“I’m almost finished reading will finish book tomorrow. I Love that you are truly teaching Discipleship 101. For both new and older saints. So easy to read and understand that I myself have even had to say OUCH. But with conviction to do better as a Disciple of Christ.”
We will continue to discuss..
Tina –Jacksonville, Florida
Part 2 – Observations that I saw today from the story
Question to consider today:
Which son have you been actively playing in this life towards others in this story?
Today intentionally: WIN in every area of your life.
Order a copy of my book: A Good Word For Everyday [Listen to the Interview] https://youtu.be/5gNEzmqPBuE
Nelson Mandela once said, “I never lose. I either win or I learn.” I consider these among a select group of words I live by. Losing is not final; it represents the opportunity to try again with more knowledge than you had last time.
Now, it seems quite obvious that there are many benefits of joining a team. So what keeps us from doing it? Why is it so difficult for us? It is the attitude that we can do it alone, and that attitude is birthed out of one thing: PRIDE
Define: Pride is an attitude that I can do the task by myself, and I don’t need anyone else. I don’t need anyone or trust anyone but me
There are some who do not want a team of people around them who will help keep them focus on being a success in a particular area of their life and body. So, when will you recognize that you can’t make the changes you need to make unless you let go of your pride. You need to face the fact that you can’t do this alone and start thinking about getting a good team of people around you to help you win. Your team is waiting out there for you.
Read the story below and then reflect on your reading. In part 2 I will share MY observations that I have learned to apply to life and things I am continuing to learn from the story that was told.
11 He also said, “A man had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate I have coming to me.’ So he distributed the assets to them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered together all he had and traveled to a distant country, where he squandered his estate in foolish living. 14 After he had spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he had nothing. 15 Then he went to work for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to eat his fill from the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one would give him anything. 17 When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I’ll get up, go to my father, and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. 19 I’m no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired workers.”’ 20 So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. 21 The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father told his servants, ‘Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Then bring the fattened calf and slaughter it, and let’s celebrate with a feast, 24 because this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate. 25 “Now his older son was in the field; as he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he summoned one of the servants, questioning what these things meant. 27 ‘Your brother is here,’ he told him, ‘and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ 28 “Then he became angry and didn’t want to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 But he replied to his father, ‘Look, I have been slaving many years for you, and I have never disobeyed your orders, yet you never gave me a goat so that I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your assets with prostitutes, you slaughtered the fattened calf for him.’ 31 “‘Son,’ he said to him, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.
Today I am choosing to adapt without adopting to the pigpen of this world so that I may reach those who do not know Christ my Savior and Lord. Because I was not saved to go to heaven, I was saved to change the world.
I shall exercise the gift that I have been given today and see the rewards of my labor.
Did you know?
The Bible is replete with passages which demonstrate that we can uniformly understand our divine responsibility as made known in the sacred writings. Consider the following:
Can we understand the Bible? Of course, we can. Can we understand it alike? Why not? If we can understand that following the recipe of the muffin box, produces what it promises to produce, and that 2 + 2 = 4, and if we can understand that sixty-five miles per hour means just that, then we can understand passages like, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16).
Recently a preacher raised the question: “Can we all understand the Bible alike?” He declared that we cannot, and asserted that those who believe that we can are simply misguided. However this preacher was dead wrong.
How?
I am glad you ask.
Your Understanding, My Understanding
The claim is frequently made: “You understand the Bible one way, and I understand it another way. Neither of us should condemn the other.”
Another variation: “Well, that is your interpretation of the Scriptures, I have mine as well, perhaps both of us are right.”
These statements contain a logical contradiction. There is no such thing as “understanding the Bible differently.” If two people differ on the meaning of a biblical text, one of them is wrong about the matter—possibly both. We might misunderstand something differently, but we do not understand something differently. A passage does not yield two different interpretations; somewhere, there is a misinterpretation.
Can God Make Himself Understood?
We operate daily upon the presumption that we, as frail mortals though we are, can make ourselves understood to our peers. Let me explain:
A department store places an advertisement in the newspaper about an upcoming sale. Hundreds of people flock to the same establishment on the correct day at the right time expecting specific items at a certain price to be available for purchase.
Question – How is it that they all understood the ad alike?
A recipe is printed on a cereal box for oat bran muffins. Hundreds of women and men across America follow the recipe printed on the box, and they all bake delicious muffins for their families. Do they, or did they understand the instructions alike? Or
A physician prescribes a certain medication. Do we believe that the pharmacist at the drug store will understand what the doctor has prescribed; are we confident that we can understand the instructions for taking the prescribed medicine?
If we can sensibly operate our lives on a routine basis, recognizing that we are able to communicate with one another in an intelligible fashion, why can’t we acknowledge that God, who is infinitely wiser and abler than man, can clearly make His Will known to all mankind?
If one suggests that God could not clearly make himself known to man, he reflects upon the power of the Lord. If one argues that God purposely did not reveal himself to mankind in a lucid fashion, he reflects upon the benevolence of his maker. If one contends that man has no responsibility to understand and obey the precepts of the Scriptures, it is he who shows great ignorance of his obligation to Heaven.
Once upon a time, there was a shepherd boy who used to take his flock of sheep to the hill to graze on the fresh green grass. Sitting there, he had nothing to do the whole day. One day, an idea struck him. To overcome his boredom, he cried out, “wolf! Wolf!” All the men came running with their sticks and to their dismay found no wolf! The boy laughed.
Again after a few days, he cried out, “wolf! Wolf!” and the villagers again came running up the hill only to find that the shepherd boy had fooled them. He laughed and laughed, seeing that he had succeeded in fooling them again. However, this time, the villagers were very angry, and they told him that the next time he cries out for help, they would not come.
Then one evening as the sun was setting behind the forest and the shadows were creeping out over the pasture, a Wolf really did spring from the underbrush and fall upon the Sheep.
In terror the boy ran toward the village shouting “Wolf! Wolf!” But though the Villagers heard the cry, they did not run to help him as they had before. “He cannot fool us again,” they said. The Wolf killed a great many of the Boy’s sheep and then slipped away into the forest.
Moral…..Stop trying to spot a lie and learn to spot a liar!
Secular (attitudes, activities, or other things that have no religious or spiritual basis) Interpretation:
A person who doesn’t tell you the truth · Liar · A dummy who lies to make his beautiful girlfriend feel bad when he was actually doing something else
Someone who claims that something is happening when it really isn’t, which results in the rejection of subsequent valid claims.
Never make false claims or requests for help, or lie. People will not believe you when you are telling the truth because your word has proven to be no good when you speak
Biblical (biblical perspective, kingdom of heaven principles in the Bible) Application to be applied and Wisdom for the Christian Life:
Honest people hate lies, but the words of wicked people are shameful and disgraceful [Proverbs 13: 5 Good News Translation]
A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who utters lies shall perish. Delicate living is not appropriate for a fool, much less for a employer to have rule over leaders. The discretion of a (wise) man makes him slow to anger. It is his credit to overlook an offense [Proverbs 19 9-11 Hebrews Name Version]
The person who tells lies gets caught; the person who spreads rumors is ruined. Blockheads shouldn’t live on easy street any more than workers should give orders to their boss. Smart people know how to hold their tongue; their grandeur is to forgive and forget [Proverbs 19 9-11]
Read the story about the brothers who sold another brother into slavery and went back and lied to their father about it. [Genesis 37:18-27] New International Version
Reuben heard the brothers talking and intervened to save him, “We’re not going to kill him. No murder. Go ahead and throw him in this cistern out here in the wild, but don’t hurt him.” Reuben planned to go back later and get him out and take him back to his father.
When Joseph reached his brothers, they ripped off the fancy coat he was wearing, grabbed him, and threw him into a cistern. The cistern was dry; there wasn’t any water in it. Then they sat down to eat their supper.
Looking up, they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites (their cousins) on their way from Gilead, their camels loaded with spices, ointments, and perfumes to sell in Egypt. Judah said, “Brothers, what are we going to get out of killing our brother and concealing the evidence? Let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites, but let’s not kill him—he is, after all, our brother, our own flesh and blood.” His brothers agreed.
Long-time ago in the Animal Kingdom, a sheep was passing and saw a lion crying inside a cage trapped and the lion begged the sheep to save him with a promise not to kill and eat it but the sheep refused. After much persuasion and for the sheep’s gullibility it opened the cage for the lion.
Now the lion was very hungry having stayed in the cage for days without food. It quickly grabbed the sheep to kill and eat but the sheep reminded him of his promise. They were still there arguing when other animals came passing and they sought to know what happened. Both the lion and the sheep narrated their own side of the story but because of fear and in trying to gain Favour in the sight of the lion, all the animals took side with the lion except the Tortoise who claim not to understand the whole scenario.
Now the Tortoise asked the lion to show them where he was before the sheep rescued him, he pointed at the cage. He asked again, “were you inside or outside when the sheep arrived”? The lion said he was inside. The tortoise again said, “ok, enter let’s see how difficult it could be inside”. The lion entered and the tortoise locked him back inside.
In amazement, the other animals asked the tortoise “why” and he replied “if we allow him to eat the sheep today, he will still go hungry tomorrow and we don’t know the next amongst us to be eaten tomorrow.
The Moral of this tale
*Don’t support evil today because it doesn’t affect you directly, tomorrow it could be your turn.
Biblical example for everyday living:
The Spirit will sanctify the saints, but it does not happen right away. There will still be struggles and temptations, successes and failures. We will fall short of living out our new identity and will at times choose to gratify the desires of our flesh rather than trusting in the promises of God. However, a believer cannot go on sinning with a clear conscience, because the indwelling Holy Spirit convicts us of sin and not living according to our new nature in Christ.
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like.…”
When men and women who are not connected to God through a non stop relationship with his son Jesus Christ these thing will be the norm and we will become very good at them. When a person learns how to live biblically they will do more of the following things and less of the former according to the principles of scripture.
Are you following God’s direction for your life, family, or path that you should go in your life at this time? Does God speak to men and give them direction?
I am glad you asked me this question today. Let’s take a look into the book that can not lie and is still the number #1 best seller of all times.
Man #1 – Joseph (the earthly father of Jesus) -This guy was known to listen to God’s messenger and move his family to safety so that their lives would be saved from death. [Read Matthew 2: 13 – 23 ] 13 Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Africa [Egypt], and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.’ 14Then Joseph* got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, 15and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, ‘Out of Egypt I have called my son.’
Man #2 – Adam – the first man created and whom God appointed to be the responsible head for his family. This does NOT mean that everything that happened in his family (wife, children etc.) was ‘the man’s’ fault but it does mean that it was his responsibility to come to God for direction, repentance or seek godly counsel from his spouse (helper). Adam did not take responsibility when asked by his creator questions about where he was at presently in his life. God asked Adam, Where are you (Are you away from me? You use to run to me and we enjoyed each other when I would come here. Now where are you at?
Who told you that you were naked? Who have you been talking too? I never told you that you were naked. Is this what God requires of my life, for me to naked before Him and not hiding? [Read Genesis 3: 9-11] But the Lord God called out to the man, “Where are you?” 10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden; I was afraid and hid from you, because I was naked.” 11 “Who told you that you were naked?” God asked. “Did you eat the fruit that I told YOU [Adam] not to eat?”
The Bible let’s us know that God is there to guide us in every situation if we will ask Him, trust Him, acknowledge Him with every decision that comes before us, pray until the answer comes asking Him for wisdom, knowledge, direction and understanding and if we believe Him when he told us that he will never leave us stranded.
Do you trust the news predictions more than God? No, you say?
Then why do you talk about what THEY say more than what God has said about you? Why do you meditate on the words of those who have predicted that you will be:
—a dead beat
–a criminal
–another man who makes children and not care for them
–another person headed to jail to make the state rich
–mostly likely to be gay or live-in poverty because you a poor stupid victim like your people were before you and around you
God wants to speak to you today for your life. Are you ready to listen? If so ask God to show you through his Word or somehow today what you are supposed to do. He tells His children daily that we are to:
The Lord has told you what is good. He has told you what he wants from you: Do what is right to other people. Love being kind to others. And live humbly, trusting your God. [Micah 6:7-9 ICB]
Stay pure my young woman/man. Don’t give away yourself to someone who has not committed to you for life. PLEASE don’t waste your seed or time. Learn how to observe people closely. What do they say, what do they not say? What are their habits? Where are they going and do they have a relationship with God outside of Sunday morning? Don’t ask them OBSERVE, SHUT UP AND LEARN—
Author: Travious (Son, brother, husband, father, writer, speaker, minister of the gospel, song writer, mentor to some, Nazarite)
I only want lyrics that will build me up and not cuss at me and tear me down. I love myself too much to allow someone else to curse me and make money off of me at the same time while I dance to the beat like a trained monkey.
What about you, do you agree with me? Am I JUDGING? YES! I am responsible for judging ME and what I allow or not that is in my control. What about you me young and old friend?
I am happy that this guy Todd Bangz Elliot wrote this song: Not 4 Me (Feat. B Dill)
All credit to Mr. Todd Bangz Elliot, go to YouTube
Today in prayer I ask my Father about you and ask Him what should I tell you for your life….
He said the time has come for you to stop messin’ around
‘I am the answer that you have not found
For your life, again I am calling
I am here to heal you from all fear, will you left me come near
I’m the one who will love unconditionally, for all time
Please stop running
Your heart is yearning to be love (2xs)
(Then my Father said)…You can’t keep runnin’ in and out of my life
I will be a lover for life
Oh, Pepe/Rosa (either or)
Let me love you
So many times you have ignored when I came
To be your salvation, please don’t push away, from your life
Oh, Pepe/Rosa (either or)
Let me love you
My heart is yearning for your love
My heart is yearning for your love
My heart is yearning for you, Jesus is my son…
Please stop running (3xs)
I am calling, please stop running, I promise
I won’t keep runnin in and out of your life (4xs)
..I thank you Father for hearing me today according to Isaiah 65:24 and I call it done in the name of your only begotten son Jesus and by the power of the Holy Ghost….Amen
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Oliver Augusta Scott / Ronnie Wilson
Inspired from the lyrics of the original song: Yearning for Your Love lyrics © BMG Rights Management
And Inspired altar call for souls in Atlanta by Pastor John P. Kee Altar Call – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5v0PC51UMI