Pastor Claude Thomas Online

Author: Pastor Claude Thomas

There is a principle here: You find solutions when you share your problems with someone very close to you. And who is closer than Jesus? It is a privilege to be able to pour out our hearts to Him. And the great news is that He understands and responds. He knows how we feel, because He has experienced the same pain we have. The Bible says…
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet was without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15)
When David felt despair, he cried out to God. He said, “I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.” (Psalm 3:4). On another occasion David cried, “How long, O Lord? Will you forget me? forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?” (Psalm 13:1, 2). You don’t have to read the Psalms for very long to discover that David freely poured out his heart to God.
David isn’t the only one in Scripture who cried out boldly to God. Moses did. Job did. Isaiah did. Paul did. Each one of them cried out to God in times of great difficulty.
So, what should we do? We should cry out to the Lord. Being honest with God about the way we feel is the beginning to finding real help. He hears and delights in responding to us! And we find solutions when we share our feelings of despair with God.

Author: Pastor Claude Thomas

The way popular media portrays the family has changed in the last fifty years. In the fifties we saw the family through the experiences of a little boy named Beaver and his family in “Leave it to Beaver”.
That portrayal of the family continued to dominate the scene into the eighties with popular TV Shows like the Cosby’s. But some changes were being made with Al Bundy and “Married With children”.

But in the nineties and into the 21st century other changes have been made. It is seen in “Will and Grace,” and “Friends” with Rachel and Ross.
From the 1950’s to today there has been a change in how the family is viewed and valued. How should we view and value the family? To answer that question we do not go to popular culture but we go to the reliable, relevant, absolute, and authoritative truth. We turn the Scriptures.

In Ephesians 5:22-6:4, Paul explicitly communicates the view we should have of family. And it is a view of relationships… right relationships and the right kinds of relationships. The relationship between a husband and wife is one of love and mutual respect. The relationship between parent and child is one of love, responsibility, and respect. And these relationships are nurtured in the context of an overarching relationship with God through faith in Christ.

So, we unite our families and the uniting of our families is good for all of us!

Author: Pastor Claude Thomas
We are encouraged to manage our priorities because we can all become victims of what someone called “the tyranny of the urgent.” But before talking about managing or priorities, we need to determine if our priorities are worth managing.
What are you chasing? That question was asked of a group of men and prompted my thoughts. The speaker told of his own experience. He had given himself to chasing bigger deals, bigger cars, bigger houses, bigger reputation, and a bigger bank account.
Whatever we chase reveals what we value. And everyone is chasing something. The question is what? If we truly want to know the answer, someone has suggested that a review of the checkbook and the planner will give good insight. These will tell us what our priorities are and priorities will determine what we chase. Are they worth while?
The answer to that is found in the heart. Proverbs 4:24 says, “Guard the heart … it is the well-spring of life.” Our priorities flow out of the heart. Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Lk.12:34). Healthy priorities come from a healthy heart. So, let’s put our hearts under the care of a great cardiologist.
His name? Oh yes. His name is Jesus.

We live in a rapidly paced world. In a matter of a few hours you can leave New York and be in London. That’s great! But with that ability, we also can end up being caught up in the demands of living in a fast-paced world. And that will create stress.
Stress is a real problem in our world. When we have a physical, part of the exam is to determine how well we are able to deal with stress. Seminars are given to help us handle stress in life. It’s real.
How do we handle it? There are some simple but helpful and effective hints to handling stress. We see them from a look at how Jesus dealt with one of the most stressful times in His life… just before He went to the cross.
First, remember you have a purpose in life. It is relational in nature. It is our relationship to God and others (Mark 12: 30, 31). So, keep the focus on that primary purpose will alleviate some of the stress caused by secondary issues.
Second, take your concerns to God in prayer. In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus faced the stress of the cross and the sins of the world. What did He do? He prayed. And so can we! In open, honest conversation, we talk to Him about the stressful matters of life.
Third, talk to some close friends about the most stressful matters of your life. Jesus did that in the Upper Room.
And finally, 1) do the best you are able 2) with what you have 3) where you are. Then you can trust God to make up any difference or deficit you might feel.
Pat Williams and my friend Jay Strack remind us in their book, Success Secrets of Shamgar, that these are principles of success.
I have discovered that following these helpful hints will help relieve the stresses of life.

Author: Pastor Claude Thomas
Are you anxious about your future…your past…or today? Anxiety or worry, as we most often call it, is a real part of life! The real question is this: How do I deal with it without allowing it to become a destructive force in my life?
Well I don’t know anyone who pretends to have all the answers to that question. But here are some suggestions for consideration.
1) Admit it! If you are experiencing anxiety don’t deny it. Admit it. The beginning to dealing with anxiety is to acknowledge that the problem exists.
2) Acknowledge you don’t have to give in to it. While anxiety is a real problem, it is equally true that it can be successfully addressed.
3) Remember that Christ will help you. Jesus said in Matthew 6 that His followers were not to be anxious. Rather they were to trust Him and all the things they normally worry about would be taken care of.
The apostle Peter said we were to give Christ all our cares because He cares for us.
May I encourage you? The sovereign God cares for you and me…and He is able to do all He has said He will do. He also cares enough to do what He said He will do. So we can trust Jesus to take care of us.

Author: Pastor Claude Thomas
She just didn’t seem to fit in anywhere. She went here and she went there but she didn’t find acceptance until she met Jesus.
When she met Him everything seemed to change. Her whole outlook changed. She showed she felt better about herself and others too!
Who are we talking about? We are talking about the woman caught in sexual misconduct. She was looking in the wrong places and to the wrong people for affirmation and acceptance. But when she met the Lord all that changed in her life.
We are told that rejection is one of the most difficult things in life to overcome. Why? We all need to feel and be accepted. But the sad thing of life is we have refined the art of rejecting people who don’t fit into our “molds.” So, where do we turn to be accepted? Where do we go for affirmation?
Well, we go to Someone Who loves us unconditionally and did all necessary to accept us. Jesus did that for the woman who knew the horrors of rejection. I believe He is still doing that for people today. Do you fell you need that today? Then turn to Him in faith right now.
He is ready to accept us when we accept Him as Lord and Savior of our lives. Then, we are on the road to feeling acceptance ourselves.

Author: Pastor Claude Thomas
I remember coming home to the smell of food, a warm house, a big hug from my mom, and a word to encourage me. It sure made me feel good. There are some things that just stand out in life … and those hugs and encouraging words do.
I’ve wondered why that was so important to me and is so firmly fixed in my mind. I think I’ve found out why. It was a recurring encouragement! I experienced it almost every day.
Author and friend, John Maxwell, said it like this: Encouragement enables us to persevere like nothing else (Encouragement Changes Everything).
The bible says encouragement is often found in a well spoken word. The writer of Proverbs has a lot to say about the influence of our words. He said “death and life are in the power of the tongue.” (Proverbs 18:21). He also said that “Good words can make an anxious heart glad.”(12:25). He said a timely word is “delightful” (Proverbs 25:23).
How about it? Do we all agree that a word of encouragement would be helpful to someone? So, let’s be encouragers and say a good word to someone today.

Author: Kathryn Seifert
As we all watch the horrific devastation in Israel, Gaza, and Lebanon on the news day after day, glued to the “tube,” we have to be thinking, “Where does it end? When does it end? Will it ever end?” Periodic military and diplomatic solutions in the Middle East since 1949 have attempted to provide a lasting peace in the region. And yet, here we are again, in the middle of a war that has both local and global implications.

For terrorists, beyond patriotism and self defense, is the ability to kill innocents, non-combatants with no hesitation or regret. It becomes a strategy of war. What enters or does not enter the minds of terrorists? What does it take for someone to grow up to be a terrorist? It was reported that a Hezbollah member stated that they will be triumphant because they love death and the Israelis love life. How can someone have no respect for human life? Many, if not all terrorists seek power and control regardless of means. They see violence as a means to that end. This is instrumental violence. It does not differ from criminal violence anywhere in the world and likely has the same roots.

Criminal violence has it beginning in the abuse, neglect, loss of parents, and exposure to violence in early childhood resulting in disruptions in attachments. Those with disrupted attachments fail to reach pro-social maturity interpersonally, in affect regulation and self control, and in moral development. They may not understand human reciprocity. Relationships are superficial. They may have little or no empathy or remorse. To them the world is not safe and they must always be on the offensive in order to be safe. Generations of war and violence in the Middle East continues to produce more terrorists. Children are not safe and they become orphaned. They are exposed to violence daily during times of open conflict and always have the fear of a new attack. The effect of this environment on everyone, especially young children can be psychologically devastating.

The world finds itself in a quandary. How do we defend ourselves against these people who do not value life as we do without creating more terrorists? The answer is we cannot. War and violence inevitably creates more terrorists. In addition to efforts already underway, massive humanitarian aid to the region is what will curb the growing problem of terrorism. Children and their families must be safe and well cared for so that they will not become cold, heartless and violent. Street children, one of the ripest recruiting grounds for terrorist organizations, must be well cared for and not left to be recruited by terrorists.

Terrorism will not end of its own accord. People must protect and defend themselves, as terrorists will not stop. Additionally, terrorism will not end by humanitarian aid alone. Everyone knows that a long term solution is needed. However, a permanent end to war, humanitarian aid and services for those who have lost loved ones, those with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and children with attachments disrupted by war may have a chance of reducing terrorism in the Middle Eastern Region in the future.

Author: Angel Estrella
A baby adoption is not an inexpensive process. Many hopeful parents discard the idea of a baby adoption early because they do not realize that there are both private and government resources that are available to help prospective adoptive parents, which will aid in the costs associated with travel, agency fees and additional spending.

There are several tax benefits associated with baby adoption, which include the Federal Adoption Tax Credit. This amount is a credit issued for adoptive families on qualified expenses related to a baby adoption. Allowable expenses, in this case, are subtracted from the current tax liability. In addition, a number of states offer a tax credit in addition to the previously mentioned federal tax credit. When it comes to taxes, adoptive parents are allowed to claim the same dependency exemption as for their biological children. This exemption provides a reduction in taxable income.

In addition to tax assistance, a number of employers participate in the Adoption Assistance Benefits Program. This program allows employers to reimburse a baby adoption with a cash benefit. If your employer does not participate in this program, you may request material to provide your employer in an effort to request adoption assistance by contacting the National Adoption Center.

Both federal employees and military personnel are eligible for baby adoption benefits, which vary from extended leaves and/or reimbursement of up to $2,000.00 after the baby adoption is finalized.

Employees of Harvard University are also eligible for baby adoption assistance directly from the Harvard Adoption Assistance Plan. Under this program, up to $5,000.00 may be granted for expenses relating to the adoption of a child with financial need not being a factor.

In addition to these options, there are grants specifically designed to help prospective parents with expenses relating to the adoption. These include A Child Waits Foundation, Hebrew Free Loan Association, Funds 4 Families, A Mother’s Love Fundraising, Community Fundraisers, The National Adoption Foundation, Ours By Grace and United Way International.

As a final option in assistance with funding a baby adoption, individuals may consult with their local bank or credit union regarding loan programs for adoptive families. Others may choose to use their savings account or cash out the equity in their home to make an adoption happen. If you ask most adoptive parents, money is no object when it comes to the love of a child and the joy that he/she brings into the life of loving parents.

Author: Yvonne Volante
Adopting a child of any age is a very difficult, long process, and it should be an equally well-thought-out personal consideration — whether you will be a single parent, want to adopt a child outside of your native country, or are already in a marriage with your biological children.

Here are some of the things you will need to ponder to be able to make a fully informed, satisfying decision for both the child or children and yourself and your family.

For example, do you feel that it’s possible to love an adopted child as much as a birth child? What if this is an infertility issue, yet you haven’t given up hope that one day your family may produce a biological child? How will this interfere, if at all, with your feelings toward your adoptive child, should this happen?

One red flag should be obvious, but often isn’t: Make absolutely certain that, if you have a partner, he or she does not have any mixed feelings about adopting, and really would prefer to have birth children. Make sure you and your partner have thoroughly discussed what you believe it will be like to raise an adopted child.

And even if you “sometimes” have these same feelings, that’s another really important thing to consider; you should most likely give this more thought if you are having any doubts at all. Maybe you’ve always dreamed of adopting, even if you had birth children. Do you still feel that way? What about your extended family? Will they support your decision, and if not, will that matter to you?

Another, more obvious red flag is, are you in a position to financially afford to adopt and raise this child?

Financial preparedness is just one aspect; are you also emotionally prepared to be a parent, for either the first time or in the case of an additional child? And do you worry about adopting a child who may have serious emotional and/or physical problems, either now or in the future?

Another, last thing, is something many people don’t think about: Are you adopting out of “guilt,” or do you believe that adoption is a good thing because it saves a child from a difficult life?

There are a lot of questions associated with adoption, but they are all for the benefit of, first, the child; and second, you and your family or lifestyle. If the two don’t connect in a way you find satisfying, it may be time to seriously reconsider your decision or put it off for another day. It’s that important.