FReeper Canteen ~ Sunday Chapel ~ A MESSAGE FROM MOM ~ 29 June 2014

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[Kathy in Alaska]

 

 

 

A MESSAGE FROM MOM

I gave you life, but cannot live it for you.
I can teach you things, but I cannot make you learn.
I can give you directions, but I cannot be there to lead you.
I can allow you freedom, but I cannot account for it.
I can take you to church, but I cannot make you believe.
I can teach you right from wrong, but I cannot always decide for you.
I can buy you beautiful clothes, but I cannot make you beautiful inside.
I can offer you advice, but I cannot accept it for you.
I can give you love, but I cannot force it upon you.
I can teach you to share, but I cannot make you unselfish.
I can teach you respect, but I cannot force you to show honor.
I can advise you about friends, but cannot choose them for you.
I can advise you about sex, but I cannot keep you pure.
I can tell you the facts of life, but I can't build your reputation.
I can tell you about drink, but I can't say "no" for you.
I can warn you about drugs but I can't prevent you from using them.
I can tell you about lofty goals, but I can't achieve them for you.
I can teach you about kindness, but I can't force you to be gracious.
I can warn you about sins, but I cannot make you moral
I can love you as a child, but I cannot place you in God's family.
I can pray for you, but I cannot make you walk with God.
I can teach you about Jesus, but I cannot make Jesus your Lord.
I can tell you how to live, but I cannot give you eternal life.
I can love you with unconditional love all of my life...and I will!!! -- Mom

The author of this little piece is listed as "anonymous" on the copy I have before me. The author's background, circumstances, intended audience and motive are unknown -- at least to me. It's powerfully written, but I suspect it will impact each of us differently, depending on our own PERSONAL history and circumstances. One thing I do know from many years as a pastor and chaplain. Many of you who read this won't be able to identify with such lofty words. You didn't have a mom like that. And you may not be that sort of parent yourself. Still, there is a message here for all of us. Even in spite of human frailty.

The good news from scripture (at least in the Christian tradition) is that ALL of us already have that kind of loving parent... though some of us may not know or accept it yet. We have God as our Father! And I even remember hearing at least one sermon on "The Motherhood of God!" It wasn't delivered by some radical feminist trying to rewrite Christian theology, but by a very conservative seminary professor. And he based it on a passage from Deuteronomy 32:11 which describes an eagle "hovering" over its young. The professor's point was that God has all the attributes of a good mother as well as of a good father. The psalmist affirmed that as he wrote, "When my father and my mother forsake me, then God will take care of me." (Psalm 27:11)

God doesn't force belief, but, like the mom in that message, gives us the freedom to choose. Even when we reject faith, blame Him for everything wrong in our lives, and hurt His other children, He never gives up on us. And His letters to us are pretty extensive. Hopefully, we will all get THAT message, even if we never have an earthly mom (or dad) like the one in the letter above.

CAPT J. David Atwater, CHC, USN

 

[SkyDancer]

אמן

and G-d Bless ...

[SkyDancer]

Oh, and someone’s pet - a rescue wallaby.

[left that other site]

Hi Kathy!

Most of the time the weather was magnificent, except for the last two nights which displayed the most lightening i have ever seen in my life, and a (little) tornado. Since it was on the ocean, they call it a “waterspout” as if that makes it less scary!

I visited some really nice, unspoiled beaches on Sanibel, Captiva, and Lover’s Key Islands.

And I only spent HALF of the cash I have been saving for a year for this trip. It was really nice.

Tomorrow we have two new musicians in the band, but they seem quite a little too eager and bombastic. I hope we don’t have an “All About Eve” situation forming, with me in the role of Margot Channing.

I will let you know how tomorrow’s service goes. (sigh)

It’s always SOMETHING.

[left that other site]

Lynn-Dah was happy to see me, of course, but a little annoyed that I was taking her away from “Doggie Disneyland”. She did, however, come up onto the couch and watch TV with me for a while.

She will get to stay there again next month as i have to go to Key largo for a few days and inter my friend’s ashes on the coral reef (her request). This is the friend that died in my arms a year ago July 4th.

[Kathy in Alaska]

A great vacation and spending only half the cash....FANTASTIC!!

Hmmm....bombastic will require a STRONG Choir director. Know one?

[Kathy in Alaska]

God Bless our military men and women who have given their all.

Thanks, unique.

[left that other site]

I may have to stamp my little foot.

[xzins]

Weekly Prayer for America

Let to pray to our Lord Jesus:

O Lord, help us to turn and seek you; for you have not forsaken your creatures as we have forsaken you, our Creator.

Let us turn and seek you, for we know you are here in our heart when we confess to you, when we cast ourselves upon you and weep in your bosom after all our rugged ways;

and you gently wipe away our tears, and we weep more for joy;

for you, Lord, who made us, do remake and comfort us.

Amen.

(St Augustine, 354-430 AD)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Prayers needed for DarthDilbert’s daugher.....wisdom teeth pulled and pain persists.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3173637/posts?page=13#13

Prayers on the way for her and the soothing of her pain. And for peace of mind for Dad.

[ConorMacNessa]

Welcome Back, ML!

*HUGS*

It sounds like you had a great vacation - The lower Gulf Coast is one of my favorite areas in Florida!



"Dia shábháil ar fad anseo!"

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[left that other site]

It IS beautiful there!

And i have turned a beautiful (non-painful) reddish brown. (like my ancestors!)

I guess I can go play baseball for Washington now. hehehehe

[left that other site]

Great prayer! Thank you for sharing it. Now i want to read “Confessions”. If the rest of the book is as readable and sincere as that prayer, I’m going to enjoy it!

[luvie]

Nathaniel Ladies Ensemble~Thanks To God

Statler Brothers~Sweet Beulah Land

Casting Crowns~Praise You In The Storm

Providence~O Come Angel Band

Bill Gaither/Velstal Goodman~The Lighthouse

The Trevecca Madrigalians~It Is Well With My Soul

Jeff Beck~Amazing Grace

Have a blessed Sunday

[left that other site]

BTW, as a true Redskin, I am OFFENDED that they want to change the name of the team.

It has always been my understanding that one names their team for something they ADMIRE. Warriors, Tigers, Braves, etc, all indicate prowess and might.

Herewith are some unlikely names for teams that would never be chosen because they are things people DON’T admire:

The Washington Whiners
The Boston Bed-Wetters
The Philadelphia Flops
The Atlanta Asses
The Texas Tax-Collectors
The Pittsburgh Pilferers
The Detroit Deadbeats
The LA Lapdogs
The Bangor Boot-Lickers
The San Francisco Snitches
The Milwaukee Milquetoasts

So, ergo, “redskins” are GOOD, otherwise why would anyone name a team after them?

But...I digress....

[left that other site]

One of our congregation pulled up on a Buell racing Motorcycle.

I told him I would dedicate a hymn to him...Sweet “Buell-a Land”! LOL!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, xzins, and thank for this week's Prayer for America.

And what a great graphic....

A Blessed Lord's Day to you and yours.

[Kathy in Alaska]

A Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours, DarthDilbert.

[The Mayor]

Thank you!
Yes Micah was born last week, 21 inches long and weighed in at 7 lbs 11 ozs

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Luv, and a Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours.

Mom’s are pretty smart. d:o)

[luvie]

Mom’s sure are smart! It’s a shame we wait so long [too long] to listen to them!