Daily Devotional; formerly Chaplains Corner

[jack404]

Amen

[pipeman525]

Thanks guys. I'm sure with all the people praying for this, here and at church, the kid will get the message and do what God wants. I can only hope the Lord puts someone in her path that she cannot avoid that will guide her to the right path. I implore all you parents that have kids still living at home to give them an extra hug tonight.

[ampaterry]

Did you ever hear the story about the city boy who moved to a farm and bought a cow? In no time at all, the city boys cow went dry. When he was talking to one of his neighbors about this, the neighboring farmer expressed surprise, as he was familiar with the cow, and she had come from a line of fine milk cows.
The city man said he was surprised too.
"I can't understand it either, for if ever a person was considerate of an animal, I was of that cow. I fed here well, I provided good shelter for her, I always made sure she had good fresh water available. When it came to milking, I treated her much better than others! If I didn't need any milk, I didn't milk her. If I only needed a quart, I only took a quart."
The farmer tried to explain that the only way to keep milk flowing is not to take as little as possible from the cow, but to take as much as possible.

That’s the way it is in the Christian life, too. Those who only turn to God in need miss the real joy that flows from a daily infilling of His Spirit.

First Thessalonians 5:16-19 (KJV);
Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit.

That means we don’t commune with God as little as possible, but as much as possible! We are to talk to Him about everything; we are to give thanks for everything; We are here told that is his will; and we are never to ‘put it off’ because it is not convenient, or acceptable at the moment, nor are we to ever be reluctant to 'bother' God with what we consider to be trivial. That is quenching the spirit.

He is waiting to talk to you – don’t disappoint Him.

[pipeman525]

Amen Terry. If there is one thing this whole mess is teaching me it's that we need all the " milk " he is so willing to give.

[sub-moa]

Amen.....
pipeman525 - I will remember all of you in my prayers. First I want to say I realize I don't know you or your daughter your ex. or the young man or any of the circumstances that brought your family to this point, but... I have some food for thought. You obviously love your daughter very much and her best interest and happiness is all you want. The fact that you love her so much is the reason it is hurting so much. She is very young and perhaps she might never admit it but she is scared and she ran away because she thought she had to. I’m not pointing fingers at you or the young man or anyone else. But right now she needs to know that your love for her is unconditional and that no matter what, she always has a place with her dad if she chooses. Same goes for your ex. Tell her what she did yesterday does not dictate what she does tomorrow. There are 5 years between my wife and I as well, I was 24 and she was 19 when we got married. I know her parents weren’t thrilled about that either. And we had our first daughter 10 mos. later. We had our ups and downs over the years as well as two more children, and we have been married 31 years now. I guess we’ll try to stick it out…LOL !

[ampaterry]

I joined the United States Air Force on October 1st of 1961. In my minds eye, I saw the Navy moving around in ships, the Army marching on the ground, and the Air Force as flying around in military aircraft. The reality set in when I flew on a commercial craft to Texas for basic training, then five weeks later was sent by train to Colorado for advanced training. In my entire time in the service, I was in an Air Force plane only one time, and it was a cargo plane that was not pressurized, so it had to fly around the mountains rather than over them to keep from killing those of us in the cargo area. I drove deuce and a half trucks, flatbeds, weapons carriers, and marched many miles, but never did fly up in the clouds in a military craft. I traveled from assignment to assignment in trains, buses, and other commercial transport. And that is pretty common. The defense forces of this country depend on civilian transportation for everything from troop movements to supply deliveries. That realization is why, in 1957, congress set aside the third Friday in May, today, as National Defense Transportation Day.

Scripture speaks of the needed supplies for an armed force:
1 Kings 4:26-28 (KJV);
And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen. And those officers provided victual for king Solomon, and for all that came unto king Solomon's table, every man in his month: they lacked nothing. Barley also and straw for the horses and dromedaries brought they unto the place where the officers were, every man according to his charge.

Let us, on this day, remember in our prayers all that work in any part of the transportation industry. Let us be grateful for the 'knights of the road', the truckers like my friend Sam. Let us thank the commercial pilots, the bus drivers, the cabbies, and the guy that sweeps the floor in the subway. Every one, from the most glorious position to the most humble, is a vital part of the network that makes our national defense possible. The best trained men and the latest technological equipment are worthless unless they are in the right place at the right time, and are continually furnished with the food, clothing and supplies which they require to do their job.

[pipeman525]

Terry I hope your friend Sam is in North Dakota making the great money the truckers are being paid in the oil fields. They are making $80,000 a year up there.

[ampaterry]

He is opting to spend more time with his family right now -

Today is another special day - Armed Forces Day! This is a day on which we should especially think about, thank and pray for all the members of our armed forces. American History teaches us about all the freedoms that were put into place for the citizens of this nation of ours. The constitution is the law of our land, and guarantees those freedoms.

But if you look at it objectively, the constitution is words written on paper, and has no power to guarantee anything to anyone. High sounding words, true, but just words. No proclamation of any kind has the power to guarantee anything without some force to back it up.

The deed to your home and the title to your car are both meaningless without the Judiciary system to certify your ownership of both against those that would claim they are really theirs.

But even the certification of the Judiciary means nothing without some force of arms to ensure that this certification is honored. Domestically, this force of arms consists of the various police agencies. Protection of your ownership from those outside of our nation is the purview of the Armed Forces. Every single freedom which we enjoy is only there because of the past and present work of men and women willing to leave their daily lives behind, take up arms, and fight those that would take our freedoms from us. Everything we own, everything we do, everything we love would be at risk without these fine young people standing between us and the forces of evil that run rampant around the world.

Does that mean that you and I, all those that are civilians, can kick back, throw up our feet, and let God handle all those troubles by using the tools of our armed forces?

No.

We have our own duty to perform:
Deuteronomy 23:9 (KJV);
When the host goeth forth against thine enemies, then keep thee from every wicked thing.

The armies alone cannot secure our blessings; each one of us is required to strive for righteousness within themselves, for only then will God continue to bless us as he has done thus far.

[pipeman525]

Amen Terry. Let's not forget the wives and families of those in uniform either. I am taking my friend's wife to the airport today and while she knows what continent he is deployed on she does not know exactly where he is and she is going to a family reunion alone. He is in Air Force intelligence and works with the drones. I know I sleep better at night knowing he and the people he works with have an eye in the sky.

[ampaterry]

Excellent point, Pipeman -

The final line of a Milton poem applies quite well to the families here while the military man is over there:

"They also serve who only stand and wait."

[pipeman525]

Terry your knowledge never ceases to amaze me. I can only pray that one day my travels lead me to your neck of the woods.

[ampaterry]

It would be cool to meet you, Pipeman -

[ampaterry]

Today, Israel celebrates Yom Yerushalayim, or Jerusalem Day. In order to understand this day, some history is required.

The UN set the borders of Israel in 1947. Although these formed a very small area, Israel accepted them. The Arab states did not. When Israel declared it's independence in 1948, the surrounding Arab states attacked in less than 24 hours. They captured Jerusalem, and during the rest of this war, Israel was unable to capture the entire city, but had gained ground on other borders when a cease fire was called, and all borders remained as they were, with Jordan occupying the Old City and East Jerusalem. During the following years, Jordan destroyed half of the synagogues, and demolished a Jewish cemetery on the Mount of Olives so they could use the tombstones as paving stones. In 1967 Israel, ever the peacemakers, sent a message to King Hussein of Jordan telling him there would be no hostilities toward his occupied area of Jerusalem or the West Bank as long as the other fronts remained quiet. Jordan responded by shelling civilian locations within Israel, and on June 6th Israel started fighting. On June 7th, they recaptured all of Jerusalem. On June 11th, the six-day war ended with Israel once again having gained ground, including all of Jerusalem. The hopeful toast of “Next year, in Jerusalem!” had become reality, and Jerusalem Day was in 1968 proclaimed on the day the city was re-united. It was made a National Holiday in 1998.

Should we be surprised that Jerusalem was re-united?

Scripture tells us:
Psalms 122:3 (KJV); Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together:

Once in a while, the English of 1611 (actually 1560!) leaves a bit of doubt concerning the meaning. Let us look at a couple of more modern translations to clarify what the KJV means by “compact”:

Psalms 122:3 (GW); Jerusalem is built to be a city where the people are united.

Psalms 122:3 (NLT); Jerusalem is a well-built city, knit together as a single unit.

GIIC, folks: God Is In Control.

[jack404]

Amen

[pipeman525]

Amen Terry. Looking forward to the solar eclipse this afternoon. Las Vegas is one of the good viewing areas. I'll be putting my #11 glass in my welding hood for this one.

[Krogen]

GIIC: God is in control

Good one Terry! Should be a bumper sticker don't you think?

I recall the bumper stickers that say "God is my co-pilot." To which I say to myself: Nope.... God is my PILOT!

[pipeman525]

Originally Posted by Krogen

GIIC: God is in control

Good one Terry! Should be a bumper sticker don't you think?

I recall the bumper stickers that say "God is my co-pilot." To which I say to myself: Nope.... God is my PILOT!

Krogen I fully agree. Go to this link on my website and click on the Mustang video. I'm the guy in the back and I think you'll recognize the title

http://www.gunstuff4you.com/page/190

[ampaterry]

Thank you, guys!!

An anonymous friar in a Nebraska monastery wrote the following when he had grown older:
“If I had my life to live over again, I'd try to make more mistakes next time. I would relax, I would limber up, I would be sillier than I have been this trip. I would take more trips. I would be crazier. I would climb more mountains, swim more rivers, and watch more sunsets. I would eat more ice cream and less beans. If I had to do it over again I would go places, do things, and travel lighter. If I had my life to live over I would start barefooted earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would ride on more merry-go-rounds. I'd pick more daisies."

I believe this friar had a good handle on the simple fact that we are not to be TOO serious in this life. We are not to go around with long faces, afraid to smile because Christians are to be sober.

I sat under a pastor in Illinois that had it right. He stepped into the pulpit, looked around over the congregation before him, and said "We are Christians! As Christians, we are preserved! Looking over these pews, I have to tell you that most of you look pickled!"

In the Old Testament we find thirteen Hebrew roots, found in twenty-seven different words, which are used primarily for some aspect of joy or joyful participation in religious worship!

Psalm 5:11-12 (KJV);
“But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.”

On several occasions since I have been saved, I have had someone address me in the middle of some joke or frivolity which I am enjoying very much and say “A Christian should not be carrying on like that!”
My response has always been “Jesus saved me, he didn't kill me!"

We are to be serious in our faith, but we are to be joyful in it as well, as we are in every aspect of our lives.

May God bless each one of you, and as Krogan says, keep Him in the PILOT'S seat, not the other one - -

[BlackEagle]

A friend of mine said that God doesn't look down on us from the balcony of heaven, point a long bony finger at us and say "YOU!! Are you having fun?? Cut it out!!"

Psalm 100 says to Serve Him with mirth. I like that.

I'm convinced He has a sense of humor. He created the duck billed platypus, and the kookaburra has one of the most infectious laughs I have heard.

[ampaterry]

Originally Posted by BlackEagle

A friend of mine said that God doesn't look down on us from the balcony of heaven, point a long bony finger at us and say "YOU!! Are you having fun?? Cut it out!!"

Psalm 100 says to Serve Him with mirth. I like that.

I'm convinced He has a sense of humor. He created the duck billed platypus, and the kookaburra has one of the most infectious laughs I have heard.

And the loon! NO one can watch their landing skills without cracking up!

[ampaterry]

The first job I held after my discharge in Alaska was lumberjacking for Northern Alaska Development Company north of Fairbanks. It was without a doubt the hardest work I have ever done. The turnover there was heavy, with some guys leaving after the first day of this kind of work. One man I remember, though, just loved it. He was young, strong, and seemed to thrive on this grueling work. One day I asked him what he had done before this. He said he had been in the Merchant Marine, but found the work there so hard that he jumped ship on the Alaskan coast.

That is an indication of how hard the life in the Merchant Marine is.

On May 22nd of 1819 the steam ship Savannah left Savannah Georgia for the first successful transoceanic voyage by a steam ship, which brought it to Liverpool, England 29 days later. This event is commemorated each year on this date as National Maritime Day.

The Merchant Marine is a vital part of our commerce and our defense; in WWII, they were being fired on before the US even entered the war, so they were the first in battle. At the conclusion of hostilities, they brought troops home from service, so they were the last to return home after the war.

We owe a debt to these Mariners for the very difficult work they do, because our lives would be very different without them. They move war materials that consist of everything from Tanks to Torpedoes, and from Bullets to Beans. In 1945, the Merchant Marine combined with the Coast Guard delivered cargo at the rate of seventeen million pounds per hour! They had a death rate of one in thirty, which was higher than any branch of the military. It is for good cause that they are awarded most of the benefits afforded to Veterans today.

Scripture tells the dangers of maritime travel to both cargo and people:
Acts 27:9-10 (KJV);
Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them, And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives.

Ecclesiastes tells us there is no new thing under the sun - -

Thank you, Mariners, for the work you do for all of us.
I ask that God would look after each one of you, keep you safe, and give you a blessing.

[BlackEagle]

I didn't realise there is a National Maritime Day, but whenever I think of sailors I think of this Psalm. Merchant mariners were in the Old Testament, too...
Psalm 107:23-32
23 Some went out on the sea in ships;
they were merchants on the mighty waters.
24 They saw the works of the Lord,
his wonderful deeds in the deep.
25 For he spoke and stirred up a tempest
that lifted high the waves.
26 They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths;
in their peril their courage melted away.
27 They reeled and staggered like drunkards;
they were at their wits’ end.
28 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
and he brought them out of their distress.
29 He stilled the storm to a whisper;
the waves of the sea were hushed.
30 They were glad when it grew calm,
and he guided them to their desired haven.
31 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for mankind.
32 Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people
and praise him in the council of the elders.

[ampaterry]

Wow, BlackEagle, that is PERFECT for this day -
THANK YOU!!

[ampaterry]

It has always amazed me how God can speak to us using the most unusual means. I have, over the years I have been in the pulpit, received inspiration for a sermon from all sorts of wild creatures which Judy has brought me into association with. I have received a message from the stars at night, from the Aurora in Alaska, from the words of a child, and from Peanuts cartoon strips. For instance, today I will go into – Shakespeare!

In the Shakespeare's play of the same name, Macbeth tells his philosophy of life:

Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.

As Christians, we know this is a wrong attitude! For instance, in the book of John, life is revealed to be other than a philosophy:
John 1:4 (KJV);
John says of Jesus;
“In Him was life, and the life was the light of men”.

If you're looking to some philosophy to give meaning to your life, you will be unfulfilled. Only Jesus Christ can give life true meaning;

John 14:6 (KJV);
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

He is the one and the only way to attain an abundant life;
John 10:10b (KJV); “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

Positive thinking, happy thoughts, PMA, all are OK, but not a single one - nor all of them together - can give your life true meaning. For that, you must turn toward your Creator, and reconcile with Him.

May God bless each one of you -

[BlackEagle]

Psalm 90 does a great job describing the meaning of life.