Thank You Oh Lord For My Wife

Thank You Oh Lord for My Wife

She is the reward and jewel of my life

 

Let us be an example to our wives

Making them a part of our lives

In You and only You will we place our trust

Helping us to be honest and just

Help us to be family leaders

And of course Bible readers

Remembering the rest of our lives

You gave us our wonderful wives

Thank You Most Holy Lord!!!

.

                      Jim Thomas

This portion of Jim's study encouraged men to pray

 everywhere.

 

“Since prayer is at the bottom of all this,  

 what I want mostly is for men to pray—   

not shaking angry fists at enemies but raising holy

 hands to God.

                      And I want women to get in there with the


                                                                                                                  men in humility before God.

                                                               ... doing something beautiful for God and becoming beautiful doing it.” .

                                                                                                                                                                        1 Timothy 2:8-10 (The Message)

 

He then went on to: Ecclesiastes 9:9

 

“ Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days

 

of your fleeting life which He has given to you under the sun;

 

for this is your reward in life, and your toil in which

 

you have labored under the sun.”

 

Happy Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary!

Today, September 14, 2013

 

Fifty years, one half century, a milestone, unbelievable!

Before we could reach our own Milestone, Jim was called home to Glory.

We never know what milestones we will reach before we leave this earth.

What are some of your milestones? Having your first birthday,

  your first day of school, Graduation? How about getting married,

having children, grandchildren or even great-grandchildren.

I was thinking of Jesus' life on earth. Did He have milestones?

I don't think so. Jesus came to this earth for one purpose only;

to die on the cross and rise again, so that by His Grace we would

be set free from the sins of this world .

 So, I would say that the only lasting thing that counts is our

relationship with Jesus Christ!

                                                                                                      Danna Thomas

“ For God so Loved the world , that He gave His only begotten Son,

that whoever believes in Him should not perish , but have

everlasting life.”    John 3:16

 

Lord we lift up Your Holy Name.

We know this life is not a game.

As we live from day to day,

May we be able to find the Way,

So we can be in Your Heavenly Realm

With only You at the helm.

Help us to teach others today

To stay close to You in Your Way,

So forever in You we will all stay.

By: Jim Thomas

Paul wants prayers to be made for everyone so that we may live peaceful quiet

lives in Godliness and holiness, knowing that there is only one God and mediator

between God and men, who is Christ Jesus. (Jim's notes from I Timothy 2:1-7)

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers . intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

I Timothy 2:1-5

“My own writings”

As we live from day to day we never know how each day will fit into the next.

Our oldest Grandson, Zackary, is in the U.S. Navy and has just been deployed

to the Persian Gulf on his first mission. I came across this poem that Jim wrote

back in 2007, a couple of years before his”Home Going,” How fitting it is that

he is talking of Jesus being at the Helm of life, and to see how it relates to our

     Grandson being on the helm of a big cruiser and to know God is always in control

                  of our lives.

Those who go down to the sea in ships,
Who do business on great waters;
They have seen the works of the Lord,
And His wonders in the deep.
For He spoke and the seas obeyed Him..

Psalms 107:23-25

The Armor of God

                                                                                                                  We all need to be honest,

When God puts us to the test.

We can all            keep our cool,

Using our Bible as our tool.

We can stay in the Word

Putting on the armor of God

Being ready to use the sword

To follow our Dear Lord.

                                                                                                                                                                                                 Jim Thomas

This poem reflects Jim’s© from his study in I Samuel 22…

David was deceiving the enemy. This cost the lives of 85 Priests and many more, yet God was protecting David. Still He cares for His own to carry out His Plan. People will lie and cheat to promote their own agenda. Like pretending to be insane, though not an utterance.  David was given the sword of Goliath the Philistine before he fled from King Saul to hide in a cave to save his life.

"Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in You my soul takes refuge!

I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.

I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills His purpose for me.

He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me;

God sends His love and His faithfulness."              Psalm 57: 1-3

                                               “ My  own  writings”

We once had a statue of a knight in shining armor. Someone saw it in a photo and asked if it was for sale?  We started to chuckle. You see, it was made out of plaster and painted to look like the real thing. Do we sometime pretend we are someone other than who God created us to be?

"Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,

With the breastplate of righteousness in place,

And with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith,

With which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit,

Which is the word of God."           

Ephesians 6:14-17

     In looking back over my life, I wonder how many times God has saved me from taking the wrong ath?                                 I am so thankful to be a child of the King!  O' how much He protects me in whatever circumstance I find myself!

                                                                                                                                                                Danna Thomas    

Oh Lord our God how Great Thou art

                               “ Let’s not just have Your picture on the mantle “

                                                              

                                                                                                                               Oh Lord our God how Great Thou Art

                                                                                                    From Thy ways may we never part

                                                                                               We long to have You in our heart

                                                                                                                                      Before each day we ever start

                                                                                                May we use Your Word as an example

                                                                                                    As Your lessons are pure and ample

                                                                                            Let’s not just have Your picture on the mantle

                                                                                                  But in our hearts and lives to be an example

                                                                                                                            The study of David has been rewarding

                                                                                                    Thanks for keeping such a recording

                                                                                             Lets keep You in our hearts for the Season

                                                                                                   Telling others that You are the Reason

                                                                                                                                                                            By Jim Thomas

 This poem reflects Jim’s heart ~ from his continued study in I Kings 2…………

King David was dying and it was time to place Solomon on the throne and establish his kingdom to make Gods Laws the center of his personal life and government. When David’s descendants failed to do this they lost the throne. God’s unconditional promise was that David’s line would go on forever. This was fulfilled in the birth of Jesus Christ, a descendant of David.  

                                                                                                          

God requires: Walk in His ways….that the Lord may keep His promise to me: If your descendants watch how they live, and walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.             I Kings 2: 3..4

“My  own  writings”

The drive to the Christmas tree farm when our children were young was almost as exciting as the search we would make for just the right tree. The tree would be cut down, tied onto the roof of the car and off we would go for the exciting drive home. All were eager to" plant" the tree in front of the living room window for all to see.  The decorations and lights would be hauled in from storage and soon the tree was aglow with light.  The precious ornaments, collected over the years, were carefully hung and those special ornaments hand made by the children with such pride, appeared in special places all over the tree.  How quickly the gifts made their way to the tree.

            The manger scene with the Baby Jesus was always front and center underneath the tree - the star of our Christmas celebration, and a place of honor in our home and in our hearts, reminding us that Jesus is the reason for the season 

                                                                                                             

“for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord”

                                                                                                                                                    Luke 2:11

“ Oh Lord our God how Great Thou Art.” This is the season that we celebrate Jesus as a Baby coming to earth. But He didn’t stay a baby and He longs for us to mature in His Love and share His plan of Salvation and eternal life with others.            Danna Thomas                                         

Oh Lord my God teach me each day.

  

 

     Oh Lord my God teach me each day,

And hear me Lord as I do pray

  I lift Your Name on most High.

Please hold me close that I may stay,

  On the path that leads to You.

So I may lead others to You today.

  I have nothing but myself to offer You.

But please accept my meager offer,

  To stay on the one road that leads to You!

                                   

 Jim Thomas

         Jim’s notes from I Samuel 20.

Think about how much control the devil had over King Saul. God saw to it that Jonathan would help his friend, David, escape death from his father. Loyalty is one of the strongest qualities of courage.

The Lord will be with us in the worst of times. We are all human; we need to stay close to our Lord. He will purify our hearts. Read and heed God’s word. We all need to get into God’s Word, the Bible, more.

 

“ The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD,
         And He delights in his way.
  Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down;
         For the LORD upholds him with His hand.”

                                                                                                                                                                             Ps 37: 23-24

                                                                                                 “My  own  writings”

When Jim and I moved to Lake California our youngest son, Ryan, had just married, and our youngest daughter, Sonya, had decided to move to Colorado. We were excited and felt the time was right for our own move and staying in the quaint little community campground made this adventure unique. Even more unique was living in our cute little 24’ trailer while our house was being built. Across the campground lived our new friends, Gary and Faye, keeping a watchful eye over us while their house was getting its finishing touches. It wasn’t long before they invited us to attend church with them at Lake California Community Church.

This congregation of lovely people welcomed us making us feel at home. While listening to Pastor Jim Bredow’s message from God’s Word we knew we were home. Looking  foreword to attending the little Community Church soon became an every Sunday celebration we shared with our new family.

Then it was Jim’s time to be called home with our Lord. Have you sometimes wondered, as I have, why God brings you into situations only to abandon you ~ leaving you alone?  Indeed, I was never alone. God has surrounded and encouraged me, and He will surround and encourage you, too.

Our Lord is ever with us.  He has promised never to leave or forsake us!

Dear Lord help me not to question the path You have for me, but instead help me to seek ways to serve You where I am ~ to do the work You have called me to do. Help me Lord to “Stay on the path that leads to You!”

Danna Thomas    

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart:        

lean not unto your own understanding.

                                                                                                                                In all your ways acknowledge Him

And He will direct your paths”. Proverbs. 3:5-6

  

Thank You for our caring Pastor

   
Thank you for our caring Pastor              
 The credit is to You our Lord and Master

      We think of him as our brother   

He helps us learn to love each other

       He tells us we are Your delight

As his example helps us live right

     We will live with You forever 

We know You will leave us never

     We’re glad he chose to follow You 

Through his teaching we will follow too

                                                Jim Thomas

Sketch by John Stewart


This portion of Jim's study in I Timothy 3 speaks of the qualities of a Pastor.

They must be above reproach, gentle and able to teach God’s Word.

"For a pastor must be a good man whose life cannot be     spoken against. He must have only one wife, and he must be hard working and thoughtful, orderly, and full of good deeds. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and must be a good Bible teacher.”                              I Timothy 3:2  (LNT)      

                                         “ My  own  writings”

As young children both Jim and I attended church with our parents. It was by God’s grace that we continued to attend church as adults. Over the years we have been blessed with the teachings of very special pastors. They spoke the truths found in God’s Holy Word, the Bible. They pointed us to the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ, Who shed His blood for us. Their lives were an example of a true servant honoring God in all that they did. They were very loving and not afraid to point you back in the right direction when you needed it.

Thank you pastors for your tender care, and for you, dear pastor’s wives, you have been such grand mentors in my life – Thank you!  It is through all your prayers and encouragement that I press on in seeking God's will for my life.

 

 “Through their teachings we, too, will follow.” I am so thankful 

                                                                                 Danna  Thomas    

“Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it” .    Proverbs 22:6  (NAS)

From sin He rescued me

 

From sin He rescued me

     Oh that I could be like Thee

                One day we shall see His face

     Now we live because of Grace

Let’s decide to run the race

    God gives us strength to keep the pace

So Jump on board and ride the train

    And I’ll see you on the heavenly plain

Jim Thomas

       

 

                   Jump on board 

 

   Jim’s study of Eph 4 continues with Paul’s writings on the unity in the body of Christ. We are to "…put off the old self, do not sin, and forgive as Christ forgave…" We have been given Spiritual gifts to build up the body of Christ for His Service. Our purpose is to strive to be more like Christ, show tender love and forgiveness, be an example to others and witness to others about Christ’s Love.

 

"So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the      fullness of Christ."           Ephesians 4: 11-13   (NIV)

                                             “My  own  writings”

            It wasn’t the train they jumped on board it was the church buses. During the time Jim maintained our church buses and drove them, many passengers were to "jump on board" as they traveled the road to spread the Word.  A favorite trip was the Annual High School Church Youth Choir outreach. Choir members would climb on board, and the adventure would begin as they headed out to sing and share God’s love. Our daughters, Tamera and Sonya, were part of this group chauffeured by their dad.  Dad also kept a watchful eye on his girls when they rode the buses to summer and winter camps. The journey was a joyful time for the students but also a time to study God’s Word and learn of His goodness.  For is it not the "goodness of God that leads to repentance?"  Romans 2:4

“God gives me strength to keep the pace.“ As I continue on this earthly journey I want to continue to love the Lord my God with all the strength He gives me that I may one day see His face.

                                Danna Thomas     

                  Love the LORD your God with all your heart

and with all your soul and with all your strength.

   Deuteronomy 6:5 (NIV)