The Stickman's Understanding...

  I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me. -Psalms 3:5 Good morning and TGIF! I am a notorious sound sleeper. Sound May not be the right description as I wake only when I sense danger is real. But I am able to rest with the best of em.  I’ve been often told, “I don’t see how you sleep”, this from those close enough to know of trouble around me. Yet if I say God is my protector, shield, fortress, and more how can I let fear reign anywhere in my life?  This is the thought David gives in the scripture above. Many toss and turn hours on end as they attempt to quell their active minds.  My peace bringing scriptures to include the one above include Psalms 27, Psalms 23, and 2 Tim1:7, all which deal with peace that destroys fear and so thorough it escapes the understanding of those not in a relationship with the Lord.  Go fellowship this weekend, we all need it. #pray1Tim2  God bless you and command your day!!! Your comments and questions are...

  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...

  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 happy hump day! There’s something transformative about putting the needs of others before your own. In the scripture above, we see Job doing just that—and as a result, he receives a multiplied blessing. The passage describes how Job’s friends initially came and sat silently with him in the ashes, offering a much-needed moment of comfort through their presence. But in time, they spoke—not words of encouragement, but what had been quietly brewing in their hearts. It’s important to recognize: not everyone who sits with you in your lowest moments does so free of judgment. After voicing their accusations and, in essence, preparing to say their final farewells to Job, something unexpected happened. Rather than respond with bitterness, Job found peace by selflessly praying for them. And through that act of compassion, he received im...

  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. -2 Corinthians 5:17 Good morning and tremendous Tuesday to you! Growing up in the southern United States, much of my time was spent outdoors, immersed in nature. From drinking out of a water hose to picking honeysuckle and skipping rocks across creeks, these simple joys shaped my childhood in metropolitan Memphis—a city I’ve often thought of as one of the most rural urban centers in today’s world. My upbringing stood out, particularly as the drug epidemic and incarceration crisis of the late 1970s began to take root and leave lasting effects on society. It was during these turbulent years that I first sensed a call from the Lord. As I watched the world change around me, I believed I was preparing myself to survive and succeed in such an environment. But quietly, at the edge of my thoughts, I began to hear a whisper from God— purpose and renew  was the commo...

  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. -Romans 8:29 Good morning and happy Monday to you!    Let’s reflect on the scripture above through the lens of the incredible grace we’ve been given. God has always known us—our gifts and shortcomings, our victories and failures, our obedience and our sin. His omnipotence means that time—past, present, or future—poses no barrier to His foreknowledge. And yet, fully aware of all that we are and all that we are not, He still chose us to follow the perfect example and be shaped into the likeness of His Son, Christ—the firstborn among many. Beloved, none of us have reached a place called “perfect.” We all carry some wrinkles and stains in the fabric of our lives. But even so, God forgives—and in His mercy, He continues to hold us in His grace. #pray1Tim2 God bless you and command your day!!! Your comments and questions are welcome. ...

  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: -Romans 8:3 Good morning and TGIF! The anointing on the life of the Apostle Paul was truly distinct — a divine appointment perfectly suited for the era he lived in. Who else but Paul could so powerfully articulate the contrast between law and grace? The law was given to reveal truth by way of the flesh, pointing us toward the spirit — but it is grace that ultimately surpasses the law in power and purpose. Beloved, just as our physical bodies have limits, so does our ability to uphold the law. Scripture reminds us that breaking even one part makes us guilty of breaking the whole, in terms of judgment. No, we can’t live sinlessly in the flesh as Christ did. But we  can  receive His grace, repent sincerely, and rest in the fact that His sacrifice fully satisfied the debt of sin — once and for all — condemnin...

My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: -Proverbs 1:8 Good morning and terrific Thursday to you!  The book of Proverbs is filled with wisdom and often sharp, insightful sayings, all designed to keep us grounded and drawing closer to Christ. In my view, the greatest barrier to bringing others to Christ isn’t misinformation — it’s rebellion. Rebellion resists surrender and interprets reason as a threat to autonomy. Misinformation has existed since the time of Christ; it’s nothing new and will always be present. But those who gravitate toward misinformation often aren’t misled by accident — they’re searching for an alternative to the truth. Their issue isn’t the lie itself, but a desire for a different direction. The scripture referenced above is a direct appeal to those who genuinely desire to walk in wisdom — to listen, reflect, and embrace godly instruction. #pray1Tim2  God bless you and command your day!!! Your comments and questions...