The Stickman's Understanding...

  Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: -James 1:19 Good morning and tremendous Tuesday to you! The counsel in the scripture above is invaluable, as many people speak hastily, often causing unnecessary conflict or damaging important relationships. When we are quick to listen, misunderstandings are often prevented. Since it is impossible to listen while speaking, the discipline of being slow to speak becomes especially wise. And as a result of listening well and speaking carefully, our tempers are less likely to rise—making patience and being slow to anger a true mark of virtue in this teaching. #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

  And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments; We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments:                   -Daniel 9:4-5 Good morning and happy Monday to you! The prophet Daniel gives us a powerful lesson in humility through these scriptures. He reflects in a way similar to David’s prayer in Psalm 51, where David not only confessed his own sins but also acknowledged the sins of those who came before him. Many today either deny that they are impacted by the sins of their ancestors or are quick to point out the faults of others while overlooking their own. In verse 4, Daniel begins by confessing his personal sins—whether intentional or unintentional. Then, in verse 5, he broadens...

  And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. -Mark 1:44 Good morning and TGIF! While reading this account of Jesus’ healing ministry, I noticed that He instructed the man who was healed to first present himself to the High Priest and, at the beginning, to tell no one else. At first, this may appear as though Jesus wanted to keep His ministry hidden. But looking more closely, the purpose becomes clear. According to Mosaic law, a healed leper was required to go before the High Priest, who would officially declare him clean. Only after this declaration was he free to share his testimony openly. In the same way, the Lord may sometimes direct you to show yourself first to those who need to see the evidence, while He prepares the hearts of others to receive your testimony later. Often, the most powerful witness is not what you immediately say, b...

  And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. -Mark 6:5 Good morning and terrific Thursday to you!  As we know, Hebrews 11 teaches us that without faith it is impossible to please God. Moreover, without faith, God does not move on our behalf. Consider the passage above: Jesus was in His hometown—not the place of His birth, but where He was raised. Among His brothers, sisters, relatives, neighbors, and friends, He was so familiar to them that they failed to recognize who He truly was. Because of their unbelief, many healings that could have occurred did not. Faith was the power through which all things were created, and faith is the force that continues to sustain all things. Yet without faith, God is not pleased and will not act. Beloved, let us never allow the Lord to become “common” in our eyes. Keep pressing forward, growing in faith, and honoring Him for who He truly is.  #prayforthepeaceofIsrael  God b...

  Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. -Matthew 18:27 Good morning and happy hump day to you! Beloved, one of the greatest challenges in our walk of faith is developing tunnel vision—the inability to recognize our own shortcomings. Jesus addresses this in the parable of the splinter and the plank, which is often quoted in the context of not judging others. The scripture referenced above provides another parable with a similar lesson. It is far easier to notice the faults of others than to acknowledge our own. We can be quick to point out where someone else has fallen short, while forgetting that we too are imperfect. Yet our imperfection is no excuse to presume that grace will cover deliberate and willful sin. In the parable, a servant is forgiven a great debt by his Master, yet he refuses to extend the same mercy to another servant who owes him. The Master—abundant in grace—represents God. The forgiven servant symbolize...

  And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. -Genesis 3:10 Good morning and tremendous Tuesday to you! The scripture above reflects the account of humanity’s fall in the garden. When the Lord came walking, He noticed that Adam and Eve were hiding. It wasn’t that He could not see them; rather, it was that they felt the need to hide from Him. Several insights emerge here. First, their attempt to cover their nakedness mirrors the way we often try to conceal our sin from God. The all-knowing Lord was fully aware of what had taken place, yet He asked questions—not because He lacked knowledge, but to extend an opportunity for confession and repentance. Second, Adam’s shame over his nakedness can be likened to the way our materialistic culture conditions us to feel ashamed of our blessings and humility before God. Beloved, because of the finished work of Christ—through the cross, His triumph over death, the grave, and hell—we are...

  And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the Lord. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again.             -1 Samuel 5:3 Good morning and happy Monday to you!  At the recent Winter Olympic opening ceremony, a deeply troubling scene unfolded—a distorted and irreverent portrayal of the Last Supper that mocked Christ. Though I did not personally watch the ceremony, I find the arrogance behind allowing such a display to be profoundly unsettling. In reflecting on this, I was reminded of the scripture mentioned earlier. Many believers were understandably offended, yet we must remember that our sovereign God is more than able to defend His own name. This truth seemed evident when a sudden power outage struck Paris, even affecting Olympic venues, while a centuries-old church at the heart of the event remained lit. The scripture referenced comes from a time befo...

  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. -Psalms 23:3 Good morning and TGIF! The scripture above is attributed to a specific task of shepherds called casting. When a sheep falls on its back, it becomes physically impossible for it to get up. This condition is known as casting. The sheep’s physiological makeup prevents them from recovering from being casted. This is what David refers to in the verse above as “soul being restored.” Our Good Shepherd restores our souls. He helps us regain our footing after we have been casted. This restoration enables us to follow the path of righteousness.  Go fellowship this weekend, we all need it.  #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 have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: -Colossians 3:10 Good morning and terrific Thursday to you! The scripture highlights the transformation that occurs when Christ is received as Lord and Savior. Paul echoes the truth of 2 Corinthians 5:17, reminding us of what the Lord revealed to Nicodemus about becoming new. In Christ, the new man is no longer defined by birth, heritage, or past sins that have been forgiven. Instead, he gains access to the knowledge of Christ and an identity rooted firmly in Him. The old nature inherited from Adam is put aside, and the nature of Christ is embraced. Yet this is where many new believers—young in faith, time, experience, and wisdom—struggle. Growth in grace is therefore essential. Grace draws us deeper into knowing Christ, as closely and personally as we would know a member of our own family. Be encouraged: no one is born into this relationship, nor is it built in an instant. Stay up...

  And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, -Matthew 17:1 Good morning and happy hump day to you!  The three who ascended with the Lord played a crucial role in advancing the Gospel: Peter, James, and John—the beloved disciple who wrote the book of Revelation. That physical walk into the mountains was a spiritual elevation based on who Christ selected to go up with Him.  There might be elevations that God intends for you to reach without your friends, no matter how close you are to them. Just because you are close doesn't mean they are meant to accompany you to the places God has planned for you. Many people you trust may actually be using your trust against you. Reaching a place of elevation may be due to your talents, resources, or other factors, but without the character to support it, you won't be able to sustain that level. #prayforthepeaceofIsrael God bless you and command your day!!! Your c...

  I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. -Isaiah 61:10 Good morning and tremendous Tuesday to you! In the scripture above, Isaiah describes a relationship with the Lord as having access to different articles of clothing and adornment or coverings. Worship serves as the foundation of this relationship. Just as it rains on both the just and the unjust, we all encounter life’s challenges. However, with a relationship with the Lord, you are never exposed to these elements without protection. Worship is like a coat worn in cold weather. While it doesn’t change the weather, it transforms and covers you, enabling you to endure the conditions. #prayforthepeaceofIsrael God bless you and command your day!!! Your comments and questions are welcome. Contact me at...

  Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.                        - Genesis 28:37 Good morning and happy Monday to you!  Let’s revisit the scripture above. Road trips with my kids were always filled with the age old euphemism of “Are we there yet?” This is because the route, no matter how scenic to Disney, Universal, Sea World or Six Flags never measures up to the destination.  God may not always reveal the route of His plan to you, but He will reveal to you the ultimate goal or destination. Along the journey, you may experience both tears and celebrations, but true joy comes when everything falls into place. God showed Joseph his future position near Pharaoh's throne, yet his path was filled with both pain and triumphs. Joseph was part of the plan, even when t...