Daily Devotional; formerly Chaplains Corner

[RunningOnMT]

AMENRecently I heard a Paul Washer sermon (not sure if you are familiar with him), but at the start of the sermon he said a prayer that was something on the order of "Heavenly Father, Please help me. In Jesus' name, Amen." I so appreciated this simple yet sincere prayer. A refreshing alternative to the ten minute long public prayers sometimes heard today. Not that long prayers can't be sincere, it just seems that some people ramble on as if they are trying to impress their audience with their spirituality.

[BlackEagle]

I know the feeling, ROMT.

Amen, Terry;
One of the most abused prayers is what is called The Lord's Prayer, from Matthew 6. Jesus said "after this manner pray ye:". It is the pattern God set for us to follow when making our petitions from day to day. It covers the bases.

[ampaterry]

As I said, guys, there is nothing WRONG with reciting a prayer, but there ARE dangers involved in the habit.
For my part, it just doesn't feel right to speak to God that way.
It is sort of like taking my wifes hand, looking deeply into her eyes, then repeating the words that Elvis sang in "Loving You." Every word would be TRUE, but it just does not FEEL right to me.

For today - it is another SPECIAL day!

President Lincoln signed the emancipation proclamation on January 1st of 1863. Several states ignored it, and the civil war continued until General Lee surrendered in April of 1865. On June 19th of 1865, union soldiers landed in Galveston, Texas with the news that the war was over and all slaves were now free. The celebration that resulted became known as Juneteenth, and this day continues to be observed as the oldest known celebration of the ending of slavery.

The emphasis of this day is education and self improvement, and the activities include baseball, rodeos, fishing, and other fun activities. Prayer services are a vital part of the celebration, and the focal point of all activities is the Barbecue pit, where traditional dishes are prepared and enjoyed.

It is a sad commentary on our nation that this day is celebrated almost exclusively by the black community. It is a further condemnation of us that when I type “juneteenth”, my word processor gives me a spelling error notice because it is not even in the standard dictionary!

How do we relate to this day in the 21st century when none of us have experienced slavery?
Are you saved? If you are, do you remember that overwhelming feeling of being FREE which washed over you when you accepted Christ as Lord of your life?

Christ explained the reason we have this feeling:
John 8:31-36 (KJV);
. . “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
Jesus answered them, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”

We can, each one of us, honestly repeat the words Dr. Martin Luther King used in his “I have a dream” speech: Free at last, free at last – Thank God almighty, we are free at last!

[jack404]

Terry i'll Celebrate when there is no more slavery , but sadly even here we have seen examples of it even in Australia , and while we keep bringing in those who feel it is their god ( not my God ) given right to own slaves there will vbe slaves be they traded variety or "adopted" islamically and called a family member who is worked to death beaten and forced to live in a box , while they are allocated full welfare payments that they never see ..

i read how in Boston and dearborn there have been slave rackets broken their , you think they got them all ??

Pray to End all slavery

[ampaterry]

I agree, Jack -
What ended here, and what was celebrated yesterday, is the widespread, open, enforced-by-law slavery where one human being can be OWNED by another, and that ownership is enforced by law. It is a slavery where the slave is property, has no right to redress for wrongs committed against them and they have no more 'civil rights' than a plow or hoe.

For today:

In his book Open the Door Wide to Happy Living, T. Huffman Harris told of a young man named Eddie who became tired of life and decided to leap from a bridge into a turbulent river. Jim, a total stranger, saw Eddie being swept downstream and plunged into the water in an effort to save him. Eddie, a good swimmer, noticed the man floundering desperately in the strong current and knew that without his help he would drown. Something stirred within him. With all of his strength, Eddie swam over to the man and rescued him. Saving that stranger, who had attempted to save him, brought new hope and meaning to Eddie's life.
Sometimes it does take a crisis to shock us out of a "poor-me attitude." When shocked sufficiently, we can begin to see once again our value to God, by discovering our value to others!
Have you ever been in the state where you wished you could just step out of all your troubles? I’ve seen a little sign in someone’s desk that said:
“I’m about to have a nervous breakdown. I worked hard for it; I deserve it; And no one is going to talk me out of it!”
So that feeling is not reserved for those contemplating suicide; everyone, at one time or another, wants to “stop the world and let me off!” At those times, remember these verses;

John 15:11,12;
These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
1 Thessalonians 3:11,12;
“Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you. And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you”

We all - each one of us - has value to God. May God bless each one of you with this sure knowledge.

[tcox4freedom]

Originally Posted by jack404

Terry i'll Celebrate when there is no more slavery , but sadly even here we have seen examples of it even in Australia , and while we keep bringing in those who feel it is their god ( not my God ) given right to own slaves there will vbe slaves be they traded variety or "adopted" islamically and called a family member who is worked to death beaten and forced to live in a box , while they are allocated full welfare payments that they never see ..

i read how in Boston and dearborn there have been slave rackets broken their , you think they got them all ??

Pray to End all slavery

The sad thing is "white" (black market) slavery is very much alive & well in the USA. It just doesn't get any press.

I wouldn't have believed it myself were it not for a friend of my wife almost becoming a victim. My wife & the woman's husband were on assignment in south Texas. (Like on most long assignments the spouses were allowed to go as well.)

The woman had gone to the grocery store at 3 o'clock in the afternoon to buy something for supper. While walking back to her car a van pulled up & someone tried dragging her inside. Fortunately, there was a hero stock boy collecting shopping carts in the lot that saw it happening & came to her aid.

We later discovered that "white" (black market) slavery is still very much alive & well in this country. The authorities believe that a whole lot of missing persons (especially around/near the border) actually end up in South America, Asia & the Middle East as slaves in the drug trade.

The sad thing is, our top government officials actually KNOW this is happening. But, they will not do anything because the strain it will place on foreign relations.

-

[ampaterry]

I know there has been a great deal of disgust with the French people over the years. The following story indicates that we should never paint with too broad a brush - -

During WWII, some soldiers brought the body of a dead comrade to a French cemetery to have him buried. The priest told them gently that he was bound to ask if their comrade had been a baptized adherent of the Roman Catholic Church. They said that they did not know. The priest said that he was very sorry but in that case he could not permit burial in his churchyard. So the soldiers took their comrade sadly and buried him just outside the fence. The next day they came back to see that the grave was all right and to their astonishment could not find it. Search as they might they could find no trace of the freshly dug soil. As they were about to leave in bewilderment the priest came up. He told them that his heart had been troubled because of his refusal to allow their dead comrade to be buried in the churchyard; so, early in the morning, he had risen from his bed and with his own hands had moved the fence to include the body of the soldier who had died for France.

Eph 2:11-14 (NLT);
“Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders by birth. You were called “the uncircumcised ones” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from God’s people, Israel, and you did not know the promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. But now you belong to Christ Jesus. Though you once were far away from God, now you have been brought near to him because of the blood of Christ.
For Christ himself has made peace between us Jews and you Gentiles by making us all one people. He has broken down the wall of hostility that used to separate us.”

What a wonderful truth this is for us! God will not change the rules of what is and is not a sin, and we have all failed in this test. So – does he leave us outside? No! Through sacrificing himself in the person of Jesus Christ, he moves the fence! WE are still unworthy, but with the moved fence, we are now on the inside!

[Krogen]

That one just made me grin! It's great to be inside the fence!

Thanks, Terry.

[RunningOnMT]

+1. Great story and great analogy.

[BlackEagle]

I read this the other day...(English Standard Version (ESV))
John 10:16
And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.

Thanks, Terry

[ampaterry]

Thank you for the support here, guys - I appreciate it!


Dr. Michael DeBakey of Houston, Texas is a noted heart surgeon. He received a letter from a seven year old girl named Linda Griggs from Pittsburg in which she asked “Does a plastic heart have love in it?”.
He wrote the little girl back, and said “Yes, a plastic heart has love in it, a great deal of love. The love in a plastic heart comes from many people who love other people, and don't want them to die. So these people work all day and often all night to build a heart that will make people live longer. If you think of how much love there would be in hundreds of hearts, then that is how much love there is in a plastic heart.”

1 Peter 1:22, 23;
“Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”

Reading those letters reminded me of a patent I hold on a High Voltage connection device. The patent rights are in the possession of my former employer, so I no longer have any financial interest in this device. But I still hope LOTS of people buy it, because it has one main thrust – it is SAFER than any other device of it’s type on the market. Once installed, it will operate perfectly as long as it is not physically damaged without a problem, and there will never be a safety issue with it. Considering the fact that it will contain 15,000 volts and more, that is quite a claim, but it is absolutely true!

Whatever you do, have a greater motive than just making a dollar from it. Whatever your occupation, perform it for the good of man, for the good of the earth, for the glory of God; THAT, much more than the paycheck, makes for a worthwhile career, and a successful and fulfilling life!

May God bless each one of you -

[ampaterry]

An incident is told about two soldiers who had recently been released from a prison camp in Siberia following World War II. "We did our best," said an officer, "to return the men as fast as possible, but many were still there when winter threatened to close up the port." Only a limited number could board the last small boat. Among those waiting to be transported were two who had been chums all through the war. One of them was selected, but the other seemed doomed to remain behind. An order was given that those who were leaving could take only one important item of luggage. One duffel bag, that’s it! Any one who has been in the service knows one bag means one bag!! The heart of the man who was chosen went out to his buddy, so he emptied his dufflebag of its prized souvenirs and his personal belongings, every scant little item he had managed to save during these trying times, and told his companion to get into the canvas sack. Then carefully lifting the bag on his shoulders, he boarded the ship with his friend as his single, most precious possession. The service allowed this, because they are sticklers for rules and regulations, and the rules said one bag, but did not mention the contents!

Have you ever talked to anyone that has survived Prison Camp? They will have a scrap of cloth, perhaps a hidden bible, little tiny things that helped them to maintain their sanity during their imprisonment, things which are all the physical possessions they had during these terrible times, which they consider very important to them! All of these, he dumped on the ground – and carried out his friend. Why do this? His friend was in no danger, he would be well cared for – but he would arrive home later than need be.

Galatians 5:13-14 (KJV);
For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

This man truly loved his neighbor as himself. Do you?

[Krogen]

Great point, Terry. Sure makes one think. My first reaction was "of course, I'd dump my belongings and carry out a friend." In that same situation, I'm sure I'd do that. . . . Or would I? Then I thought about similar, but less grave situations that occur on a daily basis. I don't think I perform so well in those.

I'm looking in that mirror again. Thanks for clarifying the picture. I have plenty of room for some improvement.

[BlackEagle]

Thanks, Terry;
John 15:12-14 says similar things:

This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

[ampaterry]

Thank you for that encouragement, guys!

For today, I turn my memory back many years to the time that Judy and I were first married, and lived in Alaska. I remember our first Christmas together. We were living in Fairbanks, and the cost of living is SO high there, I was in the service, she had a job too, but we were barely getting by. We drove our old car out of town and cut a Christmas tree. We did not steal it; the land was open up there then. Most of the state was open land which could still be homesteaded at that time. We picked out a ceiling high tree and brought it home. It fit perfectly in our little tiny house, because although it was floor to ceiling in height, it was only about 2 to 3 feet wide. We decorated it and admired it’s perfect fit. Then it started to thaw out. The branches opened until it almost filled our living room! It covered half of the couch and one chair! We could barely get through the living room due to it’s huge size!

Later, we found out that this was an Alaska White Spruce, and this is the way they survive the Alaska winters; they pull their branches tight against their trunk so they do not accumulate snow. Other trees would accumulate so much snow their branches would be broken in the long winters accumulation. The Alaska White Spruce just lets the snow slide off and accumulate on the ground.

We need to learn a lesson from this Northern tree. When all the troubles of life start piling up on us – we need to just let them slide off, and not hang on to them!

Matthew 11:28-30;
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

1 Peter 5:6-7;
“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

Jesus is waiting to handle that burden for you; that burden that WILL break you if you do not let it go.
Let it GO!

May God richly bless each one of you -

[jack404]

a timely reminder , if one is able to do so

sometimes life ( for want of a better description) keeps tossing the crap in your lap

but yeah standing should help ..

cheers Terry

[hjsmith00843]

Daughter just left for her Sunday service. She will be getting baptized today. Wish I could go and be there with here. Crowds make me too nervous.

[ampaterry]

That is indeed easier said than done, Jack -

hjsmith, I am happy and sad for you.
Happy that your daughter is following our Lord in Baptism.
Sad that you did not witness this joyous event.
I do indeed understand the feeling: MANY times I have driven home from work and wished DEARLY that I could dynamite our driveway bridge behind me, never to leave again.
But that is something we must fight against, because our purpose for living cannot be accomplished in solitude. I will keep this in prayer -

For today:

A man had a friend who enlarged his business. His sales had increased to the point that a larger warehouse and sales office were needed. Even though the move was a rather complicated and burdensome process, it was really a thing to be celebrated. For this reason, the man sent his friend some flowers on the day of his grand opening.
The flowers, however, were poorly handled and the businessman received a bouquet that was intended for a funeral. It was accompanied with a card which said: "My deepest sympathy during this time of sorrow." When the man called his friend on the phone to wish him well, he was confronted with the error, "Why in the world," said the businessman, "did you send me these sympathy flowers?" The man went immediately to the florist to demand an explanation. The florist met him outside the shop and was obviously upset. "I am terribly sorry about the mix-up with the flowers," he said, "but I hope you will be understanding. Your situation is not half as bad as the one down at the funeral home. The folks there received your flowers accompanied by the card which said: BEST WISHES IN YOUR NEW LOCATION."

I think the florist was wrong; that is the perfect wreath for the one deceased. Our desire is that their new location is a better one! But for the lost, that sympathy bouquet sent to the survivors applies also to the the one who has passed on.

Christ tells us:
Revelation 22:12-13;
“And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last."

May we run a good race, and fight a good fight – and in the end – may we find ourselves in a joyous new location!

[ampaterry]

There is a Native American saying that is translated as: "When you were born, you cried, and the world rejoiced. Live your life such that when you die, the world cries, and you rejoice."

What a wonderful saying! I believe that those folks who restrict their reading to only the Bible miss an awful lot that is in the Bible! You often need to see something from another source to remind you of just exactly what the Bible means!

And which version? I use most versions of the Bible! That is why I quote verses from different versions. The KJV is the best; it is the closest version to the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek that is easy to find, yet understandable. Each version, however, has something special to emphasize, I believe. Today we will go from a Native American saying to two different bible versions of two sections of scripture;

Philippians 1:21-24 (RSV);
“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If it is to be life in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.”

2 Timothy 4:6-8 (TLB);
“I say this because I won’t be around to help you very much longer. My time has almost run out. Very soon now I will be on my way to heaven. I have fought long and hard for my Lord, and through it all I have kept true to him. And now the time has come for me to stop fighting and rest. In heaven a crown is waiting for me, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that great day of his return. And not just to me but to all those whose lives show that they are eagerly looking forward to his coming back again.”

And all of that fits together so perfectly. That’s enough to make you believe there was one source for all true wisdom, isn’t it?

May God bless each one of you -

[BlackEagle]

For a change I sometimes like the Cotton Patch version; more a paraphrase than translation, but down to earth.

I hope God leaves you around a while longer--the Daily Devotionals are a blessing.

[ampaterry]

I enjoy that one also, BlackEagle -
And thank you!

For today -

After years of service in South Africa, the famous missionary Robert Moffat returned to Scotland to recruit helpers. When he arrived at the church one cold wintry night, he was dismayed that only a small group had come out to hear him. What bothered him even more was that the only people in attendance were ladies. Although he was grateful for their interest, he had hoped to challenge men. He had chosen as his text Proverbs 8:4, "Unto you, O men I call." In his discouragement he almost failed to notice one small boy in the loft pumping the bellows of the organ. Moffat felt frustrated as he gave the message, for he realized that very few women could be expected to undergo the rigorous life in undeveloped jungles. But God works in mysterious ways.

Although no one volunteered that evening, the young fellow assisting the organist was deeply moved by the challenge. As a result, he promised God he would follow in the footsteps of this pioneer missionary. And he remained true to his vow. When he grew up, he went and ministered to the unreached tribes of Africa. His name was David Livingstone! Moffat never ceased to wonder that his appeal which he had intended for men had stirred a young boy, who eventually became a mighty power of God.

There are still, today in 2012, many cities and towns in the world that still have no organized evangelical witness! The missionary call has never been more urgent. I pray that as you share this story, someone may respond to this great need!

Matthew 28:18-20, KJV;
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

Obey this great commission! You cannot all go to the jungles to spread God’s word, but wherever you are, whatever your situation, be a witness there for Jesus Christ!

[ampaterry]

Edersheim, in The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, outlines the most elaborate of Jewish washings:
Water jars were kept ready to be used before a meal. The minimum amount of water to be used was a quarter of a log, which is defined as enough to fill one and a half eggshells. The water was first poured on both hands, held with the fingers pointed upwards, and must run up the arm as far as the wrist. It must drop off from the wrist, for the water was now itself unclean, having touched the unclean hands, and, if it ran down the fingers again, it would again render them unclean. The process was repeated with the hands held in the opposite direction, with the fingers pointing down; and then finally each hand was cleansed by being rubbed with the fist of the other. A really strict Jew would do all this, not only before a meal, but also between each of the courses.

Mark 7:1-8;
“Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem. And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault. For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brazen vessels, and of tables. Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? He answered and said unto them, 'Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.'”

Elaborate ceremonies are of Man, not of God. Christ has removed the veil which hides the holy of holies, the presence of God, from mankind. No longer do we go through the office of a high priest, with elaborate ceremonies in order to approach the throne!

May God bless each one of you -

[jack404]

very good Terry ,

a good and timely reminder
we get caught up with the BS of man and process and forget the simple Truths of God ..

[BlackEagle]

Thanks, for the reminder,Terry.

Matthew 23, Jesus really rips into the Pharisees for their man-made laws.
vv 25-26 hit hard at their cleanliness fettish:
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean."

We need to be clean from the inside out, and only His blood can do (and has done) that for us.

[ampaterry]

Thanks, guys!

For today -

Some time ago a Torah Court in New York excommunicated Senator lieberman. Now this court has no LEGAL authority, and there are some synagogues that did not even recognize their decision, but there is a lesson here. Across the nation, and around the world, different Rabbis have spoken out on this particular decision.
There is no doubt the Torah was properly interpreted by this court.
There is no doubt that Senator Lieberman, by some of his votes in the senate on abortions, among other things, had acted against the Torah teachings.
But in reality, for a member of a faith to break with the tradition of that faith is not so unusual as to cause this action to take place. What most Rabbis agree on is that Senator Lieberman brought this action about through his references to his faith, by his answering questions concerning Judaism, by setting himself up as a spokesman for the faith, and then not living according to the teachings of that faith.

The moral of this story is that there are those that work very hard to follow God, and there are those that don’t work so hard to follow him, but the ones that get into the worst trouble are those that ACT like they are working hard to follow God while in reality they do not.
I know some wonderful Christians who attend Church every Sunday. I know some wonderful Christians who attend much less frequently. But the position to be avoided the hardest is the position of attending church every Sunday, and then forgetting everything about the teachings of Jesus Christ as you drive out of the Church parking lot.

Luke 18:10-14;
“Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”

May God bless each one of you!