July 25, 2011

Many years ago when I was in Texas at seminary, my pastor shared this in a sermon. I bought the tape and years later my wife transcribed it for me. It is long, but I encourage you to copy it and put it in your devotional material and read it often. A decade later it would be the ointment that would begin my healing from burn-out. Please, consider keeping a copy and meditating on it often. Author is unknown.

Brokenness

When to do the will of God means that even my Christian brethren will not understand, and I remember that neither did his brethren believe in Him: I bow my head to obey and accept the misunderstanding. This is brokenness.

When I am misrepresented and deliberately misinterpreted, I remember that when Jesus was falsely accused he held his peace and I bow my head to accept the accusation without trying to justify myself. This is brokenness.

When another is preferred before me and I am deliberately passed over, I remember that they cried "away with this man and release Barabus," I bow my head and accept rejection. This is brokenness.

When my plans are brushed aside and I see the work of years brought to ruin for the ambitions of others, I remember Jesus allowed them to lead Him away to crucify Him. I bow my head to accept the injustice without bitterness. This is brokenness.

When in order to be right with my God it is necessary to take the humbling path of confession and restitution, I remember Jesus made Himself of no reputation and humbled Himself even unto death. I bow my head and am ready to accept the shame of exposure. This is brokenness.

When others take unfair advantage of my being a Christian and treat my belongings as public property, I remember the stripped Him and parted His garments casting lots. I bow my head and accept joyfully the spoiling of my own goods for His sake. This is brokenness.

When one acts toward me in an unforgiving way, I remember that when He was crucified, Jesus prayed "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." I bow my head and accept any behavior toward me as permitted by my loving Heavenly Father. This is brokenness.

When people expect the impossible of me and more than time or human strength can give, I remember that Jesus said, "This is my body which is broken for you…" I repent of my self-indulgence and lack of self-giving for others. This is brokenness.

Jesus lived apart from self-effort, self-will and self-glory, and Jesus lived in the power of the Spirit.

Thought for the week: "Any man God would use mightily, He must first break mightily."

Funny for the week: "Good News Dewey"

Olga phoned her husband, Dewey, at work for a chat.

"I'm sorry dear," said Dewey, "but I'm up to my neck in work today. I don't have time to chat."

Olga replied, "But I've got some good news and some bad news for you, dear."

"OK, darling," said Dewey, "but as I've got no time right now, just give me the good news."

"OK," agreed Olga. "Well, the air bag works!"

(Two for one, here is a clean pun.)

Swimming Friends

Morty and Saul, are out one afternoon on a lake when their boat starts sinking.

Saul the banker says to Morty, "So listen, Morty, you know I don't swim so well."

Morty remembered how to carry another swimmer from his lifeguard class when he was just a kid. So Morty begins tugging Saul toward shore.

After twenty minutes, he begins to tire.

Finally about 50 feet from shore, Morty asks Saul, "So Saul, do you suppose you could float alone?"

Saul replies, "Morty, this is a heck of a time to be asking for money!"

I hope I live to be as old as my jokes……….Chaplain Barnes

Last week’s answer: Whom did the Lord signify as the next Israelite leader by means of a fleece and dew? (Gideon. Judges 6: 36-40)

This week’s question: Who was the first husband of Bathsheba?

July 18, 2011

"But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man (woman) does not achieve the righteousness of God." James 1:19-20 (Parenthesis mine- tb)

Two cars were waiting at a stoplight. The light turned green, but the man didn't notice it. A woman in the car behind him is watching traffic pass around them. The woman began pounding on her steering wheel and yelling at the man to move. The man didn't move. The woman went ballistic inside her car, ranting and raving at the man, pounding on her steering wheel and dash. The light turned yellow. The woman began to blow the car horn, flipped him off and screamed curses at the man. The man, hearing the commotion, looks up, saw the yellow light and accelerated through the intersection just as the light turned red. The woman was beside herself, screaming in frustration as she missed her chance to get through the intersection. As she was still in 'mid-rant', she heard a tap on her window and looked up into the barrel of a gun held by a very serious looking policeman. The policeman told her to shut off her car while keeping both hands in sight. She complied, speechless at what was happening. After she shut off the engine, the policeman ordered her to exit her car with her hands up. She got out of the car and he ordered her to turn and place her hands on her car. She turned, placed her hands on the roof of her car and quickly was cuffed and was hustled into the patrol car. She was too bewildered by the chain of events to ask any questions and was driven to the police station where she was fingerprinted, photographed, searched, booked and placed in a cell. After a couple of hours, a policeman approached the cell and opened the door for her. She was escorted back to the booking desk where the original officer was waiting with her personal effects. He handed her a bag containing her things and said, "I'm really sorry for this mistake. But you see, I pulled up behind your car while you were blowing your horn, flipping that guy off and cussing a blue streak at the car in front of you, and then I noticed the "Choose Life" license plate holder, the "What Would Jesus Do" and "Follow Me to Sunday School" bumper stickers and the chrome plated Christian fish emblem on the trunk, so naturally I assumed that you had stolen someone else's car." (copied- author unknown)

　

Thought for the week: "You cannot add to the peace and good will of the world if you fail to create an atmosphere of harmony and love right where you live and work."
~ Thomas Dreier

Funny for the week: "Army Nurse Training"

During basic training for the Army Nurse Corps, we were required to spend one week in the field roughing it. It rained the entire week. We arose daily in our swampy tent, took a cold-water beauty bath from our helmets, donned our pistol belts and ponchos, and trudged through the mud to set up field hospitals. Obviously, our personal appearance frequently left much to be desired.

The final blow to our feminine pride occurred while we waited in the mess line in the mud and rain. A young private came by with a camera and asked to take our picture. "It will prove to my girl," he said, "that she has NO reason to be jealous!"

And which field hospital did they take him to?...... Chaplain Barnes

Last week’s answer: Who was bribed with 1,100 pieces of silver from each of many lords? Delilah (Judges 16:5)

This weeks question: Whom did the Lord signify as the next Israelite leader by means of a fleece and dew?

July 11, 2011

Today’s devotion is a little long, but worth reading. Thanks to my Cousin KH for sending this one to me.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us." Hebrews 12:1.　

"REMOVE BEFORE FLIGHT"

Have you ever heard the old hymn titled "I'll Fly Away"? It's a fabulous song, which is well loved by many Christians and one of my favorites. The words in part go like this, "Some glad morning when this life is o're, I'll fly away. To a home on God's celestial shore, I'll fly away. When the shadows of this life have grown, I'll fly away. Like a bird from prison bars has flown, I'll fly away". That is the picture painted for us in God's word of the transition we have to look forward to someday. At one point King David was weighed down with problems and he wrote these words in Psalms 55:6, "And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest." That's a great thought, but many of us are not quite ready to take off and fly, because we are carrying too much weight. A man recounts the following story that kind of puts things in perspective: He says, "During a business trip to Boeing's Everett, Washington factory, I noticed several 747 and 777 airliners being assembled.　　Before the engines were installed, huge weights were hung from the wings to keep the planes balanced.　　The solid-steel weights were bright yellow and marked '14,000 lbs.' But what I found particularly interesting was some stenciling I discovered on the side of each weight. Imprinted there was the warning: 'Remove before flight.'' That seems to be something, which could be understood without saying it doesn't it. You would think that anyone with common sense would understand that wouldn't you. Yet it seems we need to be reminded often about the seemly simple to understand problem of having sin in our lives. The writer of Hebrews writes a great chapter concerning our examples of faith in chapter 12. Notice how he begins that chapter in Hebrews 12:1.　　He says, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us." "Let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress." Most of us understand that if you want to make something that will fly you need to get rid of as much weight as possible. So, what are you going to have to get rid of before you are ready to fly? What is the sin that has hold of your life and is weighing you down? How are you going to get rid of that weight? The problem with all of this is that if you want to take off the weight (of sin), then you have to decide first of all to do what is necessary to get rid of it. There is another old hymn that comes to mind here that says it all. You may know these words also, but it doesn't hurt for us to be reminded of them again. First the question is asked; "What can wash away my sins?" Then the answer is given, "Nothing but the blood of Jesus!" Are you ready for the flight? Then remove the weight!

　

Thought for the week: "If at first you don't succeed, you're running about average."

Funny for the week: God’s sense of humor….

God was sitting in heaven one day when a scientist said to Him, "God, we don't need You anymore. Science has finally figured out a way to create life out of nothing - in other words, we can now do what You did in the beginning."

"Oh, is that so? Tell Me..." replies God.

"Well," says the scientist, "we can take dirt and form it into the likeness of You and breath life into it, thus creating man."

"Well, that's very interesting...show Me."

So the scientist bends down to the earth and starts to mold the soil into the shape of a man. "No, no, no..." interrupts God, "Get your own dirt."

　

GO GOD!!!!...Chaplain Barnes

Last week’s answer: Who was Jacob's favorite wife? Rachel (Gen. 29:30)

This weeks question: Who was bribed with 1,100 pieces of silver from each of many lords?

July 4, 2011

"Ask and it shall be given to you; seek and you shall find…" John 7:7

Allow me a personal indulgence today. It is actually December as I write this devotion. I try to stay several months ahead. So if the Lord ever touches you with what is said, you will know it is Him and not me. He makes the application current to what is written months before. But back to the story. I had written all of last months devotions and part of this months devotions day before yesterday. Yesterday I came in planning to continue working on them and could not find them in the computer. My heart sank to my toenails and I thought I would scream. All day I searched but could not find this file. This morning when I kissed my bride good-by I asked her to pray that I would find the file. Before I began this morning I paused and prayed, "God, you know where that file is. You care about the little things in our life too. You know I spent over eight hours working on that devotion file. You know where it is. Please, if you want me to use what I have written, show me where that file is hidden. Amen" I knew my wife was also praying, so I began hunting, again. Within ten minutes as I combed through my files, there it was, winking and grinning like a mischievous little kid at me. Yes I believe God cares about cancer and wars. But I also believe he cares about computer files and police reports. Next time before you start to "seek," remember to follow John’s advice and ask first. It really does work because "He cares for you."

　

Thought for the week: "The greatest thing about Grace is that it makes life not fair."

　

Funny for the week: Baby Supplies

My husband is always complaining about my inability to stay on a budget and about the costs of running the household in general.

This has become worse since we had twins. Everything is double -- clothes, food, pediatrician bills.

Lately, he has even been complaining about the amount of baby powder I have been using on the twins to prevent them from getting diaper rashes.

I've had to remind him that ... talc is cheap.

Got cha on that one didn't I.......... Chaplain Barnes

Last week’s answer: As recorded in the book of Numbers, what was the minimum age for conscription into the Israelite army? 20 years (Num. 1:3)

This weeks question: Who was Jacob's favorite wife?