Daily Devotional; formerly Chaplains Corner

[jack404]

We CAN run the godless socialists outta Australia
We CAN run the evil jihadists outta Australia
We CAN overhaul the gunlaws in Australia
We CAN get ourselves a government that is truly democratic in Australia

but none of its happening without God helpin , He does the hard part, we do whats left ..

seems to be working ok so far compared to what we been up against..

cheers for the reminder Terry

[Woodnut]

AMEN ! Terry, and my God Bless you for the devotion you put forth each day to the Forum members.

Sure sorry you could not make it to the BBQ, I was really looking forward to meeting you.

[ampaterry]

I deeply regret missing it, Carl -
We WILL meet, however -
And us too, Jack -
Sooner or later!!

[ampaterry]

Today, our Jewish brothers and sisters observe the fast of Tzom Tammuz. The name is merely the date; the 15th of the Hebrew month of Tammuz. This fast is to remember the misdeeds of their forefathers which led to calamities to the Jewish people on this date, which they commemorate in hopes of turning their hearts to repentance.
The calamities which occurred on this day begin with Moses descending Sinai and finding the people worshiping a golden calf, causing him to smash the stone tablets on which God had written the ten commandments, and end with the seizing of Jewish property by Libya in 1944. There other tragedies as well that happened on this date, such as the Romans breaching the walls of Jerusalem just prior to the destruction of the second temple.
I find it very interesting that all of the calamities remembered on this day are remembered as the result of things which the Jewish people themselves did. They see the tragedies of their past, and seek to avoid them in the future by improving themselves. This attitude is unique in the entire area of the mid-East, for the Muslims that surround Israel blame all of their troubles on the Jews. People of high moral character take responsibility for their actions; often taking responsibility for things that are not their fault. People of low moral character blame someone else for all of their problems.
Genesis 3:11-13 (KJV);
“And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.”

Adam tried to put the guilt on Eve and Eve tried to put it on the serpent.

Paul said of Christ:
Romans 4:25 (KJV);
“Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.”

Christ took the guilt of the whole world on himself.
Although the Jewish people do not accept Jesus as the Messiah, they walk far closer to his teaching and example than any of their neighbors, and closer than many that bear the name “Christian”.

God bless you, guys!

[Woodnut]

AMEN !!

[reflex1]

Thanks Terry - that blame placing sounds somewhat like we have right here in the good old USA at the present time!

[ampaterry]

Originally Posted by reflex1

Thanks Terry - that blame placing sounds somewhat like we have right here in the good old USA at the present time!

Yeah, but it really IS bush's fault - - - -

LOL!!!

[ampaterry]

Slept in the morning, guys, so a bit late here. It was our oldest grandson's BD, so waited up for him to get off work and stop by to pick up his present from us. He is working 16 hours a day, so that put us to bed late -
We didn't know for sure what he NEEDED, so got him a nice spiral-cut ham, bundle of polish sausage, and some deli potato salad. The look on his face told us we had picked the right gift for a hard-working man.

A few days ago, I spoke to you of debt. One of the major causes of excess debt load is credit cards; they make it just TOO easy to accumulate debts. You can pay virtually everything with a credit card now. You can stop at the corner market and buy lottery tickets, fill your car with gas, get a bag of chips, and put it all on your credit card. The IRS now accepts credit cards to pay your taxes, which gives you the opportunity to pay 20% interest on your tax bill. Grocery stores are increasingly adding self-checkout lanes in which you just scan all your stuff, swipe your card, and take your groceries home without ever opening your wallet, or even speaking to a human being. To make matters worse, these lines are numerous, which means that you often see long lines for cash purchases, and zero lines for the credit-card check out. I have read that there are even vending machines that use credit cards, which means you can keep your change in your pocket, and finance that little bag of pretzels.
What this means is, you can go through your days slipping that piece of plastic out of your pocket repeatedly, enjoying the convenience of not carrying cash or even writing checks. You do this day after day, week after week, and then - all of a sudden - here is this letter in the mailbox, which has an astronomical figure which some bank claims you owe them. You spread the itemized bill out, incredulous at the total, and go through the items one-by-one -
Oh yes, I remember that -
uh huh -
I had forgotten that one -
Wow, did I fill up five times this month?
Hey, I don't remember the cleaning bill being that high!

But in the end, you realize that you have gone all month and never thought about the accounting that had to come at the end of it.

In a similar manner, it is foolish to live in this world without a thought of what you will do at the end of it. Too many live this way. They eat, and drink, and sin, but they forget the inevitable hereafter, when for all the deeds done in the body, the Lord will bring us into judgment.

The word of God tells us:
Isaiah 2:12 (KJV);
"For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low."

Work every day to keep that final accounting bill a manageable one.

God bless you, guys!

[Juker]

Amen, Terry, and thanks as always.

[Woodnut]

AMEN !
Thanks Terry, I for one use my credit cards each day for purchases and pay them off in full at the end of the month. If I can't afford to pay it off in full, interest free, then I don't buy it. My point is, when you sin there is instant forgiveness, all you have to do is ask. (interest Free). I hope I have made myself clear, and not went so far as to muddy the water for some, with my way of thinking.

[ampaterry]

I do the same thing, Carl -
Honestly, it costs nothing and it simplifies bookeeping a LOT.
And if someone screws me when I have paid with a check or cash, I have to sue them to get my money back. If it happens and I paid with plastic, I call Mastercard and have them charge that person back. I have done it twice in my lifetime, but both times I got my money back without the cost of bringing a suit against them.

And your simile of a card with no interest to sin and forgiveness is excellent!

[ampaterry]

In his book with Ken Blanchard, Everyone's a Coach, Don Shula tells of losing his temper near an open microphone during a televised game with the Los Angeles Rams. Millions of viewers were surprised and shocked by Shula's explicit profanity. Letters soon arrived from all over the country, voicing the disappointment of many who had respected the coach for his integrity.
Shula could have given excuses, but he didn't. Everyone who included a return address received a personal apology. He closed each letter by stating, "I value your respect and will do my best to earn it again."
We should all value the respect of other people, and strive to both gain and retain it. We gain respect by always acting in a righteous manner; being honest and trustworthy in our dealings, and by being proper in our actions and words. When we make a mistake, as we ALL will at times, the only way to maintain respect for ourselves is to make NO excuses, but to accept full responsibility for our actions. People find it much easier to forgive someone who admits they made an honest mistake than to forgive someone who lies and wriggles around like a worm on a hook in an attempt to get out of it, like some politicians I could name.
The Word of God tells us to pay attention to the words of correction which we receive concerning our mistakes:
Proverbs 13:18 (KJV);
"Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured."

It also speaks of the superiority of honor over pride:
Proverbs 29:23 (KJV);
"A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit."

And finally, the Word of God tells us that we must turn from our wicked ways, and God will give us the relief we seek:
Acts 3:19 (KJV);
"Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;"

God bless you, guys!

[Woodnut]

AMEN ! Thanks Terry

[Maximilian II]

Terry, you do a fine job of saying things I need to hear.

[ampaterry]

I appreciate the support, guys!
Nothing makes a preacher more talkative than an AMEN here and there!!

Being a Christian requires that we not only identify the sin in the world, but as Christ told us we must first identify it in OURSELVES.

John Knox , the fiery reformer who spoke harshly against sin, was yet keenly aware of it in his own person. He wrote this to his Mother-In-law:
“Although I never lack the presence and plain image of my own wretched infirmity, yet seeing sin so manifestly abounds in all estates, I am compelled to thunder out the threatenings of God against the obstinate rebels. In doing whereof (albeit, as God knoweth, I am no malicious nor obstinate sinner), I sometimes am wounded knowing myself to be criminal and guilty in many, yea, in all things that I reprehend in others. Judge not, mother, that I write these things, debasing myself otherwise than I am--no, I am worse than my pen can express.
“In body you think I am no adulterer. Let so be, but the heart is infected with foul lusts, and it will lust although I lament ever so much.
“Externally I commit no idolatry, but my wicked heart loveth itself and cannot be refrained from vain imaginations, yea, not from such as were the fountain of all idolatry.
“I am no man-killer with my hands, but I help not my needy brother so liberally as I may and ought.
“I steal not horse, money, or clothes from my neighbor, but that small portion of worldly substance I bestow not as rightly as his holy law requires.
“I bear no false witness against my neighbor in judgment or otherwise before men, but I speak not the truth of God so boldly as it becomes his true messenger to do.
“And thus in conclusion, there is no vice repugning to God's holy will expressed in his law, wherewith my heart is not infected.”

John Knox understood the human condition, and identified the failings in himself. The Word of God tells us:
Psalms 38:3 (GWT;
"No healthy spot is left on my body because of your rage. There is no peace in my bones because of my sin."

Psalms 51:3 (KJV);
"For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me."

1 John 3:20 (KJV);
"For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things."

Soul search, my brothers and sisters.
While finding the sin in your own heart is not NEARLY as enjoyable as finding it in your neighbors, it is very necessary -

God help each of us to properly use the plumb line -

[Woodnut]

I agree Terry. AMEN !

[Juker]

Amen! My pastor is fond of saying, "We can never be sinless, but we must strive to sin less." Now if I could just get that railroad tie out of my eye...

[ampaterry]

Juker, I like that!
I may borrow that some time - -

[Nighthawk]

Like to share this song. One of my favorites.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyPBVwOCYmM&feature=fvsr

[ampaterry]

Nighthawk, that is an outstanding work -
I had not seen that movie the visuals are from, either -
EXCELLENT casting -
THANK YOU!

[ampaterry]

Our addictions make us cling to what the world proclaims as the keys to self-fulfillment: accumulation of wealth and power; attainment of status and admiration; lavish consumption of food and drink; and sexual gratification without distinguishing between lust and love. The addicted life can aptly be designated a life lived in "a distant country." Beneath it all is the great rebellion, the unspoken curse: "I wish you were dead."
Henri J. M. Nouwen, The Return of the Prodigal, Christianity Today, Vol. 36, no. 10.

Addictions are just sins we have become accustomed to; we will cease them when we become determined to do so.

The Word of God tells us that we gain strength by silence and trust in God, and also tells us that we are reluctant to do so:
Isaiah 30:15 (GWT);
"This is what the Almighty LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: You can be saved by returning to me. You can have rest. You can be strong by being quiet and by trusting me. But you don't want that."

And the Word of God tells us that to continue our addictive course of life will cause us to die in our sins:
2 Peter 2:9-12 (KJV);
"The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;"

God WILL give you the strength you require to deal with sin. He promised that to all of us, and he cannot lie. It matters not what you are addicted to; God is stronger than that addiction. His power WILL help you overcome it. You will be TEMPTED to continue, of course, but that temptation will not be more than you can deal with.

May God bless each one of you, guys -

[Woodnut]

AMEN, Absolutely True. The desire never leaves, just gets easier to deal with, and it takes help from our father.
Thanks Terry

[jbmid1]

Originally Posted by ampaterry

jbmid1, glad you received no injury from that! I will add you to the prayer list at church this morning, as well as the lady you asked for prayer for.

Spoke with my wife on the phone yesterday. The word is that Carols operation was a success and she is recovering nicely.
All is going well here also.

[ampaterry]

Originally Posted by jbmid1

Spoke with my wife on the phone yesterday. The word is that Carols operation was a success and she is recovering nicely.
All is going well here also.

It appears that God is still in the prayer answering business!

[ampaterry]

Today is the 18th annual celebration of Parents Day. Bill Clinton signed the resolution into law that designated the fourth Sunday of each July as Parents Day, beginning in 1994.
A few days ago, I had a message on the importance of the marriage bond, and the responsibilities one has to their spouse. I have thought on it a lot, and I simply cannot decide whether one has a greater responsibility to their spouse or to their child.

On the one hand, you chose your spouse, and swore before God to be true to them, making you two into one flesh:
Mark 10:8-9 (KJV);
“And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”

On the other hand, your child is born of the flesh of this union. Your blood and the blood of your spouse, genetically different from each other, has been united and flows in the veins of this child, and is spoken of as a reward to you from God:
Psalms 127:3 (KJV);
“Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.”

I will grant you, there are times in the raising of a child – especially in the teenaged years – when it seems they are more a curse than a blessing, and the direction of their origin is somewhat lower than Heaven. Thankfully, though, these times pass, and the child that thought you were completely ignorant when they were sixteen is surprised by how much smarter you have become when they reach thirty.

Raise them well, teach them the truth of God, prepare them for life, and your reward will be the time when they choose a spouse and leave you to join them, as Christ said in the previous verse to the above:
Mark 10:7 (KJV);
“For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;”

They have not deserted you; they have graduated into the next phase of their life, the one you spent years preparing them for. Do the best job of this which you are capable of.

God bless you guys, and grant special strength and wisdom to all parents today.