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.

Hope to see you posting this week!










From Our Forums

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

Morning Devotional...








Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. --Philippians 2:5 (KJV)

If ever there was a hymn that served well as a prayer, it's "May the Mind of Christ My Savior." In the dead of night when I cannot sleep, when anxious thoughts erode my peace of mind and keep me awake, I recall the words to this hymn. When I feel far from God and unable to pray, I borrow each stanza of this hymn and make it my prayer. Before I know it, my heart is at rest.



May the mind of Christ my Savior live in me from day to day
By his power and love controlling, all I do and say.
May the word of God dwell richly in my heart from hour to hour;
And may all who see I triumph, only in its power.
May the peace of God my Father rule my life in every thing;
That I may be calm to comfort sick and sorrowing.

May his beauty rest upon me, as I seek the lost to win;
And may they forget the channel, seeing only him.
May the love of Jesus fill me, as the waters fill the sea;
Him extolling, self abasing - this is victory.
May I run the race before me, strong and brave to face the foe;
Looking only unto Jesus as I onward go.



The next time you cannot find words to wrap around your circumstances, flip open the hymnal. One of the blessings of memorizing scripture songs, praise choruses, or beautiful old hymns is that each stanza provides a ready resource of rich and fruitful fodder for prayer. For your prayer time today, choose a favorite hymn you know by heart... borrow the words and turn them into your personal praise, confession and intercession to the Father.

May the mind of you, my Savior, live in me from day to day... by your power and love controlling, all I do and say.


Joni and Friends
www.joniandfriends.org

Pat I love that Hymn.  Do we have the music?

{Pat:  Many thanks for your devotions this week.  My favorite hymn is "Beautiful Saviour" 

Gord:  It was very thoughtful of you to work so hard on boxing food for your needy neighbors.  Blessings to you!  There are so many in need and I believe that this is the worst of times nation-wide that I have ever seen.  Everyone is collecting in different ways and often - this week is Boy Scouts with paper grocery bags to fill.  Prayers for all who are suffering and may they not go hungry. 

I came in to check on Pastor Al and am relieved to read that his legs are being properly cared for so that is good news.  It sounds like he will have rehab perhaps for a broken bone?  So sorry to hear that he had a fall. 

We were suddenly invited to meet with daughter & SIL to go to Univ. of Minnestoa-Duluth hockey vs. Univ. of Denver.  Don's alma mater UMD (Duluth) won 4 to 0.  A much smaller school - I don't know if they played today.  Anyway, it was a clean and great game.  The skating always looks so artistic to me - so much energy on the ice. 

Our church has had a month of talks about commitment and tithing - being generous.  Taught early in our family.    It has been a great series of sermons and early service was totally packed today.  Pastor said he would like an extra hour of sleeping every Sunday.... 

Hi everyone.  It is suppose to be another very pleasant day getting up to 70 this afternoon.  I hope to take my car Kauffman's Tire to get my tires rotated this morning and then have my regular Monday activities.  The housekeepers will be here and the lawn people today so it is going to be a busy day.  Our church activities really wore me down yesterday and I was short of breath most of the day I think from the exhaustion I felt.  Rested most of the afternoon and went to bed before 8 pm and was asleep shortly after nine.  Do feel rested and much better this morning.

Etta Sue, nice that you got to see so many former classmates. 

Marilyn, thanks for the update on Al and Marbeth.  Sure glad to read he is feeling and doing better.  Hope the worst is over for him and it won't be too long before he is able to be with us again.

Ruth Ann, sure glad you didn't lose your luggage with your car unlocked.  Hope you are more rested today.

Janet, it is so great to read that your church is growing.  I fear that our church is iin decline at the moment and I know our ministers are very concerned.  We lost our long-time youth pastor and now don't see many young people at our traditional service.  Sure hope they are attending the contemporary service.  Smile pretty today for that photo.  Hopefully it will be seen all over the world.  It surely hasn't been 4 years since Curtis and his wife had the baby.  Where does the time go?

Carol, yesterday our church completed it's commitment sermons and our anticipated contributions were laid on the communion table as we left the sanctuary.  That was followed by a very tasty fellowship luncheon.

Oh, how marvelous!  Oh, how wonderful!   My church had an Old-Fashioned Hymn Sing last evening.  I do believe there were more there than at the morning service.  There were a few pre-chosen songs and then David, the song leader, asked for others to suggest songs from the hymnal and what memories came from that song for them.  Two nieces of David's, both married and children under 10 years of age, suggested a song!  The memory?  One of them said when Mindy and her were little they used to sing this song at the top of their lungs...one pretending she was David and the other was Sylvia Stoner.  Sylvia sings LOUD!  And David has a deep baritone voice.  The crowd got a great kick out of that memory. 

Afterwards we all went to the basement for ice cream, cup cakes and cookies.  I held babies...the youth ministers 3 month old and another couple's 7 month old and watching the one year old's walking around!  Love the little kids in the church!

Today is laundry day.  Next Tuesday is Euchre at my house so I have my plans all laid out so by 3pm Tuesday, the house, the yard and I will be ready for seven people to come enjoy themselves at my house. 

Marilyn, thank you for keeping us up-to-date on Al and Marbeth.

And Ruth Ann, I could drive you anywhere you want to go on a trip if you just let me know you want to go!  Think about that!!  Hope Josie gets her nose job done quickly!  Hawaii is beautiful once again! 

Gloomy day today.  Mr. Sunshine is taking the day off.  I shook some rugs outside...not too bad temperature wise but it has been raining some.

What a lovely evening service that must have been, Etta Sue!  How I love the Old hymns.  For Paul's birthday, we had hymn books brought by one of the couples and we sang and sang and sang and in between the old hymns, we read his cards (he received over 55 of them!!!) and the scripture verses that each contained. 

What a lovely evening we had!

Just checkin' in to see how Brother Al is doing.  Got an email saying he was in the hospital.  Trust he is doing better, what with all the prayer warriors fighting on his behalf.

Our sick puppy seems to be a tiny bit better.  She has eaten a little bit today, so that is hopeful.

I got the photo session done, am waiting for Ellen to send them to me online so I can choose which one to have her send the cover designer.

Only two more days at home before we leave!  Is it possible to get everything done? 

I hope we have news of Al tomorrow!

    Hi to all.  It has been a very busy weekend and our niece and two nephews stayed over and there was also a birthday party and also my oldest son picked up the furniture that they had stored in my garage and last night we had a concert in the city of St. Catherines and it was the southern gospel group called The Blackwood Brothers and two of them are the sons of the original group that started back in 19.34 and they were fantastic.  So this weekend was great and the weather was very warm and mostly blue skies.

Ed: It is so nice to see you posting we do miss you and hope that you will come back more often.  May the Lord richly bless you.

Pat: Thanks for that great old hymn and I sure remember singing it just after I became a Christian. Also thanks for the devotional.  Hope you and Paul are well.  God bless SIS.

To all others have a wonderful week and please pray for me as I have an app. to see an orthopedic surgeon re my hip and possibly my back and it is at 2-15 p.m. so I do appreciate your prayers.  God's richest blessings.
                                      Gordon and Noreen

HI everyone.  I have to say that yesterday turned out not very well for our children.  First of all Stacey didn't call as she usually does early in the morning and about noon Pat commented she just sensed that she was back in the hospital.  In a little bit her phone rang and it was Stacey from the hospital.  She had been there since early morning with chest pain and the doctors didn't like what they were seeing on the EKG.  She had a heart cath done about 6 pm last night and they apparently found a new blockage in the location of her bypass if she heard the doctors correctly.  She  talked with the doctor this morning and he told her they will have to go in on both sides of the groin as the blockage is in a very delicate place in the bypass graft to put in the stent (s).   This was scheduled for 9:30 this morning but that may be changed.  We are not going to try to get there before that time due to the traffic but should be there by the time she is finished if they do it at 9:30 or we will be there if it is later.

Then our son called last evening saying he has had a setback and has passing blood from the kidney but the doctor assured him it wasn't something where he would bleed to death.  He will have a scan with dye on Friday to see for sure what is going on and whether he has to have more surgery. He is not going to be able to return to work as he had hoped this week.  This is the day we must place our trust in God to care for our loved ones.  Your prayers will be appreciated. 

Election day here in the US.  Not much on the ballot locally this year, but it's still important to vote and so I'll go make my voice heard. 

The digital clock on my stove is driving me crazy.  Whenever there's the least break in the power, which we had for less than a minute yesterday, it goes into blinking (as do all the other digitals, of course).  But the touch buttons don't work any more and it's impossible to actually set it.  I can manage with a good bit of pushing and pressing to get it to stop blinking, but that sets it at 12:00 and no way can I get any of the other buttons to make any contact.  Grrrrr.  I suppose I could let it keep blinking until the time is actually 12:00.

No voting for me today.  The township that I live in doesn't have a city.  The only 'town' is Durbin and maybe a population of 20!  So I don't have to go to the poles. 

Larry, so sorry to hear of your kids and their health problems.  May God put his healing arms around them.

Janet, sorry your puppy is ill.  I don't remember of reading about him/her being sick.

Gord, talk about people being busy!  You were one busy person over the weekend!  Keeps us young!

Pat, I am actually lyric illiterate when it comes to songs.  I listen to the music not the words generally.  If I like the music, I like the song.  So I like all kinds of music...actually I like instrumental music best.  But those old hymns made my heart smile all evening!  Loved them.  I remember Mom playing them on the piano when I was young.  She played the upper scale with her right hand and would chord with her left hand.  We had a piano that had a rinky-tink lever.  I would change the piano to rinky-tink while she was playing.  Made a total difference in the sound!  Ah, memories!

Ed, glad to see you posting!  Long time, no see!  How's Michigan?

Jeanne, I have one digital clock that the minute button is hard to work.  I have to push so hard, I think I will break it.  But it is only a tiny stand alone clock so no big deal if I do break it and have to replace it. 

Today Ivalou and I are going to the pool this afternoon and to get some groceries. 

A bright sunny day!

Oh, Larry, so sorry to hear about your daughter's and son's problems.  I pray God will give them strength and peace while He heals their bodies.  Glad that you are a truster and not a worrier!

Nothing on the ballot for us to vote on today, so we won't be going to the polls, either.  Since we live outside the city limits, we cannot vote on any  "city" issues.

Jeanne, the best fix I heard about for those pesky blinking clocks is to put a strip of black tape over the numbers! 

My photos turned out really well, probably the best ones I've ever had taken!  Usually I do not like any picture of me, but these will do!

The carpet man is here today replacing the carpet that had the hole and the bad weaving that looked like a really bad seam.  We have cleaned out the kitchen cabinets, and are wondering how many weeks it will take to get things back into their proper places so we can find them!

I MUST finish my packing!!  Time is slipping rapidly away!!

Talk to you all later!

Larry:  Praying for your children. 

Janet:  You will finish what you need to do just in time.  It always works out. 

Our neighbor has a husband with Parkinson's Disease and on occasion I bring food for her to blend for him.  Last night it was chicken noodle soup and an egg/cheese casserole.  She has been so busy because he fell three times and was admitted for the next six weeks to a care home on prompting from both the doctor and her children so Jerry wasn't there but she has been cleaning and working on the house so much that she barely had made any food.  Sad but now he is safer.  We also had an email from a friend in Oregon that her husband who recently died has left her destitute.  Apparently, his dementia caused him to wreak the finances and she just found out - now she wants to take in a house renter for the 2nd. bedroom.  Such difficult news for my friends. 

Tonight is quilt meeting and I will drive.  A son's dog comes to visit - hooray too.  Don will play cribbage with a friend since his wife and I go to these meetings together. 

I love the old hymns.  Did not know the two new songs they slipped in on Sunday. 

Praise note:  One grandson had a kidney flare-up and now all tests show he is perfectly fine.  Thanks be. 

Sorry to hear of both your children being ill Larry.  I am praying.

I pray each person who comes to visit our Thoughts room today is blessed.

Carol where in Oregon is you friend, if she is close enough I will take her some food.

Hi, friends,

It's a gorgeous day today, and a friend invited me to go with their family to hear our pianist's choral group (she teaches all music at the Tennessee School for the Blind) performance tonight at a restaurant near my friend's home.

Since Josie is still "powdering her nose," they're going to even come to pick me up!

Christian friends are certainly a blessing, aren't they.

Larry, I will be praying for your children. And for others for whom we have requested prayer as well.

Yes, I truly love the old hymns, too, and love to sing as well as play them. Recently I was asked to sing, and the song I chose was "The Blood Washed Pilgrim." When I was a young girl, my aunt used to sing that song as she busily swept every single blade of grass of their sidewalk.   "Then palms of victory, crowns of glory, palms of victory I shall wear." I wonder how MANY years old that song is...

Y'all have a great day with our Lord.

Safe travels, Janet.

Love to all,
Ruth Ann

Thanks, Ruth Ann.  I also LOVE the old hymns, but must say I've never heard that one!

Marilyn:  That is so kind of you - I just had this news today and do not know exactly what is happening or if she can recover anything.  Three children are near and she will be firmly attached to a church so I know there will be guidance and help.   

I met another neighbor & she is a bit difficult to understand - wants me to visit her.  She is from Havana, Cuba.  Amazing story - she told me her whole life while I was trying to walk the dog but this is more important.  Don is walking the dog because I drive to a meeting soon. 

Hi everyone.  Our daughter came through the stenting procedure well.  They had to go in both sides of the groin as the large blockage was at a very delicate point in the artery.  She did have a heart attack early Monday morning but the doctor said it had been a relatively mild heart attack.  This was her seventh heart attack.  The doctor talked to her while we were there and told her she needs a pacemaker/defibrillator as her heart is getting pretty weak.  However, it would be at least a month before they could place it after having the heart attack.  However, there is a vest that can be used temporarily until a permanent one is placed.  She expects to be released from the hospital today. 

Our son is also back in the hospital and will have more surgery on his kidney sometime today.  He had hoped to go back to work today but that is off the table for the time being.  He has developed a gross hemotoma and they have to find the cause and seal it off.  He has been in a lot of pain and it got much worse yesterday.  The scan had been scheduled for Friday but was moved up to yesterday.  That was enough news for us yesterday.

Today is Bible study this morning and then I have my teeth cleaned at noon and tonight is choir.  So it is a full plate for today. 

Jeanne, yesterday was also election day in our community.  Our town voted to allow Sunday sales of alcohol and also to allow a liquor store to be opened in our little town.  Our county also approved a one cent sales tax dedicated to our school system.  It is the 4th time the voters have approved it and we have some beautiful schools in our county.  These same measures were approved in several counties around our area.

Carol, that is so sad that your friend has ended up destitute.  Hope you enjoyed your quilting event and that Don enjoyed the cribbage.  This is a favorite game for me but it has been a long time since I played it with anyone.

Well, the weather took a change for the worse.  Raining, windy and getting cooler!  Yesterday was like Spring.  Today Ol' Man Winter is knocking on the door. 

Not much planned today except going to the Oral Surgeon and getting this tooth out.  Then nothing until this evening when I go to Crochet Angels. 

That's it, Folks!

Larry, I am still praying for your kids.  That was a little too much for one day for you and Pat!  I pray things improve rapidly, and that they both turn to the Lord ofr strength, comfort and courage in the coming days.

We are having a lovely day, weather-wise.  I have been over to Pat's so she could cut and style my hair, maybe making it easier for me to keep for three weeks while away.  We are trying to think of all the last-minute things we need to decide with the carpenter, make all arrangements for Beth, took the dog to Diane last night to puppy-sit, watched Abby's play practice (she has a part in the community theater play), need to go to the PO to sign for them to hold the mail.......what have I forgotten?   

Darrel has gone to take the grandfather clock and two others to the clock shop, so they can be repaired while we are away.  The guys are working in the bathrrom just now.

I must go unpack my suitcase, lay everything out and see what else I need, as I have forgotten what I packed earlier!  Darrel's bags have been sitting by the door for several days, all buckled up--but that's the way it usually is--he is ready and raring to go and I am still packing.

I must go get to work!

Hi everyone.  I decided to stop back and give you an update.  Our son was in surgery for two hours this morning and the doctor had told him before the surgery that he might lose some of the kidney function.  However, the situation wasn't as bad as they thought it might be and the doctor has now said he doesn't think there will be any loss of kidney function, which is great news.  He hasn't heard whether he will have to stay in the hospital another night or will be able to go home late this afternoon.  I am sure he would prefer to be home.  Our daughter is awaiting the fitting of the "life vest", which I mentioned earlier and then will be released.  They apparently plan on putting in the permanent device in about 4 months.  She said she is feeling much better today.  I think what happens in the blockages is that you start not feeling so good slowly and don't realize how it has affected you until the stent in put in and blood flow is restored.

Janet, you can save yourself a trip to the post office by going on line to the USPS website and just putting in your request to hold your mail and the day you want it restarted or that you will pick it up.  I have used this several times and it works very well. 

Etta Sue, hope your dental appointment went well.  I am just back from mine and find I have one tooth that will need a filling.  That was not the news I wanted to hear.  I will have it filled in about three weeks.

Larry:  Wonderful news on your son and the life vest for your daughter sounds like a very good temporary fix until she has the pacemaker.  Goodness, she has had more than her share of episodes.  Blessings to both of the children.  Nice of you to pass on the internet connection to the post office.  It saves a trip and standing in a line for sure. 

I am back from the Wed bible study having it cancelled for snow the last two Wednesdays.  I was shocked to learn (after three years) that a woman at our table told the story of her son-in-law murdering her daughter and three grandchildren ten years ago.  She said that the family never blamed God for the sick act but could never understand why either.  How strong in faith.  What a testimony. 

Don took the dog out for awhile and had a cappuccino and he had a phone call from son who never takes a vacation & is just having a great time.   We are so glad.  Gotta go to monthly needle arts meeting.  The second week of every month is just too stacked with things to do. 

Janet:  Have a great trip!   

Birds are chirping in unison behind me....interesting to listen to.

Kass has 2 remembrance day services to attend this week.  Tomorrow at the school and Friday at Memorial Gardens.  It has been busy preparing.

We need to leave tomorrow by 7 so I am off to bed early.  Night folks

    Good evening to all.   Thanks for your prayers and the doctor I went to jesterday gave me a shot of cortisone and it may have helped but we are not allowed anymore for three months so I am hoping that it helps.

Larry:  I am so glad to hear that your son and daughter are felling a little better and I hope that they get home soon.  They have both had such a rough time and we pray that they will get much stronger.  I hope that you and Pat are both looking after yourselves.

Well I had a young man come from my church and he has been here before and he cut both my lawns and also helped me put away all the patio furniture and also starting to put up some of our Christmas things outside

Janet:  Have a wonderful holiday and be careful of the people that we talked about.

To all others on C.P. Noreen and I hope that the Lord will give you all much strength and many blessings.   Love in Christ.   Gordon and Noreen

I'm back with the good news that the final version of Rising Above has just been sent back to my editor!!  YESSSS!!!!  That is one thing not to be concerned about now on our trip!  She said the book is much stronger and better than when  she first read it, and also longer!  Twenty one photos were technically approved for the photo section, and the Backmatter and Author's  bio have been approved.  The photo for the back cover is on its way......I think that covers everything up to the cover design and layout.  Progress!!  It feels good!

Thanks  for that on the USPS, Larry!  Why didn't I think of that?  My friend Pat told me we can't just call in any more, but I had always left the carrier a note in the mailbox....and was told at the PO that doing that would still work, as long as the note was signed.  So there is more than one way to do it.

I wish you all joy, continuing improved health and strength and protection from our Father while we are absent one from another.  I love each and every one of you!

Janet

Hi everyone.  We are suppose to be a lot cooler here today and tomorrow than the last few days have been.  Yesterday turned out to be a good day in terms of both my son and daughter.  Our son  expects to be released today to begin his recovery.  Our daughter was dismissed yesterday late from the hospital.  She is feeling much better and spent most of the day awaiting to get a "Life Vest".  If you are interested here is the website that explains this new device:  http://www.lifevest.zoll.com/about-us/  .  Unfortunately she has not been able to break the smoking habit and the doctor told her about a new inhaler that provides the nicotine without the other damaging elements of tobacco.  She is going to try it and the doctor gave her the prescription for it.  So things are definitely looking up for our family.  I plan on attending my retiree's luncheon today.  I have to drive about an hour to get there but haven't been for several times.  I may also go down and spend a few minutes with our daughter as am about halfway there when I am at my luncheon.

Janet, great news on completing your part on the book process.  I hope it will soon be in bookstores and available as an ebook. 

Gord, hope the shot really helps.  Did you get any snow yesterday? 

Carol, what a wonderful testimony of the ladies faith in dealing with a horrific tragedy in her life. 

Judy, it sounds like Kass will be very busy over the next couple of days.

The dental appointment was fast!  I filled out some papers since I was a first-time patient.  They numbed me.  The tooth was extracted quickly.  I paid my part and left! 

I wasn't to take the gauze out for a half hour which was about when I got home.  Not to chew on that side and only have soft foods yesterday.  I got an RX but decided to not fill it unless I needed it.  No pain in that area at all!!

Well, today, the place where the tooth was is fine and dandy.  It's the other side where I have part of a tooth missing that is giving me fits.  When I chew on that side, food packs between my teeth and the pressure hurts!  I will be glad when next Thursday gets here and I get the crown prep and a temporary crown on that tooth!  By then I can chew on the other side...maybe...with two teeth missing!

Wonder if I will lose weight?  Ha!  I doubt it!   

A classmate, Judy, is coming to my house today and then I will drive and we are going to our class lunch.  She can't walk very far and this restaurant is in an outside mall.  The parking isn't right by the restaurant.  So I will let her out at the door and then go park the car.  I told her I wanted to go to Bath and Body so I will do that after we eat, then get my car and get her.  That's the plan....we will see how it goes! 

And I think my coffee maker is on its last leg!!  It takes forever to make my two cups of coffee even after running a pot of vinegar through it!  It was an El Cheapo a few years ago so time to get a new one!

Hope everyone's day today is much better than yesterday!

Hi, today promises to be a good day for me. I'm still simply enjoying being in my apartment with no outside commitments. That's good, because there are many things to be done prior to some scheduled maintenance on our floor next Monday. We'll all need to go somewhere else or stay in the common areas of the building for the full day and into the night.

I'll plan lots of my shopping and library experiences that day.

Godspeed, Janet and hubby.

Larry, it's great you're hearing such encouraging news about both children. We always worry about them and their difficulties, don't we. It's really important that we be supportive of them and mindful the we need their loving support, as well.

Marilyn, I believe you said you'd be visiting some of your children. That sounds so good. I hope it's a real blessing to be with them, and for you to be a blessing to them as well.

Yes, a serious financial reversal certainly is difficult. I'll be remembering that lady in my thoughts and prayers.

Well, it's time to go see if there are updates on our friends Al and Marbeth.

Love to all,
Ruth Ann