THANKFUL THURSDAY WITH JC

Sammy Gilbreath lives each day like it is his last. He was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy several years ago. According to his doctors, there is nothing that can be done for him. They say he would not survive a heart transplant so it isn't an option. Yet, Sammy is a man of faith so he walks the walk and talks the talk of a man on a mission. The mission of seeing lost souls won to Christ.

No, Sammy isn't rocky mountain climbing, or skydiving but he is preaching at every church that will extend an invitation. He will continue to do this until he goes home. He says he has changed a couple of words in his vocabulary. One he has changed is "got to get" as in I've got to go preach to, I "get to go" preach. The other is "if" when saying I'm sorry. He says when you say "If I hurt you I'm sorry" it negates the apology. How true because you're really saying "I don't think I'm wrong."

I'm honored to have had him as my pastor many, many years ago. So when I heard his voice Sunday morning on TV, my spirit jumped for joy. He was told not to make the trip from Montgomery to Birmingham the first Sunday of this year but he did. How powerful the message that was broadcast from Gardendale First Baptist Church, "Live like you are dying." Some part of us knows our time here is limited but we scarce give it a thought. Sammy lives with the reality of a machine in his chest that shocks his heart when it stops but he spends no time dwelling on himself. There are souls to save.

Father God, thank you for Sammy Gilbreath and the influence he and his family have had on my life. Father, forgive me for being self-centered and compliant in witnessing to others of Your grace and mercy found in the sacrifice of Jesus my Savior. Father, give me courage and boldness to live my life as if everyday could be my last. In Jesus precious, holy, and powerful name I pray. Amen

TUESDAYS WITH TIZ

"Let Your Light Shine in 2009"

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father, who is in Heaven." Matthew 5:16

We do not have to wonder what our purpose is. We are to be light, penetrating the darkness, by reflecting Jesus. The wonder of it all is that we do not have to struggle to let this light shine. This "little light of mine" is Jesus Christ Himself. Jesus said in John 8:12 "I am the light of the world". I have the Light of Life residing in me. He is my Light that will shine in 2009!!!

I have a choice to let His Light shine or hide it under a bushel. I can hide His Light with self centeredness, selfishness, whining, grumbling and complaining, to name a few. That is not a happy thought!!! That is not the life of a Princess!!!

"Father, thank you for being Light in my life. Thank you for putting this message on my Pastor's heart so he could share it with his congregation. You have shown Your Light in the lives of so many I am in contact with and I am truly thankful. Bless each person reading this blog today with at least one person who is reflecting Your Light. In Jesus wonderful name, I pray. Amen"

Countenance.... and other things.

This is currently one of my ABSOLUTE favorite videos. The message is VALID!

*slightly not safe for work - one minor word right at the beginning... but the video is just SOOOO good*

Jen here....

This mood. A computer. And a quiet house.

This might not be good.

I have the sighs. I can't seem to shake this melancholy mood and the homemade marshmallow sundae (with sprinkles) didn't touch it. Again, this might not be good.

There are umpteen fifty things that I should be doing right now, things that will be waiting for me tomorrow. And still it is this mood, a computer, and a quiet house. Accomplishing nothing, not even helping to chase the sighs away, not forming a thought worth thinking or good enough to make you think on it either.

I can't eat this mood away. I don't drink, but I don't think that booze would touch it either. I don't feel like pulling out photos, the paper slicer and double stick tape. I don't feel like reading. I don't feel like watching a movie. I don't feel like anything but sitting here at this computer and sighing.

And darned if I have the first thing to say.

I know that every letter, every character that appears on my computer screen is not filling the pit that the sighs are coming from. I need to make a list of things that I am thankful for... divert my attention from self and put it on God and the blessings that He has given me. Time to put hinds feet on high places...

~ Jesus

~ Jesus

(I am doubly blessed by Him, so I listed Him twice).

~ Jesus

(I find that the more I think on Him, the less empty I feel)

OK, so listing my blessings was a good thing. Somehow, I feel like if I list the usual "Husband, Kids, Home, Food, Clothing" thankfulness items, right now I will be listing them in spite of my mood. But Jesus? He just is. He is the blessing in my life that I cannot feel like "Well He is there, I shouldn't be sighing."

He IS. If I think on Him then... there is a fullness there.

Bah! I am an idiot. I came to my computer looking to be filled. And I talked it out... what you are reading is what went through my mind and out of my finger tips.... and wound up finding my answer the hard way.

I came to this ridiculous piece of machinery and Jesus met me here and eased my spirit. When am I going to learn to take my sighs, and my burdens, and my pathetic moods to Him first? But praise God that He will find me right where I am and minister to each of my needs.

Thank you Jesus.

TUESDAYS WITH TIZ

Inauguration Day - January 20, 2009

Today is the day Barack Obama will be sworn in as the President of the United States of America.

We have heard about it, read about, talked about it and now it is reality. Yes, we have also prayed about it. I am asking everyone reading this blog today to join me in praying this prayer for our new President and his family on this historic day.

"Father, we bow before you acknowledging you as Almighty God. As your children, we come to you asking that you guide Barack Obama as he takes over the awesome responsibility as President of the United States of America. I ask for divine protection for him, his wife, and their two daughters. I ask you to give him your wisdom as he makes decisions which will effect each and every person in our great country. I pray especially that he will make the right decision concerning our military troops serving their country on foreign soil. I pray for his marriage. I pray that he will be a Godly husband and a Godly Dad. I pray that Michele will in turn be a Godly wife and a Godly Mom. I pray that your Glory will fill their home and their daughters will be raised in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Father, with you guiding and directing our President, we can and will be a nation that will bring Glory to your name. I thank you for the privilege of living in the USA. In Jesus Powerful Name I pray, Amen".

For He saved the worst among you when He saved a wretch like me.

Yes I Know - Gaither Vocal Band



No, not perfect, but forgiven.


Father God, I have no idea why you chose me to be your own, but thank you. Thank You that Jesus said that I could not be snatched out of His hand. Here I am, held in His loving grace filled hands, thankful that I will never get what I deserve (death) because He endured suffering that He did not deserve. I praise you for your boundless grace.

In Jesus name, Amen

THANKFUL THURSDAY WITH JC

PRAISE...a sacrifice?

I've never considered praise a sacrifice. However, Hebrews 13:15 (NIV) says, "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise - the fruit of lips that confess his name."

When would it be a sacrifice to praise God? I began to ponder this verse. Then I realized praise would indeed be difficult when:

• the prognosis is bleak
• your job is gone
• the car breaks down
• there is more month than money
• the car repo man comes to visit
• the bank forecloses on your home
• the credit card company doubles your interest rate for no reason
• your boss is unreasonable
• you lose a spouse, parent or child to death
• your spouse announces he/she never loved you
• friends walks away
• church leaders call evil good
• when war comes too close to home

You can add to the list.

Yes there are times when life is so overwhelming that prayer is difficult much less praise but I believe we get the Father's attention when we praise Him in the mist of whatever circumstance we are walking through.

Whatever your burden, whatever your crisis, whatever your sorrow lay it down at the foot of cross and offer to God the sacrifice of praise through Jesus.

Father, Holy is Your name. I come to You offering You praise, honor and glory for You alone are worthy of my praise and adoration. Father all that I am and I all I will ever be is wrapped up in You. Father, I lift up the one reading this prayer that is fallen, broken, grieving, in sorrow so crushing she/he can hardly breath. Father, show yourself strong on their behalf as they surrender all to you. Provide for their every need. In Jesus' precious, holy and powerful name I pray. Amen.

TUESDAYS WITH TIZ

I can, yes, I can

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

This scripture has come to my attention more than one time in the last few days. In one article a mother wrote about how she used this verse in helping her young son overcome the habit of saying, "I can't".

I ask myself two questions:

1. Can I really do "all things" through Christ who strengthens me?
2. What are the "all things" my King is telling this Princess she can do through Christ who strengthens her?

I suggest that the "all things" I can do is the things God has instructed me in His Word to do.

Like...
~ forgiveness
~ love one another
~ fear not
~ and rejoice in the Lord always.

If God instructs me to forgive, then I can forgive. If he instructs me to love you, then I can love you. If he instructs me to fear not, then I do not have to be afraid. If He instructs me to rejoice in the Lord always, then I can rejoice in Him no matter what my circumstances are or what negative things I hear spoken by well meaning people.
I cannot do these things on my own but "through Christ" who strengths me. "Through Him", if he instructs me to do it, then I can do it. I can, yes, I can!!!!

"Father, I thank you for being the source of my strength. I pray that each person reading this blog today will join me in making it a practice, a habit ,to affirm daily that, through you, we can do all things. We can, yes, we can!!! In Jesus powerful name, I pray. Amen"

Child of God?

It is shocking at times to look at your children and see their faults. We all want to say "Not my child". So when we see that they are actually capable causing hurt or very purposefully doing the wrong thing, it does not sit well with the parent.

The infractions that I have seen my children quite willfully commit are, in the scope of things, quite small. Annoying a sister, breaking a sibling's toy, a well aimed elbow jab... routine kid behavior. But still, KNOWING that they know what is right, and yet choose to continue to do wrong... it is quite frustrating.

And yet, the little day to day things that I do, knowing that it is wrong but proceeding to do them anyway.... doesn't this disappoint my Heavenly Father so much more? After the sacrifice that He made for me, isn't the least that I could do is just behave?

I am so thankful that he is long suffering and full of grace.

Father God,

I am sorry that I have feet that run toward sin at times. Please forgive me. Help me to be pleasing to you Oh Lord. And thank you for your love and patience.

In Jesus name... Amen.

THANKFUL THURSDAY WITH JC

Around AD 85-95 the Apostle John wrote a short letter to a man named Gaius. He was most likely a pastor or leader in the early church. In the letter John is giving instructions on on how to treat traveling ministers and missionaries who teach the truth. The letter is in the new testament.

This letter known as III John is near the back of the Bibile. Just go to Revelations and back up to Jude and then to III John. It contains only one chapter but within that chapter is rich wisdom and for me a one of the most profound verses in all of scripture.

John addresses himself as the elderly elder and in verse 2 he writes to Gaius, "Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers." (NASB)

As your soul prospers, let us think about........mediate on.......... dwell on these words.

You see, I'm not a learned scholar. But even my simple mind can comprehend that, if one desires to prosper in worldly goods and enjoy good health then, it would be of his/her benefit to concern oneself with the prospering of ones soul.

If we made an effort to spend time in prayer, studying God's word, listening to the wisdom of our truthful elders, would not our souls prosper? If our souls begin to prosper would not everything else fall into its proper place?

Just something to think about over the next few days.

Father.....God.... Holy is Your name. Awesome are Your thoughts and actions toward Your children. Lord, thank You for III John 1:2. Thank You for prospering my soul as I spend time with YOU. Thank You for providing me with my hearts desires and thank You for good health. Father I pray that every reader of this post will prosper and enjoy good health just as their soul prospers. In Jesus' precious, holy, and powerful name I pray. Amen

TUESDAYS WITH TIZ

Trust Him with those you love




It seems that daily I am in contact with someone who is experiencing a lot of grief concerning someone in their family. The concerns come from lost jobs, substance abuse and broken relationships. Every time there is a broken hearted parent or grandparent there is also a broken hearted aunt, uncle, sister, brother or friend.

Friends, you may have a family member or maybe someone in your church family that you are painfully concerned about. I want to share with you a Letter from Our King taken from the "His Princess" book by Sheri Rose Shepherd.

My Princess...Trust me with those you love. I know your heart, and I know how much you love those close to you. I am your creator and the Giver of every good gift. I have given you loved ones to share your life with. But you, My child, must remember that those you love ultimately belong to Me - not to you. I didn't give you those special relationships to tear you apart or to control you through fear of the future. Like Abraham did with his only son, Isaac, I need you to open your heart and give back to Me those you love. Trust me with everything that concerns you regarding them. Place your hand in Mine, and I promise I will walk you - and your loved ones - through all things this life brings. Love, Your trustworthy King

"Father, I ask you to make real your message to everyone reading this blog today. In Jesus Comforting Name, I pray. Amen"

THANKFUL THURSDAY WITH JC

Happy 2009 to you.
May you seek to know God more this year than ever before. May you be bold in your faith and your witness. My God cause His face to shine upon you and give you peace in 2009 and for the rest of your days.

Father this is a day You have made and I will rejoice and be glad in it. Today starts a new year. A time to move forward or a time to stay stuck. Father I ask that each reader of these words will have a burning desire to move forward. Pastor Kent says that the color for the year is green and green means go. Go forward with Your guidance. He compared a new year as a river flowing down stream, it never stops and encouraged us to be like a river flowing constantly never stopping as You lead guide and direct us. Well, Father, I don't know about the color or the river but this one thing I am confident of....this one thing I know. I don't know what 2009 will bring but my confidence and trust is in You and You know what 2009 holds. No New Years resolutions will I make but to continue to seek after You. To know You....to experience You....to listen to You....to go where You lead....to be willing to speak as You direct and give the words.

Father....if there is anything within me that isn't pleasing to you, I'm sorry. Reveal my offenses so I can turn from them. Be gentle with Your correction. Thank You for hear and answering my prayer. In Jesus' holy, precious & powerful name I pray. Amen.