Category: Prayers For Understanding

God’s Autobiography…As Told To Me!

On By tgifmastermindsIn Prayers For Spiritual Growth, Prayers For UnderstandingLeave a comment

Many years ago while in a very quiet place…no, I was not really in a quiet place…I was in a neighborhood park, sitting under a beautiful flowering tree. Its blossoms were tiny white pebbles, and I was being entertained by the nesting birds perched on its limbs. Actually, with my head lifted back and my eyes closed, I was rejoicing at a familiar passage in the Bible I was reading which is found in Matthew 6:9-13. I’m quit sure you are familiar with whose famous words recited by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ as to the manner we ought to pray to the Father in Heaven. Koo-uk-koo….koo, koo, the birds chanted…Koo-uk-koo, koo, koo, sang the birds. But, to me, I heard “Ride on King Jesus, ride on”!

But to me, all I heard was: “Ride on King Jesus…ride on.”

Ride On King Jesus – Brotherhood Gospel Choir … – YouTube

The difference between a Biography and an Autobiography…

It is very important that we distinguish between the two types of narratives. A biography is an account of a person’s life, written by another individual. An Autobiography is also a biography of oneself as narrated/written by oneself. The literary form can be displayed in a book, diaries, letters, journals, memoirs, and oral reminiscences.

As I was in deep thought on that particular sunny day, the Holy Spirit got a hold on me and asked me how would I like to digest the Lord’s Prayer in Three Person rather in just through the instructions of Jesus Christ. I pondered the meaning of the question, but the Inner Voice inside me (the Holy Spirit) said, I will interpret it for you in the Voice of the Father God, the Son, Jesus Christ and The Holy Spirit. I smiled, threw my head back and whispered…’Say on, my beloved Teacher…say on!’

The first voice speaking in the narrative below is God’s preference of how to address him in prayer. The second Voice in parenthesis is the Son, Jesus Christ. The Third Voice is our Teacher, the Holy Spirit:

Our Father Which Art
In Heaven

(I have come down
from heaven,


Hollowed Be Thy Name

(to endorse everything I
have made.















Thy Kingdom Come

(I'm here!  Look at me!
I am the Kingdom
predicted to come!















Thy Will Be Done On Earth
As It Is In Heaven

(Obey Me and do My will,



















Give Us This Day Our
Daily Bread

(Recognize me as your all in all.










And Forgive Us Our Debts
As We Forgive Our Debtors

(Stop judging folks!

   Accept them.  Accept Me!














For Thine Is The Kingdom

(I've told you once and I'm telling you again.  It's Me they 
were talking about.


The Power
(Try Me,
Test Me,
Prove Me,
Use me,


And The Glory
(The "secret" is no more.
The mystery is cleared up,













Forever
(Wise up world!





AMEN
(So be it.)



There are many gods of this world.  But, I'm
talking about my Father (yours and mine)
who lives in that Holy Habitation...Heaven.

Jesus is saying, may the name of God (His name, 
'Jesus') be written (carved) into and onto everything
which thou (he) hath made both in Heaven and on earth. 
In the Old Testament, after King Solomon had completed 
the Lord's House, using the Lord's blueprint, the Lord
God 'spoke' to Solomon and said, "I have hollowed this
house which thou hath built, to put my name there forever."

I Kings 9:3 


Jesus says, I'm talked about all through the Old Testament.
Somebody was always saying the Kingdom will be 
established.  My Father promised I would come through
the house of David.  "Then I will establish the throne of the
kingdom upon Israel forever."

I Kings 9:5




Yes, I have created you in my own image and because I
have a free will, you, too, have a free will.   Use it and
OBEY.  Adam misused his will and was "set out" of 
safety (Eden).  The angel Lucifer also misused his will
and was set out from the Heavenly Host.  Only God's will 
now reigns in Heaven.  It's down here on earth, where I have 
come, that things are all messed up.

Genesis 3:23 & 24
Revelation 12:9



Accept me (Jesus) today because I am the Bread of Life.  Pray that I might become real in your life.  Digest my teachings.  Digest me.  Eat me and you'll never be hungry again.  But best of all, you'll never die!  Why?  Because I am the Bread of Life!

John 6:35


Be ever so careful when you include these words in your prayer.  Don't forfeit your prayer to the Father because you went down on your knees before you went to your brother and asked forgiveness.

Matthew 6:14 & 15 says...


For if ye forgive men their trespasses your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if ye forgive not men their trespasses neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.


I am the authority now.  My Father has crowned Me.  You must receive Me (Jesus) as the King before you can enter into the Kingdom of My Father.


If God is for you, no man can be against you.  For greater is he that is in Me than he that is in the world.

The mystery of who's coming to save (redeem) mankind is cleared up.  I am the glorious One the world has been awaiting.

"To whom God would make known what is the riches of the Glory of this mystery among the gentiles; which is Christ Jesus in you, the hope of glory.

Colossians 1:27


You will pass away.  Your works will pass away.  But what I'm telling you (my word) shall last for all times.

Isaiah 40

Scripture Lesson: “Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!'” Mark 13:33, 37.

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

God Does Not Tolerate Fools!

On By tgifmastermindsIn Prayers For Spiritual Growth, Prayers For Understanding5 Comments
Proverbs 19:1 Better a poor man whose walk is blameless than a fool whose lips are perverse.

A rich man who was an avid golfer, especially on Sundays, finally got a once in a lifetime chance for an audience with the Pope. After standing in line for hours, he finally got to the Pope and said, “Your Holiness, I have a question that only you can answer. You see, I love golf, especially when I am invited to join my 3 rich friends on Sunday mornings. They play every Sunday, but I can’t afford their life-style. I feel a real need to know if there is a golf course in heaven where I can play golf all the time and every day. Can you tell me if there is?”

The Pope considered for a moment, and replied. “I do not know the answer to your question, my son, but I will have a conversation with God and get back with you.” The next day, the man was summoned for another audience with the Pope to receive the answer to his question.

He anxiously stood before the Pope, who said, “My son, I have some good news and some bad news in relation to your question. The good news is Heaven does not have a golf course, but Hell has the most fabulous golf course that you can imagine and is in eternally perfect shape. The weather is rather hot, but besides that, it puts all other courses on earth to shame. The bad news is that you have a tee time for tomorrow morning.

Don’t laugh…

Ask yourself this question: Where do I spend my Sunday mornings? Perhaps, in the driveway washing my car. Or, in bed catching a second snooze. Or better yet, in front of your television set…yes, you’re shouting because of the message, but from watching one sports game after another. Some of us may even spend our Sunday mornings on the telephone doing what we do best…gossiping!

Do memorize the following Bible verse…

“He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you except to be just and to love [and to diligently practice] kindness (compassion), and to walk humbly with your God [setting aside any overblown sense of importance or self-righteousness]? (Micah 6:8 Amplified version)

Do get wisdom and an understanding…

The dictionary defines ‘perverse’ as someone who deliberately deviates from doing what is good; a type of evilness. The quality of being morally wrong in principle and in practice. Now, I’m not saying that golf is an evil sport nor am I implying that playing golf is a sin. I’m just sayin’…

02-20-quote.jpg

The term ‘fool‘ appears approximately 360 times throughout the Old and New Testaments. The holy scriptures defines a fool as a person who does not display wisdom nor an understanding. A fool’s behavior is described as “folly” which is silliness and craziness. We are commanded to love them, and to pray for them, but not to join them.

The epilogue and Scripture Lesson:…a biblical teaching about anxiety.

Solomon not only teach us Proverbs 19:1, but Jesus also teaches us from Luke 12:22: “And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat, nor about your body, what you shall put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens; they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Or how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his span of life. If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?” Luke 12″22-26

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

On By tgifmastermindsIn How To Pray For Others, Prayers About God and Me, Prayers For Understanding, Uncategorized7 Comments
“Please hold my hand, Lord. For I am a sinner, saved by Your grace! I yield!“

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

Now I have a question for you…

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

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

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

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

Now, perhaps you can answer my question…

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

My prayer for you…

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

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

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God Is The Author And Finisher Of My Writings!

On By tgifmastermindsIn Prayers About God and Me, Prayers For Life Changes, Prayers For Understanding10 Comments
God caused me to ‘think outside the box’!

All I can say is…”To God be the glory.” That’s right! Every time someone ask me where do I get all my ideas to write about, all I can say is that the Holy Spirit empowers me to scribe. He and He alone placed the desire in my heart to put words to paper long before I was born. And, like the prophet Jeremiah, it’s like a fire shut up in my bones.

Sometimes I feel like Grandma Moses. She was a celebrated American painter who was born on September 7, 1860, in Greenwich, N.Y. She died 95 years later on December 13, 1961. Grandma Moses’ true grit was her passion to paint the great and beautiful outdoors and also everyday farm life. Some of her words in her memoirs have inspired me and her penchant to paint recorded therein mimic my very own reasons as to why I write. I believe we both are people who were born with a passion to follow through with our life’s goals. To persevere and work really hard to perfect our calling. To be passionate and conscientious about the gifts God has endowed us with. Our pursuits are what makes our Maker happy.

Take a listen to what Grandma Moses said about why she paints:

“I look out the window sometimes to seek the color of the shadows and the different greens in the trees, but when I get ready to paint, I just close my eyes and imagine a scene.”

“Memory is history recorded in our brain.  Memory is a painter…”

“I like to paint something that leads me on and on into the unknown, something that I want to see always on beyond.”

“You don’t get to be 95 without having some memories and knowing ugly things.  But I don’t believe in painting ugliness.  I paint pretty pictures.  If I put in something that was not pretty, I make it look a little better.  If people can’t get pleasure out of looking at a picture, what’s the use of painting it?”

So, all I have to do is substitute the word “write” for every time Grandma Moses uses the word “paint”. Because her feelings are my feelings exactly about ‘why I write’.

Following is an original poem I wrote about why I write…

This young man is not only thinking outside the box…
he is also thinking outdoors!
W  O  R  D  S

Words come soaring
Words come marching
Words come seeking
Words come stalking

Words come walking
Words come running
Words come creeping
Words come strumming

Words!  Words!
Who can live without them
Cluttering up your mind, they come
Like falling leaves in Autumn

Overflowing your heart in chaos
Fighting for space in your being
Establishing themselves in voices
Everybody speaking at once...bad timing

Trying to eradicate them from your head
Is like eliminating your body of waste
In a few short hours they are back again
With a vengeance, running around in haste

Words!  Words!
Are like parasites, no doubt
I have resolved to tolerate them
But only until death takes me out!

The End

My prayer for you…

Heavenly Father, we thank You that You have endowed each of us with special talents. And You are hopeful that we will commit our lives to the good deeds that You have planned for us. Please help us to discover and to carry out the purposes that You have in mind for us to become. Amen and Amen!

Scripture Lesson: “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10

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God’s Son Had A Brief Sojourn On Earth

On By tgifmastermindsIn 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)

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God Allows A Little Humor

On By tgifmastermindsIn Heaven Is For Real, Prayers For Spiritual Growth, Prayers For Understanding8 Comments

(If Twitter ran Heaven:)

Oh, beg your pardon, sir, I thought your name was Elon.

For some reason this past week, I found myself beseeching the Holy Spirit with one nagging question: “Oh Lord, is there no humor in the Scriptures?” I guess I had become weary from reading so much gloom and doom in the chapters from the Books of Ezekiel and Jeremiah. You see, I am a member of a large bible study group that meets by phone 5 days a week (Monday through Friday) from 6:00 a.m. to about 7:30 a.m., for the purpose of reading 4 bible chapters each of the 5 days. An assistant minister of my church is our leader and the drill is for him to begin our sessions with prayer and praise, and then assign 4 participants to read one Bible chapter each, from a list on a calendar: One chapter each from the Old and New Testaments, and repeat reading chapters from Psalm and Proverbs, perpetually. After the first chapter is read, anyone on the call line can select a verse and audibly wrap a prayer around it. This procedure is repeated until all 4 chapters have been read.

Normally, I find this early morning exercise extremely gratifying and it keeps me in harmony with the sweet, sweet Spirit of Jesus Christ and orders my steps for the remainder of the day. Our latest assignment readings called for the group to read the Books of Jeremiah and Ezekiel back to back. And since there is so much gloom and doom in those two books, I found myself heavy laden over the assignments given by God to these two prophets. But thanks be to God, the Holy Spirit knew that I was harboring these melancholy feelings and just as I sat down at my computer and attempted to quiet my spirit and to pray concerning the subject I would blog about for this week, my eyes fell upon a book in my library entitled, “More Holy Humor“. The very first joke I read was anonymous, no credit was ascribed to anyone. It went like this:

“A senior pastor took a vacation and placed a new young associate-in-training in charge of preaching one of the Sunday morning sermons, since he would be away. When the pastor returned, he asked one of the members how the young associate had performed. The member replied: “He preached a dull message. Not much in it at all.” When the pastor saw his associate, the pastor asked him how he had felt about that Sunday morning he had preached. “Oh, I felt very good, sir. And I have a confession to make. I didn’t have time to put the proper research required into my own sermon, so I found one of yours and preached it. Thanks.”

Now, that bit of information brought a smile to my lips. And spontaneously I heard a still small voice whisper in my ear; My child, go back and reread a few verses in those Old Testament chapters and see how God characterized some of the foolish acts of his people as they abandoned the One true God and turned their hearts over to wooden idols and false teachers. Surely, you will discover some holy humor in them and maybe even a little sarcasm, too. And while you’re at it, reread the poem “Your Promises” I had my servant, Rob, send you earlier this week in both Spanish and English. He is a true believer whom I’ve placed in your sphere of influence; a person you have never physically met; a true friend and lover of Mine. Be encouraged by his prayerful poem, and stay focused. And always remember, my friend, let God be God! HALLELUJAH!!!

Tus promesas / Por Rob

Tus promesas, Señor,

Mi alma sostienen en paz:

Garantiza, Altísimo

De tu gran fidelidad.

Otros pueden prometer,

Pero tú tus promesas cumples.

Los enemigos del alma

Moneda falsa nos dan.

Por tu carácter, Señor

Nunca cambias tú.

Tengo plena certeza en ti, Señor

Pues, tú no puedes mentir.

Pero ya pagaste, Jehová

En Cristo mi redención,

Y para tu propia gloria, oh Dios,

Tus promesas son sí en él.

Tus misericordias, Señor,

Nuevas cada mañana son,

Y todas las cosas nos ayudan a bien

Para tu gloria, Señor.

Y todas las cosas nos ayudan a bien

Para tu gloria, Señor.

Your Promises / By Rob

Your promises, Lord, to me

Keep my soul in peace.

Your guarantee, Most High,

Of your great faithfulness.

Others make promises, too,

But you your promises keep.

The enemies of our souls

Pay us in counterfeit coin.

By your character, Lord,

You can never change.

I have perfect assurance in you, Lord,

Because you cannot lie.

You, oh Lord, have paid

My redemption through Christ,

And for your glory, my God,

Your promise in him is “Yes!”

Lord, your mercies to me

New every morning they are.

You work all things together for good

For your glory, dear Lord.

You work all things together for good

For your glory, dear Lord.

Satan finally realized, but too late, that Heaven is for real. Don’t let his charades be your examples!

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God’s Power Is Insatiable

On By tgifmastermindsIn Prayers For Spiritual Growth, Prayers For UnderstandingLeave a comment
We cannot force someone to hear a message they are not ready to receive, but we must never underestimate the power of planting a seed.
The power of God just keeps on reaching. Nothing can stifle or impede it.

The only physical description of Jesus in the Bible occurs in Isaiah. “Want to recognize the Messiah when he arrives?” Isaiah asks. “Look for the man who resembles a little tree growing out of barren ground” (53:2, paraphrase mine).

Do you need more of a physical description of Jesus than the one above? Well, I did. So I prayed and asked the Holy Spirit to help me visualize the essence of Jesus Christ. Following is a brief exert from the prayer I prayed.

“Dear Holy Father, as stated in 2 Corinthians 3:18, You see all of us human beings with unveiled faces being transformed day after day into Your likeness. And this transformation should produce an ever-increasing shekinah glory that emanates from the Holy Spirit. Now, since Christ Jesus is Spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth, please give me some sign like you did Jeremiah. Although Jeremiah was fleeing from God at the time, he admitted that his flight was in vain. Basically, because God’s presence was like a fire in his heart, shut up in his bones, and he became weary holding it in. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for being that Tree in my life like the one in the picture above. Please supply me with that ‘Break-through’ strength and help me break every chain that attempts to prevent me from becoming all that I can be in Him. Amen!

The Process Produces The Product..

I have learned that the key to growing up in the likeness of Jesus Christ is not to attempt it on your own. The process is in the ingredient. And the ingredient is called The Holy Spirit which has already been purchased for you at a price. All you have to do to claim it is to posture yourself in a position of submission; humbly asking, earnestly seeking, and surely you will find it.

You will soon discover that your whole demeanor and way of thinking has changed. Your perspective of the world will not be sadness and shame. You will move on to a new way of life. And when you go outside, you will see the world in a new light. You will find out that God’s Rock is higher and bigger than yours and mine.

Featured below is an illustrated rendition of Alfred Joyce Kilmer’s very famous poem entitled “Trees”. He was killed in 1918 while on a battle field. His poem explores the wonderment, creation and mysteries of God. (Click and Enjoy)

by Joyce Kilmer (Illustrated) “I think that I shall never see a …

https://www.youtube.com › watch

Scripture Lesson: “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen” (2 Peter 3:18).

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God Challenges Us To Become Bridge Builders

On By tgifmastermindsIn Building Spiritual Bridges, Prayers For Life Changes, Prayers For Understanding4 Comments
Bridge Building Should Become A Part Of Your DNA (#WordPrompt)*

Do you believe that since Jehovah God is the God over all people and places, should not his devoted followers be challenged by God to become bridge builders and to more and more live a life of servitude to whomever we meet along the way? Knowing that such encounters by his followers will open their eyes and strengthen their hearts to become more Christ-like in so doing.

Personally, I am a witness that this is true.

During the summer of 2012, I traveled to Amman, Jordan, with a very dear friend of mine (we will call her Naomi) and her teenage son. Since Naomi is a native born Jordanian and owns property in Amman, we were privileged to stay in her home while visiting there. Naomi immigrated to the United States from Amman after she became a widow some years ago. Nevertheless, she keeps close ties with her biological family and friends who remain in Jordan.

A story of Bridge building impromptu…

One afternoon while attending a house prayer meeting in one of Naomi’s friend’s home, the services were interrupted. An announcement was made that more than a few Syrian refugees had fled their country in the north and had migrated down into Amman. We were told that many of the Syrian refugees had arrived from their country with nothing more than the clothes on their backs. I was amazed at how quickly the prayer services turned into a volunteer rescue mission headquarters.

Without hesitation, the pastor shepherding the group called for the secretary to pull up a table and chair and be seated. He proceeded to ask the small congregation gathered there what food supplies, clothing items and monetary gifts they could donate to help assist these migrant people. I heard shouts of medical supplies, shoes, clothing, sundry items, bibles, monetary contributions, baby formulas and eye glasses. I even heard someone shout mobile transportation and another, room and board.

No church parishioner asked what denomination the upheaved sojourners were affiliated with. No church member called for a meeting with the Trustee Board. No church clerk wanted to make a report on how much money was allotted in the church budget for this kind of unexpected philanthropy distribution.

A miracle in the making…

What I witnessed was one “Bridge Builder” at a time, in that house of God, volunteering to be counted among the saints and ‘Barnabas‘ for the work of the Lord. The generosity of those congregants overwhelmed me! And I had tears in my eyes. I vowed then and there that although I had arrived in Amman, Jordan, with two suitcases, I would return to the United States with none. Additionally, I had already presented a modest monetary contribution, funded by myself and my home church back in the states, which I presented to the Amman church. Yes, I left everything I had packed in my suitcases right there in the city of Amman for those persons less fortunate.

I shall never forget that experience. It was like a dream where I was surrounded by angels. Nothing but “Bridge Builders for the Kingdom of God” were in attendance! One nation of peoples helping to shore up another nation of people! And thanks be to God for allowing me to have been a part of his bridge building project.

My Prayer for you…

Dear Jesus, thank You so much for loving us. And please continue to help us to experience opportunities that will equip us to better and more intimately know You. Continue to allow us, as You allowed Your servant Paul, to develop a personal and intimate relationship with You that broadens our understanding of Your suffering, power to overcome and resurrection from the dead. The true incident of the Syrian refugees and the generosity of the Jordanians was truly a revelation on how to show love to our fellowman and how to build bridges that can help to promote Your holy word to others. We ask these blessings in the precious Name of Our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Scripture Lesson: “If it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.” Romans 12:8

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

(*) Note: My blog host, WordPress, suggested a #WordPrompt (Bridge) for their bloggers to blog about for the month of March 2022.

God’s Holy Word Has Something To Say About Colors – Part 2

On By tgifmastermindsIn Instruction on how to disciple others, Prayers For New Beginnings, Prayers For Spiritual Growth, Prayers For Understanding3 Comments

As we continue to proceed with Part Two of “God’s Holy Word Has Something To Say About Colors”, I trust you have not only enjoyed Part One, but have learned something very interesting (based on their description) and gratifying concerning the election of various colors God chose to assign to his creation.  And the beauty of God’s selection of colors is that he did not have to labor over nor give a great deal of thought to his assignments.  That’s because God already knew what mental effects various colors would have on mankind’s physic and mental welfare.

So, let’s continue our study of colors by investigating ‘White’, ‘Back’ and ‘Gray’.

The Color White

In the Western cultures, especially in the Christian Holy Bible, the meaning for the color “WHITE” represents honesty, innocence, purity and cleanliness. But the one symbol that I find the most interesting is ‘hope’. Let’s review how in Genesis 30:25-43, Jacob (later called Israel) whose name means ‘supplanter‘, tricked his boss, Laban, into paying his wages in livestock.

Jacob proposed that Laban allow him to go through Laban’s flock and remove every spotted, blemished and speckled goat, lamb and sheep (livestock that was deemed unprofitable financially), and they be given to Jacob as his wages. By the way, Laban had changed Jacob’s wages ten times, but had never paid him a dime of it.

So, Jacob proposed to Laban that he separate his ‘worthless’ livestock and give them to him as his wages. Laban agreed. Unbeknownst to Laban, Jacob cut branches from poplar, almond and plane ole ordinary trees. He peeled the bark from the branches but allowed stripes of white inner bark to show through on the cut limbs. Next, Jacob, placed some of the branches in Laban’s watering troughs so that they would be directly in front of the livestock when they came to water and to mate.

The Holy Spirit did not communicate to me the meaning of Jacob’s actions, but suffice it to say that Jacob’s shenanigans worked out and flocks of little lambings and kiddings were born with streaks and speckles; enough to make Jacob a very rich herdsman. Those white streaks on the branches were the cause of it all. (And of course, God’s miraculous hand of intervention.)

The Color Black

“BLACK” is known as a sophisticated color. This hue is timeless and classic. It symbolizes strength and power. Black is also the most popular color in the advertising/signage world. There is also an air of mystery, disception and evil associated with this color. In scripture, God says that He formed the light (to depict righteousness) and he created the darkness (to be the consequence of disobedience, sin and trespasses. (Isaiah 45:7)

Black is also associated with our sins, moods of depression, loneliness and harboring pessimistic feelings of anger.

Question? So why do we say: “He/She told a little ‘white’ lie? Why isn’t the question; “He/she told a little ‘black’ lie?” Go figure!!!

The Color Gray

While the color black represents Good Friday in the Christian world, the color ‘GRAY’ represents the season of Lent and is closely associated with fasting and prayer. And naturally the color gray denotes repentance and maturity (Senior citizens).

In some circles, psychologists define gray as a color that fosters stability. It is preceived as being a neutral color and brings balance and harmony. At other times, gray adds sophistication to situations like being a go-between for the colors white and black.

Sometimes you hear people express a particular negative mood that they are in, such as: A gray mood or a melancholy mood. The root syllable for melancholy is ‘mel’ which denotes bad or evil and the ending is ‘holy’. Could this color silently signify that God is not pleased with our wishy-washy sacrifices of praise. (I’m just sayin’!!!)

Illustration of different color meanings in color psychology

PLEASE RETURN NEXT FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2022, FOR PART THREE OF THIS HIGHLY INTERESTING AND INFORMATIVE SUBJECT ON COLOR PSYCHOLOGY IN THE BIBLE. HOPEFULLY, MY RESEARCH ON THIS SUBJECT WILL HELP INCREASE YOUR BIBLICAL KNOWLEDGE ON HOW GOD EMPOWERED ALL OF US TO SEEK AND LEARN MORE ABOUT HIS GOODNESS AND MERCIES CONCERNING THE SECRETS OF CREATION.

My prayer for you

My Dear Lord and Savior, please make me willing and unashamed to witness to others about my relationship with You. Help me to develop scriptures along with my own life experiences around colors that can represent You in a mighty and truthful way. Empower me to show them Your marvelous will and Your loving precepts. Guide my enthusiasm and direct my search for resource materials like children’s bibles that come with colorful felt swatches of materials that will help me use colors in my delivery of Your truths. And then use those whom I have witnessed to and whom You have empowered with the Holy Spirit to spread the Gospel to their families, friends and communities. I ask it all in the precious Name of Jesus the Christ. Amen.

Scripture Lesson: “Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him. “We have found the Messiah” (that is the Christ). John 1:40-41

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

The Color White

God’s Supreme Invitation

On By tgifmastermindsIn 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!