Author: Sonja

Child of the King; Christian WP Blogger; Grandmother or five; retired 55 years; Property Landlord; Buckner International missionary for 10 years; struggling unpublished memoirs writer of non-fiction personal life events!

God’s Greatest Christmas Gift For Humanity

On By SonjaIn Uncategorized5 Comments
2:00NOW PLAYINGAway in a Manger with Lyrics | Christmas Carol & SongChristmas Songs and Carols – Love to Sing12M views

God’s greatest gift to humanity is L-O-V-E!!! And ‘Love’ by any other name is JESUS CHRIST!!!

How can you become a recipient of this Gift?…

Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” John 4:10 (Explanation: This verse emphasizes God’s grace through Christ. Jesus gave his life and gave it freely.)

Also…

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38

This Gift is to be shared…

I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong–that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.

What makes God’s Gift so special?…

But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many (mankind) died by the trespass of the one man (Adam), how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!

So, I reiterate once again…God’s greatest gift to humanity is L-O-V-E!!! And ‘Love’ by any other name is JESUS CHRIST!!!

MY PRAYER FOR YOU AND ALL OF MANKIND IS THIS…

Dear Holy and Everlasting Father, may every good and gracious gift given or received this Christmas be infused with steadfast faith, sincere hope and undying love that flows from heart to heart and from breast to breast. For it is by Your grace, heavenly Father, who gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish BUT have eternal life. Amen and Amen.

Scripture Lesson: “Now to Him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey Him”. Romans 16:25-26

“The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel” – which means, “God with us.” Matthew 1:23

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

God Allows Everyone An Opportunity To Reconcile

On By SonjaIn How To Pray For Others, Prayers For Forgiveness, Scriptures for Reconcilation7 Comments

                    

“Be ye Reconciled especially during this Christmas Season”

Let’s bow our heads in a formal word of prayer to Our Father Who is in Heaven before we start expounding on why we should all take advantage of opportunities to be reconciled to one another.

“Dear Heavenly Father, our fervent prayers today are being sent up to You, imploring You to make true reconciliation possible between all ethnic groups in the world and that this reconciliation will definitely endure so that Your everlasting peace will once again rule in the hearts of men.  Amen.

First off, let’s all admit that there have been moments in our lives where we have caused dissention, disagreement, discourse, defeat, discouragement, disbandment, and dissatisfaction, etc., etc., etc., to someone else.  But nevertheless, since those midlife encounters, we have neither looked back to examine our ‘triumphs’ nor repented if and/or when your conscious prompted you to do so.  (I’m not just preaching to the choir, I’m talking about myself, too.)

May I suggest, that during this sacred time of giving gifts known as the Christmas Season, you give Christ Jesus a gift of reconciliation (since, after all, it is HIS birthday and not ours).  We can physically type or write a letter of remorse for a wrong committed to someone that you will name in the letter.  Put down in writing the very words you want to say to that person you harmed that would be pleasing to God and that would free you from your stains of guilt.

Below are a few Bible verses expressing Self-remorse:

“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Colossians 3:13
“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,…”  Acts 3:19
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”  Ephesians 4:32
“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”  Hebrews 12:14
 “..leave your gift there in front of the altar.  First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.”  Matthews 5:24
 For if their rejection brought reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?  Romans 11:15
“ All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:  that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.  And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.  We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God was making his appeal through us.  We implore you on Christ’s behalf:  Be reconciled to God.  God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”  2 Corinthians 5:18-21

A true story…

Many years ago, while teaching some clergy members, Sunday School teachers, and many other adults in a remote South Africa city called Kafue, outside of Lusaka, my lesson was taken from Matthews 5:24. I was speaking on reconciliation because since 1995, most South Africans (white and Black) annually celebrate December 16 as a special holiday called Day of Reconciliation or Day of The Vow which was the year Apartheid ended.

Although I was teaching the class in English, I had an African interpreter and translator. Seemingly, my teaching was upsetting an older sage/teacher in the audience. He had been accompanied to the class by a younger male relative who was frantically trying to calm him down. I finally had to stop teaching and I asked my interpreter to go over and ask the gentleman what was disturbing him. The translator reported that the gentleman was at a loss as to how to reconcile with his neighbor as to the atrocity he had committed against him, since he had ate ‘it’. Needing clarification, I went over to the young man and asked him to please get a better understanding from his grandfather. Finally, the young man reported to me and the class that his grandfather (who had tears in his eyes) had reported that he had stolen some chickens from his neighbor and had fed them to his family. Since he had now consumed all the meat, how could he right the wrong he had committed against his neighbor.

Boy, oh boy, I found myself speechless. So I sent up a quick prayer to Heaven and instantly the Holy Spirit spoke to me and said, “Tell the ole gentleman that the Lord sees his heart and all is forgiven.” Hallelujah! The Lord paid it all! The young man repeated my blessing from on High and the whole class shouted with joy and broke out in singing!!!

To Be Reconciled With God…What a Time…What a Time!!

Scripture Lesson: “May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1st Thessalonians 5:23

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

God Wants Your Thankfulness

On By SonjaIn Uncategorized6 Comments
Give thanks both in season and out of season.

Tell me something.  How do you come to the throne of Grace?  Are you on bended knee?  Is it during your meditation time?  Could it be only when you experience glad tidings?  Or are you one of those persons who only call on God when in a sarcastic mannerism (and forgive me for this expression) …when all hell breaks loose?

I’m serious!!!

Check yourself!!!

Be honest!!!

God’s Word says in 1st Thessalonians 5:18: “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

So, what in the world did the Apostle Paul mean when he admonished the Thessalonians to be thankful in everything.  OOPS! Did you get that?  Go back and read it again.  The scripture says to give thanks IN everything…NOT…give thanks FOR everything.  So, yes, you are allowed to give thanks when all hell breaks loose.  That’s because sometimes mankind is so stubborn that God must make a donkey (I would rather use the euphemism for ‘donkey’, but this is a family-rated blog) speak to our willfulness.  (See Numbers 22:28-39.)

The Apostle Paul was saying that things could be worse.  That life is full of ups and downs.  But God is with us through it all.  I’m a witness to that very truth.  Once when I had to make a choice to either pay my monthly tithes to my church or to use the money to finance my next mission trip abroad, reluctantly I paid my tithes and unpacked my suitcase.  To my surprise, several members in the congregation who had funded some of my mission trips in the past, heard that I was not going on my next trip due to lack of finances, and they miraculously provided all the money I needed to make the journey to St Petersburg, Russia.

But that’s not the end of the story.  While in Russia, all hell broke loose.   I lost my wallet; fell down some unevenly constructed stairs, twice; made an awkward comment and displayed photos of my newly built church building in the USA to a Russian pastor who held his church under a bridge and who commented…what a waste… (he was referencing the expenses used on a building rather than in helping the poor and needy).  Bad scenes all around!  I should have stayed in bed!

But then, hope arrived!

Later, I realized how my actions and mishaps were drawing attention away from why my team had come to Russia in the first place.  We had come to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ and to extend compassion, love and supplies to the administrators and children at the orphan homes there that our USA organization supported.  I prayed for forgiveness for drawing attention to myself and asked God to temper my fate and order my steps in his service.  I ended my prayer by offering thanksgivings in knowing that all things work together for good to then that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.  (Romans 8:28)

Hope floats!

My wallet was recovered.  It had fallen under my bed in my hotel and the housekeeper placed it on the nightstand in tack.  I learned not to display pictures of prosperity to those less fortunate while on mission trips.  I grew in grace, humility and strength while serving in this capacity.  I learned that we can be thankful in prosperity as well as adversity.  I realized that I had no reason to blame God or anyone else for my actions.  Knowing that Jesus Christ has reconciled us to God in everything.  And for that, I can rejoice.

The misunderstanding comes in those two words:  Give thanks IN everything vs. FOR everything.  So, my prayer for all my readers is that the Holy Spirit will make it possible for everyone to be thankful in all things.  Knowing that we will only be able to do this if our gratitude is anchored in You.  Amen and Amen!

Grateful…Grateful…Grateful…

Scripture Lesson: “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 5:19-20).

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

 

God’s Goodwill Was Purchased For You

On By SonjaIn God's Heavenly Hosts, How To Pray For Others, Prayers For Life Changes, Prayers For Spiritual Growth4 Comments
God’s display of goodwill was the epitome of eternal life.

Did you know that December 26th, the day after Christmas, is celebrated annually by South African citizens, in a more godly show of compassion than American citizens celebrate December 25th, Christmas Day. The South Africans use the 26th as a day of recovery from over indulging in holiday festivities. This Day of Goodwill was declared a holiday in 1994 by Nelson Mandela after he was elected the President of South Africa.

I became apprised of this information one day this week as I sat at my computer and prayed to the Holy Spirit to put into my psyche the subject matter for this week’s blog. I immediately was directed to focus on the word ‘angels’. What’s that (?), my Lord. What’s angels got to do with anything, I thought. The awareness of the presence of the Lord flooded my total being. Have you not considered, my child, the vast amount of preparation the Heavenly Hosts performed to bring about the Goodwill Gift My Father gave the world which is celebrated by earthlings on December 25th? That he so loved the world that he gave his only Begotten Son…

My Father acted out of compassion and the Heavenly Hosts acted out of obedience and the South Africans, under the anointing of the Holy Spirit residing in Nelson Mandela, acted out of goodwill to set aside a special day to think about the needy, the lost and the forgotten. To give back to society and not just their own families and loved ones. On the Day of Goodwill, South Africans sincerely distinguish themselves by giving back to society. These peoples’ giving can be attributed to their willingness to celebrate the birth of God’s Son by forgetting about their own wants and focusing on the needs of their fellowman.

Oh, thank you Holy Spirit for once again pointing me in the right direction. As you were sharing with me, I was thinking about those Heavenly Angels and their preparatory assignment, getting the world ready for the Coming King. I immediately started dissecting the word ‘angels’ and came up with 22 words with 3 or more letters.

Slang
Sage
Seal
Snag
Sea
Sale
Sane
Slag
Sang		Gale
Glean
Gas
Gal		Leg
Lag
Lane
Lean		Age
Angel
Ale
Angle		Nag

Here is what I decided to do with this list. Since goodwill means acting out of compassion instead of selfishness, by means of meditation, I have decided to use the remaining days in December to wrap a prayer around each of the 22 words and apply a Holy Scripture as the bases of each prayer. This will keep me focused on the actual reason for the season and to be thankful and grateful for the Angels of God who remained at their posts until the Blessed Event was born.

For example, below is the scripture I have chosen to formulate my prayer for the word ‘slang’. For I will use slang if necessary to introduce someone to Christ with a limited vocabulary.

“For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.” (1 Corinthians 9:19-23)

I invite you to join me in prayer to help you keep your heart and mind on whatsoever things are lovely concerning this Christmas season. Or you may consider other ways to participate in celebrating December 26th and dispensing goodwill towards others such as:

  • Boxing up everything you don’t need and giving it away
  • Make a sizable donation to a charity that helps the poor
  • Give away leftover food and unwanted gifts
  • Host a meal for the poor or homeless
  • Give back to society by volunteering with a local organization
  • Think about the word goodwill and how you can apply it to your life
Try it…You might like it!

Scripture Lesson: “If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.” (Isaiah 58:10)

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

God Desires To Optimize Your Potential

On By SonjaIn Uncategorized5 Comments

America just finished celebrating a traditional holiday called Thanksgiving.  And no doubt, millions of households opened their doors to family, friends, relatives, and strangers to gather around a delicious meal and To engage in wholesome entertainment to give thanks and praises to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

I should also mention that this annual national holiday is celebrated in Canada, too.  And the Canadians’ jubilance is the same as ours…eat, drink and be happy.  For both countries are setting aside time to revisit the abundant harvest and other blessings of the year gone by.

But did you know that consuming the traditional meal of turkey meat has acquired a false but bad reputation.  Oh, Yeah!  I believe it has something to do with ‘tryptophan’, an amino acid in the body that causes a person to become sleepy.  Take a listen to this two-minute video that explains everything.  You just might learn something.  I did.

Now that you’re back, let’s examine what you have just learned on Youtube and compare it to something God offers called ‘amino-Spirit‘, that after you consume it, it wakes people up, not put people to sleep!

In the Book of Acts 2:1-13, there is an event retold by Luke, the companion of Paul, that did just that. This Event woke people up. Luke enlightens us with a story that there was a group of God-fearing Jews from every nation assembled in the temple area on the Day of Pentecost in Jerusalem. They, too, were gathered to dine and to give thanks to God, when suddenly a violent Breath of wind came rushing in and shook the rafters of that place. We read where those people’s lives were so radically changed that they were awakened to a new lease on life and they were never the same thereafter. They could not blame their diet of eating turkey and drinking wine that made them drowsy, because it was an infusion of the newly dispensed Holy Spirit!

“All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” (Acts 2:4)

On the contrary. Peter was so energized by this experience that though he was timid and afraid at first to acknowledge that he was a follower of Christ, he began to preach his head off and delivered a powerful sermon to the crowd that inspired more than 3,000 new souls to be added to the Way’s number. No, my beloveds, those in attendance were not gluttons and winebibbers, they were our ancestors laying the foundation for the celebration of our modern day Thanksgiving Day, which was further instituted by the Pilgrims in November 1621 and our Native American allies, including the Wampanoag Indian chief Massasoit.

I'm thankful for this Thanksgiving day!
Are you?

So, as you can see, the Holy Spirit not only changed Peter’s life, He has also dramatically changed the lives of many of us Born Again Saints. We have no excuse for not going into the highways and byways to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The One who has done so much for us and our loved ones. If we could just allow the Holy Spirit to change our lives, we would be a tremendous asset to the Kingdom of God.

My prayer for you is if the Holy Spirit has not brought a dramatic change in your life so far, just Ask and you, too, shall receive…Seek and you shall find…Knock and the door shall be opened unto you. I truly thank God for opening that door for me to come in and he certainly changed my life for the better. And I am confident he will do the same for you. So, now you understand why God desires to optimize your potential.

Scripture Lesson: “Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Pray also for me, that whenever I open mu mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel (Ephesians 6:18-19).“

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

God’s Supreme Invitation

On By SonjaIn God Father, Prayers For Spiritual Growth, Prayers For Understanding4 Comments
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me;…

As the Holy Spirit guides me into becoming more and more acquainted with the awesomeness of God and his Beloved Son Jesus Christ, I confess that this whole religious experience enthralls me to dig deeper and deeper.  And it is no surprise to me that my search for Truths concerning the mysteries of God are being manifested and are becoming more apparent for me to understand. Hallelujah!

I call your attention to a scripture that in the past, I have stumbled over time and time again.  It reads: “The LORD says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” Psalms 110:1 and Matthews 44:22

Now I know that most of you guys out there are way ahead of me and have interpreted your own understanding about this verse, but I was confused as to who was Who…until now!

First, David wrote the above words in a Psalms, then Jesus recited those words in the New Testament.  As I prayed about those words and their meaning as to the identity of LORD and Lord, a light bulb went on.  And I stumbled in the darkness no longer. For many years, I reasoned that JESUS was the LORD and King David was Lord. 

W_R_O_N_G ! !

The first LORD refers to God in heaven.  The second Lord refers to Jesus who at this time still resides in heaven conversing with His Father.  (Jesus is not yet the Christ.  It is prior to the time for Jesus to be born of a Virgin and enter the physical world.)  The time is…In the beginning…Genesis 1:26

Let’s examine Psalms 110:1 under the supreme invitation of another godly scripture brought to my consciousness by the Holy Spirit: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart:  and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30.

God’s (LORD) yoke (the harness on his shoulders) is the weight of a sinful worldview under the influence of a Satanic spirit (who had just lost his position in heaven) which is now destined to infiltrate every human being born under the sun. And God is speaking to his Son (Lord) who is Lord over all things created.  Evidently, God’s Son, Jesus, is anxious to get on the J-O-B, (that was me thinking out loud) but God restrains Jesus and says…No Son, not yet (that’s me again)…Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies (false teachers, nonbelievers, whore Mongols, evil spirits, etc.,) a footstool for your feet.”

That’s all folks!!!

That’s my message for this week’s blog.  Let’s all dig a little deeper in the Word of God.  Just maybe he will reveal his motive for blanketing this world-wide pandemic on us all.  Just maybe with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can get our act together and become better followers of Jesus Christ.

What say you????

Scripture Lesson:  “All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and He to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him.  Matthew 11:27-28

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

God’s Sovereignty Over All Things

On By SonjaIn How To Pray For Others, Prayers For Life Changes, Prayers For New Beginnings9 Comments
I can’t take it any more!

This week I am studying the Book of Job with my 6:00 a.m. Bible Study Group.  And what an eye opener the under lying chapters have been!  If you are familiar with this Old Testament book, you know that Job was afflicted with body sores, and he lost all his wealth, family, livestock, and servants because of a Spiritual battle between God and Satan.  Even after all this devastation, his wife condemned him, too.

The reason for me to categorize this book as an eye opener is simply because as I examine my own life over these past years, I now realize that I have encountered many family members, friends, strangers, and associates that have expressed to me similar experiences that they have gone through that were like Job’s.  Of course, at the time, these people did not realize that they were paralleling a story from the Holy Bible, nor did I, at the time, connect the dots.

But two weeks ago, all of what I had been living through during those past few years when counseling others on this matter, came home to roost.  Without betraying a confidence, let me try to explain what happened.  A new friend of mine engaged me in an unsolicited conversation about my (…and I am quoting her) calm mannerism, quiet disposition, patience personified (because I love to work puzzles endlessly), always displaying an inviting smile and willingness to listen to everyone’s problems.  She went on to say that she wished that she, too, had some of those qualities.  But in continuing her assessment, she confided that she just can’t take it any more. She feels she has succumbed to life’s struggles. What is more, she has begun to take out her frustrations on others by speaking harshly to them and sometimes even hurling insults at herself and calling herself stupid and other bad names.

Oh, how her words pierced my heart, spirit, and soul.  And I wanted to take her in my arms to comfort her.  But I did not.  Instead, I gave her my undivided attention and began to speak softly to her with encouraging words.  I did not quote any scriptures or point her to our Lord because I did not…. know to whom I was dealing with.  And furthermore, we were in a public place where other people were now noticing us.  I did, however, get her to compose herself and offered up a quick prayer for reassurance.  We parted understanding that we would continue our discussion at another time.

Now, fast forward to the Book of Job! 

This week, as my bible study group came to Job chapters 6 and 7, I began to see my distraught friend in the life of Job.  These 2 chapters voice a bonified complaint by Job against God about life in general.  In his torment, Job is indicting God’s dealings with mankind.  Job is unaware that he was a pawn in a spiritual warfare conflict between God and Satan. So now you see why I could not engage my friend in a conversation about God’s sovereignty when she already seemed confused about why such a good God inflicts such misery on mere mortals.

Now that the Holy Spirit has heard my cries through prayers and supplications on her behalf, and has given me the examples and solutions experienced by Job’s predicament, I am better equipped to minister to her.  Please pray that the infusion and comfort of the Holy Spirit will be with me as I continue ministering to her and that she will profess her allegiance to the Holy One’ wisdom and her dependence, through faith, on the One who cares.

Dear Heavenly Father, I sincerely praise You for the weapon of the sword of the Spirit. For He points me to my Bible which I can use to resist all the attacks of the Evil One. Knowing that with your Word, it will bring about victory for all those who use it as a weapon to fight spiritual wars. Amen and Amen.

Scripture Lesson: “Remember Your word to Your servant, for You have given me hope. My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.” Psalm 119:49-50

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

God Invented Childhood Games…Do You Engage?

On By SonjaIn Prayers About God and Me, Prayers For Life Changes, Prayers For Understanding5 Comments
Free photo
A family that plays together stays together! So, why not include your Imaginary Friend?

Many, many, many years ago when I was a little girl, my Daddy used to play a game with me.  And I knew exactly the time he was ready to play our special game by the way he approached me.  His clues were if he approached me slightly bent over, slowly taking giant steps, wearing a great big smile on his face, and looking me straight in the eyes, that was my clue to stand up straight, with my hands at my side and wait.

The closer he got to me the more his right arm would raise up with his first finger pointing towards my forehead.   Then he would gently tap my forehead and say, ‘I live up here…’ next he would run his finger down the middle of my face, neck and chest and poke my stomach and say, ‘You live down here…’ next he would race his finger back the way it came down and say, ‘Come up and see me sometime.’  Then he would pick me up, twirl me around and around and belt out a hearty laugh.  Afterwards, he would put me down, swat me on the butt and say, ‘Now go play, Snooky, Daddy’s got to go to work.’

Snooky was my nickname.  Daddy gave all his 5 children nicknames.  My two sisters were Pheedie, and Cottontop.  My two brothers were Headquarters and Duffy.  And I was Snooky.

Oh, did I feel special whenever I played that game with my Dad.  Oh, did I feel loved.  Oh, did I know that my Daddy was the greatest person on God’s green earth!!!  And anybody who doubted that and challenged my assessment of him got a bloody noise.

OUR HEAVENLY FATHER KNOWS HOW TO PLAY CHILDHOOD GAMES, TOO!

Today I listened to one of my neighbors (I’ll call her Bea) as she described a foolish situation that she carried out after first being warned to reconsider it.  Bea decided after her breakfast that she would walk four blocks to the drug store to purchase some items.  She peeked outside and noticed that it was very cloudy.  Her Imaginary Friend whispered in her ear and told her to put on a sweater and take her umbrella.  

Bea said to herself, ‘Oh, I won’t be long, and I’ll be back before it rains.’  So out the door she went.  Just as she had completed walking the third block, she heard a loud thunderclap and instantly felt a down pouring of rain.  At the corner was a Quick Stop gas station and she horridly ran inside.  Now what am I going to do? she asked Imaginary friend.  Complete silence.  I should have listened to my first thought, she whispered to herself.

Where Did Bea Go Wrong?

Bea’s first thought was not her own.  It was her Imaginary Friend’s guidance.  What Bea and a lot of other people don’t realize is that a person’s first thoughts about a decision is their purest thought or their most ‘godly’ thought.  And the Imaginary Friend is the Holy Spirit!  Jesus said in Hebrews 13:5 that He would never leave or forsake us…not even in our play time.  Most conversations that commence in one’s head after the initial thought are the individual’s ‘worldly’ thoughts and ideas.  Several Believers trust themselves more than they trust the Heavenly Father!

I trusted my Daddy…Why?…Because He lives up here and I leave down there, and he invites me to come up to see him sometimes.

If only we could think of our Imaginary Friend as our Heavenly Father and follow His advice instead of interjecting our own worldly thoughts, we would be on the road to living a more fulfilling life.   We would be equipped to send up more praises and accolades to Christ Jesus.  We would be much more appreciative of how He guides and protects us every day.  We could allow our petitions and supplications to shape our worries and cares in our prayer lives.  That way, we would be wholly dependent on God.

The main reason why you should trust God is written below:

Quote about trusting God.
So, raise your feet and remove the rope’s knot. Then take a walk along the beach with God. You’ll find that there is only one set of foot prints in the sand.

Scripture Lesson: “Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.'” Matthew 19:14

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

God Instilled Hope In A Desperate Situation

On By SonjaIn God's Heavenly Hosts, How To Pray For Others12 Comments

Image result for what was the name of the witch in the wizard of oz
The wicked witch of the West, Evillene

In the classic 1939 movie entitled, “The Wizard of Oz”, there is a famous line spoken by Evillene, the wicked witch of the West, that I am sure you have heard before. And I quote: “Don’t nobody bring me no bad news!”

Well, today, I wished I had posted that warning message on my door post because I received the most troubling news that sorely pieced my heart through and through. I received a phone call that a younger sibling of mine was diagnosed with leukemia.  I was devastated by this pronouncement and immediately sought spiritual comfort and guidance from the Holy Spirit. Instantly, I began to receive peace and reassurance that the Lord was with me.

I went into my library, sat down in front of my computer and implored the presence of the Holy Spirit to gracefully guide my thoughts and prickly fingers on the keyboard so that I could commence typing the divine messages He was forming in my mind to develop for my readers and followers of this week’s WordPress blog.

I paused just long enough to glance over at my book shelves, crammed full of Bible dictionaries, concordances, and books on how to pray for natural healing. I carefully selected a book whose subtitle was ‘effective prayers for body, soul and spirit’.

Under the section in the book on ‘leukemia’, the first suggestion was to pray for generational curses. I remembered from reading many chapters in the Old Testament that God did visit the curses of the parents (initially Adam and Eve) on their children for many generations to follow. But since I walk by faith and not by sight, the Holy Spirit guided me to the New Testament:

  • Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

So, God instilled hope in me and I received the assurance that any wrongs performed by my parents in days gone by are forgiven and I don’t have to burden my Deliverer with such a prayer over my sibling’s predicament. Why? Because he was freed from that curse as well.

Additional instructions in the healing book suggested that prayers for leukemia should also include that the seeker was to curse the root of the disease; to command any prions (distorted proteins) to dissolve and be discarded; to command that the bone marrow make the proper amount of white blood cells; and finally, to lead the patient in prayers of repentance for bitterness or unforgiveness, if necessary.

The Holy Spirit also brought to my attention the scriptures about the lady mentioned in Luke 8:40-48, who had an issue with blood. Once again, God instilled hope in my despair as I read verse 8:48.

  • Then he said to her. “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” This tender term that Jesus used was meant for both me and my sibling. For I know with a certainty that as a child and adult I have witnessed my sibling’s faith in God and as a wounded war veteran, he served honorably for his country.
Crop assistant supporting smiling patient in wheelchair during rehabilitation process
A prayer warrior laying hands on the sick.

So you see, when I was in a desperate situation, God instilled hope in me and He will also do the same for you. Therefore, don’t forget my friend, when a person stands in the gap for another as an intercessor, the Holy Spirit often reminds you that perhaps you can make a different if you turn your heart to Christ Jesus and faithfully lay your all on the alter. My prayer for you is to simply ask the Savior to help you, comfort strengthen and keep you. He is willing to help you. He will carry you through. Amen and Amen!

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

God Reigns Over Every Holiday

On By SonjaIn How To Pray For Others, Prayers About Superstitions, Prayers For Life Changes8 Comments
Woman next to a question mark

Do Christians know enough about the history of every holiday listed within a 12 month calendar and why it is celebrated?

The answer to the above question is…I doubt it! And I also don’t believe that anyone can provide scientific proof as to why most people believe that the number 13 is an unlucky number. Yet many office buildings do not have a 13th floor, nor do their elevators stop on the 13th floor; nor do brides want to get married on Friday the 13th; nor do society’s affluent schedule a dinner party for 13 guests! And as a former builder manager for a large automobile company, I personally had to accommodate many potential lessees who demanded that their leases be back dated if their closing date fell on a Friday the 13th.

Hog wash you say…Don’t be so naive! In a little more than a week from now, many Americans will be celebrating a very popular holiday which always falls on the 31st day of a particular month. It is highly possible that if you were to randomly ask ten people to name at least five annual holidays and recite why each one is celebrated, the majority of the participants would draw a blank after naming only three. Well, this week I engaged the Holy Spirit and inquired of Him if the holidays I celebrated or supported were in line with our Lord and Savior. This conversation came up because for some reason my mail box is filled daily with junk mail and also requests for financial donations from many familiar and unfamiliar charitable organizations. Also, very soon, little people will be going from door to door soliciting candy and other treats from their neighbors. (I don’t turn on the porch light.)

What’s a Christian senior living on a fixed income to do?

The scriptures I received from on High all referenced that holiday coming up which always falls on the 31st day of a particular month. I’m not certain why this was, but maybe because it is the most celebrated holiday that can penetrate the very fiber of a man’s inner spirit…especially as he or she ages and if they have become Christians. And after all, our God is a Jealous God and wants His children to be victorious over every phase of their lives. So, listed below are the ten scriptures I received that have blessed me and hopefully to fortify and strengthen you and your loved ones. Be my guests and take an imaginary walk through this beautiful fall scene and just think about the goodness of our Lord and commune with Him about anything for just a little while. My prayer for you is veiled in these ten scriptures which mostly relate to the 31st day of a particular month: for the record, let’s call that month “October”. I also did my research and got a better understanding of what that holiday stands for and how it originated centuries ago.

Scripture Lesson:

“You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons.”  1 Corinthians 10:21
“Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.”  Ephesians 5:11
“Be self-controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”  1 Peter 5:8
“Test everything.  Hold on to the good.  Avoid every kind of evil.”  1 Thessalonians 5:21-22
“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil.”  Isaiah 5:20
“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”  Ephesians 5:15-16
“Submit yourselves, then, to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”  James 4:7
“This is the verdict:  Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.    Everyone who does evil hates the light and will not come into the light for fear his deeds will be exposed.”  John 3:19-20
“I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.  However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”  Luke 10:19-20
“And give no opportunity to the devil.”  Ephesians 4:27

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