30 May 2024
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: abundance, according to his riches in glory, all things work together for good, an house of defence, be about the Lord's business, be careful for nothing, be of good cheer, be thou my strong rock, Bible, bow down thine ear to me, commit our spirits into the Lord's hand, courage, curse, deliver me in thy righteousness, deliver me speedily, faith, god, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, I commit my spirit, i have overcome the world, in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, in me ye might have peace, In thee O Lord do I put my trust, into thine hand, Jesus, Jesus Christ, keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus, let me never be ashamed, LOVE, my God shall supply all your needs, MY rock and My fortress, negative word, O Lord God of truth, one foot in both worlds, psalms, sacrifices, self-control, sit on the fence, take up your cross daily, talent, the peace of God which passeth all understading, thou hast redeemed me, Thursday Blessings, to them who love God, total trust in the Lord, tribulation, truth, who are called according to His purpose
Psalm 31:1. ‘In thee, O Lord do put my trust (take refuge); let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.
And then it was Thursday…And yes, the ole fella is up somewhat early to be about the Lord’s business, that’s because I have a couple of medical appointments this afternoon and did not want to be rushing around later to accomplish my tasks. So strange things do happen in this world, today, instead of being late…we’re being early! (smile) Now what are we going to talk about this morning eh, this sunny but somewhat chilly penultimate day in May? Well the Good Library opened just now in the Book of Psalms, and my eyes alighted first on Psalm 31 – Bruh David talking about ‘My Rock and My Fortress.’ One of his many psalms of both lament and praise.
So please read with me: ‘In thee, O Lord do put my trust (take refuge); let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness. Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock (rock of refuge) for an house of defence (fortress) to save me. For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me. Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily (secretly) for me: for thou art my strength. Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.’ (Ps. 31:1-5)
Oh friends, those are powerful words of commitment and trust! Bruh David was serious about them, and as we read them, the question arises, are we also serious in our commitment to Almighty God? Do we consider Him our strong rock and fortress of refuge, our strength and deliverer in these turbulent and topsy turvy times? Let’s hope so, for we surely do need someone bigger and stronger than us to help us get through the craziness that’s overtaken our world. And who better than the Lord God Almighty, the Creator, and Controller of the universe, the most powerful being in existence. If He cannot take care of us, then no one can.
But as Bruh David says, we have to commit our spirits into His hand if we want His protection. And that’s totally, not partially, as we like to do in most godly things. For some reason we don’t seem to trust the Lord completely, or we just want to always have some sort of control over our goings and comings. However friends, with the Lord it’s ALL or NOTHING at ALL! He doesn’t do partway stuff, so for those of us who like to sit on the fence and try to have a foot in both worlds, He will not pay any attention to your cries for help.
And we all know that, but yet we still always try to withhold something, not give all of ourselves, possibly because we don’t truly trust the Lord to take care of all of our needs as Bruh Paul assured the Philippians. ‘But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.’ (Phil. 4:19) Yes friends, we mouth it, but don’t sincerely believe it…well not all the way. But our God needs our sincere trust and surrender if He is to do much good for us. You’ll notice in Bruh David’s own life, although he was hounded by enemies on all sides, he gave his total trust to God, and the Father, in His time and way resolved them for him.
Note, his problems did not go away overnight, or that he never had any further problems, but he stood his ground with God throughout all his trials and that’s the way we need to be. Regardless of our circumstances, how threatening or fearful they might be, we need to stand strong in the Lord and His might and believe as the word says: ‘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) The problem is that we expect God to fix all of our problems right away and allow us to live a life of wine, women and song, without any further encumbrances.
But that will never happen, for in this sinful and ungodly world, we will have troubles and problems until the day we die, because that’s just the kind of world we live in. As Jesus rightly said: ‘These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.’ (John 16:33) And yes, it’s not easy to have good cheer when your whole world seems to be crumbling down around you, but if you have put your sincere trust in Jesus, then you will indeed have a modicum of peace during your trials.
Your circumstances will not drive you crazy, or to drink and drugs, but you’ll fall on your knees and ask the Lord for help, while giving Him thanks and praise. As Bruh Paul wisely advises us: ‘Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in EVERY THING by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep (guard) your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.’ (Phil. 4:6-7) Now again, that isn’t always easy to do, but if we have sincerely trusted Jesus, and believe that we can do all things through Him who strengthens us, (Phil. 4:13) then we will be able to handle whatever comes against us.
Many of us erroneously believe that coming to Christ means a life of ease and comfort, but oftentimes it’s not. It might even mean more problems, tests and sacrifices, because living for Jesus desires us to take up our crosses daily and walk with him, forgetting ourselves, so we can do His work. The good news though friends is that living for Christ is all worth it, for in the long run the rewards greatly eclipse the sacrifices. But it takes strong and sincere faith and belief and a willingness to give up all for Christ.
And on the good side of things, we have a whole lot of undeserved blessings, that the Lord has generously bestowed on us to do His earthly work. We call them our Thursday Blessings, but they have to be declared to be activated. So let’s do that right now nuh. As one voice: ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance! I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline!
I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment! I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life! I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to, will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and every day! Amen!’
And having declared those blessings, we’re now duty bound to go out and use them on behalf of others, just as generously as the Lord bestowed them on us! Much LOVE!
…to receive all of God’s favour…we must trust Him…ALL THE WAY…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
23 May 2024
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a positive outlook on life, a strong will, be instructed ye judges of the earth, be likened unto the Lord, be wise now O ye kings, Bible, break them with a rod of iron, christianity, courage, curse, dash them in pieces, faith, fear the Lord and ye shall live, god, God is greatly to be feared, I am the true vine, Jesus, Jesus Christ, justice and judgement, kiss the son, lest he be angry, like a potter's vessel, LOVE, mercy, my Father is the husbandman, negative word, O Lord God of Hosts, prosper, rejoice with trembling, scattered thine enemies with a strong arm, self-control, serve the Lord with fear, strong is thy hand, succeed, talent, the habitation of thy throne, the heavens shall praise thy wonders, the Holy One of Israel is our King, Thursday Blessings, thy faithfulness in the congregation of the saints, truth, who among the sons of the mighty, who in heaven can be compared unto the Lord, who is a strong Lord like unto thee, wisdom, ye perish from the way
Psalm 2:11. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
And it’s another beautiful summer-like day, this Thursday in the merry month of May. It’s not as windy though as the last two days, which have seen some rocking and riotous winds blow away the rain we were promised. The dark clouds did appear, but the winds seemed strong enough to blow them away. So now we’re left with some dry ground thirsting for heavenly blessings. But we know that our God is good, and in His time, He will send the rain to water the ground of His awesome creation. For as Jesus said: ‘I am the true (genuine) vine and my Father is the husbandman (vinedresser, gardener). (John 15:1)
And furthermore, a good gardener never allows his garden to suffer for lack of water and other nourishment. So we can be assured that when the time is right, divine water will appear, we will not be allowed to go through a season of drought. Consequently, it is very apropos for us to sing of the power and greatness of our amazing God, like Ethan the Ezrahite did in Psalm 89, where he writes: ‘And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O Lord: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints. For who in the heaven can be compared unto the Lord? Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the Lord?’ (Ps. 89: 5-6)
And the obvious answer to that question is an emphatic ‘NOBODY!’ Thus ‘God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had (held) in reverence of all them that are about him.’ (Ps. 89:7) Now that ought to be a sure consequence of God’s greatness and power, but unfortunately it’s not, for too many of the earth’s inhabitants repudiate and blaspheme His holy name, instead preferring to give their allegiance and loyalty to the evil Satan. But as it says all throughout the Bible, the wicked shall be destroyed and their name forgotten upon the earth. And as Psalm 2 in particular says: ‘Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ (Ps. 2:9)
Then Psalm 89 continues to sing of the Lord’s power and might. ‘O Lord God of hosts, who is a strong Lord like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee? Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them. Thou hast broken Rahab (Egypt) in pieces, as one that is slain; thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arm. The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them.
The north and south thou hast created them: Tabor and Hermon (those who live around mounts Tabor and Hermon) shall rejoice in thy name. Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand. Justice and judgement (righteousness and justice) are the habitation (foundation) of thy throne: mercy (LOVING-kindness) and truth shall go before thy face.’ (Ps. 89:8-14) And all of that is the gospel truth my people, facts we can find in the Lord’s word verifying all that the psalmist has said.
And now we come to the really good part. (smile) ‘Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk O Lord in the light of thy countenance. In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted. For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn (strength) shall be exalted. For the Lord is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.’ (Ps. 89:15-18) Ah mih people, it’s obvious that if the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is our God, then we have nothing to fear from anybody or any thing, for He is powerful, just and righteous enough to overthrow them.
The problem though is that we have to hold Him in awesome reverence and majesty, understand that He is indeed the sovereign ruler of the universe and be obedient to His will and Word. But sadly that’s not happening on a large enough scale today because His supposed people have turned to Beelzebub and his evil cohorts, doing the awful things that they advise, instead of God’s desires. But as we said earlier, all of that will end eventually, for Satan is already a defeated foe, and anyone who associates with him will suffer the same fate of destruction that he suffers; that’s eternal separation from Almighty God.
And I can’t begin to tell us how disastrous such a fate will be, for it’s the worst fate that can ever happen to a human soul. Please believe me, and change your allegiance from the evil Satan to the One true God, for Satan is simply a liar and deceitful enemy, who’s looking for gullible and easily persuaded folks to accompany him to eternal destruction. That’s why this warning from Palm 2 is ever so valuable in these turbulent and chaotic times. ‘Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son (an act of homage and submission), lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.’ (Ps. 2:10-12)
Oh my fellow saints there could be no better advice in all the world! For if we don’t put our trust and faith in the Son, Jesus Christ, we will eventually be destroyed by His wrath! That’s a faithful promise. So let’s be wise, get our heads together, declare and use what we call our Thursday Blessings, that’s the many undeserved blessings the Lord has given us to do his earthly work. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance!
I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline! I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment! I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life! I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to, will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and every day! Amen!’
And having activated those blessings, it’s now our bounden duty to go out and use them to help others, just as generously as the Lord bestowed them on us! Much LOVE!
…fear the Lord…and ye shall live…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
02 May 2024
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a heart glowing with praise, a positive outlook on life, be careful for nothing, Bible, christianity, compassionate heart, courage, creativity, devotional, faith, favour curse, great is our God and of great power, great is our Lord, great is thy faithfulness, he healeth the broken in heart, his compassions fail not, his understanding is limitless, in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, in every thing give thanks, in the morning, it is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, it is good to sing praises unto God, It is of the Lord's mercies that we're not consumed, it is pleasant, Jesus Christ, LOVE, mercy, more love and joy, negative word, praise is comely, Praise ye the Lord, pray without ceasing, psalms, rejoice evermore, success, supernatural strength, the believer's best freind, they are new every morning, this is the will of God in Christ, Thursday Blessings, thy faithfulness every night, to shew forth thy lovingkindness, to sing praises unto thy name O Most High, to warm our cold hearts, upon an instrument of ten strings, upon the harp, with a solemn sound, worship
Psalm 92:1. ‘It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:
Oh friends, at long last, warm and sunny days seem to be here again! Thank the Lord! It’s about time we felt some of the sun’s awesome heat to warm our cold hearts, souls, bodies and minds after this long winter season. Granted, it wasn’t that cold, but still the chilly, damp weather is what really gets into the bones and causes all sorts of illnesses and emotional downturns. But with summer seemingly on the way, there is a li’l more LOVE and joy in the society, although not as much as we so badly need.
And today we’ll take a look at a couple of scriptures about giving thanks to our great God, for all that He’s done on our behalf. And the first scriptures come from Psalm 92, aptly titled ‘Give Thanks to the Lord.’ So please read with me: ‘It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: To shew forth (declare) (steups!!!) thy LOVING-kindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night, Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery (lyre or lute); upon the harp with a solemn (harmonious or melodic) sound. For thou Lord, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands.’ (Ps. 92:1-4)
Oh my fellow saints, it’s so obvious that the Lord deserves our thanks, both morning and evening, and even during the daytime because of His unfailing goodness and mercy to us each and every day! And if, as the psalmist says he has made us glad through His work, then there’s even more reason to give Him praise and thanks!
And Psalm 147, titled ‘Sing Praise to the Lord,’ gives the same message. ‘Praise ye the Lord (shout Hallelujah): for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely (beautiful). (It surely is!) The Lord doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel. He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds (sorrows). He telleth (counts) the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names. Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite (limitless).’ (Ps. 147:1-5)
More indisputable truth my brethren! Our God is both great and good, therefore He necessitates praise from His people! Unfortunately though, His people don’t thank him as much as they ought to. Some of us only give thanks on Sundays when we go to church, others don’t even remember to give thanks at all. But please remember as Jeremiah says: ‘It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.’ (Lam. 3:22-23)
Oh friends, our wonderful God deserves amazing praise and thanks for the simple reason that we are still alive today, through His great mercies and faithfulness. You know how many people didn’t wake up this Thursday morning? Many! Why? I don’t know. But I’m sure some of them did not waken today because they were not in the habit of giving the Lord the thanks and praise He so richly deserves. It’s mind boggling that we can call on the Lord for all the stuff we want, but when we get it, we forget to give Him thanks and praise.
My people, we should be thanking our God all through the day: for every good and positive move we make; for every scrape or negative situation that He gets us out of. Praise should be a continual thing in the hearts and lives of the true believer. Why do you think Bruh Paul highly advised us through his letter to the Philippians to ‘Be careful (anxious) for nothing: but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God.’ (Phil. 4:6) And to the Thessalonians, he said: ‘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: 16-18)
Yes my fellow believers, giving thanks and praise to Almighty God is essential in our daily lives, it’s His will for us. One of the reasons He created us is that we could praise and worship Him, and reciprocate his wonderful LOVE like all the other heavenly hosts. He didn’t just make us to beg and badger Him for lustful, ungodly stuff, as some of us seem to think from our ungrateful and rebellious attitudes. Heartfelt thanks is essential for the believer if he or she expects to receive all that God has in store for them. And I don’t know how else to say it but like that.
Anyway, enough preaching for today. And the Bit is already late because I had to go down to the hospital for some tests this morning, so let’s keep it short and sweet. (smile) And since it’s Thursday, it means declaring (chuh man!!!) our Thursday Blessings very generously given to us by the Lord to do His earthly work. So as one strong and sincere voice: ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance!
I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline! I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment! I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life! I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to, will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and every day! Amen!’
And having made that declaration (awright!!!) it’s now our duty to go out and generously use those blessings, so that others can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…a heart glowing with praise and thanksgiving…is the believers best friend…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ
25 Apr 2024
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a positive outlook on life, achieve perfection, advantage of light over darkness, anger flares, blaring car horns, buy into Christ's philosophy, christianity, compassion, courage, creativity, curse, faith, favour, fear hath torment, flawless, fulfill God's purpose in our lives, furious voices, god, God loved us, God's love for us, God's ways are higher than ours, great is thy faithfulness, grieved souls, herein is love, his compassions fail not, In Touch Devotional, It is of the Lord's mercies that we're not consumed, Jesus, Jesus brings life and light, Jesus Christ, let my presence bring quietness, LOVE, muscles tense, negative word, new every morning, not that we loved God, offer softness to strangers, peace flowing in my words, perfect love, perfect love casteth out fear, ramp up the love of God, salvation, Satan brings death and darkness, self-discipline, supernatural wisdom, tempers rise, the art of gentleness, the propitiation for our sins, there is no fear in love, Thursday Blessings, we ought also to love one another, wisdom, without blemish, your light warming hearts
1 John 4:18a. There is no fear in LOVE; but perfect LOVE casteth out fear: because fear hath (involves) torment.
Well, unlike yesterday, today, Thursday, our penultimate day of the work week, has opened bright and sunshiny, though somewhat chilly. But that’s okay, for once there is sunshine in the neighbourhood, then many spirits will be uplifted just because of it. That’s the advantage that light has over darkness, specifically, the light that Jesus brings to our lives and our world, over the sinful and ungodly darkness that Satan desires to engulf it in. And to help us see and receive that amazing light of Jesus, let’s turn to God in prayer. It’s this month’s prayer from the In Touch Devotional, Let Us Pray section.
So please pray with me: ‘God, teach me the art of gentleness in a world of blaring car horns, furious voices, and grieved souls. May I offer softness to strangers and to people I know – the same tenderness You’ve shown me. Not harsh, rushed, or callous, You’re filled with compassion and perfect LOVE. When tempers start to rise and muscles begin to tense, when anger flares in people’s eyes, Let my presence bring a quietness – Your light warming hearts, Your peace flowing in my words. In Jesus’ name. Amen’
Oh friends, do we ever need that kind of quiet calming and gentleness that Jesus offers in this harsh, angry and strife-filled world! And the world can only experience it through us, His loyal followers. As the prayer says: ‘Your light warming hearts, Your peace flowing in my words.’ And sadly, that’s the only way the world will ever see light and peace; through us, if we wholeheartedly buy into Christ’s philosophy and seriously and sincerely put it into practice. And all I want to do today is remind us of a few important scriptures that sort of jumped out at me while reading the prayer.
The first one deals with the phrase ‘You’re filled with compassion and perfect LOVE.’ And is our great God ever! And we all know this magnificent, heart-warming and uplifting scripture dealing with God’s wonderful compassion, as Jeremiah so rightly puts it in his Lamentations: ‘It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.’ (Lam.3:22-23) And we’d better say, praise the Lord for those new compassion every day, otherwise we would have long ago been destroyed for our obstinate sinfulness and disobedience.
And as per ‘perfect LOVE’ what’s that you ask? Basically, as this commentary explains: ‘Perfect LOVE is an expression of God’s LOVE for us, and it is only complete (or perfect) when we reflect it back onto Him.’ And the Bible is peppered throughout with the amazing LOVE of God for us. And John in particular deals with what we call perfect LOVE in his epistles. Listen up: ‘Herein is LOVE, not that we LOVED God, but that He LOVED us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so LOVED us, we ought also to LOVE one another.’ (1 John 4:10-11)
And there is no doubting that logic my fellow believers, for without God’s LOVE we’d all be headed straight for hell fire and damnation, with no option whatsoever to receive salvation and eternal life. So we had better be thankful for God’s LOVE and be wise and reciprocate it as best we can. And as the scholars tell us: ‘No human LOVE is the standard for understanding God’s great compassion, but God’s own action on man’s behalf.’ That brings to mind God’s declaration (yesss!!!) in Isaiah that His thoughts and ways are higher than ours, therefore we cannot understand them. (Is. 55:8-9) But we can definitely understand what He tells us to do.
Then John later continues: ‘Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the LOVE that God hath to us. God is LOVE; and he that dwelleth (abides) in LOVE dwelleth (abides) in God, and God in him. Herein is our LOVE made perfect (LOVE made perfect among us), that we may have boldness in the day of judgement: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in LOVE; but perfect LOVE casteth out fear: because fear hath (involves) torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in LOVE.’ (1 John 4:15-18)
And I believe it’s important to note this commentary on what it means to be made perfect in LOVE. It says: ‘We normally use “perfect” to mean “flawless, without any blemish” (“He got a perfect score on his exam”). But ‘teleios,’ (Greek word translated perfect) primarily means to fulfill one’s purpose. So being “perfected in LOVE” means “having God’s LOVE fulfill its purpose in us.” Remember that though we can try with God’s help to achieve perfection, none of us can be truly perfect in this world, except in the sense that we truly fulfill God’s purpose in our lives.
Ah my fellow saints, there seems to be much more I want to say, (smile) but time and space are not cooperating, so if God spares life, we’ll continue on this topic tomorrow. Now, let’s declare out loud, and thus activate our Thursday Blessings, those undeserved blessings bestowed on us by God to do His earthly work. As one voice: ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance!
I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline! I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment! I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life! I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to, will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and every day! Amen!
And having set those blessings in motion, we are now required to go out and share them with others, just as generously as the Lord shared them with us, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him, like we do! Much LOVE!
…until Christians ramp up the LOVE of God in our world…evil will continue to have the upper hand…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ
11 Apr 2024
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: as many as received Him, Bible, born not of blood or flesh but of God, but the world knew him not, christianity, courage, creativity, curse, dwell in the land of the shadow of death, enshrined in darkness, experienced the darkness, faith, formidable actions, glorify your father in heaven, god, have the light of life, He came unto his own, he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, his own received him not, I am the light of the world, in the shadow of death, Jesus, Jesus Christ, John the Baptist, Let your light so shine before men, lighteth every man that cometh into the world, LOVE, miraculous appearance, negative word, prayer, prosper, repent, salt of the earth, salvation, seen a great light, self-control, success, supernatural strength, the dayspring from on high, the kingdom of heaven is at hand, the Messiah, the people that walked in darkness, the remission of sins, the tender mercy of our God, the world was made by him, they may see your good works, Thursday Blessings, to bear witness of the Light, to give knowledge of salvation, to give light to them that sit in darkness, to guide our feet in the way of peace, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, tooted his own horn, truth, upon them hath shined the light, witnessed unto himself, Ye are the light of the world, you can't enjoy the light
John 8:12. I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Ah Lord, why couldn’t today be like yesterday eh? Unfortunately, the bright and warm sunshine of Wednesday has been transformed into a wet, bleak, dreary, dark, uninviting Thursday morning. And yesterday afternoon I so enjoyed sitting on my front porch for the first time this year, very comfortably drinking in the activity on the street, whether they were humans, cars, dogs, or simply Mother Nature. That looks though, like it will just be a one day stand, (smile) as the computer is calling for rain today. But that’s okay, we’ll live with it, for we’ll enjoy the sunshine even more after having experienced the rain. As they say, you can’t enjoy the light, until you’ve experienced the darkness.
And that’s oh so true, especially when speaking of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Before He came, we were totally enshrined in darkness, without any hope of ever getting out of it, but with His miraculous appearance and formidable actions, we did get out of the darkness into His glorious light! Glory be! As Isaiah so gloriously testified: ‘The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath shined the light.’ (Is. 9:2) And that prophesy was certainly fulfilled by the coming of Jesus!
As Matthew writes of Jesus’ teaching ministry. ‘Now when Jesus had heard that John (the Baptist) was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias (Isaiah) the prophet, saying, The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; The people which sat in darkness saw a great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up (has dawned). From that time Jesus began preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ (Matt. 4:12-17)
Yes friends, there’s no doubt that Jesus came a to shed light on our darkness. As Luke also writes of Zacharias’ speech at the birth of his son, John the Baptist. ‘And thou, child, shall be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission (forgiveness) of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring (the Dawn, the Messiah) from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. And the child grew, and waxed (became) strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing (manifestation) unto Israel.’ (Luke 1:76-80)
And we all know that John the Baptist was the forerunner of Jesus, setting the stage for Him, talking of repentance, of baptism and the forgiveness of sins. The words of John the apostle also attest to those facts. ‘There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of the Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, (own domain), and his own (his own people the Jews) received him not.
But as many as received him, to them gave he power (the right) to become the sons (children) of God, even to them that believe on his name. Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made (became) flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.’ (John 1:6-14) Oh my faithful brethren, Jesus was indeed the One sent by the Father to bring us out of darkness into His wonderful light.
And if you still don’t believe that He is, was, and will always be the Light of this world, then listen to Him say it Himself. He said to the disbelieving religious sect of the Jews, the Pharisees: ‘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) And the Pharisees did not believe, because He bore witness of Himself, or as we would say today, was tooting His own horn. But the fact still remains that if Jesus did not come to earth, die on the cross of Calvary to atone for our sins, then rise again on the third day, so we could do the same, we would still be forever shrouded in the darkness of Satan, the evil ruler of this world, who desires to keep us chained to his evil doings.
But Christ, the Light of the world, came and set us free! Glory Hallelujah! And to make it even better, He told us that when He left this world, that we, His true followers would assume that mantle. ‘Ye are the light of the world…Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.’ (Matt. 5:14a, 16) And our God is so wonderful that He even gave us the tools, the undeserved blessings to do the job. We call them our Thursday Blessings, so let’s declare them now, so that they can be activated in our lives.
As one voice: ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance! I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline! I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment! I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life! I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to, will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and every day! Amen!’
Now, it’s our bounden duty to go out and put those blessings to work in the lives of others, as generously as the Lord shared them with us. Much LOVE!
…it’s high time that we Christians behave…like the real salt of the earth…and the true light of the world…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ
28 Mar 2024
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: as it is written of him, Bible, but woe unto that man, by whom the Son of man is betrayed, Christ's Last Supper, communion, courage, creativity, curse, drink ye all of it, eat, faith, for the remission of sins, God's supernatural wisdom, Good Friday, he brake it and gave to the disicples, he that dippeth his hand with me, he took the cup and gave thanks, Holy Week, I have given you an example, if I wash thee not thou hast no part of me, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus took bread and blessed it, Jesus washed the disciples' feet, Judas Iscariot, LOVE, Maundy Thursday, negative word, one of you shall betray me, resurrection, take, take eat this is my body, the blood of the new testament, the feast of unleavened bread, the Garden of Gethsemane, the Passover, the practice of communion, the same shall betray me, the servant is not greater than his lord, the Son of man goeth, Thursday Blessings, which is shed for many, ye also ought to wash one another's feet, ye are not all clean
Matthew 26:28. For this is the blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission (forgiveness) of sins.
And it’s a bright and sunshiny Maundy Thursday friends, the day in Holy Week before Christ was crucified. It’s when we commemorate Christ’s Last Supper, the Passover, with His disciples where He established the practice of communion and also gave us His most servant-like example; His washing of their feet. Now that was a most interesting, contemplative and memorable day in the annals of our faith. So let’s recount some of it to refresh our memories and uplift our faith. (smile) And though all four synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) have some information on the day, none of them seem to have it in its entirety, so this first portion comes from the gospel of Luke.
He writes: ‘Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh (near), which is called the Passover. (The God-sent plague during Israel’s bondage in Egypt, when the death angel passed over the land and killed all the first born of the houses that did not have lamb’s blood above their door. (Ex. 12). And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him (Jesus); for they feared the people. Then Satan entered into Judas Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve (disciples). And he went his way, and communed (conferred) with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them. And they were glad, and covenanted (agreed) to give him money. And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absences of the multitude.’ (Luke 22:1-6)
Now, Judas Iscariot’s upcoming betrayal set the stage for this next part. Luke continues: ‘Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the Passover must be killed (sacrificed). And he (Jesus) sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the Passover, that we may eat. And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare? And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water, follow him into the house where he entereth in. And ye shall say unto the goodman (master) of the house, The Master (Teacher) saith unto thee, where is the guestchamber where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready. And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.’ (Luke 22:7-13)
That reminds us of the previous Sunday, Palm Sunday, the same kind of positive direction, when Jesus sent His disciples into the village to locate the donkey and her colt for Him to ride into Jerusalem. (Matt. 21:1-7) And we pick up the story from Matthew. ‘Now when the even (evening) was come, he (Jesus) sat down with the twelve. And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I? And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me. The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born. Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master (Rabbi), is it I? He said unto hm, Thou hast said (it).’ (Matt. 26:20-25)
That further enlightens us on the betrayal story, which was an important part of the whole scenario. Matthew then continues: ‘And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat, this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it (drink from it all of you); For this is the blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission (forgiveness) of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until the day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.’ (Matt. 26:26-29) And that’s basically where we’ve gotten our present communion ceremony from.
But that wasn’t the only memorable thing that happened that Maundy Thursday evening. Listen as John tells this most compelling story. ‘And supper being ended, the devil having now (already) put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him (not Simon Peter’s son); Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went (was going) to God: He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
Then cometh he to Simon Peter, and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest (understandeth) not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith unto Him, he that is washed (bathed) needed not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit (completely clean): and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should (would) betray him; therefore he said, Ye are not all clean.’ (John 13:2-11)
And that’s where we get our Maundy Thursday ritual of washing each other’s feet. But that story is not complete until we hear these words of Jesus. John writes: ‘So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master (Teacher) and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, Your Lord and Master (Teacher), have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, the servant is not greater than his lord (master); neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.’ (John 13:12-17)
There we have it my fellow believers, Jesus makes it very plain that none of us is greater than the other, and that we’re supposed to be servant and service oriented, rather than expect to be waited on hand and foot. And since time and space are against us, we cannot tell the other momentous tale of Jesus going to the Garden of Gethsemane after the Passover supper and being very despondent and agonised about the upcoming crucifixion, prayed to the Father: ‘If thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will but thine be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.’ Luke 22:42-43) Yes friends, both Jesus and the Father knew that His crucifixion could not be retracted if sinners were to be saved, and so the Father sent his angel to strengthen His Son, in the midst of His agony.
Then Judas came into the garden with a band of soldiers, kissed Jesus, an agreed sign, and they arrested Him and took Him before the high priests, where His fate was sealed. But likewise, the Lord has not left us in a lurch in our tough times, being the ever-faithful God, He’s also given us strength and blessings, to do His earthly work. We call them our Thursday Blessings, so let’s declare them so they can be activated.
Altogether: ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance! I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline! I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment! I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life! I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to, will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and every day! Amen!’
And having activated those undeserved blessings, we now need to go out and share them with others just as generously as the Lord shared them us, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…holy communion reminds us of Christ’s sinless sacrifice…on Good Friday…and His triumphant resurrection on Easter Sunday…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ
29 Feb 2024
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: ashamed because your faith wavered, attain the resurrection of the dead, basking in the joy and peace of Christ, be at peacem secure in God's love, Bible, christianity, continue on the strait and narrow path, courage, creativity, curse, divine protection, don't get tired of doing good, erroneous thinking, faith, favour, for the prize of the high calling of God, god, good health, I press toward the mark, In Touch Devotional, is God truly good, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus reassured Thomas, leap year, LOVE, mature believers, negative word, one of many thoughts in yur mind, picture doubt as a bird, quick to judge ourselves, secure in God's love, self-control, spiritually arrived, that I may know him, the power of his resurrection, Thursday Blessings, watch it come and go
Philippians 3:14. I press toward the mark (goal) for the prize of the high (upward) calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Here it is friends, the final day of February, where every four years a day is added to the shortest month of the year to keep our calendar in tune with the astronomical and seasonal cycles. As far as I knew, every fourth year was a leap year, but apparently not, so 2024 doesn’t’ seem to be a leap year, and since I don’t understand the science and the maths behind it, I’ll just leave it alone. (smile) Let it be known that today is simply the 29th day of February 2024, and we’re alive and kicking, basking in the joy and peace of Jesus Christ, our wonderful Lord and Saviour.
And now, I want to share an interesting feature I found in the In Touch Devotional. Don’t know if it’s new, or I just never paid attention to it before. (smile) But it’s a section titled ‘Let’s Pause.’ And in this month’s edition, they pose this interesting question and answer. Please read with me. ‘Have you ever wondered if God is truly good? It’s an honest question, considering our broken world. Think back to a time you doubted. What started it? Were you alarmed? Ashamed because your faith wavered? We’re quick to judge ourselves, but God isn’t. Remember Jesus’ response to Thomas. He didn’t shame the disciple – He reassured him. And He’ll do the same for you. Picture doubt as a bird, one of many thoughts flying across the blue sky of your mind. Watch it come and go and be at peace, secure in God’s LOVE.’
Now isn’t that wonderful advice? It surely is! Because, regardless of how strong our faith normally is, things happen every so often that causes doubt to creep in, and though it doesn’t cause us to lose faith completely, it does drive us to ask some serious and sincere questions about our faith walk. And there’s definitely no need to beat ourselves up if once in a while a sliver of doubt enters our minds, since God doesn’t expect us to be perfect every living moment. He made us and knows all our faults and foibles and accepts and LOVES us just as we are. Now it’s our turn to do like Him and accept ourselves, just as we are.
That however doesn’t mean we should not be continually making improvements and moving forward in our faith journey. No! Just that when we falter, we don’t think too little of ourselves or give up, but keep moving ahead, or as Bruh Paul wrote to the Philippians. ‘I press toward the mark (goal) for the prize of the high (upward) calling of God in Christ Jesus.’ (Phil. 3:14) Yes friends, pressing forward should always be the objective of Christians. And what does it all mean eh?
The scholars tell us that The mark is the objective of verses 10 and 11, where Bruh Paul declares his utmost desire to know Christ: ‘That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain (arrive at) the resurrection of the dead.’ (Phil. 3:10-11) Now those are good but mighty goals, which not all of us can attain to or are as zealous in doing as Bruh Paul was, but that’s the direction in which we should always be moving.
So, as the scholars say, we can reach ‘the prize which is the joyful satisfaction of having attained it, as well as the divine commendation and reward to be granted in heaven for having reached this goal on earth. The high calling of God is the divine summons extended to the believer for salvation.’ Now all of that might sound like hifalutin stuff to some of us, so let’s see if we can simplify it with a couple of other commentaries. This first one explains: “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” To press toward the mark is to faithfully continue on the “strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life” with our Savior and our Father in Heaven.’
And the second commentary says: “Keep pressing.” Meaning, stay faithful and persevere in the midst of fatigue, hurt, or whatever it is that could make you discouraged. Sometimes in this walk, we grow weary and get tired, but I want to encourage you today with God’s word, “So don’t get tired of doing what is good.’ And I do hope that makes things somewhat clearer, as we ‘press on’ (smile) with a few more appropriate words from Bruh Paul: ‘Let us therefore, as many as be perfect (mature), be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.’ (Phil. 3:15)
Yes friends, we need to keep on thinking about pressing towards the mark. And the scholars explain that verse thus: ‘Mature Christians must realize that they are not ethically perfect, but they tirelessly press onward for higher spiritual attainment. There is present then a bit of irony: perfect (mature) believers are those who admit they are not perfect in any absolute sense. The apostle urges all mature Philippian Christians to hold this attitude concerning that none has yet “spiritually arrived” but ever pressing on toward further development.’
Now that’s exactly what we need to do in these despairing and doubtful times my brethren; stand strong, and with fervent faith, keep pressing along the straight and narrow path. Then, as per If … ye be otherwise minded, the scholars explain: ‘The writer realizes that not all of the Philippian readers agree with his conviction of verse 12-15. But he is confident that God shall reveal their erroneous thinking to them.’ And so He will to us also my people. If we are sincerely trying to walk God’s path, and happen to slip or slide, the Lord will definitely get us back on track, after teaching us whatever lesson He desires us to learn from our slipping and sliding. (smile) Nuff said!
Now let’s declare and thus activate our Thursday Blessings, so generously bestowed on us by the Lord to do His earthly work. As one confident voice: ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance! I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline! I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment! I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life! I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to, will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and every day! Amen!’
Now, it’s time to go out and put those blessings into action with others, just as generously as the Lord shared them with us! Much LOVE!
…the mark of a true believer…to be always pressing forward to know Christ better…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ
15 Feb 2024
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a physical purge, banal lives, be aware of your presence, be transformed by the renewing of your mind, bring me back to my true self, cataract surgery, ceativity, courage, create in me a clean heart, curse, drifting away from God, easy to lose focus, faith, find your fullness, holy spirit, in small quiet moments, In Touch Devotional, LOVE, man plans but God laughs, mercy, mundane details of life, mundane doings, negative word, only look for God in miraculous moments, prosper, renew a right spirit within me, self-discipline, sinners shall be converted unto thee, spiritual purge, succeed, talnet, the best laid plans of mice and men usually go astray, the good acceptable and perfect will of God, the joy of thy salvation, the renewing of your minds, Thursday Blessings
Psalm 51:10. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right (steadfast) spirit within me.
Ah friends, let me apologize for the lateness of the Bit, but I had to go into Toronto early this morning for some cataract surgery on my right eye. Now, I had planned to do the Bit before I went off, but as they say, ‘the best laid plans of mice and men usually go astray,’ as well as ‘man plans but God laughs.’ Then to make maters worse I had to wait a couple of hours for the surgery, and afterwards wait for the doctor to check it out, so I wouldn’t have to go back tomorrow morning.
What riled me though was having to wait a half an hour to get transportation back, and when it did show up, the snow had begun falling, so you know the drive back was even slower than normal, and we arrived home to find our driveway and area already covered in the white stuff. And does it ever look beautiful from inside. (smile) However, enough idle chatter, let’s get to saying some thing of greater value before my eye shuts down on me. It was fine all along, but now that I’m home, it’s become somewhat swollen, as it loses the effect of the anesthetic they’d put in it.
Today, we’re going to share the monthly prayer from the In Touch Devotional for February. So please pray with me. ‘Lord, it’s easy to lose focus, to drift away from You in the mundane details of my life. I long to be aware of Your presence all my days, to find Your fulness even in small, quiet moments. Bring me back to my true self, and bring me back each moment to You, with each breath, In Jesus’ name, Amen.’
Oh my people, those few words can be ever so important in our lives, especially in these times of much turbulence and uncertainty. For though I’m not drifting away from God, I desperately need to regain my focussing power, as I find myself easily distracted these days. The devil seems to have recently acquired a tad of power over me in that area. But one thing in that prayer at which I’m good at though is finding God’s presence and gracious hand in the small things of life.
Unfortunately, that’s something many unbelievers can’t feel because they only look for God in the big, miraculous, momentous moments. But those are few and far between, while God’s hands are all over and in all of our daily, supposedly mundane doings. And if you seek Him in those small, apparently unimportant things, that’s where you’ll find continual joy, for He delights in being involved in every aspect of our banal lives. They might seem banal to us, but definitely not to Him!
That’s why, in this Lenten season, we all need to take time to inspect ourselves, do a spiritual checkup, then turn to God and ask Him to help us improve in whatever way we need to. All of us have good points, but we all also have some bad ones, that need cleansing. We need to say something like Bruh David did in Psalm 51, in the section on a Plea for Cleansing. And we need to mean it too, not let be only lip service., as so many other things we say. In sincere repentance, Bruh David cried out:
‘Purge me with thy hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right (steadfast) spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free (generous) spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.’ (Ps. 51:7-13)
Yes friends, many, if not all of us can use a good purging of our iniquities in this Lenten season, so we can start back from scratch. Remember how as young children growing up in the West Indies, before the start of every school term we’d get a much hated physical purge, with the castor oil, the Epsom salts and what have you? (smile) Well, right now we need a good spiritual purge, and this season of Lent, of fasting, repentance, prayer and soul-searching, is about the best time for it. So let’s get serious about out God and His Holy Will nuh, and allow Him to create that clean heart and right spirit within us.
And while we’re at it, let’s remember these words of Bruh Paul to the church at Rome, which echo those sentiments. ‘And be not conformed to the world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.’ (Rom. 12:2) Now, the Lord has already given us the power to do that, through the gifts of the Spirit, and furthermore, through what we call our Thursday Blessings, He’s also bestowed on us undeserved blessings, to enable us to do His earthly work. So let’s declare (chuh!!!) them, so we can activate them.
Altogether now: ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance! I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline! I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment! I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life! I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to, will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and every day! Amen!’
And having activated those blessings, we need to now go out and use them to do God’s work, sharing them as generously with others as God shared them with us. Much LOVE!
…both our bodies and souls…need a good purge every so often…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ
08 Feb 2024
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a foggy morning, a man without a friend is lost, abundance, courage, creativity, curse, foggy streets, glorify God in your body and spirit, God is our end all and be all, he hath not another to help him up, holy spirit, how can one be warm alone, I am the vine ye are the branches, if two lie together they have heat, iron sharpeneth iron, Jesus Christ, LOVE, negative word, on the back burner, one man sharpens another's mind, salvation, so a man sharpeneth the countenace of his friend, strive toward a common goal, supernatural wisdom, talent, the one will lift up his fellow, they have a good reward for their labour, they shall be one flesh, thrive in healthy community, Thursday Blessings, truth, two are better than one, whatsoever ye do do all to the glory of God, wisdom, without me ye can do nothing, woe to him that is alone when he falleth, ye are bought with a price
Ecclesiastes 4:9. Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
It’s a rather foggy Thursday morning in my part of town, and I’m ever so glad that I don’t have to go out on the crowed, foggy streets today. I’ve been out everyday so far this week, for one reason or another, and thus couldn’t get to do much of anything in my own domain. (smile) But the rest of the week is mine, to do whatever my heart so desires. Hopefully some music and some writing, desires of my heart that I’ve not paid much attention to in the last few months. But when you’ve been sick and busy and lazy, (smile) those things which require a lot of quiet, focused time, are always placed on the back burner, for when we have more time.
But the fact of the matter is, we will never have more time until and unless WE make more time. It’s the same silly excuse so many of us give for not spending quiet, intimate time with our heavenly Father; we’re just too busy! But what happens if and when we call on Him and He’s too busy to attend to our needs eh? Then we lambaste and blaspheme Him, with all kinds of unprintable accusations. But, please remember it takes two to tango, two hands so they could wash each other. That means we need the Lord very badly in this evil world, for He is the END ALL and BE ALL of our very existence, and therefore we MUST make time to commune with Him on a regular basis.
That recalls these wise words of Cousin Sol in Ecclesiastes, where he convinces us that being alone is unfruitful, for there is strength in company. He writes: ‘Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow (companion): but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a three-fold cord is not quickly broken.’ (Eccl. 4:9-12)
Yes friends, that’s all so true! Yuh think the Lord didn’t know what He was doing when He endorsed marriage? No! He knew exactly why He said: ‘Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave (be joined) unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.’ (Gen. 2:24) Now that’s exactly why we also need to have the Lord in our corner through constant communion with Him; we cannot do much without Him. As Jesus so rightly says: ‘I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.’ (John 15:5) It couldn’t be put any clearer than that my fellow believers.
But getting back to the subject that two are better than one, I like how this commentary explains it. ‘Ecclesiastes 4:9 tells God’s people that the Lord has a “labour” for us to do (or a race for us to run), and it is better done together rather than alone. God designed us to thrive in healthy community. This community is intended to strive toward a common goal–to glorify Him.’ And we all know that our main purpose on this earth is to glorify God. God said through the prophet Isaiah: ‘Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.’ (Is. 43:7)
And Bruh Paul wrote thus to the church at Corinth: ‘Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.’ (1 Cor. 10:31) And God not only made us for His personal glory, but He also bought us back from the master of sin, with the precious blood of His Son Jesus Christ. Bruh Paul made it quite clear: ‘What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.’ (1 Cor. 6:19-20)
Oh friends, we owe EVERYTHING to our great God! First creation with His breath of life, then salvation through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus. So please, let’s be wise and honour and glorify Him while that breath of life is still flowing through our bodies nuh. And please accept my humble apology, I didn’t mean to stray from the topic of two being better than one, but that’s what happens when you get excited by the scriptures. (smile) Then there’s this also most important scripture on the subject. Wise words again from Cousin Sol, but this time from Proverbs. ‘Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.’ (Prov. 27:17)
Gospel truth that my brethren! The scholars explain it thus. ‘As the proper tool shapes and sharpens iron for its desired use, so a man sharpens his friend morally and intellectually by their personal friendship.’ That’s why we’re told to be careful whom we have as friends, make sure to befriend those who would lift us up, not drag us down. And this commentary adds: ‘Iron sharpeneth iron: A sword or knife made of iron is sharpened by it; so butchers sharpen their knives; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend; by conversation with him; thus learned men sharpen one another’s minds, and excite each other to learned studies; Christians sharpen one another’s graces, or stir up each other to the exercise of them, and the gifts which are bestowed on them, and to LOVE and to good works.’
Now that’s how we ought to be interacting with each other! And we all know it, but for whatever reason aren’t doing it. But that’s enough for today. Let’s go home now declaring (chuhhh!!!) our Thursday Blessings, activating those undeserved blessings the Lord has so generously bestowed on us to do His earthly work. As one voice: ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance!
I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline! I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment! I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life! I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to, will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and every day! Amen!’
And having activated those blessings, it’s time to go out and use them in the support of others, just as generously as the Lord bestowed them on us. Much LOVE!
… a man without a friend…is like one lost in the vastness of the desert without a drop of water……
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ
01 Feb 2024
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a judge which feared not God, courage, creativity, curse, direct communication with God, disobedience, distraction, evil cohorts, faith, he will avenge them speedily, heap to themselves teachers, I will avenge her, instant in prayer, itching ears, Jesus Christ, Jesus spake a parable unto them to this end, LOVE, men ought always to pray, negative word, nor regard man, not to faint, patient in tribulation, pray without ceasing, prayer, preach the word, rejoicing in hope, shall God not avenge his own elect, shall he find faith on the earth, sufferation, supernatural wisdom, talent, temptation, this widow troubles me, Thursday Blessings, truth, turn away from the truth, when the Son of man cometh
Luke 18:8b. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
And then it was February first, 2024! Yes friends, January of 2024 is already in the dustbin of history, and February, no doubt will be hot on its heels. The days are not waiting for us, so we have to get up and get while the going and the getting are good. That means doing whatever task(s) that Jesus has delegated to us without fear and in an acceptable time frame, which usually means right away. (smile) Ah mih people, too many of us are prone to put off the Lord’s work for when we have time, or when we feel like doing it, but that doesn’t sit well with the Father, for He considers it disobedience when we don’t do what He asks when He asks. And please remember that disobedience carries serious consequences, so it would certainly be in our best interest to do God’s work when He desires it be done. End of Sermon. (smile)
And what shall we talk about on this wet, cloudy first day of February eh? Well I just opened the Good Library and it opened unto the Book of Luke, chapter 18, that begins thus: ‘And he (Jesus) spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint (lose heart);’ (Luke 18:1) Now that is not the verse I really want to talk about, but it’s so important, and there are so many scriptures that encourage us to keep on praying, that I want to stop and quote a couple before we move on.
This first one comes from Bruh Paul’s letter to the Roman church where he’s writing about overcoming evil with good. He reminds them to keep ‘Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation (perseverance); continuing instant (steadfast) in prayer.’ (Rom. 12:12) And those actions , especially steadfastness in prayer, should always be at the top of a believer’s list, for prayer is how we connect with our great God Jehovah. Yes, communication with Almighty God is the greatest privilege we have as believers. Therefore we need to keep a constant and direct communication line open with Him. That’s why Bruh Paul told the Thessalonians to ‘Pray without ceasing.’ (1 Thess. 5:17)
It’s something that ALL serious believers ought to embrace, especially in what seems like the end times. And the scholars add: ‘Precisely when tempted to give up, men ought to be strong in their resolve to pray.’ Now, having reestablished the overwhelming importance of prayer in a believer’s life, (smile) let’s get to the heart of what we truly want to talk about today. That means listening to Jesus’ parable, re God avenges His own. ‘There was in a (certain) city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded (respected) man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of (vindicate me against) mine adversary.
And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard (respect) man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge (vindicate) her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge (vindicate) his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge (vindicate) them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?’ (Luke 18: 2-8)
Now, that last question is what we want to talk about on this damp and cloudy Thursday my brethren! Whether or not Jesus will find any faith when He returns to earth to get His church? And believe me, the question is a very viable one, for considering how people are leaving the church in droves, while newcomers are merely trickling into it, there is strong concern that the faithful will be few and far between when Jesus returns. And that will be a very sad reality. It won’t speak very highly of us at all. It would mean that the great ‘sufferation’ Jesus endured on our behalf was all a waste, of no value whatsoever. Now, can we, as true believers abide that situation? I sincerely hope not!
But here are some explanations on the subject from the scholars. They say: ‘If an unjust judge acts in this way, how much more hope may God’s children place in God? However, the issue is not God’s faithfulness. It is whether believers will persist in supplication, or whether their patience and perseverance will give out by the time Christ finally returns’ Now that’s the billion dollar question my fellow saints! Are we going to continue steadfast in prayer and faith until whenever Jesus comes back to get us? Or will we lose that patience, perseverance, longsuffering and faith under the barrage, the bombardment of temptation and distraction from the devil and his evil cohorts?
I would sincerely like to say we won’t, but the way things are going in Christ’s church today; the many divisions, dissensions, petty rivalries and jealousies, and the poor teaching of the real truth of God’s Word, anything is possible. And Bruh Paul’s words to Timothy are certainly coming true. He admonishes him to: ‘Preach the word, be instant (ready) in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.’ (2 Tim. 4:2-4)
Yes friends, that’s certainly happening to day on a fairly large scale. Believers don’t want to hear the real truth, they want to hear what they want to hear, stuff that will make them feel good, and there are certainly many teachers who are willing to appeal to those ‘itching ears’ and tell them exactly what they want to hear. Consequently, those teachers, their slanted and/or untrue words, as well as the supposed believers, will turn into myths and legends, that will even further dissipate the truth of God’s Word.
Now, it’s up to the true ambassadors, the true disciples of Christ to turn this scary situation around. And we can certainly do it if we get up off of our lazy, comfortable fannies and use the tools, the blessings which the Lord has already bestowed on us to do His earthly work. What we call our Thursday Blessings. It’s time declare them out loud and thus activate them. So as one strong and sincere voice: ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance!
I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline! I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment! I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life! I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to, will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and every day! Amen!’
And having activated those blessings, we are now required to go out and use them to the benefit of mankind, just as generously as God bestowed them to us! Much LOVE!
…steadfast prayer and perseverance is absolutely necessary…if Jesus is to come back and find strong faith…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ
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