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Morning Devotional...





Thomas said to him, 'My Lord and my God!' John 20:28


Often enough we have been warned that the morality of any nation or civilization will follow its concepts of God. A parallel truth is less often heard: When a church begins to think impurely and inadequately about God, decline sets in.

We must think nobly and speak worthily of God. Our God is sovereign. We would do well to follow our old-fashioned forebears who knew what it was to kneel in breathless, wondering adoration in the presence of the God who is willing to claim us as His own through grace.

Some are still asking, "What is God like?" God Himself has given us a final, complete answer. Jesus said, "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father" (John 14:9).

For those of us who have put our faith in Jesus Christ, the quest of the ages is over. Jesus Christ, the eternal Son, came to dwell among us, being "the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being." For us, I say, the quest is over because God has now revealed Himself to us. What Jesus is, the Father is. Whoever looks on the Lord Jesus Christ looks upon all of God. Jesus is God thinking God's thoughts. Jesus is God feeling the way God feels. Jesus is God now doing what God does.

The more time we devote to breathless adoration in the presence of God the more we shall apprehend the greatness of Christ. In gazing upon Him we know more and more of God the Father.



Lord, teach me how to worship, really worship You.

From Devotions By Dr. Tozer

Hi everyone.  It is a beautiful, sunny and a bit warmer morning here in Georgia.  As we had decided not to attend church this morning, due a parking problem with our main lot being taken over for a community type festival this afternoon, I didn't get up at my normal time.  Pat was sleeping well so I picked up my iPad and read all my email, the message boards and a couple of other things I read each morning.  I am now up, showered and dressed and in a little bit we are going out to brunch, something we can seldom do on Sunday.  I am planning on catching Don Reid's classical music program this afternoon and later watch the Falcon's play in Arizona.  So it should be a very pleasant day.  I stayed home all day yesterday and that was enjoyable.  Pat made some really good chicken soap for supper last night with some chips and homemade salsa.  My neighbor brought over a couple of slices of a Halloween cake his wife had made and we had that with some ice cream.  So we didn't starve last night. 

Janet, hope Darrel is soon doing better after his surgery.  I don't watch horror movies and have never cared for them.  Obviously a lot of people do like them and those types of books. 

Marilyn, your presence is duly noted. 

Don, thank you for that fine devotional for this week. 

Thanks Larry. here I am again. We did a quick Walmart run this morning then came home and had breakfast,. I am thinking a walk is in order for both dogs, if happy can walk without too much limping, If he limps he can't go. He is on Tramadol for pain now as well as Prednisone, Thyroid and another pill. he is a walking pharmacy it seems. Well it is quality of life that I am looking for i him at his ripe old age of 15½ yrs old.

It is again overcast here today, we actually had sun yesterday. As the the days get cooler is gets harder for me to make myself get out and walk with the dogs, if I could curtail the running nose it would be so hard to get out in the cold. 

I hope everyone is having a blessed day.

I miss Etta Due but I do see her on Facebook occasionally. It seems like this particular forum has lost so many posters. There are lots of members who don't come to this forum, maybe we should encourage them to stop by now and then to say hello and tell us what they are doing.

Good to see you here again, Marilyn.  I know just what you mean about a running nose.  Even the temperature in the supermarket all year around gives me trouble.  I need to keep a tissue handy all the time.

Good Afternoon: 

Hello to Jeanne Lee, Marilyn, Larry & Don.
I have not been out side but it sure has that cold look and with my knee I do not
desire to travel to far.  Walking I mean.

Marilyn: I agree with you there should be more members posting. The way I see it the site will come to a slow death.

Janet: I completed and sent your questionnaire on it way.

Ruth I was thinking the same thing, however there are so many photographers that use this site to display their wonderful photos that  I really don't thing the site will die. I sure would like to see more postting in this thread though.

We had such a great visit with our daughter and granddaughter.  Such good food as well and so nice to have time alone with our junior in  high school girl - she drove us around too.  Back home just an hour ago and now my back is not the best for some unknown reason so everything is at a standstill for a bit.  We took to the side roads because there is a football game and that clogs our main freeway north and south in the city.  Hundreds and hundreds of people in orange and blue set up tents and were eating & cooking outside their cars - even in side residential areas. It isn't easy to drive around right now. 

I love the photos posted - mine are nowhere near the quality and artistry of the photos in this group. 

Marilyn, Ruth and Carol, I'd like to see more conversation here, too.  And I'd love it if we had more entries in our challenges.  My photos aren't in the same category as some of the professionals who post, but once in a while I can't resist posting one or two.  I keep hoping my very amateur results will encourage others who feel less than expert.   Sometimes it's nice just to show off where we live, or where we travel, or just something fun that has happened, and not worry about the quality of the photo.

Hi everyone.  It is a dreary, misty morning here in Georgia.  It isn't cold as it started out at 57 and suppose to get up to 64 today with some light rain throughout the day.  The painter called to see if it was rainy here and it is so he won't be coming today.  We had a nice quiet day yesterday after going out for brunch back at the Peachtree Cafe where we had eaten last week.  We had a very good breakfast.  We had to wait 15-20 minutes to get a table, which is a good sign that the food will be good.  One of the housekeepers is here today.  The other housekeepers father is in the hospital and not doing very well so she isn't here today.  Our men's luncheon group is meeting at Olive Garden today and I have a meeting tonight.  That will be plenty for today as after coffee this morning got a haircut, went to the credit union and then through the drive-thru at our local bank to cash a check. 

Marilyn, in dog years your dog is getting pretty elderly and no wonder he limps.  I think you have had him as long as I have know you.  I also miss Etta Sue's posting but at least know she is doing OK.  I think after a period of time some folks just get tired of doing the same thing daily. 

Both Pat and I go through many boxes of tissues and now buy them by the case as somedays it seems wiping our noses is occurring a lot. 

Ruth, I have no knee problems in walking but my heart doesn't like me walking very far. 

Carol, I see that Denver had a win at football yesterday.  I have never been downtown in the area of the stadium to see where all the tailgaters set up but know parking is a bit of a problem.  We are going to have a new stadium in about three years that will cost a Billion dollars or more.

Jeanne, I very seldom post a photo as have to admit that photography really isn't my interest.  I just like the people who post here and don't want to lose contact with each one. 

Hello to each of you on this fine Monday.  I am about ready for a nap!  Been up quite a few hours already!

Ruth I did receive yours and Larry's questionnaires, and thanks to both of you.  Now I have more work to do!  I will try to post the stories in more or less the order in which I get them back. 

I spent time with my family yesterday, so that was a good day.  Even though some live close, we do not see them as much as I would like.  Why do we all live so busy, anyway? 

I, too, miss so many who used to share and post in here.  I know life gets busy, but I enjoy our fellowship here, and like Larry I don't want to lose contact with my friends here.

Sounds like the washer has stopped, time to go put another load into the dryer!

Monday and it looks like a change in the weather.  I am attempting to cook a Greek Lemon Rice Soup in the crock pot - Don just made a funny face.  We shall see if it works.  He can eat the ribs tonight.  A talkative neighbor came for what he said would be ten minutes of questions for Don - it is more like two hours and now Don is  going to help another neighbor (she is a good friend having memory problems) much too young for this so we are concerned.  She is  a widow so that doesn't help either. 

Sometimes, all we can do is pray and that is what it is right now -

Jeanne:  I do understand what you are saying, so what if the photos are not super good.  I need to learn this from scratch again. 

Janet:  My list on the To Do sheet is so long yet it is much more fun to visit with family or anyone.  So, all my "behindness" is really my fault.  I expect you are so friendly that you do the same - we treasure the moments and these moments go much too quickly.  We spent Sun afternoon & night with daughter and granddaughter - she had a phone call last night and has been accepted to go with a few other students to Italy next March.  Bouncing off the wall right now.

Cannot make bible study once again this week.  Don has a VA appointment and I go with him especially for this one.  It looks like the snow is ready to begin earlier than expected here.   

Hello Friends:

We have a sunny cool and windy  October day.
If we get many more windy days I would think that the beautiful leaves will be on the ground, so sad this season lasts for such a short time.

I had an early morning appointment but now I am home for the day.

We do not visit with our children enough but I have heard from the both of them.
We will be having steak on the BBQ to night  along with apple crisp for dessert.

Ruth

Ruth, your supper sure sounds way better than ours.  We had wonderful (NOT) frozen Mexican dinners.  I saw them in a weak moment, on sale for 89c each!  We ate them, but didn't enjoy them!  Ha.

Laundry is all done again, and I got a few other little chores done.  We are actually going to the movies tonight, something we rarely do.  We are going to see Gravity, with Sandra Bullock.  I've heard it is good, and has great special effects.  We'll see.  It will have to be good to keep me awake! 

Tomorrow I plan to spend some time typing on your stories!

Ruth:  It is always sad to me to watch the leaves drop and then everything looks brown in our area - not like my home town of Seattle. 

Janet:  We rarely - I mean years apart - ever watch a pay for movie and Gravity was amazing.  Not much of a plot but the special effects are just wild.  Don's hearing aid was not working but it didn't matter - he just enjoyed & also that was the first time for me to use those special glasses. 

Expecting winter weather this morning and later and the radio tells us that there is trouble at the north end of town with crashes already.  Probably tailgating vehicles - they never learn. 

We have two good friends in medical concerns right now.  One, wants to drive from Minnesota to Arizona and he is determined - I chatted with his wife last night and can only pray that if they do go he will be alright.  Both friends are on the heavier doses of chemo.  Today is a good day to stay indoors and perhaps I can get to my sewing? 

Hello everyone.  It sunny day today. I did not feel well yesterday and left my men's luncheon early to come home and rest.  I then went to bed last evening at 7:30 and didn't get up this morning until 7:30 and felt better until just a little bit ago.  I went with Pat over to Home Depot and she found the range and microwave she wanted. They are offering free home delivery and installation through Oct 31st. She got a flat top LG Range and a Maytag microwave.  The microwave has a oblong glass table that goes back and forth rather than rotating. 

Stacey saw the orthopedic surgeon yesterday and he prescribed an air boot, which she now has,  for her foot and the x-ray shows she has two new breaks in a little bone on top of her foot.  He told her she is too high risk to try to operate on her foot.  He would not release her to start the PT needed to learn to use the artificial leg and will see her in another month.  It had been her goal to be able to walk enough to come here for Christmas but has now realized that will be an impossible situation. 

Janet, nice you could spend time with your family yesterday.  Other than to see Stacey every two to three weeks we do not see much of our son and his wife.  We are doubtful that they will be able to come at Christmas as our DIL is not at all well. 

Carol, the lemon flavor in soup is good.  Pat has a great chicken soup recipe that uses lemon juice and it gives it a unique taste.  Nice of Don to share his knowledge with his neighbors.  I am sure there are going to be many older people who will really struggle with this health insurance business. 

Ruth, your steak on the BBQ sounds great along with that apple crisp. 

We enjoyed the movie Gravity.  Nice that there wasn't any bad language or suggestive scenes, a refreshing change from most movies.  We didn't have to use special glasses to watch it, though. (?)

I didn't make it to the gym this morning as the house cleaning lady was here, and I needed to be here to keep her on track.  So I worked a lot harder than she did, but got almost all of the house cleaned.  I was cleaning windows, mirrors, etc. and dusting.  So much construction dust!  I finished paying for the two new chairs I bought to go in the new room, yesterday.  Jason said he will deliver them, along with the two little tables the insurance helped pay for, on Thursday or Friday.  Will be nice to see how things look with some furniture in there.

It is almost time to go to Sr. Center for lunch.  We haven't been there this week.  But I'm in my gym clothes, as I intended to go at 9:00, but was too involved in cleaning and wanted to get it finished.  So I need to go change.

Larry, sorry you had a bad day, hope your energy has returned and you are feeling much stronger today.  Sorry about Stacey's latest problems.  I went and read to Beth for quite a while yesterday.  It amazes me how she stays so happy and positive, in spite of not being able to move any part of her body but her head a little bit.  God is so good!  He keeps her going.

I hope I get my notifications again, been having to go google our site to get in here.

Hi, friends,

WHAT a busy, busy week, and it's only Tuesday! Oh, well, our Lord knows and understands.

I'm still praying for our Lord to strengthen someone who is making a big life change. No details, but if y'all would like to take this bit of information and help me pray, it would be appreciated.

When this busy-ness slows down, then I truly should be able to come back on a daily basis.

Love to all,
Ruth Ann

I had to check - it is now Wednesday.  Don was up a lot last night and his appointment isn't until 11 at the VA.  It takes us about 40 plus minutes to get there.  Sure glad that the snow stayed away from our roads today. 

Ruth Ann:  Got your message - prayers for this change. 

Janet: The movie we saw was the 3-D version (I believe it is called so) and it looked like floating objects were going to hit us.  Amazing!  I didn't duck  but it sure gives a person that feeling. 

Remember the flood that hit our hills and also down into flatland?  The once in 1,000 year flood?  Thousands applied for aid and many are still waiting.  It is a national catastrophe but never the media as in the east or New Orleans.  The Big Thompson river was rerouted in this flood and engineers are going to work at changing the course back.  This is going to be a tough winter for a lot of people.

Larry:  I know that you and Pat would like to see your son more often.  Sad that your DIL is not well. 

Pitch black outside and we have been up for hours.   

Hi everyone. It is going to be another beautiful day and suppose to get up to 80 degrees this afternoon.  Pat is going to get to Aldi's this morning but will drop me off at Bible study and then if she has enough time join us at Dunkin' Donut.  Late yesterday the painter finished up the outside painting so that is another project accomplished.  I can also strike off the list finding the range and microwave.  The microwave will be installed tomorrow but it will probably be  the 20th of November before the range will be installed. 

Carol, sure glad you and Don don't have to deal with snowy roads getting to the VA.  Denver traffic is tough enough as it is.  It sounds like Jenny was able to get to Oregon without weather difficulties. 

Janet, glad you enjoyed the movie.  There is something wrong with the picture that you are working harder than the housekeeper.    You are very fortunate that Beth keeps a positive attitude and it is obvious she has accepted the reality of her situation.  Her attitude sure makes it easier on you all. 

Ruth Ann,  Hope the situation of the someone making a big life change works out well.  It will if it is the will of God. 

I'm sure late getting here today.  After a mostly sleepless night I had an appointment to get my car inspected, which meant bundling up early at 38 degrees. Then home to the furnace running and they air soooo dry - so out came the dryer rack and some wet towels over the heating vent.  A nap, lunch, chores...  finally time to get on the computer and no connection!  After unplugging the router for a while I'm here at last.   

Good evening after a long and kinda busy day.

I did a lot of driving, delivered a dish of apple crisp to auntie then asked if she would like to ride along while I did my errands. 

When the day was almost at a close she suggested it would not be complete without stopping for a bite to eat.  Then tomorrow being Halloween she has not had anyone for several years given the street she lives on but every year is the same I need treats for the kids I think it just might be for her.

Janet: Stacey's good spirit is what keeps you going.

Carol:  I like that kind of movie with the moving objects.  The glasses you are given are usually to big but you make them work.

Larry: Pat will enjoy the new stove and microwave.

Jeanne Lee: Sorry about you sleepless night but for a change mine was a little better.

Pat: My posting seems to be a little slow downloading

Pat:   

Surprise surprise it went fast.

We were up and out early this morning.  Drove to Garden City (60 miles away) for my YAG laser surgery on my right eye.  We had a full page list of things to do in Garden, knowing the treatment would only take a couple of minutes.  It didn't---BUT the evaluation at the clinic took over 2 1/2 hours!  They put so many drops in my eyes, dialating them and so on, that I had trouble seeing for a few hours.  After leaving the clinic at 11:00, we went to Penney's to get something, then to Applebee's to eat, as I was dizzy and my stomach was feeling strange.  Then it was the time they said to be at the Surgery Center.  So we went, I had the surgery, then we went to Menards, Walmart, and a couple other places, getting home right at 6:00.  Long day, and I am very tired, I think mostly from the eye strain, etc.  But it is done!!

I called my sweet grandson Mark a bit ago.  He's back in school, taking airline mechanics, and he has another 4.0 GPA this semester!  So proud of him, and miss him so much.  When he finishes, the last of January, he told me he plans to go to Virginia to work.  That's very far from Kansas.     But maybe we can go see him anyway.

I need to find a little something to eat, put more drops in my eye and head to bed early.  See you all tomorrow!

Janet, I've had YAG laser surgeries to improve vision in both eyes after cataract removal. It's truly amazing what the doctors can do, isn't it!

Busy day ahead tomorrow. I'll probably be really glad when bedtime rolls around for me tomorrow night.

That person I've been praying for is going into another stage of the life change. Prayer would be appreciated.

Love to all,
Ruth Ann

Hi everyone.  The sun is beginning to peep through some haze this morning.  Since this is Thursday I expect to stay home all day unless Pat somewhere she wants me to go with her.  They called yesterday and said the microwave will be installed between 12:30 and 4 pm and they will call about 30 minutes before they plan on being here.  That will probably be the big activity for today. 

Jeanne, I remember when we lived in a mobile home how dry the air was when we had the heat on.  It can still get pretty dry in the house but we do have a built in humidifier that helps a lot.  It is still too early here to turn it on as we may still need to run the AC another time or two, although that is now doubtful.  Glad you got your connection back.  A couple of days ago the Netflix box quit working in the living room.  I unplugged it and left it for a couple of minutes and then plugged it back in and it started working.  I think this has happened before. 

Ruth, I found it always best to buy the candy you like just in case any was left over and you just had to eat it.  It sounds like your auntie is wise and she probably does enjoy the candy.  Nice of you to take her out for the day and let her ride with you.

Janet, what laser procedure did you have done on your eye?  It sounds like you had a very long day of it in Garden City.  It sounds like you have a grandson to be very proud of and that he is an excellent student.  At least you have a new place to visit and Virginia is a beautiful state with lots of things to do, including visiting D.C. 

Ruth Ann, I will be glad to read that you are now able to rest easier and that things are resolved for the person undergoing a life change.  Please don't forget to rest as you need it.

I skipped going to the gym this morning, as I am still not feeling quite right.  Vision in the eye that had the YAG laser surgery is very cloudy, and I still feel sort of queasy. I had the procedure on my left eye a little over one year ago, but don't remember feeling this way afterwards.  As I was praying early today, I felt the Lord was telling me "It's perfectly all right for you to take today and just REST.  You don't have to do all the things you think you have to do!"  So I stayed home! 

We had a little rain last night, there are a few puddles outside.  That's always a good thing here in our part of the country!

Larry, I will think of you as I take it easy today!  And Ruth Ann, as soon as possible, you should try it!  You might like it! 

If any of you who have answered the questions haven't yet sent photos to Pat, I encourage you to do that, as we need them when we post your story!  Thanks so much.

May God draw each of you (us) close to His great heart of love today.  He is still in charge, and I am so glad about that.

A very sad phone call earlier concerning the granddaughter of a friend from bible study - the young girl, a freshman new at the university, took her own life last week.  There were two such fatalities at the same school within the space of a week or so.  Oh, the pain it causes and so terribly sad. 

Otherwise, we picked up tile for the kitchen backsplash this morning, donated a set of dishes to Sal. Army, stopped for coffee at the French Bakery and shared a chocolate croissant.  Came home and I finished washing and ironing fabric for a friend so she can start to cut that fabric for a quilt.   Enough of a daily detail! 

Yes, Janet!  It is the right call to rest.  Am so sorry that you are not feeling up to par and you did the right thing to stay home instead of exercising. 

Hi everyone.  It started out as a very rainy morning and is still overcast.  I think it will move out this afternoon.  We had a good turnout at coffee at the Senior Center this morning and I learned that they are building a new COSTCO in our area.  That will give Sam's some competition.  We did get the microwave installed yesterday.  It didn't come with an instruction book, just a laminated card with some instructions. However, the digital readout on the microwave walks you thru the steps for the items you are cooking.  We almost had a crisis last night when Pat discovered her big skillet was missing.  We finally found it on the top shelf above the microwave where the installer and moved it.  So the crisis was averted.  Pat will be gone for 2 or 3 hours this morning and early afternoon but I plan on staying home the rest of the day.

Janet, I am proud of you giving yourself a day of rest and recovery.  One advantage of being retired is that we can often move the things we had planned to do until tomorrow or later.  I always ask myself "How Important Is It" and that puts things in perspective for me. 

Carol, it is so sad when a young person takes their own life.  We can never know what is going on it someone else's mind.  Pat just rejoined the Pam Bono club on the web and this morning printed out 17 patterns that she got by joining.  They are all of houses and things in a village and very cute.  I can tell she is feeling better as she is working on two identical quilts for our beds to use as the bedspreads.  They are going to be very colorful. 

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Wow, Jeanne!  I take it that's a snapshot of your weather today?

I am happy to say I am feeling like myself again today, and thanks for the kind words about that.

Larry, glad the microwave is installed, the skillet is found and Pat feels like doing her quilting again.  NORMAL is a very good thing! 

I have been to Pat's for haircut and style and then to gym for exercise.  I much prefer to do the exercise first, but Pat wants me at 8:00, so........Oh well, it all works out in the end.

Darrel was really sick in the night, throwing up.  I don't know what's going on with him these days, but hope he will soon be over all of it and feeling good again.

I have lots of typing to do, maybe I will get to it this afternoon.