19 Aug 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a true child of God, add thou not unto his words, Agur, all his works are done in truth, all thy commandments are righteousness, an intrument of ten strings, and again I say rejoice, believe whatever God says without doubting, by them is thy servant warned, catches up to the perpetrator, christianity, cloud cover, converting the soul, endure to the end with Christ, enduring for ever, enjoy a more than glorious future together, enlightening the eyes, every word of God is pure, eyes fixed staight ahead, faith, God's word has everything we need, halfway home, have more understanding than all my teachers, he is a shield unto them that trust him, holy spirit, How I love thy law, I declare things that are right, I keep thy precepts, I the Lord speak righteousness, imprisoned in a Roman jail, in keeping of them is great reward, in the Lord's time and way, it is my meditation all day, Jesus Christ, learn the truth, lest he reprove thee, LOVE, made me wiser than mine enemies, making wise the simple, mercy, more to be desired than gold, my lips shall utter praise, my tongue shall speak of thy word, not looking back at the past, our second wind day, our wonderful position in Christ Jesus, play skillfully with a loud noise, praise is comely for the upright, praise the Lord with the harp, priase for God's goodness, Rejoice in the Lord always, Rejoice in the Lord O ye righteous, rejoicing the heart, righteous art thou O Lord, salvation, shout for joy, sing unto him a new song, sing unto him with the psaltery, so glad to be alive, sweeter also than honey, taking liberties with God's word, than much fine gold, thank God, the BIBLE, the breath of life is still flowing through me, the commandment of the Lord is pure, the deceitful encouragement of Satan, the drippings of the honeycomb, the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord, the fear of the Lord is clean, The Heavens Declare God's Glory, the judgements of the Lord are true and righteous, the law of the Lord is perfect, the Lord be praised, the Lord loves righteousness and justice, the negative consequences of such ungodly actions, the statutes of the Lord are right, the testimony of the Lord is sure, the word of the Lord is right, thou be found a liar, through thy commandments, thy testimonies are my meditation, thy testimonies are righteous and faithful, to a glorious future with Jesus, to suit their own selfish purposes, truth, understand more than the ancients, upright are thy judgements, Wednesday Wail, when thou hast taught me thy statutes, ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God, ye shall not add unto the word which I command you
Today’s Scrip-Bit 19 August 2026 Psalm 33:4.
Psalm 33:4. For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth.
And the week’s rolled by to Wednesday, our second wind day; not as bright and sunshiny as yesterday, with a cloud cover threateningly hanging around, but good enough to say, ‘the Lord be praised for another marvellous day!’ (smile) And is there ever good reason to and great joy in praising our wonderful God. Listen as Psalm 33, titled ‘Praise for God’s Goodness,’ tells it.
‘Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: for praise is comely (beautiful) for the upright. Praise the Lord with the harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. Sing unto him a new song; play skillfully with a loud noise (shout of joy). For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth. He LOVETH righteousness and judgement (justice): the earth is full of the goodness (LOVING-KINDNESS) of the Lord.’ (Ps. 33:1-5)
And all of that is the glorious truth my people! No wonder Bruh Paul wrote thus to the Philippians: ‘Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say rejoice.’ (Phil. 4:4) And remember he wrote that while chained up in a Roman jail, so there must be plenty cause to rejoice in the Lord if he could write that while imprisoned in the most ghastly conditions. And the psalmist gives us some, for example when he writes: ‘For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth. He LOVETH righteousness and judgement (justice): the earth is full of the goodness (LOVING-KINDNESS) of the Lord.’
And there are several scriptures that attest to those facts. Let’s look at a few. First up are these words from Proverbs, supposedly written by Agur the son of Jakeh. According to the scholars, nothing is known of Agur, but he was likely one of the international sages of Solomon’s day. He writes: ‘Every word of God is pure (tried, found pure): he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.’ (Prov. 30:5-6)
And that last verse about not adding to God’s word is also very important my brethren, because the Lord does not joke with His Word. Right from the beginning, He warns the Israelites: ‘Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought (take anything) from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.’ (Deut. 4:2)
Unfortunately though, down through the ages, with the deceitful encouragement of Satan, many people have either tried to add to or subtract from God’s word, and today we’re doing the same thing; people are taking liberties with God’s word and phrasing it, or changing it to suit their own selfish purposes. However, in the Lord’s time and way, the negative consequences of such ungodly actions eventually catches up to the perpetrator.
But getting back to the purity and rightness of God’s word, through the prophet Isaiah He said: ‘I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the Lord speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.’ (Is. 45:19) And if you desire to be a true child of God, then you need to believe whatever He says, without any doubting at all.
Then in Psalm 119, we find these wonderful verses: ‘Oh how I LOVE thy law! it is my meditation all the day. Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients (aged), because I keep thy precepts … Righteous art thou, O Lord, and upright are thy judgements. Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and faithful … My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes. My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.’ (Ps. 119: 97-100, 137-138, 171-172)
Then there are these awesome words on the subject from the pen of Bruh David in Psalm 19, titled ‘The Heavens Declare God’s Glory.’ He writes: ‘The law of the Lord is perfect, converting (restoring) the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgements of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb (the drippings from the honeycomb). Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them is great reward.’ (Ps. 19:7-11)
Yes friends, the word of our Lord isn’t only right and true, but is also ever so important and necessary for us, so we can also learn the truth and behave in a righteous and godly manner that seeks the Lord’s will. And yuh see how important Bruh David thinks the Lord’s justice is; ‘more to be desired than gold, and sweeter than honey.’ Now that ought to wake us up to the worthiness of God’s Word, His goodness and greatness! For gold is what we compare anything worthwhile to, and honey is the sweetest natural substance in the world. Therefore anything that is more desirable than those two things surely is of the utmost importance.
And having gotten a glimpse into the importance of and the workings of God’s word, (smile) let’s go home declaring our Wednesday Wail, letting the whole world know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’
And it’s been promised that those who endure to the end with Jesus will experience an even more glorious future than we can ask or imagine. so let’s be wise and endure to the end nuh, so that we can enjoy that more than glorious future together! Much LOVE!
…God’s Word…has everything we need…to live a good and godly earthly life…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
05 Aug 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a wind that passeth away, a winter storm, all God's children, another good summer's day, as the heavens are higher than the earth, as the rain cometh down, as the rain waters the earth, behaving like the Israelites, Bless His Holy Name, bread to the eater, Christ who strengthens us, christianity, cometh not again, cross that bridge when we come to it, destroyed them not, did not stir up all his wrath, downhill to the cold months, endure to the end with Christ, eyes fixed straight ahead, faith, flatter him with their tongues, fool each other with external looks and talk, For I am the Lord I change not, forgave their iniquity, forgotten what the Lord did for us, give seed to the sower, God being full of compassion, God is our Creator, God knows everything about us, God's been good to us, God's compassion to his sinful creation, great is thy faithfulness, grieve him in the desert, handle any situation, hands on the plough, he remembered that they were but flesh, hearts rampaging after the things of Satan, his compassions fail not, holy spirit, how oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, I have refused him, I'm halfway home, in these comfortable and wealthy times, It is of the Lord's mercies that we're not consumed, it shall accomplish that which I please, it shall not return unto me void, Jesus Christ, lessons that we need to learn, look not on his countenance, LOVE, maketh it bring forth and bud, man looketh on the outward appearance, many a time turned he his anger away, many supposed believers are not ture to God, mercy, Mother Nature, my thoughts are not your thoughts, my thoughts than your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, neither were they steadfast in his covenant, not turning back, only remember God in times of trouble, our wonderful position in Christ Jesus, pay lip service to God, Praise the Lord, prosper in the thing whereto I sent it, reason to destroy us, remembered not his hand, returned and enquired early after God, salvation, so are my ways higher than your ways, so glad to be alive, so shall my word be that goeth out of my mouth, sought diligently after God, take God for granted, thank God, the BIBLE, the breath of life is still flowing through me, the day when he delivered them from the enemy, the grace and mercy of Christ, the height of his stature, the high god their redeemer, the Lord looketh on the heart, the Lord seeth not as man seeth, the snow from heaven, the truth in spades, the undeserving children of men, their heart was not right with him, therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed, they are new every morning, they remembered that God was their rock, this is the day the Lord has made, this odious world, to a glorious future with Jesus, truth, turned back and tempted the Holy One of Israel, we cannot fool God, we will rejoice and be glad in it, Wednesday Wail, wisdom
Today’s Scrip-Bit 5 August 2026 Psalm 78:37.
Psalm 78:37. For their heart was not right (steadfast) with him, neither were they steadfast (faithful) in his covenant.
Oh boy! Another bright, sunshiny, cool summer’s day in my neighbourhood! August so far has just been marvellous, except for the one rainy day on Sunday. Let’s hope and pray that it stays this nice for all of the month, because you know after this, it’s all downhill to the cold months. But as children of the Most High God Jehovah, those minor things like cold months and winter weather don’t bother us, for we can handle any situation that comes against us, through the outstanding grace and mercy of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who strengthens and directs us! Therefore, like the psalmist, we will say every day: ‘This is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it.’ (Ps;118:24)
And I’m chuckling here, as I think how bold and brave we’ll be until Mother nature blasts us with a winter storm and we get caught in the middle of it, struggling to get home or to work. But we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it, until then let’s be brave and bold and confident in our wonderful God. And all God’s children said a loud and grateful, ‘Praise the Lord! Bless His Holy Name, for He has certainly been good to us, the undeserving children of men!’
And that’s for sure my faithful brethren, Almighty God has been good to us when all He had was reason to destroy us, and we should be ever so thankful for His grace and mercy, His compassions to us His sinful creation, which like Jeremiah says 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 Jeremiah’s statement is corroborated by the prophet Malachi, when he declares on the Lord’s behalf. ‘For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.’ (Mal. 3:6)
And that faithful compassion of our God is seen even more in this passage from Psalm 78, where the psalmist Asaph describes his people’s sinful behaviour in the wilderness and God’s response. He says: ‘But he (God), being full of compassion forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath. For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again. How oft did they provoke (rebel against) him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert! Yea, they turned back and tempted the Holy One of Israel. They remembered not his hand (his delivering power), nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy.’ (Ps. 78:38-42)
And yuh know what my people, sadly, in these comfortable and wealthy times, we are behaving the same way the Israelites did back in the wilderness. We’ve either forgotten what the Lord did for us, or simply take Him for granted, and only seem to remember Him when troubles come against us, then we’re quick to cry: ‘O God, help me!’ But other than that we only pay lip service to Him. We again behave like the Israelites did.
‘When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early (sought diligently) after God. And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer. Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues. For their heart was not right (steadfast) with him, neither were they steadfast (faithful) in his covenant.’ (Ps. 78:34-37) And when we look around today’s world that is exactly what we’re seeing too much of; supposed believers not being faithful and true to Almighty God, only paying lip service, while their hearts are rampaging after the things of Satan and this odious world.
And foolishly, many of us think that the Lord doesn’t know what we’re truly about when we come to Him with insincere pleas and requests, forgetting what he said to Samuel so long ago, when He sent him to anoint Bruh David to be the future king of Israel. Samuel saw the eldest of Jesse’s son, Eliab, looking strong and handsome and thought that he must be the one. ‘But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused (rejected) him; for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.’ (1 Sam. 16:7)
Yes my people, the Lord looks at the state of our hearts before He does anything else, so although we can fool each other with our external looks and talk, we cannot fool Almighty God. And the sooner some of us recognize that colossal fact, the better off we will all be. That reminds us of this other difference between us and the Lord, as He says through Isaiah. ‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void (empty, without fruit), but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.’ (Is. 55:8-11)
That’s the truth in spades my fellow believers: the Lord’s thoughts and ways are so much higher than ours, and His word will never return to him fruitless, but will do whatever He desires it to. Those are a couple more lessons that we either need to learn or remember in these lawless and deceitful times. Now, let’s go home declaring our Wednesday Wail, letting the whole world know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus.
As one strong and sincere voice: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’
And if we endure to the end with Christ, then it’s been promised that the future will be even more glorious than we can ask or imagine. So let’s be wise and endure to the very end, so that we can enjoy that more than glorious future together! Much LOVE!
…we cannot fool the Lord…for He is our Creator…thus He knows everything about us…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
29 Jul 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a cool breeze rustling through the trees, a more glorious future than we can ask or imagine, as a human body works together like one, as thou Father art in me and i in you, as thou hast sent me into the world, Bless His Holy Name, broken into numerous denominations, carry out the mission of the church, Christianity is a Oneness in Christ, Christianity lacks unity, Christians, continue its disastrous spiral, disunity breeds futility, do good work for Jesus, don't take them out of the world, endure to the end with Christ, even as I am not of the world, even as we are one, eyes fixed straight ahead, faith, flowing through me, for their sakes, for them also which shall blieve, given them thy word, glorify your Father which is in heaven, halfway home, hands on the plough, has loved them as thou has loved me, have my joy fulfilled in themselves, holy spirit, I also sent them into the world, I have given them, I in them and thou in me, I sanctify myself, ineffectiveness, into the mire of Satan's evil domain, Jesus Christ, Jesus is the greatest, Jesus' awesome generosity, keep them from the evil one, Let your light so shine before men, LOVE, many members in one body, may be made perfect in one, members have different functions, mercy, neither pray I for these alone, not doing a good job in that respect, not looking back at the past, oneness in spiritual unity, organizational unity, our light is dim, our salt is flavourless, our second wind day, our wonderful position in Christ Jesus, preach different doctrines, reenergize us, sacrificed His sinless life to save us, salvation, sanctify them through thy truth, see your good works, set apart for God's purposes, so glad to be alive, thank God, that they may be one, the BIBLE, the breath of life, the church in Christ is one body, the glory which thou gavest me, the great responsibility christians have, the light of the world, the one and only superstar, the salt of the earth, the world hated them, the world is becoming more evil and ungodly every day, the world may believe that thou hast sent me, the world may know that thou hast sent me, them which shall believe on me through their word, these things I speak in the world, they all may be one, they are not of the world, thy word is truth, to a glorious future with Jesus, truth, Wednesday Wail, where there's unity there's strength, work together like one
Today’s Scrip-Bit 29 July 2026 John 17:22.
John 17:22. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them, that they may be one, even as we are one:
So it’s Wednesday, our second wind day; another beautiful, hot, sunshiny, summer’s day with a cool breeze rustling through the trees, and hopefully it will reenergize us all to go out and do good work for Jesus. And all God’s people said a loud and grateful, ‘Bless His Holy Name, for He is indeed the Greatest!’ And so He is my people, Jesus, the one and ONLY Superstar in this vast universe! For He created it, then He turned around and sacrificed His sinless life to save it. What more can we ask eh? Absolutely nothing!
But Jesus, in His awesome generosity gave us more, when He prayed to His heavenly Father on our behalf. Halfway through the prayer, He declares: ‘And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them thy word; and the world hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from evil (the evil one). They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them (set them apart) through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes, I sanctify myself, that they also may be sanctified through the truth.’ (John 17:13-19)
Yes friends, Jesus prayed that His disciples would be set apart for God’s purposes, and kept out of the evil one’s reach, while going into the world to carry out their mission as the church, which corresponded to Christ’s mission, of saving souls, bringing them to God the Father. But that wasn’t all. Jesus in His amazing foresight prayed for us too, those who would come after. He says to the Father: ‘Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.’ (John 17:20-21)
Oh my fellow believers, please notice that last statement; ‘that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.’ That means Jesus is depending on us, His supposed loyal followers, to live and behave in a certain manner so that the world can believe through us, that the Father sent Him to save the world! Yuh see the great responsibility we have; Jesus as a physical man, could not be all over the place at the same time, but through the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, He can be in numerous places at the same time. That’s why He called us the salt of the earth and the light of the world, bequeathing His properties to us so that we can do His work. In other words: ‘Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.’ (Matt. 5:16)
Unfortunately though, it doesn’t seem that we’re doing a good job in that respect because our world is becoming more evil and ungodly with each passing day. Our salt appears to be rather flavourless, and our light very dim, therefore the world’s not paying much attention to us. And one of the big reasons for that is because we’re not in unity, as Christ so earnestly prayed that we’d be. Listen, as He continues. ‘And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them, that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast LOVED them, as thou hast LOVED me.’ (John 17:22-23)
Yes friends, Jesus emphasized our oneness in spiritual unity, but the truth is we’re neither one in spiritual nor organizational unity, with the many different doctrines we preach and the numerous denominations we have been broken into, all as supposed children of the same One God. That disunity of both spirit and organization will never encourage a disbelieving, evil world to turn to Christ in any worthwhile numbers. And until we can draw closer together, both in spiritual and organizational unity, our chances for being the true salt of the earth and light of the world will indeed be negligible. Meaning our world will continue its disastrous spiral down into the mire of Satan’s evil domain.
Oh my people, Christianity is a Oneness in Christ! It’s like Bruh Paul says, when he compares the church to the human body. ‘For we have many members (parts) in one (human) body, and all members have not the same office (function): So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one (individually) members one of another.’ (Rom. 12:4-5) That means that the members of the church, or body of Christ have different gifts and functions, but are supposed to work together like one, as our human body does.
And until we sincerely believe and begin behaving like one body, working together in both unity of spirt and organization, all our little separate efforts won’t make a whole lot of difference to the overall scene. Let’s remember that where there’s unity, there’s strength, and disunity only breeds futility or ineffectiveness. Now let’s go home declaring our Wednesday Wail, letting the whole world know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus.
As one strong and sincere voice: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’
And it’s been promised that those who endure to the very end with Christ will enjoy an even more glorious future than we can ask or imagine. Let’s therefore be wise and stick with Christ to the end, so that we can enjoy that more than glorious future together nuh! Much LOVE!
…the church in Christ is ONE body…let’s make it function like ONE…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
22 Jul 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a faithful remnant, a good conscience, a good minister of Jesus Chist, after their own lusts, air quality warnings, apostasy, be ready in seaso, be turned unto fables, betray one another, christianity, climate change Indian summer, commanding to abstain from meats, delivered unto Satan, demon inspired preachers, do the work of an evangelist, doctrines of devils, endure afflictions, endure to the end with Christ, every creature of God is good, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine, eyes fixed straight ahead, faith, false prophets, false prophets shall arise, forbidding to marry, forest fires, giving heed to seducing spirits, God created to be received with thanksgiving, hands on the plough, hate one another, have their heads examined, having itching ears, he Bible, he that endures to the end shall be saved, heap to themselves teachers, heat warnings, holding faith, holy spirit, I'm not turning back, I'm halfway home, in the latter times, increasing evil and ungodliness, iniquity shall abound, inner moral voice, intellectual causes, Jesus Christ, judge the quick and the dead, learn not to blaspheme, LOVE, make full proof of thy ministry, many shall offended, mercy, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, our wonderful position in Christ Jesus, permanently defaced, persistent prayer, preach the word, put the brethren in remembrance of these things, rebuke, reprove, salvation, sanctified by the word of God and prayer, scarred in their conscience, shall he find faith on the earth, so glad to be alive, some having rejected the faith suffered shipwreck, some shall depart from the faith, speaking lies in hypocrisy, spiritual apathy, spiritual complacency, spiritual rebellion, stand strong for Jesus, staying in faith is not easy, stick close to Christ like white on rice, stick to the end, strayed from the truth of God, thank God, the breath of life is still flowing through me, the love of many shall wax cold, the parable of the persistent widow, the rewards are enormous, the Spirit speaketh expressly, the time wil come, the word is being manipilated, their conscience seared with a hot iron, them whihc beleive and know the truth, theological heresy, they will not endure sound doctrine, this charge I commit unto thee, thunderstorms, to a glorious future with Jesus, truth, turn away their ears from the truth, unwavering faith, war a good warfare, wars and rumours of wars, watch thou in all things, Wednesday Wail, when the Son of man cometh, widespread faithlessness, winderstorms, wisdom
Today’s Scrip-Bit 22 July 2026 Luke 18:8b.
Luke 18:8b. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
Oh, what a month July has been climate wise; from heat warnings, to air quality warnings to thunderstorms and now to windstorms. Yes we had a dilly of a thunderstorm yesterday evening, one very worthy of the name for Thor, the God of Thunder, like a crazy rock drummer banged his whatever incessantly for almost an hour straight. And even after the rain had eased up, Thor was still there carrying on. (smile) It’s the loudest and longest bout of thunder I’ve heard in a long while. And then today, our second wind Wednesday, the temperature has dropped and the wind is causing havoc amongst the trees. So what’s next eh?
Let’s hope that the rain helped to decrease the forest fires up north and thus increase our air quality. And anyone over twenty years of age, who doesn’t believe that climate change is real, had better get their head examined. Anyway, today we’ll look at a rather interesting question Jesus asked when telling the parable of the Persistent Widow. ‘Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?’ (Luke 18:8b) Now that’s a very good question especially with the increasing evil and ungodliness of our times.
It seems that Jesus was encouraging persistent prayer, and possibly warning about spiritual apathy, predicting a period of widespread faithlessness rather than universal belief before the end of the age. And, as per this overview, ‘true, unwavering faith will be exceptionally rare and difficult to find during the turbulent period preceding His return. Rather than a guaranteed mass revival, the scripture points toward a time of widespread spiritual complacency and hardship, though Jesus reassures His followers that He will always find a faithful remnant who have held fast.’
And that’s no lie! Regardless of how evil, ungodly and difficult times become, there will always be a small, surviving, faithful few who will rise above it all and stand strong for Jesus. There’s absolutely no doubt about that! However, all through the New Testament, we find warnings of apostasy; warnings against falling away from the faith due to persecution or deception, and prophetic descriptions of widespread spiritual rebellion in the last days. Jesus Himself warned us when talking about false prophets and teachers.
And having mentioned the wars and rumours of war plus all the other disasters that will befall the earth before he returns, (Matt. 24:4-9) Jesus declares: ‘And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity (lawlessness) shall abound, the LOVE of many shall wax (grow) cold. But he that shall endure to the end, the same shall be saved.’ (Matt. 24:10-13) And we’re certainly seeing a lot of that right now, as our world daily becomes more evil and ungodly.
Meanwhile Bruh Paul mentioned the falling away several times in his letters, especially to Timothy. In his first letter, talking about teaching no other doctrines but what he’s heard from him (Paul), he says; ‘This charge (command) I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee (previously made concerning you), that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away (rejected) concerning faith have made (suffered) shipwreck: Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.’ (1 Tim. 1:18-20)
And as the scholars explain: ‘Because some rejected their inner moral voice of conscience, they have strayed far from the truth of God into theological heresy. Often religious error has its roots in moral rather than intellectual causes.’ Then later in that first letter Bruh Paul warns Timothy about false teachers. ‘Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing (deceiving) spirits, and doctrines of devils: Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats (foods), which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving. For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained (carefully followed).’ (1 Tim. 4:1-6)
Ah mih bredrin, if you think it’s rough out there right now, think again, because it will apparently get even rougher. And the scholars offer these explanations. As per speaking lies in hypocrisy, they say, ‘the demons of verse 1 expound their doctrines, not directly, but indirectly through such human ministers. These are further described as having their conscience seared with a hot iron, that is branded (scarred) in their conscience. Permanently defaced, the moral life of these hypocrites is scarred by sin as they carry around the awareness of their guilt, yet continue preaching to others. Two examples of demonic doctrines are cited here, prohibition against marriage, and abstaining from certain foods.’ Meanwhile God made man for marriage, and all foods created by God for man are good, sanctified through prayer and thanksgiving.
And the final warning from Bruh Paul to Timothy comes in his second letter, as he reminds him to preach the word. ‘I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick (living) and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant (ready) in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.’ (2 Tim. 4:1-5)
Yes friends, we’re seeing a lot of that right now; lots of teachers who are appealing to itching ears; that’s telling people what they want to hear, not what they need to hear. And it’s so sad that the word of God is being manipulated to give us good feelings rather than the truth we need to hear. But that’s all a part of getting to the end times and Jesus’ return. So let’s make sure that we don’t fall for those demon inspired preachers and stay the course with the truth of God’s Word. Now, let’s go home declaring our Wednesday Wail, letting the whole world know of our wonderful position in Jesus Christ.
As one strong and sincere voice: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’
And if we stick right to the very end with Jesus, then we’ll enjoy a more glorious future than we can ask or imagine. So let’s stick close to Him like white on rice nuh, so we can enjoy that more than glorious future together! Much LOVE!
…staying in faith is not easy…but the rewards are enormous…and certainly worth the pressure…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
15 Jul 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a special relationship between God and his people, attempts to live a godly life, be in good health, be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, bringeth forth his fruit in season, can't take anything for granted, christianity, climate change, day and night, draw them close to you, encouraging, endure to the end with Christ, entrusting their lives to God, even as thy soul prospereth, eyes fixed straight ahead, faith, for those who don't know you, God blesses us so that we can bless others, grace be unto you, halfway home, hands on the plough, harbinger of heavenly blessings, helping wherever I can, his delight is in the law of the Lord, his leaf also shall not wither, holy spirit, I trust them to, I wish you above all things, I'm so glad to be alive, in his law doth he meditate, Jesus Christ, keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus, look on you with favour, LOVE, loving, make me a blessing to each one, mercy, not turning back, one who has been saved, open their eyes to salvation, our second wind day, our wonderful position in Christ Jesus, peace from God our Father, please bless my family and friends, Praise the Lord, praying for friends and families, provide for their needs and protect them, rain in the offing, salvation, seek forgiveness, show me where I need to purify my heart, sitteth in the seat of the scornful, smoke from wildfires, speak blessings over our families and ourselves every day, speak unto Aaron and his sons, spiritual characteristics, standeth in the way of sinners, thank God, thank you for all the ways you tenderly care for us, the Aaronic blessing, the Beatitudes of Jesus, the BIBLE, the breath of life is still flowing through me, the Lord be gracious unto thee, The Lord bless thee and keep thee, the Lord give thee peace, The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, the Lord make his face to shine upon thee, the peace of God which passeth all understading, the priestly blessings, the undeserving children of men, thou mayest prosper, through your Son Jesus, to a glorious future with Jesus, truth, viewed the blessing as a reflection of the Trinity, Wednesday Wail, whatsoever he doeth shall prosper, wisdom, your infinite wisdom and love
Today’s Scrip-Bit 15 July 2026 Numbers 6:24.
Numbers 6:24. The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:
So we’ve come to Wednesday, our second wind day, and it’s a completely different day to yesterday; not as hot and very cloudy, as though rain’s in the offing. And wouldn’t that be a wonderful blessing for the parched earth. Unfortunately though, with climate change supposedly in action, you can’t take anything for granted; the day might look one way and then turn out to be entirely different.
Oh, the duchess just informed me that the cloudiness outside was not a harbinger of heavenly blessings, but of smoke from wildfires burning in the province. Hn, Hn! And there I was ever so wisely forecasting rain. (smile) But regardless of what kind of day it turns out to be, let’s make sure and catch our second wind so that we can continue doing good work for Christ! And all God’s children said, ‘Praise the Lord! Amen!’
And today we’re going to look at an interesting topic, that of praying for Family and LOVED Ones, as set out in a prayer card from the In Touch Organization. So please pray with me: ‘God, please bless my family and friends. I trust them to Your infinite wisdom and LOVE. Provide for their needs and protect them. Draw them close to You. For those who don’t know You, Please open their eyes to salvation through Your Son, Jesus. Show me where I need to purify my heart or seek forgiveness. Make me a blessing to each one – LOVING, encouraging,, and helping wherever I can. Thank You for all the ways You tenderly care for us. Amen.’
Yes my brethren, praying for friends and families is one of our most important duties, entrusting their lives to God to look after them, like He looks after us. We’re also supposed to bless them. We ought to speak a blessing over ourselves, our families and our friends every day when and where possible. Please don’t allow any of your resident family to go out each day without praying a blessing over them.
And the scriptural basis for this prayer all began way back when the Lord instructed Moses about speaking blessings over the children of Israel. ‘And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee (look on you with favour), and give thee peace.’ (Num. 6:22-26)
Wow! Only a wonderful and LOVING God would ever detail that kind of directive to His people. And that’s the amazing kind of God we serve my people! Give Him thanks and praise for being so wonderful to us the undeserving children of men!
And the scholars offer an interesting explanation of that blessing. They say: ‘The special blessing of the Lord upon His people was pronounced by Aaron, the high priest, and by subsequent priests of the Lord. Known as the “priestly blessings” or “Aaronic blessing”, it was pronounced with hands lifted up (Lev. 9:22). In later Jewish tradition, the blessing was pronounced at the conclusion of the morning and evening sacrifice. The form of the blessing consists of three sentences of two parts each. The Lord bless you, and keep you. The Lord make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you (look on you with favour), and give you peace.
Illustration: The early church fathers viewed the blessing as a reflection of the Trinity. The first part the work of the Father, the second part the work of the Son, and the third part the work of the Holy Spirit. Application: The significance of the blessing indicates the special relationship between God and His people which is mediated by the one pronouncing the blessing, as can be seen in Jesus’ Beatitudes of blessing (Matt, 5:3-12; cf. Deut. 9:1).’
And we certainly see the blessedness of Jesus in the 8 blessings of the Beatitudes, describing the spiritual characteristics of one who has been saved and attempts to live a godly life. And blessings were also important to Bruh Paul, who in every letter he wrote in the Bible, except in Romans, early on, he introduces a form of blessing like this: ‘Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.’ Then He gave thanks for them being a part of the church and believers in Christ Jesus.
And there are many other blessings to be found in the scriptures, so let’s look at a couple of them, as space and time permit. And we all know this famous one from Bruh Paul to the Philippians: ‘And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep (guard) your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.’ (Phil. 4:7) Then in John’s third epistle, writing to his friend Gaius, he declares: Beloved, I wish above all things (I pray that in all things) that thou mayest prosper and be in good health, even as thy soul prospereth.’ (3 John 1:2)
Meanwhile Psalm 1 tells us: ‘Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly (wicked), nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law he doth meditate (ponder) day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers (streams) of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.’ (Ps. 1:1-3)
Yes my people, those who live and work for the Lord are indeed blessed, and we must also remember to pour out our blessings on God, on ourselves, our families and LOVED ones, and even those we don’t really know, for we never know what difference a simple blessing can make to a hurting or discouraged soul. Now, let’s declare our Wednesday Wail, letting the whole world know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus.
As one strong and sincere voice. ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’
And an even more than glorious future awaits those who endure to the very end with Jesus. I plead with us to be wise and do just that, so we can enjoy that more than glorious future together! Much LOVE!
…God blesses us…so that we can bless others…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
24 Jun 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a learned behaviour, all these things shall be added unto you, allergies, Chrisitanity, complaining is a part of human nature, contentment is a learned behaviour, contentment isn't learned in classroom, contentment isn't learned overnight, drown men in destruction and perdition, endure to the end with Christ, erred from the faith, eyes fixed straight ahead, faith, fall into temptation, follow after righteousness, for one man who can stand prosperity, fraught with pitfalls, godliness, godliness with contentment is great gain, halfway home, hands on the plough, having food and raiment, holy spirit, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, I have learned, I know both how to be abased, I know how to abound, in regard of need, in whatsoever state I am, into many foolish and hurtful lusts, Jesus Christ, keep God first place in our lives, let us be content, live humbly, live in prosperity, lose your soul, LOVE, make Jesus our number one priority, material possessions, meekness, mercy, Not that I speak in respect of want, not turning back, O man of God flee these things, our second wind day, our wonderful position in Christ Jesus, patience, pierced themselves through with many sorrows, practical everyday life experiences, relatively insignificant, ruin and destruction, salvation, seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, Sermon on the Mount, so glad to be alive, some in their greediness, strayed from the faith, thank God, the basic necessities of life, the BIBLE, the breath of life is still flowing through me, the constant noise of lawn mowers, the Lord hates pride and boasting, the LOVE of money, the root of all kinds of evil, the skill required for successful living, therewith to be content, they that desire to be rich, Thomas Carlyle, tighten the belt in lean times, to a glorious future with Jesus, to abound, to be full, to be hungry, to discipline oneself, to suffer need, truth, we brought nothing into this world, we can carry nothing out, wealthy Chrisitans don't boast about their wealth, Wednesday Wail, which some coveted after, wisdom, with the help of Jesus
Today’s Scrip-Bit 24 June 2026 Philippians 4:11.
Philippians 4:11. ‘Not that I speak in respect of want (in regard to need): for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.’
Ah friends, it’s Wednesday, our second wind day, and I surely wish that I could catch my second wind because my allergies are giving me some problems. We all long for the summer, but when it comes, we complain about allergies, the constant noise of lawn mowers and many other things. But I guess complaining is just a part of our human nature. (smile) And this current version of our society is exceptionally good at complaining, because very little seems to satisfy us.
We obviously have not taken Bruh Paul’s statement on the subject to heart. He wrote to the Philippians thus: ‘Not that I speak in respect of want (in regard to need): for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.’ (Phil. 4:11) Now that’s something this version of our society needs to learn, and we can only do that by following Bruh Paul’s example, as he continues: ‘I know both how to be abased (live humbly), and I know how to abound (live in prosperity): every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and suffer need.’ (Phil. 4:12)
And the scholars offer some very valuable thoughts on Bruh Paul’s statements. The most important being, that being contented is a learned behaviour. ‘I have learned … to be content: The Greek here suggests that contentment is a lesson learned neither in a classroom nor overnight, but through many practical experiences in life.’ And that’s the gospel truth! We cannot learn contentment over night or in a classroom, but only from practical everyday life experiences.
And per verse 12, the scholars declare: ‘By listing some specific examples, this verse elaborates upon the very general and broad “in whatsoever state I am” of verse 11. Be abased means literally to discipline oneself, that is, to tighten the belt in lean times. To abound means to live in prosperity. Everywhere and in all things I am instructed (or, “in all circumstances I have learned the secret of how”) to be full, that is “well-fed..” To abound means to have plenty. To suffer need means to go without. Paul has acquired the skill required for successful living with little and with much, the latter probably being harder. ’
And they end the explanation with an appropriate quote from the 19th century Sottish philosopher Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881). ‘For one man who can stand prosperity, there a hundred that will stand adversity.’ And most of us know that prosperity is fairly easy to live with, but adversity is a completely different kettle of tea. However to live a successful life, we need to be able to live in both camps without too many problems or complaints. But let’s note Bruh Paul’s next words in that passage, possibly the most important. ‘I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.’ (Phil. 4:13)
Now that’s the secret of the whole exercise. We learn to live successfully, either in prosperity or need, with the help of Jesus Christ, for He is the one that strengthens us, as we live in His will and do His work. So, if we don’t have that foundation of Christ in our souls, then most likely we’ll have trouble living a truly successful life.
And there are several other scriptures throughout the Bible which warn about contentment. Like this one from Bruh Paul to Timothy. ‘But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment (clothing) let us be therewith content. But they that will (desire to) be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful (harmful) lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition (in ruin and destruction). For the LOVE of money is the root of all (kinds of) evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, (for which some in their greediness have strayed from the faith), and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.’ (1 Tim. 6:6-10)
Oh friends, nobody really wants to live in poverty, but desperately trying to get rich is fraught with all sorts of pitfalls, all sorts of evil possibilities, wherewith you can lose your soul and cause yourself even more sorrows than if you were living in poverty. And once we have food and raiment or all the basic necessities of life, we ought to be content. Now let’s note that it’s not money that causes the problem, but the LOVE of it; the helpless desire to go after it, forsaking everything and everyone else to get it.
Thus Bruh Paul warns Timothy: ‘But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, LOVE, patience, meekness.’ (1 Tim. 6:11) Yes my fellow believers those are the things that should be uppermost in our minds and lives. Now please don’t think that material possessions have no place in the Christian’s life, but as we can carry nothing out at death, that makes them relatively insignificant in comparison to the things of verse 11 above.
And it’s like Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount when teaching about worry. ‘But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.’ (Matt. 6:33) That tells us that if we sincerely keep God first place in our lives, He will satisfy all our basic needs. And He might also make us very wealthy in material terms; just like he made Cousin Sol wealthy, although he did not ask for it.
And believe me, there are lot of wealthy Christians out there in today’s world, and you’ll never know that just by seeing or listening to them, for they don’t boast on their earthly wealth, like so many non-believers do. They know on which side their bread is buttered, who gave them their wealth and how He hates pride and boasting, so they just go about quietly doing His work. And that’s how we all ought to be!
Now, let’s go home declaring our Wednesday Wail, letting the whole world know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’
And for those who endure to the very end with Jesus, there’s an even more glorious future promised, that we cannot comprehend or imagine. So, let’s be wise and endure to the end with Jeus nuh, so that we can enjoy that more than glorious future together! Much LOVE!
…true contentment… can only be acquired…if Jesus is our number one priority…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
13 May 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a damp cloudy morning, a most welcome invitation, a rainy night, an offer of salvation to all who will receive it, bless the LOrd o my soul, buy wine and milk withour money, call ye upon him while he is near, carries me so swiftly, catch your second wind, Christians, come buy and eat, come ye to the waters, compass me about with songs of deliverance, continue to do good work for Jesus, crowns thy life with loving kindness, delight in abundance, down to the basement again, eat what is good, endure to the end with Christ, even the sure mercies of David, every one that is godly, every one that thirsteth, eyes fixed straight ahead, faith, fists are blue from pounding, forget not all his benefits, forgives thine iniquities, from the basement of despair, get me off this emotional elevator, got to remain in God's arms, halfway home, hands on the plough, heals all thy diseases, hear and your soul shall live, hearken diligently unto me, hoarse from shouting, holy spirit, in a time when thou may be found, in all sincerity and truth, incline your ear and come unto me, Jesus Christ, keep you waiting, listen to me, LOVE, make an everlasting covenant with you, mercy, not turning back, our wonderful position in Christ Jesus, pray unto thee, preserve me from trouble, quick relief, quick to complain, redeems thy life from destruction, Ruth Harms Calkin, salvation, satisfies thy mouth with good things, seek ye the Lord while he may be found, seeking god is the wisest thing a living soul can do, so glad to be alive, Stay There, suffocating, suffocating in this dark windowless box, tender mercies, thank God, the BIBLE, the breath of life is still flowing through me, the door is wide open, the good shepherd, the Lord promises an everlasting covenant to the Gentiles, the Lord's door is always open, the Lord's invitation is to all men, the One Year Book of Bible Promises, the spiritually hungry and thirsty can eat and drink for free, the tenth floor of exhilaration, thou art my hiding place, thy youth is renewed like the eagle's, till thy kingdom come, to a glorious future with Jesus, truth, turn and look dear child, wake up from our slumber, walk straight into my waiting arms, Wednesday Wail, why spend money on what is not bread, wisdom, without a price, you who have no money, your labour on what does not satisfy, your soul will delight with the richest of fare
Today’s Scrip-Bit 13 May 2026 Isaiah 55:6.
Isaiah 55:6. ‘Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:’
And after a rainy night, we end up with a damp, cloudy morning, with a bit of drizzle still happening every so often. It’s a tough day to catch your second wind, but catch it you must, if you’re to continue your good work for Jesus. And to make matters even more difficult, we’re on a real late bus this morning. I just came from my church group but also have to go out shortly for some tests. And you know how it is with these medical places, they don’t value your time. They tell you to come at a particular time, even earlier than that, then they still keep you waiting till thy kingdom come.
Without further ado then, let’s get into our topic for today, which is an interesting and rather appropriate poem for these times, from our One Year Book of Bible Promises with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin, simply titled ‘Stay There.’ So please read with me: ‘Lord Please get me off This emotional elevator Which carries me so swiftly From the basement of despair To the tenth floor of exhilaration And down to the basement again. I’m hoarse from shouting My fists are blue from pounding I’m suffocating in this Dark, windowless box.’ And the Lord’s answer to that pitiful pleading was? ‘Turn and look, dear child. The door is wide open. Walk straight into My waiting arms. And stay there.’
Ah friends, we’re so quick to complain, before we even consider the situation properly. But as the Lord says, His door is always open, and all we have to do is walk straight into His open, waiting arms. But most importantly, we’ve got to remain in those arms, for it’s there that we find succour and help for all our troubles. And deep down we know that, but we simply refuse to take the time to consider the situation, we just desire quick relief. And you’d be surprised to discover the Bible quote for today’s poem. It’s one of those interesting statements from the prophet Isaiah on the Lord’s behalf.
The Book quotes it from the NIV (New International Version): ‘Come all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money, without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and you labour on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight with the richest of fare.’ (Is. 55:1-2) What a most welcome invitation my people! But let’s hear the elegant words of the King James Version, (smile) before we talk about what those verses mean.
‘Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money, come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness (abundance). Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.’ (Is. 55:1-3)
Now, we’ve put an extra verse in there, which makes it a little clearer. In essence, God is offering His free gift of salvation to all who are willing to receive it. And as the scholars say: ‘Those who are spiritually hungry and thirsty may come to eat and drink without money (or freely). The Lord promises an everlasting covenant to the Gentiles like the one He established with Israel.’ Please note that specific call in that last verse: ‘Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live…’ The Lord is calling, pleading with us to come to Him, but we have to listen, to hear, then draw near to Him.
And later on, the prophet again calls for our attention. ‘Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.’ (Is. 55:6) Yes friends, that’s the Lord’s invitation, His appeal to all men. If you are interested, His invitation is wide open to all… but you must seek Him, if you want to find Him. It’s as Bruh David says in Psalm 32: ‘For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him. Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about (surround me) with songs of deliverance. Selah.’ (Ps. 32:6-7)
Oh my brethren, that’s exactly what the Lord wants to do for every one of us, surround us with good things, a good and safe life, but we have to go to Him, reach out to Him in all sincerity and truth. He’s there waiting, waiting for us to wake up from our slumber and recognize the many benefits of being in His wonderful fold. Remember, He’s the good shepherd, who looks after His sheep like no other, or rather better than any other shepherd. And if you don’t get into His fold as soon as possible, then you’ll be missing out on many wonderful benefits.
Benefits like Bruh David declares in Psalm 103. ‘Bless the Lord , O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thy life with LOVING-KINDNESS and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.’ (Ps. 103:2-5) Now why would anybody with a mite of sense want to miss those wonderful benefits eh? No way! So, to show how smart and sensible we are, (smile) let’s all turn to the Lord God Almighty and diligently seek Him, for He is always to be found.
Now it’s time to go home declaring our Wednesday Wail, letting the whole world know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus. As one strong and sincere voice. ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’
And for all who endure with Jesus to the very end, it is promised they will receive an even more glorious future than they can even ask or imagine. So, again, let’s show our good sense and endure to the very end so that we can enjoy that more than glorious future together! Much LOVE!
…seeking God…that is the wisest thing a living soul can do…
Visit the Scrip-Bit Blog at https://randyobrien50.com
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
01 Apr 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a future we cannot imagine or comprhend, a just man falleth seven times and riseth up again, a lack of mountain-moving faith, a lesson for all of us, a motivator, a small amount of living faith, a small beginning with massive God-given potential, a small seed that grows into a very large plant, achieve monumental spiritual feats, All Fools Day, appraise opportunities intellignetly, April Fool's day, be wise and endure, because of your unbelief, catch my second wind, christianity, Christians, communicating continually with God, conservative and cautious attitude, discipleship requires forward-focused undivied devotion, discouragement is rampant in our soicety, do not be discouraged, do not expect to succeed, doing God's will with diligence and excellence, don't accomplish everything you set out to do, Don't Get Discouraged, dontrust in the size of our faith, Dr. Robert H. Schuller, endure to the end with Christ, eyes fixed straight ahead, fail to move forward with an expectant confidence, faith, fall into calamity, get cold feet, grab the opportunity, guide you into all truth, halfway home, hands on the plough, he shall glorify me, he shall not speak of himself, he shall receive of mine and declare it unto you, help you move on to victory, hold back your full power, holy spirit, if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, indecisive people, is fit for the kingdom of heaven, it shall move, Jesus Christ, looking back, looking back after gripping the plow, looking back compromises one's service and spirtual progress, lose nerve, LOVE, mercy, never give up attitude, no man having put his hand to the plough, not looking back at the past, nothing shall be impossible unto you, produce significant results, promote opportunities confidently, receive what is mine, remove hence to yonder place, run a few errands, salvation, say unto this mountain, second wind day, seize opportunities swiftly, shall not speak on his own authority, shew you things to come, sincere trust placed in God, small authentic faith can grow and accomplish great things, thank God, the BIBLE, the breath of life is still flowing through me, the evil and ungodliness permeating our society, the fast moving opportunity, the gospel truth, The Hour of Power 50th AnniversaryBook of Daily Motivation and Inspiration, the wicked shall fall into mischief, these dark and dangerous times, to a glorious future with Jesus, total commitment to following Jesus, trust in the power of God, truth, want to be a success, Wednesday Wail, when he the Spirit of truth is come, wisdom
Matthew 17:20a. If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove (move);
And then it was Wednesday, our second wind day, but unfortunately we’re on the late, late bus, no I won’t deceive you on this 1st of April, April Fools Day. (smile) But I went to my church group, then I ran a few errands, which always take longer than planned, and by the time I got home the ole fella was tired, and therefore had to rest a spell to catch his second wind. What a great excuse for All Fool’s Day, as we call in the West Indies. But it’s the truth and I’m sticking to it. (smile) And since we’re running late, I’ll endeavour to keep the Bit short and sweet… although I sometimes wonder if the word short exists in my vocabulary. (smile) Yes, it’s a smiley kind of day!
Anyhow, in my attempt to keep things short and sweet, here is an encouraging passage from The Hour of Power 50th Anniversary Book of Daily Motivation and Inspiration by Dr, Robert H. Schuller. The passage is aptly titled ‘Don’t Get Discouraged,’ and that’s a wonderful motivator for us today in these very dark and discouraging times. I’m sure I shared this already, but as with so many other things, this is worth sharing again and again. So please read with me, as Dr. Schuller advises us.
‘Do not be discouraged if you do not accomplish everything that you set out to accomplish. Surely if you do not expect to succeed you will hold back your full power, investment and enthusiasm. Immediately, the kind of people who would help to move you on to victory begin to draw back. Your conservative and cautious attitude will reflect itself in an anxious look on your face that will disturb and discourage people from helping you. There are two major reasons why people fail. Both stem from a lack of mountain-moving faith.
(1) People who fail are often people who are indecisive. They cannot make decisions swiftly and surely. The fast moving opportunity is past before they decide – too late – to take hold. (2) Then some decisive people fail because after making the decision, they fail to move forward with an expectant confidence. They grab the opportunity only to lose nerve, get cold feet, and begin to wonder if they have done the right thing. They have gripped the plow but now they are looking back. Want to be a success? Develop the ability to appraise opportunities intelligently, seize opportunities swiftly, and promote these opportunities confidently.’
And in there somewhere is a lesson for all of us, because discouragement has become so rampant in our society because of the evil and ungodliness that’s permeating it. But the first thing we all need to have is as Dr. Schuller calls it, is ‘mountain-moving faith.’ It’s like Jesus said to the disciples who could not cure an epileptic boy. When they asked why? ‘Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove (move); and nothing shall be impossible unto you.’ (Matt. 17:20)
Yes friends we need to start with faith, not necessarily plenty, but strong. And I like how this commentary explains it. “Faith the size of a mustard seed” is a metaphor from Jesus in the Gospels (Matthew 17:20) indicating that even a tiny amount of genuine, living faith can achieve monumental spiritual feats, such as moving mountains or uprooting trees (Luke 17:6). The mustard seed represents a small beginning with massive, God-given potential.’ And that’s the gospel truth my people!
For, as the commentary continues: ‘The mustard seed was considered one of the smallest seeds, yet it grows into a very large plant, symbolizing that small, authentic faith can grow and accomplish great things. However, the message is not to trust in the size of our own faith, but in the power of God, with whom nothing is impossible. The metaphor encourages believers to trust God even in the face of massive, insurmountable obstacles (mountains). In essence, having faith the size of a mustard seed means having a small amount of sincere trust that, when placed in God, can produce significant results.’
And after having the faith to do whatever we want to do, then we must act decisively on it, expecting it to be successful, not being luke-warm and non-enthusiastic about the outcome. And we can only do that properly if we communicate with our heavenly Father through the auspices of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us. For as Jesus told the disciples: ‘Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth” for he shall not speak of himself (on his own authority), but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of (what is) mine, and shall shew (declare) it unto you.’ (John 16:13-14)
Oh my people, living this life successfully is a matter of having faith, communicating continually with God, then doing what He says with diligence and excellence, keeping our hands on the plow and not looking back, for as Jesus says: ‘No man having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of heaven.’ (Luke 9:62) That means, as this commentary tells us: ‘Luke 9:62 is a profound biblical proverb emphasizing total commitment to following Jesus. It signifies that discipleship requires forward-focused, undivided devotion, warning that looking back at past comforts, sins, or regrets compromises one’s service and spiritual progress.’
And above all friends, it means never giving up, for in Jesus’ vocabulary ‘giving up’ does not exist. It’s as Cousin Sol says in Proverbs: ‘A just (righteous) man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief (stumble into calamity.’ (Prov. 24:16) And that’s as short as we could make it, (smile) so let’s go home now declaring our Wednesday Wail, letting the whole world know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus!
As one strong and sincere voice: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’
And if we’re faithful and endure to the very end with Jesus, then we will also enjoy a more than glorious future, one we cannot comprehend or imagine, promised to those who stick it out! So let’s be wise and endure nuh! Much LOVE!
…Christians have enough tools and support from Christ…to not give into discouragement…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
25 Mar 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: A Prayer for Hope, a strong serene feeling, a wind that passes away, all sin is punishable by death, believers must be on the alert, catch our second wind, celebrate life every day, Christ can come like a thief in the night, christianity, Christians, Christians must be ready, cosmic disasters, destroyed them not, did not stir up all his wrath, divine judgement, Dr. Robert H Schuller, endure to the end with Christ, every imagination of the thoughts of his heart, expecting God to surprise me with His tender mercy, expecting God's goodness and mercy, eyes fixed straight ahead, faith, forgave their iniquity, God being full of compassion, God is planning something good for me today, God saw that the wickedness of man was great, God's goodness and mercy, great is thy faithfulness, grieve him in the desert, grieved him at his heart, guiding my life, halfway home, hands on the plough, his compassions fail not, holy spirit, I am the Lord I change not, I cannot explain it, I will destroy man from the face of the earth, intense persecution of believers, It is of the Lord's mercies that we're not consumed, Jesus Christ, looking forward to spring, LOVE, mercy, new life bursts forth, Noah and the flood, not looking back, only evil continually, positive thinking, prove to be a beautiful blessing, pushing the Lord's anger and patience with our rebellion, rampant ungodliness, rebel against him in the wilderness, remembered that they were flesh, salvation, so glad to be alive, thank God, Thank You Lord, the BIBLE, the breath of life is still flowing through me, the earth is filled with violence and corruption again, the Great tribulation, the only reprieve from sin is Christ, the rapture of the church, the rise of the Antichrist, the second coming of Christ, therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed, they are new every morning, this is the day the Lord has made, time longer than twine, to a glorious future with Jesus, truth, turn my hurts into halos, unprecedented global suffering, we will rejoice and be glad in it, Wednesday Wail, what ever happens to me, wisdom, wonderful things are in store for me, work diligently on Christ's behalf
Lamentations 3:22. It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
It’s Wednesday friends, the day we catch our second wind, so that we can continue to work diligently on Christ’s behalf! And it’s not a bad day at all; fairly warm and sunshiny. So we’re alive, and enjoying enough good health to keep us moving, and looking forward to a wonderful spring season as new life bursts forth and a warm sun moves back up to the northern climes. And with all of that, we need to acclaim: ‘This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.’ (Ps. 118:24)
Yes my people, every day we’re alive ought to be a day of celebration, regardless of the many problems we might have, for there are many who wanted to wake up this morning but unfortunately did not, so let’s consider ourselves blessed! That brings us to this interesting and very appropriate ‘Prayer for Hope,’ that I discovered while going through some old papers last night. It was written by Dr. Robert H. Schuler of the Hour of Power Religious Programme, one of the many who championed positive thinking. And I believe I’ve shared it way back when, but like so many prayers that never lose their usefulness, this one is still apropos.
So please pray with me. ‘I have a strong, serene feeling that God is planning something good for me today. I cannot explain it, but I have a deep feeling that wonderful things are in store for me. I am expecting God to surprise me with His tender mercy. He will turn my hurts into halos. He is guiding my life in such a way that whatever happens to me will prove to be a beautiful blessing. Thank You Lord. Amen.’
Now that’s a good, positive, expectant prayer, looking out for God’s goodness and mercy to show up in our lives, like we ought to. Remember how Jeremiah puts is 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, God’s goodness, mercy and faithfulness are overwhelming, and we ought to look forward to them. As Jeremiah says, they are new every morning. That means, every morning we open our eyes to a new day, we ought to be thankful and expect God’s goodness and mercy to faithfully flood our lives, as He has promised.
And the psalmist Asaph expounded it in Psalm 78, when he talks about The Compassionate God. He writes: ‘But he (God), being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath. For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again. How oft did they provoke (rebel against) him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert!’ (Ps. 78:38-40)
Yes my brethren, the Israelites sorely tempted the Lord’s patience and anger in the wilderness, but He did not destroy them. Likewise, today we are pushing the Lord’s anger and patience with our serious rebellion, the rampant ungodliness and evil-doing that’s currently in our world. And although the prophet Malachi declared on the Lord’s behalf: ‘For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.’ (Mal. 3:6) We are pushing the boundaries so far and wide, that it ought to be no surprise if God loses His longsuffering patience and destroys all within the earth, like He did way back in Noah’s time with the flood.
It’s like the Bible says of that time. ‘And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination (intent) of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually (all the day). And it repented the Lord (He was sorry) that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me (I’m sorry) that I have made them.’ (Gen. 6:5-7)
Oh my people, what do you think is happening with our great God right now eh, since the same abominable rebellious behaviour is recurring again, the earth is once more filled with violence and corruption, even though He went out of His way to give us Jesus? Don’t you think it grieves His heart? How much pain can one heart stand, even if it’s God’s eh? Don’t you think He’s considering destroying the earth again, although not by water as He promised. And not because they say ‘time longer than twine’ means that the Lord will put up with our disgraceful behaviour forever.
Even He has a breaking point, and I believe He’s very quickly reaching it, for the sinfulness of the world has never reached this disgusting and disgraceful stage, and it seems to be getting worse every day. That could also mean that Christ’s coming for the church is not far away, for even a godly Spirit can only handle or take so much abuse and blasphemy against their sovereignty. Consequently, it behooves believers to be on the alert, to be ready for Christ’s coming at any time, like a thief in the night, unexpectedly.
And if we’re not ready, when He comes to take us home, then crapaud smoke we pipe, for if you think things are bad now, then think again, for after Christ comes and raptures the church, a time of sorrows and the Great Tribulation will take place, some seven years of total misery. This commentary describes it thus: ‘The Great Tribulation is a prophesied future period of unprecedented global suffering, divine judgment, and intense persecution of believers, lasting 3½ years. Often identified as the latter half of a seven-year period, it is marked by the rise of the Antichrist, cosmic disasters, and the culminating in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.’
Ah friends, I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to undergo any of those seven years, so I’m doing my best to get ready, and strongly advise that you do the same. Now let’s declare our Wednesday Wail, letting the whole world know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’
And if you desire to enjoy an even more glorious future, then stick around to the very end with Jesus, because that’s what’s been promised for those who endure to the end. Much LOVE!
…we’re all born into sin…and all sin is punishable by death…and the only reprieve is…sincerely accepting Christ as Lord and Saviour…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
21 Jan 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a garden of thistles and thorns, a snowy winter, abide with you for ever, all our lives through, be of good cheer, be perfect and entire, bear many a burden, bear many a care, being confident of this very thing, between a rock and a hard place, clay in the hands of a potter, count it all joy, divne help, endure to the end with Christ, eternal life, eternal separation from God, faith, fall into various trials, flower-strewn pathways, get through life scot free, give you another Comforter, God hath not promised skies ever blue, God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, God's desire is to have us all as replicas of Jesus, God's Word, grace, grace for trials, grin and bear it, guide you into all truth, halfway home, hands on the plough, he dwelleth in you, he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever, he which hath begun a good work in you, hellfire and damnation, help from above, holy spirit, i have overcome the world, I will not leave you comfortless, I will pray the Father, if ye love me keep my commandments, in my ye might have peace, in the world ye shall have tribulation, Jesus Christ, joy without sorrow, lazy, leave you as orphans, let pateince have her perfect work, life is not a bed of roses, light for the way, living for Jesus offers unsurpassable rewards, LOVE, mercy, my eyes are fixed straight ahead, needing no guide, negative experiences, not looking back at the past, not turning back, omnipotent power, our second wind day, peace without pain, perform it until the day of jesus, rest amid labour, salvation, selfish, shew you things to come, smooth roads, stay on the straight and narrow path, strength for the day, sun without rain, swift easy travel, tha k god, the breath of life is still flowing through me, the living truth, the Lord's Number One Plan, the lust thereof, the positive work God accomplishes through testing, The Promises and Non-Promises of God, the Spirit of truth, the testing of your faith produces patience, the trying of your faith worketh patience, the world passeth away, the world through him might be saved, to a glorious future with Jesus, tough times in this sinful world, truth, turbulent times, undying LOVE, unfailing sympathy, unsurpassable rewards, waltz through this life with no cares, wanting nothing, when the Spirit of truth is come, when ye fall into divers temptations, whom the world cannot receive
1 John 2:17. And the world paseth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
And then it was Wednesday, our second wind day. And do we ever need to catch that second wind so we can make it safely through, because it’s a cloudy, snowy, miserable day. Chuh! This looks like it’s going to be a snowy winter, for every time you turn around it’s snowing. But there’s nothing much to do but grin and bear it, for that’s the nature of the northern climes, and we’ve been spoiled in recent years with comparatively little snow during the winter months. But here’s an interesting poem I recently discovered amongst my piles of papers. I’m not sure where it comes from or when (smile) but I’m fairly sure I’ve shared it sometime in the past.
But like so many of those prayers and poems, they are still very appropriate for these turbulent times. And I believe the poem is called ‘The Promises and Non-Promises of God.’ So please read with me. ‘God hath not promised skies ever blue, flower-strewn pathways all our lives through; God hath not promised sun without rain, joy without sorrow, peace without pain. God hath not promised smooth roads and wide, swift, easy travel needing no guide; God hath not promised we shall not bear many a burden and many a care. But God hath promised strength for the day, rest amid labour, light for the way; grace for trials, help from above, unfailing sympathy, undying LOVE!’
And that’s the living truth my people! God never promised that we will just waltz through this life with no cares, worries, burdens or trials. He simply promised that He will help us each and every day to bear what burdens or trials we might experience. It’s just that we know His omnipotent power and are lazy and selfish and expect to get through life Scot free, that we take these liberties about what God promised and what He didn’t. Why do you think He gave us first Jesus, then the Holy Spirit eh?
Jeus came to save us from our abominable sinful behaviour that was leading us down the path of eternal separation from God. As He very plainly says in the gospel of John: ‘For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world though him might be saved.’ (John 3:17) Yes friends, we needed divine help if we were to avoid hellfire and damnation. And having given us an option to avoid that most fearful outcome, the Lord then gave us the Holy Spirit to help us live the kind of life we needed to live so we could stay on the straight and narrow path that leads to Him and eternal life.
The Holy Spirit is our guide and comforter and helper. If God didn’t think we’d need those things to live this earthly life, why give us the Holy Spirit? Listen to Jesus again, this time on the work of the Holy Spirit. ‘If ye LOVE me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter (Helper), that he may abide with you forever. Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless (as orphans): I will come to you.’ (John 14:15-18)
And so it was done! The Holy Spirit came to dwell within each believer on the first day of Pentecost after Jesus’ ascension back to heaven. (Acts 2:1-4) Then later on, Jesus again spoke to the disciples about the importance of the Holy Spirit. ‘Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself (on his own authority); but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall ye speak: and he will shew you things to come.’ (John 16:13) And Jesus finally told them: ‘These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.’ (John 16:33).
Oh my people, the Lord knew that we would have tough times in this sinful world, that’s why he equipped us with all that we needed to handle it. The Holy Spirit, prayer, grace, mercy, and His Word. For living in an evil and ungodly world trying to be righteous and godly is a major task. That’s why we have scriptures like James’ exhortation: ‘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)
Yes those are tough words to handle, but as the scholars explain: These “negative” experiences are to be accepted with great joy, not for the sake of the trial itself but because of the positive work God can accomplish through the testing.’ We do need to remember that God tests our faith all through this earthly life and that is done usually through trials and temptations because it’s only when we are between a rock and a hard place that our faith grows. When life’s good, our faith either stagnates or gets soft and weak.(smile)
And remember too that the Lord’s Number One Plan is to have all His children as replicas of His first born Jesus, therefore, as along as we are alive, we will be like putty or clay in the hands of a potter, with Him trying to make us into the image of Jesus. It’s like Bruh Paul says to the Philippians: ‘Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform (complete) it until the day of Jesus Christ.’ (Phil. 1:6) That means everyday we’re alive the Master Potter will be working on us. So it’s not an easy life to live for Christ, but as I keep saying, it’s very interesting and the rewards are unsurpassable.
Nothing this world has to offer can ever surpass salvation and eternal life with Christ. Remember too as John says in his first epistle: ‘And the world paseth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.’ (1 John 2:17) Yes, my fellow believers, this world will eventually pass away, but if we do God’s will, we will live forever with Him. Let’s remember that and set our minds to it, despite all the many tests and temptations we might face, for our God is just faithful and true !
Now let’s go home declaring our Wednesday Wail, letting all and sundry know of our wonderful position in Christ. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’
And if we’re serious, then we’ll endure with Christ right to the very end, and thus enjoy the promise of a more than glorious future for those who see it through to the end. Much LOVE!
…life is not a bed of roses…but a garden of thistles and thorns…that we need to work on…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
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