10 Jul 2017
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a lazy weekend, antidote, appear before God, aura of love, blessed day, blues, Christians, confidence, enthusiasm, ever-faithful promises of God, faith, friends, glorious kingdom, hold in our hearts, holy spirit, hope, humble servants, invincible, Jesus Christ, lift up my hands, living obediently, LOVE, loving kindness, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, my lips shall praise thee, my soul thirsts for God, powerless, rejuvenation of spirit, renewed vitality, rest, revel in God, righteously, righteousness., seek thee, spiritual armour, steadfast faith, the hart longs for the water brooks, the living God, thy power and glory, truth, unfortunate circumstances, ungodly world, utter from our lips, wilderness, wisdom, work for Jesus
Psalm 42:2. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
Welcome to another blessed day in the life my people! Oh, I know it’s Monday and some of you don’t consider Mondays blessed because you have to get up and go to work after a lazy weekend. But that’s just the way our society is structured, and the sooner we get accustomed to it being that way, the better off we’ll be, and the more we’ll enjoy our lives.
If you know something is a certain way, and you are powerless to change it, why allow it to keep on making you miserable eh? No good reason whatsoever! So please let’s stop all the nonsense about it being so hard to get up on a Monday morning. If we live our weekends right then getting up on a Monday morning to go to work and earn some money to buy bread won’t be a problem.
And if it is, then we have the antidote for the Monday Blues, it’s called the Monday Morning Battle Hymn. So let’s sing it right now, so we can drive away those depressing Monday Blues and get us ready for a productive day of work in the field for Jesus.
Altogether now: ‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together.
We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies.
But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your incredible aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle.
Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’
Oh friends, if you’ve prayed those words with sincerity, your blues would have been chased away, like the wind blows away storm clouds from a darkened sky, and you’re ready now to go out into the world, courageously face the enemy and give it your best shot for Jesus. And why would you want to do that? Because you LOVE Him and want to see His realm flourish. You have an intense longing for God.
As the sons of Korah sing in the Psalm. ‘As the hart (deer) panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?’ (Ps.42:1-2)
Yes my fellow followers of Christ, that’s the way we ought to feel about our God; hungry and thirsty for all that He has to offer, while living obediently and righteously in His name! There will be rough spots in our lives, and we won’t always understand why, but it is essential that we hold on tightly, especially in those tough times, to the ever-faithful promises of our God.
As the psalmist continues in the following verses: ‘My tears have been my meat (food) day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday (a pilgrim feast). Why art thou cast down (bowed down), O my soul? And why art thou disquieted in me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance (presence).’ (Ps.42:3-5)
Oh friends, it’s of the utmost importance that when things seem the darkest that we hope the strongest, exhibit the greatest faith. As the psalmist said, though he doesn’t understand why he’s so depressed, he’ll still hope in God and acknowledge His presence. Now that is true faith! Are we exhibiting that kind of faith? Or are we giving up, getting down on ourselves when things aren’t going right?
Precious people of God, we need to stand strong, faithful and righteous in this evil and ungodly world. That’s the only way we’ll survive, prosper, and also further the church of Christ here on earth.
And we’ll end with these most appropriate words of Bruh David from Psalm 63 – God satisfies the thirsting soul – related to when he was in hiding in the wilderness of Judah from his enemies. ‘O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is.
To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen (looked for) thee in the sanctuary. Because thy LOVING-kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow (the best) and fatness (abundance); and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:’ (Ps.63:1-5)
Oh my Christian brethren, just imagine Bruh David hiding out in the wilderness nuh, in a dry desert-like place without water, but yet his soul longs for the God of his fathers, and he insists on giving Him praise despite his unfortunate circumstances. Friends, there are no better words to hold in our hearts and to utter from our lips, as we go out to work this Monday morning. Much LOVE!
…true Christian faith… causes us to revel in our good God…despite our circumstances…
09 Jul 2017
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a cross, age after age, an intense longing for god, another bountiful day, at rest, Bethel, blessing, bondage in Egypt, bow down, Caleb, cleaving the sky, darkness, desires of the flesh, disgusted with, disobedience, doubting disciple, enter into my rest, err, faith, forty years, gather together, glory to God, go astray, God's awesome word, grace, grief, grieved, guidance, harden not your heart, holy presence, Jacob, Joshua, joyful wing, kneel before the Lord, let us worship, loyalty, mercy, miracles, my Father's home, my Saviour's love, my soul thirsteth for god, nearer my God to thee, our Maker, planet earth, praise and worship, privilege, proved me, provocation, rebel against God, Sabbath, safe, saints of Christ, sanctuary, Sarah Adams, strengthens, temptation, the living God, the Promised Land, the Red Sea, the sacrifice of praise, the sun gone down, the ultimate act, Thomas, truth, waking thoughts, wandered aimlessly, woes, words of wisdom, wrath
Psalm 95:6. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker.
Oh Glory to God my fellow believers for blessing us with another bountiful day on Planet Earth! And also for giving us the wonderful privilege of being able to gather together, in His sanctuary this Sabbath Sunday morning, to praise and worship Him and to hear His awesome word, which, as its truth seeps into our hearts and souls will strengthen us, by giving us His mercy, grace and guidance to face the upcoming week!
What a wonderful God we serve and worship my people! Every day He gives me greater reason to make that declaration. And when I reached out for a song of praise and worship for us to sing today, I just felt like getting closer to our Maker, hence this old hymn, ‘Nearer My God to Thee,’ written in the 19th century by Sarah Adams.
It is based on the topic of loyalty and the scriptures of Genesis 28:11-13, when God spoke to Jacob at Bethel and promised to make his progeny abundant and prosperous. It’s also based on Psalm 42:2: – An intense longing for God. ‘My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before him.’
Therefore friends, this morning, if our souls indeed thirst for the living God, then let’s offer the sacrifice of praise from our lips, as we endeavour to get closer, or as close as we can get to Him on this our earthly journey. So in full voice, in unison and perfect harmony, let’s sing! ‘Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee! E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me, Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee. (Refrain: Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!)
Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down, Darkness be over me, my rest a stone; Yet in my dreams I’d be nearer, my God, to Thee. (Refrain) There let the way appear, steps unto Heav’n; All that Thou sendest me, in mercy giv’n; Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee. (Refrain) Then, with my waking thoughts bright with Thy praise, Out of my stony griefs Bethel I’ll raise; So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee. (Refrain)
Or, if on joyful wing cleaving the sky, Sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I’ll fly, Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee. (Refrain) There in my Father’s home, safe and at rest, There in my Savior’s love, perfectly blest; Age after age to be nearer, my God, to Thee. Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee! Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!’
Oh faithful saints of Christ, that was marvellous! And as we sang, one could feel the strong and beautiful presence of God in His house! The heartfelt feelings were so sincere that He had no choice but to grace us with His Holy presence!
Now let’s continue in that same vein; the sincere seeking and longing for and getting closer to God by invoking the glorious words and advice of our Bit. ‘O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker.’ That’s the ultimate act my brethren; coming before the Lord in sincere, heartfelt prayer! Why, you ask?
Listen as the psalmist explains after our Bit. ‘For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand (under His care). (Ps.95:7a) There could be no better reason than that friends: we are beholden to our great and wonderful God in each and every aspect of our lives! We are His people, and He cares for us, both in LOVE and by providing our earthly needs every day.
But then the psalmist does something strange; he pleads with us: ‘Today if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your heart, as in the provocation (rebellion); and as in the day of temptation (trial or testing) in the wilderness. When your fathers tempted (tried) me, proved me, and saw my work.’(Ps.95:7b-9)
Now why would anyone in their right mind, rebel against God and try to test Him eh? Especially after they had seen the wonderful miracles he had performed on their behalf while bringing them out of four hundred years of bondage in Egypt? Only a people mad with lustful desires of the flesh, egged on by Lucifer could be so obtuse as to rebel against their maker.
Consequently, the psalmist, speaking on God’s behalf, continues: ‘Forty years long was I grieved with (disgusted with) this generation, and said, It is a people that do err (go astray) in their heart, and they have not known my ways: Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.’ (Ps.95:10-11) And God fulfilled His promised, when only Caleb and Joshua of all those who had left Egypt, set foot in the Promised Land.
For forty years the Israelites wandered aimlessly in the desert because of their disobedience to Almighty God. And friends, it just boggles my imagination that they could be so stupid after seeing all the miracles of God! No other group of people, to this day, has seen God work so miraculously on their behalf. Just the parting of the Red Sea should have been enough to convince them forever.
However friends, they saw it and didn’t believe, we didn’t see it, but let’s be wise nuh; let’s believe and be obedient, otherwise we will not enter into God’s rest. And let these words of Jesus to His doubting disciple Thomas, be a sure promise to us. ‘Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.’(John 20:29)
Words of absolute wisdom my brethren! Words to wisely and confidently live by! Much LOVE!
…true faith in Jesus…means…believing…without…or before seeing…
03 Jul 2017
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: 4th of July, a roaring lion, afflictions, aura of love, be ye holy, Canada's 150 birthday, celebrations, Christians, confidence, confirm, croaking voices, dedication, Drunk or sober mind yuh business, encouragement, enthusiasm, eternal glory, evil, faith, follow Christ, friends, fun, grace, groundings in Christ, holy spirit, humble servants, invincible, Jesus Christ, joy, lies, life changing, life ending, LOVE, Lucifer, make you perfect, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, obedient children, on our p's and q's, on the lookout, rejuvenation of spirit, relaxation, renewed vitality, resist the enemy, salvation, seeking whom he may devour, sober, society runs 24/7, spiritual armour, standing strong, steadfast faith, strengthen, the devil, the God of all grace, the prince of this evil world, trust, truth, ungodly world, vigilant, walking tall, walks about, watchword, weaknesses, wisdom, your adversary
1 Peter 5:8. Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.
So the celebrations continue apace! Yeh friends, Canada’s 150th Birthday Party is still going strong. It ought to wind down today, but tomorrow is the U.S. 4th of July Independence Day Celebrations, and whoever in the U.S was lucky enough to get today off would have a wonderful real long weekend!
Hn, Hn! That means this is a big partying weekend in North America. But nonetheless, because the society runs 24/7, some people have to go to work today, so they still need some encouragement to get up and go out on a Monday Morning, especially when so many of their co-workers don’t have to. So let’s give them a rousing sendoff nuh, with a rousing rendition of our Monday Morning Battle Hymn! (smile)
All together now: ‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together.
We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies.
But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your incredible aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle.
Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’
And wasn’t that a blast! Lots of enthusiasm and hoarse, croaking voices from those who are staying at home, while those headed for work, could only resignedly shake their heads in jealousy. Jesus, our choirmaster, sighed wearily and shook His head too.
But friends, please let caution be our watchword in these long days of celebration, and let Granny’s advice be front and centre in our minds and souls: ‘Drunk or sober, please mind yuh business.’ I know some of us are tired hearing that bit of wisdom, but if we heed it, it will keep us out of a lot of problems, some of which can be very serious and life changing, as well as life ending.
That’s why Peter warns us so strongly in our Bit: ‘Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.’
Yeh friends, Lucifer is always on the lookout for those of us he can infiltrate. That’s all he does; walks to and fro in the earth looking for people to destroy, especially in times of celebration when all our weaknesses are most exposed. And he gets the most pleasure from destroying Christians. That’s why it is ever so necessary for us to keep our p’s and q’s about us, and don’t give him a chance to get into our lives.
And Peter continues his advice. ‘Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in (experienced by) by your brethren that are in the world.’ (1 Pet.5:9) So the enemy doesn’t choose us specially to come against, he comes against everybody, all Christians, wherever he might spy an opening. That’s why we have to be strong in our faith and resist his evil overtures, otherwise we’ll just muddy up our heavenly situation.
Now earlier on, Peter took a broader look at the situation when, in talking about Christian dedication, he declares: ‘Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind (prepare you minds for action), be sober, and hope to the end for the grace (rest your hope fully upon the grace) that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
As obedient children, not fashioning (conforming) yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance. But as he which hath called you is holy, so ye be holy in all manner of conversation (conduct.) Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.’ (1 Pet.1:13-16)
That’s the way it is my brethren. If we intend to follow Christ, then we need to be serious, well-disciplined and as holy as possible, because that’s what Christ is about. And in any case, the best way to foil Lucifer’s unwanted advances is to stick close to Jesus. And Peter acknowledges that, as he puts the finishing touch on today’s story, a couple verses after our Bit.
‘But the God of all grace, who hath called us into his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish (confirm), strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.’ (1 Pet.5:10-11)
Ah mih people, this life is not easy to handle, but if we are serious about following Jesus, then He will give us the wherewithal to handle the prince of this evil world and all his evil cohorts. So please keep standing strong and walking tall for Jesus and the glory of God. That’s the greatest state to which we can ever attain! Much LOVE!
…in proportion to our groundings in Christ… will be our ability to resist the enemy
01 Jul 2017
by randyobrien50
in Inspirational Living
Tags: a merry-go-round of sickness, a positive way, Anselm's quotes, ask, big pharma, british north america act, charles stanley, consequences, covet, Dominion of Canada, don't worry about the future, drugs, eat and sleep well, endeared Him to me, exercise regularly, faith, give me understanding, give yourself, God's will, grow in faith, Happy Birthday Canada, have faith in god's promises, have not, heart body and soul, imperfect beings, keep thy law, kill, knock, learn to take criticism, living for God, lust, obedience, obey God, observe it, positive emotions, pride, seek, shrinks, social media, something productive to offer, start your day, stay practical, surrender, technological age, test our faith, the best big country in the wrld, the desires of my heart, the Holy Spirit, the last minute, The Lord's timing, the wisdom of God, therapy, times of trial, tomorrow will take care of itself, trust, understanding, with my whole heart, worldliness, ye ask not
Psalm 119:34. Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CANADA!
Happy Birthday to You! Happy Birthday to You! Happy One fiftieth Dear Canada! Happy Birthday to You! Yeh friends, Canada is one hundred and fifty years old today!
That takes us back to July 1. 1867 when the British North America Act was signed, paving the way for the Confederation of the three separate colonies of Canada, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick to become the Dominion of Canada. And what a colourful history it has complied over the years; both good and bad, and is now aspiring to move to the forefront in this new technological age.
And regardless of what anybody else says or thinks, I will keep on saying that right now, it is the best big country in the world. Matter done! (smile)
So let’s move on to some of our friend Anselm’s quotes of this past week nuh, as he tries to inspire us to a better tomorrow. And this first one is rather appropriate. ‘Start your day in a positive way.’ Simple and to the point my brethren! There’s no better way to begin our day than on a positive note.
And that leads us to this long one. ‘Mindfully move through your day. When you spend your time in the present moment then it becomes so much easier to access positive emotions and to stay practical about what you can actually do about something in your life.’
But it’s true. We need to live much more in the present than in the past or the future. What did Jesus say, words to the effect that we should not worry about the future, but more about today, for tomorrow will take care of itself. (Matt.6:34)
That then leads to this wise advice. ‘Exercise regularly and eat and sleep well.’ Now that is godly wisdom that too many of us refuse to follow in this oh so busy world, where everything is go, go, go! And the big pharma companies and shrinks are making a killing on all the therapy, drugs and over the counter stuff we use to counter the effects of poor sleeping, eating and exercising habits.
And this last quote is very useful: ‘Learn to take criticism in a healthy way.’ But we need to take it with a grain of salt, because there are a lot of folks out there who just like to criticize, but don’t have a clue what they’re talking about. And it’s getting even worse with all the social media and evolving technology, where everybody is a critic. So just make sure you listen to someone who has something productive to offer.
And there is no better way of acquiring discernment than by following the advice of our Bit and sincerely asking the Lord: ‘Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.’
Yeh friends, when you have the wisdom of God flowing through you, accentuated by His Holy Spirit, you can work wonders and move mountains! And how do we come by that awesome wisdom of God?
Listen as James explains it. ‘If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not (without reproach); and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering (not doubting). For he that wavereth (doubts) is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.’ (James 1:5-8)
Oh my brethren, godly wisdom is easy to come by, we just have to ask the Lord for it, but we have to do so in strong faith, not doubting. Jesus said: ‘Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth, and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.’ (Matt.7:7-8)
Yes my fellow believers, we need to sincerely ask and seek and knock, otherwise we won’t receive much. And James admonishes us when he talks about worldliness’ and pride. ‘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).’ (James 4:2-3)
Oh friends, it’s all right there in black and white: we don’t receive because we don’t ask, and when we do ask, we ask for the wrong things, things that are not in the will of God! And it’s obvious that if we ask for things outside of God’s will, He will not grant them to us. So we try to do stuff on our own and fail miserably. What a waste of time and effort friends, when we could be getting good things from God.
And you know it all boils right back down to Jesus’ advice: ‘But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness: and all these things shall be added unto you.’ (Matt.6:33) And I can tell you from personal experience my fellow believers, once you sincerely try living for God, there won’t be a whole lot of things you’ll have to ask Him for. He will provide most of what you need at the time you need it.
As I keep saying, my only problem with the Lord is His timing. Now I know without a doubt that He will show up on time, but too often He waits for the last minute! But I guess that’s just another way to test our faith.
Oh friends, our God is a good God; or rather a most excellent God! You just have to surrender your life to Him, trust Him and have faith in the promises in His word. And as you grow in faith, you’ll see the wonders He works in your life.
Right now the Lord has me on a merry-go-round of sickness, and I believe that He will eventually work it all out for my good, but what took me by surprise, and what has endeared Him even more to me, is that even in these times of trial, He is also helping to bring the desires of my heart to fruition!
And those are the desires that He placed there! So how can I not LOVE Him then eh mih breddren and try my best to please Him? And He will do the same for you, if you give yourself, heart, body and soul to Him. He doesn’t expect us to be perfect, for He knows He made us as imperfect beings, but He does ask for obedience, above all things. Much LOVE!
…as Uncle Charles (Charles Stanley) so eloquently puts it…obey God…and leave all the consequences to Him…
29 Jun 2017
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: abundance, adulteres, be not overcome of evil, blessed, carnal, cavorting with the enemy, Christ is alive in your hearts, Christ's sacrifice, Christians, consequences, courage, creativity, curse, elixir, enamoured of the world, enemy of God, enmity with God, enough for me, faith, faithful promise, favour, foolishness, friend of the world, friendship of the world, glory to God, humble apology, if any man love the world, Jesus Christ, love not the world, lustful world, merciful Father, negative word, no brainer, one foot in God's realm, one foot in the world, our Lord and Saviour, overcome evil with good, prosper, rewards of God, righteous living, rigours of getting old, rough night, seek first God's righteousness, self-control, self-discipline, shining in my heart, sit on the fence, sleep, succeed, talent, the benefit of choice, the light of the Son, the love of the Father, the things in the world, the will of God, Thursday Blessings, too tired to sleep, traitorous behaviour, vital signs, what a wonderful God we serve and worship
1 John 2:15. LOVE not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man LOVE the world, the LOVE of the Father is not in him.
Oh friends, please accept my humble apology for the lateness of the Bit, but the ole fella had an unexplainable rough night last night. For some reason I can’t fathom, that wonderful elixir called sleep simply eluded me for most of the night.
And it’s not like I wasn’t tired, I was, because I had been running around doing stuff in and out of the house for most of the day. And generally I can sleep whether I’m tired or not, but not last night. Steups!
The only thing I can attribute it to is that I was too tired to sleep. Hn! I must admit too, that I felt a bit hyper, though all my vital sings were normal. And as expected, when I did get to sleep, the body just refused to awaken until it was satisfied. Ah Lord eh! The rigours of getting old! (smile)
But you know what mih brethren? Though outside is wet and cloudy, more rain again last night, with little or no sunshine, and my back is aching more than I’d like, the brilliant light of the Son, of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is shining magnificently in the ole fella’s heart…and that is certainly enough for me! Glory to God in His high heaven!
And I’d advise you too friends, that once Christ is alive and well in your hearts, then nothing else really matters, for He will take care of everything, that is His faithful promise! Oh what a wonderful God we serve and worship my fellow believers!
That’s why it’s so surprising that so many supposed Christians still put the carnal and lustful world before the holy and righteous, just and merciful Father, especially when we’ve been specifically told not to, in our Bit.
‘LOVE not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man LOVE the world, the LOVE of the Father is not in him.’
Oh my people, I don’t see how it could be any clearer than that nuh! And we know that we can’t LOVE the Father and the enemy at the same time…but some of us are indeed trying to do it, with one foot in the world and one in God’s realm.
But that’s pure foolishness friends! It won’t work, you can’t sit on the fence and jump from one side to the other.
And James tells us in no uncertain terms. ‘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 the enemy (makes himself the enemy) of God.’ (James 4:4)
And that’s no lie! So I don’t see why so many of us are still pandering to the worthless and evil enemy, thus negating all that Christ has done for us.
In the immortal words of Bruh Paul to the Galatians. ‘Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world (age), according to the will of God. To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.’ (Gal.1:4-5)
Yeh mih people, why knowingly make Christ’s great sacrifice a waste of time eh, by frivolously cavorting with the enemy? We’ll have to answer for that some day, and believe me, the consequences for such traitorous behaviour won’t be cheap or easy.
But the Lord in His wisdom gave us each the benefit of choice, and so, we’ll just have to pay for the bad choices we make. As the old people would say, however you make up your bed, that’s how you’ll lie down on it.
So if it’s rumpled up with plenty sin, then you’ll just have to endure the consequences, but if it’s well made with righteous living, then you’ll enjoy the everlasting rewards of God. And I’m chuckling here at how the ole fella is ‘preachifying.’
But friends, you all know what I’m talking about: we desperately need to get away from being too enamoured of the carnal things of the world, and return to the righteous things of God; seek first His righteousness, then we’ll get everything that we need, instead of first seeking everything we need, then trying to turn to God afterwards.
Chuh! That’s pure foolishness! And we’ll give the last scriptural word to Bruh Paul in his address to the Romans. ‘Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.’ (Rom.12:21) Words of indisputable wisdom to truly live by my fellow believers!
Now let’s go home declaring our Thursday Blessings with which we’ve been so thoroughly blessed. In all sincerity and truth, in one strong, unified voice: ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance!
I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline! I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment! I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life!
I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and everyday! Amen!’
And since blessings are meant to be shared, let’s go out and generously share them with others nuh, the same way that God has generously shared them with us. Much LOVE!
…LOVING God…and trying to please Him…instead of Lucifer…should be a no-brainer for wise humans…especially supposed believers…
25 Jun 2017
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: Amazing grace, blessing, bountifully, bright shining as the sun, Christians, curse, dangers, deceived, despair, eternal life, faith, found, generous in giving, glorify God, God is not mocked, grace, greetings, guidance, harden thine heart, harvest, he that soweth sparingly, homelessness, how sweet the sound, humans, increase, John Newton, joy, lead me home, lend him sufficent, lost, LOVE, made fat, magnanimous god, mortal life, my fears relieved, my hope secures, my shield, noble lives, open thine hand wide, peace, portion, poverty, praise, prosperous, reap bountifully, righteous, safety, salutaitons, salvation, saved a wretch like me, scatter, shall reap sparingly, shut thine hand, sickness, sing God's praise, snares, taught my heart to fear, thank, the hour I first believed, the liberal soul, the light of the world, toils, trust, waters, wisdom, with blessings, within the veil, worship
2 Corinthians 9:6. But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully (with blessings) shall reap bountifully.
Well greetings and salutations on this beautiful Summer Sunday morning my fellow believers! May the wonderful grace of God and His awesome peace be with and among us as we meet in His sanctuary to praise, worship, thank and glorify Him. And to get us going, let’s sing those heartfelt words of John Newton written so long ago, when he finally found God, and aptly titled ‘Amazing Grace.’
So with much passion and humble sincerity, let’s raise our voices in sacrificial praise to Almighty God. ‘Amazing grace! How sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found; Was blind, but now I see. ’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears relieved; How precious did that grace appear The hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; ’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home. The Lord has promised good to me, His Word my hope secures; He will my Shield and Portion be, As long as life endures. Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail, And mortal life shall cease, I shall possess, within the veil, A life of joy and peace.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow, The sun forbear to shine; But God, who called me here below, Will be forever mine. When we’ve been there ten thousand years, Bright shining as the sun, We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise Than when we’d first begun.’
Oh friends, what a magnanimous God we serve and worship! His undying and undeserving grace and mercy are what keep us going in this evil world. His is the salvation and eternal life to which we look, like a bright shining beacon in the dark, stormy night, offering guidance and safety from the perils on our earthly journey.
No wonder Jesus declared, ’I am the light of the world!’ For without Him, our world would be covered in total darkness, the cover Lucifer needs for his evil deeds. So please let’s be everlastingly grateful for the brilliant and lifesaving light of Jesus nuh, which gives us true hope, faith and trust for the future.
Now let’s turn to our Bit; one of the life principles of our great God. ‘But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully (with blessings) shall reap bountifully.’ More awesome truth of Scripture my people! Whatever we give out, shall be given back to us; whatever we sow, we shall reap, and sometimes in greater quantity too, whether it be good or evil.
And today we’ll simply peruse some scriptures which agree with our premise. So listen to Cousin Sol as he contrasts the doings of the wise and foolish. ‘There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that witholdeth more than is meet (right), but it tendeth (leads) to poverty. The liberal soul shall be made fat (prosperous): and he that watereth shall be watered also himself. He that witholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be on the head of him that selleth it.’ (Prov.11:24-26)
Oh friends, yuh see, when we scatter, or water, or sell, meaning being generous in our giving, it usually leads to prosperity, but being miserly tends to poverty. So if we are interested in having a full and prosperous life, then we must be generous in our giving and helping.
Meanwhile, the psalmist in Psalm 112 – Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord – joyfully declares: ‘A good man showeth favour (is gracious), and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion (justice)… He hath dispersed (distributed abroad), he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn (strength) shall be exalted with honour. The wicked shall see it, and be grieved: he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.’ (Ps.112: 5, 9-10)
Yes precious people of God, as Christians we are called to live righteous and noble lives, giving and helping from humble and sincere hearts as our Leader, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ did in His earthly sojourn, two thousand years ago.
And Moses warned the Israelites long before that: ‘If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates (towns) in thy land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother: But thou shalt open thine hand wide (freely) unto him, and shall surely lend him sufficient for his need in that which he wanteth.’ (Deut.15:7-8)
You can’t get away from it friends, the Lord has shown us LOVE and mercy and grace, and He expects us to do the same with our fellow humans. Now if some of us would only share some of the much we have with others in desperate need, there wouldn’t be as much poverty, sickness, homelessness and despair in our world today.
But don’t forget, the Lord is watching each of us to see how we use the resources He so generously bestowed on us, and we’ll eventually have to answer for our good or bad stewardship. Now let’s end with a timely word from Bruh Paul to the Galatians. ‘Be not deceived; God is not mocked (fooled, outwitted)” for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.’ (Gal.6:7) Words of utmost wisdom friends!
So let’s remember that generosity is at the heart of the Lord, and it should also be a major priority in ours, if we sincerely desire to be true disciples of Christ. Much LOVE!
…you can only harvest what you sow…
24 Jun 2017
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a better tomorrow, a cheerful giver, a delightful experience, a positive environment, a willing heart, after one time is two, Anselm, bountifully, compulsion, dragging you down, electronics, faith, good measure, indisputable truth, influence your mind, influences, investment, lift you up, make a mountain out of a molehill, not grudgingly, of necessity, positivity, pressed down, proper guidance, purposeth in his heart, reap sparingly, return, running over, shaken together, sow sparingly, stay positive, Summer Saturday, the poor, the worst than can happen, two cents worth, used clothing, vague fears, value, whining society, with blessings, you reap what you sow
2 Corinthians 9:6. But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully (with blessings) shall reap bountifully.
And Saturday has rolled around again… But this time it’s a summer Saturday, hopefully a dry summer Saturday, so that we can get outside and do some fun summer things, not have to stay indoors because of rain, like we had most of yesterday in my area.
That reminds me that my church has a big used clothing and electronics drive today and tomorrow, so we definitely need two sunny days for that to go off well. I also need to find two strong men to help me lift a couple of big, used TV’s out of my basement. Chuh! What’s the world coming to eh? The ole fella can’t even lift up a TV now. (smile) But as they say, after one time is definitely two yes!
And since it is Saturday, lazy Saturday, let’s meander into some quotes of this week by our friend Anselm, who sincerely aspires to inspire us for a better tomorrow. Hear this first one: ‘Don’t let vague fears hold you back from doing what you want. So I have learned to ask myself this: honestly, what is the worst that could happen?’
Yes my people, a lot of times we allow some uncertain, hazy, can’t put our finger on it fear to stop us from moving on up. That’s when we need our faith to step in and give us proper guidance. And that fear can ofttimes lead us into this situation. ‘Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill.’ Oh do we ever make mountains out of molehills, especially in this selfish and whining society in which we now live!
And to stop doing that, we need to ‘Cultivate and live in a positive environment. To be able to stay positive it is essential to have influences in your life that support you and lift you up instead of dragging you down. So carefully consider what you let into your mind.’ And also who you let into your life, because the people in your life can influence your mind.
But then too, we must ‘Add value and positivity to someone else’s life. What you send out you tend to get back from the world and the people in it.’ Now that’s indisputable truth, because it’s just God’s infallible principle of you reap what you sow. So, if we want to get good things in our lives, we need to sow good things into the lives of others. As simple as that my brethren.
And this is how Bruh Paul says it to the Corinthians in our Bit. ‘But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully (with blessings) shall reap bountifully.’ It couldn’t get any plainer and more straightforward than that friends.
As the scholars explain: ‘9:6. One’s return is determined by his investment (cf. Prov.11:24; Luke 6:38; Gal.6:7). The expression ‘ep’ eulogiais’ ordinarily translated “with blessings” here has the sense of “generously.” While it does not suggest indiscriminate giving, it does denote “unrestrained” giving.’
Yes friends, we don’t have to give willy-nilly, but when we do give, we must give as generously as we can. Our return depends on the size of our investment. The bigger it is, the bigger our return will be. As Bruh Paul continues after our Bit: ‘Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity (compulsion): for God LOVETH a cheerful giver.’ (2 Cor.9:7)
Ah mih people, Christians ought to take joy in giving, in sharing the blessings our generous heavenly Father has poured out on us. Let’s remember He did not give us all that we have for our use alone, but to share it with the less fortunate.
And the scholars explain that verse thus: ‘9:7. Cheerful giver: The giver is to have a willing heart and a sincere desire to participate in the offering. Paul is not so much interested in their money. Nor is God for that matter, as the passage from Proverbs 22:9 indicates. The Greek term ‘hilaron,’ from which the English “hilarious” derives, is best rendered as the English text suggests, “cheerful.” Giving is not a joke. It is serious business, but it is a delightful experience all the same.’
And it surely is precious people of God, for when you give from a cheerful and generous heart, you experience a divine feeling, one of helping, of making the heart of someone else glad, which in turn makes your heart glad. Glory to God! And I guess we ought to see what Proverbs 22:9 says. ‘He that hath a bountiful (generous) eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.’ No doubting that my fellow believers!
Now listen to Jesus, as He adds His two cents worth to the topic. (smile) ‘Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom (pocket). For with the same measure that ye mete (use) withal (with that) it shall be measured to you again.’ (Luke 6:38)
Yeh friends, whatever measure you use to give, be it a teaspoon, a tablespoon, or a shovel, the same one will be used to give back to you. And please notice I didn’t say that eh; it was Jesus. So if you don’t believe Him, then I don’t know who you’ll believe. Now, from personal experience, I know that the principle is very true. But you will never know for yourself until you try it. Much LOVE!
…as Granny use to say…the more you give…the more you get…
09 Jun 2017
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a sparkling day, a waste of time, all for nought, believe in Jesus, boundaries, Calvary, Christians, come short of the glory of God, divine provision, dry weather, enormous price, eternal life, extremes, faith, fellowship, fleshly activity, for all have sinned, forbearance of God, free gift, freed from sin, Friday chant, fun, generous help, glorious kingdom, glory to God, God's standard, grace, guiltless, hot like hell, human need, in Jesus' name, just, justified freely, justifier, LOVE, made him to be sin for us, our flesh, pardoned, party time, praise, propitiation, ransom, redemption, relaxation, remisiion of sins, rest, righteous demands, salvation, shedding of blood, slave driver, Spirit of Christ, susceptible to sin, TGIF! Thank God is Friday, Thank you Jesus, thanks, the righteousness of God, the workingman, walk steadfast, waste not want not, week of work, who knew no sin, work never dead
2 Corinthians 5:21. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Oh friends, like another sparkler of a day is in the offing in my area! Wow! Three sparkling days in a row! We need to give the Lord plenty thanks for such wonderful weather!
I know for some of you the good weather is small potatoes, because you receive it most of the time, but we’ve had such chilly and rainy days the last couple weeks that some warm, sparkling, dry weather is greatly appreciated.
And you certainly won’t hear the workingman complain. He is even zestier in his attitude as he unabashedly declares: ‘TGIF! Thank God is Friday yes! The weekend is upon us… And it going to be hot like hell too! Temps in the thirties! Oh party time…party time…
Steups! Look, forget the chupid slave driver and his work yes. Work never dead yet! Just let me loose here now, so we can get the party going! Much thanks to God for Fridays and the weekends!’
Oh mih breddren, how our flesh would LOVE to participate in such interesting endeavours, (smile) but our minds and spirits are crying out for us to resist such fleshly activity. And as sincere Christians, we ought to have some boundaries to our behaviour, not allow ourselves to go to such extremes.
The Christian way is more like our Friday Chant, so let’s put the lust of the flesh behind us and chant it heartily nuh. ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through another week of work! It hasn’t been easy, but with your generous help, I made it through.
Now, please help me to get sufficient fun, fellowship, rest and relaxation in these two short days off, so that I can be renewed and refreshed in soul, body and mind, to go back out and do it all over again next week, furthering your glorious kingdom with each step I take. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.’
And that’s the way it ought to be my people, especially when we take our Bit into account. ‘For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.’
Yeh friends, after Jesus paid such an enormous price for us to be freed from sin, we just can’t go back and commit sin willy-nilly again. Oh, we are all still susceptible to sin, but with the Spirit of Christ dwelling in us, we ought to have a strong enough conscience to resist it.
And we have these powerful verses of scripture from Bruh Paul to the Roman church to help explain the situation and consequently uplift us. Hear him pontificate (smile): ‘For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely (without any cost) by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation (a mercy seat) through faith in his blood, to declare (demonstrate) his righteousness for the remission (passing over of) sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.’ (Rom.3:23-26)
Oh friends, right within those verses lies the basis of our salvation… Glory to God! Let’s see if, with the help of the scholars we can get a good understanding of what Bruh Paul is saying there.
‘3:23. For all have sinned: The human need and the divine provision are alike applied universally. Come short of the glory of God: Man can exceed his own standards but never, left to himself, can he attain God’s standard of righteousness.’
Ah mih breddren, regardless of how good we are, we will NEVER reach God’s standards. But He is so wonderful, that knowing that sin pervades and invades all our souls, He wisely provided provision for everybody, if we’d only believe in His Son Jesus Christ, who paid for our sins by the sacrifice, the shedding of His sinless blood on Calvary.
‘3:24. Being justified (Gr. dikatoumenot) indicates being declared righteous. It signifies the believer’s judicial standing before God. Freely: There is no just cause in man to warrant justification. By his grace: Unmerited favour is bestowed through the redemption (release on payment of ransom). Christ’s death is the ransom. The sinner is released on the basis of the ransom having being paid.’
So yuh see friends, we don’t have a leg to stand on, it’s all through God’s grace and Jesus paying the ransom for our sins by the shedding of His blood at Calvary.
‘3:25-26. Through faith: Christ’s death satisfies the Father’s righteous demands. Its benefits are appropriated only through faith in His finished work. In his blood: The emphasis is not on the blood as it coursed through Christ’s veins, but as it was shed for our sins. This is how the propitiation was accomplished.
Just, and the justifier: God can remain just (true to His nature) and still declare sinners to be righteous only because Christ has paid for sin and satisfied (propitiated) His holy law. The sinner is not rendered guiltless but pardoned. Christ has taken the sin on Himself and has imputed His righteousness to the sinner.’
And all believers shouted a loud and most grateful ‘Thank You Jesus! Thank You ever so much for redeeming us from our abominable sins! We LOVE You, and give You plenty thanks and praise! Please help us to walk steadfast in Your everlasting LOVE! Amen!’
Yes friends, I hope we all understand now that it was all the doing of the Father and Jesus, no thanks to us whatsoever.
So please lets be wise and accept the free gift of salvation and eternal life that’s been offered nuh. Otherwise Jesus’ sacrifice would have been all for nought, a complete waste of time. And I’m sure we don’t want that to be the case. Much LOVE!
…remember the old adage…waste not…want not…
P.S. It’s long and late, but full of redemptive grace (smile) Much LOVE!
01 Jun 2017
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: 2017, a compassionate heart, a sinful bunch, a sinless soul, a watershed year, abundance, acknowledge Jesus, advocating on our behalf, afraid to stand up, Christians, controlling things, courage, creativity, curse, destroy, disasters, divine protection, eternity, faith, fallen angel, favour, fearful, foolish people, for his sheep, frail, gives his life, glory to God, gnashing of teeth, God reigns supreme, grateful, he shall be saved, I am the door of the sheep, I am the good shepherd, if any man enter in, illness, in God's heart, in the name of Jesus, intercessor, Jesus Christ, kill, lamb of god, lost, LOVE, loving-kindness, Lucifer, more abundantly, negative word, only a fool breaks his own heart, promises of God, promotion, robbers, sacrificial, self-control, self-discipline, shepherd-less sheep, sinless, steal, talent, talking the talk, thankful, thanks and praise, the evil one, the evil world, the supremacy of God, they might have life, thieves, throne, Thursday Blessings, topsy-turvy, unconventional, undying LOVE, upheavals, wailing, walking the walk, wayward, wisdom
John 10:11. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
Well my people, it’s Thursday! Can you believe that the week is almost over? And can you also believe that today is the first of June? The year is almost half over! Hn! Hn!
This year of 2017 is truly passing by quickly, and I’m sure many of us have not seen one like it before, both personally and internationally. I know I haven’t. What with my sudden and unexpected personal illness and the numerous upheavals and disasters around the globe, highlighted by Donald Trump’s U.S. Presidency…
Wow! 2017 is certainly shaping up to be a watershed year; a unique, different and rather unconventional one, more so than any we’ve ever seen before. But throughout all the ups and downs friends, the topsy-turvy unpredictable stuff, ONE thing remains constant: the supremacy of our great God!
Oh, they might try to remove Him from our society, blaspheme His Holy Name, and invoke all sorts of other evil and negative behaviour, but He still reigns supreme! Mama Mia! It is His world! He created it, everything in it, and He is still controlling what happens in and to it.
It might not seem so to the casual onlooker, but we believers know that He is still sitting on His heavenly throne controlling things in His way and in His time, with His Son, Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ sitting at His right hand interceding for us! Glory to God my brethren!
What a wonderful thing it is to have the sinless, sacrificial Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, advocating on our behalf! We couldn’t have a better and more renowned intercessor! And it’s all been done because of the Father’s great and undying LOVE for us!
Give Him everlasting thanks and praise for being so merciful and forgiving to us my brethren! Without His incredible grace where would we be eh? Making plans to spend eternity with the evil one. Steups! And how sad and disgusting would that be eh? Horrible really!
But because of the immense LOVE in God’s heart, He couldn’t allow His most precious creation to simply be lost for all time to the fallen angel Lucifer. He wouldn’t be able to live with Himself if He didn’t give them a lifeline, a way to come back from the brink of the precipice.
And the only way He could do it and still retain His justice and righteousness is by sacrificing a sinless soul, and the ONLY One who fit that bill perfectly was His One and Only Son, Jesus Christ.
Now don’t you think that just broke the Father’s heart? Just think about our reaction if we had to sacrifice our only child nuh. There be such wailing and gnashing of teeth that it would be heard all around the world.
But the Father cared for us so much that He chose to break His own heart over a bunch of ungrateful sinners. What does the old song say? ‘Only a fool breaks his own heart!’
But I can tell us that God wasn’t a fool for doing what He did. He was just being His natural kind and LOVING self, showing the LOVING-kindness that He was so well known for.
And for that we should all be everlastingly grateful and thankful, just falling all over ourselves to give Him praise and thanks for being so wonderful to us, a sinful bunch of frail and foolish people!
Just look at what our Saviour Jesus says in our Bit. ‘I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.’ And that He did indeed my faithful brethren!
Now look at what He said before that. ‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for (except) to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.’ (John 10:7-10)
And so I ask the million dollar question friends: why aren’t we supposed believers having life more abundantly eh, why aren’t we enjoying it so much more than we currently are? That’s why Jesus said He died for us.
So it seems like we don’t truly believe Him, for Christians should be the most upbeat and joyful people on God’s great earth. But that’s not how we appear to the rest of the world. Too many of us are fearful, afraid to stand up to the rest of the evil world even though we have the true, faithful and wonderful promises of God to back us up.
Where is our belly and backbone eh friends? Come on nuh people, if Jesus could give His sinless life for us, the least we can do is stand up and acknowledge His presence in our lives, acknowledge Him as our Lord and Saviour! Steups!
I’m sure it hurts Him terribly to see us walking around like lost, shepherd-less sheep. I simply don’t understand how we could be so lost and wayward, when we have all the blessings that are entrenched in our Thursday Blessings.
Let’s declare them now, so that we can be uplifted and come to our senses. ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance! I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline!
I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment! I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life!
I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and everyday! Amen!’
There’s NOTHING that we lack friends, so please, let’s go out and share it all with the less fortunate nuh, for that’s why Jesus died…so that we might have life…and have it more abundantly! Much LOVE!
…it’s high time believers cut back on talking the talk…and concentrate more on walking the walk…
31 May 2017
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a covenant, a glorious future with Jesus, a man has faith but no works, a partnership, Abraham, adulation, can faith save him, carelessly ignored me, Christians, circumcision, darkness and dread, deeds of love, faith, false prophets, favour, fear, forget the Lord, frenzy, fruit of the Spirit, glory, glory to God, God's will, hold my head and bawl, I will never leave nor forsake you, I'm not turning back, Isaac, Jesus, justified, leaking water, leave it in God's hands, length of days, Lord help me, LOVE, my hands are on the plough, New Testament, Old Testament, One Year Book of Bible promises, our benefit, Rehab, righteous, Ruth Harms Calkin, sacrifice, sanctified, screaming question, serve and worship God, solve my problem, the breath of life, the needy ones, things were going well, topsy-turvy, Two Questions, wandering child, Wednesday Wail, what does it profit, where are you, work everything out for good, works
James 2:14. What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
Well friends, it’s Wednesday! What’s on tap for today eh? I’m supposed to have my eaves troughs replaced today, so hopefully that will solve my problem of water leaking down into my basement when the rain falls.
Let’s hope and pray that it actually does stop it yes, else I’ll just hold my head and bawl! Yes, I will, because I’ve been trying to fix the problem for a while now and nothing else has worked. And for the kind of money I’m expected to pay, it ought to… it better had work! (smile)
But all I can truly do is leave it in God’s hands, for regardless of what I think or do, it’s His will that will eventually prevail, and I know that He will in His own time work everything out for my good. Glory to the great God we serve and worship my faithful brethren!
Now here is a li’l something from our One Year Book of Bible Promises with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin. It so reminded me of our foolish behaviour that I just had to share it. It’s titled ‘Two Questions.’
And it simply says: ‘O God In my fear and frenzy In my darkness and dread My screaming question is “Where are You?” And in reply, the Lord simply answers: ‘Wandering child When things were going well And you carelessly ignored Me Where were you?’
Now that’s a very question friends, to which we have no good answer. That’s because too often, too many of us conveniently forget the Lord when things are going well. But as soon as our lives begin to get topsy-turvy we’re quick to run to Him and plead, ‘Oh Lord help me!’ And we expect Him to jump right on the problem. Hn!
But life doesn’t work like that friends. Our God is not there to simply fix our problems when we decide to ask Him. We have the whole concept wrong: We’ve been created to serve and worship Him, to be available at His behest, not He at ours.
But He’s so wonderful that He’s arranged a covenant, a partnership with us, that if we serve and worship Him faithfully, He will indeed answer us when we call. He has even gone so far as to promise: ‘I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.’ (Heb.13:5)
But friends, that all depends on us keeping our part of the bargain, faithfully serving and worshipping Him. So please let’s stop the nonsense nuh. It’s high time we stop ignoring our God and our Creator when times are good, and instead constantly seek Him, whatever the state of our lives.
And it’s all for our own benefit yes mih people. Our God doesn’t need anything from us since He owns everything and everyone in the universe. We are the needy ones. So let’s start knowing our place and begin giving Almighty God the adulation and glory He so rightfully deserves…that is if we want to see favour and length of days.
And one of the surest ways to obtain God’s favour is by understanding our Bit and living according to it. ‘What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?’
As we said yesterday friends, one must have faith to be saved, but one must also show that faith by doing good works in Jesus’ name, for He expects it of His followers.
Remember what He said about false prophets? ‘By their fruits ye shall know them.’ (Matt.7:20) The same goes for us my brethren; true believers shall be known by their faithful works. It’s very easy to profess faith, but to manifest it is another story.
That’s why Bruh Paul talks about the fruit of the Spirit (Gal.5:22). And when we walk in it; in LOVE, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness (kindness), goodness, faith, meekness, temperance (self-control), then we will obviously bring forth good fruit, good works, to back up our faith.
Now after our Bit, James goes on to argue about Abraham and his willingness to offer up Isaac as a sacrifice as an example of the faithful being recognized for good works. And then he talks of the harlot Rehab, as a non-believer being considered faithful for her good works by her saving the Jewish spies. (James 2:21-26).
However friends, the scholars have a long explanation which I can’t go through for lack of time and space, but what they essentially say is that James and Bruh Paul are using the word for ‘faith’ with different meanings and ‘justified’ in different senses.
Bruh Paul using his New Testament theological idea of ‘God’s act of declaring all believers righteous on the basis of Christ’s redemptive work. But a common Old Testament and gospel usage involves demonstrating or showing something to be righteous (cf.Ps.51:4; Luke 7:35; Rom.3:4); it is this usage that James follows.
They are discussing totally different subjects, since they are confronted by different problems. Paul opposing the Judaizers seeks to prove that the Gentiles can be saved and sanctified apart from circumcision or any other work of the law. James opposing merely nominal, professing Christians, seeks to show that true faith confirms itself by deeds of LOVE.’
So let’s understand that they are not fighting each other, but together, against different foes on different subjects. And now that that has all been cleared up, (smile) let’s go home sincerely declaring our Wednesday Wail, which addresses our faith, and consequently, our good works.
‘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!’
Have a blessed day my faithful brethren, manifested by good works! Much LOVE!…
both faith and works are important parts of Jesus’ awesome LOVE…
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