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FReeper Canteen ~ Sunday Chapel ~ YOU ARE SPECIAL ~ 19 July 2015
Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !!
| The Canteen Crew
Posted on 07/18/2015 4:59:33 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska
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YOU ARE SPECIAL
"I don't know why I was even born," the young sailor confided! "I'm ugly. I'm not talented. I've never been what you would call smart. I don't really have any friends. And I can't seem to do anything right. I feel like I've spent my whole life letting people down. Sometimes I wonder if even God could love me!"
That conversation took place more than a decade ago, but I still remember it as if it were yesterday. That one and a lot of others over the years with the same message: "I'm no good; I'm just another loser."
Unfortunately, our society places a great premium on looking good, being popular, and being the best -- or at least being "special." Those who don't quite measure up often feel like that young sailor. Sometimes a person can spend his or her whole life trying to earn acceptance, and still end up an outsider. ... Sometimes even when others really DO care for them and want them to be part of the group! Maybe you have felt that way at times. If not, it's probable that someone you know has... or does.
Nearly two thousand years ago, the Apostle Paul described how God has made each of us special, given each person a unique combination of "gifts". It was an important message. It must have been. His letters preserve three different variations on that theme, written to three different communities. (You can read his comments in Romans 12, I Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4.) A more recent author phrased it this way:
"You Have A Special Message To Deliver"
There is an old Jewish-Christian tradition which says: God sends each person into this world With a special message to deliver, With a special song to sing for others, With an act of love to bestow.
No one else can speak my message, Or sing my song, or offer my act of love, These are entrusted only to me. According to this tradition, The message may be spoken, The song sung, the act of love delivered Only to a few, or to all the folk in a small town, Or to all the people in a large city, Or even to all those in the whole world.
It all depends on God's unique plan for each person. To which we might add: The greatest gift of God, one would think, Is the gift of life. The greatest sin of humans, it would seem, Would be to return that gift, Ungrateful and unopened. Anonymous
If you're feeling down and discouraged today, there's good news. No matter what your appearance, background or position, you're one of God's unique gifts to the rest of us. God loves you, has a special purpose for you, and believes in who you can become. Lift up your heart. Despite all you may have been told, despite all you may have felt, you ARE special after all!
CAPT J. David Atwater, CHC, USN
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TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Free Republic
KEYWORDS: canteen; chapel; military; troopsupport
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To: Kathy in Alaska
Hi Kathy, wow, I'm really special?
Cool!
Happy Lord's Day to you!
2
posted on
07/18/2015 5:01:50 PM PDT
by
PROCON
(CRUZing into 2016 with Ted!)
To: Kathy in Alaska
3
posted on
07/18/2015 5:04:09 PM PDT
by
WVNan
To: Kathy in Alaska
Hi Everybody!
((((HUGS)))
Have a Blessed Sunday!
4
posted on
07/18/2015 5:06:05 PM PDT
by
left that other site
(You shall know the Truth, and The Truth Shall Set You Free.)
To: xzins; bethelgrad; lightman; LiteKeeper; MoJo2001; 007; 1 FELLOW FREEPER; 11B3; 1FreeAmerican; ...
Sending out prayers for Arrowhead1952 as he recovers from his horrible fall.
Please join us for Sunday Chapel ~ YOU ARE SPECIAL, and Liberty
Lt. Charles F. Suver, CHC, USN, 28th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division
"Mass at Iwo Jima"
Please stop in and say a prayer of protection for the military.
Prayers from all denominations are needed.
Sunday Liberty starts after the Guest Military Chaplain's Service!
5
posted on
07/18/2015 5:13:06 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: All
Dear God: I ask that no Airman, Coast Guardsman, Marine, Sailor, Soldier, Reservist, National Guardsman, or Merchant Marine feel alone or forgotten.
O Israel, hope in the Lord; For with the Lord there is loving kindness, And with Him is abundant redemption. And He will redeem Israel From all his iniquities.
Psalm 130:7 & 8
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posted on
07/18/2015 5:17:03 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: PROCON
Yes you are...and a Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours.
Enjoy your time with Zach? Who won? d:o)
7
posted on
07/18/2015 5:23:39 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: WVNan
Good evening, WVNan, and a Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours.
Interesting video....angels among us.
8
posted on
07/18/2015 5:27:02 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: Kathy in Alaska
A joyous Lord’s Day to you.
9
posted on
07/18/2015 5:30:25 PM PDT
by
SandRat
(Duty - Honor - Country! What else needs said?)
To: Kathy in Alaska
Good Evening, Kathy!
***HUGS***
A Blessed Lords Day to you and yours! Thank you very much for tonights Sunday Chapel thread.
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posted on
07/18/2015 5:38:54 PM PDT
by
ConorMacNessa
(HM/2 USN, 3/5 Marines RVN 1969 - St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in Battle!)
To: left that other site
And a good evening to you, ML...((HUGS))...a Blessed Lord’s Day and Shavua Tov to you and yours.
Extra prayers for your Mom’s peace and healing. A prayer for your sister’s peace.
Hope Steve is doing ok....prayers for peace and healing for him.
Hope your blood pressure has returned to normal after the stuff you been going through with family and friends.
11
posted on
07/18/2015 5:39:14 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: The Mayor; ConorMacNessa; SandRat; 2111USMC; Jet Jaguar; Publius; PROCON; mountainlion; HiJinx; ...
12
posted on
07/18/2015 5:40:04 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: Kathy in Alaska
Yeah, good time with the boy.
We're usually pretty even in games.
13
posted on
07/18/2015 5:40:23 PM PDT
by
PROCON
(CRUZing into 2016 with Ted!)
To: Kathy in Alaska
Freep mail me to be on or off the Daily Bread ping list
Eulogize the Living God July 19, 2015
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.
Ephesians 1:3
In 2005, when American civil rights hero Rosa Parks died, Oprah Winfrey counted it a privilege to eulogize her. Oprah said of the woman who refused to give up her bus seat to a white man in 1955, I often thought about what that tookknowing the climate of the times and what could have happened to youwhat it took to stay seated. You acted without concern for yourself and made life better for us all.
We often use the word eulogy to refer to the words spoken at a funeral. But it can also refer to other situations where we give high praise to someone. In the opening lines of Ephesians, the apostle Paul eulogized the living God. When he said, Blessed be the God and Father, he used a word for blessed that means eulogy. Paul invited the Ephesians to join him in praising God for all kinds of spiritual blessings: God had chosen and adopted them; Jesus had redeemed, forgiven, and made known to them the mystery of the gospel; and the Spirit had guaranteed and sealed them. This great salvation was purely an act of God and His grace.
Let us continue to center our thoughts on Gods blessings in Christ. When we do, like Paul, we will find our hearts overflowing with a eulogy that declares: To the praise of His glory.
Blessed Father, I am overwhelmed by Your grace. My only adequate response is ceaseless praise. Thank You for choosing me, adopting me, redeeming me, forgiving me, and making known to me the mystery of the gospel.
Praise is the song of a soul set free.
Ephesians 1:3-14 is an extended blessing to God for His work of creation and redemption. Paul goes to great lengths to describe and celebrate the goodness of God for His grace and promise. Twice Paul mentions that our salvation is in accordance with His good pleasure or according to the purpose of His will (vv. 5,9 esv). God made the decision to lavish grace on those who would be saved in Jesus Christ, and He took delight in extending that grace.
14
posted on
07/18/2015 5:43:53 PM PDT
by
The Mayor
(Honesty means never having to look over your shoulder.)
To: Kathy in Alaska; laurenmarlowe; BIGLOOK; alfa6; EsmeraldaA; SandRat; mylife; TMSuchman; PROCON; ...
"TAKE UP THY CROSS AND FOLLOW ME"
"I Vow To Thee My Country" Choir Of King's College, Cambridge (Click)
"I VOW TO THEE, my country, all earthly things above, Entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love; The love that asks no question, the love that stands the test, That lays upon the altar the dearest and the best; The love that never falters, the love that pays the price, The love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice.
And there's another country, I've heard of long ago, Most dear to them that love her, most great to them that know; We may not count her armies, we may not see her King; Her fortress is a faithful heart, her pride is suffering; And soul by soul and silently her shining bounds increase, And her ways are ways of gentleness, and all her paths are peace."
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15
posted on
07/18/2015 5:44:39 PM PDT
by
ConorMacNessa
(HM/2 USN, 3/5 Marines RVN 1969 - St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in Battle!)
To: Kathy in Alaska
I practiced with Steve today...he was a little “spacey”, but was able to play quite well.
I really appreciate your prayers for Mom and Sis.
Yesterday was quite a day.
16
posted on
07/18/2015 5:47:23 PM PDT
by
left that other site
(You shall know the Truth, and The Truth Shall Set You Free.)
To: SandRat
Good evening, Sand...((HUGS))...thank you.
A Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours.
How is the shoulder/arm doing? Hernia all healed up? Are you able to lift Maddi?
17
posted on
07/18/2015 5:53:16 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: MoochPooch; left that other site; Yehuda; SkyDancer; DeoVindiceSicSemperTyrannis; Alouette; ...
Shavua Tov.
Wishing all our Jewish troops, veterans, families, allies, friends, and Canteeners
a peaceful and prosperous week.
18
posted on
07/18/2015 5:54:59 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: Kathy in Alaska
19
posted on
07/18/2015 6:01:29 PM PDT
by
SkyDancer
( "Nobody Said I Was Perfect But Yet Here I Am")
To: MoJo2001; AZamericonnie; StarCMC; ConorMacNessa; The Mayor; SandRat; HiJinx; Cindy; ...
Prayers for our troops, veterans, families, allies, friends, and Canteeners
for a safe and peaceful week ahead.
20
posted on
07/18/2015 6:03:34 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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