God Has Unique Ways of Extrapolating Obedience – Part Two

On September 8, 2023September 8, 2023 By SonjaIn Scriptures For Biblical Maturity2 Comments

**One day God told Jonah to deliver a “good news” message to the people in a big city called Nineveh.**

Jonah was an Israelite and his people had a lot of enemies. He did not want to go to Nineveh to deliver a “good news” message. Jonah did not want to do this because Nineveh was an enemy of his people. Jonah decided not to obey God but to sail to another city called Joppa where he thought God could not find him. Jonah foolishly forgot that God was Ruler and Maker over all the universe. So, he purchased a ticket, got on the boat and immediately went down below where he could lie down and stay out of everyone’s sight.

God was not pleased with Jonah and decided to shake him up. Since God had made the wind and the rain and the sea, He called them together and commanded them to become a great and frightening storm. So the wind started to howl, the sea started to roar and the ship started to rock and roll.

Everyone on the ship became afraid and thought they would all die from drowning. They immediately began throwing cargo overboard to lighten the load, but that did not do any good. Everybody except Jonah was praying for safety to the god they believed in. Jonah was in the bottom of the ship fast asleep. The captain of the ship awoke him, and after questioning him determined that it was Jonah’s God Who was angry and He was judging them. After much debate it was decided to throw Jonah overboard in order to calm the raging sea and to please God.

**After much debate it was decided to throw Jonah overboard.**

Under these circumstances Jonah should have drowned but God showed him mercy and performed a miracle. He caused an extra large fish to perform like a submarine. The fish swallowed up Jonah and carried him to the bottom of the sea. Miraculously, Jonah lived in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights. He couldn’t see, eat, move or do anything other than pray to God and to tell Him how sorry he was for disobeying Him. After Jonah finished praying and asking God to forgive him, the fish vomited Jonah up onto dray land.

**Jonah eventually went o Nineveh and stated preaching to the people.**

Eventually Jonah was obedient and went to Nineveh. There he started preaching throughout the city like God told him to do. It took Jonah three days to walk from one end of town to the other telling the people that if they didn’t stop fighting their neighbors and killing innocent people God would destroy their city in forty days. Jonah’s preaching was so effective that all the people, as well as the king, listened and obeyed him. These people who were once mighty warriors were filled with the Holy Spirit and began crying out to God like little babies. They not only stopped fighting but celebrated with a party where everybody was invited, including the animals. What made this party special was that no food or drinks were served. They just offered up prayer and praise to Jonah’s God…the God of all the heavens and the earth.

When Jonah saw that God had forgiven the people of Nineveh and had spared their city, Jonah was extremely angry. Jonah knew that his God was kind and merciful and good and he did not want to share his God with those foreign people. He wanted his God to punish them. Jonah did not understand how God rules everywhere in the universe at the same time.

(Part Three to be continued next week…)

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

God Has Unique Ways of Extrapolating Obedience

On September 1, 2023September 8, 2023 By SonjaIn Uncategorized2 Comments

Hello…Hello…Hello…to all my followers out there in cyberspace. Yes, I have deputized all of you guys to claim the title of a cyber-deputy whenever you take it upon yourself to share any of my conversation blogs with your acquaintances. I am particularly hopeful that you will want to share this week’s blog because it will be the beginning (Part One) of me relating the entire Bible story of Jonah and The Great Fish in several weekly parts.

**Did you know that blogs are often viewed as offering an opportunity for public discussion in cyberspace.**

In June of 2003, I had an opportunity to teach the biblical story of Jonah and the Whale to a group of young married couples. I had to do some serious praying because I knew that in order to maintain their attention and attendance for the next four weeks, I would have to call on the Holy Spirit to instruct me on how to deliver the moral of the story: God’s universal message of how He so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that who so ever believed in Him would obtain eternal life.

Knowing that each family had multiple things that demanded their attention: like jobs to contend with, small children to care for, household chores, intense time for bible reading and unexpected situations clamoring for their attention… my job was not going to be easy. So, like I said, I had a little talk with Jesus and told Him all about my problem. As I started the chapters, I became excited as the Holy Spirit began to help me paraphrase the verses by incorporating colloquialism phrases used in casual communication. (This method of storytelling would allowed the students to actually become Jonah and to relive Jonah’s experiences with God.) The students even suggested that they participate by performing some role playing of Jonah’s actions.

FOCUS:

God is Ruler over all the universe
God is Judge over all the universe
God is everywhere in the universe at the same time
God controls nature, events and people everywhere all the time

INTRODUCTION:

The Bible story about a prophet named Jonah helps us to better understand Who God is and all that God is capable of doing. This Old Testament story is about Jonah’s disobedience and how he tried to run away from God and do his own thing. Because of Jonah’s action God made a fish perform like a submarine; a warring nation resemble a crying baby; a plant evolve into an umbrella and an arrogant man stripped of his contrite heart. God did all of this to show love to the world and to show Jonah that God is in control of everything.

PROGRESSION OF EVENTS:

A prophet is a man or woman selected by God to receive His divine message and then go and share the message with others. Sometimes the message is good news and sometimes it is bad news. Which ever it is it doesn’t matter. The prophet still has to deliver the message even if it means the people will get so angry that they will want to kill him.

(Part Two to be continued next week…)

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

God, There’s No One Like You

On August 25, 2023 By SonjaIn Uncategorized2 Comments

***Thank You, God, for answering every prayer…whether it is ‘yes’, ‘no’, or ‘maybe’.*** (*)

Dear Readers of this blog: Please permit me to ask you a very personal question: Have you ever catalogued any of your prayers to the Almighty? Like, perhaps in a scrapbook or diary or just in a plain spiral notebook. And, did you record the answers you received…if any? Well, for this week’s blog a strange thing happened to me. As I was surveying my book shelf, I ran across a scrapbook chucked full of daily prayers concerning world events and situations for the entire month of March, 2006!

As I leafed through it I recognized it as a theology study assignment I had to complete in one of my classes while attending The School of Ministry sponsored by Covenant Church located in a city in Texas, where I was a member. Our professor had just informed the class that we would be embarking upon our first mission trip at the end of our first academic year, and we would be responsible to finance all of our own expenses for air travel. The church would provide expenses for room and board. The classes’ assignment was to draft our first donation request letter that we would send to our family and friends and request financial support for this venture.

Our teacher explained that as future international missionaries, there would be lots of times in our work for the Lord that we would have to solicit funds from abroad to complete many mission related assignments, projects, and tasks in our sphere of foreign mission services.

***Dear Lord, please allow the literary composition talent you have invested in me to manifest itself at this appointed time.*** (*)

So, on March 18, 2006, the Holy Spirit directed me to compose my first donation letter that was to inspire others to dig in their pockets and contribute to my deep passion to become one who is sent by God to the uttermost parts of the world. So, this time, I upped the ante..I went to God humbly with a bouquet of Bluebonnets, Texas state flower. I thought just an olive branch would not do.

***God, There’s no one like You. You are the Greatest! I polished Your crown for You.*** (*)(**)

March 18, 2006

Dearly Beloved Family members, Friends and Well-wishers;

Please forgive me for the long delay in between my last update correspondence to you as to how I am learning how to mature in Christ. Well, since moving here, I have enrolled in the School of Ministry sponsored by Covenant Church. In addition to my theology studies, the first year students are given an opportunity to round out their first academic year by participating in a short-term mission trip.

After prayerful consideration, I know I am called to once again team up with follow missionaries and go to Latin America to assist in as many ministry activities as I can.

As the Lord leads you, I would love to have your support in my carrying out this worthwhile project. I have enclosed a brochure explaining the many programs that are in need of yours and my prayers and support.

Can I count on you to help me contribute to make a world of difference in someone's life. Covenant Training Institute is very well known in this state for its outstanding curriculum for missionaries. I am really excited about this opportunity to serve.

Upon my return from the mission field, I will send you my newsletter and pictures of the work the Holy Spirit is doing in those countries.

Please read all of the enclosed literature, follow the instructions and return the tear-off to me. If you have any questions, please call. Whatever your contribution, it will be graciously and gratefully appreciated.

Your personal World Missionary and friend.

MY prayer to you…(Written sometime in March 2006)

Dear Lord: There are a lot of missionaries presently serving in the mission field and a host of others who are preparing to depart on missionary trips. My home church currently has the Driscoll family ministering in Mexico. And a team of us will join them from March 11-18, 2006. A few months later, I will be a member of a mission team dispatched to Nicaragua and Costa Rica. According to Your will and Your ways, please keep all of us safe in Your arms. That’s my prayer in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Scripture Lesson: “You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.” (2 Corinthians 9:11-12)

(*) NOTE: The funny cartoon pictures and captions were added for emphasis for this blog.

(*)(*) NOTE: Now that was a bit over the top…don’t you think.

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

God Enjoys A Little Humor Sometimes

On August 19, 2023 By SonjaIn Uncategorized3 Comments

Hello to all my followers and visitors to this blog site. I profusely apologize for being a day late (Saturday) on publishing my blog. As you know, my mantra for my website is http://www.tgif…..which translates “thank God it’s Friday”. The rest of the identity is “masterminds.com”. Those words mean that my Master (God), uses my mind to communicate with Him.

I found it necessary to communicate this to you at this time because last week I experienced a very difficult and stressful time in the hospital and now that I have been released with a favorable report, I feel that a very heavy load has been lifted from my heart. So I asked the Holy Spirit to help me communicate with Him. Honestly, His reply was, let’s laugh together. So, below you will see what He suggested.

Gospel Quartet this is the funniest thing I have seen in a

No photo description available. — (You can title this picture. But I call it “Noah protecting his animals from Covid.)

I’ve got him, Jesus. He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother. Covid wont touch us.

Halloween zombie couple Wedding couple masked as a zombie standing in the forest wedding couple mask stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images

“I believe in wearing a mask. He doesn’t.” “We don’t believe in wearing masks!”

————————————————————————————————-

4:29NOW PLAYING Just click “playing” and listen to a most humorist rendition of a song sung by young boys. It will bust your belly.

After obeying the Holy Spirit’s advice, I felt much better in spirit. My spirits were lifted and filled with joy in my heart. Our Lord wants His children to be happy and full of peace and stability. In every situation in our lives, we must learn to live by the aide of the Holy Spirit. Why,, because He gives us the courage and hope in every situation and also He reminds us of God’s undying love.

Today, I feel much better. And I hope these few moments of laughter has caused your day to be much better, too.

See you next week…God willing… and the creek don’t rise. (*)

(*) Note:

(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

The expression “…the creek don’t rise” is an American slang expression implying strong intentions subject to complete frustration by uncommon but not unforeseeable events. It presumably evokes occasional and unpredictably extreme rainfall in Appalachia, that has historically isolated one rural neighborhood or another temporarily inaccessible on several or many occasions. It is sometimes thought that the word “Creek” instead refers to the Creek Indians, but this is unlikely.^[1]^[2]

Classic versions of its use tend to be along the lines of “The good Lord willing, and the creek doesn’t rise”—i.e. “If God so wills, and as long as intense rain does not wash away bridges or parts of dirt roads, or cover roads too deeply for safely following them.” It may take the form of real or mock dialect, in variations like “… Lor’ willin’ an’ th’ crick don’ rise.”

Scripture Lesson: There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans 8:1

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

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

On August 11, 2023August 11, 2023 By SonjaIn Godly Living and Maturing, Prayers For Understanding1 Comment

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

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

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

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

Well, as for me, “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” Ps 37:25 KJV. Therefore, 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 currently 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 witnessed 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 number of 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.

"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.

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.

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 – YouTube (Click Here)

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is image-3.jpeg

Scripture Lesson: “Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion. How gracious He will be when you cry for help! As soon as He hears, He will answer you. (Isaiah 30:18-19)

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

God Wants Us To Grow In Communication With Him

On August 4, 2023 By SonjaIn Godly Living and Maturing, Prayers For Life Changes, Prayers For New Beginnings2 Comments

Growing In Communion With God Matthew 6:9-13 King James Version

Speak, Lord, for it is my desire to hear You…and my hope is that You hear me. Come in today; come in to stay; come in to my heart, Lord Jesus.

Have you ever prayed the above prayer? Do you remember what happened? Did you experience a message from on High or were the voices too numerous to count? If that was the case, please allow me to interject some solutions.

After scoping out a quiet place to commune with God, double check to make sure all distractions have been silenced, and or removed, and necessities supplied. In other words, dismantle or enhance your atmosphere. It is always a good idea to anticipate, expect and desire the Presence of the Third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, to show up first. Therefore, you will possibly need a handkerchief, a glass of water, pad and pencil and most certainly your bible.

The posture you position yourself in is up to you. Just make yourself comfortable. (I would strongly suggest if you have any indoor pets, make sure they are boarded in a secure place and will not interfere with what you are attempting to accomplish.)

The next thing you might want to do is to take some deep breaths and begin singing or humming a hymn or Vacation Bible School song you learned in your youth. Concentrate on the words while singing, clapping, waving your hands or even walking around the room. Just become relaxed and know that you are engaging in a conversation just between you and God, with a smile and with great anticipation.

As you slowly enter into praying, properly address the Lord by His Name and location. Always include some of His attributes and don’t forget to offer your thanksgivings. Before you proceed to any other subject, know that you have entered into the presence of the Lord. All else should be silenced.

Address God again by rehearsing out loud His sovereignty. Reverently and majestically express how He is Lord over all other authorities. Here is a good place to recall some of the creations God made. You should also acknowledge the role of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, and His role in becoming our Sacrificial Lamb. Breathe! Take a drink of water! Auditably, invite the Holy Spirit to come in to join you!

Only now should you begin to present your needs and your desires and hope for others to God. Breathe! Remain silent for a little while. Listen for any constructive instructions from your heart. Have your paper and pencil ready. Repent and ask for forgiveness for any negative experience that arises in your mind. Do not allow doubt, accusations or disturbing thoughts to hinder you. Just audible give that mindset over to the Lord and ask for His strength to engulf you. Ask God to empower you with His Holy Spirit and keep you from all sorts of temptation.

Close your time with the Lord with praise, adoration and thanksgiving. Singing a sweet song wouldn’t hurt, either. Breathe! Begin reading your Bible more and more. And in all of your getting, get an understanding.

Let’s talk to God…

Dear Heavenly Father, You have made Your people a little lower than the angels and we want to act like heavenly beings. Please teach us how to change our thoughts and actions and make them new so that we might not only become new creatures, but that our actions, thoughts and pathways might forever be directed towards heaven. Amen!

Scripture Lesson: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievance you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:12-13.

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 Two)

On July 28, 2023July 28, 2023 By SonjaIn How To Pray For Others, Prayers About God and Me, Prayers For Life Changes5 Comments

TO ALL VISITORS TO THIS BLOG POST, PLEASE SCROLL BACKWARDS TO PART ONE OF “GOD SPEAKS TO JOB THROUGH JAMES” FOR AN INTRODUCTION TO PART TWO.

(To My Readers…This is vacation time for me. Therefore, I will be Re-blogging the next three weekly blog posts.)

As promised, herein is Part Two of last week’s blog with the same title. I indicated in Part One that I had written this dialogue between myself and the Holy Spirit some years ago. And that so many revelations were flooding my heart that I had to implore my Lord to slow down and allow me to get a pad and pencil to write them down. Well, once again, in retelling this conversation to my readers, I feel the same excitement and power of the Holy Ghost. It is my prayer that as you read this inspiring message given to me from On High, you will experience the same revelations, too.

So, here goes…and I invite you to share your thoughts by contributing a comment and forwarding it to me.

“God Speaks To Job Through James“

MY BRETHERN, COUNT IT ALL JOY WHEN YOU FALL INTO VARIOUS TRAILS. 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 ceased
from troubling, and there the weary are at rest.' Job 3:17

BUT LET PATIENCE HAVE IT'S 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 LACKS 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 wisdom. Job 34:35

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 THIOSE 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, 33:24b

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. Amen! Job 42:10

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 One)

On July 21, 2023July 24, 2023 By SonjaIn Godly Living and Maturing, How To Pray For Others, Prayers For UnderstandingLeave a comment

(To My Readers…This is vacation time for me. Therefore, I will be Reblogging the next four weekly blog posts.)

In my younger days, I participated in various Sunday School classes as a teacher and had the privilege to teach just about every age group. If I had to select which group was the most challenging, I would have to pick the young adult classes. Why this particular group? Well, the truth is the young adults hardly ever came to class prepared.

Also, the young mothers were constantly late for class because they had to deliver their little children to their respective Sunday School classes. The young men would dominate the discussion time with job-related situations, New Age commentary, sound-bite buzz words from popular television preachers and other personal life experiences that often had nothing to do with the subject at hand.

As we all know, there are great physical demands placed on the lives of our young people and a number of extra curricular activities are vying for their attention. Devoting time to study their Sunday School lessons was 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…’to show yourself approved‘ (2 Timothy 2:15). I also knew what it said about teaching…’teachers will be judged more strictly‘ (James 3:1).

And further more, as a servant teacher called by God, I was under the holy job description written in 2 Timothy 2:24-26: “And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to every one, an apt teacher, forbearing, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant that they will repent and come to know the truth, and they may escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.“

So I had a little talk with the Holy Spirit…

Subsequently, I categorically began to pray for every member of that class. I asked God to deliver fresh blessings on their jobs, children, educational pursuits, finances, emotions, health, marriages and other personal relationships. I begged God to open their eyes and ears; to whet their appetites; to give them a hunger and thirst for his holy word. Soon, I discovered that praying was not enough. Strongholds needed to be broken down. That called for fasting as well as prayer!

The fruit of my labor began to unfold when we started to study the Book of Job. Because of the students’ weak foundation in the Old Testament and their difficulty in understanding God’s treatment of Job, I found myself defending the scriptures instead of teaching the scriptures. I was just about ready to ask the Sunday School superintendent for a transfer out of the class when the Holy Spirit spoke to me a second time. (This time more forcefully.…)

I was led to read the first chapter of the Book of James. There I began to discover the answers to Job’s predicament…and my own. Revelations were coming so fast until I had to ask God to please slow down and allow me a chance to get a pen and paper. Praise God!!! These divine messages needed to be immortalized. The litany, “God Speaks To Job Through James” was the result.

PLEASE TUNE IN NEXT FRIDAY, JULY 28, 2023, TO READ HOW CHAPTER ONE OF THE BOOK OF JAMES COMPLEMENTS THE ENTIRE BOOK OF JOB. IN THE MEANTIME, PLEASE LISTEN TO THIS SONG BELOW.

English Christian Song | “Job’s Attitude Toward God’s Blessings”

https://www.youtube.com › watch

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

God Evaluated Mankind’s Propensity And Assigned Them Helpers

On July 14, 2023 By SonjaIn Uncategorized2 Comments

Oh Boy! Now she’s gone and done it. She has entered the mind of God

No, that is not true. I have not entered the mind of God…I have entered the pages of the Holy Bible. This week’s blog is based on this particular verse: “God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27

This subject matter came to me as I entertained myself with TV news commentaries, buzzy body text messages, gloom and doom newspaper articles, and celebrity magazine gossip. I said in my heart this world would be a far better place if mankind was more considered, and loving to one another. And Bam! Suddenly, I began to receive confirmation from various prayer groups I’m a member of, and in general conversations I engaged in with friends and family, and most importantly direct from the Holy Spirit. My inner most thoughts kept crying out; “Remember-the-golden-rule…Remember-the-golden-rule.”

Then the Holy Spirit asked me, Daughter, why do you look forlorn? Respectfully, I responded, Oh Lord, since God created mankind in his own image, then why do we treat each other with such distain. The Holy Spirit’s answer was this: All of God’s creation was negatively affected because of the original sin of Adam and Eve. The Triune God was the only WORD that was not negatively affected. Since God had blessed the created man with a free will(*), He knew the propensity(**) of man. Thus God preserved the manifestation of Himself through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. (The Helpers who judge by fire(***).

God also preserved His Holy word by means of providing chosen men and women to record His edicts in the Holy Bible. He also specified certain passages that were the most important ones for mankind to perform. The one referred to in this blog as the “Golden Rule” was among them:

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Matthew 7:12 and Luke 6:31

My prayer for you…

Dear Heavenly Father:

Lord God, I am sorry that I sometimes become despondent and appear forlorn as I read the Holy Scriptures without a clear understanding of its contents. I now realize how that disposition can effect how I relate witnessing to others. Please help everyone with that mindset to persevere when witnessing on Your behalf. I know that You Yourself will empower our testimonies, increase our faith and guide us in the ways of righteousness.

Especially make me, Lord Jesus, willing to witness to others about my relationship with You, and then use these people who have heard my testimony for the good of Your kingdom. Amen and Amen.

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

(*) NOTE: Mankind forfeited his Free Will (received from Father God) for a lie (received from the Devil, the father of lies).

(**) NOTE: Bent of mind, natural or acquired; inclination; in a moral sense; disposition to any thing good or evil, particularly to evil; as a propensity to sin; the corrupt propensity of the will. Example: To inherit a trait from your father or mother.

(***) NOTE: Those who preach, teach, proclaim and witness for God are His fellow workers. And on That Day (of Judgement), every man’s works will be tested and assessed on how much of his teachings will withstand the All Consuming fire.

God Chooses Whomever He Wishes To Do His Bidding

On July 7, 2023 By SonjaIn Uncategorized2 Comments

Suppose you imagined in your heart that the Holy Spirit whispered in your ear these words: I chose you before I formed you in the womb; I set you apart before you were born. I appointed you a (fill in a profession here)* to the people.

What would be your reaction to such a message?

Would your response be similar to the boy called to be a prophet in Jeremiah 1:6; “Oh no, Lord God! I don’t know how to speak since I am only a child.”

Prayerfully, I filled in the above blank with ‘writer‘. Then I added: Oh, Lord God, I’ve always wanted to be a prolific writer or blogger in the public domain. I love to write!

Suddenly, the next heavenly message I heard went like this! Sorry, my child, I don’t think you heard me correctly. What I said was; I chose you…not you chose you!

I provided and equipped you with skills and talents that are always to honor, reverence, trust and obey the subject matter I put before you which will enlighten and inform my people. See, I have appointed you over your tribe, clan, relatives and sojourners to be a pied piper to many soul searchers seeking after Me. So, stay focused, my beloved, as I order your steps for every Friday’s rendition of our conversations.

My Prayerful Mistake…

My confession of repentance is this; perhaps I should have inquired of the Lord as to what profession or special talent(s) He ordained for me instead of naming it myself. So often we are guilty of running ahead of God. And, no doubt we can end up on the wrong road to what we perceive as glorious.

My prayer…

Dear Heavenly Father, I no longer want to try to live the life that You have asked me to on my own. I want to be Your child who is led totally and completely by Your Holy Spirit.

Therefore, I beseech Thee to cleanse me and help me to surrender my life totally to Your control so that in the future Your Spirit can determine my actions as I strive to do Your bidding. In the Precious Name of Christ Jesus. Amen and Amen.

Scripture Lesson: So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:16, 25

(*) NOTE: Jeremiah was called by God to be a prophet.

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

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Donnie McClurkin – We Fall Down But We Get Up – YouTube (Click Here)

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