24 Nov 2015
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a brand new day, a call to faith, a friend of Jesus, allegiance to God, and again I say rejoice, be thankful for all things, benefits, Christian, Creator, giving thanks always, glory hallelujah, glory to God, God is so sweet, God's promise, graven images, I am the beloved of god, I can trust my friend Jesus, I don't have to hurry, I don't have to worry, I the Lord am a jealous god, I'm not waht I do, I'm not what I have, I'm not what people say about me, keep yourselves from idols, let your spirits be lifted high, little children, LOVE, loved by God, mentally challenged, Most High God Jehovah, new mercies and blessings, no one can become between God and us, provider, Rejoice in the Lord always, rightousness, seek ye first the kingdom of God, share His love with the world, showing mercy unto them that love me, stress, strife, thanks and praise, thanksgiving, the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob, the Ten Commandments, the things of the world, Thou shalt have no other Gods before me, thou shalt not bow down to them, truth, Tuesday Mantra, visiting the iniquity of the fathers, walk obediently in God's will, what a wonderful God we serve and worship, wisdom
1 John 5:21. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
Oh Friends, it’s Tuesday…a brand new day! That means new mercies and blessings soon come! Glory to God! Now that is God’s sincere promise, and if you truly believe in Him then you will believe His word and be waiting expectantly and patiently for the new mercies and blessings to rain down upon you.
Mama Mia! Oh what a wonderful Lord and Saviour we serve and worship my brethren! Let your spirits be lifted high, because our God is still on the throne and still in control of this great universe that He created, and has promised that nothing, or no one can or will ever come between Him and us. Give Him some thanks and praise my people!
Yuh know, recently I’ve been thinking that our God is so sweet and we are so stupid, or I believe the politically correct term is mentally challenged, (smile) because we’re not bright and smart enough to walk obediently in His will, even though we’ve seen the huge benefits that come from doing so.
We know that our God LOVES nothing better than to receive our sincere and heartfelt thanks and praise, because that’s what He made us to do; to glorify Him with thanks and praise. But yet we refuse to give Him His just desserts.
I don’t know about you all nuh Friends, but I just LOVE to give Him thanks and praise, for there’s nothing sweeter than listening to good music with worshipful lyrics and sending up declarations of sincere LOVE and thanksgiving to the Most High God Jehovah! Oh glory to our wonderful Creator and great Provider!
If we were really smart, we’d be giving Him constant thanks and praise. As Bruh Paul says to the Ephesians: ‘Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.’ (Eph.5:20)
And again to the Philippians, where he confidently declares: ‘Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say rejoice.’ (Phil.4:4)
And the scholars offer this bit of sage advice and explanation. ‘This command to rejoice at all times and in all circumstances is nothing less than a call to faith. For if the Christian believes that his life and all its circumstances are in the hands of a sovereign, wise, and LOVING God who is always working to accomplish good for him, then he can indeed “rejoice always.”
That is gospel truth Friends! It’s a win-win situation, because God would be enjoying our grateful glorification, and so would we. Glory Hallelujah my people! And that’s the end of my rambling for today. (smile)
Now let’s turn to our Tuesday Mantra and declare it like we really believe it. As one now: ‘I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with the world. Amen.’
Glory to God my brethren for there’s nothing better in this world, especially in these challenging times than to be LOVED by God, be His child, and be a Friend of Jesus!
Ah mih people, the ole fella is so worked up that he doesn’t know what to do with himself. (smile) I guess then we’ll finally turn to our Bit. ‘Little children, keep yourselves from idols.’
And what part of that don’t we understand eh mih people? For right from the very beginning, in the Ten Commandments, our God warned us about it. If you don’t remember, let me refresh our minds.
The very first commandment is ‘Thou shalt have no other God’s before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them (worship them), nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And showing mercy unto thousands of them that LOVE me, and keep my commandments.’ (Ex.20:3-6)
Now where does He change that commandment eh Friends? Where does He say that we can put all sorts of other supposed gods, be they graven images or material things before Him eh? Nowhere? So why do we think it’s okay to put all the things we put in our everyday lives before Him eh?
That’s not wisdom Friends. And the sad part is that Jesus promised, ‘But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.’ (Matt.6:33)
Yes, precious people, all the earthly things that we are running down and placing before Almighty God are available to us if we seek Him and His kingdom FIRST!
Now doesn’t it seem somewhat foolish to be killing ourselves over stuff when we can have them without any fuss and bother, if we’d just make the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob our first priority? It certainly does my fellow believers!
So please let’s ‘wisen’ up nuh Friends, and stop running down the things of the world, the very things that are causing us so much stress and strife, that are ruining our lives in our driving and never-ending pursuit of them! That is certainly not the wisdom of heaven…or really any kind of wisdom at all! Much LOVE!
…true allegiance to God… ought to be the believer’s first and main priority…
P.S. Sadly my people, like LOVE and hate, late nights and early mornings just don’t agree. (smile)
23 Nov 2015
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: adrenalin, aura of love, be not conformed to this world, be ye transformed, Bruh Paul, complain, conceptions of God, confidence, confusion, conquerors, deceptions, enthusiasm, evil, fellowship, friends, glorious kingdom, glory hallelujah, graven images, holy spirit, humble servants, idolatry, idols, immorality, in the world but not of it, inroads into the enemy's ranks, invincible, Jesus Christ, keep our focus on Jesus, keep yourselves from idols, lead and guide us, lies, little children, LOVE, material things, moan and groan, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, moth and rust destroy, Oh Lord God Almighty, put a smile on Jesus' face, rejuvenation of spirit, relaxation, renewed vitality, rest, spiritual armour, spunk, steadfast faith, the Battlefield of the mind, the nature of the human animal, the renewing of your mind, the things of the world, the wisdom of Jesus, the work week, treasures in heaven, treasures on earth, trust, ungodly world, vim and vigour, walk in the Spirit, where our minds lead, where your treasure is there is your heart, wiles, wisdom, you cannot serve two masters at the same time
1 John 5:21. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
Oh boy, oh boy, it’s Monday; the day that causes so much topsy-turvy and confusion in our lives! It never ceases to amaze me nuh. We know that Monday is coming and that we have to get out to work, but yet every week so many of us are still unprepared for it, and we moan and groan and complain and say all sorts of bad things about such a lovely day. (smile)
And I guess unless our society stops operating the way it does – with work Monday to Friday – we’ll continue to be late and miserable on Mondays until Jesus comes back. Oh, I just realized something; Monday itself is not the problem nuh, it just happens to be the first day of the work week. If we made any other day the first day, the same thing would happen.
Hn, hn! It’s just the nature of the human animal. That means we’ll need our Monday Morning Battle Hymn for a while yet. So let’s sing it out with plenty spunk and vim and vigour. (smile) Remember that Jesus, our choirmaster, requires excellence from us in all our endeavours.
All together in harmony now: ‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together.
We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies.
But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your incredible aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle.
Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’
Good job my people, good job! Halfway through you could see the smile slowly appearing on Jesus’ face as He realized that we were going to put down an excellent rendition. Glory Hallelujah!
There’s no better thing we believers can do than put a smile on Jesus’ face! Now let’s go into the evil world and see if we can walk in a manner that does the same thing nuh. And we should be able to continue lighting up Jesus’ spirit since our motors are now up and running, fuelled by the adrenalin that’s pumping through our system.
But while we journey through the world my brethren, please remember the wise words of John in our Bit. ‘Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.’
Yes Friends, we need to not allow the things of the world, be they graven images or simply material stuff to take our eyes and hearts off of Christ. And that’s so easy to do with all the wiles and lies and deceptions that the enemy sends against us. It is imperative that at ALL TIMES our focus be on Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour! For though we are in the world, we should not be a part of it; meaning taking part in all the idolatry, immorality, etc. that the world presently glorifies.
Now here are some scholarly comments on our Bit. ‘5:21. Idols here may well have the sense of erroneous conceptions of God. John addressed such false notions throughout the letter. However fervent our LOVE for others and our adherence to God’s commands, such human efforts will come to nothing apart from true understanding of God as revealed in Christ. To know Him as He is causes LOVE and obedience to be the redeeming worshipful responses to God that He intends them to be.’
Yeh Friends, I know that’s somewhat cerebral, (smile) and it is true, but our main concern today is simply about not making the things of the world more important than God. And to do that successfully, the first step is to initiate what Bruh Paul wrote to the church at Rome. ‘And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.’ (Rom.12:2)
Yes my people, it all begins and ends with the mind. As Sister Joyce (Joyce Meyer) talks about the book she wrote, ‘The Battlefield of the Mind.’ That’s where the battle first rages for supremacy, for where our mind leads, there shall we go.
And the scholars define that verse thus. ’12:2. Be not conformed (lit. “stop conforming yourselves”): They are to resist being poured into the mould of the present thinking, value, and conduct of his world. This term is used only here and in 1 Peter 1:14.’
Oh we all know that is difficult to do, but if we walk in the Spirit, and not in the flesh, as we are commanded to do, we can do it. And we’ll end most appropriately, with the wisdom of Jesus.
‘Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt (ruin), and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven , where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.’ (Matt.6:19-21)
And if Jesus says it’s so, then obviously it is so! So my fellow believers, please let’s go out today and not hunger for the things of the world, but for the things of heaven, for that is the ultimate in wisdom. Much LOVE!
…you cannot faithfully serve two masters at the same time…
22 Nov 2015
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a natural reaction, all for our own good, Almighty God is our hope and our help, an inward resolution, be sober, Blessed is the Lord God, Christians, come together, constant repetition, faith cometh by hearing, faith hope love, faith is the substance of things hoped for, for the help of his countenance, gather in the Lord's sanctuary, gird up the loins of your mind, glory hallelujah, God works in mysterious ways, God's Word, Gramps Schuller, he is at my right hand, hear the Word, hearing by the word of God, hope, hope is what keeps your faith alive, hope thou in God, hope to the end for grace, Hour of Power Devotional, I have set the Lord always before me, I shall not be moved, I shall yet praise him, I will have respect unto thy statutes, intoxication, let me not be ashamed of my hope, LOVE, my flesh shall rest in hope, my glory rejoiceth, my heart is glad, oral communication, our faith is strengthened, our walk with Jesus, outward conduct, personal discipline, praise and worship God, put our trust in God, rejuvenate our spirits, Second Advent of Christ, Sunday, the evidence of things not seen, the holy trinity of emotions, the revelation of Jesus Christ, uphold me according to thy word, walking in Jesus' name, Why art thou cast down o my soul, why art thou disquieted within me, written indelibly into our souls, you need hope
Psalm 42:5. Why art thou cast down (bowed down), O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance (presence).
And then it was Sunday… the day Christians pray for, so that they can gather in the Lord’s sanctuary and praise and worship Him in all sincerity and truth. Yes Friends, it’s time to get ourselves hither to church.
The Lord’s waiting for His children to come together to give Him thanks and praise, hear His Word and rejuvenate their spirits, so that they can have the wherewithal to continue walking in His Son’s name on this disgusting and wicked earth.
So please don’t make any feeble excuses. And if you’re genuinely not able to go, then turn on your television or radio so that you can at least hear the Word.
What did Bruh Paul write to the church at Rome? ‘So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.’ (Rom.10:17) Yes my people, faith comes by hearing the word of God; its oral communication. When we hear God’s Word then our faith is raised up, it is strengthened. And we all need to raise our faith this Sunday morning, that’s a fact!
And we’ll get right into our Bit, because we have a lot of scriptures to share today. ‘Why art thou cast down (bowed down), O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance (presence).’
Oh my fellow believers, I know some of you are tired of the same Bit for the last few days, you want to hear something new every day. (smile) But that HOPE it talks about is such an important part of our walk with Jesus that we need to have it written indelibly in our souls, so that we can call upon it at a moment’s notice.
It needs to come as a natural reaction, not something we have to stop and think about. And the only way that can happen is by constant repetition. So please bear with me, for it’s all for our own good.
And the first bit of scripture comes from Psalm 16, where Bruh David is seeking preservation and blessing. With his usual self-effacing but confident style, he declares: ‘I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.’ (Ps.16:8-9)
Oh what encouraging words of scripture my brethren! When we put our trust in God, we feel safe and strong, and our hearts become glad, which leads us to have oodles of hope, which eventually turns into strong faith!
And all of God’s people declared a loud and proud: ‘Glory Hallelujah! Blessed is the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob!’
Now listen to these verses from Psalm 119, from the section SAMECH – I hate vain thoughts. ‘Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope. Hold thou me up (uphold me), and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto (will observe) thy statutes continually.’ (Ps.119:116-117)
More of the same sentiments Friends! When we put out hope and trust in God, He upholds us. And yuh better believe one thing our God will not do is let us be ashamed of our hope in Him. Definitely not! He takes too much pride in His faithfulness to allow that to happen.
Meanwhile Peter tells us in his call to Christian dedication: ‘Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind (prepare your mind for action), be sober, and hope to the end for grace (rest your hope fully upon the grace) that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.’ (1 Pet.1:13)
And the scholars offer these explanations of that verse. ‘1:13. The exhortation to set one’s hope involves an inward resolution. Gird up the loins of your mind: The imagery is that of personal discipline and outward conduct. Be sober (Gr. nephontes): Be free of every sort of mental and spiritual intoxication. The revelation of Jesus Christ is the Second Advent when Jesus returns to earth to set up His kingdom.’
Ah Friends, we all need hope, all the time! And I had this passage from Gramps Schuller’s (Dr. Robert H. Schuller) Hour of Power Devotional to share from yesterday, never did though. I guess it was meant for today. (smile) And our God works in such mysterious ways that on the days that I chose to focus on hope, so did Gramps Schuller.
The day’s devotion was titled You Need Hope. And it ended thus: ‘You need hope…when you’re dying. And you need hope in all your living. There will be no LOVE without it. Hope is what will keep your faith alive. That’s why hope is in the middle of the holy trinity of emotions, “Faith, Hope and LOVE.’
Now that’s indisputable truth my people! We need hope from birth until death!
And we’ll close the same way the psalmist closed Psalm 42, from which our Bit is taken. ‘Why art thou cast down (bowed down), O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health (help, lit. salvation) of my countenance, and my God.’ (Ps.42:11)
Yes Friends, he words it a little differently, but it still means the same thing; in Almighty God is our hope and our help; now and forever! Please never forget that. Much LOVE!
…now faith is the substance (realization) of things hoped for…the evidence (conviction) of things not seen… (Heb.11:1)
21 Nov 2015
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a Christian's lot, a great day to be alive, a hard row to hoe, a sound mind, Abraham, against hope believed in hope, anxiety, at the end it shall speak, Baruch Spinoza, being not weak in faith, blessings, doubt, eternal life, for the help of his countenance, God has not given us a spirit of fear, God's promises are faithful and true, he will save us, he will swallow up death in victory, hope, hope thou in God, I shall yet praise him, in the Lord's time, it will not tarry, let Israel hope in the Lord, LOVE, loving kindness, mercies, power, Praise the Lord, reconciled to God, redemption, righteousness., salvation, song of praise, strong in faith, the breath of life, the Lord God will wipe away tears, the redeemed, the vision is yet for an appointed time, there is no fear unmingled with hope, there is no hope unmingled with fear, this is our god, to hope and yet to hope, truth, unbelief, we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation, Why art thou cast down o my soul, why art thou disquieted within me, with the Lord there is mercy
Psalm 42:5. Why art thou cast down (bowed down), O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance (presence).
And then it was Saturday Friends! Wow! Another great day to be alive, because we don’t know what wonderful blessings and mercies the Lord has planned for us today. But be sure of this one thing; He does have stuff planned for us, otherwise His fabulous breath of life would not be flowing through our physical bodies right now.
And all God’s people declared a loud and hearty ‘Praise the Lord for His LOVING-kindness to the undeserving children of men!’ We surely are thankful my people.
And since we’re continuing our series of messages on HOPE, I thought this quote from Baruch Spinoza (1632-1677) a Jewish Dutch philosopher of some renown, would fit right into our plans. Baruch is reputed to have said that ‘There is no hope unmingled with fear, and no fear unmingled with hope.’
Yes Friends, we all feel some sort of fear, anxiety and/or doubt, when we’re in a hoping frame of mind. And even when we’re truly fearful, there is always a smattering of hope lurking somewhere in the background, telling us that everything will be all right. So it’s just a normal human reaction to have a touch of fear in hope and hope in fear.
But my precious people, let’s never forget those memorable words of encouragement that Bruh Paul wrote to Timothy. ‘For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of LOVE, and of a sound mind.’ (2 Tim.1:7)
So though it’s only natural for a little fear to sometimes creep into our lives, that is not our basic human nature, it is of the enemy. We have been empowered, filled with LOVE and a sound mind by Almighty God to pursue His purposes!
That brings us to our Bit. ‘Why art thou cast down (bowed down), O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance (presence).’
Oh my fellow believers, in this dangerous and difficult world it is normal for us to sometimes feel less than strong and powerful, and thus have our spirits sink to a fraction of their natural buoyancy. But the important thing to remember when those times befall us is that we must turn to our great God for help. He is the only one who can provide the necessary comfort we seek.
As the psalmist says in Psalm 130 – My soul waiteth for the Lord: ‘Let Israel hope in the Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy (LOVING-kindness), and with him is plenteous (abundant) redemption. And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.’ (Ps.130:7-8) Words of indisputable truth my people!
Now listen to how Isaiah puts it in chapter 25 – The song of praise by the redeemed. ‘He will swallow up death (forever) in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it. And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.’ (Is.26:9)
Oh Friends, now why wouldn’t we hope for that eh? It’s such a wonderful promise! And we know that all of our God’s promises are faithful and true, though they make take a while longer to come than we would like. But as Habakkuk so wisely advises: ‘For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.’ (Hab.2:3)
Yes Friends, ALL of God’s promises will eventually come true, but in HIS OWN TIME. That means we have to hope and pray and wait. What better example can we find that our father Abraham eh?
Here’s what Bruh Paul wrote to the Roman church about him. ‘Who against (contrary to) hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations. According to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about a hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb.
He staggered (wavered) not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong (strengthened) in faith, giving glory to God. And being fully persuaded (convinced) that what he had promised, he was able also to perform.’ (Rom.4:18-21)
My people are we as convinced that our God can perform His promises? I certainly hope so, otherwise we’re fighting a losing battle and we’re not true Christians. How many of us would have packed up all our belongings and moved far away from our families, not having a clue as to where we were going, just because some obscure and so-called God told us to do it? Not many.
And how many of us would have believed that a woman could bear children at almost a hundred years old? Not many! And how many of us would have believed that we would become the father of many nations when the Lord told us to sacrifice our one and only son, from whom all the mighty lineage was supposed to flow? Again, not many! But Abraham did. That’s why it was ascribed to him as righteousness.
Ah mih people, sometimes it’s a hard row we have to hoe, but with God’s help we can certainly do it. So please, regardless of the difficult circumstances we might now be undergoing, please don’t ever give up on our God. Abraham did not have to sacrifice his only son, but our heavenly Father did it so that we could be saved, be reconciled to Him, have salvation and eternal life.
And remember He did not have to do it, but He did it for our sakes. Now if that isn’t LOVE, I don’t know what is. So just hang in there my people and all will be well in the Lord’s time. Much LOVE!
…to hope…to hope…and yet to hope…that is a Christian’s lot…
20 Nov 2015
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a brand new start every day, broken my teeth, choose to be hopeful, covered me wirh ashes, debauchery, don't drop the curtain on tomorrow, drunken with wormwood, energy, enthusiasm, eternal life, fellowship, for the help of his countenance, Friday chant, fun, furthering God's glorious kingdom, generous help, glory to God, God's faithful promises, gospel truth, Gramps Schuller, great is thy faithfulness, great people, his compassions fail not, hold on in hope, Holding on, hope, hope that is seen is not hope, hope thou in God, Hour of Power Devotional, I shall yet praise him, Jeremiah, Lamentations, lamented to God, LOVE, loving kindness, malaise in my soul, never give up on hope, new every morning, off kilter, ordinary people, partying, personal testimony, Praying Expectantly, praying expectantly and eagerly, proper perspective, relaxation, removed my soul from peace, rest, right balance, salvation, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, thanks for getting me through another week of work, the Lord's mercies, the weekend's here at last, therefore I have hope, we are save by hope, Why art thou cast down o my soul, why art thou disquieted within me, with patience wait for it
Psalm 42:5. Why art thou cast down (bowed down), O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance (presence).
So it’s Friday my people… ‘Yes! That’s why we’re loudly declaring: TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday and the weekend’s here at last. Oh glory to God for a couple days off from harsh labour! We going to party, and party…and then party some more!’
Oh Friends, nothing’s wrong with partying, but like most things too much of it is bad for both our bodies and souls. We need to find a right balance in our weekend activities if we want to be successful in this life. Now our Friday Chant gives us a much better perspective on how to use the weekend, so let’s chant it nuh.
As one now: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through another week of work! It hasn’t been easy, but with your generous help, I made it through.
Now, please help me to get sufficient fun, fellowship, rest and relaxation in these two short days off, so that I can be renewed and refreshed in soul, body and mind, to go back out and do it all over again next week, furthering your glorious kingdom with each step I take. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.’
Now isn’t that a much better way to spend the weekend? It surely is! So hopefully some of us who had the serious party scene and much debauchery envisaged will tone it down to a more righteous state. (smile)
And without further ado, we’ll introduce our Bit, because we have plenty scriptures to look at today. ‘Why art thou cast down (bowed down), O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance (presence).’
That’s gospel truth Friends! And I believe a little personal testimony is appropriate here. Yesterday evening during my time of personal devotions, my spirit was somewhat off kilter, it just was not right and I couldn’t focus on my devotions as I wanted to.
Now nothing was really wrong, there was no cause for the apparent malaise in my soul that I could put my finger on. So I asked the Lord for some direction and understanding. And would you believe that when I came to Gramps Schuller’s (Dr. Robert H. Schuller) Hour of Power Devotional, the daily devotion was titled ‘Choose to Be Hopeful.’
And we certainly can choose to be hopeful my people. It’s a choice that’s open to us all. So though today might be somewhat rough, tomorrow is on its way, it’s inevitable and does hold the promise of better times.
And as I read Gramps Schuller’s words, I began to chuckle: ‘The only thing between today and tomorrow is tonight. And that’s when the stars come out! So never give up on hope! Don’t drop the curtain on tomorrow. Great people are ordinary people who just will not give up hope. And what is hope? It is Holding On, Praying Expectantly.’
That’s oh so true my fellow believers! And thereafter my spirit was enthused! Glory to God! After my devotions I even got up and did some of the things I wanted to do, but previously had no energy or enthusiasm to do them.
So you see our heavenly Father responds to our pleas in so many unexpected ways that we should never really lose hope or faith or give up on Him, regardless of how long His answer might be taking to come.
That reminds me of Jeremiah when he lamented to God. ‘He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood. He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, he hath covered me with (bent me down in) ashes.
And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace: I forgat prosperity. And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the Lord: Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall (bitterness).
My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled (bowed down) in me. This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.’ (Lam.3:15-23)
Oh my brethren, you see that though Jeremiah underwent all sorts of hardship, even in his remembrance of them, he knew, or was hopeful enough to realize that it was only the Lord’s LOVING-kindness and compassion that keeps us from destruction. His faithfulness is unbreakable and His mercies are new every morning, thus giving us a brand new start every day.
So if Jeremiah could figure that our after all his misfortune, why can’t we eh, especially when few of us have undergone his woes and troubles? We have to hold on to hope Friends, because that’s the only thing that will see us through.
What did Bruh Paul say to the church at Rome? ‘For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience (perseverance) (eagerly) wait for it.’ (Rom.8:24-25) Gospel truth that my brethren!
So it’s imperative that we all get out there today into the topsy turvy world filled with hope, bubbling with it until it overflows, (smile) remembering God’s faithful promises never to leave or forsake us, to bring us safely through each and every trial so that we can enjoy salvation and eternal life with Him at some future date. Now that is the HOPE of every believer! Much LOVE!
…let’s all hold on in hope…praying expectantly and eagerly…
19 Nov 2015
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a believer in Jesus Christ, a marvellous mysterious mood, a scientific experience of the presence of God, colour returns to your skin, difficult and dangerous times, don't give up, expectant faith, for the help of his countenance, glory to God, God believes in you, God is not going to cast you off without offering hope, Gramps Schuller, hope, hope and wait quietly for the Lord, Hope is a mystery, hope is the seed from which faith blossoms, hope thou in God, Hour of Power Devotional, hungry hope, I shall yet praise him, I will go in the strength of the Lord God, I will hope continually, I will look unto the Lord, I will remember thee, I will wait for the God of my salvation, it's great to be alive, Jeremiah, joy, learn from our mistakes, like a young buck, LOVE, my God will hear me, my mouth shall show forth thy righteousness, rejoice not against me, remember the times when God rescued us, righteousness., salvation, sincerity, thanks and praise, the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob, the Lord is my portion, the Lord shall be a light unto me, therefore will I hope in him, truth, while there is life there is hope, Why art thou cast down o my soul, why art thou disquieted within me, wisdom, you can't have faith without hope, you can't teach old dogs new tricks, your eyes get their sparkle back, your load is lifted
Psalm 42:5. Why art thou cast down (bowed down), O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance (presence).
Aye mih Scrip-Bit Family, welcome to a wet and windy Thursday in my neck of the woods! It’s great to be alive! Glory to God!
And who says you can’t teach old dogs new tricks eh? I went to bed late last night, or early this morning, and got up late. Wow!
And I’m certainly feeling much better than I did yesterday morning. Instead of the doddering, dawdling old man I was yesterday, I’m hustling around today like a young buck in his prime. (smile) Just goes to show we have the ability to learn from our mistakes and circumstances.
And this morning I want to share a few words on the ever so important word called HOPE, which all of us so desperately need in these difficult and dangerous times. It comes from Gramps Schuller’s (Dr. Robert H Schuller) Hour of Power Devotional. The title asks the tantalizing and titillating question ‘What is this thing called Hope?’
And in his usual enthusiastic and inimitable style Gramps Schuller declares: ‘Hope. It is a marvelous, mysterious mood that comes into your personality. Suddenly your load is lifted, colour returns to your skin, and your eyes get their sparkle back. What is it? It is a scientific experience of the presence of God operating in your personality….
You may not believe in Him, but God believes in you, even if you’re an atheist. He is not going to cast you out without offering you hope. Hope is a mystery. When it happens in the personality, it can only be scientifically described as the presence of a God of LOVE coming into your mind, your spirit, your body, your personality! This is God. This is hope!’
Yes Friends, hope is God coming into our spirits and declaring that it’s not over, that there is a future, a better time and place to come. Who or what else can it be eh? That’s why we hold on to the simple but ever so true cliché, that while there is life, there is always hope!
And that’s no lie, if we’re worshipping the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, because He is all-powerful and can do anything, at anytime, for anyone, in any circumstance. Give Him some thanks and praise my people!
So if your life or your circumstances are in a tangled mess today, please don’t give up, especially if you’re a believer in Jesus Christ, because there is no giving up in Jesus vocabulary.
Please note how the psalmist puts it in our Bit. ‘Why art thou cast down (bowed down), O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance (presence).’
And that’s how we ought to react my fellow believers anytime our souls are cast down or disquieted within us. We need only to turn to our ever-faithful Creator and Provider in sincerity and truth!
As the psalmist continues: ‘O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill (Mount) Mizar.’ (Ps.42:6).
Yes Friends, one of the best ways to increase our hope and faith is to remember all the times when God rescued us from similar situations. For if He’s done it back then, there is no reason for Him not to do it again.
That’s why, in Psalm 71 – A prayer for help in old age – the psalmist joyfully declares: ‘But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more. My mouth shall show forth (proclaim) thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers (limits) thereof. I will go in the strength of the Lord God: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.’ (Ps.71:14-16)
Ah mih people, those are words for us to emulate! When our spirits are low, then the best thing for us to do is to praise God, give Him the thanks that He so rightfully deserves. So in rough times, we remember His faithfulness in the past and give him endless thanks and praise for all He’s done. There’s no better way to come up over our sorrow and sadness.
And Jeremiah in his Lamentations tells us: ‘The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.’ (Lam. 3:24-26)
Oh my people, my people, what wonderful words of wisdom and encouragement. And remember, if anybody should know about sorrow and a despairing soul is the prophet Jeremiah, who went though so much hurt and low times because he dared to tell his people the truth about their sinfulness and lack of sincere worship to the God of their fathers.
And we’ll conclude with some hope-filled and faithful words from the prophet Micah, when he talked about the moral sins of Israel. ‘Therefore will I look unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me. Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me.
I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause (case) and execute judgement (justice) for me; he will bring me forth to the light, and I will behold his righteousness.’ (Mic.7:7-9)
O Friends, truer words were never spoken! The Lord our God has promised to bring us out of darkness into the light and to destroy our enemies, and we know He is ALWAYS faithful in keeping His promises.
So please, let’s go about our business today with a hungry hope and expectant faith in our hearts, and a joy in our souls that comes from a right and real relationship with Almighty God. Now that is indeed wisdom of the highest order. Much LOVE!
…one can’t have faith without hope…for hope is the seed… from which the fruit of faith blossoms and blooms…
18 Nov 2015
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a silver lining, all things I have commanded you, anger, back in bad shape, baptizing them, Beelzebub, believe on Jesus, betrayals, called by His name, Christian persecution, communication technology, decadent society, eternal life, false prophets, for a witness, glory hallelujah, going to bed early is for the birds, good news of Christ, hatred, I am halfway home, I am with you always, I'm looking straight ahead, I'm not focusing on the past, I'm not looking back, I'm not turning back, I'm so glad to be alive, in the name of the Father, Jesus is the best thing going, lack of love, LOVE, moaning and groaning, my gripe, my hands are on the plough, natural disasters, no laughing matter, norm of 8 hours sleep, persecution, preached to all the world, rest, rumours of wars, salvation, signs of the world's demise, sleep, spreading of the gospel of Christ, stand strong and steadfast, strife, teach all nations, teaching them to observe, thank God, the breath of life, the disciples came unto Him privately, the end of the world, the gospel of the kingdom, the Holy Ghost, the long and short of the story, the Mount of Olives, the SON, then shall the end come, to a glorious future with Jesus, turmoil, unto the end of the world, wars, Wednesday Wail, what shall be the sign of thy coming, when shall these things be, wisdom
Matthew 24:3. And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world (age)?
Aye Friends and neighbours, if I never truly believed it before, I certainly do now! And I guess you’re wondering what the ole fogey is talking about eh? (smile) Well I’m talking about going to bed early is really for the birds.
I had a long and busy day yesterday, so last night I decided to go to bed early, early my time, that’s about 12.30, so I could get some of the much vaunted and valuable rest and sleep. Hn!
Unfortunately, though normally one would think fortunately, I got up at 8 o’clock this morning.And would you believe, I could hardly get out of the bed because my back was in such bad shape.
Ah Lord eh! Obviously I’m not meant to lie in bed for even a measly 7 hours. And its not like I never got up at all. I got up at least twice to go to the bathroom. So what does this supposed norm of 8 hours of sleep per night do for me eh? Absolutely nothing!
And it’s not like I don’t know that I cannot lie in bed for so long, but I never intended to get up so late either. But I guess the ole body needed the rest. And there I was gingerly putting one foot in front of the other, moaning and groaning with every step. Hn, hn, hn!
Ah friends, I can laugh now because I’m sitting down writing, but an hour ago, it was definitely no laughing matter. But let me stop joking about it yes, because when I get up from here, it might not be a laughing matter either. (smile)
The long and the short of the story though is that I just have to stick to my short times of rest, and do it more often. Now that’s my gripe for the day, and I’m sticking to it! (smile)
And since today is Wednesday, it means we have to declare our Wednesday Wail. So altogether now, let’s wail: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home.
My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’
Oh my people, though my back is in a sad state I truly am glad to be alive, and am looking straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus, because NO ONE else has such a glorious future to offer!
And I do hope that you feel and believe like me, because Jesus is undoubtedly the BEST thing going, the BEST show available in this evil and disturbed world! Obviously He is not a thing or a show, but that is just the language that some of us best understand. (smile)
And finally we come to our Bit: ‘And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world (age)?’
Ah mih breddren, it does seem as though all the signs of the world’s demise point to a time in the not too distant future. As we recently saw, the numerous wars and rumours of war are on the increase. So too are the natural disasters; earthquakes, floods, disease, volcanoes, famines. They are happening all over the world, in some of the least expected places.
Persecution of Christians is also on the rise as Jesus foretold, just because we are called by His name. Then there’s serious hatred and anger, with strife and betrayals on the rise in our decadent and decaying society. False prophets abound like Jesus said, and the lack of LOVE is certainly noticeable.
But in spite of all of these negative happenings, Jesus reminds us to stand strong and steadfast in His name, because if we endure to the end we will be saved. Now isn’t that wonderful news my brethren? It surely is! With Jesus there’s always a silver lining to the dark clouds. Glory Hallelujah!
But while we’re waiting for the end to come, we ought to be doing ONE more thing. Listen to Jesus. ‘And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.’ (Matt.24:14)
Yes friends, the good news of Christ MUST be shared with ALL the nations of the world, before the end comes! And whose job is that eh? Ours of course! It’s all a part of the Great Commission that Jesus gave to the disciples, and consequently every following generation, which now includes us.
‘Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always(s), even unto the end of the world.’ (Matt,28:19-20)
So there it is my fellow believers, despite all the turmoil and uncertainty in our world, we are expected to stand strong and steadfast in Jesus’ name, as well as to spread His Word to all parts of the earth. And strangely enough, we are the first generation who actually have the wherewithal to do that, through our modern communication technology.
So please, let’s get up and do that nuh. Let’s seriously engage ourselves in the spreading of the gospel of Christ, so that many others might hear it and believe on Jesus, and thus not get lost with the infidel Beelzebub, but instead attain to salvation and eternal life, as our heavenly Father so greatly desires. Now that is indeed the wisdom of heaven! Much LOVE!
…the Lord doesn’t want to lose even one of His human creation…so what we doing to prevent that eh…
17 Nov 2015
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: afflicted, all glory and honour to God, all heads will bow, all knees will bend, be hated by all nations for my sake, children of God, Christians, come up over our problems, distrust, earthquakes, false prophets, famines, friends of Jesus, function successfully without God, glory to God, God's Word, hatred, he that shall endure to the end, I am the beloved of god, I can trust my friend Jesus, I don't have to hurry, I don't have to worry, I'm not what I do, I'm not what I have, I'm not what people say about me, iniquity, invoke God's help, Isis, Israel, knowledge of God's word, Lebanon, LOVE, love shall wax cold, made it through, Paris attacks, persecution, pestilence, promises of Jesus, put on the whole armour of God, rumours of wars, shall be saved, share His love with the world, stand, strife, Syrian Civil war, take the cake, the beginning of sorrows, the beginning of the end, the best thing, the Creed of the Beloved, the disciples came unto Him privately, the end of the world, the Mount of Olives, the name of Jesus, the Olivet Discourse, the wherewithal to pull through, to withstand in the evil day, torrid emotions, tribulation, Tuesday Mantra, violence, wars, what shall be the sign of thy coming, what the world needs now, when shall these things be, wisdom, with God's help
Matthew 24:3. And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world (age)?
Oh Friends, oh Friends, it’s Tuesday – all day too! (smile) And yuh see how, with God’s help, you made it through Monday without any real worries or anxieties?
Well the same thing is also applicable to Tuesday. All you need to do is sincerely invoke God’s help, and He will give you the wherewithal to face down whatever you are facing, and come up over your problems.
Wow! All glory and honour to the great, to the magnificent God we serve and worship! I truly don’t understand how so many people can believe that they can function successfully without Him in their lives nuh.
Anyway, since today is Tuesday, it means that we should declare our Tuesday Mantra, or what’s otherwise known as ‘The Creed of the Beloved.’
Altogether now: ‘I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with the world. Amen.’
Oh glory to God my people! As Christians, as children of God and Friends of Jesus we have the best thing going in this whole wide world! Absolutely no need to worry or hurry!
Unfortunately though, not enough of us fully appreciate and enjoy it, otherwise we’d all be much happier and our world would not be in such a sad state of strife, distrust and deterioration.
Ah Lord eh! Just thinking about the recent Paris attacks, the Lebanon debacle, and the violence that’s fomenting in Israel… and we’re not even including the Syrian Civil war, or the Isis nonsense… we certainly are in a time of serious danger and difficulty.
If the strife isn’t soon abated, then it’s very liable to blow up into a big inferno that engulfs the whole world. And believe me friends, if we think the last world wars were terrible, I believe this next one is going to take the cake, since there are so many more dangerous weapons around and much better methods of spreading them.
That brings us to our Bit. ‘And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world (age)?
Now yesterday we read the beginning of Jesus’ answer to His disciples, where he talked about all the wars and rumours of wars, the pestilence, earthquakes and famines that will happen in various places.
And all of that stuff is definitely happening in our world right now. Sadly though Jesus said that was just the beginning of the end. Can you then imagine what the real end will be like? I hesitate to even think about it.
Now let’s continue with Jesus’ monologue, or what is called the Olivet Discourse, as it was delivered on the Mount of Olives (Olivet). ‘All these are the beginnings of sorrows (birth pangs). Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted (to tribulation), and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my sake.
And then shall many be offended, and betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall arise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity (lawlessness) shall abound, the LOVE of many shall wax (grow) cold.’ Matt.24:8-12)
Oh my fellow believers, doesn’t it just seem as though Jesus is sitting on a hilltop somewhere today, talking about all the negative stuff that’s currently happening in our world? It certainly does! Beside the strife that we’ve already talked about, the persecution of Christians and the hatred that’s now been directed at them simply because of their belief and faith and trust in Jesus Christ is appalling.
Have you ever noticed though, that no other word in any language at all, seems to stir up such torrid emotions than the single, solitary name of ‘JESUS.’ Hn! It must then be a very powerful name indeed!
In general too, betrayals and hatred are on the upswing. And don’t talk about false prophets… there are so many of them around that one has to be very, very careful whom you listen to and follow.
The same goes for iniquity and lawlessness. Sin is now so rampant and official by man’s standards, that unless you have a good knowledge of God’s Word, you’ll find it extremely difficult to know what’s right from wrong.
And obviously from all those negative circumstances will flow the terrible lack of LOVE that’s now so prominent in our world. The words of the old song: ‘What the world needs now, is LOVE, sweet LOVE,’ have never been as true or as necessary.
However my precious people, my fellow believers, as always, our Lord and Saviour has provided a way out for us, ever faithful to His promises to never leave nor forsake us. Listen to His solemn words. ‘But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.’ (Matt.24:13)
Oh glory to the Lamb of God, who is so worthy of our praise and adoration! Yes Friends, if we stand strong and steadfast, holding securely and sincerely to Jesus during these rough and unpredictable times, we WILL be saved in the end!
That’s a promise of Jesus, and so far he has never reneged on one of them, so why will He now eh? No reason whatsoever my brethren!
So with all of that in mind, let’s continue reading and studying and meditating on God’s Word, so that we will know right from wrong and receive strength for our faith. Let’s also continue to meet and fellowship regularly with other believers, encouraging and edifying each other so that we are able to withstand the flaming arrows of the enemy.
As Bruh Paul so wisely advised the Ephesians. ‘Wherefore take unto you (put on) the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.’ (Eph.6:13)
Yes Friends, that is indeed the wisdom of all wisdom! Much LOVE!
…there’s no name in the world as powerful as…JESUS…to whom all heads will bow…and all knees will bend…
16 Nov 2015
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a thankful conversation with God, an act of war, aura of love, band our jaws, be not troubled, begin the day on the right foot, confidence, energy, enthusiasm, evil, faith, fellowship, fire in Jesus' eyes, get with the programme, glorious kingdom, greed, humble servants, invincible, Jerusalem, Jesus Christ, LOVE, LOVE to hate, make a positive difference, many shall come in my name, meet the enemy in battle, miserable, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, Oh Lord God Almighty, peaceful repose, rejuvenation of spirit, relaxation, renewed vitality, righteousness., selfishness, spiritual armour, steadfast faith, stressed out, take heed that no man deceive you, the disciples came unto Him privately, the end is not yet, the end of the world, the Mount of Olives, these things must come to pass, trust, ungodly world, wars and rumours of war, what shall be the sign of thy coming, when shall these things be, wisdom
Matthew 24:3. And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world (age)?
Well mih breddren, it’s that wonderful day which we all LOVE to hate; Monday! (smile) Unfortunately there is not much we can do about it, so let’s band our jaws and get up and get with the programme nuh.
Obviously, before you get going, you should offer up some praise and thanks for your name and picture not being in the obits today, (smile) and faithfully and sincerely ask for the strength, wisdom and guidance needed to have a successful day. It’s always best to both start and end the day with a thankful conversation with our Maker. That way we begin the day on the right foot and end it with peaceful repose.
And if we had done like we were supposed to yesterday, rest and fellowship and worship with other believers, we wouldn’t be all stressed out and miserable this morning before we even went through the door. Anyway, as is our custom on a Monday, let’s sing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn with as much energy and enthusiasm as we can manage. Oh, by the way, our choirmaster, Jesus, has fire in His eyes this morning. That means he is expecting an excellent rendition.
So let’s sing, as one voice, in perfect harmony. ‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together.
We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies.
But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your incredible aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle.
Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’
Oh yes my people, it was good enough, as the smile on Jesus’ face indicates. So now we should all be ready to go out and face a world gone mad with evil and wickedness, selfishness and greed, and do our part to make a positive difference in Jesus’ name.
Now let’s turn to our Bit for today: ‘And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world (age)?’
Ah Friends, those were certainly mind boggling questions back then, and still are in these tremulous times. And according to Mark’s gospel, it was Peter, James, John and Andrew who inquired of those things from Jesus. (Mark 13:3) But before we get into Jesus’ answer, let’s see what led up to the questions in the first place.
Matthew describes it thus: ‘And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to show him the buildings of the temple.’ (Matt.24:1)
According to the scholars, they were referring to ‘the huge stones of the magnificent temple begun in 20 B.C under Herod the Great and completed some 84 years later.’
‘And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? Verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.’ (Matt.24:2)
And the scholars tell us that ‘Jesus then left the city, crossed the Kidron Valley, and went east of Jerusalem to the Mount of Olives from which He could look down on the temple courtyard. Here His disciples asked Him three questions: (1) when shall these things be? (the destruction of the temple); (2) what shall be the sign of thy coming? (Gr. parousia, technical term for the coming of the King; (3) and of the end of the world? (Gr. aion, “the age”). Therefore, the entire discourse must be looked upon as answering all three of these questions.’
And Friends, Jesus did get into a lengthy speech up there on the mountain. So now that we’ve set the scene, let’s check out Jesus’ answers to those questions. ‘And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ, and shall deceive many.
And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers (various) places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.’ (Matt.24:4-8)
And yuh know what Friends, we are indeed seeing these things happen on a wider and larger scale than ever before. The headline in the Toronto star Newspaper yesterday read in big, bold letters: ‘An act of war,’ referring to the cruel and cowardly killing of so many innocent and unsuspecting people in Paris on Friday evening by the criminal sadists, we so nicely label terrorists.
Steups! A cold blooded murderer by any other name is still a cold blooded murderer! I don’t know why we legitimize their terrible behaviour with that name nuh. Anyway, I won’t get into any talk on that subject, because it will only increase my anger, and I might say something(s) I should not.
Suffice it to say, that unless retaliation in kind for this totally uncalled for massacre is soon met, this nonsense will continue unabated. If we had had a suitable response for 9/11, this would never have happened. We’ll continue this tomorrow, God willing.
Till then, please walk safely with our wonderful Lord and Saviour Jesus, and do not be troubled, as He advised. Be concerned yes, but not worried or anxious, for everything is unfolding as it should. Much LOVE!
...God’s plans are working as they should… believers ought to stay in faith… because of His awesome promises to us…
15 Nov 2015
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a time to every purpose under heaven, all ye that labour and heavy laden, and all these things shall be added unto you, and rest awhile, come aside into a deserted place, come unto me, constant work, day of fellowship and rest, do not worry about tomorrow, emotional disease, fellowship, find rest for your souls, friends, glory hallelujah, glory to God, heed God's warning, I am meek and lowly in heart, I will give you rest, learn from me, like a chicken with our heads cut off, LOVE, making God our first priority, mental, my burden is light, my yoke is easy, pamper ourselves, physical, praise, proselytizing, recharging batteries, rest, rest is not a matter of doing nothing, rest is repair, righteousness., seek ye first the kingdom of God, so much as to eat, spiritual rejuvenation, strengthening of faith, Sunday, take a time out, take my yoke upon you, thanks, the first day of the week, the foolish attitude of the world, the great invitation, the Sabbath, the Sermon on the Mount, there were many coming and going, they had no leisure, to everything there is a season, tomorrow shall take care of itself, work and worry
Mark 6:31. And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart (aside) into a desert (deserted) place, and rest awhile: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.
And then it was Sunday; that wonderful day of fellowship and rest. Glory to God! Yes friends, it’s time once again to make our way to the Lord’s sanctuary to give Him much deserved praise and thanks and glory, and in return receive spiritual rejuvenation and a strengthening of our faith.
Our God definitely knew what He was doing when He set aside one day in every seven for rest and fellowship amongst His earthly creation. Since He created us, He obviously knew our limitations, physical, emotional and spiritual. Our batteries do need recharging every once in a while, and He figured seven days was a goodly and godly number. (smile)
Unfortunately though, many of us refuse to heed God’s warning about rest and rejuvenation and simply continue to follow the foolish attitude of the world of constant work, until our bodies break down with physical, mental and emotional diseases. Now that’s definitely not wisdom my people.
Oh yes, I know that many of us need the money that comes from work, but remember what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount? ‘But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow (therefore do not worry about tomorrow): for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil (trouble) thereof. ’ (Matt.6:33- 34)
That’s the beauty of making God’s business our first priority; He will provide all our necessities. There’s absolutely no sense worrying about tomorrow and in running down the things of the world and then don’t have the time to enjoy them, or fall down before we do.
That brings us to a quote from an author by the name of Daniel W. Joselyn. I couldn’t find any other pertinent info on him, but he is reputed to have said, or written that ‘Rest is not a matter of doing absolutely nothing. Rest is repair.’
And that’s the gospel truth my brethren. To rest doesn’t necessarily mean to do nothing. It just means to take a break from whatever’s been occupying our time. Take a few moments or whatever to recuperate from that activity. But sadly this modern society makes us feel guilty if we take time off to renew ourselves, because it’s all about go, go, go.
Whenever we feel, anxious, angry, or like the burdens of the world are bearing down on us, it’s quite okay to take a time out. As the Daily Devotional for People with Chronic Illness, from which I got this quote says: ‘Pamper ourselves once in a while to rejuvenate the physical and emotional strength needed to face our world.’ Now that’s an absolutely brilliant idea!
And all of that provides a very smooth segue into our Bit. But first, here is what leads up to it. ‘And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.
And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart (aside) into a desert (deserted) place, and rest awhile: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. And they departed into a desert (deserted) place by ship privately (by themselves.’ (Mark 6:30-32)
That was Jesus’ advice to His disciples and the action they took, after they had returned from the mission field. Obviously Jesus saw their need for a break from the strenuous activity of proselytizing, especially on foot. And if He could recommend rest and revitalization, why are we so proud and /or foolish not to also take it for ourselves every so often eh?
It makes it ever so much easier to begin the week on a day of rest and righteousness than on one of work and worry. And that’s why I keep telling us that Sunday, which most Christians celebrate as the Sabbath, is the first day of our week, not the last, and we need to use it wisely in rest and godliness so that come Monday, we will be refreshed and renewed and able to handle the cares of the world with greater ease and much more passion.
Remember too, Jesus’ Great Invitation: ‘Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of (from) me; for I am meek and lowly in heart (gentle and humble): and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.’ (Matt.11:28-30)
Oh my people, my people, what an awesome invitation! Whenever we’re tired or weary, in any aspect of our lives, we have an open invitation to go to Jesus and get rest. Glory Hallelujah!
But yuh know what? Too many of us, for whatever reason, disdain to accept Jesus’ invitation to come to Him for rest and renewal. That’s why we’re always running around like a chicken with our heads cut off, too busy to make time for ourselves, always anxious and uptight about the cares of the world. But true wisdom tells us that we shouldn’t always be rushing around.
How did Cousin Sol famously put it as the Preacher in Ecclesiastes? ‘To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.’ (Eccl.3:1)
Yes Friends, there was, and still is, method to God’s madness. However, I can’t say the same for us, as our crazy, very disturbed, and chaotic world so perfectly exemplifies.
So please, for all our sakes, let’s be wise and make this day, this Sunday, one of rest and worship nuh, thereby giving us a fresh mind, body and soul for tomorrow, Monday. Now that’s definitely the wisdom of the ages! Much LOVE!
…’I can simplify my life…by giving myself this day for relaxing…’
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