FReeper Canteen ~ Sunday Chapel ~ THE CRACKED POT ~ 10 December 2023

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

[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!

Click here for the latest weather, wind and radar.

[left that other site]

Hi Everybody!

(((HUGS)))

[lightman]

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

A blessed Second Sunday of Advent (Western)/Twenty-Seventh Sunday after Pentecost† (Orthodox) to all.

†Unlike the Western Church, Orthodox Christians do not assign titles to early Sundays of the Nativity Fast. Titles begin next week!

[radu]

Greetings to all at the Canteen!

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

THANK YOU
for your 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]

Hello Veterans, wherever you are!!

A Blessed Lord's Day and Shavua Tov to you.

[radu]

Howdy, Kathy.

Were you able to make it to and from the office without problems today?

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

Better weather yet? It’s been gently snowing here all day. “They” said the snow would be tomorrow. I had to go into the office for mail and sending out garnishment checks...I don’t trust other drivers to slow down, so it was not a fun drive. I am really glad to be home.

[left that other site]

Today was nice but we are expecting wind and precipitation tomorrow. The temperature will decide whether it will be rain or snow.

[The Mayor]

December 10

God Won’t Forget You

Bible in a Year :

• Hosea 1–4
• Revelation 1

I will not forget you!

Isaiah 49:15 As a child, I collected postage stamps. When my angkong (Fukienese for “grandfather”) heard of my hobby, he started saving stamps from his office mail every day. Whenever I visited my grandparents, Angkong would give me an envelope filled with a variety of beautiful stamps. “Even though I’m always busy,” he told me once, “I won’t forget you.”

Angkong wasn’t given to overt displays of affection, but I felt his love deeply. In an infinitely deeper way, God demonstrated His love toward Israel when He declared, “I will not forget you!” (Isaiah 49:15). Suffering in Babylon for idolatry and disobedience in days past, His people lamented, “The Lord has forgotten me” (v. 14). But God’s love for His people hadn’t changed. He promised them forgiveness and restoration (vv. 8–13).

“I have engraved you on the palms of my hands,” God told Israel, as He also tells us today (v. 16). As I ponder His words of reassurance, it reminds me so deeply of Jesus’ nail-scarred hands—stretched out in love for us and for our salvation (John 20:24–27). Like my grandfather’s stamps and his tender words, God holds out His forgiving hand as an eternal token of His love. Let’s thank Him for His love—an unchanging love. He will never forget us. .

Reflect & Pray

When were you clearly reminded that God never forgets you? How can His unchanging love give you hope and security in your present situation?

Father, thank You for Your constant love and presence. 

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

And a blessed Second Sunday of Advent (Western)/Twenty-Seventh Sunday after Pentecost† (Orthodox) to all.

†Unlike the Western Church, Orthodox Christians do not assign titles to early Sundays of the Nativity Fast.

Thanks for always adding the Orthodox and Western days.

[lightman]

You are most welcome.

Adding the Old Calendar Orthodox (Russian, Bulgarian, Serbian, Georgian) would just be too complicated. Their Nativity celebration is January 7...thirteen days apart.

[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]

Extra prayers for Israel...

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.

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

Did I hear tornados in Tennessee? Nowhere near you, I hope. Rain still happening?

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

Thanks, unique.

[radu]

Hey there, Kathy.

Yes, there were several tornados in TN this afternoon and tonight. Almost all were north of I-40 but the last one passed through Tullahoma an hour and a half ago - - just a very few miles from here. The sky was strobing with lightning flashes as that went through. I watched from the patio. LOL

That’s all over now and it’s just rain with a little lightning.

It’s not over for the people who were clobbered today. There’s a LOT of cleaning up to do. :-(

[luvie]

Hillsong~Mountain

Glad~Awesome God

Jim Brickman~How Great Thou Art

Life Church Worship~I Give It All

M Souders~We Gather Together

MercyMe~Greater

Passion~In Christ Alone

Providence~Farther Along

Steve Green~Broken And Spilled Out

Have a blessed Sunday, everyone
God Be With Our Troops and Keep Them Safe