29 Jan 2021
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: afraid of the corona virus, are afflicted, because of their transgression, bound in affliction and iron, bring backsliders back to your fold, bring us back to God, broke their chains, contemned the counsel of the Most High, Covid-19 virus, declare His works with rejoicing, despised God's word, fools, for he satisfieth the longing soul, for his goodness, for his wonderful works to the children of men, Friday chant, he filleth the hungry soul with goodness, he saveth them out of their distresses, in a bleak and challenging way, in the shadow of death, issuing from our hearts and mouths, kick Him out, life goes on, Lucifer, negative consequences, no denying of God's Word, obvious place of refuge, oh that men would praise the Lord, old fashioned and obsolete, on which side their bread was buttered, our godless society, racial strife, rebelled against God, run God out of town, sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, such as sit in darkness, thanks and praise, the joy of the Lord in our souls, the process of elimination, their iniquities, they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, they rebelled against the words of God, wake up and smell the coffee, wise guidance
Psalm 107:15. Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness (LOVING-kindness), and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Well it’s Friday, and life goes on in a somewhat bleak and challenging way. Nonetheless, there is the joy of the Lord in our souls and thanks and praise issuing from our hearts and mouths for God’s wonderful goodness to the children of men.
Psalm 107 says it. ‘Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness (LOVING-kindness), and for his wonderful works to the children of men. For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.’ (Ps. 107:8-9) And there can be no denying of God’s Word.
I also like how the psalmist describes the situation. ‘Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron (prisoners);’ (Ps. 107:10) And it is fair to say that many of us today are sitting in darkness, prisoners of the world and all its evil spells; afraid of the corona virus and all that it’s doing to our godless society.
But why is that eh? Hear the words of the psalmist. ‘Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned (despised) the counsel of the Most High:’ (Ps. 107: 11)
Oh my people, we cannot deny that charge of rebellion, since we have indeed despised God’s word, even to the point of desperately trying to kick Him out of our modern, technological society, because we think He’s old fashioned and obsolete!
But we obviously have not learned from the history of mankind, where many other nations rebelled and tried to get rid of Jehovah God, with no success whatsoever, because the universe is His; He created it and still controls it, and will not let mere mortals, His creation, push Him around.
Remember how Lucifer, the then archangel rebelled in heaven? And where is he now eh? Walking around the earth as the evil Satan. Kicked out unsolicitously from heaven for his foolish pride and insolence, wanting to overthrow his Maker. Israel is also a very good example of that rebellion.
Remember, we’re supposed to learn from History. But we obviously are not, for there are inevitable negative consequences when you despise God’s word and try to run Him out of town. The psalmist puts it thus: ‘Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.’ (Ps. 107:12)
Yuh notice how we falling like flies these days, and we don’t seem to have any help? But that’s not quite true; there’s always help available, if we look in the right places. And the Israelites were famous for finding help when the consequences of their rebellion stung them to the core.
Hear the psalmist again nuh. ‘Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of the darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder (broke their chains in pieces.’ (Ps. 107:13-14)
Oh my people, my people, the Lord God Jehovah is our obvious place of refuge, our sure solution in these times of abject darkness and sorrow and despair! It’s the only place where we can find succour and true refuge from all that afflicts our society. It doesn’t even require much wisdom, but mere common sense, since nothing else we’re trying is working.
Just the process of elimination alone, should bring us back solemnly, respectfully and repentantly to Almighty God! No wonder the psalmist thought that this verse was so nice he had to include it twice: ‘Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness (LOVING-kindness), and for his wonderful works to the children of men!’ (Ps. 107:15)
I don’t know why we’re not doing that on a much larger scale nuh friends, ‘For he (God) hath broken the gates of brass (bronze) and cut the bars of iron in sunder (asunder). (However) Fools, because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted. Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.’ (Ps. 107:17-18)
That’s us, our current society the psalmist is talking about friends. When are we going to wake up and realize that Almighty God is our ONLY solution to EVERY problem we face eh? That’s why I admire the Israelites to a certain extent. Although they were foolish to turn away from God in prosperous moments, in the consequential tough times, they always remembered that it was with Him that their bread was truly buttered and turned back to Him.
As the psalmist records: ‘Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses. He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.’ (Ps. 107: 19-20)
Oh my brethren, the Lord did send His Word, Jesus Christ to heal us and save us from our self-destruction, but we’re not paying sufficient attention to Him, and that’s the major reason why we’re currently suffering our current ‘sufferation.’
Disobedience to God WILL ALWAYS bring negative consequences! That’s a given! But repentance and subsequent obedience is rewarded with God’s goodness to the children of men. So let’s be wise and turn to God for help nuh, through our Friday Chant. We have absolutely nothing to lose, and so very much to gain.
Altogether now: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. Yuh know it’s been rough… what with all the anxiety, the confusion and havoc that the Covid-19 virus and the racial strife causing. We not accustomed to that kind of life Lord, and it really telling on us. And we know we can’t handle it on our own, that we desperately need your help.
Oh heavenly Father, with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat both the virus and the unrest in our streets. So Lord, we sincerely ask you today to give the governments and those involved in the forefront of this serious and unexpected storm, the sure and wise guidance to handle the situation properly, with the least amount of loss to life and property as possible.
And please help those of us who must go out to work amidst all the confusion, to be responsible and to stay safe, so that we can avoid any more serious setbacks. And Lord, we fervently pray that You’ll use this situation to also bring a lot of backsliders back to your fold, show them the error of their ways.
It’s also a good opportunity to introduce a whole new flock, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion because of the way we, your faithful believers, handle the situation. Yes Lord, please use this pandemic and the unrest in the streets as a means of restoring faith in You, so that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’
Now friends, if we’re truly sincere in that prayer, then we need to do as the psalmist advises: ‘And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing (joyful singing).’ (Ps. 107:22) Much LOVE!
…the smart money…in whatever situation…is ALWAYS on God…
15 Jan 2021
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a means of restoring faith, a rebellious generation, apostasy, atomic annihalation, be responsible, but my words shall not pass away, chaos, complete uproar and disarray, Covid-19 virus, doh fool yuh fat, faithful believers, Friday chant, godless, going off mih rocker, handle the situation properly, heaven and earth shall pass away, indisputable truth, Israel's return to the Promised Land, it's only a matter of time, li'l pittance, life-threatening conditions, live hand to mouth, locked down, loveless world, more prevalent today, no work...no pay, our number one tool, our sinful world, pollution, population explosion, prayer, rebelling, revoluting, strife-filled, summer is nigh, TGIF!, Thank God is Friday, the Lord God Almighty, the new strain, the ordinary workingman, the parable of the fig tree, the virus spreading like wildfire, tighter than a drum, trouble, unrest in our streets, wake up and smell the coffee, who can help us
Matthew 24:35. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
And yes, believe it or not, it’s Friday! The day we all look forward to so much…or at least use to look forward to. (smile) But when yuh not doing much of anything on any given day, no need to look forward to any special one. Well, except for the few people who actually going out to work.
And now, since yesterday the Province of Ontario is even further locked down, if that’s possible. The Covid numbers have been increasing steadily despite the lockdown, the vaccine and the efforts of the government beseeching people to follow the few rules we have to contain the virus.
But this is a rebellious and belligerent generation who are not listening but doing what they want to do. And we all know that rebellion and belligerence cause nothing but trouble and chaos. Anyway, let’s hear what the ordinary workingman has to say for himself today nuh!
He shakes his head and sadly intones: ‘One time I’d be so glad to see Friday, even to the point of shouting out ‘TGIF! Thank God is Friday!’ That’s because I knew the work week was done and I’d be able to spend the weekend with mih family. But right now, Friday is like any other day – no work…and no pay. Steups!
Granted, ah thankful for the li’l pittance we getting from the government, at least it help us to live hand to mouth and not starve. But what kinda life it is when a strong, healthy and willing man can’t go to work to feed his children eh? And since yesterday we locked down even tighter than a drum because people not behaving and the virus spreading like wildfire, we even have the new strain.
Don’t know what people want nuh, if they expect it to just go away without any help from them? And with the nonsense that going on down in the States, where they rebelling and revoluting…Steups! Who knows when that same attitude going to flare up up here eh? Doh fool yuh fat nuh, we have plenty like them up here, they just not as stupid.
Ah Lord, tell me when all this going to done nuh? The whole thing driving me crazy! Don’t know how much more I could handle without going off mih rocker nuh! Help me nuh Lord, help we nuh! Is only you who could help we now yes!’
And isn’t that the gospel truth friends! It’s only the Lord God Almighty who can help us now oui! We’ve dug ourselves into such a deep hole that we can’t drag ourselves out without divine help.
What a world we living in! A world that’s in complete uproar and disarray with serious dissension all over it. I don’t know if this has ever happened before, where the whole world was in such a panicked situation! So what can I say to give us some comfort eh friends? Not a whole lot.
But let’s remember Jesus’ talk about His Second Coming when the world would be in a real bad state. (Matt. 24:29-31) That might be the only thing to save us. Who knows eh?
Hear these words of His though: ‘Now learn a parable of (from) the fig tree. When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it (He) is near, even at the doors.’ (Matt. 24:32-33) Yes my people, though we don’t know exactly when Christ will return, there are certain signs that it is imminent, or pretty close.
And the scholars list some of these for us: ‘Israel’s return to the Promised Land, the obvious acceleration of lawlessness, increase of apostasy (turning away from God) (1 Tim. 4:1), the socio-religious climate preparing for the one world church, and the rapid acceleration of life-threatening conditions – such as potential atomic annihilation, population explosion and pollution – that require Christ’s return before events run their natural course and terminate the world. Paul listed certain conditions, which, though true in every age, appear to be more prevalent today (2 Tim. 3:1-5).’
And that’s the indisputable truth! We are awfully close to the breakneck point. Hence these words of Jesus are so important. ‘Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.’ (Matt. 24:34-35) More indisputable truth my brethren!
And the scholars explain: ‘24:34. The generation that shall not pass is the generation in whose lifetime all these signs occur. That generation will not pass away until all these things be fulfilled. In other words, the previously listed signs will continue to multiply throughout the church age and reach their ultimate climax at the end of the age in the generation of those who will live to see the entire matter fulfilled in their lifetime.’
Yeh friends, the way we’re so LOVELESS, godless and strife filled, it might even happen in ours. But make no mistake, if we continue the way we’re going, it won’t be far off. However, as always, our number one tool is prayer. So let’s turn to the Lord and with all sincerity, through our Friday Chant, lay bare our souls before Him nuh. That is our best bet.
So as one strong, sincere voice: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. Yuh know it’s been rough… what with all the anxiety, the confusion and havoc that the Covid-19 virus and the racial strife causing. We not accustomed to that kind of life Lord, and it really telling on us. And we know we can’t handle it on our own, that we desperately need your help.
Oh heavenly Father, with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat both the virus and the unrest in our streets. So Lord, we sincerely ask you today to give the governments and those involved in the forefront of this serious and unexpected storm, the sure and wise guidance to handle the situation properly, with the least amount of loss to life and property as possible.
And please help those of us who must go out to work amidst all the confusion, to be responsible and to stay safe, so that we can avoid any more serious setbacks. And Lord, we fervently pray that You’ll use this situation to also bring a lot of backsliders back to your fold, show them the error of their ways.
It’s also a good opportunity to introduce a whole new flock, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion because of the way we, your faithful believers, handle the situation. Yes Lord, please use this pandemic and the unrest in the streets as a means of restoring faith in You, so that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’
Now it’s up to us, the faithful believers to handle the situation…properly! Much LOVE!
…Christ will come again…it’s only a matter of time…
08 Jan 2021
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a false witness that speaketh lies, a hear that deviseth wicked imaginations, a lying tongue, a means of restoring faith, a proud look, act shamefaced, against the workers of iniquity, as the world turns, be responsible, Canadians shouldn't get uppity, cast down the poor, Christ is alive and kicking, cut down like the grass, do as I say not as I do, don't give a darm about the people, drawn out thier sword, faithful believers, fear ye not, feet that be swift in running to mischief, Fret not thyself over evildoers, Friday chant, handle the situation, hands that shed innocent blood, have a job, he that soweth discord among brethren, I'm alive, into outer darkness and damnation, introduction of a vaccine, kicking the butt of the wicked, neither be thou envious, noses in the air, omnipotent help, our light to shine the brightest, pandemic, people still dropping like flies, repeated lockdowns, salt to be the most flavourful, selfish and evil world, seven abominations the Lord hates, show our Christian side, stand still and see, stay safe, still on the throne, stop playing musical schools, take up His yoke, TGIF!, Thank God is Friday, the Lord God Almighty, the Lord shall laugh at the wicked, the number of Covid-19 cases, the ordinary workingman, the salvation of the Lord, the watering holes are shut tight, their sword shall enter into their own hearts, time longer than twine, trending upward every day, trusting faith, unrest in the streets, wake up and smell the coffee, wise guidance, wither as the green herb, ye shall see them no more
Psalm 37:1. Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
And so, as the world turns slowly on its axis, once again we come to Friday, the day we all LOVE and revere, because it reminds us that our work week will soon be over. The only problem here though, is that many of us are not working, or are afraid to go out after work, or there’s no way to go because all the watering holes and other places of excitement are shut tight. That’s why it’s surprising that the number of COVID-19 cases are trending upward every day.
Remember when we were aghast at a few hundred? Now a few thousand is the norm, despite the introduction of a vaccine, repeated lockdowns and entreaties to stay safe and observe the necessary rules. But who listens in this selfish, me-first, I don’t care about anybody else society eh? Enough of me though, (smile) let’s hear the ordinary workingman’s take on the situation nuh, we haven’t heard from him in a while.
His greeting is the same, but not very enthusiastic. ‘TGIF! Thank God is Friday…and at least I’m alive, not like so many others who aren’t. Ah Lord eh…what’s becoming of our world eh? People still dropping like flies from this Covid business…and to make matters worse, no work. Can’t tell when last ah went to work nuh…or when next I might go. That is if the slave master still going to have a job for me. With the state of the economy, who knows? The li’l money we getting from the government just keeping we from starving.
And the school situation ain’t no better…one day they learning online, next they going to school, then they staying home again. Ah wish somebody would make up their blooming minds and stop playing musical schools with the children! And what kind of leaders we have eh, when they telling us to stay home, but so many of them going holidaying around the world…and getting away with it too? They obviously believe in the ‘do as I say, not as I do’ philosophy.
And then look at that crazy, egotistic jack-a down in the U.S nuh. Instead of bringing the country together, he focussed on fomenting insurrection, just so he could stay in power and get away from the squalid jail cell that waiting for him. Hn! He not going to get away from it though! And just look at all the people who fraid him nuh and doing his lying, foolish, criminal bidding! Brother! What kind of leaders we have nowadays eh? No balls whatsoever! Is only greed and fear and corruption that fuelling them! They don’t give a darm about the people they suppose to be representing and who money they thiefing!
And we Canadians shouldn’t get uppity nuh with we noses in the air nuh, because we have the same kind up here in Canada too, just on a smaller scale! But as a pardner keep telling me, ‘time longer than twine yes boy,’ and all ah dem twine soon run out. Glory to God that He still on the throne oui, and have His own plans for the wicked.’
Oh friends, I’m chuckling at the ordinary workingman’s tale, but deep down we all know what he’s saying is true. We’ve lost our way in this selfish and evil world, and what li’l LOVE we had for humanity has now disappeared completely! Can you imagine leaders behaving so irresponsibly so blatantly? At least before they would hide and act shamefaced if they were caught. Not now though. They couldn’t give a darm! Who doesn’t like it, tough on them! That seems to be the prevailing attitude. But as the ordinary workingman reminds us, the Lord God Almighty is still on the throne, and His eyes are on both the righteous and the wicked, with His own plans in store for either set.
And it just happens that the Good Book is open in front of me in the sayings of Cousin Sol, on what he terms the seven deadly sins. ‘These six things doth the Lord hate; yea, seven are an abomination unto him (his soul): A proud look (haughty eyes), a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that deviseth wicked imaginations (devises wicked plans and schemes), feet that be swift in running to mischief (evil), A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.’ (Prov. 6:16-19)
Oh mih people, those abominations Cousin Sol listed so long ago are exactly the ones that are most prominent in our society today! No wonder our world is in such a serious state of upheaval and disaster! But there is hope my brethren! Yes there is indeed hope, because our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is alive and kicking, and when He’s ready, He’s going to be kicking the butt of the wicked right into outer darkness and damnation!
Listen to these reassuring words of Bruh David from Psalm 37, re The true state of the wicked. ‘Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.’ (Ps. 37:1-2)
Yes friends, every dog will have its day, but the final word will be the Lord’s. Hear how Bruh David puts it nuh: ‘The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth. The Lord shall laugh at him, for he seeth that his day is coming. The wicked have drawn out the sword, and bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation (conduct). Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.’ (Ps. 37:12-15)
Oh my fellow saints in Christ, that’s the future of the wicked, so please, let’s not envy them, or join with them, because they will soon be no more! Just like the promise the Lord made to the Israelites through Moses when they were fleeing Egypt and the Egyptian army was hot on their heels at the Red Sea. ‘And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still and see the salvation (deliverance) of the Lord, which he will show to you today: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.’ (Ex. 14:13)
And the Lord kept that promise when He drowned the whole Egyptian army in the Red Sea. And that’s the self-same promise He’s giving to us today my people; if we will turn to Him and be not afraid, He will fight for us. Now let’s go to him in prayer nuh, carry all our burdens, cast our care on His strong and mighty shoulders, take up His yoke, as He desires of us, so that He can strengthen and refresh us. In unison and sincerity, let’s send up our Friday Chant to heaven.
‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. Yuh know it’s been rough… what with all the anxiety, the confusion and havoc that the Covid-19 virus and the racial strife causing. We not accustomed to that kind of life Lord, and it really telling on us. And we know we can’t handle it on our own, that we desperately need your help.
Oh heavenly Father, with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat both the virus and the unrest in our streets. So Lord, we sincerely ask you today to give the governments and those involved in the forefront of this serious and unexpected storm, the sure and wise guidance to handle the situation properly, with the least amount of loss to life and property as possible.
And please help those of us who must go out to work amidst all the confusion, to be responsible and to stay safe, so that we can avoid any more serious setbacks. And Lord, we fervently pray that You’ll use this situation to also bring a lot of backsliders back to your fold, show them the error of their ways. It’s also a good opportunity to introduce a whole new flock, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion because of the way we, your faithful believers, handle the situation.
Yes Lord, please use this pandemic and the unrest in the streets as a means of restoring faith in You, so that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’
Now let’s really show our Christian side nuh, for we are the ONLY hope our world has! Much LOVE!
…it’s time for our salt to be the most flavourful…and our light to shine the brightest…
P.S. Yes, it’s long, but good and necessary! (smile) Much LOVE!
18 Dec 2020
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a means of restoring faith, abideth for ever, all is vanity, all things are full of labour, and the lust thereof, another generation cometh, be responsible, Covid-19 virus, enjoyment of life, faithful believers, Friday chant, futile, gospel truth, handle the situation properly, he that doeth the will of God, if any man love the world, love not the world, no remembrance of former things, of no value or profit, omnipotent help, one generation passeth away, proper use of wisdom, racial strife, sim will always muddy the waters, sin, technologically driven society, the crowning glory of God's creation, the ear filled with hearing, the earth abideth for ever, the eye is not satisfied with seeing, the fear of God, the futility of life, the Garden of Eden, the love of the Father is not in him, the onus is now on us, the things of the world, the unrest in the streets, the world passeth away, under the sun, use the pandemic, vanity of vanities, what profit hath a man from all his labour, worthless
Ecclesiastes 1:2. Vanity of vanities (futility of futilities), saith the preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
So we move on to Friday… And does that make any difference eh? Not really nuh, because as Cousin Sol wisely said so long ago, writing as the Preacher in Ecclesiastes: ‘Vanity of vanities (futility of futilities), saith the preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. What profit hath a man of (from) all his labour which he taketh under the sun (toils or labours)? One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.’ (Eccl. 1:2-4) We certainly can’t deny all that.
And as the scholars tell us ‘1:2: Vanity is the key word of the book and the refrain all is vanity it’s theme. Vanity means “that which is futile or worthless, of no value or profit.” As Solomon observed life, he saw little that exhibited profit and accomplishment. The word ‘all’ in the expression ‘all is vanity’ must not be taken to mean everything in the universe for these reasons: (1) The author’s observations are clearly limited to what is “under the sun” or observable.
(2) The negative conclusions always grow out of observable phenomena as the expressions “I saw,” “I have seen,” “Again I saw,” and so on, exhibit. (3) “Vanity” is never predicated of God, God’s work, God’s revelation, or man as man. (4) Specific realities are commended by Solomon in such a way as not to be considered vanity (e.g., the fear of God, enjoyment of life, and proper use of wisdom).’
So I hope that gives us some useful insight into Cousin Sols contemplation, (smile) as he continues a few verses later on: ‘All things are full of labour (wearisome); man cannot utter (express) it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.’ (Eccl. 1:8) And isn’t that the gospel truth friends, especially in this technologically driven society? Our eyes and ears are never satisfied; we continually hunger for more sights and sounds, even if they lead us to immorality, prideful lust and sinful activities.
But that’s not all, hear the Preacher giving out further: ‘The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.’ (Eccl. 1:9) More gospel truth my brethren! There might be variations of stuff, but mankind has been doing the same basic things down through the ages, and will continue to do until Jesus comes back and assumes His rightful place.
And as Cousin Sol further argues: ‘Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time before us (in ancient times). There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.’ (Eccl.1:10-11) Ah mih people, how true are those words eh.
Hear the scholars: ‘1:4-11. The ceaseless cycles of nature illustrate the futility of life. The amazing thing is that the earth goes on, but man, the height of God’s creation, passes into eternity with no remembrance (vs.11).’ Now doesn’t that give you pause for ponder and wonder? (smile) Why does the earth and all it’s seasons and cycles continue seemingly for ever, while the crowning glory of God’s creation, mankind, spends such a brief time in a physical body on the earth eh?
I guess we could trace that all the way back to the Garden of Eden when because of our forefather’s disobedience, sin and thus futility was introduced into the world. God might even have made man to live forever, but Adam and Eve never gave us the chance to find out. Yes, some other old timers lived for hundreds of years, but that was more the exception than the rule. And now we’ll never know what God meant to do. But that’s okay, for He eventually redeemed us, gave us another chance through the sacrifice of His son Jesus on the cross at Calvary.
But sin is still causing way too many problems in our lives, and not enough people are turning to Jesus for redemption and salvation. And I believe that these verses from John’s first epistle, say a lot about us and the world we live in. ‘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. For all that is in the world , the lust of the flesh (physical desires), and the lust of the eyes (personal desires), and the pride of life (self-interests), is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.’ (1 John 2:15-17)
It couldn’t be put any clearer than that friends. Sin has made a total mess of our world, till we’ve reached the stage that we don’t know whether we’re coming or going. Some say we’re coming, others say we’re going…but what’s the truth eh? The only truth is what God’s word says. And in it He clearly states that we should pray and repent and have faith in Him when we’re in trouble. And we are in serious trouble right now, so let’s develop some wisdom and turn to Him in sincere repentance and prayer nuh, through our Friday Chant.
Altogether now: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. Yuh know it’s been rough… what with all the anxiety, the confusion and havoc that the Covid-19 virus and the racial strife causing. We not accustomed to that kind of life Lord, and it really telling on us. And we know we can’t handle it on our own, that we desperately need your help. Oh heavenly Father, with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat both the virus and the unrest in our streets.
So Lord, we sincerely ask you today to give the governments and those involved in the forefront of this serious and unexpected storm, the sure and wise guidance to handle the situation properly, with the least amount of loss to life and property as possible. And please help those of us who must go out to work amidst all the confusion, to be responsible and to stay safe, so that we can avoid any more serious setbacks. And Lord, we fervently pray that You’ll use this situation to also bring a lot of backsliders back to your fold, show them the error of their ways.
It’s also a good opportunity to introduce a whole new flock, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion because of the way we, your faithful believers, handle the situation. Yes Lord, please use this pandemic and the unrest in the streets as a means of restoring faith in You, so that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’
Now, if we seriously desire His divine relief, then the onus is on us to do what we’ve promised. Much LOVE!
…sin will always muddy the waters of life…and cause serious consequences…
P.S. Yes, don’t know how many of you noticed, but there’s no word from the ordinary workingman today. The simple truth is I forgot. I guess I got so wrapped up in the topic that I didn’t remember him until I was done. But it’s all good though. (smile) Much LOVE!
11 Dec 2020
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a means of restoring faith, a vaccine coming soon, avoid serious setbacks, be responsible, bring backsliders back to your fold, compassion, could barely pay mih rent, Covid-19 pandemic, defeat the virus and the unrest, for it to come to fruition, Friday chant, how soon is soon eh, how to know truth from fiction, in Christ Jesus concerning you, in every thing give thanks, indisputable truth, inject them with the mark of the beast, introduce a whole new flock, Jesus must be number one, LOVE, no money, no work, obey the rules and regulations, pray, pray and give thanks on a regular basis, pray like you never prayed before, pray without ceasing, seriously buy into that solution, sinful world, social distance, stand strong and steadfast, take necessary precautions, TGIF!, Thank God is Friday, the beginning of our partying time, the end of the work week, the li'l pittance, the Lord desires prayer and thanksgiving, the Lord's governance takes control, the ordinary workingman, this is the will of God, unexpected storm, using tme to change people DNA, wake up and smell the coffee, wear masks, wise guidance
1 Thessalonians 5:17-18. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
And then it was Friday; the day we all so look forward to because it means the end of our work week and the beginning of our partying time. (smile) But yuh know what? Plenty of us haven’t worked for a long time, neither partied for a long while, and plenty of us won’t be working or partying for an even longer while, because of the Covid-19 pandemic, which seems to spread very rapidly when we gather together in large groups without masks and taking the other necessary precautions.
Unfortunately though, too many of us are ignoring the limitations and still gathering in large groups and partying regardless, and that’s one of the reasons why the Covid-19 count is still reaching record highs every day! Steups! And that’s how the supposedly smartest creature on the planet is behaving. Hn! But that’s just my take on the subject though, let’s see what the ordinary working man has to say about it all.
And he ambles up in a contrary mood. ‘Why yuh telling me about TGIF, Thank God is Friday eh? What is there to thank God for this Friday a couple weeks before Christmas? Ah don’t have no work, and no decent money coming in. The li’l pittance the government promise could barely pay mih rent! They not even telling me about when I could go back to work – if ah even going to have a work to go back to when all this nonsense done!
All they telling me is to stay home and to social distance and to wear masks if I go out. But where ah getting the money from to buy the blooming mask and them eh? All ah hearing is about a vaccine coming soon…but how soon is soon eh? And then yuh hearing so much bad things about the vaccine an’ them, how deh using them to change people DNA and inject them with the mark of the beast and what not…so what’s a poor body to do eh, how to know truth from fiction eh? Steups!
This world in such a mess eh? And when yuh add in the antics of the fool and his bunch of foolish cronies down in the U.S…. well is only bad and negative things could come out of it all yes! Ah sorry for mih children and them yes, because they surely going to have a very hard world to navigate through oui!’
And isn’t that the indisputable truth my brethren! This world is going to be much harder to navigate when all the nonsense we currently going through ends. And yes, it will end at some stage of the game, but how and when are the unknown, but the two most important variables right now. So like the ordinary workingman asks, what’s a body to do eh? The first thing is to obey the rules and regulations; do your part in not spreading the virus. And as yuh doing that, simultaneously turn to Almighty God and pray; pray like you’ve never done before.
Like Bruh Paul said to the Thessalonians: ‘Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.’ (1 Thess. 5:17-18) And if we’d take a moment and ponder our recent past, and be truthful about it, we’d realize that neither of those two things; praying and giving thanks, have been our strongpoints in the last decade or so. No wonder our world is in such a mess. If the Lord desires prayer and thanksgiving, and we’re refusing, how can our world function properly and efficiently eh? No way Jose!
So let’s see if we can’t begin to straighten out those problems right now nuh…Yes my people, right now we going to start to pray and give thanks on a regular basis – that’s if we want our world to survive in a reasonable state. So for those of us who desire such an outcome, let’s go to God right now, in humble adoration and unburden our heavy and weary hearts to Him, through our Friday Chant.
As one strong voice now, in all sincerity: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. Yuh know it’s been rough… what with all the anxiety, the confusion and havoc that the Covid-19 virus and the racial strife causing. We not accustomed to that kind of life Lord, and it really telling on us. And we know we can’t handle it on our own, that we desperately need your help. Oh heavenly Father, with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat both the virus and the unrest in our streets.
So Lord, we sincerely ask you today to give the governments and those involved in the forefront of this serious and unexpected storm, the sure and wise guidance to handle the situation properly, with the least amount of loss to life and property as possible. And please help those of us who must go out to work amidst all the confusion, to be responsible and to stay safe, so that we can avoid any more serious setbacks. And Lord, we fervently pray that You’ll use this situation to also bring a lot of backsliders back to your fold, show them the error of their ways.
It’s also a good opportunity to introduce a whole new flock, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion because of the way we, your faithful believers, handle the situation. Yes Lord, please use this pandemic and the unrest in the streets as a means of restoring faith in You, so that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’
Now we can’t just say that prayer, hopefully with sincere hearts, and expect all our troubles to vanish into thin air. No! We need to keep on praying and giving thanks and being obedient to the government’s rules and regulations, as well as the Lord’s, except where they conflict, and then the Lord’s governance takes control. It’s the only way friends.
But many many more of us have to seriously buy into that solution for it to come to fruition. The relatively small number now seriously involved is definitely not enough to turn things around. So I guess it behooves us to talk to others so that they can buy in. And that’s all Jesus is asking of us: to tell people about Him and His word. And after all that He’s sacrificed on our behalf, is that so much to ask? Not really. Much LOVE!
…for our world to run properly…Jesus must be NUMBER ONE…
27 Nov 2020
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: all about the almighty dollar, anxiety, bargain humting, be responsible, Black Friday, Christ's faithful promise, Christians have Jesus to lead and guide us, confusion, consider one another, Covid-19, desperately need your help, embrace your love and compassion, facing bankruptcy, faithful believers, fall on our knees, fervently pray, for he is faithful that promised, Friday chant, get a good vaccine, God's grace and guidance and mercy, had to get the frustration off mich chest, handle the situation, havoc, in sincere prayer, introduce a whole new flock, irresponsible people, it woulda drive me crazy, let us hold fast the profession of our faith, life goes on, listen to the Holy Spirit, mankind lined up anywhere, our sinful world, poor minions, rejected the medical advice, restoring faith in you, stay safe, the fear that's encompassing our lives, the ordinary workingman, the rich getting richer, the small man getting poorer, to provoke unto love and to good works, U.S. Thanksgiving, unexpected storm, wake up and smell the coffee, who going to feed mih children, wise guidance, without wavering, working for them in the pandemic
Hebrews 10:23. Let us hold fast the profession (confession) of our faith (hope) without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
And then it was Friday – Black Friday to be precise! The big shopping day down in the U.S after Thanksgiving, and now being copied by so many countries around the world. And since a lot of people rejected the medical advice yesterday to stay close to home and keep the celebrations small, but instead flooded the airports and the highways to go and do their natural Thanksgiving thing, why would they behave any differently on the biggest shopping day of the year eh?
So instead of staying home and shopping online, expect there to be line ups at the physical stores. And if mankind is lined up anywhere, for whatever reason, but especially for bargain hunting, expect there to be problems. Let’s hope that there won’t be any looting and shooting and serious incidents, but who knows what happens when mankind is let loose eh. (smile) And the merchants themselves are something else too, still encouraging people to come out and buy during their rigged sales. It’s all about the almighty dollar!
But life goes on, and thankfully we Christians have Jesus to lead and guide us, that is if we listen to Him, and not let the things of the world lead us astray. Enough of me though, let’s listen to what the ordinary workingman has to say, it might just be more interesting. (smile)
And his whole demeanour is different this week as he angrily shouts: ‘Covid -19, Covid-19! When this blooming thing going to done eh? When people going to smarten up and keep them tail inside and wear the darm mask eh? Is because of so many stupid and irresponsible people that ah get laid off again; the government force the slave master to shut down because of the too close working conditions, so I get mih last paycheque last week – when ah going to get another one eh, since I don’t get pay if ah don’t work, and the place lock down for at least a month.
Who knows if it going to open back then or stay lock down eh? Who going to feed mih children eh? Steups! This whole thing just going from bad to worse yes…And now yuh telling me nonsense about Black Friday shopping! Look doh let me tell what to do with yuh Black Friday shopping nuh! An’ people so darm foolish, they can’t see how the rich people and them getting richer in them pandemic times, while we the small man getting poorer, with no jobs and no money and so many others facing bankruptcy and whatever.
And yuh telling me chupidness bout this being a democracy and we suppose to help one another? Well where the blooming wealthy who suppose to help the small man eh? Yuh see any ah dem during this pandemic doing anything for anybody? Not on yuh life! They hiding out in deh comfy homes, eating and drinking as normal, and don’t need to go to no work because the poor minions out there in the pandemic working for them.
Look, ah sorry that ah ranting this Friday yes, but ah just had it up to mih neck with the foolishness now, suffering for other people bad behaviour, and it just got to me today. Ah still thanking God for what li’l ah have, and ah know ah have more than some people, but ah just had to get the frustration off mih chest today, otherwise it woulda drive me crazy!’
Oh friends, the pandemic scene is certainly getting to a lot of people, so much so that people are protesting more than before. But what to do eh? For masks, physical distancing, washing hands and staying in small groups are the only things we have right now that seem to control it. And until we get a good vaccine, and people take it, I don’t know what else we can do to mitigate the pandemic nuh. And in light of all that, our irresponsible behaviour certainly isn’t helping matters any.
So what advice can I give in these circumstances eh? As believers in Christ Jesus, the first response in times of doubt and fear, of anxiety and lost hope, is to turn to Almighty God in prayer. He has faithfully promised never to leave nor forsake us. (Heb. 13:5) And the Good Book also instructs: ‘Let us hold fast the profession (confession of our faith (hope) without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke (stir up) unto LOVE and to good works.’ (Heb. 10:23-24)
Yes my fellow saints in Christ, in tough times like these, we need to stay strong and encourage each other to share the LOVE of Christ and to help our fellow man, while we fall on our knees in sincere prayer, asking for God’s grace and mercy and wisdom to handle the anxiety and fear that’s encompassing our lives. So right now, let’s do just that nuh, through our Friday Chant.
As one strong and prayerful voice: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. Yuh know it’s been rough… what with all the anxiety, the confusion and havoc that the Covid-19 virus and the racial strife causing. We not accustomed to that kind of life Lord, and it really telling on us. And we know we can’t handle it on our own, that we desperately need your help.
Oh heavenly Father, with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat both the virus and the unrest in our streets. So Lord, we sincerely ask you today to give the governments and those involved in the forefront of this serious and unexpected storm, the sure and wise guidance to handle the situation properly, with the least amount of loss to life and property as possible.
And please help those of us who must go out to work amidst all the confusion, to be responsible and to stay safe, so that we can avoid any more serious setbacks. And Lord, we fervently pray that You’ll use this situation to also bring a lot of backsliders back to your fold, show them the error of their ways. It’s also a good opportunity to introduce a whole new flock, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion because of the way we, your faithful believers, handle the situation.
Yes Lord, please use this pandemic and the unrest in the streets as a means of restoring faith in You, so that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’
Now it’s time for us to handle the situation properly, like true believers, by showing the LOVE and compassion of Jesus to all those who desperately need it in this pandemic time! Much LOVE!
…listen to the Holy Spirit that dwells within…and He will guide you wisely and safely…that’s Christ’s faithful promise…
20 Nov 2020
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a second go round of the virus, all things are possible with Jesus, avoid anymore serious setbacks, be responsible, bulging pockets and bellies, Covid-19 virus, divine succour, faithful believers, fall into oblivion, Friday chant, gospel truth, grace, I have put my trust in the Lord, I may declare all his works, imbues us with divine strength, incompetent leaders, injustice and inequality, Jesus Christ, Jesus is faithful and true, looking out for our welfare, mercy, no need to worry, nothing that comes against us will harm us, omnipotent help, our society will implode, our trusting faith, pandemic situation, safeguard us from the virus, social animal, spend quality time, stay outa jail, stay safe, TGIF!, Thank God is Friday, that go a whoring from thee, the people cast off restraint, the people perish, the rich getting richer, the word of God as its banner, they will be cast aside, thou hast destroyed all them, through Christ who strengthens me, unless the people wake up, unrest in our streets, wake up and smell the coffee, wannabe dictator, we do all things, we have our Lord and Saviour, where there is no visioin, wise guidance
Proverbs 29:18. Where there is no vision, the people perish.
Uh oh…it’s Friday! Already? Yes boy, with bright sunshine too, something we haven’t seen around here for a few days now! But don’t let the sunshine fool you nuh, it also have a strong chilly wind blowing with it! Well what else do you expect eh, it’s time for the cold days to come creeping into these northern climes. Only thing is they don’t creep in, they generally just hit you with an unexpected rush. (smile)
But thankfully, there’s no need to worry because we have our Lord and Saviour, Guide and Protector, Jesus Christ looking out for our welfare, and we know that we can do all things through Him who strengthens us, who imbues us with divine strength and protection! Glory Hallelujah my believing brethren!
With Jesus in our corner ALL things are possible and nothing that comes against us will harm or have victory over us because He has faithfully promised never to leave nor forsake us, and we know for a fact that He keeps every one of His promises, for faithful and true is He! And that’s my li’l sermon, my li’l reminder of God’s goodness and mercy for today. (smile)
Now let’s hear the ordinary workingman’s spiel nuh. And sadly, he doesn’t seem to be his usual enthusiastic, ebullient self. His opening remarks are somewhat lacklustre, and with good cause too. ‘TGIF! Thank God is Friday and the weekend is finally here!’ And so is the blooming Covid-19 virus yes! It coming back for a second go round. Why eh? Because we so stupid and childish we can’t keep weself quiet and stay home for a li’l bit!
Oh Lord, the only thing we have to safeguard us from the virus is masks and social distancing, so why we can’t do them simple things eh? Steups! Since when we this big social animal that we must get together all the time eh? In normal times, so often we don’t see each other for long periods because we too busy, but all of a sudden we must get together! Foolishness yes!
What a world we living in eh Captain Jack! And then that other jack down in the U.S not even bothering with the Covid situation, he only intent on trying to retain his wannabe dictator powers and causing so much confusion in the land, when he full well know that he lost the so and so election. And yuh know why he fighting so hard to stay in power? So that he and his blooming crooked family could stay outa jail, because he know that as soon as he step foot outa the white house, they going to lock up him and his crooked and thiefing family.
Brother! Ah never see such imbecile and incompetent and thiefing leaders like we have all over the world nowadays nuh! Ah sorry for mih children if this state of affairs continue yes. But ah keep on thanking the Lord for Fridays and weekends, so I could get some rest from the slave master work and spend some quality time with mih family.’
Yes friends, the ordinary working man is not a happy camper, and he has a right not to be, because it’s the ordinary working people who are suffering the most in this pandemic situation. They are the ones who have lost most of their jobs, and thus are having money, food and housing problems, while the rich and well to do are getting richer and more well to do. The sudden pandemic has certainly shown up the vast inequity in our society, and if we don’t do something about it soon, then our society will eventually implode.
And we’re already seeing serious signs of implosion because quite a large part of the population is suffering unnecessary injustice and inequality. But the powers that be don’t seem to truly care. Once they can fill their already bulging pockets and bellies all’s well with them. But for the creation who is supposed to be God’s greatest and wisest, we’re sadly ignorant and selfish too. That brings us to this eternal saying of Cousin Sol. ‘Where there is no vision, the people perish.’ (Prov. 29:18)
And that’s the gospel truth my people. Where there is no prophetic vision, no thought of, or word from God in a society, the people cast off restraint, do as they please and eventually fall into oblivion, for a society can’t survive successfully without the word of God as it’s banner. A society can’t sincerely rise to its challenges and commitments without a godly infrastructure.
Thus the words of the psalmist Asaph from Psalm 73 – The mystery of prosperous wickedness – hold true. ‘For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee (are unfaithful to thee). But it is good for me to draw near to God. I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works.’ (Ps. 73:27-28)
Oh friends, history is filled with the rubble of so many great societies who turned away from God when they became rich and prosperous, do we want ours to be numbered amongst that infamous lot? I certainly hope not! That means we have to do our best to keep God’s word and His mores alive in our society. And the first step in doing that is turning to Him in prayer, asking for help, mercy, grace and divine succour. So let’s do that right now nuh through our Friday Chant nuh.
Altogether with sincere hearts. ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. Yuh know it’s been rough… what with all the anxiety, the confusion and havoc that the Covid-19 virus and the racial strife causing. We not accustomed to that kind of life Lord, and it really telling on us. And we know we can’t handle it on our own, that we desperately need your help. Oh heavenly Father, with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat both the virus and the unrest in our streets.
So Lord, we sincerely ask you today to give the governments and those involved in the forefront of this serious and unexpected storm, the sure and wise guidance to handle the situation properly, with the least amount of loss to life and property as possible. And please help those of us who must go out to work amidst all the confusion, to be responsible and to stay safe, so that we can avoid any more serious setbacks. And Lord, we fervently pray that You’ll use this situation to also bring a lot of backsliders back to your fold, show them the error of their ways.
It’s also a good opportunity to introduce a whole new flock, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion because of the way we, your faithful believers, handle the situation. Yes Lord, please use this pandemic and the unrest in the streets as a means of restoring faith in You, so that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’
And if we were truly sincere in our plea and vow, then we now have to go out and handle the situation as faithful believers. Let’s not let down our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ nuh! Much LOVE!
…unless the people wake up to God…they will be cast aside…
13 Nov 2020
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: 13th November, anxiety, avoid serious setbacks, be responsible, believeth on him that sent me, Black Friday, blessing and cursing, bring backsliders back to your fold, can't sit on the fence anymore, confusion, desperately need your help, everlasting life, faithful saints of Christ, Friday chant, handle the situation properly, havoc, hear the voice of the Son of God, heareth my word, I call heaven and earth, I have set before you life and death, in Christ-like manner, in the name of, judgement, legal battles, life everlasting, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, resurrection, second wave of Covid-19, shall not come into condemnation, stay safe, strife rampant, TGIF!, Thank God is Friday, that both thou and thy seed shall live, the awesome word and hand of God, the healing of our land, the Holy Spirit surging through us, the hour is coming, the world gone mad, therefore choose life, time for mankind to put up or shut up, time for pussyfooting is over, to record this day against you, U.S. presidential election, unrest in the streets, vaccine, wannabe dictator, we children going to inherit, what kinda world, wise guidance and direction, world war 3
Deuteronomy 30:19. I call heaven and earth to record this day (as witnesses) against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed shall live:
Ah friends, it’s a dark, cold, cloudy sombre morning; this Black Friday, the 13thday of November in the crazy, uncertain, unexpected, divisive, pandemic, election, eccentric year of 2020! Yeh, this year’s been all that, and its eccentricity and divisiveness are not over yet, not by a long shot. The confusion and legal battles over who won the U.S. Presidential election is still ongoing, getting more problematic by the minute, with the wannabe dictator refusing to concede that he lost.
The Covid-19 pandemic is still raging, going through a second phase all over the world, and we still don’t know how to deal with it properly, and with people refusing to do the things we know would temper it some. And strife is still rampant all over our world. So what new can the forces of evil and darkness perpetrate this Friday the 13th eh? The only place we have left to go is over the cliff, or be brought back to our senses by the awesome word and hand of God!
Right now those are our only two options friends! The time for pussyfooting is over. We can’t sit on the fence anymore. It’s time to make a final decision. And yuh know that making no decision is indeed making a decision. So please let’s not fool ourselves into thinking that we’ll just let it all ride and it will eventually blow over, because this time it most certainly won’t! It’s time for mankind to put up or shut up! And that’s my spiel for today! (smile)
But it’s Friday, so let’s hear what the ordinary workingman has to say too nuh. And as always he declares: ‘TGIF! Thank God is Friday oui! Thank God that the weekend is finally here and I could get to stay in mih yard with mih family and don’t have to venture out in this second wave of Covid-19 nuh! Brother! What it is so eh? How come Covid just turn back to bite we so hard again eh? Is it because people not doing what they supposed to be doing? Or we just can’t get a handle on the blooming virus?
But is more lockdown again…Steups! What in hell and heaven name going on eh? Like the world just gone mad oui! Everywhere is a mess; if not with Covid, then with political and racial and religious strife… So what it going to take to bring us back to normal eh? Ah vaccine for Covid? Who knows, because plenty people already say they not taking no blooming vaccine. Or is it World War 3…? Because all the other foolish strife an’ them not letting up either.
So what is to become of we world eh? What kinda world we children going to inherit eh? Chuh man! Ah have to shake mih head oui, because only the Lord knows yes…only the Lord knows! But right now ah very thankful for the weekend so I could stay home an consider it all, although I can’t do much about it.’
Ah mih people, those sentiments expressed by the ordinary workingman are being voiced all over our world! As I said before, this is the time for us to make some very wise and serious decisions because our problems are not going to go away because we wish them to. It’s going to take a lot of work between all of mankind to even halt them, much less turn them back. And the only power in this world great enough to change our circumstances is the hand of Almighty God!
And I proffer these two verses of His word from the mouth of Jesus Christ, His only Son and the Saviour of this world, to strengthen my contention. ‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation (judgement); but is passed from death into life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.’ (John 5:24-25)
People, I give to you, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the ONLY hope for our salvation! Without Him in our lives, we’re all dead meat. It’s only a matter of time. But with Him, with His awesome Holy Spirit surging through our veins, our bodies, and souls, we are faithfully promised resurrection; life everlasting! There’s NO ONE else who can offer us that! So what’s it to be eh?
And here’s the clincher; (smile) these words of Moses, on the Lord’s behalf, to the people of Israel many moons ago. ‘I call heaven and earth to record this day (as witnesses) against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed shall live:’ (Deut. 30:19) That’s it in a nutshell friends! Your choice!
And for those of us who wisely choose life, let’s turn to our God and through our Friday Chant sincerely plead with Him for the healing of our land and our nations! Altogether now: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. Yuh know it’s been rough… what with all the anxiety, the confusion and havoc that the Covid-19 virus and the racial strife causing. We not accustomed to that kind of life Lord, and it really telling on us. And we know we can’t handle it on our own, that we desperately need your help.
Oh heavenly Father, with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat both the virus and the unrest in our streets. So Lord, we sincerely ask you today to give the governments and those involved in the forefront of this serious and unexpected storm, the sure and wise guidance to handle the situation properly, with the least amount of loss to life and property as possible. And please help those of us who must go out to work amidst all the confusion, to be responsible and to stay safe, so that we can avoid any more serious setbacks.
And Lord, we fervently pray that You’ll use this situation to also bring a lot of backsliders back to your fold, show them the error of their ways. It’s also a good opportunity to introduce a whole new flock, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion because of the way we, your faithful believers, handle the situation. Yes Lord, please use this pandemic and the unrest in the streets as a means of restoring faith in You, so that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’
Yes my precious and faithful saints of Christ, it now behooves us to go out and handle the situation properly; in Christ-like manner! Much LOVE!
…only the unwise…would choose death over life…especially the eternal kind…
06 Nov 2020
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a blast of sunshine, a city that is set on a hill cannot be hid, a pipe dream, a world on edge, ambassadors, anxiety, avoid serious setbacks, Banana Republic, be full of salt, be responsible, be trodden underfoot of men, be true salt and light, brings out the best in mankind, Christians, confusion, Covid-19, craziness, divisive partisan leadership, embrace your love and compassion, endurance, faithful believers, foolish antics, Friday chant, glorify your father in heaven, good examples of His gospel, good for nothing, gospel truth, handle the situation properly, hemming and hawing, Immortal words of Jesus, in a world of violence, in the name our Lord and Saviour, it giveth light unto all that are in the house, it's been rough, Jesus Christ, least amount of loss to life, legal wrangling, Let your light so shine before men, monkey see monkey do, neither do men light a candle, perseverance, prayers are in order, put it under a bushel, racial strife, ready to fall over the precipice, rest from the slave master work, restoring faith in you, salt has lost its flavour, show their mettle, sinful world, stay safe, stop our world going over the brink, sunshine, TGIF!, Thank God is Friday, the ordinary workingman, the pandemic still raging, they may see your good works, U.S. elections, unexpected storm, wake up and smell the coffee, warm temps, warm weather, weekends, well flavoured, widespread unrest, wise guidance, Ye are the light of the world, ye are the salt of the earth
Matthew 5:16. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
And the election craziness and confusion continues in the good ole U.S. of A! What a surprise! (smile) On this spring-like Friday morning with glorious sunshine in my neighbourhood, it’s hard to pay much attention to the foolish antics that’s happening down there. The only sure thing is that there’s no sure thing, and won’t be for a while, what with all the hemming and hawing and legal wrangling and fake news and all the other stuff that’s recently made the U.S. look like one of those long-ago Banana Republics in South and Central America.
I wish them the best of luck, but it seems that with the pending results, we will have four more years of overwhelming, divisive partisan leadership down there, which doesn’t bode any good for anybody, neither the country itself nor the whole world looking on, who unfortunately suffer in some way according to how the U.S. goes. Prayers are in order, rather absolutely necessary, for all of us! End of spiel! (smile)
Now let’s hear what the ordinary workingman has to say today nuh. And as always, he crows: ‘TGIF! Thank God is Friday oui! And it’s going to be a wonderful day, with sunshine and warm temps. Imagine that nuh, way down in November we been having temps in the high teens…Mama Yo! Today it might even rise to about twenty… Well that I can certainly handle! Ah don’t care what nobody says, but a blast of sunshine and warm weather brings out the best in mankind, at least in me! So let it shine bright and stay warm all the time nuh…Hn, hn hn!
Oh I know that is only a pipe dream up here in these northern climes, but who says a body can’t dream eh? And the pandemic still raging all over the world, but plenty more worried and concerned about what happening with the U.S elections, but not me nuh, because I know them people down there don’t care a darm about nobody else but themselves, so if they want to fight and kill each other over foolishness, I say let them go ahead yes! But unfortunately, we up here in Canada too tie up with the U.S yes, so whatever happens down there, we certain to feel some backlash up here, especially since we have plenty up here who like to play, monkey see monkey do, and behave like them down there. Steups!
Ah Lord eh, ah don’t know what the world coming to nuh, but it surely not as nice and warm and welcoming as it used to be. All a small man like me could do though is hope and pray and live one day at a time and give God thanks for Fridays and the li’l rest from the slave master work on the weekends yes!’
And isn’t that the gospel truth friends! The most a lot of us can do is hope and pray for better times and give God thanks for our situations. And yes, I know that’s difficult in a world that is on edge, that’s just waiting and ready to fall over the precipice, but we believers have been charged with the enormous task of not letting it go over the brink and plummet into war and all the negative things that will happen if we reach that unfortunate stage. And all I can do is quote these immortal words of Jesus concerning our behaviour and duty in this confused and divided world.
Please listen closely to our Leader, our Lord and Saviour. ‘Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour (flavour), wherewith (by what) shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle (lamp), and put it under a bushel (basket), but on a candlestick (lampstand) ; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.’ (Matt. 5:13-16)
Yes my brethren, that’s what our leader expects of us; to shine bright like the morning sun and be full of salt, well flavoured in our lives, being good examples of His gospel, ambassadors of His kingdom, offering, help, encouragement and meeting the needs of our fellow man, wherever and however we can! Oh, I know it’s never been, and will never be an easy task, but with His awesome help, we can do it. So let’s spend a li’l time right now and go to Him for that help we need nuh. Let’s cry out to Him through our Friday Chant for endurance and perseverance and whatever else it will take for us to stop our world going over the brink.
All together now: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. Yuh know it’s been rough… what with all the anxiety, the confusion and havoc that the Covid-19 virus and the racial strife causing. We not accustomed to that kind of life Lord, and it really telling on us. And we know we can’t handle it on our own, that we desperately need your help.
Oh heavenly Father, with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat both the virus and the unrest in our streets. So Lord, we sincerely ask you today to give the governments and those involved in the forefront of this serious and unexpected storm, the sure and wise guidance to handle the situation properly, with the least amount of loss to life and property as possible. And please help those of us who must go out to work amidst all the confusion, to be responsible and to stay safe, so that we can avoid any more serious setbacks.
And Lord, we fervently pray that You’ll use this situation to also bring a lot of backsliders back to your fold, show them the error of their ways. It’s also a good opportunity to introduce a whole new flock, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion because of the way we, your faithful believers, handle the situation. Yes Lord, please use this pandemic and the unrest in the streets as a means of restoring faith in You, so that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’
Now, as the faithful believers we claim to be, let’s go out and do our best nuh; handle the situation in the best way we can! Much LOVE!
…in a world of violence and widespread unrest…Christians must show their mettle…be true salt and light…
30 Oct 2020
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a fit of jealousy, adult doubleface, am I my brother's keeper, ambassadors for Christ, amidst all the confusion, anxiety, but to do good they have no knowledge, Cain killed Abel, Christ's Church, confusion, consider your neighbour's needs, controversial weekend, Covid-19 times, embrace your love and compassion, faithful believers, for my people is foolish, Friday chant, God so loved the world, grow in love and understanding, Halloween, handle the situation properly, have everlasting life, havoc, he gave his only begotten son, interested in the welfare of those around us, life rough and tough, make a difference, my heartfelt plea, no more real truth to be had, ole fashion, omnipotent help, our sinful world, racial strife, sacrificing ourselves to help others, serious setbacks, should not perish, stand strong and steadfast, standards falling, stay in my own li'l world, sufferation, suffering from so many maladies, TGIF!, Thank God is Friday, they are sottish children, they are wise to do evil, they have none understanding, they have not known me, understand godly love, wake up and smell the coffee, we are our brother's keeper, whosoever believeth in him, wise guidance
Jeremiah 4:22. For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish (stupid or silly) children, and they have none (no) understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.
So we finally come down to Friday eh…the last day of the work week, and plenty people happy. That is the ones and them who don’t have to go to work again for the next two days. But what happen to those who didn’t have no work to go to this week eh…and those who have had no work to go to for a long time now eh? And it have plenty people like that about the place. Life certainly rough and tough with them.
Yeh friends, plenty people out there really undergoing ‘sufferation’ in this here Covid-19 time yes. What we doing to help them eh? Remember, we are our brother’s keeper, regardless of what Cain said to the Lord: ‘Am I my brother’s keeper?’ after he killed his brother Abel in a fit of jealousy, and the Lord asked him of Abel’s whereabouts. (Gen. 4:1-15)
Oh my fellow believers, in Christ’s kingdom, we are our brother’s keeper. We need to spend time and resources looking after, caring for and being interested in the welfare of those around us, be they real family or not, ofttimes placing their needs before our own, in other words sacrificing ourselves to help others.
As the website http://www.ucg.org/good news explains it. ‘To be your brother’s keeper means to consider your neighbour’s needs at all times, whether he is present or not. A brother’s keeper is one who understands godly LOVE as expressed in Christ’s sacrifice (John 3:16). ‘For God so LOVED the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’
Yes fellow saints, that means we need to grow in LOVE and understanding for each other and encourage each other as best we can. And remember, Christ’s church, the body to which we belong, is supposed to be helping the poor and needy, the sick and suffering, the lost and weary, being shepherds and ambassadors for Christ, so that they can come to Him and be refreshed and renewed.
Unfortunately, I don’t believe that we are doing as much of that as we ought to, or as we can, but as of today, I am pleading with us to be better representatives of Christ Jesus in our immediate area. We don’t have to go far and wide, just minister to the needs of those in our vicinity, because too many people are suffering, mentally, physical, emotionally and financially. I don’t know if there’s ever been a time when so many have suffered from so many maladies at the same time.
And our job, our bounden duty as believers in Christ Jesus, as Christians, is to help as many as possible in as many ways as possible. So please let’s try and do more than we’ve been doing nuh – I know we can – so that we, Christ’s church, can make a difference. That’s my heartfelt plea today. (smile) And no, I have not forgotten the ordinary workingman’s spiel. I just had a longer and I believe more important one myself. (smile)
So hear him nuh: ‘TGIF! Thank God is Friday oui! And the weekend is upon us once more. But this is going to be a crazy and disturbing and controversial weekend because is Halloween. Some people want it to go on as normal, others want to make changes, while others just want to ban it completely. Steups! Another instance of ungodly contention in we ranks! How we going to ever get through all this Covid business if we can’t agree on nothing eh? As for me, my children staying home yes!
Yuh don’t want big people outside and visiting others they not in a bubble with, but yuh want young children running around from house to house, in the dark night begging people they don’t know, for candy which yuh been telling them all the time is not good for them. Steups! What foolishness and what adult doubleface eh! Meanwhile the dentists, who themselves pan candy and sugar, going to be laughing all the way to the bank in a few months, after the children eat up all the sugar candy. Hn!
But that is the state of today’s world. Standards falling all over the place. No more real truth to be had, because everybody making up their own truth now. Chuh! That is why I stay in my own li’l world yes, and let them do their thing, because it just too much for me. Call me old fashion if yuh want, but I like it so yes!’
Ah mih people, this new world is indeed a handful to navigate, and not a whole lot of old-timers can do it successfully. But as believers, we are expected make a difference, a good difference, and as we do so, we make Jeremiah’s lament over Judah, less applicable to our society. (smile) ‘For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish (stupid or silly) children, and they have none (no) understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.’ (Jer. 4:22)
And we can begin turning around that rather applicable statement right now, by falling on our knees before Almighty God and offering up prayer in the form of our Friday Chant. All together now: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. Yuh know it’s been rough… what with all the anxiety, the confusion and havoc that the Covid-19 virus and the racial strife causing. We not accustomed to that kind of life Lord, and it really telling on us. And we know we can’t handle it on our own, that we desperately need your help.
Oh heavenly Father, with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat both the virus and the unrest in our streets. So Lord, we sincerely ask you today to give the governments and those involved in the forefront of this serious and unexpected storm, the sure and wise guidance to handle the situation properly, with the least amount of loss to life and property as possible. And please help those of us who must go out to work amidst all the confusion, to be responsible and to stay safe, so that we can avoid any more serious setbacks.
And Lord, we fervently pray that You’ll use this situation to also bring a lot of backsliders back to your fold, show them the error of their ways. It’s also a good opportunity to introduce a whole new flock, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion because of the way we, your faithful believers, handle the situation. Yes Lord, please use this pandemic and the unrest in the streets as a means of restoring faith in You, so that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’
So let’s get to it nuh, you faithful believers, let’s handle the situation like Christ desires! Much LOVE!
…remember…we are our brother’s keeper…through Christ our Lord…
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