Month: January 2021

God’s Laws Matter

On By tgifmastermindsIn How To Pray For Others, Prayers About God and Me, Prayers For Forgiveness, Prayers For New Beginnings, Prayers For Spiritual Growth3 Comments

Do you believe that prayer changes things? I do! That’s why, when consoling my family members, friends or acquaintances after learning about what ails them, I often ask them that same question. Most of the time their response is, ‘yes…but’. Next, I usually hear replies, or shall I say excuses, of why things just didn’t work out.

Now, about this time, I can see that my work is cut out for me. So, I must tread lightly. Generally, I pose questions that generate a response that the person really wants my help or opinion concerning the matter they are dealing with. I might throw in a joke or two, that signals to them that together, we can come up with a workable solution. But the biggest help I depend on are the lyrics to Nina Simone’s song. Just click the website below, close your eyes, pat your foot, and enjoy the beat:

Nina Simone The High Priestess of Soul 1980s US Mini Poster For Sale

50+NOW PLAYINGMix – Nina Simone – Cum By H’ Yere (Good Lord)YouTube

After hearing Nina’s message silently in my heart, and sending up my own quick prayer, I re-introduce my ‘charge‘ to the Master of all things that seem impossible. Gently, I began to explain the obstacles that arise in our daily lives that can so easily fracture our relationship with God. I remind them that sometimes our own unconfessed or deliberate sins can build up an unimpeachable wall that can prevent a prayer from getting through. For as you know, the society that we live in today can fool a person into thinking that what actually is wrong and not pleasing to God, is right in man’s eyes. While at the same time those things that are right is foolishness and non beneficial to you. Sadly, Christians have all too often become used to this way of living.

So, if the person you are consoling is honest and agrees with your message this far, you may want to encourage them to voice out loud any areas in their immediate life where unconfessed situations have not been brought to the throne of grace. Encourage them to deal with those things first. Ask them if you can help them to pray about these conditions prior to lifting up their most recent cares to the Lord. You will want to emphasize that God’s laws and precepts do matter and that they do play an important part when expecting new mercies and new blessings. God wants us to obey his word and commandments because this type of discipline keeps us close to him.

Offer yourself to others and let them know that you are available as a support friend that they can come to for encouragement and strength without fear of condemnation. Invite them to engage in a bible study group or offer them a devotional book for spiritual instructions. Let them know that staying connected to righteous living and unwavering faith is not easy. Share some of your own missteps that will foster hope and reassurance.

In conclusion, following is a suggested prayer model: “Dear Heavenly Father, please forgive your child for becoming so accustomed to this world that unconfessed sins and misdeeds no longer seemed offensive or disturbing to You. Please, Lord, show us through Your Word and the examples of Jesus Christ, Your will for our lives. More particularly, Dear Jesus, please lead and guild ________________ during these turbulent times. I ask all these blessings in the Precious Name of Christ Jesus. Amen!”

Scripture Lesson: “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” Psalm 66:18

Click http://www.tgifmasterminds.wordpress.com every Friday for a new post from The Master’s servant manager…Me!

God Was Asked…”Are You A Democrat Or A Republican?”

On By tgifmastermindsIn Heaven Is For Real, Prayers About God and Me, Prayers For Peace, Prayers For Thanksgiving7 Comments
At Your request, Lord, I come unto thee…heavy laden and burden.

The type of question asked in the title of this week’s blog was asked by Joshua in the Old Testament of the Bible:

  Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand.  Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”
     “Neither” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.”  Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?” Joshua 5:13-14

In Joshua’s case, he realized that God was in the mix of the battle the Israelites was pursuing with a Canaanite stronghold, but he wasn’t sure whose side God was on and who he was going to allow to win the battle. In my predicament, I indeed needed to poise a more poignant question to God concerning the state of affairs our nation found itself in at the nation’s capitol (Washington, D.C.) on January 6, 2021, when it was overrun by a riotous mob of insurrectionist.

So, in a prayerful posture of humility, and with a contrite heart and meek spirit, I approached the throne of grace this week and submitted myself to the Lord’s abundant mercy and compassion. Relying on the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appealed to Him on bended knee, to converse with me. And He did.

Early one morning this week, after I had finished my daily 7:00 a.m. prayer time on the telephone with about 35 other early riser prayer partners, I felt the comfort of the Holy Spirit still lingering in my bedroom. I closed my eyes and submitted my spirit to the welcoming angelic atmosphere. Speak, my Lord, I whispered, speak.

“Neither,” I heard a still small voice say, “For I am the commander over all political parties of the Lord whether they know it or not. Don’t you know, my child, that looking at conditions and affiliations from your political perspective is not a prerequisite necessary for admission into the Kingdom. If only all political entities would submit themselves to deep soul searching and look at their own agendas and motives for carrying out their actions and couple them with examples given by my Son, Jesus Christ, they would experience far more victories, accomplishments and successes from God than from their own understanding.

“It is for this reason that I have come to tell you to rest easy and to allow your emotions to be comforted with the knowledge that God’s outreached arm has you securely embedded in his care. He wants to remind you of his undying love for you and his love for his people. Put your hope in Jesus Christ. He is your Rock of salvation. Trust Him and see what the end will be. And know with assurance, if you continue to stand strong in Him, He will make your righteousness shine like the North Star and the breaking of dawn of a new day. So rise, shine, and give God the glory.” Amen!

Scripture Lesson: “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:6-7

Click http://www.tgifmasterminds.wordpress.com every Friday for a new post from The Master’s servant manager…Me!

God Is Good…All The Time!

On By tgifmastermindsIn Uncategorized2 Comments
Snoopy Givin Out Friday Hugs GIF - Snoopy GivinOutFridayHugs HaveAGreatWeekend GIFs
Bless me Oh Lord, for I have barked up the wrong tree. Woof!

Yes, even Snoopy receives blessings from the Lord sometimes. This week, I thought I would blog about a little humor in print. Why? Because that is how the Lord has dealt with me all week. God is not only GOOD…he has a sense of humor, too.

For the past few days, I have found myself day dreaming or just plain wondering about the most mundane things in my life. In between washing dishes, dusting, making up my bed and sweeping, I would pause…lean on the broom handle I was holding and ask God a simple question; Lord, where did I put that book of stamps I bought on Monday from the Post Office? He didn’t answer me right then.

Much later, after I had finished tidying up my apartment, I decided to wash a load of clothes. I went into the laundry room, moved the laundry basket closer to the washer and started to sort the clothes into the machine. All of a sudden, a silent voice in my head whispered, the stamps are in there. What? Who said that? The stamps are in where? What stamps?

Suddenly it hit me…I was holding a pair of slacks…just about ready to toss them in the washer…when I found myself digging down into each pocket. Sure enough…there in one of the pockets, was the newly purchased book of stamps! I looked up and shouted…found them. Thank you, Lord!

Yesterday, I was thinking to myself, Lord, it is time for me to start thinking about what I will write about in my blog for this week. My posts are getting good reviews each day, but I was wondering why my readers do not add their comments. Again…suddenly…I heard a still small voice that whispered the name of a good friend of mine. About an hour or two later, I said to myself…Let me call Dorothy and see how she is doing. Honestly, I did not connect my actions at that time to the earlier thought I had experienced.

As my friend and I engaged in small conversation, the subject of my blog came up and Dorothy asked me how she could add a comment to my blog if she so desired. She also did not know she could ‘follow’ me and automatically receive an email notice each time I posted a blog. WOW! I was shocked. Just then, it dawned on me that perhaps some of my other friends were not computer savvy either, and perhaps needed to be informed on how to leave comments or to automatically receive my blogs each week.

THEN I REMEMBERED JUST WHO HAD OPENED MY EYES AND WHO HAD HEARD MY INQUIRIES.

The moral of this story is…Take your burdens…both big and small…to the Lord and leave them there!

Scripture Lesson: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

Click http://www.tgifmasterminds.wordpress.com every Friday for a new post from The Master’s servant manager…Me!

God’s Gift…Today, Friday, January 1, 2021, Your New Beginning!

On By tgifmastermindsIn UncategorizedLeave a comment
NEW BEGINNINGS FOR 2021

STOP! In the name of love…

Why are you praying that the new year will usher in a new order of business in the world?  Why are you filling up your calendar with new appointments that you hope will bring you different results than those appointments you engaged in during all those months in 2020?  Why are you making new resolutions when more than half of the ones you made in 2020 are still not accomplished?

BAH!!  HUMBUG!!  BOLDER DASH!!

Now, let’s get real.  Since your initial conversation/prayer is addressed to God, why not start off with a little praise and honor and thanksgiving.  Why not solicit his plans for your life to come.  Why not just be still for a moment and wait for him to acknowledge and examine your true heart desires.

Now, let’s start again…

Dear Heavenly Father, on bended knee I come to your sacred throne of grace, sincerely inquiring if You will open the windows of heaven and give me a glimpse of any new beginnings you have assigned to this mere mortal for the coming new year that history will record as 2021.  

I am approaching Your throne of grace at this time so I can begin to examine my faith walk and repent of any and all disappointing thoughts and misdeeds that I might have committed against You.  

For I truly want to faithfully and earnestly be a good steward over any and all assignments that You make me charge over.  I also want You to know that I cherish all of the tasks and obligations that came my way in the past, and hope with all my heart that I was found trustworthy and true.  

Just knowing that in all things accomplished, whether with or without divine understanding, You and You alone was pleased with my efforts would bring comfort to my soul.  For I realize that You were with me then and that You will be with me in the year to come and that You will not fail me.  

So, without any doubt or hesitation, I sing for joy and declare that I fully trust You with all of my tomorrows. 

Amen and Amen!
To My Beloved, from God!

SCRIPTURE LESSON: “You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand! Psalm 139:5-6

Click http://www.tgifmasterminds.wordpress.com every Friday for a new post from The Master’s servant manager…Me!