15 Nov 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a hard row to hoe, accusation, among the lost, an attitude of prayer, anxiety, blameless, bounden duty, Christian witness, communicating with God, complaining, crooked, defeated, difficulties, disputing, dissatisfied, do all things, dread, earthly pilgrimage, energized, equipped, everlasting covenant, evil, follow instructions, friend of Jesus, furnished, glorify Jesus, glory for ever and ever, God's Word, good works, guiding, harmless, heavenly Father, Hebrews, influence, inhospitable, innocent, intolerant, Jesus Christ, lack nothing, leading, lights in the world, lose, LOVE, make you perfect, morally pure, murmurings, negative things, obey the commands, One Year Book of Bible promises, our prayer life, perfect, persecutions, perverse nation, Philippians, positive power of God, pray so little, prayer, prohibited, protest, quarrelling, restless, Ruth Harms Calkin, Scrip-Bit family, share His love, shine, spiritual damage, susceptible, temptation, testimony, the beloved of God, the BIBLE, the blood, the God of peace, the gospel, the Holy Spirit, the man of God, the reason, the sense of God''s shining presence, the shepherd of the sheep, Tuesday Mantra, undisciplined, ungodly world, violently, weak, well-pleasing, without rebuke, witness, working in you
2 Timothy 3:17. That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished (equipped) unto all good works.
Oh friends, I’d like to open this Tuesday morning with a call to prayer for Scotty Richards, one of our staunchest Scrip-Bit family members.Every time he sees me, he asks me something about the Bit.
Scotty, one of my church Wardens, is presently in the hospital and I ask us all to kindly remember him in our prayers. Let’s pray that the Lord will heal him of all that’s causing him to be hospitalized right now, and that he will soon return to his normal life.
Scotty, mih brother, we still need you here with us. So please hurry up and get well. Amen.
Now here is something from our One Year Book of Bible Promises with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin. It’s titled; ‘The Reason’ and I daresay that it applies to many of us.
It says: ‘God, why am I so often defeated? Why am I so full of dread and anxiety? Why am I so lamentably weak – So perilously susceptible to temptation? Why am I often inhospitable So intolerant of the needs of others?
Why am I so undisciplined So restless and dissatisfied? Why do I protest so violently? Above all God Why do I so frequently lose The sense of Your shining Presence? God, why? Why?’
And God’s answer; short and to the point: ‘Because you pray so little.’
Yes friends, that could be the reason why so many negative things keep on assaulting us; our prayer life is just not full enough. We don’t spend enough time communicating with our heavenly Father.
Remember, we can’t fight off evil or negative situations unless we have the positive power of God working with and for us. And we can only get that power by constant communication with our Creator. As the promise for that poem so rightly tells us: ‘Pray without ceasing.’ (1 Thess. 5:17)
Oh my brethren, as followers of Jesus Christ, we should always have an attitude of prayer, though we might not be praying audibly, which will allow the Holy Spirit that indwells each believer, to do a better job of leading and guiding us.
And today will probably the last day for this renowned Bit. (smile) ‘That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished (equipped) unto all good works.’
Yes my people, our wise and wonderful God has provided a guidebook for us, in the Bible, and also provided the Holy Spirit to help us walk this earthly pilgrimage. We have been given EVERYTHING we need to be successful in this life. All we have to do now is faithfully follow the instructions and directions.
Now let’s look at a scripture that corroborates the words of our Bit. The author of Hebrews declares unto us: ‘Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
Make you perfect (complete) in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ’ to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.’ (Heb.13:20-21)
Ah my fellow believers in Christ, what a wonderful God we serve and worship! In His supreme wisdom, He’s provided for all our needs. We lack for nothing, but through His Word and the Holy Spirit we are energized to do all that we need to do.
Now listen to these words of Bruh Paul to the Philippians. ‘For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of (according to) his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings (grumbling) and disputings.
That ye may be blameless and harmless (innocent), the sons (children) of God, without rebuke (fault), in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation (generation), among whom ye shine as lights of the world.’ (Phil.2:13-15)
And the scholars give us some explanation re those verses. ‘2:14. Since God is producing in the Philippians the willing and doing of His good and perfect will (v.13), there can be no legitimate reason for murmurings and disputings.
Not only are they forbidden to complain about the difficulties and persecutions that will befall them in carrying out God’s good pleasure, but quarrelling among themselves is also prohibited.’
The same things apply to us in these modern times my friends. We have no good reason to murmur or complain, because God has already provided all we need to do His good work.
‘2:15. If the readers obey the commands of verses 12-14, they will be (become) blameless [i.e., no finger of accusation can justly be pointed at them] and harmless (i.e.’ morally pure). Due to party strife and bickering, this is not true of them.
As the sons of God…in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation (generation), they are to be without rebuke – without incurring spiritual damage. The proper place for God’s people is among the lost. For only in such a position can true Christian witness be borne and influence for the gospel be effectively exerted.
Yet believers must remain “without rebuke” in that they suffer no moral damage by contact with the unsaved. Then among unbelievers they will shine as lights in the world. As stars are readily noticeable in a dark sky, so healthy Christian lives stand out in testimony among the lost and give credence to one’s witness.’
Yes my people, I know it’s seems like a hard row to hoe, but please remember that we have already been granted all we need to succeed in God’s work. Now let’s go home loudly and sincerely declaring our Tuesday mantra.
As one now: ‘I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with the world. Amen!’
And with all of that sizzling in our hearts, souls, bodies and minds, let’s go out and shine like stars in the darkness of this evil and ungodly world nuh, and thus glorify our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Much LOVE!
…to shine…to shine…to shine in the darkness…that’s a believer’s bounden duty…
31 Oct 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: adrenaline, almighty god, alone, antidote, aura of love, beaming from ear to ear, buoys my heart, calamity, Christians, complacency, complaining, confidence, covenant, curse God and die, David, David encouraged himself, desertion, dig deep down inside, dredge up, encouraging one's self in God, enthusiasm, faith, forlorn, friends, futile, glorious kingdom, heavenward, holy spirit, humble servants, in the Lord his God, invincible, Jesus Christ, Job, Jonathan, lack of energy, lethargy, lies, LOVE, misfortunes, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, pain, pick up the pace, punishment, rejuvenation of spirit, relaxation, renewed vitality, rest, salvation, salve their wounds, Satan, Saul, seek God's advice, self-pity, spiritual armour, steadfast faith, strengthened his hand, succour, sufferation, the army of Christ, the front line, Though he slay me, time to rock and roll, to give up all hope, tooth and nail, trials and tribulations, trust, truth, ungodly world, unquenchable faith, victories, wisdom, yet will I trust in him, Ziklag
1 Samuel 30:6b. …but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.
Okay friends, it’s Monday, the last day of October 2016, time to get a move on, time to rock and roll! (smile) The battle has already been joined and we need to be there to help our fellow soldiers in the army of Christ. The army of the evil one is already fighting tooth and nail, and without our help our brothers and sisters already on the front line will suffer innumerable loss.
And as always, we have the antidote for our lethargy and complacency, our lack of energy and enthusiasm, our complaining and self-pity; our Monday Morning Battle Hymn. So let’s belt it out so that we can be uplifted and enthused to get out and do Christ’s work nuh.
All together now: ‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together.
We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies.
But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your incredible aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle.
Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’
Good show mih breddren, good show! Our choirmaster, Jesus, was quite pleased with that rendition. The harmony and full voices were all that He expected. He was beaming from ear to ear. And you know there’s nothing more rewarding than putting a smile on Jesus’ face!
So with our human motors now running smoothly on the fuel of adrenaline, let’s pick up the pace and enthusiastically get into the fray of this new workweek without further ado.
That brings us to our Bit. ‘…but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.’
Oh friends, you won’t know how that small bit of scripture touches and buoys my heart. I can just see Bruh David sitting alone and forlorn at the entrance to the burnt out city of Ziklag, while his men mutter and complain around him, seriously talking about stoning him. He’s probably sadly shaking his head and thinking: ‘Why Lord, why eh?’
But then he remembers all the other misfortunes the Lord has successfully brought him through, the many victories the Lord had caused him to have, and his spirit lifts with the strong faith that he’s cultivated in the God of his forefathers over the years. And his next move is obviously to seek God’s advice.
The problem here though my people, is that Bruh David had to raise that faith on his own, by himself, because there was no sympathetic human being to turn to. Likewise, there will be times when we find ourselves in the same situation; alone, with others crying out for our head, like they did for Jesus’.
Friends, at those times, we have to dig deep down inside of us and dredge up the necessary faith that will lead us to Almighty God for help and guidance. For He is the ONLY One who can help us under those trying circumstances.
That reminds me of another instance in Bruh David’s life, where he was encouraged in God, but this time by his covenant brother Jonathan, Saul’s son and heir to the throne. At that time Bruh David was on the run from Saul.
The Good Book tells us. ‘And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood. And Jonathan Saul’s son arose, and went into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God (encouraged him).
And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth. And they two made a covenant before the Lord: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.’ (1 Sam.23:15-18)
Oh my brethren, how blessed we are when we have even one friend to offer us that sort of encouragement! Job was another man of faith who had to encourage himself in God when God allowed Satan to cause him untold calamity. His wife told him to ‘curse God, and die,’ (Job 2:9b)
That was exactly what Satan desired. But Job was not ready to give up all hope, and he reasoned that both good and evil came from God, so one had to learn to accept them both. (Job 2:10)
But better yet, when his supposed friends were tongue lashing him, Job stalwartly proclaimed: ‘Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain (defend) mine own ways before him.’ (Job 13:15)
That’s what we call unquenchable faith my fellow believers! Do we have that kind of faith? We should, but the problem is that kind of faith can only be acquired by undergoing true calamity.
And the best example of encouraging one’s self in God is obviously our Lord and Saviour Jesus. Just look at how Judas betrayed Him, Peter denied Him thrice and all His other followers deserted Him when His time came. How do you think He stood up under the total desertion and the enormous physical and emotional punishment that followed eh?
By encouraging Himself in His heavenly Father! Otherwise He would not have been able to bear the intense pain and terrible ‘sufferation’ without complaining.
So friends, I just hope that we can appreciate the importance of strong faith in our Christian walk, and that it can only be built on the foundation of trials and tribulations. Much LOVE!
…when life seems oh so futile…Christians turn their eyes, hearts and voices heavenward…where they find succour to salve their wounds…
24 Oct 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: atonement, aura of love, blessed, born again, born of God, care, compassion, complaining, confidence, death, energy, enthusiasm, everlasting life, faith, faithful, frailties, friends, fun, get with the programme, glorious kingdom, glory hallelujah, God's LOVE, grateful, Hades, hell, His only begotten Son, holy spirit, humble servants, in all things, invincible, Jesus Christ, Jesus' business, jobs, joy, lies, LOVE, Love makes the world go round, Lucifer, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, muttering, nay, negative actions, our Lord and Saviour, perish, rejuvenation of spirit, relaxation, renewed vitality, rest, sacrificing, salvation, sense of purpose, serve a useful purpose, shield, son of god, spiritual armour, steadfast faith, surrender, the cross at Calvary, the fray, the grave, the propitiation for our sins, the shed blood of Jesus, the trumpet is calling, through him that loved us, time to be up and about, trust, truth, ungodly world, we are more than conquerors, wisdom
Romans 8:37. Nay, in all things we are more than conquerors through him that LOVED us.
Awright friends, it’s Monday, so let’s get up and get a move on nuh. There’s no time for pushing the snooze button and rolling over. The trumpet is calling out yonder: It’s time to go to work! Time to be up and about Jesus’ business!
Yes my people, there’s no time for muttering and complaining. You weren’t muttering or complaining last night when you were up till all hours of the night having fun. So let’s cut out the negative actions now and get with the programme.
And to help us do that, let’s sing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn with plenty enthusiasm, energy and sense of purpose. As they say, fake it until you make it.
So let’s sing: ‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together.
We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies.
But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your incredible aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle.
Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’
Oh friends, that rendition of our Battle Hymn was barely passable! How can such a lacklustre vocalization ever inspire anybody to go out and fight bravely eh? It’s obvious that our choirmaster, Jesus, wasn’t pleased. But as always, knowing our frailties, and having that great LOVE for us, He forgives us.
Nonetheless, now that our motors are running, let’s pick up the tempo and get ourselves into the fray of this new workweek, with Jesus, beside, behind and before us; in other words, all around us as a protective shield. That’s why we can so audaciously declare in our Bit: ‘Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that LOVED us.’
Yes precious people of God, once you are spiritually born again through the shed blood of Jesus on the cross at Calvary, then you have indeed become a conqueror through His having conquered hell, death and the grave. The same options are open to all who sincerely believe in Him and truly surrender their souls to His leading and guidance.
Now the last couple of days we have been talking about the conquering aspect of our Bit, today however, I want to talk about the LOVE portion. And isn’t that word LOVE, the greatest word in any language on planet earth? It certainly is! Why eh?
Listen to the most important verse in the God’s word. ‘For God so LOVED the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ (John 3:16)
That’s the major purpose behind it all my faithful brethren. God’s LOVE was so great for us, His sinful creation, that He just could not live with Himself to see us all go down to Hades with Lucifer without some option for deliverance. ‘For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.’ (John 3:17)
And all those words were spoken by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the SON of God! So they just had to be true, since God cannot lie. That’s how blessed we are my people! Our Creator’s care and compassion for us was so strong, that He broke His own heart, by sacrificing His only Son, that we could be set free from the ravages of sin and death.
Now doesn’t that touch a soft spot in your heart, make you everlastingly grateful? It ought to. And it also ought to raise up your own LOVE for God, His Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit in thankful appreciation for all that they’ve done for you. But such is the ungratefulness and foolish pride of man that many of us just couldn’t care less about what the Holy Trinity has done, is doing, and will do for us.
Now let’s further develop this theory of LOVE. We have a saying that ‘LOVE makes the world go round,’ and if we follow and believe what John says in his later writings, then it might just be true.
Hear John theorize. ‘Beloved, let us LOVE one another: for LOVE is of God; and every one that LOVETH is born of God, and knoweth God. He that LOVETH not knoweth not God; for God is LOVE. In this was manifested (shown) the LOVE of God towards us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
Herein is LOVE, not that we LOVED God, but that he LOVED us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation (atonement) for our sins. Beloved, if God so LOVED us, we ought also to LOVE one another.’ (1 John 4:7-11)
And that’s the crux of the disastrous situation right now in our world; we don’t LOVE one another!
And we not talking about no big setta LOVE nuh, with plenty hugging and kissing etc; (smile) but just simple brotherly kindness, goodwill, care and compassion for each other. Now that’s what will make our world go round!
Ah friends, if we want to see our world become a better place, both for ourselves and our descendants, then I implore us to start showing that goodwill, that brotherly LOVE to each other. It’s not too late, and with God’s help we can certainly do it. So let’s begin today nuh; there’s no better time than right now! Much LOVE!
…without more basic LOVE…our world WILL NOT survive for much longer…
30 Sep 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a name above every name, a rainy day, at the right hand of God's throne, be of good cheer, caring, Christian, compassionate, complaining, dark clouds, despising the shame, doing my own thing, endured the cross, every knee shal bow, every tongue confess, exalted, faith, fellowship, finisher, freedom, Friday chant, fun, furthering God's kingdom, generous help, glorious days, Glory be, glory to God, good and faithful servant, humanity, humbled himself, in Jesus' name, in the form of God, in the likeness of men, ingrates, intercession, Jesus, Jesus christ is Lord, looking unto Jesus, loving kindness, lusts of pleasure, no reputation, obedience, obedience to God's will, originator, overcome the world, peace, perfector of our faith, Philippians, refreshed, relaxation, renewed, rest, rewards, sacrificial end, servant, set before him, shame, sinless soul, stalwart resolve, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, the author, the death of the cross, the joy, the SON, to the glory of God, trials, tribulations, way of life, we reap what we sow, welcome, when the trump is called
Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author (originator) and finisher (perfector) of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Well my people, it was indeed a rainy day in my area yesterday, and today looks like it’s going to be more of the same. But as always, even when we can’t see the sun, we know it’s somewhere behind the dark clouds hovering overhead.
Likewise, even if we don’t see the Son, we know for sure that He’s around, bright and beautiful, dwelling in our hearts minds, bodies and souls! Glory to God!
Now it’s Friday, and despite the gloomy weather, I’m still hearing joyful shouts of ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday, and two glorious days of freedom are on the horizon! Oh, the weekend is mine, to do what I want with it! Glory be! And even though the rain is falling, it’s not going to stop me from doing my own thing! Thank God for Fridays and the weekend yes!’
Ah friends, the lusts of pleasure are rearing their ugly heads, so let’s counteract them with our more sensible way of spending the weekend nuh, by chanting our Friday Chant. In one strong voice now: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through another week of work! It hasn’t been easy, but with your generous help, I made it through.
Now, please help me to get sufficient fun, fellowship, rest and relaxation in these two short days off, so that I can be renewed and refreshed in soul, body and mind, to go back out and do it all over again next week, furthering your glorious kingdom with each step I take. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.’
And please people, let’s not just chant the chant, but let’s work it too, put it into action, so that we can have a great upcoming workweek, for remember whatever we sow on the weekend we’ll reap during the week. (smile)
And that segues quite nicely into our Bit. ‘Looking unto Jesus the author (originator) and finisher (perfector) of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.’
Yes my fellow believers, to run this race of life successfully, we have to keep looking to Jesus every day, for He is the one who designed the Christian way of life, and faithfully lived it right through to its sacrificial end. We can do no better than emulating Him, for therein lies eternal wisdom.
Now yesterday we continued dissecting our Bit by looking at the statement ‘who for the joy that was set before him.’ And though there was no joy in the real sense of the word, Jesus ‘endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.’
His obedience to the Father’s will was outstanding. The joy came much later; after He had sacrificed His sinless soul for a bunch of ingrates. And these words of Bruh Paul to the Philippians explains it all.
‘Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in fashion (appearance) as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of (those) things in heaven, and (those) things in earth, and (those) things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.’ (Phil.2:5-11)
Yuh see friends, Jesus came to earth as a man for the specific purpose of dying on the cross for our sins. Remember, He was God, but took on our humanity and humbled Himself as a man, without complaining, so that He could do the Father’s will.
And yuh see what happened afterwards? The Father exalted Him; made His name higher than every other, and caused every tongue to declare that Christ is Lord, and He’s now set down at the Father’s right hand, offering intercession for us.
Wow! That’s how the Lord rewards us when we stand in obedience to His word, despite the trials and tribulations involved in our circumstances. It’s not easy, Jesus proved that, and He also promised it. ‘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)
Yes mih breddren, though the world will be full of calamity, we can afford to be peaceful and of good cheer, because our Lord and Saviour has already overcome the sinful world. So let’s keep on looking to Jesus nuh, being humble and obedient, caring and compassionate, enduring our trials and troubles with a stalwart resolve, backed by Jesus’ promise never to leave nor forsake us.
Let’s keep on keeping on, with no thought whatsoever of giving up, until that day when we come to stand before the Father, and He invites us to live with Him forever, by uttering these wonderful words: ‘Welcome, thou good and faithful servant,’ and hugs us to His breast, the way a caring and compassionate father does his child.
Oh friends, we couldn’t ask for a better welcome than that! So please, let’s get ourselves together and do the things we ought to do nuh – we all know what they are – so that when the trump is called up yonder we’ll be there, getting a heavenly welcome. There’s no better reward than that! Much LOVE!
…true humility and obedience to God’s word on earth…will bring untold rewards and exceeding LOVING-kindness in heaven…
26 Sep 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a follower of Christ, a modicum of circumspection, Abraham Issac Jacob, anxious lives, aura of love, bring my soul out of prison, Christians, complaining, confidence, cower, deal bountifully, deliver me, do not be afraid, enthusiasm, evil minions, faith, faith can move mountains, fake it, fear not, fearful, fellowship, friends, further ado, gay abandon, grumbling, He is my refuge, holy spirit, humble servants, I will say of the Lord, in him will I trust, invincible, Jesus, lays waste, lazy, leggo beasts, lies, like a man, Lord and Saviour, LOVE, LOVE Revolution, Lucifer, lustful pleasure, mature, measure up, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, Monday Morning Blues, my fortess, my god, my portion, noondays, persecutors, pestilence, presence of god, rejuvenation of spirit, relaxation, renewed vitality, rest, salvation, scriptures, security, servants, shield, smell the roses, snare of the fowler, spiritual armour, stand your bounce, steadfast faith, take refuge, the land of the living, the secret place, the shadow of the Almighty, the weekend, trust, truth, under his wings, ungodly world, wake up, wisdom
Psalm 91:2. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
So Monday has finally rolled around again my people. Hn! I do hope that we are prepared for it, and there will not be a set of grumbling, complaining and cursing because we are too tired, or lazy to get up. It’s high time that we mature and begin greeting Monday as, or almost as joyfully as Friday.
But unfortunately that will not happen until we treat the weekend with a modicum of circumspection and stop behaving like leggo beasts, wanting to cram every last bit of lustful pleasure into the two days.
Anyway, as they say, a word to the wise is sufficient. So if you don’t want to measure up and behave like a true follower of Christ, then there’s nothing anyone can do about it. You will just have to stand your bounce, hopefully like a man. Nuff said.
Therefore, without further ado, let’s get right into our antidote for those Monday morning blues, our Monday Morning Battle Hymn. And let’s sing it in harmony, with enthusiasm and gay abandon. Remember we need to please Jesus, our august choirmaster, so even if you don’t truly feel it, then fake it, and it will become real enough eventually. (smile)
As one now, let’s blast it out. ‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together.
We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies.
But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your incredible aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle.
Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’
Good show mih breddren, good show! You can see that Jesus was pleased judging by the light in His eyes and the smile on His handsome face. I was also quite surprised by the good show we put on. All praise and thanks be to God!
Now let’s turn to our Bit: ‘I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.’ Oh friends, what a powerful testimony! The psalmist is ever so confident in the security that his God provides – his refuge and fortress.
Wow! It reminds us of another psalmist who made that bold and confident statement, Bruh David in Psalm 142 – Thou art my refuge. ‘I cried unto thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living. Attend (give heed) unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I. Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about (surround me); for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.’ (Ps.142:5-7)
Now the difference between the two psalms intrigues me. Although they both acknowledge God as their strong tower and place of refuge, Bruh David is here crying out for help, while the other psalmist is testifying to the fact with great confidence.
He begins the psalm thus: ‘He that dwelleth in the secret place (the presence) of the Most High shall hide under the shadow of the Almighty. (Ps.91:1) And isn’t it wonderful to know my people that when you dwell in God’s presence, you are hidden under, safely covered under the magnificent spread of His powerful wings.
Then after our Bit, the psalmist continues. ‘Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler (trapper of birds), and from the noisesome (perilous or deadly) pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust (take refuge): his truth shall be thy shield and buckler (small shield).
Thou shalt not be afraid for (of) the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth neither by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth (lays waste) at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.’ (Ps.91:3-8)
What overwhelming confidence in the Lord our God! Oh friends, I wish we, today’s Christians, had even half as much confidence in our Creator and Provider. Then we’d certainly be a force on this earth to be reckoned with. But sadly, too many of us come nowhere near to such a level of trust, faith and confidence in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. That’s why we live such fearful and anxious lives, when there is really no reason to do so.
How many times did Jesus tell us to fear not, do not be afraid eh, and given us His assurance that everything will be alright once we sincerely believed and trusted in Him? Several times! But yet still we cower in fear, and allow the evil minions of Lucifer to get away with murder; both literally and figuratively.
Oh my brethren, if we truly want to spread the good news of Jesus to all and sundry, to help His LOVE Revolution become successful, then we have to wake up and smell the roses, to stop being fearful and anxious, to stand strong and steadfast, be confident in the power of our God, of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit that indwells us.
Otherwise our faith will be like a limp fish in a stormy sea, soon thrown mercilessly on the rocks and unceremoniously destroyed. And we certainly don’t want that to happen. So please, I’m imploring us to get into the scriptures, pray and fellowship, and build up our faith and confidence, so that we can take back our world from the wicked ones who now control it. This I pray in Jesus name. Amen. Much LOVE!
…faith can move mountains…but lack of faith means …the most you can do is walk around the mountain…
19 Sep 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: attributes, aura of love, Christians, complaining, confidence, count the ways, Creator of the universe, dependability, don't want to work, enthusiasm, entitled, evil, faith, faithfulness, fear, fertile ground, friends, generosity, gentleness, gifts of the spirit, gladness of heart, glorious kingdom, goodness, handouts, holy spirit, humble servants, in prayer, inroads, invincible, Jesus Christ, jobs, John Kennedy, joy, kindness, lazy, lies, long-suffering, LOVE, LOVE Revolution, lusts, meekness, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, passions, patience, peace, perks, rejuvenation of spirit, relaxation, renewed vitality, rest, sacrificial giving, salvation, self-control, spiritual armour, spread the gospel, steadfast faith, taunts, temperance, the fruit of the spirit, the lust of the flesh, the weekend, the world owes them a living, tranquility of mind, trust, truth, turn to God, ungodly world, useful purpose, virtues, walk in the Spirit, walking in the flesh, walking in the Spirit, what you can do for your country, wiles, work, worry
Galatians 5:16. This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
‘Monday, oh Monday! Oh how do I LOVE thee? Let me count the ways…’ (smile)
Ah friends, so many of us dislike Monday, and it’s such a wonderful day… And I hear all the steupsing and complaining of those who disagree with my praise of Monday. That’s because we haven’t handled the weekend right, or we just blooming lazy and don’t want to go to work, but yet still expect to enjoy all the perks of working.
Anyway, the long and short of the story is if you expect to eat, then you must work, as per Bruh Paul to the Thessalonians. (2 Thess.3:10) Too many of us nowadays, including supposed Christians, feel entitled, are expecting hand outs and believe that the world owes them a living.
But the truth is my brethren, the world owes us nothing whatsoever! We owe the world, to try and make it a better place than how we found it. How did John Kennedy, the U.S President put it? ‘Consider not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.’ And that’s how it ought to be!
Enough palaver though, let’s sing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn and get ourselves together to go out and make the world a better place.
All together now: ‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together.
We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies.
But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your incredible aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle.
Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’
That wasn’t bad at all my people, somewhat raspy, but it put a smile on the face of our choirmaster Jesus. And that’s the important thing; keeping Jesus happy with our earthly doings. And the very best way to do that is by being obedient to our Bit. ‘This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.’
Now yesterday we looked at what basically constituted walking in the flesh, today we’ll check out what it means by walking in the Spirit. Listen to Bruh Paul expatiate to the Galatians. (smile)
‘But the fruit of the Spirit is LOVE, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness (kindness), goodness, faith (faithfulness), Meekness, temperance (self-control): against such there is no law.’ (Gal.5:22-23)
Yes friends, those are the attributes that a Christian is supposed to show when walking in the Spirit. And the scholars give us a lengthy explanation, which I feel compelled to share, since it will help our understanding of the situation.
‘5:22. The word fruit is significant for three reasons. (1) It means the result, product, outcome or effect produced by the Spirit in the believer’s life. (2) Unlike “the gifts of the Spirit” (plural), only some of which are given to a Christian, each believer is to have all nine virtues composing “the fruit of the Spirit” (singular). (3) As fruit on a tree takes time to grow and mature, so the Spirit does not cultivate these virtues in the believer’s life overnight.
LOVE is the willing, sacrificial giving of oneself for the benefit of another without thought of return. Joy is the gladness of heart. Peace is tranquility of mind, freeing one from worry and fear. Long-suffering is patience with others, the opposite of a short temper, a disposition quietly bearing injury. Gentleness is kindness. Goodness is generosity. Faith is dependability.’
‘5:23. Meekness is gentleness, that is courtesy and consideration in one’s relations with others. Temperance is self-control, that is, the ability to harness and control one’s passions and lusts.’
There we have it my people, a breakdown of the nine virtues that are associated with the fruit of the Spirit. Yuh see, a lot is expected of us Christians, because our Lord and Saviour, our indisputable Leader, Jesus Christ, expects excellence from His followers, not some wishy-washy, leggo-beast, compromising, sitting on the fence behaviour.
And we all know it’s not easy to come up higher in this evil world, but it doesn’t happen overnight. As the scholars remind us these virtues take time to grow and mature, as the Holy Spirit that dwells within us nurtures them.
So please, let’s not beat up ourselves if we are falling down in any virtue(s), because that does not help the situation. When we find we’re not measuring up to our true potential, let’s turn to God in prayer and ask Him for help in whatever area we’re lacking in.
You know He’ll never refuse us anything that makes us more like His wonderful Son, Jesus Christ. So let’s sincerely and faithfully work at those virtues as we go out and face the enemy today and everyday of our earthly lives. It’s oh so necessary, if we are to spread the gospel to the whole world and fulfill Jesus’ LOVE Revolution. Much LOVE!
…Christians ought to be fertile ground…so that the Holy Spirit can grow good fruit within them…
29 Aug 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: admonishment, almighty god, antidote, as far as the east, attitudes, aura of love, bind us up, blessings, cast out, Come and let us return unto the Lord, complaining, confession, confidence, cussing, doing nothing, drudgery, enthusiasm, evil, faith, forgiveness, friends, fun, glorious kingdom, God's mercy, grace, groaning, holy spirit, Hosea, housework, humble servants, iniquity, invincible, Jesus saving grace, joy, lazing around, lies, LOVE, loving kindness, mercy, moaning, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, Monday Morning Blues, Moses, Nehemiah, Praise the Lord, rain, rejuvenation of spirit, relaxation, renewed vitality, repentance, rest, scatter you abroad, seek him with all thy heart, seek the Lord, set my name there, spirits lifted, spiritual armour, steadfast faith, TGIM! Thank God it's Monday!, thanksgiving, the uttermost part of heaven, thou shalt find him, trust, unbelievers, ungodly world, wisdom, with all thy soul, witness
Deuteronomy 4:29. But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.
Aye friends, that wonderful day called Monday, has rolled around again! Wow!
Are you excited enough to joyfully declare: ‘TGIM! Thank God it’s Monday! Thank God that I will be able to get out of this drudgery of housework, or of just lazing around and doing nothing constructive, and instead go out and meet people, and help bring them to Jesus and His saving grace!’
Oh my people, if you can truthfully declare that prayer this Monday morning, then you’re amongst a very few blessed souls. And may the Lord bless you and give you your heart’s desire. That’s because most of us will be moaning and groaning and cussing and complaining about how we so tired, and how the weekend finish so quick, and we just might call in sick.
But don’t worry my brethren, we have an antidote for the Monday Morning Blues, it’s called our Monday Morning Battle Hymn. So without further ado, let’s get right into it so our spirits can be lifted and our attitudes become more Christ like. (smile)
Altogether now: ‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together.
We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies.
But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your incredible aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle.
Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’
Oh that was good friends; better than average! It even brought a trace of a smile to Jesus, our choirmaster’s face. Now let’s keep our adrenaline fuelled motors running and get out there and live our lives for Jesus. That’s all He asks of us.
And to help us do that, let’s turn to our current Bit for the last time. ‘But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.’
Oh my fellow believers what a wonderful promise of Almighty God to lay before unbelievers when we witness to them! They can be assured that whatever their sins might be – a li’l white lie or genocide – if they seek God with sincere confession and repentance their iniquity will be washed away.
Bruh David puts it thus in Psalm 103 – Thanksgiving for God’s mercy. ‘The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous (abounding) in mercy (LOVING-kindness). He will not always chide (strive): neither will he keep his anger forever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy (LOVING-kindness) toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.’ (Ps.103:8-12)
And all God’s people declared a loud and proud:’ Glory to God for His LOVING-kindness to the undeserving children of men!’ And that He certainly is my brethren!
Now let’s turn to a couple of other scriptures which corroborate our Bit. Listen to Nehemiah when he hears that Jerusalem is a waste land. He fasts, prays, confesses the sins of his people, and asks for guidance.
‘We have dealt (acted) very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, not the judgements (ordinances), which thou commandedst thy servant Moses. Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress (are unfaithful), I will scatter you abroad among the nations.
But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though they were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there (as a dwelling for my name).’ (Neh.1:7-9)
Yes friends, that’s the beauty of worshipping our great and awesome God; we can remind Him of His promises when we fulfill the requirements! And we’ll end with these glorious words of Hosea – Israel’s reply to God’s admonishment.
‘Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten (stricken), and he will bind (bandage) us up. After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.
Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord (let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord): his going forth is prepared (established) as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.’ (Hos.6:1-3)
Yes my faithful brethren, regardless of the nature of our sins, sincere confession and repentance will bring forgiveness. Just remember that the Lord looks at our hearts, so mere words will not fool Him. Much LOVE!
…heartfelt confession…plus sincere repentance…equals graceful and merciful forgiveness…
02 Aug 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a cry of anguish, a penitent heart, a rough rope, a song of praise, be not far from me, Caribana, celebrations, come unto me, complaining, cry out to God, daily life, deliver my soul, drowning, Emancipation Day, emptiness, faithfulness, feeling sorry for ourselves, forsake me not, hang on, haste thee to help me, heavy laden, I will give you rest, I'll catch you, imminent danger, in full swing, Ithe beloved of god, judgement, keep not silence, last days, make haste to help me, not by sight, not even your father, O Lord my God, O Lord my salvation, One Year Book of Bible promises, penitence, please help me, prayer, righteousness, rough times, Ruth Harms Calkin, share His love, sincerity, The end of the rope, the friend of Jesus, the great invitation, the horns of the unicorn, the lion's mouth, the power of the dog, the rat race, the stress and strain, tie a knot, trust no man, truth, Tuesday Mantra, vindicate me, vindication, walk by faith, whining
Psalm 38:21-22. Forsake me not, O Lord: O my God, be not far from me. Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.
And then it was Tuesday…! Yeh friends, the celebrations and leggo beast partying of Caribana and Emancipation Day finish for another year. It’s time to get back to the rat race we term work.
And just like on a normal Monday morning, many of us are feeling tired and weary and hung over. I guess that includes me too, (smile) because I had to force myself to get up and come down to write the Bit.
Consequently, we are whining and complaining about our lot in life; meaning going to work. But my people, you know how many unfortunates out there will gladly switch places with us. Chuh!
So let’s stop feeling sorry for ourselves and just get on with our tasks. We weren’t complaining when the music was rocking and the party was in full swing though, so why do it now eh?
Anyway, here’s an interesting poem from our One Year Book of Bible Promises with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin. It reminds me so much about believers, that I just have to share it. It’s titled ‘The End of the Rope.’
And it goes like this: ‘O dear God I feel as though I am clinging To a rough, swinging rope. Beneath me there is only emptiness: My hands are bruised and bleeding: There is no possible way For me to tie a knot At the end of the rope And hang on: O God, please help me… Frightened child Just let go. I’ll catch you.’
Ah friends, doesn’t it remind you of certain times in life, when we have found ourselves in dire straits and simply could not hold on to the life rope any longer, and were thus in imminent danger of drowning or falling down the steep cliffside?
But you know what my brethren, once we are true believers in the awesome God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, we really have nothing to fear. As God says in the poem, in our frightened times, when our hands are slowly slipping from the rope, we just have to let go and He will catch us.
That’s His awesome promise. And you know that our wonderful God faithfully keeps ALL of His promises! He is definitely not like the rough and ready Scottish priest back in Tobago in the days of my youth, who apparently told his young son, standing on the back of a jeep; ‘Jump my son, jump. I’ll catch you.’
And when the trusting child jumped, the father moved away his hands and the child fell to the ground. And the father’s reputed advice to his trusting son; ‘Trust no man, not even your own father!’ Ah Lord eh! Some of the stories of our youthful days…! (smile)
And the Bible promise for that poem is also our Bit for today. ‘Forsake me not, O Lord: O my God, be not far from me. Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.’
Yes my people, that was Bruh David’s cry in his time of need and sorrow, taken from Psalm 38 – The prayer of a penitent heart. And unfortunately, in these rather rough times, these last days, many of us are feeling the stress and strain of daily life, but please do not be afraid to cry out to our mighty God for help.
If Bruh David, such a faithful man of God, could do it, so can we. And if the Lord helped him, so will He help us. We just have to keep on believing and living and walking by faith, not by sight. (2 Cor.5:8)
And please don’t think that it’s only once Bruh David cried out to the Lord for help. He cried out whenever he found himself in difficult situations, and so ought we to do, though with genuine penitence not merely crying out for crying out sake.
Let’s check out a couple more times when Bruh David cried out to the God of his forefathers for succour. Listen to him from Psalm 22 – A cry of anguish and song of praise. Note friends, how he amalgamates both emotions in one prayer.
‘But be not thou far from me, O Lord: O my strength, haste thee to help me. Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling (my precious life) from the power of the dog.
Save me from the lion’s mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns (and from the horns of the wild oxen! You have answered me.) I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.’ (Ps.22:19-22)
Ah friends, Bruh David found himself in an awful predicament, surrounded by his enemies, whom he likened to ravenous, wild beasts. And in it all he felt forsaken by God. But that did not stop him from crying out for help and also acknowledging God’s power and past help, and later on in the psalm his great faithfulness.
That’s how we ought to behave too my people: cry out, but remember His past help and acknowledge His power and faithfulness and believe.
And from Psalm 35 – A prayer for rescue from enemies, Bruh David solemnly declares: This thou hast seen, O Lord: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me. Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgement (vindication), even unto my cause, my God and my Lord. Judge (vindicate) me, O Lord my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.’ (Ps.35:22-24)
Yes friends, let us not be afraid to cry out to our omnipotent God in sincerity and truth, when the storms of life bombard us. Remember Jesus’ Great Invitation: ‘Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest…’ (Matt.11-29-30) Look up the rest for yourselves. (smile)
Now let’s go home declaring our Tuesday Mantra with sincerity and true belief. ‘I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with the world. Amen’
Now with those truths filling our souls, let’s go out and share the wonderful LOVE of Jesus with the rest of the world, as He desires of us. Much LOVE!
…when the world comes against us…our God will most faithfully be there for us…
P.S. Please excuse the lateness, but the ole fella is only human too, and he got caught up in the celebrations. (smile) And the breaking up of the Bit at the top is not my fault but Outlook’s. I’ve written it properly. Much LOVE!
25 Jul 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a dream, adversity, attitude, attitude of prayer, aura of love, be not drunk with wine, Beelzebub, blessed is the man, blessings, boast in the Lord, Christians, comfort, complaining, confidence, diligent, dissipation, enthusiasm, eternal life, evil, evil for evil, excess, exhort, face of adversity, faith, feebleminded, fellowship, followers of Jesus, friends, generous help, giving thanks always, glorious kingdom, glory hallelujah, gratitude, his praise shall continually be in my mouth, holy spirit, humble servants, hymns, I will bless the Lord at all times, invincible, Jesus Christ, joy, Joyce Meyer, know no bounds, lies, LOVE, making melody, mature in faith, meditating on god's word, miserable, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, Praise the Lord, pray without ceasing, prayer, psalms, rejoice evermore, rejuvenation of spirit, relaxation, renewed vitality, rest, run roughshod, something good is going to happen through me, something good is going to happen to me, spiritual armour, spiritual songs, steadfast faith, stick with it, taste and see, TGIM! Thank God it's Monday!, the fear of God, The Lord is good, the will of God, tired, to the death, tooth and nail, trust, truth, ungodly world, victorious charge, wisdom
Psalm 34:1. I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
And as the alarms go off in millions of homes all over the world, the Christians who dwell in them rise and shine and joyfully declare: ‘TGIM! Thank God it’s Monday, and I’m off to work! And as Sister Joyce (Joyce Meyer) advises us to say: ‘Something good is going to happen to me today! Something good is going to happen through me today! Glory Hallelujah! Thank God for Mondays and new work weeks!’
Ah mih friends, right now it’s only a dream, but I figure that if we say it often enough we might eventually believe it. Hn! Just a little positive psychology, because we’re way too miserable, tired and complaining on a Monday morning, and it’s not the right attitude for followers of Jesus Christ to have. But since we do have it, and it doesn’t look as though it’s going to change anytime soon, let’s bring on the antidote for that unchristian attitude (smile).
Let’s sing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn with plenty enthusiasm and heavenly harmony. As one godly choir now: ‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together.
We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies.
But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your incredible aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle.
Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’
That was good friends, but not great. The important thing though is that our choirmaster, Jesus, didn’t seem displeased. Now, with our adrenaline up and running, let’s sally forth with confidence into the wicked world out there and battle the enemy tooth and nail, to the death, so that we can further God’s kingdom and glorify His holy name.
And all God’s people declared a loud and proud: ‘Praise the Lord! Amen!’
Now let’s turn to our Bit, the same as yesterday, which deals with continually extolling, praising and blessing our great God. ‘I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.’
Yes friends, that’s how it’s supposed to be with the serious and sincere Christian! Bruh David said that his soul would boast in the Lord, and that’s exactly what we also need to do my faithful brethren! Our enthusiasm and praise for our heavenly Father should know no bounds!
How did Bruh Paul put it to the Ephesians: ‘And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess (dissipation); but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.’ (Eph.5:18-21)
Oh my people, what a glorious day that will be on planet earth, when all God’s children come together as one to continually praise and worship and give thanks to our magnificent Creator!
Hn! Beelzebub won’t be able to stop our victorious charge! We’ll just run roughshod over him and his evil minions like a big tractor runs over a mound of dirt! (smile) They won’t know what hit them!
But until such time as it all comes together my fellow believers, we just have to keep on doing our best by fellowshipping with each other, singing our individual spiritual songs, always giving thanks and being submissive to each other in the fear of the Lord.
Now listen to Bruh Paul as he exhorts the brethren in 1 Thessalonians. ‘Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly (insubordinate), comfort the feebleminded (faint-hearted), support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.’ (1 Thess.5:14-18)
And that it is my friends! Oh I know it’s not always easy to live by those rules, but we have to try and do it, and with God’s help, we surely can. And the scholars share this explanation with us.
‘5:18. In every event or circumstance (thing) the Christian is to give thanks to God for the good He can bring out of the event, even should the event be unpleasant. The constant attitude of prayer, mentioned in verse 17, will help the believer to maintain gratitude in the face of adversity.’
Now that is the bane of every believer; maintaining gratitude in the face of adversity. But as we keep reading, studying and meditating on God’s Word, actively communicating with Him through prayer, and fellowshipping with other believers, we will grow and mature in our faith and it will get somewhat easier to maintain an attitude of gratitude in the face of adversity. We just have to be diligent and stick with it my people. Much LOVE!
…O taste and see that the Lord is good…blessed is the man that trusteth in him… (Ps.34:8)
20 Jul 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a glorious future, a LOVING Father, alive, almighty god, Amen, anarchy, breath of God, brethren, Carrying a grudge, chastening, complaining, discipline, do our best, errors, exercised, expectant faith, faith, forgiveness, friends, fruit, geeks, glad to be alive, glory hallelujah, God loves us, God's children, gospel truth, grace, grateful, grievous, grudge, halfway home, hates his son, hope, horrors, human, hungry hope, I'm not loking back, Jesus, joy, joyous, Laodicea, looking ahead, LOVE, mercies, Microsoft, mistakes, my hands are on the plough, obedience, obedience to god, P.S. I Love You, peaceable fruit, plough, promises, rebuke, repent, righteousness., selfishness, sense of purpose, simpleminded, spare the rod, steal my joy, summer's day, take it to heart, the answer, the breath of life, the present, trained, trials, tribulations, troubles, truth, undisciplined, walk the straight and narrow path, Wednesday Wail, whining, wisdom, zealous
Hebrews 12:11. Now no chastening (discipline) for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised (trained) thereby.
Oh friends, another glorious summer’s day seems to be in the offing! Let’s give thanks and praise for it and ask for guidance to do our best, as we walk the straight and narrow path that leads to Jesus!
Sometimes though, the road just gets frustrating and annoying, especially when you are just an innocent victim, as I was yesterday with all the new changes in Outlook.
Yuh know, as I told some of you last night, after finally figuring out how to do my thing, I then went to send out the Bit, but I got all sorts of horrors in trying to do that. They kept telling me that there was an error message and the Bit couldn’t be sent, to try later.
Well the later trying didn’t do anything and I eventually had to send them out in smaller groups. Now all they had to tell me was the groups were two large. Steups! But that was too simple for the simple-minded geeks who run the show.
Chuh! So last night I spent a whole lot of time making my groups small enough to fit their new scheme. And they didn’t even make that easy to do.
However, it’s a new day, with new mercies and promises and grace and forgiveness, and all the other good things our wonderful God has planned for us, so I won’t let Microsoft Outlook steal my joy, as I allowed them to do yesterday! (smile)
And I have the perfect antidote for that in a quote from my ‘I LOVE YOU’ Poster, which says: ‘Carrying a grudge is like a run in a stocking – it can only get worse. Forgiveness is the answer.’ Gospel truth friends, gospel truth!
So, regardless of the troubles they cause me, I’ll just forgive Microsoft Outlook (smile) and continue to enjoy this glorious day the Lord has blessed me to see. And all God’s children declared a loud and grateful ‘Amen!’
And since today is Wednesday, it’s only appropriate that we declare our Wednesday Wail. So with expectant faith, hungry hope and a strong sense of purpose, let’s wail. ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday!
I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’
Ah mih people, there’s not a day that goes by that I’m not thankful for that beautiful breath of God that courses through my ole bod! I surely hope that you feel the same way, because in truth, that’s the ONLY way for God’s redeemed and sanctified children to feel! Glory to God!
It’s so great to be alive, despite the numerous trials and tribulations that come against us! And we can say that with the utmost confidence and truth because our hands are securely on the plough and we’re looking forward to the glorious future that Jesus has planned for us! Oh what a future that will be my believing brethren!
But at the same time, since we’re only human and thus liable to make serious errors and mistakes, we also need to be able to accept God’s discipline without too much whining and complaining. Our God LOVES us, there’s no doubt about that, but like a LOVING Father, He also disciplines us when we go astray.
Unfortunately though, as our Bit so rightly points out, discipline makes us unhappy in the short term, but in the long run, it works significantly on our behalf. ‘Now no chastening (discipline) for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised (trained) thereby.’ Yeh friends, chastening has never been a well-liked human characteristic.
And most of us old fogies can remember those days of some serious chastening when we re growing up. Plenty of us ran and hid when we knew that it was in the offing, but oftimes that made no difference. We still got it whenever we showed up.
But you know what friends, that chastening, that sense of discipline, usually benefited us in the long run. It made us the fine, godly people we are today. Sadly though, too many of us, as parents refused to administer any chastening and discipline to our children, that’s why they are the undisciplined way they are today.
Now we didn’t need to go to some of the lengths that our parents did, but by going to the other extreme, we did them a great disservice. Because, if there’s one thing a society needs to grow peacefully it’s discipline, otherwise anarchy, a free for all and total selfishness is what we get, something like what we have today.
Enough preaching though, let’s look at some scriptures that corroborate our sentiments. First up are these words of wisdom from Cousin Sol. ‘For whom the Lord LOVETH he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.’ (Prov.3:12)
More Cousin Sol: ‘He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that LOVETH him chasteneth him betimes (promptly).’ (Prov.13:24)
And we’ll end with this one from Jesus in the Revelation of John. It’s contained in the message to the church at Laodicea. ‘As many as I LOVE, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.’ (Rev.3:19)
Yes friends, it’s all there in black and white in the Good Book! Please let’s take it to heart and do our best not to complain too much when we are rightfully chastened of anybody, especially Almighty God. That’s wisdom of the highest heights! Much LOVE!
…obedience to God…is the highest form of discipline…
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