T.J.I.F.A.
THANK JESUS IT’S FRIDAY AGAIN!
PASS IT ON…& ON…& ON…&
ON.
JUNE 09, 2006
HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!
SUBJECT: EDITORIAL
HAVE YOU NOTICED THE ‘KINGS KIDS’ WHO ARE
THEY? WHO DO THEY SERVE, GOD OR MAMMON?
NOTEWORTHY: SIX FOODS TO ADD TO YOUR NATURAL FOODS FOR HEALTHY
LIVING.
BOOKSHELF: THE BIBLE IS A COUNSELOR
ABOUT LIFE.
REVELATION: WHAT’S IN YOUR HEART? OSWALD CHAMBERS
TESTIMONY TIME: TJIFA’S FOUNDATION WAS DISRUPTED.
FRIDAY’S WORD: SEE YOU NEXT TIME.
IN THE MIRROR: FATHER’S DAY THOUGHTS; A TESTIMONY
O TASTE AND SEE! BEANS, TOMATOES AND CORN FOR THE HOLIDAY . .
REAL GOOD! ENJOY! TER
LOOKING FORWARD
SEE YA NEXT TIME!
TER
EDITORIAL
BY
TRUE E. READYWRITER
“NO MAN CAN SERVE TWO
MASTERS”
MATTHEW 6:24,
“24No man can serve two masters: for either
he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and
despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
Dear Reader: Does the possibility of insufficiency or
lack for tomorrow loom large in your thoughts . . .today?
There is something in my heart this week, that I care to share with
you. I could have shared it in one of our regular Newsletters, but I feel
like talking especially to you, the TJIFA Reader.
My attention has been averted lately by the many problems, and situations
of the Christian. It seems that some Christians are having a real hard
time living in this world; and sometimes it’s reasonable, but most of the time,
it is unreasonable, and un-Biblical. I have seen Christians striving to
make their mark in a corroding world. They claw at one another, not just
the world clawing at us, and are eager to show their disdain for their fellow
Christians.
(This should not be, Jesus said, “In the world, there will
be much tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world.”)
Their position is ‘Always First’. (The first shall be last; and the
last shall be first.)In grocery stores, they push ahead of people, taking the
last piece of meat right out of another’s grocery cart. (Thou shalt not steal.)
Rudely they pull their cars in front of the elderly and take their parking
places, and then pretend to be blind to the elderly victim, who is still
sitting there. (Thou shalt love the Lord GOD with all thy heart…and thy neighbor
as thy self.) They park in the handicapped zone without a sticker, or in the
pregnant women’s parking space, and rarely, actually never, have I ever seen a
pregnant man. This would be funny, if it weren’t so sad.
Christians talk in small groups, complaining about their lack, and
magnifying their wants. (I will supply all of your needs according to My
riches in Glory.) They drive big, fine cars. (How much is gas?
Are you a good steward?) Their complaints about their jobs are that they
are not making enough, (Lay not up for yourselves treasures, where moth and rust
doth corrode.) What you have, determines what they will eventually have.
(The light of the body is the eye, if therefore the eye shall be single, then
the whole body is full of light.) Christians are using words filled with
cursing and slang. (But if the eye is evil, the whole body shall be full
of darkness.)
Because Christians have been taught that they are ‘king’s kids’, they feel
it is imperative to dress accordantly, and eat at the finest restaurants.
(Take no thought what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink, nor for your body
what ye shall put on.)
What king are you following? There is a
king who cares not for his children, he places things before their eyes, and
then drives them to attain or feel left out. (The king of this
world.) This king also taunts with what the world calls ‘good &
expensive’ so that he can put down the ‘King’s Kids’. We have to remember
that GOD’S ways are not our ways, and we know that GOD’S ways are foreign to the
world. The world MUST portray itself as ‘on the top; first; primary and in
need of NOTHING; especially NOT JESUS!
Am I making sense to you?
As long as we live, Christians, there will be a challenge to our faith, and
our walk . . .Just Like Jesus. Our walk and our lives won’t resemble the
world, because our faith encourages those around us to be…Christian.
What is a Christian? A Christian walks in humility; he is strong in
his knowledge and understanding of Jesus Christ. He knows to whom his
allegiance is pledged, and no amount of temptation can pull him away from his
love of the Gospel.
What do people see when they see you? Do they see someone dressed
like a ‘king’s kid’ and veiling the under garments of a beggar? Are you prepared
to show the whole world that you love GOD, and what He’s done through His Son in
your life? Or, are you having trouble embracing GOD, because of the things
that you just can’t seem to denounce and leave?
Is your life being held together by the glue of recognition, popularity and
the thin thread of the love of mammon? Is everything that you do dependent
on mammon? Does the lack of mammon rule your every move? Does Mammon
have credence where your love of GOD should be in control?
Love
the one and hate the other…” Is the love of Mammon impairing your wisdom
toward GOD? Reader, is that why we are seeing this new Christian that
looks just like mammon? Why?
Reader, please take time to read ALL of Matthew sixth chapter. In
this chapter, you will hear the heart of Jesus as He instructs on how we should
act and look as a follower of His, or a Christian.
Our Bible
says: “34Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall
take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil
thereof.”
Matthew 6: 34.
LOOKING FORWARD
SEE YA NEXT TIME!
TER
NOTEWORTHY:
SIX FABULOUS FOODS FOR 2006
What’s ahead in food and nutrition in
2006? Dr. Weil said that he hopes to see a move toward a less inflammatory
diet. Then he subtracted the word ‘diet’ and replaced it with ‘the
nutritional components of a healthy life style’. His
recommendation is:
-More fresh fruits and vegetables.
-Whole grains and foods rich in omega
3 fats; examples: Salmon, Walnuts, and Ground Flax.
-Cut back on animal
protein, saturated and Trans fats.
-cut back also on foods made with
flour and refined sugars.
Dr. Weil says that eating this way can help to prevent eight diseases
related to chronic inflammation.
Six Foods That You Should Put into Your Nutrients for Healthy Living.
-Berries - These Small Colorful Fruits Are Loaded with Anti-oxidants.
- They May Help to Prevent Cancer and May Help to Protect Against Oxidative
Damage in the Eyes, Brain, Heart, and Joints. Berries Are Low in Calories,
and Do Not Cause Spikes in the Blood Glucose.
-Black Cod;
-Buck Wheat; while it is considered to be a grain, it contains no wheat, it
is a relative of Rhubarb.
-Sweet Potatoes - Let these Thanksgivings favorites
grace your table year round, they are excellent sources of vitamin A, C,
and for their fiber, if we eat the skin.
-Turmeric -
This spice is being actively studied for it’s cancer preventing and anti
inflammatory properties. (Good in potato salad.)
-Walnuts a crunchy
source of protein and fiber. Walnuts are the most popular nuts in the
world.
From: Self Healing.com by author Dr. Weil.
TJIFA’S BOOK SHELF:
THE HOLY BIBLE
If you have a Bible, you have:
A marriage counselor.
The ABC’s of child rearing.
A dieting
program.
A fasting program.
A prayer manual.
A financial
planner.
How to stay fit with exercise…walk.
Teacher on family
dynamics.
Farming.
Well digging.
Breeding cattle and other
animals.
A guide to creation.
Pre-marital conduct.
Planning your
wedding.
How to recognize a fool.
How to recognize a wise man.
The
duties of a good wife.
The obligation of a good
husband.
Worship.
Praise.
Thanksgiving.
Knowing your Creator Q. You haven’t read it
yet? How are you living?
A.
poorly.
TER
REVELATION?
Are You Obsessed by Something?
“Who is the man
that fears the Lord?” (Psalm 25:12).
Are you obsessed by something? You will
probably say, “No, by nothing,” but all of us are obsessed by something—usually
by ourselves, or, if we are Christians, by our own experience of the Christian
life. But the psalmist says that we are to be obsessed by God. The abiding
awareness of the Christian life is to be God Himself, not just thoughts about
Him. The total being of our life inside and out is to be absolutely obsessed by
the presence of God. A child’s awareness is so absorbed in his mother that
although he is not consciously thinking of her, when a problem arises, the
abiding relationship is that with the mother. In that same way, we are to “live
and move and have our being” in God (Acts 17:28), looking at everything in
relation to Him, because our abiding awareness of Him continually pushes itself
to the forefront of our lives.
If we are obsessed by God, nothing else can
get into our lives—not concerns, nor tribulation, nor worries. And now we
understand why our Lord so emphasized the sin of worrying. How can we dare to be
so absolutely unbelieving when God totally surrounds us? To be obsessed by God
is to have an effective barricade against all the assaults of the enemy.
“He
himself shall dwell in prosperity …” (Psalm 25:13). God will cause us to “dwell
in prosperity,” keeping us at ease, even in the midst of tribulation,
misunderstanding, and slander, if our “life is hidden with Christ in God”
(Colossians 3:3). We rob ourselves of the miraculous, revealed truth of this
abiding companionship with God. “God is our refuge …” (Psalm 46:1). Nothing can
break through His shelter of protection.
From: My Utmost For His
Highest by O. Chambers
TESTIMONY TIME:
“WHO’S REPORT WILL YOU BELIEVE?”
Recently, our main computer got into real big trouble. The technician
came to the
house to take a look at it. His conclusion was that the
“Mother Board” was corrupted. Our response was...”Oh no! Not
the Mother Board!” (By the way what is a mother board?)
Well, the more that we asked about this particular ‘board’, the more bad
news we heard about it. We heard that we’d have to get rid of our present
computer, and get another; but that the technician could save our important
files.
This diagnosis didn’t agree with us, and so we went on a
pursuit of our own. We called HP, and got some quotes on another computer,
then we prayed to Almighty GOD for some relief.
I was very anxious, while my husband calmly talked with the technician from
HP. She was patiently talking to him, wile I contemplated the cost of
buying a new computer. They continually told us that we had an old
computer. ( We had just bought it in 2004 - brand new).
I couldn’t hold my question any longer. The technician had been
giving keyboard commands to my husband, and it seemed to be going very
well. Then I blurted out, “Is the Mother Board corrupted?” She
kindly asked, “Who are you?” I explained that I was the wife, and I was
thoroughly interested in the Mother Board.
She asked my husband if she
could talk with me, and answered, “Who told you that the Mother Board was
affected? There is nothing wrong with the Mother Board. It is a hard
drive and soft ware problem.”
That was the greatest news that I had even anticipated hearing.
THE MOTHER BOARD WAS NOT CORRUPTED!
Life is this way, also. We can take the first diagnosis, or we can
pray, and ask GOD for His input.
No matter how long I live, prayer is still the best remedy for most
ills.
TER
IN THE MIRROR:
Thanking God for the precious work of the Holy Spirit. My
Bible was stuck open to a favorite passage in Luke 11: 13. It took some time
talking to the Lord about this passage because a writer such as I’m trying to
become, has to write about something ‘new’ and ‘different’, but that’s not
exactly what God impressed upon me. I hope you’ll be glad as you read on.
Luke 11: 13 reads as follows; “If ye then, being evil, know how to give
good gifts unto your children; how much more shall your heavenly Father give the
Holy Spirit to them that ask Him? (KJV)
It’s hard to write about Father’s Day, when there’s a question within
yourself about just what kind of a father you are described as by your own
children in their hearts. I realize God wants a testimony to come out through
personal witness.
This, along with other supportive scripture has been a tremendous asset in
my Christian walk. It began to make perfect sense to me years ago. I’ve always
worked hard to try and maintain a decent job, and I would see, and be also
guilty of wanting and obtaining material things. When you live your life for
possessions, or just outright what you can get, that’s an empty life.
There was much more to gain, and I thank God that I didn’t give up until I
was able to find out the apex of what I was looking for.
What was it?—
I thought you’d never ask.!
It was all wrapped up in the Gift of the Holy
Spirit. He is the one Person that God knew if we were to receive Him, the whole
world would never be able to ‘pluck’ us out of the Father’s hand. (Ephesians
4:30)
If we fail to give testimony to the real things, and the true things of
God, then people will still be deceived, and fooled into thinking that the
things of this world have any real value. The only ‘real’ value is the one in
which you place on a thing. That’s why Jesus said, “If you being evil, know how
to give good gifts . . .” You see, there’s a contrast there that has to be
considered.
Are you staying with me so far? In my own life, I knew I would never rest
until I sought the Lord from a sincere heart in order to have this truth
engraved in me, so I would be able to destroy that ‘demon’ of wanting anything
more than I wanted Christ in my heart. If you truly wonder how is it that Jesus
would put an “impossible” demand upon a life . . . it’s because He knows He has
so much more to offer. (John 10:10)
When you, or we can even say, “If you,” confuse the “Things”of God, and the
“Gifts” of God with the world’s definition of what God ‘desires’ for his
Children to have, there’s going to be so much disappointment to contend with.
You may end up always finding yourself in insipid competition for what you see,
and wondering why certain things have any real appeal to you.
One of my favorite stories was told some years back by Ben Haden. He told
of a man in a suit who was riding along an old country road with another man and
happened to see a man digging a grave. He tells the man to pull over, he wanted
to get out the car for a minute. He walks over to the man who had nearly
finished his task, and he ask the man if he could borrow that empty grave. The
man said, “Sure.” He then climbed down in the hole, laid flat on his back,
looked straight up at the clouds and the sky, and proclaimed, “Darn! I’ve been
looking at all the wrong things!” — He credited that experience to changing his
life forever. Ben Haden shared so many real life experiences until after reading
so many of his messages, it hopefully, didn’t make much reasonable sense not to
become a Christian.. . . A real one!
Don’t hold that last statement against me, but its hard for many of us to
identify with Christ until we come into different experiences that we can know
for a certainty, and say with an assurance, “I’ve been Born Again,” (That’s the
SHOUT right there, in case you missed it.)
Do you often think about how the Christian life is all about ‘Giving,’ and
not about ‘getting’. Two completely different pictures, aren’t they? For years
momma used to work these ‘jig-saw puzzles. I remember as a young boy I could
never figure out how she did that so successfully. When I got older, I managed
to figure out the key was in looking at the picture on the outside of the box,
and simply match the colors, and shapes until you make everything a perfect
match.
God showed me where the world tries to paint their own picture of, “What
God wants,”and when we try and put the pieces together according to a false
concept, it’s synonymous to trying to put together a thousand piece jig-saw
puzzle while looking at the wrong picture on the outside of the box.
Coming up to Father’s Day, I’d like to honor “Tommie” He’s what I would
describe as a ‘giant of a man’. He stands about 6' 5", weighting about maybe 225
now, and every time I see him I see an humble giant, brought down by a disease
in which he certainly had no control over. Why is he my latest hero? Because I
plan to never forget to first time I met him, it was in testimony service that
he was called on to give a testimony. He looked up with a most admirable
_expression, and said two words to the church; “I’m satisfied.”
What makes those two words so important? Because the world says, don’t be
satisfied with what God has for you, or where He has given you place in this
life. Even one of the riches men in the world, when asked, “How much does
it take to satisfy you?” His answer, “Just a little bit more.”
This Father’s Day, I speak as a father that has probably made more mistakes
than I’m willing to count, but the one mistake I plan not to make as a father is
to fail in the process of handing down to my children the Greatest Gift I’ve
ever known, the Gift of Eternal Life in Christ Jesus. How about
you??? God Bless, SLC
O TASTE
AND SEE!
BAKED BEANS, TOMATOES, AND CORN
INGREDIENTS:
3/4 CUP OLIVE OIL, OR AS MUCH AS IT TAKES TO KEEP GROUND
TURKEY FROM STICKING.
3 LBS. GROUND TURKEY
2
LARGE ONIONS 2 TBLSPS. MINCED GARLIC
2 12 OZ. CANS
DICED TOMATOES 2 12 OZ. CANS WHOLE KERNEL CORN
SALT
AND RED & BLACK PEPPER
32 OZ. CAN BUSH BAKED
BEANS
DIRECTIONS:
IN AN OVERSIZED LARGE PAN POUR 3/4 CUP OLIVE
OIL; ADD 3 LBS. GROUND TURKEY. COOK UNTIL WELL DONE OR BROWN.
(TURKEY DOESN’T BROWN LIKE GROUND BEEF.)
SEASON MEAT: ADD ONIONS GARLIC; AND SALT AND
RED & BLACK PEPPER.
ADD TOMATOES AND CORN. LET THIS MIXTURE GET
THROUGHLY HEATED. STIR OFTEN.
ADD LARGE CAN OF BUSH BEANS TO HEATED
MIXTURE OF VEGETABLES AND TURKEY. STIR CONTINUALLY. BRING TO A QUIET
BOIL, REDUCE HEAT TO LOW, COVER AND LET SIMMER FOR APPROXIMATELY 20
MINUTES.
SERVES 8 PEOPLE A GENEROUS CUP OF BEANS AND TOMATOES AND CORN.
THIS IS A WONDERFUL SIDE DISH FOR OUR HOLIDAY MEAL PLANNING.
YOU’LL GET ONLY RAVING REVUES FOR THIS WONDERFUL DISH.
ENJOY!...TER
P.S. EVEN THOSE WHO NORMALLY DON’T CARE FOR BEANS . . LOVED THIS
DISH.