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Troubled on all sides and with the enemies closing in for the kill Jehoshaphat comes to that point that many of us seem so easily to reach. The point of desperation and utter helplessness. He cannot even think of a plan of action.

His position and that of his people is beyond anything that he can cope with. His confession is stark yet one that many of us have learned. '..neither know we what to do; but our eyes are upon thee.'

Is this our position today? Is our soul crying out, 'I just do not know what to do!'

'This part of my life is beyond me, it's unbearable. I just cannot go on like this. I do not know what to pray for, what to ask and I don't really know what I really want. All I can do Lord is look to Thee!' 'Please help me Lord.'

I am reminded of my children when they were babies. Often they would be lying in their cots crying for attention with both hands stretched out in hope of being picked up and cuddled. The safety of Dad's embrace soon brought peace!

There are times when things are just beyond us. My son or my daughter could not possibly have managed to lift themselves out of their cots. They needed to be lifted from the confines of their cots by loving and caring hands.

Are you hurting today? Are you surrounded by enemies? Are you hemmed in by doubts and fears?
Jehoshaphat was!

The Christian will always have enemies in this life. This is not our home. We are encamped within enemy territory and each day a battle is fought and the warfare is constant but remember my friend the victory is secured.

The battle can often leave us drained of all energy, hope, zeal and vision. We become so exhausted by our own efforts at keeping our heads above the water line that we find it stressful just opening our eyes in the morning.

The thought of facing yet another day of this barrage makes us cringe. It seems like our souls are in a permanent state of weeping. We long for better days but we just cannot bring ourselves to believe that they will ever come our way.

Infighting among the brethren hurts like no other weapon can. I often wonder if some think that the Christian life is some sort of competition where there is a race to the top and it does not really matter who or what gets trampled on in the chaos.

Sharp words spoken with venom that pythons would be proud of. Can this truly occur within the one body?
Let brothers and sisters say what they will, we know that the greatest foe we have to face is within. The constant struggle between good and evil is never ending and it can often leave us totally depressed.

All too often evil seems to get the upper hand and we just cannot seem to find the proper weapons to gain the victory.

When we would do good, evil is present with us. We want to be good, we want to be holy, we want to serve our King, we want to be bright shining Christians, we want to witness to all who cross our path, we want to be strong in the faith, we want to honour our God with each breath that we take, but today as always it seems, I fail miserably!

What then? Do we just give up all hope?

No my friend this passage of God's word was written just for you and for me today. We may not be able to do anything at all but let ours eyes be upon the Lord for the battle is not ours, but God's. Our enemies will be defeated and we will know victory!

It is time my friend for our great God to work!

Listen to His words. 'You shall not need to fight in this battle.'

Why?

The battle is not yours, but God's.

Standing still is never easy, especially for a racing mind! Today however that is what we are commanded to do. So let's do it! Let us lean heavily upon our God, let us stand still and watch Him work as He has promised. Let us just for today, try not to get in His way!!

Let us take God at His word.

Jehoshaphat was so encouraged by God's word that he says,' believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.' Not only did the army go forth, they went forward with the triumphant melody of praise ringing in their ears.

God worked according to His promise.

The enemy was defeated. Not only that, but it took them three days to gather the riches gleaned from their enemies. What had started as a nightmare finished with rejoicing. God had fought on their behalf and won the battle. Standing still had proved to be the correct posture.

Often we yearn for the mountain top but the children of Israel were found rejoicing in the valley! The name of that valley was Berachah. May these few words be Berachah to your soul today.

Amen. Arise let us go hence.

I pray that you will all have a fruitful and restful weekend. A big hug across the Pond to all the travellers who arrived safely home. We mssed you all. Our prayers followed you each step of the way.

LOL

Your brother in Christ

Iain

Good morning your all  11.10 AM but i think you in
Canada and America are still sleeping on this time.
But you have late in the afternoon or evening then
we are going to bed.
Thanks also this morning Iain for your words.
Every morning i first read your what you have writen
it is very good. Have a nice weekend Iain God bless you.
Jenny how are you and Helen and Chris now you have
problems with your computer a virus in your computer
that is not so nice but i am thinking on you do you have
someone they can help you with your computer.
My computer must work but when there is something
i also can do nothing i must also have one who will help
me.
Sorry Janet i have i am thinking not good understand
what you have writen. It is your mother who have problems with her eyes. God bless her Janet. Thanks
God that you have your mother. My mother is no living
more She is died in jan. 2002 76 years old.
My father is very missing her. Every day he is going to
her grave. Tomorrow he is coming to me.
Yes it is saturday also my husband and my son are home.
Ruth Ann i have seen the pictures of your baby grand
child. What a lovely baby. Thanks God for that.
I have also read about your son I will pray for you and
for your son Ruth Ann.
Thanks Pat for what you have say to me.
Yesterday in the evening i have called with my aunt.
I am calling her often. But she is going away for a view
weeks. I hope that she have a nice time.
Take care of her JudyB. I wish you a good time with her.
God bless you all and greeting for you all
Ria

Good Morning Iain and Ria!  

Oh, Iain, what a wonderful challenge to us all today...

QuoteOften we yearn for the mountain top but the children of Israel were found rejoicing in the valley! The name of that valley was Berachah. May these few words be Berachah to your soul today.

Oh, that we might be found in the valleys praising the Lord and rejoicing today!  These words from you today certainly are a Berachah to my soul, Iain.  Thanks so much!


Ria, what a lovely message you've written to everyone.  You are doing so very well with your English!  Great job!  I hope that your aunt will have a wonderful time away for a couple of weeks with Judy!


I had an email from Jenny and she sends everyone her love.  She says,

Quote"Dear Pat,
Welcome Back..

I haven't been able to enter for the last day and am having virus problems
again...It's serious!

Please give my love to all..

I will be in touch as soon as poss.

Jenny"

Talk to you later!

Good Morning all,

Iain:  Thank you for reminding us that we cannot always be on the mountaintop!  Sometimes we are meant to do our good work in other areas.

Ruth Ann:  A year is a long time for medication but it is nice to know that you will be recuperating.  Best to you.

Pat S:  Don's doc has no "beside" manners at all - he didn't even come and speak to me after the surgery and the nurses were upset with the doctor.  Thanks for your concern.  I am happy that you were able to have this wonderful experience of visiting and meeting so many neat people.

Welcome Anne Coughley

Hi everyone.  

Pat, I certainly hope the virus that Jenny has is with her computer and that she doesn't have a virus.  

Iain, your analogy of the helplessness of babies and their relying on someone is a good one for we as Christians in our relationship with God.  While hopefully we mature we still must look to him to "pick us up".

Ria, as always it is good to see your posting this morning.

A big welcome to Anne Coughey.  

Pat, you asked yesterday how I was doing and I seem to be doing very well.  I am now walking probably about 4 blocks each morning before it gets hot and am not having any angina so am very pleased.  Still don't have a lot of strength but my mental outlook on things is very good.  We are making our preparations for our trip North and looking forward to it.  

Nancy, I don't think I wished you a Happy Birthday yesterday, so I want to do that today, even if it is a day late.  

I have been working hard on our church webpage and have some more to do today plus some other things I want to get done so guess I had better get started.  See you all later.

Good morning--or afternoon, whichever it is where you are!  It's great to have our travelers back, and to have new people joining us, too.

WELCOME, ANNE COUGHEY!! We hope you will come in and visit and feel at home here.  This is a friendly bunch, and we don't even bite!

Judy, I really wanted to go to Calgary, but I guess it wasn't meant to be, this time.  From the photos I have seen, it is so beautiful there!  If we manage to get our business sold, then we will be free to travel a lot more.  Prayers to that end appreciated!  And you could have strapped me beside the cartop carrier, like in that crazy movie Family Vacation.  I'm glad you all had such a good time.

Ruth Ann, I surely am glad you are getting some relief from your bladder problem.  I hope meds can take care of Beth's as well.

Iain, I seem to really struggle in just standing still.  Why do we think (feel) we must constantly be DOING?  I guess it is the work ethic that is deeply ingrained in us.

Larry, I'm so happy to hear that you are feeling better!

Ria, you're such a blessing to us, and I'm so happy you joined us here!  God bless you, my sister.

Today we will be teaching Scuba to some Scouts.  Yes, Pat, come on over!  It takes a few hours pool time, plus doing the bookwork, no hill for a climber like you!    We are looking at places for our next diving trip, I am really getting anxious to go!  I love being underwater and seeing al the marvelous creations God put there.

I am missing my little Abby, and wondering how she is enjoying school.  Darrel saw her a minute when he passed through Hugoton yesterday, said she just said "Hi" to him and went off looking for Grandma. That's my girl!

I have a big project to do.  My "brother" Don, who came to us at the age of 11, walking and hitch-hiking all the way from Arkansas to Colorado, has the most interesting stories to tell.  We have been asking him to record them, so we can preserve them, and of course, that is hard to do, unless you are just visiting with someone.  So Darrel and I stopped on the way to Minden, bought a little recorder, and now I have an hour and a half of his stories to get transcribed.  I think Don's life would make such an interesting book!  And he has memories of my Dad that none of us have except him.  Anyway, that is what I'm going to start working on soon!

Mom called yesterday and said the other "kids" will be here next Saturday to sort through her belongings.  She is moving to the care home, and wants us all here so she can give her stuff to the ones she wants to have it.  I have a two day painting seminar scheduled for then, so will probably have to forfiet my money on that.  Such is life, I guess.

I wish you all a joyful day with our sweet Saviour!  I'll be back later, if time permits.

Good Morning: Iain thank you for the wonderful devotional this morning. You have reminded me that though I am still feeling depressed I must look to God, and He will be there for me always. Sometimes I feel like you said in yesterday's devotional, about thngs getting worse. I don't think the will get any worse, they can only get better  from here.

God will always take us THROUGH those dark valleys, so I need  to remember to rejoice anyway, and sing praises to His name.

I am not dwelling on the depression, it isn't sever, just mild. Most of the time  I feel alright. It is hard to explain. I'm sure that all of my family here  on CP have  felt the same way.

Well I don't want to drag anyone down so I will say "Bless the Lord oh my soul and all that is within me, Bless His holy name." "Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say Rejoice".

Be back later

Marilyn

Hi there, Marilyn!  We were posting at the same time!  I'm sorry you are feeling a bit "down" and I do understand.  But big changes in life, even the good ones, can do that to us.  Hang in there, keep on praising, and that depression HAS to go, in Jesus' Name!  He loves you, you love Him, and things are going to get better and better!  Love you, dear Marilyn! ((((hugs))))

Hi Janet and Marilyn~

Wow!  It's great to be back among the CP family!  It's so nice to go away but nicer still to come back home!  

I'd love to try this scuba diving some day, Janet.  Not sure how I'd make out with it though.


Cheer up, Marilyn!  Praying for you.

Larry, we're sure looking forward to your visit up here.  We'll have our very first CP BASH!  LOL  Bring lots of batteries for your camera!


Carol, I just can't imagine a doctor like that--not even speaking to you about the operation after it was done.  I'm certainly not used to that!  Jack's doctors were all so caring.  How's Don today?

Iain ~ What a wonderful devotional.  Yes, it seems that we are on mountain tops...the top of the world and then all of a sudden we fall to the valleys in despair.  But there will always be another mountain and some day that mountain top will be below us.  It will be wonderful to look down and see the mountains and valleys we have traveled. (I am believing that we will be able to look down when we reach heaven.)  I want to thank you and Larry for keeping CP going while Pat was gone. She kept me informed....when the black out happened and CP was down also.  All of you are wonderful.

Ria ~ I am amazed how well you are doing with your English.  You sound like a very loving person.  Wish I could meet you, too!

Jenny ~ Those virus' are terrible.  When I got on Outlook Express, it showed I had 203 emails when I got home and online.  I deleted some and quarantined some that my Norton caught.  Then I would lose my internet connection.  When I got back online, the emails I deleted reappeared!!!  This happened 3 more times so I had 5 emails from everyone and everything.  I ran my Norton and I had a virus that Norton repaired.  No more loss of internet connections.  All in all, I quarantined 51 emails with virus'.  I have had one already this morning.  And all of them are from SPAM!!!!!!!

Carol ~ Oh, it does make a difference when you have doctors and nurses with bedside manners.  Everyone at the hospitals with Jerry were superb.  His surgeon was African...Dr. Nwergu.  He said, think of the spaghetti sauce...Ragu!  I told him I would maybe call him Dr. Spaghetti Sauce.  He laughed and each time he saw me, he would chuckle.  A very personable doctor that just happened to save Jerry's life.  He goes to see him again Sept 4th.

Larry ~ It is great to hear that you are doing so well.  Walking 4 blocks!  That is great.  And preparing on going north?  How far north? Close to Indiana?  If so, I would sure love to have you and Pat stop by or perhaps we could meet somewhere!  

Jerry just got up.....9am.  He said he wasn't used to sleeping this late.  Well, he also wasn't used to being up that late.  He is excused this time.  Tomorrow is church and he wants to go to church so we will have to be up much earlier.  We have some chores to take care of today...cut his hair, cut his fingernails and toenails, and perhaps mow the yard.  Me mow....not Jerry!  He can watch this time.  

I, too, am missing Mieka!!!!  Where are you??

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"When dieting remember:  What's on the table eventually becomes what's on the chair."

Thank you Larry i love it to be with you it is so nice
i thank all the people of CP they are so kind for me
God bless you all

Bye love Ria

Etta Sue, I'm wondering about Mieka.  Has anyone heard from her?  I sure miss her posts.    Give Jerry a hug for me, Etta Sue.

Good morning all: IAIN, RIA, PAT, CAROL, LARRY, JANET, and MARILYN!  

The devotional is, as always, very fitting today.  I seem to have "hit the wall" as they say.  I am wondering just how much more is going to happen before it turns around.  

Last night I was IMing with Nita and telling her of my concerns about no wood for the winter, no money, no way to get my back porch fixed (the neighbor stomped on it and made it worse than it already was), and that I just felt so alone because all the people I have tried to contact for help are "out of the office" and don't return my calls.  

Well, shortly after she signed off, and while I was still at the computer, I heard an odd noise down the hall.  I continued what I was doing because there are often strange noises around here.    Soon, I began to smell something.  I looked down the hall and saw a glow coming from the bathroom.  Upon inspection I saw flames coming from the vent in the ceiling and from the vent cover that had fallen on the floor and was burning a huge hole in the carpet.    There is a burnt spot on the toilet seat, and two large burnt places in the floor, and the ceiling is black from the fire!
I am really in a spot now!  I will have to try to get hold of the insurance company today--but it's Saturday--and I just don't know how much damage has been done or if they will even take care of it for me!  I hate this!  If it isn't one thing it's two!   This would be a good time to have someone else have to make decisions and get things done for me!

Please pray for me that this will come to an end soon.  I just don't know how much more I can take.  But my Father knows what I have need of and He will supply all my needs ... and He says not to worry about tomorrow!  Okay, Lord, I will trust you.  Help my doubtings, please?

Good morning everyone, and a great big welcome back to Pat, though I got to welcome her first hand .  

Iain, what a wonderful devotional this morning!  Such a needed reminder, especially in today's world where people can lose hope so very fast.  Thank you so much for posting the devotions while Pat was away.

WELCOME ANNE COUGHEY!!!You know me .

Well, I hope you all have a wonderful day.  God bless you all.  Jen.

Well ... I just noticed PAT, RIA, and ETTA SUE slipped in here while I was composing.  This must be the busy time of day for CP ... Do we have a revolving door here?    Anyway, Hello to you all ... and all who will be coming later!

Hi JEN!

3.25 p.m.

HURRAY.......IT'S ME........

Or at least I think it is.......

Yes Ian I too have been down in the valley this week and I just couldn't see the top, then suddenly I thought I saw sunlight yesterday afternoon and guess what....those "little foxes" were busy....

I popped in and out of C.P. and I managed to do a PERFECT POSTING...( well it would be wouldn't it) and then up popped the dreaded "cut off" warning and I lost it...

I kept trying and managed to e mail Pat and a dear friend in Vancouver Island....

Praise God Kay, in Vancouver sent a swift e mail to me...I managed to catch it between pop ups and went into Microsoft.  I had their other Blaster Worm destroy last time...However Kay is using McAfee "Stinger"....No4 on the List...for virus etc., She said DON'T download to save just " open".......Wow I didn't know there was so much on the files...Hee Hee Hee.......we got three .....of the blighters and destroyed them....Spy Bot had missed them!    THANKS KAY IF YOU POP IN HERE.....THESE CANADIANS KNOW IT ALL!.....

I seem to be up and running but i am not opening ANY attachments at all for awhile....

Pat I'd just sussed out my Scanner too...getting ready to send some pics of family over...when Chris is back at work.

Glad to have you all back...Pat, Etta Sue, Judy etc., This house seemed empty without you all.

Carol our family doctor is the same...everyone thinks he's breaking down he doesn't seem to care anymore and his office staff are having to cover up for him.......

Larry, well done.  You are a great encouragement to others to carry on.  Not to despair..

Marilyn, I will pray for you..."Keep looking towards Jerusalem".......You are not alone on this journey....the harder the battle the greater the victory.

Iain, I have sent word to my daughter Helen today to "Let Go and Let God", which fits.  Thanks for the devotional.

Ruth Ann...I will go and see the pics of Georgia later.

Ria, you are doing so well.......

Love and God bless to Janet and to all others and a special message for Jerry, "God Bless dear brother...thinking of you".

In Jesus'Name,
Jenny.


I KNOW I TALKED A LOT TODAY BUT THAT'S TO MAKE UP FOR TWO DAYS OFF!!!!...(Pat will edit me in a minute)!!!

You can probably see my big smile all the way to England!  I just had the BEST conversation with Abby on the phone.  She is such a joy!  (Uh....do I sound like a doting grandma? )  She said "Grandma, WHY didn't you come with Grandpa yesterday?  You KNEW I wanted to see you!"  I asked her if she had any idea how much I love her, and she answered "As big as the world?"  Grandkids are great, aren't they?

Darrel has the Scuba trailer all loaded, I must get some lunch so we can eat before we go, as it takes lots of energy being in the water, and will be a while before he can eat again.  See y'all later.

So good to see you posting, Jenny!  I'm glad you got things sorted out.  I'll be watching for some photos from you.

Janet, I just don't know how you do as much as you do!  You're always on the go.  That little Abby is so cute.  Yes, I can hardly wait till I see my little grandkiddies.

Jane, I'm so sorry.   What a time you've had!  I can't imagine the fire in your bathroom!  I'm so glad that you are safe.


Now, everyone but Mieka, plug your ears!  I'm going to yellllllll....

MIEKA,
WE MISS YOU!

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Canada's ruling government right now are advocating "same sex marriages" and here's an article about a demonstration on Parliament Hill today against it.  May God intervene in this...

Thousands Demonstrate on Parliament Hill against Same Sex Marriages

Good afternoon to all, it's 12:30 here in Illinois! I just wanted to check in, and see how all of you wonderful folks are doing! Marilyn, my sister, I know how tough it is to keep going on when you are grieving, but, by concentrating on our Lord, He will see you through this! Iain, as always, your devotional really sets me thinking hard! Ria, you are doing so well! Jenny, glad to hear from you again! Although my little WEBTV unit doesn't have the memory capability that all your computers have and is sometimes kinda slow, at least, I can't get or pass the viruses, but I still get the emails that cause them, too! I want to share a praise with you all; tomorrow is our first day in our new sanctuary that we have worked for for 16 years! We have gone through a minister change, a youth minister change and a music minister change (Not all at the same time!) during this time, but now, we finally see where God has been leading us all these years! We are so excited that we can hardly stand it! I knew all of you would be happy for us! God bless you all today!  WHERE IS MIEKA?
Love in Him,
Cami

I got behind here (computer) with all that was happening yesterday.  So I am very late coming to say hello.

Very good and needed ideas Iain!  Now I will let it in God's hands.

Love to all, Francy

Am I the only one (or did I imagine it?) who remembers that Mieka told us she was going to be away for a while  I don't remember how long she said - maybe two weeks?  Maybe someone with time on their hands ( ) could look back a couple of weeks in NEM and find out if I'm really losing it.  

You can actually search a person's last 10 posts, Jeanne.

If you click on her name in the list of Members, you can then click on "View last 10 posts"

Hmmm.  Guess I knew that.  Time to start supper now but I'll try checking it out later.

We are back home, had a good time with the Scuba class.  We had two boys, two girls, one adult, and one dad who just was practicing; he is already certified.  He used my gear, so I didn't get to stay underwater much.  But I did stay in the water where it was nice and cool!

We came home by way of Hugoton, and they were having a car show in the park!  Boy, they really had some sharp looking vehicles, some really old ones.  I saw a 1927 Ford that was so shiny it nearly put your eyes out!  I showed Abby a 1946 car, told her, "This car was built when I was 6 years old, just like you are now.  Her reply??  "Wow!  Then it is really, really, really REALLY old!

We went over to see Mark's Ranchero, he has it painted and is starting to put it back together; has the lights, bumper, etc. back on the front already.  It's looking good!

Abby cried to come home with me, but Dad said no.  So she will get to spend next weekend with me instead.  They are all (except her) going to Manhattan to a ballgame.  They will get to see Curtis there.  His ROTC cleans the stadium after all home games, a money making project for them.

I've been entirely too chatty today, better give you a rest!

You're certainly not too chatty, Janet!  I really enjoyed that.  I don't know what a Ranchero is.

I thought maybe it was a Ranch house but a ranch house doesn't have bumpers so I guess it's a car?

HAHAHA!  Yes, Pat, it's a car.  A Ford that's kind of part car, part pickup truck.  I'm sure Janet will have some great photos of the finished product.  Right, Janet?

Well, I guess I must have been dreaming or something because there was nothing in Mieka's last several posts about going away.  

I know it can't be because I'm old, but I don't remember things that did happen and I "remember" things that didn't!  

Hi Everyone:
Thank you Iain for reminding me that the battle belongs to the Lord.  I have to tell myself this so often when I think about fretting and fussing about things.  

I just talked to Pat and saw some great pictures of her trip.  Looking forward to seeing the rest of them.

I told Pat I will give her a picture of myself so she can put it on CP. It probably would be nice to see what I look like.

Talk to you all tomorrow.     Ruthie  

Yes, Ruthie, we would love to "meet" you by way of seeing your photo!

Pat, a Ford Ranchero looks almost like a Chevrolet El Camino, if you know what that is!  Yes----it's a pickup that looks like a car!  Not being made any more, but they were sharp looking vehicles, in my opinion.  And they were made out of heavy metal, not "beer cans" like some are (most) today.  Darrel thought it would be safer for Mark to drive.  It's a gas hog, though, has a 454 engine in it!

Yes, Jeanne, I will post more photos of it later.  Should have taken some today, guess I wasn't really "with it."

Thanks for the info on a Ranchero!  I don't think I know about them!  HAHAHAHA!


Great to see you posting, Trish!  Congratulations on the Engagement!

Where's Papa John?  Is he ill?