God is ALWAYS with Believers; Be They on the Mountaintop or in the Valley!

01 Jun 2025 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Psalm 23:4.        Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me: thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

And it’s another Sunday, this one the first day of June, the Seventh Sunday of Easter, when many churches celebrate the Ascension of Christ which happened this past week Thursday. The Lord spent forty days on earth after He rose from the grave, and on that day, while He gathered with the disciples on Mount Olivet (the Mount of Olives), He gave them the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20), also telling them to remain in Jerusalem until they were baptized with the Holy Ghost (Acts 1:4). 

‘And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld (looked on), he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.’ (Acts 1:9:11) Yes friends, Jesus went away, but He will come again, when He comes to judge the earth. 

Now, the scholars offer these explanations of those verses. ‘While they beheld suggests several things that are not apparent. Unlike the appearances and disappearances of the former 40 days in which Jesus instantly appeared and vanished, this was a gradual and visible departure. This was different and final. He would no longer appear to them. His next appearance on earth will be at the Second Coming when he visibly (Rev. 1:7) and bodily sets His feet on Mount Olivet (Zech. 14:4).’  

And since Jesus left from the mountain, and will return to the mountain, it’s appropriate that we begin our worship today with the song, ‘God On the Mountain.’ (smile) The story of the song is a wonderful testament to God’s goodness and faithfulness. In a nutshell, Tracy Dartt, the author, was in California building swimming pools with a partner in 1974, and though on the outside things looked rosy, in reality they were not. They discovered they had more pools to build than they could afford, and nothing they did could alleviate the problems. 

The partner wanted to file for bankruptcy, but Dartt felt that was right. So, in frustration, the partner turned everything over to him, including the massive debt. And all they could do was pray. And did they ever pray! However, while things were going good, Dart and his wife Sharon had founded a country gospel group with another couple, called ‘Country Congregation, for which he wrote all the music, and they were functioning fairly well with a recording contract in hand. 

And as the Lord would have it, in the midst of the turmoil, he awoke from a troubled sleep at two o’clock one night with a tune echoing in his mind. He picked up pen and paper and began to write. The first verse came, and as he thanked the Lord for being his God in the valley, the chorus came. And in roughly thirty minutes the song was completed. He thanked the Lord and went back to sleep. The next morning things were still up in the air and they prayed for the Lord to show them His will. 

Shortly after he got to his office, someone called and requested a pool for an injured athlete. A few days later another call came for another pool. And so it went on, until they built some 12 pools in the off season, when no one else was building any. And they were able to save their business. And yet, people still say that the Lord is not a good and faithful God and is always with you, wherever you are! Nonsense! 

So, finally, let’s offer up our sweet sacrifices of praise in a soulful, heartfelt, mid tempo version of this testimonial song to our great God. Singing: ‘Life is easy, when you’re up on the mountain And you’ve got peace of mind, like you’ve never known. But things change, when you’re down in the valley. Don’t lose faith, for you’re never alone. (Chorus: For the God on the mountain, is the God in the valley. When things go wrong, He’ll make them right. And the God of the good times is still God in the bad times. The God of the day is still God in the night.) 

You talk of faith when you’re up on the mountain. But talk comes so easy when life’s at its best. But its down in the valley, of trials and temptations That’s where your faith, is really put to the test. (Chorus: For the God on the mountain is the God in the valley. When things go wrong, He’ll make them right. And the God of the good times is still God in the bad times. The God of the day, is still God in the night. (2)’ 

And isn’t that gospel truth my faithful brethren! Our God, when we’re celebrating on the mountain top, is the very same God who walks with us when we’re in despair in the valley. That’s why Bruh David could famously proclaim from Psalm 23: ‘Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me: thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.’’ (Ps. 23:4-5) 

Yes friends, that how good our God can be to us when things look ever so bleak, with no apparent way out of our unfortunate situations. And that’s why the psalmist Asaph in Psalm 73 – Prosperity of the Wicked – could also write these marvellous words of assurance. ‘Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none on earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength (rock) of my heart, and my portion for ever. For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee (who are unfaithful to thee). But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works.’ (Ps. 73:25-28) 

Now that’s how Christians ought to be talking…while also walking the talk! For our God is undoubtedly a good God, who has promised to never leave not forsake us (Heb. 13:5), and He never breaks any of His promises, so we can stake our lives on any promises He’s made. And furthermore, as Bruh Paul writes of Him to the Corinthians: ‘Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them, which are in any trouble (tribulation), by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.’ (2 Cor. 1:3-4) 

Now what more can we ask for my fellow believers? We have a God who is always with us, whether we’re on the mountaintop or in the depths of the valley, one who comforts us in times of trouble, even to the extent that we can comfort others with the comfort we receive from Him! Wow! What a magnificent God we serve! If only we would use our innate wisdom to give Him the right gratitude and reverence He deserves, our lives would be so much better! Much LOVE!

…whether we’re on the mountaintop…or in the valley…Christians must always be fighting…the good fight of faith…  

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien

Today’s Scrip-Bit   21 May 2023 Acts 1:9.

21 May 2023 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Acts 1:9.        And when he (Jesus) had spoken these things, while they beheld (looked), he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

Well, a good Sunday morning to all you my faithful Scrip-Bit readers. Isn’t it just a joy to gather together in worship on the Lord’s Day, to sing His praises and glorify His Holy Name? It most certainly is! For it not only gladdens His heart but also lifts up our spirits and gives us the confidence we need to keep on fighting the good fight of faith in this evil and fallen world. 

And another of our faithful celebrations of Jesus’ life took place this past week, His ascension back to heaven. But before we get into that, let’s sing this amazing song, written in the second half of the 19th century (1873) by blind hymn writer Fanny Crosby and musician Phoebe Knapp, simply but most appropriately titled, ‘Blessed Assurance.’ 

And I like this commentary which says: ‘Each and every day we sing praises to His name. We are thankful for all of the blessings that He bestows upon us. The lyrics of the classic hymn ‘Blessed Assurance’ is the perfect way to worship. And when you hear the story behind the hymn, you will be even more in awe of His amazing grace. Thank you, Jesus, for dying for our sins!’ 

Yuh better believe it friends, because if He hadn’t done that most selfless and LOVING deed, then crapaud would have certainly smoked we pipe! And having acknowledged that, let’s sing a rousing, up-tempo, scintillating, heart-felt version of Blessed Assurance. 

Singing: ‘Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood (Chorus: This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long; This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long.) Perfect submission, perfect delight, Visions of rapture now burst on my sight; Angels, descending, bring from above Echoes of mercy, whispers of LOVE. 

(Chorus…) Perfect submission, all is at rest, I in my Savior am happy and blest, Watching and waiting, looking above, Filled with His goodness, lost in His LOVE. (Chorus: This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long; This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long…. Praising my Savior all the day long )’ 

Ah mih people, what beautiful and meaningful lyrics, and we indeed did justice to the song, raising all heaven with our sincere and heartfelt sacrifices of praise. And the story behind the hymn that we mentioned above, is indeed an interesting one. The story goes that: ‘One evening, Fanny’s friend and composer Phoebe Palmer Knapp was visiting and played a tune on the piano, asking Fanny what it sounded like. Fanny responded, “Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine!” Phoebe and Fanny then continued to sing the melody and write the lyrics together.’ 

Wow! That’s just another instance of how our wonderful God works in mysterious ways, to bring us closer to Him and all the marvellous things He has to offer. And talking about all that God has to offer, this past Thursday we celebrated the ascension of Jesus, from the Mount of Olives, near Bethany, some forty days after His resurrection. 

Luke tells the story in the first chapter of Acts. He says: ‘And (Jesus) being assembled with them (the disciples), commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost, not many days hence.’ (Acts 1:4-5) That was a foreshadowing of the marvellous things that would take place on the Day of Pentecost shortly thereafter. 

But apparently the disciples didn’t quite understand Jesus’ meaning, for Luke tells us: ‘When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel.  And he said unto them, it is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power (authority). But ye shall receive power, after (when) the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.’ (Acts 1:6-8) 

There you have it again friends, the directive of the Great Commission! However, the disciples did not yet have the power to fulfill that commission, so they had to wait in Jerusalem until they were baptized by the Holy Ghost. And as the scholars explain: ‘The disciples were to be concerned with world evangelism and discipleship. The Great Commission still applies today since the promise underlying it, the Holy Spirit, still applies (Matt. 28:20).’ 

And so it does my fellow believers, perhaps even more urgently than it ever did, since our fallen world is in great turmoil and the peace, LOVE and salvation of Christ is absolutely necessary, if we are to avoid the total destruction that we are currently racing towards. But getting back to Christ’s ascension. The Good Library further tells us. 

‘And when he (Jesus) had spoken these things, while they beheld (looked), he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.’ (Acts 1:9-11) 

Can you imagine that scene friends? The disciples talking with Jesus on the Mount of Olives, then all of a sudden, He just rises up into the air and is gone from their sight? That must certainly have boggled their young, uneducated minds, as it would most certainly have also boggled our old, educated minds. (smile) But what I LOVE about Jesus is that despite the circumstances, He never does, or goes anywhere without giving us a promise, or a foreshadowing of what is to come. 

And that’s what the men in white, most likely angels did. They promised that the same way Jesus left, He would come back to earth again. He wouldn’t leave them alone forever. But He would no longer appear to them like He had done after the resurrection; suddenly appearing, then suddenly vanishing again. The next time they saw him would be at His Second Coming as the conquering Hero, when He visibly (Rev. 17) and bodily sets His feet on the Mount of Olives. (Zech. 14:4)’ 

Ah my fellow saints, that is indeed a joyful day that we have to look forward to. So please, let’s keep it at the forefront of our minds, and live this life with joy, LOVE and peace in Christ Jesus, knowing that we will soon see Him again! Much LOVE!

…Jesus in Jamaican style said …soon come…and come He will…we just don’t know exactly when…   

 Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ