T.J.I.F.A.

THANK JESUS IT'S FRIDAY AGAIN!
PASS IT ON ...& ON...& ON...& ON
AUGUST 1, 2003

ATTENTION READERS!  T.J.I.F.A IS GOING ON VACATION FOR A FEW   WEEKS.  WE'LL BE BACK SEPTEMBER 5, 2003.  MANY OF YOU ALSO WILL BE OUT OF TOWN AND WE SEND YOU OUR BLESSINGS, IN JESUS' NAME.  THANK YOU FOR YOUR FAITHFULNESS. TRUE E. READYWRITER AND STAFF.   

SUBJECT: EVIL FOR EVIL?  NO!

MANY TIMES WE'VE WONDERED HOW EVIL PEOPLE JUST KEEP GETTING AWAY WITH THINGS, AND WE BEGIN TO SUFFER OURSELVES WITH BAD THOUGHTS AND EVIL SUGGESTIONS.  PAUL IS TALKING TO THE THESSALONIANS WHEN HE TELLS THEM NOT TO RENDER EVIL FOR EVIL BUT TO EVER FOLLOW GOOD.  

NOTEWORTHY: WASHINGTON D.C.'S  BUILDINGS ARE CRYING OUT ABOUT THE FOUNDATION OF THIS COUNTRY.  SEE SOME OF THE WORDS THAT ARE  ENGRAVED  ON THE WALLS.  

FRIDAY'S WORD: DISINGENUOUS

IN THE MIRROR: THE SEEDS OF CHARACTER

O TASTE AND SEE! GRILLED CHEESE LUNCHEON QUICK AND EXTREMELY EASY.  ENJOY!

LOOKING FORWARD
 
SEE YA NEXT MONTH - SEPTEMBER 5, 2003

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EVIL FOR EVIL?  NO!    

"Now, we exhort you brethren, warn them that are unruly; comfort the feeble minded; support the weak; be patient toward all men.  See that none render evil for evil unto any man, but ever follow that which is good.  Both among yourselves and to all men.    Rejoice ever more; Pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks for this is the will of GOD in Christ Jesus concerning you."(1 Thessalonians 5:14-18)

All of us have the nature that wants to "Pay Back."  And that's not money, but the  ordeal of bringing to justice that which we think has been wronged.  Television and movies plot their stories so that the bad guy always gets his due.  In real life, however, the bad guy, or gal doesn't always get caught or brought to justice, so that leaves a seemingly big hole or need for ‘closure' in the situation.  

There have been many unsolved injustices in our life time.  There have been many people who were the  victims and their attackers were never found.  These victims seem to have a right to find these people and repay to them, "evil for evil."  But, GOD has written in His Word, that we as Christians and Believers, are NOT supposed to operate in this manner.  WHY?  

The answer is far fetched.  We can only imagine that we know the answer.  But, as we get to know the heart of GOD, who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the saving Grace of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we must know that it's for our good.  

Evil in the breast of a man or woman causes the body to react in strange ways.  Evil invites itself and all of its friends into the waiting body of those who live to ‘pay back' another.  In the Old Testament we remember "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth."  In the New Testament we always forget, "Turn the other cheek."  

The reference scripture tells us that there are certain people that we should learn to have more compassion with.  I may be mistaken, but looking at the categories, I would say that these are the people who hold the best record for making  others  very angry.  Example: "Warn the unruly..."

Unruly human beings   are painfully aggravating.  You've been in the Super Market and seen ‘unruly children.'  These children grow up to be unruly adults and the same attitude that you suppressed then, is very hard to do when you are looking at a grown person acting like a child.  GOD said, "Warn them."     Here is a good statement; "I don't care for the way you're acting, and if you continue in this manner I will have to withdraw my association with you."  (Nice huh?)  

"Comfort the Feebleminded."  Feebleminded people have no hope.  They may be a nuisance because they don't have the ability to think out certain problems.  Your task is to introduce them to the "Problem Solver."  JESUS!  He came for those who are like children, and many of them who find Jesus Christ, find comfort in the resolution that they no longer have to know everything, but can leave it up to Jesus.  

"Support the Weak."   Weak people are not prosperous in the Word of GOD.  The Bible says that you shall prosper even as your soul prospers.  If your soul is weak and has no Word, it will be sick and weak.  Our duty to these people is to lovingly give them the Word of GOD.  Show them the importance of staying STRONG in GOD's Word.  "Let the weak say, I'm strong."  A building cannot  stand without a firm foundation.  That foundation is the Word of GOD.  

If you saw a lame man lose his crutch, you'd try to support him to prevent a fall, until he could get his balance back with his crutch.  This is the same support that the weak man needs from those of us who are strong in the Word.  

"Be patient to all men."  America is a ‘hurry up' society.  If you're not rushing you're not alive.  To rush around like a chicken with its head cut off is the ‘in thing.'   You must look like you're busy even if you're dying.  We've put a price on living that is so high, absolutely no one can pay it without serving his own soul for dessert.   

Patience is a thing of the past.  Old people know that life is too valuable to rush it out, but young folks haven't reached that understanding.  It used to be a sign of excellence when an employee stayed on the job for twenty five years.  Now, it's a sign of lethargy and the ‘innovative' person moves around from job to job with everyone of them showing an increase in salary.   

"Seeing none Render evil for evil, but ever following good."  GOD wants our minds and thoughts and hearts to be fixed on the good that He has provided in His Word.  If you have ‘Paying Back' on your mind, you don't have good in occupancy.  As was mentioned before, evil causes stress, and stress has been blamed for most of the major disorders.  

Stress has been found to be a factor in diseases like: Heart Attack; Stroke; Multiple Sclerosis; Depression; High Blood Pressure; Kidney disorders and many more.  Dr. Wiel has said that,‘ stress is America's most destructive disorder because it hides itself in so many diseases.  

GOD has already given us a plan for our good.  He has said, " DO NOT render evil for evil, but ever follow good."  As we look at GOD's plan we understand that He has already said that ‘vengeance is mine,' so why are you trying to get into the position of GOD?  

Looking at the New Testament it says that "Jesus went about doing good."  Of all the people in the Bible, surely, Jesus had a reason to render evil for evil.  

Satan messed up ‘The Garden;' he tempted Jesus on the mountain; he tried to kill Him before His time and then he was part of the Crucifixion of Jesus.  And Jesus knew of it all, but, His mission was not to ‘pay Satan back.'  His Mission was to CRUSH HIS HEAD!  And to open the path for ALL men back to the FATHER.  

Had Jesus been filled with anything but GOOD, His Mission wouldn't have been successfully completed, and we couldn't call on the NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES.  JESUS.  

In this Text, ‘Rejoicing' comes after ‘Following Good.'  When evil is lurking, rejoicing is NOT in attendance.    Rejoicing in the Lord leads us to be thankful.  

We're exhorted to ‘Pray without ceasing and to give thanks in all things.'  This whole frame of mind gives no room for rendering evil for evil.  

GOD's Word is an instruction book.  If you follow these instructions step by step, you won't have room for rendering evil for evil, instead you will pray for the Unruly; The Feebleminded; The Weak; You will exercise patience and Pray without ceasing.  

Can you imagine what kind of world we would live in if every Christian just tried these steps once a week, instead of conjuring up schemes to ‘Pay Back?'  

We know that this exhortation is for Christians and not unbelievers, but if we didn't need the admonition, Paul never would have written it.  Right?  RIGHT!

Looking Forward

See Ya Next Time - September 5, 2003

May GOD Bless You With The Desire Of Your Heart

True E. Readywriter  TER

NOTEWORTHY:

Pastor David Jeremiah gave a beautiful message about The Separation of Church and State on July 4, 2003. There were some important facts that I believe TJIFA readers and their families should know.  He obtained this information from an old book that is out of print.  It tells about the Majestic Words of GOD that are engraved in stone in some of our Nations' most important and influential buildings.  Here are only a few.  

Benjamin Franklin was the first to suggest and move  that prayers be offered up from the Senate EVERY MORNING, and they continue even unto today.  Congress opens up with Prayer.  

The Government Buildings in Washington D.C. are a testament to the Glory of GOD in our midst.  
The Ten Commandments hang  over the head of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.  
In the House and Senate Chambers appear the words, "In GOD We Trust."  
In the Rotunda is the picture of the Crucified Christ.  
On the walls of the Capital Dome these words appear, "The New Testament According to the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."  
In the cornerstone of the Capital Building is a manuscript in the handwriting of Daniel Webster that concludes with these words, "And all here assembled whether belonging to the Public Life or to Private Life with hearts devotedly thankful to Almighty GOD for the preservation of the Liberty and Happiness of the Country unite in sincere and Fervent Prayers that this deposit and the walls, and the arches, and the domes, and the towers, the columns and the entablature now to be erected over it may endure for ever.  GOD save the United States of America."  
In the White House, where our President lives, over a fire place are these words placed there by John Adams, the first President to inhabit the mansion, "I Pray Heaven to Bestow the best of Blessings on this White House, and On All That Shall Hereafter Inhabit It."  
(turningpointonline.org)

FRIDAY'S WORD: disingenuous; dis*in*gen*u*ous:(adj.)  lacking in candor, or frankness; marked by insincerity, or dishonesty

IN THE MIRROR:
The seeds of character:

Ling was thrilled.  He had been invited -along with all the young  people  throughout the land -to a special assembly with the Emperor.  

When Ling arrived at the gates of the palace, he was given a seed and escorted to the Great Hall. Other children were already gathered there and after a short while the Emperor came before them and spoke.  "The successor to my throne stands among you in the crowd today. Each person here has been given a seed.  This seed will determine your future.  You are to plant it, water it every day, and return here in one year with the fruits of your labor."  

Ling rushed home and planted his seed in a pot full of soil.  Did he really have a chance to be the next ruler?  He watered the soil and placed the pot in a window where it would get the most sun.
Days past and nothing grew.  So Ling fertilized the soil, yet still nothing  grew. Months went by, and his pot stood barren.  

Finally, the day arrived when the young people were to return to the palace.  Ling was so ashamed at his failure that he decided not to go.  But his mother said. "Ling you have nothing to be ashamed of.  You have done what was asked of you.  Return to the palace, and be honest about your results."  

Ling knew his mother was right.  But when he arrived at the palace, he saw an abundance of plants- some with dazzling flowers, others with canopies of foliage- and Ling became embarrassed by his efforts.  He picked a spot at the back of the crowd, hoping to conceal his failure.  

The Emperor swept into the room and surveyed the plants.  Ling held his breath as the Emperor spotted him. "You, in the corner there. Come forward."  

Ling reluctantly approached the Emperor.  The other kids began to snicker as he passed by with his pot of soil.  "What is your name?"  Asked the Emperor. "I am Ling Your Majesty."

The Emperor bowed to Ling saying, "One year ago I gave each of you a boiled seed that could not grow.  Yet, today I see every kind of plant that grows in our land.  Ling is the only one among you with enough honesty to bring back an empty pot and face  possible ridicule and reproach.  That kind of integrity shows nobility.  All bow to your next Ruler, Ling."  

As a child, I can still remember the "Aesop's Fables." Aesop (about 620-560 B.C.)was a Greek slave, and a skillful storyteller. He told many animal stories to illustrate human faults, and virtues. He is still well known  to this day for his wit, and wisdom.

However far in history you want to trace, God is the originator of every moral value, or code of ethics that man will ever know. I saw the hand of God so clear in the short, and very simple story of Ling as he stood before the Emperor.

There's not a one of us that's not going to stand before God one day.(Phil.2:9-11)God has given each of us a "seed," His Word that we are empowered to plant within our hearts for the purpose of being ready when He comes again, or we go home to be with Him.  

There is an inclination in all of us to make up our own, "dazzling flowers," or "canopies of foliage," but if it's not what God is looking for, or what He gave us to plant, then there's only disappointment to look forward to.

We can all make the choice Ling was encouraged to make, and that is HONESTY, not our disingenuousness before God, because the final reward is so great! When perfection seems to be the theme of the day; Consider just an honest heart, confessing our own imperfections, that we may agree on the Perfect work done in Christ Jesus, for the forgiveness of our sins, that we may have a right to Eternal Life through Him. S.L.C.   O TASTE AND SEE!


GRILLED CHEESE LUNCH


4   SLICES OF WHOLE WHEAT BREAD TOASTED.  
2   SLICES AMERICAN CHEESE  
BUTTER OR MARGARINE TO TASTE.  

1   CAN BUSH BAKED BEANS

2   LARGE  RED APPLES  

DIRECTIONS:  

PLACE SLICES OF CHEESE BETWEEN TWO SLICES OF BREAD.
HEAT IN MICROWAVE OVEN FOR 20 SECONDS OR UNTIL CHEESE IS MELTED.  
SPREAD BOTH OUTER SIDES OF BREAD WITH THIN LAYER OF BUTTER OR MARGARINE; HEAT FOR 10 SECONDS OR UNTIL BUTTER IS MELTED.  

OPEN CAN OF BUSH BAKED BEANS.  
WARM UP BUSH BAKED BEANS ON TOP OF THE STOVE IN A SMALL SAUCE PAN,  OR IN MICROWAVE OVEN (IN MICROWAVE COMPATIBLE  DISH).

SERVE THE BAKED BEANS IN A BOWL AND THE CHEESE SANDWICH ON A SMALL PLATE.     
HAVE A JUICY RED APPLE ALONG WITH YOUR MEAL AND ENJOY.  

NOTE: THIS LUNCH WOULD BE GOOD WITH THE CREAMY COLE SLAW OR THE HALF SALAD MENTIONED IN PREVIOUS NEWSLETTERS.

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