The Stickman's Understanding...

  To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. -Isaiah 61:3 Good morning and terrific Thursday to you!     The Bible often refers to the body of Christ as Zion. Zion being a place of peace, protection, and provision as Canaan was to the Israelites coming out of Egypt.  Israel went into Canaan and though the heavy lifting had been done, they still had the job of clearing the land, so is it in Zion. Hence why there is mourning in Zion. Mourning denotes the cost of the battle.  Yet there was reward for the suffering in Canaan and there is a reward for suffering in Zion. Though the work had reduced the soldiers to ashes, the Lord will restore the ashes, replacing them with beauty.  #pray1Tim2  God bless you and command your day!!! Your com...

  And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. -Exodus 17:11 Good morning and happy hump day to you!    The scripture above parallels the words of our Lord in John 12:32, where He said, “If I be lifted up.” When we lift up Jesus—both in our personal lives and before others—it leads to victory. Even the army of Israel, under the capable leadership of Joshua, could not prevail when Moses’ hands were not raised. In the same way, we place ourselves in jeopardy when Christ is not exalted in our lives. It must be Him—not us, not even our well-meaning positions—that is lifted up. Only He is worthy. #pray1Tim2   God bless you and command your day!!! Your comments and questions are welcome. Contact me at drschaefferinterceding@yahoo.com You can give to Interceding Christian Center (ICC) using our cash app $intercedingcc

  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. -Colossians 3:15 Good morning and tremendous Tuesday to you! The scripture referenced above comes from a letter Paul wrote to encourage healing and foster unity among the Colossians. Too often, people attempt to create unity without first addressing the need for healing. But true unity can only grow from a foundation where healing has taken place. And healing itself can only take root in an atmosphere of peace. Paul understood this deeply, which is why he continually pointed believers toward Christ—the source of true peace. As Christians, we are called to receive and live in that peace. Jesus Himself declared, “Peace I leave with you.” He calmed storms with a word, and with His peace abiding in us, we too can remain steady and calm in the face of adversity. #prayforthepeaceofIsrael God bless you and command your day!!! Your comments and questions are welcome. Contact me ...

For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright. -Psalms 11:7 Good morning and happy Monday to you!  Founding father Thomas Paine captured the intensity of the era following the Declaration of Independence with these powerful words:  “These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he who stands by it now deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.” Beloved, we are living in times long forewarned—days when the hearts of many have grown cold. “Fair weather” means little now, for even minor storms cause many to retreat. Far too often, compromise is the reason—choosing comfort over conviction, and silence over standing firm. Stay the course. Trust in the Lord above every other voice. Speak truth with grace, correct with patience, and remember always: hate the sin, not the sinner. #pray1Tim2  God bless you and command your day!!! Yo...

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. -Proverbs 4:23 Good morning and TGIF! Guarding your heart is often misunderstood as shutting others out of your life. But that mindset, if taken to the extreme, can actually hinder us from fulfilling our call to engage the world for Christ. In many cases, past hurt causes believers to retreat inward, distancing themselves from the responsibility of the Great Commission. In truth, guarding your heart is about protecting your inner man—your spirit—and preserving your relationship with Christ. Think of your life in concentric circles. The outer circle represents the world, where you’re called to be a witness. The innermost circle is the space of your heart, and not everything—or everyone—should be allowed access there. As the saying goes, you can’t afford to “take everything to heart.” Go fellowship this weekend, we all need it.  #pray1Tim2  God bless you and command your day!!! Your comments and questions a...

  So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; -Proverbs 2:2 Good morning and terrific Thursday to you!   Hearing truth without acting on it is no different than ignoring what’s plainly in front of you. Just as faith without works is dead, so too is listening without obedience. Simply knowing something doesn’t make one wise—that’s just information. True wisdom is found in applying what you know. The scripture above highlights a two-part principle for godly success: to listen  and  to act. The verses prior emphasize the value of elders in turning knowledge into wisdom. However, as essential as it is to receive instruction, it’s equally important that the wisdom shared by elders is sound and rooted in truth. #pray1Tim2  God bless you and command your day!!! Your comments and questions are welcome. Contact me at drschaefferinterceding@yahoo.com You can give to Interceding Christian Center (ICC) using our cash app $interce...