THERE'S POWER IN PRAYER

When my  friend found out she had breast cancer, I asked my friends to pray for her. When she had surgery, we prayed that the surgeon would be able to remove all of the cancer and that she wouldn’t have to undergo chemotherapy or radiation. And God answered yes! When I reported the news, one friend remarked, “I’m so glad there’s power in prayer.” I responded, “I’m thankful that God answered with a yes this time.”

James says that “the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (5:16). But does “effective” and “fervent” mean the harder we pray, or the more people we ask to pray, the more likely God is to answer with a yes? I’ve had enough “no” and “wait” answers to question that.

Prayer is powerful, but it’s such a mystery. We’re taught to have faith, to ask earnestly and boldly, to persevere, to be surrendered to His will. Yet God answers in His wisdom and His answers are best. I’m just thankful that God wants to hear our hearts and that no matter the answer, He is still good.

Ole Hallesby’s words: “Prayer and helplessness are inseparable. Only those who are helpless can truly pray. . . . Your helplessness is your best prayer.” We can do helplessness quite well.

In Christ,

Janet Irene Thomas

Playwright/Director/Screen Writer

Producer/Lyricist

Founder/CEO

Bible Stories Theatre of

Fine & Performing Arts

T-BALL FAITH

Whoever dreamed up T-ball is a genius: Every kid on the field gets a taste of the fun and joy of the game before they taste the disappointment of striking out.

In T-ball, a baseball is placed on a rubber tee about waist-high to the 5- and 6-year-old batters. Players swing until they hit the ball and then run. On my first night as a coach, the very first batter hit the ball far into the outfield. Suddenly every player from every position ran to get the ball instead of staying where they were supposed to. When one of them reached it, there was nobody left in the infield for him to throw it to! All the players were standing together—cheering with unrestrained exuberance!

Those who have recently come to know Jesus as Savior have an unrestrained joy that is a delight to be around as well. We rejoice with them, and so do the angels in heaven! (Luke 15:7). New Christians are in love with God and excited about knowing Him and learning from His Word.

Those who’ve been Christians for a long time may get discouraged with the struggles of the Christian life and forget the joy of new-found faith. So, take the opportunity to rejoice with those who’ve come to faith. God can use them to inspire you to renew your own commitment to Jesus.

In Christ,

Janet Irene Thomas

Playwright/Director/Screen Writer

Producer/Lyricist

Founder/CEO

Bible Stories Theatre of

Fine & Performing Arts

THE GOOD LIFE

Beauty, wealth, power, love, marriage, and pleasure are good things, but they’re not the best. The best is loving God and taking in His love—bringing Him glory and making Him our friend for life. That leads to the best possible life because it gives us satisfaction and joy now, and its what Christians are going to be doing forever.

˜John 10:10

That’s why we should make time for God and rest in His love—the love that made you and me. It is the reason for our existence and the means by which we will make the most of our lives.

I like the way the psalmist put it: “It is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all Your works” (Ps. 73:28). In other words, the good life is drawing close to the One who loves us like no other.

And how can we “draw close” to Him? Here’s a practice I began many years ago: Take a few minutes every morning to read some verses from the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) and note what Jesus said or did. After all, He came to show us what God is like (Heb. 1:1-3). Put yourself in the story—in the place of the leper He healed with His loving touch, for example (Mark 1:40-45). Think about how much He loves you and then thank Him!

In Christ,

Janet Irene Thomas

Playwright/Director/Screen Writer

Producer/Lyricist

Founder/CEO

Bible Stories Theatre of

Fine & Performing Arts

APPLE BLOSSOMS

 

  

The apple blossoms grow so highUpon the branches of our tree,I can't reach up to smell them; soThey send their perfume down to me.

Helen Wing

In Christ,

Janet Irene Thomas

Playwright/Director/Screen Writer

Producer/Lyricist

Founder/CEO

Bible Stories Theatre of

Fine & Performing Arts

PURSE MYSTERIES

This hidden tiny room

I carry

is formed of chambered hearts,

things held, withheld,

my longings and belongings.

It's an amulet on my arm,

little fetish,

small cave of secrets

held next to my body,

a sisterhood of sorts

-shield,lantern,talisman-

and each a friend, a story.

Barbara G.S. Hagerty

In Christ,

Janet Irene Thomas

Director, Playwright, Producer,

Gospel Lyricist, Screenwriter

Founder/CEO

Bible Stories Theatre of Fine &

Performing Arts

LET ME GO

Let Me Go

We've known lots of pleasure,
At times endured pain,
We've lived in the sunshine
And walked in the rain.

But now we're separated 
And for a time apart,
But I am not alone-
You're forever in my heart.

Death always seems so sudden,
And it is always sure,
But what is oft' forgotten-
It is not without a cure.

I'm walking now with someone,
And I know He'll always stay,
I know He's walking with you too,
Giving comfort every day.

There may be times you miss me,
I sort of hope you do,
But smile when you think of me,
For I'll be waiting for you.

Now there's many things for you to do,
And lots of ways to grow,
So get busy, be happy, and live your life,
Miss me, but let me go.

 Author Unknown

In Christ,

Janet Irene Thomas

Director, Playwright, Producer,

Gospel Lyricist, Screenwriter

Founder/CEO

Bible Stories Theatre of Fine &

Performing Arts

EVERY WOMAN IS BEAUTIFUL

Every woman is beautiful.

A little boy asked his mother, " Why are you crying?" "Because I'm a woman", she told him. " I don't understand", he said. His mum just hugged him and said, " And you never will"..

Later the little boy asked his father, " Why does mother seem to cry for no reason?" " All women cry for no reason" was all his dad could say.

The little boy grew up and became a man, still wondering why women cry.

Finally, he put in a call to God; when God got on the phone, the man said, " God, why women cry so easily?"

God said, "When I made women she had to be special. I made her shoulders strong enough to carry the weight of the world; yet, gentle enough to give comfort.

I gave her an inner strength to endure childbirth and the rejection that many times come from her children.

I gave her a hardness that allows her to keep going when everyone else gives up and take care of her family through sickness and fatigue without complaining.

I gave her the sensitivity to love her children under all circumstances, even when her child has hurt them very badly.

This same sensitivity helps her make a child's boo hoo feel better and shares in their teenagers' anxieties and fears.

I gave her strength to carry her husband through his faults and fashioned her from his rib to protect his heart.

I gave her wisdom to know that a good husband never hurts his wife, but sometimes tests her strengths and her resolve to stand beside him unfalteringly.

And finally, I gave her a tear to shed. This is hers exclusively to use whenever it is needed. The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides."

Every woman is beautiful.

In Christ,

Janet Irene Thomas

Director, Playwright, Producer,

Gospel Lyricist, Screenwriter

Founder/CEO

Bible Stories Theatre of Fine &

Performing Arts