FReeper Canteen ~ Sunday Chapel ~ THE CRACKED POT ~ 04 December 2022

Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | The Canteen Crew

[Kathy in Alaska]

 

 

 

THE CRACKED POT

A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on the end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master’s house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots of full of water in his master’s house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do. After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream.

"I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you." "Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?" "I have been able for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master’s house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all this work, and you don’t get full value from your efforts," the pot said.

The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the master’s house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path." Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure.

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your path, but not on the other pot’s side? That’s because I have always known about your flaw, and took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you’ve watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master’s table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house.

Each of us has our unique flaws. We’re all cracked pots. But, it’s the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You’ve just got to take each person for what they are, and look for the good in them.

Chaplain Mitch Schranz

 

[The Mayor]

Our Daily Bread

Sunday,
December 4, 2022

A Labor of Love

Read: Colossians 3:23–24

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord. Colossians 3:23

Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler was the first African American woman to earn a medical degree. Yet during her lifetime (1831–95), she recalls being “ignored, slighted and rendered insignificant.” However, she remained devoted to healing and fulfilling her purpose. Crumpler affirmed that although some people might choose to judge her based on her race and gender, she’d always have a “renewed and courageous readiness to go whenever and wherever duty calls,” and that she did. She believed that treating women and children and providing medical attention for freed slaves was a way to serve God. Sadly, she didn’t receive formal recognition for her accomplishments until nearly a century later. 

There are times when we’ll be overlooked, devalued, or unappreciated by those around us. Biblical wisdom reminds us, however, that when God has called us to a task, we shouldn’t focus on gaining worldly approval and recognition but should instead “work at it with all [our] heart, as working for the Lord” (Colossians 3:23). When we focus on serving God, we’re able to accomplish even the most difficult tasks with fervor and gladness in His power and leading. We can then become less concerned with receiving earthly recognition and become more eager to receive the reward only He can provide (v. 24). — Kimya Loder

When have you felt the good you did went overlooked? How can you practice keeping God at the forefront of your activities?

Heavenly Father, thank You for calling me to do good things for You. Help me to focus on what You’ve called me to do.

For further study, read Get Outside—Work.

Bible in a year: Ezekiel 47–48; 1 John 3

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Mayor, and thank you for today’s sustenance for body and soul.

A Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours.

Hope you are enjoying your weekend and staying warm.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Please join us for Sunday Chapel ~ THE CRACKED POT, 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!

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

[Kathy in Alaska]

Shavua Tov.
Wishing all our Jewish troops, veterans, families, allies, friends, and Canteeners
a peaceful and prosperous week.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Prayers for our troops, veterans, families, allies, friends, and Canteeners
for a safe and peaceful week ahead.

[Kathy in Alaska]

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.

[TigerHawk]

Hey, Kathy,

That story is just perfect and personally inspirational. I’ve been the cracked pot all my life! Now, I feel remarkably better about it!

SHAVUAH TOV!

[left that other site]

Hi Everybody!

(((HUGS)))

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

Thanks, unique.

[TigerHawk]

Also, as always, THANKS, for ALL you do. Still keeping warm?

Came across (I have no memory of how) a video about why Anchorage, is an “OVER POWERED” city and will be even more so in the future...some questionable predictions about “Global Warming”, but I think you’ll like it.

I’ve saved it and will send it to you by Private Reply soon.

[radu]

Greetings to all at the Canteen!

To all our military men and women, past and present,

THANK YOU
for your service!

[lightman]

Keep the Lord’s Day in the Lord’s way.

A blessed Second Sunday of Advent (Western)/Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Pentecost & Commemoration of Sts. Barbara and John of Damascus (Orthodox) to all!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Welcome Troops, Veterans, Families, and Allies!
God Bless You and Keep You Safe.

Thanks, unique, for our troop blessing.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, TigerHawk, and Shavuah Tov to you and yours.

Everyone has a role to play...and the cracked pot is a terrific example.

[radu]

Howdy, Kathy.

It looks like we both had gloomy skies today. Ours have finally cleared but for a short time.

Did you get your errands all taken care of today?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, ML...((HUGS))...and a Blessed Lord’s Day and Shavua Tov to you and yours.

You and Tippy still enjoying the sunrises?

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

Hope the wind died down and you could enjoy the day. Maybe some rain?

Clear and cold here today, but warming up. They say some snow is coming early next week, and then single digits and really cold.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Midday we had some clearing on my side of town, but it didn’t really last. Not all errands got done. Work time took longer than expected.

I HAVE to get gas tomorrow. All the stations I passed today were more that $4 a gallon. I will go to Costco and maybe it will be under $4. Maybe? LOL!