*Volume 77 *No. 06 *Published by Christian Triumph Co. *Permit # 695 * JUNE 2013
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Contents: Continued- The Fish Are Biting…......2 Suffering…………….……..…….…..3 In honor and memory of Dads…….....4 Brotherly Kindness by George..……..5 A Memorial and Tribute……………..7 ….….
THE FISH ARE BITING Last evening was just plain frustration-The fish could not be enticed, Though all the potential was present, They left with not even a bite. The pole seemed perfect for casting, The line was set for “just right”. The water was gentle and quiet, Yet the fish moved away from the fight. They concluded that bait made the difference. Fish did not respond to that kind, So they went to the store and bought fish worms, And attached them to the end of the line. The fish drew ever more closely. That bait made them take a good look. And with one great gulp they had swallowed, The worm at the end of the hook. Then a moment of enlightment shattered This desire for the worm on the twine, But they were forever imprisoned Because they bit on the end of the line. Page 2
Desire engendered the action— That produced the death of that fish, And only if they had been wiser, They would not now be served on a dish.
WATER Our thirst is an attention grabber; nothing seems to satisfy as well as a cool drink of water. To thirst is natural, but there is more to living than just having our physical thirst satisfied. In God’s kindness, He has offered us “living water,” with cleansing of heart and soul as we repent and move forward into Eternal Life. Being right with God calls for action, for without Holiness, it is impossible to please God. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Heb.12:14, Gal.
Those fish could teach us a lesson— One about greed and desire. We need to be ever so watchful For Satan so wants to conspire. Not all that glows with attraction Is meant to be wholesome and pure. Sometimes there is great devastation When we become strongly allured.
Holy Spirit—you’re a great teacher,
5:24
A discerner of truth for each child. We lean upon your wise instruction To guide us through each living mile. By:
GOD WILL HELP! Here is His Promise: Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. Be refreshed with a new beginning!
Maxine Trigleth --------
By Anita Matt. 5:6 KJV
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Faith Messenger Permit #695
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Lost? …when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me. Micah 7 NIV
L.Y. Janes, Founder (deceased); Israel Hernandez, President; William Anderson, Vice-President; Fred Pena, 2nd Vice-President; Diana Beletic, Secretary/Treasurer; Una Collins, Asst. Sec./Treas. This periodical is issued without charge in the name of the Lord Jesus to help inspire child-like faith and maintain Christ-like simplicity among the people of God. To send donations or for your FREE SUBSCRIPTION, write to the address above or contact Christian Triumph Co. at christiantriumph@yahoo.com. Or see us on the web at ChristianTriumph.org
Try Again!
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We live in a busy, often “unfeeling world.” …God will tenderly comfort you when you undergo these…sufferings. He will give you the strength to endure.
SUFFERINGNEED STRENGTH? The apostle Paul shared not only his suffering but the Source of his strength: …in our trouble God had comforted us- and this, too, to help YOU: to show you from our personal experience how God will tenderly comfort you…and will give you strength to endure.
2 Cor. 1:7 TLB
“Feelings” sometimes, cause us to close our hearts’ doors to suffering; those who have “felt” this way truly understand. Still, the pain remains, perhaps, resulting in anger and hopelessness.
2 Corinthians 1
PAUL SHARES AN EXPERIENCE I think you ought to know…about the hard time we went through in Asia. We were really crushed and overwhelmed, and feared we would never live through it. We felt we were doomed to die and saw how powerless we were to help ourselves.
Be encouraged: God’s DOOR and Spirit are always receptive to those who are suffering. In fact, telling Him of this pain will create a deep personal closeness and trust - plus give Him a chance to work His wonders as well as communicate with those others who might be less “perceptive.”
2 Corinthians 1
STRENGTH …then we put everything into the hands of God, Who alone can save us, for He can even raise the dead. …and He did help us…
God longs to hear how we feel. He will always speak truth to our hearts as He nourishes our souls. Relying on His wisdom and power will bring changes – in situations and/or in building our own selfesteem. Guidance is promised to those who have accepted Jesus as Savior and Friend. In His Kingdom is found “abundant living!” Let us then approach the
2 Corinthians 1 TLB
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Suffering From “F “Feelings” By Editor
Do you “feel” things deeply and hurt within especially if others are rude or unconcerned? Has anyone ever called you “thinskinned?” Have you been accused of being too sensitive, too “feeling?” Hopefully, these following thoughts will help.
throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive …help…in…need. Heb 4 Inspired by JESUS CALLING –author Sarah Young Professional counseling may also help!
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Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the desert. There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place. In spite of this, you did not trust in the Lord your God, who went ahead of you on your journey, in fire by night and in a cloud by day, to search out places for you to camp and to show you the way you should go. Chapter 2: The Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast desert. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you and you have not lacked anything.
In honor and in memory of our wonderful Dads! ------------
A BOY’S MESSAGE TO HIS DAD Author Unknown
His little arms crept around my neck, And then I heard him say, Four simple words I shan’t forget, Four words that made me pray… They turned a mirror in my soul, On secrets no one knew. They startled me! I hear them yet; He said, “I’ll be like you!”
NIV The Living Insights Study Bible, Chas Swindoll
WORDS OF WISDOM FROM SOLOMON
(Poem found in an old notebook kept by my Dad, Rev. Hunter, along with his sermons, names of those baptized, dedicated, and laid to rest. Rev. Hunter met His Savior May 8, 2010.
God has made everything beautiful in its time. He has set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what he has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and to do good while they live. That every man may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil; this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it.
“Dad, I want to be like you.” – Editor)
************* WORDS – THE LEADER OF A NATION SPOKE ABOUT GOD, OUR FATHER: MOSES SPEAKS –
Ecclesiastes 3:11-14 By Byrum C. Lee
Deuteronomy 1 4
being kind even when it is not profitable for your own reasons. (My grandmother was the kindest person I have ever met; she was the same to everyone whether family or friend and included even her enemies.) The world as a whole is unkind to their own as well as others around them. I have met people so unkind that they cannot stand even themselves. Peter tells us to have brotherly kindness, and, I believe, he is speaking to the body of Christ and those who are in this body. This kindness comes from compassion because of the love of Christ that dwells within. Brotherly kindness seen in the Church on this earth is far from perfect, yet, not only in the Church but also in the world. In fact, persons outside of the Church may potentially be one’s enemy. Yet, Jesus said, “Be good to your enemies.” As well, even in the Church, we have controversy and do not act with kindness at times. I personally have seen and heard individual brothers in Christ speak harshly of other brothers in other denominations. In the past I, too, have been guilty of this very same thing until the Lord, through the Spirit of God, pointed this out to me. And then I changed. Kindness comes from the very center of one’s Being. It is not from the mind, yet, our understanding comes first to the mind and then by grace, it moves to the heart of our soul. This is where it will manifest itself in any given situation. Kindness is not a sign of weakness but of strength in a
THREE Books left! “THE POET’S PULPIT” Volume II by Byrum C. Lee. Write to Christian Triumph to request one of these three books, without cost, for your Dad. (Books - donated to Christian Triumph by Rev. Byrum C. Lee) Christian Triumph Company PO BOX 5187 Corpus Christi, TX 78465-5187
BROTHERLY KINDNESS By George Bell
II Peter 1:7: And to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity. This is love! Kindness is the state of or the quality of being kind- to be of a friendly nature, generous, warmhearted, empathetic with sympathy for others in time of need and caring. Kindness is a state of being kind - not just acting kind. There are different degrees of kindness, but most people are kind in some situations and not in others. Kindness is like temperance; it is perpetual, not to say you do not have bad moments. Kindness is 5
person, no matter his size or gender. My Father was a macho man, although orphaned at six years of age; yet, I have seen him moved to tears because of the kindness to his fellowman. A degree of kindness is in us all, but brotherly kindness comes only through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I have never met a person that has not responded to kindness; some take longer than others, but if capable, he or she will respond. When I lived at the lake my son and I worked together, traveling the same way every day to work. I noticed that every morning we would meet a young lady on her way to work. I commented to my son, that I believed, through kindness, I could get this lady to wave at us; he was not impressed and said he did not think so. So the next morning as she drove toward us, I began to wave at her. She did not even look at us, but I knew she saw me wave. The following morning I did the same but with the same result. It took about a week before she responded with a small raise of the hand to acknowledge us. I said to my son, “Kindness works even while driving down the road.” I continued to wave and after two weeks, she began to wave and smile even before we did. I never talked to that lady, yet, we witnessed the effect of kindness on that road every morning as we went to work. One day I was driving from San Angelo and the story goes like this: I passed a culvert under the road, and a man came out from under it, hailing me to stop which I did. He got into my truck and we started down the road toward my
home. His clothes were beyond dirty; he said that he spent the night under that culvert and was going to Houston for a job interview. (My wife was working so it was just him and me.) I gave him something to eat, washed his clothes and threw his socks away. After he cleaned up and ate, I gave him a coat and some clothes, and took him out to the highway to continue his trip to Houston. But while he was in my care, I told him about our Lord Jesus. I believe it was little over a month later that a knock came at my door. There stood this man, cleaned up, and thanking me. He wanted to know if he owed me anything. (He had gone to work in Houston and had come back for his belongings.) The Apostle Paul said that the communication of your faith becomes effectual by the acknowledging that the good things in you are because of Christ Jesus. Kindness originates from our Lord Jesus through grace and the only way to attain this is through his salvation. Most of us have heard that old saying, “Honey will attract more flies than vinegar.” Kindness is like honey; it will attract people to you and to your purpose in Christ. Persistence is the key to bringing about results through kindness. In the Bible, the unkind judge gave in to the woman, who by persistence continued to pressure him. Kindness is a virtue, not a gift; grace in love inspires and results in kindness in our lives. The kindnesses I am writing about transcend the natural love in a person or family and demonstrate the kindness of God. When we are 6
kind to our enemies as well as to our brothers then we know that the love of God is working in us. Brotherly kindness is needed in the Church. Let us refrain from criticizing each other, and, instead, learn from each other. Life is too short to not allow kindness in our lives while helping others along the way. In the end, we will be judged accordingly to the love of God working in us. Paul tells us to lay aside all weights and sin that so easily beset us and run the race with patience in love. Love is the key - not only in brotherly kindness - but also in the whole duty of man and in the “perseverance” of kindness, which is pleasing to our heavenly Father. In reflecting the image of Christ upon this earth, God will bless our efforts. AMEN -----------
Diana Beletic, Christian Triumph’s Office Manager, and her family recently attended the memorial service for the beloved Koontz family: Kenneth & Melissa Koontz and daughters, Madison and Marley Ann, of Brackettville (Texas). They went to their Heavenly Home on April 2013. Kenneth Zachary Koontz, son and brother, survived the accident. Diana, good friend and neighbor, to the Koontz family, treasures the memories of their kindness. Melissa and her family were supportive of Christian Triumph, sharing needed, practical items as well as encouragement throughout the years. Their love for God and His work remains a great witness of their faith.
Betty, of Missouri, shares her love and kindness by inspiration and ingenuity. She creates cards with little girls on the front, using cloth, thread, and other materials, then mails these to friends, family, or individuals who might need encouragement. She also writes letters and sends books.
Please remember their son, Zach, and other family members, during this time of grief and mourning. + Please note: The September Faith Messenger will be the next issue sent. None are mailed in July and August. THANK YOU. Please keep in touch by letter or email: christiantriumph@yahoo.com. Blessings! Editor
---------Felicia contributes her “Love Notes from Jesus,” as a kindness and desire to help others: “I can take the most sinful, traumatizing, difficult, and regretful time in your life and turn it into your greatest destiny.” JESUS
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Stand firm in the faith; Be men of courage; Be strong. Do everything in love. 1 Corinthians 16:13
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