27 Jul 2021
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a thousand years in thy sight, abnormal weather patterns, and be glad all our days, are but as yesterday when it is past, as a watch in the night, disobedient, don't have to hurry, don't have to worry, gain a heart of wisdom, glorious heights of evolution, godless lifestyle, I am the beloved of god, in god's eyes, intimacy with god, LOVE, natural disasters, new mercies and compassions, no one can take that from me, not what I do, not what I have, not what people say about me, O satisfy us early with mercy, our dwelling place, place of refuge, plagued by sickness, poverty, prideful, rulers of our own destiny, share His love with the world, sinful human pride, smelling our aram, strife, teach us to number our days, the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob, the greatest thing since sliced bread, trust my friend Jesus, Tuesday Mantra, we may apply our hearts unto wisdom, we may rejoice, worship idols
Psalm 90:12. So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom (gain a heart of wisdom).
More new mercies and compassions from heaven on this new morning friends! Wow! Who else blesses His people with such wonderful gifts each and every day eh? No One but the mighty God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob! So why do so many of us obstinately refuse to praise and worship Him eh? Just stupid, sinful human pride yes! We think because we’ve reached such glorious heights of evolution that we are the rulers of our own destiny…
Hn! What a joke! And if we’re so great, why can’t we avoid things like death and taxes eh? (smile) Because we are not the greatest thing since sliced bread. Yeh, I know that we are supposed to be the smartest and most wonderful creation in the universe. But we certainly don’t show our wisdom when we deliberately turn away from our Creator, the One and Only Living God Jehovah and worship all sorts of idols and dead things that can do absolutely nothing for us.
And though the Jewish people way back in time might have been dense and obstinate, when life got rough and tough with them because of their disobedience, they immediately turned back to the God of their forefathers and were once more gently and LOVINGLY ensconced in the arms of their Creator. But not this generation of humanity!
Because of the medical and technological strides we’ve made, we simply think that we are so great, we don’t need anybody else, especially some God far away in someplace called heaven. So this pandemic that’s been riding roughshod over our world for over a year now, and shows no signs of really going away anytime soon, hasn’t even made us think about returning to the fold of God. Instead, many of us are still touting the disgraceful and foolish idea of ridding our society of God period!
That’s why Moses in his only psalm, Psalm 90, and thus the oldest one in the Psalter, wrote these marvellous words of truth and wisdom. ‘Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place (place of refuge) in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.’ ( Ps. 90:1-2) Yes friends, those statements must have great truth in them because no other human being had as much intimacy with God as Moses did. So he should know a thing or two about God.
And thus, he continues: ‘Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return ye children of men.’ (Ps. 90:3) And that’s exactly what our heavenly Father is pleading with us to do right now in these sick and oh so turbulent times my people! Our magnificent and magnanimous God desperately wants us to come back to his fold, so that He can heal both us and our land. But instead of listening to and obeying Him, we are becoming more stubborn, arrogant, prideful, disobedient and stupid with each passing day!
Listen to how Moses explains it nuh. ‘For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up. In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth. For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled (terrified).’ (Ps. 90:4-7)
Yes my brethren, we ought to be terrified at God’s wrath, but obviously we are not, if we’re still being totally sinful, disobedient and ungodly! And any sensible creation would realize that something is dreadfully wrong with its way of life if at one and the same time its world is being plagued by sickness and poverty, strife and all kinds of natural disasters, even to the point of abnormal weather patterns. But no, mankind, the supposed greatest creation ever, doesn’t seem to think anything’s seriously wrong with his immoral, sinful and godless lifestyle. It’s not a factor in the troubled times he’s now experiencing.
But hear Moses again nuh: ‘Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance. For all our days are passed away in thy wrath; we spend our years as a tale that is told (a mere sigh). The days of our years are three score years and ten (our lives are seventy years long); and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength (boast only) labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off and we fly away. Who knoweth the power of thine anger? Even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.’ (Ps. 90:8-11)
Friends, please, let’s wake up and realize that our God is not a joke or a plaything. He’s been in existence long before we were, and will still be there long after we aren’t! Remember a thousand years to Him is only like a night watch, three hours, and consequently our lives are like a vapour that floats away after a li’l time. It’s ‘like a blade of grass that sprouts, fades, withers, and dies in a day.’ So why do we insist on being so arrogant, stubborn, prideful and disobedient eh, when we have no proper grounds to do so?
As the old people would say ‘we just smelling our aram.’ Meaning we think more highly of ourselves than we ought to, we believe ourselves to be wiser and more powerful than we really are. And these words of Moses, written so far back in the past, are surprisingly still of immense importance today. He writes: ‘So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom (gain a heart of wisdom). Return, O Lord, how long? And let it repent thee concerning (have compassion on) thy servants. O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.’ (Ps. 90:12-14)
Yeh precious people, the indisputable truth is that our world will only get better if we turn back to our God in repentance and obedience. For regardless of what or how we think, in the long run, we are definitely not masters of our own fate! And the sooner we wake up and realize that li’l fact, the better off we’ll all be. Now, for those of us who already recognize it (smile), let’s go home declaring (yeahhh!!!) our Tuesday Mantra, letting the world know who and whose we are.
In strong voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with the world. Amen!’
And the upshoot of that, is we must now go out and share that awesome LOVE and amazing friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him! Much LOVE!
…it’s so wonderful living and working for Jesus…but not always easy… (smile)
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8
08 Jun 2021
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a well of water, abundantly satisfied, complaining about it, don't have to hurry, don't have to worry, free will doesn't come with wisdom, getting fresh bread every day, he flattereth himslef in his own eyes, hellfire with Satan, his iniquity is found to be hateful, how excellent is thy loving-kindness, I am the beloved of god, in god's eyes, in thy light shall we see light, inclined to sinful ways, like the Israelites getting manna, new mercies and compassions, power-hungry despots, purity of the living waters, share His love with the world, springing up into eternal life, take them for granted, the children of men, the fatness of thy house, the pollution of contaminated broken cisterns, the steadfast love of God, the workers of iniquity, thy righteousness is like the great mountains, trust my friend Jesus, Tuesday Mantra, with thee is the fountain of life
Psalm 36:9. For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.
And so, we move on to Tuesday, a li’l wet and cloudy, but still containing all of God’s new mercies and compassions made especially for today. How wonderful that is eh, that our God doesn’t give us any leftover compassions or mercies from the day before, but bakes up a whole new batch every day! It’s like getting fresh bread every day and not having to eat any stale stuff.
So how can we not be grateful and thankful to Him for His fatherly thoughts towards us and those wonderful blessings He showers down on us each new day? A part of the problem I believe lies in the fact that we’ve become so accustomed to those new blessings every day that we take them for granted, and they don’t mean as much to us as they ought to. It’s like the Israelites getting manna in the wilderness and then complaining about it.
Instead, we should be believing and saying like Bruh David did in Psalm 36 – The steadfast LOVE of God. ‘Thy mercy (LOVING-kindness), O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds. Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgements are a great deep (ocean): O Lord, thou preservest man and beast.
How excellent (precious) is thy LOVING-kindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness (fullness) of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.’ (Ps. 36:5-9)
Yes friends, that is the blessedness that a righteous person has to look forward to. So why are we in these trying and desperate times so inclined to sinful ways and attitudes eh? Why are we behaving like Bruh David says in the opening verses of the psalm? ‘The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.
For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful. The words of his mouth are iniquity (wickedness) and deceit: he hath left off (ceased) to be wise, and to do good. He deviseth mischief (plots wickedness) upon his bed; he sitteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth (despises) not evil.’ (Ps. 36:1-4)
Oh my people, that kind of behaviour is so rampant in our world today, that it’s no wonder we are in such a terrible state of greed, strife, poverty and inequitable division of the world’s riches, ruled by overblown egos and power-hungry despots! Such an inequitable existence is unsustainable and will end up in even more chaos that we presently have. It is impossible to have peace and LOVE in a society where iniquity is its hallmark. If God, the fountain of life has been vilified and thrown out of a society, how can that society maintain life eh? No way!
And right now we have become like the Israel of old, whose sufferings were the results of sin. Hear how Jeremiah puts it on the Lord’s behalf. ‘Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet not gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit. Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye desolate, saith the Lord. For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.’ (Jer. 2:11-13)
Yeh mih bredrin, we have left the safety and security of the fountain of life, and moved to an insecure and unsafe place, where evil and ungodliness rules. As the scholars explain: ‘2:13. The figure of the fountain of living waters emphasizes that God alone can bring the life and refreshment necessary to the thirsty soul (cf. Ps. 36:9; Is. 55:1; John 4:10-14; 7:37-39; Rev. 21:6). Israel had left the purity of the living waters for the pollution of contaminated broken cisterns that offered no water at all.’
And I guess the best description of our current world is one that is thoroughly polluted; not only in body, but also in soul. The earth is physically polluted with garbage and other life-threatening stuff, as well as with a sick and evil bent mentally. So why are we surprised by our current problems eh? That’s what evil, ungodly attitudes and behaviour brings!
It’s obvious that we have forgotten, or in our lurch to evil, have simply cast aside these true and oh so meaningful words of Jesus, that He spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well of Jacob. ‘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 (fountain) of water springing up into everlasting life.’ (John 4:14) And though the woman didn’t fully understand what Jesus was talking about, she immediately replied: ‘Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.’ (John 4:15)
But in these supposed enlightened times, where we know all about what Jesus is referring to, we refuse to accept His offer. How wise and bright is that eh my people? Please listen to Jesus as He pleads with us to accept His merciful and gracious offering of eternal life nuh. ‘I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.’ (John 6:35)
Awright!!! That’s the bread that gives life, spiritual and eternal life! Don’t we want it? Yes! We ought to desire it, in fact to hunger for it, because it’s so much better than the only other option available, hellfire with Satan.
And our only hope is to think and say like Bruh David did at the end of the psalm. ‘O continue thy LOVING-kindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart. Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me (drive me away). There are workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.’ (Ps. 36:10-12)
Yes friends, that’s what happens to the workers of iniquity; they are cast down, removed forever. And that’s what will happen to us if we don’t smarten up and get our eyes and hearts focused back on Jehovah God, our Maker and Provider, our true source of life, physical and spiritual!
Now, for those of us who are endeavouring to live righteously, let’s go home proclaiming our Tuesday Mantra. Altogether now: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with the world. Amen!’
Our responsibility now is to go out and share that amazing friendship and awesome LOVE of Jesus with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him. Much LOVE!
…free will doesn’t come with wisdom…but only a fool…turns away from his source of life… to embrace death…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8
25 May 2021
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a double-minded man is unstable, and upbraideth not, arsenal of weapons, ask in faith, becoming pagans, begging for wisdom, change our DNA, cleanse your hands ye sinners, don't have to hurry, don't have to worry, driven with the wind and tossed, giveth to all men liberally, gospel truth, he that wavereth is like a wave, humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, I am the beloved of god, if any of you lack wisdom, in god's eyes, it is better to trust in the Lord, Jesus Christ is the answer, knocking down God's door, let him ask of god, LOVE, not wavering, not what I do, not what I have, not what people say about me, our bounden duty, plagued by deceit and wrongdoing, prevention mechanisms, purify your hearts ye doubleminded, put confidence in man., removed restrictions for lockdown, representatives of Christ, resentment against vaccines, resist the devil, share His love with the world, sitting on the fence, submit yourselves to God, too much compromising, trust my friend Jesus, Tuesday Mantra, turning away from God, wearing masks, without reproach
James 1:8. A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.
Well friends, the holiday done now, is time to get back to work…yes, for those of us who have jobs. And just for your info, we didn’t see any of the rain promised by the weather forecasters, so it was a mostly bright and sunshiny long weekend. And although they removed some restrictions for the lockdown, like outside sports, we still had people protesting about the mask wearing and what have you. I think some of us just like to protest yes. We not happy unless we up in arms about something, whether it’s a worthy cause or not.
But after wearing masks for over a year now, we should be comfortable with them and realize that they were the main prevention in our small arsenal of weapons against the virus. And the virus has not been licked as yet, so we still need to keep up our initial prevention mechanisms. Not to mention that there are also plenty powerful reactions and resentment against the vaccines that seem to hold our best hope of quieting the virus.
I see stuff all the time ranting and raving against the vaccine and how it’s going to change our DNA, how it’s going to allow the world leaders to control us and have us doing all sorts of ungodly stuff. One rant recently even purported to have it turning us away from God and becoming pagans. So who knows what’s the answer eh?
Sensible followers of Jesus do. We know, without a doubt, that our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is the answer to all the problems of our confuffled and mislead world. But are we standing up strong and proclaiming His mighty and holy name? Are we being real salt of the earth and lights of the world as He so greatly desires us to be? Definitely not to the level we ought to! And how are we going to positively influence the world on Jesus’ behalf, if we don’t live the kind of life that will draw others to Him and thus glorify our heavenly Father eh?
As true believers, especially in this time of pandemic, we doing too much compromising with the enemy, too much sitting on the fence, foolishly straddling it waiting to see if everything going to work their way out without any sacrifice from us. But friends, that’s a foolish and non-Christian option or notion.
Remember what James, Christ’s brother says in his epistle. ‘If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not (without reproach); and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering (not doubting). For he that wavereth (doubts) is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.’ (James 1:5-8)
And that my friends is gospel truth! A wavering person is unreliable, and a wavering believer is even more so! And sadly, too many of us believers are currently sitting on the fence, wavering, waiting to see what will happen, instead of taking a firm stand in whatever we can and making good and positive things happen in Christ’s name! That’s our job as representatives of Christ here on earth!
And before we go further, let me put forward this interesting explanation of verse 5, offered by the scholars. ‘1:5. This verse is not a blanket promise of wisdom for any situation. In the context of life’s trials, it probably speaks of the believer being granted (1) wisdom as to the reason for his trials and (2) wisdom to endure them.’
Ah mih bredrin, with the number of trials and tribulations we currently going through, believers should be knocking down God’s door begging for wisdom, as to why we having so many problems, and the wisdom to endure them! Unfortunately though, too many of us are looking to the world and the rulers of the world for answers to our problems. But who and what yuh think got us in these problematic times in the first place eh? The bloody evil rulers of this world!
It’s obvious that we have forgotten the very serious and wise warning of the psalmist: ‘It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.’ (Ps. 118:8-9) And until we learn that crucial and most critical lesson, and act wisely upon it, we will always be plagued by the deceit and wrongdoing of mankind.
That brings us to these sane and sober words of James, as he later on talks about the problems involved in worldliness and pride. ‘Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh (near) to God, and he will draw nigh (near) to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye doubleminded. Be afflicted (lament), and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness (gloom). Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.’ (James 4:7-10) And that’s basically what we need to do in these very sinful, evil, strife-filled and problematic times: come to God humbly, with sincere repentance and cleansing.
Now here are some wise explanations from the scholars regarding those verses. ‘4:7-10. Therefore: The exhortations that follow logically result from the conditions in verses 1-6 – (our lustful desires and pride). Resist the devil: do not submit to fear, or flee from Satan, but stand against him (1 Pet. 5:8-10). Satan cannot lead into sin against one’s will. Draw nigh: God will not be unmoved; His welcoming response is always near (cf. Deut. 4:7; Lam.3:57; Luke 15:20). Hands and hearts: The cleansing of one’s life must involve both outward deeds and inner thoughts (cf. Ps. 24:3-4).’
Oh my people, there’s not a whole lot more I can say, except to advise us to take a moment and read those scriptures. I just did, and they are wonderful, they opened up my understanding, and will do the same for you. Now let’s go home declaring (yessss!) our Tuesday Mantra, letting all and sundry know who and whose we are.
As one strong and sincere voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with the world. Amen!’
So then, let’s go and do just that; share the amazing LOVE and wonderful friendship of Christ with all we meet! That’s our bounden duty! Much LOVE!
…if believers won’t sincerely trust God…then what’s the point in believing in Him eh…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8
18 May 2021
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a convoluted sentence, according to his riches in glory, all for our benefit, answer to life, bounden duty, cease from anger, delight thyself also in the Lord, destined for destruction, don't have to hurry, don't worry, fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body, Fret not thyself over evildoers, have Jesus walking our walk with us, hell bound, his mercy endureth for ever, I am the beloved of god, if god be for us who can be against us, if God is for us who can be against us, in god's eyes, Jesus is the answer to everything, LOVE, my God shall supply all my needs, no one can take that from me, no weapon formed against you shall prosper, not what I do, not what I have, not what people say about me, nothing is impossible for God, O Give thanks unto the Lord, of whom shall I be afraid, Rest in the Lord, Satan, share His love with the world, the best example of rebellion against God, the heritage of God's servants, the Lord is my light and salvation, trust in the Lord and do good, trust my friend Jesus, Tuesday Mantra, We can do all things through Christ, what shall we then say to these things
Romans 8:31. What shall we then say to these things eh? If God be for us, who can be against us?
So then mih people, as we move on to another bright sunshiny day in God’s great universe, this one called Tuesday, tell me nuh, how yuh feeling today eh? (smile) Yeh, I know it’s a convoluted sentence, but so is life, and we all must answer to life. So, let’s hope we all feeling fine nuh, as we walk this crazy and confusing earth in these crazy and confusing times. But most of all, I hope that we all have Jesus walking our walk with us!
Now that’s the answer to everything! And why is that you ask? Because Jesus IS the answer to everything! Leh me show you why nuh. In the first place, the Good Book tells us that nothing is impossible to Jesus! That means everything is possible with Him! Then as the Good Book also says: ‘We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.’ (Phil. 4:13) And yet again, it tells us: ‘But my God shall supply all our needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.’ (Phil. 4:19)
Wow mih bredrin! So it’s only logical that if Jesus could do everything, and strengthen us to do anything, as well as provide for all of our needs, then we don’t need nothing or nobody else but Jesus! Oh praise His mighty name! That’s why the psalmist so powerfully proclaimed: ‘O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy (LOVING-kindness) endureth for ever.’ (Ps. 107:1)
And Bruh David says it even more powerfully. ‘The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?’ (Ps. 27:1) And just in case you don’t the answer to those two questions, here it is: ‘NOBODY!’ Believers ought to fear no other human being when Christ is in our corner.
Remember what the prophet Isaiah said on the Lord’s behalf, as he spoke of the Lord’s everlasting LOVE for Israel? ‘No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgement thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage (the inheritance) of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of (from) me, saith the Lord.’ (Is. 54:17) So what’s there to fear eh?
As Bruh Paul said to the church at Rome: ‘What shall we then say to these things eh? If God be for us, who can be against us?’ (Rom. 8:31) There again we have it my faithful brethren; once we have the Creator of the universe looking after us in the form of His Son Jesus, then nobody or nothing can touch us! And Bruh Paul cemented his argument with these words: ‘He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us good things?’ (Rom. 8:32)
Mamacita! How much more scripture do we need to convince us that Jesus is indeed the way, the truth, the life and the light and we should not fear what mankind can do, but put all our hopes, dreams, faith and trust in Him? Jesus said it loud and clear: ‘And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.’ (Matt. 10:28) Yes mih people, the only Being that believers ought to fear, is Almighty God Himself; the ONLY ONE who can destroy both our bodies and souls!
But strangely enough, it seems that the Lord God Almighty, our Creator and Provider, is the living being we are least afraid of in these modern times of high technology. That’s because we foolishly and fearfully kowtow to men and their evil desires, while we don’t keep God’s commandments and live the way He desires of us. We are even desperately trying to rid our society of Him! So friends, if men can’t save our souls or offer salvation, and God can do both, as well as destroy us, where is the wisdom in our current behaviour eh?
I hope that these majestic and wise words of Bruh David help us to understand the dire situation in which we’re currently enveloped. ‘Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed (feed on his faithfulness). Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass.
And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgement (justice) as the noonday. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices (schemes) to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil (for it only causes harm). For evildoers shall be cut off (destroyed): but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.’ (Ps. 37:1-9)
Now my fellow saints in Christ, that’s about the best advice we can find all in one place in the Good Book. It is wisdom of eternal proportions, so please, please, let’s accept it wholeheartedly nuh. Remember it’s all for our benefit, and neither Satan nor the evil men that follow him can do a blooming thing to help us when it comes to salvation and eternal life, only Jesus can! So let’s concentrate on kicking Satan and his evil minions out of our world nuh, instead of Almighty God. That’s the wise thing to do.
And for those of us who are already engaged in the fight, let’s go home declaring (oh yeah!!!) our Tuesday Mantra, telling the whole world who and whose we are. All together now: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with the world. Amen!’
And having sincerely said all of that, our bounden duty now is to go out and generously share the awesome LOVE and friendship of Christ with those who don’t know Him. Much LOVE!
…Satan…the best example of rebellion against God…hell bound and destined for destruction…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8
27 Apr 2021
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a day of judgement, a humble and Christ-like day, a thousand years as one day, as far as the east is from the west, be incredibly grateful, coming down from God out of heaven, do the right thing, don't have to hurry, don't have to worry, God doesn't make idle promises, God shall wipe away all tears, holy conversation and godliness, I am the beloved of god, I will send mine anger upon thee, I'm not what I do, in god's eyes, judge thee according to thy ways, LOVE, makes countless thousands mourn, man's inhumanity to man, no more death, no more pain, no more sorrow, No more tears, not what I have, not what people say about me, only believe, perdition of ungodly men, recompense upon thee, repay you for all your abominations, reserved unto fire, righteous and blameless, share His love with the world, the end is come upon the four corners of the land, the final apocalyptic judgement, the former things are passed away, the new Jerusalem, the tabernacle of god is with men, trust my friend Jesus, Tuesday Mantra, what manner of persons ought ye to be
Ezekiel 7:2b. An end, the end is come upon the four corners of the land.
It’s Tuesday friends, that means there’s cause for much celebration, because we’ve been given that awesome thing called life for at least one more day! It’s a blessing that many others did not receive today, so we need to be incredibly grateful and show that appreciation by the way we live today.
That means living a good, clean, righteous, compassionate, generous, thankful, humble and Christ-like day. For who knows if we don’t live that way, if we’ll see another tomorrow turn into a blessed today. Yes, living that kind of life was never easy in this evil world, and it will never be, until Christ comes back to claim His throne.
However, what our heavenly Father expects of us is not perfection, but a sincere and diligent effort to do the right thing by our fellow man. And yuh know what mih people, living right and kind is so wonderful that I don’t understand how anybody can live in evil, anger and the disgusting and disgraceful inhumanity in which so many of us spend our entire lives.
No wonder we have the saying that man’s inhumanity to man makes thousands mourn. And unfortunately, we need to change it from thousands to millions, because our inhumanity seems to be getting worse by the day. I’m sure the Lord must be sitting on His throne in heaven, shaking His head and wondering where He went wrong, what kind of monster He made as His most precious creation, why there’s so much evil and wrongdoing in His universe?
And that’s even after He gave His only Son, Jesus Christ as a sacrifice for our sins, and cast away our abominable iniquity as far as the east is from the west. And I’m chuckling here friends, but I’m also concerned, because I just happened to look at the scripture passage where the Good Book opened today, in the book of the prophet Ezekiel, and it read thus about the judgement of Israel. ‘Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Also, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord God unto the land of Israel; An end, the end is come upon the four corners of the land.
Now is the end come upon thee, and I will send mine anger upon thee, and will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense upon thee (repay you for) all thine abominations. And mine eye shall not spare thee, neither will I have pity: but I will recompense thy ways upon thee, and thine abominations shall be in the midst of thee: and ye shall know that I am the Lord.’ (Ezek. 7:1-4)
And if it’s one thing we know about our great God is that He doesn’t make empty promises, and Israel did feel the might and power of His awesome hand when they went astray, and He’s also promised that there will a day of judgement when He wraps up this old, evil earth as the apostle Peter tells us in his second epistle, re living in the hope of the Lord’s coming.
He first reminded believers of the day of the great flood, when the Lord destroyed the earth and all therein, except Noah and his family, because of the wretched sinfulness of its inhabitants. ‘Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against (until) the day of judgement and perdition (destruction) of ungodly men.’ (2 Pet. 3:6-7)
Yes friends, that day of judgement is certainly coming. And let’s be clear, we are not talking about the Rapture, but that day when Christ returns in judgement, the final apocalyptic judgement. And you can read the descriptions of that fiery judgement in Revelations 17-19. So please don’t get all uppity and know-it-all, and question with a sneer, as so many do, why it hasn’t come as yet.
Peter though, gives a good answer to that question. ‘But beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.’ (2 Pet. 3:8-9)
We see then, that the way God looks at time and the way we do are totally different, and furthermore, He’s giving us time to come to salvation because He doesn’t want any to perish. And Peter continues: ‘But the day of the Lord will come as a thief (robber) in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.’ (2 Pet. 3:10)
So we don’t know when all of this will happen, that means we need to be ready for whenever it comes. ‘Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation (conduct) and godliness, Looking for and hasting (hastening) unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.’ (2 Pet. 3:11-14)
Ah mih people, regardless of what you believe, those things are going to happen. And when they do happen, we need to be found righteous and blameless. Then the scholars tell us that ‘the heavens that shall pass away with a great noise are the atmospheric heavens. The elements shall melt with a fervent heat certainly could refer to a nuclear holocaust. Thus, Peter urges his readers to look beyond this present world to the new heavens and a new earth characterized by righteousness.’ And the turmoil and upheaval our world is currently experiencing, certainly makes nuclear warfare a dreaded possibility.
Remember too, John’s words in Revelation. ‘And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.’ (Rev. 21:1-4)
Oh my people, that’s what we have to look forward to when we believe in God, through His awesome Son, our Lord and Saviour, Christ Jesus! There’s nothing more I can say, for the Word of God speaks very clearly on its own. So, for those of us who accept it, then let’s go home declaring (chuh man!) our Tuesday Mantra, letting the whole world know who and whose we are.
As one strong voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with the world. Amen!’
Now, let’s go and share that wonderful friendship and awesome LOVE of Christ with those who don’t know Him nuh, for that’s what He expects of us! Much LOVE!
…only believe…only believe…in Christ Jesus…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8
26 Jan 2021
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: according to His purpose, all things work together for good, assurance, declared righteous, don't have to hurry, don't have to worry, early morning chores, eating meat and spuds, effectual communication of the gospel, from glory to glory, glorified, God's promised to work things out for our good, he also did predestinate, he shall also be my salvation, he that spared not his own Son, hear diligently my speech, I am the beloved of god, if God is for us who can be against us, in all his adversity, in god's eyes, inhibit the doing of the Lord's work, Job, judicial standing before God, justified, keep on loving trusting being faithful and obedient, late risings, make every Christian more like Christ, my declaration with your ears, no one can take that from me, not what I do, not what I have, not what people say about me, our spiritual journey, plan of salvation, predestinated, pretemporal, right to the very end, share His love with the world, surrender our all, temporal, the believer's glorification, the called, the divine perspective, the elect, the human perspective, the spirit of the Lord, they love Him no matter what, Though he slay me, to be conformed to the image of his Son, to know Jesus is to love Him, to them that love God, to them who are called, trust my friend Jesus, Tuesday Mantra, what shall we then say to these things, whom he did foreknow, yet will I trust him
Romans 8:31. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Oh chuh friends! Late risings and early morning chores certainly inhibit the doing of the Lord’s work yes! (smile) But what to do eh, better late than never on this snowy Tuesday morning.
We can’t complain because we have not seen any real precipitation of any kind for a while now, so the white that’s beginning to cover the ground is a nice change from the dark, damp days we’ve recently been having, except for the few cold and sunny ones last week.
Hope you can figure that one out. (smile) And thank the Lord I don’t have to go out in it! But whatever we have, nice or not, we still give our wonderful God much thanks because we know He’s promised to work everything out, both good and bad for our benefit if we keep LOVING, trusting and being faithful and obedient to Him! Glory to His precious name my brethren!
And if you don’t believe me, then listen to this mighty piece of scripture that details it all. ‘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)
And according to the scholars’ explanation. ‘8:28. To them that LOVE God is the human perspective. God is working all things together for good, but those who LOVE God are best able to appreciate that fact because they LOVE Him no matter what (cf. Job 13:15). To them who are the called is the divine perspective. Scripture often refers to believers as “the called” or “the elect.”
But we just got started with the whole contextual thing: ‘For whom He did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the first-born among many brethren.’ (Rom. 8:29) Yes friends, this foreknowing is a strong sense of knowing and being known, not merely an acquaintance kind of knowing! (smile)
And the scholars tell us: ‘8:29. Foreknowledge is God’s determination from eternity to bring certain ones into a special relationship with Himself (see also 11:2). Predestinate: See Ephesians 1:5. (To mark off or choose before. God chooses those He knows will participate in His plan of salvation and extends it to all who respond in faith).
To be conformed to the image of his Son: The goal of predestination is not to send some to hell and some to heaven, but is the believer’s glorification, to make every Christian increasingly more like His Son.’
Glory be mih people! As Bruh Paul said to the Corinthians: ‘But we all, with open (unveiled) face beholding as in a glass (mirror) the glory of the Lord, are changed (being transformed) into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.’
Oh fellow saints of God, unlike Moses’ who had to put a veil over his face when the Lord’s glory shone through Him (2 Cor. 3:13) but which glory eventually faded, ‘under the New Covenant the believer is changed into the same image. This transformation takes place by the abiding presence of the Spirit of God.’ That means it’s a gradual process, so we have to keep on trusting and being faithful right to the very end.
But getting back to our original topic, Bruh Paul declares (yeah!) ‘Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.’ (Rom. 8:30)Wow! What wonderful news! ‘Predestinated, called, justified, glorified!’ Brother only our wonderful God can make those things happen!
As the scholars explain: ‘8:30. Called: The calling of 8:28 is pretemporal; it occurred before the creation of the world (Eph. 1:4). The calling here is temporal and refers to the effectual communication of the gospel, resulting in salvation. Justified: See 3:24. (And that says being justified means being declared righteous, signifies the believer’s judicial standing before God).
Glorified: Glorification is God’s doing. While God’s foreknowledge and predestination take place in eternity, and while God’s calling and justification are realized in history, God’s glorifying is yet future. It is as certain, however, as the previous works. Hence glorified is in the past tense. From God’s point of view it is already accomplished.’
Oh Mama, Mama! How great is our God eh? What assurance we have, that although something, our glorifying, is not done yet, He talks of it in past tense, as though it has already been done! So how can we not LOVE and obey and trust and surrender our ALL to Him eh? I just can’t understand it.
Consequently, as Bruh Paul continues: ‘What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?’ (Rom. 8:31) And the loud and clear answer to that my precious people of God is ‘NOBODY! NOT A SINGLE SOUL!’ And you ask a doubting why?
Bruh Paul also gives us the answer. ‘He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?’ (Rom. 8:32) Yes people, that makes mucho sense! If God gave up His sinless Son to save sinners, why would He then refuse to help us in time of need eh? No reason whatsoever!
No wonder, Job in all his adversity could calmly and stoically proclaim: ‘Though he slay me, yet will I trust him: but I will maintain (defend) mine own ways before him. He also shall be my salvation: for a hypocrite shall not come before him. Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears.’ (Job 13:15-17)
Powerful words of faith friends! But are we able to proclaim such words ourselves? Now that’s the ultimate question. But if we consider ourselves true and faithful believers, we should be able to declare (yesss!) them without a pause or doubt in our minds and speech.
So let’s consider all that we’ve said today nuh…I know it’s plenty, but at this stage of our spiritual journey we should be eating meat and spuds, not still drinking milk, (smile) and thus be able to digest more scriptural technicalities and meanings than when we first came to Christ.
Anyway, it’s all in the reading and learning and doing and persevering that we mature, and are raised from glory to glory; a lifelong process. So if you don’t get it all now, just keep on keeping on and eventually you will get it. That’s the Lord’s promise!
And for those of us who are sincerely trying to keep on keeping on, let’s go home now declaring (oh yes! – three times I got it right today, on the first try) (big grin) our Tuesday Mantra, letting the world know WHO and WHOSE we are.
In strong voice, as one now: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with the world. Amen!’
And it follows that our task is to now go out and share Christ’s LOVE and friendship with others, as He so greatly desires! Much LOVE!
…to know, know, know Him…is to LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Him….no doubt about it…
P.S. Yes, it’s long and late…but sweet! (smile) Much LOVE!
19 Jan 2021
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: ah lick him, all mine are thine, changing power, comforting words and promises of Jesus, disunited, divided, don't have to hurry, don't have to worry, earthly ambassadors, extraordinary times, glorify thou me, healing medicine to the angry spirit, I pray for them, I pray not for the world, in god's eyes, Jesus prays for his own, Judas Iscariot, keep our faith strong, keep them from the evil one, lose my cool, neither pray I for these alone, no one can take that from me, none of them is lost, not what I do, not what I have, not what people say about me, praise songs, riddle I this riddle I that, righteous saints of Christ, sanctify them, set apart, share His love with the world, the beloved of God, the joy of Christ, the power and purpose of prayer, the son of perdition, the truth of God's word, they are not of the world, they have kept thy word, thine are mine, to be one, trust my friend Jesus, Tuesday Mantra, ungodly and inhuman way we living, we would be one, which shall believe on me through their word, worship mode
John 17:17. Sanctify them (set them apart) through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Yes mih bredrin, riddle I this, riddle I that nuh! (smile) How can a body go to bed, early to boot, feeling fine, then wake up coughing and being miserable eh? And all the foolish cough doing is to irritate the dormant asthma and getting me more ignorant than usual. Yeh, coughing is the easiest way for the enemy to make me lose my cool.
But yuh know what? Ah lick him this morning by getting into worship mode and listening to some praise songs. Glory Hallelujah! Still listening to them as I’m writing. Thank you for Jesus and His songs of praise and worship! They are indeed healing medicine to the angry spirit. And although the chest is still tight and wheezy, the spirit is fine friends!
Thanks be to the refreshing and comforting words and promises of Jesus in song! And that’s my testimony for this Tuesday morning, this snowy Tuesday morning in January of this new and unknown year of 2021, when so many unordinary things have seemingly become ordinary.
Oh my people, we are in the middle of some extraordinary times, and on the brink of even more extraordinary ones, if life plays out the way it’s shaping up. And no reason why it should not. But there’s one thing all we believers ought to know and believe; that is, come what may, we will all make it through, and safely too, because that’s the glorious promise of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!
Be concerned yes, but don’t be worried, for Jesus has all those who believe in Him in the palms of His mighty hands. And I just want to point out some wonderful scripture where Jesus prays for His own, that’s us! Glory be!
‘And now, O Father, glorify thou me, with (alongside) thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. (Clear indication of His pre-existence (cf. 1:1) I have manifested (revealed) thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them (to) me; and they have kept thy word.
Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. For I have given unto them the words which thou hast given me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.’ (John 17:5-10)
Yeh friends, even Jesus, the Son of God, knew the power and purpose of prayer! In his final hours down here on earth He beseeched the Father on our behalf. That’s how important we were, and are, and always will be to Him! That’s why we need to keep our faith strong, keep on believing in Him just like He believed and still believes in us. That’s why He made us His earthly ambassadors!
Now hear Him further nuh: ‘And now I am no more (longer) in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee, Holy father; keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.’ (John 17:11)
Yuh hear that people, Jesus prayed that we would be ONE, just like He and the Father were ONE! How come we so divided and disunited eh? Could that be one of the problems why our world and lives are in such a disgusting state? Oh yes! It surely contributes to the ungodly and inhuman way we living.
But let’s keep on listening to Jesus: ‘While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost (destroyed), but the son of perdition (Judas Iscariot); that the scripture might be fulfilled.’ (John 17:12) Yes friends, Jesus did not lose any of those whom God gave Him to propagate His word on earth after Him: none except Judas. But that had to be so that the written scripture might be fulfilled.
‘And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.’ (John 17:13) Wow! Yuh hear that friends, Jesus desired that we might have His joy fulfilled in us! So why we are we so blooming miserable and unhappy eh, when we have the joy of Christ Himself dwelling in us? Because we fear the world and what it brings.
But listen to Jesus again: ‘I have given them thy word; and the world hath 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 that thou shouldest keep them from the evil (one). They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.’ (John 17:14-16)
Oh my people can we understand that we are not of this world, but we have to be in it if we want to spread Christ’s message. And that’s why Jesus asked the Father: ‘Sanctify them (set them apart) through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.’ (John 17:17-19)
Oh believers in Christ, the truth of God’s Word is what’s supposed to set us apart from the world, but is it doing that right now? Not to the extent it ought to. But hear this oh so important part of Jesus’ prayer nuh. ‘Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;’ (John 17:20)
That means us friends! Jesus had the foresight to pray for those who came to believe in Him all down through the ages, until His second coming. So what’s going on with us eh? Why are we living like the rest of the world and not sanctified, justified, reconciled, righteous saints of Christ eh?
And hear this last part of Jesus’ prayer. ‘That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast LOVED them, as thou hast LOVED me.’ (John 17:21-23)
What’s in all of that we don’t understand eh people? We were set apart, to be ONE, so we could show the world the truth of God’s Word! But we definitely could not be call unified, or even close to being ONE! No wonder the world doesn’t take us seriously. And until we become more unified and not more divided, as we seem to be getting, we’ll have little or no power to change the world in Jesus’ name! Nuff said!
But for those of us who are sincerely trying to do what Christ desires of us, let’s go home now declaring (oh yeah!) our Tuesday Mantra, letting the world know who and whose we are.
As ONE now:‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with the world. Amen!’
So let’s go out and do just that nuh! Much LOVE!
…only as Christ’s people are unified…will they truly have changing power…
12 Jan 2021
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: allow us to see another day, Christlike, divine intervention, don't have to hurry, don't have to worry, eagerly expecting something you haven't seen, faith, gave praise unto God, glorifying God, have mercy on me, I may receive my sight, in God's economy, in god's eyes, insensitive to the plight of others, Jesus said unto him, Jesus thou son of David, leave home everyday without Jesus, not seeing but believing, not what I do, not what I have, not what people say about me, our lives are meaningless, peaople pleasers, receive thy sight, seeing is believing, share His love with the world, social climbers, thankful for the grace and mercy of God, the dominant force, the evidence of things not seen, the substance of things hoped for, them's the breaks, thy faith hath saved thee, trust my friend Jesus, trusting man-made machines, Tuesday Mantra, without faith in Christ, without purpose
Luke 18:42. And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.
Morning mih bredrin – and afternoon to some of you! (smile) And I do hope that we’re all thankful for the grace and mercy of God to allow us to see another day, rough and tumble though it may be, and that we all gave Him thanks for so doing. And this life is certainly interesting yes! Have you ever noticed that whenever you’re late, behind schedule in something, that something else always crops up to further delay you?
Well that happened to me this morning. I was up a tad late, had a couple things to do before I began writing, then when I finally got here, the ole computer, well it’s fairly new, decided that it had a whole lot of updates to do, then restart, before I could get to doing my business. Steups!
And have you ever noticed too that the computer only breaks down when you truly need it? (smile) But I guess them’s the breaks. You have to pay the price for the convenience of now for now action! And why do we keep trusting these man-made machines eh? I guess it’s because we have faith in them. A lot of people trust their smartphones more than they trust Jesus!
That’s foolish, but unfortunately it’s true. They would never leave their homes without that tiny piece of equipment, but how many thousands, millions, or even billions, leave home every day without Jesus eh? Who don’t even know Him, much less consider Him important in their lives?
Ah mih friends, it’s so sad that we trust, have faith in a whole lot of man-made things, but don’t trust, or have any faith in the very ONE who made us, the universe, and all therein! And then you ask, why you should not trust man-made things you see, but a God whom you cannot see? Isn’t it logical to believe what you see, and not what you cannot see?
I grant that position, but that’s in the man-made world, but in God’s divine economy, seeing is not believing, not seeing, but believing is the dominant force. As Jesus told His doubting disciple Thomas: ‘Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: but blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.’ (John 20:29) That’s the whole crux of the matter my people; believing in Jesus through faith, yet never having seen Him in living colour!
And some of you might ask, what’s this faith business eh? The Good Book tells us that ‘faith is the substance (realization) of things hoped for, the evidence (conviction) of things not seen.’ (Heb. 11:1) Yes, faith is eagerly expecting something you haven’t seen, and waiting patiently for it. Just like we wait, ofttimes impatiently, but with lots of eagerness, to see what presents we have under the Christmas tree. (smile)
We haven’t seen Jesus, but we know that He came to earth on a Christmas day long ago, grew up here on earth, died, was buried, rose again, then ascended into heaven, and will come back to earth again as He has faithfully promised! Now yes, that might be a stretch for many of us to believe, but if we start believing, Jesus will divinely show up in our lives and prove to us that He is indeed who He claims to be.
And that’s where that thing called faith, comes in my brethren; you have to believe in Him, before you can see Him. And we have an excellent example of not seeing but believing in the story of the blind man, Bartimaeus who sat in the Jericho area begging, but when he heard that Jesus was passing by, he cried out to Him, saying, ‘Jesus thou son of David, have mercy on me.’ (Luke 18:38)
And we wonder how a blind beggar could know about Jesus and His healing capabilities eh? Well the scholars tell us that most likely by that time Jesus’ ministry had spread far and wide across the country. And the blind man’s faith is even more pronounced when those around him tell him to shut up, to ‘hold his peace; but he cried so much the more, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.’ (Luke 18:39) Yeh friends, how did that blind man know of Jesus’ Messianic status eh, which is what ‘son of David’ indicates? Who knows? But know it He did.
Oh precious people, this next act of Jesus is so wonderful, so heartwarming, so Christlike. The Good Book tells us: ‘And Jesus stood (still, stopped), and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him, Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord that I may receive my sight.And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people when they saw it, gave praise unto God.’ (Luke 18:40-43)
And yuh better believe, those scripture verses highlight several interesting things. First it highlights the awesome faith of the blind man, which, according to Jesus, is what really caused him to see. And how many times during Jesus’ earthly ministry did He make mention of people’s faith enabling their healing or whatever they pleaded for eh? Numerous! And yet, we still refuse to rely on our faith in Jesus, but our sight in man-made things.
Then, most importantly, did you notice how Jesus just stopped and attended to the blindman’s needs? Oh friends, that’s one characteristic of Christ that all of us need to adapt and adopt or whatever! Jesus was never too busy to stop and attend to some person’s needs, be they rich or poor. Not so we people pleasers and social climbers! We’re always in a hurry, going nowhere fast, except when someone who can do something for us, asks for our help. But that’s not Christian-like my friends.
The scholars explain that verse thus:‘18:40. Stood,that is, He came to a halt. Jesus’ command also serves to rebuke those who lacked compassion for the beggar. In the midst of the attempt to hear Jesus, one must take care not to be insensitive to the plight ofothers.’Oh how much better our world would be, if the insensitivity that currently chokes it was released!
Notice too, how Bartimaeus, after he was healed, followed Jesus and glorified God. How many of us have had divine intervention in our lives and yet have not made it our avowed purpose to follow theONEwho divinely intervened eh? Too many! That’s for sure! We either take it for granted, or just don’t care. But when troubles engulf us, we quick to call out, ‘Oh God, help me nuh!’ That recalls the ten lepers that Jesus healed, and only one returned to thank Him, a Samaritan to boot, the enemy of the Jews. (Luke 17:11-19)
And lastly, I wonder how many of those who witnessed the divine miracle that day and simultaneously praised God, continued doing so afterwards eh? My guess is not a whole lot. But time and space have run out my brethren, so let’s go home declaring (steups!) our Tuesday Mantra, letting the whole world know who and whose we are; let them know to whom we proudly belong!
Altogether now: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with the world. Amen!’
What we waiting for then eh? Let’s go out and share the amazingLOVEand friendship of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!Much LOVE!
…without faith in Christ…our lives are meaningless…without real purpose…
05 Jan 2021
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a higher standard of behaviour, an attitude of total trust, because of the Lord's goodness, consistent and responsible service to God, delight thyself also in the Lord, don't have to hurry, don't worry, for the salvation of the Lord, fresh bread, God is good and faithful and merciful, grief of soul, it is good that a man, new mercies and compassions, not what I do, not what I have, not what people say about me, share His love with the world, should both and quietly wait, the beloved of God, the Lord is my portion, trust in the Lord and do good, trust my friend Jesus, Tuesday Mantra, we are not consumed
Lamentations 3:26. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.
Well hello there Tuesday; you new and beautiful day, filled with brand new mercies and compassions from the Lord God Almighty! What a wonderful God we serve friends, as He sends us new mercies and compassions every single day. Isn’t that great? It surely is, since who would really want old compassions and mercies from the day before, when, like fresh bread, (smile) we can get them brand new every day eh.
That’s why we ought to be so grateful to our God and give Him much thanks and praise. Yes my people, it’s only because of the Lord’s goodness, LOVE and faithfulness towards us that we are not consumed; it’s not because of anything we do. Hence, we ought to take very seriously, these illuminating, edifying and encouraging words from Jeremiah’s Lamentations. ‘The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.’ (Lam. 3:24-26)
And the scholars confirm that when they say: ‘3:26. Jeremiah’s observation resembles those of other saints who have experienced great grief of soul. (Hab. 2:20; 3:17-19; cf. Job 40:3-5; Ps. 37:7; 73:23-27; Is. 26:3; 2 Cor. 1:7; 2 Thess. 3:5).’
Oh friends, I just looked up all those scriptures, all from men who suffered much for the Lord – Habakkuk, Job, Bruh David, Asaph, Isaiah, and Bruh Paul – and they were all overwhelmingly in favour of seeking for and waiting on God despite the troubles of this life. That’s because God is good and faithful and merciful to those who sincerely seek and wait for Him.
So, no wonder the scholars further tell us, it requires in return ‘the need for the believer to be also faithful in his life and service to God (2 Chr. 19:9; Ps. 119:30; Prov. 12:22). And that real faith is more than inner belief, even more than whole-souled committal. It is a condition of the soul marked by such a stable character and an attitude of total trust that the believer’s whole life is imbued with consistent, responsible service to God (cf. 1 Sam. 26:23; Ps. 37:3-6). From the biblical standpoint, true faith results in faithfulness in one’s life.’
I couldn’t put it any better my people. And we just going to look at the two examples the scholars mention there. The first is when Bruh David had the chance to kill his nemesis Saul, but refused to kill him, explaining it with these words. ‘The Lord render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for the Lord delivered thee into my hand today, but I would not stretch forth my hand against the Lord’s anointed.’ (1 Sam. 26:23)
Yes friends, that just shows the difference between Saul and Bruh David in their faithfulness to the Lord. Saul knew that Bruh David was anointed to be the next king of Israel, but that never stopped him, in fact that was the main reason he wanted to kill him. Bruh David though had a higher standard. And that’s what all we supposed believers need; a higher standard of behaviour, faithfulness and righteousness than that displayed by the world.
And I guess we can’t get any better encouragement or advice than from these immortal words of Bruh David from Psalm 37 – The true state of the wicked. ‘Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed (feed on His faithfulness). Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgement (justice) as the noon day. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices (schemes) to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil (it only causes harm). For evildoers shall be cut off (destroyed): but those who wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.’ (Ps. 37:3-9)
Now my brethren, if that didn’t stir us up to greater service and faithfulness, I don’t know what will. But I can certainly offer a couple more enticements, (smile) the first being this: ‘The Bible is God’s Word to us, still fresh through all the ages. And if we read it, we will find God’s wisdom on its pages.’ And this is the second enticement: ‘One truth from the Bible is worth more than all the wisdom of man.’
And isn’t that indisputable! So I don’t know why we keep on turning away from God, thinking that we can do better than Him? Just look at the sad and sorry state of our lives today nuh. When are we going to wake up and realize that we don’t control our own destiny, but God Almighty who created us does, and when we turn away from Him, we just make a big mess of our lives?
Anyway, for those of us who get the message, let’s go home now declaring (yeahhh!) our Tuesday Mantra, letting the whole world know who and whose we are. So, as one, in strong voice with sincere hearts: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with the world. Amen!’
Now faithful people of God, let’s go out and do just that nuh! Much LOVE!
…faithfulness ought to beget faithfulness…
24 Nov 2020
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a mighty conqueror, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, around me like a mighty shield, ask the Lord for help, ate and drank with publicans and sinners, awakened when the final trump calls, bounden duty, but sinners to repentance, chores, Christ's awesome interest in our lives, Christ's Church, come unto me, don't have to hurry, dull dour Christian, excited Christians, full of dead men's bones., full of hypocrisy and iniquity, give Christ much thanks and praise, glorious sacrifice of His sinless life, glory and adoration, glory hallelujah, have life more abundantly, help the sick and suffering, helping each other, hypocrites, I am the beloved of god, I came not to call the righteous, I can do all things, I don't have to worry, in god's eyes, late night shenanigans, lend a helping hand, like unto whited sepulchres, make clean the outside of the cup, mamaguying, meek and lowly in heart, not be ashamed to preach Christ, not what I do, not what I have, not what people say about me, on the cross at Calvary, our sins to be forgiven, outwardly appear righteous, reverence that will never end, self-righteous, share His love with the world, sucking lime, take my yoke upon you, the Christian Brotherhood, the great invitation, the Holy Spirit of Christ, the many benefits of knowing Christ, the poor me one, the promise of eternal life, the scribes and Pharisees, they they that are whole need not a physician, through Christ who strengthens me, to be reconciled to Almighty God, to stand justified and righteous before God, too proud to beg, trust my friend Jesus, Tuesday Mantra, With Christ beside me, within they are full of extortion and excess, ye shall find rest unto your souls
Luke 5:32. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Chores, chores, chores! Oh how I hate it when early morning chores impede my already slow and shaky progress in writing the Bit! (smile) Yeh, waking up, when the body is just getting into full sleep mode is hard enough to contend with after some late night shenanigans. So half asleep, all I want to do is get my strong, sweet java and come down here and ask the Lord for help and guidance to write His Bit.
Chuh man! I don’t need no other foolish, but possibly necessary chores (smile) to intervene there. But who says that life would be easy eh? Nobody. And furthermore, I know I can handle those chores with my eyes closed because I know that I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me! Glory Hallelujah my faithful bredrin!
And with Christ beside me, around me like a mighty shield, and within me, I become a mighty conqueror, so that no one can stand against me and no harm can come to me all the days of my life! Mama Yo! What a wonderful Lord, Saviour, Guide and leader we have! Please precious saints, please give Him much thanks and praise, glory and adoration, with reverence that will never end!
And is the ole fella excited this Tuesday morning or what! But that’s what is supposed to happen to believers in Christ when we truly understand the full power and majesty of His awesome interest in our lives, and the many benefits He’s willing to provide, if we will only do His bidding.
Ah mih people, we can’t be true Christians if we’re not excited by all that’s possible and available to us in and through Christ! A dull, dour Christian is NO Christian at all! For if we’re not excited for our sins to be forgiven, to be reconciled to Almighty God, to stand justified and righteous before Him and be awakened when the final trump (not Donald) calls, so the promise of eternal life with Christ can be fulfilled, then what’s the point in believing eh?
I hate to see the supposed pious, the supposed humble, the poor me one, who thinks that they are being so Christian by downgrading and degrading themselves. Yes, we need to be humble and all that, but not to be ashamed to preach Christ and his gospel. Remember He died that we might have life, and have it more abundantly. What does that mean eh? Dragging and eating dust all the days of our lives?
Certainly not! But to be standing proud and honouring His name and glory; letting ALL and sundry know what He’s done for us in particular, for this sinful world in general, and all the wonderful benefits and promises He has bestowed upon us, especially His momentous and glorious sacrifice of His sinless life for us on the cross at Calvary! And how can you tell people about that, if you’re dragging, ashamed and otherwise not excited eh? How can you offer Jesus’ Great Invitation when you seem like you’re on your last breath and expect people to believe you eh?
Listen to Him open up His very heart and soul to all who are shaking it rough nuh: ‘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 (gentle and humble) in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ (Matt. 11:28-30) Now how can you invite someone to come to Jesus and enjoy those benefits eh, if you yourself are looking and behaving so rough and weary and laden eh? I certainly wouldn’t want to listen to anyone spout the great benefits available when they don’t look like they have received them!
And that’s partly why the heathen today doesn’t pay much mind to we supposed believers; because we don’t look like and don’t behave like believers are supposed to behave! Too many of us are sour and miserable, cheap and greedy, with generosity a bad word in our vocabulary, and too much like the world around us!
Ah mih people, why you all start me off eh? (smile) But is true. If you look at the normal, ordinary Christian you’d never know that we different from the world, and we have so many good things going for us. Half of us so unpleasant, like we always sucking lime; and the next half either too proud to beg or to lend a helping hand. But that’s what Christianity is all about. And remember when the hypocrite Pharisees asked Christ why he ate and drank with publicans and sinners, He answered: ‘They that are whole (healthy) need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.’ (Luke 5:31-32)
And when Jesus spoke there about the ‘righteous’ He was just mamaguying the Pharisees. He really meant the ‘self-righteous’ like the Pharisees themselves, who thought they were so good and righteous that they needed no repentance. Oh my people, too many of us today also behave like the Pharisees, willing to tell others what to do but not doing anything of the kind ourselves.
Remember how Jesus lambasted the scribes and Pharisees, the religious leaders in Matthew 23? ‘Woe unto you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter (dish), but within they are full of extortion and excess (self-indulgence). Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter (dish), that the outside of them may be clean also.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye are like unto whited sepulchres (white washed tombs), which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity (lawlessness).’ (Matt. 23:25-28)
Now you can imagine how angry and upset Jesus was by the self-righteous, hypocritical behaviour of the supposed religious leaders who were leading the people astray with a whole lot of man-made tradition and not enough true religious doings, if He could spend so much time telling them off. He really got it off His chest that day. Unfortunately though, times have not changed that much for there are still too many of us supposed believers who behave and act like those long gone scribes and Pharisees, hence the Christian brotherhood, Christ’s church is not held in as high an esteem as it deserves.
Friends, our unchristian behaviour is killing Christ’s church. Please, please, I plead with us to wake up and do better. Remember that this pandemic situation and strife filled world is nothing but a wake up call to Christ’s church to get with the true programme; help the sick and the suffering, look out for the poor and homeless, and all those who are badly wounded, thus we can sincerely bring others to Christ, which is our bounden duty as believers. And I do hope what I’ve said makes sense, but even if it doesn’t, I know that with the Holy Spirit of Christ dwelling within you, you are wise enough to pick sense from nonsense. (smile)
Now let’s go home declaring (awright!) our Tuesday Mantra, letting the whole world know who and whose we are. In strong voice with sincere hearts: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with the world. Amen!’
Now let’s go out, or even stay in (smile) and do just that nuh. Much LOVE!
…true Christianity…is all about…helping each other…and spreading the LOVE of Jesus…
P.S. Yes, it long, and somewhat late, but it good…and true too! (smile)
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