Daily Devotional; formerly Chaplains Corner

[01brian]

Amen!

[Marlin]

Double A-Men, Terry.

[BlackEagle]

That's why I like this thread...it helps to keep my battery warm during the week, in addition to my regular reading program. I like the fellowship.

[Zane71464]

VERY well put Terry, and very well said.

[ampaterry]

Wow, guys, I REALLY appreciate the support here!!


In the Orthodox Church, today is the Second Saturday of Souls. This is celebrated in the same manner as the First Saturday of Souls, with prayers for the departed and with the serving of Koliva.

I don't pray for the dead; I pray for the living.

The dead are beyond prayer; their lives have been lived, their decisions have been made, and their judgment is fixed at the time of their death. Beyond that point, prayer for them avails nothing.

But prayer for the living makes a lot of sense. They have trials to get through. They have testings which they need strength to weather. They have dark days and hard times when their Christian Brothers and Sisters need to reach out to them and lend a hand. They have sadness when prayers for them will help get them through. They face periods of lagging faith when prayer will strengthen them to get back on the right path.

I solicit your prayers, brothers and sisters. I have gained strength many times through the prayers of Christians, and these have brought me through many times of weakness and trials. But I ask for your prayers while I am alive. When I graduate from this vale of tearw, I don't want prayers for my soul. I will already be in bliss or torment, and it will be too late to change that condition.

When I pass, I want to be cremated, and my ashes kept until Judy graduates also, and then our ashes are to be mixed together, and sprinkled on the hill where so many of our beloved animals sleep beneath the sod. And after that, I want nothing. No grieving, no memorial, no stone, no lamentation.

Solomon, as the Preacher in the old testament, tells us:
Ecclesiastes 9:4-6 (KJV);
"For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion. For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun."

Soloman seems rather bleak in much of his writing in Ecclesiastes, but remember he is writing from an EARTHLY perspective, not from the perspective of the next life. When we pass, we will be in eternal bliss - or in eternal torment - but from an earthly perspective, we will simply be GONE.

Cling to those that are close to you.
The time may come when you will go on without them, and will regret not being closer.

May God bless each one of you -

[BlackEagle]

2 Samuel 12... 22And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?
23But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.

Our family had a "double tap last year. Mom died the middle of November while Dad was undergoing hospital treatment. They delayed the funeral until Dad's treatment was completed. The end of November my wife's sister was at work Monday, Tuesday she was in the hospital and Wednesday she was dead. Mom was expected; we had gone over in September to spend time with her and Dad. My sister in law was entirely out of the blue and hit everyone hard. We went directly from my sister in law's funeral to Mom's funeral.

While both were alive we all prayed for them; now we just miss them. I still get "blind sided" from time to time thinking about and remembering them.

[tcox4freedom]

Just said a quick prayer for you BlackEagle.

[BlackEagle]

Originally Posted by tcox4freedom

Just said a quick prayer for you BlackEagle.

Thanks. Please remember my wife. She's having a rougher time than I am.

[Zane71464]

thoughts and prayers for you and your wife and family BE.

[ampaterry]

We ask, Father, that you would be with this man who has suffered these losses.
We ask that you would be especially with his wife at this time, and comfort her.
We ask that you would be with all of the family and friends of these two deceased, that you would grant them peace at a time where there can be no understanding.
Hold them close, Lord, while they heal -

And I ask these things in the name of Jesus the Christ, the Lilly of the Valley.

Amen

[ampaterry]

Today, some Christian churches celebrate the First Sunday of Lent. They call today – The First Sunday of Lent.

Less common, though, is the name Invocabit. This name is from the Intriot of the Mass which begins with this Latin word. It is taken from the ninetieth Psalm, which urges us to confidence in God, who willingly hears the prayer of the penitent. The introit in English is: He shall call upon me, and I will hear him; I will deliver him, and glorify him; I will fill him with length of days. He that dwelleth in the aid of the Most high shall abide under the protection of the God of heaven. Glory be to the Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit.

This is part of the Common Lectionary series, which is a plan of sermons that outlines what the scripture will be for sermons every Sunday on a regular schedule, and is issued and in some cases required to be followed by a governing body over the local churches.

No offense to my Christian friends that are in churches which require structure, but when I study things like this, it makes me glad to be an independent pastor. I do not believe any human being, nor any board of human beings, has the right nor the authority to require the local church to follow their bidding in spiritual matters. When a man is called by God to step into the pulpit and preach, I believe that man has the responsibility to preach the will of the God who called him, and not any human authority.

I agree fully with the principle of Lent, however. It is our duty and responsibility to search our own spirit and root out any sin residing there. Our duty is then to repent of that sin, and ask God for forgiveness for it.

Acts 13:36-39 (KJV);
For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption: But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption. Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

The forgiveness is there, brothers and sisters; we have but to repent and ask for it.

[BlackEagle]

Heartfelt thanks for the prayers, Terry and all, and thanks for the message, Terry.

[ampaterry]

In the Orthodox church, as well as some others, today is the first day of Lent. Some Christian churches observe this period, and some do not. Some start the observance today, some next Sunday, some at other times. Lent is the time to prepare for Easter. This period is when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline. The purpose is to set aside time for reflection on Jesus Christ - his suffering and his sacrifice, his life, death, burial and resurrection.

Here at Bethany we do not observe Lent. But, unlike so many of the other religious observances, this is one that I believe does have great merit. Preparing for Easter by some very deep meditation is an excellent idea. We should do whatever we can to keep our minds focused on the sacrifice that Jesus made for us. He paid for our sins with his body and blood. He took the punishment that is due to each one of us and put it on his own person. He suffered and he died – for us. This sinless, immortal being decided to taste of death – for us.

Satan walks among us, gets his slimy words inside our brain, and accuses us of being unfit for heaven because of our sins. He tells us that we do not deserve to be happy for a moment, let alone for eternity. He tells us that God cannot exist in the presence of sin (true), then tells us that we cannot be in his presence because we have sinned.

At those times, put on the whole armor of God. Put on that helmet of Salvation. Stop those fiery darts of the enemy with your shield of Faith. And attack that old reprobate loser with the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

Isaiah 53:5-6 (KJV);
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

1 John 2:1-2 (NCV);
My dear children, I write this letter to you so you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have a helper in the presence of the Father--Jesus Christ, the One who does what is right. He is the way our sins are taken away, and not only our sins but the sins of all people.

May God bless each one of you!

[Iron Eagle]

Blackeagle, as believers, we have the promise of being reunited with our believing relatives. Loss is hard to deal with. God is good, and He is always with us!

[pipeman525]

While I understand that this is the traditional time of year to remember the sacrifice that was made for us. I would hope that when you hit your knees every day that we all remember it and not just at this time of the year.

On a lighter note, check out the Rock and Worship Roadshow if it comes close enough to you. We volunteered to help last weekend and it was great. There is just something great about worshipping with thousands of other Christians, and the music is awesome too.

[Krogen]

Originally Posted by ampaterry

He paid for our sins with his body and blood. He took the punishment that is due to each one of us and put it on his own person. He suffered and he died – for us. This sinless, immortal being decided to taste of death – for us.

Satan walks among us, gets his slimy words inside our brain, and accuses us of being unfit for heaven because of our sins. He tells us that we do not deserve to be happy for a moment, let alone for eternity. He tells us that God cannot exist in the presence of sin (true), then tells us that we cannot be in his presence because we have sinned.

At those times, put on the whole armor of God. Put on that helmet of Salvation. Stop those fiery darts of the enemy with your shield of Faith. And attack that old reprobate loser with the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

Thanks for those words, Terry. I truly appreciate how you so clearly described Jesus' sacrifice for us, Satan's schemes and what we are to do to fend him off. God is using you to reach out to us. Simple straightforward words inspired by the Holy Spirit. Keep on talking to us, Terry. It helps a lot.

God bless,

Krogen

[BlackEagle]

Originally Posted by ampaterry

Satan walks among us, gets his slimy words inside our brain, and accuses us of being unfit for heaven because of our sins. He tells us that we do not deserve to be happy for a moment, let alone for eternity. He tells us that God cannot exist in the presence of sin (true), then tells us that we cannot be in his presence because we have sinned.

At those times, put on the whole armor of God. Put on that helmet of Salvation. Stop those fiery darts of the enemy with your shield of Faith. And attack that old reprobate loser with the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

Thanks Terry;

That made me think of Romans 8, particularly vv34-37: 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Just as it is written,
“FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG;
WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.”
37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.

Iron Eagle, Thanks so much for the reminder. Mom's favorite verse was Romans 8:28...And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

[ampaterry]

Guys, your words of support and encouragement mean a LOT to me - THANK YOU!!

Today, I want to share a story with you that I read many years ago in Leadership magazine which deals with how to handle adversity. As the story goes, over a century ago there was a group of fishermen in a Scottish Inn who were relaxing after a long day at sea. As a waitress walked past their table with a pot of tea, one of the men made a sweeping gesture to describe the size of the fish he claimed to have caught. His hand hit the teapot and sent it crashing against the whitewashed wall, where the tea left a brown splotch.
Standing nearby, the innkeeper surveyed the damage. "That stain will never come out," he said in dismay. "The whole wall will have to be repainted."

"Perhaps not." All eyes turned to the stranger who had just spoken.

"What do you mean?" asked the innkeeper.

"Let me work with the stain," said the stranger, standing up from his table in the corner. "If my work meets your approval, you won't need to repaint the wall."
The stranger picked up a box and went to the wall. Opening the box, he withdrew pencils, brushes, and some glass jars of linseed oil and pigment. He began to sketch lines around the stain and fill it in here and there with dabs of color and swashes of shading. Soon a picture began to emerge. The random splashes of tea had been turned into the image of a stag with a magnificent rack of antlers. At the bottom of the picture, the man inscribed his signature. Then he paid for his meal and left.

The innkeeper was stunned when he examined the wall.

"Do you know who that man was?" he said in amazement. "The signature reads 'E.H. Landseer!'" Indeed, they had been visited by the well-known painter of wild life, Sir Edwin Landseer.

We see problems and failures in our lives, but God can turn them into a thing of beauty!

His Word tells us:
Deuteronomy 30:6 (KJV);
"And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live."

Psalms 33:4 (KJV);
"For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth."

Psalms 139:14 (KJV);
"I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well."

May God bless each one of you, guys, and turn your stains into things of beauty -

[01brian]

Amen! Its great to spend time here each day and get this kind of encouragement...Thank You!

[pipeman525]

Awesome story Terry and a great example.

[BlackEagle]

Thankful that God has a better perspective than I do. Thanks, Terry

[ampaterry]

Thank you, guys!

Several years ago, I kept three hives of honeybees. These are fascinating little insects, each one with a specific job to do, which they pursue with great vigor. After several years of keeping them and reaping more honey than we could use, Judy developed an allergy to their stings, and we had to sell them to another bee-keeper.

One of the most fascinating things about honey bees is their ability to communicate with each other. One single bee can locate a source of food such as a flowering tree, and he will return to the hive and do a little dance while the other workers watch him. At the end of the dance, they all know the exact direction of and precise distance to the food source, and will leave the hive in mass to reap the harvest and bring it to the hive. The original bee does not even have to accompany them. After a while, there will be a stream flying from the hive to the food source, and a separate stream returning to the hive. These lines will be the most direct possible - giving rise to the term "bee line" for quick travel.

Should we who have found the treasure of Christ Jesus be less considerate of our fellow men than honey bees are of their fellows? Shouldn't we, like the Samaritan woman, hasten to tell the good news? Simple human kindness should prevent us from concealing the great discovery which we have made.

The Word of God tells us:
Romans 10:14-15 (KJV);
"How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!"

2 Corinthians 5:14-15;
"For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again."


But, guys, when you tell others - be sure to make the communication verbal, please. Some Christians will be offended if you dance - -

May God bless you!

[jack404]

it aint the Christians i'm worried about Terry , but those who need to become such , and be welcomed into the family of Christ , Christians will have their own ideas ......

but those who do not yet know Christ , are very vulnerable to our screw ups in direction and its with these folks we must take care , but through Prayer and thought , God will show you what where and the how to show the way ...

planting seeds in the desolate wilds can soon create a fertile farm ( something i heard once )

[BlackEagle]

Thanks again, Terry;
I was reading the other day in Matthew how we are to be salt in the earth.
The salt acts as a flavor enhancer, and as a preservative, just what God's values and standards do in life.

Then Colossians 4:6 says Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.

As one man said, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink...but you can always salt his oats!!

[ampaterry]

Many years ago, there was a shy twenty-year-old who did very poorly in school. He landed a job, but soon lost it. After the same thing happened with two more jobs, he could not locate another one. In desperation for a livelihood, he began making brushes and selling them door-to-door. He did pretty well. If this young man had only peddled brushes for a couple days, gotten discouraged and quit to try other things, you would never have heard of the Fuller Brush Company, still the makers of the best brushes available.

The Word of God tells us that we are to not just START working, but to KEEP working, not allowing fatigue or discouragement to interfere with our pursuit:
Galatians 6:9 (KJV);
"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."

And it tells us that we are to quietly do our own work, tending to ourselves, to be good examples:
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 (KJV);
"And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing."

You would be amazed what you can do if you just keep trying. When I broke my ankle in a motorcycle wreck several years ago, they put a cast on it, and told me that if I put ANY weight on it, it might require corrective surgery. For several weeks, I just sat in a wheelchair, hobbled short distances on crutches, or laid in bed. After six weeks, they allowed me to put 60 pounds on that leg. I still had to hobble around on crutches, and wheeled around the house in a wheelchair for another month. I couldn’t take being cooped up any longer. I hobbled to the riding lawn mower, tied my crutches to the hood, and managed to mow the church lawn twice and our whole farm once during this period. I also found I could grab a carrot in my teeth, and hobble out to feed Bilbo, the wild groundhog I had made friends with.

My dad always said “You can do anything you set your mind to!” I have found that to be correct. The only thing I never figured out how to do is hobble on crutches while carrying a plate at a buffet without spilling food; for those occasions, I used my wheelchair and my lap -

May God bless each one of you with perseverence in all good things -