The Devotional

Papa “J” says

There is a consuming breath that inhales the a thousand nearby and ten thousand far away, but there is the preserving Breath that exhales protection on His saints. Psalm 91:1-16

The Corpsman (paramedic) on board one of the submarines I was on had served in Vietnam. He was given duty on the submarine to help him recover from the trauma he suffered during that time. He could have easily retired from service with a medical discharge but his need to serve was stronger than his need to retire. He loved to play acey ducey (a sailor's game) and he was very good at it. To know him and talk with him you might suspect a turmoil going on inside of his mind. Sometimes in the late watches of the night when he could not sleep, one or two of us would be up with him while he shared a story or two about his experiences. (Sort of therapy for him). The one that haunted him most was a growing need to retire. His wife's health was failing fast and he knew that his place was with her, but he also knew that leaving the military would intensify the post traumatic stress going on in his own mind. In an effort to help him further the Navy transferred him to a local Navy hospital but this did not work out well because his duty was in the childrens ward. They had no children of their own. For some reason I've thought of him today, maybe because he is a close friend.

The Gospel of John

John 1:1-51 Three days now have past since John the baptizer, baptized Jesus. Jesus is well into the forming of his ministry. But we have a hurdle to get over and that would be the forty days of fasting and temptation that really began immediately after Jesus came up out of the water baptism. Matthew, Mark and Luke all record this forty day event, yet John says nothing at all. As we prepare to move into the next chapter I will be looking to cover the time events to include the forty days. So give me a day or two to accomplish this. Thanks.

John 2:1-12 How is it today, is all well with your soul? Weddings are always a special place in most of our hearts. We like weddings for many reasons, most of us enjoy them because of the two becoming one, because marriage is ordained by God Himself. Do you know that God loves weddings. God takes great care to place man and woman together. Why? Because it is not good that man should be alone. Genesis 2:18

We sometimes place so much emphasis of the object of these verses, “the wine! The wine!” "Jesus took water and made wine!" Was it alcoholic or not, was this a miracle or not. Why is our focus so easily placed on such things? Well, for some of us it can be the very distraction that moves us away from a personal relationship with our Creator. But lets not forget this one thing. Jesus is God in human flesh. When we allow faith to work in our heart, we see Jesus and not the object. Jesus, tis the sweetest name I know, how about you?