T.J.I.F.A.

THANK JESUS IT'S FRIDAY AGAIN!
PASS IT ON...& ON...& ON...& ON
JULY 25, 2003

REMEMBER MR. BILL BRIGHT, THE FOUNDER OF CAMPUS CRUSADE WENT TO BE WITH THE LORD THIS WEEK AT AGE EIGHTY ONE.  HIS WORDS ARE, "I AM A SLAVE TO MY MASTER AND LORD JESUS CHRIST."  SALUTE!  

SUBJECT: STAND!   

WHY SUCCUMB WHEN YOU CAN OVERCOME?  YOU WILL OVERCOME WHEN YOU MAKE UP YOUR MIND TO...STAND.  STAND, WITH YOUR ARMOR OF GOD IN PLACE AND HAVE COURAGE.  OUR GOD SAID THAT WHEN YOU CALL HIM HE WILL ANSWER.  PSALM 91.   SO WHY NOT STAND?  STAND!  YOU'LL NEVER KNOW THE OUTCOME IF YOU DON'T STAND.  YOU'LL JUST KEEP GETTING WHAT YOU ALWAYS GOT IN FEAR AND DEFEAT.  STAND!  

NOTEWORTHY: DO YOU KNOW THE THIEF AND HIS REWARD?  

FRIDAY'S WORD: PUSILLANIMOUS
  
IN THE MIRROR: THE OLD GOLD SMITH.   

O TASTE AND SEE!  COLLARD GREENS - OH BOY!  AND NO FAT.  ENJOY.

LOOKING FORWARD

SEE YA NEXT TIME!

TER

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STAND!


There was a young boy who was thoroughly disliked by his peers.  He was methodically run home or beat up every day of his life.  He was afraid of telling his parents, but, one night he told his BIG BROTHER.  The BIG BROTHER asked him why he was the end of all the  ruff play.  The little boy just shrugged his shoulders and replied, "I think it's because I wear glasses, cause they call me "Four Eyes."  

The BIG BROTHER told his little brother to run until he reached the corner, then turn around and face them.  Ball up your fists, throw down your book bag and tell them "You want some of this, then come on!"   The little brother began to shake as he thought of the horror in facing the crowd of bullies, who had beat him more than once, but, he thought that he'd rather be dead than continue with his present way of life.  He agreed against hope that he would take his brother's advice.  In fact, he promised his BIG BROTHER that he would STAND!  

The next day the crowd of bullies taunted him pushed him around, took his glasses  and threatened to beat him up if he didn't give them his lunch money.  He yelled at the top of his small voice, "I'll never give you  my lunch money again!"  He ran with all of his might, harder and harder.  His eyes were nearly closed, and he knew the crowd of Bullies was right behind him.  He had such a good head start on them he could run right home before they ever could reach him.  Why should he stop? Was his BIG  BROTHER crazy?  I'll just keep running, he thought.  He opened his eyes and there was the corner that his BIG BROTHER told him to ‘take a stand on.'  

He didn't even think about it.  He reached the corner, heard the Bullies ranting and raving about how they were going to KILL him.  He quickly threw his book bag on the ground, held up his puny little fists and roared, "You want some of this?  COME ON!"  
Amazingly, the Bullies almost ran over themselves as they attempted to stop.  The Leader apologetically reassured the little boy that all he was trying to do is be his friend.   He stepped forward, with the little boy's glasses in his hand, striving not to offend or disenchant.   He promised along with the other Bullies that they wouldn't take his lunch money, nor would they beat him up after school any more.  The Leader picked up the little boy's book bag and handed it to him, then off they ran, looking back and tripping over one another.  

The little boy suddenly saw, there was no one to harass him.  He walked home  thankful that he had done what his BIG BROTHER told him to do.  

What isn't seen is some times the most powerful witness of GOD and his AWESOME POWER.  What the little boy didn't know is that the BIG BROTHER was there with a couple of his BIG FRIENDS backing up the little boy.  When the Bullies saw the FORCE behind the little boy, he no longer was a prime target for their assaults, and brunt of their jokes.  

This little boy didn't know how well he was dressed that day.  Spiritually he had made a decision to STAND, whether he failed or not.  He had made it up in his mind that he was tired of the Enemy running over him and causing him FEAR every day of his life.

The Bible tells us that, "When you've  done all that you can to stand...STAND!  Having your loins gird about with TRUTH; and your breast plate of Righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the  GOSPEL of PEACE.  Above all  taking the  shield of FAITH, whereby you shall be able to quench   every fiery darts of the Enemy; and the Helmet of SALVATION; and the SWORD of The SPIRIT,   which is the Word  of GOD." (Ephesians 6:13-17)

We may see ourselves, as Christians, being puny and inadequate, just like the little boy in the story.  We run from Satan and his Bullies, who run over us stealing, threatening to kill and destroy us.  The words that he screams at us are so foreboding that we run, shake, and fearfully disregarding  all that GOD has written for our good.  

Satan's key weapon is fear.  If he can, he'll cause us to respect his antics,  and  make  us believe in him rather than GOD. Fear has us trapped in its tomentous grip.  You cannot have Faith and  Fear operating at the same time.  Faith dispels Fear; Fear usurps Faith; Courage conquers fear, causing fear to release Faith.  Faith will STAND when all else fails, Faith will STAND!  

The teaching of the world tells us that if an authority tells you   you'll die, or that you'll not accomplish your goals.   Then, supposedly,  you should relinquish ALL of your rights to succeed and become what the authority figure has pronounced in your life; And succumb to the words without life that will eventually KILL you.  The admonishment to the reader is "Don't Succumb!  OVERCOME!"  By  the  Blood  of the Lamb, and the Word of your testimony. (Rev.12:11)

Truly, we have been taught to die, but GOD sent His Son so that we might live.  Jesus said, "I come that you might have life, and have it more abundantly."(John10:10)
Even when we close our eyes in death, Paul states, "O Death, where is your sting?  O Grave where is your victory?" (1Cor.15:55) You see, our life is in, LIVING THE OVERCOMING VICTORIOUS LIFE!  

God never told us that we had to give in.  He told us to STAND!  

The little boy in our story became fed up with the life that he was being fed by the Enemy.  You'll notice that while he was attempting to do what his BIG BROTHER had told him to, he had doubts about his ability; but, when he thought about the promise he made to his BIG BROTHER, he made a choice to STAND.  He didn't know whether he'd live or be killed by the Bullies, but his decision was to STAND.  If Satan had the power to kill, he would have killed Adam and Eve.  But, he couldn't, so he invented a lie and caused them to respect the lie and believe him instead of GOD.  Satan is the Author of ALL LIES, and the Usher of DEATH.   (An Usher doesn't make the seats, the people, nor the entertainment; He doesn't control the program, the events or the time that it takes place.  An Usher only shows you to your seat, which is determined by YOUR ticket, which you chose, bought and paid for.  The Usher can tell you anything and you'll believe it, because of his forward, up front,  in-your-face position.)

As Christians,, we know that Jesus Christ, OUR BIG BROTHER, is always with us.  We know that He will be there to back us up in trouble.  In Psalms 91 it says; "I will be with you in trouble, I will deliver you and honor you with long life will I satisfy you and show you  MY  SALVATION."
    
And just like the little boy, when YOU make up your mind that the Enemy has gone far enough.  YOU WILL ALSO STAND in courage and defeat FEAR!  

Looking Forward

See Ya Next Time

TER

NOTEWORTHY:  

IT'S NEVER TOO LATE...OR IS IT?   

A Skeptic finally got a chance to talk with a well known Bible Scholar (His name evades me  at this time, but this event really happened.)  The skeptic, a woman, charged right in on the Bible Scholar and asked him "While Jesus hung on the Cross, he promised a thief that he would go to Paradise.  If that's true what rewards could he receive, since he was saved only minutes or hours before he died.   The wise old Bible Scholar and Teacher quickly replied, "Many, who have read about the Thief, have been brought to GOD's saving GRACE, just because of his true story.  If you can imagine, in Heaven, all those who were saved because of his final tribute of OBEDIENCE,  to Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary, ARE CREDITED to his righteousness and thus his REWARD is complete."  The Skeptic turned to walk away and the Bible Scholar and Teacher reminded her, "Even you,  know about the Dying Thief."  

JUST A THOUGHT:

A survey revealed that by the time the average child is six years old, he knows more about what characters on T.V. feel and believe, than he knows, or has had conversation with his own Father.   

From "Family Life     Moody Radio   Broadcasting Station.

Remember Adolf  Hitler?  Well, he said that the only way to destroy America would be to destroy the FAMILY UNIT.  That process is on going, even now.  

The Family Unit, as GOD ordained is being lawfully dismantled.  The HOME SWEET HOME was mortgaged so  high that it was impossible to manage.   Life styles are paradoxical  to attain or maintain. BUT GOD!  Saw all of this and there is more.   FEAR is not an option.  Only Believe.     

FRIDAY'S WORD: pusillanimous; pu*sil*lan*i*mous-(adj) cowardly; marked by, or arising from a base lack of courage.
In looking at our young boy in today's story, he wasn't pusillanimous, he just needed some strong ‘brotherly' advice! Don't we all!!(smile)

IN THE MIRROR:
THE GOLD SMITH

There was an old Gold Smith, who was passing his trade on to a younger man.  The Old Gold Smith didn't say much, but he told the younger man to just observe and if you have any questions, ask.  

At first the young man felt compelled to talk until the Old Gold Smith asked him, "What are you doing right now?  So far as learning this trade, what are you learning?"

The young man told him, "I am waiting to hear from you, but in the mean time, I thought I'd talk to you."  The Old Man corrected him.  "You aren't paying attention to your craft.  I have removed impurities from this pot of gold  twice, and every time you watched me,  you didn't ask me about  why, or when, or how often this process is necessary, you just continued in your own conversation; and it's NOT ABOUT GOLD!"  

The  young  man started to argue with the Old Gold Smith, when he realized that indeed he didn't see the Old Man do ANYTHING.  Maybe he'd better watch him a little closer.  As he began watching the Old Gold Smith, he saw him add logs to the fire; scrape the impurities off the top of the boiling gold; stare intently into the pot, then take his seat next to the boiling caldron.

After watching him go through these procedures a few more times, he realized that the Old Gold Smith was truly working.  The young man also realized that the Old Man knew his trade so well that only the skillful eye could pick up his art.  Now, he turned his chair so that he could see the Old Man clearly.  And now, he had questions, that pertained to MAKING GOLD.  As much as he talked about nothing before, he talked with increasing interest concerning Gold Refining, and to his surprise, the Old Man spoke with wisdom and grace regarding his trade.  

The young man listened as the Old Man spent the time spilling into him secrets of the trade.  The young man noticed that the color of the pot of gold was now the color of silver, but the Old Man still found something to scrape off as an impurity.  Then the Old Man began talking about impurities.

He said that, "Impurities found in steel, causes it to snap at the wrong time;  Impurities in diamonds cause the diamond not to shine and yields a cheap stone;  Impurities in breeding lines of pure bred animals are cast aside without papers.  They're sold as mutts, and are spoken of without attachment to the original purebred."  

He looked at the young man and asked him, "Did you know that GOD wants a type of Purebred?  He wants us all to have the BLOOD LINE of Jesus Christ.  And He has made arrangements for it through His Son Jesus Christ."  

The young man wondered how in the world did we start talking about Jesus in connection with this Pot of Gold.  He decided not to ask.  The Old Man continued to place logs on the fire, but now he just stared into the pot, as if looking for something LOST.  Once again  he turned  to the young man, "GOD will wait for you.  He watches and waits.  He assists you to rid your life of impurities, because He knows that impurities weaken the strength of His finished product."

The Old Man looked into the Pot of Gold after many hours of skimming off the impurities and raising the temperature of the fire, he announced, "The Gold is Purified Come, and see."  

The young man wondered what he could possibly see in the pot, that he hadn't seen before, but he obediently walked to the pot and gazed into its contents.  He couldn't stop looking into the pot.  There he saw a crystal clear reflection of himself.  Everything that he learned was now CLEAR.  The GOLD was PURE.

TER












O TASTE AND SEE!  

COLLARD GREENS

10   CUPS BOILED WATER IN LARGE SAUCE PAN.
2   BUNCHES  OF COLLARD GREENS
2   LARGE ONIONS SLICED
2   CUBES OF CHICKEN  BULLION
1   TBLSP BASIL
1   TBLSP OREGANO
1   TBLSP GARLIC POWDER
1   TSP SALT OR TO TASTE  

DIRECTIONS:  
CUT OFF LOWER STEMS OF GREENS, AND THEN GO UP THE STALK CUTTING GREENS INTO 2 INCH PIECES.   
CLEAN COLLARD GREENS THOROUGHLY IN SOAP AND WATER.  MAKE SURE THAT ALL SOAP IS WASHED OFF THEN SOAK IN COOL WATER WITH 1 TABLESPOON OF SALT,    APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES.  DRAIN AND RINSE AGAIN. THOROUGHLY.  

IN LARGE SOUP PAN BRING 10 CUPS OF WATER TO A ROLLING BOIL.  
DROP IN ALL SEASONINGS INCLUDING THE SLICED ONIONS.  

ADD HAND FULLS OF GREENS UNTIL POT IS FULL.  WAIT UNTIL THESE GREENS BOIL DOWN THEN ADD MORE.  REPEAT THIS PROCESS UNTIL ALL GREENS ARE IN THE POT.  
WHEN ALL GREENS ARE IN THE POT LET BOIL ON HIGH FOR ABOUT FIFTEEN MINUTES OR MORE; CONTINUE TO ADD WATER AS NEEDED.  DON'T LET THE WATER BOIL OUT.
LOWER THE FIRE TO MEDIUM AND CONTINUE TO COOK A BOUT 30 MINUTES.
TURN HEAT DOWN TO SIMMER; MAKE SURE THERE IS ENOUGH WATER AND LET SIMMER UNTIL TENDER.  

SERVE WITH CORN ON THE COB TOMATOES, STEAMED RICE  AND MEAT OF YOUR CHOICE.  (DON'T FORGET THE CORNBREAD.)   ENJOY!!!

TER