12 Dec 2025
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a pot of gold, accepting Jesus as Lord and Saviour, according to his glorious power, all that labour and are heavy laden, all things work together for good to them that love God, amidst all the anxiety and confusion, at the end of the rainbow, be filled with the knowledge of God's willl, be of good cheer, be responsible and stay safe, being fruitful in every good work, better Christian witnesses, by the example that we set, can disappoint very quickly, can wake up and smell the coffee, come unto me, crying out for help, defeat the simmering unrest in our land, delivered us from the power of darkness, divine aid, do not cease to pray for you, don't depend on others to make you happy, embrace your love and compassion, faith, find joy in Jesus, find rest unto your souls, Friday chant, gentle and humble, giving thanks unto the Father, happiness, happiness can be fleeting, hits the nail on the head, holy spirit, humans are irresponsible and unpredictable, i have overcome the world, I stand at the door and knock, I will come into him, I will give you rest, if any man hear my voice and open the door, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, in me ye ight have peace, in the world ye shall have tribulation, in whom we have redemption through his blood, increasing in the knowledge of God, introduce a new flock of believers, Jesus Christ, Jesus is the only who will not let us down, Jesus never disappoints, joy, learn of me, life just gives us time and space, LOVE, meek and lowly in heart, mercy, my yoke is easy and my burden light, No one is guaranteed happiness, nothing can be better than living for Jesus, omnipotent help, our sinful world can wake up, place our trust in Almighty God, problems escalating, return backsliders to your fold, salvation, scripture of promise, show them the error of their ways, stand strong and steadfast in faith, strengthened with all might, take my yoke upon you, tests our faith through tough circumstances, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, the forgiveness of sins, the joy found in Christ is everlasting, the most assurance of happiness, the throne of grace, these things I have spoken unto you, these ungodly times, time of need, to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light, to them who are called according to his purpose, translated us into the kingdom of his Son, trusting faith, truth, unexpected storms, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness, walk worthy of the Lord, we experience joy with Jesus, we must fill it with joy and meaning, who hath qualified us, will sup with him and he with me, wisdom, wise guidance
Matthew 11:28. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Oh friends, at long last it’s Friday, and we can see a pot of gold, the weekend, at the end of the rainbow, this work week. And to make things better, although it’s cold and windy, the sun’s shining brightly, just the way we like it! No wonder we’ve sent up sincere prayers of ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday!’
And today we’re going to look at interesting quote from my ‘I LOVE You’ Poster my young daughter gave me years ago. Now this quote sounds familiar, and I might have used it sometime ago, but like so many of these sayings, they are worth hearing over and over. And this one resonates with awesome truth. It says: ‘No one is guaranteed happiness. Life just gives us time and space. It’s up to us to fill it with joy and meaning.’
And that hits the proverbial nail right on its proverbial head. Happiness is not guaranteed, and often it doesn’t last very long. But we have to make ourselves happy, and the best way to do that is by starting off with Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, for through Him, even if you don’t have happiness here on earth, you will certainly have it with Him wherever He is in the next life! And in Jesus we don’t experience happiness so much as joy, which is a much deeper and more lasting experience.
Now, we also have to pay attention to another aspect of the happiness situation, that is depending on others to make us happy. That’s not always wise, for human beings are so frail, fragile, irresponsible and unpredictable that if we depend on others to make us happy, in no time flat they can disappoint us, and the whole happiness house will come crashing down upon our heads. So it all comes right back to basing our happiness, our joy in Jesus, who is the ONLY One who will never let us down.
And why would He, after sacrificing Himself for our sins on the horrific cross of Calvary, and pleading with us through His Great Invitation to come to Him for rest and comfort. ‘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 (humble and gentle): and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ (Matt. 11:28-30)
He’s also constantly knocking at the doors of our hearts, so He can enter in and dine with us. He says it quite plainly: ‘Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup (dine) with him, and he with me.’ (Rev. 3:20) Who else offers these faithful comforts eh? Nobody else but Jesus!
Oh, we humans might be faithful for a moment or a short while, but eventually we all disappoint to some extent. Jesus NEVER disappoints, if you understand His teachings and His commandments. Life with Him will not necessarily be easy, in some cases it might even be more difficult, as He tests our faith through tough circumstances, but we are assured that He will not let the devil have us, He will see us through to victory eventually. As Bruh Paul says in this awesome scripture of promise. ‘And we know that all things work together for good to them that LOVE God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.’ (Rom. 8:28)
Yes friends, if we sincerely surrender to and place our trust in Almighty God, though we will suffer trials and tribulations, we are assured that the end we will fine. It’s like Jesus reassures us in the gospel of John, where He says: ‘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) Now that’s not always easy to do, but if we put our sincere trust in Jesus, He will help us to do it.
And we’ll end with one of the most beautiful prayers in the Bible, and one that sets the basic standard for life and joy in Christ. It’s Bruh Paul’s prayer for the Colossians. So please pray with me: ‘For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet (qualified us) to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in (the) light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated (transferred) us into the kingdom of his dear Son (the Son of His LOVE): In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.’ (Col 1:9-14)
Wow mih bredrin! Tell me what can be better than living for Jesus eh? NOTHING! And where can we find the most assurance of happiness here on earth and in the next life? With Jesus; where else! And now that we’re convinced that Jesus provides the best scenario for happiness and joy in this world and the next, let’s go to the throne of grace through our Friday Chant seeking help in this dire time of need that our evil world makes necessary.
Altogether: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. You know it’s been rough… because our many serious problems are escalating instead of improving. And it’s obvious we can’t fix them on our own, so Lord, we’re desperately crying out for your help. Oh heavenly Father, with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat the simmering unrest in our land. We therefore ask you Lord to give our leaders the wise guidance to handle these unexpected storms properly. And please help the rest of us to be responsible and to stay safe amidst all the anxiety and confusion of these ungodly times.
We fervently pray too Lord that you’ll use the discontent and dissatisfaction in our land as a means of restoring faith in you. Return backsliders to your fold. Show them the error of their ways. And please introduce a new flock of believers, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion by the example, we, your faithful believers set. So that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, wake up and smell it sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’
And yes, our sinful world does need to wake up, but so do we Christians, and start showing better witness for Christ, if we expect to receive divine aid. Much LOVE!
…happiness can be fleeting…but the joy found in Christ is everlasting…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
31 Oct 2025
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a flaw in our prayer, a new flock of believers, acclamation of our faith, all things work together for good, be content with such things as ye have, be of good cheer, be reminded of our previous struggles, be responsible, be strong and of a good courage, by the example we faithful believers set, can wake up and smell the coffee, carry them in his bosom, comfort ye my people, crying out for your help, defeat the simmering unrest in our land, discontent, dissatisfaction, divine help, drag us back into medieval times, embrace your love and compassion, faith, fear not, feed his flock like a shepherd, fellowship, Friday chant, gather the lambs with his arm, gently lead those that are with young, God will continue empowering us, God's omnipotent help, Halloween Day, his arm shall rule for him, his reward is with him, his work before him, holy spirit, I am the good shepherd, I am with you, i have overcome the world, I know my sheep and are known of mine, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee, I will not fear what man can do to me, improve our witness, in me you might have peace, in the world ye shall have tribulation, Jesus Christ, keep you in all places you go, let your conduct be without covetousness, life is not a bed of roses, LOVE, mercy, no rights or privileges, nor be afraid of them, on the late bus, our Christian witness is not good enough, our sinful world, our walk with christ is a two way street, prayer time with the Father, problems escalating, restoring faith in God, return backsliders to your fold, revert to such an inhumane situation, salvation, shining our bright lights in the darkness, smell it sweet and strong, spreading our salty flavour, stand strong and steadfast, stay safe, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, the daily grind and common task, the enemy comes against us in christ's name, the error of their ways, the evil spirits come out to play, the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep, the gospel truth, The Lord is my helper, the Lord tests us, the Lord will come with strong hand, the shedding of innocent blood, the throne of grace, the trick or treat game, the unexpected storms, the way of life, these things I have spoken unto you, to shower down blessings on us, to stand up and fight the evil enemy, to them that love God, tribulation, trusting faith, truth, unexpected storms, waiting with bated breath, walking with the Lord, we may boldly say, who are called according to His purpose, wisdom, wise guidance
Isaiah 40:1. Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.
Ah friends, the ole fella had a rather late night, thus he also had a rather late morning. (smile) Consequently, we are on the late bus this Friday October 31, or Halloween Day, when all the evil spirits and people come out to play the trick or treat game. But that’s a topic for another day, not this wet, cloudy, windy Friday, where we’ve offered up our acclamation of ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday!’ which means the weekend is upon us, those two short days we have for ourselves; to rest, recuperate and have some fun, before getting back to the daily grind and common task.
Ah well, that’s just the way life is, for once up a time, and it’s not so long ago that many people worked seven days a week, with a day off once in a while. Thankfully our situation has improved some, although the greedy employers would like nothing better, and indeed are trying their best to drag us back into the medieval times where we had absolutely no rights nor privileges. But we won’t ever allow that to happen, for too much innocent blood has ben shed to get us to where we are today, to ever revert to such an inhumane and ungodly situation. And all God’s children said a loud and proud, ‘Amen!’
And I’m chuckling here, because I don’t know where that all came from because it’s not Labour Day or anything of the sort, but I guess the Good Lord just wanted us to be reminded of our previous struggles and have us understand that He will continue empowering us to stand up and fight the aggressive and evil enemy. It’s like Isaiah promised on the Lord’s behalf. ‘Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God…Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand (in strength), and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work (wage) before him. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.’ (Is. 40:1;10-11)
Yes friends, that’s one of the many promises of our God to be with us at all times and look after us. And Jesus embodied that promise in Himself when He subsequently declared: ‘I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep…I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.’ (John 10:11;14) It’s like the author of Hebrews also reminds us: ‘Let your conversation (conduct) be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall (can) do unto me.’ (Heb. 13:5)
Now that’s a most powerful acclamation of our faith, and hopefully we all will stand strong in it, because our God is ever-faithful to keep His promises. As he said to Jacob, when he dreamed that famous, mind-boggling, but life changing dream (Gen. 28:10-14) ‘And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.’ (Gen. 28:15) And we all know that the Lord kept His promise to Jacob.
It’s also like Moses said to the Israelites on God’s behalf: ‘Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.’ (Deut. 31:6) And that promise was also kept, except for the times when Israel rebelled against the Lord and suffered the dire consequences of such rebellion and disobedience. But all in all, Israel had it pretty good. For as Bruh Paul warns us in his letter to the Romans: ‘And we know that all things work together for good to them that LOVE God, to them who are called according to his purpose.’ (Rom. 8:28)
And that’s one of the most important scriptures for Christians to know and understand. The Lord will keep His promises and look after us, and eventually all things will work out for our good. But we need to thoroughly understand that life, especially the Christian life is not a bed of roses, but can often be a tough slog, especially when the enemy comes against us in Christ’s name, or when the Lord Himself tests us. So it’s ever so necessary to keep in mind these most reassuring and encouraging words of Jesus. ‘These things I have spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.’ (John 16:33)
And all that’s the gospel truth, my fellow believers, but it’s not easy to put into practice. That’s why we need to keep on growing in our faith, through reading and meditating on the Word, through fellowship with other believers and sincere prayer time with the Father. And our God is so wonderful, that through Jesus’ sacrifice, we can now go directly to the throne of grace seeking divine help. So let’s do that right now nuh, through our Friday Chant.
All together: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. You know it’s been rough… because our many serious problems are escalating instead of improving. And it’s obvious we can’t fix them on our own, so Lord, we’re desperately crying out for your help. Oh heavenly Father, with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat the simmering unrest in our land. We therefore ask you Lord to give our leaders the wise guidance to handle these unexpected storms properly. And please help the rest of us to be responsible and to stay safe amidst all the anxiety and confusion of these ungodly times.
We fervently pray too Lord that you’ll use the discontent and dissatisfaction in our land as a means of restoring faith in you. Return backsliders to your fold. Show them the error of their ways. And please introduce a new flock of believers, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion by the example, we, your faithful believers set. So that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, wake up and smell it sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’
And we’ve prayed a good prayer, but there’s one flaw in it; if the new flock of believers are like us, then they won’t be of much use, because our current Christian witness is not up to scratch. That means we have to improve, if we truly desire divine aid! So let’s get to it nuh. The Lord is waiting with bated breath to shower down blessings on us…when we improve our witness, by spreading our highly flavoured salt far and wide, and shining our lights much brighter in the many dark places of the earth. Much LOVE!
…walking with the Lord is a two way street…He’s kept all His promises…now we need to do our part…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
24 Oct 2025
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a break is in the offing, a chance to do our own thing, a man hath joy by the answer of his mouth, a means of restoring faith in you, a refined character, a reflection of a pure and truthful heart, a word fitly spoken, a word spoken in due season, amidst all the anxiety and confusion, ask the Lord to open our ears, boosts our weary and broken spirits, by the example we faithful believers set, can never overstate, can wake up and smell the coffee, crying out for your help, defeat the simmering unrest in our land, developed through experience, divine aid, don't speak deceit and falsehood, embrace your love and compassion, faith, fellowship, Friday chant, guard our lips, he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth my ear to hear as the learned, help the rest of us to be responsible, holy spirit, how good is it, improve our Christian witness, in settings of silver, in the correct circumstances, insecure bosses, introduce a new flock of believers, Jesus Christ, know how to speak a word in season, let every man be swift to hear, like apples of gold in pictures of sliver, LOVE, make us better listeners, mercy, of these ungodly times, omnipotent help, our little nemesis the tongue, our sinful world, reduce our talking, reignites our senses, return backsliders to your fold, salvation, serious problems are escalating, show them the error of their ways, slow to speak, slow to wrath, smell it sweet and strong, speaking the right thing at the right time, spirits at a low ebb, spoken at the right time, spoken with wisdom, stand strong and steadfast, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, the anger and venom we spew every day, the importance of a good word at the right time, the Lord hath given me, the throne of grace, the tongue is extremely important in our lives, the tongue of the learned, the value of words is maximised, timing is key, to handle these unexpected storms properly, to him that is weary, to stay safe, took umbrage to it, truth, use the discontent and dissatisfaction, voices filled with anger and venom, well-timed words are beautiful, wisdom, wise guidance, with the right motives, without any bosses looking over our shoulders, words have great power
Proverbs 25:11. A word fitly spoken (spoken at the right time) is like apples of gold in pictures (settings) of silver.
Glory be! It’s Friday! The weekend is here! Consequently, we shout; ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday!’ Ah friends, we are so happy to see Friday appear on our radar screens because it’s reignites our senses by letting us know that a break from all the frustrations, problems and heartaches involved with work is in the offing. That finally gives us a chance to do our own thing without any bosses looking over our shoulders. And that fact alone, often lifts us up.
That reminds me of working at a big company years ago, where the fellow sitting behind me and I would laugh and talk while working. The work did not require a lot of concentration, and besides, our immediate boss knew that we were diligently working. But an upper boss who sat further away from us could only see us talking and laughing, and took umbrage to it and directed our immediate boss to stop it. But I guess that’s the mentality of bosses who are afraid for, and insecure in their own positions, and don’t trust their subordinates enough to make good decisions.
Anyway, today we are going to continue talking about our little nemesis, the tongue, and it’s surprising how much scripture has been devoted to it, but that’s because of it’s extreme importance in the entirety of our lives. And we’ll begin with these wise words from Cousin Sol in Proverbs, where he declares: ‘A word fitly spoken (spoken at the right time) is like apples of gold in pictures (settings) of silver.’ (Prov. 25:11. And is that ever the wonderful truth!
And I just like how this commentary explains it. ‘”A word fitly spoken” means speaking the right thing at the right time, a concept from Proverbs 25:11. The phrase is compared to “apples of gold in pictures of silver,” symbolizing that well-timed, appropriate words are precious and beautiful. It suggests that words have great power and their value is maximized when they are spoken with wisdom, in the correct circumstances, and with the right motive.’
And so they do! That’s why kind words in tough situations comfort and encourage us, while unkind ones do the exact opposite. And as the commentary continues: ‘Timing is key: The word “fitly” emphasizes that the appropriateness of a word depends on the situation, making the timing crucial.’ That’s for sure! Meanwhile, ‘The imagery of “apples of gold in pictures of silver” highlights the immense value of a wise and timely word, much like a valuable piece of jewelry.’ And some days when our spirits are at a low ebb, are we ever thankful for that timely word of gold in settings of silver, because it just boosts our weary and broken spirit.
Then the commentary talks about ‘Wisdom and motive: It implies the speaker uses wisdom and has a good motive, such as to edify, comfort, or give necessary guidance, rather than to cause harm or show off.’ Wow! Oh how we wish, or rather hope and pray that many more of us would be wise with good motives when we open our mouths, instead of the caterwauling (shrill voices) filled with anger and venom that is so prevalent today.
Also, as the commentary further suggests, our words are ‘A reflection of the speaker: The phrase can also suggest that the words spoken are a reflection of a pure and truthful heart, or the result of a refined character developed through experience.’ Oh Brother! The Lord would certainly be pleased, and our world would be much better off, if that could be said of many more of us! But unfortunately, right now that is not the case. Our tongues are working overtime with lies, deceits and all sorts of evil doings.
And that brings us to some more wise words from Cousin Sol on the tongue. He says: ‘A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season (in its time), how good is it!’ (Prov. 15:23) More absolute truth my brethren! We do feel good when we talk wisely, and we can never overstate the importance of a good word at the right time.
Now here is another interesting scripture on our words, this from the prophet Isaiah. He declares: ‘The Lord hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.’ (Is. 50:4)
And that’s something we all need, and should perhaps make it our daily prayer. Before getting out of bed ask the Lord to open our ears to hear as the wise and considerate, as well as guard our lips so that we don’t speak deceit and falsehood. And I’m serious about that my fellow believers. For it would certainly cut down the amount of talking we do, as well as the anger and venom we spew every day, and make us better listeners.
But now it’s time to go to the throne of grace, through our Friday Chant, seeking divine help to improve our Christian witness. Altogether: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. You know it’s been rough… because our many serious problems are escalating instead of improving. And it’s obvious we can’t fix them on our own, so Lord, we’re desperately crying out for your help.
Oh heavenly Father, with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat the simmering unrest in our land. We therefore ask you Lord to give our leaders the wise guidance to handle these unexpected storms properly. And please help the rest of us to be responsible and to stay safe amidst all the anxiety and confusion of these ungodly times.
We fervently pray too Lord that you’ll use the discontent and dissatisfaction in our land as a means of restoring faith in you. Return backsliders to your fold. Show them the error of their ways. And please introduce a new flock of believers, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion by the example, we, your faithful believers set. So that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, wake up and smell it sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’
Now that’s a good prayer, but there’s one thing wrong with it; the new flock of believers would not be good witnesses if they follow our example, because we have not been very good witnesses either! So, if we truly desire divine aid, let’s get busy and improve things nuh! Much LOVE!
…let every man…be swift to hear…slow to speak…slow to wrath… (James 1:19)
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
12 Sep 2025
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a master builder, a means of restoring faith in you, a new flock of believers, a word to the wise is sufficient, another buildeth thereupon, anxiety and confusion, as by fire, as sheep having no shepherd, be responsible and stay safe, bring glad tidings of good things, but he himself shall be saved, by the example your faithful believers set, can wake up and smell the coffee, combustible materials, crying out for your help, defeat the simmering unrest in our land, discontent, dissatisfaction, do our part, embrace your love and compassion, every man's work shall be made manifest, faith, faith cometh by hearing, faith must be preceded by hearing, for other foundation can no man lay than Jesus, Friday chant, God gives the increase, he shall receive a reward, he shall suffer loss, hearing by the word of God, hearing requires a preacher, holy spirit, how beautiful are the feet, how shall they believe, how shall they hear without a preacher, how shall they preach except they be sent, how then shall they call on him, I am the good shepherd, if any man's work endures, if any man's work shall be burned, improving our witness for Christ, in whom they have not believed, incombustible materials, Isaiah saith Lord who hath believed our report, it shall be revealed by fire, Jesus Christ, Jesus is the Good Shepherd, Jesus was moved with compassion, Jesus' sacrificial death, knowledge is essential to belief, laid the foundation, LOVE, mercy, mundane work, of them that preach the gospel of peace, omnipotent help, one plants and one waters, our sinful world, paid for our sins, pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, preaching to a disobedient people, problems are escalating, return backsliders to your fold, salvation, salvation is completely from God, same old week of work, send forth labourers into his harvest, sending out missionaries, smell it sweet and strong, spread the gospel all over the world, stand strong and steadfast, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, the error of their ways, the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep, the grace of God, the Great Commission, the harvest truly is plenteous, the judgement day, the labourers are few, the saving faith of the gospel, the throne of grace, these ungodly times, they fainted and were scattered abroad, trusting faith, truth, unexpected storms, universal proclamation of the gospel, wisdom, wise guidance
Matthew 9:37-38. The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
Oh brother! Friday has finally arrived, and in bright sunshiny form too. Praise the Lord! No wonder the many voices raised in that joyful shout of ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday!’ Yes, that means the weekend is here, and we have a short break from our mundane work, but please, let’s remember to use those two short days off wisely, so that we come back refreshed to begin another same old, same old week of work. (smile)
And today we’ll continue talking about the problem of getting missionaries out into the world to spread the gospel. That reminds us of Jesus reaction as He went about teaching and preaching the gospel of the kingdom. The Bible says: ‘But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted (were weary), and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, ‘The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.’ (Matt. 9:36-38)
Yes friends, Jesus saw that the multitude of people around him were distressed, lost and not knowing which way to turn, just like so many of us are today. And unfortunately, there is a very large crowd of us wandering lost, like sheep without a shepherd. And do we ever need a shepherd to lead and guide us, if our lives are to improve and be worth anything. And we know that Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He said it Himself: ‘I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.’ (John 10:11) And that’s exactly what He did; paid for our abominable sins with His sacrificial death on the cross.
However, right now we don’t have enough people willing to go out and spread the gospel, the good news of Jesus’ sacrificial death that brings salvation and eternal life. Instead we, Christ’s church is fighting amongst itself over petty matters, and not doing what is necessary to further the kingdom of God. And remember yesterday we talked about Bruh Paul accusing the Corinthians of carnality because of their envying and infighting, talking about who belonged to Paul, and who belonged to Apollos, letting them know that one planted and one watered, but in the long run, it’s God who gives the increase. (1 Cor. 3)
Consequently, we are all fellow workers in God, and it doesn’t matter what we do, once we sincerely help to build the kingdom. Then Bruh Paul makes some interesting comments, that we should all pay attention to. ‘According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation no man can lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.’ (1 Cor. 3:10-11) That’s the first thing we need to know; the only foundation worth building on is that of Christ! No other will make any substantial difference in our lives.
However, as Bruh Paul continues, we do have to be careful what building materials we use. ‘Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble (straw); Every man’s work shall be made manifest (become evident): for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try (test) every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide (endures) which he hath built upon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by (through) fire.’ (1 Cor. 3:12-15)
So friends, we not only need to build upon Christ’s foundation, but also to use good material, incombustible materials like gold, silver and precious stones, and not combustible stuff like wood, hay and straw, for our work will be tested by fire in the judgement day, and if it endures the fire then we will be rewarded, but if it doesn’t, we will lose any possible rewards, though we ourselves will be saved.
So, having seen that lots of us are lost and need Christ, but not enough of us are going out into the field to find them, we come to this final part where we consider how to spread the gospel. And in Bruh Paul’s letter to the Roman Church, where he writes about Preaching to a Disobedient People, we find out how it’s done in a most beautiful interwoven passage of scripture. It shows Bruh Paul’s power as a writer, and it’s one of my favourite passages of scripture.
He theorizes: ‘How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias (Isaiah) saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.’ (Rom, 10:14-17)
And I just LOVE how Bruh Paul interweaves the different aspects of missionary work. As the scholars explain: ‘In presenting the universal proclamation of the gospel, Paul presents the reasons why that’s necessary. First, because the call must be preceded by faith; second, because faith must preceded by hearing. This shows that knowledge is essential to belief. Faith must have valid content; third, because hearing requires a preacher; fourth, because preaching requires being sent. The One who sends is God. Salvation is completely from God.’
Yes my fellow believers, faith comes about by what is heard, the gospel, and to hear the saving faith of the gospel someone must preach it to you. Meaning, if we’re to spread it to all parts of the world, like Jesus desired of us in the Great Commission, then we need people willing to do so. And since we cannot do it on our own, let’s go to the throne of grace, through our Friday Chant, seeking divine aid.
Altogether: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. You know it’s been rough… because our many serious problems are escalating instead of improving. And it’s obvious we can’t fix them on our own, so Lord, we’re desperately crying out for your help. Oh heavenly Father, with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat the simmering unrest in our land. We therefore ask you Lord to give our leaders the wise guidance to handle these unexpected storms properly. And please help the rest of us to be responsible and to stay safe amidst all the anxiety and confusion of these ungodly times.
We fervently pray too Lord that you’ll use the discontent and dissatisfaction in our land as a means of restoring faith in you. Return backsliders to your fold. Show them the error of their ways. And please introduce a new flock of believers, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion by the example, we, your faithful believers set. So that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, wake up and smell it sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’
Now, all the prayer and supplication is fine, but we also need to do our part, which means improving our witness for Christ, which right now is not very good! Nuff said! Much LOVE!
…a word to the wise is sufficient…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
08 Aug 2025
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a new flock of believers, all of a sudden, brought sin into the world, brought you a daisy bouquet, by the example your faithful believers set, can wake up and smell the coffee, Christ died for the ungodly, Christ died for us, crying out for God's help, defeat the enemy, defeat the simmering unrest in our land, divine help, eternal destiny, faith, for no discernible reason, Friday chant, God commendeth his own love toward us, God created us to have constant communion with Him, God is longing for our affection, God wanted a people to love, herein is love, holy spirit, hugged me, I long to hug you more often, I love you, I was puzzled, improve our witness for Christ, in due time, Jesus Christ, Jesus offered His sinless blood, LOVE, mercy, not living up to our part of the bargain, not that we loved God but that he loved us, omnipotent help, One year Book of Bible Promise, pay the Piper, positive evidence of God's love, practiced my lessons, problems escalating, put a damper on the enthusiasm, reconciliation, return backsliders to your fold, Ruth Harms Calkin, salvation, sinful ingrates, stand strong and steadfast for Christ, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, the error of their ways, the materialism the cares of this world, the propitiation of our sins, the sinful world, the throne of grace, the very reason for our existence, today you picked me up, too busy hugging yourself, trusting faith, truth, underperforming believers, unexpected storms, unwise actions, we love him because he first loved us, when the time was right, when we were without strength, while we were yet sinners, Who Me, wise guidance
1 John 4:19. We LOVE Him, because he first LOVED us.
And did the ‘TGIF’s! Thank God it’s Friday!’ ever go up this morning, but in a rather tired and halfhearted manner, as last weekend’s celebrations and this week’s work put a damper on the usual enthusiasm for the weekend. The great hope and expectation for this one is not to party, but to rest. (smile) Yes friends, if you want to call the tune, then you have to be able to pay the piper. And if you can’t, then you’ll simply have to suffer the consequences. Sermon done! (smile)
And today we’re going to check out a rather interesting poem from our One Year Book of Bible Promises with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin, simply titled ‘Who, Me?’ Yes, You! (smile) I don’t know if I’ve shared this poem before, but we know that they are all worth sharing over and over.
So please read with me: ‘Lord All of a sudden today you picked me up And hugged me And hugged me For no discernible reason. I was puzzled. After all – I hadn’t picked up my toys Or practiced my lessons Or brought You a daisy bouquet – Hesitantly, I asked why. You smiled and said I LOVE you, that’s all. Then You added: I long to hug you more often. Why don’t You, Lord? You are too busy. Too busy, Lord? Too busy hugging yourself.’
Ah my fellow believers, can that admonishment apply to us? Are we too busy hugging ourselves, too taken up with our own cares and worries to pay any attention to our wonderful and ever-LOVING God? Somehow, I think that many of us are guilty of just such unwise actions. The cares and the materialism of this crazy world occupy too much of our time. We all feel so busy. But busy doing what?
Most of the time it’s not any earth moving circumstance, but simply something we feel we ought to do. On the other hand, how often do we feel like we should be hugging our great God eh? Certainly not enough! Meanwhile, He’s there starving, longing for our affection. Remember He created us so that we could have good and constant communion with Him. But unfortunately, we’re not living up to our part of the bargain.
And the Bible verse for the poem is a simple but very telling one: The Book uses this translation: ‘We LOVE because He first LOVED us.’ But we like our good ole King James version which says: ‘We LOVE Him, because he first LOVED us.’ (1 John 4:19) Now that is such a very poignant and important statement; one that we should know and keep uppermost in our hearts, souls, bodies and minds at all times!
Why? Because it’s the very reason for our existence, our salvation and our eternal destiny! Remember we said that God created us because he wanted a people to LOVE and have constant communication with. And then, when we disobeyed His commands and thus brought sin into the world, He was heartbroken and therefore sought a way to return us to His flock. And that way was to Have His Son, Jesus Christ come to earth and selflessly offer His sinless blood as propitiation for our sins.
Why do you think the Lord did that eh? Why did He go to such great lengths to obtain a just and righteous reconciliation eh? Because He LOVED us! Else why would He break His own heart by sacrificing His only Son for a bunch of sinful ingrates eh? There’s only one logical answer; overwhelming LOVE for His sinful creation! And John explains that earlier on in the epistle, when he writes: ‘Herein is LOVE, not that we LOVED God, but that he LOVED us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.’ (1 John 4:10)
Oh my fellow believers, that’s the greatest showing of LOVE there’s ever been, and will ever be! And I don’t understand why we don’t appreciate it so much more than we do. But that’s why the Lord gave us free will, so we could make our own choices, even though they may turn out to be the wrong ones. And how can we not appreciate and reverence these amazing words of Bruh Paul to the church at Rome eh?
‘For when we were yet without strength, in due time (at the right time) Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure (perhaps) for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth (demonstrated) his LOVE toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.’ (Rom. 5:6-8)
Oh my people, what else will it take for us to recognize and truly appreciate God’s great, undying LOVE for us eh? All through the Bible it’s said, written and actioned! So why do we still refuse to believe it and live like it mattered? Only each disbelieving individual and our all- knowing God know. Nuff said. Now it’s time to go to the throne of grace, through our Friday Chant, seeking divine help for our numerous problems.
Altogether: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. You know it’s been rough… because our many serious problems are escalating instead of improving. And it’s obvious we can’t fix them on our own, so Lord, we’re desperately crying out for your help. Oh heavenly Father, with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat the simmering unrest in our land. We therefore ask you Lord to give our leaders the wise guidance to handle these unexpected storms properly. And please help the rest of us to be responsible and to stay safe amidst all the anxiety and confusion of these ungodly times.
We fervently pray too Lord that you’ll use the discontent and dissatisfaction in our land as a means of restoring faith in you. Return backsliders to your fold. Show them the error of their ways. And please introduce a new flock of believers, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion by the example, we, your faithful believers set. So that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, wake up and smell it sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’
Unfortunately though friends, it’s not only the sinful world that needs to wake up and smell the coffee, but also we underperforming supposed believers. And until we improve our witness for Christ, we won’t see much, if any divine help! Much LOVE!
…with all the positive evidence available…if you can’t believe God’s great LOVE for mankind…how can you believe anything else…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
11 Jul 2025
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a comforting reminder, a hot summer's day, a light to lighten the Gentiles, a red letter day, a state, above mine enemies round about me, all the days of my life, all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem, answer me, be of good courage, be responsible, by the example your faithful believers set, can a woman forget her sucking child, can wake up and smell the coffee, christianity, defeat the simmering unrest in our land, deliver me not unto the will of mine enemies, departed not from the temple, discontent, dissatisfaction, embrace you love and compassion, faith, false witnesses are risen up against me, fateful words of Simeon, gave thanks likewise to God, give thanks to god, God promises to never abandon of forget those who trust in Him, God's steadfast love, God's timing is not our own, have mercy also upon me, he shall hide me in his pavilion, he shall strengthen thine heart, hear O Lord, hide not thy face far from me, holy spirit, I had fainted, I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever, in the presence of mine enemies, in the secret of his tabernacle, in the time of trouble, in these ungodly times, in times of difficulty, introduce a new flock of believers, Jesus Christ, lead me in a plain path, leave me not, led by the Holy Spirit, LOVE, mercy, my cup runneth over, my heart said unto thee, my heart shall not fear, neither forsake me, night and day, not have compassion on the son of her womb, now shall mine head be lifted up, O God of my salvation, offer in his tabernacle, offered up his trust and confidence in God, omnipotent help, one thing I have desired of the Lord, our sinful world, our witness for Christ leaves a lot to be desired, perceived abandonment, petition for deliverance from his enemies, problems escalating, put not thy servant away in anger, return backsliders to your fold, sacrifices of joy, salvation, served God with fastings and prayers, set me upon a rock, show them the error of their ways, sing praises unto the Lord, stand on the faithful promises of God, stand strong and steadfast, stay safe, such as breathe out cruelty, surely goodness and mercy shall follow me, Teach me thy way O Lord, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord, the BIBLE, the glory of thy people Israel, the lord will take me up, the prophetess Anna, they may forget yet will I not forget thee, thou anointest my head with oil, thou hast been my help, thou preparest a table before me, thy face Lord will I seek, to behold the beauty of the Lord, to bring revelation to the Gentiles, to enquire in his temple, to see the goodness of God in the land of the living, truth, unexpected storms, unless I had believed, unwavering love, wait in faith I say on the Lord, wait in faith on the Lord, wait on God's timing, when I cry with my voice, when my mother and father forsake me, when you said seek my face, wisdom, wise guidance
Psalm 27:14. Wait (in faith) on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait (in faith), I say, on the Lord.
At long last it’s that most welcome day we call Friday! And the shouts of ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday!’ have most assuredly being raised to high heaven from all over God’s great universe. And it’s a good day to give thanks to Almighty God, as we’re alive to see this partly sunny but hot summer’s day, with temperatures in the high twenties.
Now, today I want to keep looking at Psalm 27, that marvellous psalm of encouragement titled ‘My Heart Shall Not Fear.’ So, let’s continue from verse 4, where Bruh David continues to express his complete confidence and trust in God.. He writes: ‘One thing have I desired of the Lord, that I will seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty (delightfulness) of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.’ (Ps.27:4)
That reminds us of the red letter day in Christ’s life, when His parents brought him to the temple to be presented to the Lord. First, there was this older devout gentleman, Simeon, that hung around the temple, who had been promised life until he saw the Lord’s Christ. He was led by the Holy Spirit to the temple that day, and beheld Jesus, took him in his arms and blessed the Lord and spoke glowingly of Jesus being ‘A light to lighten (bring revelation to) the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Isreal.’ (Luke 2:32).
Then there was the prophetess Anna, a widow of about eighty four years, ‘which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.’ (Luke 2:37-38) Yes, there is something to be said for hanging around the Lord’s temple; you can experience His delightfulness and enquire about your life. (smile)
As Bruh David continues: ‘For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up (in honour) above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacles sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.’ (Ps. 27:5-6)
And having offered up his trust and confidence in God, Bruh David then presents his petition for deliverance from his enemies. ‘Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me. when thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek. Hide not thy face far from me; put (turn) not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
When my mother and father forsake me, then the Lord will take me up (take care of me). Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain (smooth) path, because of mine enemies. Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: or false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty (violence).’ (Ps. 27:7-12)
Oh my people, Bruh David opened up his heart to the Lord for assurance of His help. And there are certain promises of God for all that’s been asked.. He will protect His LOVED ones from the enemy. As Bruh David writes in Psalm 23: ‘Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.’ (Ps. 23:5-6)
And as per forsaking us, hear this amazing promise from the writings of the prophet Isaiah. ‘Can a woman forget her sucking (nursing) child, that she should not have (and not have) compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.’ (Is. 49:15) Yes friends, as this commentary tells us, ‘That’s a powerful statement of unwavering LOVE and commitment, This verse emphasizes God’s promise to never abandon or forget those who trust in Him, even if a parent were to forget their child, which is considered a near impossibility. The verse is a comforting reminder of God’s steadfast LOVE and presence in times of difficulty and perceived abandonment.’
How much more reassurance do we need eh? Hopefully none. But as is Bruh David’s won’t, the scholars say: ‘Finally, he returns full-circle to the trust previously stated as the only proper attitude of one who must now wait for God to act.’ He therefore writes: ‘I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait (in faith) on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait (in faith), I say, on the Lord.’ (Ps. 27:13-14)
And there’s the whole crux of the matter my brethren; waiting on God in faith after we have offered up our prayers and petitions. It’s where many of us get lost, by not realizing that God’s timing is very seldom our own, and we must wait until He judges it the right time to give us whatever was ask for. Now, let’s go to the throne of grace, through our Friday Chant, seeking divine help in these terrible times.
Altogether: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. You know it’s been rough… because our many serious problems are escalating instead of improving. And it’s obvious we can’t fix them on our own, so Lord, we’re desperately crying out for your help. Oh heavenly Father, with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat the simmering unrest in our land. We therefore ask you Lord to give our leaders the wise guidance to handle these unexpected storms properly. And please help the rest of us to be responsible and to stay safe amidst all the anxiety and confusion of these ungodly times.
We fervently pray too Lord that you’ll use the discontent and dissatisfaction in our land as a means of restoring faith in you. Return backsliders to your fold. Show them the error of their ways. And please introduce a new flock of believers, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion by the example, we, your faithful believers set. So that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, wake up and smell it sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’
And despite all our gushing words, we all know that our witness for Christ, leaves a lot to be desired, so let’s try and do better nuh. Much LOVE!
…it pays to stand on the faithful promises of God…and wait on His wise timing…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
23 May 2025
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living
Tags: a close relationship with God, a new flock of believers, a phenomenon, a sin nature, animosity in Christ's church, be responsible, behave like the rest of the world, can wake up and smell the coffee, Christ's church is divided, cleanseth us from all sin, confusion of these ungodly times, crying out for God's help, disciples of Jesus, discipleship demands sacrifice, discontent, dissatisfaction, divide and conquer, eternal life, faith, Friday chant, get united, get wise, God has no sin nature, God is light, have the light of life, he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, His sacrifices demand it, holy spirit, I am the light of the world, in him there is no darkness at all, Jesus Christ, keep Satan at bay, lives characterized by sin, LOVE, lying to ourselves, mercy, not putting out the necessary effort, problems are escalating, refuse the charm of Satan's offers, return backsliders to your fold, salvation, Satan's sinful route to hell fire and damnation, set free from the bondage of sin, simmering unrest, stand up and fight for Christ, stay safe, talk is cheap, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, the blood of Jesus Christ, the error of their ways, the example we faithful believers set, the Great Commission, the Lord helps those who help themselves, the nature of the human animal, the slide down into the quicksand of hell, the throne of grace, the weekend, the world's in disaster mode, this is the message we have heard of him, time for Christians to unite, truth, unexpected storms, walk in darkness, walk in the light as he is in the light, walking in sin, we have fellowship one with the other, wind storms, wisdom, wise guidance
1 John 1:5b. God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
And then it was Friday, the end of our work week, with many of us shouting the traditional ‘Thank God it’s Friday, and the weekend’s here at long last!’ We’re behaving as though we’ve worked a full, hard week, when it’s been only four, easy days. But that’s the nature of the human animal. (smile) Thankfully too, the rain’s finally stopped in my area, but it’s still very cloudy with a feeble sun trying to make some headway against the dark, threatening clouds. However, it’s also windy as ever!
I don’t know where these sudden wind storms have come from, but over the last few years they have become a more noticeable phenomenon…even in the summer. But as is our won’t, we’ll blame it all on climate change, the new blame outlet for many of our current problems. Anyway, today, I want us to look at a particular aspect of scripture that John deals with very nicely in his first epistle; that’s walking in the light. He writes: ‘This then is the message which we have heard of him (Jesus), and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.’ (1 John 1:5)
John is here giving us first hand witness of the teaching he heard from Jesus Himself, when He claimed: ‘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) He’s saying that darkness and light are metaphors for evil and goodness. And since there’s no sin or evil in God, then He’s perfect and good. Now, do we believe that my brethren? We ought to, otherwise our faith is of no use. For, as John continues: ‘If we say that we have fellowship with him (Jesus), and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not (practice) the truth.’ (1 John 1:6)
And according to the scholars, ‘walk in darkness means walking in sin. John may have had in mind people who claimed to have a close relationship with God, but whose lives were clearly characterized by sin. Such a state of affairs, John says boldly is impossible; such persons are lying.’ And, sadly, that’s seems to be the state of affairs with many supposed believers; we might believe or say that we’re walking with Christ, but we’re actually lying to ourselves. Otherwise our world would not be in its current disaster mode, we would have made much more headway against the devil and his evil cronies than we have.
But talk is cheap, while true discipleship and sacrifice are rather expensive, and many of us don’t have the wherewithal to stand up and fight Beelzebub, or refuse the charm of his worldly offers. However, as John further proclaims: ‘But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.’ (1 John 1:7) And that is such a necessary truth my people! Our God is light; has no sin nature, therefore if we walk in His light, then we too would have no sin nature, be set free from the bondage of sin for which purpose Christ died on the cross of Calvary.
His shed blood cleanses us from all sin, and is supposed to draw believers closer together. But that isn’t happening as it ought to, for today, the church of Christ is split into so many denominations, cliques, groups, etc. etc., and there’s so much animosity amongst us over such petty stuff, that it’s unbelievable. The devil doesn’t even have to try to divide and conquers us, no, for we’ve already divided ourselves. No wonder he’s having such an easy time, for the church cannot produce any worthy offence unless it’s united.
Oh my people, everyday our world is slipping and sliding ever deeper into disaster and chaos, sadly following Satan’s ungodly and sinful route to hell fire and damnation! But as disciples of Jesus, we cannot allow that to happen, for He’s put His utmost trust in us to help bring the world to salvation and eternal life. Remember His Great Commission, (Matt. 28:19-20) where we’re supposed to go out to all nations and make disciples of them, teaching them all that He’s taught us? So why aren’t we being more successful eh? Because we’re not united, and therefore we’re not putting out the necessary effort to keep Satan at bay. It’s as simple as that.
Just look around at how many of us go to church on Sundays and behave so holy and righteous, then look at our conduct from Monday to Saturday…just like the rest of the world. That’s obviously not conducive to kingdom building. But friends, we have to do something, and do something right now, if we want to stop the serious slide down into the quicksand of hell. So please, let’s get wise, get united and start fighting seriously for Jesus nuh. He deserves that much from us. And to help us on our way, let’s go to the throne of grace, through our Friday Chant, seeking divine help in these disastrous times.
Altogether: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. You know it’s been rough… because our many serious problems are escalating instead of improving. And it’s obvious we can’t fix them on our own, so Lord, we’re desperately crying out for your help. Oh heavenly Father, with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat the simmering unrest in our land. We therefore ask you Lord to give our leaders the wise guidance to handle these unexpected storms properly. And please help the rest of us to be responsible and to stay safe amidst all the anxiety and confusion of these ungodly times.
We fervently pray too Lord that you’ll use the discontent and dissatisfaction in our land as a means of restoring faith in you. Return backsliders to your fold. Show them the error of their ways. And please introduce a new flock of believers, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion by the example, we, your faithful believers set. So that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, wake up and smell it sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’
Now, my faithful brethren, we cannot just simply pray and wait for God to move on our behalf. No! We also have to help ourselves, for as the old saying goes: ‘the Lord helps those who help themselves!’ Much LOVE!
…it’s time for Christians to unite…and sincerely stand up and fight for Christ…His sacrifices on our behalf demand it…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
02 May 2025
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a cloud of raised voices, a day of gladness and feasting, a good day, a means of restoring faith in you, a moment of intrigue, advanced society, amidst all the anxiety and confusion, anti-semite, assault the queen before me, back breaking work, be responsible, better wages, brave and just people, build a gallows, by the example your faithful believers set, can wake up and smell the coffee, crying out for your help, deliverance, dissatisfaction in our land, divine aid, embrace your love and compassion, ensuing violence, faith, for such a time as this, Friday chant, genocidal plan, Haman hanged on the gallows he built for Mordecai, hang him thereon, holy spirit, if thou hold thy peace at this time, introduce a new flock of believers, Jesus Christ, King Xerxes, Labour Day marches, LOVE, machination, mercy, money men, Mordecai, of sending portions one to another, omnipotent help, our sinful world, physical rest, pleased with his wife's advice, plots, problems are escalating, relief, return backsliders to your fold, salvation, see God's hand at work, sending presents to each other, serfs, show them the error of their ways, simmering unrest, smell it sweet and strong, stand strong and steadfast, stay safe, sub-plots, tedious work schedule, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, Thanks be to God, the Feast of Purim, the king's wrath pacified, the Lord does nothing without a plan, the story of Esther, the throne of grace, the weekend, these ungodly times, time with family, time with God, to exterminate the Jews, unexpected storms, use the discontent, whom the king delighted to honour, wise guidance, you're alive at the right time
Esther 4:14b. and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
So we’ve finally come to Friday, and all those shouts of ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday!’ have gone up to heaven like a cloud of raised voices. (smile) And we’re all thankful that the weekend is here with two days of much needed rest from the tedious work schedule of our supposedly sophisticated and advanced society. And it’s surprising how many people suffered and died for those two days off, with all the Labour Day marches and the ensuing violence. For if the money men had their way, the serfs would still be working long hours with little pay, as they once did.
But thanks be to God, that some brave and just people were willing to sacrifice their lives and fight for the right to have a short break and better wages from the back breaking work that then manifested itself. So please, let’s not abuse it, but use it to fulfill the purposes for which it was granted, physical rest and time well spent with family and God. End of Sermon! (smile)
It reminds us of the story of the Jewess Esther and her uncle Mordecai, in the Persian winter capital of Shushan, that resonated with much machination and intrigue, plots and sub-plots. In the reign of King Xerxes, (486-465 B.C) there was one anti-Semite at the top of the power chain by the name of Haman, who hated Mordecai and planned to destroy the Jews, but through God’s mysterious working power, Esther, the Jewess, married the Gentile king and became Queen of Persia.
However, no one knew that Esther was Jewish, and when Haman set his genocidal plan to exterminate the Jews, Esther’s uncle and guardian, Mordecai, through secret messengers, told her that she needed to go into the king and let him know about Haman’s evil plan. But understandably Esther was afraid, firstly, because she was Jewish and that discovery could cause her serious problems. But even worse, she could not go into the king unless He summoned her, which he hadn’t done for the past thirty days. Going in on her own accord would mean certain death, if the king did not welcome her, by holding out his golden sceptre to her.
So, unfortunately, Esther had those serious problems to consider if she wanted to help her Jewish race escape Haman’s evil machinations. But her uncle Mordecai kept bugging her to do it and she kept refusing, until one day after a refusal, he sent this interesting message to Esther. ‘Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews. for if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time (remain completely silent), then shall there enlargement (relief) and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?’ (Esth. 4:13-14)
Now friends, that’s a good question to ask ourselves: have we been born for such a time as this? And most likely the answer is yes, for the Lord does nothing without a solid plan, and in whatever period of time you end being alive is exactly when God planned for you to be there. Finally, Mordecai’s argument got home to Esther and she sent him a message for all the Jews to fast for three days, then she would go into the king.
On the third day then, Esther went in unto the king, and as the Lord would have it, the king held out his golden sceptre to Esther, and in another moment of intrigue, Esther told the king of a banquet she intended to hold and for him and that Haman was also invited. But that night the king could not sleep and called for the records, wherein he saw how Mordecai had warned of the king’s traitorous chamberlains (eunuchs). Then the king asked what honour had been done for Mordecai and found that nothing had been done.
In the meanwhile, Zeresh, Haman’s wife advised him to build a gallows fifty cubits high on which to hang Mordecai, then speak to king about it the next day. Haman being pleased with his wife’s advice did exactly that. (Esth. 5:13) Then the next day when he saw the king, the king asked him: ‘What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighted to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour than to myself?’ (Esth. 6:6) So he spewed out a whole lot of stuff about putting the kings clothing and crown on the man’s head and letting him ride the king’s horse, and parade him through the streets. Much to his surprise though the king told hm to do exactly all of that to Mordecai, which Haman in bittersweet obedience did. (Esth. 6:10-11)
After that, Haman was taken to the queen’s banquet and on the second day of the banquet, the king asked Esther her petition or desire, and she told him of Haman’s wicked plan to exterminate the Jews. The king became mad and went out into garden, while Haman threw himself on the bed where Esther lay, seeking mercy. But that only incensed the king more, and he said: ‘Will he force (assault) the queen also before me in the house. As the word went out of the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face.’ (Esth. 7:8) That signified that Haman was about to be executed.
Then Harbonah, one of the king’s eunuchs told him about the gallows Haman had bult for Mordecai. ‘Then the king said, Hang him thereon. So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king’s wrath pacified (his wrath subsided).’ (Esth. 9-10) Oh my people, to really get all the intrigue in the story and truly see God’s hand at work you need to read he whole Book of Esther. In the end, the Jews were victorious and celebrated the Feast of Purim, on the fourteenth day of the month Adar to witness their victory; ‘a day of gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions (presents) one to another.’ (Esth. 9:19)
And now, for help in our own current battles, let’s go to the throne of grace, through our Friday Chant, seeking divine aid. Altogether: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. You know it’s been rough… because our many serious problems are escalating instead of improving. And it’s obvious we can’t fix them on our own, so Lord, we’re desperately crying out for your help.
Oh heavenly Father, with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat the simmering unrest in our land. We therefore ask you Lord to give our leaders the wise guidance to handle these unexpected storms properly. And please help the rest of us to be responsible and to stay safe amidst all the anxiety and confusion of these ungodly times.
We fervently pray too Lord that you’ll use the discontent and dissatisfaction in our land as a means of restoring faith in you. Return backsliders to your fold. Show them the error of their ways. And please introduce a new flock of believers, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion by the example, we, your faithful believers set. So that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, wake up and smell it sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’
The truth of the story though, is that we supposed believers are not setting a good enough example for the unbelievers, that’s why there’s still so many of them, and until we begin doing better, divine aid will not be forthcoming! Much LOVE!
…the devil sets up lots of evil schemes…but with the Lord’s help…we can certainly dismantle them…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
17 May 2024
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: acknowledge God in all thy ways, backsliders, bastards, be not wise in thine own eyes, Bible, can wake up and smell the coffee, despise not the chastening of the Lord, error of their ways, escapades, examples of Christian faith, faith, fear the Lord, find favour and good understanding, fools despise wisdom and instruction, Friday chant, god, he shall direct thy paths, hijinks, honour the Lord with all thy substance, in subjection unto the Father of spirits, in the sight of God and man, introduce a new flock of believers, Jesus, Jesus Christ, lean not unto thine own understanding, leggo-beasts, let thine heart keep my commandments, letting off steam, LOVE, mercy, my son forget not my law, open you the windows of heaven, pour you out a blessing, reverential awe, simmering unrest, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, the beginning of wisdom, the table of thine heart, tithing, trust in the Lord with all thy heart, whom the Lord loveth he correcteth, wisdom
Proverbs 3:1. My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
And at long last it was Friday…so we could all shout; ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday!’…with a summer-like weekend apparently in the offing. About time too! For we’re in dire need of some summer hijinks and escapades, to get the blood flowing after a cold and dreary winter. (smile) And yuh better believe those hijinks and escapades will soon be hitting the streets, with some of us behaving like leggo-beasts, instead of placid humans. But that’s understandable after such a long period of being locked up with very few avenues to let out our innate steam.
And on this fateful Friday, where we’re planning to let off some long pent up steam, we’re simply going to get into the wise words of Cousin Sol, that hopefully will keep us from doing anything foolish or unwise while doing so. According to the scholars the passage we’re about to read can be divided in to six sections, each containing a command and a reason to obey that command. So please read with me: ‘My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add unto thee.’ (Prov. 3:1-2)
Wow friends! Right away we see some of the benefits of keeping the Lord’s commandments; long life and peace. But that’ only the tip of the benefits. For as Cousin Sol continues: ‘Let not mercy (LOVING-kindness) and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them on the table (tablet) of thine heart: so shalt thou find favour and good understanding (high esteem) in the sight of God and man.’ (Prov. 3:3-4) Oh my my! What wisdom! And which one of us doesn’t want or need favour and high esteem from both God and man eh? All of us do. And the scholars explain that ‘about thy neck,’ indicates that the father’s teachings should be as important in one’s life as an adornment around one’s neck. And the table of thine heart is our minds.
And to further our wisdom and understanding Cousin Sol then leads us down this narrow path, where he writes: ‘Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.’ (Prov. 3:5-6) What exquisite wisdom my brethren! And what do the scholars have to say about those verses? Simply this: ‘Three commands are given: trust, meaning “rely on, depend on”; lean not, meaning do not depend on your own native instincts; and acknowledge him, meaning have fellowship and intimacy with God in ALL of life. The result of such devotion is that God will make the paths straight before you.’
How can we want for more than that eh my fellow believers? But Cousin Sol insists that there are indeed more benefits to be had in keeping the commandments of God while knowing Him through an intimate relationship. So here are some more words of wisdom. ‘Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord (hold Him in reverential awe), and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel (body), and marrow (strength) to thy bones.’ (Prov. 3:7-8) Now that last instruction is a rather important one, because remember as Cousin Sol says earlier in Proverbs: ‘The fear (reverential awe) of the Lord is the (principal) beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.’ (Prov. 1:7) That means submission to God in all aspects, including a healthy fear of Him, that draws you to Him, rather than have you run away. And that healthy and hearty submission will gain you a healthy and strong body.
Then we have to ‘Honour the Lord with thy substance (possessions), and with the first fruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses (vats) shall burst out with new wine.’ (Prov. 3:9-10) Now, that we know as tithing; as giving to God the first portion or tenth of our increase. It’s something He demands and expects. As He said to Israel when they were not offering their tithes. ‘Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat (food) in mine house, and prove (test) me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.’ (Mal. 3:9-10)
Yes friends, our God is very protective of what He thinks is His, and when we do the right thing, He blesses us even more. Now back to the last two verses of Cousin Sol’s instructions in this passage, which are ever so important. So let’s read: ‘My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of (detest) his correction: For whom the Lord LOVETH he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighted.’ (Prov. 3:11-12) Yes my fellow saints, God’s correction shows His undying and unconditional LOVE for us.
And the author of Hebrews corroborates Cousin’s Sol’s words (Heb. 12:5-6) but then adds this addendum. ‘If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, wherefore all are partakers, then are ye bastards (illegitimate), and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence (respect): shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?’ (Heb. 12:7-9) And the answer to that question is an obvious ‘YES!’ So please let’s get wise and follow the directions outlined above, that is, if we want to live the abundant life that Christ died for us to have.
Now, let’s go humbly but confidently to the throne of grace through our Friday Chant, seeking divine help in these desperate times of need. Altogether: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. You know it’s been rough… because our many serious problems are escalating instead of improving. And it’s obvious we can’t fix them on our own, so Lord, we’re desperately crying out for your help. Oh heavenly Father, with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat the simmering unrest in our land. We therefore ask you Lord to give our leaders the wise guidance to handle these unexpected storms properly.
And please help the rest of us to be responsible and to stay safe amidst all the anxiety and confusion of these ungodly times. We fervently pray too Lord that you’ll use the discontent and dissatisfaction in our land as a means of restoring faith in you. Return backsliders to your fold. Show them the error of their ways. And please introduce a new flock of believers, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion by the example, we, your faithful believers set. So that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, wake up and smell it sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’
And to activate divine help, one of the things we need to do, is be much better examples of Christian faith than we currently are. Much LOVE!
…God’s commandments are given for our benefit…not His…let’s remember that…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
02 Jun 2023
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: built again the high places, built altars in the house of the Lord, but they would not listen, can wake up and smell the coffee, caused his children to pass through the fire, consulted mediums, Friday chant, he did that which was evil in the Lord's sight, if yuh don't hear you will feel, introduce a new flock of believers, like unto the abominations of the heathen, LOVE, made groves, omnipotent help, our sinful world, parents must communicate godliness to their chiildren, places for pagan worship, practiced soothsaying, praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, provoked the Lord to anger, reared up altars for Baailim, return backsliders to your fold, show them the error of their ways, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, the Lord hates pride, the Lord spoke to Manasseh and the people, the reign of Manasseh, the throne of grace, the wicked will be destroyed, then Manasseh knew that the Lord he was God, turn on the A.C., witchcraft, worshipped all the host of heaven, you make the children but not their minds
2 Chronicles 33:13b. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord he was God.
And then it was Friday… and the shouts of ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday!’ reverberate around the world. But in my neck of the woods there are also shouts of ‘Summertime! True summer weather at last!’ Then in the background comes another shout of a somewhat different nature: ‘O Lord, it so hot! Turn on the A.C! Please turn on the A.C!’ And that last one was my shout yesterday as the summer heat descended upon us with a vengeance. By yesterday afternoon all the A.Cs in the neighborhood were merrily humming along.
I was amazed that the temperature in the family room was 80 degrees Fahrenheit, which meant it was even hotter in the bedrooms upstairs, where I intended to relax for a spell. Meanwhile the basement is as cool and comfortable as ever. One would think that the higher you went, the cooler it would become, but apparently not. Thank goodness the Duchess wasn’t at home then, because turning on the A.C is one of the things we bicker over a lot of the time.
Yuh see, she spends a lot of her day on the main floor, which is never as hot as the bedrooms upstairs where I spend most of my afternoons, and which for whatever reason, are always hotter than downstairs. And surprisingly, she never uttered one word of dissent when she came home. Perhaps after being out in the hot sun, she was thankful to come home to a cool house. (smile) But enough of my marriage peculiarities, let’s see what the Lord wants us to talk about today.
And the Good Library opened unto the Book of 2nd Chronicles, where it talks about the reign of certain kings of Israel, in particular that of Manasseh. It says: ‘Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem (the longest of any king). But did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel. For he built again the high places (places for pagan worship) which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baailim, and made groves (wooden images), and worshipped all the host of heaven (the gods of the Assyrians), and served them.
Also he built altars in the house of the Lord, whereof the Lord had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever. And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord. And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times (practiced soothsaying), and used enchantments (witchcraft), and used witchcraft (sorcery), and dealt with a familiar spirit (consulted mediums), and with wizards (spiritists): he wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger.
And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house (temple) of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever.’ (2 Chr. 33:1-7)
Can you imagine Manasseh engineering that complete turning away from God, even to the desecration of God’s house, after the godly reign of his father Hezekiah. The scholars explain it thus: ‘The wickedness of Manasseh, the son of the godly Hezekiah, emphasizes the need for parents to communicate personal godliness to their children. Children must make their own personal choice for God and not depend simply on their parents’ relationship to God.’
And that’s the gospel truth! But unfortunately, not every child who sees a godly relationship in their parents, will naturally follow that path. As the ole people would say, you make the children, but you don’t make their minds. And it’s obvious that Hezekiah didn’t influence Manasseh’s mind as per the relationship with God. The Book of Chronicles then continues: ‘So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the Lord had destroyed before the children of Israel. And the Lord spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken.’ (2Chr. 33:9-10)
Oh friends, that is exactly what’s happening in our world today. We have gone astray from God, even to the point of trying to remove Him completely from our society, which of course will never happen, and He’s desperately trying to bring us back to His fold before even more disastrous disasters befall us, because disaster always befalls the disobedient and ungodly. It’s just a matter of time. The Lord’s promised it all throughout His word. The wicked will be destroyed.
Why can’t we believe him eh, and turn from our evil ways? Is it because of obstinate and stubborn pride? But remember too, that the Lord hates pride with a passion, because it means you think you don’t need Him. The saying that pride goes before a fall, is also gospel truth. And if you don’t believe me, just listen to what happened to the wicked Manasseh and his people. ‘Wherefore the Lord brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns (with nose hooks), and bound him with fetters (bronze chains), and carried him to Babylon.’ (2 Chr. 33:11)
Yes friends, we all get our comeuppance eventually. But why is it that we can’t listen to the many warnings, but have to go through all the tribulation before we wake up to the reality of the situation like Manasseh did eh? The Bible tells us: ‘And when he (Manasseh) was in affliction, he besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord he was God.’ (2 Chr. 33:12-13)
I don’t understand it. There’s so much proof that the wicked suffer and are eventually destroyed but yet we still turn to evil, that is until the truth of God’s word hits us where it really hurts. It’s like the Babylonian King, Nebuchadnezzar, in the Book of Daniel, who thought he was so great, walking in the wonderful palace that he built, until the Lord pulled him down, drove him crazy, and had him eating grass for seven years until he woke up and smelled the coffee, and said: ‘Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgement (justice): and those that walk in pride he is able to abase (humble).’ (Dan. 4:37)
Now, if a pagan king can make such a statement and apparently mean it, why can’t we supposed believers do the same eh, and live it? I don’t know, but please, wisdom dictates that we go to the throne of grace right now, through our Friday Chant and ask for divine help and understanding to deal with our current untenable situation.
As one voice: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. You know it’s been rough… what with all the confusion and anxiety caused by the pandemic and our many other serious problems. We can’t fix them on our own Lord, so we desperately need your help. Oh heavenly Father, with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat the simmering unrest in our land. So Lord, we sincerely ask you today to give those involved in the forefront of this serious and unexpected storm, the wise guidance to handle the situation properly, without further serious setbacks.
And please help those of us who must go out to work amidst all the confusion, to be responsible and to stay safe. And Lord, we fervently pray that You’ll use this situation to return backsliders to your fold, show them the error of their ways. And please introduce a new flock of believers, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion by the example, we, your faithful believers set. Yes Lord, please use this pandemic, the bubbling discontent and dissatisfaction in our land, as a means of restoring faith in You, so that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, wake up and smell it sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’
And if we truly want to receive divine help, then we’ve truly got to change our evil ways and become obedient to God! Much LOVE!
…if yuh don’t hear…you will certainly feel…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ
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