THEY'LL WONDER WHY

Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse them. Romans 12:14

Do you feel their eyes on you? Don’t be surprised, especially if you’re reading this in a public place or in the presence of your family. Especially if they know you’re reading something "religious." Look up, flash a smile, and return to your reading. Even if you’re a bit timid about your co-worker or family’s curiosity, you can witness to your faith. Let their eyes see it on your lips. Smiles are so powerful! They can even break the ice. 

You have much to smile about. Smile as you remember that cooing baby nestled in the hay. Smile as you think about the man mistaken for a landscaper that misty Sunday morning in a cemetery near dark Gethsemane. Imagine yourself with the disciples, hunkered down in a stuffy room when suddenly Jesus enters-through a locked door! Go ahead, smile! Perhaps they’ll wonder what you’re smiling about.

Maybe they will ask. Then what do you do? You could tell them you’re reading a funny book. After all, our Savior acted "funny." Many who witnessed His ministry laughed at Him. A few laughed with Him. He probably laughed too, but never at anyone’s expense. He did many funny things-like forgiving His enemies, associating with potentially dangerous strangers, getting within infectious range of contagious people, obeying His Father perfectly and blessing His enemies.

Reading my Blog may be risky. You may smile. You might even chuckle sometimes. At the very least, your heart should be lighter. So be ready for inquisitive looks, rolling eyes, even mockery for your actions. But smile anyway. 

Who knows? You might ruin the
day for a grouch!

 

Janet Irene Thomas

Director, Playwright, Gospel Lyricist, Screenwriter

Founder/CEO

Bible Stories Theatre of Fine & Performing Arts

www.biblestoriestheatre.org

info@biblestoriestheatre.org

HEART CONDITION

 KEEP YOUR HEART WITH ALL VIGILANCE, FOR FROM IT FLOW THE SPRINGS OF LIFE. Proverbs 4:23

What is the condition of your heart? Doctors know the heart beats the rhythm of life. Poets and lovers see the heart as the place where affection and emotions dwell. The Bible cautions against hard hearts like Pharaoh’s story one that kept Israel captive. (It’s said that the only thing worse than hard-heartedness is soft-headedness.) And so, as the proverb says, the springs of life flow from the heart.

Place your hand over your heart. Thump thump. Thump thump. Thump thump. That little thumper pushes blood through thousands of miles of veins and arteries inside your body. You depend on its operation to keep you alive, yet it works on its own, without your planning or management.

Paul said, "With the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved" (Romans 10:10). Paul’s view of the heart was less clinical, but he recognized its life-supporting significance just the same. He would probably promote activities that maintain healthy hearts too.

First, exercise is vital. Doctors often recommend vigorous walks. Paul might recommend the same, with Jesus for a companion. Although Jesus isn’t here to march us step for step, we walk with Him in our meditation and prayers. He’s close by, and He promises to guide us.

Second, diet is important. Debates toss about pros and cons of every conceivable food and nutrient, and it’s hard to make sure we eat the right foods. But Paul’s spiritual diet consists of only one item-God’s Word.

How pleasant to know that we can never consume too much of His nutrition!Isn’t it great to have exercise and snacks at break?

 

Janet Irene Thomas

Director, Playwright, Gospel Lyricist, Screenwriter

Founder/CEO

Bible Stories Theatre of Fine & Performing Arts

www.biblestoriestheatre.org

info@biblestoriestheatre.org

NEVER GIVE UP

NEVER GIVE UP

NEVER GIVE UP ON THE LORD 

AS YOU ASK HIM

TO TRANSFORM THE DIFFICULT SITUATIONS

IN YOUR LIFE. HE IS ALREADY AT WORK,

AND HE HAS A WONDERFUL PLAN

TO BLESS YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES.

Janet Irene Thomas

Director, Playwright, Gospel Lyricist, Screenwriter

Founder/CEO

Bible Stories Theatre of Fine & Performing Arts

www.biblestoriestheatre.org

info@biblestoriestheatre.org

BOY MEETS GOD!

There once was a little boy who wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with Twinkies and a six-pack of root beer and started his journey. When he had gone about three blocks, he met an old woman. She was sitting in the park just staring at some pigeons.


The boy sat down next to her and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the old lady looked hungry, so he offered her a Twinkie. She gratefully accepted it and smiled at him. Her smile was so pretty that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered her a root beer. Once again she smiled at him. The boy was delighted! They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word.


As it grew dark, the boy realized how tired he was, and he got up to leave but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the old woman and gave her a hug. She gave him her biggest smile ever. When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, “What did you do today that made you so happy?” He replied, “I had lunch with God.” But, before his mother could respond, he added, “You know what? She’s got the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen!”

Meanwhile, the old woman, also radiant with joy, returned to her home. Her son was stunned by the look of peace on her face and he asked, “Mother, what did you do today that made you so happy?” She replied, “I ate Twinkies in the park with God.” But, before her son responded, she added, “You know, he’s much younger than I expected.”

Moral: God is everywhere. We just need to share our happiness and make others smile to feel him.

In Christ,

Janet Irene Thomas
Playwright/Director/Screen Writer/Producer/Lyricist
Founder/CEO
Bible Stories Theatre of
Fine & Performing Arts
info@biblestoriestheatre.org

www.biblestoriestheatre.org
 

THE ELEPHANT

As a man was passing the elephants, he suddenly stopped, confused by the fact that these huge creatures were being held by only a small rope tied to their front leg. No chains, no cages. It was obvious that the elephants could, at anytime, break away from their bonds but for some reason, they did not. 

He saw a trainer nearby and asked why these animals just stood there and made no attempt to get away. “Well,” trainer said, “when they are very young and much smaller we use the same size rope to tie them and, at that age, it’s enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They believe the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free.” 

The man was amazed. These animals could at any time break free from their bonds but because they believed they couldn’t, they were stuck right where they were. 

Like the elephants, how many of us go through life hanging onto a belief that we cannot do something, simply because we failed at it once before? 

Failure is part of learning; we should never give 

up the struggle in life. 

In Christ, 

Janet Irene Thomas 

Playwright/Director/Screen Writer/Producer/Lyricist 

Founder/CEO 

Bible Stories Theatre of 

Fine & Performing Arts 

info@biblestoriestheatre.org 

www.biblestoriestheatre.org

SHAKE OFF MY PROBLEMS

GREENER PASTURES ARE COMING

A man’s favorite donkey falls into a deep precipice. He can’t pull it out no matter how hard he tries. He therefore decides to bury it alive.

Soil is poured onto the donkey from above. The donkey feels the load, shakes it off, and steps on it. More soil is poured.

It shakes it off and steps up. The more the load was poured, the higher it rose. By noon, the donkey was grazing in green pastures.

After much shaking off (of problems) And stepping up                     (learning from them), One will graze in                                                 GREEN PASTURES.

In Christ,

Janet Irene Thomas

Playwright/Director/Screen Writer/Producer/Lyricist

Founder/CEO

Bible Stories Theatre of

Fine & Performing Arts

info@biblestoriestheatre.org

www.biblestoriestheatre.org

COMES THE DAWN

 

Comes The Dawn

After a while you learn the subtle difference

Between holding a hand and chaining a soul,

And you learn that love doesn't mean leaning,

And company doesn't mean security,

And you begin to learn that kisses aren't contracts

And presents aren't promises;

And you begin to accept your defeats

With you head up and your eyes open

With the grace of a woman, not the grief of a child,

And you learn to build all your roads on today

Because tomorrow's ground is too uncertain for plans,

And futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight.

After a while you learn

That even sunshine burns if you get too much.

So you plant your garden and decorate your soul,

Instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers,

And you learn that you really can endure...

That you really are strong,

And you really do have worth.

And you learn and you learn...

With every goodbye you learn.

Author Unknown