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Morning Devotional...


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"Can anyone teach God knowledge, since He judges those who are on high?"      Job 21:22


What breathes with its feet, has thousands of jaws but no mouth, has up to fifty arms, and an eye on the end of each arm? No, it's not a new creature for the next Star Wars movie. It's the starfish.

When God designed the starfish, it almost seems as if He tried to see how differently He could make this creature from all the others. Depending upon the species, the starfish can have from three to fifty arms while there is an eye on the end of each one.

The rough skin of the starfish is covered with tiny jaws to keep parasites from attaching themselves to the starfish. Even more amazing is the fact that each of these thousands of jaws works independently of the rest.

To get its oxygen, the starfish takes water in through tubes in its feet, each containing a tiny pump and a pipe system linking it to the other feet.

The starfish presents us with the lesson that our Creator did not have to make the creation in any specific way. This is referred to by theologians as "voluntary creation."

If God had chosen to, you and I might be breathing through our feet - although I'm glad we don't. But the biblical truth of the voluntary creation was one of the crucial ideas that provided the basis for the modern scientific method.


Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus Christ through Whom all things were made, I thank You in wonder and awe at Your creativity, and especially that You made me, and purchased and won me from sin, death and the devil. Amen.


From:  Creation Moments

Have a good weekend everyone.  I am still praying for Jerry.  Thanks all for your replies to my message.  

Thank you Pat. I am sending you a photo of a starfish. I will attach it to an email.

Good Day or Evening. Sonifo.
I went to view your photos. They are lovely! What a pleasure to view them.

Hope all are doing well today. I am having a late nighter on a new photo website I found. New to me- I have seen many of your names and photos there.
It's called usefilm. the url is:
http://www.usefilm.com

I so enjoy viewing the photos of others. How wonderful to view God's awesome creation from the comfort of my home.

Wishing you all a God filled day!

Pat - I hope that my post dovetails with your fine devotional. I'm off with my pics again today as I have a stall at an Agricultural Show. It's a busy time for  me and I love being busy. I hope my health keeps up with my desires!

I'm having real gremlins in my computer these days. I have been hit by a flood of viruses. I may have to clean my hard drive next week. If so then I'll be offline for a couple of days. I have over 30Gb of work on it!

I pray that you all have a blessed Lord's Day. Rest in Him.

'Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazereth rise up and walk.'

Acts 3:6

Not only do I have to be carried to my begging place each day, but you come away with a statement like that! 'Silver and gold have I none!' Great! Just the news a poor beggar needs to hear. Why bother coming over to me with words like that?

These first few words would have hit the beggar hard. He would have been begging for money to buy food. Hopes dashed and once again yet another disappointing day to look forward to. How long must I sit here and beg? How long must I swallow the dust of those passing by? How I long to be different. Is my sin greater than others?

If only!!!

This however was to be a day when his whole life would change. He was about to receive what silver and gold could not buy.

'In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.'

What now are his thoughts? Have you guys lost the plot? You are asking me to do the impossible! I cannot even stand up never mind walk!

With Peter offering him a helping hand he manages to stand. Feet and ankle bones are immediately strengthened and soon the man is not only walking but leaping for joy.

I think of the hymn, 'Stand up, stand up for Jesus, ye soldiers of the cross.'

What does today hold for you and I? Are our souls and minds filled with dread? Yet another hard day to face when it would be easier to keep our heads under the blankets.

Days, weeks, months perhaps even years have gone by now with no sign of prayers being answered. Our heart feels heavy and a huge weight lies permanently upon our soul.

Our daily routine is just that, a routine. Bogged down by unbelief and frustration. Soon the mentality changes to an acceptance. This is my portion and nothing is going to change it. I just have to accept it.
In many ways we do, but grudgingly. The grudge being against God. It is all His fault! I am sure that the beggar had many a day like this.

Things may change today!

What gives me the confidence to say this? I can say it because our God reigns. He does not lie in a grave, He is not dead, He has not gone into a far country, He has not left you or forsaken you, He is nearer than you think! He loves you.

There was a day when the Lord was your chiefest joy. The fairest among ten thousand. He was altogether lovely, and we longed with all our heart and soul to serve Him. Are we as enthusiastic today?

Are we seeking silver and gold or are we seeking the Lord? Those who seek me early will find Me.

Are we sitting humbly at the feet of Jesus today or are we walking past with a swagger and our heads held high? Things are going well with me, I lack nothing and have no need to beg. I can manage on my own.

How many folk tell others that they are doing OK and that they are content with their lives while their insides are in turmoil? Much easier to 'put on a face' than to swallow our pride and sit as a beggar!

If our relationship with our Saviour is wrong, then our relationship with everyone else will be wrong as well. Not an easy thing to admit to. I was wrong! Easy to say, not so easy to change. Easier to point the finger at others and to ignore the problem within.

Is our position today the same as it was when first we believed? 'Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling.' Are we still coming each morning to meet the Lord with empty, begging hands, or do we come laden with good works and covered in pride?

Repentance is a changing of the heart, an acknowledging of sin and a turning from it. It is also a determination to meet face to face with God.

God is not mocked! Can we stand face to face with God today? If not, then sin must be lying at our door. We must repent and seek cleansing. We must ask Him to heal our souls today. Ask and you shall receive. I will heal your backsliding, I will love you freely. Come unto to me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.

There are some who are still fearful of acknowledging Jesus of Nazareth as their personal Saviour. My friend nail you colours to the mast. Stand up for Jesus. Time to tell the world of the great things that the Lord has done for your soul. Stand upon the Rock.

You may know that you have been healed. You may know that He has strengthened you. You may know that a change has occurred in your life yet you remain fearful of telling others about it, especially those closest to you.

My friend honour God and He will honour you. Confess Christ to those around you beginning at Jerusalem - your own home! You may be quite surprised at the reaction! Trust and believe. Sing the new song that He has put in your mouth.

May this weekend bring about a change for good in our lives. May we be lifted from the gutters of sin and misery and may we walk in newness of life following Jesus. May we rededicate our lives to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We have a message to declare, a gift to offer our fellow man.

It may not be silver or gold. No, it is something infinitely better!

This man save sinners! Praise the Lord.

LOL

Your brother in Christ

Iain

Jenny U.K. 12.30p.m.

Thanks Pat that was lovely.....Doesn't a Star fish look pretty in the water but on dry land it loses its glimmer!God formed us out of the dust of the earth and His ways are wonderful....a place for everything and everything in it's place. The Creator did and does everything well..but remember Jesus said "It is finished"....God finished His work on the Cross...such a wonderful plan.


Iain...again...."The stops as well as the steps are directed by the Lord"...and "He causeth all things to work together for good".......You need and deserve a complete rest.  Please rest and enjoy the peace of God, while He sorts out  the computer problem for you.  We shall all miss you but be assured of our prayers and continuing love., Dear Brother.

Gosh we appreciate you now but how much more with a space between your postings. You will have lots of fresh inspiration for us.I feel you will find it hard to be still and have a picture of you with pen and paper in hand, but that is defeating God's ob ject...."Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him".

Your devotional for today put me in mind of the homeless beggars on Birmingham streets.Also I meet and talk to a number of unhappy souls in  my local park. , especially I think of Harold..brought up in children's homes and sleeping rough in a nearby derelict tower block. I made some sandwiches and took them to him and gave him a tract.  He thanked me and asked me questions about Jesus....He took My hand and said no-one had ever done anything for him before....  It was not me...It was Jesus...at the Beautiful gate! I gave him some telephone numbers and small change and he phoned the local minister whose number I'd written on the tract.  Christians are praying for him now.  "silver and gold have I none but such as I have I give unto you Harold....."......  SALVATION.


Also sometime ago IAIN you told me about Mrs C.E. Cowman...yesterday my son found a book on the floor at work.  It appeared suddenly..."Streams in the desert" Vol 2....He had tried to get one for me and this isn't published anymore.  It cost me 50p as it must be old stock or someone b rought it into the second hand tub....Nothing is by chance is it? So I am using that with Spurgeon also. Thanks Brother!


It's a glorious day here and I was up early and didn't intend posting today.  Here I am though. I've been to the little Post Office and a ride through the park (on my scooter)....I've some small jobs to do this afternoon and some reading to catch up on. Also my cross-stich picture and cardigan knitting to finish...I hope to sit in the garden and do these things.


MARILYN thankyou for the lovely "Teddy Bear" to start my day off well....

Hope everyone enjoys the weekend.

Love Jenny.

Iain:
Beautilfully written!
I for one can testify that just when you think God isn't listening, He shows Himself to be the Gracious God He is, and blows me away with His generosity.
So much in your devotional today was relatable to me.
I know the feeling of saying "I'm fine" and knowing I'm not.  Spent most of the past year that way.
How fortunate we are that God's love continues inspite of anything we think, say or do.
The "turning around" from a backslidden state is difficult at times, but He is faithful to hold my hand and get me through...
as long as I don't let go of His.

Blessings to all who visit today.
In His love,
Jo

I am just popping to say hello!  Abby, Beth and I are going to the fair parade in a little while.  I will return later to read this whole thread  (I usually use the wrong terminology!)

Curtis (grandson) is coming this morning to do more work on the guitar he is building.  They don't have a drill press at home, so he uses Darrel's.  Any excuse for him to get here is great, in my book!

See you later-------Hi there, Sonja!  Good to see your smiling face this morning!  How is Zachery?

Good morning!  The devotion today was very interesting - starfish breathe through their feet, imagine we would have to do that.

I always marvel at how God created such a variety of different creatures and things, and how they all work!

Ursula

Hey, I just noticed I'm a "jr. member" now!  COOL!

Just a quick stop...great night's rest...great new day!  

Uh, if I use FTP, I am not aware of it.  I use Homestead.  I get online and sign in with my user name and password at Homestead.  I go to 'page & file manager'.  I find the folder I want to upload to.  I click a little icon for 'Importing'.  A window comes up that I can browse my C://.  When I find what I want, I click that and then 'Okay'.  It does it's cyber thing and then I find it on the list in the folder and put a tick beside it and click 'Preview'.  There I copy the URL and paste the URL here and do the stuff here.  Easy now that I have done it a thousand times...   See?    I pay for the use of Homestead but I also think it is okay and easy to use for importing photos as well as my Homestead Website.  But then, I have nothing else to compare by...

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"The Bible says that my body is a temple of the Holy-Spirit...and it started with a building program that just got out of hand."

Good Morning Everyone!

What a lovely day it is here in Guelph!  But I have so much to do getting ready to leave for two weeks that I probably won't be able to sit and enjoy the weather.


Iain, thanks so much for those words above...  

QuoteIs our position today the same as it was when first we believed? 'Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling.' Are we still coming each morning to meet the Lord with empty, begging hands, or do we come laden with good works and covered in pride?

Repentance is a changing of the heart, an acknowledging of sin and a turning from it. It is also a determination to meet face to face with God.

What a good question!  Is our heart changed?  Or have we slowly, almost unnoticed by ourselves back to the old ways?  Oh, let us return to our First Love!

Only one life
'Twill soon be past
Only what's done for God
Will Last!

Hi Jenny!  I'm so very happy that you are enjoying your time spent at this site.  Even though you don't have a camera, you can still enjoy looking at our photos.  A couple of folks have asked if I'll put in my photos that were on the old CP of a hike on the Offas Dyke Path in North Wales so I may do that next week.  I'm sure you'll like to go on a walk in Wales, Jenny!


It was so nice to see that you popped in Sonja!  I hope that you are having a great weekend with your lovely family.  Want to see some cute photos of Sonja's family?  CLICK HERE.


Janet, I hope you have a great time with Curtis!  We all love to see him so hope you take some photos!  He's a lovely fellow.  

Have you all seen the fantastic painting that Janet's granddaughter, Katy, did?  It's absolutely amazing.
CLICK HERE.


Ursula!  You're a Junior Member for sure!  Isn't that great?  Just keep posting folks and it's great to see that you get "promoted" to a new rank!

Check out the lovely Ottawa River that Ursula captured with her camera...
CLICK HERE[/u][/size]

Quotewhen you think God isn't listening, He shows Himself to be the Gracious God He is.

Yes, Shinenlite, that's so true!  God is always listening!  He's always present beside us.  He directs our paths daily.  Let's allow Him to do this all the time.  He won't direct us in the wrong direction for sure.



Shinenlite has shared with us some of her lovely photography with scripture verses on them.  You can see them in our special section entitled, Photographs with a Scripture Message.  Have a browse and enjoy God's Word in the beautiful photography of our members.



Well, I must go.  I have ironing to do, laundry to do, grass to cut and raspberries to pick!

Talk to you all later!

Good Morning Etta Sue!  You posted while I was composing.  OK, I guess Homestead has it's own FTP built in.  FTP means File Transfer Protocol and that's just the act of getting a photo from your computer to your web space.  I use a special program for this and get various files over to all of the many pages I maintain on the net.


Have a great day!  (Wish I had that nice animated one!)

On July 15, I put in some links to three of our members...

I'm going to repeat it again now:

For all those who don't know,

Iain has a wonderful site called "Apples of Gold" that I check out every day!  You should bookmark it and have a good read...

Apples of Gold.

And while you're at it, you might enjoy looking at his marvelous photos on
Islands of Inspiration


Karma and her husband, Bernard also have a great site for there photos:
Karnard Kreations[/b]

and

Sonja is busy taking photos too with a special place for you to see them as well:

Sonifo's Pictures[/b].


Have a look folks and if you see anything on these sites that you'd like to purchase, get in touch with the photographers privately.  I just love looking at their work.[/list]

Good morning.  Just a quick post before we get ready to go to the reunion.  Have a good day, and I will be back later!!

Hi everyone.  Another beautiful day here in Georgia with the possiblity of some rain this afternoon.

Marilyn, happy to hear about your job at the library and it sounds like about the number of hours you wanted to work.  Hope you will enjoy it.

Enjoyed the devotional thoughs this morning.  Very interesting information about the starfish that I certainly didn't know.  I enjoy watching the nature programs and am constantly amazed at the many different creatures and animals God has created for his earth.  

Etta Sue, the nice thing about an FTP program is that you can upload and download files.  There is a very good one that is available free that I have used for years and is probably the same one that Pat uses.  It is called WS_FTP95LE and you can find it at CNET or TUCOWS download sites.  I maintain several webpages and I use it a lot to work with my files.  

Etta Sue, was sorry to read that Jerry wasn't up to going to the rehab center and sure hope he is able to do so tomorrow as they plan.  

I have several things I want to work on this morning so will not ramble on.  Hope everyone has a good weekend.

"What matters is not that I know God, but that He knows me. I'm graven on the palms of His hands. I'm never out of His mind. His love for me is utterly unrealistic, based at every point on prior knowledge of the worst about me, so that no discovery can disillusion Him about me inthe way I am so often disillusioned about myself, or quench His determination to bless me." J.I. Packer

The above quote is from  the daily devotional in The Word For You Today.

Just a reminder that God loves you. Keep that thought clearly in mind, no matter what happens. Okay?

Marilyn what you have said absolutely astounds me.  Imagine a God wanting a relationship with me when he knew me BEFORE I knew who he was, and to know He knew what I would do before I did it! And wanted a relationship anyway?  Wow.  That is enough to humble the most proud.

Pat better get the mowing done today, the rain is coming,  It is pouring here, and the clouds are heavy.  We need it though, being on a well the long hot dry periods are rough on the water supply.  Melaura and Elizabeth are at a Navy League function, whick includes a car wash as a fund raiser.  With the rain there may be no cars wanting a wash!

Have a good day everyone.

Love
JudyB

Well, I went and picked a few raspberries and then was going to cut the grass but the rain has started here too!

The raspberries are small.  They need a lot of water and we can't water here in Guelph very much at all.

So, I'll just make do with what I get.

This morning I have been doing the maintainence on my comuter and catching up on some email. Now I am dowloading the updates from Microsoft that they said was needed. That sure takes a long to to get installed. I took Weather Bug off my computer because I found out that it inhibits the maintainencs program.

I forgot to thank you Pat and Iain for the devotionals this morning.

Sonja thank you for posting the update on Zacherys problems with his medicine and the condition of his bones. You saidhe has the bones of a ten year old. Isn't he 14?

Karmat I apologize for not addressing any posts to you. Forgive me please. Won't you please put you picture in your profile.?

PapaJohn how was the wedding/
Blessings to Kathy, Jane, Janet, Jeanne, Jo, Pinkie, Nita, carol, Ursula, Ken, Alan, Melvin, Ruth, Ruth Ann, Jenny, Al, Nards, Mieka, etc. etc. Thats enough for my brain to do right now.  

BTW I sure do miss Cindy!!! Any news that she will come back.?

TTYL

Wow!  What a lot of work you've done, Marilyn.
I downloaded some Microsoft updates and I haven't installed them yet.  I'm not sure if I need them.

Why don't you write to Cindy?  She might like to hear from you.

Marilyn - thanks for posting Packer's comments.  May I make a suggestion?  Get Packer's book, Knowing God, and read it, read it, read it, and read it again!  Of all the books I've read, I recommend it as one of the best.

Pat.
Thank you for posting my scripture photos and the ones of the starfish! You are such a wonderful gift from God to us all.
Hi all! Had a blessed relaxed day taking pictures of storm clouds. Southwest Florida is such a great place for cloud photos in the summer time! Lots of quick moving storms that change the sky every few minutes.
When I get them posted to my website, I'll let you know.
Hope you are having a wonderful weekend.
May the Lord be with you and yours.

Like Pat... my time is limited these days, what with getting ready for our trip west.

If you have emailed me, and I haven't replied., please I.M. me here.  I have had trouble receiving messages on the outlook express.  I believe its resolved now, but I would hate to have not replied to anyone kind enough to have written me.

I am still praying for Jerry; in fact I have just sent a card and note off to him.  I knw how important it is to get encouragement from cards and letters.

May I encourage each one to send Jerry a get well card.

Good evening everyone!  I just put an update in 'Have You' about Jerry!  He looked and was super today.  Ten days ago tomorrow is when he had his stroke.  We are truly lucky to still have him.

Thanks for the wonderful devotions.  They are really uplifting.  

Pat, you can snag my 'Have a great day'.  I don't care.

Can't stay long...I have been up way too late every night and tomorrow is early church.

Love you guys!!!

Pat: Would you email me Cinday's email address if you have it?
Thanks

Wow!  Sixty posts yesterday!!!  That's the best we've had in a long time - if we ever did have that many in one day.  How about it, Pat?  Did we set a new record?

Just imagine having to breathe through our feet...  I'd never get short of breath, anyway!    But just imagine those poor gals who wear a 4 or 5.  They'd be gasping all the time.  

I still have a Daddy Longlegs touring my living room.  This morning he started across the end table and the cat noticed him and put her nose about 1/2 inch away.  I laughed out loud watching how fast that poor little bug turned around and skittered off in the other direction.

I spoke to my friend Inez today and posted some sad news  in Have you prayed....?
She is loading up to move to Oklahoma on Wednesday. She has already made one  trip there and back. Please  keep her in prayer for the move.
We will continue  to keep in touch and be prayer partners. I miss her a whole bunch.

Gitsie seems to be doing a little better. She has finally gone outside and come back in with some coaxing from me.  For those who don't know there is a prayer request for my dogs in that thread.

Today has been long.  My dear little toddler, who usually sleeps till at least 8 if not 9 or 10 got up at 6:30 am this morning.    and wouldn't go back to sleep.

Then, we went to the family reunion.  It was nice to see some family members, though being an inlaw, I had no clue who some of the more distant ones were.  It was kinda sad, though, in  a way.  A lot of the younger generations don't "have time" to come, so attendance was way down.  Also, one of the "patriarchs" of the clan, Bernard's Papaw, is bedridden and was not able to attend this year.  

On a bright note, one of Travis's cousins, who is exactly 4 weeks younger was there, and they seem to enjoy playing together.

Then, we went riding on the Parkway, took some pics, went and saw my mom, went to supper, went walking around Lake Junaluska (more pics), then home about 9 o'clock.  

Marilyn -- Don't feel too bad about not "noticing" me.  I wouldn't have realized it if you hadn't said anything.  Sometimes moving can be difficult for animals.  I'm sure  Gitsie just needs some time and space to adjust.

I think I have Cindy's email, if it is not in her profile, but I will have to dig.  I corresponded with her a few weeks ago, at the beginning of the summer, and she is just really, really, really busy it seems, without a lot of Internet time (I can't imagine!).  But I will look for it.

I hope Jerry is still improving (haven't read the updates today, yet).

To all else, have a good evening and wonderful Lord's Day!!!

lvoe
karmat

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