22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. -Gal 5 Blessed is the name of our Father who redeemed us through His Son and maintains us through Holy Spirit! Have you ever heard the quote that patience is a virtue? The Lord Jesus expounded on the need for patient on many occasions. To you understand how important it is to have patience let’s look at the word virtue. Per your standard dictionary, Virtue is a behavior indicating the one practicing such behavior has high moral standards. So patience indicates the inner life of a Christian. This explains why a fruit of the spirit is long suffering (patience). As the Lord has patience with us individually so does He with the body of Christ and the souls outside the body. So we should ...
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I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. -Psalms 40:1 Good morning and God bless you. The middle part of our week is referred to as Hump Day”, as in if we can make it over this Hump we can finish the week strong. As a kid I remember building ramps to jump bikes; and I use the term build very loosely here, because it was usually a plank laid across a speed bump in our apartments. I would then align myself 40 to 50 yards away to get a head start and then at break neck, leg, arm and everything speed, I’d come barreling towards the ramp. I’d paddle as hard as I could up to the point of ascending from the lip of the ramp. Then there is the middle lane of my flight, when I’d not paddle. But right before my tires made contact with the surface I’d begin to paddle furiously again. Not understanding the importance of “pre-surface paddling”, once I neglected to do so to test the results. Needless to say my unchecked momentum bolster...
Good morning and God bless you!!! On yesterday while waiting to eat breakfast at Cracker Barrel I began to peruse the assorted treasure therein found. It was when my wife pointed out the Harry Potter Book and then the Study book by Apostle Tony Evans that a thought came to mind. We elevate the secular above the purity of Holiness which in itself is dangerous, but in the case of the Harry Potter series we begin to elevate the demonic above living holy. The series is known to have real spells and incantations and introduces our children to witchcraft at their most impressionable age. Innocuously enough it is framed with candy canes and sugar plums. Yes to some it may appear that Christians read too much into things, but this metaphor should not be taken lightly. God uses metaphors to explain things. Jesus used metaphors often calling them parables. Wake up and treasure your gifts lavishing them in holiness, love and understanding. God bless...
Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. -Psalms 37:4 Good morning and Happy Blessed Monday to you! I know of a bakery called Delightful Desserts. Their motto is Heavenly Treats on earth. As I consider the motto I am rather offended for heaven. Because nothing and I mean nothing compares to heavenly things. The delight the writer of Psalms alludes to is when you thirst for and do righteousness. When your true joy comes from serving the Lord with all your heart then you live a life in utter delight. This is not to say life will be without challenges. But keep in mind we are called to do right “Be not weary in well doing” so that the reaping of the delight is realized. The blessings are reciprocal. Serve the Lord, your ways are pleasing to Him, He showers you with His joy, you continue serving, He continues to be pleased! Your comments and questions are welcome. Contact ...
Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. -2 Timothy 1:6 Good morning and God bless you TGIF. There’s a story told about a young man watching his mother cook cornbread in the kitchen. As she added ingredients he took note of the eggs in their consistency didn’t immediately mix into the cornmeal. Having asked his mother she explained the purpose of the eggs in the batter. Without the eggs the batter will not take on the fluffiness required. And if the cornbread isn’t fluffy, it isn’t as good as it could be. Paul the Apostle wrote to Timothy about the importance of unlocking what is inside. We all have deep seated gifts inside and those gifts are activated by prayer and through the laying on of hands. Those gifts remain untapped even with the laying on of hands unless we put a demand upon them. To be better stewards of our dominion stir up those things that they do not lie dormant. ...
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? -Psalms 27:1 Good morning and God bless you. As a child there was this one commercial that would advertise an insurance company whose motto was “Get A Piece of the Rock”. The icon was the face of this huge cliff and on top was a man. The man looked up at the sun basking in its light and had this big smile on his face. He exuded confidence looking below at what had been until the rock. The sponsored show was about an ongoing safari. The wild life expert would show survival tips of dealing with the animals. Interesting the correlation where the rock is Jesus and the wild animals represent the state of this present world. As children of the most high God through Christ, we have that assuredness when the Lord is our foundation we are able to declare as the Psalmist our devotion to and the protection of the Lord. And when ...
You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. -James 4 God bless you this beautiful day. On yesterday we began looking at James chapter 4 versus two and three. Let’s pick up where we left off. The last sentence in verse two it’s often used, but in the wrong context. James was speaking more in terms of us asking God to help us identify His desires for our lives to receive and to be a blessing. I’ve often seen it used to justify someone’s selfishness. As a Christian when we see a need, God wants us to pray and or meet that need. When it rests on you , it is God who is pricking our heart telling you to give. In verse three to sum it up, James went deeper to a place of explaining that God gives according to His will, thus we must ask according to His will. His will is not to withhold any good thing from us. And finally His will is we are good stewards of His blessings. Y...
2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. -James 4 Good morning, God bless you and happy Tuesday. This morning before prayer, a thought came to me about owning words we speak and we words receive. Everyone wants their blessings but do not understand that we own our words and can either accept or own what others say. Owning our words allows us to desire things God has for us and not what He has given others. God wants to bless us but we must know the difference between what He has blessed us with versus what is stolen. 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. Verse by verse... Cain desired what God had said about Abel and could have had the same but hi...
Good morning, God bless you and happy Monday! Let me share from my journal a few thoughts. These thoughts are several years old and haven’t been promoted to a sermon but they should bless you as you begin your work week. There may be places of elevation that God wants you to go but didn’t intend for your friends to go there with you. No matter how close you are with them that doesn’t mean you are intended to go there with them or that they go to the place of elevation God wants you to go . Plenty of people you think got your back are using it for target practice. The place of elevation you reach may be because your talent, resources or other factors were used to promote you, but without the character you can’t sustain that level. Some may walk a mile in your shoes but what good is that mile when you have five more miles you need them to walk. Your comments and questions are welcome. Contact me at drschaefferinterceding@yahoo.com You can give to Inte...
16 And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook. 17 And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land. -1 Kings 17 Good morning, God Bless you and TGIF! The scriptures above are part of a story applicable to the name of God, Jehovah Jireh. Because in the story, God provides. He first provided punishment to the wicked King Ahab, Queen Jezebel and the people of Israel. Then the one who delivered the news was not to suffer. God commanded natural predatory birds to feed him and placed him by a brook to take drink. And finally when the water source dried up God sent him to a place that seemed unusual. To a widow woman who was poorer than most. There God provided for him, her and her son. On this morning I want to leave you this thought. Don’t hang out at dry brooks. A dry brook could have been a source of sustainment, a s...
18 Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. 19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. -Isaiah 43 Good morning and God bless you. Elephants are known to have long memories. The other day I read of how a pack of Elephants who were saved from starvation and protected from hunters by a wild life conservationist, paid him tribute upon his death. They seemed to have sensed something was wrong. The group appeared outside his home after traveling a great distance and silently lingered around for a number of days before leaving. Not to tout long memories but more memory perspective and placement. The Elephants having made good memories, actually having perspective and placement skills, were able to pay tribute in their own way. The scriptures above are a call to let go of hurtful pass things. People, ev...
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. -Isaiah 40:31 God bless you and good morning. Welcome to hump day. I was recently watching an episode of the Andy Griffith show (yes I’m that corny) and their preacher was preaching a sermon on slowing down. That show of course was on television from the late 50s through the 60s. Yet here we are 50 years later and not many of us heed the simple message of taking our time. Not much can be found that has been beneficial from the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath, but one thing for certain is it has slowed us down. I have grown closer to family, friends and if it is even possible, to our Lord. I didn’t know how much I was missing because I had become too busy. The scripture above is so applicable telling us to wait on God! The strength doesn’t come when your wait is over, it...
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; -Colossians 3:23 Good morning and God gets the glory! Ready for work! Wallet or purse-check Lunch-check Coffee-check Kiss love ones- check Cell phone-check Car keys-check Attitude-???? Many times we have an expansive and all inclusive checklist in preparation for our workday. After checking off the numerous things that we take to work with us what, we leave is our joy as denotes by our poor attitudes. Amen or ouch. Whether we left it at home on the couch, the closet or brand new in a box matters not. The point is to have the right attitude towards people and situations. Paul the apostle wrote to the church saying do things well and with the right attitude. Many skilled Christians do things excellent but in vain, having a self absorbed and combative attitude. Not just at work, but also in the house of the Lord. There should not be a separation of God and our very lives. Sinc...
Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. -Job 1:10 Good morning and God bless you. Happy Monday! “As I survey the lay of the land”, I take note of an excessive amount of discouragement wrapped in fear. Poverty, disease, violence and other dreaded things are fed as a daily diet for all three meals to include snacks. With more information at our fingertips than ever before media outlets are all waiting to scoop up the latest horrid event and shovel it upon us. If it wasn’t for God’s perfect peace and resting in the knowledge that God places a hedge around His own, we would likely be overwhelmed by fear. Oh my if brother Job had heard the conversation in heaven, would he have made better statements about his suffering? Not sure if he would but consider that God protects us when we know it but certainly when we...
Good morning. Let me share from some notes I made a few years ago. I believe it will help someone. Your agitation is purposed aggravation for your acceleration. When achievement is absent, frustration is present. A lesson on stewardship Trap or Die It's the philosophy in which you have to hustle , deal drugs or do something illegal to survive. If not you might as well resort to dying because you ain't gonna make money . Sometimes we miss what is in our hand by focusing on what’s in somebody else’s. Sometimes if you only knew what was in your hand, it will frighten you. But once you become as obedient as Moses you will find that you can pick up or control that thing by picking it up. God has placed in our hand what can be the serpent or the staff, whatever you need at the moment. When God arranges elevation, the enemy orchestrates irritation. People are not jealous of what they don’t admire. ...
When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; -Psalms 8:3 Good morning and God bless you. One of my all time favorite shows is “Leave it to beaver”. Yes I am corny. While watching yesterday I heard a conversation between Beaver and one of his friends. The gist of the topic was Yellowstone Park and it’s hot springs erupting on the hour. Beaver asks his friend how does nature keep up with time and then said... “If nature ever goofs off, boy would we be in trouble...” Well let us thank God that nature is set by Him and is much more dependable than we are. The Psalmist starts off the chapter with a scripture first proclaiming, then he pondered, asked more questions and proclaimed more. Our God is glorious in all action, glorious in all function and glorious in all thought, yet He who knows the effect of man’s sin nature still considers us His best achievement. Knowing yourself but He knows ...
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. -Hebrews 12:2 God bless you and yes it is already Wednesday. We are so blessed to be yet among the living and no matter what you may face today, trust God! What does it mean to “look unto Jesus?” I believe to some Jesus is merely an object used only when dire circumstances necessitates. The “genie in the bottle”, if I may. A story found in Acts 7:56, culminates though not concludes as more verses remain in the chapter. What does it for me is the declaration of Stephen below. And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. -Acts 7:56 Though Stephen was obviously in pain, instead of allowing the pain to mar his focus, he looked towards heaven and saw Jesus... He was looking toward Jesus and not toward the pain or the wr...
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. -Hebrews 12:2 Hallelujah Glory to our God! I woke this morning with praise on my lips, my mind stayed on the Lord. It is no wonder the 24 Elders adore and marvel at His goodness. Let’s examine the scriptural jewel above. In particular “who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross”. My God, He called us joy! As I thought about His reference of us, I also thought of the price He paid. The price was humiliation and pain beyond our understanding, but all for the joy...Even the way this scripture is written, the sequencing of the words speaks to the love of the Father. The pain wasn’t the first thing Jesus considered when it came down to us. He knew full well the pain but more importantly He knew the cost was too high for us to pay. So for us He endured the c...
After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. -John 19:28 God bless you and welcome to Monday. TGIM? As we have just celebrated our risen savior on yesterday let’s look deeper at His last utterances on the cross. His 5th saying is found in the scripture above. I thirst. A prophetic utterance as shown in Psalms 22:15, but I see it as a command to thirst for righteousness and for the gospel’s message to be spread. What causes thirst? May I offer to you that thirst is caused by stress which is scientifically proven but even further when the world is dry and lacks the moisture of God, the body of Christ should be thirsty. God both desires and causes us to thirst. In psalms King David said I thirst for you Lord as the deer panted for the brook. I can understand thirst because there are too many dry places. Some places that are drier than the Sahara desert....
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; -2 Corinthians 10:5 God bless you and TGIF. Recently I blogged about praying right but thinking wrong. Joyce Myers in her book wrote the battlefield of the mind and it alludes to keeping our mind under subjection of Christ. The mind is an incredible repository of knowledge that is useful, helpful or even harmful. As the mind works gathering information we must be mindful to not forage in the wrong bush. To experience that perfect peace you must have control of your mind. Though things come to your mind, do not let those things contrary to the word of God have free reign. This is the meaning of the scripture above. Bring your thoughts to the cross, and if they do not measure up, they must go. Your comments and questions are welcome. Contact me at drschaefferinterceding@yahoo.com You can give...