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FReeper Canteen ~ Sunday Chapel ~ You Are Special ~ 24 June 2018
Serving The Best Troops & Veterans In The World !!
| The Canteen Crew
Posted on 06/23/2018 4:59:22 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
Freep mail me to be on or off the Daily Bread ping list
A Friends Comfort
June 24, 2018
No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.
Job 2:13
I read about a mom who was surprised to see her daughter muddy from the waist down when she walked in the door after school. Her daughter explained that a friend had slipped and fallen into a mud puddle. While another classmate ran to get help, the little girl felt sorry for her friend sitting by herself and holding her hurt leg. So, the daughter went over and sat in the mud puddle with her friend until a teacher arrived.
When Job experienced the devastating loss of his children and became afflicted with painful sores on his entire body, his suffering was overwhelming. The Bible tells us that three of his friends wanted to comfort him. When they found Job, they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads. Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was (Job 2:1213).
Jobs friends initially showed remarkable understanding. They sensed that Job simply needed someone to sit and mourn with him. The three men will begin to speak in the next few chapters. The irony is that when the friends do begin to speak, they end up giving Job poor advice (16:14).
Often the best thing we can do when comforting a hurting friend is to sit with them in their suffering.
Heavenly Father, help me to be a good friend to those who are hurting. Thank You that You promise to be near to those who are suffering and provide encouragement through Your Holy Spirit.
A friends presence in the midst of suffering provides great comfort.
Jobs wifes suffering (except for the painful sores) was just as keen as Jobs. She had lost just as much, and her angry advice to Job is completely understandable: Curse God and die! (Job 2:9). Yet even in Jobs response, he did not sin in what he said (v. 10). He merely noted that she spoke like a foolish woman, implying that he knew her character to be noble. The text also highlights the fact that Jobs friends truly did sympathize with his situation and were there to provide genuine comfort (v. 11). But Jobs wife and his friends couldnt fathom that he was part of a cosmic battle they didnt comprehend.
In this life, certain things will remain beyond our understanding. Perhaps someone close to you faces some unanswerable questions. Who might need your quiet presence today?
2
posted on
06/23/2018 5:00:34 PM PDT
by
The Mayor
(Honesty means never having to look over your shoulder.)
To: Kathy in Alaska
3
posted on
06/23/2018 5:04:15 PM PDT
by
mountainlion
(Live well for those that did not make it back.)
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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4
posted on
06/23/2018 5:09:13 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: The Mayor
Good evening, Mayor, and thank you for today’s sustenance for body and soul.
A Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours.
Did you get some me time today?
5
posted on
06/23/2018 5:11:08 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: The Mayor; ConorMacNessa; PROCON; SandRat; mountainlion; HiJinx; 2111USMC; Jet Jaguar; Publius; ...
6
posted on
06/23/2018 5:14:42 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: Kathy in Alaska
WOO-HOO, thanks so much for our Sunday Chapel, Kathy!
7
posted on
06/23/2018 5:18:24 PM PDT
by
PROCON
('Progressive' is an Euphemism for Totalitarian)
To: xzins; bethelgrad; lightman; LiteKeeper; MoJo2001; 007; 1 FELLOW FREEPER; 11B3; 1FreeAmerican; ...
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!
8
posted on
06/23/2018 5:21:39 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: Kathy in Alaska
~ Good Evening ~
~ Hai! And So Are You! ~
~ Good Evening ~
~ Welcome To My World ~
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9
posted on
06/23/2018 5:22:36 PM PDT
by
SkyDancer
( ~ Just Consider Me A Random Fact Generator ~ Eat Sleep Fly Repeat ~)
To: Kathy in Alaska
Thank you, Kathy, that’s just beautiful! And to all of you, “May His face shine upon you on this Lord’s Day and through the coming week.”
To: mountainlion
Good evening, mountainlion...thanks for the link. I’ve read some about him.
A Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours. Summer is here! Good weather for you?
11
posted on
06/23/2018 5:38:44 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: MoochPooch; left that other site; SkyDancer; onedoug; DeoVindiceSicSemperTyrannis; BluesDuke; ...
Shavua Tov.
Wishing all our Jewish troops, veterans, families, allies, friends, and Canteeners
a peaceful and prosperous week.
12
posted on
06/23/2018 5:41:22 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: Kathy in Alaska
13
posted on
06/23/2018 5:43:26 PM PDT
by
SkyDancer
( ~ Just Consider Me A Random Fact Generator ~ Eat Sleep Fly Repeat ~)
To: Kathy in Alaska
Toe-dah! (תודה רבה
14
posted on
06/23/2018 5:43:58 PM PDT
by
SkyDancer
( ~ Just Consider Me A Random Fact Generator ~ Eat Sleep Fly Repeat ~)
To: MoJo2001; AZamericonnie; StarCMC; ConorMacNessa; The Mayor; SandRat; left that other site; ...
Prayers for our troops, veterans, families, allies, friends, and Canteeners
for a safe and peaceful week ahead.
15
posted on
06/23/2018 5:47:33 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: MoochPooch; left that other site; SkyDancer; onedoug; DeoVindiceSicSemperTyrannis; BluesDuke; ...
He Who blessed our forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - may He bless the fighters of the Israel Defense Force, who stand guard over our land and the cities of our G-d from the border of the Lebanon to the desert of Egypt, and from the Great Sea unto the approach of the Aravah, on the land, in the air, and on the sea.
May HASHEM cause the enemies who rise up against us to be struck down before them. May the Holy One, Blessed is He, preserve and rescue our fighting men from every trouble and distress and from every plague and illness, and may He send blessing and success in their every endeavor.
May He lead our enemies under their sway and may He grant them salvation and crown them with victory. And may there be fulfilled for them the verse: For it is Hashem, your G-d, Who goes with you to battle your enemies for you to save you.
G-d bless and keep your children safe, Alouette.
16
posted on
06/23/2018 5:50:04 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: Kathy in Alaska
17
posted on
06/23/2018 5:51:37 PM PDT
by
left that other site
(For America to have CONFIDENCE in our future, we must have PRIDE in our HISTORY... DJT)
To: Kathy in Alaska
18
posted on
06/23/2018 5:52:13 PM PDT
by
mylife
(The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
To: Kathy in Alaska
Thank you Kathy
Yes I did relax some and also a little work.
Needed the break
19
posted on
06/23/2018 6:01:38 PM PDT
by
The Mayor
(Honesty means never having to look over your shoulder.)
To: PROCON
Good evening, Pro...did you work this week or recover from your adventure trip?
A Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours.
20
posted on
06/23/2018 6:11:13 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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