The Stickman's Understanding...

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 3:14 Good morning and happy Monday to you! If I have nor phrase to sum up my thoughts this morning, it would be: “Stay the course!” Beloved society makes it tough on godly parents. Given that often they press us to mix the secular with the divine. They target us by “indirect fire”. That phrase means to shoot something else to affect an indirect target.  The direct targets are our children and they are used to draw us, towards a blending compromise. Ones that are dear to us, they are targeted in an effort to change us, even if we don’t fully change, any compromise is considered a strike against God.  Know that love is correcting and though flexible in some things, righteousness is uncompromising. Consider that today in your decision surrounding sending your children out in their cute outfits.  Naturally it is innocent enough, but the spiritual harm the day promotes is beyond what...

  Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. -Matthew 6:1 Good morning and TGIF! Self recognition is the phrase given to those who promote their own actions. Keeping in mind that any action undertaken for recognition allows you reward to be that recognition.  The Bible describes our good deeds as filthy rags, so those deeds of self have little value.   That description relates to the clothing of beggars. Beggars not have the luxury of multiple changes of clothes and more often than not being homeless would just wear what they had.  Further some preferred to not have on clean clothes as they inferred wealth or at least the ability to be self sustaining.  Beloved simply explained this scripture tells us to do things for the right reason not to go FB Live.  Go fellowship this weekend, we all need it.  God bless you and command your day!!! Your comments and question...

  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: -Matthew 7:24 Good morning and terrific Thursday to you! The sermon on the mount taking the whole of three chapters of Matthew are truly rules for living. In chapter 7 we find the parable of the builder.  The soundness of this edict from Christ stings. For in it He spoke of more than a building. The principle applies to life.  A conceptual phrase that comes to mind is “sinking sand”. It is the foundation that doctrine of demons and men are built upon. Sinking sands appear to be solid but with just the right turmoil or wave it will begin to erode and wash away.  Sand or unsound surfaces, relationships and or practices are not to be built, built with or counted on for stability.  Beloved know the consistency of the surface that you intend to build on. All relationship are not solid and even those which appear to be are merely si...

  Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken. -1 Samuel 1:13 Good morning and happy hump day to you! On this morning I was meditating on the story of Hannah the mother of Samuel. The woman desired a child but well into her marriage she was barren.  This was particularly hard as not only the empty womb cried, society spoke harshly of a wife who was barren.  It wasn’t until in what must have been total desperation that her pitiful cry came to the ears of Eli, the high Priest.   From her conversation with him came Samuel. What I see in all this is God is faithful. And his timing is without question the best timing.  Beloved trust Him and wait upon His timing. He sees all that may hinder, hurt or even destroy what you desire of Him in the moment, as He knows what it takes to make the blessing permanent.  God bless you and command your day!!! Your comments and questions ar...

  Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. -Matthew 4:10 Good morning and tremendous Tuesday to you! In the story that the scripture above is found, we have the Lord at the climax of His temptation and His authority putting the enemy in subjection.  Here we have the creator being tempted by the creation and so, the Lord rebuked Him sending him scurrying. This confrontation is epic in the precedent it set for us. This is the predecessor of James’ (4:7) explanation saying to resist the devil and he will flee.  Though he does flee it is but for a moment therefore our need to be diligent is affirmed.  Yet in this all the enemy tempted the Lord so with certainty we should know we are not exempt.  At our greatest moment of anointing, when we are the closes to the Lord is when he will come jealously trying to sever the relationship.  This is why the Lord Jesus ensured t...

  Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth. -Psalms 31:5 Good morning and happy Monday to you! Today is a beautiful fall day, the migrating birds are singing and the sun is shining brightly. As beautiful as the scripture above, does it seem familiar to you? Perhaps even out of place. The reason is the first part of the scripture was stated by Christ on the cross. The last saying was His committal of Himself to the Lord.  It was then He ascended into hell. Of His own fruition and the very gates of hell trembled but opened (Psalms 24:7-10).  Some say Monday is their weekly ascension into work hell. But coming off the sacrifice of praise you gave on Sunday, you should be so full of power that those work gates welcome you, reluctantly but reverently required!  On yesterday you committed your spirit unto the Lord, now go forth beloved and represent our God and our Christ!  God bless you and command your day!!! Your comments and q...

  Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. -1 Thessalonians 5:21 Good morning and TGIF! As a kid I can recall often stating I would never treat my kids as I was treated. My mom would in no uncertain terms put the strap to the problem and the results were both immediate and impactful.  If I am being honest I deserved it 15-20 times out of 10 and mom catching that would say “I am getting you for old and new, for what I saw and for what I didn’t”.  Many like me in my generation said the same thing. And like me some realized the error in their ways and separated out what was good, sound, and applicable, removing what may have been caused by the filters of our parents.  But what I found was that some of these “old ways” are based on the Bible and they are proven to be effective and never expire in their usefulness.  The Apostle Paul in a sense exhorts us to examine things on a wholesale basis and sort through to get to that which is good. And once what is good...

  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 3:14 Good morning and terrific Thursday to you!  The Parable of the Donuts “ Listen young man to reach your goal, stayed focused on the donut and not the hole.” The great thought here is even though the donut is humble it has a lesson it can teach. Around the country it seems every small town has a favorite shop which could teach those big boys a thing or two, yet no matter how tasty all donuts have one thing in common, the center void or hole.  If the focal point is the center void and the goal is consumption, no matter how you try you will not taste donut.  The unknown author agrees with the Apostle Paul saying to us, value your focus and focus on what has value. The hole is near the “mark”, but it is not the prize.  God bless you and command your day!!! Your comments and questions are welcome. Contact me at drschaefferinterceding@yahoo.com You can give to Interced...

  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. -1 John 1:9 Good morning and happy hump day to you!  Have you ever considered just how amazing His grace. The Apostle John befittingly called to express Christ love gives us a glimpse in the scripture above.  Take note that a number is not ascribed to how often He will forgive us. As a number is not given to the times we have and will sin.  And further His justice is predicated upon a sincere heart. Now what the Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:31 is palatable and we should understand the reason our flesh must die daily. Beloved let the daily death of our flesh seek to meet His new morning mercies.  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 

  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. -Romans 1:16 Good morning and tremendous Tuesday to you! To not be ashamed? To you what does it mean to not be ashamed?  I have taken note of the increasingly boldness    of many who defy simple biblical teachings. If the Bible says don’t…they go out of their way to do.  But this shouldn’t    be a surprise as further in this chapter we are told the number reprobate minds will increase.  Yet in this our role to not be ashamed is amplified. Shame entails more than a sheepish look, shame is when you agree to omit His name in prayer because you don’t want to offend others who boldly proclaim the names of their gods.  Shame is when you participate in a multi-faith prayer, when you cast a ballot based on ethnicity for fear you will be classified a certain way.  Beloved the question now ...

  Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. -Psalms 25:5 Good morning and happy Monday to you!  What a fitting scripture to start the work week. The truth is Monday tends to be the most stressful day of the week and it is obvious why.  But the truth is that the Lord of Sunday is the same Lord Monday. As the Lord of your salvation adhering to the truth with a teachable spirit enables Monday to be just another day that He has kept you.  Finally waiting on the Lord has the promise that your wait and your faith are not in vain for those that wait…(see Isaiah 40:31).  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 

  Good morning and TGIF!     Over the last few days I have been sharing from a series I taught several years ago. The five P’s of Prayer. The five Ps are a formula of sorts that helps with faith and focus.    1.    Review of the five P's Problem Promise Prayer PRAISE PARTICIPATE Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. -James 2:17 The fifth P is Participate. The Lord has given us dominion and the very essence of which calls us to work in faith.    Here’s a thought Many fruitless prayers go forth and they fall as the man who buried his talent. He was given something that the Lord knew he could handle but he had showed no progress by the appointed time.  His failure was not a result of his lacking resources or opportunity but a result of his freely receiving, then planting a seed but not tending that which was planted.  Go fellowship this weekend, we all need it.  God bless you and command your day!!! Your ...

Good morning and terrific Thursday to you!  Over the last few days I have been sharing from a series I taught several years ago. The five P’s of Prayer. The five Ps are a formula of sorts that helps with faith and focus.    1.    Review of the five P's Problem Promise Prayer PRAISE Participate The fourth P is PRAISE. It is an essential in relationship. No healthy relationship can begin nor can it be sustained without it.  Here is a thought.   Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. -Hebrews 11:1 One of the most often misquoted scriptures is shown above. One word changes the paradigm, NOW. Your NOW in faith is a praise to God and as stated above no relationship can be healthy without the parties involved praising one another.  Identifying our praise of God is easy, but how about His praise of us? Upfront let’s not get praise and worship confused. You can praise anyone or anything but worship belongs to ...

  Good morning and happy hump day to you!  Some time ago I taught a series called the five P’s of prayer. Over the next few days I want to share them. The five Ps are a formula of sorts that helps with faith and focus.    1.    Review of the five P's Problem Promise PRAYER Praise Participate The third P is Prayer. It is the anchor to it all as the strongest connection we have with the Lord.   Here is a thought.   The Lord Jesus gave a parable beginning it by saying “man ought to always pray”. To me this is the ultimate endorsement of prayers importance.  Prayer consists of two main components, speaking and listening. Of these two one is used excessively more than the other. This is done at the detriment of a full relationship with the Lord. Jesus said my sheep hear my voice but to be honest, we often don’t hear or ignore His voice.  To really benefit from prayer we must pray in faith, pray in humility, pray in repentance and pr...

  Good morning and tremendous Tuesday to you! Some time ago I taught a series called the five P’s of prayer. Over the next few days I want to share them. The five Ps are a formula of sorts that helps with faith and focus.    1.    Review of the five P's Problem Promise Prayer Praise Participate The second P is Promise. The word of God is rich in promises. The greatest feeling in the world to this poor preacher is that the Lord blesses us…in spite of us.  Here is a thought.  His promises can be specific filling particular needs that you have expressed or serendipitously perfect covering what you have not even whispered. Some of the promises are warranted and unwarranted.  Lastly, the amazing thing is when you are His (living for Him) the magnitude of the blessings are amplified even more.  God bless you and command your day!!! Your comments and questions are welcome. Contact me at drschaefferinterceding@yahoo.com You can give to Interceding Ch...

  Good morning and happy Monday to you! Some time ago I taught a series called the five P’s of prayer. Over the next few days I want to share them. The five Ps are a formula of sorts that helps with faith and focus.    1.    Review of the five P's Problem Promise Prayer Praise Participate The first P is problem. We are not short of problems. They are a commonality for into each life some rain must fall.  Here is a thought.  Problem- Confessions and Repentance: Confession and Repentance has been confused over the years as confessions being always negative and repentance being good. Confessions seem to nestled in a court of law only, but know that faith confessions are baed upon your relationship with Christ. Repentance that has no godly sorrowfulness is not scripturally based. David's place with God was based upon godly sorrowfulness. Out of his repentance were born some of our greatest scriptures.  Promise:    Romans 10:9 That if thou sh...

  Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.                               -James 1:12 Good morning and TGIF! Ever had one of those days that start off and it’s beginning is oddly familiar to you? I am having one now. It may be the quiet before the storm but by faith I know who rides and commands any storm.  This is why it is important to always have your faith before you, after all Paul was inspired to write about the “shield of faith”.  And beloved despite what comes before you trust that He who stands behind you wasn’t taken by surprise and His steadfastness is unshakeable.  Go fellowship this weekend, we all need it.  God bless you and command your day!!! Your comments and questions are welcome. Contact me at drschaefferinterceding@yahoo.com You can give to I...

  And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. -Job 42:10 Good morning and terrific Thursday to you! The scripture above comes at the beginning of the end of the troubles of brother Job. Job state is described as captivity. Captive in a plot by the enemy to destroy his faith. Job had experienced great loss. His fortune, his children, his health all gone and to an extent his friends, having been exposed as men who didn’t know Job as well as he thought.  He had experienced the most dreadful things imaginable by a man, Job had regretted the day of his birth, this was until the Lord had put the nexus on him to understand this was just a test.  Yet his restoration only came when his pity party was over. Beloved it can’t be stressed enough the importance of prayer extended beyond self..Job’s friend were in disarray due to their accusations.  His prayer restored them and by the nature of God...

  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. -1 Corinthians 15:58 Good morning and happy hump day to you!  Oh what an appropriate scripture for midweek. When most have relegated it to barely making it, or only halfway there, the believer see the weariness and continue the work.  Though certainly we continue because we are told too, but for those who have been in this journey for almost any time,    we have seen the evidence of reaping.  Beloved on today I express the sincere hope that you abound in your given grace as well as your received grace.  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 

  O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! -Romans 11:33 Good morning and tremendous Tuesday to you! The scripture above declares that try as we may, until it is His time we will never fully understand God. His ways and ours are strangers.  But even in this we know that is is God’s pleasure to hide (Prov 25:2) something for us to search it out. And even more our responsibility to study to show ourselves approved (2Tim 2:15) is not negated.  Paul when challenged stated all he knew was Christ and Him crucified (1Cor 2:2). This being the most educated, prolific, and without a doubt influential of the Apostles didn’t speak of his lack of understanding as much as he put all things in perspective.  In similitude we must put all things in perspective. Many get discouraged because of the richness and all encompassing nature of the word and though they’d like to learn, they jump in an...

  And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; -1 Thessalonians 5:12 Good morning and happy Monday to you! The exhortation written by Paul in the scripture above is a warning to cherish the gifts that the Lord places among us.  In as such all are warn of the danger of not knowing those who work among you. Regardless of their position, wherever, or how often we encounter them we should know them.  This is where discernment becomes the greatest of gifts. Knowing someone physically entails remembering their unique natural characteristics, versus knowing them spiritually means you have observed the condition of their commitment.  You know if they are sincere and godly in their intent or if they aren’t. Beloved I as well beseech, admonish, and highly encourage you to study your crowd, know who they are and whose they are… God bless you and command your day!!! Your comments and questions are welcome. Con...