I know that if there is anything that we can do, we will certainly do it for the Human Beings across the sea, which are caught in a disaster not caused
by man. I would like to refer you to help agencies like those which are tried and true like the Red Cross, Christian Broadcasting Network or the 700 Club,
Billy Graham Evangelical Organization, and others of like order.
It is now that new organizations pop up with bright new ways to take and not give to the relief of the present problem.
I hope that we can see our individual part in relief of those who are suffering. It is not good enough to say that you have nothing to give financially.
Readers, I pray that you have bent your heart in prayer for this and all tragic circumstances. A prayer brings GOD closer to a solution for those who
are lost. A prayer invites GOD to intervene in the affairs of man. We don’t know just how many of the Japanese have accepted Christ; but it takes life
to do that. Maybe before this disaster some weren’t saved, but after seeing the love demonstrated toward them now, there just may be a change of heart.
Remember that the Word says, “ . . with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee” (Isa 54:8).
There are so many people looking for their loved ones, their little children, the elderly, and children looking for their parents.

One film showed a whole neighborhood pushed off its foundations and into another small town. Why? We don’t know; but we sure can pray for all of them.
If you can’t bring yourself to pray for this horror, just pretend that it is your home, or your loved ones lost in that situation. That’s called intercession.
Jesus sits on the Right Hand of GOD, and only He can sit in that spot because He has experienced the heathenish human horrors.
Only He can feel the pain of those who cry out to Him, and we should be able to empathize with others who are temporarily trapped in tragedy.

Heavenly Father,
We pray in Jesus’ Name for Your Precious Will in the midst of these disasters. We pray that the whole world will come before you at this time of need with
broken hearts and contrite spirits. We understand that this has not come to any of these countries and nations alone, but it has happened to every individual
on the face of this earth because we are all connected in Adam. In our Christian prayer we ask for Salvation, and a desperate need and desire to know you
through your Son Jesus. Instill within our hearts the same love that Jesus had when He looked upon every aspect of our lives and living. We pray Peace
that surpasses all understanding, as You Comfort those who mourn, and Your Mercy encircles those who come boldly to Your Throne of Grace in this time of
need to obtain Mercy.
GOD Bless all of the workers who have gone to the aid of hurting people. Thank You Dear Heavenly Father for the Ministry of Prayer. In Jesus’ Name I
pray. AMEN
TER

REVELATION? GRIEF
1 Peter 5:7 (KJV)
7”Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

The grieving process is unsettling and rattles portions of your being you have never before the onslaught, felt. No one can measure the amount of grief
that should or should not be suffered for any specific event. There are many who attempt to place a rule of thumb for the time to be spent on certain
episodes of grief.
For Instance:
A dog – two to three weeks.
A cat– the same or less.
A human being, non relative – 3 weeks.
A human being, relative– about a month and a half, etc.

There is no need to go any further. The ridiculous scale is off the chart of reality.

You cannot measure by calendar, clock, or relationship how much time should be spent in the mourning or grieving of another. This is the TRUE remedy. When
and if you find yourself caught in hard grief, for any reason, the only way out is through the Power of GOD.

Take a Righteous stand as a Child of the Living GOD. Grab a good hold of Grief, and cast it all on Jesus, as the Scriptures have instructed. Why? Because
He cares for you (1Peter 5:7). Jesus wants your grief because as long as you are being thwarted by grief, you can’t give your Praise, and attention to
His Word. Your time is consumed by the anguishing hold that grief maintains on your life.

How do you give away something as horrible as grief, to someone you absolutely love like Jesus? Grief is so ugly, and penetrating that you can’t imagine
that even Jesus would consent to receiving it. (This thought is from the devil. He wants you to be so prideful that you won’t cast this torment out;
but if and when you agree to do that which Jesus through Peter has commanded, your freedom will exude grief.)
In fact, in the place of grief, Jesus will give you His Joy, for He will not leave you empty and void. Remember that where there is void, the Enemy comes
back to bring seven more, like him, and the last state is worse than the first.
Matthew 12:43-45 (KJV)
43”When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
44Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.
45Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man
is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.”
Don’t play with grief …cast it out.
Don’t reenact the sorrow because others desire you to do so. Tell them about the Love of GOD that has brought you through the worse crises ever with a
testimony about His Love, His Grace, and His Provision.
Cast Grief upon Him, because He cares for you.
TER
QUICK QUOTES:
“KNOW GOD…KNOW HOPE. — NO GOD . . .NO HOPE.”This was a bumper sticker quoted by PASTOR Adrian Rodgers, Sunday February 20, 2011 on the church channel
– TBN
“Preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ at all times, and if necessary use words.”
Author Unknown
“The Prayers of GOD’S people are the extensions of His Loving Arms.”
Helen Morkin, friend to Ruth Graham,
From: “Facing Death and the Life After” by Evangelist Billy Graham
“Faith is the response to Revelation.”
Romans 10:17 (KJV)
17”So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Dr. J. Vernon McGee
“WHEN GRATITUDE FLAMES YOUR ATTITUDE IT RAISES YOUR SPIRITUAL ALTITUDE.” AUTHOR UNKNOWN
MILLSTONE…FORBID THEM NOT! “HOLD HIS HAND”
Hebrews 3:6 (KJV)
“6But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.”
We were always together, my baby brother and I. My mother told me to hold his hand, and to watch him so that he didn’t get into any trouble. (That was
hard to do.)
We were admitted to the Hospital with the same diagnosis, Rheumatic Fever yielding Rheumatic Heart Disease. My brother and I were in the same cubicle,
he on the right and me on the left. The beds were tall, with bars that couldn’t be brought down. As I recall it was like a small prison. The Play Lady
would come once a day, with small books, and little cars, planes, or trains. We were glad to see her, for she was a welcome diversion to young children
confined in a hospital ward. She generously gave me a magic slate, my heart’s desire and gave my brother a few little cars, his heart’s desire.
Upon arrival in the hospital, my little brother started crying, and wishing that he could go home. I told him that we had to wait until someone let us
out. That didn’t do anything but cause him to cry louder. The Nurse came in, and tried to comfort him with no success. Finally when nap time came, he
began to scoot his big bed over to the corner of the room where I was. I really didn’t think that he could move that big bed, so I just played with my
magic pad. (Remember the little pads that you could raise the sheet, and the writing would disappear, leaving you a clean slate to scribble on again?
That was my absorption.) When I finally paid attention to my little brother he was parked right alongside my bed, tears and all. I grabbed his hand
and it was a good thing because we fell asleep, and soon the blinds were opened, and the nurses were looking in on us. I’ll never forget one nurse was
furious, when she saw the two beds parked together. She asked who had done this, and she moved his bed back to the corner. She couldn’t even imagine
that my frail little brother had moved that bed by scooting it an inch at a time. That night, he, once again, scooted his bed over to my corner, and jumped
over the rail into my bed. He grabbed my hand; my hand naturally gravitated to hold his hand also.
We slept well, until the nurse came in and found us together. She, once again separated us, and placed the beds in their respective corners. The next
day, at nap time, my brother got busy scooting his bed; but this time, I decided to meet him half way, so scoot, we did until we met in the middle of the
floor.
One of the nurses told us that she didn’t want to catch us out of the beds moving them across the floor. (She wouldn’t.) We agreed to her chastisement
and reprimanding; however we didn’t have any idea that soon we would get into a tizzy, hard to reconcile, without possibly getting out of the bed.
We were both in my bed, playing tic tac toe on that magic slate, when a person came into the cubicle, and just pulled my brother’s bed back into the corner,
far away from the bed in which we both sat. She didn’t say anything, just moved the bed. We had a dilemma. We had never been in either bed, and the
other wasn’t in close proximity.
Actually, I think that we both panicked. Feverishly we began to both scoot the one bed across the room, and believe it or not, it was easier than trying
to scoot it by ourselves. In a very small frame of time, we were parked once again next to one another. Now, I had to take my bed back into its corner.
I was tired, and nervous; but my little brother had a wonderful suggestion. He decided to scoot his bed, along with my bed back into the middle of the
floor, and then neither of us would get into trouble … good idea. So off we went scooting our beds as if in the Daytona 500 race, back to the middle of
the floor. We made it, and lived to talk about it some years later.
The essence of this article is the desire to obey a command: “Hold your brother’s hand, and keep him out of trouble.” My brother was afraid. I was afraid;
but I had a commandment. My fear had to be put aside as I attempted, in my own way, to take care of my little brother. Readers, Church, we have a commandment,
‘hold fast until I come.’ We’re in a strange place. The tendency is to allow fear to rule and then ignore and avoid that which the Father has commanded
…
“Revelation 3:11 (KJV)
11Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.”
We must get to the position that is more fearful of disobeying GOD than succumbing to Satan. My little brother was afraid, I was afraid; but I was more
afraid and fearful of disobeying our Mother, than the nurses. My Mother told me to ‘hold his hand.’ He felt secure when I held his hand. I felt secure
while holding his hand knowing that I was obeying my Mother. Readers, where is your security? It should be aptly placed in the security of obeying GOD’S
Command to hold fast until He comes.
Revelation 2:25 (KJV)
25But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
TER
Here are some Scriptures that you may want to browse.
“Hebrews 4:14 (KJV)
14Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
Hebrews 10:23 (KJV)
23Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
Revelation 2:13 (KJV)
13I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days
wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
Revelation 3:3 (KJV)
3Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and
thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.”
“So, teach us to number our days…”
THINK ON THESE THINGS: ‘DETERMINATION TO SERVE’
February 23
The Determination to Serve
“The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve …” (Matthew 20:28).
Jesus also said, “Yet I am among you as the One who serves” (Luke 22:27). Paul’s idea of service was the same as our Lord’s—“… ourselves your bondservants
for Jesus’ sake” (2 Corinthians 4:5). We somehow have the idea that a person called to the ministry is called to be different and above other people. But
according to Jesus Christ, he is called to be a “doormat” for others—called to be their spiritual leader, but never their superior. Paul said, “I know
how to be abased …” (Philippians 4:12).
Paul’s idea of service was to pour his life out to the last drop for others. And whether he received praise or blame made no difference. As long as there
was one human being who did not know Jesus, Paul felt a debt of service to that person until he did come to know Him. But the chief motivation behind Paul’s
service was not love for others but love for his Lord. If our devotion is to the cause of humanity, we will be quickly defeated and broken-hearted, since
we will often be confronted with a great deal of ingratitude from other people. But if we are motivated by our love for God, no amount of ingratitude will
be able to hinder us from serving one another.
Paul’s understanding of how Christ had dealt with him is the secret behind his determination to serve others. “I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor,
and an insolent man …” (1 Timothy 1:13). In other words, no matter how badly others may have treated Paul, they could never have treated him with the same
degree of spite and hatred with which he had treated Jesus Christ. Once we realize that Jesus has served us even to the depths of our meagerness, our selfishness,
and our sin, nothing we encounter from others will be able to exhaust our determination to serve others for His sake.
From: “My Utmost for His Highest” by Oswald Chambers

TESTIMONY TIME: FAREWELL TO OUR TJIFA READER BARBARA ROBERTS
In this issue of TJIFA, we bid farewell to a special friend and colleague, Barbara Roberts. Barbara was a kind and generous person. She was loved by
all.
Barbara graduated from the University of Tennessee. Barbara received a Bachelor’s of Science magna cum laud from the University of Tennessee and also
her Master’s Degree in Public Health, summa cum laude.
Barbara had a brilliant mind, she was constantly reading. She used the information to make a difference in the world.
Barbara was an avid TJIFA reader. She, as well as her father, who preceded her in death, enjoyed the recipes that were a part of the TJIFA publication.
She contributed her famous Banana Pudding Recipe, which was enjoyed by all and requested at every gathering.
Barbara, we will never forget you.
Contributed by: BMcC

NOTE: Barbara Roberts was a Christian.
It was a pleasure knowing her in the profession as a reliable resource whose work ethic was as intact as her integrity. Her words matched her actions…dependable.

Barbara saw her ship come in, she laid her last copy of TJIFA down, placed her reading glasses on top of it, and climbed on board and sailed off to the
other side.
GOD Bless You, Barbara,
We’re looking forward to SEEING YOU NEXT TIME on the other side!
TER and TJIFA STAFF.
FRIDAY’S WORD:
FULLNESS OF TIME
The traditional rendering of two similar Greek expressions in Galatians 4:4 and Ephesians 1:10. The first refers to a past event, the sending of Christ
to redeem those born under the law. While the sending of God’s Son encompasses the whole of Christ’s incarnate ministry, the New Testament specifically
relates the sending to Christ’s death as a saving event (John 3:17; Rom. 8:3; 1 John 4:9-10). The sending of Christ in the fullness of time refers not
so much to world conditions in the sense that the prevalence of Greek as a common spoken language, Roman roads, and the Roman enforced peace made the rapid
spread of the gospel possible. Rather the emphasis is on God whose sending of Christ is not a “last ditch effort” but part of God’s gracious plan from
the beginning.
The reference to the fullness of time in Ephesians is more difficult. Some translations understand the time when all things are gathered together in Christ
to lie in the future (NIV, TEV); others, in the past (REB). A major theme of Ephesians is that Christ has already broken down the dividing wall of hostility
between Jew and Gentile (2:11-22, especially 2:14, 21). Therefore, it seems likely that the crucial shift in time between the past with its hopelessness
and hostility and the present age of reconciliation has already occurred.
Chris Church
Holman Bible Dictionary
IN THE MIRROR:
The language of Wills documented a person’s careful last plan including his statement of Faith; for instance, here is what Patrick Henry wrote in his Will.

“I have now disposed of all my property to my family. There is one thing more I wish I could give them, and that is ‘Faith in Jesus Christ.’ If they had
that and I had not given them one schilling they would be rich; and if I had not given them that, and had given them all the world, they would be poor,
indeed.”
From: “Facing Death and the Life After” by Evangelist Billy Graham
You may recognize this from last month’s ‘TESTIMONY TIME.’ The reason you see it today is because I was unable to resist continuing to think in terms of
how much this, and other testimonies like it have affected my life over the years. Maybe I can label it in my mind’s eyesight as ‘real Christian thinking,
as attributed to the words of Jesus Christ.’
What is it that Jesus said, and what is it in my life that I would love to emulate for a generation upon generations? — I’m glad you asked!
Before you go any further reading, I would like for you to back-up at this point and re-read the part where Patrick Henry says, “There is one thing more
I wish I could give them, and that is ‘Faith in Jesus Christ.’” Because this excerpt was found in an Evangelist Billy Graham’s book, you already can properly
assume that he was motivated by the same Jesus, and my intent is not to copy the contents of his book in any respect, but to pour out of my own spirit
how this impacted me.
I believe God has His own audience in every occasion, and on an even more personal note; maybe my kids, and your children may have missed, “Facing Death
and the Life After” and this may be our golden opportunity to express our own hearts, because of the infinite value of what Jesus offers compared to the
world. I am glad to report to you that I find the above statement (Patrick Henry’s), so complete that my personal desire and testimony, and primary objective
is to provide you with scripture that I have come to trust and believe in. Also my impression is that the ‘Early Church Fathers’ proliferated this godly
mandate, even reaching our own generation, tho it has waned for various reasons.
May I share this one tremendous parable in which I believe has influenced many, and one that is most difficult to refute:
“Luke 12:13 - 21 (KJV) 13And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. 14And he said unto
him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? 15And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in
the abundance of the things which he possesseth. 16And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18And he said, This will I do: I will pull
down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for
many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall
those things be, which thou hast provided? 21So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
Here again in scripture, you find Jesus speaking in clear, plain language; logical, practical and easily understood. — The purpose for my emphasis. . .
. That God makes sure nobody misunderstands, and there you have the words found in verses 22–30 of the same chapter. If you’ll pay extra notice as you
read Holy Scripture, God gives us a command, and then He is kind enough to tell us precisely why it’s required of us. If there’s anything I remember as
a child, momma didn’t just tell us what to do, but she always recognized the importance of letting my sister and I know why we were to obey. Thank you
momma!
Is it vitally essential to be “rich toward God?” A resounding,“YES!”
It’s my prayer you will consider all the practical reasons once again. Will you mentally remove anything monetary out of the equation right now? Money
matters are no more than obedience toward God, and my experience in over 40 years of tithing it’s one of the easiest commands in the Christian life.
What is it that generates from a loving father’s heart, “ . . .If they had that and I had not given them one schilling they would be rich; and if I had
not given them that, and had given them all the world, they would be poor, indeed.” I posit that once a man or woman reads and becomes knowledgeable of
just exactly what true faith is in God’s Word, they can never honestly within their hearts offer a generic or pseudo ‘faith’ when they know their hearts
are interlocked with that individual whether a son, daughter, mom, dad, aunt or uncle, best friend, or worst enemy, for that matter!

Isn’t it true that as we look at the world today, we see much more than financial bankruptcy but there is moral depravation everywhere you look, and money
has neither been the problem or solution.— Man, convincing himself that he neither has to obey God, recognize Him as God, or trust Him as God, has created
such a dilemma for other man. When we refuse to be moral beings, by default we become immoral. I’m sure that some just like to think of themselves as amoral,
but God has established Himself in all of mankind. His word remains to be the one standard in which we are to govern of lives by.
If its true that, “The main things, are the plain things” in reading the Bible, then you have every right to sit down with your Bible open and see for
yourself how many cold-hard warnings there are pertaining to giving money an inappropriate position in our lives. Maybe you can relate to what must have
been going through my mind when I read that quotation last week because I understood perfectly the love Patrick Henry had for his children to make such
a profound statement in His will.
In the inductive reading of the Bible, God has made it totally comprehensible why we are to place our total trust in Him, because when an economy fails,
and there seems to be no visible hope, we’ll look to Him through His Book which He alone takes responsibility for writing.(“God said” – “Thus saith the
Lord” – “I am the Lord thy God” – “It is written”– Somebody counted over 2,500 times in Holy Scripture that God takes credit for giving us the Bible we
have today. He’s still using man today to accomplish His will.)
Every individual has an opportunity to examine this assertion for themselves. There’s no person on the face of this earth who can prove God’s promises
for you better than yourself. You alone have the privilege of measuring your own obedience, and that also works in the area of disobedience. I would like
to throw in something that may be helpful to you in this particular arena.
I believe one of the most obvious and natural circumstances involve a fear of trusting in God. Therefore while you are in the process learning how to
have an ‘unshakeable’ faith, make a decisive determination in your heart today to trust God in a place where you never thought you could. I don’t believe
He’ll let you down if you are willing to remain in a position of trusting Him with your whole heart, while meditating on scriptures like;
Isaiah 26:3 - 4 (KJV) 3Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. 4Trust ye in the LORD for ever:
for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:
Isaiah 40:31 (KJV) 31But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be
weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Matthew 11:28 - 29 (KJV) 28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for
I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Please accept this as an incentive in the Lord: “Proverbs 3:11 - 14 (KJV) 11My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
12For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. 13Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth
understanding. 14For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.” If we find ourselves getting
on the wrong track while learning how to wait on Him, He lovingly corrects us because His priority is founded in the relationship we will ultimately have
with Him.

There’s no way for me to know or be able to tell what you had in mind before reading this article, or what you’ll have in mind afterward; But because my
life continues to be influenced by the testimonies that have gone before me, its my prayer that something has been said that will produce greater consideration
to the riches and treasures hidden in the Word of God that we might live forever reaping the infinite benefits only God can provide. That’s why He’s “Father”
(Matt.6:9-13).
My closing question for you would be: What heritage will you leave for those whom you love today? — After you give them the world, they have no more to
look forward to. After you give them Jesus Christ, they have everything to look forward to.
God Bless, SLC
I would like to leave you with a special note. Most everything you read in today’s TJIFA was ‘pre-tsunami,’ or ‘pre’ any of the latest catastrophe’s that
has severely affected and crippled mankind. I share with you the difficulty in not being able to directly address every issue of the day with acute accuracy.
This is where we have to believe that God will still speak to your heart and reveal how everything said and done (and that means the big overall picture),
will minister to every facet of your life. Where the gospel of Jesus Christ is exalted, every one of us benefit whether by life, or by death. God alone
opens eyes to see this truth. SLC
O TASTE & SEE!
Black-eyed Pea Casserole
There are two ways to prepare black-eyed peas. You can slow cook them with vegetables, or you can boil the peas until tender and add to pasta or rice dishes.
Preparation time 15 to 20 minutes plus soaking time.
Cooking time 1 hour, ten minutes.
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup dried black-eyed peas
3 cups vegetable stock
2 tbl. olive or canola oil
8 ounces each potatoes and turnips, peeled and cubed
2 each large onions and carrots, coarsely chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/2 tsp each dried thyme and rosemary
1/8 tsp each salt and pepper
DIRECTIONS:
1.Soak peas overnight or use quick-soak method (below). Drain. In a dutch oven, heat oil and saute onions, carrots, celery and garlic for 5 to 8 minutes.
2. Add one quart water and the stock to the dutch oven with the peas, potatoes, turnips, and herbs. Bring the mixture to a boil and boil ten minutes.
3. Partially cover casserole and simmer 45 minutes or until peas are tender. Uncover, season with salt and pepper, and simmer about 10 minutes longer.

Quick-Soak Method:
If you forget to soak dried beans or are short of time, use this method.
In a large pan of water, bring the beans to a boil.
Remove the pan from the heat and let stand 1 to 2 hours.
Drain the beans, rinse, then cook in fresh water until tender.
SUBMITTED BY: MAMA Ralls – “IN EVERYTHING GIVE HIM THANKS!”