Category: Instruction on how to disciple others

God Speaks To Job Through James, Part 2

On By SonjaIn Godly Living and Maturing, Growing In The Lord, Instruction on how to disciple others, Scriptures For Biblical Maturity1 Comment

(An important note to the readers of Part 2 of this weekly blog post entitled, “God Speaks To Job Through James.”) When studying the biblical literature of the Book of Job in the Holy Bible, you will discern that its teaching explores the themes of trials, patience, and suffering. But to glean the unadulterated truth and wisdom as to how a person is to godly respond to such life conditions is actually recorded in the Book of James in the New Testament.

Some years ago, the Holy Spirit guided me in gathering the research for you and compiling it in a two-part blog rendition. Please feel free to post your comments on this endeavor if you feel led to do so.

C-O-N-T-I-N-U-E-D

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 THOSE 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, 18

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. Job 42:10

AMEN

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 1.

On By SonjaIn Godly Living and Maturing, Growing In The Lord, Instruction on how to disciple others, Prayers About Increase/Decrease2 Comments

As we all know, great physical demands are placed on the lives of our young people and a number of extra curricular activities are vying for their attention. Consequently, devoting time to study their Sunday School lessons is 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. I also knew what it said about teaching.

So, one Sunday I asked the class to take a moment and think about how they handle and resolve life’s challenges. After a few moments of contemplating, I asked if anyone wanted to share their most debilitating and stressful situation. What I learned from this exercise was that no student’s dilemma was resolved from hearing a word from the Holy Spirit.

So, now, I had each student’s undivided attention. And because I had altered my lesson plan, I told them the story of Job’s dilemma through the scriptures as recorded by the Apostle James. Which opened the students eyes to just how much guidance a person can receive from delving into the Holy Scriptures.

My BRETHREN, COUNT IT ALL JOY WHEN YOU FALL INTO VARIOUS TRIALS. 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 cease from troubling, and there the weary are at rest. Job 3:17

BUT LET PATIENCE HAVE ITS 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 LACK 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 knowledge, and wisdom. Job 34:35

BUT LET HIM ASK IN FAITH, WITH NO DOUBTING, FOR HE WHOM 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 THOSE WHO LOVE HIM. James 1:12

[Job, stop that]…Do not desire the night. For people that are in darkness are cut off.l 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, 18

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

TO BE CONTINUED……

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

God’s Son Sends His Greetings On Father’s Day

On By SonjaIn Building Spiritual Bridges, Instruction on how to disciple others, Prayers About God and Me, Prayers For Spiritual GrowthLeave a comment
“If the Son therefore shall make you free, Ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:36

Exactly 3 decades ago, I wrote a call and response litany for the female population of the Baptist church I attended. It was entitled, God’s Blessings for His Ministers.” The intent of that blog was to use the adult female sisters to bless the male clergy members that shepherded the congregation on a rotating basis. And the Holy Spirit led me to use this message to bless all fathers who are celebrating Fathers Day on Sunday, June 16, 2024.

I also want to apologize at this time for the late publishing of this week’s blog due to the fact that my inspirational Guidance Counselor (the Holy Spirit) was extremely busy sorting out other areas of my life and dealing with a variety of life-matters. But all is well now, and to God be the glory.

Sisters: This is a great moment. For this time has been set aside for us, the congregational sisters, to offer blessings for you, the ministers of God, who are among us. WHAT SAITH THOU?

Ministers: Dear Sisters, we graciously receive the good tidings, but we humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord, for He will lift us up. (James 4:10)

Sisters: Even so, Beloveds, in the Name of Jesus we desire to bless those who bring the gospel of peace and glad tidings of good things to the world. Because as you know, not all will hear and obey nor will they believe your report. It is for this reason that you may become weary in well doing. That’s why we take this opportunity to ask God to bless you in your humility and be your refuse and your strength. (Rom. 10:15)

Ministers: Thank you for your lovingkindness, dear ones. You’re right: For there are those who refuse to accept the God who will make them holy and this is a burden in our heart.

Sisters: Well, we have come to encourage you in this matter. Take the prophets of old, who spoke in the Name of the Lord. Let their lives be an example of suffering and patience. Indeed, God counts them blessed who endure. (Jam. 5:10, 11)

Ministers: Strange you should mention patience. That’s the one area of our lives we are having the most difficulty with. All of us are in a state of pursuits. Some are pursuing higher forms of wisdom and knowledge, others are pursuing a preaching ministry in new surroundings, and still others are seeking a clearer understanding of God’s call on their lives. Maybe God’s trying to tell us something through you.

Sisters: Yes He is: Praise God! You are being blessed right now with the crown of life and you don’t even realize it. For God says as long as your pursuits incorporate the implanted word, your souls will be saved. Additional blessings will be bestowed upon you, look, once you complete your pursuits and commence actually performing the works which you learned. (Jam. 1:12, 21, 25)

Ministers: God’s call on our lives to feed His sheep, to feed you, our sisters, would let us do nothing less than to couple our faith with works. And in so doing, WE LIVE!

Sisters: Well spoken, Ministers. For truly faith without works is dead. Likewise, God’s blessings for you are never ending. (Jam. 2:26)

Ministers: Would you believe, my elect Ladies, that God desires to bless even our body parts that are used in the fulfillment of His service? for he says…Blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear. (Matt. 13:16)

Blessing and cursing come out of the mouth so it is best you use these members the least. (Jas. 3:10)

He has blessed your children within you. (Ps. 147:13)

And He took them up in His arms, put His hands on them, and blessed them. (Mark 10:16)

Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. (Matt. 5:8)

But most importantly …

Blessed is she totally who comes in the Name of the Lord. (Matt. 21:9)

Sisters: For truly, you have not only been called, but chosen.

Ministers: Hallelujah to His Name:

Our cry to the Lord is this. That He might continue to mold and shape our character so that we may be used of Him. We did not choose You, dear Master, but You have chosen us and by your supernatural powers, we yield.

Sisters: Likewise, our Anointed ones, we yield by saying….Blessed are the women whom God chose and caused to come into His courts. (Ps. 65:4)

ALL: Amen:

Sisters of the church showing love and admiration for the sound doctrine preached by the male clergy of their church.

(*) NOTE: The American flag represents a Wave Offering unto the Lord. It’s colors are:

Red – The Crucified One………White – The Resurrected Lord…………Blue – The Torn Veil Shed Blood

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

God Responds To Our Cries For Help!

On By SonjaIn How To Pray For Others, Instruction on how to disciple others, Prayers For Life Changes5 Comments

I’ve had it! Enough IS enough!! Stop the world…I want to get off!!! Have you, too, been there and done that????? Well, when that happens…I’ve found that having a little talk with Jesus makes everything alright. (Just click the song title below and afterwards return to this blog.):

Just A Little Talk With Jesus |YouTube·Redeemed Quartet·May 8, 2021

Following is a prayer of consecration for an ordination service, to be audibly recited over newly inductive members to church organizations, for example; Deacon and Deaconess Boards, Lay Leaders, International missionaries, etc., and all other newly appointed or elected similar board members of the church.

Dear Heavenly Father: Blessed be the most Holy and Everlasting God of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The One Who has called us by His tender mercies out of darkness into the marvelous light and into His saving grace, we corporately offer praises unto Thee by declaring:

(Congregation Response:) Blessed be the Name of the Lord and Blessed be the Rock of our Salvation.

(Leader continues reading:) Humbly, we present these newly inaugural brothers and sisters into Your service as Living Stones and Ambassadors to become witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Therefore, we beseech Thee to empower them with the Holy Spirit.

(Congregation Response:) Blessed be the Name of the Lord and Blessed be the Rock of our Salvation.

(Leader continues reading:) These are they, my Lord, who have graciously and joyfully accepted the calling into the Divine arena of servanthood. We now present these Seeds to be planted in Your Rock Garden. Seeds that through Your nurturing, will become petrified and will take on the characteristics of The Rock. For we know and now all of them know that You are truly the Rock of Ages Who has called us all to be living stones along this pilgrim’s journey called life.

So here we stand before You, Heavenly Father, confessing our sins and declaring our faith in Your promises of life eternal, which has already been bought with a price…having been Redeemed by the precious Blood of Jesus Christ. For we thank You for Jesus. We praise You for Jesus. We exalt You for Jesus. For by studying His life and believing in His works, as it is written in the Book, we know there is a God.

(Congregation Response:) Blessed be the Name of the Lord and Blessed be the Rock of our Salvation.

(Leader continues reading:) We don’t pretend to understand how everything was accomplished in the beginning, but all we do know is that once we were Born Again we began to see things more clearly; we commenced walking on paths charted by You; and we started talking more positively and demonstrating more love towards one another.

But most importantly, Dear Jesus, we have started to recognize Your voice; Your will and Your ways. We have come to realize that Your blessings are not just for ourselves alone, but for all Your people.

So, now Lord, in presenting these brothers and sisters to You in this ceremony today, we pledge to them and to You that this congregation will stand at their sides as they submit whole heartily to Your will and to Your way. That we as a Body will do all that we can to assist them as they gird up their loins and their minds to do battle in this sinful world.

That we will pray their strength in You as they strive to overcome all fleshly desires that would hinder their service for Thee. That we will consciously remind them that their DNA has changed. They are no longer made of corruptible seed but incorruptible seed. And each day they should be looking more and more like the Precious Cornerstone.

And now Lord, as we greet one another in love and with a Holy kiss and with the right hand of fellowship, we close this prayer in the matchless Name of Christ Jesus. Amen and Amen!

(Congregation Response:) Blessed be the Name of the Lord and Blessed be the Rock of our Salvation.

“Thank You for allowing us to have this conversation with You today!”

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

God Provides Everyone Valuable Resources

On By SonjaIn Instruction on how to disciple others, Prayers About God and Me, Prayers For New Beginnings2 Comments

Did you know that as long as you maintain a sincere relationship and stay connected with Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit will equip you with life skills that will help you fulfill the greatest successes in your life.

Trust me! I speak from experience! And I invite you to eavesdrop on a recent conversation I had with the Master. Although I am a seasoned-born again Christian (and have been for several decades), I sometimes become agitated, discombobulated, and short tempered with friends, relatives, strangers, and even myself. These recurring attitudes sickens me and is not pleasing to my Lord and Savior.

During a recent prayer time, the Holy Spirit gently interceded and instructed me to search my data base of teaching materials that I had delivered to audiences over the years. He also said for me to be encouraged and to remember the words of James 1:2 where there I was reminded to consider my dilemma an opportunity awaiting great joy. And if I would do this, my ‘seemingly’ life troubles…basically, my communication skills, would eventually produce in me character qualities that are essential in staying the course and finishing well.

Take a look, at what catalogued material I found in my files that brought me great joy:

SUBJECT: “GREATEST VALUES IN LIFE”
  • THE GREATEST HANDICAP…………………FEAR
  • THE BEST DAY…………………………………..TODAY
  • HARDEST THING TO DO…………………….TO BEGIN
  • EASIEST THING TO DO……………………….FINDING FAULT
  • MOST USELESS ASSET……………………….PRIDE
  • MOST USEFUL ASSET…………………………HUMILITY
  • THE GREATEST MISTAKE…………………….GIVING UP
  • THE GREATEST STUMBLING BLOCK…….EGOTISM
  • THE GREATEST COMFORT…………………..WORK WELL DONE
  • MOST DISAGREEABLE PERSON…………. THE COMPLAINER
  • WORST BANKRUPTCY…………………………LOSS OF ENTHUSIASM
  • GREATEST NEED………………………………….COMMON SENSE
  • MEANEST FEELING…………..REGRET AT ANOTHER’S SUCCESS
  • BEST GIFT…………………………………………….FORGIVENESS
  • THE HARDEST AND MOST PAINFUL TO ACCEPT……DEFEAT
  • THE GREATEST MOMENT………………………DEATH
  • THE GREATEST KNOWLEDGE…………………GOD
  • THE GREATEST THING…………………………..LOVE

My prayer is…

Dear Heavenly Father, please forgive me for sometimes wondering if Your Word is still relevant in today’s world. I know fully well that Your Word remains steadfast eternally in the heavens and that I may not change nor substitute anything in it. Guard my tongue, Holy Spirit, in the precious Name of Jesus Christ. Amen

Scripture Lesson: “The testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:3–4).

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 SonjaIn 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!

God’s Son Had A Brief Sojourn On Earth

On By SonjaIn Instruction on how to disciple others, Prayers For Life Changes, Prayers For Understanding2 Comments
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy; I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10

For more than ten years, I was a sojourner in the army of God as a volunteer missionary with an international orphan organization that specialized in transforming volunerable children’s lives, building strong families and enriching the lies of senior adults based on incorporating the tenent principles associated with Christ-centered values.

In last week’s blog on this site, I mentioned that people often asked me how I could remember so much background information about lineages and genealogies in the Bible. Others also wanted to know my secret for ascertaining the direction a particular character in the Bible would pursue. Well, because of those statements, this week I received several requests for specific examples. I found two perfect New Testament parables in Luke to enlighten you guys from chapters 18 and 19, concerning the blind beggar and the story of Zacchaeus in the tree.

“Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! Lord, I want to see,”
It was great sitting in the branches and looking down on everyone. Then the most amazing thing happened. Jesus stopped and looked up at Zacchaeus. ‘Zacchaeus,’ He said, ‘I want to come to your house for a meal!’ Zacchaeus jumped down at once and quickly showed Jesus the way to his house. Some of the people were very angry. Why was Jesus being kind to Zacchaeus? Didn’t He know how horrible he was? – Slide 3

“Zacchaeus, come down from that tree. I want to go home with you”, Jesus said.

(Using a descriptive Legend Expressed by Jews in Jesus’ Day):

City of Jericho - A town occupied by citizens of mixed identity.
A Beggar          - An Israelite belief that God would never allow his children to beg 
                                 for bread.
The Beggar      - He Recognized Jesus as being a Son (descendant) of King David.
The Beggar      - Although despised by some, Jesus said he had more faith than others.
Blind Person    - An informative (defect/illness) that plagues sinners.
Tax Collector   - An occupation imposed by Rome and despised by Jews.
Tax Collector   - Although ostracized by some, identified by Jesus as a son of Abraham.
The crowd       - Disrespected Jesus.  Identified Jesus as being from Nazareth, a city
                                where nothing good could come out of.
The crowd       - Disrespected the blind man.  Told him to shut up.
The crowd       - Disapproved of Jesus going to dine at the home of a tax collector.

Following is a brief summation of both parables:

It is recorded in scripture that Jesus passed through the ancient city of Jericho on at least two occasions. Large crowds followed Him. Jesus never failed to take time to heal people that the crowds considered to be an outcast in their communities. In both stories, the two men involved with our Lord had isolated themselves from the crowd and they both had a need. The blind beggar who sat along the road side needed his sight to be restored (Luke 18:35-43). Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector, short in stature and who had climbed a tree to see Jesus, he needed to be converted from his wicked ways. (Luke 19:1-10)

The crowds who followed Jesus had shown indignation towards these two men and expressed their distain and were non obliging towards Jesus’ reception of them. The crowd wanted and expected Jesus to only associate with ‘their‘ kind, and not to have anything to do with those who were considered to be an outcast.

Jesus turned the tables on the crowd by proclaiming that the blind man was deserving to receive his sight based on his level of faith he had demonstrated in Jesus. And on behalf of Zacchaeus, Jesus said to the crowd that in spite of this man’s occupation, he never the less still was a child of Abraham and that the Son of Man (Jesus) came to seek and to save what was lost.

My prayer for you…

Heavenly Father, I truly want to proclaim Your message and live in such a way that people will be able to see from my actions that I am serious about my faith. And I also pray for everyone who comes to this blog post and desires to follow in Your footsteps after reading conversational stories as to how You structured Your life’s journey while a sojourner on earth. How Your heart’s desire was to aide and abet Your fellowman. Please, Lord Jesus, help us all to get this attribute right. Amen.

Scripture Lesson: “You became imitators of us and of the Lord. The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia–your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it. (1 Thessalonians 1:6, 8)

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

God Speaks…But Do People Listen?

On By SonjaIn God Father, Instruction on how to disciple others, Prayers For Life Changes, Prayers For Spiritual GrowthLeave a comment

When EF Hutton talks, people listen – ‘Classroom’ commercial

https://www.youtube.com › click and watch this 30 second commercial NOW! After viewing, click the “BACK” button at the upper left hand corner of your screen to return to this blog.

Originally aired in 1986, this EF Hutton commercial takes place in an elementary school classroom featuring a girl reciting the alphabet.

****************************************************************************

Most of us remember EF Hutton as a thriving commercial banking stock broker company that was the darling of Wall Street, back in the day. It went ‘belly up’, and since has reorganized, liquidated a majority of its assets, and rebranded themselves under a new name with new leadership. Evidently, not enough people listened, and EF Hutton bit the dust!

God speaks…But do people listen?

In the beginning, God made arrangements for his Son, Jesus Christ, to speak for him. Though Jesus physically walked on this earth approximately 32 years He is made alive by the Spirit and thus capable to speak to those persons who lived in the past, who lives in the present, and who will live in the future but are yet unborn. I am describing a miracle-working MAN Who is God-centered and spiritually blessed to speak not only to human beings, but is also empowered to speak to inanimate objects and they listen and obey, too. Who wouldn’t adhere to someone with so much power and authority. Yes, when Jesus Christ speaks, people listen. (So, eat your heart out, EF Hutton!!!)

Numerous circumstances abound in the Scriptures concerning our Lord’s oratorical engagements. In many of those incidents you find the persons querying Jesus while on their knees. The Syro-Phoenician woman of Mark 7:26 was in that posture when she approached Jesus. In spite of His disciples, she asked Him for a word that would cleanse her daughter’s body of the horrific demons that possessed her. In that same chapter, Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, another one who came on bended knee, begged Jesus to come to his home and speak a word over his daughter who lay at the point of death. Scripture also tells us that Jesus spoke to fig trees, raging storms, tidal waves, fish in the sea, issues of blood, mountains and lunch boxes!

It has been said that once you learn the lesson of EF Hutton, you will never have any trouble figuring out who the real Leader is…

I had my own experience once while on an international mission trip to an orphan home in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, as I stood inside a classroom awaiting my students to teach a bible story to them. To my surprise, there were no student desks in the room, just stacked chairs. No black boards, no chalk, no writing paper for the students to take notes. I mused as to how to proceed. Then I asked the Lord. Immediately, my attention was directed to a lone chair in a corner with a large box on it. I went over to the chair to inquire of its contents. What I saw inside puzzled me. The box was full of small brown paper sandwich bags. What was I to do with these bags, I thought.

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As the children marched into the room, each one grabbed a chair and immediately sat down on it and stared at me. I gave them a warm greeting and introduced myself and instructed them to come and take a bag out of the box and return to their seats. In my own supplies, I had brought several boxes of crayons and allowed each student to choose a color prior to returning to their seat. I surveyed the class and still realized that we had no desk to write on. My EF Hutton (..the Holy Spirit…), spoke to me and said to tell the students to get out of their chairs and kneel down in front of them and use the chair seat area to serve as their desks. WALLAH!! EUREKA!!…problem solved!

God was not through with me, yet!…

While the students were on their knees, I opened our time together in prayer. Next, I informed the class that I was going to tell them a story about Joseph and Mary and their trip to Bethlehem where Baby Jesus would be born in a stable because there was no more hotel rooms for His parents. As I relayed the significant parts of the story, the students began to draw their own concept of images on all four sides of their lunch bag. When I completed the story, I repeated the memory verse and the students wrote it in Spanish on the bottom of the bag. I instructed the children to make a fist and to place the opened bag over their fist and use their bag like a puppet and retell the story when they go back to their villages and share the Baby Jesus story. The children were ecstatic to visualize the recognition they would have when they returned home. I, personally, was humbled and blessed to realize just how much the Lord took an interest in my problem and came to my rescue. My ‘take-away’ is…when God speaks…I listen!!

What about You?…

Perhaps your prayer should be something like this: Dear All-knowing and All-caring Heavenly Father, I beseech you to make me whole heartedly prepared not only to ask of You things that I need, but also to have the right motives in my heart for doing so. For only in this manner will those sincere prayers be answered by You. I thank you once again for being my Help Mate during those ten years of my tour as an international missionary in Your service. May You and You alone be my strength and my redeemer. Amen.

Scripture Lesson: “What good is it, my brothers (and sisters), if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. (James 2:14, 26)

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

God Desired to Converse With Me Concerning Salt

On By SonjaIn Instruction on how to disciple others, Prayers About God and Me3 Comments

Where Does the Phrase “Salt of the Earth” Come From?

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot” (Matthew 5:13).

THE PROLOGUE…

I heard an imaginary knock at my front door. I sat up in bed and leaned my body towards the direction I thought I heard the sound. “Tap, tap, tap”, I heard it again. What is going on, I quizzically mumbled. It’s 1:00 a.m. in the morning? Immediately, I scooted out of bed and tip-toed toward my front door. “Who is it?” I quietly asked. No answer. I repeated the question. “Who is it?” Still no answer. Then, suddenly, without provocation, and in my minds eye, I saw a picture of my license plate on the back of my car. It reads: “MY JAH”. So instantly, because there was no answer at the door, but only in my heart, I made an assumption that MY Lord (My Jah) wanted to speak to me through the Holy Spirit.

True, I had fallen asleep while reading my Bible, but I was not in a quandary when that happened. Neither was I perplexed nor uncertain about anything (I thought). Nevertheless, I left the area of the front door and went straight into my office and sat down in front of my computer. I offered up a quick prayer and then said, “Speak Lord, thy servant is listening”. I was lead to brows through my file cabinet where I found an article on “Household Uses of Salt”. I was surprised to learn that all of the uses for salt in the article had to do with household cleaning and for medicinal purposes…and nothing about foods.

Then it hit me. The Holy Spirit spoke and whispered, My child, you are the salt of the earth. Do you know what that means?

I quickly grabbed my Bible and searched the scriptures for references to salt. The following facts below are what I learned that increased my understanding and worthiness in the Kingdom of God.

Three Scripture Examples:
Matthew 5:13            
Jesus is speaking to His disciples and uses a metaphor to describe them as salt. In                                       ancient times salt was a valuable commodity and in some regions it was worth more               
then its weight in gold.  The expression "He's not worth his salt", was originated by the 
Greeks during their slave trading sales.  The Romans used salt to pay wages to their 
soldiers.  And from salt we get the Latin word salarium, which when translated into 
English becomes "salary".

Job 6:6                        
It also is very important to remember that during Jesus' times, there was no refrigeration, 
and salt was used to preserve and to flavor food, especially fish.

Ezekiel 16:4                
Here we learn that salt was used to wash newborn babies and disinfect open wombs.  
Jesus was actually describing in these scripture the preserving qualities of a true disciple.

Something else I saw in the “Sermon on the Mount” scriptures in Matthew 5 was the identity of the classes of people God would especially be talking about. For example, it is written that ‘Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth’. (Matthew 5:5) The actual meaning comes from what this verse is not saying. You will recall that one of the reasons why most of the ancient peoples did not receive Jesus was because He preached ‘meek and mild’ sermons, and ‘turn the other cheek’ reprimands. And the people wanted a Messiah that would demonstrate attributes of a soldier and go to war against Rome and bring freedom from oppression to the Jews and their converts. Not so according to Jesus. It would take a meek leader to do that.

The Epilogue…

So, in my conversation with God through the Holy Spirit, I believe I was awaken from my sleep to be reminded that I am (as well as all of God’s people), are the salt of the earth. We have been assigned by God to act like salt and be preservers of the land and extend our disinfectant qualities to the wounds of those inhabitants in our sphere of influence. But if God’s people looses their good spiritual salt qualities and become like rock salt that lies along the Dead Sea and is often impure and harsh, they become good for nothing. In fact, in ancient times, rock salt was used only to spread on the temple courtyards in wet weather to make them less slippery.

I smiled as I came to a close of writing this blog. I whimsically said to the Holy Spirit, now in addition to improving my sticky iron by sprinkling salt on a piece of waxed paper and running the hot iron over it a few times to clean it up, I can sprinkle a pinch of salt over my shoulder and implore the Holy Spirit to improve my approach to my fellowman and pray for strength to be more of a godly salt-servant in the household of our Lord and Savior. Amen!

Good Night!

Minister Michael Mahendere – Salt of the Earth (Lyric Video)

https://www.youtube.com › watch

Scripture Lesson: “For God speaks again and again, in dreams, in visions of the night when deep sleep falls on men as they lie on their beds. He opens their ears in times like that, and gives them wisdom and instruction, causing them to change their minds, and keeping them from pride, and warning them of the penalties of sin, and keeping them from falling into some trap.” Job 33:14-18

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

God, In A Still Small Voice, Has Good News For Single Folks!

On By SonjaIn Instruction on how to disciple others, Prayers For New Beginnings, Prayers For Spiritual Growth3 Comments
STOP! in the name of love…think it over.

TO MY SUBSCRIBERS AND VISITORS TO THIS BLOG…THE FOLLOWING SUBMISSION IS A RE-BLOG FROM A PAGE IN MY DIARY FROM 1996. I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT ENJOY READING IT AGAIN.

How about a little nostalgia? For this week’s blog, I would like for you to take a little stroll with me down memory lane. What prompted this sentimental journey, you might asked? Well, this week I received a facebook message from a long lost friend from my past. He and I were both young adults at the time, and members of the same church located in a small town in Maryland, USA. Since I was also a Sunday School teacher at that time, and assigned to teach a co-ed teenage class, the president of a young adult Bible Study group invited me to be a facilitator at a workshop for single folks during an upcoming weekend conference retreat.

What an amazing opportunity, I thought, to broaden and share my ever-expanding spiritual growth in the Lord. For He (the Holy Spirit) had certainly been taking me on mystical journeys, as He opened up the inner most meanings of God’s holy scriptures during my devotional study time. However, so far, I had not received any indication that I was to share or do anything corporately with this new in depth spiritual knowledge.

Wow, what a nice surprise. To be remembered after all these years.

Therefore, I attributed the subject matter for this week’s blog to that unexpected (out of the blue) facebook greeting from a long lost friend. Obviously, the ole adage, ‘Out of sight, out of mind,’ is not necessarily true.

So, in early December, 1996, while preparing for that young adult workshop that I was to facilitate at that weekend retreat, I ran across a newly published book by Dr. Jeremiah Wright, entitled Good News For Single Folk. After praying over all the materials I had gathered, and after receiving spiritual confirmation that all was well, following is what happened.

At first, as I began developing an outline from the materials, I experienced the presence of the Holy Spirit, big time! It seemed as though I was being hindered from developing my outline because I was starting from the wrong premise. As I raised my pen to cross out yet another sentence for the umpteenth time, I paused. Something supernatural was happening. Someone was calling my name. In a whisper I said, “Speak Lord.” Immediately, I was led to turn in the scriptures to Luke 19:10b: “...for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

With trepidation, I softly inquired of the Holy Spirit what exactly was it that was lost and how does it apply to singles. Again, I was led to read several additional scriptures in Genesis 3:21-24. There, we find all of the provisions and disciplines God administered to ‘fallen’ mankind.

  • We were to be clothed in garments of skin because we had lost our glorified bodies.
  • We now knew good from evil, thus we lost our innocence. Therefore we have no excuse.
  • Our minds became befuddled and we didn’t know what was good for us. In other words, we lost our freedom of choice.
  • Physical Death was ushered in and we lost external life.
  • We were banished from the Garden of Eden and lost our eternal home and all the luxuries that went with it.
  • And finally, because of the Guardian Angels with the flaming swords, we lost easy access to the Way. God placed stumbling blocks in our paths.

Once again, I humbled myself and asked the Lord what does this have to do with singles? God said to me; Tell the class that because of the acts of the first couple, (Adam and Eve), the sanctity of marriage was also abridged. Divorce and unfaithfulness are imminent. But, the Good News is Jesus Christ! He is the Bridegroom Who would never be unfaithful to His God nor to His bride (us).

So, in His communion time with me, Jesus, in a still small voice, put forth this proposition…Since married couples are considered single in My Father’s eyes (and the two shall be one), and single people are already single, tell everybody in your Young Adult Sunday School Class to marry Me! Let’s elope before you have time to get lost again!

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Click to hear Buddy Holley’s song, “Think It Over” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isgUxR4R_hg

My prayer for singles…

Dear Heavenly Father: Please protect the intimacy and oneness you have instituted in the relationships of courting young peoples and other couples in general. For it is only with Your protection can they guard their hearts against temptation and keep it from all hurt, harm and influences from outsiders. It is also my prayer that You keep their hearts focused on Your nuptial vows so that their spirits may become one in Your sight. Never allow the couples to ignore or turn from seeking solace from each other before they abandon all hope in You and in reconciliation. I pray this prayer in the Matchless Name of Christ Jesus, Amen!

Scripture Lesson: “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two but one. Therefore, what God has joined together, let man not separate.” Mark 10:7-9.

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