God’s Desire Is For Us To Know Him Intimately…So What’s In A Name?

“Please hold my hand, Lord. For I am a sinner, saved by Your grace! I yield!

Webster defines “conversation” as having an oral exchange of sentiments, observations, opinions, or ideas. So, what does it mean to know God intimately? Well, for me, I have come to realize that my conversations with God are very personal and private. Our relationship is one that allows us to laugh together, cry together, come to a mutual understanding especially after I have thought about the situation carefully and/or studied it prayerfully. The Holy Spirit has also made known to me my epitaph inscription; “In all thy getting, get an understanding”. (Proverbs 4:7b KJV)

Now I have a question for you…

Which would you rather have been given; a name at birth that distinguished you from other people, or a name at birth that referenced your inner most being?  I realize that’s a tough question because as we grow, our character changes.

Unlike the Native American societies, at birth, infants receive names that are descriptive that can be changed as they go through life, according to what their experiences and accomplishments are.  The vast nomenclatures for God are like that…or should I say ought to be like that as you grow more intimately in Him.

Your Christian walk and desires should be one of learning how to become more mature in grace and obedience because of a Wondrous working God.  Your prayer life could be strengthened every time you called on Him if you substituted the word “God” for one of His names (below) from Scripture that addressed your need.  Why?  Because we know with assurance, God has already shown himself worthy of that title. (Below are four examples of titles.)

“God of Heaven” “Prince of Peace” “Deliverer ” “Righteous One” ”
When prayingPray for waring nations,Pray for Kings,Praying for
for weatherPeople, Governments, andPresidents, AllJustice, Sinners,
(nature) conditions.Societies, etc.Leaders, Parents, andAll Knowledge, and
Care Givers.Jesus’ position as
the Son of God.
The Names above are to be used in prayer in place of God in order to take the focus off of yourself!

Now, perhaps you can answer my question…

Because most of us at birth were given names that merely distinguished us from other people, we are not recognized by any attainable goals or notable accomplishments. On the other hand, every time we call on the Name of the Lord in prayer by one of His descriptive Names in Scripture that actually addresses our needs, we can shout hallelujah because we know He is able, ready and willing to respond.

My prayer for you…

Dear Jehovah Jireh, my Provider and Maker of Heaven and Earth, we want to thank You very much for making us joyful and happy. We want to make our thoughts obedient to You, and in all things we sincerely ask that You help us to focus on all things that are beautiful and good and right so that our conversations and interactions with You will reflect Your peace and understanding. We ask these blessings in your Son’s Name, Jesus the Christ. Amen

Scripture Lesson: “Brothers (and Sisters), stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.” (1 Corinthians 14:20 NIV)

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

God’s  Five Favorite Recipes From His Pulitzer Prize Winning “Cook” Book

Here is a piece of trivia:  Human history records that in 1795 a French chemist invented a canning method for preserving food which was later used by Napoleon’s army.

BUT, did you know that eating is not just about satisfying hunger pains?

For Christians, “eating” should also be about consuming God’s Word.  Why?  Basically, because eating food and eating the Word are soul mates!

God created our bodies with mortal cell materials with a shelf life that will eventually expire.  Consequently, mankind’s life existence greatly depends upon how well he or she is ‘watching’ their diet.

Nutrients from both the food one eats and the Word one ingest provides the foundation for replenishing good cells for those bad cells that have expired.  Thus, restoring the structure, integrity and function of our body, skin, hair and muscles; in addition to regenerating the manifestation of the Shekinah glory that is revealed in our appearance as we ‘dine’ at the “Oh, Taste And See” restaurant with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

In Psalm 34:8, Our Maker invites us to:  “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him”.  (Unlike the followers of Napoleon  who took refuge in his army.)

To enlighten you further on what I am saying, I have taken the liberty of selecting just 5 of God’s favorite recipes from his award-winning cook book, the Bible.  If you are hungry for more, let me know by leaving a comment.

I will also leave it up to you to dust off your Grandmother’s favorite recipe book to stir up your most flavorful agricultural dish for physical nourishment.

Chef’s warnings:  See if you can discern which recipe below belongs in which category.

  1.  Too much of a good thing can be fattening.
  2.  Stealing food from God’s grocery store can be fatal.
  3. Not picking the right ingredients can cause spoilage and indigestion.
  4. Using a charge card instead of paying with cash can cause your bank account to be overdrawn.

                 Ba-Manna-Bread

Set oven to “OFF”.  No heat necessary.  This bread is rained down from the sky.  It is fashioned from the residue of the morning dew.  Make only enough for one meal at a time.  If it is not all eaten, it will melt.  After it is baked, it will appear white in color with coriander seed and taste like honey wafers.

 

Question:  What is the real name for this bread from heaven and in what Bible Book is it found?

 

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Angels preparing the dough for                               Ba-Manna-Bread

 Ex 16:4, 13, 14, 21, 31  Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you.  That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp.  When the dew was gone thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor.  Each morning everyone gathered as much as they needed and when the sun grew hot, it melted away. The people of Israel called the bread manna.  It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey.

                  Fried Fish Sticks

 

Go down to the Nearest River and catch some fish (people) with your mouth.  Place the fish on the rocks in the desert.  The heat from the sun will fry the fish.  (Ask them how’s their life been going lately.)  Be careful not to become over heated and succumb to a heat stroke (Don’t be almost persuaded to succumb to their foolishness.)  For then you might become a meal for the beasts.  (And you know where the beasts are located.)

Question:  What is the title of the great monster ruler in this recipe.  Which Book of the Prophets is it recorded. What idiom was assigned to him?

 

 

 

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Pharaoh king of Egypt and that great monster, fishing

Ezekiel 29:3b-5  You say, “The Nile belongs to me; I made it for myself.” 

But I, the Sovereign Lord says, I will put hooks in your jaws and make the fish of your streams stick to your scale.  I will pull you out from among your streams, with all the fish sticking to your scales.  I will leave you in the desert, you and all the fish of your streams.  You will fall on the open field and not be gathered or picked up.  I will give you as food to the beasts of the earth and the birds of the sky.

  

          Southern Pot-Roasted Quail

You will need cups of some east and south winds from Heaven’s grocery store.  Next, gather hundreds of the fallen feathered fowls that the winds blew in. The cooking aroma will delight the neighborhood. Prepare enough food for a number of greedy people.  Warn the obese ones to chew their food thoroughly lest they choke.  Needless to say, you may still have to call EMS….Emergency Missionary Services.

Question:  Where were the people when this “picnic” takes place.  Was this a family reunion or a “divine ruse”.

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Quail birds flying in from the southeast 

Psalm 78:26-33  He (God) caused an east wind to blow in the heaven; and by his power he brought in the south wind.  He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea.  And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations; they were not estranged from their lust.  But while their meat was yet in their mouths, the wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.

             How to Can Preserves/Jams

Discretely assemble 6 glass canning jars with pressure lids and rings. Place uprightly on the stove a large pot filled with water that will cover the jars by 2 inches.

To insure the integrity of the glass jars when filled with the hot jam mixture, allow the empty jars only (not the lids and rings) to simmer in the hot water until ready to be filled.

Preserves and Jams should only be made with fresh fruits and in small batches, about 6 cups at a time, so that contamination wont set in.  Faithfully, assemble all of your other cooking utensils and ingredients.

With a potato masher, mercifully crush up the fruit when making jams.  However, leave the fruit whole if making preserves.

The principal thing is to truthfully follow the recipe exactly, especially when adding the sugar and pactin, a preservative.  This is the key to canning perfect preserves and jams when using God’s recipes.

When you serve the preserves and jams, lovingly remind the people that they really are what they eat!

Blog God's recipes red jam.jpg 

(Pretend like this is a ‘clay’ jar sitting on The Potter’s wheel.”)

Proverbs 2:11  Discretion shall preserve thee.

Proverbs 20:28 Mercy and truth preserve the king:  and his throne is upholden by mercy. 

Psalm 25:21 My integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for thee.  

Psalm 40:11 Do not thou, O Lord, withhold thy mercy from me, let thy steadfast love and thy faithfulness ever preserve me!

 Question:  What does Proverbs 4:7 say is the key thing to get that will preserve you?
           Lake Fish Sovereign Bank

Making a withdrawal from a bank is easy.  First, you must not forget to have with you your identification and/or your pass word, and your bank account number. 

 In todays world, banking God’s way can be done from just about anywhere, any location or vintage point.   Namely, at a brick and mortar building, an electronic device, a computer, a merchant, a Tilly-the-teller, or from a good resourceful friend. 

 What you may not know is there is a secret place where a person can withdraw money.   The name of this recipe is the bank named in the title. 

 Get the name of your nearest stocked lake.  (That’s the group of non-believing family members and friends.)

Borrow your little brother’s fishing rod.  (That’s his Children’s Bible.)

Pick up some bait.  (That’s your faith.)

Head to the lake and catch some fish.  (That’s when you start enlightening folks about God’s Word.)

Open its mouth and retrieve the cash.  (That’s when you shout hallelujah and when they shout, Lord, I yield. Help my unbelief.) 

Blog God's recipes Pink Piggy bank Coins.jpg

Jesus said to retrieve the coin from a fish not a pig! 

Matthew 17:27  “…go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money:  that take and give unto them for me and thee.”

Question:  Do you know the difference between a fish and a pig?  What two men  are having this conversation?

Scripture Lesson:    Jesus answered, “It is written (Deut. 8:3):  Man shall not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4

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

God Speaks While We Muse…Our Thoughts Matter!

Speak, Lord. Thou servant is listening.

What an odd thought, I said to myself.  Where did that come from? I know what ‘muse’ means, Lord.  What is it You want to converse with me about this evening?

Don’t you know, my child, that I can read your thoughts, was His reply.  I can also feel your pain and sadness.  Yes, I see what is going on down there on earth with an all-seeing eye.  And, yes, it’s very sad and alarming to the masses.

Dear readers, before I begin to write my blog for this week, please allow me to define for you the meaning of the word ‘muse’.  The dictionary defines this word as; to turn something over and over in the mind meditatively and often inconclusively.  To wonder or marvel over a situation.

For months, now, I have been praying about the devastating wake of Covid-19.  And now, because of the unlawful assault on the Capitol Building in the USA seat of government, Washington, DC., I have piled on a new situation of burden bearing in my heart and in my psyche.

As I sat in my office chair, holding my head in my hands, I felt the Holy Spirit’s breath of comfort envelop me.  Hold on, He whispered.  Communicate with a prayer for understanding, for your musings are resounding loud and clear up here in Glory.

So, after a few seconds I began praying…

Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for just being You.  I praise You for being Omnipotent…all knowing and all caring.  I praise You for sending the Holy Spirit to comfort us and to lead us onto the right path.  In my search for peace, Lord, in the days ahead, may You allow Your relentless and abundant love to envelope me and lift me out of this deep despair.  

As the coronavirus mutates, and people become more cruel and more careless and more opinionated, may You become just that much more loving and discerning towards your people. Teach me and my fellowman, Oh Lord, to become more dependent on You, and open up our understanding of Your ways, so that our faith may increase as despair creeps in. 

Bless me, Lord Jesus, so that my mouth and heart speak with precision; so that I might pray with power and conviction.   And above all, to stand with courage and in hope.  For I know, now, that my meager life and thoughts do matter to You and that You hear and answer my prayers.   I pray this prayer in the precious Name of Jesus…Amen and Amen.

Scripture Lesson:  “When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness.”  Proverbs 31:26  

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

Note: While on vacation, The author of “Conversations” has re-blogged one of her old blog messages for your review.

God Provides Innovative Ways To Spread The Gospel

Blog God provides innovative ways dollar bill 2
Blog dollar bill back side

 The U.S. Dollar is the most powerful currency in the world

Who doesn’t love money?  Who, in their life time, will not handle or spend money?  Who hasn’t talked about, invested, lost, earned, saved, deposited, exchanged, buried or stole money?  Need I say…Nobody or Everybody!!

Well, who would have thought that God would use the design of the American dollar bill to make it possible to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”  Romans 8:28

God did this by first using the intellect of the founding fathers of this nation to commission the design for the Great Seal of America.  As you may know, the Great Seal has infused within its design many magical symbols.  Some historians and others believe that the reasoning for this was because several members of the founding fathers were Freemasons (or of similar persuasions) and subscribed to this school of thought.

Great Seal of the United States (obverse).svg

The Great Seal of the United States:  Front and Back Imprints

But I believe that because the Great Seal of America was used as a pattern to design the dollar bill some centuries later, the tradition of using magical symbols to depict the destiny of America was incorporated.  And that’s where God stepped in.

Blog Dollar Sign

First, let’s examine the official symbol for the dollar.  As you converse with others about the Good News, your reference comes from Numbers, chapter 21 in the Bible.  The Israelites who began to speak against God were severely punished.  God sent fiery serpents to bit them.  Then God instructed Moses to make a fiery serpent image and place it on a pole.  Anyone who looked upon the pole would be cured.  Later, the design reference for the official symbol for the dollar, included the fact that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, was placed on a pole and all those who looked upon Him would receive eternal life.

Next, notice the Greek alphabet letter above which means “Omega”…in Christianity it means the end of things.  God is the beginning and ending (Alpha and Omega) of things.  God alone holds the past, present and future for the American nation…NOT George Washington.  Please note that it is Ole George’s portrait that is placed within the image of the Omega alphabet sign on the face of the dollar bill.

On the reverse side of the dollar bill there are 7 words written beneath the two roundels (circles):  “The Great Seal…Of The United States.”  Also, the English word ‘One’ appears 6 times and 1 time in Latin (unum, on the eagle’s upper wing) for a total of 7.  And as you know, the number seven is held extremely sacred in the Christian religion.  Seven denotes the completion and triumph of Spirit (3) over matter (4).

By now, I hope you are experiencing  the joy and excitement one can receive when holding a dollar bill and explaining it’s origin and design to a wayward traveler, family member of friend.  For me, I just want to shout the written words, “In God We Trust”, after I carryout this godly assignment of conversing with Him and others.

The last bit of information I want to leave with you is for you to take a look at the unfinished pyramid.  Examine it closely with a magnifying glass.  Not only is it unfinished, but there is famine vegetation growth in front and plenteousness vegetation at the rear.  This represents the present state of the world now.  And feast and famine will continue to reign until the return of Christ Jesus…the ‘all seeing’ Eye within the tip of the pyramid.

There are many more signs and symbols depicted on the face of the American dollar bill, but those explanations will have to wait until another blog post.  Research and explore the dollar bill for yourself…you just might learn something and be blessed as you have your own conversations with God using Scripture.

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Plant seeds by using innovative ways to spread the Good News!

Scripture Lesson:  Preach the word of God; be prepared in season and out of season; rebuke and encourage–with great patience and careful instructions.  2 Timothy 4:2

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

God Calls All Of Us…But Will We Answer?

Have you availed yourself to the Almighty? Have you proclaimed, ‘Here I am, Lord, send me?’

From the beginning, God has a call on all our lives. He sought me out from birth. I know this because I asked Him. One evening through prayer, I was led to claim His words that say “…and you shall be called Sought Out.” (Isaiah 62:12a) This name was capitalized right there on the page of the Bible. And I claimed it!

Although God called me at an early age, like most of you, I turned a deaf ear to His voice. I allowed the voices of Mr. and Mrs. Excuse, Aunt and Uncle Procrastination, and my favorite cousin, Self-willed Willie to have control over my life. They took turns distorting my hearing, understanding, mind, heart, time, talents and my treasures. Enough, all ready!

Are you listening to gossip, back-biting, false accusations, lies, and malicious conversations?

If the truth was told, we all have bodies that come designed with a myriad of voices. Did you know that your persona reflects which voice you are listening to at any given time in your life? At present (and I hope from this point forward), my persona reflects a contented sheep because the voice I am listening to is that of the Shepherd.

So, when I came to myself, I repented and prayerfully asked the Lord to forgive me for procrastinating in compiling my thoughts into a book that I have penned, entitled “Conversations With God Using Scriptures, Telling It Like It Is”. I have also thanked Him for silencing every negative voice that previously had dominion over me. For I once was young but now I am in my senior years and am privileged to see just Who it was that rescued me from the snares of life. Thank God for those of you whose eyes were opened in your youth.

But no matter what your age, begin seeking Him today. Start recognizing the extraordinary methods of operation He is performing in your lives. In my situation, He turned my personal Bible study quiet time into an interactive, stimulating and intimate conversational time with Him.

Always remember that God is calling you twenty-four hours a day; seven days a week; and 365 days a year! It is your choice to mentally leave your domain, your comfort zone, your place of many voices, and answer His call. He is the One with the still small voice. He is the Comforter. When you are ready to obey and yield, just say, “Speak Lord, thy servant is listening.”

My prayer for you…

Dear Heavenly Father, Master of the universe, we are so sorry that we constantly worry about the negative things that are happening at the moment in the world and, yes, in our own lives, too. We thank You that the hard times that we experience cause us to hear Your voice. We now want to open our lives to you and to turn away from voices spreading false hope. Please help us to look away from the reigning crime and violence and wholeheartedly surrender our lives to You with the certain knowledge that You will care for us individually and collectively for the rest of our lives. We humbly ask that you, Lord, also still those negative voices that fill our heads with doubts and fears. And we all promise that with the help of the Holy Spirit we will listen for Your call and proclaim like little Samuel and the prophet Isaiah. We will answer and say: “Here I am, Lord, send me”. Amen!

Scripture Lesson: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine”. Isaiah 43:1

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