02 Jun 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a haven of peace and truth, after their own lusts, all church members are equally valued, all the members of that one body being many are one body, any day is capable of rumpling our feathers, as the body is one and hath many members, be a breeze from here on in, be alert, be bond or free, be Jews or Gentiles, be turned unto fables, been all made to drink into one Spirit, biblically speaking, both an individual and corporate matter, bring light and love to mankind, by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, called to care for one another, causing grief, church members are interconnected, come to know and love christ like we do, comfort those who suffer, diverse gifts and functions, doing many things differently, duty bound, every part is essential to the whole, exhort with longsuffering and doctrine, faith, fall into bad habits, for all the saints, get down to the nitty gritty, give thanks to Jesus' commitment to the church, God's compassions are new every morning, granted life, great is thy faithfulness, grow in love discernment and good works, have the Holy Spirit present wherever you are lifted up, have the same care for one another, heap tp themselves teachers, holy spirit, hurry, I am the beloved of god, in god's eyes, instead of what they need to hear, It is of the Lord's mercies that we're not consumed, itching ears, Jesus Christ, Jesus is the legal head of the church, Jesus will not let the church fall, keep us safe as we hope in you, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong, live in righteousness and thanksgiving, lock stock and barrel, LOVE, make your church ready for your return, mercy, need to keep praying for the church, no one part can say it does not need the others, no schism in the body, not guaranteed to see tomorrow, not to the standard it ought to, on Christ's behalf, please protect and encourage your people, Prayer Cards from IN Touch Ministries, prayer is of the utmost importance, praying always with all prayer and supplication, preach the world, preachers telling people what they want to hear, preaching different doctrines, presenting challenges, provide for those in need, rumpled Monday's feathers, salvation, share His love with my neighbours, so also is Christ, spiritual combat, strengthen us against temptation, take one day at a time, thank you for the church, the analogy of the human body, the body of Christ, the church is a single unified body under Christ, the church is badly disunified, the church is strife-filled, the church is the worldwide body of Christian believers, the last days, the spiritual armour of God, the time will come, the truth is skewered, the whole body experiences it together, they will not endure sound doctrine, to go out and share the love and friendship of Christ, too many different denominations, trust my friend Jesus, truth, Tuesday Mantra, turn away their ears from the truth, unified by the Holy Spirit, vigilant against deception, watching thereunto, we cannot give up, welcoming to all, when one part suffered or is honoured, wisdom, with all perseverance and petition, with all perseverance and supplication for all saints, with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, worry
Today’s Scrip-Bit 2 June 2026 Ephesians 6:18.
Ephesians 6:18. ‘Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.’
Oh boy, it’s Tuesday, sunshiny and warm! And since we’ve rumpled Monday’s feathers, it ought to be a breeze from here on in! I wouldn’t be so sure of that nuh, for Tuesday might just rumple our feathers. For any day is capable of rumpling our feathers, presenting challenges that we cannot handle and thus causing us grief. So let’s take one day at a time, don’t belittle any of them, but deal with each one seriously, as though it was our last one. And who knows, it just might be, since we’re not guaranteed to see tomorrow.
And as the prophet Jeremiah so rightly declares in his Lamentations: ‘It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.’ (Lam. 3:22-23) Yes friends, let’s remember that it’s only because of God’s goodness and mercy that we are granted life to see a new day, and therefore live the way we ought to, in righteousness and thanksgiving.
Now, today, we’re going to look at one of the Prayer Cards issued by the In Touch Organization a few years ago. This one deals with the church. So please pray with me. ‘Lord Jesus, thank You for the church. Please protect and encourage Your people. Comfort those who suffer, and provide for those in need. Strengthen us against temptation. Help us grow in LOVE, discernment, and good works. May your church be a haven of peace and truth, welcoming to all and vigilant against deception. Let Your Holy Spirit be fully present wherever You are lifted up. Make Your church ready for your return, Lord Jesus, and keep us safe as we hope in You. Amen.’
Yes my fellow believers, that’s a wonderful description of all the things Christ’s church ought to be and do! But is it doing them? Definitely not to the standard it ought to. But before we get down to the nitty gritty, let’s see what the church really is. Many people understand it as the building where believers gather to worship, however in the real sense the church is not so much the building, but biblically it refers to the worldwide body of Christian believers with Jesus as it’s legal head.
It’s as Bruh Paul describes the church in 1 Corinthians. ‘For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we bond (slaves) or free; and have been all made to drink into one spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.’ (1 Cor. 12:12-14) Bruh Paul uses the analogy of the human body to explain the church. Just as a body has many parts (hands, feet, eyes, and ears), the church has many members, but they form a single, unified body, under Christ, unified by the Holy Spirit.
And later on in that same passage, Bruh Paul further states that although the church is composed of many individual members with diverse gifts and functions, every part is essential to the whole. This means all members are interconnected, equally valued, and called to care for one another. And further still, he emphasizes that no one part can say it does not need the others, and when one part suffers or is honored, the whole body experiences it together. (1 Cor. 12:15-27) Yes mih bredrin, Christ’s church is just like the human body, with Christ at the head and the many other parts making it up into one whole, all unified by the Holy Spirit.
So let’s see now, how it’s living up to its purpose. Per the Prayer Card, the church should be a place where people are encouraged, comforted and provided for when in need; a haven of peace and truth, welcoming to all and vigilant against deception.’ How much of that is the church really doing eh? Not enough. And it cannot when it’s so badly broken up and disunified, when there are so many different denominations, cliques and different entities all claiming to be a part of Christ’s body and preaching different doctrines, as well as doing many things differently.
Therefore, it’s totally contrary to Bruh Paul’s words; ‘That there should be no schism (division) in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.’ (1 Cor. 12:25) And is the church really a haven of peace and truth? No way! For today’s church is strife-filled and what truth that’s being preached is usually skewered to the preacher or the people’s liking.
To a great extent it’s like Bruh Paul warned Timothy: ‘Preach the word; be instant (ready) in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.’ (2 Tim. 4:2-4)
And are we ever seeing that in these last days, where preachers are telling people what they want to hear, rather than what they need to hear. But regardless of how bad things might seem, we still cannot afford to give up. No way! For giving up does not exist in Christ’s vocabulary! And we desperately need to keep on praying for the church, for the body of Christ that’s supposed to bring light and LOVE to mankind on Christ’s behalf, for if we don’t, it will only continue to fall into bad habits and eventually crumble. And that we definitely don’t want to happen.
So, let’s do as the Prayer Card strongly suggests by using as it’s Bible verse: ‘Be alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.’ Now that’s a new-fangled version of Bruh Paul’s declaration after admonishing us to put on the spiritual armour of God in Ephesians. But here’s the real McCoy. (smile) ‘Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.’ (Eph. 6:18)
Yes my people, prayer is of the utmost importance in the Christian life. For even the spiritual armour of God is inadequate without it. And we are to pray not only for ourselves, but for all of God’s saints, because, as the scholars tell us; ‘spiritual combat is both an individual and corporate matter.’
And now, with all that information re the church and its purpose refreshed and renewed in our minds, let’s go home declaring our Tuesday Mantra, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel. 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 my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’
That now makes us duty bound to go out and share the amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
And as per the Prayer Card …Give thanks for Jesus’ commitment to His church…He will not let her fall…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
26 May 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a shortsighted situation, a wise and perceptive passage, as the grave, as those that go down to the pit, behold the upright, bringing tough circumstances to the forefronteach day can cause tous, cast in thy lot among us, caught with our pants below our knees, christianity, Christians, come to know and love christ like we do, come with us, death-bringing sinfulness, deliver them from the wicked, do not err my beloved brethren, drawn away of his own lust, duty bound, each day can cause serious challenges, earthly pleasures, enticed, every man is tempted, faith, fill our houses with spoil, find all precious substance, for the innocent without cause, full grown sin brings forth death, God cannot be tempted with evil, God tempts no man, have rule over all my labour, he shall exalt thee to inherit the land, I am tempted of God, I am the beloved of god, I hated all my labour, I sought him but he culd not be found, if sinners entice thee consent not, in god's eyes, in the sight of any bird, in vain the net is spread, involved with the schemes of the wicked, Jesus Christ, leave it unto the man tat comes after me, let no man say when he is tempted, let the world know to whom we belong, let us all have one purse, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily, let us lurk secretly, lie in wait for blood, lock stock and barrel, LOVE, lurk privily for their own lives, lust brings forth sin, make haste to shed blood, make Tuesday and easy target, mark the perfect man, mercy, one strong and sincere voice, our nemesis, plunder, promise wealth without work, refrain thy foot from their path, salvation, save them because they trust in him, seen the wicked in great power, share His love with my neighbours, shewed myself wise under the sun, sin brings painful consequences, so few seeking righteousness, so many practicing wickedness, spreading himself like a green bay tree, swallow them up alive, taken under the sun, taketh away the life of the owners, the BIBLE, the counsels of the wicked are deceit, the end of sin is always death and destruction, the end of that man is peace, the end of the wicked shall be cut off, the house of the righteous shall stand, the individual's responsibility, the Lord shall help them, the mouth of the upright shall deliver them, the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord, the thoughts of the righteous are right, the transgressors shall be destroyed together, the way of sinners, the ways of every one that is greedy of gain, the wicked are no more, the wicked are overthrown, the wise son rejects the invitation of criminals, the words of the wicked, their feet run to evil, their strength in time of trouble, they lay in wait for their own blood, this also is vanity, to avoid the tempter's snare, to go out and share the love and friendship of Christ, trust in the Lord, trust my friend Jesus, truth, Tuesday Mantra, wait on the Lord and keep his way, walk not thou in the way with them, when the wicked are cut off, who knows whether he shall be a wise man or a fool, wisdom, with the whole wide world, worry, yet he passed away, you shall see when the wicked are cut off
Today’s Scrip-Bit 26 May 2026 Proverbs 12:7.
Proverbs 12:7. The wicked are overthrown, and are not (no more): but the house of the righteous shall stand.
Oh boy, we’ve beaten our nemesis Monday into the ground! But please, don’t think that will make Tuesday an easy target. It most likely won’t be, for Monday might give us starting problems after the weekend break, but each day is very capable of bringing tough circumstances to the forefront. That means every day is a challenge in itself, and we cannot afford to lower our expectations, otherwise we can be caught with out pants below our knees. (smile)
And on this bright, warm, sunshiny Tuesday, with temps in the mid-twenties, we’re going to look at a few verses from the wisdom of Cousin Sol in Proverbs, re the difference between the wicked and the righteous. He expounds thus: ‘The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit. The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them. The wicked are overthrown, and are not (no more): but the house of the righteous shall stand.’ (Prov. 12:5-7)
Oh friends, how many times in the Bible have we been told the same basic story eh – that the wicked shall be destroyed and the righteous saved? But too many of us seem not to believe it, otherwise there would not be so many wicked people in the world practicing their wicked behaviour, and not so few seeking righteousness. And right at the beginning of Proverbs, Cousin Sol warns us about walking in the way of sinners with a very wise and perceptive passage.
‘My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. If they say, come with us, let us lay wait for blood (to shed blood), let us lurk privily (secretly) for the innocent without cause: Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down to the pit: We shall find all precious substance (wealth), we shall fill our houses with spoil (plunder): Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:
My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain (keep) thy foot from their path: For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood. Surely in vain (futility) the net is spread in the sight of any bird. And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily (secretly) for their own lives. So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.’ (Prov. 1:10-19)
Yes my brethren, we could not get a better discourse on the actions of the wicked and advice not to fall into their snare. As the scholars explain: ‘The wise son rejects the invitation of criminals who promise wealth without work (vs.13). The verse stresses the individual’s responsibility to avoid the tempter’s snare (cf. James 1:14-15).’ And that’s the point we’re trying to make, it’s our responsibility, not anybody else’s, to avoid getting involved with the deeds and schemes of the wicked.
As James states it: ‘Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust (desire), and enticed. Then when lust (desire) hath conceived, it bringeth forth (gives birth to) sin: and sin, when it is finished (full grown), bringeth forth death. Do not err (be deceived), my beloved brethren.’ (James 1:13-16) So when we’re tempted to sin, we cannot say it’s God tempting us, but it’s our own lustful, carnal desires that are driving us to sin. And in the end, that sinful desire only causes death!
How many times do we need to hear that before we turn away from sin eh? Obviously some of us must like death, the way we live such a sinful life. But that’s a shortsighted and very unwise situation, for you cannot carry any of the wealth and pleasures you amass here into the next life; in fact you’ll forfeit it all to someone else. As Cousin Sol writes as the Preacher in Ecclesiastes:
‘Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken (toiled) under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me. And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity (futility).’ (Eccl. 2:18-19) Yes, you’ll leave all your earthly wealth for someone else to possibly use and abuse. So what’s the point in toiling hard to amass it eh?
And if you don’t believe Cousin Sol or James, or me, (smile) then listen to Bruh David from Psalm 37, titled ‘Trust in the Lord.’ where he confidently declares: ‘Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it. I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree (a native green tree). Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.
Mark the perfect (blameless) man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace. But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off. But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time of trouble. And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust him’ (Ps. 37:34-40)
Oh my people, it could not be said any clearer than that! Stay away from evil and trust in the Lord and your life will be saved. It as simple as that! So please, let’s cut out, turn away from all the foolish and death-bringing sinfulness that we’re currently involved in nuh, because it certainly doesn’t do us any good, neither now or in the hereafter. And furthermore, sin always brings painful consequences right here on earth. So why pursue it eh?
Now, let’s go home declaring our Tuesday Mantra, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel. 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 my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’
That makes us duty bound to go out and share the amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…sin might bring some earthly pleasures…but its end is always…death and destruction…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
19 May 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: 10th century African Prayer, a breath of fresh air, a modicum of circumspection, at the foot of the cross, Christ who died for us, Christ's crucifixion was the playing out of God's plan for man's salvation, Christ's death on the cross, christianity, come to know and love christ like we do, comfort yourselves together, complain that it's too hot, dogs have taken first place over children, duty bound, edify one another, encourage each other, faith, Father forgive them, felt the sun strong, God hath not appointed us to wrath, have the light of life, he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, holy spirit, hurry, I am the light of the world, in god's eyes, Jesus Christ, Jesus is the light of life and the life of light, lay all your worries at the foot of the cross, live together with christ, lost forever in the darkness of the devil, LOVE, mercy, our sins have been forgivien, Prayers Through the Ages Publication, receive hope for the future, run to the cross for any and everything, salvation, share Christ's amazing love and friendship, share His love with my neighbours, sick calls to work, summer ritual, thank you father for the cross, the aim of the priests, the basic foundation of our faith, the beloved of God, the BIBLE, the cloth of the naked, the coming of Christ, the consolation of the bondman, the cross, the cross of Christ - the symbol of everything good and true, the daily grind and common task, the doctor of the sick, the forgiveness of sins, the freedom of slaves, the hope of christians, the hope of the hopeless, the life of light, the light of the world, the power of kings, the resurrection of the dead, the saviour of the lost, the source of those who seek water, the staff of the lame, the strength of the weak, the water of the weeds, the way of the lost, they know not what they do, to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, took the sage asvice, trust my friend Jesus, truth, Tuesday Mantra, we're enver satisfied, we've seen the light Jesus, whether we wake or sleep, wisdom, without the cross of Christ, worry, you never know the good thing you have unti you lose it
Today’s Scrip-Bit 19 May 2026 1 Thessalonians 5:9.
1 Thessalonians 5:9. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
And then it was Tuesday; meaning all the Victoria Day celebrations over, and we need to get back to the daily grind and common task, called work. (smile) Let’s hope the celebrations were enjoyable but were not overdone, that we took the sage advice of Cousin Sol and Bruh Paul and exerted a modicum of circumspection, (smile) and also that there weren’t a lot of sick calls to work this morning, for that just spoils the employer’s attitude over public holidays, especially when they have to still pay their employees.
As for me, I didn’t do any real celebrating, but I did get to begin my summer ritual of sitting on my front porch and watching people go by with their many dogs and few children. Ah Lord eh! Dogs seem to have taken first place over children. And it’s amazing what you can see and hear while people pass by and don’t even notice you, although you’re sitting in full sight. You can only shake your head and wonder what’s happening; what our world will be like some fifty years hence, that is if we haven’t totally destroyed it by then.
Anyway before I came down to write the Bit, I had a breath of fresh air and felt the sun strong on my arthritic bones. Oh what a good feeling that was! As they say, you never know the good things you have until you no longer have them. And sadly, it seems like this spell of summer weather will end sometime this week and we’ll go back to temps in the mid-teens or thereabouts. Hopefully that will be just for a short while though, and we’ll soon get the real heat, when we’ll begin to complain about how hot it is, and how it’s too hot. (smile) We’re never satisfied are we?
However, on this warm, sunny May Tuesday, we’re going to declare a 10th Century African Prayer, found in the Toronto Anglican Diocese 2025 publication ‘Prayers Through the Ages,’ Daily prayers for spiritual renewal. So please pray with me: ‘The cross is the hope of Christians The cross is the resurrection of the dead The cross is the way of the lost The cross is the saviour of the lost The cross is the staff of the lame The cross is the strength of the weak
The cross is the doctor of the sick The cross is the aim of the priests The cross is the hope of the hopeless The cross is the freedom of the slaves The cross is the power of kings The cross is the water of the weeds The cross is the consolation of the bondman The cross is the source of those who seek water The cross is the cloth of the naked We thank you, Father, for the cross.’
And do we ever thank the Lord for the cross, because it’s the basic foundation of our faith, of all that we are and stand for! Yes friends, without the cross of Christ we’d all be lost forever in the darkness of the devil and this evil world. But through the coming of Christ and his death on the cross, our sins have been forgiven and we’ve finally seen the light; Jesus, the light of the world! As He so rightly said: ‘I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.’ (John 8:12) And that’s why we Christians have the life of light, as well as the light of life! (smile)
And isn’t it amazing that the cross is truly the basis of all the prayer states: ‘The hope of Christians; the resurrection of the dead; the way of the lost; the saviour of the lost; the staff of the lame; the strength of the weak; the doctor of the sick; the aim of the priests; the hope of the hopeless, the freedom of the slaves; the power of kings; etc. etc.’ Yes my brethren, the cross of Christ holds the answer to every question and problem our world has or can ever devise. That’s how important it is. We can run to it for whatever we need, whatever ails us or is trying to tear us apart.
At the foot of Christ cross, we can place all our worries and ailments and receive hope for the future. Nothing else in this world has the power to do that! No wonder the cross has become the symbol of Christianity, because it’s everything to us. It’s where the forgiveness of our sins was purchased, with Jesus, even as He hung on that old rugged cross, asking ‘Father, forgive them. For they know not what they do.’ (Luke 23:34) Yes, those who crucified Christ, had no inkling whatsoever of what they were doing. They thought that they were getting rid of an opponent, but the truth was that He came to earth to be crucified and pay our sin debt. So what they were doing was just the playing out of the Lord’s plans.
And Christ’s resurrection on the third day, made our lives even better, for not only were our sins forgiven, but with His resurrection, we also received the totality of salvation and eternal life! All thanks and praise to our wonderful God! It’s As Bruh Paul wrote to the Thessalonians. ‘For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together (encourage each other), and edify (build up) one another, even as also ye do (are doing).’ (1 Thess. 5:9-11)
That’s it in a nutshell, my fellow believers! God, through Christ, made a way for us, where there seemed to be absolutely no way. So please, let’s not abuse or reject it, but gladly grab hold of it, cherish it, and stay with it until the end! Now let’s go home declaring our Tuesday Mantra letting all and sundry know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel. 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 my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’
And if we truly meant it, then we’re now duty bound to go out and share the amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…the cross of Christ…the symbol of everything good and true…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
12 May 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a friend of the world is the enemy of God, be fulfilled in us, belly and backbone, carnally minded, Christ carried out His divine mission, come to know and love christ like we do, do mind the things of the flesh, doing God's will with a sense of joy and inner peace, Dr. Robert H Schuller, duty bound, eternal life, every man's life is a plan of God, faith, fellowship, fight us tooth and nail, free from the law of sin and death, friendship with the world is enmity with God, fulfilling God's plan and purpose for our life, God condemned sin in the flesh, gumption, holy spirit, Hours of Power Devotional, hurry, I am come that they might have life, if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his, if any man love the world, if the Spirit of God dwell in you, in god's eyes, It is finished, Jesus Christ, Jesus' purpose for coming to earth, know ye not, let not your heart be troubled, live the good and abundant life, living by the spirit of christ, lock stock and barrel, lots of perseverance study prayer and fellowship, LOVE, love not the things in the world, love not the world, mercy, my joy might be in you, my peace I give unto you, neither let it be afraid, no condemnation to them which are in Christ, not as the world giveth give I unto you, not subject to the law of God, Peace i leave with you, perseverance, salvation, share His love with my neighbours, share the amazing love and friendship of Christ, succumb to the devil's evil and ungodly will, taken from darkness into light, the basics of the good life, the beloved of God, the carnal mind is enmity against God, the good life, the good life begins and ends with living for christ, the good life has a deep undercurrent of profound peace, the good life is one with inner joy, the good life is the awareness of fulfilment, the good life is the deep feeling of fulfilling God's plan and purpose for our life, the law of the Spirit of life in Christ, the law was weak through the flesh, the love of the Father is not in him, the righteousness of the law, the secret of Jesus' satisfying life, the thief cometh not but to steal, the things of the Spirit, they might have it more abundantly, they that are after the flesh, they that are after the Spirit, they that are in the flesh cannot please God, to be carnally minded is death, to be spiritually minded is life and peace, to kill and destroy, trials and tribluations, trust my friend Jesus, truth, Tuesday Mantra, walk not after the flesh but after the spirit, who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit, wisdom, with flying colours, worry, you are not in the flesh but in the spirit, your joy might be complete
Today’s Scrip-Bit 12 May 2026 John 10:10b.
John 10:10b. I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
So, we’ve gotten through Monday with flying colours, and now come to this sunshiny day called Tuesday. Well what’s in for us we wander? Is it more heartache, more trials and tribulations or the Good Life? Now all of us pant for the Good Life, but what exactly is it? Today, we’ll look at what Dr. Robert H Schuller wrote about it in his Hours of Power, Daily Book of Motivation and Inspiration. He wrote thus about the Good Life.
‘If you want to know what is meant by the good life, direct your attention to Jesus Christ. This was the good life incarnate.’ Oh, for sure! None of us would ever doubt that Jesus’ life was indeed the good life, but what was it all about eh? Dr. Schuller continues: ‘What was life like for Him? Take a look at His last days on earth and you will see the secret of His satisfying life. Shortly before He died he said to his apostles, “I would that my joy might be in you and that your joy might be complete” (John 15:11). The good life, then, is a life that has an inner joy.
Then hear this: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). The good life is a life that has a deep undercurrent of profound peace. The last words to fall from Christ’s lips, as he hung and died under the Jerusalem sky, were short and simple, but triumphant: It is finished” (John 19:30). He had carried out His divine mission. The good life is the awareness of fulfilment. For “every man’s life is a plan of God.” God has a plan for you. And the good life is the deep feeling that we are fulfilling God’s plan and purpose in our life.’
Yes friends, that’s the basics of the good life! Doing what God desires us to do, while doing it with a sense of joy and inner peace. And to help us find those things, we need to remember these reassuring words of Jesus, as he talks about the good shepherd in the gospel of John. ‘The thief cometh not, but for (except) to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.’ (John 10:10) That was certainly Jesus’ purpose for coming to earth, so that we could have the abundant life of being saved, taken from darkness into the light, not be overwhelmed by our trials and tribulations, have joy and peace, with the eventual action of eternal life in His wonderful presence!
Wow! Who would not want that sort of life eh? But it doesn’t just fall in our laps, no, we have to get up and live it; live it sincerely and seriously by the rules set out by Christ for His church; the people who truly believe in Him and follow Him. On the other hand though, the devil will fight us tooth and nail to not do what Jesus desires, but to succumb to his evil and ungodly will. That’s why it takes a lot of belly and backbone, a lot of gumption and perseverance to live the good and abundant life.
And one of the first steps in living that life, is found in these words of Paul. ‘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) And you might ask, why do we need to do that? James answers that question thus: ‘Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of (with) the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will (wants to) be a friend of the world is (makes himself) the enemy of God?’ (James 4:4)
And you might want to delve further in the reason for that. John explains it this way in his first epistle. ‘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) Basically, it means that living as the world dictates is living by the flesh, by our feelings, carnally minded, while living for Christ is done through the leading and guidance of the Holy Spirit and God’s Word, found in the Bible, and these two ways of living are totally different and thus cannot exist together in the same body. It’s either one or the other.
But listen to this more in depth explanation from Bruh Paul to the Romans. ‘There is now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for (on account of) sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the righteousness (righteous requirements) of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
For they that are after flesh do mind (set their minds on) the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.’ (Rom. 8:1-9)
That’s the technical reasoning for the differences in the two ways of earthly living; one by what the world desires, or fleshly living, and living by the Spirit of Christ which dwells within believers. So you have to be a believer if you want to live by the Spirit, because that’s the only way to receive the Holy Spirit. So yes, it is possible to live the good life, the abundantly life that Christ died for us to have, but it must begin with an individual decision, and then lots of perseverance, study, prayer and fellowship.
Now let’s go home declaring our Tuesday Mantra, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel. 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 my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’
That now makes us duty bound to go out and share the amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…living the good life…begins and ends with living for Christ…
Visit the Scrip-Bit Blog at https://randyobrien50.com
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05 May 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a kind of firstfruits, a state of strife, after that ye have suffered a while, announce Christ's good news gospel, as worthy vessels, be a lighted candle showing others the way, be perfect and entire, be slow to wrath, begat us with the word of truth, believers in Christ Jesus, bring light to our dark and cloudy path, called us unto his eternal glory, christianity, Christians, clinging to you hopefully, come to know and love christ like we do, cometh down from the Father of lights, count it all joy, despite the drain and strain, determined to wait, do not err my beloved brethren, duty bound, encourages God to do even more for us, equipped with all the tools to handle life, eternal separation from God, even confidently, every good and perfect gift is from above, faith, fall into divers temptations, fall into various trials, filled with flavoured salt, firstfruits of his creatures, fresh depths of insight, go out and share the amazing love and friendship of Christ, God will do all He promises, God will himself restore you, good reason for faith hope and trust in God, grace grows best in winter, holy spirit, hurry, I anticipate new perspectives, in god's eyes, in ways unanticipated, into all that is now so mysterious, Jesus Christ, let every man be swift to hear, let patience have her perfect work, like beacons that draw others to us, live our lives like shining lights, LOVE, make all you are now permitting blessedly clear, make the effort to spread God's word, make you perfect, make you strong firm and steadfast, mental unrest, mercy, neither shadow of turning, not easy to put into action, O God ... My God, of his own will, receive the amazing gifts of salvation and eternal life, regardless of the consequences, rise above the noise and hate of the world, Ruth Harms Calkin, salvation, Samuel Rutherford's words, share His love with my neighbours, slow to speak, someday, someway, sounds very godly and righteous, stablish strengthen settle you, teaching me the great truth, thank you dear God, thank you for that, the beloved of God, the BIBLE, the God of all grace, the One Year Book of Bible Promises, the trying of your faith worketh patience, the wrath of man, throw a spanner in the works, tickles the Lord's fancy, to an unbelieving multitude, to rely upon your faithfulness, to trust, transform a saltless world, trust my friend Jesus, truth, Tuesday Mantra, wait with patience and perseverance, wanting nothing, warms the cockles of God's heart, we consider ourselves teachable, what a show of faith, when the going's good, wisdom, with fixed purpose, with whom is no variableness, worketh not the righteousness of God, worry, you seem totally hidden
1 Peter 5:10. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish (confirm), strengthen, settle you.
Yay friends! It’s Tuesday! That means we’ve successfully navigated Monday, and the rest of the week will be a breeze! Wow! Isn’t that nice to know. Yes it is, but please let’s not get too sure of ourselves, because it’s very possible for any other day to throw a spanner in the works. Let’s ensure that we’re appropriately dressed up and prayed up, (smile) so that if anything untoward happens we are in a good position to handle it.
And on this fifth day of the fifth month, we have an interesting poem to share from our One Year Book of Bible Promises with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin, one that’s aptly titled ‘O God … My God.’ That’s a wonderful title eh? Wonder what it says? Hope it’s as good as the anticipation. (smile) Please read with me, so we can find out.
‘O God … My God Though You now seem totally hidden I am clinging to You hopefully Even confidently. Someday, some way, you will make All You are now permitting Blessedly clear. With fixed purpose, dear God I am determined to wait, to trust To rely upon Your faithfulness. Despite the drain and strain I anticipate new perspectives And fresh depths of insight Into all that is now so mysterious. O God, in ways unanticipated You are teaching me the great truth Of Samuel Rutherford’s words: “I see that grace grows best in winter.” Thank You, dear God Thak You for that!’
Yes mih bredrin, grace does grow best in winter. For it’s in the hard, cold days of troubled times when we need it the most, and when the Lord showers it down on us the most. When the going’s good, we don’t need grace half as much as when it’s not. And I like how the poem says that although God seems to be hidden from us, we’re still clinging to Him hopefully, even confidently! Wow! What a show of faith!
And furthermore, With fixed purpose, we’re determined to wait, to trust and to rely upon God’s faithfulness, despite the strain and drain on our nerves, our faith and our other resources. Mama Mia! That’s the way I like to hear us talk … and so does our heavenly Father! When we talk like that, with faith and trust regardless of the consequences, it warms the cockles of His heart and encourages Him to do even more for us, because then He knows that we truly LOVE and appreciate Him! It also tickles the Lord’s fancy that we consider ourselves teachable, and wait with patience and perseverance. (smile)
And what’s the Bible verse for today’s poem, you ask? Well … it’s one that we all know, but don’t always take kindly to. However if what we said about the poem is true, then we need to accept it with graciousness. (smile) And it comes from the first epistle of Peter. ‘But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish (confirm), strengthen, settle you.’ (1 Pet. 5:10) Or as the NIV (New International Version) says: ‘after you have suffered a little while, God will Himself restore you, and make you strong, firm and steadfast.’
So there is good reason for the hope, faith and trust we put in Almighty God, despite the tough times we go through. No one likes tough times but in this evil and ungodly world they have become a part of life, and only with the help of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ can we handle them with some amount of fortitude. Again, it’s like James tries to tell us: ‘My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations (various trials); Knowing this, that the trying (testing) of your faith worketh (produces) patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire (complete), wanting (lacking) nothing.’ (James 1:2-4)
Now that sounds very godly and righteous, but it’s not very easy to put into action, especially when our whole world is in a state of strife and mental unrest. But as believers in Christ Jesus, we have been equipped with the tools to do so, and are expected to use them to calm our fears and worries, and even rise above the noise and hate of the world and announce Christ’s good news gospel to an unbelieving multitude, as we live our lives like shining lights, like beacons that draw others to us, as worthy vessels filled with flavoured salt to transform a saltless world.
Yes friends, much is expected of us, but Jesus also did much for us, and the least we can do is to make the effort to spread His word and be a lighted candle showing others the way He desires them to live, so that they can receive the amazing gifts of salvation and eternal life. Remember, that’s why He came to earth and died; to save us from a life of eternal separation from the Father, from perishing in hellfire with Satan and his other evil cronies. So, if we can’t do those two simple things, be a light and flavoured salt, of what use are we to Christ eh? None whatsoever!
And to help us understand the problem, we’ll close with an interesting warning from James. ‘Do not err (be deceived), my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness (variation) neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: for the wrath of man worketh not (does not produce) the righteousness of God.’ (James 1:16-20)
Let’s hope those words bring some light to our dark and cloudy path. And now it’s time to declare our Tuesday Mantra, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel. 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 my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’
Now, we’re duty bound to go out and share the amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…God will do ALL He promises…if we would only have sufficient faith, trust and patience in Him…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
28 Apr 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a privilege to speak out boldly for Christ, all filled with the Holy Ghost, baptizing them in the name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost, behold their threatenings, bold and timely witness, boldness in speaking God's Word, by stretching forth thine hand to heal, caught up in annals of history, cherish today like a present from God, christianity, Christians, Christians are either too afraid or too comfortable, Christians can save the world, come to know and love christ like we do, deeply rooted, deeply rooted in my heart, difficult and dangerous situations in sharing God's word, duty bound, each day is a special gift from God, eah day is a special gift from God, even unto the end of the world, evil doing and ungodliness are running rampant, faith, give us this day our daily bread, go ye therefore and teach all nations, God has a purpose for keeping us alive, God's compassions are new every morning, God's purpose for my life, grant unto thy servants, great is thy faithfulness, his compassions fail not, holy spirit, hope to make a positive difference, hurry, I am with you always, I want everyone to know you, in the name of thy holy child Jesus, In Touch Prayer Cards, It is of the Lord's mercies that we're not consumed, Jesus Christ, judge ye, lead me into situations to tell others about you, lifted up their voice to God with one accord, lock stock and barrel, LOVE, make me bold to share the gospel, may speak the word with all boldness, may your words abide in me, mercy, Monday's over and done with, nothing is more urgent that speaking out for christ, on a direct tangent to hell fire and damnation, openly and fearlessly, our basic purpose here on earth, people badly need to hear God's word, Peter and John are arrested for healing a lame man in Jesus' name, salvation, share His love with my neighbours, so grateful for the gift of salvation, spake the word of god with boldness, speak the truth of scripture without compromise, speak the word openly with out fear, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever, thank you for your precious word, that signs and wonders may be done, the beloved of God, the BIBLE, the Great Commission, the Lord's word contains the path of life, the place was shaken, this is the day the Lord has made, through the power of your Holy Spirit, to go out and share the love and friendship of Christ, to hearken unto you more than unto God, to spread the good news of Christ's gospel, trust my friend Jesus, truth, Tuesday Mantra, upset the old applecart, warned and threatened not so speak of Jesus, we cannot but speak of the things we've seen and heard, we will rejoice and be glad in it, whatsoever I have commanded you, when they had prayed, whether it be right in the sight of God, wisdom, worry
Acts 4:31b. and they spake the word of God with boldness.
Oh friends, it’s Tuesday! Monday’s over and done with; caught up in the annals of history, and Tuesday has replaced it, though with a somewhat chilly and cloudy look. It’s therefore our duty to pay serious attention to it, to cherish and appreciate it like the present from God that it is! So let’s declare and put into action this wise and wonderful advice from the Bible: ‘This is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it.’ (Ps. 118:24) And we can never go wrong by doing that, because each new day is a special gift from God to those whom He keeps alive, and there’s a special purpose for Him doing that.
For as the prophet Jeremiah so wisely acknowledges in his Lamentations: ‘It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.’ (Lam. 3:22-23) And that’s the gospel truth for God’s mercies are new every day. As Jesus prayed; ‘Give us this day our daily bread.’ (Matt. 6:11) For the Lord only gives us enough to handle each new day, as our finite souls and spirits cannot handle much more than that.
However, despite only receiving enough compassion, LOVE, peace etc. for one day at a time, His glorious purpose(s) for keeping us alive is (are) deeply embedded, deeply rooted in our hearts. And today we’ll discuss one of those most important purposes that God’s set in our lives; it’s called Boldness. And we’ll get the basics of that from one of the Praying with Purpose Prayer cards that the In Touch Organization published last year.
So please pray with me: ‘Lord Jesus, I’m so grateful for the gift of salvation. Please make me bold to share the gospel with others openly and fearlessly. I want everyone to know You and Your name to be lifted up. Lead me into situations where I can tell others about You through the power of Your Holy Spirit. May your words abide in me so I speak the truth of Scripture without compromise. Thank You for Your precious Word which contains the path of life. Amen.’
Now, we have to be careful when we pray a prayer like that, for the Lord will take us at our word and begin bringing situations in our paths to do so. However, they might not all be easy or fortunate circumstances. Like Bruh Paul, we could face many difficult and dangerous times in sharing God’s Word. But sharing God’s word with boldness and without compromise is of the utmost necessity.
Remember what Jesus said to the disciples and consequently to all His followers, when He gave them the Great Commission? ‘All power (authority) is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore and teach (make disciples of) all nations. baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.’ (Matt. 28:18-20)
Now that’s our basic purpose on this earth my faithful brethren; to spread the good news of Christ’s gospel and live our own lives in a way that others would see it and desire to turn to Him for salvation. And that situation needs to be very seriously addressed today my fellow believers, because evil doing and ungodliness are running rampant. Yes my brethren, it’s in times like these that the Word of God needs to be spoken evermore vociferously and sincerely, because the people need it ever so much, as our world is on a direct tangent to hell fire and damnation, and only we, the servants, disciples and children of Almighty God can save it through our bold and timely witness.
But unfortunately, not enough of us supposed Christians are making the desired effort to spread Christ’s gospel of salvation, so our world is sliding downhill to hell more every day, and Satan and his evil cronies are just smiling and high-fiving each other as it happens. And we can use this situation from the early church as a good example.
Peter and John were arrested for healing a lame man in the name of Jesus, and when they were warned by the Council of leaders not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus, they replied: ‘Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.’ (Acts 4:19-20) And after more threats of serious punishment, they were released and went out and told their people what had happened.
‘And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, ‘Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that therein is.’ (Acts 4:24) Then they went on to state how the Lord had set matters in Israel in Jesus’ time (Acts 4:25-28) Finally, they declared: ‘And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by (through) the name of thy holy child (servant) Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.’ (Acts 4:29-31)
Now friends, it’s stuff like that we need to initiate in these dreadful times, where we can go out and speak the word of God openly, without fear, regardless of any consequences that might arise from it. But unfortunately, Christ’s people are not doing such actions, because we’re either too afraid, or too comfortable, and we don’t want to upset the old applecart. But please note, that no changes, good or bad, ever happen unless the old apple cart is upset. (smile) So please, it’s time for all Christians to seriously get together and both live and speak the Word of God with all boldness and sincerity, if we hope to make a positive difference in our failing world!
Now, let’s go home declaring our Tuesday Mantra, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel. 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 my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’
We are now duty bound to go out and share the amazing LOVE and friendship of Jesus with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…what a privilege it is…to speak out boldly for Christ…and nothing is more urgent… (In Touch Prayer Card on Boldness)
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
23 Apr 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a compassionate heart, a sense of humour, a serpent of brass, a source of spiritual confusion, a strong will, a symbol of deliverance, above all things have fervent charity among yourselves, abundance, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord, brake in pieces the brasen serpent, Caleb and Joshua said they were well able, charity shall cover a multitude of sins, christianity, Christians, come to know and love God like we do, complaining, concentrate on the challenges of today, courage, curse, cut down the groves, did what was right in the sight of the Lord, duty bound, everyone that is bitten, faith, favour, forgiving iniquity and transgression, God's supernatural wisdom, good freinds, good health, great family, holy spirit, I have pardoned according to thy word, idolatrous worship, Israel burned incense unto the brass serpent, Jesus Christ, king Hezekiah, lack of faith in God and His promises, looking forward to tomorrow, LOVE, love shall cover a multitude of sins, make thee a fiery serpent and set it upon a pole, mercy, Moses spoke God's own words back to him, Moses talks the Lord into not totally destroying Israel, negative word, removed the high places of pagan worship, salvation, self-control, self-disicpline, shall live when he looks at it, smite them with the pestilence, success, supernatural strenght, talent, ten spies said they could not take the land, the bearer of life, the BIBLE, the dire consequences that can result from complaining, the Israelites reluctance to enter the Promised Land, the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for forty years., the Lord is longsuffering and of great mercy, the Lord said unto Moses, the Lord's wrath is stirred up when we refuse to believe His signs and wonders, the negative image of the devil incarnate, the second to last day of our work week, the solution to the Israelites snake bite problem, truth, use hospitality to one another without grudging, wisdom, wooden images, worshipping the bronze serpent
1 Peter 4:9. Use hospitality one to another without grudging (grumbling).
And so we come to Thursday, the second to last day of our work week. It’s a nice, warm sunshiny day, but I believe too many of us are looking forward to tomorrow, Friday, the end of the work week, instead of concentrating on the challenges of today. And we need to be very careful with those kinds of situations, for we can cause ourselves serious problems if our minds are not focused on what’s happening in front of us right now. Remember, Jesus warned us to concentrate on today’s problems, rather than what might happen on the morrow. (Matt. 6:34)
Anyway, as promised yesterday, if God spared life today, which He’s most generously done, (smile) then we would continue looking at some of the scriptures that deal with complaining and the dire consequences that can result from it. Now, yesterday we stopped where, after the Israelites complained, the Lord had sent fiery serpents into the camp to bite them and many of them died. Then they repented of their complaining and asked Moses to pray to God for them, and Moses did as asked.
And anyone who thinks the Lord doesn’t have a sense of humour or of the unexpected and unconventional, had better think again, for here’s His solution to the Israelites snake bite problem. ‘And the Lord said unto Moses, make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, he shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld (looked at) the serpent of brass, he lived.’ (Num. 21:8-9)
Now, only our mysterious and unconventional God would choose to have us look on the same thing that caused our problem to be saved from it, especially when it was a snake that held the negative image of the devil incarnate. But it worked then, and according to the scholars the bronze snake played a large role in Israel’s life, and remained a symbol of deliverance, but unfortunately by Hezekiah’s time it had become a source of spiritual confusion and idolatrous worship, and they fell back into the ancient pagan way of thinking and worshipping the bronze snake as the bearer of life.
It was not until Hezikiah, who developed a great trust in the Lord and did what was right in His sight, that the idol worship was destroyed. The Bible tells us that Hezekiah, ‘Removed the high places (places for pagan worship), and brake the images (sacred pillars), and cut down the groves (wooden images), and brake in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it, and he called it Nehushtan (a bronze thing).’ (2 Kin, 18:4) So, we can see how easy it is for something man made to be turned into idolatry if it lasts long enough in our societies.
Meanwhile, the second incident of complaining that Bruh Paul spoke about in his letter to the Corinthians stems from the Israelites lack of faith and reluctance to enter the Promised Land, after the 12 spies came back from checking it out. They foolishly believed the ten who said it was indeed filled with milk and honey, but there were giants whom they could not defeat. And summarily refused to countenance Joshua and Caleb’s contention that they were strong enough, especially with the Lord’s help to go in and take it.
And they murmured and grumbled and complained so much that the Lord said unto Moses. ‘How long will this people provoke (despise) me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the (miraculous) signs which I have shewed among them? I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they.’ (Num. 14:11-12) Yes friends, that’s how the Lord’s wrath can be stirred up when we refuse to believe his signs and wonders and complain about our situations.
However, the Israelites were lucky that Moses intervened on their behalf and reasoned with the Lord that if He destroyed them all, then the other nations would hear about it and claim that ‘Because the Lord was not able to bring this people into the land which he sware unto them, therefore he had slain them in the wilderness. And now I beseech thee, let the power of my Lord be great, according as thou hast spoken, saying, The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation, Pardon I beseech thee, the iniquity of these people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even unto now.’ (Num. 14:16-19)
Moses certainly knew how to get God’s attention, basically with God’s own words and His merciful behaviour so far to the Israelites. ‘And the Lord said, I have pardoned according to thy word: But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord. because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted (tested) me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it.’ (Num. 14:20-23)
And to make a long story short, the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for forty years until all those who had come out of Egypt died and only Joshua and Caleb, because of their strong faith, entered the Promised Land with the new generation of the Israelites. And it all came from their complaining and the lack of faith in the God of their forefathers, even after all the miraculous signs He had showed them. And sadly, many of us today feel and behave the same way, and eventually we will pay for our lack of faith and belief.
That’s why this scripture from Peter is so important. ‘And above all things have fervent charity (LOVE) among yourselves: for charity (LOVE) shall cover a multitude of sins. Use hospitality one to another without grudging (grumbling).’ (1 Pet. 4:8-9) And our God is so wonderful and generous that He has further bestowed on us undeserved blessings to do His earthly work. We call them our Thursday Blessings, so let’s declare and thus activate them right now nuh.
As one strong and sincere voice: ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance! I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline! I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment! I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life! I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to, will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and every day! Amen!’
And having made that declaration, we’re now duty bound to go out and use those blessings to help others, just as generously as the Lord shared them with us, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…grumbling and complaining…in spite of God’s goodness and mercy…only raises God’s wrath…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
1 Peter 4:9. Use hospitality one to another without grudging (grumbling).
And so we come to Thursday, the second to last day of our work week. It’s a nice, warm sunshiny day, but I believe too many of us are looking forward to tomorrow, Friday, the end of the work week, instead of concentrating on the challenges of today. And we need to be very careful with those kinds of situations, for we can cause ourselves serious problems if our minds are not focused on what’s happening in front of us right now. Remember, Jesus warned us to concentrate on today’s problems, rather than what might happen on the morrow. (Matt. 6:34)
Anyway, as promised yesterday, if God spared life today, which He’s most generously done, (smile) then we would continue looking at some of the scriptures that deal with complaining and the dire consequences that can result from it. Now, yesterday we stopped where, after the Israelites complained, the Lord had sent fiery serpents into the camp to bite them and many of them died. Then they repented of their complaining and asked Moses to pray to God for them, and Moses did as asked.
And anyone who thinks the Lord doesn’t have a sense of humour or of the unexpected and unconventional, had better think again, for here’s His solution to the Israelites snake bite problem. ‘And the Lord said unto Moses, make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, he shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld (looked at) the serpent of brass, he lived.’ (Num. 21:8-9)
Now, only our mysterious and unconventional God would choose to have us look on the same thing that caused our problem to be saved from it, especially when it was a snake that held the negative image of the devil incarnate. But it worked then, and according to the scholars the bronze snake played a large role in Israel’s life, and remained a symbol of deliverance, but unfortunately by Hezekiah’s time it had become a source of spiritual confusion and idolatrous worship, and they fell back into the ancient pagan way of thinking and worshipping the bronze snake as the bearer of life.
It was not until Hezikiah, who developed a great trust in the Lord and did what was right in His sight, that the idol worship was destroyed. The Bible tells us that Hezekiah, ‘Removed the high places (places for pagan worship), and brake the images (sacred pillars), and cut down the groves (wooden images), and brake in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it, and he called it Nehushtan (a bronze thing).’ (2 Kin, 18:4) So, we can see how easy it is for something man made to be turned into idolatry if it lasts long enough in our societies.
Meanwhile, the second incident of complaining that Bruh Paul spoke about in his letter to the Corinthians stems from the Israelites lack of faith and reluctance to enter the Promised Land, after the 12 spies came back from checking it out. They foolishly believed the ten who said it was indeed filled with milk and honey, but there were giants whom they could not defeat. And summarily refused to countenance Joshua and Caleb’s contention that they were strong enough, especially with the Lord’s help to go in and take it.
And they murmured and grumbled and complained so much that the Lord said unto Moses. ‘How long will this people provoke (despise) me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the (miraculous) signs which I have shewed among them? I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they.’ (Num. 14:11-12) Yes friends, that’s how the Lord’s wrath can be stirred up when we refuse to believe his signs and wonders and complain about our situations.
However, the Israelites were lucky that Moses intervened on their behalf and reasoned with the Lord that if He destroyed them all, then the other nations would hear about it and claim that ‘Because the Lord was not able to bring this people into the land which he sware unto them, therefore he had slain them in the wilderness. And now I beseech thee, let the power of my Lord be great, according as thou hast spoken, saying, The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation, Pardon I beseech thee, the iniquity of these people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even unto now.’ (Num. 14:16-19)
Moses certainly knew how to get God’s attention, basically with God’s own words and His merciful behaviour so far to the Israelites. ‘And the Lord said, I have pardoned according to thy word: But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord. because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted (tested) me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it.’ (Num. 14:20-23)
And to make a long story short, the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for forty years until all those who had come out of Egypt died and only Joshua and Caleb, because of their strong faith, entered the Promised Land with the new generation of the Israelites. And it all came from their complaining and the lack of faith in the God of their forefathers, even after all the miraculous signs He had showed them. And sadly, many of us today feel and behave the same way, and eventually we will pay for our lack of faith and belief.
That’s why this scripture from Peter is so important. ‘And above all things have fervent charity (LOVE) among yourselves: for charity (LOVE) shall cover a multitude of sins. Use hospitality one to another without grudging (grumbling).’ (1 Pet. 4:8-9) And our God is so wonderful and generous that He has further bestowed on us undeserved blessings to do His earthly work. We call them our Thursday Blessings, so let’s declare and thus activate them right now nuh.
As one strong and sincere voice: ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance! I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline! I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment! I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life! I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to, will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and every day! Amen!’
And having made that declaration, we’re now duty bound to go out and use those blessings to help others, just as generously as the Lord shared them with us, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…grumbling and complaining…in spite of God’s goodness and mercy…only raises God’s wrath…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
14 Apr 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a guiding principle, a proactive forward looking attitude, actively discard the negative past, as a man thinks in his heart so is he, be able to stand against the wiles of the devil, be enthusiastice about the success of others, be not conformed to this world, be so strong, be strong in the Lord, be too large for worry, be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, Bible, change your behaviour by changing your mindset, Christian D Larson, christianity, come to know and love christ like we do, don't look back at your sinful experience with Satan, draw spiritual strength from God's boundless power, duty bound, evil schemes of Satan, external circumstances, faith, focus on faith prayer and daily devotion, focus on future goals and spiritual growth, for the prize of the high calling of God, forget the mistakes of the past, forgetting past mistakes, forgetting those things which are behind, give everyone you meet a smile, God's mysterious movements, holy spirit, hurry, I count not myself to have apprehended, in god's eyes, in the power of his might, Jesus Christ, laid hold of Christ, leave all negative baggage behind, look at the sunny side of everything, looking forward to a glorious future with Christ, looking towards the future, LOVE, maintaining integrity over mere outward appearances, make all your friends feel there is something in them, make your optimism come true, mercy, move forward to the wonderful stuff Jesus offers, not that which goeth into the mouth that defiles a man, nothing can disturb your peace of mind, one's internal mental and emotional state ultimately manifests outwardly, personal willpower, press on to future achievements, press toward the mark, pressing on toward a higher purpose, promise yourself, prove what is that good and acceptable perfect will of God, put on the whole armour of God, reaching forth unto those things that are before, reignite a passion in our hearts for Christ, rely on god for inner empowerment, salvation, share His love with my neighbours, share the amazing love and friendship of Christ, spiritually impure, talk health happiness and prosperity to everyone, the beloved of God, the importance of managing thoughts, the indisputable truth, this one thing I do, to withstand trials and fight spiritual battles, too happy to permit the presence of trouble, too many of us still live in the past, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, trust my friend Jesus, truth, Tuesday Mantra, urging individuals to release past mistakes regrets or achievements, we become what we think, what comes out of a man defiles him, wisdom, worry
Philippians 3:14. I press toward the mark (goal) for the prize of the high (upward) calling of God in Christ Jesus.
And after a rainy start, this Tuesday morning has become somewhat sunshiny, although a bit of cloud cover still remains at midday. It should be another fairly warm day like yesterday, with temps in the high teens or low twenties, but again somewhat windy. And we cannot complain about a li’l wind and rain when we have such high temps. (smile)
Anyhow, today I want to share an interesting article, written a long time ago by someone called Christian D Larson. And it’s both amazing and amusing how I came across it again. Last night while putting some stuff in one of the drawers of my file cabinet, I espied this small newspaper clipping taped to the top drawer, and it must have been there for ages, because the paper is now yellowed. Obviously I didn’t know what it was about, since I had not perused it in a long while, and was I surprised when I read the title ‘Promise Yourself,’ and the information that followed.
Now, I wonder if anyone else is like me; has a lot of stuff posted all around their office with supposedly good advice and information, but never sees them, just comes into the office every day, does whatever, then leaves again without paying any attention to those pictures and bits of paper decorating the office walls and elsewhere. I seem to do it all the time, and last night I smiled as I read the article, because deep down I just knew that it was one of God’s mysterious movements to have me renew it in my own mind, as well as share it today.
So please read with me: ‘Promise Yourself: To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet. To make all your friends feel there is something in them. To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true. To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own. To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to greater achievements of the future. To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile. To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.’
Wow! Now doesn’t that sound as though the author was referring to Christianity, for we are supposed to do all those things mentioned in the article? Like being so strong that nothing can disturb our peace of mind. Well there’s only one way to accomplish that, and it’s as Bruh Paul writes to the Ephesians. ‘Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles (evil schemes) of the devil.’ (Eph. 6:10-11)
And I like how this overview explains it: ‘Be strong in the Lord, is a call to draw spiritual strength from God’s boundless power rather than personal willpower. It requires relying on Him for inner empowerment to withstand trials and fight spiritual battles by putting on the “armor of God,” focusing on faith, prayer, and daily devotion.’ And that’s the indisputable truth.
Then, there’s this other interesting promise about forgetting our past mistakes and looking towards the future that bring to mind these powerful and wise words of Bruh Paul to the Philippians. ‘Brethren, I count not myself not to have apprehended (laid hold of Christ); But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth (forward) unto those things which are before (ahead), I press toward the mark (goal) for the prize of the high (upward) calling of God in Christ Jesus.’ (Phil. 3:13-14)
And that’s exactly how we ought to be my fellow believers; looking toward a glorious future with Christ, and not back at a miserable sinful existence with Beelzebub. The problem though is that too many of us still live in the past; we allow our past mistakes, and disappointments to control the way we now live, instead of leaving all that negative baggage behind and moving forward with all the wonderful stuff that Jesus offers.
It’s like this commentary tells us: “Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead” is a guiding principle from Philippians 3:13-14 (NIV), urging individuals to release past mistakes, regrets, or achievements to focus entirely on future goals and spiritual growth. It highlights a proactive, forward-looking attitude, often described as “pressing on” toward a higher purpose.’
But to accomplish that goal, we have to actively discard the negative past, not just talk about doing it. And how do we do that? Bruh Paul offers this advice 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, the only way to change our behaviour is by first changing our mindsets, for as Cousin Sol in his great wisdom explains in Proverbs. ‘For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he:’ (Prov. 23:7a)
In other words, you become what you think, for our thoughts control our behaviour. Or as this overview declares: “As a man thinketh in his heart so is he” means a person’s true character, actions, and destiny are shaped by their innermost thoughts, beliefs, and desires. It emphasizes that one’s internal mental and emotional state ultimately manifests outwardly, highlighting the importance of managing thoughts and maintaining inner integrity over mere outward appearances.’
It’s like Jesus says: ‘Not that which goeth into the mouth that defileth a man: but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.’ (Matt. 15:11) Again, it’s our words and actions that stem from our thoughts that cause us to be spiritually impure, rather than external circumstances like not washing our hands before eating.
Ah friends, I do hope that these promises to ourselves reignite a passion in our hearts and souls for Christ, because they are all Bible based. Now let’s go home declaring our Tuesday Mantra, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel. 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 my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’
That now makes us duty bound to go out and share the amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…only true believers can be…too large for worry…too noble for anger…too strong for fear…and too happy to permit the presence of trouble…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
09 Apr 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: abundance, accosted by the devil, all destinies lead to God, as a roaring lion, avenge not yourselves, be not overcome of evil, be sober be vigilant, be ye angry and sin not, bless them that curse you, cease from anger, christianity, Christians, clear direction for my life, come to know and love christ like we do, commune seriously with God, curse, determine what's right for us, divine protection, do good to them that hate you, don't change for change sake, don't go overboard when you're angry, don't go to bed angry, duty bound, etenal life, face the battle mano a mano, favour, forsake wrath, fret not thyself in any wise to do evil, generously share our blessings, get left behind, heap coals of fire on his head, heed its warning, holy spirit, I shall repay, if he thirst give him drink, if it's not broken don't fix it, if thine enemy hunger feed him, it only causes harm, Jesus Christ, let not the sun go down upon your wrath, looking for an opportunity to disrupt our lives, lots of bark but no bite, LOVE, Love your enemies, make you immune from eivl, mercy, negative word, neither give place to the devil, not all walk the same path to get to God, overcome evil with good, pray for them which spitefully use you, promotion, prosper and succeed, salvation, self-control, self-didcipline, shaming our enemy with good treatement, success, supernatural wisdom, talent, the BIBLE, the Bible is our everyday guide to life, the devil is powerless if we stand strong in the Lord, the devil's a toothless lion, the indisputable truth, the joy of the Lord is our strength, time's moving forward very quickly, truth, undeserved blessings, vengeance is mine saith the Lord, walketh about seeking whom he may devour, wisdom, with God's help, your adversary the devil
Romans 12:21. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Oh brother! It couldn’t be Thursday already, the second to last day of our work week? But it surely is! That just goes to show how time is moving forward very quickly, and if we don’t heed its warning, we will get left behind, which is not a good feeling. But that doesn’t mean we have to change for the sake of change. The old cliché that if it isn’t broken don’t fix it, still stands as a reminder that a lot of things that are happening now are not really necessary and some of them can be bypassed. The difficult question though, is which ones should we bypass and which shouldn’t we?
I only wish I knew the answer. And unless you’re clairvoyant, the only way to find out is by each one of us facing the battle, mano a mano, and determining for ourselves, with God’s help, what is right for us. For although our destinies lead us all to the same place; salvation and eternal life with Jesus, not all of us walk the same path to get there. That’s why the Lord made us as individuals, with no two of us fully resembling each other in all aspects. He has a different path for each one of us to walk to get to Him, and only as we commune seriously with Him, will we find out the path He desires us to tread.
Consequently, that’s why He gave us His Word in the Bible as a guidebook for living this earthly life. And that’s why the psalmist so wisely declares: ‘Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and light unto my path.’ (Ps. 119:105) And Cousin Sol elaborates on that in Proverbs by warning: ‘My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life.’ (Prov. 6:20-23)
Yes my brethren, God’s Word is there to guide us and keep us safe, but we have to read and study it, then put it into action before it can do that. Just becoming a Christian doesn’t make you immune from the evil and ungodliness of this world. In fact, that will make the enemy try even harder to tempt you and make you miserable, because he doesn’t want you to enjoy the strength of the Lord which is our joy. (Neh. 8:10) Yuh see, even Jesus was tempted, and it was the Holy Spirit that led Him into the wilderness to be thus accosted by the devil. That means we will also have the wily snake hanging around us all the time, looking for an opportunity to disrupt our lives.
And as Peter warns: ‘Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.’ (1 Pet. 5:8) But he’s a toothless lion, lots of bark, but no bite. However, if we allow him, he can wreak much havoc in our lives. That’s why Bruh Paul wrote these words to the Ephesians. ‘Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place (an opportunity) to the devil.’ (Eph. 4:26:-27)
Yes, when we get angry, we’re liable do foolish and ungodly stuff, that just gives the devil and opportunity to get into our lives. So, we must be careful when we get angry not to go overboard and react foolishly. Neither should we go to bed angry, because that just disturbs our sleep, and most likely we’ll wake up angry also, which is not a nice or sensible way to start our day.
Bruh David also warned about anger in Psalm 37, when he writes: ‘Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil (for it only causes harm).’ (Ps. 37:8) And that’s the indisputable truth! For evil does nothing good for mankind, only brings pain, suffering, death and sorrow. And Bruh Paul said it thus to the Romans. ‘Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.’ (Rom. 12:19-21)
Yes friends, we can become angry, but must be careful what we do in those times, don’t repay evil for evil, neither seek revenge, for that right belongs to the Lord. We’re suppose to treat our enemy with graciousness, feed and give him drink if necessary, thereby sought of shaming him. (smile) It’s as Jesus declared: ‘But I say unto you, LOVE your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully (spitefully) use you, and persecute you.’ (Matt. 5:44)
Now, although that command is often difficult to put into action, we must do our best to follow our Saviour’s directives, and our God is such a wonderful God that in His goodness and wisdom He’s bestowed several undeserved blessings on us to do His earthly work. We call them our Thursday Blessings. So let’s declare and thus activate them right now nuh.
As one strong and sincere voice: ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance! I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline! I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment! I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection!
I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life! I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to, will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and every day! Amen!’
And having made that declaration, we are now duty bound to go out and generously use those blessings to help others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…the devil is powerless…if we stand strong in the Lord…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
26 Mar 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a by product of our addiction to speed, abundance, addiction to speed, be of good courage, blessed are all they that wait for him, both hope and wait quietly, christianity, Christians, clear direction for my life, come to know and love christ like we do, courage, creativity, curse, delight thyself also in the Lord, divine protection, duty bound, even the youths shall faint and be weary, excessive reliance on speed, eyes blazing, faith, favour, focus on today's tasks, fulfillment, give thee the desires of thine heart, good friends, good health, He giveth power to the faint, he may be gracious unto you, he may have mercy on you, he shall exalt thee to inherit the land, he shall strengthen thine heart, holy spirit, hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord, I had fainted, I wait for the Lord, in his word do I hope, in the Lord's kingdom timing is everything, it is good that a man, it's hard to wait on the Lord's timing, Jesus Christ, let Israel hope in the Lord, LOVE, mercy, more than they that watch for the morning, mount up with wings as eagles, mouths salivating, my soul doth wait, my soul waiteth for the Lord, negative word, offering their morning sacrifices of praise, personal experience, promotion, prosper and succeed, run and not be weary, salvation, self-control, serenade the one who provides for them, talent, the BIBLE, the Lord has me in waiting mode, the Lord is a God of justice, the Lord is good unto them that wait for him, the young men shall utterly fall, therefore will he be exalted, therefore will the Lord wait, they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, thou shalt see it, times of total impatience, to see the goodness of God in the land of the living, to the soul that seeketh him, to them that have no might he increaseth strength, truth, undeserved blessings, unless I had believed, uplifting to hear them, use those blessings to help others, wait in faith I say on the Lord, wait in faith on the Lord, wait on the Lord and keep his way, waiting on God and His timing, wake up to the sweet singing of birds, walk and not faint, when the time is right things will happen, when the wicked are cut off, wisdom, with him is plenteous redemption, with the Lord there is mercy
Psalm 37:34. ‘Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off thou shalt see it.’
Oh friends, how wonderful it is to awaken to the sweet singing of the birds on a spring Thursday morning, or any morning for that matter! It’s certainly uplifting to hear them offering their morning sacrifices of praise to their Maker and Provider, in such a natural manner. They can’t think like we do, but they know that they must serenade the one who provides for them. Only wish that more of us would do like them.
And on this fairly warm but cloudy and drizzly penultimate day of our work week, instead of wishing that tomorrow and the weekend would hurry up and come, let’s focus instead on the many tasks we need to perform today, for some of us might not even be around to see tomorrow. That’s why I believe the Lord guided me to these scriptures for today on waiting on Him and His timing.
Listen to these wise words of Jeremiah from his Lamentations. ‘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. 3:25-26) Yes my people, waiting on our God is most important, but sometimes extremely difficult to do especially in these times of total impatience and the excessive reliance on speed.
And waiting on God is so important that there are many scriptures that call for it. So let’s look at a few of them, so that we can renew our minds and spirits on the subject. (smile) Hear, as the prophet Isaiah, talks about God’s graciousness and mercy. ‘And therefore will the Lord wait. That he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the Lord is a God of judgement (justice): blessed are all they that wait for him.’ (Is. 30:18)
And we all know this next popular scripture from Isaiah. ‘He giveth power to the faint (weak); and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint. ‘ (Is. 40:29-31)
Now all of us want to ‘mount up with wings as eagles,’ but we don’t want to do the waiting on the Lord. And not wanting to wait is a sad byproduct of this society’s addiction to speed, to have everything move faster and done more quickly. We’re regularly offered new devices, and in many cases they’re not really much better than the last one, but they are always faster, and that gets our eyes blazing and our mouths salivating for them.
Meanwhile in Psalm 130 – Hoping and Waiting for the Lord – the psalmist declares: ‘I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning Let Israel hope in the Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy (LOVING-KINDNESS), And with him is plenteous (abundant) redemption.’ (Ps. 130: 5-7) Wow! What great reasons to wait on the Lord: abundant redemption and plenty mercy!
Then there are a couple of scriptures from Bruh David that we all know, but don’t necessarily action them. (smile) The first comes from Psalm 127 – My Heart Shall Not Fear. he writes: ‘I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait (in faith) on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait (in faith), I say, on the Lord.’ (Ps. 27:13 -14) Bruh David could not have put it any clearer or stronger than that my faithful brethren. And we all know his story, where although he made some bad mistakes, he waited on the Lord for most of his life, and he was successful as a king, a warrior, a poet and a musician.
And yes, it is hard to wait on the Lord’s timing. I can tell you that from personal experience, because I’ve been through it earlier on in life. When I didn’t wait, my projects were unsuccessful, but when I waited, they bore good fruit. Right now, I have several projects waiting in the wings, but not doing anything about them, either because I’m too lazy to jump start them, (smile) or the Lord has me in waiting mode. I’d like to think it’s the latter, but who knows,?
Anyway, I’ve learned from hard experience that when the time is right, things will happen. Therefore I’m doing as Bruh David says in Psalm 37 – Trust in the Lord – ‘Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.’ (Ps. 37:4) And do I ever have several desires of mine heart still left to be manifested, in the short time I have left! (smile)
And lastly, there’s this verse also from Psalm 37, where Bruh David advises us to: ‘Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off thou shalt see it.’ (Ps. 37:34) Yes my people, if we want to see the goodness and mercy of God, then we have to wait on His timing. That’s the living truth. Now, let’s declare and thus activate our undeserved Thursday Blessings, which the Lord has so generously bestowed on us to do His earthly work.
As one strong and sincere voice: ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance! I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline! I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment! I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection!
I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life! I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to, will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and every day! Amen!’
And having made that declaration we’re now duty bound to go out and use those blessings to help others, just as generously as the Lord bestowed them on us, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…in the Lord’s kingdom…timing is everything…
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