Category: Growing In The Lord

God Really Does Love Me; He Truly Knows My Name

On By SonjaIn Building Spiritual Bridges, Godly Living and Maturing, Growing In The Lord, Prayers About God and Me, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Two weeks ago I published a blog about the spiritual name I believed the Holy Spirit had anointed me with: My name is “Sought After.” For further proof of this special anointing that transpired all those many years ago, please allow me to enlighten you as to what happened to me this week in regards to assembling my thoughts for this current blog.

Upon retrieving an old folder from my file cabinet, I came upon a rough draft copy of a letter written by me to the Dear Heavenly Father! The once white typing paper was now yellow stained, tattered and wrinkled, with a faint pencil notation on it that read ‘1994’!

As I re-read the letter that I had penned to Our Heavenly Father approximately 55 years ago, I was astonished at how I had identified the subject matter of the senders of its contents. Although the letter was being sent to God on behalf of the Deacon and Deaconess Boards of my church of which I was a deaconess at that time. HOWEVER, I actually used 2 pseudonyms to identify the senders. (Naming them the sons of Jacob and the daughters of Israel.)

The blessing revealed to me was that the Holy Spirit miraculously led me to this ancient 1994 communication letter to identify and clarify for me that my name, Sought After, is translated and recognized as God’s daughters of Israel. Therefore, I invite you to read my 1994 conversation letter to God using scripture and be enlightened on how to connect his glorified dots because: “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom; and with all thy getting get understanding. 

Dear Heavenly Father,

The sons of Jacob and the daughters of Israel who are members of the household of faith at Mount Calvary Baptist Church, have gathered in this place to once again give all praise and honor to your Name.

For we realize, Dear Master, that all gifts and benefits come from You.  And we rejoice in the knowledge that had it not been for Your son Jesus we would not have had free access to any of Your bountiful blessings.

Also, Dear Lord God, the sons of Jacob and the daughters of Israel wish to thank You for keeping us sturdy and on track in the celebration of Men and Women's Day for 1994.  For we have not travelled this spiritual road before.  So thank you for not giving up on us and for keeping us Perfectly Joined Together.

For we never took our eyes off Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith....

So, Dear Master, because You sit high and look low and may have caught a glimpse of someone murmuring or received a report of another voicing displeasure at someone's leadership capabilities, we humbly ask your forgiveness and confess that by the love of Jesus, we will strive to learn to be more considerate of one another and to cultivate our Christian lives in common.

Never let it be recorded that any of us said, "I'm on Paul's side," or "I'm for Apollo," or "Peter is my man".  For none of these persons hung, bled and died for our sins nor none of those persons can give to us eternal life.

So now Lord, as I close this prayer on behalf of the men and women of this age in life of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, I thank You again for personally calling each of us by name to be in Your service.

Not just anybody, nor will everybody heed the call, but You took a bunch of nobodies and made them somebodies in the Family of God...and for that we give You the praise, all the honor and all the glory.  Amen and Amen.



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



God Desires That We Behold His Great Physician!

On By SonjaIn Godly Living and Maturing, Growing In The Lord, Mankind's Relationship With God, Prayers For Spiritual Growth4 Comments

This week in my quiet time with the Holy Spirit, his guidance allowed me to take a trip all the way back to Genesis Chapter 22, the first book in the Holy Bible.

I distinctly heard the Spirit ask me if I really understood the reasoning why God told Abraham to go to the land of Moriah and to take his son Isaac with him.(*)

God told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac as a burnt offering upon one of the mountains that God would point out to him.

(Free pexel image of Modern Day Abraham and his son, Isaac.)

So, to answer the Holy Spirit’s question, I searched my file cabinet because deep down in my spirit, I remembered delivering a teaching to a group of women in my Tuesday Morning Bible Study class in February 2018. And sure enough, I found it! So, as I skimmed through my presentation, I soon realized that back then, 6 years ago, the Holy Spirit distinctively told me to present the Lord to the ladies as The Great Physician. (The background biblical text for my teaching was based on Matthew 4:32 – 5:12).

"REMAIN IN ME, AS I ALSO REMAIN IN YOU."

This morning we are going to learn about how to be at peace and in good health even when our bodies are racked with pain and troubled with disturbing thoughts and our spirit is questioning our faith.  In other words, like our magazine story suggests, although we have put our physical dilemmas into the hands of medical professionals, we are going to look to the Word of God and discover how to get to the real source of the matter...HOW TO ARRIVE AT A BETTER HEALTH POSITION.

With the help of the Master Teacher, the Holy Spirit, I will attempt, by using Scripture, to apply a certain reasoning to why Jesus used so many examples of life's emotions to teach on how to be blessed and content when all hell is breaking loose around you.

Our Scripture comes from two chapters in Matthews, chapters 4:23 to 5:12, so let's read and get our foundation.

While living down here on earth we ought always to be salt and light to the world regardless of what physical, mental or material state we find ourselves in.  If we are to be disciples of Jesus Christ, our ways and demeanor should bring illumination and savor (preservation) to our fellow man.  Living in a manner befitting the atmosphere of the Kingdom of God!

The word "Blessed" means more than just happy.  It takes on the ultimate well-being and distinctive spiritual joy of those who share in the salvation of the kingdom of God.

So, Jesus is referring to the broader meaning of "blessed" when He says blessed are those who are poor in spirit, who mourn and who are meek.  Why?  Because they are dependent on God and not the world.  They are sensitive to their spiritual faults and seek God's help and comfort.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.  Why?  They have a deep longing for both personal righteousness and justice for the oppressed. 

Blessed are the merciful...they both forgive and have compassion for others.  When you are sensitive to God's forgiveness it frees you from feeling guilty and brings comfort.

Blessed are the pure in heart...they have no guilt trip as they engage in their devotion to God and therefore are spiritually able to feel God's presence.

All of these qualities or emotions allow us to bring peace to others.  But it is also a catch 22 situation because it can also make us vulnerable to persecution.

Jesus goes on to teach Blessed are the peacemakers...they will be called the Children of God.  Here on earth, our only reward may be to be called "Sons and Daughters of God".  And we may have to experience God's kingdom rule while here on earth by becoming a peacemaker thus proving our fitness for the kingdom by suffering.

Jesus wanted to make clear to his Jewish audience that with this new teaching style, He did not come to abolish The Law of Moses.  But to say that it was not enough to be righteous according to the Law...you must be righteous according to what would Jesus do. (WWJD)

Take up your cross (your idiosyncrasies) and follow Him.

Reference Isaiah 61 Jesus' mandate.

REMEMBER, sickness and infirmities can come about through bad habits, weak constitutions, exposure to danger, crimes, accidents, birth defects, etc.  But while experiencing sickness it can also reveal attitudes, values and motives which must be transformed if human beings are to be truly in harmony with God.  Matt. 5:19-48

(*) NOTE OF IMPORTANCE: Have you ever wondered why Jehovah Jireh is another Name attributed to the Son of God! In the Book of Genesis where in God provides a lamb as a substitute for the life of Isaac (Abraham’s beloved son), God himself would repeat this very same act when he put Jesus Christ on the cross and shed His blood for all mankind (Gentiles and Jews) to give salvation and eternal life to all those persons who confessed their sins and who believed on the Name of Jesus Christ and received Him as the Son of the Living God.

SO OBVIOUSLY, THE HOLY SPIRIT WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR RECOGNITION OF THE ABRAHAM/ISAAC/SUBSTITUTE LAMB STORY meant more to the reader than just God not having to kill little Isaac. The Holy Spirit wants readers of each generation to see God’s redemptive plan for man’s initial sin (perpetuated by Adam and Eve) in the Garden of Eden.

For if it had not been for Jehovah Jireh, Our PROVIDER, the Lamb of God, Christ Jesus’ shed blood, death on the cross, burial, resurrection and ascension; eternal death, hell and the grave would have been man’s epitaph instead of eternal life with the Son of God in heaven. Amen!

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

God Distributes Talents To Unsuspecting People – Part TWO

On By SonjaIn Growing In The LordLeave a comment

Hello World! I am so excited to reveal to you Part Two (the conclusion) of my original poem entitled “What Does Jell-O Have to do with Spies?” You see, the dramatic events that transpired in Part Two of this poem happened during the 1950’s right here in the good ole USA and are now are about to be exposed.

New characters have entered the distribution and promotion of the little boxes of Jell-O! And a few of the main characters are in the photograph below. Allow me to introduce you to the couple in the middle: They are Mr Julius and Mrs Ethel Rosenberg. And if you Google their names, you can read much more about this intriguing venture that eventually landed both Rosenbergs in the electric chair.

So, without further discord, let’s get to the conclusion of the poem.

Julius Rosenberg and Ethel Rosenberg during their 1951 trial for espionage.

"What Does Jell-O Have To Do With Spies"
            By S. L. Fowler
                  Part 2

Let us pick up our story where we left off
Discussing a popular dessert that had stolen America's heart
The owner, Mr Woodward, had made a wise investment in 1902
And those little boxes of Jell-O were being purchased by your parents, too.

Let's move ahead to 1950 and the FBI is now on the scene
They have arrested a man named Julius Rosenberg
A spy who is accused of some grave misdeeds
That have placed the United States in jeopardy.

Mr. Rosenberg purportedly tore a Jell-O box top in half
Gave it to his brother-in-law, whose name was David Greenglass
Instructed him to deliver it to a contact in Los Alamos
A Russian spy, named Harry Gold, who would have the matching
  piece of the torn note.

Gold paid Greenglass $500 to receive the secret atomic energy data
That allegedly gave the atomic bomb to the Soviet Union Nation
Rosenberg and Greenglass, both were caught red handed in this melee
As well as Ethel, Julius' wife, all three were executed in June 1953.

The last bit of information that I would like to impart to you
That in 2003, over 690,000 boxes of Jell-O were daily consumed by you
Yes, America loves those 16 flavors Bill Crosby hawked on TV
And the good news...not only is it delicious but you can buy it 'fat-free'.

                          THE END


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

God Distributes Talents To Unsuspecting People – Part One

On By SonjaIn Growing In The LordLeave a comment

When it comes to writing, God has been very generous with my creative and prolific scribblings. Often when I read my Bible, certain passages literally become poetry before my eyes. The same thing happens when I read a magazine article or short story. It took me several years to observe this hidden connection, but as I often review my creative writing submissions, I began to see the pattern.

Honestly, the first thing I did after making this connection was to thank God for this undeserving talent He had blessed me with. (I felt like Peter in Matthew 16:16 when he spontaneously declared referring to Jesus, ‘Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living Lord.’ Jesus responded by saying to Peter that flesh and blood had not revealed this information to you, but My Father who is in heaven.)

And flesh and blood had not revealed my writing pattern awareness to me, either! It was being baptized in the Holy Spirit!

So, with your permission, I would like to present to you a secular poem written in 2007 entitled “What Does Jell-O Have To Do With Spies?” It is quit long, so I will publish Part 1 this week and publish Part 2 next week.

"What Does Jell-O Have To Do With Spies"
            By S. L. Fowler

When Peter Cooper, a famous inventor
Decided in the year 1845
To patent a colorless gelatin mix
Nobody would eat it, dead or alive.

As the story goes, 5O years passed
Before a carpenter named Pearle B. Wait
Concocted a fruit flavor for the gelatin mix
That made it more palatable to the taste.

An orator, Francis Woodward, by name
Would be the next owner on the scene
Because Mr. Wait had decided in 1899
That for him, selling Jell-O was just not to be.

The reason Mr. Woodward bought the formula
For the powdered tasteless gelatin mix
Was because he had faith in the product
And he also was willing to advertise to make it a hit.

In 1902 he spent $336 to advertise in Ladies' Home Journal
This launched his first campaign in a magazine designed just for women
"Jell-O, America's Most Famous Dessert," was how the copy read
And the general public agreed and sales zoomed full speed ahead.

Within four years those little boxes of Jell-O began to fly off the shelves
And by 1906 that colorless protein was on everybody's shopping list
Now, Jell-O is derived from animal collagen, bones, tendons and skin
Nevertheless, it had made Mr. Woodward a cool one million.

But that is not the end of the story
There is more to this tale of intrigue
However, you will have to wait until my next reading turn
In order to hear the conclusion of this true-to -life poetry.



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

God’s Word Reminds Us That Confession Is Good For The Soul

On By SonjaIn Godly Living and Maturing, Growing In The Lord, Prayers For ForgivenessLeave a comment

(*) NOTE: THIS BLOG IS A REPRINT FROM THE AUTHOR’S FILES

Two girl friends meet for coffee and show confession is good for the soul

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” 

This week I prayed mightily for a fresh anointing from the Holy Spirit. What caused this extra indulgent in my prayer life. Well, it was because I was pre-occupied with worldly matters that the Holy Spirit had already convinced me that He would take of. I’m sure you know what I mean. It’s when you take a matter to the Lord with the intent to leave it there…but when you leave your prayer room, you discover that what has totally consumed you has hitched a ride on your back.

What did you say…’been there…done that‘…or were you more emphatic…’My bad!’

Well, as for me, “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” Ps 37:25 KJV. So, I shall be obliging to God’s Word and confess to my blog readers an incident that I told only to my diary at 7:00 A.M., on October 14, 2007.

Dear Diary, my Bible fell open to Ezekiel, Chapter 14:1-23.  Israel's elders were led to seek the prophet Ezekiel and ask him to inquire of the Lord on their behalf.  But God would not hear of it. Why?  Because these elders had issues (idols) and felt inadequate to inquire of the Lord on their own.  What the elders did not know was that the prophetess among them had issues, too; although she had experienced some successes in the past while doing the work of the Lord.  In short, God said if both the elders and the prophetess do not repent and allow God to take control of every phase of their lives, He will set His face against them.  This word from the Lord to Israel was definitely for me this morning.

There are two families in my life that have come to me for help, (I identified one family as my best friends), and has over the years, referred to me as 'the prophetess'.  Both of these families are seeking financial advice from me because they have seen some financial successes in my life.  (Recently, I purchased two rental properties, furnished them and secured a three-year lease on them.)

But because there are a some short falls (idols) in my life and I imagine in the two families' lives, too, God is saying before He will allow any more successes in all of our lives, we had better get our acts together and surrender all of our 'idols' over to Him.
Depending on group answered prayer
Depending on self
Depending on God

So now, my friends, I have confessed an old misdeed in my younger life that I mistakenly thought was pleasing to God. But, actually, the Holy Spirit told me differently…it was not pleasing to God. He and He alone is to be gloried in all that we say or do and NOT we ourselves.

"Dear Lord, thank You for caring enough for Your weak, pitiful children to send them a warning.  Now, please give us the strength to overcome."  Amen.

I closed my confession time into ‘diary’ by making a list of my habits that the Holy Spirit brought to my attention that were unpleasing to God. And over the years, the majority of them have been replaced for the better through prayer and fasting and striving for a closer walk with the Almighty. My personality has mellowed and I am continuing to learn how to let go and let God.

Donnie McClurkin – We Fall Down But We Get Up – YouTub

Global Gospel GroupYouTube · 850.8K+ views · 9 years ago

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