Dear Followers, Friends, Visitors, Students and Lovers who regard and revere God’s Word recorded in the Holy Bible! If all of your ‘getting’ is to get an understanding, then, I have a question for you. Are you familiar with the meanings of Implicitly (spoken in a way that is not directly expressed) and explicitly (spoken in a way that is clearly expressed)?

Would you like to be enlightened on how you can experience true fulfillment as well as ingest a reasonable segment of the mysterious nuances that occupy the storyline of God’s creation and his plans for everything he created?

STOP! Take the time to read Psalms 97:1-13. Allow passages from this short Scripture penned by King David to be prayed to the Almighty and ask him to spend some time with you. Introduce yourself by telling him you have been born again and have accepted his Son, Christ Jesus as your personal Savior and invited the Holy Spirit to rest, rule and abide inside you as your Master Teacher. Enter into your quiet space. Shout to the Lord with a voice of triumph! Seriously proclaim that He is God all by Himself and thier is no other gods above Him.

The secret is that the Bible is inundated with symbolisms and metaphors which are the bedrock of understanding the Bible. There are two particular OT Bible Books that focus on human disciplines and principles to live by: Namely, the Book of Proverbs and the Book of Psalms.

The Book of Proverbs has 31 chapters so it can be read in just one month. Especially the months that have 31 days in them. So why not make a New Year’s resolution and select a month in 2025 that has 31 days and then make a vow to incorporate the Book of Proverbs as a reading assignment in that month. The Book of Psalms has 150 chapters. Use the remaining eleven months in 2025 to read Psalms.

Now, I am not going to ask you to do something that I would not do. As a member of a 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. telephone Bible Study Group from Monday through Friday, the co-ed group reads 4 different Bible chapters each morning. We are issued a printed calendar for each month with the four chapters listed on each of the days. A volunteer reads a chapter and anyone on the line can pray over a bible verse when the reader finishes. An assistant pastor is explicitly available to interpret any implicitly biblical verses that are misunderstood.

And the results will be that illumination and discernment of God’s Word will become more and more obvious. A much deeper understanding of God’s incorporation of humor will also become more and more obvious to the reader as you rely on the Divine Author, the Holy Spirit, and recognize and accept Him as the third Person of the Trinity. If you are reading the Bible from sun up to sun down, but not leaning on the Holy Spirit to interpret the message, you will be leaning on your own understanding.

And do I dare say, also look for some slang or idiom expressions, too. Although idioms are a very informal language and used between people who belong to the same social group, that definition can be yours if you engage your Bible concordance for translation of certain words. (Different foreign translations of the Bible originally used slang or idioms to translate sentences into English. (Although, the Christian Bible does not say Jesus Christ (God) ever laughed out loud.)

My prayer for you…

Dear Heavenly Father, Please help and empower Your people to walk circumspectly, not as fools but as Your wise children, redeeming the time because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:15-16). Continue to unveil hidden meanings of Your words. We are no longer duty bound to walk in the ways of the world, but we have been transformed by the renewing of our minds. Please, please help us to be willing to change our thoughts, how to make them new so that we will not only be a new person but will also think in a new way. Amen and Amen!

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

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

“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.

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

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Whom among us have ever thought that God had failed them? Perhaps these soul-searching thoughts have entered into a person’s mind because goodness and mercy has so far rarely followed them during the course of their life time. Or maybe no consideration was given to prayerfully search out a godly counselor to guide them through life’s persistent obstructions.

Well, the Holy Spirit just wants to ask you one question…”How are you today?” (Click the song title below for the answer.)
It’s me, it’s me oh Lord Standing In The Need Of Prayer 2:26 min. (Then, return to the blog for answers.)

WHAT IS YOUR NEED…	WHAT IS JESUS’ TITLE…	WHERE IS SCRIPTURE FOUND…
Person to stand w/me	Advocate	1 John 2:1
I need advice	Counselor	Isaiah 9:6
I need food	Bread of Heaven	John 6:32-33
A better Life	Bread of Life	John 6:35
Be more dependable	Author of your faith	Hebrews 12:1-2
I’m a wreck	All in All	Col. 3:11-12
I need guidance	Chief Shepherd	1 Peter 5:4
To be rescued	Deliverer	Romans 11:26
Sympathy, comfort	Father of Mercies	2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Hope	God of Hope	Romans 15:18
Leniency	God the Judge of All	Hebrews 12:23
I’m a Bareface Liar	God of Truth	Deut. 32:4
I’m lost, no Hope	Captain of Salvation	Joshua 5:14
I’m sad, depressed	Brightness of Glory	Hebrews 1:3
Patience and Comfort	God or Patience	Romans 15:5
Love my neighbor	God of Love and Peace	2 Corinthians 13:11
(This space is for you)

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

(*) NOTE: Buckner Internationalhttps://www.buckner. Buckner transforms the lives of vulnerable children, enriches the lives of senior adults, and builds strong families through Christ-centered values.

Date:  December 8, 2007

Dear Diary:

     My limo driver to take me to DFW Airport (Dallas, Tx)  was 20 minutes late.  As I sat in my garage awaiting him, I silently anticipated just how marvelous and eventful the next 8 days would be.  You see, I'm packed and ready to embark upon my first mission trip with Buckner to Lima, Peru.  But altogether there will be approximately 28 volunteers converging to DFW from 4 USA states to be joined together to fly to Lima to visit several children orphanages and to hand out Christmas gifts, new shoes, VBS materials and a few medical supplies.
     Well, I'm finally at the airport and the limo driver conveniently dropped me off directly in front of Continental Airlines.  The skycap assisted me with 3 bags and even took my passport and checked me in.  Two of my luggages were filled with Christmas gifts for the children.

EVENT #1.

     As soon as I stepped inside the airport lobby, I was stopped by airport security as I attempted to pass through security.  I could not imagine I possessed any unauthorized object which I had packed on me that would not pass inspection.  What did security find...2 bottles of Elmer's glue.  YES!  And because of Elmer, I had to get out of line, put my shoes back on and return to the ticket counter.
     I did not want to throw out the glue but my only other alternative was to recall my checked 2 bags and insert the glue in one of them. I decided to do the latter.  The wait was turning into 15 minutes and my patience was wearing thin.  Just then the Good Lord stepped in.  A young couple (Amy and Casey) toting a black duffle bag with bright green Buckner tags attached got in the check in line.  Not thinking of the consequences, I rushed up to them and inquired if they would pack my 2 bottles of glue in one of their carry-on bags.  Amy's eyes got real big and she looked at her husband and said; "Are we supposed to do that?"  Her facial expression looked like she was about to yell for security!
     Right then, it downed on me that I had mentally identified the couple as being a part of my Buckner group by their green luggage tags, but they didn't even know me because my luggage was on its way back to me.  In haste, I identified myself and explained my predicament.  We all laughed and sighed with relief and allowed the Holy Spirit to say..."catcha"!  "And I'll be with you guys on your mission trip."

Event #2.

     When I finally reached the boarding waiting lounge, the first person to introduce herself to me was a pleasant young lady named Mary.  We did not know at the time we were assigned roommates.  But our conversation mirrored each others.  How much we loved the Lord, our passion for missions, how we both found and joined Buckner International, our growing relationship with the Holy Spirit and our growing opportunities to witness, support and see the scriptures come alive before our eyes.  (And you know Who arranged this time for us to become sisters in Christ before our union as room mates.  Praise God.) 

Event #3.

     During one of our first trips to an orphanage in Lima where the majority of the children were handicapped, a small boy approached me while I sat in the open court yard.  At first he just stared at me.  Then he came closer and took his finger and ran it along my cheek twice.  'No, it does not come off,' I remember thinking.  He did it again and we just look intently at one another.  I smiled and he almost did, too.  My corn roll hair braids were also a big hit with the young girls, the staff and the instructors, as well.  How I so enjoyed and felt blessed to be instrumental in uniting God's earthly human species into a loving, caring and inquisitive family of His. 

(A free pixel image of Peruvian children being taught with braids being taught by volunteers.)

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

(*) NOTE: This blog is a reprint. I first wrote and published it on January 22, 2021. I truly believe that it is applicable for such a time as this. Please, prayerfully read it and sincerely continue to pray for our nation. I have faithfully posted a weekly blog in conversation with my Savior since May 2018. (Feel free to post your comments below.)

At Your request, Lord, I come unto thee…heavy laden and burden.

The type of question asked in the title of this week’s blog was asked by Joshua in the Old Testament of the Bible:

Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand.  Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”      “Neither” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.”  Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?” Joshua 5:13-14

In Joshua’s case, he realized that God was in the mix of the battle the Israelites was pursuing with a Canaanite stronghold, but he wasn’t sure whose side God was on and who he was going to allow to win the battle. In my predicament, I indeed needed to poise a more poignant question to God concerning the state of affairs our nation found itself in at the nation’s capitol (Washington, D.C.) on January 6, 2021, when it was overrun by a riotous mob of insurrectionist.

So, in a prayerful posture of humility, and with a contrite heart and meek spirit, I approached the throne of grace this week and submitted myself to the Lord’s abundant mercy and compassion. Relying on the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appealed to Him on bended knee, to converse with me. And He did.

Early one morning this week, after I had finished my daily 6:00 a.m. prayer time on the telephone with about 35 other early riser prayer partners, I felt the comfort of the Holy Spirit still lingering in my bedroom. I closed my eyes and submitted my spirit to the welcoming angelic atmosphere. Speak, my Lord, I whispered, speak.

“Neither,” I heard a still small voice say, “For I am the commander over all political parties of the Lord whether they know it or not. Don’t you know, my child, that looking at conditions and affiliations from your political perspective is not a prerequisite necessary for admission into the Kingdom. If only all political entities would submit themselves to deep soul searching and look at their own agendas and motives for carrying out their actions and couple them with examples given by my Son, Jesus Christ, they would experience far more victories, accomplishments and successes from God than from their own understanding.

“It is for this reason that I have come to tell you to rest easy and to allow your emotions to be comforted with the knowledge that God’s outreached arm has you securely embedded in his care. He wants to remind you of his undying love for you and his love for his people. Put your hope in Jesus Christ. He is your Rock of salvation. Trust Him and see what the end will be. And know with assurance, if you continue to stand strong in Him, He will make your righteousness shine like the North Star and the breaking of dawn of a new day. So rise, shine, and give God the glory.” Amen!

Scripture Lesson: “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:6-7

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

Godly methods and interventions of getting our attention comes in many ways. According to scripture, the Holy Spirit uses many avenues to reach, empower and encourage His people. As for me, more so than with human beings, God uses nature and creatures to deliver my ‘report card’. So get ready, get ready, get ready! God is doing a new thing. He wants to bless you coming in and going out!

It has been suspected that every time you receive a compliment for a good deed or service you have performed for the Kingdom of God an Angel was dispatched from on High to deliver it. However, many times the recipient of the message fails to recognize Who authorized the message and its method of delivery. In Psalm 91:11-12 we read where Angels are looking out for us. And also in Deuteronomy 28:8 there is a very interesting promise: “The LORD will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and He will bless you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you.” 

About 25 years ago, I relocated from the state of Maryland, USA to Texas, USA. This relocation required that I unite with a new church. I began to pray earnestly that the Holy Spirit would direct me to a church with a thriving international missionary outreach program. Not long after I arrived in Texas, one Saturday morning I was listening to a Christian radio station that happened to mention an announcement concerning an all day picnic which was being sponsored by a local non profit organization called Buckner International(*). This organization was extending an opportunity for listeners to volunteer to participate in a short-term international mission trip to Acapulco, Mexico. And boy of boy, was I interested.

In the ensuing years, I volunteered to travel on several international mission trips with Buckner to their children’s orphan homes in various countries: Zambia, Zimbabwe; The Bahamas; Republica Dominicana; Republica Nicaragua; Bucharest, Romania; Lima, Peru; San Miguel De Allende, Mexico; Hanoi, North Viet Nam; St. Petersburg, Russia; Ammon, Jordan; Addis Abba, Ethiopia.

What a biblical first hand education I have received from the Master Holy Ghost Teacher. And all I can say is…to God be the Glory!!!

How can I say thanks when God made a way out of no way. When I grumbled and complained when there was no black boards or chalk boards in the small make-shift class rooms for my teaching assignments for the children. How I had to rely on the children to show me how to turn a child’s chair into a desk by sitting on the floor and using the chair seat as their desk. How the Holy Ghost told me to stop whining and use a stack of small brown 4-sided sandwich bags to draw on each side to depict the characters in the Bible story I was teaching to the children. (Now the little ones can turn their lunch bag into a hand puppet and take it back to their villages and recite the bible story to their friends who could not attend the mission conference. That chalk board would not have been portable. And yes, every child receives a new pair of shoes from the Buckner foundation.

Yes, I grew up in the Lord on the mission field! I came to know just how the Son of God provides the blessed assurances of His mighty works when there are seemingly no necessary resources available. God also imputed nightly dreams in my sleep to fortify me to always remember to display blessed assurances in humility and integrity when on assignment to feed and fortify His people. A hearty “Praise God from Whom all blessings flow” is all He loves to hear.

Are you an Ambassador for the Lord? Or are you just a ‘wanna-be’? God made it happen for me and so many biblical scriptures have come to life for me. I have seen the face of God in so many hopeful little faces. The children’s expressions of love, appreciation, hope, joy, expectation for a better way of life, and last but not least, the realization that there truly is a living God and he knows where I am.

My prayer for you………….

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you from the bottom of my heart and for helping me to mature in my service and walk with You. I receive Your forgiveness to the utmost and for nurturing me until I learned to leave the unnecessary baggage of the past behind me. My prayer is not only for myself but for others who need to step out on faith. To live this year with a commitment and enthusiasm and to exert ourselves in our service for You so that Your heavenly prizes will be ours until traveling days are done. Amen and Amen.

(*) NOTE: Buckner Internationalhttps://www.buckner. Buckner transforms the lives of vulnerable children, enriches the lives of senior adults, and builds strong families through Christ-centered values.

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

Did you know that just as God sent his Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to proclaim the Good News Gospel, he has also appointed you and me to do likewise.

I have been on the battle field for the Lord for decades, and I haven’t looked back. One spiritual exercise that I frequently engage in is praying for our nation. Especially now during the 2024 Presidential Election time. Initially, the prayer I’m sharing with you below was recited by me on February 22, 1996. Feel free to compose your own prayer for healing of our Nation and a renewal of our souls.

A CITIZEN'S PRAYER FOR HER COUNTRY

Return, oh nations of the world, and more particularly the cities of the USA.  Return.  For you have stumbled in your evil courses.  Come with your prayers ready.  Come back to the Lord.

Say to Him, "Father, You don't like to hold on to iniquity, so accept our plea, and we will pay our vows with our total being.

For our possessions will not save us, nor will we seek strength from false gods.  What we have acquired with our hands we will never again call gods.

We know now that in Thee and Thee alone the fatherless find a Father's love.

And perhaps one day soon we shall hear the Father's response.

Yes, I will heal their iniquities; of my own treasurers will I love them.  For my anger is turned away.  I will be as dew to my people so that they may blossom like lilies; grow roots deep into the soil like the poplar tree, and grow fresh limbs that they may be as fair a the Olive tree; and as fragrant as the Trees of Lebanon.

And my cities throughout shall again dwell in my shadow and not in the shadow of death.  My people shall prosper and live in abundance:  they shall flourish like a vine and be famous as the Wine of Lebanon.

What has the sinner man anymore to do with self-righteousness?  God says, "I'll remind you once more!  I am the pine tree that shelters you when you walk through the valley of the shadow of death; and it is to Me that your fruits or works are owed.

Let the wise consider these things and let him who considers take note:  for the Lord's ways are straight and the righteous walk in them, while the sinners stumble.

Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.  Amen

(*) NOTE: A person who shuns sin and who endeavors to keep God’s commandments.

ONE LAST REQUEST…BE SURE TO INCLUDE THE BIBLE IN YOUR REQUIRED READING MATERIALS.

The B-I-B-L-E song for kids (and also high school and college graduates) (Click here.)

YouTube·Trueway Kids·May 19, 2021

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

Do you solemnly believe that title? Because if you do, you must believe and embrace the teachings of the Old and the New Testaments. Namely, the Three Persons are: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus) and God the Holy Ghost! Also known as The Trinity! Nevertheless, none is greater or lessor or before or after the other. The Trinity is the author of the Holy Bible (Old and New Testaments).

So, I have a confession to make and I desire to make it publicly in the annuals of this blog post. I’M NOT PERFECT. AND I MAKE MISTAKES!!! AND I’M SORRY.

There, I said it! Now keep reading.

Like some of you, as a young adult, I lived an extremely self condemning life. I had an older sister (the first born) who was smarter in school than me. She was our parents favorite. She also was afforded the position of “warden” over the remaining 4 siblings because both our parents worked long hours. Our older sister lauded her position over us and she would report misdeeds us kids did to our parents that often resulted in us getting spanked or otherwise punished.

So naturally, my self and most of my younger siblings wandered around in life doing their own thing. Or listening to and following bad advice. Mostly going from one misguided decision to another. Confused. Wasting time, money, resources, strength and health. I contributed my share of rebellion, too.

But there was a ‘staple’ in our growing up years that help me to escape my rebellious life style. Our parents made us all attend church services every Sunday. Over the years, one Bible scripture struck in my spirit: “Blessed are the poor in spirit for they shall see God.” But wait! I thought. Will a person actually ‘see God’?

As I grew older, I began to process that verse and came to realize that yes, because in all of thy getting, one day a person will surrender to God. That will be their day of reckoning. That day is when they will be receptive to the Word of God. So far, I have been in the wilderness of life. Now, I am ready to come out of that wilderness or thought pattern.

LESSONS LEARNED...

But first, a person must realize just Who was always in the wilderness with them anonymously.  God was always with that person, but God did not show himself.  However, now that the person is ready (has come to him or herself), God will show himself.  For God blesses the meek by attending his ear towards them.

Now the question is will God show himself!  God will surely show himself within a Burning Bush.  The burning bush represents all the troubles and riotous living and bad mistakes that person has endured.  The Fire within the bush is the Mighty God.  Burning brightly...but not consuming it.

God is going to require the sinner man to approach him, but first the person must take off their shoes.  Take off Satan.  Get off following the path of error.

WHY?

Because now they are standing before God...standing on his path called Holy Ground.  God instantly changes the person's name to Moses which means he has been drawn out of the waters of confusion.  (In scripture, water represents trouble.  Jesus conquered water by walking on it...putting it under His feet.)

God is in that wilderness that we all go through, but we just don't see him.  We cannot see him as long as we allow ourselves to be slaves to the devil (darkness).  We must come to realize that when the scales fall from our eyes and we see God, we become somebody.  We can say, "I AM somebody in/with Christ Jesus!"

So now that the sinner man is barefooted (has put off error) and standing on holy ground (God) before a bush (his troubles) that is on fire (the 3rd Person of the Trinity), but not being destroyed (the bush is not consumed because trouble will always be with us), now the sinner man who has been brought into the Light is ready to receive his assignment and to begin to work for God/Jesus/Holy spirit (instead of Satan).  AMEN! and AMEN!

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

Yes, I’m addressing you, my dear readers, because this blog is very special to me. Why? Because I am very serious about cultivating and expanding my time to converse with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

His presence is so sweet and His voice so soothing and His advice so penetrating that I just can’t get enough. Once, when in prayerful discussion with Him, I distinctly heard the Holy Spirit say: “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.” (Matthew 18:20). Needless to say, I took that divine message to heart and have throughout my walk with the Lord attempted to surround myself with like minded believers in the Holy Scriptures.

So as not to be presumptuous and not to waste your time, this blog post is designed for those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. Our time together will be focused on identifying and developing our inner man’s or inner woman’s spiritual life; that is eternal life. For 1st John 5:12 says, “He who has the Son has life: He who has not the Son of God does not have life.“

Now, if you will permit me, I would like to share with you a synopsis of the ongoing conversations I have had with our Maker concerning how His people can continue to build up their spiritual houses; fortify their vital signs; and identify components that can help to make up a healthy and vital spiritual life support system.

"All scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man (or woman) of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."  2nd Tim. 3:16-17

One of the main courses of study for a Christian believer is their Bible.  This is the building license you need to begin construction.  The first part of the Bible is the Law and the Prophets and the History books.  God wants us to diligently study that portion of His Word as well as the New Testament, so as not to make the same mistakes as our forefathers.  The summation of the History books is found in 1st Corinthians 10.  What one should glean from these passages are that we need the protection and guidance of God; deliverance from our past sinful lives; acknowledgment of a spiritual Head over our lives (Jesus); to be constantly fed and provided for; and lastly, to associate with family and friends, especially those of the household of faith.

News flash!  Did you know that to do anything on a repetitive basis is habit forming?  Therefore, the application of what we read, as well as other avenues of experiences, should fortify and/or cause lifestyle changes within us as we learn to rightly divide the sword of Truth.  So, without a doubt, the study of both ancient and modern Christianity is a vital component to keep our spiritual life vibrant and healthy.

Useful tools to empower your learning efforts of God's Word...

• Charts, maps, blueprints and like-minded enthusiasts.
• Go on expeditions and tours of the Holy Land.
• Visit libraries and check out biblical reference books.
• Use your computer and engage Google.

Now, let’s talk about our minds. Let’s declare every day that we will show love to somebody, speak and think only positive thoughts and words. Eventually the mind, because it is constantly being fed positive stimuli, will produce vitality in the inner man or woman and the outer man will begin to disappear. (See Phil. 4:8)

Finally, dear readers, in our time together, let’s also reflect. Let’s look at things from God’s perspective. Just as I did when the Holy Spirit directed my attention to Matthew 18:20. The moment God is in the equation you must look inward at yourself. So, overall, when you study to show yourself approved, you should often stop to ponder over the slightest details which will put you in a state of humility. You will come to hear and see things in a new light. Remember, the opposite of humility is arrogance! And we don’t want that beast to raise its ugly head, now do we? Yes, the discipline of study that renews the mind, soul and body is directly dependent upon humility. And that’s got to be a good, vital, and healthy spiritual life support system component.

Some additional components that I have learned in my conversations with God on this subject are that it is alright to engage in various avenues of learning. For the Christian believer feasting on ‘meat’ rather than ‘milk’, don’t be afraid to pick up several bible commentaries, dictionaries, and other translations of God’s Word. Compile a collection of biographies and other thought provoking books like Shakespeare, Plato, modern founders of Christian sects. Go hiking and explore God’s creation and creatures. Attend lectures and join book clubs. Listen to the voices of birds and frogs. Stop to smell the roses. Ask God is there a message in the face of your pet dog as he wags its tail and greets you at the door when you’re late coming home. Practice living for God over and over again. Concentrate on what you are learning. Become a practitioner of prayer. Get an understanding about the matter. And finally, tell somebody how you have been changed. Become a Star witness to the Plaintive AND the Defendant.

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