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Morning Devotional...


Renew Your Strength Through God
Devotional by Alistair Begg

Let the peoples renew their strength.
Isaiah 41:1

All things on earth need to be renewed. No created thing continues by itself. "You renew the face of the ground,"¹ was the psalmist's utterance.

Even the trees, which wear not themselves with care, nor shorten their lives with labor, must drink of the rain of heaven and draw from the hidden treasures of the soil. The cedars of Lebanon, which God has planted, only live because day by day they are full of sap freshly drawn from the earth. Neither can man's life be sustained without renewal from God. As it is necessary to repair the body by the frequent meal, so we must repair the soul by feeding upon the Book of God, or by listening to the preached Word, or by the soul-fattening table of the ordinances.

How depressed are our graces when means are neglected! What poor starving souls they are who live without the diligent use of the Word of God and secret prayer! If our piety can live without God it is not of divine creating; it is but a dream; for if God had begotten it, it would wait upon Him as the flowers wait upon the dew.

Without constant restoration we are not ready for the perpetual assaults of hell, or the stern afflictions of heaven, or even for the strife within. When the whirlwind shall be loosed, woe to the tree that has not sucked up fresh sap and grasped the rock with many inter-twisted roots.

When tempests arise, woe to the mariners that have not strengthened their mast, nor cast their anchor, nor sought the haven. If we suffer the good to grow weaker, the evil will surely gather strength and struggle desperately for the mastery over us; and as a result a painful desolation and a lamentable disgrace may follow. Let us draw near to the footstool of divine mercy in humble entreaty, and we shall realize the fulfillment of the promise, "They who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength."<sup>2

1 Psalm 104:30
2 Isaiah 40:31</sup>

Thanks for the devotional today, Pat.  A wonderful reminder that we need always to refresh and strengthen with God's word.

It was so good to see our church family again after three weeks!  Good service, too.

I was feeling cold all night and have been cold most of today, too.  No idea why, it is plenty warm in here, and I have on a light jacket.  But, brrrrr!

Our small group starts up again this evening, and that will be enjoyable, I'm sure.

Thank you for the devotional.

What a wonderful message today at church, Pastor John spoke on the last of the "see to its" in Hebrews 12 (verse 25).  What a wonderful study this has been.  I have asked him for his notes so I can dig further...  I am so appreciative of a pastor who isn't afraid to give out his notes!

John is beside me struggling with his computer.  He just said, "Maybe I should take a computer course!"  The program he is dealing with is for his logs and he is afraid he has lost a month.......Not a good thing to happen!

We are having some mild weather, night before last it rained all night then all day yesterday.  We went out in the evening, and it started snowing.  Snowed lightly the balance of the evening.  Our Twp is right on the sanding of the roads and we had no problem getting out. 

The Liberal Government is talking about adding a 5 to 10 cent tax on gas per liter.  That will put us up to $1.45 per liter or about $5.51 per gallon.  We are hoping and praying for an election this year....we need it.

Well got to go, and finish a project I started last night.

Hello again just checking in to let y'all know I have been here, I fixed our dinner in the crock-pot today it turned out real tasty, here is the recipe if you would like to try it.

Chicken Thighs Supreme

Number of servings 4

Ingredients
   
6 All Natural Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs, 24 oz.    
1can 100% Natural Diced Tomatoes-no Salt Added*14.5 Oz  . Drained
¼ Cup Chopped Yellow Onion,
1 Bell Pepper - Green, Raw, Organic,
1Cup Carrots - sliced
3 Cloves Garlic 
1 Cup  Elbow Macaroni Noodles Dry
Pinch Crushed Red Chili Pepper Flakes, 1/8 teaspoon
1 heaping tsp  Italian Seasoning,    
   
Calories Per Serving:    302    

Put everything in the Crock pot cook for 8 hours. When done cook your noodles and add those, Each serving is 1½ cups

That sounds delicious, Marilyn, although there are a couple of ingredients I'd leave out.   

I will be there for supper Marilyn just please leave the garlic out!!!

Heading to bed I am tired tonight.  Night all and God bless.

Hi everyone.  I got up fairly early this morning and have a few minutes before going to coffee.  Yesterday was a beautiful day, sunny and up to 60.  It looks like we will have showers this afternoon and rain tonight but will get to 57 degrees this afternoon.  Today I plan on attending my men's luncheon (we are going to an Asian buffet) and a meeting this evening.  I have missed these some over the last few weeks.  We did attend church yesterday and then stopped quickly to eat a bite at McDonald's as Pat had a tight schedule.  I watched the football games and seemed to wear myself out. 

Marilyn, it seems we all seem to be having some non-normal weather.  I am sure it has been this way before but our memories are short.

Pat, thanks for the fine devotional for this week.  We must rely on God if we are to have a fulfilling life. 

Janet, maybe you need to get a heated mattress pad.  It is one of the nicest gifts I have received in a long time and it is great. 

Judy, that is nice of your pastor to be willing to share their notes.  I John able to back up his log files so that they can't be lost?  I have no idea what his program entails but most allow for some form of backup or if you keep the files locally on your computer you should be able to store them offline on a memory stick of in the cloud so they could be recalled if needed.  He would probably find taking a computer course helpful in terms of file management and other features.  It seems our government can never have enough money as they always want more taxes.

Larry Heather is going into the program to see where they have been gone.  She has a program called "Team Viewer" that she uses to help me on my puter and it works wonderfully.  That may be something you could look into to help family members.  I need to give Heather a Team Viewer password number each time she gets access to my computer.

John was up and out to help a friend early today.  Not sure when he will be back. It is about +3 out our kitchen window.  So glad for the moderated temperature.

Have a great day folks.

The neighborhood handy guy, Luis, is working on our bathroom ceiling.  Don is out for an early walk and I will go later after I get some cleaning finished here.  Luis is a happy, nice guy with a small family - from Juarez, Mex. and he gave me a DVD of the movie "Courageous" - a christian movie.  We have had some wonderful talks, especially this year. 

We are joining our little church here and will be charter members.  Only once before did we become charter members and that was in Texas - a wonderful time.  This little church is focused on "giving" and they support several issues including the food bank. There is a huge synod meeting we talked about going to then decided it would be impossible for Don to hear clearly so that was sadly taken off the calendar.  Hard to face facts sometimes.

Vote for the photo!  Stunning photography and kudos to all!

Larry:  This area of the country is much like Texas - lacking in quilt shops.  There are some dear ones to check out and Don brings a book. You would be surprised as to the large number of stores that are found on the internet that have closed.  Why don't they take down the site?   He loves his little iPad I graciously let him buy for his birthday - I suggested it and told him to order the one he wanted so that was an easy gift from me   

Oh, we met this pastor's wife for the first time yesterday - she retired so is able to attend here.  She is writing a book for children and we gave her a few ideas to jot down - I'll have to have them over for lunch when things settle down. 

Marilyn, would you put that recipe in our recipe area here?  Thanks, it sounds good, but I don't have time to copy it off now and will be hard to find later.

I am doing well on my Daniel Fast; certainly have had lots of opportunities to eat sweets, but wasn't really even very tempted.    Thank you, God!

Darrel has doctor appointments every day this week except Friday.  Sigh......

Larry, we had a heated mattress pad and loved it, but it doesn't fit this bed.  I got Darrel one for Christmas a couple years ago, and it didn't work; took it back and exchanged it, and that one didn't work either.  Guess we will have to find another one somewhere, as it would solve my problem, I know.

I need to run out and bring in the mail!

Hi, friends,

I'm sorry I've been outta sight for a couple of days. Now, down here in the South, if someone says an individual is "really outta sight" it has a meaning entirely different from being missing from a website. I imagine there have been numerous times in my life that someone slightly exasperated with me might have said I was "outta sight!"

I enjoyed the devotional, Pat. Thank you. Often I go back and reread the devotional postings long after we've been out of a particular week of discussions. They are so helpful. Many thanks to each of you who prepare and post those devotionals.

It was a very busy afternoon. Knowing it was raining and I had a doctor's appointment 20 miles away, I went out to my car about 2 hours early to start and complete my trip without rushing. Well, zzzzzztttttt zzzzzzzzttttttt - so I called AAA. It turned out my battery had gone bad. So a few $$$ later, I was able to go. Isn't it just like our Lord to prompt us to do something a bit unusual to protect us when we don't even know we need His protection! I made it to the doctor's appointment, and traffic was heavy enough, even though it was dark outside and raining, that I made it back home safely.

Doctor's instructions, among others were to begin getting to sleep earlier in the evening. Soooooo, big deep breath, we'll see if I can change my lifestyle by a couple or three hours.  

Otherwise, God is so good, and I have so very much to thank him for. Isn't it great we don't have to wait till we're face to face with him. We can tell him now, and he can know that not only on a heartfelt basis, but also in our minds, we love and adore our Lord.

Love to all,
Ruth Ann

Hi everyone.  We are seeing the sun this morning and we are to get up to 57 this afternoon.  I will go out to a meeting later this morning and then stay home the rest of the day.  I am suppose to get the Kindle Fire HD sometime today along with a cover for it.  I also got the new Robert Gates book that was released this morning.  I bought the e-book version and look forward to reading it.  So I will have plenty to keep me busy today.  I also need to watch the last episode of Downton Abbey and perhaps revisit the first episode of this season as didn't catch all the nuances.  I will watch it on my iPad as the color and sound will be great.   

Ruth Ann, I am sure I will probably never get the instruction to get to bed earlier by my doctor as if I went to bed much earlier I wouldn't have any evening hours left in the family room.  I just hate to drive after dark in the rain, which I had to do last evening.  It is hard to see the road. 

Janet, I feel for Darrel with those doctor appointments the next few days.  I have one tomorrow but that is all that is scheduled at the moment and that is just a followup to my hospitalization.  Too bad your heated mattress pad doesn't fit your new bed.  It is great and makes me wonder why I didn't try one much sooner since I always seem to be cold. 

Carol, Luis sounds like a nice person that loves his family.  We were charter members of a Methodist church when we came to Georgia the first time.  A neighbor was starting a new church in a mobile home and visited us.  We had no regular church as had just moved into the community so attended and stayed to help get the church started. I served on the Administrative Board and also sang in the choir and on occasion played the little electric organ the church had for services.  We moved away in a few years and became Presbyterian again, the church we had attended for the nine years we lived in Missouri.  One of the quilt shops that Pat really liked has now closed and I don't think there are many close by but expect Pat knows of a few somewhere.   When are you going to get an iPad?  You would love it.

Judy, I have used a free program called Log Me In that lets me access another computer.  It has been a long time since I have used it but used to use it between my laptop and desktop as well as access the computer my SIL had in Kansas City when she had Internet.  However, she had dial-up and it was too slow to be very effective.  I just made a note on my "do do list" to check out the Team Viewer as am always interested in new programs I am not aware of.   

Hi from the usual soggy Vancouver Island.

I just lost my post so am doing this in word and will put into the site.  Forgot that lost posts happen a lot!

Not sure if anyone even remember me as I mostly only come to read.   I do come to pray for folks tho' and am glad that you are better Larry.  Also that John came to visit Beth.  So sorry that she is having such severe problems.  Janet, Larry and I have ongoing worries about our daughters...

We had a lot of health problems over the holidays.  GD had pneumonia, I had bronchitis and a bladder infection, daughter was fighting a virus....but we had a nice Christmas Dinner anyway.  Hard to believe that we are in a whole new year again.  Filled with endless possibilities....tho' at age 81 mine are rather limited.

The kids are going to the USA for a few days and so I will be out feeding our flock of 'almost tame Quail, 15 or mores species of birds, cute sqirrels and a senior rabbit.  I do so love the Quail. 
I went to Victoria yest. with W & R and a neighbor and had a nice day.  Wendy had to get some baby clothes for GD' s friend and Sears had a huge sale.  Great buys and the clothes were so cute.  I got a nice pair of shoes at Walk in Comfort shoes and my feet will be happy.  25% off made my wallet happy too.....

Wish I knew how to help Wendy's friend.  She is finding it hard since her husband died so suddenly.....they were each others world.  Such a lovely woman and determined to press on...I am going to give her the Seniors & Friends site address as she has some computer problems that they can answer better than me.  Hoping she will check out other stuff as it is such a good site and may be of help.  I know she is checking out churches and we talked a little about that.....It is my belief that gentle suggestions are best and less can be more.  Her name is Betty, so if anyone else would like to pray for her, that would be lovely.

Wendy is ill today and I am going to cook dinner.  I am not a gourmet cook like her, so wish me luck.  Like Marilyn's recipe but do not have a Crock Pot, so pork chops will have to do.  That and good old reliable Apple Betty for desert.  This gives me an excuse to eat something other than gluten free stuff!

Take care all and know that this site is a big help to many of us.
God Bless,
Liz

Luis came again this morning and textured the ceiling and he will come back tomorrow to paint.  Everything has to dry in steps. 

Hi Liz!  It is soggy where you live - that is why it is so green and beautiful and of course you know it already.  Glad you are all healthy once again. 

Larry:  Nice that you are out of hospital and feeling better.  I am so blessed - having both an iPad (gift from family) and a older model but perfect for me iPod.  This way I can download both ebooks and audio books. 

We are going to walk through tents of artists today in Scottsdale.  Of course, their prices are through the roof but we went last year and the artists are very congenial  - they are working at the same time but do come and chat with anyone.  Very interesting.  Meeting our friends - she has Parkinson's Disease and is much better than last year.  I am only passing that along because if you know anyone who has recently been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease - there is so much help and research that it is uplifting to hear. 

Quail is out here too.  Our area is called Quail Run.  Dreadful to photograph though. 

Liz, great to see a post from you.  Right now Northern New York is soggy, too.      Sorry you've had health problems in your family lately.  It's always harder when they happen during the holidays.  I'll be watching on Seniors and Friends for Wendy's friend Betty.  I hope she'll be able to get the computer answers she needs.

We had a good workout this morning.  Tomorrow we go to Garden for Darrel's stress tests--both the chemical and the treadmill, and I have a bone density test, too.  Doctors, doctors!  Whew!

Liz!  How nice to have a post from you!  I think of you often and wonder how you and yours are doing.  Sorry you were ill but glad you're better now.

I am doing well on my eating plan, down a few pounds, even though the focus is getting closer to God. 

I need to do my nails, they are looking pretty sad.

See you manana!

Hi everyone.  I got up a little early this morning as woke up and couldn't go back to sleep.  I hope to get a lot done today.  I have a doctor's appointment before noon and this afternoon our new range is to be delivered.  I also want to work more on the Kindle HD Fire that I got yesterday.  I think I have most of it set up and now it is a matter of trying to write some helpful information for my SIL to help her use it.  The display is really nice and sharp.  So I will have plenty to do on this beautiful sunny day. Stacey finally agreed yesterday to having oxygen for use in the mornings.  The nurse found her oxygen level was about 92 and blood pressure 74 over 50 something.  Sure glad the nurse is coming to visit her.   

Liz, of course I remember you and it is good to see your posting and your prayers are most appreciated.  I am feeling much better and more like my old self.  I noticed yesterday I wasn't having ot huff and puff just to take a few steps and that my steps were a little longer.  Our daughters can certainly be of concern when they have serious health problems.  Hope you and your loved ones are feeling better and over some of those holiday problems.  In Al-Anon we believe in attraction rather than promotion and I think that works well in many situations.  People don't like to be pushed to do things.  I bet your dinner turned out well. 

Carol, I had forgotten whether you had an iPad or not.  Do you download ebooks and audiobooks from your library?  Both Pat and I and it works very well.  Glad your friend with Parkinson's Disease is better. 

Jeanne, thank you for all the work you do here on CP for us.  I know I appreciate it everyday but seldom remember to express my appreciation. 

Janet, I wonder why both of the stress tests?  Glad your eating plan is doing what you wanted it to do. 

Larry, no thanks necessary.  I do very little here, mostly just keep watch that no one has problems with the site.  And it's really a "labor of love" - although not exactly a labor.   

We had a pretty long day today.  Left home about 7:30 and got home around 4:30.  Darrel's tests turned out good.  His doctor had already looked things over, called and left a message on the phone before we even got home.  I had the bone density test, don't know when I will get those results, but haven't   been having any problems, they just thought I should have that done.

Larry, I don't know why both tests for Darrel...but it turned out he didn't have the treadmill test.  The doctor gave him a shot to stress his heart instead.  Then sent him back in for more pictures of the heart, both lying on his stomach and on his back.  I don't understand it, but guess he knows what he's doing.

During the break between the first tests and the second, we met our grandson Curtis for lunch.  Well, for his lunch, anyway.    Darrel was to eat lightly, and since Curtis wanted to go to Freddy's, they didn't have anything I could eat.  But we had a nice visit with him, anyway.  We also went to Sam's and to Walmart and got some things, including a nice electric blanket.  Since both the heated mattress pads we got never even worked for one night, we decided to just buy a blanket instead.  I'm happy we got that, because I thought I would never get warm last night!  I should have gotten in the hot tub for a while, but I didn't want to go get wet! 

And the wind is to blow hard even by Kansas standards tomorrow---ugh. 

Other than that, everything is great!!

Hi everyone.  It is only a little after 8pm but have retired for the night.  I ad the busiest day I have had in a long, long time.  Went coffee at McDonalds and then went into Krogers for medicine and a couple more item.  I came hone for a few minutes and then went to Kaiser for a follow-up visit.  My doctor looked at my big toes but said unless you were diabetic Kaiser wouldn't refer to their podiatrist and he got some tool and was going to trim my big toe nails that have been very sore for months.  However, after trying to work on one foot he decided I really should see the podiatrist so gave me referral.  I then had to get a blood test and pick up a prescription.  This involved a lot of walking in the long hall.  By the time I got to the car I was really tired.  It was already afternoon and i needed to stop at Walmart to pick up something we had ordered.  I ate lunch across the street at the Chick-fil-a and then went Walmart and got a place to park in a handicapped space and right in front of the car was an electric cart so I didn't have to walk at all in Walmart.  It was 2:30 when I got home and laid done.  Our new stove was delivered while I was gone.  Pat has been reading the instruction book.  We did go out to dinner tonight as were both tired.

Janet, the last stress test I had sounds like what Darrel had.  Glad he got favorable results.  Hope you sleep warm tonight.  I am trying out my new thermal microfiber blanket tonight.

Jeanne, don't sell yourself short as it is the work of several folks who keep these sights running smoothly and each person plays a role big or small.

Larry what a day you had!  Glad that you had the electric cart.

I was in town today and decided to take this picture....A message we all need!

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I had to take the left over crayons that I had here to a young lady who is in an art program at college. She will be melting greens and browns to create a picture.  I am looking forward to seeing it!

John is in MN tonight, delivery is tomorrow morning and then reload in the afternoon.  He really wishes it was back to back.  He will go and sit at the shippers in the hope that they can load him early.

I am late going to bed so night all, may God bless you with sweet rest.

Hi everyone .  It is early and I know I posted late last evening but just wanted to get the day started by visiting the message boards as have some other projects I want to work on today, including the Kindle Fire.  My major activity will be the ROMEO's lunch at Steak and Shake and to have a much quieter day than yesterday.

Judy, what does "back to back" mean?  Will he be returning to Canada with the new load?

Back to back means no or little waiting time between loads. He will be back in country tomorrow.

Liz I meant to say Hello to you as well last night

Just heard a message on the radio.  It was summed up with these words, "When you wake up in the morning, stretch, that gets the body moving.  Smile that gets the attitude moving in the right direction.  Thank God for the day and that gets the spirit moving in the right direction."  How much those words touched me this morning!

Have a great day!

If any of you ever wanted to see tumbleweeds, this was the day to be in SW Kansas!!  We had wind gusts to 80 mph, and those things were going north, then south, then east!  Phew!  I went to town to get on the senior bus to go to the concert in Garden City, only to be told we weren't going.  The highway was closed between Lakin and Garden because of the blowing dust.  I didn't mind not going, at all.  They said we may go tomorrow night to Liberal to see the same concert.  The tumbleweeds were blowing so bad today, it appeared the ground was moving! 

Larry, glad that cart was handy for you.  Please take it easy, okay?

I made another big pot of vegetable soup today, and it is SOO good!  I saute the vegetable a bit in the skillet before putting them in the big pan and adding the liquids; that seems to really enhance and blend the flavors.

I appreciate each one who keeps this board running smoothly.  I enjoy visiting with everyone here!

We had a little bit of a visit with one cousin by meeting her & husband at a mall - she brought along her cousin  I had never met and because of that - we couldn't really visit and now it looks like the entire month of February is full of their friends coming from Minnesota for days or weeks at a time    They were both complaining of company just calling and saying they would be visiting  and this hapens every year but I am afraid my cousin is a doormat - she is so upset but she and her husband will never say anything.  They are sometimes exhausted. 

Larry:  Love my iPad and iPod and yes, I download from libraries and still go to the libraries and load up with books intending to read all.  But - I need to sit down and piece a 60 X 80 quilt top for the church group and we will tie it whenever I finish.  They told me I have three years to finish - they are so funny.  So glad that Stacey has such good and personal care now with the nurse visiting. 

Janet:  Our daughter tells us it has been high winds for the last six days so more tumblweeds are on the way - sorry.  Sometimes it gets crazy to drive when tumbleweeds cover the freeways.  When we lived off the Air Force base in Wyoming, I used to go out the back door around to the front and clear the front door of a pile of tumbleweeds almost daily.   

Talked with cousin Dennis tonight as he has been in hospital for a night and running heart tests.  They changed some medicine and now I am going to look up his condition.  The doctor told him his heart is getting old.  He did play golf today. 

JudyB:  Nice message.

Hi everyone.  I have a few minutes until time to pick up my next door neighbor and head to coffee at the Senior Center.  My plan is to take things much easier today as yesterday became another very busy day. 

Our son texted us and then called last night to let us know our DIL was back in the hospital.  She had a series of seizures, one while the triage nurse was working with her at the ER.  They found her hemoglobin was 6 and it should have been 12.  They admitted her to the hospital and gave her blood last night. 

The following are very interesting and worthwhile spending a few minutes watching or reading.
http://m.activebeat.com/diet-nutrition/the-top-10-signs-of-dehydration/ and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSJH21WmALc on fire safety info on 9 volt batteries. 

Janet, I can relate to your cousin's comment about his heart getting old.  This seems to be happening to me more quickly each year. 

Certainly sorry to read of the new woes that Etta Sue experienced with her eye and hope it will improve on her own.  The three years on the quilt would probably be appreciated by Pat as she has had to work a little on her two identical quilts and then get away for awhile. 

Janet, sounds like it was a good thing you didn't try to go to the play as the bus might have been turned over in that wind or attacked by tumbleweeds. 

Judy, thanks for the info on "back-to-back".  However, I guess this leaves little time for rest. 

Larry John takes time to rest.  He has decided to act his age not  act like a 30 something.  On Electronic logs he cannot run over his time without the computer notifying him.  It is amazing what computer can do these days!.  He takes 10 hours off and 1/2 hour during the day every day.  If he knows he has a late pick up he will delay his AM start.  I can count on him being stopped for the night at 9 or 10 every night.  Also he is adamant that he will not break the log rules.......

Meant to tell you on Wednesday night on the way home down the highway I saw 2 moose cross in front of me.  They are massive animals, and beautiful to see. 

I am falling asleep on my keyboard.  Been awake since 3 AM, got up at 4.  Yawn....  Need a nap so I can stay awake at the concert; we are going to Liberal tonight, same group that were in Garden last night.

Today is lovely, wind only about 15 mph, almost still, compared to yesterday!  And Carol, we don't need any more tumbleweeds!!  The ditches and all the shelter belt trees are full, and at the edge of town they are piled to the rooftops!

What's happening with Etta Sue?  I don't go to facebook much, as it's such a time waster.  But if no one here tells me, I guess I will go there and look her up.

Larry, when are Pat and Paul due there?  Give Pat a hug for me!

I think I'd be wise to take a little nap, we leave at 4:30.