FReeper Canteen ~ Sunday Chapel ~ May 20, 2007

The Canteen Crew ^ | May 19, 2007 | Serving The BEST Troops in the WORLD!!!!

[Brad’s Gramma]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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:

 

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

 

 

[Brad’s Gramma]

Dear God:
I ask that no Airman, Coast Guardsman,
Marine, Sailor, Soldier or National Guardsman
Feel alone or forgotten.
Please guide the people of Free Republic to
The FR Canteen Post Office
So they can e-mail a service man or woman today.
AMEN

Some of these links are broken. I’m using this post out of respect to Mr. Tonkin as he used this for his first post. My apologies, I’d change the broken links if I could.

Have a BLESSED Lord’s Day everyone!



On a personal note, I’ve pinged all who have prayed for Gramps…at least I HOPE I’ve gotten everyone’s names!!...to thank you all DEARLY for those prayers. We truly ARE here for one another, are we not? I pray that your Lord’s Day is blessed in every way possible.

Dear God:
I ask that no Airman, Coast Guardsman,
Marine, Sailor, Soldier or National Guardsman
Feel alone or forgotten.
Please guide the people of Free Republic to
The FR Canteen Post Office
So they can e-mail a service man or woman today.
AMEN

[HopeandGlory]

Good morning Troops, Veterans and Canteeners.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Our Flag Flying Proudly One Nation Under God

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Lord, Please Bless Our Troops, They're fighting for our Freedom.

Prayers going up.

[SandRat]

?

[HopeandGlory]

So happy to hear that Gramps is safely home and fiesty with it, that’s a good sign . . . ;-) . . . God be with you all.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Yes? Do you have a question? :) :) :)

[Brad’s Gramma]

Lovin’ you much.....

[stephenjohnbanker]

Good evening, sweetie!

[The Mayor]

May 20, 2007

He Wants More

READ: John 17:1-8

This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. —John 17:3

You always sit in the row ahead of Sam in church. You smile and say “Good morning” when you come in. You say “See you next Sunday” when you leave. But one morning, you add a little conversation: “Sam, could you give me a hundred dollars?”

Unfortunately, that’s the way some people treat the Lord. They have a Sunday-only relationship with Him until they need something. But God desires much more.

The Lord wants us first of all to know Him as our Savior. “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3).

After we become His child (1:12), God desires an ongoing dialog with us and a growing knowledge of who He is and who we can be with His help. He doesn’t want to be a Sunday-only acquaintance or Someone we cry out to only when we’re desperate. God wants us to have a personal relationship with Him. He also wants us to grow in our desire to please Him by obeying Him. “We know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments” (1 John 2:3).

God loves you and wants you to know Him. He does answer desperation prayers. But before you start asking, make sure you know Him personally

The Lord wants more than platitudes
From those for whom He died;
He longs for us to know His love,
And in that love abide. —D. De Haan

Knowing about God may interest us, but knowing God will change us.

Bible in One Year:   1 Chronicles 10-12; John 6:45-71

[Kathy in Alaska]

Click on the pic and I'll guide you
to the start of today's
Guest Military Chaplain Service





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!

[stephenjohnbanker]

? ?

[Brad’s Gramma]

Hello there, Mr. Body Guard!

[Brad’s Gramma]

Thank you, Rus...God bless you and your ministry here on FR.

[stephenjohnbanker]

Good evening, Mayor!

Thanks for the Word!

[Brad’s Gramma]

? ? ?

[stephenjohnbanker]

??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

Don’t mess with me, mes amis!!

[tiredoflaundry]

((((((((((((((((grammie)))))))))))))))))) Just wanted you to know I’m still pestering the heavens for you!

[Brad’s Gramma]

(gulp)

I’ll behave.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Oh THANK you!!!!!!!!!!

[tiredoflaundry]

:-)