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Welcome to our weekly topic entitled, "Thoughts for the Week"!


Each week we start a new topic which begins with a short devotional and/or a hymn and then we share all week with other, our comings and goings in our daily life.

If you wish to share a scripture verse, tell us about an outing that was special, talk about your problems with your car, or whatever it might be, please feel free to join us.

This week's devotional is entitled, "How Great a Sinner are You?" by Jack Scott

See you in the coming week!

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

Morning Devotional...

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

Thank you Pat  This is a great reminder.

Pat, thank you for posting Jack's great message this morning.  It is timeless and rich  with God's Grace.  I wish I had a Book of his writing/sermons.

Too many churches today are what John described in Rev 3, of the Laodecian (sp) church: they are lukewarm.  And because of that many people think it is enough just to attend Church once in awhile.

Thanks again....Janice

Pat, thank you for that great devotional.  Jack certainly left a wonderful heritage for us all with his writings.  I am so glad you were able to keep them so that you can continue to share them with us. 

Hi everyone.  It is an overcast and chilly morning here and is raining in Atlanta and will be here this afternoon and evening.  The housekeepers are here at the moment so will soon have a nice clean house.  I just have my normal Monday men's luncheon and then a meeting this evening.  The physical therapist will be here sometime today for Pat.  She is to show Pat some tips on getting in and out of the car so if she comes when I would be gone for lunch I will skip the lunch today.

Jeanne, I seldom see women wearing scarves on their heads anymore.  My mother used to wear one.  Apparently Queen Elizabeth does on occasion such as horseback riding.

Pat, thanks for the devotional thoughts for this week and sharing Jack's thoughtful writing.

Janice, I fear you are right about churches in this day and age. 

Thanks, Pat!  Reading that was worth the spooky, yucky, spider-webby trip through the gloomy cellar and tunnel to get here!    But I would like to know if the man to whom Jack was witnessing accepted the Lord?  I was very strongly reminded in reading that, of my last visit with a dear lady I knew for many years, whom I visited just before we left on our last trip outside the country.  I was very concerned that she hadn't accepted the Lord, and no matter what I said, she came back with, "Now, Jan.  I'm a good person; I've never done anything really bad.  God wouldn't send me to hell!"  I explained that the ONLY way to heaven is through the shed blood of Jesus, but she always came back to, "Now, you know God wouldn't send me to hell!  I'm a GOOD person!"  I left with a dark foreboding feeling, and when we got home, Arline was dead and buried.  I still grieve over that, but pray she thought about my witness and did accept Jesus before she died.  Sigh.....

Looks to be a nice day shaping up here.  We went to the gym, and Kristi really worked me!  Arms today---really showed me how much strength I have lost in my arms.  I told someone I felt like I was on "The Biggest Loser!"  Darrel did other things, not so strenuous, but at least he did something!

Marilyn, I forgot to mention your little cutie of a g-granddaughter.  God doesn't make mistakes, every baby He creates comes with His purpose.  May she have a happy and fulfilling life and accomplish great things for God. Congratulations.

Time to get out of my gym clothes!

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Quote from: Janet on March 11, 2013, 11:40:27 AM
Thanks, Pat!  Reading that was worth the spooky, yucky, spider-webby trip through the gloomy cellar and tunnel to get here!    But I would like to know if the man to whom Jack was witnessing accepted the Lord?

Alas, we will only know in eternity, Janet.  We never knew if he this man repented of his sins and accepted Christ or not.

Glad you liked the "journey" through the basement to get here!   

Quote from: Janice on March 11, 2013, 09:38:58 AM
Pat, thank you for posting Jack's great message this morning.  It is timeless and rich  with God's Grace.  I wish I had a Book of his writing/sermons.

Too many churches today are what John described in Rev 3, of the Laodecian (sp) church: they are lukewarm.  And because of that many people think it is enough just to attend Church once in awhile.

Thanks again....Janice

Janice, this is just so very, very true.  So many previously scriptural churches are now nothing more than entertainment centres for shallow believers.

Senior Saints enjoyed a great meal at Mayberry Cafe in Danville, Indiana, yesterday after Sunday School.  And yes, Mayberry Cafe's theme is Mayberry, RFD.  Even the police car was sitting at the curb.  Inside was videos of the show playing, the theme song...remember the whistling?...and many photos of the cast on the walls.  The menu was Aunt Bee's Fried Chicken, Barney's Barbeque Ribs and Otis's Stew.  I had a ham steak with a baked potato....super good and brought home two pieces of Coconut Cream Pie for Ivalou and I.  You can read about Mayberry Cafe by clicking on it.

Today it is gloomy, rainy and dark.  Sure makes me appreciate the temps yesterday that allowed me to be outside in shirt sleeves!! 

Thank you, Pat, for that wonderful reminder.   

Etta Sue, as a long time fan of Andy Griffith and his shows, I would love to visit the Mayberry Cafe.  I will at least visit the link you provided.  You certainly do get out for dinner a lot.  That's one of my favorite ways to visit with friends too.

The weather here yesterday, though somewhat drizzly and wet, was quite mild.  Today the weathernetwork indicates that we will get a mix of rain and freezing rain, so the boots will definitely be back on these feet!  It was nice not having to wear them yesterday.

This is a beautiful morning.   Oh, I know it's dark and raining and blowing and the temperature will be falling rather than rising during the day.  But this is exactly what the Lord wants for this area today, so it's beautiful!

I enjoyed the POTY in the sidebar again this morning - for the multi-thousandth time.  And I thought, "Is that how God sees me sometimes?"  How often to I think "Oh, I don't want to go grocery shopping.  I'd much rather just stay in the house."  And then I'm reminded how blessed I am to have the health to go shopping, the convenience of a local grocery store, the money to pay for my purchases, and a warm, dry, comfortable home to bring those groceries back to.

Hi everyone.  After a very rainy evening and night the sun is out and it has cooled off a lot.    In about an hour I will leave to go to the church to attend the funeral of the oldest member of our church.  I think I talked about this a few days ago when she passed.  That is all that I have on the schedule for today.  I was able to sleep in the morning, which I really enjoyed.  Pat is getting her hair washed this morning.  The physical therapist explained how she can stand at the sink with her hip in the proper position.  Mary was a beautifican for many years, although had to give it up many years ago as the hair spray was ruining her lungs.  She is helping her with it.  They have been using the dry shampoo on it, which works but isn't the same as actual water and shampoo.  It has been interesting to watch the improvement on an almost daily basis as Pat improves in her healing.  She is still a few days away from being able to go to the cane rather than the walker.

Janet, we can never know what is in a person's heart and our work is to spread the message but it is God who has the harvest, as I know you know.  Glad you were able to get to the gym yesterday. 

Etta Sue, what a cleaver idea to have the Mayberry Cafe.  I wonder if the Andy Griffith estate benefits in anyway from them using that theme.

Bonnie, stay safe today on that freezing rain.  The Mayberry Cafe does sound like an interesting place to visit and perhaps will someday become a tourist attraction. 

Jeanne, you sure have the right attitude about the weather and about all the gifts God has given us at whatever stage in our lives.  We need the rainy and cold days as well as the sunny warm ones.   

Yes, Jeanne and Larry--if it weren't for the gloomy days, how would we know and appreciate the sunny ones?  (I'm thinking in both natural weather and in life!)

We have been to the gym and did circuits of three minutes each on multiple machines....a really good workout.  Kristi told us if we are going to the heath fair on Saturday to have blood drawn, not to come to the gym on Friday, and to "drink water, drink water, drink water!"

Now I am home, have showered and eaten breakfast, and that's the morning!

I am reading The Damascas Countdown by Joel Rosenberg.  What a great writer, and how close to the actual coming events will this story be?  I think really close.  Have you read this one, Larry?  I ordered it for the Kindle.

Looks to be another nice day here.  They are predicting temps in the low 80s here for Friday, then down to 47 on Saturday!  If you don't like our weather, just wait 30 minutes, it will change!  That's what people here tell new-comers. 

May God bless each of you with untold blessings from His unending store today!

Yesterday Ivalou was going to her class lunch at Applebee's today and I was to take her.  She called this morning at 9am saying that she woke up last night at 2am hurting.  Her whole right side was hurting.  She stayed in bed but barely slept.  She got up at 8am.  Went to take her morning meds and her night meds were still in the container.  Pain pills.  That's why she was hurting.  But she didn't feel like going to lunch today. 

I was going to take Ivalou to her lunch and then go to the pool this afternoon but I checked the clock and decided I could go this morning and get it over with.  I did and then ate lunch at La Casada.  Good meal.

Now I have the trash gathered but will wait and take it out after the mailman runs...kill two birds with one stone.

It is cooler today...was at the freezing point when I left this morning.  Now it is sunny and a few degrees warmer.  The sun makes it feel warmer anyway!

Etta Sue I have forgotten my meds at night as well.  You sure do pay for it the next day. 

We had rain a lot of yesterday, were supposed to have snow today, however I do believe the winds last night blew the snow away! At least that's my story..........

Heather is still struggling with her head aches.....

I've posted a couple of photos showing how much things have changed in only 4 days.  HERE

I've seen the pictures, wow what a great comparison!

We have had no rain today the temperature has dropped, giving us a break from the run off.  This is what we hope for.

Have a wonderful evening folks!

Bonnie Shared this on Facebook.  Enjoy!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9Sr6VRtW4A  Share this with your friends, the message is quite powerful!

I was reading on the internet and found this very good few paragraphs by Paul Washer who I've grown to appreciate more and more and thought I'd share it with you all...


From Paul Washer...

"You see, God takes sin that seriously. But, then, again, I am just a raving fanatic, aren't I? Be careful. Be very careful. I might be. But then again, I might not be.

I love you, because you are the people of God and God loves you, but God will not tolerate. Don't you think he will. He will not tolerate idolatry or sin or worldliness. He wants to make your life a dance. He wants to fill you with joy. But you can't play. You can't. He is God.

Tonight think about that. Tonight in the dorms think about it with other Christians. Ask yourself. Is this man mad? There is one way of knowing. Read the entire Bible and if I say something that no one else has said, then I am mad. But if you can find the same thing I am saying all the way out through the entire Bible, then maybe I ought to be listened to.

You see, authority does not come from special anointings and it does not come from callings. If I had incorrectly preached the Word of God tonight then you are not bound by anything I say. But if what I say can be found in the Word of God you are bound by every Word and on the day of judgment you will be held responsible for every word that has proceeded out of this mouth.

Now I am going to leave you alone to God knowing that you love me, but you were born in a generation that did not know Moses, did not know Joshua, did not know the Puritans, did not know Spurgeon and do not know godliness. You grew up in a generation of church grown experts and CEOs and big churches that cost millions of dollars to build.

But it is still your fault if you don't repent and seek out the ways of the Lord."

~Paul Washer,The Holiness of God

What a morning so far.  A friend called on the phone and while talking it was snowing so hard, it was like a blizzard.  I couldn't much see farther than the road in front of my house.  Right now it is sunny and not snowing.  It even looks warm out but it is 27°. 

I am to take Ivalou for a massage this afternoon and I think I am going to get a pedicure instead of waiting an hour for her to be done. 

Then we will find somewhere to eat a bite and since we didn't go yesterday she needs her meds from CVS. 

Tonight is Wednesday Night Live Bible study on Matthew.  'Learning to Love Jesus Christ...Again.'

Thank you, Judy, for the Paul Washer post, as well as for posting the youtube video.  Very inspiring and powerful!!

Last night was my first time working evenings since my concussion.  Though I truly enjoyed visiting the two clients I was assigned, the car lights, traffic noises, and various fans, conversations, etc on the buses were too much for my head and my eyes.  I have had some success with wearing sunglasses while reading and/or using the computer, and wonder if I should carry them for wearing on the bus at night.

Etta Sue, you have inspired me to open the Book of Matthew today. 

I hope each and every one of you folks here at CP have a blessed day.

Hi everyone.  It is a nice sunny and warming outside as of noon.  I was gone all morning as went to Bible study from coffee and then over to Dunkin' Donuts to visit with my good friend Bob (and other friends) for about an hour.  Bob is the man who has prostate cancer that has now spread into his bones.  He has heard this week that he has the approvals necessary to try another procedure to control the cancer and is seeing the doctor this afternoon.  Pat hasn't had a good day so far as about 4:30 this morning she got back in bed and heard a snap and felt severe pain in her hip.  She just knew something bad had happened to her replaced hip.  We immediately put ice on it and she was able to get up and walk OK before long.  She took a pain pill and was able to sleep for at least three hours more but apparently she hasn't felt very good this morning.  The physical therapist will be here later this afternoon and I am hopeful she can help Pat understand what happened.  We go see the surgeon tomorrow so she will have the chance to get further feedback. 

Janet, I have not read that Rosenberg book but it sounds interesting.  I agree that he is a good writer, along with Vince Flynn.

Etta Sue, Ivalou isn't the only one who failed to take their morning medicine yesterday.  I wondered in the afternoon why I was feeling mild pain in my arm and now know.  I am such a person of routine that if I deviate then I occasionally forget.  Do hope Ivalou is feeling much better today.

Judy, hope your theory of the snow blowing away yesterday worked.

Judy and Bonnie, our Bible study this morning was based on Jesus on the day he was arrested and the actions of his disciples in not being able to stay awake and what all of this means.  It was a very interesting discussion and thought provoking.

Thanks so much, Judy, for giving us the quote from Paul Washer.  I have about 400 of his sermons on my computer that I've listened to over the years and I never get tired listening to him.

Paul and I were honoured to be able to spend a whole weekend with Paul Washer here in the Guelph area at the Faith Mission Spring Conference a couple of years ago and what a "banquet" of spiritual food we enjoyed with him!

Bonnie, I'm sorry that you've had such a terrible time.  These injuries are so awful. 

Thank you Pat.  I am trusting that the Lord will heal me...in His time.

Thank you Larry.

I do hope any visitors on here today take the time to watch the video Judy has posted a link for.
 

"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men,
the man Christ Jesus"

1 Tim. 2:5



For there is one God and one mediator
Between God and man,
For there is one God and one mediator,
the man Christ Jesus.
Who gave himself a ransom for us all,
Who gave himself a ransom for us all,
Who gave himself a ransom for us all,
O what a wonderful Saviour!
For there is one God and one mediator
Between God and man,
For there is one God and one mediator,
the man Christ Jesus.



Here's the tune:  CLICK HERE

Pat you had better get the music for that chorus.......

Bonnie I suggest you slip your sunglasses into your bag and have them with you in-case you need them.  Heather is still struggling, and spent most of yesterday in bed. Don't over do it you could be back where you started if you push too hard..

Larry I usually remember I have forgotten my meds as I drift off to sleep and don't want to get up as that will break my sleep.   

We have snow today.  The roof is covered with snow, the creek is high, spring IS on its way, even though it is snowing.

Have a great day everyone.