November 21, 2011

“Again I say unto you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.” Matthew 18:19

Occasionally I have to brag a little. Today’s devotion is one of those times. One of the things I love about my church is we have prayer meetings. Wait! I know other churches have meetings called that, but most of the time is spent in chatting, Bible study or other good things. But we call our Wednesday service a prayer meeting because we take time to share prayer request, prayer victories and then pray. We share request, victories and pray again on Saturday and Sunday nights and other groups meet on other days to share and pray together. We publish a sheet of paper each week listing the request and victories for people to take home and pray in their private times. Our church has been amazed how great this blessing has been. God never intended us to face life alone. When we share our needs with others they help us carry the load. When trouble comes the pressure is halved. When good times come the joy is doubled. If you are not involved in a prayer group, ask God to lead you to a spiritual prayer support group. Better yet, start one in your church! It’s Biblical!

Thought for the week: A censor is a man who knows more than he thinks you ought to.
            -- Granville Hicks

Funny for the week: Expensive Cosmetics

Joe's wife bought a new line of expensive cosmetics guaranteed to make her look years younger. After a lengthy sitting before the mirror applying the "miracle" products, she asked, "Darling, honestly, what age would you say I am?"

Looking over her carefully, Joe replied, "Judging from your skin, twenty; your hair, eighteen; and your figure, twenty five."

"Oh, you flatterer!" she gushed.

"Hey, wait a minute!" Joe interrupted.

"I haven't added them up yet."

Trip to the ER..Priceless……….. Chaplain Barnes

Last week’s answer: What task was given exclusively to the Levite clan in the Book of Numbers? (Care of the tabernacle - Numbers 3)

This week’s question: Which book in the Bible provides a list of the Jewish exiles who were allowed to return from Babylon?

November 14, 2011

“Cast your burden upon the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.” Psalm 55:22

Be honest now! Just think with me for a moment. What if? What if you never had a worry or care? Would you act any different? Would you do anything different? I would. If  I had absolutely no care or worry in the world I would be the most arrogant, self righteous, flagrant, flamboyant, fool that ever lived. If there were never times when I had done all I could do and nothing works and I had to totally trust the Lord, then He would not be necessary. If I could solve all my problems and fix all my worries I would never cry out to God and understand his power and care for me. I would never pray or search the scriptures for promises or comfort – why bother? I would become a very self centered thankless creature who learned creative ways to pat himself on the back all the time. I would never experience the godly serenity that comes when I totally turn something over the Lord. The truth is, we all do worry and have cares. We are not the master of our own fate. We are not capable of handling all our affairs or defending ourselves from natural and supernatural assaults. There are those times when we must totally trust the Lord because we are not God and He is. It is part of His design to show us that He really does care for us, and that we really are the apple of His eye and the delight of his heart. Feelings will try to tell us different, but faith will always point us to the promises He has given and which He always will keep. It is in faith we cast our burden upon the Lord, it is in faith we leave them there. Worry? Who me? I wish! But I am trying. How about you?

Thought for the week: “Peace is not the absence of trouble - peace is the presence of God.”

Funny for the week: "Special Delivery"

It was 6 p.m., and I was about to leave the coin laundry where I was employed. My boss called me over and asked if I would mind dropping off someone's laundry on my way home. "It's for my cousin," she apologized, "who's eight months pregnant and can't get out much anymore." I cheerfully agreed and, driving to the address, knocked at the door. A little girl, the sister-to-be, answered.

"Hi, there," I said with a big smile. "Is your mommy home?" Holding up the white bundle of clothes, I explained, "I have a delivery for her."

The child's mouth dropped, and her eyes went wide. "Mom!" She shrieked, "come quick! It's the stork!"

Chaplain Barnes

Last week’s answer: Which book in the New Testament says, “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.”? (1 Corinthians 11:28)

This week’s question: What task was given exclusively to the Levite clan in the Book of Numbers?

November 7, 2011

“When you are angry, do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your wrath.” Ephesians 4:26

Did you know it is not Biblical to tell someone “now don’t get mad”? Godly anger has it’s place. We are to be angry when injustice prevails and innocent people suffer or die. We are to be angry when evil sows it thorns of death and destruction on people’s lives. We are to be angry about things God is angry about. But there is always a catch it seems and so does Biblical anger. While we are being angry, we must not sin. We must control our anger and focus it to correct problems and defend the helpless. We sin when we allow the anger to control us. Controlled anger is splitting an atom inside a controlled reactor in a power plant and producing electricity. Uncontrolled anger is splitting an atom uncontrolled in a bomb and destroying everything in an entire city. How are you with anger? Controlled or uncontrolled? When you see the pettiness, rudeness or evil of others, how do you react? When someone bumps you, what spills out? Do we use our anger to carve up other people, cut them down and inflict all the damage we can or do we use anger to fight for right and correct injustice? Do we turn the anger inward and experience deep depression (depression is anger turned inward) or in love confront the offender and seek restored harmony? Since God made us, He also knew the effect anger would have on us and those around us, so he limited the time we could use it. Anger must be resolved quickly and completely or like unchecked bugs in a potato patch, it will destroy us. Anger can be a powerful motivator to push us to fight evil and wrong, or it can be a deadly villain to wreck havoc and destruction on us and those around us. Be angry about what makes God angry, but leave no place for it to control you before the sun goes down; make peace because “Blessed are the peace-makers.”

Thought for the week: “Nothing you will ever lose matters much if you save your soul; nothing you will ever save matters if you lose your soul.”

Funny for the week: Quick proposal.

At a country-club party a young man was introduced to an attractive girl.  Immediately he began paying her court and flattering her outrageously.  The girl liked the young man, but she was taken a bit aback by his fast and ardent pitch.  She was amazed when after 30 minutes he seriously proposed marriage.

"Look," she said.  "We only met a half hour ago.  How can you be so sure?  We know nothing about each other."

"You're wrong," the young man declared.  

"For the past 5 years I've been working in the bank where your father has his account." 

Wonder if she accepted ? …….Chaplain Barnes

Last week’s answer: What did Moses produce from a rock to pacify the mutinous Israelites while wandering in the desert? (Water -  Exodus 17:6)

This week’s question: Which book in the New Testament says, “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.”?