27 Dec 2018
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a compassionate heart, a well of water, a word to the wise, and all these things, as Jesus desires, believes on me, burden easy, Christian life, Christmas, come to me, curse, Daily Bread Devotional, damned, divine protection, eternal life, find eme, fountain, give you rest, gives the rest we need, heavy burdened, into everlasting life, Jesus alone, knew a good thing, knowing God, labour, LOVE, makes no bones, negative word, never hunger, never thirst, New Year's Eve, no apologies, on my sleeve, on the outside looking in, popular opinion, Samaritan woman, seek me, seek ye first the kingdom of God, self-control, self-discipline, Sermon on the Mount, shall be added unto you, share, springing up, success, sufficient, the bread of life, the great invitation, the well of Jacob, Thursday Blessings, wearing my emotions, well intentioned, what matters most, winding down, with all of your heart, yoke is light
Matthew 6:33. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Ah friends, as Christmas week is winding down, and we winding up to New Year’s Eve, what’s there to say eh? The ole fella is stymied! Hn, hn! And I can hear some of you who know me chuckling and wondering if that is possible. But wonder of wonders it is possible! Contrary to popular opinion, the ole fella doesn’t always have something to say, but when he does, he makes no bones about it and says it loud and clear.
Friends, I make no apologies for wearing my emotions on my sleeve, they might not always be appropriate, but believe me, they are always well intentioned. It’s sad though, that those who think I talk too much, on the odd occasion, when I keep quiet, they believe that I am angry.
So how to please them eh? I guess I just don’t try, for I’m damned if I do, and damned if I don’t! And if anybody can tell me how we got to all of that, I’d be very happy, since I don’t have a clue! Guess the Lord thought since I didn’t have anything to say, that stuff might be a good idea. For all our sakes, let’s hope so yes! (smile)
And I’ve just been searching through the bits of paper on my desk here, looking for something to write on – I really don’t have anything – and two quotes from the Daily Bread Devotional just jumped out at me. The first is: ‘Knowing God is what matters most!’ And the second is: ‘Jesus ALONE gives the rest we need!’
And yuh know friends, when you ponder those two thoughts, you can easily build a beautiful Christian life around them. They are all you really need to know! For as Jesus so strenuously and ardently emphasized in His Sermon on the Mount: ‘But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.’
Oh my fellow believers, there are no more important words than those in the Good Book, because the first thing we need to do in this life is to seek God! And once we do that, He’s promised that everything else will fall into place! Give Him thanks and praise my people, for being such a wonderful Father to us stubborn and disobedient children!
And as a fitting corollary to our Bit, hear these words of our wonderful God, as spoken through the mouth of the prophet Jeremiah: ‘And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.’ (Jer.29:13) What a beautiful assuring scripture mih people! All it entails is us seeking the Lord with all of our heart; meaning humbly, sincerely and with the right motives!
So now that we’ve come to know God, the next important thing is to find rest and revitalization in this cruel, busy and evil world. And where best to find that than in Jesus, the Prince of Peace, the One who uttered this Great Invitation when He walked amongst fallen men here on earth. ‘Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of (from) me; for I am meek and lowly in heart (gentle and humble): and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ (Matt.11:28-30)
Oh friends, oh friends, that’ the best invitation ever offered in this crazy, fallen world! Nobody else has ever offered such an invitation…and even if they did, it’s very unlikely that they can fulfill it, because it’s only something that Jesus can fulfill. No one else can give you rest for your souls, after He has died to atone for your sins, and bear your earthly burdens on top of all that!
My people, Jesus knows what we’re going through here on earth, because He went through it too, that’s why He can offer the sustenance and easy yoke found in His unconditional and ever-abiding LOVE! And if you didn’t believe Jesus there, then here’s another opportunity to do so: ‘And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life; he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.’ (John 6:36)
Yes my fellow believers, Jesus IS the bread that gives life: spiritual and eternal life! What else do we need to hear before we come to Jesus eh? Well try these words that He spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well of Jacob: ‘Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water (fountain) springing up into everlasting life.’ (John 4:13-14)
And yuh know what friends, that Samaritan woman was smarter than many of us in this supposedly enlightened age. Without hesitation, she fervently replied: ‘Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.’ (John 4:15) Yeh mih people, she might not have understood all the ramifications of Jesus’ words, but unlike us, she knew a good thing when she heard it. What are we waiting for to seek God and come to Jesus for rest eh, my brethren?
We waiting until He comes back again and it’s too late? Please, please, let’s not fall into that trap of the enemy, because He is only looking for company. Remember the worst fate that can befall a soul is to be on the outside looking in when Jesus returns! So please let’s smarten up today, RIGHT NOW, and look after our eternal future. That’s the wisdom of the ages!
And having said all of that, let’s not forget to declare our Thursday Blessings that have been so lavishly bestowed on us as believers in Christ Jesus. As one, in strong voice, with sincere hearts: ‘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 everyday! Amen!’
Now let’s go out and action, share those blessings as Jesus desires of us. Much LOVE!
…a word to the wise is sufficient
20 Dec 2018
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a compassionate heart, accomplish for the Lord, add something to it, awaken to a new day, Bionic Man Generation, blessed, breathed his breath, curse, desires of the heart, divine protection, enjoy its fine fruits, eternally grateful, exalt His holy name, faith, favour, fervent, glory to God, heal me O lord, healing, her leaf shall be green, Hezekiah, Jeremiah, Joel Osteen, let all the earth, life-keeping job, living waters, many opportunities, medical disciples, mortal bodies, my best days are still ahead, negative word, Oh Happy Day, populate the earth, positive outlook, prayers, promotion, righteous please, save me O Lord, shall not be anxious, shall not fear, spread out her roots, success, supplications, the dust of the earth, the Lord that heals thee, the man that trusts in the Lord, the road to recovery, the year of drought, Thursday Blessings, to take me home, when heat comes, work
Exodus 15:26b. …for I am the Lord that healeth thee.
And then it was Thursday- Recovery Day! Glory be! Yes friends, the Big Day came and went without any major problems…Give thanks! And now I’m on the road to recovery, with a metal-based device implanted in my body to assist my somewhat less than sturdy and stable heart in doing its life-keeping job!
Give our heavenly Father much praise and thanks my brethren, for He answered all your fervent and righteous pleas, prayers and supplications, by bringing me safely through what seems like a successful surgical procedure. At long last I’ve become a dues paying member of the Bionic Man Generation! (smile) Glory to God!
What else can I say eh, but give Him much deserved thanks and praise; let all the earth exalt His Holy Name! That magnificent, magnanimous Deity who so LOVINGLY and tenderheartedly created us from the dust of the earth, then so generously breathed His breath of life into our mortal bodies!
Ah mih people, I guess what I’m really trying to say is that I’m awfully glad to be alive, with no serious complications, and the Good Lord, through His medical disciples, has possibly prolonged it somewhat. I hope it’s at least fifteen more years, like He gave King Hezekiah when he was supposedly on his deathbed. (smile)
But whatever it is friends, be it one day, I will be eternally grateful, because He’s had many opportunities to take me home and didn’t. That tells me I still have work down here to do on His behalf. In fact, every time we awaken to a new day means we still have work to accomplish for the Lord our God! We’re not just down here to populate the earth and enjoy its fine fruits, but also to add something to it.
Anyway, as Bubba Joel (Joel Osteen) likes to say, ‘my best days are still ahead of me!’ And I truly believe that because the Lord has put so many desires in my heart and I haven’t even accomplished half of them yet. For as Jeremiah says: ‘Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by living waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see (fear) when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful (anxious) in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.’ (Jer.17:7-8)
That brings us to our main concern today; healing. And what better way to acknowledge it than by accepting the Lord’s word promised through Moses at the bitter waters of Marah, when He brought the Israelites out of Egypt many moons ago. If they would heed His word and be obedient to His will, He would bring none of the diseases that He allowed to befall the Egyptians: ‘for I am the Lord that healeth thee.’ Words of absolute truth my brethren!
The Lord is our Creator, Controller, Provider and many other things, amongst them Healer! Thus His majestic Hebrew name: Jehovah Rapha – the Healer, the Restorer, the One that makes new! And there are so many instances of His healing prowess in the Good Book. Hear the beginning of His message to Hezekiah, through Isaiah, when He told Him that his time was up. After Hezekiah prayed sincerely to the Lord, reminding him that he had walked before Him in truth and righteousness, and he wept great tears.
The Lord stopped Isaiah before he had even left the palace compound, saying to him: ‘Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the Lord. And I will add unto thy days fifteen years: and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.’ (2 Kin 20:5-6)
Now I’m not in Hezekiah’s class, but I have tried my best to walk in truth and righteousness, prayed and wept, just like Hezekiah did, and it appears that the Lord is in the process of healing me. So who am I to question His word eh? Now let’s hear some more healing scripture.
In Bruh David’s words: ‘Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases. Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with LOVING-kindness and tender mercies.’ (Ps.103:2-5) And the psalmist declares: ‘He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds (sorrows). (Ps.147:3) Yuh see friends, our great God heals all sorts of illness, not just the physical kind.
And here is Jeremiah’s cry to God for healing: ‘Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.’ (Jer.17:14) Yeh friends, whenever the Lord God is our true praise, our wounds will be healed. I can vouch for that!
Now let’s go home declaring our Thursday Blessings in strong voice, with sincere hearts. ‘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 everyday! Amen!’ And the purpose of all those blessings is to share them with the less fortunate. Please remember that! Much LOVE!
…oh happy day…when Jesus healed…when He healed all my ailments…in His own way…
P.S. Yeh the Bit is late, since I didn’t get home until around 3 p.m. But let’s be thankful that we even have a Bit nuh! (smile) Much LOVE!
13 Dec 2018
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a horse of a different colour, a virgin, alive and kicking, all things work together for good, angel Gabriel, betrothed, blanketing, Bless His Holy Name, blessed, breathtaking beauty, buried treasure, called according to His purpose, Christ-like, christianity, Christmas, compassionate heart, curse, diamonds, displeasure, engaged, espoused, faith, fantasy, fill the gap, Galilee, God is good, god's greatest gift, highly favoured, inheret in the name, intangible, Jesus, John the Baptist, Joseph, joy, Lisa O'Brien, mar, Mary, mere mortals, Nazareth, negative word, never reneges, out of wedlock, perfection, perplexing situation, positive outlook, power, prince of peace, prosper, raped, salutation, self-control, self-discipline, sense of anticipation, serenity, share, snow, step up, success, The alluring beauty of snow, the house of David, the less fortunate, Thursday Blessings, to those that love God, tongues to wag, troubled, virginal, white, winked out, wispy cotton
Luke 1:27. To a virgin espoused (engaged, betrothed) to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
Aye friends, is Thursday…and we still alive and kicking! Thanks and glory be to our wonderful heavenly Father for that energizing gift of life. Life might be a tad on the rough side, but our God is good, so we don’t have anything to worry about. Bless His Holy Name!
And outside is white; a decent amount of snow fell during the night. It wasn’t there when I went to bed, at some early hour (smile) but I looked outside around four a.m. and there it was, covering everything, blanketing it all white. And I said yes, today is the perfect day for that poem!
Hn! I’m talking about one I recently read on the wall of my young daughter’s room, something she must have written ages ago when she toyed with the idea of becoming a writer. There is no title attached to the poem, but I’m naming it ‘The Alluring Beauty of Snow.’ Hope that title satisfies you daughter? (smile)
Now please read with me, ‘The Alluring Beauty of Snow,’ by Lisa O’Brien. ‘I watched the snow drift lazily down from the overcast sky. I marvelled at the breathtaking beauty of the picture being painted right before my eyes: Snowflakes gently caressed the barren branches of the trees, leaving them awash in a dazzling whiteness. Virgin snow carpeted the streets and rooftops…
And if I didn’t know better, I would have sworn that thousands of tiny little diamonds winked out at me that early December morn… like a buried treasure…a fantasy that wasn’t real… that was intangible as the wispy cotton of the clouds! And then I waited…waited with a breathless yet uneasy sense of anticipation, for something to come along and mar this beautiful scene of serenity and perfection.’
Yeah mih young D! That was exactly how it looked out there this early December morn! But sadly, as always, mankind eventually comes along and dirties everything he touches. And the snow on the ground is no longer virginal, but has been raped by the cars and the feet and the bikes we use to get us around in this fallen world.
And for those of you who have never seen virgin snow covering everything in a dim, white darkness, (smile) it does look really beautiful. But trudging and driving through it is a horse of an entirely different colour. But enough about snow, it’s the Christmas season, so let’s deal with the real reason for the season; Jesus!
Wow friends, what a mighty name that is! Wherever it’s spoken it causes tongues to wag, either in joy, or displeasure. But the name of Jesus is never mouthed without discussion, even to the point of coming to blows. Isn’t that strange, when He is the Prince of Peace? That just goes to show the power that’s inherent in the name!
Now let’s have a glimpse of how the whole thing began nuh. The Good Book tells us: ‘And in the sixth month (of Elizabeth’s pregnancy; John the Baptist’s mother) the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused (engaged, betrothed) to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail (Rejoice), thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.’ (Luke 1:26-28)
Ah friends, sometimes the way our God introduces Himself and His desires can be truly heart stopping. If our hearts aren’t strong we can certainly go under. Just imagine this teenaged Jewish girl nuh, sitting quietly in her house one afternoon and all of a sudden this angel shows up in all His glory and greets her in such a gracious manner. How would you react eh? It would obviously be a rather perplexing situation to us mere mortals!
But the Good Book continues: ‘And when she (Mary) saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast (considered) in her mind what manner of salutation (greeting) this should be.’ (Luke 1:29)
But our God is so wonderful that whenever He comes a calling with a task, He never leaves us without a decent explanation…according to His standards that is. (smile) We might however not be satisfied with His explanation, because He always leaves it somewhat open-ended, leaving room for our faith to step up and fill the gap.
‘And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS (Yahweh is Salvation). He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest (Most High): and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.’ (Luke 1:30-33)
Mama Yo mih breddren! Can you imagine Mary’s consternation when Gabriel lays all that heavy stuff on her? She’s already engaged, but then she shall have a son, apparently out of wedlock. Can you imagine what her small, closed knit, hypocritical society will do to her? She would be the absolute scorn of the whole town! And poor Joseph would be the laughingstock!
But friends, our God does not put us in situations we, or He can’t handle. Please remember these immortal words of Bruh Paul on the Lord’s behalf, and let our faith be strong and steadfast in whatever He asks us to do. ‘And we know that all things work together for good to them that LOVE God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.’ (Rom.8:28)
Yeh friends, if God calls us and we sincerely acknowledge that calling with genuine LOVE for Him, then He will eventually work it all out for our good. That’s His promise! And our ever-faithful God NEVER reneges on a promise! So we can afford to stand strong in any circumstance whatsoever!
Now let’s go home declaring our Thursday Blessings, goodness and mercy that the Lord has bestowed on those who LOVE Him and willingly do His work!
In strong voice with sincere hearts: ‘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 everyday! Amen!’
And His raison d’etre (purpose) for granting us so many wonderful blessings, is for us to go out and share them with the less fortunate. So, especially at this Christmas time, when there are so many poor and lonely folks out there, let’s share generously with them nuh, so that they too can enjoy the season of Christ’s birth; God’s greatest gift to man! Much LOVE!
…sharing with others…is Christ-like…and what Christianity is truly all about…
06 Dec 2018
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a compassionate heart, a reflection, abound. more and more, abstain, abundance, an easy row to hoe, approve things, at the name of Jesus, attributes, before men, christianity, come to the Lord, conduct, courage, curse, discernment, endurance, eternal life, every knee shall bow, every tongue declare, evil, evildoers, excellent, fear God, fight the good fight, filled with, finished the work, fleshly lusts, foolish men, Gentiles, glorify your Father, God's standards, good example, good works, honest, honour all men, honourable, ignorance, in heaven, in the form of God, Jesus is Lord, let your light so shine, LOVE, LOVE the brotherhood, made of himself, maliciousness, moral conduct, negative word, no reputation, perseverance, pilgrims, put to silence, rat-race, rise again, run the race, safety, salvation, self-control, self-discipline, servants of god, sincere, strangers, succour, talent, thanks and praise, the cross, the day of Christ, the day of visitation, the fruits of righteousness, the straight and narrow path, the will of God, they may see your good works, Thursday Blessings, to the glory of the Father, Triune God, trustworthy Spirit, war against the soul, well doing, without offense
Matthew 5:16. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
So what’s up this Thursday morning eh my people? I do hope that we all gave sincere thanks and praise to our great God when we joyfully awoke to a new day. And then, asked for His wonderful and ever-trustworthy Spirit to lead and guide us on the straight and narrow path all through our eventful day.
In fact, that’s how we ought to begin each and everyday my believing brethren; with sincere thanks and praise and a strong desire to be led by the best guide in this evil and crazy world, the Holy Spirit of our Triune God! Amen!
And then, having done that, we need to get out there and fight the good fight, run a strong race of endurance and perseverance in Jesus’ name, so that we can bring all the glory to our heavenly Father! That’s why our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ made the time immemorial statement in our Bit: ‘Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.’
Yeh friends, it’s all about showing our good works, to the heathen; living by shining example, walking our talk, so that they can see the great benefit in our way of life and come to the Lord for safety and succour, salvation and eternal life.
Here’s how Peter puts it: ‘Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation (conduct) honest (honourable) among the Gentiles: that whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation….
For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness (evil), but as servants of God. Honour all men, LOVE the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.’ (1 Pet.2:11-12, 15-17) I didn’t say it friends, but Peter. (smile) And he walked with Jesus, so obviously he knew what Jesus desired of His followers.
Now hear Bruh Paul to the Philippians: ‘And this I pray, that your LOVE may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgement (discernment); That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.’ (Phil.1:9-13)
Yes friends, as true believers we are expected to live up to a code of moral conduct and behaviour that lives up to God’s standards! No, Christianity is not an easy row to hoe, and Jesus made that quite clear; the world is evil and doesn’t like goodness, and we’d suffer just because we believed in Him, but He also promised that if we stayed true to His word, He would lead and guide us with His Holy Spirit and we’d come out the winners in this rat race called life.
And again He specifies that all our good deeds are not for His glory, but for that of the Father. Listen to Him with the disciples: ‘If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto (for) you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.’ (John 15:7-8) One proviso there though my people; we need to ask it all in Jesus’ name, doing it the way He wants it done, abiding by His will.
And Listen to Jesus once again as His time had come and He prays for His own. ‘These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power (authority) over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
And this is eternal life, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with (alongside) thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.’ (John 17:1-5)
Yeh friends, our Lord and Saviour was preparing Himself to go to the cross, rise again and be glorified by the Father on our behalf, also bringing them back to the wonderful relationship they had before all the nonsense that sin caused in the world. And I think it’s only fitting that we consider this passage of scripture in showing Jesus’ desire to glorify His heavenly Father.
In the immortal words of Bruh Paul to the Philippians: ‘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 (coming) 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)
That says it all friends! All our efforts on this earth ought to be aimed at glorifying our heavenly Father! Now let’s go home declaring our Thursday Blessings, which our magnanimous heavenly Father have bestowed on those of us who try our best to glorify Him.
All together in loud and sincere voice 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 everyday! Amen!’
And since a blessing is not a blessing until it’s been spoken over someone, let’s go out and share them nuh, like Jesus so greatly desires of us! Much LOVE!
…the Lord made man…to be a reflection of His wonderful attributes…and to glorify His Holy Name…
29 Nov 2018
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a lazy day, a rest day, a shadow, anger, appreciative, awesome, be the same, believers, blessed, come from thee, compassionate heart, courage, curse, days on earth, declared over, deeper my love, desire, disobedient children, disrespect, everything we possess is God's, faith, favour, flooding, forgiveness, generosity, generous, give strength, glorious things, glory, goodness, grace, greatness, hard to believe, honour, I owe, ignorance, in thine hand, in your life, into His fold, joyful, knowing you, lose track, LOVE, magnanimous, magnificent, medical appointments, mercy, might, negarive word, obedient to His will, offer so willingly, on his wrong side, One Year Book of Bible promises, overflowing with LOVE, power, praise thy glorious name, prayer, productive stuff, prosper, put into words, riches, Ruth Harms Calkin, share, sincere faith, sojourners, strangers, succeed, surging peace, sweeps my life, take advantage of, thanksgiving, the right time, there are no words, therefore our God, Thursday Blessings, to make great, to your goodness, toward God, traipsing, transforming power, unconditional LOVE, victory, warm the cockles of Jesus' heart, wayward, we thank thee, wisdom, wonder-filled things, words of truth, wrath
1 Chronicles 29:13. Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.
And so it’s Thursday…Already? Yeh! That’s what happens when you spend the first two days of the week traipsing into the big city for medical appointments; you lose track of both the days and the time and nothing productive gets done at home. Yesterday was a rest day…not a lazy day. (smile) So let’s hope some productive stuff can be accomplished today…and yuh better believe there is a lot to be accomplished! (smile)
And to help us get on the productive side, here is this poem from our One Year Book of Bible Promises, with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin. It’s titled ‘There Are No Words.’ Please pray with me: ‘How can I put into words, my Lord The flooding, transforming power That sweeps my life because of You?
How can I explain to anyone The soaring, surging peace That You alone can give? All the wonder-filled things in my life All the joyful, glorious things I owe to Your goodness, Your grace, Your LOVE. Nothing is ever the same since knowing You. And the longer I know You The deeper my LOVE!’
Oh my people, my people, what awesome words of truth are contained in that short poem! Every line is filled with gospel truth regarding our great God! Oh friends, once you get to know Him, NOTHING will ever be the same in your life! For when you begin to truly experience, His grace, His mercy, His forgiveness, and above all His unconditional LOVE…
Oh Mama Mia! The change in your life will be so awesome and so magnificent that you’ll be left wondering what kind of life you lived before, and why didn’t you get to know the Lord before this? But it just wasn’t the right time! Have no fear, when He’s ready for you, He brings you into His fold in ways you cannot imagine, until they happen.
But please note one thing friends; our God might be magnanimous and magnificent, but He’s no push over! He might have a soft heart for His wayward, disobedient children, but don’t think you can take advantage of His goodness, because if you ever feel His wrath…Hn! It can be just as great as His goodness and mercy and LOVE!
So please try your best not to get on His wrong side, although when you come to know and LOVE Him, that’s sort of difficult to do. Why? Because you’ll be overflowing with such LOVE and desire to be obedient to His will, that mistakes will more likely be of ignorance than of purposeful disrespect.
And to celebrate all that we’ve said, I don’t think there’s a more appropriate passage in scripture to describe it than Bruh David’s words of prayer and thanksgiving, when he was raising funds to build the Lord’s temple. Please read and pray with me: ‘Wherefore David blessed the Lord before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, Lord God of Israel our Father, for ever and ever.
Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all.
Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.
But who am I, and what is thy people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? For all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee. For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners (temporary dwellers), as were all our fathers: our days on earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding (no hope for any).
O Lord our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee a house for thine holy name cometh of thine hand, and is all thine own.’ (1 Chr.29:10-16)
What beautiful words of prayer and thanksgiving my brethren…and also of truth! Oh friends, until we recognize, and realize, and understand that everything we posses is God’s and comes from Him, we’ll never be able to truly appreciate all that we have, and give Him the kind of thanks and praise He deserves.
That’s the basic difference between Bruh David’s time and ours. They seemed to know where there goodness came from, so they could afford to be generous toward the Lord. But in our time, generosity towards the Lord and His purpose…Hn! It’s like pulling teeth! Because we don’t truly recognize the source of all our goodness and grace and mercy.
Anyway friends, let’s hope that all we’ve said and read today touches our hearts and souls and makes us more appreciative of what our heavenly Father does in our earthly lives when we truly come to know Him. So let’s go home now, shouting out loud and proud, the great blessings He’s showered down on us believers, as found in our Thursday Blessings.
All together 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 everyday! Amen!’
Now, two things to remember; Blessings aren’t blessings until they are shared and declared over someone! So let’s go out and warm the cockles of Jesus’ heart by doing those two things nuh! Much LOVE!
…truly knowing our great God is so amazing…that sometimes…without sincere faith… it’s hard to believe…
22 Nov 2018
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a scientific experience, at thy right hand, bedrock, blessed by the Lord, blessings, causes us to get things, commandment, compassionate heart, corruption, courage, creativity, curse, don't drop the curtain on tomorrow, dr robert h schuller, dwell securely, eternal separation from God, faith love, favour, forgiveness, frustrations, fullness of joy, God's will, God-given, Happy Thanksgiving U. S of A, Holding on, Holy One, hope, Hour of Power Devotional, human emotions, human existence, important decision, in all your living, largesse, leave my soul in hell, man can suffer, marvellous, my flesh, my glory rejoiceth, my heart is glad, mysterious mood, need hope, negative word, never give up on hope, once there's life, penultimate day, pleasures evermore, Praying Expectantly, prosper, prosperous, rest in hope, return to God's fold, self-discipline, set the Lord always before me, shall not be moved, share blessings, strayed, succeed, tension, thanksgiving, the abode of the dead, the path of life, the presence of God, the worst situation, Thursday Blessings, Thursday's Blessings, turned away, when you're dying, your eyes get their sparkle back, your load is lifted
Psalm 16:9. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest (dwell securely) in hope.
So now it’s Thursday, the penultimate day of the workweek… and there are smiles and hand shakes and hugs amongst workers, unlike earlier on in the week, because they know that there is only one more day to go before the weekend break, so the tension and frustration has lessened some. And it’s also Thanksgiving Day in the U.S. of A, so that means no work for many people, lots of food and travel and celebration!
Happy Thanksgiving U.S. of A! I do hope you all sincerely give thanks for all the blessings that the Good Lord has bestowed on you, although I know that some of His wrath is also upon your head right now because of your awful sinful ways. But He’s such a wonderful Deity that if you will only return to Him and His fold, you will find forgiveness a plenty.
Please remember that no other nation in the History of mankind has ever been as powerful and prosperous as yours, and that’s because you were truly blessed by the Lord when you walked mostly in His will and commandment, and He is the one who causes us to get things and become prosperous.
But now you, and a whole lot of us have turned away, strayed from His ever-LOVING arms, and consequently we are experiencing some rather rough times in all areas of our lives, all over the world. Our planet is degenerating more quickly than we can keep up with.
And that brings us to the body of today’s message; a lesson in HOPE from Gramps Schuller (Dr. Robert H. Schuller) a collage from several days readings in His Hour of Power Devotional. And do we ever need to have loads of HOPE in these turbulent and oh so trying times!
We’ll begin with this: ‘HOPE. It is a marvellous, mysterious mood that comes into your personality. Suddenly your load is lifted, colour returns to your skin, and your eyes get their sparkle back. What is it? It is a scientific experience of the presence of God operating in your personality…
When it happens in the personality, it can only be scientifically described as the presence of a God of LOVE coming into your mind, your spirit, your body, your personality! This is God! This is HOPE!’
Yes my fellow believers, that’s the first thing we need to know…HOPE comes from God! Now hear this: ‘The only thing between today and tomorrow is tonight. And that’s when the stars come out! So NEVER give up on HOPE! Don’t drop the curtain on tomorrow….
Great people are ordinary people who just will not give up HOPE! And what is HOPE? It is Holding On, Praying Expectantly!’ Wow friends! I hope you notice how Gramps Schuller spells out HOPE through the first letter of each word. (smile)
Now the last piece for today: ‘You need HOPE when…you’re dying. And you need HOPE in all of your living. There will be no LOVE without it. HOPE is what will keep your faith alive. That’s why HOPE is right in the middle of the holy trinity of human emotions, “FAITH, HOPE, and LOVE!”
Yes my fellow believers, HOPE is the very bedrock of our human existence! Without it, we can’t have faith nor LOVE, it’s what gets us going in the first place, and keeps us going, keeps us holding on, because we know that once there’s life, once there’s the breath of God in our bodies, there’s HOPE! Now let’s see what Bit we can find that’s most appropriate for all of that. Soon come!
I’m back…a minute later. (smile) I guess these awesome words of Bruh David says it all. ‘I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest (dwell securely) in hope.
For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell (the abode of the dead); neither wilt thou suffer (allow) thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures evermore.’ (Ps.16:8-11)
Oh friends, I can only present to you the goodness and LOVE and HOPE that rests in God, you have to make the very important decision, the most important decision in your life, whether or not you’ll accept it. So there it is, in black and white…please be wise and accept it, for if you don’t you’ll eventually have to endure the worst situation man can suffer; everlasting separation from Almighty God!
And as true believers here’s what you get to enjoy down here on earth; we call it our Thursday Blessings. Let’s declare it loud and proud: (awright…spelled it right there) ‘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 everyday! Amen!’
Now let’s go out and share them with others, as Jesus desires. That’s what blessings are for! Much LOVE!
…a blessing is not a blessing…until you speak it over others…and share your God-given largesse with them…
15 Nov 2018
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: . speak evil, a compassionate heart, a good conscience, a sound mind, a thousand, abundance, always comes through, at noonday, at thy right hand, be not afraid, Bless His Holy Name, courage, cover thee, curse, destruction, dwelling place, evildoers, faith, faithfulness, fall at thy side, fear, fearsome power, flieth by day, for righteousness sake, generously dole out, give an answer, gives us a task, God has never let me down, guidance, help us to accomplish it, hemming and hawing, hope, in every believer, in his time, keep thy foot from being caught, lays waste, loving-kindness, magnanimous god, mature faith, meekness, mercy, negative word, not come near thee, nourish, nurture, of love, of power, pestilence, planted, pressure, prosper, reassurance, resist fear, reverential awe, revitalize our faith, second nature, security, self-control, shield and buckler, strong will, success, sudden fear, suffer, sufferation, take refuge in, talent, ten thousand, terror, terror by night, testify to, the arrow, the desolation of the wicked, the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob, the Good Book, the Lord shall be thy confidence, the Lord's great mercy, the Most High, the spirit of fear, Thursday's Blessings, thy habitation, Timothy, trouble, trust, truth, under his wings, undeserving children, walk in darkness, water, wisdom, with His feathers, words of strength
Proverbs 3:25. Be not afraid of sudden fear (terror), neither of the desolation of (trouble from) the wicked, when it cometh.
Ah friends, I was just wondering what we should write about this morning, because I had nothing whatsoever in mind. But as always, I asked the Lord for some guidance, then opened the Good Book and shortly thereafter found something that He pointed me to. All Glory be to our great and wonderful God!
Friends, you all wouldn’t know the pressure there could be in having to write the Bit everyday, but thankfully I don’t feel any because of the Lord’s great mercy and faithfulness. All I have to do is remember to get up and write it, and I’ve been doing it for so long now it’s come like a second nature.
And if there is one thing I can testify to is the Lord’s ever-faithful faithfulness! (smile) He’s never let me down one day yet in the eleven years I’ve been writing the Bit. Granted, some days it might take a little longer than others to discover what He wants me to write about, but He always comes through – in His time! Bless His Holy name.
That’s why I can testify to the fact that He never gives us a task and then not help us to accomplish it! So whatever He’s asked you to do today, instead of hemming and hawing, simply go to Him in all sincerity and ask for His help, He will only be too glad to give it.
Now let’s see what He desires to share with us today from His word. More wise words from Cousin Sol: ‘Be not afraid of sudden fear (terror), neither of the desolation of (trouble from) the wicked, when it cometh.’ What words of strength and reassurance my brethren!
And for those of you who are wondering why Cousin Sol gave that assurance. Here’s why: ‘For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken (caught).’ (Prov.3:26) Oh give our great and wonderful God some thanks and praise my believing brethren for his mercy and LOVING-kindness to we undeserving children of men!
So many times in His word He assures us that we should not be afraid of what the wicked can do to us…Let’s hear some of them nuh to revitalize our faith. And I guess we can begin with this one from Bruh Paul to Timothy, which so many of us quote, but don’t seem to live by.
‘For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of LOVE, and of a sound mind.’ (2 Tim.1:7) Yes friends, that power to resist fear has been planted in every believer, it‘s then left up to each of us to water and nourish and nurture it so that it can grow into a strong and mature faith.
Now hear the psalmist as he exalts the fearsome power of our God to all who sincerely trust and take refuge in Him: ‘He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust (take refuge): his truth shall be thy shield and buckler (a small shield). Thou shalt not be afraid for (of) the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth 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 near thee…Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation (dwelling place).’ (Ps.91:4-7,9)
Yes my people, what security we have when we place our sincere trust in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob! And Peter puts it this way: ‘And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness sake, happy (blessed) are ye: and be not afraid of their terror (threats) neither be troubled;
But sanctify (set apart) the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer (a defense) to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear (reverential awe):
Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation (conduct) in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing than for evil doing.’ (1 Pet.3:13-17).
Ah friends, I know that’s a mouthful, (smile) but all it’s basically saying is that if we are accosted about our faith, we should have a sincere and reverential answer for the hope we have in Christ, and to give it without offense. No need to get into any heated arguments.
And if we do suffer at the hands of the wicked, better it be for doing good than doing bad, and sometimes we are asked to suffer under those circumstances as a testimony to others.
However, the Lord will eventually reward us for any ‘sufferation’ we undergo in His name. So let’s not be afraid to stand strong and steadfast in the faith and assurance of our Lord God, the Creator and Controller of this great universe, for whatsoever He has promised, He will deliver! Amen!
And now it’s time to declare our Thursday Blessings; blessings that our most magnanimous God has so generously bestowed on us. And please remember that a blessing is not a blessing until it’s declared over someone or something.
So altogether now, in strong voice and sincerity of heart: ‘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 everyday! Amen!’
And those blessings were not meant for us to selfishly hoard, but to also generously dole out to others like the Lord has generously doled them out to us. Much LOVE!
…we all need strong faith…but unfortunately…a strong faith can only be acquired through some ‘sufferation’…
08 Nov 2018
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a valiant battle, at Calvary, be stolen, caring, clear direction, compassion, compassionate heart, conform to their evil ways, conformed to this world, curse, dark clouds, decay, earthly treasures, Easter Sunday, enemies of the world, favour, forgiveness, fulfillment, glory to God, God and mammon, goes against the grain, good health, gospel truth, grace, holy spirit, in our corner, Jesus Christ, light of the world, lose sight of heaven, LOVE, love not the world, main focus, make all things right, mercy, moth will not eat, negative word, not of the world, obedient to God's will, pilgrims, prosper, providing light, resurrection, rewards, righteousness, sanctify, Satan's hell, scornful disdain, seek ye first the kingdom of God, self-control, self-discipline, self-serving culture, sojourners, succeed, the cross, the evil one, the greatest, the love of the Father, the One and Only, the same mould, the world hated them, thr renewing of your mind, Thursday's Blessings, thy word is truth, will of God, wisdom, worldliness, ye cannot serve two masters
John 17:16. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Well the sun seems to be fighting a valiant battle out there against the dark, evil clouds that want to cover it up and shut it out from providing light for our day. But yuh know what friends? Whether the sun wins, or the dark clouds prevail, we will still be awright, in fact blessed, because we have the GREATEST, the ONE and ONLY, Jesus Christ in our corner, and He has the power to make ALL things right! Glory to God!
So we don’t really have to be overly concerned about whether the sun shines or not, since Jesus is the true LIGHT of the world! Give Him much thanks and praise my people! And to further sweeten things, without His selfless sacrifice on the cross at Calvary, and His triumphant resurrection on Easter Sunday, we’d all be headed for Satan’s hell instead of Jesus’ heaven!
Wow mih breddren! No amount of thanks can ever be sufficient for those acts of selflessness by our Lord and Saviour! So let’s just worship Him, and praise Him, and give Him all the glory nuh, like we should, instead of trying to cozy up to Satan and his evil buddies, who only have evil in their hearts and no LOVE at all for their fellow man.
No, we definitely should not be kow-towing to their values, their beliefs, their self-serving culture, seeking to build up their earthly treasures, because it all goes against the very grain of what our Leader Christ teaches us. Our concerns should be more heavenly than earthly. Now that doesn’t mean we don’t have to pay serious attention to our earthly life, but that our focus should not be so steadfast on it, that we lose sight of our life to come in heaven.
Remember what Jesus said yesterday: that wherever our treasures are stored up, that’s where our hearts will be. (Matthew 6:21) Well the same way He declared to the Father, re our worldliness: ‘I have given them thy word; and the world hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but thou shouldest keep them from the evil (one). They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them (set them apart) through thy truth: thy word is truth.’ (John 17:14-17)
Ah friends, once we receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour and His Holy Spirit comes to indwell us, we automatically become enemies of the world, hated by it because our ways don’t conform to their evil ways. And they shouldn’t because Jesus teaches a whole different way of life; one of LOVE and caring, compassion, grace, mercy and forgiveness, and the world holds most of those things in scornful disdain.
So as Bruh Paul said so unequivocally to the church at Rome: ‘And be not conformed to this 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) Yes friends, we are to steadfastly resist being poured into the same mould as the world, for we are only pilgrims, sojourners here on earth, and our real home is in heaven.
And the battle all begins and ends in our minds! That’s because the mind controls our actions. So that’s where the evil one keeps fighting for supremacy. But if we keep Jesus steadfast in our hearts and sight, we will be able to defeat the enemy.
And as John in his epistle so sternly admonishes: ‘LOVE not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man LOVE the world, the LOVE of the Father is not in him.’ (1 John 2:15)
It couldn’t get any simpler or clearer than that my fellow believers. Satan is the ruler of this world, and if you LOVE the things in his world, then you cannot have true LOVE for the Father too.
As Jesus so rightly said: ‘No man can serve two masters…Ye cannot serve God and mammon.’ (Matt.6:24) And that’s gospel truth. So if the things of the world are our main focus in life, then I’m sorry friends, but we don’t truly have God in our hearts. That’s just the simple logic of the situation.
And what’s the solution to the whole ‘confuffling’ situation? Again, Jesus provides us with the simple and straightforward answer: ‘But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.’ (Matt.6:33)
Ah my people, please remember that God is the Creator and Provider of all good things, so it is certainly possible for Him to provide the things that we need in this world to live it successfully, but we have to be obedient to His will. It’s that simple.
And having said all of that, let’s go home declaring (Spelled it right! Glory to God!) our Thursday Blessings that the Lord has so generously bestowed on His followers. All together now in strong voice, for remember a blessing is not a blessing until it’s been spoken over someone.
‘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 everyday! Amen!’
And those blessings are not for us to selfishly hoard, but to go out and share with the less fortunate. That’s Jesus great desire. So let’s go out and do just than nuh my faithful brethren! Much LOVE!
…living for Jesus can indeed be tough…but just think about all the wonderful rewards…both earthly and heavenly…that moths will not eat…that will not decay…or be stolen…
01 Nov 2018
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a compassionate heart, a screw missing, able to do, above all, abundantly, by Christ Jesus, can't be beat, compromise, confusion, courage, creativity, curse, Daylight Savings Time, Dear god, disappointment, divine protection, early going to bed, early waking, emotional pain, Enormous Rewards, exceedingly, fear, for the birds, forgiveness, freedom, friendship, fulfillment, get up and go, going to bed late, grace, guilt, happiness, heaven would mash up with rejoicing, in the church, joy, more work done, my thoughts, my ways, my ways higher than your ways, negative word, not your thoughts, not your ways, old habit, One Year Book of Bible promises, penance, purpose, Ruth Harms Calkin, satisfaction, see the sun out, self-control, share blessings, small price to pay, sordidness, success, the power working in us, throughtout all ages, Thursday Blessings, turn back the clocks, unto him, unto him be glory, walking obediently with God, we can ask or think, white on rice, world without end, worrisome times
Ephesians 3:20-21. Now unto him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Oh friends, this early going to bed and early morning waking up is for the birds yes! I can’t stand the emotional pain of waking up at 7 a.m and seeing outside still dark. Chuh! And by this weekend it will be even worse when we turn the clocks back one hour in the senseless ritual of Daylight Savings Time.
And since I can’t lie in my bed for many hours like some of us, because the ole bod tightens up on me, the only solution to cover both aspects of the problem is to return to my old habit of going to bed late! Glory be! And those were also the days when I got much more work done during a twenty-four hour period.
What a pleasure it will be to get up and see the sun out and about. It will also give me some get up and go. Oh I know it might make the Bit a tad later than usual, but that’s a small price to pay for the ole fella’s happiness eh. (smile)
And though I try to limit the poems from Our One Year Book of Bible Promises with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin to one a week, I just could not resist sharing this one that I read yesterday, because it’s so appropriate and enlightening for these troubled and worrisome times. It’s titled ‘Enormous Rewards.’
So please pray with me. ‘O dear God Thank You for teaching me The enormous rewards Of walking obediently with You: There is joy without guilt Freedom without fear Satisfaction without sordidness Purpose without confusion Friendship without compromise Forgiveness without penance Fulfillment without disappointment.’
Oh mih breddren what glorious rewards can be had from walking in obedience to God’s will! No other faith or Deity can promise and produce that extraordinary stuff for being faithful to them. Wow! So why aren’t we all just dying to walk in obedience to God eh?
I really can’t answer that question nuh, except by possibly saying that we’re foolish and unwise, proud and narcissistic, worshipping the angel of this world, Satan, rather than Christ, and thus catering to the whims, fancies, pleasures and treasures of the evil world in which we dwell. How else can we explain not intentionally walking obediently with God, the Creator and Controller of the universe, when so many rewards await us eh?
However we explain it friends, walking obediently with Almighty God is the only approach that makes sense, that’s why I had to share this poem today! It was just crying out to be shared! (smile)
And the Bible Promise for this poem is also our Bit; a most moving and reassuring piece of scripture. ‘Now unto him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.’
Ah mih people, what powerful words relating to a most powerful God. Yuh see, Bruh Paul says that our God can do even much more than we can ask or think! Our minds are small and finite but the Lord’s is infinite, and that’s why He solemnly declares in Isaiah:
‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than yours, and my thoughts than your thoughts.’ (Is.55:8-9) That says it all my brethren!
And why did Bruh Paul make those statements in our Bit? Because he had just prayed for inner growth in the Ephesian church: That they would be granted ‘the riches of his glory…strengthened with might by his Spirit…
That Christ may dwell in their hearts by faith; that they be rooted and grounded in LOVE; and be able to comprehend the vastness, the enormity, the height and breadth, length and depth of that LOVE; while knowing the peace and LOVE of Christ which passes all human understanding, and that their lives would be fully developed with all the wonderful characteristics of God.’ (Eph.3:16-19)
Now friends, please tell me who would be able to do all of that in sinful men eh? None but the Lord of Hosts, our Maker and Provider, our Omnipotent Godhead! That’s why Bruh Paul was so confident that his prayers would be answered. And as he tells the Corinthians, paraphrasing a couple of verses from Isaiah (64:4, 65:17) ‘But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that LOVE him.’ (1 Cor.2:9)
Oh my people, my people, in light of that statement, why aren’t we falling all over ourselves to worship and be obedient to God eh? We must have a screw, or a couple of screws missing yes! Otherwise we’d be all over God like white on rice! (smile) And would He ever LOVE that! Heaven would mash up with rejoicing!
So let’s get wise and turn to God nuh, for He is the ONLY one able to provide us with ALL that we need. And that is sincerely and faithfully shown in our Thursday Blessings, which we will now declare, because a blessing isn’t a blessing until it’s declared over someone.
So in full voice and heartfelt truth: ‘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 everyday! Amen!’
Glory to God my brethren! And the other side of that coin is for us now to go out and share those blessings with others, for that’s why we were so graciously granted them. Much LOVE!
…living under God’s amazing and LOVING grace…brother…it just can’t be beat nuh…
25 Oct 2018
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a good time, All State, be not afraid, be strng, be thou dismayed, Blue Hole, bus depot, commanded thee, compassionate heart, concrete steps, courage, cow foot soup, creativity, curse, Dunns' River, encouragement, faith, family gatherings, fast flowing steams, favour, guides, half century, hiking, in good hands, insomnia, is with thee, Joshua, leap over mountains, LOVE, mannish water, massive shoulders, Mo Bay, negative word, of good courage, ole coot, professionalism, prosper, reassurance, resisting help, rough tracks, self-control, self-discipline, senior citizens, succeed, the Lord carried me, the Lord thy God, the nature trail, Thursday's Blessings, traffic, trust in jesus, wherever you go, wisdom, young men
Joshua 1:9. Have I not commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
Ah mih people, instead of getting later, the Bits seem to be getting earlier! (smile) And today’s reason is not a bout of insomnia, but because I have to catch and early bus to Kingston. Oh yes, I am going back to the big city! I discovered a big sister from another branch of the family and we’re going to hold another gathering! Wow! Don’t I just LOVE the family gatherings, although this one will be mostly of old friends whom I have not seen since I left the university almost fifty years ago.
Yes, I know, when you start bandying around terms like a half century, you must be getting on in age. But chuh! Age is simply how you feel, and believe me the ole fella is young. Hn! After the work out they put me through yesterday, I must be a young pup! Brother! They took me out of here about ten thirty in the morning and didn’t bring me back until seven in the evening…but it was an exceedingly good time.
Hn, hn! I can say that now, but when I was hiking through the nature trail, through brush and bramble, across a fast-flowing stream on rocks, or makeshift boardwalks, holding on to a rope, climbing the high hills, on narrow, rough tracks, swimming in the cold, deep pools, feeling the hips and back resisting the inconvenience, I didn’t think it was so great. And at one time we just kept going up higher and higher, ostensibly towards the waterfall, and I kept asking ‘when are we going to reach it eh?’
But we had two wonderful young men as guides, who looked after us admirably. One looked after me in particular because all the others (three women) were more mobile than me, and he kept telling me that my safety was his only concern, and if anything happened to me, he would put me on his back and carry me back. But being a stubborn ole coot, I tried resisting his help in some difficult places. Thanks Mikey! Your professionalism and encouragement played and enormous part in me making it all the way up.
However, I did not climb the waterfall, I know my limitations. (smile) I just stopped and swam in the pool at the bottom and watched other younger and more mobile specimens clamber up its rocky walls. Twenty years ago, that would be a no brainer, as I did at Dunns’ River Falls. But age does take its toll on the body.
And after reaching the top, and being promised and easier path back, we discovered that they were repairing that path, so we had to come back the same way we went. But as always, the trip back never seems as laborious as the trip out and we made some good time back. Had a coconut water along the way, as well as being offered some samples of herb, which I refused, but it did smell rich and mouthwatering! (smile) What a way times have changed eh! (smile).
And if yuh think that once we got back down things were easy, think again! We then had to climb some fifty something concrete steps to get back to the car and the main road. And yuh know what? The duchess took it all in stride, looking out for her husband’s safety all the way. ‘Be careful here dear, Watch your step, it’s steep here. Hold on to this railing, Yuh okay? Yuh think you can make it. Yuh not tired’ and on and on. But though I pretended umbrage, I appreciated the concern.
Oh they even bought me a ‘Blue Hole’ T-Shirt. That’s the name of the place, located on the northern outskirts of the tourist mecca of Ocho Rios. It was advertised as a warm mineral spring, but it turned out to be a cold river bath. But not to worry, a fine time was had by all, The Lord carried me on His strong, massive shoulders most of the way, so I was definitely in good hands, better than All State! (smile)
And as we began our journey back, I began asking for mannish water. After asking a couple of people, we finally found a restaurant that had cow-foot soup. Praise the Lord! And brother, was it ever good! I couldn’t even finish the bowl, had to carry back some. Hope I can have it for breakfast this morning. As I keep saying, I’m here to recuperate, to get stronger, and those kinds of foods are what I need to strengthen the innards. (smile)
Then the traffic back was disgusting, especially in Mo Bay, where we had to go down to the Bus Depot and pay the fare so we could get a decent discount. And would you believe it, the lady at the Bus Depot didn’t believe that the duchess and I were seniors, had to see our I.D. to believe it.
And most important of all my people, is that I’m not feeling any real repercussions from the extreme exertion. As they, what doesn’t kill you, will strengthen you. It hasn’t killed me, so let’s hope it will do the latter. And what better scripture to be our Bit today, than the Lord’s eternal words of assurance to Joshua. ‘Have I not commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.’
With such powerful assurance friends, how could I be anything but strong and courageous yesterday eh? And as always, our great and faithful God kept His promise and looked after me…admirably too. So let’s go home now loudly and sincerely declaring our Thursday Blessings, being truly thankful for them as we ought to.
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 everyday! Amen!’
And if we’re faithful followers, we’ll now go out and share those amazing and awesome blessings with others, as Jesus so greatly desires. Much LOVE!
…true trust and faith in Jesus…can truly lead one to leap over one’s mountains…
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