THANKFUL THURSDAY WITH JC

I received this email and thought it was too good not to share. I hope it blesses you as it has blessed me!

Thanksgiving Can Raise The Dead!

John 11:41–42
41… And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42And I know that You always hear Me…




After Jesus had said these words, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” And the man who had been dead for four days came out of his tomb!



This is one of the greatest miracles that Jesus performed. Lazarus had been dead for four days when Jesus raised him to life. Wouldn’t you agree that death is indeed an extreme problem? Having no money in the bank, being sick and losing your job, bad as they are, are not as bad as being dead!



But what I want you to see is this: If Jesus, in the most extreme of problems, shows us that the solution is still, “Father, I thank You,” then how much more should we thank God in the midst of the less serious problems we face. If thanksgiving can raise the dead, then let us give thanks in spite of the negative circumstances and we will see victory.



Unfortunately, we tend to do the opposite — murmur and complain. But murmuring and complaining only magnify the problem. Thanksgiving, on the other hand, is the language of faith which pleases God. I am not saying that we give thanks for the problems we have. No, we thank God that He is our answer and that He has already given every blessing to us. (Ephesians 1:3)

“But Pastor Prince, what I have is so little.”



My friend, thank God for the little you have and it will multiply. Jesus thanked His Father for the five barley loaves and two small fish, a little boy’s lunch, and they were multiplied to feed more than 5,000 people with 12 baskets full of leftovers! (John 6:8–13) And notice that when the Holy Spirit talked about this event again, He specifically mentioned the Lord giving thanks — “the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks”. (John 6:23) The Holy Spirit seemed to be more pleased with the act of giving thanks than the miracle of multiplication or the 12 baskets full of leftovers.



Beloved, the more you thank God, the more you please Him. What little you have will be multiplied and whatever is dead in your life will be raised to life!



Father God,
Thank You in Jesus name.
Amen

TUESDAY WITH TIZ

Happy Thanksgiving



What and who will we be celebrating this coming Thursday, Thanksgiving, 2008. How different will it be from the first Thanksgiving Proclamation: "Inasmuch as the great Father has given....all ye Pilgrims, with your wives and ye little ones, do gather at ye meeting house,...there to listen to ye Pastor and render Thanksgiving to ye Almighty God for all his blessings." (1623)

Thanksgiving became an official holiday in this country in 1863, when President Abraham Lincoln spoke of the "gracious gifts of the Most High God".
How awesome!!! We will be celebrating the "gracious gifts of the Most High God". These gifts include freedom, family, friends and our Spiritual walk with the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. PRAISE!!! I like the TV ad which has aired the past couple of years around this time of year where families are seated around the table and first one and then the other stands up and says "I just want to thank you for...." or "I just want to express my thanks for.....". James 1:17 says "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights.." - Yes, we will celebrate His gracious gifts - we will celebrate Him!!!! WE WILL EAT OUR TURKEY BUT WE WILL CELEBRATE HIM!!!!!

"Father, I thank you for the privilege to gather with family and friends to celebrate you. We enjoy your gifts and give thanks for them. Father, I would not fail to pray for our troops serving on foreign and local soil. Keep them safe and warm and calm any fear they may be experiencing. Bring them home safely and quickly. Father, bless all my blogging friends with an assurance of your love this Thanksgiving holiday. In Jesus powerful name I pray. Amen"

STANDING IN THE GAP

There are times that we experience things that are so personal that we are unable to share them with others. I know in my own life that there is a fine line between asking for prayer and griping about someone, or gossiping. Prayer requests can become an opportunity to 'vent'. Other times, if I were to ask for prayer it would cast a disparaging light on another person. So I carry my own burdens and pray for myself in silence.

As I talked to a friend this week, she told me that she had a problem that she did not ask others to pray about. It was just too personal and there was not a right time or way to bring up her need.

As Christians, we need to stand in the gap. No, not the store, but the space that requires an intercessor to carry the burden to the Lord. The place when we say "Lord, I am praying this prayer for someone else, carrying their burden for them, asking you to lighten their load."

I am asking you, the reader of this post, to intercede on behalf of someone that you don't know. I'm asking you to stand in the gap for a person unknown to you with a need that is unknown to you as well. Because GOD does know. Why am I asking you to pray for needs that the Lord is already aware of?

Because it is an opportunity to fellowship with Him. It is an act of Faith for you to say "I don't know Lord, but you do. I am interceding for my Sister in Christ and asking you to meet her need, believing that you will, Lord."

Because you are carrying her burden through your prayer.

Father God,

I stand in the gap. I plead her case. I carry her burden and bring it to you. I trust that you meant it when you said that ALL things work TOGETHER for the good of those who love you and are called by you. I believe that your will is perfect. I believe that your grace is sufficient.

Touch her Lord and meet her every need.

In Jesus name, Amen.

THANKFUL THURSDAY WITH JC

For the last five days I have been with a tour group of older adults. I noticed many of them were dwelling on things from their past that could not be changed instead of looking forward to the future. This morning I read my morning devotion. It speaks of Naomi from the book of Ruth. The book of Ruth is full of rich wisdom but I seldom give Naomi much thought. Have you read Ruth lately. It isn't a long book so some time in the next week try to read it.

Here is part of the devotion from The Word For You Today. There was famine in Bethlehem so Naomi, her husband and two sons moved to Moab where living was better. They didn't plan on staying ten years but they did. Their children grew up and married local girls, Ruth and Orpah. Then crisis hit Naomi. Her husband and sons died and she became bitter. (Sound familiar to any of you.) Well, she heard things were better in Bethlehem so she decided to go back home to Bethlehem. When she got home she said, "I went out full, and the Lord has brought me home again empty" (Ruth 1:21 NKJV). What did she mean? She was saying that despite the famine at home in Bethlehem, at least there she had her husband and sons, whereas in Moab, "the land of plenty," she'd lost them.

You never miss the water till the well runs dry! The truth is, you can be blessed and not know it. Only as you look back do you realize that what you have, is much more important than all the things you don't have. When Naomi lost what she loved most, even a famine seemed insignificant by comparison. Have you been saying, "I'll be happy when. . .? NO, happiness doesn't come from getting what you want, it comes from appreciating what God's given you. Instead of whining and complaining about your lot in life, stop and ask yourself, "What would I take in exchange for what I have?" If you don't know the answer, begin counting your blessing and thanking God for them.

With Thanksgiving coming up in one week, now would be a good time for us to write out a list of our blessing to share on Thanksgiving day.

Father, thank you for keeping me and my fellow travelers save on this tour. Thank you for opening my eyes to the condition of people around me. Thank you for the reminder to let the past be the past, nothing can be done to change it but lessons can be learned from living it. The future is in Your hands. The future is a mystery so no need to fret about it. AHH, but, today! Today is the present; a present from You. Today I will live like today is my last on earth. Today I will laugh. Today I will learn. Today I will spend time with YOU. Thank you for Your presence today, Your present to me. In Jesus' holy, precious and powerful name I pray. Amen

TUESDAY WITH TIZ

Pride and Friendship

Recently a friend ask me for a favor which I gladly granted. No big deal - hey, what are friends for? After the situation was taken care of she sent me an email that went like this:

She - "This is so hard for me. My pride again."
My response - "There is no such thing as pride where friends are concerned". (now, didn't that sound sweet and religious!!!)
She - "Sounds like good "blog" material"

So another blog is born out of adversity or an "all things" - as in "All things" work together for good to them that love God and are the called according to His purposes" Romans 8:28

First of all I must say that I do not see an ounce of pride in this friend. I have learned that pride is easier to recognize than it is to define, easier to recognize in others than in myself. PRIDE is the opposite of humility. Humility being a personal quality in which an individual shows dependence on God and respect for others. "God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble".
James 4:6

FRIENDSHIP is a close trusting relationship between two people. As a true friend I will accept my friends whether they exhibit pride or humility. A true friend loves unconditionally.

"Father, thank you for reminding me what a true friend is. And thank you for reminding me what pride is all about. Oh, Father, how I want to exhibit true humility in my life. I can only be humble as I am moved by your humility and I can only be a true friend as you empower me with your unconditional love. Bless my blog friends with a true friend today. In Jesus name, Amen"

THANKFUL THURSDAY WITH JC

Have you ever gotten a song on your mind and just sing it all day or a few days? I do this and sometimes it is scripture that I begin to dwell on. Sometimes it is just one verse or a part of a verse.

Toward the end of last week when I was doing my homework for my Monday night Bible Study a verse was given in the text of the study about Jesus being at the right hand of God the Father interceding on our behalf. But it was one verse down that has been replaying in my mind. Tuesday I was having lunch with a dear friend and sister who brought up this verse and we discussed it in light of current policitical and economic events. Last night I was channel surfing and lingered on a Christian station. I don't know who was preaching (I'm not even sure it was preaching) or maybe it was a talk show. Anyway the speaker brought this verse to the attention of the audience. Immediately, when I sat to write this post, again this verse came to mind.

Romans 8:28 (NIV) " And we know that in all things God works for the good for those who love him...."

It doesn't say some things. It doesn't say good things. It surely doesn't say just the things we want. NO, it says ALL things. The good, the bad, the mistakes, the addictions, the broken relationships, the failures, as well as the victories, the break throughs, the smooth road times, the mountain top experiences. ALL THINGS WORK FOR THE GOOD.

ABBA, Father, I thank You for taking ALL things and working them for my good. Even those things I don't understand how they could ever work toward my good. You have it covered. All covered by my faith in Your Son. Jesus the Christ who lives to make intercession with You on my behalf. How incredibly blessed I am and all who read this are to be called Your very own. Thank You for the knowing that, after I have done all that I can do in any given situation, I can stand and rest that You are right there waiting for me to hand it over and surrender it to You so that You can work it all out for my good. Lord, I've clung to this verse many times because I know You don't just work all things for my good but You work them out for my good and Your Glory. Father, I ask You to have Your will and Your way in my life and received all the glory for it. In Jesus' precious, powerful and wonderful name I pray. Amen.

TUESDAY WITH TIZ

Christ, the Solid Rock

A few days ago I received an email from a sister Princess who had just lost her job due to the hospital where she worked closing. A twelve year position which supposedly offered her job security is no longer there.

She wrote about the peace she had in her heart even though this door had been closed. In closing she wrote:
On Christ's Solid Rock I stand,
(her signature)
Now how precious is that!!!! Where did her peace come from? From Christ, the Solid Rock!!!- all other ground is sinking sand. She is one Princess I do not have to be concerned about. Her best years are ahead of her.

Enjoy the words of the old hymn - The Solid Rock




"Father, how thankful I am to have you as my Solid Rock. Allow this post to comfort and encourage everyone reading this blog today. In Jesus name, I pray, Amen"

How I love My God and My Country!

THANKFUL THURSDAY WITH JC

Isn't it wonderful the way God sends us reminders. He sends them to me a lot. He knows it helps to keep me from straying too far. Some would call it reproof or being disciplined or correction but I prefer reminders. My most recent reminder comes from "The Word for You Today" devotion book, dated November 5 & 6. It reads, "The word "engrafted" means "to attach to, and become part of." Picture a gardener grafting a branch into a tree and that branch coming to life and bearing fruit. Now picture yourself reading God's Word and a Scripture attaching itself to you, growing in you and producing change in your life. That's how God's Word works. And that's why you need to read it daily! The "engrafted Word" is self-sustaining. It doesn't require the accolades of men or the support of others to validate it. When God gives you a Word and you step out on it, don't expect everybody to validate it. It's normal for you to want certain people to see what you see and believe what you believe. But God prepares you for disagreements between you, and those who don't understand what God has told you. If you're not careful, people's opinions will short-circuit your faith and make you doubt what God has said. God says: "I'm not going to confirm what I've told you through them. In fact, I don't even need them to agree with what I've spoken concerning you." Relax. Be confident in God. You may want all these external support systems, but the truth is, you don't need them!"

Father God thank You for the reminder that You are all I need. You speak through Your Word but I must spend time in Your Word to hear the message within. Thank You for being kind and gentle when correcting me. Father forgive me for seeking the advice and opinions of others after you have spoken so clearly. Thank you for being my security, my shield, my protector, my provider. Father bless Barack Obama, the President-Elect of the United States of America. Put a hedge of protection around him, his wife and his children. Father I ask you to give him the wisdom and clarity he will need to lead this nation. Father I pray that he will seek You with all his heart and all his spirit. Father Your word says You put leaders in their place so even though I don't understand the way You work, I know You are working in this nation for the good of Your children and for Your Glory. Thank You for your Holy Spirit dwelling within Your children and thank You for Your Son that lives to intercede with You on my behalf for it is in His precious, holy and powerful name I pray. Amen.

TUESDAY WITH TIZ

ELECTION DAY
11-04-2008

Today is the day we elect the next President of the United States of America. Within a few hours we will know whether or not our candidate won!!!!

Whatever the outcome of the election, the following scriptures will still be in our Bibles:
Proverbs 21:1 "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will".
1 Timothy 2:1-2 "I exhort, therefore, that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men, For kings, and for all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty".

No matter which candidate is elected president three facts will remain unchanged:
1. God is God and God Rules. God reigns and He never forsakes His own.!!!!
2. Jesus saves. No sin is greater than His Grace.!!!!!
3. The Church will remain Triumphant!!! The true Body of Christ will always be alive and well!!!

Do I hear a PRAISE????

"Abba Father, I praise you today as my source of strength in uncertain times. I thank you for the rest I find in YOU through Your Word. I know that whatever this day brings, YOU will remain my source of JOY. I pray that Your Joy will arise in the heart of every person reading this blog today. And Father, I pray for the next President of the USA. I pray that You will turn his heart toward You. I pray Your Protection for him and his family. Father, I ask you to remind me to pray for our President in the days, months and years ahead. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen"

A SOUNDING BOARD TO TRULY HEAR MYSELF...provided by the Lord.

I was blessed to have a phone conversation with a Blog Bud the other day. We were chatting merrily along and suddenly I was sharing something with her that I did not intend to talk about. As I told her about my attitude toward a relationship with a family member, I heard myself.

There was an apologetic tone to my words... I was ashamed of my feelings. But why shame? Doesn't shame denote sin? That I was doing something wrong? I think I was ashamed because I don't WANT to feel this way and because I didn't want to burden her with my negative emotions. I also don't want to give in to the fleshly resentment that I was feeling.

Having a conversation and speaking so candidly with her without realizing that those words were going to come out of my mouth revealed an area of my life that needed work. And though I may not have realized what I was going to say, God did. He gave me a Christian friend with whom to speak my mind and thus, reveal my heart. I feel quite sure that she will not judge me harshly for the words that I spoke, because God provided a safe person to reveal truth through. Just by listening, she was used by God in my life.

Father God,

Thank you for working sin out of my life. Thank you for being faithful and just to forgive me of my sin. Thank you for providing a friend, a caring and compassionate person, to listen and love me in spite of myself. And Father, allow me to return the favor to another Brother or Sister in Christ.

Your ways are so wonderful Lord. I stand amazed at what you accomplish and how you accomplish it. Thank you for the seen and unseen blessings in my life.

In Jesus name.

Amen