Christian Photographers Community

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

• I would like to thank again our friend Judith from Dayton, Ohio who very kindly composed our lovely scripture to go with today's devotional. 

Morning Devotional...

WALKING IN THE OLD PATHS Jeremiah 6:16 By the late Jack Scott 5.  How Great a Sinner Are You?                                     Although it occurred about thirty-six years ago, not long after I first arrived from Ireland, I remember the conversation as if it happened yesterday. I had been "volunteered" to be a part of an evangelistic team whose task it was to visit every home in Toronto with the message of the Gospel. We were representing first and foremost the blessed Lord Jesus Christ, and secondly Jarvis Street Baptist Church, a well known historic evangelical church near the city centre. I had made several calls that evening but only one stands out in my memory. The house was an older well kept, ivy covered brick home in a respectable and affluent area of the city. The man who opened the door in response to my knock was well groomed and very polite. He had the kind of confidence which is born of success. I introduced myself and explained the purpose of my visit. He smiled indulgently, "My dear fellow", he said, "This is a respectable neighbourhood. We are all good people around here." He paused for a moment and then went on. "I'm quite religious and I'm not really a great sinner. The message you have is for great sinners." For a second or two, I prayed quietly. "How shall I answer this man?" I felt a little intimidated for a moment, but I composed myself quickly. "Sir," I said, "If a man broke the greatest of all of God's commandments, would that make him a great sinner?" He looked a little puzzled and then the air of confidence returned. "Yes, I'd say so." He replied. "But I'd never do anything like that." I quickly opened my New Testament at Matthew 22 and requested him to read aloud verses 35 to 40 inclusive. He took my New Testament and began reading with a look that said, "Oh, I'll indulge him for a few minutes." He read the words clearly...at first: "Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" Jesus said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." By the time he got to verse thirty-eight, his look of confidence had begun to ebb and so had the colour in his cheeks. When he finished reading, his eyes were toward the paved door step. "No one keeps those commandments", he almost whispered. "That is true." I replied. I then went on to quote Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God." The man nodded his agreement. The Holy Spirit was working through the Word of God convicting him of sin. He listened receptively as I related to him the story of redeeming Grace and of the Saviour who bore the penalty of sin on Calvary. I rejoiced that the good news is that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ alone. R. A. Torrey, a famous American preacher of a bygone era, when he was in Australia, was approached by a man who looked like a boxer. He said to Torrey, "I am not a Christian, but I am moral, upright, honorable and blameless, and I'd like to know what you have against me." Mr. Torrey looked the man straight in the eye and replied, "I charge you, sir, with high treason against Heaven's King!" God's great commandment is that we love Him with all our heart with all our soul and with all our mind. To disobey this great commandment is indeed high treason against the King Eternal. Since Adam transgressed in the garden of Eden no one except the Man Christ Jesus, who is God manifest in the flesh, has kept this the greatest of all commandments. Since we have broken such a weighty commandment as this we have absolutely no hope of earning salvation by our good works. As we read in Titus 3:5, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us." And in Romans 3:20, "Therefore, by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight: for by the Law is the knowledge of sin." No, there is no justification by good works or keeping the law, but there is justification through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. In Romans 5:1, we read these tremendous words, "Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ." My wife sometimes sings an old hymn which declares the divine principle of salvation by grace alone. Do you agree in your heart with the words it proclaims? Not what these hands have done (Click to hear music) Not what these hands have done Can save this guilty soul; Not what this toiling flesh has borne Can make my spirit whole. Chorus: Thy work alone, my Saviour, Can ease this weight of sin; Thy blood alone, O Lamb of God, Can give me peace within. Not what I feel or do Can give me peace with God; Nor all my prayers, or sighs, or tears Can bear my awful load. Thy love to me, O God, Not mine, O Lord, to Thee, Can rid me of this dark unrest, And set my spirit free. No other work save Thine, No meaner blood will do, No strength, save that which is Divine, Can bear me safely through. I praise the God of grace, I trust His love and might; He calls me His, I call Him mine, My God, My joy, my light. When we have entered into a living union with Christ, through faith in His precious blood, the shackles of sin are broken and we are enabled to do the works which please God, not in order to earn eternal life but because we now have it abundantly. The Apostle John in his first epistle explained, "These things have I written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life." (I John 5:13). The Lord Jesus Christ himself said: "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: and the good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep." (John 10:10 & 11). Are you working for that which you can never earn, or are you trusting in what Christ has accomplished for sinners? Jack Scott loved his Lord! He passed away on January 10, 2001 after a lengthy illness. He is missed greatly by his family.

How wonderful to return home from a week-long hospital stay and find that the devotional for the new week is another of Jack Scott's lessons enhanced beautifully by graphics from Judith!  What a great welcome home!   

Thank you, Pat and Judith.

Hi everyone.  It is going to be another beautiful day here in South Carolina.  It was in the 60's when I got up this morning and suppose to get to only 85 degrees later this afternoon. 

Yesterday was the normal Sunday with one exception.  In the afternoon a couple of ladies from the church brought Pat one of the two beautiful bouquets of flowers from the morning service.  Our Sunday School class had purchased the flowers for Sunday's service.  It is a very large display and we have them sitting on our dining room table where Pat can see them from her easy chair.  The only thing on today's schedule is my noon meeting.  I plan on fixing hamburgers for dinner tonight with some sides of vegetables.  It will be an easy meal to prepare. 

Jeanne, how wonderful to see your post and know you are home again from that week stay in the hospital.  I sure hope you are feeling much better.  I know we all missed you while you were away.

Marilyn, your Saturday evening meal sounded delicious.  I like pasta especially with four different cheeses.  It reminds me that I need to make myself some pasta salad. 

Janet, going for a pizza once in a while is enjoyable.  We can do that as we order two medium sized pizza's and Pat can eat the toppings off and leave the crust or can have the chicken wings, which she likes.  We may have to do that again this week sometime.  I hope Darrel is feeling much better and if so it is probably the pizza that did it.    That was a tall player for Tennessee and it is a wonder that being surrounded by Georgia players that they weren't able to knock the ball out of his hands before he had possession.   

WELCOME HOME, JEANNE!!  We missed you!

The old dry wind is howling here today.  I'm already longing for more days like Saturday was. 

Larry, Darrel and I got busy last evening and made a dozen breakfast burritos so we have something we can eat when we each had one this morning and they are pretty good!  I do not care for potatoes in them, so we don't put them in.

Grandson Curtis called me this morning for a lunch date.  Was nice to have him all to myself for a little while; that doesn't happen often.  He had to fire his help, who was falsifying company records and his own time sheets.  Curtis was pretty shook up when he told us about it, he said "I've never had to fire anybody before!"  But you cannot be in the security business and have a dishonest person working for you.  That just doesn't work!

I had another J night last night and I am going to try to catch a nap now.

I am so sorry for the paleness of the color on the above post!  I changed it for Jeanne's greeting, then forgot to change it back.  Hope you can read it, I barely could! 

I read it, Janet, every word!  Thanks for the welcome home. 

Too bad Curtis had to deal with that dishonest employee.   

Quote from: Janet on October 03, 2016, 04:15:31 PM
I am so sorry for the paleness of the color on the above post!  I changed it for Jeanne's greeting, then forgot to change it back.  Hope you can read it, I barely could! 

Janet, just put the work "hot" with no space between the words to "hotpink" and you can read it just fine.  I changed yours for you. 

This is the month to remember your Pastor!  Send a card!  Take a pumpkin pie to his home! (or mine!!!!) or just phone him and tell him how much you appreciate him and REMEMBER TO PRAY FOR HIM.

Jeanne, Good to hear that you are home from hospital! You were prayed much! And you are welcome for the posted photos. I feel quite honored that Pat has chosen to use some of my Scripture photos to go along with her Thoughts.

Judith

1 Corinthians 10:31

AMEN!!

And  AMEN here, too!

Judith, you fit pictures and scripture together so well!

    And AMEN FROM THE NIAGARA FALLS AREA.    Well it is good to read an other of Jack's message's.  I loved Jack as a big brother and I did get to know him very well after Pat and him came back from Northern Ireland.

Pat.  Thank you for this wonderful devotional again they are so good.  Hope that you are doing better  (SIS). May the Lord give you strength daily.

JJeanne.  I am also glad to here that you are home and feeling better Will pray for you.

Larry and Pat:  Hi to you both.  I am glad that you are sounding like you are busy as per usual.  I do hope that pat is feeling a bit stronger.  Our weather is still good but has finally cooled down a bit but do not want that old snow to come yet Stay healthy and please keep praying for us.  God's richest blessings.

Hi Judith.  My Name is Gordon and I have been on C. P. for a long time but I take to many brakes away from it at time's  But welcome to you if you are new.  May the Lord richly bless you as you read the different post's.

Well to all other C. P. person that read these may you all have a wonderful week and may the Lord give you many oppertunities to be a witness for him this week.  All our Love to you all.  Gordon and Noreen. : :

Good morning.  The day is off to an early start with a list of to-do's I have for this morning.  Mostly appointments for follow-up from hospital stay and appointments I had before that needed to be changed, and then arrangements for transportation. And maybe some food shopping.  And my son will arrive sometime tomorrow for a couple of days and I need a list of things I need him to take care of.   SIGH!!!  But at least I'm home and breathing (with my 10 mile tail dragging behind me.    )

Gord, so good to see a post from you, especially knowing that Noreen's knee problems seem to be solved and that you are both enjoying a busy life.  And I agree, I'm not anxious either for that white stuff yet...   

Hi everyone on this Tuesday morning here in the South.  The only thing on the calendar for today was to take Pat for an appointment to get her hair cut.  However, she is going to have to cancel it as she has a new very painful problem with her neck that appeared yesterday morning.  So now she is putting ice on her back and using another ice bag on her neck. 

Janet, we have found it very handy to have the sausage muffins made ahead of time and all that is needed is to heat them in the microwave, prepare some strawberries by thawing them out, ,making the coffee and breakfast is ready for Pat.  The next day I make her scrambled eggs with cheese, bacon crumbles, green onions and peppers.  What a nice thing to be able to have lunch with your grandson.  It sounds like he is learning the lessons of business.  To bad the employee was not honest.

Pat, our Sunday School class furnished the flowers for our service Sunday and dedicated them to our fine pastors.  In a couple of weeks our class is going to have a Pastor Appreciation dinner at Bonefish Grill for the five pastors and wives.  We missed it last year as were out of town and will miss it again this year due to Pat's health.  I liked the graphic.

Judith I liked your new graphic of the dining table and Bible verse chosen for it. 

Gord, I do manage to stay fairly busy as at this point it is all that Pat can do to take care of her own needs although with the new neck problem I am having to help her get dressed.

Jeanne, I hope you don't wear yourself out with the appointments you have.  I am glad to hear your son will be there tomorrow and can help you with some things.   

Thanks, Pat, for fixing my pale post!  So good to see little posts from you again, and to re-read Jack's devotionals, too.

What I meant to say about those burritos was that we now have something quick to heat and eat when we come home from the gym.  Not what my fingers typed!    Oh, well.

Larry, I am so sorry to hear about Pat's neck problem.  Her chiropractor should be able to fix that when he gets back to work.  Darrel had to go get his neck adjusted a few days ago, it was causing bad headaches.

Judith, I enjoy your lovely graphics, and found the one of the prepared table very meaningful.  Thank you for helping out on this site that means so much to us.

Gord, good to see you in here again!

Jeanne, so good to have you back in the fold.  Now please don't overdo, take care of yourself!  Some things can wait until another day!  (I am preaching to myself here, too.) 

I need to go change out of my gym clothes and be ready for the rest of my day!  Blessings to each of you here.

After a long absence, I am finally back home and recuperating from time in California and my daughter's memorial service and a trip to San Francisco's pier 39 to spend the day with my sister, daughter Dottie, and her girls and grandkids.  My sister was on a cruise from Vancouver to San Diego and docked in S.F. for 24 hours on the 29th.  She lives in Missouri and it's been 3 years since we saw each other. 

I flew down to Sacramento, but came home via Amtrak.  Of course, the train was late and there were many other delays along the way, but Nita met me in Coos Bay and got my home by 7p.m. last night.  I am completely wiped out emotionally and physically.  It will take a while for me to return to anything looking like "normal' but I am glad to be here.

Good to see you back home, Jane.  It's been a terrible journey this past little while for you.  I can't even imagine it.

    Just a quick note to say hi to all and to the answers from some of you.  Have to go to sleep now as I am going to work tonight at the flower company.  Again nice to see   you Jane get your strength back and do take it easy.  God bless to all Gordon.

Hi everyone on an overcast morning.  Our schools in our County and County Government offices are closed through Friday although it appears our area will only get some rain and some wind but nothing like the coast line will be getting.  One of the big high schools in Aiken, South Carolina is a designated Shelter Area and other schools will be opened if needed for those 1.4 million people expected to leave the coast area. 

This morning I plan on going to COSTCO and to do the washing. This evening I will have dinner at the church with Scott.  We haven't seen him for two weeks so certainly looking forward to spending some time with him. Pat's neck is really giving her fits and it is so painful she can hardly have anything touch it.  She tried to sleep in the bed last night but after 30 minutes had to get up and spend the night in her easy chair. 

Jane, glad to see you are safely home and can now work on rest and recovery from the trip.  I tried Amtrak one way to Chicago from Kansas City once and that was enough for me.  It was cold and the train car door wasn't working properly.  I bet you were glad to see Nita there to pick you up. 

I have a lot on my plate for today so

Listen to this precious hymn.

The Name of Jesus
(Click to hear music)

Hi, friends,

I'm just about ready to leave the apartment for a little while.

Yes, Larry, my son has learned that some of his blood diagnostics are showing need for various vitamins and minerals. He is to see the doctor today about the pneumonia.

Jeanne and Jane, so good that you can come back to be with us.

Also Gord.

Y'all have a wonderful day with our Lord.

Ruth Ann

Jane, I read this in Jesus Calling this morning.  It really spoke to me and maybe will to you, too.

"Rest in Me, My weary one, for this is a form of worship.  My invitation never changes:  Come to Me, all you who are weary, and I will give you rest.  Worship me by resting peacefully in My Presence."

Sending love to you, and prayers of thanksgiving for your safe return to your home.

Larry, I wondered if Matthew was going to affect your area.  I am concerned for grandson Mark, who just moved to Miami for his flight training in the 737s.  Surely they will fly them to a safe area until the danger passes.  (Please God!)  We will be attending the church dinner tonight, too--lasagna!  Yum!  Then Bible study following.

Ruth Ann, always good to see your posts!

I am pretty slow today, having slept barely three hours last night.  Sigh.....

Hi everyone on this Thursday morning.  I have a busy day planned for today but know it probably won't all get done. 

This is coffee day and will pick up my friend to go with me and then take him home and go back to the church for our Wisdom group.  Last week we had about 15 present, which was the biggest group I have seen there since I started attending. 

Yesterday I did get to COSTCO right after they opened and they were already busy.  However, was able to get a riding cart to use and that made the shopping much easier and faster.  Unloading the car when I got home was the big job.  I stocked up on meat and today must get it ready and into the freezer.  I also want to make some more sausage muffins for Pat and perhaps fix my frozen fruit, if there is room in the freezer. 

Yesterday our refrigerator ice maker quit working so I had to get a big bag of ice last evening.  I was surprised as the ice bin held the entire 16 pounds of ice cubes.  I also have to get something planned and ready for dinner tonight. 

The Augusta area is already feeling the impact of the evacuation from the coastal areas.  That added with the fact that there was no school yesterday and won't be today and tomorrow filled up the restaurants and sure the motels are probably fully booked by now.  Our son said they had the biggest business he has ever seen yesterday and one lady at dinner last night said she and her son had gone out to eat yesterday and had to go to three places to find a place to park.

Judith, your graphic "The Name of Jesus" is really beautiful.

Ruth Ann, glad you have heard from your son and hope his pneumonia is much improved. 

Janet, we need to be reminded of resting in the arms of our Savior as it is so easy to wear ourselves out and not stop and rest.  The last projection I saw on Miami appeared that they would not get hit as hard as places on up the coast.  I would think the airlines would move their big planes out of the area to protect them.  Mark will surely let you know where he is and that he is alright.  I love lasagna and haven't had any for quite awhile.  Hope you had some restful sleep last night that lasted longer than three hours. 

Another day with above average temperatures - maybe even into the mid 70's.  But by Saturday the temps will fall ...  and so will the rain.  By then, though, things should be easing off in the path of Mathew.

Meanwhile, my son, Ken, arrived just after noon yesterday and I've been busy keeping him busy.    I think he'll only be here another day so the jobs that need his strength and know-how need to be taken care of. 

Larry, Thank you very much. What I love the most, in serving The Lord, is using my own photos to share His Word and old hymn lyrics. I do appreciate your compliment as well as others to whom these Scripture verses and hymns minister to.

I'm sitting here this morning singing away in my bedroom "The Name Of Jesus".    Oh, how precious is His name!

Thanks Judy!

Pat, you are most welcome. I actually did the same thing . . . had this hymn on my mind this morning. 

I am so glad Pat brought Judith to our site and ever so happy to see that Judith has jumped in with both feet!   

Larry, you are right  (as usual!  )  I texted Mark and he got right back to me and said he is safe and that they plan to fly  the planes out to safety tomorrow.  It makes the news so much more compelling when you have a loved one in the path of the storm.    I did get some good sleep last night, so feel better today.  Our friend Mary is still here, we do enjoy having her around.

Yes, I echo Jeanne's words about how nice it is to have Judith helping out in such nice ways here on CP.  And Jeanne, it's great that you have a son to help you with needed things there.   Love our kids!!! 

I just got home from the UMW meeting.  Our guest speaker was a lady who is working with trafficked women and girls.  They are remodeling a large property in Garden City to house some of those rescued out of that horrible situation.  She told us that the triangle between Liberal, Dodge City and Garden City is the very center of human trafficking in the US!!   I had no idea!  She gave us a lot of information and suggestions on ways we can all help fight this shameful situation.  The reason this is the center is because we are in the middle of the US and there are three main highways crossing in our area.

Later!