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FReeper Canteen ~ Sunday Chapel ~ A MESSAGE FROM MOM ~ 29 June 2014
Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !!
| The Canteen Crew
Posted on 06/28/2014 4:59:56 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska
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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
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TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Free Republic
KEYWORDS: canteen; chapel; military; praisethelord; troopsupport
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To: Kathy in Alaska
2
posted on
06/28/2014 5:03:25 PM PDT
by
SkyDancer
(If you don't read the newspapers you are uninformed. If you do read newspapers you are misinformed)
To: xzins; bethelgrad; lightman; LiteKeeper; MoJo2001; 007; 1 FELLOW FREEPER; 11B3; 1FreeAmerican; ...
Please join us for Sunday Chapel ~ A MESSAGE FROM MOM, 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!
3
posted on
06/28/2014 5:04:05 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: Kathy in Alaska
I have said it before and will say it again. My Mother was the best person I have ever known and I have known some fine people.
4
posted on
06/28/2014 5:08:19 PM PDT
by
yarddog
(Romans 8: verses 38 and 39. "For I am persuaded".)
To: All
5
posted on
06/28/2014 5:08:25 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: Kathy in Alaska
Hi Everybody!
((((HUGS))))
I’m back, safe and sound!
6
posted on
06/28/2014 5:13:57 PM PDT
by
left that other site
(You shall know the Truth, and The Truth Shall Set You Free.)
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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7
posted on
06/28/2014 5:17:11 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: Kathy in Alaska
Freep mail me to be on or off the Daily Bread ping list
Focus On The Process
June 29, 2014
Read: 2 Peter 1:2-11
In William Zinssers book On Writing Well, he says that many writers suffer from the tyranny of the final product. They are so concerned with selling their article or book, they neglect learning the process of how to think, plan, and organize. A jumbled manuscript, Zinsser believes, is produced when the writer, his eye on the finish line, never gave enough thought to how to run the race.
Author and minister A. W. Tozer applies that principle to our spiritual lives. In his book The Root of the Righteous, Tozer describes our tendency to be concerned only with the fruit . . . [and] ignore the root out of which the fruit sprang.
The apostle Peter reminded first-century believers that Christlike living and effective service result from a process. He urged them to grow in eight areas of spiritual development: faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love (2 Peter 1:5-7). If you possess these qualities in increasing measure, Peter said, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (v.8).
God calls us to a wonderful process of learning to know Him, with the assurance that it will lead to productive service in His name and for His honor.
Lord, so often we want complete and perfect
solutions here and now. But You work graciously in
Your good time. Let Your goodness and patience and
virtue shine through us so that we may bless others.
The Christian life is a process in which we learn complete dependence on God.
God has given us everything we need for living a holy life (2 Peter 1:3). Therefore, Peter exhorts us to respond diligently to these great promises and abundant provisions of divine power (vv.4-5) by making every effort to grow in faith, graciousness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, devotedness, kindness, and love (vv.5-7).
8
posted on
06/28/2014 5:20:31 PM PDT
by
The Mayor
(Honesty means never having to look over your shoulder.)
To: SkyDancer
G’Day, Janey...((HUGS))...a Blessed Lord’s Day and Sahavua Tov to you and yours.
Take your pet to work day?
9
posted on
06/28/2014 5:25:45 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: yarddog
Good evening, yarddog, and a Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours.
God Bless your Mom.
10
posted on
06/28/2014 5:39:45 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; BIGLOOK; mountainlion; ...
11
posted on
06/28/2014 5:40:32 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: Kathy in Alaska
Please keep my daughter ion your prayers. She had her wisdom teeth removed today and the pain pills aren’t helping much.
To: Kathy in Alaska
Please keep my daughter in your prayers. She had her wisdom teeth removed today and the pain pills aren’t helping much.
To: Kathy in Alaska
What a lovely message. :)
14
posted on
06/28/2014 5:52:06 PM PDT
by
luvie
(All my heroes wear camos! Thank you David, Michael, Chris Txradioguy, JJ, CMS, & ALL Vets, too!l go)
To: left that other site
Welcome home, ML...((HUGS))...a Blessed Lord’s Day and Shavua Tov to you and yours.
Did you have a wonderful time relaxing? Nice weather?
Was Lynn-Dah glad to see you?
15
posted on
06/28/2014 5:59:42 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: MoochPooch; left that other site; Yehuda; DeoVindiceSicSemperTyrannis; Alouette; ...
Shavua Tov.
Wishing all our Jewish troops, veterans, families, allies, friends, and Canteeners
a peaceful and prosperous week.
16
posted on
06/28/2014 6:02:45 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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.
17
posted on
06/28/2014 6:07:37 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: MoochPooch; left that other site; Yehuda; DeoVindiceSicSemperTyrannis; Alouette; ...
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.
18
posted on
06/28/2014 6:15:15 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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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"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)
19
posted on
06/28/2014 6:23:04 PM PDT
by
ConorMacNessa
(HM/2 USN, 3/5 Marines RVN 1969 - St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in Battle!)
To: The Mayor
Good evening, Mayor, and a Blessed Lord’s Day to The Mayor family.
Thank you for today’s sustenance for body and soul.
Are you a new Grampa now?
20
posted on
06/28/2014 6:24:17 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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