The Stickman's Understanding...

  For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. -Leviticus 17:11 Good morning and TGIF! Long Post Alert!  Every region, continent, and country on the earth experiences what is called a storm cycle. Storm cycles involve precipitation which in turn is responsible for most of the fresh water we use daily. Though we have storms, they serve a purpose which cleanses the environment of impurities. The storm cycle keeps coming, keeps giving, keeps cleaning...as I look at those cycles I am amazed that no matter what we do to the environment these cycles return at their appointed time.  This reflects back to no matter the sin, the cleaner will cleanse, no matter the sickness he will heal, no matter the pain he can soothe. When we go shopping for Christmas we normally have an ideal of the items we will purchase or at least a budget guiding us in our ...

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: -Philippians 2:9 Good morning and terrific Thursday to you!  The name Jesus was quite commonplace during His birth era; practically every family had a Jesus.  This widely recognized name was bestowed upon the people in the form of a savior. Pronunciation, spelling, or uniqueness were not issues; it was a name universally understood and embraced. God the Father transformed the familiar; the Jews anticipated Christ with a sword in hand, yet He wielded a sword in His mouth. Their expectations of external, temporal riches were surpassed by His internal and eternal wealth. God elevated the common to the uncommon, extracted the extraordinary from the ordinary, and turned the normal into the abnormal. From what appeared poor, He revealed richness, from what seemed dirty, He brought forth cleanliness. God extracted provision from poverty, turned hurt into healing, and found what was lost. The F...

Good morning and happy hump day to you!  Three weeks of buying and 11 months of paying bills. Doesn't sound like a good trade off to me... In this season which should spur an unselfish nature, never has selfish been so highlighted.  It really grieves the Father how we have abandoned giving out of love, how we have left our first love and how the jolly ole elf with a red suit is more recognizable and more associated with the day than the son who was born, wrapped in swaddling clothing and the red in His clothing most likely came from the wounds He suffered before and during the cross encounter.  So flagrant is our quest to be lord over our own lives that there is a strong movement to remove Christ from Christmas and to discourage you from even using the phrase merry Christ and to replace it by saying the politically correct statement of Happy Holidays.  In this season of giving the only thing that is given freely are headaches, hassles and bills. People seem to only g...

  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. -John 3:16 Good morning and tremendous Tuesday to you! The scripture above is arguably the most quoted scripture in Christendom.    In it Jesus is expressed as a gift, one given out of love.  In response to God’s ovation of love we are called to take receipt. The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 10:13, for whosover shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. This indicates that the gift given has been accepted.  Beloved we always are the recipients of the amazing grace of God, even when we do not appreciate them. For instance as millions begin to stir and start their day, how many have taken the time to thank God for another day? Simply let’s all take a moment, breathe in His grace and thank Him.  #prayforthepeaceofIsrael God bless you and command your day!!! Your comments and questions are welcome. Contact me at...

  And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. -Luke 2:3 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) -Luke 2:4 God bless, good morning and happy Christmas Eve. A common question asked today is “Are you done with your shopping?”, To which invariably we always have one more gift to buy.   Around 2036 years ago on this day, Joseph, accompanied by a weary Mary and a mule, likely journeyed through the desert towards Bethlehem. The conditions were harsh; cold, parched, and hungry, burdened not only by the physical challenges but also the emotional weight of rejection. Though scripture mentions no room in the inn, it's worth noting that Bethlehem was Joseph's family town, and Mary, a distant cousin. One might expect familial support, yet, in addition to the lack of lodging, it seems their relatives' hearts were closed, possibly due ...

  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. -Luke 2:10 Good morning and terrific Thursday to you!    I really get excited during Christmas season and not for the reason most would think. Ok, as a kid that was the reason that most people thought, thunk, or think.  But as a kingdom promoter and member, I am excited for the opportunity to witness to others about the greatest miracle of God’s grace; Christ’s birth.  Even more remarkable were those whom God chose to announce the birth; the Lord didn't instruct them, but their excitement didn't require prompting. God's choice of humble shepherds to share the news emphasizes His preference for willing hearts over social status. In Israel, neither the high priest nor the king anticipated the Messiah, but in a field with lowly shepherds, the least expected, their anticipation was rewarded with the announcement of the Savior's birth. During th...

  2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah,  though  thou be little among the thousands of Judah,  yet  out of thee shall he come forth unto me  that is  to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth  have been  from of old, from everlasting. -Micah 5 Good morning and happy hump day to you!    A few years ago after my wife had went to purchase the Christmas vittles and my stomach came into agreement with a hearty amen.  I remember as I unloaded the metal mule (aka her car) of its burden my mind drifted back to the prophecy shown above. It foreshadowed a journey set centuries later, featuring a genuine mule carrying a young mother with her child, symbolized as the "bread of heaven."  Epratah, meaning bread, and Bethlehem, meaning house, hinted at the displacement of conventional notions of bread. The mother, scarcely older than a young teen, accompanied by Joseph, journeyed to King David's nativity in the modest city. Their arrival ...

  I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. -Numbers 24:17 Good morning and tremendous Tuesday to you! Another day closer to Christmas prompts a review of the prophecy of Christ from the errant prophet Balaam.  Balaam, hailing from Midian, was a renowned diviner with the unique ability to communicate with the Lord. This tale unveils that God had individuals outside Jacob's lineage. However, Balaam's favor waned as greed led him to attempt cursing Israel, the blessed ones. Despite three failed attempts, he accepted a threat from the Moabite King instead of payment. Departing on a mule that had earlier warned him, Balaam gazed at Israel's tents and uttered the prophetic words mentioned. He spoke of a star emerging from Israel, symbolizing the celestial guide that led wise men on a journey to witness the...

  When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? -John 5:6 Good morning and terrific Thursday to you! The scripture's narrative underscores the freedom to accept or reject gifts, notably healing. In contrast to the woman with the issue of blood who sought Christ's virtue, the man in this account offered excuses unrelated to his healing. The Lord's question was about becoming whole, not the duration of his lameness or the names of those who wouldn't assist. The one with the power to heal asked if he would receive this gift, highlighting how people sometimes cling to what harms them as a sort of security blanket. When the opportunity for wholeness arises, some opt to retain what causes pain, possibly due to familiarity or a source of sympathy. Beloved believe and receive your wholeness.   #prayforthepeaceofIsrael God bless you and command your day!!! Your comments and questions are welcome. Conta...

  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. -Hebrews 13:5 Good morning and happy hump day to you! The scripture above is a powerful reminder of the love and grace of the Lord. He promises us that He will always be our champion, never leaving us nor forsaking us.  The Lord has promised we will not be left alone and while staying He will look out for us! The passage emphasizes the profound assurance of the Lord's love and grace.  It underscores His commitment to being our unwavering supporter, assuring that He will neither abandon us nor turn away. In life, others may depart, implying forsaking, or worse, they may stay but forsake, witnessing our struggles.  The Lord's promise assures us that we won't be abandoned, and as we stay with Him, He will protect and care for us. #prayforthepeaceofIsrael God bless you and command your day!!! Your comments and questions...

  Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. -Psalms 46:10 Good morning and tremendous Tuesday to you! It is a joy walking by faith and not by sight. In faith our being still means after we’ve come to the end of self, even if done in faith, it places the nexus upon the creator of the universe!  Remaining in a state of stillness is akin to taking a step in faith, involving our action followed by patient anticipation.  Doesn't Isaiah 40 convey that those who wait, standing still for His intervention, will replenish depleted strength, and then return better equipped to carry on the journey, which ultimately brings glory to Him.  #prayforthepeaceofIsrael 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 

  Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat. -2 Samuel 12:20 Good morning and happy Monday to you! The passage is derived from the narrative of David and Bathsheba, specifically focusing on the aftermath of their adulterous involvement. Rather than delving into their actions or the resulting deaths of Uriah and the child, what captivates me is David's response to grief. Grief can often seem all-encompassing, a lingering darkness with a life of its own. It is not the Lord's desire for us to remain in that dark place, yet His understanding of our human frailty allows an extension of His grace. His grace assures us that while we may endure weeping for a night, joy is promised. Embracing that joy becomes paramount. Just as David did when faced with the death of his child, he chose not to...