Month: July 2022

God’s Nicknames Applied In Error

On By tgifmastermindsIn Building Spiritual Bridges, Prayers About God and Me, Prayers For Life Changes3 Comments
How do you (blindly) refer to God?

Oh, how disrespectful…how inconsiderate…how thoughtless…how embarrassing…how blasphemous!

Oh, you say, I would never do that. I would never apply a nickname to God, or refer to him with a cliche. Well, perhaps not knowingly, or intentionally, but how about innocently or mistakenly? Let me give you some examples and you count the ones that apply to you.

Examples of ways people sometimes apply nicknames to God…erroneously!

"The other day, I had to make a big decision.  I was already late for an important job interview and I had to make a choice as to whether to take the expressway to go downtown or to use the streets which was the longer way, but seemed less crowded with traffic.  Just then, 'something' said, take the streets.  I did! and sure enough, when I arrived at my appointment, the receptionist told me that my interviewer would be a little late because he texted that he was in a traffic jam on the expressway where a fatal  accident had just happened!  How's that for 'chance'?"

"You know, people often tell me that my 'insights' and 'intuitions' about a  matter are right on.  And my 'opinions' are sought out all the time.  I feel sooo 'lucky'!"

"Today, I had a really bad day at the office.  My boss threatened to fire me, but changed his mind at the last minute.  (Under my breath, I was 'cursing' him.)  Later, while on my way home from work, a driver cut right in front of me and almost made me have a car wreck.  I could have been killed!  Boy, was I 'fortunate'.   And to top it all off, when I got home, my wife reminded me that it was our night out and the babysitter was coming over.  By that time, I was so wired up I wanted to tell her to 'go shove it', but she looked so innocent, all I could 'reluctantly' say was okay, dear.  My whole day was ruined.  I guess the 'devil was in the details.'

Really now!!!  How about giving thanks to the Good  Lord above that He was  in the details...

Lessons learned...

Have you been guilty on occasion mistakenly referring to God as one of those words or phrases spoken within those quotes above? Have you ever robbed God from receiving all the honor and all the praise for his goodness, protection and guidance? If so, just remember that God is merciful and forgiving. Memorize the scripture written in Malachi 3:8: “Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’ ” in tithes and offerings(1).

Note: (1) Yes, you may pay your tithes. But how faithful are you in sending up “Offerings” of thanksgiving to God for his provisions, protection and insight?

Scripture Lesson: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16

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

God Inhabits Our Adoration Especially By The Acronym “R-O-S-S”

On By tgifmastermindsIn Uncategorized2 Comments
This contains an image of: National Day of Prayer Preschool Theme

Repentance-Obedience-Submission-Sincerity

Have you ever wondered what do clasped hands pointing upward towards heaven have to do with God? Well according to several references from Google search, it has to do with an acronym I have penned…R-O-S-S.

However, needless to say, we have a higher authority than Google search…do we not? When the Patriarchs and holy men in the Bible prayed unto the God, they often spread out their hands towards heaven. And the wisest man in the Bible (King Solomon) went a step further; he also knelt on his knees (1 Kings 9:54).

So, at the close of the day, let us remember to posture ourselves in a position of repentance, obedience, submission and sincerity and call upon the Name of the Lord while doing so on bended knees.

And while you are at it, why not broaden your prayer to include the following: widows, orphans, homeless, calamity dispossessed victims, jobless, sick and shut-ins, governments world-wide, the lost, backsliders, friends far and near, relatives, loved ones, and most of all…pray for peace!

Why?…

“Because God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son, that who so ever believed on Him should not parish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

My prayer for you: Be blessed and enjoy the rest of the summer and every day there after.

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

God Speaks To Job Through James (Part Two)

On By tgifmastermindsIn How To Pray For Others, Prayers About God and Me, Prayers For Life Changes5 Comments
File:Book of Job Chapter 2-4 (Bible Illustrations by Sweet Media).jpg
Job refuses to concede to his contemporaries that he has forsaken God. Job concedes only to wait until his change comes from God.

TO ALL VISITORS TO THIS BLOG POST, PLEASE SCROLL BACKWARDS TO PART ONE OF “GOD SPEAKS TO JOB THROUGH JAMES” FOR AN INTRODUCTION TO PART TWO.

As promised, herein is Part Two of last week’s blog with the same title. I indicated in Part One that I had written this dialogue between myself and the Holy Spirit some years ago. And that so many revelations were flooding my heart that I had to implore my Lord to slow down and allow me to get a pad and pencil to write them down. Well, once again, in retelling this conversation to my readers, I feel the same excitement and power of the Holy Ghost. It is my prayer that as you read this inspiring message given to me from On High, you will experience the same revelations, too.

So, here goes…and I invite you to share your thoughts by contributing a comment and forwarding it to me.

“God Speaks To Job Through James“

MY BRETHERN, COUNT IT ALL JOY WHEN YOU FALL INTO VARIOUS TRAILS.                  James 1:2

          Job, I know you are not feeling well, but, do you recall when Eliphaz said,
           ...'Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; therefore do not despise
          the chastening of the Almighty'.                                                                                          Job 5:17

KNOWING THAT THE TESTING OF YOUR FAITH PRODUCES PATIENCE.                               James 1:3

          Well, Eliphaz said that after your calamity came upon you, you declared 
          that you wished you were dead, for you said, 'There the wicked ceased
          from troubling, and there the weary are at rest.'                                                                   Job 3:17

BUT LET PATIENCE HAVE IT'S PERFECT WORK, THAT YOU MAY BE PERFECT AND
COMPLETE, LACKING NOTHING.                                                                                                   James 1:4

          But from the very beginning, Job, you kept declaring how righteous you were
          and that there was no advantage to be gained if you were cleansed from
          your sin.                                                                                                                                              Job 35:3

          I was right there when you said, 'Though he slay me, yet will I trust him.  Even so,
          I will defend my own ways before him.'                                                                                     Job 13:15 

IF ANY OF YOU LACKS WISDOM, LET HIM ASK OF GOD, WHO GIVES TO ALL 
LIBERALLY AND WITHOUT REPROACH, AND IT WILL BE GIVEN TO HIM.                                James 1:5

          Honestly, Job, you should not have added that last part about maintaining
          your own ways, for you have spoken without knowledge and your words were
          without wisdom.                                                                                                                              Job 34:35

BUT LET HIM ASK IN FAITH, WITH NO DOUBTING, FOR HE WHO DOUBTS IS LIKE
A WAVE OF THE SEA DRIVEN AND TOSSED BY THE WIND.                                                    James 1:6

          Our true friend Elihu suggested the manner in which you should have
          prayed, remember...For has anyone said to God, 'I have borne chastening;
          I will offend no more; teach me what I do not see;'                                                      Job 35:31, 32a

BLESSED IS THE MAN WHO ENDURES TEMPTATION; FOR WHEN HE HAS BEEN
APPROVED, HE WILL RECEIVE THE CROWN OF LIFE WHICH THE LORD HAS 
PROMISED TO THIOSE WHO LOVE HIM.                                                                                      James 1:12

          Job, stop that...Do not desire the night.  For people that are in
          darkness are cut off.  Shhhh,...Lest he take you away with one blow.
          Then a Great Ransom (Jesus) cannot deliver you and you will not
          receive the crown of life.                                                                                               Job 36:20, 33:24b

SO, THEN, MY BELOVED BRETHREN, LET EVERY MAN BE SWIFT TO HEAR, 
SLOW TO SPEAK, SLOW TO WRATH;                                                                                             James 1:19

          Oh, good, Job!  You have calmed down.  You have repented to God
          by declaring...'Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer you?"  I lay my
          hand over my mouth.'                                                                                                                Job 40:4

THEREFORE, LAY ASIDE ALL FILTHINESS AND OVERFLOW OF WICKEDNESS,
AND RECEIVE WITH MEEKNESS THE IMPLANTED WORD, WHICH IS ABLE
TO SAVE YOUR SOULS.                                                                                                                   James 1:21

          Then Job answered the Lord and said:  'I know that you can do
           everything, and that no purpose of yours can be withheld from you.'                           Job 42:1-2

          Furthermore, I receive with all meekness the engrafted word.  For my
           own words were hollow without understanding and knowledge.

          Therefore, I have uttered what I did not understand, things too
          wonderful for me, which I did not know.'                                                                                  Job 42:3

IF ANYONE AMONG YOU THINKS HE IS RELIGIOUS, AND DOES NOT BRIDLE 
HIS TONGUE, BUT DECEIVES HIS OWN HEART, THIS ONE'S RELIGION IS USELESS.             James 1:26

          Oh, Job, how wonderful our God is!  For after you repented in dust and ashes
          and bridled your tongue and harnessed your deceitful thoughts, the Bible says,..
          And the Lord restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends.  Indeed the 
          Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.  Amen!                                                         Job 42:10

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

God Speaks To Job Through James (Part One)

On By tgifmastermindsIn UncategorizedLeave a comment
Job loved God above all else!
This Book of Job in the Bible depicts the greatest love story.

In my younger days, I participated in various Sunday School classes as a teacher and had the privilege to teach just about every age group. If I had to select which group was the most challenging, I would have to pick the young adult classes. Why this particular group? Well, the truth is the young adults hardly ever came to class prepared.

Also, the young mothers were constantly late for class because they had to deliver their little children to their respective Sunday School classes. The young men would dominate the discussion time with job-related situations, New Age commentary, sound-bite buzz words from popular television preachers and other personal life experiences that often had nothing to do with the subject at hand.

As we all know, there are great physical demands placed on the lives of our young people and a number of extra curricular activities are vying for their attention. Devoting time to study their Sunday School lessons was a low priority on their agendas. Once a student told me that because I was so well prepared as the teacher, she did not feel she had to study! This disturbed me greatly because I knew what the Bible said about studying…’to show yourself approved‘ (2 Timothy 2:15). I also knew what it said about teaching…’teachers will be judged more strictly‘ (James 3:1).

And further more, as a servant teacher called by God, I was under the holy job description written in 2 Timothy 2:24-26: “And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to every one, an apt teacher, forbearing, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant that they will repent and come to know the truth, and they may escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.“

So I had a little talk with the Holy Spirit…

Subsequently, I categorically began to pray for every member of that class. I asked God to deliver fresh blessings on their jobs, children, educational pursuits, finances, emotions, health, marriages and other personal relationships. I begged God to open their eyes and ears; to whet their appetites; to give them a hunger and thirst for his holy word. Soon, I discovered that praying was not enough. Strongholds needed to be broken down. That called for fasting as well as prayer!

The fruit of my labor began to unfold when we started to study the Book of Job. Because of the students’ weak foundation in the Old Testament and their difficulty in understanding God’s treatment of Job, I found myself defending the scriptures instead of teaching the scriptures. I was just about ready to ask the Sunday School superintendent for a transfer out of the class when the Holy Spirit spoke to me a second time. (This time more forcefully.…)

I was led to read the first chapter of the Book of James. There I began to discover the answers to Job’s predicament…and my own. Revelations were coming so fast until I had to ask God to please slow down and allow me a chance to get a pen and paper. Praise God!!! These divine messages needed to be immortalized. The litany, “God Speaks To Job Through James” was the result.

PLEASE TUNE IN NEXT FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2022, TO READ HOW CHAPTER ONE OF THE BOOK OF JAMES COMPLEMENTS THE ENTIRE BOOK OF JOB. IN THE MEAN TIME, PLEASE LISTEN TO THIS SONG BELOW.

English Christian Song | “Job’s Attitude Toward God’s Blessings”

https://www.youtube.com › watch

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

God Extends An Invitation To His Housewarming

On By tgifmastermindsIn God's Heavenly Hosts, Heaven Is For Real, Instruction on how to disciple others, Prayers About Biblical End Times2 Comments

I’m grateful that God sent me an invitation to his housewarming, but with all the airline plane delays, and cancellations, I wonder just how long it will take me to get there. I’m suppose to receive a crown.

The Holy Spirit spoke to me in an unusual way this week. At first I thought I was receiving messages to blog about the seventh day of creation called the Sabbath. For it is written, that was the day God “Rested” from all of his labors of creating the universe. But as I began to unpack this thesis, I soon realized that the Sabbath was not a day made for God to take his ease. But it was designed as an anointed time period (without end) for God’s people, who live in this world, to come to themselves and commence (on a daily basis) to live their lives as the following 3 bible scriptures proclaim and turn from their sins, so as not to be ruled by the snares of the evil one (Satan). In other words, the day that you repent and turn from your labor of sin and shame, that is your day of Sabbath. God’s ‘work’ was finished within 6 days and it was all good, so he took a day of rest (his Sabbath).

Luke 9:23 

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me (Jesus, God’s Son), let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

Matthew 19:21  

Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

Galatians 2:20 

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Those persons who Romans 12:2 talk about, who are also in the world that God created but have not conformed to his will and to his ways and whose hearts and minds have not been renewed and therefore they are refusing to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, they remain under the influences of the prince of this world (Satan).

IT’S PARTY TIME…

5 Categories Of Believers In Heaven Will Receive Crowns

My child, whenever you performed missionary duties that included talking about Jesus to someone who was not a Christian or who did not know Christ, your actions were often referred to as being a soul-winner. Did you know that there is a crown awaiting such servants in heaven known as The Crown of Rejoicing? (1 Thessalonians 2:19 KJV)

The Holy Spirit spoke again and reminded me of my recent doctor’s appointment I had earlier in the week. Do you recall the excitement your nurse attendant had as she related to you how obliging her patients had been all day as she shared her love for Christ. How she admitted that serving Jesus Christ was her true profession and how she longed to make heaven her eternal home. You see, my beloved, many people become so caught up in earthly activities that they forget that heaven is truly their home. The Crown of Righteousness is not for them. (2 Timothy 4:8 KJV)

Another category in which Jesus will award crowns is to all those believers who have kept the faith at the expense of loosing their own lives. It also includes those servants who suffered persecution and even temptation. They, most assuredly, will receive The Crown of Life. (James 1:12 and Revelations 2:10 KJV)

Sometimes even believers loose out on receiving their crown because of a lack of self-discipline. They don’t know when to say “No!” They get caught up in “the good things in life”, and forget about all God’s benefits. Only those who can exercise discipline will receive The Victor’s Crown. (1 Corinthians 9:25-27 KJV)

Finally, just to remind you of one of Jesus’ quotes in Matthew 9:37, where he said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” Let us not forget the crown that will be awarded to the faithful leaders of the churches: pastor’s, elder’s, deacons, Sunday School teachers, and various other ministry leaders. This group of followers of Christ will receive The Crown of Glory. (1 Peter 5:4 KJV)

CHECK YOUR MAILBOX FOR YOUR INVITATION…

The Lord says, My prayer invitation for you has already been signed, sealed and delivered by St. Francis of Assisi. Bring a copy of it with you when you come to My housewarming. It reads; “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.“

Scripture Lesson: “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them” (Matthew 6:31-32).

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