

Larry, I did win $1000 at one of Darrel's alarm conventions, but that was before I even learned how to use a computer.  I can't remember any other big prizes, but do remember one that was huge to me at the time.  When I was six years old, I won ten silver dollars as a door prize at some program at school.  To me, that was a fortune!!    Good memory.

We went to see "Risen" after our meeting last night, and I must say, we were disappointed in it because we could understand so little of the dialog.  Other people, years younger than us, said they had trouble, too.  So I will tell Beth and John about it, if they want to go anyway, it's their choice.  But I am encouraged in that two of the three previews were for "Miracles from Heaven"  and  "God's Not Dead 2"  It is so nice that they are making so many good Christian films now!

We have a week with--so far--nothing on the calendar except a short app't for Darrel to get a shot tomorrow at 4:30.  WOO-HOO!!  That looks good to me!  It may change, but for now, I will celebrate the freedom! 

I think we will go to Garden and get groceries and other necessities today.  No reason to have to hurry home, so that's a good thing, too.

So, now it's time to get out of gym clothes, shower and get ready to go.

The community was saddened to hear of the sudden death of a man we all liked and admired.  He owned the main grocery store in town for years, sold it about 3 or 4 years ago and retired.  He was a good Christian man who did a lot for the community.  He and wife were driving, near Branson, Mo. and he had a heart attack and wrecked the vehicle.  She wasn't seriously injured.  We will all miss Cary.

Gotta go!

I went for a blood draw this morning only to find out that my Dr. Appointment had been changed from next week to May 9 So I go back a week before that for the blood draw. I drank so much water prepping for the blood draw, that I am spend a lot of time going back and forth the the bathroom. I wasn't notified that my appt had been changed. So I have let them know that I was inconvenienced this morning.

Going to Tai Chi practice this afternoon.

Hi everyone on another cool but beautiful day here with afternoon temperatures in the low 70's.  Today's main activity is our monthly Senior Luncheon at church.  Last night I attended the men's meeting at church and had a delicious meal including a big piece of steak.  The speaker was a 19 year member of the Chaplaincy in the Army stationed nearby at Fort Gordon.  He is a Major in the army had heads a unit of seven other Chaplains stationed at the Fort.  He spoke on the strong faith of Joshua as he lead the people into the promised land and how he relied on God.   

Janet, it must have been someone else who won a gift basket that included some appliance and a number of other things.  Either that or I dreamed that about some friend.  I would say winning a $1,000 is a big prize. Sorry you were disappointed in the movie you saw.  I hope it is a sign of the times that more God based movies are being made and having good attendance.  Enjoy your quiet week.  So sad about the man from your community having the heart attack and dying and while driving.  Sure glad his wife wasn't seriously injured.

Marilyn, I wonder how many people will be like you in not being notified of the change in schedule.  It sounds like another breakdown in staff responsibility, which seems to be happening a lot.  It sounds like you were well hydrated. 

A similar yet different thing from what Marilyn described happened today to me.  Well, sort of     The dentist's office called to tell me Beth had a cleaning app't at 2:00 today.  I was at lunch when she called, and she said she had tried the Care home and nobody answered.  I tried both of John's numbers, no answer; then went by dentist office.  They said they hadn't gotten hold of John either.  Finally the girl from Care home called and said they  didn't know where Beth was!  HUH???  Well, she said, John came in earlier and said he was taking Beth to Garden City!!  So I told her to call dentist office and tell them it is their responsibility to let us know when Beth has an app't, and that I will not be paying their $40.00 no-show fee.  They shouldn't wait until two hours or less before an app't before letting a person know!     If I had been told earlier, I would have written it on my calendar and reminded Beth, John and the Care Home about it in time for her to go.

Okay, off my soap box!    It got up to 81* here yesterday, after a very chilly start, and they are predicting near 90 for today.    Then, they say, rain and snow on Sunday!  Strange weather, for sure.  We are all praying for moisture so will be happy if we get some.  But the little ones won't be happy if they can't hunt those Easter eggs! 

Terrible about the terrorist attacks on Belgium this morning.  Sad world, but I'm so happy I know The ONE who is in charge and will have the final say about it all.

House cleaner is here today, so I've been trying to de-clutter ahead of her!

TTYL!

Hi everyone.  It is another beautiful morning and headed to 75 degrees this afternoon.  I have several things on the agenda for today.  Pat needs to get a little package in the mail for a good friends birthday so I will make a trip to the Post Office later this morning.  I plan on going on from there to Lowe's to look at plants as getting the desire to have a new plant for my front porch that I can enjoy from my office windows.  Late this afternoon we plan on taking Scott to an early dinner at the Texas Roadhouse.  It doesn't open until 4 pm today.  We had a nice senior's monthly meeting yesterday.  The meal wasn't a favorite but OK and I enjoyed the speaker.  He talked about the early history of North Augusta and the main people behind its development.  This little town has some very interesting history as I expect most towns do. 

Janet, it sounds like John has yet to accept his responsibility to see that Beth gets places she needs to be like to the dentist office.  That is certainly no longer your responsibility and I think you are correct in saying you will not pay the fee for non-appearance as it isn't your expense.  You were warmer there yesterday than we were here.  The Brussels terrorist attacks were terrible and just the continuation of what we will likely be seeing more of in the future.  I told Pat last evening I was certainly glad I no longer had to ride the Washington, D.C. subway as that has to be a concern for folks who have to rely on it. 

Larry, you are correct in saying John needs to take over more of the responsibility for Beth, and he is doing better and better.  This situation, however, was not his fault, as the dentist's office didn't inform John, me, nor the care home of that appointment until after noon yesterday!  Grrr!  I'm sure he was going to Garden to get his driver's license, as he made two trips already trying to do that.  First time, he went on Monday, the day they are closed; and the next time he didn't have all of his paperwork.  Hope he got it yesterday.

The wind has come up and is blowing like crazy.  It isn't cold, but feels chilly because of the wind.  Ugh.

I just heard that Obama doesn't "feel" that Muslim terrorism is a "real" threat. Tell the people of Brussels that!  What an idiot.

Larry, what kind of plant are you thinking of getting?  I brought in my 5 geraniums and they are in my porch/prayer room/library.  They have bloomed all winter, still are blooming, but getting too big for the space.  I guess before I put them back outdoors I will need to cut them back.  Maybe I will leave them in the pots they are in now, rather than putting them back in the old bath tub.  Hmmm. I'm glad I can handle these earth-shaking decisions!   

Blessings on all who visit our cozy little corner here today!

Hi, friends,

I, too, enjoyed the devotional.

My goodness, I've enjoyed the discussions tonight.

I spent a few days pampering the old pancreas, and now am feeling better, thanks to the Lord.

I sure love each of you, and it feels like coming home to "hear" the conversations.

Y'all have a good rest of the day.

Ruth Ann

Hi everyone. It is afternoon and just now posting. I was gone most of the morning with my usual Thursday activities. Before I left I spent my normal posting time setting up shortcuts on Pat's new computer.  I am now laying down to rest so just checking in for today and bypassing individual comments.

Hello all well Larry it is still morning here so I should say Good Morning (LOL) Today I am going to lun
ch with the Furry friend humans then on to a meeting. Not much else going on here, I've already made lunch for Keith. Oh I went to the church  around the corner to see if there was anything I needed and came home with a flat tire. Boo.
I don't have a spare just the little donut and it is a front tire so the donut is no help at all.  A friend is picking me up for the  lunch and meeting and we will worry about getting my tire fixed when I get back home.

Marilyn, your post made me chuckle.   "Oh I went to the church  around the corner to see if there was anything I needed and came home with a flat tire. "  Was that really what you needed?  Sorry, it just struck me as funny.  (I did see your 'boo'.  Those little donut tires are really dangerous to drive around on, as they were only designed to get you to a place to have your tire repaired.  Hope you can get that tire fixed soon.

We attended the funeral for the fellow who owned the grocery store here for many years.  It was to start at 11:00, and by 10:00 the church was packed.  They had a screen set up downstairs and a lot of chairs, and also have a small balcony, all of which were full.  His story was such a great testimony of the power of Jesus to save and totally change a life.  Wow.  And it was enjoyable, too, as Cary had a great sense of humor, loved to talk, pull pranks, and was just a real "people person".  Many stories of his life were told, and we did laugh a lot--just what would have pleased him, I'm sure.

Larry, thanks for checking in!  If you hadn't, we would have been very concerned!  Hope you have a good afternoon.

I painted a small watercolor as a birthday card for my sister, and in the process found just how rusty I'm getting in using watercolors!  But after a day or so, it started looking better to me.    LOL

Our favorite retired pastor died suddenly on a walk - he started a little church and it grew into a mega church.  He spoke and read Hebrew and Greek and could quote from memory - a fantastic memory - it was like going to theology school to know him.  Don says he was now welcomed with open arms in Heaven.

18 inches of snow at home and our nearest son lost a big tree that is leaning on a neighbor's house.  Someone will check our place.  Living near the mountains - it was a blizzard with winds over 70 plus mph - we sure missed that storm here in Tucson. 

Janet:  Such a lovely thought to paint a card for your sister.  To be so talented! 

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Hi everyone on this Good Friday morning.  It is overcast here but already 64 degrees and some rain late this morning and during the afternoon is in the forecast.  I expect to have a relatively quiet day.  The only thing on my schedule is to get a haircut and make a couple of follow-up calls.  Pat also will get her hair cut today.  The housekeeper will be here late this morning. 

Marilyn, hop you had a nice luncheon yesterday with the Furry friend humans and that you got your tire repaired.  I never liked to use the little donut tire either. 

Janet, that must have been some funeral and what a large attendance.  I  bet you are your own worse critic on your watercolor painting. 

Carol, the loss of your retired pastor must have been a shock for many people and a loss to the church community.  That was a terrible blizzard in your area and hope that tree didn't do a lot of damage to your son's neighbors home.  I bet you are glad you are in Tucson and were able to miss that storm.

Jeanne, thanks for posting the Good Friday graphic and the Hymn.  It has been awhile since I have sung that Hymn in church.   I am listening to it play now as I write.   

Jeanne:  thanks for the music - my dad used to sing a few of the old songs - remembering.

Larry:  Pastor Dixon was retired and still too young.  He was very active too with young grandchildren.  I always feel sorry for young grands not able to know their grandparents sometimes. 

Daughter sent a text message that she was alone when the blizzard hit - she used the snowblower two days to clear driveway and sidewalk - they had 28 inches of wet and heavy snow. 

Have a very Good Friday everyone.  The church we attend here has an uplifting Good Friday service that is so comforting to hear. 

After I posted that cross the song just insisted on being included.   

Hi everyone.  It is another overcast day that started out at 64 degrees.  There is a good possibility of some rain at different times throughout the day.  Pat and I both got our haircuts yesterday.  I got out the garden hose and washed down our front back porches to get rid of the yellow pine pollen.  I think I will leave the car out to day so if it rains it can get some of the pine pollen washed off of it.  A little bit ago Pat called me and I noticed she was all dressed up.  I asked her where she was going and she said to Easter service at the church.  I told her that is tomorrow, she was embarrassed but we both had a good laugh out of it.  She had completely lost track of the fact this is Saturday.  The only thing I have on my schedule for today is to go to Walmart to pick up a couple of prescriptions and a few groceries. 

Carol, does your daughter live near your home in Denver?  That is really a lot of snow to deal with and sure hope she had a snow blower to use and didn't have to shovel all of that snow off her drive and walks. 

Jeanne, glad that when you posted the cross picture yesterday you felt compelled to post the hymn. 

Larry The luncheon was great and I ate way over my calorie allotment for one meal, that Southwestern  chicken strip sandwich on chbijbatta bread was over 700 calories.
I have gained back 10 of the 40 lbs that I lost over the past 1½years.

Raining again today if it doesn't stop by after lunch Freckles won't get to go to the dog park, to play with the other dogs, well none of the dogs will get to go. We had a  good hospital visit yesterday, it took an hour just to do the patients on one floor, there usually iosn't that many patients left on Friday.  Yesterday was an exception, every room was full.

I've goot the worst cold I have had in many years,  head and chest , coughing, wheezing and blowing. At least I am sleeping well after putting an Essential oil blend on my feet and chest. I'm not sure what all oils are in the bl.end but I can smell Pepperment at times and I think Eucalyptus and something else.

Happy Saturday!

Larry, I empathize with Pat, as when I woke up this morning I was thinking it was Sunday, too!  I'm glad it isn't, yet, or the ham and the pies wouldn't be ready for Easter dinner!

We attended Good Friday services at the Methodist church last night.  It was such a meaningful and sobering service.  We do need to thoughtfully consider the great price Jesus paid for our salvation.  This morning I re-read the story of the crucifixion again, to help me try to understand it deeper.

Marilyn, sorry about the cold, and that Freckles and the other dogs may not get to go to the park to play.  They are so like little children at times, aren't they?

Darrel has sliced the ham off the bone, and I have three pie crusts cooling.  Yesterday I made meals for two families whom I wanted to bless.  I am making an extra chocolate  pie to give someone today.  Fun to be a blessing! 

We plan to attend the service our regular church has tonight (Sat. night rather than Sunday morning this weekend) and then go to the Methodist church again in the morning.  Then we will take the food we prepared and go to Hugoton for Easter with the kids, grands and great-grands.  John and Beth will go, too, if she feels up to it.

TMI?  Sorry!  See you all later!

My iPad is so slow - it is 5 years old and probably considered ancient.   Searching for different ways to speed it up or off to an Apple store. 

Larry:  Our daughter is about a hours drive from our house as we are south of Denver and she is in Boulder county closer to the hogbacks (foothills).  They always have a lot more wind and I mean hurricane force winds are not uncommon.  Yes, she has a snow blower - still she was home alone and had to take a long pole to shake evergreen tree branches and works out of the house over 70 hours per week.  Fortunately, she has underground wire and so do we so we never lose power anymore. 

Happy Easter everyone!  Janet:  Chocolate pie sounds even better than candy. 

Carol my oldest grandson lives in Deer Park and works in Denver, it took him 7 hours to get home from  work on Thursday.

Hi everyone and Happy Easter to your all.  We will soon leave for Sunday School and church.  It is cloudy but no rain in the forecast until this afternoon and evening.  We had some heavy downpours yesterday and we car was outside so got that yellow pollen washed off of it.  We don't plan on trying to eat out today as know a number of the restaurants will be closed.  We will just have a quiet afternoon. 

Marilyn, certainly sorry to learn that you are suffering from a very bad cold as know how miserable a cold can make a person feel.  It sounds like a lot of folks are ill in your area if the hospital is full on Friday. 

Janet, it sounds like you all will have a very nice Easter get together and certainly won't go hungry.  How nice of you to prepare those meals for others. 

Carol, my iPad is probably 5 years old and I haven't noticed it slowing down any.  In fact it was just updated to the latest software update a few days ago.  I sometimes think about upgrading to a newer version but just can't justify it as the picture is great on it and it works fine.  It sounds like your daughter is working to hard if she is working a 70 hour week. 

Good Easter everyone!  He is Risen!  I was up early just before the sunrise - lacking too much sleep.  Don had nose bleeds & whatever - so he is napping early this morning.  So tired that we opted out of a gathering this afternoon.  He has shoulder pain - a VA appointment tomorrow morning. 

Marilyn, I know the name of Deer Park but would have to look up the correct location.  There was a 2nd. storm much lighter that came through with only 3 to 4 inches of snow.  Not unusual for this time of the year really.  Bless you for all you do with hospital patients entertainment. 

Larry:   Cleaning out my Safari helped the iPad.  I had forgotten that I did that a few years ago.  too much to take care of anymore.  Enjoy your quiet Easter with your son!  Grandson who plays hockey is over now and down to college business.  We are on pins and needles - he is going to look at a few places - most in the mid-west and we will find out where he lands in the next month. 

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKxD8WnSYqQ&list=RDDKxD8WnSYqQ#t=43 we sang this at church this morning.