T.J.I.F.A.
THANK JESUS IT'S FRIDAY AGAIN!
PASS IT ON…& ON…& ON…& ON.
AUGUST 27, 2004
SUBJECT: "MY CUP RUNNETH OVER"
THIS WEEK'S SUBJECT COMES FROM PSALMS 23, WHERE DAVID INFORMS US THAT THE LORD WILL PREPARE A TABLE BEFORE US IN THE PRESENCE OF OUR ENEMIES; AND THAT OUR CUP RUNNETH OVER. IT IS GOOD TO ASSUME THAT THE RUNNING OVER IS THE OVERFLOW OF BLESSINGS. MY FATHER USED TO RUN HIS CUP OVER WITH COFFEE, AND GIVE US THAT WHICH WAS IN THE SAUCER. THAT WHICH WAS IN THE SAUCER WAS IDENTICAL TO THAT WHICH WAS IN THE CUP. BUT IT WASN'T AS HOT, THUS IT WAS CAPABLE OF BEING CONSUMED BY A CHILD. ENJOY!
NOTEWORTHY: A LETTER TO ALL TJIFA READERS.
FRIDAY'S WORD: DEMENTIA; ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
IN THE MIRROR: "ON REMEMBERING"
O TASTE AND SEE! BAKED APPLE CRISPREAL OLD- TIMEY AND GOOD. SUBMITTED BY BMCC. ENJOY!
LOOKING FORWARD
SEE YA NEXT TIME!
TER MY CUP RUNNETH OVER
Psalms 23:6; Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
My father drank coffee. He liked it with cream and sugar. My mother would fill the cup to the brim, but he would always ask for more. He'd say . . . "Run it over." And she would pour the coffee into the cup until it ran over the brim and onto the saucer. My father would chuckle, and then offer the saucer full of coffee to me and my brother. We'd take turns sipping the warm, creamy, sweet soothing substance. When we'd finished the saucer would be filled again, with a grin and chuckle from my father. My mother would usually halt this communal ritual, by reminding him that coffee wasn't good for us.
Recently, this warm moment was brought back to me. Thinking of how GOD desires to bless all of His children, but He will not. He CAN, but He WILL not. He can't allow OVERFLOW in the lives of disobedient children. Look around you. The world has always done things contrary to the Word of God, but many of those that you now see, are Christians. (Disobedient children of GOD.) Somehow Christians have been lured into the same pothole that excuses disobedience and rights wrongs. The usual belief is that "No one is looking, so what's the difference?"
They're right! Their god is probably sleeping or taking a break while they are doing his bidding. BUT…Our GOD is omnipresent and according to Psalms 121:4; He neither slumbers nor sleeps; AND Hebrews 13:5; ". . . for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." Oh, how great this salvation! This salvation gives us security; it gives us peace; and it gives us strength to continue in this very precious walk of faith.
Question: What kind of GOD would we serve that would reward our disobedience? Could we trust him? Would he be dependable in a crisis?
Answer: Any god who would reward disobedience couldn't be trusted in any of life's critical moments. You wouldn't be able to depend on him, because you wouldn't know when you would be rewarded or when he would be angry about your performance. Most people know the difference between right and wrong, but they have allowed sinful thinking to sear their conscience. This burning process has destroyed the delicate pathways of righteousness and replaced them with detours to wayward wicked ways.
We've heard about the GOD that sits in heaven just looking to send someone to hell. If that were true, all GOD would have to have done was: Destroy the world after Eve's failure in the garden; Not allowed reconstruction after the great flood; or just refused to send Jesus, His Only Begotten Son, to give us a choice. Because our GOD desires fellowship and relationship with His creation, man, His will is to share His goodness with all.
GOD wants us to drink from His cup. He wants us to share in His blessings. He doesn't want to dilute them, but He does ‘temper' them, so that we can comfortably enjoy His good gifts.
When my father allowed his coffee to overflow his cup, he was doing two things.
-He was cooling the coffee so that we would get a cooled down version of what he enjoyed.
-He was bringing us into relationship with him with a good tasting gift of love.
My mother, on the other hand, was making sure that the good gift didn't overpower us. Too much of his good thing would have been too much caffeine, and thus turn good into evil. She knew that we weren't ready for big gulps of goodness. Likewise, GOD KNOWS when His children are able to receive ‘Running Over' goodness.
Christians, we all have cups which we desire to have running over with the out-pouring of GOD'S love. When we are obedient, we will eat and drink of the ‘Running Over' goodness of GOD. According to Psalms 23; "He prepares a table before you in the presence of your enemies; then He anoints your head with oil . . .", giving you the power to drink from a cup which is "RUNNING OVER."
Looking Forward
See Ya Next Time!
TER
NOTEWORTHY:
For the past couple of weeks we have been discussing FAITH. In these short discussions, TJIFA has stirred up many readers. We have had more comments about the articles on faith than just about any other topic.
It is good to know that, you our readers, are concerned enough to write or call and let us know that we are assisting you in this journey of expectation, excitement and eternal Glory. If we ever wondered about whether you were reading TJIFA or not, our probable wonderings were answered with an unsolicited resounding "YES!"
Do you ever muse about whether we have other readers? Well, we do. We have decided to give you an opportunity to ask questions openly about some of the articles that you have read. If you will point your E-Mail address browser to: Rdywrtr09 @aol.com, you will have a direct line to the writers.
You may have questions, or you may want to correct or just tell us something that has been on your mind.
For our FAX readers, just FAX back and we'll see you. The FAX line number changes, so we won't print it at this time.
For SNAIL-MAIL just send your questions or comments to the address in the upper left hand corner of the outside envelope.
Just a reminder that we continue to have the PRAYER LINE @ 770 808 0542. You'll hear a prayer, then you can leave your prayer request or a message, and if you like, your phone number.
It is exciting to see the growth in TJIFA. We pray that we aren't just growing in numbers, but that we are growing CLOSER AND CLOSER to Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
The following are some of the responses to TJIFA'S articles on FAITH and other topics:
"This Newsletter was the best yet!" Dalton GA.
"There were portions that I couldn't understand." Cleveland, OH.
"How much FAITH do I need?" Atlanta, GA.
"Thanks for referring me to Romans 8. It answered all of my questions." Louisville, KY.
"Where's my Newsletter? It's been missing for a few weeks."
E. Cleveland, OH.
"We love the desserts – O Taste and See!" Knoxville, TN.
"TJIFA helps me get through the week." Cleveland, OH.
"I share them with my buddies." U.S. Soldier in Iraq.
"I share TJIFA with everyone. I am the official TJIFA Librarian in this institution. TJIFA is the highlight of the week. We all look forward to Friday." Dalton, GA.
"I encourage my daughter to learn, ‘Friday's Word". Decatur, GA.
"This is a beautifully designed Newsletter. It's neat, and easy to read, because of the larger print." Pawcatuck, CT.
"I like the stories." Children.
"We use it in Sunday School." Decatur, GA.
"Please don't stop my copy." Cleveland, OH.
"In reading the 7-16-04 Newsletter it was very touching to me. When you are saved, you cannot stay on the same level as you were when you first started out." Cleveland, OH.
These are only a few of the comments that we have in our memory bank. This is what keeps TJIFA rolling off the presses every Friday . . .YOU!
We're still . . . Looking Forward
See Ya Next Time!
TER and Staff.
FRIDAY'S WORD: dementia & Alzheimer: Dementia is an umbrella term under which fall several specific disorders, including Alzheimers. These disorders cause impairment of cognitive functioning-i.e., the ability to perceive, judge and reason clearly. They are degenerative, progressive and irreversible. While there are many new medications and treatments being developed - there is no cure! Early stages of dementia are usually manifested by memory loss - particularly of recent events and recent information. There may be some difficulty choosing words and a decreased ability to concentrate. As dementia progresses, memory becomes more impaired and a growing inability to process information and participate in purposeful activity are evident. Final stages may include inability to speak, lessening of food and fluid intake and susceptibility to infection and disease.
IN THE MIRROR:
On Remembering
A God-fearing mother attended church faithfully although her grown son ridiculed her for what he considered a waste of time. As mothers do, she lovingly prayed for him and each week invited him to accompany her to the services. He always refused with cruel remarks about her church. "Why Ma," he sneered, "I'll bet you can't even remember what the sermon was about last week!"
"No," the mother answered thoughtfully, "I don't remember that sermon. But neither do I remember what I had for dinner last Sunday; but I know I am better and stronger for having eaten it."
You and I may not remember all that we have read or heard from the Bible, but God has given His children the Holy Spirit to call to our minds the things that we have learned in the past. When we need it we will be glad that we have hidden His Word in our hearts, that we might not sin against Him.
A pastor visited one of his dear parishioners in the Nursing Home. When he asked, "What's bothering you? You seem upset today."
"Pastor," she replied, " I just can't seem to remember things anymore. I used to remember so many of God's promises. No matter what happened to me, there was always a promise I could remember to help me. I don't mind forgetting some things, but I do wish I could remember the Lord's promises." Patting her hand, the pastor assured her, "That's alright, my dear. You don't have to remember them, for God does, and He will keep every one of them. God's promises don't depend on our memory, but rather on His faithfulness." . . .
FRIDAY'S WORD, and this portion of, IN THE MIRROR were taken from: "Bits of SonShine" August/September edition. Their's is a ministry dedicated to Nursing Homes. Recruiting, training and equipping Christian volunteers how to go in to the different homes loving on, ministering, and caring for those who would otherwise be forgotten about.
In looking at the capacity to remember, and its vital role in the life we live, its worthwhile to take out the time to see how God ministers to us through this component of the mind; our ‘Memory'.
The Bible shares with us: Proverbs 10:7; "The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.; Ecclesiastes 9:4,5; For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion. For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything, neither have they any more reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.;And when you come over to the N.T. you can read about Paul in 1st Corinthians 15:1,2 as he states; "Moreover brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain." KJV
God has given man a plethora of resources in which all to be taken advantage of, and never to abuse that which has been freely given us. The mind and the ability to remember is a gift from God, regardless of how much we take this gem for granted.
I hope you'll find the story we passed along (On Remembering) very worthy of a lot of thought and contemplation. Right now, if you're fortunate enough to be able to read, or even listen intently, you have the privilege of saturating your mind and spirit with the Word of God. All its going to do is improve the quality of your life by leaps and bounds, and alongside of that will be a constant assurance of Jesus Christ at the end of what seems to be a ‘long journey' here on earth. Its "long" because we're experiencing it in human form, but what you must keep in mind is we're creatures of time, but made for Eternity; a timeless, endless age.
In reflecting on the lady in the story today, did you notice she wasn't looking back over her life with a lot of regrets over her past? Seems to me her biggest regret was what obviously had been the most important. . . remembering God's Word and the Promises of God to every believer.
Tell me; How is it with you now? Then my question to you is; How is it going to be in your Future?
S.L.C.
O TASTE AND SEE!
BAKED APPLE CRISP
INGREDIENTS:
6 GRANNY SMITH APPLES CORED, PEELED AND SLICED
¼ CUP LEMON JUICE
1 CUP GRANULATED SUGAR
1 STICK BUTTER OR MARGARINE
3/4 CUP FLOUR
1 TSP. GROUND CINNAMON
½ CUP BROWN SUGAR
DIRECTIONS:
PLACE APPLES FLAT IN 8X11 INCH SHEET CAKE PAN OR PYREX PAN.
SPRINKLE LEMON JUICE OVER APPLES.
SPRINKLE GRANULATED SUGAR OVER ENTIRE PAN OF APPLES.
SET ASIDE.
IN SMALL MIXING BOWL, PLACE FLOUR, CUT IN BUTTER OR MARGARINE, UNTIL MIXTURE RESEMBLES COARSE CORN MEAL .
STIR IN SEASONINGS AND BROWN SUGAR.
POUR EVENLY OVER PAN OF APPLES.
BAKE AT 350 F DEGREES FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 TO 45 MINUTES.
SERVE WARM OVER ICE CREAM OR WITH A CUP OF HOT COFFEE. THIS DESSERT IS GREAT FOR THOSE OF US WHO DON'T WANT TO BOTHER WITH PIE CRUST, BUT LIKE THE TASTE OF APPLE PIE. ENJOY!
BMCC