03 May 2023
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: arthritis inducing weather, be filled with the Spirit, be not drunk with wine, be of good cheer, endure to the end, envying one another, eyes fixed straight ahead, giving thanks always for all things, grin and bear them, halfway home, if we live in the Spirit, in the fear of God, Jesus has overcome the world, Jesus is the Great Physician, let us also walk in the Spirit, let us not be desirous of vain glory, LOVE, more lorious than we ask or imagine, not as fools, not looking back, prayer is a great privilege, provoking one another, renew the face of this earth, renew us gracious God, renew us to do justice, so glad to be alive, thakn god, the breath of life is still flowing through me, the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, the fruit of the spirit, the lust of the flesh, the spirit against the flesh, these are contrary one to the other, to a glorious future with Jesus, to love kindness, to walk humbly with you our God, vision for our church community, walk circumspectly, Wednesday Wail
Galatians 5:23. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Oh, what a glorious, wet, damp, drizzly, arthritis inducing Wednesday May morning! (smile) Yes friends, the last few days have been a combination of drizzle and weak sunshine, and the dampness that sneaks into the bones, causing the arthritis malady to raise its ugly head. But thank the Lord the weather doesn’t affect my aching bones. I don’t know why, but it’s never really made my supposed arthritic condition any worse. My pains come around when they feel like, regardless of the weather. And I’ve learned over the years to just grin and bear them, taking the odd medication when the pain gets a bit much.
What I don’t like about my joint pains is that they are annoyingly intermittent; suddenly showing up out of the blue, with no warning, and no obvious aggravation on my part. They’ll stick around for a bit, then disappear just as suddenly as they came, for another period of time. It’s a good thing Jesus warned us that in this world we’d have trials and tribulations, but we ought to be of good cheer, for He’s overcome, He’s conquered this evil world! Glory be my brethren!
And we do have to learn to handle some of our pain and not run to the medication bottle as soon as the pain shows up. My logic is that if we use the medications too often then they will cease to work properly after a while. But that’s just me, and I suppose my aches and pains might not be as bad as some of you my fellow believers. Each of us though need to keep Christ first place in our lives especially in our times of illness, for remember He is the Great Physician and prayer is our greatest privilege. So let’s try and use it more than we use the medications nuh.
And we can begin right now with this prayer I found amongst some papers while doing some spring cleaning in one of the many cubicles on my desk. I found all sorts of stuff, written ages ago, some that I couldn’t even read properly because of the terrible handwriting, and that was just a small portion of what’s hiding there. I’m sure there are many gems amongst the crud, but only time and my persistence in cleaning the desk will tell. Anyway, enough talk. Let’s pray this prayer that’s titled ‘Renew Toronto,’ but is very appropriate for renewing both our cities and our lives. And please don’t ask me where I got it from, (smile) because I haven’t the foggiest notion.
Instead, please pray with me: ‘Gracious God, in your wisdom and LOVE, You create us in your image and likeness. You call us to be your Presence in the world. Let the Spirit of Jesus grow with us for this journey – inspire in us insight and vision for our Church community – ready our hearts and hands to bring healing to our sinfulness – move our feet to live the Gospel of Jesus with courage and joy. Renew us, GRACIOUS GOD. Renew us by your LOVING acceptance of us. Renew us to do justice, to LOVE kindness, and to walk humbly with you, our God. To renew the face of this earth. Amen.’
Ah friends, I like it, and I hope you do too, because it’s simple and straightforward, yet covers all the bases. And oh, do we ever need a total renewing in these ungodly and evil times, where faith and trust in Almighty God is sadly on the wane, and the enemy is getting bolder and more prevalent every day. How we do need the Holy Spirit of Jesus to fill us up like Bruh Paul exhorted the Ephesians.
‘See that ye walk circumspectly (carefully), not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess (dissipation, licentiousness); but be filled with the Spirit. Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.’ (Eph. 5:15-21)
Yes my fellow believers, that’s how we ought to live; being filled with the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to fill us with God’s own life, character and values, rather than the dissipating wine that leads us astray to ungodly and sinful thoughts, deeds and actions. For it is only when we are filled with the Holy Spirit of God that we can receive the things we just prayed for; that’s inspiration for insight and vision for our Church community, to ready our hearts and hands to bring healing to our sinfulness and to move our feet to live the Gospel of Jesus with courage and joy.
Then, and only then can we fulfill Bruh Paul’s words to the church at Galatia. ‘This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirt, ye are not under the law.’ (Gal. 5:16-18) That’s oh so true my fellow saints, we only have two options; to walk in the Spirit or to walk in the flesh and Bruh Paul breaks down what both consist of in the verses that follow: ‘the lust or works of the flesh vs.19-21, and the fruit of the Spirit, vs. 22-23.
Please read and study them, so that they can take root in our souls, so that we can therefore do as he later says: ‘And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections (its passions) and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory (conceited), provoking one another, envying one another.’ (Gal. 5:24-26) Now, those are certainly words to live by, especially in these turbulent and contrary last days my brethren! And for those of us who are sincerely trying to live that way, let’s go home declaring (yesss!!!) our Wednesday Wail, letting the whole world know of our fabulous 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!’
Now, please remember that it’s also been promised that if we stick with Jesus right down to the very end, then that future will be even more glorious than we can ever ask or imagine! Yes, our puny, finite minds simply won’t be able to comprehend it. (smile) So let’s use that as further encouragement to endure to the end nuh. Much LOVE!
…a spiritual walk with Christ…has so much more to offer…than a lustful, carnal walk with the enemy…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ
12 Apr 2023
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: Commonplace Days, concrete jungle, day by day drudgery, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, do all to the glory of God, down to earth living, endure to the very end, entitled to everything, eyes fixed straight ahead, foolishly waiting for divine inspiration, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him, glamourless duties, God in all things must be glorified through Christ Jesus, grab my heart, halfway home, hands on the ploufh, life is all about glorifying God, looking forward to a glorious future with Jesus, LOVE, men-pleasers, not looking back, quiet me, social media, the Holy Spirit of God, trite mundane tasks, Wednesday Wail, whatsoever ye do in word or deed, whether ye eat or drink, whine and whimper, without lifting a finger
Colossians 3:17. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Ah friends, can you believe it’s already Wednesday, the middle of the work week and the ole fella is up this early writing the Bit. But, as they say, wonders never cease, but daily they increase. And I’m up this early just because I have to take the duchess to a mid-morning medical appointment in the city, and once you go to that concrete jungle, with cranes and tractors and construction all over, meaning blocked streets and congested traffic, you can never be sure what time you’ll return, thus my early rising. (smile)
And today we’ll look at a li’l poem from our One Year Book of Bible Promises with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin simply titled ‘Commonplace Days,’ which I think is ever so appropriate for many of us living in these busy, complex, modern times. So please pray with me. ‘Lord of my commonplace days Forgive me for foolishly waiting For “divine inspiration” Before moving in on the tasks Personally assigned to me.
Hopefully I am learning To face with greater determination The day by day drudgery The trite, mundane tasks The pushing-pulling glamourless duties. Lord, even when I think I’m getting no place Keep me pushing on and on With purpose and direction. Grab my heart and quiet me When I begin to whine and whimper. Despite the daily drain I think I see it more clearly now: It is only when I begin to do That you begin to bless.’
Now that’s certainly an interesting notion my fellow believers: only when we begin to do what we ought, then the Lord begins to bless us. And so it should be, why should we be blessed when we’re not doing what we ought eh? But sadly, that’s how we think in these days of entitlement. We believe we’re entitled to everything, without lifting a finger to do anything. But let’s get back to the gist of the poem; those many dog days of daily life, where it’s simply one mundane, seemingly unimportant task after another.
Oh, so many of us crave the seemingly exciting lives of the celebrities, but don’t think that they don’t have days like ordinary people too. How do you think they got to be celebrities eh, just out of the blue, or as they are called, ‘overnight successes’? No, many of them laboured for years in nondescript jobs, doing whatever they could to survive before they made it to the big time.
But what this foolish society is leading so many to believe is that we can reach the top without drudgery and same old, same old uninviting, glamourless tasks. That’s not real life though. Real life is doing the same old, same old every day, and doing it without whining and whimpering. But we’ve become such a soft-bellied society, totally lacking in belly and backbone that our first reaction to hard or mundane tasks is to whine and whimper.
There’s never been a more complaining society than this present one. That’s because we’ve had, and are having life too easy with all our modern conveniences and amenities, so we’ve lost all sense of what it is to live a real down to earth life. And it gets even harder when you truly begin to live for Jesus; you get real down to earth living, with sacrifices and carrying your cross daily. But as the poem says, when we begin to do as is expected of us, without a whole lot of complaining, then the Lord blesses us.
Please remember that the Lord is the Boss, so He sets the standards and tasks, it’s merely our job to carry them out with His support. And we can never say that He doesn’t support us in any task that He asks us to complete, because He always provides the wherewithal to accomplish them. And it’s interesting to note the Bible Verse associated with today’s poem. It comes from Bruh Paul’s letter to the Colossians, and certainly reflects what our attitude should be to the everyday vicissitudes of life. Please read with me: ‘And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.’ (Col. 3:17)
Yes my people, that’s how we ought to react as true believers in Christ; doing everything in His name, desiring to bring glory to the Father through Him. And nobody’s saying that that’s an easy way to live, but it is doable, if we truly live to please God and allow the Holy Spirit of God that indwells us to lead and guide us in our daily activities. It’s the same thing Bruh Paul wrote to the Corinthians in his second letter when talking about how they should react to certain situations in life.
He says: ‘Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God. Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.’ (1 Cor. 10:31-33) Now that doesn’t mean we are to be men-pleasers, but it does mean that we are not to be arrogant and self-seeking, looking out only for our own interests.
And Peter said it thus: ‘As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles (utterances) of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.’ (1 Pet. 4:10-11)
Yes friends, it‘s as simple as that: (smile) whatever we say or do, ought to bring glory to our wonderful heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ the Son. That means we have to think carefully before we talk or act, not be like the rest of the world is today; unconcernedly shooting off their mouths and contentions, especially through social media and doing untold damage to friends and neighbours.
Now, for those of us who are sincerely trying to live for Christ, let’s go home today declaring (chuh!!!) our Wednesday Wail, letting the whole world know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus. Altogether now: ‘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 right down to very end with Jesus, then that future will be even more glorious than we can ever ask or imagine. So, let’s plan on seeing it nuh. Much LOVE!
…life…be it on earth or in heaven…it’s all about glorifying God…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ
22 Mar 2023
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a false witness, a lying tongue, a proud look, an already vanquished foe, an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, as a flower of the field, be afflicted and mourn, draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you, endure to the end, eyes fixed straight ahead, feet that be swift in running to mischief, friendship with the world is enmity with God, from everlasting to everlasting, glad to be alive, gossip, hands that shed innocent blood, he hath showed thee O man, he that soweth discord among brethren, his days are as grass, humble yourselves in the sight of God, injustice, lovehands on the plough, man has a finite time on earth, not looking back, resist the devil, return to the dust, seven things are an abomination to God, so big for our britches, speak not evil of one another, thank God, the breath of life is still flowing through me, the enemy of God, the help of the Lord's Spirit, the mercy of the Lord, there is one lawgiver, to a glorious future with Jesus, to do justly and to love mercy, to them that fear him, walk humbly with thy God, Wednesday Wail, what doth the Lord require of thee, what is good, ye lust and have not
Micah 6:8. He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to LOVE mercy (LOVING-kindness), and to walk humbly with thy God.
And then it was Wednesday all over again! Thank the Lord! Ah friends, the days are rolling along, just like the Creator programmed them. They will continue to roll along as long as the earth exists, but we will not, because we have a finite time to experience the earth before we return to the dust from which we were made.
As Bruh David says in Psalm 103: ‘As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more (not remember it). But the mercy (LOVING-kindness) of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear (reverence) him, and his righteousness unto children’s children. To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.’ (Ps. 103:15-18)
Yes my people, man’s life is unpredictable. He can be here today, then gone tomorrow. It all depends on the Lord’s plan. We grow up quickly and wither just as quickly. But while we are here, it behooves us, it is wise to enjoy the largesse of our great God. That means keeping His commandments, revering and LOVING Him, the way He desires us to. And what does all that mean, you ask? I think the prophet Micah puts it best, in simple language. ‘He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to LOVE mercy (LOVING-kindness), and to walk humbly with thy God.’ (Mic. 6:8).
Yes friends, that is basically all that the Lord our God asks of us. To be just and merciful and walk humbly before Him. And yes, doing those things can get somewhat complicated and difficult at times, especially when we are goaded by the devil to do otherwise. But with the help of the Lord’s Spirit that dwells within us, we can do them, if we are serious about living for Christ. And possibly the most important of those three things listed above is to walk humbly before God. Why? Because there’s nothing the Lord dislikes as pride and a haughty nature, because it says that you don’t need Him.
Remember Cousin Sol remarked in Proverbs that there are seven things the Lord dislikes, that He considers an abomination unto His Spirit. And the first is ‘A proud look or haughty eyes.’ But just for our information and remembrance, let’s check out all seven things the Lord considers abominable nuh. (smile) ‘A proud look (haughty eyes), a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations (devises wicked plans), feet that be swift in running to mischief (evil). A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.’ (Prov. 6:17-19)
And yuh know what? Unfortunately, in these turbulent and disastrous times, our world is flooded with all those abominations. They are all ever so prevalent, because our current society is built on pride, lies, evil plans, the shedding of innocent blood, injustice, gossip, false witness and those who stir up trouble for their own evil and ungodly purposes. In other words, our current society is built on abomination in the Lord’s eyes. No wonder He’s allowing all sorts of misfortune and disaster to happen in our world.
And we have gotten so big for our britches nowadays with the great advancements in our society, that we’ve come to the opinion that we no longer need God. Therefore, we are trying to get rid of Him. But that’s an impossibility. For He will not allow it. And we need to wake up and realize that, otherwise we’ll sink even further down into the mire of Satan’s evil world and draw even further away from God, until we end up eternally separated from Him, which I keep reminding us is the worst fate that can ever befall a human soul.
And James, Jesus’ brother spelled out our current predicament very well way back then, when He wrote: ‘From whence come wars (conflicts) and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts (desires for pleasure) that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill (murder), and desire to have (covet), and cannot obtain: ye fight and war (battle), yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts (pleasures). Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of (with) the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will (wants to) be a friend of the world is (makes himself) the enemy of God.’ (James 4:1-4)
Oh my fellow saints, unfortunately that is indeed the current state of our world. If James thought things were bad back in his time, he wouldn’t want to see them now. But while showing us the error of our ways, he has also instructed us in how to turn things around. Listen up as he writes. ‘Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy (yearns jealously)? But he giveth more grace, Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Draw nigh (near) to God, and he will draw nigh (near) to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted (lament), and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness (gloom). Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. Speak not evil of one another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?’ (James 4:5-12).
And is that ever the gospel truth! So now that we know our problems and the solution to them, it’s up to us change, or just remain with the ungodly status quo. But if we sincerely desire to see godly change, then we’ll begin doing those things that James has advised, like humbling ourselves, turning away from the lustful things of the world, stop speaking lies and doing evil, etc. etc. And for those of us who have already made that decision to live for God, let’s go home declaring (chuh!!!) our Wednesday Wail, letting all and sundry know of our marvellous position in Christ Jesus.
Altogether now: ‘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 if we endure right down to the very end with Jesus, that future will be even more glorious than we can ever ask or imagine. And who doesn’t want to see a glorious future eh? So let’s endure nuh! Much LOVE!
…it’s ever so foolish to fight against God…on the side of Satan…an already vanquished foe…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ
08 Mar 2023
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: archangel Lucifer, become so enamoured of ourselves, blessed are they that keep judgement (justice), EGO - Edging God Out, endure to the end, eyes fixed straight ahead, gave them their request, give thanks unto the Lord for He is good, God is good...all the time, halfway home, hands on the plough, he saved them for his name's sake, he that doeth righteousness at all times, his mercy endureth for ever, I am the Lord that is my name, I may glory with thine inheritance, I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, I may see the good of thy chosen, I'm so glad to be alive, LOVE, lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, man is made in the image of God, my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images, not turning back, power hungry, Satan, sent leanness into their soul., tempted God in the desert, thank God, the breath of life is still flowing through me, the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the mercies and compassions of God, the world and they that dwell therein, they are new every morning, they soon forgat his works, to a glorious future with Jesus, too busy to notice what God's doing, visit me with thy salvation, waited not for his counsel, Wednesday Wail, where their bread was buttered, who can show forth all his praise, who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord
Psalm 106:3. Blessed are they that keep judgement (justice), and he that doeth righteousness at all times.
Oh boy, it’s another brand new sunshiny day, filled with all the many mercies and compassion of our great God. And isn’t it wonderful to know that every day, regardless of the weather or our circumstances, has them brand new, newly made. Yes friends, no left-over mercies or compassions for our God! He cares for His children too much to allow them to have leftovers. (smile) That means on this middle of the week Wednesday, we can truly rise up and declare (yesss!!!): ‘This is the day the Lord has made, we WILL rejoice and be glad in it.’ (Ps. 118:24)
Why? Because our God is good, and He’s good to us all of the time. The psalmist said it so perfectly in Psalm 107. ‘O Give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy (LOVING-kindness) endureth for ever.’ (Ps. 107:1) Wow! What a statement! But what does it mean eh? One commentary explains it thus: ‘This means that as long as He exists, He will be good. No factor controls His goodness, God is good all the time. In fact, ‘good’ began with God. We associate the word “good” with people but forget that God made people in His own image.’
Wow! I just had to say it again, (smile) because it is a wow moment to realize that we’re made in the beautiful image of Almighty God! And are we ever privileged to declare (yesss!!!) that we are the only one of His many creations that have that marvellous, miraculous and momentous honour! And Psalm 106, after opening with the same basic statement as Psalm 107, continues: ‘Who can utter (express) the mighty acts of the Lord? who can shew forth all his praise? Blessed are they that keep judgement (justice), and he that doeth righteousness at all times.’ (Ps. 106:2-3)
Yes my faithful brethren, that’s what is expected of us in return for God’s continued goodness. That led the psalmist to plead: ‘Remember me, O Lord, with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation; That I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance (the people of thine inheritance).’ (Ps. 106:4-5)
Now that’s a prayer, a sentiment that we should all be sincerely floating up to heaven, because like the psalmist says: ‘We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.’ (Ps. 106:6) And indeed we have. For as the psalm continues: ‘Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of they mercies (LOVING -kindness); but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea. Nevertheless he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known…Then believed they his words; they sang his praises.’ (Ps. 106: 7-8, 12)
Ah friends, like the people of Israel, we have forgotten the Lord’s kindness. Though He parted the Red Sea for them to escape the Egyptian army, and did so many other wonders on their behalf in the wilderness, they still rebelled and followed their own lustful and sinful ways. Oh, they sang the Lord’s praise after He parted the Red Sea for them to cross over, then drowned the Egyptian army. But ‘They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel: But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.’ (Ps. 106:13-15)
Yes, the Lord gave the Israelites what they desired, but they suffered mightily for their rebellion, with all kinds of natural disasters,; fires, earthquakes, physical sickness, snakebites, etc. etc. And likewise, are we currently suffering for our rebellion, after the Lord gave His Only Son, Jesus Christ as our Saviour and Redeemer, showed His redemptive powers and heart, but we continue in our evil deeds and ungodliness. No wonder we’re experincing so many unaccustomed natural disasters; snow in places that haven’t seen it in generations, volcanoes erupting that haven’t done so for ages, worldwide famine, drought, strife, greed, envy, poverty, economic frustration and pandemics like the world has never seen all at one time together!
Please don’t tell me that the hand of God is not somewhere in all of that natural as well as manmade disaster. And even if He’s not causing it, He’s certainly not preventing it. That ought to tell us something. But, like the Israelites of old, we’re so taken up with our own petty, prideful selves, that we’re too busy to notice what God’s doing. We’ve become so enamoured of ourselves and the amazing society we’ve developed that we’ve forgotten where it all comes from, and who gave us the ability to do it; Almighty God.
Our egos are now so big, that we believe we don’t even need God any longer in our lives, so we’re trying to remove Him from our society. And by the way, that word EGO, is an acronym for ‘Edging God Out.’ But that’s a dream that will NEVER come to pass. For though the Lord might allow us to fool ourselves into thinking we’re removing Him, the earth and all therein is His creation and He WILLNEVER give up His possession. God said it quite clearly a long time ago through the prophet Isaiah. ‘I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.’ (Is. 42:8)
Just ask the foolish, power-hungry once upon a-time archangel Lucifer, now renamed Satan about that. And the Israelites also found that out the hard way, like we are currently doing. But unlike them, we don’t have the wisdom or humility to turn back to God when we find our lives falling apart and there’s nothing we can do, or will do to stop it. Down deep, the Israelites knew where their bread was buttered, and after every rebellious period, when their lives were becoming extremely difficult, they repented and returned to the God of their Fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
And being the ever-LOVING, forgiving, gracious and merciful God He is, He took them back and restored their worthless lives. But no, our generation is so pompous and foolish, despite all our own insufficent efforts to right our societal woes, we refuse to even consider a return to godly ways as a means of solving our many problems. End of sermon!
Now, for those of us who are trying to live right, to live for Christ, let’s go home declaring (awright!!!) our Wednesday Wail, letting the whole word know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus, so that hopefully some of them will joyfully come to know Him. Altogether now: ‘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 of us wise enough to endure to the very end with Jesus, then that future will be even more glorious than we can ever ask or imagine! So please, let’s use that to encourage us to endure to the end nuh. Much LOVE!
…the earth is the Lord’s…and the fulness thereof…the world…and they that dwell therein… (Ps. 24:1)
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ
08 Feb 2023
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a new day with new mercies, cease from anger, commit thy way unto the Lord, endure to the end, evil doers shall be cut off, eyes fixed straight ahead, glad to be alive, good intentions, hands on the plough, hope and wait patiently for the Lord's salvation, I'm halfway home, in our faithful God we trust, it is of the Lord's mercies we're not consumed, laziness, LOVE, more glorious than we can ask or imagine, not turning back, procrastination, rejoice and be glad in it, that which I do I allow not, the desires of thine heart, the Lord is my portion saith my soul, the Lord's will shall win out, the wormwood and the gall, therefore have I hope, this is the day the Lord has made, to a glorious future with Jesus, too much on my plate, trust in the Lord and do good, Wednesday Wail, what I hate that I do, what I would do that I do not, work ethic
Romans 7:15. For that which I do, I allow not (don’t understand): for what I would do (want to do), that I do not; but what I hate, that I do.
Wait a minute…is it Wednesday already? And a sunny, warm Wednesday according to my computer? Wow! We’ve been so busy celebrating the potentiality of Monday and Tuesday that we did not even notice them going by! Therefore, I suggest we do the same for Wednesday. Why not eh? It’s a new day, with new mercies, new life and grace of God. and the Good Book even tells us to do so. ‘This is the day the Lord has made, rejoice and be glad in it. (Ps. 118:24)
And I like that approach to life, celebrate each and every day as if it’s our last. Be thankful that we’ve been granted life to see it, and be hopeful that we’ll be granted more life to see another one. But if not, then on that very day, we’ll be in paradise with Jesus! Glory Be, my faithful brethren in Christ!
Ah friends, the ole fella is going through a season where the mind is chipper enough, but the body is not responding with the corresponding chippiness. That means we’re not doing as many of the things we want to or need to do. And sometimes it bugs me, while at other times, I simply say: ‘Chuh! Why to worry? They will all get done at some time or another.’ It seems like I’m full of good intentions, but not the necessary actions to fulfill those good intentions.
Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not totally lethargic, (smile) I am doing stuff, just not as much as I want to, and with the priorities that I believe I should have. I’m doing the easy stuff that doesn’t take much mind bending or elbow grease. The only thing that thoroughly engages my mind these days is the Scrip-Bit. Faithfully, each and every morning I awake and get myself down here to write it. And I have no problems in doing so. I know that’s the most important thing I have to do each day, so I just buckle down and get it done. It’s just the other stuff in which my most heartfelt dreams are encapsulated, that I’m not getting to as I desire.
And I’m chuckling here now, because the Good Library opened right at the passage of scripture that I envisioned would be somewhat appropriate for my behaviour. It’s when Bruh Paul wrote to the church at Rome. ‘For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal (fleshly), sold under sin. For that which I do, I allow not (don’t understand): for what I would do (want to do), that I do not; but what I hate, that I do.’ (Rom. 7:14-15) The difference between Bruh Paul and I though, is that I don’t hate the things I’m doing. And I’m not doing anything wrong. It’s just that I’m not doing more of the things I believe I ought to do.
And granted some of that has to do with my stance on the importance of the work ethic and dislike of laziness and procrastination, although, sometimes that is useful for our souls and bodies. (smile) And I guess some of it is the enemy trying to wind me up and make me feel guilty, while the Lord is trying to tell me to settle down and just do whatever I can on His timetable. Who knows, perhaps I just have too much on my plate, and even if I went at it tooth and nail, I won’t be able to accomplish it all, the way I want to.
Now that’s a lesson I should have learned long ago, from my earlier much too busy life. Trying to do too many things at the same time, you end up not doing any of them properly. But this one thing I do know: that the Lord’s Will shall win out eventually. But in the meantime, I’m still not happy with the situation. (smile)
Anyway, enough with the dissatisfaction of the soul, let’s turn back to what we were originally discussing; rejoicing over a new day. And I don’t think anybody says it as poignantly as the prophet Jeremiah in his Lamentations. In the tough times he suffered on the Lord’s behalf, he wrote: ‘Remembering (I remember) mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall (bitterness). My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled (bowed down) in me. This I recall to mind, therefore have I hope. 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. 3:19-23)
And is that ever the gospel truth my people! Yes, it’s only because of God’s great LOVE for us, and His faithfulness to His covenant with us, that we wake up each and every day. Otherwise, our sinful and unfaithful behaviour would have caused Him to destroy us a long time ago. And that faithfulness of God causes Jeremiah to continue in the best way possible. He sincerely declares (yesss!!!): ‘The Lord is my portion, saith my soul: therefore will I hope in him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.’ (Lam. 3:24-26)
Mama Mia! Those are certainly words to live by; faithfully seek the Lord and with expectant hope wait on Him! And Bruh David in Psalm 37, expounds on that theory more widely, when he says: ‘Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed (feed on His faithfulness). Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass.
And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgement (justice) as the noonday. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices (schemes) to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; fret not thyself in any wise to do evil (for it only causes harm). For evil doers shall be cut off (destroyed): but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.’ (Ps. 37:3-9)
It couldn’t be said any better than that friends! And believe me, like many of us, I can testify to all Bruh David says there, from earlier experiences in my life. I guess, like we often do, I just needed a refresher course today. (smile) So let’s go home now declaring (steups!!!) our Wednesday Wail, letting all and sundry know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus.
Altogether now: ‘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 now friends, this further word of encouragement. If we endure to the very end with Jesus, then that future will be even more glorious than we can ever ask of imagine. So let’s use it to help us endure nuh. Much LOVE!
…in our faithful God we trust…and it shall ever be so…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ
07 Dec 2022
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a new commandment I give unto you, a warm-blooded animal, bright lights, by this shall all men know that ye are my disiciples, endure to the end, eyes fixed straight ahead, fiftieth anniversary in Canada, glad to be alive, halfway home, hands on the plough, if ye love me keep my commandments, impatience, in all these things we are more than conquerors, iniquity workers, lack of love, love one another as I have loved you, not looking back, plenty love, plenty saltiness, resntment, roll over and play dead, the best big country in the wrld, the breath of life, the new norm, to a glorious future with Jesus, ungodly quagmire, Wednesday Wail
John 13:34. A new commandment I give unto you, That ye LOVE one another; as I have LOVED you, that ye also LOVE one another.
So, Wednesday has turned out to be damp and cloudy, but I’ll take that any time over the cold and snow. And today marks my fiftieth anniversary of being in this blessed country called Canada. Yes, it’s been fifty long years of snow and cold, but by nature I’m still a warm-blooded animal! (smile) Can’t get the tropics out of me, because I was born and bred there. But that doesn’t mean we can’t handle the icy climate, just that we don’t like it. For remember we can handle anything at all with the help of Jesus who strengthens us.
And who do you think enabled me to handle the last fifty winters eh? Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! And I can’t believe how quickly those fifty years have gone by. It seems like it was just yesterday I landed at Toronto airport, not yet renamed Pearson, on a cold, dark evening, coming directly from hot, tropical sunshine, with very little money in my pockets…and I still have very little. (smile)
I remember the next day, getting up around eight a.m. and still seeing it dark outside, then walking to the subway in freezing rain in a thin, borrowed spring coat and dry-weather shoes, going downtown to Simpson Sears, the big, cheap store at the time, to buy winter clothing. And my first memory on entering the subway was wondering how all the white people in the cars looked so frigid and cold and wrinkled. I definitely wasn’t accustomed to seeing so many supposedly normal people looking unhappy and prune-like.
I believe I asked my mother what was wrong with them, and she most likely just smiled at me in my ignorance. Then to make matters worse, my mother, bless her departed soul, made a mistake and took us off the streetcar at the wrong stop, which meant we had to walk a whole long block back to where we should have gotten off. It surely was an eventful welcome to what has become my home for the last half-century.
And there were obviously times I wanted to go back to the sunshine and saltwater, but it’s difficult to pull up stakes once one is settled with family and other responsibilities. I must admit too, that though it wasn’t easy, it surely was interesting and adventurous, and I learned to do a lot of stuff for myself, that might not have been the case if I had remained in T&T.
Now, I believe without a doubt, that Canada is the best big country in the world! Oh, like everybody else, we do have our problems, but we tend to be a li’l more understanding than most. Although that seems to be changing with the new generation, as all over the world impatience, resentment and lack of LOVE is becoming the norm. But that’s why we of the old generation ought to be ramping up our efforts in Jesus’ name to stop that negative turn from becoming more prevalent than it already is.
Remember what Jesus said: ‘If ye LOVE me, keep my commandments.’ (John 14:15) And what’s His commandment? He said it loud and clear: ‘A new commandment I give unto you, That ye LOVE one another; as I have LOVED you, that ye also LOVE one another.’ (John 13:34) How could it get any clearer than that eh my people? No way! But knowing how fickle and faithless we could be Jesus repeated the commandment later on. ‘This is my commandment, That ye LOVE one another, as I have LOVED you.’ (John 15:12) And why did He harp on us LOVING each other? As He says: ‘By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have LOVE one to another.’ (John 13:35)
Yes my friends, the world will only recognize us as followers of Jesus if we not only have, but more importantly, show LOVE to each other! It’s the litmus test for Christians! But unfortunately, for whatever reason(s), many of us are failing it every day, and that’s why our world is in such an ungodly uproar. There isn’t enough LOVE in our world to quiet the raving hearts of men. And ONLY LOVE will ever conquer hate. So, if we want to get rid of the hate that’s sadly consuming us, we need to replace it with the LOVE of Jesus as quickly as possible, otherwise our world will just continue sinking into the evil and ungodly quagmire that’s the devil’s greatest desire.
And we simply cannot allow that to happen my faithful brethren. It would be a huge injustice to Christ after He’s given His all, sacrificed His very life for us to be set free from the chains of sin and ungodliness. That means we, the faithful believers, have to make a big, bold move in Jesus’ name, if we want to right the wrongs that are being currently done in our world. And it won’t be easy, but if we are sincere and true disciples of Christ, with His help, we can certainly turn things around.
But it’s going to take a great effort from all of us believers, for the devil is not going to roll over and play dead when we attack his strongholds. No! He’s going to have his iniquity workers ramp up their evil and ungodly efforts and try to keep us at bay. But they won’t be successful if we are determined. Remember what Bruh Paul said to the church at Rome. ‘Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors, through him that LOVED us.’ (Rom. 8:37)
Oh my fellow saints, anytime we step out to do Christ’s bidding with a true and sincere heart, nothing or no one can stop us from achieving victory! But the problem is we need to develop the hope and faith to do it! And for those of us who are sincerely working towards that goal, let’s go home now declaring (chuh!!!) our Wednesday Wail, letting all and sundry know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus.
As one strong 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 my fellow believers, if we endure to the end with Jesus, then I can guarantee that future will be even more glorious than we can ever ask or imagine! So please, let’s use that as an incentive to keep working for Jesus nuh, shining like bright lights, and being as salty as ever, showing the world our LOVE for each other, like He desires of us! Much LOVE!
…living for Jesus…means bright lights…plenty saltiness…and plenty, plenty LOVE…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ
30 Nov 2022
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart, a man after His own heart, bet your life on it, discover our motives, Dr. Robert H. Schuller, dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, endure to the end, even the night shall be light about me, even there shall thy had lead me, evidence of righteousness, eyes fixed straight ahead, God judges the intents of the heart, halfway home, hands on the plough, I the Lord search the heart, if I take the wings of the morning, LOVE, not looking back, O Lord thou hast searched me and known me, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, sharper than any twoedged sword, the heart is deceitful above all things, the motives of the heart., the state of our hearts, the Word of God is quick and powerful, thou art acquainted with all my ways, to a glorious future with Jesus, try the reins, Wednesday Wail, whither shall I go from thy spirit, who can know it
Psalm 139:1. O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.
Well, on this last day of November 2022, it’s a rainy, overcast Wednesday morning (afternoon) in my neck of the woods. But I suppose that’s better than saying it’s a white overcast morning. (smile) Yes, we’ll always be glad to see rain rather than snow, although the white stuff will come in due course of time, you can bet your life on that. And let’s hope when it comes, it’s not a terrible downfall which causes more damage and confusion than we already have.
Now that’s why we have hope, faith and prayer. (smile) And although our prayers are not always answered the way we desire, we know for sure that they are heard by our heavenly Father and after considering the state of our hearts He answers them in His own time and way. Oh friends, it’s ever so important that we realize that God doesn’t just look at our outside appearances or what we say but He delves deep down inside of us to find out our motives before he answers our prayers.
As one commentary says: ‘God looks at the motives of the heart for evidence of righteousness in our hearts. Our motives reveal who we are living for and the things we care about. When God searches the heart, He can see the “why” behind our thoughts and choices. The Bible tells us that God judges the intents of the hearts (see Hebrews 4:14).’
That quote there is wrong though, it’s Hebrews 4:12, which gives us this magnificent scripture: ‘For the word of God is quick (living), and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of (able to judge) the thoughts and intents (intentions) of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight (hidden from him): but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do (give account to). (Heb. 4:12-13)
Yes my brethren, the word of God is exceedingly powerful, so powerful that it reaches right down into our thoughts and intentions and discerns them. But then our God is also omniscient, knows everything, sees everything and intently scrutinizes everything that we do, therefore we have to be always on the up and up with Him, without excuse or pretense because He sees us so deeply, like we’re naked.
And Bruh David said it so beautifully in Psalm 139 – The everlasting presence and power of God. He writes: ‘O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising; thou understandest my thoughts afar off. Thou comapassest (comprehendeth) my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.’ (Ps. 139:1-4) Oh friends, those are words of indisputable truth. The Lord knows everything about us, even before we know them ourselves, for it is He who created us, for His personal purposes, and if you create something, you usually know everything about it. (smile)
But my favourite part of the psalm comes later, when Bruh David says: ‘Whither shall I (where can I) go from thy spirit? Or whither shall I (can I) flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell (Sheol), behold thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, surely the darkness shall cover (fall on me), even the night shall be light about me. yea, the darkness hideth not from (is not dark to) thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.’ (Ps. 139:8-12)
Mama oh Mama! What beautiful and ever so true scripture. The Lord sees us wherever we are, and knows everything about us, so there’s no use trying to hide from Him. And every time I read or hear those scriptures, I remember the first time I actually paid any attention to them. It was in an Hour of Power service many years ago, when the founder, Dr. Robert H. Schuller read them in his dynamic, expansive manner. I can see him now raising up his hand with that big smile on his face, asking the question: ‘Whither shall I go from thy spirit?’ NOWHERE! That’s where!
And there are several other prominent and pertinent scriptures that tell us how deeply the Lord looks into our lives. The most famous possibly being in the Book of Samuel, when the Lord sends him to anoint one of the sons of Jesse to be the next king. And when Samuel saw the first one, Eliab, he figured that was surely 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)
That’s saying it loud and clear my people! We aren’t really able to judge a man’s heart, because his outward actions can belie those of his heart, but we can’t fool the Lord God our Creator. Thus, seven of Jesse’s sons passed before Samuel, with only Bruh David out in the fields looking after the sheep. Jesse had figured it wrong, for none of the big boys were accepted. However, when they sent for Bruh David and he came in, the Lord immediately said to Samuel: ‘Arise, anoint him: for this is he.’ (1 Sam. 16:13)
There was no hesitation friends, because the Lord had looked at Bruh David’s heart and knew that although he would make several serious mistakes, he would be righteous, true and honest to Him all his days. That’s why he could call him a man after His own heart. (1 Sam 13:14) And if you want more fodder before you believe the Lord searches the hearts of all men, then let’s look at these seminal verses from Jeremiah. (smile) ‘The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart, I try (test) the reins (mind), even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings (deeds).’ (Jer. 17:9-10)
That tells us exactly why the Lord searches our hearts before He responds to our requests. So we can stop, right now, with all the tomfoolery that some of us carry on with regarding the Lord, because we’re not hiding anything from Him. And for those of us who have recognized and acknowledge that fact, let’s go home declaring (oh yeah!!!) our Wednesday Wail, letting all and sundry know of our marvellous position in Christ Jesus.
Altogether now: ‘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, then that future will indeed be even more glorious than we ask or imagine. Please, let’s use that rewarding promise to endure to the very end nuh. Much LOVE!
…you might run…but you can NEVER hide…from Almighty God…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ
23 Nov 2022
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: behold I come as a thief, blessed is he that watcheth, children of light, Christ can return at any time, drunken in the night, endure to the end, eyes fixed straight ahead, for a helmet, glad to be alive, God's mercies are new every day, halfway home, keepeth his garments, lest he walked naked and they see his shame, let us not sleep, LOVE, not looking back, peace and safety, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, sudden destruction cometh, thank God, the breath of life is still flowing through me, the day of the Lord cometh as a thief in the night, the Great tribulation, the hope of salvation, the Millennial kingdom, the parable of the ten virgins, the unfaithful servant, this is the day the Lord has made, this is the Lord's doing, to a glorious future with Jesus, watch and be sober, watch therefore, we will rejoice and be glad in it, Wednesday Wail, wherein the Son of man cometh, ye are not in darkness, ye know neither the day nor the hour
1 Thessalonians 5:2. For ourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
And then it was Wednesday…already, I complain. (smile) Yes, but it’s a beautiful day in my neighbourhood; with bright sunshine, you can even feel a dash of heat from the glowing orb, no snow and temps around 7 Celsius. For this time of year, around here that’s gorgeous weather. So, let’s do like the psalmist did and declare out loud: ‘This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.’ (Ps. 118:23-24)
Yes friends, we had better enjoy this day the Lord has given us, for who knows if we’ll ever see another one. Remember, God’s mercies and compassions are new every day, like fresh bread, He gives them to us for our enjoyment. So let’s show some gratitude and appreciation by enjoying them nuh.
And yesterday we were talking about a very important topic in the believer’s life; that of being ready for whenever Jesus returns, which to all intents and purposes will be sudden and unexpected. Please don’t laugh, it’s no joking matter, like some people think it is, because if you’re not ready when He returns, you will be left behind to suffer all the evils and persecutions of the Great Tribulation. And who wants to really suffer those indignities eh, when we can go home with Jesus in the Rapture of the church.
But that means we have to be ready and waiting in faith whenever He returns for His bride, the church. And there are a few other scriptures we ought to look at, besides those we studied yesterday. First of all, there is the parable of the unfaithful servant (Matt. 24:45-51) who was abusing his authority in his master’s absence, when the master suddenly returned home unexpectedly and caught him red-handed. And Jesus ends that parable by declaring (steups!!!): ‘there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ And so there shall be when He returns and many are not ready.
Then there is the parable of the ten virgins: (Matt. 25:1-13) five who were smart and took oil for their lamps to wait for the bridegroom’s coming to meet his bride, and five foolish who took no oil, and eventually got locked out of the ceremony when the bridegroom came late, and they had gone looking for oil for their lamps. And friends, Jesus ends that parable with this warning again. ‘Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.’ (Matt. 25:13)
Now just in case you didn’t get Christ’s warning, then please check out chapter 5 of Bruh Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians, where he writes: ‘For ourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.’ (1 Thess. 5:2) Jesus also issued that warning, though in a slightly different way when talking about the thief coming at an unexpected time to rob the master’s house. ‘Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.’ (Matt. 24:44)
Then Bruh Paul goes on to warn the Thessalonians: ‘For when they shall say, Peace and safety (slogans of the Roman Empire); then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail (labour pains) upon a woman with child (a pregnant woman); and they shall not escape. But ye brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and LOVE; and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together (encourage each other), and edify (build up) one another, even as ye also do (are already doing.’ (1 Thess. 5:3-11)
Wow! What a momentous passage of scripture my fellow believers! It’s educational, encouraging, comforting and a serious warning, all at the same time. And that warning still holds good for us today, possibly more so than back then since Jesus hasn’t returned yet and can do so at ANY TIME; day or night, today, tomorrow…or even a hundred or a thousand years from now! But return He will! And it is certainly time for us, the supposed children of light to awaken from our lethargy and get ourselves ready for Jesus’ return.
Meanwhile, the scholars explain that ‘The day of the Lord is an all-encompassing term to describe the period that begins with the Great Tribulation, and includes the second coming of Christ, and the millennial kingdom.’ So, there’s plenty stuff that’s coming, but exactly when, no one but the Father knows, that’s why we have to be in a state of constant preparedness!
Then there’s this last scripture which Jesus relates to John in the Book of Revelation. ‘Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.’ (Rev. 16:15) That’s ‘an exhortation to the surviving believers after the last great war, Armageddon, to be watchful and alert, and to remain faithful and loyal to Christ during a time of intense persecution. To have garments rather than be naked, relates to spiritual preparedness.’
Yes my fellow saints, from today, right down to when Jesus actually sets up His millennial kingdom, we must remain spiritually prepared. And for those of us attempting to do that, let’s go home declaring (yesss!!!) our Wednesday Wail. Altogether now: ‘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 believe me, if we endure right down to the end with Christ, then that future will be even more glorious than we can either ask or imagine. Now that’s good encouragement to keep us living for Jesus! Much LOVE!
…a lot of the believer’s time…should be taken up with…watching and praying…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ
09 Nov 2022
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a barrier breaker, a crying shame, a future and a hope, a tragedy of immense proportions, break free from a limited mindset, diversities of gifts, endure to the end, enlarge my vision, experience God's favour like never before, eyes fixed straight ahead, fear, glad to be alive, Glory to God!, halfway home, hands fixed on the plough, I know the thoughts that I think toward you, judgement day, lethargy, LOVE, seeds of greatness in me, selfish purposes, spiritual gifts, the breath of life, the fruit of the spirit, the future of God's kingdom, the gifts of healing, the word of knowledge, the word of wisdom, the working of miracles, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to a glorious future with Jesus, to give you an expected end, Today is my day, walk the talk, Wednesday Wail
Jeremiah 29:11. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil (calamity), to give you an expected end (a future and a hope).
Well friends, it seems like we’re alive for another day! Glory to God! And it also seems to be another glorious sunshiny autumn day in my neighbourhood! More glory to God! Ah mih people, all that we are, and all that we have are directly attributable to our marvellous, merciful, generous, gracious and ever-LOVING God! Please, let’s never forget that.
And today I want to share an interesting prayer that’s all tied up with the goodness of our omnipotent God, a prayer from Bubba Joel Osteen Ministries that’s been sitting on my desk for ages, supposedly to inspire me, but which I have not even noticed, much less read and invoked for donkey’s years. (smile) I rediscovered it yesterday while cleaning up my desk and thought it would be very useful to us all today; give a kickstart to our day
And the title of the prayer is most appropriate: ‘TODAY IS MY DAY!’ Oh my fellow saints, let’s remember that today is all we have; yesterday’s past and gone down into the annals of history, and tomorrow is still germinating, so it behooves us to concentrate on today, which is in the palm of our hands.
So please pray with me: ‘God has destined me to be a barrier breaker! He created me to be uncontainable. I have talent and potential given to me by the Creator of the universe. There are seeds of greatness inside of me. Today, I choose to break free from a limited mindset and enlarge my vision. Today, God is taking me places that I’ve never even dreamed of before. Today, God is fulfilling His purpose and destiny in my life. Today, I will experience His favour like never before in every area of my life.’ And all God’s people said a loud and grateful ‘Amen!’
Yes mih bredrin, it’s time for us to break free from our limited mindset and pursue the glorious purpose and destiny that the Lord has set out for us in His Master Plan. Remember His promise in Jeremiah: ‘For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil (calamity), to give you an expected end (a future and a hope).’ (Jer. 29:11)
Oh yes, our God has big, good plans for us, but unfortunately our problem is that we speak of the greatness of our God, but we don’t really believe it, because we don’t think big, don’t truly consider His omnipotence, His awesome power, when talking to Him. But He’s placed talents and greatness in all of us. The main ones being seeds of the fruit of His Spirit that He’s planted in ALL believers, but which we have to allow His Holy Spirt to water and nurture to maturity.
Bruh Paul listed those gifts to the Galatians as follows. ‘But the fruit of the Spirit is LOVE, joy, peace, long-suffering (patience), gentleness (kindness), goodness, faithfulness, Meekness, temperance (self-control): against such there is no law.’ (Gal. 5:22-23) Wow! What an array of seeds the Lord has planted in each of us! And that’s not all, there are other spiritual gifts that God has given to His people. Bruh Paul mentions some of them to the church at Corinth in his first letter.
Listen up and take note. (smile) ‘Now there are diversities (various kinds) of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations (ministries), but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations (activities), but it is the same God which worketh all in all (all things in all of us). But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal (for ALL to profit from).
For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues (foreign languages); to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing (distributing) to every man severally (individually) as he will.’ (1 Cor. 12:4-11)
So you see my fellow believers, the many and varied kinds of gifts that our God, through His Holy Spirit imparts to his followers. And He doesn’t give them to us just to keep them locked up, but to shed them forth abroad to bring others to the knowledge and embracing of His Son Jesus Christ, and consequently bring glory to His Holy and Mighty Name – Jehovah!
The problem is that we, through either fear or simple lethargy, refuse to use the gifts imparted to us by the Holy Spirit in the way they were meant to be used. But ALL of us have some gift(s) beside the fruit of the Spirit that the Lord gave us so that we could use to enlighten others and bring them to Christ. And it would be a crying shame, and big disaster, come the Judgement Day, when the Lord asks us what we did with this or that gift that He had given us, and we look at Him, with astonishment and stammer: ‘Lor…Lord, I didn’t know I had that gift.’ And then He will recall our lives and show us exactly how it was planted in us, but for whatever reason we did not use it to further His kingdom.
It’s true my people, many of us are walking around carrying worthwhile gifts of God not being used for His glory. And that’s one of the reasons why our world is in such a terrible state, with so many people turning away from God instead of towards Him in this crucial and very critical time of the ages. So please, let’s wake up and do better nuh! Let’s actually walk the talk we’re so good at spouting. These are the times for which we’ve been specifically made my brethren. The Lord chose to put the future of His kingdom in our hands in these critical times, so please let’s not disappoint Him nuh, by not putting His magnificent gifts to work!
It will be a tragedy if immense proportions if we allow Beelzebub to completely take over the world. But for those of us who are sincerely trying to use what gifts we have, let’s go home now declaring (yesss!!!) our Wednesday Wail letting all and sundry know of our marvellous 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 right down to the very end with Jesus, then I can assure us the future we just spoke of will be even more glorious than we can ask or imagine. So, let’s work together to make it happen nuh. It’s all for Jesus’ sake! Much LOVE!
…gifts are given to be unselfishly and productively used…not locked away…and/or only used for selfish purposes…
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ
15 Jun 2022
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: believe his prophets so shall ye prosper, believe in the Lord your God, endure to the end, eyes fixed straight ahead, fainteth not neither is weary, give unto the Lord glory and strength, give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name, hands on the plough, hast htou not known hast thou not heard, He giveth power to the faint, I am halfway home, I'm so glad to be alive, in everything give thanks, LOVE, not turning back, so shall ye be established, the battle was the Lord's, the breath of life is still flowing through me, the everlasting God, the Lord set ambushments against their enemies, the Lord the Creator of the earth, the Lord will bless his people with peace, the Lord will give strength to his people, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint, they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, this is the will of God in Christ, to a glorious future with Jesus, to them that have no might he increaseth strength, Wednesday Wail, when they began to sing and praise, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness
Psalm 29:11. The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.
I don’t know how the weather people get their info nuh, but on my computer they are claiming that this Wednesday morning will be sunny. However, right now that is the furthest thing from the truth, for the morning has opened dark and cloudy all around. Let’s hope that they were referring to the afternoon period…after the rain. (smile) But regardless of how the weather turns out, we want to concentrate on a few verses of scripture this morning. They come from Psalm 29, titled ‘The voice of the Lord in the storm.’
Let’s look first at how Bruh David opens the psalm, with a strong call for praise to the Lord. ‘Give (ascribe) unto the Lord, O ye mighty, give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give (ascribe) unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty (majesty) of holiness.’ (Ps. 29:1-2) Now that should be obvious, simple common sense, if one is a believer in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But unfortunately, many of us supposed believers don’t really give our God much of the true glory and honor that He rightfully deserves.
Although, technically speaking, we could never give Him enough gratitude and thanks to ever make up for the wonderful things He’s done for us sinful children of men, especially the sending of His one Son, Jesus to die for us on the cross of Calvary to pay for our sins and consequently offer us forgiveness and salvation. Oh, by the way, the weather forecast has just been changed to cloudy. (smile) At least they are getting there, though somewhat late.
But getting back to the psalm, thanks and gratitude to our great God is sadly lacking in these busy times. So many of us claim we don’t have time to even read the word and talk to Him, because we’re so busy. What are we so busy doing eh? And what’s more important than talking to and worshipping and giving thanks to our Creator and Giver of Life? Nothing should be more important than that! No, not if we are sensible and truly LOVE the Lord.
And it’s not only in Christ’s time that the Lord showed His awesome strength and power to save His people. But He did it all through the Old Testament too. And we have a good example of it when the armies of Moab, mount Seir and Ammon came against the Israelites. Jehoshaphat the king knew that he could not win against such a powerful enemy, so listen to his words to the people.
‘Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper. And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of the holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord, for his mercy endureth for ever.’ (2 Chr. 20:20-21)
Ah hope yuh notice that friends, Israel went out to fight the combined army of three nations singing praises unto the Lord re His strength and holiness. Nowadays you’d never find that! They’d think you were thoroughly insane and quickly throw you in the crazy house if you ever proposed such a response to an invading army. But hear how the Good Book continues the story. ‘And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten (defeated).’ (2 Chr.20:22)
The long and the short of the story is that the Lord caused the three invading armies to fight against one another instead of against Judah, and they obtained a mighty spoil without lifting a hand to fight, for the battle was not theirs, but the Lord’s! (2 Chr. 20:23-26) Hopefully therefore, we can today realize the power of praise and worship, thanksgiving and sincere gratitude to the Lord God Jehovah, because there’s nothing He desires or likes more than His people praising and glorifying His holy name. But foolishly, we are more interested in removing Him from all walks of our society, instead of welcoming Him with opened arms and raising the greatness of His name.
That brings us to the last verse of Psalm 29, which confidently declares: ‘The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.’ (Ps. 29:11) And as faithful believers in Christ Jesus we ought to embrace those words and intents with overwhelming confidence and cry out with praise and thanksgiving. But we don’t, therefore our dreams remain unfilled, while we live miserable, frustrating and lacklustre lives. It seems like we’ve forgotten these marvelous words of the prophet Isaiah, or simply choose to ignore them in favour of what now passes for wisdom.
‘Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? He giveth power to the faint (weak), and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall. But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.’ (Is. 40:28-31)
Oh my fellow saints, I do hope that these few words (smile) I’ve penned today will awaken us and help us come back to the God of our forefathers, as we so desperately need to do, if we are ever to successfully change our lives from a hell to a heaven right here on earth. Now for those of us who are truly trying our best to raise God’s name, let’s go home declaring (steups!!!) our Wednesday Wail, letting all and sundry know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus.
As one sincere and confident 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 now, just a li’l reminder that if we endure to the very end, that future will be even more glorious than we can ever ask or imagine. So, let’s plan on enduring right to the very end nuh. (smile) Much LOVE!
…in everything give thanks…for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus…concerning you… (1 Thess. 5:18)
Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8
Previous Older Entries Next Newer Entries
SCRIP-BITS 