ALWAYS SOMETHING GOOD

Poet: Julie Hebert

I shall be glad when summer comes,

As it's my favorite time.

The sun, the beach, the big blue sky,

The mountains I love to climb.

But just because summer is,

My favorite time of the year.

It doesn't mean I won't look back,

To all seasons with great cheer.

Fall and winter lose the warmth,

That spring and summer find.

But there are still great thing about,

Seasons that are unrefined.

The thing to try and keep in mind,

No matter what the day,

Is there is always something good,

To give thanks to God in prayer.

Look and find the things you love,

Make the most out of all you can.

Don't stop and wait for life to pass,

Life's too short to be a season fan.

In Christ,
Janet Irene Thomas
Playwright/Screen Writer/Director
Published Author/Gospel Lyricist &Producer
FOUNDER/CEO
Bible Stories Theatre of
Fine & Performing Arts
www.biblestoriestheatre.org.

IT TAKES COURAGE

Poet Unknown

It takes strength to be firm, it takes courage to be gentle.

It takes strength to conquer, it takes courage to surrender.

It takes strength to be certain, it takes courage to have doubt.

It takes strength to fit in, it takes courage to stand out.

It takes strength to feel a friend's pain, it takes courage to feel your own pain.

It takes strength to endure abuse, it takes courage to stop it.

It takes strength to stand alone, it takes courage to lean on another.

It takes strength to love, it takes courage to be loved.

It takes strength to survive, it takes courage to live.

In Christ,
Janet Irene Thomas
Playwright/Screen Writer/Director
Published Author/Gospel Lyricist &Producer
FOUNDER/CEO
Bible Stories Theatre of
Fine & Performing Arts
www.biblestoriestheatre.org.

EMOTIONAL ADULTERY

It is far easier to commit emotional adultery than you may realize.  You may be converging on a chemical reaction with another person when:

 Jude 24

You've got a need you feel your mate isn't meeting-a need for attention, approval or affection, for example.

You find it easier to unwind with someone other than your spouse by dissecting the day's difficulties over lunch, coffee or a ride home.

You begin to talk about problems you are having with your spouse.

You rationalize the propriety of this relationship with the opposite sex by saying that surely it must be God's will to talk so openly and honestly with a fellow Christian.

You look forward to being with this person more than with your own mate.

You hide the relationship from your mate.

When you find yourself connecting with another person as a substitute, you've started traveling a road that ends too often in adultery and divorce. But how do you protect yourself to keep this from occurring?

Know your boundaries. You should put fences around your heart that protect sacred ground, reserved only for your spouse. Barbara and I are careful to share our deepest feelings, needs and difficulties with each other, and not with friends of the opposite sex.

Realize the power of your eyes. As has been said, your eyes are the windows to your heart. Pull the shades down if you sense someone is pausing a little too long in front of your windows.

Beware of isolation and concealment. One strategy of the enemy is to isolate you from your spouse, especially by inducing you to keep secrets from your mate.

Extinguish chemical reactions that have already begun. A friendship with the opposite sex that meets the needs your mate should be meeting must be ended quickly. It may be a painful loss at first, but it isn't as painful as dealing with the wreckage caused by a sinful relationship.

In Christ,
Janet Irene Thomas
Playwright/Screen Writer/Director
Published Author/Gospel Lyricist &Producer
FOUNDER/CEO
Bible Stories Theatre of
Fine & Performing Arts
www.biblestoriestheatre.org.

ANGER

Anger.  Failure to manage anger has been very costly for leaders.  The wisdom books exhort the wise persons to heed the consistent message of self-control, especially in the matter of anger.

Being slow to anger is a mark of "great understand". (Prov. 14:29).  Being slow to anger appeases strife (Prov.15:18).  The leader able to control his words has an excellent spirit (Prov. 17:27).  

One who is hasty to be angry bears the mark of a fool (Eccl 7:9).  Conquering one’s anger is better than conquering a great city in battle (Prov.16:32). 

An undisciplined spirit is the same as an unprotected city (Prov.25:28).   Moses, the man of God, forfeited the privilege of leading Israel into the Promised Land. 

Anger was a part of his life; (1) he slew an Egyptian; (2) he destroyed the tablets of stone that God had made; (3) in anger he smote the rock the second time, and rebelled against the word of God.  He told Israel, "The Lord was angry with me for your sakes" (Deut. 1:37); it cost him his place of leadership.

In Christ,

Janet Irene Thomas

Playwright/Screen Writer/Director

Published Author/Gospel Lyricist &Producer

FOUNDER/CEO

Bible Stories Theatre of

Fine & Performing Arts

www.biblestoriestheatre.org.

GOD'S TIME

THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS:

New York is 3 hours ahead of California, but it does not make California slow. 

Someone graduated at the age of 22, but waited 5 years before securing a good job! 

Someone became a CEO at 25, and died at 50. 

While another became a CEO at 50, and lived to 90 years. 

Someone is still single, while someone else got married. 

Obama retires at 55, but Trump starts at 70. 

Absolutely everyone in this world works based on their Time Zone. 

People around you might seem to go ahead of you, some might seem to be behind you. 

But everyone is running their own RACE, in their own TIME. 

Don’t envy them or mock them. 

They are in their TIME ZONE, and you are in yours! 

Life is about waiting for the right moment to act. 

So, RELAX. 

You’re not LATE. 

You’re not EARLY. 

You are very much ON TIME, and in your TIME ZONE Destiny set up for you.   

In conclusion, don't rush to get and don't be sad if things turn out to be slow. In God’s hands time is a tool. He makes all things beautiful in His time.

In Christ,

Janet Irene Thomas

Playwright/Screen Writer/Director

Published Author/Gospel Lyricist &Producer

FOUNDER/CEO

Bible Stories Theatre of

Fine & Performing Arts

www.biblestoriestheatre.org.

BREAK IT DOWN

 

Joel 2:12 - "That is why the LORD says, 'Turn to me now, while there is time!

Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning."

There are many things in this life that cause us pain and grief. Many problems in our lives can break us down and humble us. God uses all kinds of situations to get our attention and he will allow certain things like money problems, shame, or persecution to get us in a place where we can hear him or change our direction. These are things that are a part of our growth as a Christian. But there should come a time, after we have walked with Christ for a period, that we should mature into a better Christian. Thus, we should not have to be broken down and made to endure pain as an attention getter, but we should get to the point where we decide to deal with our own flesh and our ungodly appetites.

God wants our hearts. Our mouths and even our reputations can glorify God without our hearts truly belonging to him. This is why, in this scripture, that God asked for our hearts. But he didn't stop there. He gave us a formula for it. Fasting, which will destroy the will of the flesh. Weeping, which will break down the outer image. And mourning, which will bring passion for new growth. These things should not have to be induced, but they should at some point be voluntary for your growth as a strong, mature, believer. There should come a time when you decide that you are going to fast to deny the pleasures of the flesh. You should weep before God in shame or agony over his displeasure in your sin. And you must learn to mourn, or be sorrowful for where you are and allow it to make you passionate about moving forward in your rightful place in him. Pray for these desires and pray that God will move you forward. Don't stay where you are. The world needs you better.

In Christ,

Janet Irene Thomas

Playwright/Screen Writer/Director

Published Author/Gospel Lyricist &Producer

FOUNDER/CEO

Bible Stories Theatre of

Fine & Performing Arts

www.biblestoriestheatre.org.

THE UNMOVED ROCK

 EXERCISE YOUR FAITH

Once upon a time, there was a man who was sleeping at night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light and the Savior appeared. The Lord told the man He had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might. This the man did, day after day. For many years he toiled from sun up to sun down, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all his might.

Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain. Seeing that the man was showing signs of discouragement, Satan decided to enter the picture placing thoughts into the man's mind such as: "You have been pushing against that rock for a long time, and it hasn't budged. Why kill yourself over this? You are never going to move it." Thus giving the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure.

These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man even more. "Why kill myself over this?" he thought. "I'll just put in my time, giving just the minimum of effort and that will be good enough." And that he planned to do until one day he decided to make it a matter of prayer and take his troubled thoughts to the Lord.

"Lord," he said, "I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock a half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?" To this the Lord responded compassionately, "My child, when long ago I asked you to serve me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push.

And now you come to me, your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back sinewed and brown, your hands are callused from constant pressure, and your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition, you have grown much and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. Yet you haven't moved the rock. But your calling was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in My wisdom. This you have done. I, my child, will now move the rock."

                                                                        -Source unknown-

In Christ,

Janet Irene Thomas

Playwright/Screen Writer/Director

Published Author/Gospel Lyricist &Producer

FOUNDER/CEO

Bible Stories Theatre of

Fine & Performing Arts

www.biblestoriestheatre.org

UNDYING LOVE (4)

The Story of Hosea and Gomer

FAITHFUL HUSBAND; UNFAITHFUL WIFE

How many times should a husband or wife forgive?

Today, are we able to forgive as Hosea? Some of us would say that his shoes are hard to step in. But, let’s take a look at the answer our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, gave to Peter’s similar question: “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Lord Jesus answer, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven” (Matt. 18:21, 22). Simply put, our Lord was saying that there is no end to forgiveness.

Gomer certainly knew how her affairs were tearing at Hosea’s heart. And, we, like Hosea, must have the obligation to share what is on our heart when we are sinned against.

God can use our forgiving love to melt hardened hearts and change callused lives quicker than anything else in this world. This is the lesson we are to take away from Hosea and Gomer’s lesson of forgiveness. God’s love and forgiveness spread through Hosea’s entire prophecy. Remember though, God hates sin; it grieves His heart; He will not condone it; His perfect righteousness and justice demand that He deal with it. But He still loves sinners and diligently seeks them out and offers them His loving forgiveness.

CONCLUSION/DISCUSSION

1. What do you think are the major causes for husbands and wives drifting apart?

2. What interests do you both share in common? What else could you do together to strengthen your bond of oneness?

3. Husbands and wives are not always aware of each other’s love. It might be helpful for each of you to finish the following statements: “I feel loved when you …” or “I am saying that I love you when …”

4. Can you think of wrongs you have suffered from your mate that may be keeping you from freely expressing your love? Admit them to your mate and verbalize your full forgiveness.

5. How can you keep the wrongs for which you have forgiven others from creeping back into your mind and destroying your peace?

6. What positive steps can you and your mate take to keep certain sins from repeating themselves in your lives?

May the mighty Hand of Lord Jesus Christ, bless and strengthened your marriage, and let no weapon formed against it prosper. I pray that this lesson of forgiveness forever be upon my heart, souls, and minds. Amen.

In Christ,

Janet Irene Thomas

Playwright/Screen Writer/Director

Published Author/Gospel Lyricist &Producer

FOUNDER/CEO

Bible Stories Theatre of

Fine & Performing Arts

www.biblestoriestheatre.org.

UNDYING LOVE (3)

The Story of Hosea and Gomer

FAITHFUL HUSBAND; UNFAITHFUL WIFE

S

cripture does not give particulars of what went wrong in the marriage of Hosea and Gomer, but we can speculation about the gradual drift that led to the heart-rending circumstances we will eventually realize. Gomer’s absences from home probably grew more frequent and prolonged and soon Hosea was feeling twinges of suspicion about her faithfulness to him. He probably laid awake many nights wrestling with his fears. During the day, he most certainly preached with a weighty heart.

I believe that his suspicions were confirmed when it became difficult to escape the obvious truth of his wife’s escapades, and he pleaded with her (2:2), and even threatened to disinherit her (2:3). But, still she ran off with her lovers because they promised to lavish material things on her (2:5). Over and over, Hosea would take Gomer back in loving forgiveness and they would try again. But her repentance would be short-lived and off again she’d be with another new lover.

Note: I don’t want you to miss this; the message (I believe) here is clear. Our Lord and Savior is speaking and expressing His feelings through Hosea. Was not this loving man a Prophet? Here it comes; don’t miss it:

Gomer left her husband for good.  Imagine how deeply Hosea must have suffered! He loved his adulterous wife deeply and grieved for her as though she had been taken in a casualty.

There is no escaping the message of his undying love. Hosea wanted to see Gomer restored to his side as his faithful wife. And he believed that God was great enough to do it. And Almighty God, stepped in. Hosea learned that Gomer had been deserted by her lover, and hitting rock bottom, had sold herself into slavery. And, yet- in-still, Gomer was still beloved of Hosea, and God wanted him to seek her out and prove his love to her... "even as the Lord loves." Only we, His servants, who know the love and forgiveness of God can ever love this perfectly. And one who has experienced His loving forgiveness cannot help but love and forgive others. Christian husbands are commanded to love their wives as Christ loved the Church (Eph. 5:25), and Hosea is an outstanding biblical example of that kind of love….

So, the Godly prophet of God, began his search, driven by that indestructible divine love, love that bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things, love that never ends. And he found her, ragged, torn, sick, dirty, disheveled, destitute, chained to an auction block in a filthy slave market, a repulsive shadow of the woman she once was. We wonder how anyone could love her now. But Hosea bought her from her slavery for fifteen shekels of silver and thirteen bushels of barley (Hos. 3:2). Then he said to her, “You shall stay with me for many days. You shall not play the harlot, nor shall you have a man; so I will also be toward you” (Hos. 3:3). He actually paid for her, brought her home, and eventually restored her to her position as his wife. While we do not find anything else in Scripture about their relationship with each other, we assume that God used Hosea’s supreme act of forgiving love to melt her heart and change her life.

Still, God spoke to His prophet: “Go again, love a woman who is loved by her husband, yet an adulteress, even as the Lord loves the sons of Israel, though they turn to other gods” (Hos. 3:1).

                 …to be cont’d.

In Christ,

Janet Irene Thomas

Playwright/Screen Writer/Director

Published Author/Gospel Lyricist &Producer

FOUNDER/CEO

Bible Stories Theatre of

Fine & Performing Arts

www.biblestoriestheatre.org.

UNDYING LOVE (2)

The Story of Hosea and Gomer

      FAITHFUL HUSBAND; UNFAITHFUL WIFE

T

he early days of marriage for Hosea and Gomer were probably beautiful as their love began to bud. And God blessed their union with a son. O’ how Hosea’s heart must have swelled with joy. By now, he was surely convinced that his marriage would be better than ever with a son to enhance their home. God named the baby, for his name was to have prophetic significance to the nation. He called him Jezreel, because it was at Jezreel that King Jeroboam’s great grandfather Jehu had first come to the throne by ambitious crimes of bloodshed and violence, and meaning "God sows." This name may have been intended to signify the replanting of Israel back on its own soil after it had been dispersed in exile. Then there was a second son who was called Lo Ami, meaning "not my people, " to indicate God's rejection of Israel as His people because of its faithlessness. Lastly, Hosea's daughter by Gomer was metaphorically named Lo-ruhamah, meaning "the unpitied one."

Since Gomer after her marriage became an unfaithful "wife of harlotry, " it is possible that Lo-ruhamah and perhaps her brothers were illegitimate children. Some scholars have even dare to speculate whether the prophet's tragic marital experience was real or merely an allegory to stress the infidelity of Israel.

It was not until after the birth of Jezreel that Hosea noticed a change in Gomer. She became restless and unhappy, and he continued preaching, encouraging the wayward nation to turn from its sin and trust God for deliverance from the threat of surrounding nations. “Return unto the Lord!” was the theme of his message, and he preached it repeatedly with power (Hos. 6:1; 14:1). But Gomer seemed less and less interested in his ministry. Perhaps, she may have even nurtured resentment. And as sometimes women do, she may have even accused Hosea of thinking more about his preaching than he did of her. She began to find other interests to occupy herself, and spent more and more time away from home.

The dangers are great and very real when a husband and wife have few interests in common. Sometimes he goes his way and she goes hers. ..these are certainly signs that need to be paid attention to.

They each have their own set of friends, and there is little communication to bring their two worlds together. A husband’s preoccupation with his work may be the major contributing factor to the cleavage. Or it may be a wife’s growing involvement in outside activities and subsequent neglect of the home. There may be any number of things, but, more importantly, it may simply be a disinterest in the things of the Lord on the part of either husband or wife. But it sets the scene for great calamity. Husbands and wives must to do things together and take an interest in each other’s activities. In this inspired story, the responsibility is clearly laid upon Gomer rather than Hosea. She did not share her husband’s love for God….to be cont’d

In Christ,

Janet Irene Thomas

Playwright/Screen Writer/Director

Published Author/Gospel Lyricist &Producer

FOUNDER/CEO

Bible Stories Theatre of

Fine & Performing Arts

www.biblestoriestheatre.org.