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Morning Devotional...

Fences

"The ox knows his master, the donkey his owner's manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand."
-Isaiah 1:3

When I was growing up upon a farm in the hills of Maryland, God used horses to teach me a few of life's lessons. Such as, my sister's two horses, Shotgun, and his best buddy, Reds. The goal in life for Reds was to weasel his way through the pasture fence, while Shotgun was content to remain behind.

Reds would find a way almost every night to escape through the fence. After a late-night phone call from the farm over the hill, my sister would have to climb out of bed and hunt down her horse with a flashlight - usually finding Reds standing placidly on the yellow line of our country road, munching weeds and being target practice for oncoming cars. She'd lead him back, always finding Shotgun in the pasture, whinnying and waiting for his buddy to come home.

I've been like Reds. For the longest time I was restless, looking for life's loopholes to crawl through. But for what? Greener pastures? No, life's weeds. Shotgun knew his place behind the barriers. Unfortunately, Reds was relieved of his pasture privileges to spend his nights in the barn. If I wanted to be safe, I knew I had better learn a lesson from those horses!

Despite having an owner and master, the fact remains that we are not always content with God's control, or satisfied with His provisions. We sneak beyond the limits He has set for us. God has given us boundaries in our marriage, our friendships, and in our knowledge of evil. There are even borders for your desires and lines for your emotions. Stay within the boundaries God has placed around you.

Father, forgive me when I search all along the fence line of my thoughts for an escape. I want to stay behind Your fence of protection!

Taken from Diamonds in the Dust. Copyright © 1993 by Joni Eareckson Tada. Used by permission. Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530

Thank you for that Pat.

Hi Pat, Hi Judy,
I'm getting ready to go to Kentucky for a week.   Going to the National Quartet Convention.   Expecting a wonderful time of music and great speakers like Sarah Palin, David Jeremiah and others.   

I saw New Announcement and came in to find it.    Still looking.

Love Ruthie

Yes, Pat..that will definitely be "Glory for Me." Thanks so much for sharing that.

Here's one of my favorite hymns, In Christ Alone, written by Stuart Townsend:

In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone! who took on flesh
Fulness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones he came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied -
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

May you experience the Lord's blessings, each and every day, my new friends.

Bonnie

Pat:  Thanks for the message from Joni Erickson - she is the Joni who has the uplifting messages even after a paralyzing ski accident.  I have read her first book and now wonder if she has written more.

Janet:  email coming your way.

Larry:  We have a small shower and a big tub so they will take out the old, dangerous and decrepit shower along with the tub that has tile so wide  that it is awful to get out of and he will tile all that empty space and put in a larger shower with a tiled bench and a grab bar.   In the empty space, I might put in a dresser or something for storage.    Do you have an iPod?  Don received a free one and has really taken to it and I get to borrow it.

We have another fire in the state that will certainly grow.  It is NW of Denver in the Loveland area and several structures have been burned already. Praying for winds to calm.  The pictures from a helicopter shown on television are so spectacular.  No rain is promised so this could turn really ugly. 

We were invited to neighbors last night so Don could set up SKYPE for them - their church has a new sanctuary being finished so we will go and visit soon.     

Hi everyone.  It is a beautiful morning here with low humidity.  It is not suppose to get too hot today, which will be nice.  I enjoyed coffee with the men and then three of us went to the gym and walked.  I will have my men's Monday luncheon to attend at 1 pm and that will be it for today. 

Just got notice that a Jan Karon book I hadn't read is available for pickup at the library.  I think it is the further exploits of Father Tim.  I enjoyed the series of books she wrote several years ago about Father Tim.

Pat, thanks for the devotional thoughts today.  It is interesting how an analogy can help illustrate a principle for effectively. 

Carol, your new shower sounds great.  The grab bars are such a good thing to have available.  Our daughter has one the apartment building put in for her that goes clear around the wall.  We have a decent sized shower but wish we didn't have the Jacuzzi tub and it is not used and the space could have been better used with a larger shower.  However, at the time we bought this house that was one of the hot items that builders put in.  I do have an iPod Touch and love it.  It is really a computer with wi-fi as well as a music player.  It has a lot of applications on it.

Hi Bonnie.  Nice to see you posting and thanks for sharing the words to that hymn.  That is a good one.

Ruthie, also great to see you posting as it has been awhile.  Your week in Kentucky sounds like a lot of fun.  Are you in a quartet that is participating or just going to enjoy the music?

Janet, I didn't dislike English but really never called for diagramming sentences.  Hope you have a great week and do find a few minutes to check in while you are gone.

Hi Everyone!

I just read your messages here and so surprised (happily) to see yours, Ruthie!  I thought that you had already left! 

Bonnie, we must get together for coffee! 

Carol, are you near the fires?  It's awful to read about them and the total loss for so many.

You do so well, Larry, with the walking.  I must get started on doing that again.  I know it sure helps.

Hi Judy.  So glad you got that modem fixed. 

Well, Paul is here.  We had a wonderful weekend at Royal City Baptist Church 10th Anniversary.  Lovely Potluck Banquet on Saturday and yesterday, just wonderful services.

I heard this in Bible Class yesterday morning...





We all want revival...

BUT...

We live in a world that is sick with sin!
The world is selfish and sensual!
The world is starving for love and the light of the Gospel!
The world is in sad shape today!

So...

If all the sleeping folk will wake up,
If all the lukewarm folk will fire up,
If all the dishonest folk will confess up,
If all the disgruntled folk will cheer up,
If all the depressed folk will cheer up,
If all the estranged folk will make up,
If all the gossipers will shut up,
If all true soldiers will stand up,
If all the dry bones will shake up,
If all the church members will pray up...


Then we can have a revival!

R.G.Lee

Hmmm!  Looks like I missed checking in here yesterday.  Shame on me!  

I'm still slowly recovering my strength and stamina from the appendix surgery.  Never would have dreamed it would be such a slow process.  

My car has been in the shop since last Tuesday and I haven't heard a word from the mechanic.  I hope that only means he's waiting for parts.  I left a message on his voice mail this morning asking him to call, but he hasn't yet.  

Then, on Friday, my bathroom sink, with a new one-lever faucet that my son-in-law installed, started to leak.  A couple of fellows from church came over and tried to fix it.  It's OK for a while but then starts to leak again where the connectors are on the plastic lines.  The fellow who was here yesterday thinks that now it's the shut-off valve that's leaking and will need to be replaced.  

And to top it all off, Saturday morning when I turned on the computer I found I'd been attacked by a virus - a really stubborn one!  I finally got rid of it after some 6 or 7 hours of working at it.  

The weather has cooled right down to fall temperatures.  So far I've been able to get by without starting the furnace, but I'm afraid it won't be long.  

 

Good Morning Everyone!

Such beautiful messages! To God be the glory!

I am thinking about the hard-headed shortcuts I have tried to take in my life and the way that God has kept His hand on this wandering child and has always seen me through.

Recently, I have tried many times to take a trip to my hometown of Chicago. I have wanted it so much that it has brought me to tears, but the funds never come and a recent opportunity to ride along with a friend so that I could see some of my old friends, especially one who is dealing with a cancer challenge, fell through when the driving friend decided to fly, leaving me in a state of pouty-pity-party which I took to work with me Saturday before last.

I can barely describe the place that I work but I will try. I work in the office section of our clubhouse, which embodies an indoor pool, library, community or party room as well as a couple of other offices and an excercise room.

On Saturdays, there is usually preparation of some kind in the big party room by people who are having an event, so when I came in I could barely make out the outlines of three people sitting around the standing fireplace, because our offices are way up front.  I waved in the direction of the "outlines" and said loudly, "Good morning".  There was a chorus of female voices that answered with a cheerful, "Good morning" and I unlocked the office and went about my morning stuff. I normally go into the kitchen area to make two pots of coffee for prospective tenants who come in to take the apartment tour, or for tenants who like to come in and chat or the mail lady, who refills her thermos and stays a while.

I could hear the ladies voices coming nearer to the office and I was knee deep in files by then, but I looked up as they repeated their earlier greeting. When I looked up, I looked up into the eyes of a lady I had not seen for eleven years and just a couple of days earlier, had mentioned how much I'd missed her since she left Minnesota and moved back to Houston. She shouted, "Zenobia" and I came from around the desk and we were hugging and weeping and her two sisters ( biological ones) were standing there puzzled, not knowing what was going on, so when we were able to speak, she said, "This is Sister Zenobia from  our old church, and I have lost her for so many years". I mentioned something similar and the sisters were hugging me and saying, "Ann talks about you all the time".
So, it turns out that a relative was being honored on her seventieth birthday and they had flown in from Houston to celebrate and were occupying our guest suite in the back ( we have two hotel-type rooms for guest overflow and what not) and THIS Saturday was the day of the party.
They invited me to return to the party and I went after work and had a wonderful time of Christian fellowship with many people and we exchanged information ( they bought copies of my little book) and I am just thinking that if I had gone to Chicago, I would have missed Sister Anne.

This sounds like something "little" but God has done some major things in my life, often deterring me from life threatening ordeals and then giving me little gifts like finding Anne again, because He knew it would make us both happy!

I am so thankful that He keeps His hand on our lives. Each day is filled with the wonder and awe that He brings to our lives. The little things we barely notice, to the big and marvelous events are all orchestrated by His love.

Our God is awesome!
Have a GLORIOUS week in His name!
Zee

Ivalou scared me.  We were going to ride together to church.  I drove to her house.  Waited a couple of minutes.  Blew the horn.  Still waited.  I got out of the car and went to the door and knocked.  Nothing.  I have her key on my key ring so I unlocked the door.  Now I am thinking...what am I going to find?  I yelled 'Lucy!'  Nothing.  I went to the living room and yelled 'Ivalou!' and I heard from the bedroom 'What?'  I went down the hallway and she was just getting out of bed.  She went to bed at 10pm and didn't get up until I woke her.  Seems she started a new med that she thinks is making her sleepy. 

So I went on the church.  Yesterday the contractor for our new church was there to talk and show us a video of the proposed church.  Hope I can explain it.  The main entrance has a drive up/drop off area.  There will be parking on three sides of the church.  The entry/narthex is larger than a two-car garage.  Straight ahead is the sanctuary/basketball court.  400 22" chairs may be set up.  Straight ahead is the stage with baptistery behind.  All of this is surrounded by a hallway.  (two reasons:  code and it will be a walk track for the community) From the entrance to the right and on your right is a large classroom that could be a nursery, an exit, turn the corner, a family restroom, and two classrooms, a storage area, a classroom.  Turn the corner,an exit, two-three more classroom and an exit.  Then turn the corner and a small eating area attached to a huge kitchen.  CCC is noted for big family dinners and pitch-ins.  The kitchen is the size of a two-car garage with two refrigerators, two stoves, two sets of double sinks.  A working station in the middle and a past through to the eating/meeting area.  This area would be suitable for baby showers/wedding showers, etc.  Next are two restrooms...with more than one stall.  In fact, two stalls and two urinals in the mens and four stalls in the womens and another exit. Turn the corner and you see the pastors office and two staff offices and an open receptionist area and you are back to the narthex. 

The township I live in has no industries or commercial business or towns with such...strictly farm land unless construction/contractors has bought them out to build homes on the farm land.  So it sounds like this could and would be a nice building to use for a lot of uses.  I asked when ground breaking might be and they hope for this fall!! 

Then it was late so no Sunday School yesterday.  I came home and Ivalou and I went for Chinese at King Chef!  That's beginning to be my favorite restaurant. 

We came back by 2pm and at 4pm I went to the visitation for my ex sister-in-law.  I saw lots of people that I haven't seen for years.  I thank God that my ex, his wife and his three daughters, his family and I are friends.  Life is too short to have enemies! 

I was home by shortly after 5pm.  Ivalou called after 7pm and asked if I was home yet.  She started to watch TV after getting home and fell asleep again.  Just woke up!  That medicine sure is making her rest! 

Today was trash day and termite inspection day.  Then I mowed the grass...first time for 3 weeks.  I showered and had lunch.  Tonight is Photo Guild at 5pm.  Another busy day!

And Kitty is home from Myrtle Beach!!

Hi Larry,
I'm not in a group, just going to hear some amazing groups and hear some speakers!

Pat, I'm leaving at 5:30 a.m. on Wednesday.    Talk to you when I get back. 

Bye bye
Love Ruthie

The morning devotional was Wondrous-Thanks for sharing that excerpt Pat. Does make you take a look at your own life and how much you you test and checkout those boundaries. Oh that the Lord will open my eyes to see and the wisdom to know....

Hi Fellow CP'ers,

Pat, Judy, Ruthie, Carol, Strollin & Zeebers (glad to see some new faces), Larry, Etta-Janet---Glad to see all are doing well! Thank you Pat for emails to remind me of the wonderful folks here....

Jeanne Lee-Praying for a speedy recovery and for your vehicle, too....Zeebers-God does surprise us with wonderful gifts, that is pure joy! That is our God-full of love, for his children....

Hope you all have a God-filled, blessed day in all your goings, my Friends!!!!

WOOHOO  As Karma says!!!!  In North Bay there is a school program that is called the Dual Credit Program.  At the end of the semester she will have 2 secondary school credits as well as a College credit,  The Program she is in is called "Sampling the Trades" .  She will be learning some welding, small engine repair,and Auto body.  This takes just over 2 periods a day for the entire semester.     Now the point of all this that is so exciting is that in the entire North Bay area comprises about 13 - 14 secondary schools and only 13 students were chosen!  
Now on top of that she is flight commander in Air Cadets.  There seems to be nothing this girl can do!  Saturday is Gliding and Sunday afternoon in Battle of Brittan and That is honouring the soldiers who have died for our freedom.  

Yes a proud mama tonight!!1

We had a lovely visit with Melaura while we were waiting for kass tonight,  It has been a while , she and we have such busy lives.  It was lovely seeing her.

Hi, friends, I've been dithering and pondering, so have kinda been off line for a while. I'm praying about a decision I'll need to make soon (actually when the daylight savings time ends).

It's getting a bit late, so I won't stay online very long, but y'all know how much I love everyone here, and follow closely each post.

Have a wonderful day with out Lord.

Ruth Ann

The season always change so suddenly here. One week it's sweltering summer and the next week it's chilly and breezy and really fall. 

I finally got hold of the mechanic and he doesn't know what's wrong with my car!      He thought, as did I, that the problem was in the front but when he put it on the lift he couldn't find anything wrong.  Now he thinks it may actually be from the back so he's going to check that today.  It's frustrating because it's been two weeks now that I've been without a car.  When the Lord decides to teach patience, He doesn't take any short cuts!   

Jeanne perhaps he is teaching you that you need to rest!  We all need to learn that.  Problem is the rats are winning!!!

The weather here has gone from sweltering heat to the normal cool weather of autumn.  We still haven't had a night frost though.  That is about a month late!  I remember a trip many years ago to Cochrane and we froze all night.  In the morning we got our of our beds and the grass broke as we walked across to the washrooms.  That was the beginning of August.  That day we went to Canadian tire and bought sleeping bags designed for -40 weather.  We weren't cold like that again.

Well I'm off John needs the phone.  Oh to have high speed!

Not much to say today.  I guess I said it all yesterday! 

Good afternoon:   I enjoyed this weeks devotional,      now it is back to finishing a relish that was started yesterday, needless to say the house smells like pickles. 

Yesterday was a most beautiful day and the same applies today as well

Now it is back to the kitchen

Good Morning, Not much going on here either. Not much to say, I am waiting  for the date to be set for the operation on my hand.

I just came back from a 3 mile walk down to the old cheese ranch and by a creek.  Lovely day and I am so grateful to be walking again after pulling some muscle in one leg.  Cannot do much today but stay out of the way as the guy is demolishing the shower & there is a little bin in the street for the junk.  It is a shame that nothing could be recycled but we do a good job on that in other ways.

Pat:  One fire is out.  No, we are nowhere near the fires - have been in other years.  The other fire was accidentally set by a fireman who had burned things in a fire pit three days earlier.  Apparently, there must have been one spark and that is all it takes in his dry desert area near the mountains.  His house is gone too.  Thanks for the message.  Oh, how nice it would be if you could visit with Bonnie. 

JeanneLee:  Recovery from surgery never goes as fast as we want.  So glad to see your smiling face in here.

Etta Sue:  Your sister is giving you so many frights and I do hope that they get her meds straight.  You need a calm life too - I will pray for you. 

Zeebers:  There is always a reason isn't there?  Just when we are (at least I get antzy), something happens that is out-of-the-blue and in this case what a nice surprise for you two girls. 

Ruthie:  You are in our little group.   

Juantal:  It really is nice to see you visiting here. 

JudyB:  I understand the importance of having time to visit with each family member and it is a gift whenever that occurs. 

Ruth:  Sweet pickles or Dill pickle relish?  I lean toward the dill but will sample your sweet relish.   

Hi everyone.  I am busy eating my lunch and trying to catch up on things here on the computer.  It seems there is always something to do on the computers.  Have a clear schedule for the rest of the day.  Of course, I will have to have a little rest period this afternoon.  I don't always sleep but just rest for 90 minutes or so.

Zee it is pleasant to see you cheerful message and it is a good reminder that God has a plan for our lives that we can't even imagine. I believe things happen for a reason, whether good or bad, as there is something to be learned.  Glad you were able to see your friend again.

Juanita, also nice to see you post.

Judy, it is nice that Kass is doing so well and I know you and John are pleased with her success.

Etta Sue, that sounds like a very nice church plan.  I think a lot of churches are going with the multi-purpose santuary/activity room.  Glad Ivalou had just slept in and not experiencing problems.

Jeanne Lee, I hope some of your neighbors or church friends are seeing you have food and a way to do what you need to do.  If you need help let it be known as others cannot read our minds.

Pat, the walking sure does help.  A couple of days ago my legs were feeling weak but feel much better today.  I just read that with Google Voice you can make calls from your computer to any number in the USA or Canada free.  I'll give you all a call in a day or so if just to say hello.  I'll test it our with my computer friend to be sure I know how to use the system.  

My hand surgery is now scheduled for October 7th, with two Dr appointments in between, first with my Internist to be checked out, then with the Ortho doc and the hospital for instructions prior  to surgery.

I have my car and it didn't cost a dime.  It's a Subaru with All Wheel Drive and it was the 4-wheel drive part that was the trouble.  It only needed to have the 4-wheel disconnected so that it's a front wheel drive only - a very simple matter of putting some sort of fuse in place. And it can be driven indefinitely this way.  Thank you, Lord!

Yes Jeanne I agree, Thank you Lord

Amen!

The relish I made was a sweet relish with the following ground ingredients:  the last of the green tomatoes from the garden, green pepper, cabbage, cucumber, and onion all ground with a sweet sauce that needed to be cooked for approx 15 min before putting in jars. I will be giving some away as it is to much for us and our children are now saying I do not like it although they did have it when living at home.   

Pickled Dills I like very much very easy to make but I have not had success. Someone else can do them for me.

The next item will be apple sauce and apple pies for the freezer best of all will be fresh apple sauce is the best. Mel also like apple crisp all of these I do not go over board on.

Mel has now found a mechanic that charges only for the work done not the amount of time that the calculated book price would be.  He just had a brake issue taken care of and the cost was parts and 1 hr of labor.  The dealer or other large outfit would have charged triple at least. Praise the Lord.

I have the results of the MRI.  It has taken a few days to digest.  Basically what the report has said, (I have a copy) is that I have 2 damaged rotator cuffs, torn ligaments and tendons as well as spurs in the joint.  None of the tendons or ligaments are broken through, that is the good news.  This can be surgically corrected, but that won't be in the near future.  The only surgeon he will send me to is in Toronto.  The only person down there is Ruthie and Pat.  Kass, 16, cannot be left home alone, as well we have dogs to care for and a wood furnace to keep lit.  He said that when the pain gets bad enough to go see him!!!  Wonderful!  {Sigh}.

BUT God is good and He is in control. 

Anyone who wants to read the report can!  LOL

Hi, folks. I'm justapassinthru tonight. 

Have you known joy even in the midst of trouble?

We know that the same God who raised our Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself along with you. All of these things are for your benefit. And as God's grace brings more and more people to Christ, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory. That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.... For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever.

2 Corinthians 4:14-18 NLT


Too easily pleased
If there lurks in most modern minds the notion that to desire our own good and earnestly to hope for the enjoyment of it is a bad thing, I submit that this notion has crept in from Kant and the Stoics and is not part of the Christian faith. Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires, not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.