THE WEDDING RING - SYMBOL OF ETERNITY

MADE PURE BY FIRE 

ZEPHANIAH 1:1-7; 2:1-3; 3:9-20

THEN WILL I PURIFY THE LIPS OF THE PEOPLE

A wedding ring is a splendid symbol of the marriage between a man and woman, and between God and his people. It is a circle, a symbol of eternity. Human love is beautiful, like flowers in a wedding. But like the flowers in a wedding, it wilts and fades over time if it is uprooted from the soil of God’s eternal love. To survive and flourish, our love must be planted in God.

A ring is also made of a precious metal. Precious metals are refined by fire; it is the fire that burns out the impurities. Marriage have their fires-turmoil and disappointment, tragedies and misunderstandings – but the fires need not destroy the marriage. They can help make it more pure and precious.

God is a husband to his people; he has married himself to us in covenant love. When we persist in sin like an unfaithful spouse he brings the fire of judgment on us. Sometimes the fire is brutal and searing, like the Day of the Lord described in Zephaniah. But its purpose is for purity. "Then will I purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord"(3:9). The fire of judgment isn’t God’s last word, it’s his next-to-the-last word. His last word in the redemption and restoration described at the end of Zephaniah’s prophecy, and it is for the whole world, "that all of them may call on the name of the Lord."

God doesn’t enjoy judgment. It is work he must do, but Isaiah, calls it
"his strange work…his alien task" (Isaiah 28:21). "As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways!" (Ezekiel 33:11).

Understanding God’s perspective gives us great hope to pray in the face of judgment. We pray to a God who is not wanting anyone to perish (see 2 Peter 3:9), and who wills to turn the fires of judgment into the fires of purification. Even in the midst of Zephaniah’s harshest words, he says, "Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD’s anger" (2:3). 

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.

I BELIEVE, HELP MY UNBELIEF!"

Mark 9:24

How do you come to Jesus? What do you expect from him?  Some of us come like this father, thinking Jesus is probably willing to help, but not sure his is able: 

"But if you can do anything…" (9:22). Others are like the leper who came to Jesus, thinking he was able, but wondering if he was willing: "If you are willing, make me clean"(1:40). Both kinds of people have an incomplete belief in God: Either they believe that God has lots of love but limited power, or they believe that God has plenty of power but limited love. But the God we pray to in the name of Jesus is perfect both in power and in love.

The Lord shows remarkable patience with those who have limited faith in him. To those like the father of the boy with a demon, Jesus laughs and say, "If you can?...Everything is possible for him who believes" (9:23). To those like the leper, he is "filled with compassion" and smiles as he says, "I am willing" (1:41).

Healing faith, or for that matter any kind of faith, is not necessarily an either/or. It is not that you either have it all or you have nothing. Both the father and the leper, with their puny little faith, come away from Jesus blessed. That’s because our faith is not in faith itself, but in Jesus. He said it only takes a little bit of faith, a mustard seed-sized faith actually (see Matthew 17:20), for him to laugh or smile and do for us what we need.  

Thanks be to God, it is enough to say to him, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"

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.

KORRYS BEARS STORIES LANE THE NEW CHILDRENS TV SHOW

PRESS RELEASE

Bible Stories Theatre of

Fine & Performing Arts

Woodbridge, VA 22193

Saturday, July 15, 2017

COMING TO FREDERICKSBURG/STAFFORD/RAPPAHANNOCK COMMUNITY TV AND COMCAST CABLE CHANNELS ...

TWINKLING LIGHTS! MAGIC DOORS! TALKING BEARS!

Children will love this new TV Show created by Janet Irene Thomas, especially for children, and the adult child- at-heart!  Travel down the magical time-tunnel and learn Bible Stories, in a fun and exciting way.

This FUN NEW CHILDREN'S TV SHOW is a history-hopping, time bending, action packed, twinkling spectacle filled with excitement and kiddie learning adventure.

Children will enjoy this story of a young school teacher stumbling upon a group of five friendly half/human bears, who talk and walk just like her!

They will experience the fun and glee as she tries to uncover their magical secret after each story -reading!

While on vacation at a Virginia's Shenandoah Valley Mountain Resort, Elementary School teacher Korry Peters, stumbles upon a group of rare Marsican bears, who can walk and talk just like her!

Later, she uncovers their magical secret; they are mystical time travelers!  And to her further amazement, each time she reads a Bible story, they become the characters!

                                               ...updates to follow

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. 

HE GIVES MORE GRACE

  SHOWING GRACE

A

n old Quaker bought a cantankerous dairy cow and every milking session became a battle of wills.  Determined to demonstrate grace under fire the old man refused to react when Bessie stomped on his foot, whipped him in the face with her tail, and knocked over the milk bucket.  Finally she kicked him against the barn wall and that did it! Glowering, he growled, "Thou knowest 

I’m a Quaker and cannot strike thee back – but I can surely sell thee to a Presbyterian!"  When we are the injured party, it’s hard to be gracious and finish the job at hand.  That’s when we  need "more grace," and to keep in mind a few important principles:

a)      Conflicting viewpoints help you to grow.  If you’ve ever been around teens you can relate.  They’re experts at coming up with unconventional, off-the-wall opinions that challenge you and keep you honest.

b)      Never resort to character assassination.  Disagreeing is one thing, destroying somebody is another.  Some of the most vicious personal attacks, public and private, have been waged over religion and politics.  If you must fight, fight fair. 

c)      When you lose, take it on the chin.  Instead of endlessly rehearsing old grievances,  "Help others with encouraging words; don’t drag them down by finding fault"(Romans 14:14-19). 

d)      Sometimes it’s necessary to go separate ways.  When Paul and Barnabas argued over whether or not John Mark should travel with them, "There followed a sharp disagreement between them" (Acts 15:39).  End of story?  No, just the beginning of 2 different ministries!  So be gracious! What’s happening to you right now may well be God’s way of moving you into a new area of blessings.  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. 

CHAPTER TWO - SONG OF SOLOMON

TV COMMERCIALS

A fifth-grade teacher in a Christian school asked her class to look at TV commercials and see if they could use them in some way to communicate ideas about God. Here are some of the results:

GOD IS LIKE …!

BAYER ASPIRIN
He works miracles.

GOD IS LIKE …!

a FORD
He's got a better idea.

GOD IS LIKE …!

COKE
He's the real thing.

This is great

GOD IS LIKE …!

HALLMARK CARDS
He cares enough to send His very best.

GOD IS LIKE …!

TIDE
He gets the stains out that others leave behind.

GOD IS LIKE …!

GENERAL ELECTRIC
He brings good things to life.

GOD IS LIKE …!

SEARS
He has everything.

GOD IS LIKE …!

ALKA-SELTZER
Try him, you'll like Him.

GOD IS LIKE …!

SCOTCH TAPE
You can't see him, but you know He's there.

GOD IS LIKE …!

DELTA
He's ready when you are.

GOD IS LIKE …!

ALLSTATE
You're in good hands with Him.

GOD IS LIKE …!

VO-5 Hair Spray
He holds through all kinds of weather.

GOD IS LIKE …!

DIAL SOAP
Aren't you glad you have Him. 

Don't you wish everybody did.

GOD IS LIKE …!

the U.S. POST OFFICE
Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet nor ice will keep Him from His appointed destination.

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 MUD PUDDLE

Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart! — Psalm 119:2

My friend Ed was telling me a story about his little son. He was standing in a mud puddle, so Ed told him to get out. But instead, his son began running through the puddle. “No running through it either,” he said. So the boy began walking through the water. When Ed told him, “No walking!” the boy stood with just his toes in the water, looking defiantly at his dad. The child knew what his father wanted, but he didn’t want to do it.

Sometimes I’m like that stubborn little boy. I know that what I’m doing isn’t pleasing to the Lord, but I do it anyway. God told the children of Israel to “fully obey the Lord your God” (Deut. 28:1 niv), but they failed repeatedly. The psalmist acknowledged his struggle in Psalm 119, “Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees!” (v.5 niv).

Jealousy, hatred, rebellion—they occur all too often. But God provided for our redemption through the sacrifice of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit helps us when we are tempted (1 Cor. 10:13); and when we confess our wrongdoing, God promises to forgive us (1 John 1:9).

If you are like me and keep running back into the mud puddles of life, don’t give up. God will help you to resist temptation, and He will never stop loving you!

Dear Lord, help me when I’m tempted. Bring the promises of the Bible to mind and strengthen me by Your Holy Spirit to say no to temptation. Let all my words and deeds bring honor to Your name.

To master temptation, let Christ master you.

OUR DAILY BREAD-APRIL 9, 2015

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.