T J.I.F.A.
THANK JESUS IT’S FRIDAY AGAIN!
PASS IT ON…& ON…& ON…& ON!
FRIDAY APRIL 22, 2011
INDEED IT IS RESURRECTION DAY!
IF IT WEREN’T FOR THIS GREAT DAY, WE WOULDN’T HAVE THE NAME ABOVE
ALL NAMES…JESUS, THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF ALMIGHTY GOD. WELCOME TO TJIFA,
CHRISTIANS.
SUBJECT: “MARY” HOW DID SHE FEEL WHEN HER SON TOOK THE WEIGHT OF
OUR SIN INTO HIS INNOCENT BODY?
NOTEWORTHY: COLLISION OF GOD AND SIN BY: OSWALD CHAMBERS
BOOKSHELF: SEE YA NEXT TIME.
REVELATION? SEE YA NEXT TIME.
QUICK QUOTES: VARIOUS CONTRIBUTORS
TOTT: SEE YA NEXT TIME.
MILLSTONE…FORBID THEM NOT! IS LIFE REALLY FULL OF CHEER?
TESTIMONY TIME: OPPRESSION
FRIDAY’S WORD: “ONLY BEGOTTEN SON”
IN THE MIRROR: “WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE CROSS OF CHRIST . . .”
O TASTE & SEE! SUNNY ORANGE LAYER CAKE – YUM, YUM – JUST IN
TIME FOR RESURRECTION DAY DESSERT SUBMITTED BY: BJM
LOOKING FORWARD TO A WONDERFUL RESURRECTION DAY…SOME DAY.
SEE YA NEXT TIME!
TER & TJIFA STAFF
MARY
“Mary, they have taken Jesus!” Several people rushed to tell her
that her Son was now in the hands of the Sanhedrin. She wondered carefully as
she was led to the area where He was being held. There she saw her Son, tall,
lean, wearing the beautiful white seamless robe, His hair was disheveled, His
hands were tied, His feet were fettered, and there seemed to be new bruises
on His cheek bones. She assured herself, as she looked at her Son, that they
surely had the wrong person, and would soon release Him. After all Jesus never
broke any of the law, in fact He enforced not only the secular, but absolutely
the Law of GOD, which the Sanhedrin was so particular about. When they finished
with this inquiry, she would be here to walk with Him and His disciple’s
home to a good cooked pot of soup.
Mary looked around to discover the disciples. That was strange, none of them
were here. She mused, ‘they probably didn’t want to leave their
meals;’ and then she noticed that John was with Jesus but not seemingly
on trial. He stood close to Him but apart from the inquisition. Mary looked
harder, she thought that she saw Peter, warming himself by the fire, but soon
he was missing, after a loud tumult. ‘He was probably declaring how innocent
Jesus was, knowing Peter.’
People were volunteering false witness against Jesus. These were the same people
who ate the loaves of bread and fish in the wilderness, these were the same
people who laid palms in the way and took off their very cloaks to prevent the
animal’s feet, upon which He rode, from touching the ground. They clamored
for Jesus to be their king; with shouts of “Hosanna, Hosanna.” These
were the same people who were healed in one of the greatest healing meetings
anyone has ever witnessed, and now they seemed to take delight in reporting
falsely against Jesus…Why?
Mary saw Jesus prepare to answer the High Priest, she listened closely. “63But
Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure
thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son
of God. 64Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you,
Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and
coming in the clouds of heaven. 65Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying,
He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now
ye have heard his blasphemy. 66What think ye? They answered and said, He is
guilty of death.” (Matthew 26:63-66; KJV).
Death? Mary could feel the chills go from her brain to the base of her spine,
her knees began to quake. “Death?” She couldn’t believe that
these townspeople would vote to put her Son, her gentle Son to death. What had
He done? He only tried to help this stiff-necked people. Just as she started
to scream at the accusers, a quiet hand was placed on her shoulder, it was Mary
Magdalene, who loved Jesus. Mary buried her face in the clothes of Mary Magdalene,
and wept uncontrollably.
Suddenly the people moved as if in concert, spitting, punching, pushing, yelling
insults, grabbing His hair on His face, and on His head, slapping Him with the
palm of their hands, screaming that His Blood would be on them and their children,
all were in agreement against…JESUS.
Mary Magdalene tried to encourage Mary to leave this scene, however Mary regained
her composure, and told her that she would not leave her Son. She stood without
support watching the gang-like attacks on her…Son.
The two women stood very close to one another. Mary knew how much Mary Magdalene
loved Jesus, and how she had endured so much ridicule for being close to Him.
She loved Him because He had shown her the way of Righteousness, something that
no one else had ever done. Mary watched Mary Magdalene as she quietly tried
to wipe a continuous stream of tears from her eyes. Mary thought of the day
when a WOMAN, UNKNOWN TO THE GROUP, washed Jesus’ feet with her tears,
and dried His feet with her hair. Mary recalled the Joy that followed Mary Magdalene’s
deliverance from seven spirits, {“1And it came to pass afterward, that
he went throughout every city and village, preaching and showing the glad tidings
of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him, 2And certain women, which
had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out
of whom went seven devils, 3And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward,
and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance”
(Luke 8:1-3; KJV). . .and how afterwards, she pledged her allegiance to Jesus
and His cause. She was a beautiful woman, and her newfound walk only enhanced
her matchless exquisiteness. Mary moved even closer to Mary Magdalene and on
purpose hooked her arm through Mary Magdalene’s. No conversation was necessary.
Both of the women, who loved The Carpenter from Galilee would stay until this
torturing ordeal came to a close.
They moved to a non obtrusive area, where they could see into the place where
the Chief Priests and Elders took advantage of this powerful, innocent man.
Mary wondered if they would be so aggressive if He were not chained and fettered,
and if He didn’t allow this treatment. She thought about the water turned
to wine (John 2:1-11), the Widow of Nain’s son (Luke 7:11-15), the little
girl who was raised from the dead (Luke 8:50-56), Lazarus, (John 11:1-45). She
thought about the episode of Jesus walking on the water, and feeding those thousands
of people, healing the lepers, opening blind eyes, and opening the ears of the
deaf. Mary took a long mental walk from past to present. She remembered the
sorrow of her Son when John, the Baptist was beheaded. She went into a deep
concentration when John the Baptist was remembered.
Mary thought about the trip to her cousin Elizabeth’s home and feeling
the babe, John leap in his mother’s womb. She remembered the power of
the life felt at that moment. Her heart became heavy as she remembered the words
of Simeon… Luke 2:34-35 (KJV)
“34And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this
child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign
which shall be spoken against;
35(Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of
many hearts may be revealed.”
If she had never felt the reality of Simeon’s Prophetic voice, she felt
it now. It was getting late. They had taken Jesus somewhere in the building
where she couldn’t see Him. She wondered how long they would keep Him.
When He taught His disciples, He would always talk about suffering, dying, and
Resurrection. Jesus was GOD’S child. So how could He be sustaining this
kind of treatment? She wished that He would just tell them that He was not guilty.
She prayed. He’ll need some treatment for the bruises, and breaks on His
skin. I’m glad that I am here to escort Him home. I won’t leave
Him. (My very special Son, born of the Power of GOD. I won’t forsake You,
Jesus.)
The night slowly deflated its dark grip , and its ability to cloak wrong, without
resistance it was almost morning.
Mary was startled by the crowing of the Rooster. Mary Magdalene kept her vigil
next to Mary. They had kept Him all night, and now she heard the commotion of
the guards and the recognizable clang of the ankle chains …on Jesus’
feet. He was still bound, as they lead Him out of the building. She could see
His face clearly. He looked tired, assaulted, He needed water, food, and understanding.
Was this my Son? His seamless Robe was apparent, His beautiful eyes, His calm
demeanor. . . Yes, this was my Son. What had happened? Couldn’t they find
out that He was innocent? Where were they taking Him?
Jesus was taken to the Governor, Pilot, who after questioning Him, rendered
an innocent verdict. Mary hoped against hope as she listened intently. She heard
them say that He was not guilty, then why? Why are they going through with this
horrible thing? She could not hold back her tears. They came with great volume
like a Torrential Rain. She felt herself getting light headed. She couldn’t
faint, no! No. She wouldn’t.
She heard the command to scourge Jesus; but that wasn’t enough for these
cruel heartless tyrants. Did it matter to them that He was born in a special
manner? Did it mean anything to them that He truly was the Son of GOD? I guess
not. She listened carefully as the band of soldiers laughed, and scorned Him;
as they commanded Him to prophesy ‘who hit Him?’ The sound of the
‘cat of nine tails’ rang through the air. The laughter and mocking
were unnatural. It was unnatural to think that another human being would treat
his fellow man in this manner.
She never heard the familiar voice of her Son, not even in groaning…no
complaints from Jesus. His fate was sealed. Barabbas went free, and Jesus would…
A great Light opened in her soul. “He is the Lamb of GOD! My Son is the
Lamb of GOD. He knew that He was the Lamb, the Sacrificial Lamb of GOD.”
In her head she could hear the High Priest read the Words of Isaiah:
“1Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
2For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry
ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is
no beauty that we should desire him. 3He is despised and rejected of men; a
man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from
him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem
him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5But he was wounded for our transgressions,
he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him;
and with his stripes we are healed. 6All we like sheep have gone astray; we
have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity
of us all. 7He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth:
he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers
is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 8He was taken from prison and from judgment:
and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of
the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken (Isaiah 53:1-8
(KJV).”
When He emerged from the Hall, neither she nor anyone could have recognized
Jesus, the Carpenter from Galilee. He was blood-stained, and bleeding. His face
was swollen from the many slaps and punches in His face, His beautiful robe
was no longer white, but badly stained with bodily fluids, and of course, His
Precious Blood. Is this what our sin looked like? She fell down in reverence
to Him as He passed. She hated her own sin that had destroyed her Son. A strong
hand helped her up from the ground. It was John. John, who had been with Jesus
from the beginning. John, who now found time to stand in strength, and comfort
the Beloved Mother of Jesus. Both women fell on his neck with mourning sobs
of expanded grief. Mary’s heart ached; she could hear the obvious cries
of Mary Magdalene, who had stayed right there with her. She was faithful.
John gathered the two women, and shepherded them to a place where they could
see and hear everything surrounding the crucifixion. They were joined by two
other women whom they knew. Mary turned her total attention to John. She asked
him many questions that only a Mother would or could ask. John with his usual
precision in love, answered every question with poise, and regret concerning
the situation that he now found himself engaged. He too, loved Jesus.
The time was now. The badly, beaten, body of Jesus was hoisted up from the earth.
The crowd, who originally demanded His destruction, gasped at the sight of the
living remnant of Jesus. The Lamb of GOD without spot or wrinkle was marred
with their sin, transgression, and iniquity… it was not in any form attractive.
The sounds of the crowd were easily heard by Mary. “39And they that passed
by reviled him, wagging their heads, 40And saying, Thou that destroyest the
temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God,
come down from the cross. 41Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with
the scribes and elders, said, 42He saved others; himself he cannot save. If
he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will
believe him. 43He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him:
for he said, I am the Son of God. 44The thieves also, which were crucified with
him, cast the same in his teeth. 45Now from the sixth hour there was darkness
over all the land unto the ninth hour. 46And about the ninth hour Jesus cried
with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God,
my God, why hast thou forsaken me? 47Some of them that stood there, when they
heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias. 48And straightway one of them
ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and
gave him to drink. 49The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come
to save him” (Matthew 27:39-49; KJV).
From the Cross, after many hours, Jesus spoke. “25Now there stood by the
cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas,
and Mary Magdalene. 26When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple
standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
27Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that
disciple took her unto his own home”(John 19:25-27; KJV).
Mary’s thoughts about her brief encounter with Jesus was riddled with
good times, days of laughter, hope, encouragement, and much Love. She could
not look back on those days without remembering all of the life of Jesus.
All of this had to yield to the “Third Day,” the happiest and most
joy-filled day of Mary’s entire life. Yes. “The Third Day”
proved everything that He had ever been previously said. The Third Day made
Believers out of many hard hearted people.
Mary had no doubt that what she had witnessed was for the Salvation of the whole
world, and it was, and is so simple. Just believe. Just believe that GOD sent
His Only Begotten Son to this sin filled planet, earth to suffer, bleed, and
to die for all of our sin. He was indeed the Sacrificial Lamb of GOD.
Do you believe that? If you do, we’ll be,
LOOKING FORWARD TO
SEEING YA NEXT TIME FOR A LONG TIME!
TER
NOTEWORTHY: THE COLLISION OF GOD and SIN
APRIL 6
The Collision of God and Sin
“… who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree …”
(1 Peter 2:24).
The Cross of Christ is the revealed truth of God’s judgment on sin. Never
associate the idea of martyrdom with the Cross of Christ. It was the supreme
triumph, and it shook the very foundations of hell. There is nothing in time
or eternity more absolutely certain and irrefutable than what Jesus Christ accomplished
on the Cross—He made it possible for the entire human race to be brought
back into a right-standing relationship with God. He made redemption the foundation
of human life; that is, He made a way for every person to have fellowship with
God.
The Cross was not something that happened to Jesus—He came to die; the
Cross was His purpose in coming. He is “the Lamb slain from the foundation
of the world” (Revelation 13:8). The incarnation of Christ would have
no meaning without the Cross. Beware of separating “God was manifested
in the flesh …” from “… He made Him … to be sin
for us …” (1 Timothy 3:16; 2 Corinthians 5:21). The purpose of the
incarnation was redemption. God came in the flesh to take sin away, not to accomplish
something for Himself. The Cross is the central event in time and eternity,
and the answer to all the problems of both.
The Cross is not the cross of a man, but the Cross of God, and it can never
be fully comprehended through human experience. The Cross is God exhibiting
His nature. It is the gate through which any and every individual can enter
into oneness with God. But it is not a gate we pass right through; it is one
where we abide in the life that is found there.
The heart of salvation is the Cross of Christ. The reason salvation is so easy
to obtain is that it cost God so much. The Cross was the place where God and
sinful man merged with a tremendous collision and where the way to life was
opened. But all the cost and pain of the collision was absorbed by the heart
of God.
From: “My utmost for His Highest” By: Oswald Chambers
QUOTABLE QUOTES:
“Lives beyond our touch, but within your closeness.”
From: Television memorial services for Army Wives.
“Look backward with gratitude, look onward with hope, and look upward
with confidence.” From: Yearbook of Comfort and Joy by Celia Haddon
Contributed by BJM
“Why is it that when we talk about freedom of speech, we really want to
talk dirty? We want to look dirty, and we want to be dirty, that’s freedom.
Well it is because man is totally depressed when he is given freedom. That’s
the direction he wants to go.”
Dr. J. Vernon McGee TTB Broadcast Thursday April 7, 2011
“If there be anything in my style or thoughts to be commended the credit
is due to my kind parents for instilling into my mind an early love of the Scriptures.”
Daniel Webster.
“To say that Love doesn’t draw and doesn’t work is like saying:
You can take a powerful magnet and put it against a metal object and it doesn’t
stick. GOD’S Love always draws GOD’S Love is immeasurable; it will
always draw the people to GOD. Not only will that powerful magnet draw one metal
object; but the magnetic force within that object will continue to draw other
objects.”
SLC
MILSTONE…FORBID THEM NOT! IS LIFE FULL OF CHEER?
RESURRECTION DAY PROGRAM.
Does anyone remember the Resurrection Day Programs, where all of the little
children spoke verses or little quotes in their new clothes, and the parents
were so proud?
I can never forget those programs. They were pulled out of the basket every
Resurrection Day, and the poor little children, who had never been in front
of a crowd would cry, and try to beg their way away from the stage… to
no avail. The proud parents wanted to see their little gift to the world perform
better than the rest. After all their clothes cost more than all of the rest
of the little Christians. (They had favor.)
I still cannot forget the Resurrection Day Sunday that my younger brother and
I had a little poem to say, together. I was to start with the first sentence
or two, and he was to follow with his. I had been in many concerts by the time
that I was eight, so this was a piece of cake (Or so I thought).
This is the poem:
My part: When you see the grass so green and the flowers bloom, and the trees
dressed in green, wave their arms in the air…
My Brother’s part: “Tis GOD’S way of telling us ‘Life
is full of cheer.’”
We walked on to the stage, I went first, as usual, and he was in toll I knew
my part because I was the oldest, and had more experience than my little brother.
When we reached the middle of the stage…FRIGHT FOUND FREE REIGN…
in me!
My little brother began looking up at me, and saying out loud. “It’s
your turn. It’s your turn.” I could hear him as an alarm clock that
needed to have a snooze button installed.
I saw all of the people, smiling, waving, and anxiously awaiting my Resurrection
Day Voice. Finally my brother blurted out my part, and proceeded to ask me,
“Should I bow?” I said, “Yes.” Off we went me in the
lead and ‘Einstein’ in toll.
I believe that that Resurrection Day Program was the most embarrassing that
I have ever experienced.
Have a wonderful Resurrection Day, and please remember the Sacrifice.
TER
TESTIMONY TIME:
Psalms 103:6 (KJV)
“The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.”
How many times have I read this verse, even memorized it; but failed to understand
it until the bottom fell out of my world. Sometimes it takes a drop down to
realize your position. Only when you fall do you realize how high you were in
the first place, then, and only then can you remember from whence you have fallen.
Losing a child is detrimental, no matter when you lose him; in ethereal, as
a babe in arms, as a toddler, elementary, teenage, collegiate, or grown. A child
will always be a mother’s child. The arms that rocked him close to her
breast will fall empty when a mother loses her child. The hope that was poured
into that life runs out into the atmosphere and onto the ground, when a mother
loses her child. The joy that accompanied her life is snatched as quickly as
or faster than the announcement that he or she was born alive. Life came and
then was gone. Gone. This should not be; but is…gone. Hard to deal with,
hard to reconcile. You can no longer go to the window or door, and call his
name, telling him that it is time to come into the house; you can no longer
tell her that she should put away her dolls and get ready for bed. Gone!
That empty pervasiveness of death caught in the natural anticipatory concern
about the well being of the soul whose first cry marked the beginning of your
watch. Your time card was punched in that noisy minute of life breaking the
sound barrier from eternity to mortal time. Now, Mother, your empty arms remind
you of your inability to coax them along in life are deepening disruptive deterioration.
Your grinding internal time clock still reminds your retarded flesh that it
is time for him to come through the door, or for her to kiss you on the cheek,
good-night.
Where is that Comfort that GOD has promised? I know that He does not lie; I
know that if there is Comfort available He will give it to me.
I’ve looked through his tool box, and searched her old doll box. Where
is the Comforter? Where is He?
He, The Comforter, is but a whisper away. He is as close as your next breath,
He is listening to your heart’s cry of Faith. He longs to heal you more
than you long to rid yourself of the pain of mourning and grief.
He carries out His Will of Righteousness, and Judgment for all that are oppressed
(depressed). He cares for you, Mother, He will replace your mourning with Joy,
unspeakable, and full of Glory. His Will is not grievous to us, and in death
we must find the Will of GOD, otherwise death will take your very soul. The
spirit of death is sent to destroy the remaining souls; because he can no longer
touch the one that is asleep, so what better plan than to work devastation on
those who remain, with uncertainty, and cruel reminders of what could have been?
GOD is so far ahead of the thwarted plans of the devil. GOD’S Will brings
us to saving Grace and Peace of mind.
GOD’S Will shovels up death, the grave, grief, and mourning like snow
being thrown aside, out of the way permanently until it finally gets the hint,
and surrenders to the rays of the sun. We must take the Will of GOD in our personal
lives, and allow it to surround us, protecting us from the onslaught of the
enemy. When we allow the Will of GOD to lead and guide us, we will then be as
Jesus taught when He surrendered to His Father’s Will (Matthew 26:39 (KJV),
39”And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying,
O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not
as I will, but as thou wilt.” Then, and only then, will we experience…Resurrection,
as He did.
Resurrection dispels grief, and places mourning under the feet of Joy. Allow
Jesus to execute Righteousness and Judgement over all of your depression in
His Name.
TER
FRIDAY’S WORD: “ONLY BEGOTTEN SON”
ONLY BEGOTTEN KJV alternate rendering of the Greek monogenes (John 1:14, 18;
3:16, 18; Heb. 11:17; 1 John 4:9). Elsewhere the KJV rendered the term “only”
(Luke 7:12; 8:42; 9:38). The phrase “only begotten” derives directly
from Jerome (340?-420 A.D.) who replaced unicus (only), the reading of the Old
Latin, with unigenitus (only begotten) as he translated the Latin Vulgate. Jerome’s
concern was to refute the Arian doctrine that claimed the Son was not begotten
but made. This led Jerome to impose the terminology of the Nicene creed (325
A.D.) onto the New Testament.
Monogenes is used for an only child (Luke 7:12; 8:42; 9:38). The writer of Hebrews
used monogenes of Isaac with full knowledge that Isaac was not Abraham’s
only child (Heb. 11:17-18). Here monogenes designates Isaac as the special child
of promise through whom Abraham’s descendants would be named.
KJV, NASB render monogenes as “only begotten” when referring to
Jesus. NIV renders the term “One and Only” (Compare the NASB margin,
“unique, only one of His kind.”) Other translations (REB, NRSV,
TEV) render monogenes consistently as “only.” John used monogenes
to designate the unique relationship which Jesus shares with God. John is careful
to reserve the term Son for Jesus; believers are children (John 1:12; 1 John
3:1-2; 5:2). As unique Son of God, Jesus makes God’s glory known in a
unique way (John 1:14, 18). As the One and Only Son, Jesus is the unique gift
of God, the giving of God’s own self for salvation (John 3:16; 1 John
4:9). Because Jesus is the unique representative of God, rejection of Jesus
is tantamount to rejection of God. Such rejection results in swift condemnation
(John 3:18).
From: Holman’s Bible Dictionary
IN THE MIRROR:
Question: When we think about the Cross of Jesus Christ, do we include our own
Resurrection?
After preaching a message on 1st Corinthians 15th Chapter today, I found myself
still left with a myriad of personal thoughts that wondered if I were to sit
down and talk with you, would you see things differently after deep consideration
of why the apostle Paul would write with such labor of love, and intensity of
heart.
My intention is not to sit here and give you a copy of the message, but to ask
the Holy Spirit that I might have the privilege of loving on you as what I believe
took place in our fellowship this morning. Before you will think I can take
any credit for whatever goes on paper right now, I’m just pointing you
to one of the greatest dissertations by the apostle on the Resurrection, and
if he were here to give witness, I believe he would readily say, “Don’t
look at me, it was all the Holy Spirit.”
As we approach the greatest event in all human history, do you ever fail to
realize how much was actually done in our behalf? I don’t believe chapters
like 1st Corinthians 15 would exist if God had not wanted us to have the ability
to be constantly reminded (reading the Bible) that He’s looking forward
to us spending eternity forever with Him. I even found myself wondering if we
couldn’t get saved on this chapter alone. What do I mean by that? —
Well, you know the old saying . . .“I’m glad you asked!”
Have you ever given much thought to what most believing Christians seem to place
a lot of hope and trust in: “1 Corinthians 15:19 (KJV) 19If in this life
only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” I want
to be honest with you. I have a weakness for this one scripture, and I attribute
it to the fact that I view so many professing Christians today as, “having
hope in this life only.” We ‘hope’ in things, and if Jesus
will deliver them for us, then, we’ll take Him on the guise that, ‘that’s
why he died for us.’
Notice we didn’t try and classify “things”because Jesus has
already clearly stated in His earthly ministry that He wants the responsibility
of being our provider, but what we fail to remember is He’s addressing
the ‘Born Again Believer’(John 3:3) and He’s preparing you
for a ‘Kingdom’ and that’s a place where His Father rules
and reigns, and it all starts Here, and Now. He loves you too much to give you
anything that will put a greater distance between you and He, and there’s
no mistake about the fact that once you allow Him in, your whole appetite changes
from natural pleasures, to a hunger and thirst after righteousness (Matt:5:6).
Jeremiah said; Jeremiah 15:16 (KJV) 16Thy words were found, and I did eat them;
and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called
by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.
God told Ezekial: Ezekiel 2:8 (KJV) 8But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto
thee; Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and
eat that I give thee.
Just in case you don’t go to the book of Ezekiel and read this for yourself,
Ezekiel’s experience was, once he obeyed God, he found out that God’s
Word was “as honey for sweetness” (chap.3:3).
It may seem that I’m veering away a little bit, but in reality my desire
is to take you into a direction that you will want to see how large and costly
a mistake to only have this life in view once you know in your heart you have
accepted Jesus Christ into your life. Paul knew first hand what the Corinthian
church was hearing (v.12), and he thought nothing of sitting down and writing
to the believers that he knew were saved, but now being mislead by false doctrine.
Dare yourself to take the challenge today. Are you believing that Jesus Christ
went through everything He went through just so you can live on some type of
‘easy-street’ today, where everybody else goes through some kind
of pain, suffering, persecution, or hardship, while you go through nothing,
“Because you’re a Christian.”
The records are clear, and now we are the ones who will decide if we are willing
to be swayed into . . . let me let the apostle say this better than I can, “
. . .if the dead rise not? let us eat, and drink; for tomorrow we die”(v.32).
In other words, “Just be natural.” It takes nothing to die, meaning
‘no effort,’ — but it takes everything to live, and that’s
where God is taking you today.
Was the Resurrection just for Jesus Christ, or did He, in Love hang on that
“Old Rugged Cross” for you and me also? Only you can decide that
one! God Bless, SLC
O TASTE AND SEE!!
SUNNY ORANGE LAYER CAKE
INGREDIENTS:
2/3 CUP SHORTENING
1 ½ CUPS SUGAR
3 EGGS
1 TBLSP GRATED ORANGE PEEL
2 ½ CUPS CAKE FLOUR
1 PACKAGE (3 OZ.) ORANGE GELATIN
2 ½ TSPS BAKING POWDER
1 TSP. SALT
¾ CUP ORANGE JUICE
1/3 CUP MILK
FROSTING: 1 PACKAGE (8 OZ.) CREAM CHEESE SOFTENED
1 CUP BUTTER SOFTENED
1 ½ CUP CONFECTIONERS SUGAR
2 TBLSPS. ORANGE GELATIN POWDER
2 TSPS VANILLA EXTRACT
DIRECTIONS:
IN LARGE MIXING BOWL, CREAM SHORTENING, AND SUGAR UNTIL LIGHT AND FLUFFY.
ADD EGGS, ONE AT A TIME, BEATING WELL AFTER EACH ADDITION;
BEAT IN ORANGE PEELS. COMBINE THE FLOUR, GELATIN, BAKING POWDER AND SALT;
ADD TO CREAMED MIXTURE ALTERNATELY WITH ORANGE JUICE AND MILK, BEATING WELL
AFTER EACH ADDITION.
POUR INTO TWO GREASED AND FLOURED 9INCH ROUND CAKE PANS.
BAKE AT 350 DEGREES f FOR 25-30 MINUTES OR UNTIL TOOTH PICK INSERTED INTO CENTER
COMES OUT CLEAN.
COOL FOR 10 MIN. BEFORE REMOVING FROM PAN TO WIRE RACK TO COOL COMPLETELY.
FROSTING
IN A LARGE MIXING BOWL, BEAT CREAM CHEESE AND BUTTER UNTIL LIGHT AND FLUFFY.
BEAT IN CONFECTIONERS SUGAR, GELATIN POWDER, AND VANILLA UNTIL BLENDED.
FROST TOP, MIDDLE BETWEEN LAYERS AND SIDES AND STORE IN REFRIGERATOR.
YIELDS 14 SERVINGS.
SUBMITTED BY: BJM A WONDERFUL DESERT WITH A TWIST OF ORANGE…ENJOY!