*Volume 67 *No. 9 *Published by Christian Triumph Co. *Permit # 695 * November 2004 Contents: A Special Thanksgiving Editorial Thankful Wreath Craft Thanksgiving The Touch Of The Master's Hands Memories Letters From Abroad Thanksgiving Recipes Psalms 136 Poet's Corner
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A SPECIAL THANKSGIVING One year at Thanksgiving, my family had moved to other areas, and I felt quite alone. Although I attended church, no one invited me to his or her home. As in many churches then (and now), there were family units that celebrated holidays together, but there were also (forgotten) solitary persons that had no where to go. As Thanksgiving approached, I looked around the congregation one Sunday, trying to spot those single persons. Finally, I asked the Pastor to make an announcement that if anyone would like to get together for Thanksgiving to speak to me. Two ladies responded. One was an elderly woman who was very quiet and only came to church if someone gave her a ride. She lived in a small house by herself several miles from church. When invited to come to dinner at my house, she readily agreed. I often wondered how she would have spent the day if there had been no invitation. The second woman was a disabled, single mother with a child. She eagerly agreed to come and bring a favorite dish she created. This
courageous person had survived cancer among other illnesses and continually had health problems. Through it all, however, she held fast to her belief in God, bubbling with a delightful personality and a great love for people. Her contagious laughter will forever ring in my ears. Although I do not remember exactly what we ate that day, I do remember the warm fellowship and the rareness of those precious ladies. God was with us as we celebrated Thanksgiving (a family day). My own loneliness was soon forgotten as I enjoyed those special “golden moments” with friends. Both women have since gone to meet the Lord, but the memory of them remains precious. Even now when thinking of them, I am reminded of the beautiful scripture, which declares, “Sing praises to the Lord!… Jehovah is His name … He is a Father to the fatherless; He gives justice to the widows, for He is Holy. He gives families to the lonely…” (Psalm 68:4-6). I think too, at this time of year, of our dear Brother Orville Coleman. He has been living in a nursing home in Corpus Christi for two years now. Just as the scripture above states, God understood his need and gave Brother Coleman a special friend to help in his solitude in the form of Diana Beletic, our faithful Christian Triumph employee and officer. With a “heart of gold,” she watches over Brother Coleman with loving attention, ministering to his spiritual and physical needs, not only on holidays, but also continually throughout the year. How many times have we been in a lonely situation? How many times have we wanted for just one person to notice us and spend time with us? We are constantly told to be like Jesus; yet, sometimes we get caught up in ourselves, our lives. Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate the things we are thankful for. Continued on Page 2 It has become one of three or four important family gathering times throughout the year. We so often forget about our greater family, the family of God, during these times. This year, whether visiting a nursing home, inviting someone for dinner, or bringing a meal, we should all try to reach out to those in God‟s family who might not otherwise know someone cares.
For those of us who face the holiday alone, remember, there is no one who understands and cares for us like God. God can bring friends into our lives when we need them the most. Though we may find ourselves without family, God is still there with us! God loves His children dearly! “„…I WILL NOT FORGET YOU! See, I have engraved you on the palms of My Hands…‟” (Isaiah 49:15, 16). God bless you this Thanksgiving Day. We are thinking of you! Your Christian Triumph Friends
all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth." The Lord is so good to us and we should never forget His blessings or take them for granted. We should „Count our blessings‟ continually, thanking and praising the Lord for all His goodness to us ... We deeply appreciate you dear ones who are with us in this work for God and souls. We thank you for your prayers and support. The Lord will abundantly reward you.
EDITORIAL By Evelyn Anderson reprinted in part from FAITH MESSENGER, September 1990
As I was praying about the work, remembering all there is to do, and also meditating on some very precious blessings which I have enjoyed in the past few months, the 103rd Psalm came bubbling up with me and I felt like just giving these precious words to you here, even though, no doubt you probably know them already by memory, and I trust, within your heart also. Truly, it is wonderful walking with Jesus! „Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits, Who forgiveth all thine iniquities, Who healeth all thy diseases, Who redeemeth thy life from destruction, Who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies, Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things, so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle‟s.‟” Faith Messenger The significance of these verses really thrills me. I Permit feel like David in Ps. 34:1, #695 "I will bless the Lord at
Here is a craft that you can do with your Sunday school or women’s fellowship group. Thankful Wreath Supplies needed:
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Use a paper plate for the center of the wreath. Take hole-puncher and punch a hole in the top of the wreath. Attach a piece of string through the hole. Cut out a lot of leaves from construction paper. Pass out the leaves for everyone to decorate. If you'd like, use a leaf template. On the leaves, write, “I am thankful for…” and then write what you are
Christian Triumph Company P.O. Box 5187 905-909 Bluntzer Corpus Christi, Texas 78405 *********************** L.Y. Janes, Founder (deceased); Steve Beletic, President; Israel Hernandez, Vice-President; William Anderson, 2nd Vice-President; Diana Beletic, Secretary/Treasurer; Una Collins, Asst. Sec./Treas.
A plain white paper plate Construction paper (orange, red, yellow, brown, and other earth tones) Crayons or markers Scissors Glue or a glue stick Piece of string Hole puncher
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Perhaps Thanksgiving should be everyday. We should give thanks to God in all that we do, likewise, we should give thanks to others for things that they do. We should give thanks for the forgiveness we are not worthy of. We are not guaranteed tomorrow, so start a tradition by giving thanks for the great things He has done today.
thankful for. Put your name on the leaf. Paste your leaf around the “Thankful” wreath. Thanksgiving As we get closer and closer to Thanksgiving, we must ask ourselves, “What is Thanksgiving?” In 1621, the Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast. They joined together and were thankful for what they had. Long before the European colonists came to America, the tradition of giving thanks was a spiritual and deeply sacred part of the Wampanoag life. Giving thanks to the creator for everything was part of their daily life. In 1863, Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday. Thanksgiving is still an honored tradition. This year on Thanksgiving, I challenge you to look at what you have and be thankful for it. My best friend and I were talking about Thanksgiving, and some of the traditions of our families. One of the traditions I liked about her family was that when they sit down to eat their Thanksgiving meal they all say one thing they are thankful for. This year on Thanksgiving, as you prepare to take part in the Thanksgiving feast, I would urge you to try this. With all the hustle of Thanksgiving and with Christmas right around the corner we often forget about to Whom we should be giving thanks. 1 Chronicles 16:8 says, “O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, make known his deeds among the people.” Let others know that God has done great things in your life. Be thankful that he has done these things. Don‟t be ashamed just because others don‟t believe. Speaking up and giving thanks to God may be the only Bible someone sees. Psalms 100:4 tells us to “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise.” Show God you love him and that you praise him. Praise him by showing him thanks for all he‟s done. Some of you may still be asking, “Why should I thank God?” In Psalms 107:1 the Bible says this, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good: his mercy endures forever.” David speaks of God‟s mercy. What other reason do you need to thank God? Jesus died on the cross so we could be saved. That‟s Gods mercy in bulk. We have a luxury that the people in David‟s time didn‟t. We can just pray and have our sins forgiven. During David's time, a young lamb was sacrificed for forgiveness. Thanks to Jesus' sacrifice for us, we no longer have to observe this method of atonement. Thanksgiving only comes once a year. It‟s a chance to show our family that we love them, a chance to show God that we love Him, and a chance to show our sincere thanks for what others have given to us.
THE TOUCH OF THE MASTER’S HAND By Burton E. Stevens reprinted from FAITH MESSENGER, April 1989
George was a wretched, depraved, rebellious, wicked sinner. As a young man, he spent his early life in wasted years as a flagrant rebel against common honesty and decency. His whole career was revolt against God and his own moral sense. His father worked for the government as a tax collector. Both he and his brother were completely spoiled by their father‟s favoritism toward them and their total lack of any proper parental training. Money was put too freely into the hands of these boys, which resulted in careless and vicious waste, and thus became the source of many childish sins of indulgence. When asked by his father to explain the loss of sums of money, sins of lying and deception were resorted to in order to hide wasteful spending. Young George became skilled in making false entries of what he had received or false statements of what he had spent or had on hand. So by the time he was ten years old, he was a habitual thief and an expert at cheating: even government funds, entrusted to his father, were not safe from his hands. He fell so low that he thought it no fault to steal, but only to have this theft found out. This conduct aroused suspicion, which led to the laying of a snare into which he fell. A sum of money was carefully counted and placed where he could find it and steal it. He hid the funds under his foot in his shoes. He was then searched and the money discovered. It is hard to imagine but the facts were that his father wanted him to become educated as a clergyman and before George was eleven, George was sent to the cathedral classical school before entering the university. From this time, the lad‟s studies were mixed with novel-reading and other indulgencies such as card playing, and strong drink got a hold of him. The night when his mother lay dying, her boy of fourteen was reeling through 3
God‟s blessing on the meeting. That kneeling before God in prayer made upon Muller an impression he never lost. A chapter of the Bible was read and then a printed sermon. After another hymn, the master of the house prayed. Strange to say, a new joy was already springing up in Muller‟s soul. On the way home, George said to Beta, “All we saw on our journey to Switzerland and all our former pleasures are as nothing compared to this evening.” The result was a marvelous transformation that took place in his life. There was distaste for wicked joys and former companions. The frequenting of taverns entirely ceased, and a lying tongue felt new and with strange bands about it. A watch was set at the door of his lips, and every word that went forth was liable to a challenge, so that old habits of untamed speech were arrested and corrected. “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man that trusteth in Him. O fear the Lord, ye His saints; for there is no want to them that fear Him. The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.” (Ps. 34:8,9 &10) Every man who walks with God and finds Him a present help in every time of need, who puts His promises to the practical proof and verifies them in actual experience, every believer who with the key of faith unlocks God‟s mysteries, and with the key of prayer unlocks God‟s treasuries, thus furnishes to the race a demonstration and an illustration of the fact that “He is, and is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”
the streets drunk; and even her death failed to arrest his wicked life; he only grew worse. On the very eve of confirmation and his first approach to the Lord‟s Table, he was guilty of gross sins. But – enough of the sordid facts of this young man‟s life in the pigpen of sin and slavery to Satan. We turn the page to a few years later. Here we meet George as the Man of God responsible for a large orphanage. This particular morning the staff of dedicated workers alert him to the fact that they do not have the oats and milk needed for the children‟s breakfast. His reply is quite simple, “This is the Lord‟s work – He will provide – Open the kitchen and set the dishes on the table.” Then, going to his office, George kneels and prays to the God of the universe who hears and answers prayer. Up drives a farmer with his wagon loaded with ground oats and fresh milk cans. The farmer tells how he could not sleep during the night and felt led of the Holy Spirit to load his wagon and come over to the orphanage. The breakfast is quickly prepared and eaten by the orphans. The biography of George Muller reveals that something miraculous had taken place in this man‟s life. The results of that miracle are proof positive of what God can do with a totally committed life to serve the Lord Jesus Christ. Here is a brief account of the Balance Sheet of Muller‟s life: Built five large orphan houses; Took into his family over 10,000 orphans; Aided day schools and Sunday Schools where nearly 150,000 children have been taught; Circulated nearly 2,000,000 Bibles and parts thereof, plus over 3,000,000 books and tracts; The total sum of money thus spent during his 60 years of ministry very nearly reached $7,500,000. George Muller was born the first time in 1805 – Born Again in 1825 and died in 1898. In closing, let me tell you of his New Birth in November 1825. While returning from a walk on Saturday, his backslidden friend, Beta, suggested they go to a meeting at a believer‟s house where a few friends met to sing, to pray, and to read the Word of God and a printed sermon. Then a Christian brother fell on his knees and prayed for
If you have questions, comments, or need prayer or would like to donate to the Christian Triumph ministry, please send your mail to Christian Triumph, P.O. Box 5187, Corpus Christi, TX, or email christiantriumph@yahoo.com.
MEMORIES I remember when I first came to work for Rev. L. Y. Janes; he loved to share his memories. Some of those accounts were as follows: sitting by his mother‟s knee as she talked to him about Heaven; seeing his wife, Una, for the first time; 4
telling about his children; living in Panama as a missionary; and, ironically, trying to do a good deed but having it “backfire”. The “good deed” story happened when Brother Janes was walking in a rural area and saw a pig outside a fence. Thinking he was helping, he returned the pig to the fenced-in area only to later have the owner demand to know why. According to the owner, the pig was deliberately put outside the fence so that it might have more to eat. After telling this story, Brother Janes laughed his quiet little chuckle. Good memories can bring us pleasure and amusement. They are especially important as we age and become more settled. King David in Psalms 42, reminds himself of a memory, “„Take courage, my soul! Do you remember those times (but how could you ever forget them) when you led a great procession to the Temple on festival days, singing with joy, praising the Lord? Why then be downcast? Why be discouraged and sad? Hope in God! I shall yet praise Him again. Yes, I shall again praise Him for His help.‟” Memories about the goodness of the Lord bring us enjoyment and thankfulness. The old church grounds where I am now sitting bring back memories of when I was first introduced to Jesus. A traveling minister came to this rural community and held Bible School for the children. It was during one of these sessions that I went to an old altar and gave my heart to the Savior. Additionally, I remember this same man doing chalk talks that caused us to wonder at the glories of Heaven. He used colored chalk to draw his idea of Heaven and then filled that wondrous City with beautiful colors. Bright lights shone on that “City” and made a person long to go there. In contrast, it is with great wonder that I also ponder a different memory about the Word of God. The Bible declares that God chooses to NOT remember some things! After God has forgiven us, God refuses to think upon the sins we have committed. Instead, God chooses to forgive and forget. Psalm 32:1-2 tells us, “What happiness for those whose guilt has been forgiven! What joy when sins are covered over! What relief for those who have confessed their sins and God has cleared their record.”
With rejoicing, we, like David, can cry out, “He forgives all my sins. He heals me. He ransoms me from hell” (Psalm 103:5). God promises to cast our sins into “the sea of forgetfulness.” We read in Micah 7:19, “Where is another God like You, Who pardons the sins of the survivors among His people? You cannot stay angry with your people, for You love to be merciful. Once again, You will have compassion on us. You will tread our sins beneath your feet; You will throw them into the depths of the ocean.” John 4:10, “This is love, not that we loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” I John 1:7, “If we are living in the light of God‟s presence….the blood of Jesus, His Son, cleanses us from every sin.” Having our spirits washed clean by the blood of the Lamb brings immeasurable joy as well as an invitation to make Heaven our eternal Home. As we remember from other scriptures, however, there is responsibility in forgiveness (even in the past). Sometimes we need to reconcile our differences with others or make right a wrong we have committed. Memories may require restoration. Treasure your good memories then make some more! Wherever you are in your life today, continue to make good memories. Do things that will cause your eternal Spirit everlasting happiness! As you “look back” on your earthly journey as well as “look ahead”, always remember that God forgives, God loves you dearly, and God will be with you forever. Memories can be very precious if they are good ones. Editor's Note: The FAITH MESSENGER would welcome letters from those of you who might wish to share a good memory or would like to participate in this ministry with any written piece. With your permission, we will consider printing them. God bless you.
Dear Partner in Christ: We greet you…The Christian Fellowship is a group of incarcerated Christians who come together to worship the Lord and spread the Gospel 5
to those that are lost. We do this by preaching, teaching, and sharing the uncompromising Word of God. Since the brothers here are incarcerated, they often run into hardships because of their limited ability to acquire resources…at present we are seeing a very encouraging increase in the number of men who are hungry for the Lord. We are seeing gang members turn to God and drug addicts set free in their minds. They are coming into the House of the Lord in a steady flow…We are in need of Hardcover Bibles in Spanish and English to use during our services, as well as, devotionals in Spanish, Bible Study Courses, tapes in Spanish, books in Spanish…in general, Christian literature of all kinds…we ask that you prayerfully keep us in mind for the future…We send you an abundance of His Love. Chaplain Wayne Hampton, Cayuga Correctional Facility, Moravia, NY. Editor's note: Christian Triumph sent tracts, study materials, etc.
It affords me much pleasure to write you this letter…Please, the purpose of writing you this letter is that I am a boy of twelve years of age and I am in Junior Secondary School…I am a Christian so I want you to take me as your friend so that you may be able to help me to get a Bible…so that when I am sitting there on my leisure time I can read. May God bless you and your family. Yours faithfully, Richmond Editor's note: Christian Triumph Sent a Bible. Dear Sir/Madam: I am very happy to have this great opportunity to write you this letter. First of all, thanks be to God in the Highest, and peace to those on earth…Yes, on the 5th of February, I received your gifts which are Bible and some two books. In actual fact, I like it so much that it is only God Who will thank you to my satisfaction…May God bless you with all your works…And problem again is I am needing some gospel cassettes and sermons, and my great problem is I do not have tapes…But I know you will help me with the tape so that I will build up my Christianity again with songs and sermons. Yours ever, Nicholas, Ghana Editor's note: Christian Triumph sent gospel cassettes from their new tape ministry. Thanks to all of you.
Dear Sir of Madam: I am very glad to write you this letter…I am a girl of 13 and attend school at Tafo Pankrono M/A J.S.S.A. I attend church at the Pentecostal Holy Church. I don‟t have a Bible to attend Sunday School. So I want you to help me to get one as the Bible says in Matt. 7:7, “Ask and it will be given you; seek and you shall found; knock and it shall open on you.” ….I am praying for you….you also pray for me and my family. Yours Faithful, Mavis – Ghana, W. Africa Editor's note: Christian Triumph sent 8 Bibles.
Dear Sir/Madam: …I hope by the grace of our Almighty God you are fine as I am also well…Please I want to introduce myself to you. I am Sakyi Williams. I am a boy of fourteen …Please the reason why I am writing you this letter is I want to learn more about your group and also to take me as your friend…so I want you to help me by sending me school items and books to study… Yours truly, Sakyi Editor's note: Christian Triumph sent a Bible.
Dear Minister of God, I hereby request for a full bundle of Biblical tracts and pamphlets…..I do intend to distribute these…to the congregation and the entire members of God‟s Temple. Thanks in advance, Wishing you God‟s blessing. Love from Christ, Yinka Brune – Yaba Lagos (Nigeria) Editor's note: Christian Triumph sent English tracts.
This season, we’ll all be busy with Thanksgiving dinners, both at Church and home. Here are a couple of quick, easy recipes to take to your Church Thanksgiving dinner.
Dear Sir/Madam: 6
Make sure you share the recipe with everyone you know!
His Love Endures Forever Give Thanks To The Lord Of Lords His Love Endures Forever To Him Who Alone Does Great Wonders His Love Endures Forever Who By His Understanding Made The Heavens His Love Endures Forever Who Spread Out The Earth Upon The Waters His Love Endures Forever Who Made The Great Lights His Love Endures Forever The Sun To Govern The Day His Love Endures Forever The Moon And Stars To Govern The Night His Love Endures Forever To Him Who Struck Down The First Born Of Egypt His Love Endures Forever And Brought Israel Out From Among Them His Love Endures Forever With A Mighty Hand And Outstretched Arm His Love Endures Forever To Him Who Divided The Red Sea Asunder His Love Endures Forever And Brought Israel Through The Midst Of It His Love Endures Forever But Swept Pharaoh and His Army Into The Red Sea His Love Endures Forever To Him Who Led His People Through The Desert His Love Endures Forever Who Struck Down Mighty Kings His Love Endures Forever Sihon King Of The Amorites His Love Endures Forever And Og King Of Bashan His Love Endures Forever Ad Gave Their Land As An Inheritance His Love Endures Forever An Inheritance To His Servant Israel His Love Endures Forever To The One Who Remembered Us In Our Low Estate His Love Endures Forever And Freed Us From Our Enemies His Love Endures Forever And Who Gives Food To Every Creature His Love Endures Forever Give Thanks To The God Of Heaven His Love Endures Forever
Hash Brown Casserole II Ingredients: 1 (2 lb) package frozen hash brown potatoes, thawed ½ C melted butter 1 can condensed cream of chicken soup 1 (8 oz) container sour cream ½ C chopped onions 2 C shredded cheddar cheese 1 tsp Salt ¼ tsp ground black pepper 2 C crushed cornflakes cereal ¼ C melted butter Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 2. In a large bowl, combine hash browns, ½ C melted butter, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, chopped onion, Cheddar cheese, salt and pepper. Place mixture in a 3-quart casserole dish. 3. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, sauté corn flakes in ¼ C melted butter, and sprinkle the mixture over the top of the casserole. 4. Bake covered in preheated oven for 40 minutes. Annie’s Turkey Salad Ingredients: 6 eggs 6 cups cooked turkey meat 1 jar sweet pickles, chopped 1 ½ (10 oz) jars mustard/mayonnaise blend ¾ C mayonnaise Directions: 1. Place eggs in a medium saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring water to a boil and immediately remove from heat. Cover and let eggs stand in hot water for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from hot water, cool, peel, and chop 2. In a large bowl, thoroughly mix the eggs, turkey, pickles, mustard/mayonnaise mixture, and mayonnaise. Chill in the refrigerator approximately 3 hours before serving.
Faith Messenger A publication of Christian Triumph Company P.O. Box 5187 905 Bluntzer Corpus Christi, TX 78465
Psalms 136 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods.
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A DIFFERENT WAY “Jesus called them (His disciples) to Him and said, „As you know, the kings and great men of the earth lord it over the people, but among you, it is different. Whoever wants to be great Among you must be your servant. And whoever wants to be greatest of all Must be the slave of all. For even I, the Messiah, Am not here to be served, But to help others, And to give My life As a ransom for many.’” (Mark 10:42-45)
THANKFUL HEARTS “Oh, come, let us sing to the Lord! Give a joyous shout In honor of the Rock of our salvation! Come before Him with thankful hearts. Let us sing Him psalms of praise. For the Lord is a great God!..” (Psalms 95:1-3)
Happy Thanksgiving Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Corpus Christi, Texas Permit # 695
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