The Stickman's Understanding...

  And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. -Matthew 14:28 Good morning and TGIF! The passage above is from the well-known story of Jesus walking on water. When His disciples first saw Him walking on the water, they thought He was a spirit.  Seeing their fear, Jesus immediately identified Himself. The outspoken Peter then asked to join Jesus on the water. Peter began to walk toward Jesus, but he soon started to sink, likely due to distractions.  Many of us, myself included, focus on Peter's loss of faith. While Peter is often criticized for sinking, we should remember that he had the faith to step out of the boat in the first place. Few would have the courage to step onto the water and take even one step without sinking. No steps would have been taken if Peter hadn't had the faith to leave the boat. Therefore, do not discount your small faith. Even a little faith can be enough to start walking on water. Your small faith is e...

  And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; -2 Samuel 12:7 Good morning and happy hump day to you!  The story referenced in the scripture involves King David being confronted about a sin he thought was hidden. Was the king offended because he was told he was wrong? Certainly, but only for a moment. He measured his offense by how angry he became when he believed someone else had sinned. We often do the same. The scripture says, "Be angry, but do not sin," indicating that no one likes being told they are wrong. Offense is a natural reaction to having one's feelings hurt, but can you be offended and still be righteous? This is where the grace of humility comes in. We must acknowledge the frailty of our sinful nature and place our hope in Christ alone. #prayforthepeaceofIsrael God bless you and command your day!!! Your comments and questions are welcome. Contac...

  But my God shall supply all your need ACCORDING to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:19 The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. -Psalms 24:1 Good morning and tremendous Tuesday to you! Upon reflecting on Philippians 4:19, a thought occurred to me: our needs will be supplied in accordance with what the Lord has in heaven.  Now, consider this alongside Psalm 24:1. We understand that the wealth of the earth is insignificant compared to the abundance in heaven.  The word "ACCORDING" here functions as a comparative adjective, highlighting the vast difference between the modest resources of earth and the immense riches of heaven. Therefore when you are blessed according to His riches in glory…whew!!!! #prayforthepeaceofIsrael God bless you and command your day!!!

  And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land. -Acts 27:44 Good morning and happy Monday to you! The passages above recount the Apostle Paul’s journey to Rome. During his voyage, he and others experienced a shipwreck. Not merely a case of the ship being rendered inoperable or slowly sinking—scenarios that might allow for some form of escape—the vessel was shattered into pieces, which they then used to float to shore. Yet, even those fragments served a purpose. Without the boards, many would not have survived. This teaches us to thank God for what might seem like mere remnants. No life situation is so destructive that nothing is left. No matter how broken, the Lord ensures that remnants remain within our reach. Often, life’s challenges make people consider giving up when they still have life and something to hold on to. Beloved, seek out your remnants and swim to shore. #prayforthepeaceofIsrael God b...

  So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. -John 21:15 Good morning and terrific Thursday to you!  This well-known story of the Lord's third appearance after His resurrection serves to make a point to Peter. What I find captivating is that the Lord addressed him by the name given to him by his parents, Simon son of Jonas. Doesn’t this resemble how parents call you by your full name when they are correcting you? Sometimes the Lord will remind you of who you were by using your entire name, the name given to you by others. This happened after He had explicitly called him Simon Peter following the great confession (Matt 16:16). Simon son of Jonas had gone fishing and had influenced the others to do the same, indicating they had strayed from their mission. The Lord will call us purposely by our former name    as a r...

  He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. -Matthew 16:2 Good morning and happy hump day to you! The scripture above comes from an encounter that the Lord had with a group of Pharisees.  The first verse describes how the Pharisees asked Jesus for a sign. In response, Jesus highlighted that signs are already present around them.  He pointed out that they interpret weather signs and use these observations to predict future events. These same Pharisees had likely heard about or witnessed Jesus' miracles, as this incident occurred midway through His earthly ministry. Often, people put more faith in natural signs than in the supernatural. However, not everything can be explained by nature; some things are beyond simple explanation. As Christians, you will encounter people whose beliefs are based on what they see, but appearances can be deceiving if they lack understanding. Some are influenced by their feelings, ye...

  And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. -Mark 11:20 Good morning and happy hump day to you! The scripture above is really a clarion call for us all. Many scriptures that are direct quotes from the Lord carry the theme that what is not fruitful will die.  China, despite being the second most populous country in the world, faces a significant decline in birth rates. The government previously implemented a one-child policy, which disrupted the natural balance of population stability. As a result, many couples chose to prioritize their careers over starting families. Over the past decade, China has experienced a decline of over two million births per year. This exemplifies the truth that what is not fruitful will die rings true.  This concept can also apply to various immoral practices that have become normalized and even legalized. A particular community I love demonstrates this truth.  Their motto, "love is love," deviate...

And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. -Mark 10:49 Good morning and happy Monday to you!  While listening to a Marvin Sapp song I thought of the story the scripture above is found. In the story, a blind man named Bartimaeus sat by the roadside, begging.  It was clear he had been in this condition for a long time, as he was known as "Blind Bartimaeus." When Jesus saw him and called for him to be brought forward, the words from the song resonate: "He saw the best in me, when everyone else around saw the worst." What is particularly noteworthy is that Jesus never referred to him by his name, especially not as "Blind Bartimaeus." The prefix "Bar" means "son of," and "Timaeus" means "nobleman." Jesus saw him for what he could be, not what he was. It's essential to avoid letting your situation define your identity. ...

Good morning and TGIF! Let me share this teaching the Lord gave me some years ago. It bears repeating.  The Five Ps of Prayer Problem Promise Prayer Praise Participate 1. Problem: Finding areas in our lives that are lack.  Recognizing them, writing them down and taking dominion. Not having a godly sorrow over sin.  2. Promise: 2Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 3. Prayer: After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. -Matthew 6:9-13 4. Praise:  I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. -Psalms 34:1 5. Participate: Faith without works is dead. Engage, follow through (James 2:14-26) Go fellowship this weekend, we all need it. Your comments and questions are welcome. Contact me at drschaefferinte...

  Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. -Psalms 20:7 They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright. -Psalms 20:8 Good morning and terrific Thursday to you!  The 8th verse above seems a bit out of context or, as it's commonly said in English, it appears to be a dangling modifier. However, when considered alongside the previous scripture, it becomes clear that it illustrates the outcome of trusting in the Lord. If we modernize the seventh verse, we could interpret it as saying that some people trust in the protection offered by established governmental bodies. Yet, these institutions often have corrupt tendencies. While many believe money is the ultimate motivator, in reality, power takes precedence over money. Money might buy power temporarily, but it has limitations—either its value diminishes or it gets consumed entirely. Power, on the other hand, is not inherently tied to wealth. It is rooted in...

  And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. -Luke 5:5 Good morning and happy hump day to you! In the scripture above, a weary yet obedient Simon (Peter) expresses his doubts and fears but ultimately follows the given instruction. After finishing his teaching to a crowd on the shore, the Lord's words, though not recorded, evidently impacted Simon. Fishermen typically fished at night because the daytime heat drove fish to deeper, cooler waters, making them harder to catch. They would surface and come within fishing range in the cool evening. Peter, having spent the entire night fishing without success, was ready to go home when Jesus approached and asked to board his boat. This was unusual and typically unwelcome among fishermen, both then and now, who preferred not to have strangers on their boats. The word "Nevertheless" implies doubt, but also a glimmer of hope tied t...

  And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. -Luke 4:3 Good morning and tremendous Tuesday to you! While reading the Gospel of Luke, I came across the well-known story of the temptation of Christ. This story clearly outlines the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. The Apostle Paul elaborates on this idea in Hebrews 4, stating that Christ was tempted in every way that we are, yet He did not sin. Although we can never measure up to Christ, this is where grace becomes essential. If the enemy continued to tempt Christ, why would he give up on us so easily? It is easy to feel discouraged, thinking we are the only ones struggling. Some might criticize or judge us as if they are without sin. However, the Apostle John reminds us that if we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves.  Reflecting on Jesus' words to the men ready to stone a woman caught in sin, "Let he who is without sin cast the first ...

  Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD in the presence of Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision. -1 Sam 3:1 Good morning and happy Monday to you! My wife and I were recently browsing furniture stores when I noticed a stack of books for sale, all without covers. This struck me as odd, and as we visited another store, we saw bookcases filled with more coverless books, placed haphazardly.  In a third store, we found bookcases with books not only missing their covers but also shelved backwards, bound tightly with twine, making it impossible to identify them without opening them. This reminded me of the saying, "If you want to hide the truth, put it in the pages of a book, because most people won't open it."  For some, reading is just a pastime or a way to stay informed, but for me, it has always been a joy. By the grace of God, reading has been a means to spread understanding of His plan, truth, and hope throughout histor...