Today’s Scrip-Bit   27 May 2023 John 14:18.

27 May 2023 Leave a comment

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

John 14:18.       I will not leave you comfortless (as orphans): I will come to you.

Well friends, a blessed Pentecost lazy-day Saturday to you. And if there ever was cause for a lazy day in these parts, this was it, because it’s not only gloriously bright and sunshiny, but you can also feel the heat from the rays of the sun. I went out earlier today to our annual Pentecost Prayer Breakfast and as soon as I got outside, I could feel the sun’s hot rays, and eventually had to take off the light jacket I was wearing. 

And it was a wonderful Prayer Breakfast, with lots of good fellowship, plenty singing and moving, with uplifting prayer and encouraging speeches from our Host Priest, Father Jeff, and the guest speaker, Roshni, a young female priest, a recent incumbent from a nearby parish. It’s good to see young women going into the service of God. The food was also plentiful and excellent, with the result that after I came home, I had to lie down and rest before I could even consider writing the Bit. 

But I’m up and about now, fresh and rearing to go. (smile) And I want to begin with this beautiful and very appropriate prayer for this lazy-day Saturday, that I found in this month’s In Touch Devotional. So please pray with me. ‘Lord, I want to be with You now. Please slow my thoughts and quiet my soul. Let my muscles relax, my breath deepen. You are here with me – Your peace and LOVE are present. I marvel to think You can’t be contained, that Your LOVE both surrounds and fills me. Thank You for this tenderness, Lord. I praise You for Your unceasing nearness. Increase my awareness of You today, that I may know You all the more. Amen!’ 

Wow! Isn’t that a beautiful and heartfelt prayer my people! It most certainly is! And I even considered making it our regular Lazy-day Saturday Prayer. (smile) But I haven’t quite made up my mind on that. Will have to check with the Big Boss about it. And the last line of that prayer reminded me of these heartwarming and encouraging words of the song, ‘No One Ever Cared For Me Like Jesus, sung by Christian songstress, Grace Brumley of the Family Worship Centre in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 

The song emphasizes these wonderful and oh so true sentiments. ‘The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows. The more that I LOVE Him, more LOVE He bestows. Each day is like heaven, my heart overflows. The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows.’ Mama Mia! 

Oh my fellow believers if you don’t experience that amazing experience while walking with Jesus, then something’s seriously wrong with your walk. For I can personally testify to those overwhelming sentiments. Each day you get up and decide to continue following Jesus is like a brand-new experience. As I keep reminding us, truly walking with Him is not always easy, but it’s always interesting and adventuresome. And that’s better than easy any day! 

And I believe that’s a good way to judge your maturing or is it maturation (smile) in Christ. If you’re not feeling more joyful and Spirit-filled as your time with Him goes by, then you’re not doing something right, or something’s simply missing from your walk. Because as we grow in Christian maturity, we are supposed to become even more Spirit-filled and obedient to God’s Will and Word, which in turn ought to bring us greater, peace, LOVE and joy. 

And with this Pentecost Sunday upon us, where the Holy Spirit first indwelled believers, we ought to be concerned with walking in the Spirit of God, the third member of our Holy Trinity and constantly being led, guided, refueled and replenished by Him. And I guess tomorrow the fireworks will be happening all over the world as we celebrate that most memorable day in our Christian faith. (smile) 

But please, let’s not get carried away by the drama of the situation, but stay more focused on what the dramatics actually did; that’s bring God’s Spirit, the Comforter and Helper that Jesus promised His disciples after He returned to heaven. ‘If ye LOVE me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father to give you another Comforter (Helper), that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless (as orphans): I will come to you.’ (John 14:15-18) 

Yes friends, the Holy Spirit then surrounded the disciples and the other believers, but eventually it was going to come and dwell within them and give them the great power and authority they needed to carry out His Great Commission. That’s why, before His ascension back to heaven, Jesus told them, not to 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….

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. 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. ’ (Acts 1:4-5; 8-9) And ten days later on Pentecost Sunday, which we will celebrate tomorrow, that marvellous promise came true! 

Wow! Doesn’t that renew and strengthen your faith in Christ? It most surely should, making you believe more than ever that He is indeed whom He says He is, and will indeed do the things He’s promised to do! Please, let’s take a li’l time today and ponder the state of our faith nuh, and see if we’re growing, stagnating or backsliding, for in the tempting and evil world in which we’re currently living, we need to be continually monitoring our Christian faith! Much LOVE!

…each day we spend with Christ should be like heaven…for the longer we serve Him…the sweeter He grows… 

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

Today’s Scrip-Bit   13 May 2023 Matthew 5:14a.

13 May 2023 Leave a comment

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

Matthew 5:14a. Ye are the light of the world.

I don’t like it friends. It’s a lazy-day Saturday and yet I’ve been up and about for a while now. What’s happening eh? Why didn’t I just lie in bed and laze around? And it’s not like I went to bed so early that I could afford to get up early. But unfortunately, that’s how the cookie crumbles. I guess the Good Lord figured I should be up and about His business early on such a beautiful sunshiny day. And if the sunshine holds, it will be the fifth day straight of pure, unadulterated sunlight. 

That brings us to the message of Christ’s followers being lights in this dark, evil and ungodly world. And after forgiving the adulterous woman (John 8:1-11) Jesus said in no uncertain terms: ‘I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.’ (John 8:12) Yes my brethren, Jesus came into the world to give us light, so that we can see in the darkness, and resuscitated life that we could live in His light. 

One commentary states: ‘We can’t see our future, direction, or destination, but Jesus can. Like the lighthouse guides the ship, Jesus directs us toward God’s light. The light of Christ guides us through the darkness of sin, life, and struggle both spiritually and literally.’ And is that all ever so true! That’s exactly what Jesus does for us when we dedicate our lives to Him, trust and fully surrender to His guiding light. 

Then later on, after healing a blind man, Jesus again claims to be the light of the world, saying: ‘As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.’ (John 9:5) Now, that raises an interesting question: while He is on earth, He is the light of the world, but what happens when He isn’t here on earth eh? 

Don’t worry about that, for Jesus in His awesome wisdom also made allowances for it by saying in the Sermon on the Mount: ‘Ye are the light of the world.’ (Matt. 5:14a) Meaning, that when He leaves Mother Earth, His followers will then be the light of the world. So yuh see, he has all the bases covered. (smile) 

Now, being the light of the world is an enormous task, one that we are not doing so well at, because our light is not shining as brightly as it ought to. Jesus said that: ‘A city set on a hill cannot be hid.’ (Matt. 5:14b) And that’s the indisputable truth. But unfortunately, too many of us supposed believers are not set on a hill, so that whatever light we are exuding is not being seen far and wide. And that’s a major problem, for the light is only valuable as far as it can be seen. 

That means friends, we have to do much better in our lighthouse work. That’s climb higher up that proverbial hill and shine even brighter than we’re currently doing, because the light of Jesus is very critical in today’s dark, unbelieving and evil world. And Jesus further explained about the purpose of light. ‘Neither do men light a candle (lamp), and put it under a bushel (basket), but on a candlestick (lampstand); and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.’ (Matt. 5:15) 

That tells us we’re not supposed to be hiding our light, like so many of us are doing,  instead of spreading it forth, so that as many people as possible can see it and thus come in from the darkness of Satan’s evil world into the bright light of Jesus’ magnificent kingdom! Wow! That’s our bounden duty! Consequently, Jesus exhorted His followers. ‘Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.’ (Matt. 5:16) 

Now that’s exactly what is so badly needed from Christians today; showing the world their light through their good works and true Christian living; not the half-hearted, lacklustre and lackadaisical attitudes and efforts we are actually putting forth. The fact is that too many of us are either afraid of what the world will say if we totally engage in the will of Jesus, or are simply lazy and uninterested in doing His will. 

And that’s why so many unbelievers are not turning to Jesus, and many former believers are turning away from Him. Too many of us are walking around with dirty lampshades, full of black soot, that only keep the light contained within the shade. But my people, we desperately need to clean our lampshades so that they can allow the brightness behind them to explode into this dark, ungodly world! That’s the only way the unbeliever will see the benefits of following Jesus and thus desire to know Him. 

Now let’s not forget either that in Jesus’ eyes, we are also the salt of the earth. Yes, my faithful brethren, we’re also supposed to act like that marvellous substance that provides taste and flavour, as well as be a preservative, melt coldness and heal wounds. Jesus advised us thus in the same Sermon on the Mount. ‘Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour (flavour), wherewith (by what) shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.’ (Matt. 5:13) 

And that’s the truth in spades! But sadly, it also applies to too many supposed believers today. Too many of us have lost our tasty flavour, our zest for life, for Jesus and His kingdom work, and are now mere caricatures of our former selves. But thankfully there is always hope in Jesus, and in these cruel and evil last days, it is imperative that ALL believers renew their commitment to Jesus and His kingdom work, so that all over the world, we can forward His Name and the good news that He brings. 

It’s ever so necessary that we begin a spiritual revival, put new oil in our lamps, clean up our lampshades, and get back our salty taste so that we can add the marvellous flavour and light of Christ to this dark and  tasteless world! Oh friends, it’s high time to reimplement Christ’s Great Commission, so that we can further His LOVE Revolution! And that’s my fervent prayer for us today! Much LOVE!

…what’s the purpose of living life…if it’s dark and tasteless…none whatsoever…so let’s make it bright and tasty nuh… 

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

Today’s Scrip-Bit   3 December 2022 Matthew 19:26.

03 Dec 2022 Leave a comment

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

Matthew 19:26.        With men this is impossible; but with God ALL things are possible.

And is there ever good reason for today to be called a lazy day Saturday! Oh yes! The rain’s falling, the wind’s blowing, it’s dark, cloudy and fairly chilly! Great reasons all for staying in bed under the covers, just dozing in and out of consciousness, or lounging on the couch, mindlessly watching the boob-tube! (smile) 

Well, I’ve already done what lazing I could safely get away with, but unfortunately reality intervened, as it always does, letting me know that the Lord’s work was waiting to be done. And like the obedient follower I try to be, (smile) here I am considering, obviously with the Lord’s help, what to write about the quotes that our friend Anselm sent us this past week, as he aspires to inspire us for a better tomorrow. 

And the first quote says: ‘I dwell in possibility.’ Now that’s definitely a good place to dwell because it opens a much wider variety of possibilities than if one dwelt in impossibility. (smile) But then, the question needs to be asked how much is really possible in man’s strength alone? And the answer comes, not a whole lot! However, when one has joined forces with the Lord God of the universe through His most august Son, Jesus Christ, then a whole new realm of possibility opens up to you. 

And how is that you ask? Well, it stems from Jesus’ conversation with His disciples about it being easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven. Then He made this overwhelming, but ever so true statement: ‘With men this is impossible; but with God ALL things are possible.’ (Matt. 19:26) And that statement is totally supported by God’s creation of the universe and all therein, and His total control of everything and everyone that exists in it. That’s why it’s ever so important to stay in God’s good graces if one wants to have unlimited possibilities in this life. 

That brings us to this next interesting quote. ‘Inspiration comes from within yourself. One has to be positive. When you’re positive, good things happen.’ Now, there’s a lot of truth in those statements, but not the entire truth. First off, not all inspiration comes from within oneself because we can be inspired by things, places and people outside of ourselves. Although, in a way, you can argue that for that outside inspiration to move you, it must first get into you spirit, therefore the inspiration came from within. (smile) 

Yes, I am trying to be the devil’s advocate. And being positive is wisdom of the highest order, although it’s not only good things that happen when you have a positive mindset, but certainly more good things happen than bad when you are positively inclined. But in all of our positivity friends, we still need Jesus to get us through the storms of life that will bombard us, for He is the ONLY ONE who can calm storms and/or lead us safely through them. And He ALONE gives us the strength, energy, hope and faith to withstand whatever comes against in this world filled with tribulation. 

Remember His words of sincere and faithful assurance. ‘These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.’ (John 16:33) And that’s the gospel truth my brethren! Jesus by His death, resurrection and ascension has defeated the powers of darkness, took away the keys to Hades from Satan and set us captives of sin free. And Jesus corroborates that earlier on, when He says: ‘If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.’ (John 8:36)  

Now that’s why Bruh Paul could pen these marvellous words of encouragement to the church at Philippi after receiving a gift from them. ‘Not that I speak in respect of want (in regard of need): for I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased (live humbly), and I know how to abound (live in prosperity): every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.’ (Phil. 4:11-13) 

Yes friends, Bruh Paul was saying that though he appreciated their gift, he had learned to be content in whatever state he found himself. And that comes from his relationship with Christ, who through His spiritual strength and encouragement enables Bruh Paul to adapt to whatever circumstances he’s currently facing. And Christ will do the same thing for us if we put our sincere trust and faith in Him. 

That leads us to this next quote: ‘You do not find the happy life. You make it.’ And that’s no lie. Happiness doesn’t just fall from the sky on us, we have to do certain things to become happy and to stay happy, for happiness can be a very fleeting thing, based so much on our circumstances of the moment. The first thing to understand is that we need to make ourselves happy. Even if we are showered with all the wealth and power in the world, we still have to decide to be happy. 

And the next point is that we cannot depend on any one person for all of our happiness. It’s just not possible because of the way human relationships can be very topsy-turvy; fine one moment, then in total disarray the next. That’s why we believers in Christ Jesus talk about joy rather than happiness, because joy is something that’s deep-seated and stable and doesn’t change from one minute to the next. With Jesus as your Lord and Saviour you can go through tough times and still be joyful. That’s why Bruh Paul said he could handle any situation with Jesus in his life. That’s why the Bible tells us: ‘the joy of the Lord is your strength.’ (Neh. 8:10) Christ Jesus empowers us! 

And that’s nowhere more evident than in this last quote. ‘I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.’ Yes, whichever ball player said those words knew the secret of success; never give up. Just keep on trying. And failure is never failure until you stop trying. As Cousin Sol writes in Proverbs: ‘For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief (stumble into calamity). (Prov. 24:16) 

Yes, my fellow saints, the righteous man, the one who has Jesus as his guide and leader never gives up because in Jesus’ kingdom there’s no giving up, the word failure doesn’t exist! No matter how many times he may fail, with Jesus’ help, he gets back up again and keeps on trying until he succeeds! And that’s a very valuable lesson we badly need to renew in our souls and spirits this lazy Saturday morning. 

Why? Because in these recent times of much confusion and uncertainty, the body of Christ, His church, has been very frail and fragile, beset by way too much doubt, fear and lethargy. We have not been strong and steadfast as we were expected to be. But now it’s time for the body of Christ to rise up and show this evil world the true qualities of Christ, as we boldly shine our lights and spread our saltiness all over this turbulent globe! Much LOVE!

…I can do anything…that Christ asks of me… 

Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ