THE SECRET

I met God in the morning, when the day was at its best and His presence came like sunrise, like glory within my breast.

All day long the presence lingered, all day long He stayed with me; and we sailed in perfect calmness o'er a very troubled sea.

Other ships were blown and battered, other ships were sore distressed; but the winds that seemed to drive them, brought to us a peace and rest.

Then I thought of other mornings, with a keen remorse of mind, when I too, had loosed the moorings with His presence left behind.

So, I think I know the secret, learned from many a troubled way; we must seek God in the mornings if we want Him though the day.

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 JESUS AND ME

Sally jumped up as soon as she saw the surgeon come out of the operating room. She said:

"How is my little boy? Is he going to be all right? When can I see him?" 

The surgeon said, "I'm sorry.  We did all we could, but your boy didn't make it.”  Sally said, "Why do-little children get cancer?  Doesn't God care any more?  Where were you, God, when my son needed you?"  The surgeon asked, "Would you like some time alone with your son?  One of the nurses will be out in a few minutes, before he's transported to the university.”  Sally asked the nurse to stay with her while she said good-bye to son.  She ran her fingers lovingly through his thick red curly hair.  "Would you like a lock of his hair?" the nurse asked.  Sally nodded yes.  The nurse cut a lock of the boy's hair, put it in a plastic bag, and handed it to Sally.

The mother said, "It was Jimmy's idea to donate his body to the university for study.  He said it might help somebody else. I said no at first, but Jimmy said, "Mom, I won't be using it after I die.  Maybe it will help some other little boy spend one more day with his Mom."

She went on, "My Jimmy had a heart of gold.  Always thinking of someone else. Always wanting to help others if he could." Sally walked out of Children's Mercy Hospital for the last time, after spending most of the last six months there. She put the bag with Jimmy’s belongings on the seat beside her in the car.

The drive home was difficult. It was even harder to enter the empty house. She carried Jimmy's belongings, and the plastic bag with the lock of his hair to her son's room. She started placing the model cars and other personal things back in his room exactly where he had always kept them. She lay down across his bed and, hugging his pillow, cried herself to sleep. It was around midnight when Sally awoke. Laying beside her on the bed was a folded letter. The letter said:

"Dear Mom,

 I know you're going to miss me; but don't think that I will ever forget you, or stop loving you, just 'cause I'm not around to say I LOVE YOU. I will always love you, Mom, even more with each day. Someday we will see each other again. Until then, if you want to adopt a little boy so you won't be so lonely, that's okay with me. 

He can have my room and old stuff to play with. But, if you decide to get a girl instead, she probably wouldn’t like the same things us boys do. You'll have to buy her dolls and stuff girls like, you know. Don't be sad thinking about me. This really is a neat place. Grandma and Grandpa met me as soon as I got here and showed me around some, but it will take a long time to see everything. The angels are so cool. I love to watch them fly. And, you know what? Jesus doesn't look like any of his pictures. Yet, when I saw Him, I knew it was Him. Jesus himself took me to see GOD! 

And guess what, Mom? I got to sit on God's knee and talk to Him, like I was somebody important. That's when I told Him that I wanted to write you a letter, to tell you good-bye and everything. But I already knew that wasn't allowed. Well, you know what Mom? God handed me some paper and His own personal pen to write you this letter. I think Gabriel is the name of the angel who is going to drop this letter off to you. God said for me to give you the answer to one of the questions you asked Him 'Where was He when I needed him?' "God said He was in the same place with me, as when His son Jesus was on the cross. He was right there, as He always is with all His children. 

Oh, by the way, Mom, no one else can see what I've written except you. To everyone else this is just a blank piece of paper. Isn't that cool? I have to give God His pen back now. He needs it to write some more names in the Book of Life. Tonight, I get to sit at the table with Jesus for supper. I'm, sure the food will be great. 

Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. I don't hurt anymore. The cancer is all gone. I'm glad because I couldn't'! t stand that pain anymore and God couldn't stand to see me hurt so much, either. That's when He sent The Angel of Mercy to come get me. The Angel said I was a Special Delivery! How about that?

Signed with Love from:

 God, Jesus &Me.

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.

PRAY THROUGH THE PAIN

Our hearts may be heavy

Our pain may be deep

We may feel lost

We may feel weak

Storms may arise

And take us by surprise

But in all storms of life

We pray to maintain our light

We pray when life takes us on a different course
We pray when all hope is lost
We pray through our fears
We pray to cleanse our tears

We pray to comfort us through the sorrow

We pray for strength

We pray for understanding

We pray to trust

We pray when the storm is receding

We pray to be thankful for the healing

We pray to be covered by HIS love

We pray to be survived by HIS blood_

Through the tribulations, the trials, and tears

We constantly stumble, and wonder why we’re still here

We’re almost there, but the relief for our grief, 

we don’t know where We don’t know when, 

when it will cease, constantly combating 

the belly of the beast_

That we’re emotionally, physically, 

and mentally fighting

Through every heartache, stain, sweat and tear

We’re looking for the footprint moment,

but it does not seem to be there_

That we feel we’re carrying ourselves 

and taking our own weight

That God doesn’t seem to be around, as 

we’re absorbing hate That we’re straining,

we’re struggling with our emotions

That we’re tempted to lose hope towards our devotion

Why has this come our way, why has this come today

And why won’t this go away, God where you at, why this delay?

We don’t know…..we don’t understand……we don’t see

We simply don’t see the reason why trails affect you and me

We don’t know what else to say, but through every storm

Through these storm..

Through our storm..

The best thing to do is to let go and pray

Just pray

God has been with us all this time, and the only delay

Is us unwilling to let go

And allowing God to has his way

Just pray……pray…..we need to pray

He will provide all of the comfort we need

And eventually that storm will recede

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.

A GOOD NAME

There are two (2) story told before you’ll understand the morale, so please don’t stop reading until you’ve read the entire message.  There’s a strong message. 
 

STORY NUMBER ONE

Many years ago, Al Capone virtually owned Chicago.  Capone wasn't famous for anything spiritual or heroic. He was notorious for enmeshing the windy city in everything criminal.

Capone had a lawyer nicknamed "Easy Eddie." He was his lawyer for a good reason. Eddie was very good!  In fact, Eddie's skill at legal maneuvering kept Big Al out of jail for a long time. To show his appreciation, Capone paid him very well. Not only was the money big, but also Eddie got special dividends. For instance, he and his family occupied a fenced-in mansion with live-in help and all of the conveniences of the day. The estate was so large that it filled an entire Chicago City block. Eddie lived the high life of the Chicago mob and gave little consideration to the atrocity that went on around him. Eddie did have one soft spot, however. He had a son that he loved dearly. Eddie saw to it that his young son had the best of everything: clothes, cars and a good education. Nothing was withheld. Price was no object. And, despite his involvement with organized crime, Eddie even tried to teach him right from wrong.  Eddie wanted his son to be a better man than he was. Yet, with all his wealth and influence, there were two things he couldn't give his son; he couldn't pass on a good name and a good example.

One day, Easy Eddie reached a difficult decision. Easy Eddie wanted to rectify wrongs he had done. He decided he would go to the authorities and tell the truth about Al "Scarface" Capone, clean up his tarnished name and offer his son some semblance of integrity. To do this, he would have to testify against The Mob, and he knew that the cost would be great. So, he testified. Within the year, Easy Eddie's life ended in a blaze of gunfire on a lonely Chicago Street. But in his eyes, he had given his son the greatest gift he had to offer, at the greatest price he would ever pay.

STORY NUMBER TWO

World War II produced many heroes. One such man was Lieutenant Commander Butch O'Hare. He was a fighter pilot assigned to the aircraft carrier Lexington in the South Pacific. One day his entire squadron was sent on a mission. After he was airborne, he looked at his fuel gauge and

realized that someone had forgotten to top off his fuel tank. He would not have enough fuel to complete his mission and get back to his ship. His flight leader told him to return to the carrier.

Reluctantly, he dropped out of formation and headed back to the fleet. As he was returning to the mother ship he saw something that turned his blood cold A squadron of Japanese aircraft were speeding their way toward the American fleet. The American fighters were gone on a sortie, and the fleet was all but defenseless. He couldn't reach his squadron and bring them back in time to save the fleet. Nor could he warn the fleet of the approaching danger. There was only one thing to do. He must somehow divert them from the fleet.

Laying aside all thoughts of personal safety, he dove into the formation of Japanese planes. Wing-mounted 50 caliber's blazed as he charged in, attacking one surprised enemy plane and then another. Butch wove in and out of the now broken formation and fired at as many planes as possible until all his ammunition was finally spent. Undaunted, he continued the assault. He dove at the planes, trying to clip a wing or tail in hopes of damaging as many enemy planes as possible and rendering them unfit to fly. Finally, the exasperated Japanese squadron took off in another direction. Deeply relieved, Butch O'Hare and his tattered fighter limped back to the carrier. Upon arrival, he reported in and related the event surrounding his return.

The film from the gun-camera mounted on his plane told the tale. It showed the extent of Butch's daring attempt to protect his fleet. He had in fact destroyed five enemy aircraft.

This took place on February 20, 1942, and for that action Butch became the Navy's first Ace of W.W.II, and the first Naval Aviator to win the Congressional Medal of Honor. A year later Butch was killed in aerial combat at the age of 29. His home town would not allow the memory of this WW II hero to fade, and today, O'Hare Airport in Chicago is named in tribute to the courage of this great man. So, the next time you find yourself at O'Hare International, give some thought to visiting Butch's memorial displaying his statue and his Medal of Honor. It's located between Terminals 1 and 2.

SO, WHAT DO THESE TWO STORIES 

HAVE TO DO WITH EACH OTHER?

Butch O'Hare was Easy Eddie's son.

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.

DO NOT BE LAZY

Proverbs 6:6 (NIV)

             ⁶ Go to the ant, you sluggard;
          consider its ways and be wise!

The industrious insect’s instinct shames lazy humanity! Prov. Condemns the sluggard’s passivity, lack of initiative, the habit of procrastination, oblivious to the dire results, and lack of discipline.

DO NOT BE LAZY

In Christ,

Janet Irene Thomas

Playwright/Director/Screen Writer

Producer/Gospel Lyricist/Author

Founder/CEO

Bible Stories Theatre of

Fine & Performing Arts

www.biblestoriestheatre.org

THE CHRISTIAN ALPHABET POEM

Although things are not perfect

Because of trial or pain

 Continue in thanksgiving

 Do not begin to blame

 Even when the times are hard

Fierce winds are bound to blow

God is forever able

Hold on to what you know

 Imagine life without His love

 Joy would cease to be

 Keep thanking Him for all the things

Love imparts to thee

 Move out of "Camp Complaining"

 No weapon that is known

 On earth can yield the power

 Praise can do alone

 Quit looking at the future

Redeem the time at hand

 Start every day with worship

 To "thank" is a command

Until we see Him coming

 Victorious in the sky

 We'll run the race with gratitude

 X alting God most high

 Y es, there'll be good times and yes some will be bad, but...

 Z ion waits in glory...where none are ever sad!

The one who kneels to the Lord can stand up to anything. 

In Christ,

Janet Irene Thomas

Playwright/Director/Screen Writer

Producer/Gospel Lyricist/Author

Founder/CEO

Bible Stories Theatre of

Fine & Performing Arts

www.biblestoriestheatre.org

DARE TO DREAM

DREAMS

The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder. I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being. 

She said, "Hi handsome.  My name is Rose. I'm eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?" I laughed and enthusiastically responded, "Of course you may!" and she gave me a giant squeeze. "Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?"  I asked.  She jokingly replied,

"I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, have a couple of kids..." 

  

"No seriously," I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age.  "I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!" she told me.

After class, we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake.  We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop.  I was always mesmerized listening to this "time machine" as she shared her wisdom and experience with me. 

Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up.

At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet.  I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor. Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, 

"I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know." 

As we laughed she cleared her throat and began,

"We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing.  There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor every day. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die. We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it! There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up.  If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. 

If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight. Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding the opportunity in change.  Have no regrets.  The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets."

She concluded her speech by courageously singing "The Rose."  She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives. At the year's end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago. One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep. Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be.

In Christ,

Janet Irene Thomas

Playwright/Director/Screen Writer

Producer/Gospel Lyricist/Author

Founder/CEO

Bible Stories Theatre of

Fine & Performing Arts

www.biblestoriestheatre.org