11 Dec 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a hearty welcome, a man sent from god, a pattern of success, action movement, another brand new day, anxiety, awe, be on our p's and q's, bear witness, born not of blood, Christ's birth, christianity, Christmas, commercialism, David Thomas, encouraging, excitement, faith, fear, fear not, feel the action of God flowing through us, fight the enemy, forgiveness, friends, fruitful life, full of grace and truth, gain footholds, glory hallelujah, go overboard, heavenly rewards, human form, In the beginning was the Word, indisputable truth, infiltrate our lives, inroads, Jesus Christ, John, keep plugging and plodding on, leading, live a successful life, lot of chances, loving kindness, lustful desires, magnificent and magnanimous God, minding our business, miracle, miraculous birth of Jesus christ, never be thnkful enough, never-ending mercy, our heavenly Father, our Lord and Saviour, power to become the sons of God, power. material things, redeeming sacrifice, respect, reverence, Scrip-Bit family, se;fless act, surrender, Thank you Jesus, Thank You Lord, the biography of souls, the Holy Spirit, the Life. the Light, the light of men, the light shines in the darkness, the most radiant pages in the biography of souls, the Son of God, the things of the world, the Truth, the Way, the will of God, the will of man, the will of the flesh, the Word was God, the word was made flesh, the Word was with God, true believers, trust, ungodly and evil world, unselfish and noble actions, we love you, we shall rejoice and be glad in it, we will follow you to the ends of the earth, wonder, wonders of your glory, worldly trappings, worry, writing from the heart
John 1:1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Well a warm and hearty Thursday welcome to all you Friends and Scrip-Bit family members out there in this ungodly and evil world. Fear not, for our wonderful God has provided us with another brand new day filled with His never-ending mercy, forgiveness and LOVING-kindness.
Wow! What a magnificent and magnanimous Deity we serve and worship! And all God’s children declared a loud and lusty: ‘Thank You Lord for giving us this new day, filled with all the wonders of your glory! We will praise Your Holy Name and rejoice and be glad in it, just as you desire us to! Amen!’
Yes Friends, it’s time to just keep pressing on and feel the action of God flowing through our lives in a pattern of success. And here’s a quote attributed to one David Thomas. Now I’m not sure which David Thomas it is, because there are so many around.
However, the quote is remarkable and can stand on its own, and highlights and reflects the kind of success we’re talking about. It simply says: ‘Unselfish and noble actions are the most radiant pages in the biography of souls.’
And that surely is indisputable truth my brethren! For our lives usually shine brighter and brightest when we do unselfish and noble acts, regardless of how small or insignificant they may seem. And even better yet, our heavenly Father notes them and heavenly rewards are attached to our names. Nothing could be better than that my people!
And we wouldn’t be true believers if we failed to mention the most unselfish act ever done in this whole wide world; that of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, leaving His comfortable home in heaven to come to earth in human form and offer His holy and sinless life as a redeeming sacrifice for us and our abominable sins.
And all Jesus’ followers cried out: ‘Thank You Jesus! We LOVE You! And we will follow You to the ends of the earth!’
Oh Friends, for that selfless act on Jesus’ part, we can never be thankful enough; there’s nothing we can ever do to repay that selflessness. But there again, Jesus doesn’t want our thanks so much in words, but more in deeds, for His movement, Christianity, is action oriented.
He wants us to believe in Him, that He is indeed the Way, the Truth, the Life and the Light of this evil and sinful world, and live the way He prescribes. Unfortunately though, His way of living runs counter to that of the world, which glorifies power, material things and lustful desires.
And sadly too, a lot of mankind are more enamoured with the things of the world than with those of Jesus. So what are we believers to do eh? Simply keep plugging and plodding on my brethren, and our great and generous God will give us everything we need to live a successful life and fight the enemy.
There’s not supposed to be any fear, worry or anxiety that keeps us from living a right and fruitful life that glorifies Him and helps us bring others to Him. But then again, these are not always easy things to do, especially in the kind of selfish, greedy and ungodly world in which we now live.
Those things take time, faith, trust and sure surrender. So we need to be always on our p’s and q’s, minding our business, not allowing the enemy to make any inroads into our lives.
And this season of Christmas is one of those times when we tend to go overboard and give the enemy a lot of chances to infiltrate our lives and gain footholds therein.
How you ask? By paying too much attention to the worldly trappings which surround it, and not enough to the cause of and reason for it; the wonderful and miraculous birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Oh Friends, I’m chuckling here because I have no idea where this is going. I don’t even have a Bit as yet. It’s one of those days that I like, when I’m writing from the heart, writing what I believe the Holy Spirit of God is leading and encouraging me to write.
So hearkening back to our last point, that of paying more attention to the worldly trappings of Christmas than the real cause for it, Jesus’ birth, I admonish us to try and change the balance in that equation. Let’s tone down the commercialism aspect of the situation, which sadly is being increased every year.
Instead, let’s allow the wonder, the excitement and miracle of Christ’s birth to be number one in our spirits, rather than the presents, food, and other trimmings. We obviously can’t disregard the latter stuff, but instead let’s raise up the former to the prominence that it deserves nuh.
For, remember without the birth of Christ, there’d be no Christmas, and thus no family gatherings and celebrations, no gifts, no food, nothing but another uneventful day.
And I think I’ve said my piece, (smile) now let’s see if I can find an appropriate Bit for all that. Soon come!
Oh Friends, it took les than two minutes. Glory Hallelujah! I was just led to share this most important section of scripture in its entirety. ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness comprehended (apprehended) it not.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power (the right) to become the sons (children) of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Which were born, not of blood, nor the will of the flesh, nor the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.’ (John 1:1-14)
Oh Friends, that says it all; all about Jesus! And the season we’re now celebrating, Christmas, is when that Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, the birth of that Light, the birth of the Word that was God, the birth of Jesus Christ!
So please, please let’s show the proper respect, reverence and awe to such an exceptional and miraculous event. Much LOVE!
… the trappings of Christmas are not as important as the reason for Christmas…the birth of Christ…for without Christ’s birth…there’d be no Christmas…and would that be a sad thing…
08 Dec 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: abuse the weekend, adoration, Amen, Antioch, Apostle to the Gentiles, at the mercy of the enemy, aura of love, Barnabas, blaspheming, Bruh Paul, cast not your pearls before swine, confidence, enjoy life, enthusiasm, free time, friends, Gentiles, give not that which is holy to dogs, glory hallelujah, gratitude, grumbling, harms himself, holy spirit, humble servants, invincible, Jesus Christ, Jesus' gospel, Jews, jobs, joy, lies, LOVE, meet the enemy in battle, Monday Morning, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, Oh Lord God Almighty, pearls before swine, Praise the Lord, rebuke a wise man, rebuketh a wicked man, reject the message of truth, rejuvenation of spirit, relaxation, renewed vitality, reprove a scorner, resentment, respect, reverance, Sabbath Day, shame, spiritual armour, steadfast faith, the Word of god, trample them under their feet, turn and tear you, unworthy of everlasting life, wisdom
Matthew 7:6. Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend (tear) you.
Glory Hallelujah! It is Monday once again! A glorious day with innumerable possibilities! And all God’s people declared a loud and grateful ‘Praise the Lord! Amen!’ (smile)
Oh Friends, I wish it was that easy or simple for most of us. But the truth is that we still find Mondays somewhat stifling and hard to come up over. But it’s something we desperately need to do, if we’re going to enjoy life the way that God intends us to.
As the poem from my birthday card that we talked about yesterday told us, each day is a gift from God, and we have to embrace them with gratitude and joy, not resentment and grumbling.
Look here, we know that we have to get up and go to work every Monday morning, so why is it continually so hard for us to do? Because we abuse the two days off over the weekend and don’t prepare properly for Monday.
Why aren’t any of the other working days as difficult to get up for eh? I guess it’s because we don’t have enough free time between them, so we can’t get involved in any unnecessary activities.
So until we make preparing for Monday a special activity on Sunday, we’ll be forever at the mercy of the enemy, grumbling and complaining come Monday morning. Anyway, enough of my speechifying, (smile) let’s sing out our Monday Morning Battle Hymn to give us the kick start that most of us seem to need.
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!’
Now that wasn’t too bad Friends, but not as good as it could or should be, heaven didn’t rejoice with us. However, our motors are now purring smoothly, so we can get on with our daily business. In this case, turning to our Bit.
‘Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend (tear) you.’
Remember yesterday, we saw in the scholars’ explanation that dogs and swine referred to people who deliberately reject the message of truth, and were so termed because those two classes of animals were very repulsive to the Jews.
Listen to how Cousin Sol put’s it in Proverbs 9 – Wisdom’s Invitation. ‘He that reproveth a scorner (scoffer) getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot (only harms himself). Reprove not a scorner (scoffer), lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will LOVE thee.’ (Prov.9:7-8)
Yes Friends, those are the responses to wisdom’s invitation by the scoffer, the mocker and the wise man. Hopefully the people we rebuke today will all be wise men and women. (smile)
And here’s a living example of what we’re talking about. Back in the days of the early church, while Bruh Paul was on his missionary journeys, he and Barnabas rolled into the city of Antioch and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, where Bruh Paul preached a magnificent sermon and several people believed. (Acts 13:14-43)
Obviously that brought opposition from some of the Jewish residents of the city. The Good Book tells it thus: ‘And the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against (opposed) those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.
Then Paul and Barnabas waxed (grew) bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should have first been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you (reject it), and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.’ (Acts 13:44-46)
Ah mih people, how foolish can we get sometimes eh? The Jewish response was definitely that of the scoffer and mocker, not the wise man.
Now hear the scholars’ explanation. ’13:46. Paul’s missionary principle was always to go to his own people, the Jews, first (Rom.1:16), but he always went to the Gentiles too, and indeed was known as the Apostle to the Gentiles (Gal.2:7-8; Eph.3:6-8).’
Oh Friends, let’s thank God that the wonderful news of Jesus’ gospel has been sown in our Gentile hearts, and that we neither scoff nor mock at it, but like the wise people that we are, we hold it dearly, treating it with much reverence, adoration and LOVE, for that is the wisdom of heaven. Much LOVE!
…if you don’t respect and revere God’s Word…then you can’t respect and revere Him…
05 Dec 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a hard row to hoe, an even keel, be thankful for small mercies, bless them that curse you, Christian, christianity, disgrace, do good to them that hate you, do unto others as you want them to do to you, evil, fellowship, focus on the good things of God, Friday chant, friends, fun, glorious kingdom, glory hallelujah, have regard for good things, honest, honourable, in the sight of all men, Jesus Christ, jesus name, joyful, live peacably with all men, Love your enemies, pray for those who use you, relaxation, repay to no man evil for evil, shame, sound advice, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, thankful, the right perspective, the weekend, tit for tat, turn the other cheek, vengeance is mine saith the Lord
Romans 12:17. Recompense (repay) to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest (have regard for good things) in the sight of all men.
Well Friends, we’ve made it through another week all in one piece. Glory Hallelujah!
Yes my people, it is indeed Friday, and the labouring will soon cease for a couple of days, so let’s shout it out: ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday, and soon my time will be my own!
No more supervisors looking over my shoulder with their beady eyes and sour dispositions, telling me what to do, as though I’m dotish (stupid) and can’t read or follow instructions. Chuh! They are the ones who make most of the week hard yes! But thank God is Friday oui, and I can get them off mih back for a li’l bit!’
Oh my brethren, we do have to be thankful for small mercies! The big ones are indeed wonderful, but they only occur once in a while. It’s the small ones that are always happening, and for which we must remember to be thankful, because they often are so small and seemingly insignificant that we don’t even notice them.
However, they are the ones that God uses to demystify us, to build our faith, and keep our lives on an even keel. And over time they do add up and eventually become the testimony of our lives.
So please, let’s pay attention to the small happenings, to the small showers of mercy in our lives and allow them to make us joyful and thankful, as our God intends for them to do.
Now let’s chant our Friday Chant which enables us to keep the right perspective on the weekend. As one now: ‘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.’
Yes my people, we have to be very careful that we don’t abuse the freedom and privilege of the weekend. And our Bit talks to the problem in its own way. ‘Recompense (repay) to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest (have regard for good things) in the sight of all men.’
Now that’s solid advice and heavenly wisdom we should all heed my Friends!
And please note Jesus’ words on the subject. ‘Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil (an evil person): but whosoever shall smite (slaps) thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.’ (Matt.5:38-39)
Oh my people, it is indeed a hard row to hoe, but as followers of Jesus we have to hoe it. And Luke’s version goes like this: ‘But I say unto you which hear, LOVE your enemies, do good unto them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully (spitefully) use you.
And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat (tunic) also. Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.’ (Luke 6:27-30)
That’s sound Christian advice my brethren, straight from the Master’s mouth! He doesn’t mean we should just roll over and play dead, but we shouldn’t be playing tit for tat and treat others the way we want to be treated.
Unfortunately neither of those directives holds much in this current world. We all want revenge for wrongs done to us, and we tend to treat others terribly, but expect great treatment ourselves, in spite of our evil doing.
That obviously doesn’t wash with our Saviour, so let’s try and get rid of those unchristian habits nuh my brethren, for all they do is bring shame and disgrace on us, as well as the Lord’s church.
And the second part of our Bit reminds us to ‘Provide things honest (have regard for good things) in the sight of all men.’ We must be honest in all our doings Friends.
As Bruh Paul reminds the Corinthians: ‘Providing for honest (honourable) things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.’ (2 Cor.8:21)
And he continues after our Bit, to the church at Rome: ‘If it be possible, as much as lieth in (depends on) you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.’ (Rom.12:18-21)
And here are some explanations from the scholars. ’12:19-21. Give place unto wrath: Paul quotes Deuteronomy 32:35 to show that only God has the right to avenge, and He certainly will avenge.
Heap coals of fire on his head (cf. Prov.25:22): This may refer to a sense of shame or remorse engendered when we treat an evildoer kindly. Paul is discussing personal, not national enemies. He is not teaching pacifism.’
And therein my people, lies one of the basic tenets of our Christian faith; don’t return evil for evil. So let’s try and do as it says nuh, put it into serious practice in all our lives, for it is truly the wisdom of heaven. Much LOVE!
…evil only begets evil…therefore the true Christian will not condone evil…but rather focus on the good things that pertain to God…
05 Nov 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a man lay down his life for his friends, addendum, all praise and thanks be to god, all praise to the lamb that was slain for us, as sheep going astray, awesome, awesome help of Jesus, bare our sins in his own body, Bishop of our souls, by whose stripes we are healed, Christ's death was vicarious, Dear Jesus, death, eternal separation, everlasting life, footsteps of Jesus, for God so loved the world, glory hallelujah, God demonstrates His love towards us, God gave His only begotten son, God reconciled us to Himself, God's still on the throne, God's working out our plans for good, Gramps Schuller, greater love hath no man, halfway through the workweek, holiness, Hour of Power Devotional, I can feel my heart opening like a heavy door, I can hear old chains break, justice, keep the pedal to the metal, learn to know God, lesser of two evils, LOVE, no complaints from the penny section, obedience, our God is something else, our God is truly awesome, our omnipotent and merciful God, put that on your plate, put your money where your mouth is, reconciliation, righteousness., sacrfice, sacrifice, sacrifice of His Son Jesus, spiritual and emotional walls, substitutionary sacrifice, the footsteps of Jesus, unconditional LOVE, undying LOVE, walking into my life, Wednesday, what a wonderful God we serve and worship, while we were yet sinners christ died for us, who ever believes in Jesus will not perish, wisdom, Yahweh
Romans 5:8. But God commendeth (demonstrates) his (own) LOVE toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Well well mih breddren, it’s Wednesday…! We’re halfway home in our workweek race…and we’re winning too! So please don’t let up, keep the pedal to the metal (smile) and just keep on doing whatever has been working for you so far.
Our omnipotent and merciful God is still on the throne, still in control, and He has the lives of all His children in good standing, calmly and blessedly working out His glorious plan for their good.
And all God’s children boldly and gratefully declared: ‘All praise and thanks be to the Lord our God, who in His great unconditional LOVE reconciled us to Himself, through the sacrifice of His son Jesus, while we were yet sinners!’
Oh what a truly wonderful and glorious God we serve and worship, my people!
And if by sad chance, you don’t happen to know that awesome Deity, or don’t know Him well enough, then here’s a li’l something from Gramps Schuller’s (Dr. Robert H. Schuller) Hour of Power Devotional to help you ‘Learn to Know God.’
Please acclaim with me: ‘Dear Jesus, I’ve got to get to know you better. Please help me! I can feel my spiritual and emotional walls crack. I can hear old chains break. I can feel my heart opening like a heavy door whose ancient seals have just begun to break.
I can sense the footsteps of Jesus walking into my life. I am beginning to experience the joy of a soul that is being saved, a life that is being born again. Thank You, Lord! Life’s not fair, but God is good. Amen.’
And if you said that prayer sincerely, then you will indeed feel all those old walls and encumbrances breaking down, falling apart, as Jesus fully enters your life. Wow Friends, our God is truly awesome, truly something else yes!
And Bruh Paul points it out so clearly in our Bit: ‘But God commendeth (demonstrates) his (own) LOVE toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.’
And all God’s children declared a loud and thankful: ‘Glory Hallelujah! All thanks and praise be to the Lamb who was slain for us!’ Yes my people, we can never repay, or thank Jesus enough for dying in our place.
As the scholars explain it: ‘5:8. Christ died for us: His death was vicarious. That is, He did not die merely for our benefit but in our place. His was a substitutionary sacrifice.’
That means we don’t have to die again for our sins; Jesus’ death paid for everything! Glory Be! And that’s why I can’t understand why so many people today are running away from Jesus instead of running towards Him.
But yuh know what my brethren, it all stemmed from the Father’s great LOVE for us! He didn’t have to send Jesus to the cross on our behalf nuh, He could just have left us to wallow in our abominable sins and end up in death and eternal separation from Him.
But His undying LOVE for us, His greatest creation, was so strong, it outweighed the grief, losing us would have caused Him. So in His vast, unending wisdom, He devised a plan to give us access to His holiness, righteousness and justice. Now, offering His One Son as a sacrifice hurt Him too, but He considered it the lesser of two evils.
As Jesus so boldly proclaims in a scripture we all know: ‘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.’ (John 3:16)
Oh Friends, I can’t think of a greater sacrifice than that; a Father giving up His only Son for a bunch of obnoxious, sinful ingrates!
But then again, as Jesus so poignantly declares: ‘Greater LOVE hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’ (John 15:13) Then He went out and died for us to prove it.
Friends, Jesus put His money where His mouth was, are we doing the same? I certainly hope so, because there’s a very important addendum to that statement He made above there. ‘Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.’ (John 15:14)
Yes my fellow believers, we can only be His true friends if we are obedient to His commands! If we are disobedient to His dictates, then we are not His friends. And that’s quite logical. It doesn’t make sense my dying for you, if you won’t live for me.
Now here’s an interesting bit of scripture on the subject from Peter, with which we’ll close today’s proceedings. Peter talks somewhat graphically about Christ’s suffering.
‘Who in his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes (wounds) ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the shepherd and Bishop (Overseer) of your souls.’ (1 Pet.2:24-25)
Oh my people, please, let’s put that on our plate to ponder on today nuh. Let that image of Christ on the cross be in our mind’s eye today, as we journey through life in this sinful and ungodly world, being His friend, doing as He commands, remembering that it was by His ‘sufferation’ that we were made whole, and given a once in a lifetime chance to return to the safe and LOVING fold of our great God and Creator: Yahweh! Much LOVE!
…friends stand by each other…so let’s stand by Jesus…as He stood by us two thousand years ago…and still stands by us everyday…
P.S. Oh Friends, it’s so short and sweet today! Glory be! So no complaints from the penny section. (smile) Much LOVE!
P.S.S. Would you believe that as soon as I was ready to send out the Bit, the ole computer froze on me. Chuh! It sure is trying to drive me crazy! But with the awesome help of Jesus, I won’t allow it to do so. (smile) Much LOVE!
24 Oct 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a joyful heart, a mllion miles away, a waste of time, all things work for out good, along our pilgrim's path, ambassadors, be assured, better late than never, blessings of obedience, brimming with confidence, confidence, crux of our problem, earthly pilgrim's path, eternal life, fellowship, forgiving, Friday chant, friends, fun, furthering God's glorious kingdom, glory hallelujah, God is always beside us, God is faithful, God's mysterious workings, gospel truth, gracious, greatest gift ever bestowed on man, I shout for joy, I will never let go of our hand, in Jesus' name, indisputable, inheritance, Israel, Jacob, Jesus, Jesus Love Revolution, Jesus' sacrifice, joy, joyful, joyful proclamations, labour, lifts our hearts, little by little, LOVE, loving, maganimous and magnificent God, majestic God, massa's slave-like toil, merciful, my heart was exceedingly joyful, no man shall be able to stand against thee, omnipotent god, One Year Book of Bible promises, our bounden duty, our view of circumstances, peaceful, promises of God, promises of Jesus, prosperous, relaxation, renewed and refreshed, rest, rest and recuperate, riding high in our hearts, Romans 8:28, salvation, scriptural education, serve and worship God, source of fodder, sprit of evangelism, tat odds with truth, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, the joy of the Lord is our strength, the Lord thy God, the Promised Land, the reality of the situation, the weekend, true believers, truth, undeniable, veritable, walking hand in hand, what seems to be is not always is, wine and roses, wisdom, work diligently
Psalm 47:1-2. O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. For the Lord most high is terrible (awesome); he is a great King over all the earth.
Well Friends, at last we’ve reached the finish line for this workweek’s race… It’s Friday! Glory Hallelujah! And I do hope that we all did our best in this week’s sprint…
And all God’s people joyfully declared: ‘Yes, we did our best! Jesus is proud of us! But nonetheless we must proclaim, TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday and the weekend is upon us! Oh there’s nothing like the weekend to rest and recuperate from massa’s slave-like toil and labour! That’s why we joyfully sing again: TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday yes!’
Oh Friends, it’s so wonderful to see us so joyful, because Jesus died so that we could enjoy our earthly life, enhanced by salvation and eternal life. And if we don’t enjoy it, especially when surrounded by the two greatest gifts ever granted to man – salvation and eternal life – then we’re just making His death a complete waste of time.
And we definitely don’t want to negate Jesus’ great sacrifice. Therefore, to help us continue in our joyful mode, here is a poem from an old Devotional called the ‘One Year Book of Bible Promises, I recently picked up in a Book Sale at church. It contains a Bible verse of promise for every day of the year, along with some interesting readings.
So expect to hear from it over the next little while. And I must tell you that when my eyes saw it, they lit up large and my heart was exceedingly joyful, because it’s one more source of fodder, of learning and truth that we have to engage us in our scriptural education.
Anyway, enough blather, (smile) here is the poem. It’s simply titled: ‘I Shout for Joy!’ And it says: ‘Sometimes Lord, You seem a million miles away. And then I remember Your unfailing words. “I will NEVER, NEVER, let go of your hand.” Once again I shout for joy, That what seems to be, Is not always what is.’
Oh yes my people, that’s ever so true! Lots of times our view of circumstances are totally at odds with the truth, with the reality of the situation, but at ALL times, we can be assured that our great and wonderful, magnificent and magnanimous, merciful, LOVING, most gracious and forgiving God is ALWAYS beside us, walking hand in hand with us along our pilgrim’s path!
Oh what joy and confidence that brings to our hearts and spirits, my fellow believers! It just lifts our hearts over the proverbial bar, like a high jumper, just brimming with confidence that he can scale the next height in his jump! Yes Friends, that’s what the promises of our eternal, ever-LOVING, omnipotent God does for true believers!
Now it won’t always be wine and roses on our earthly pilgrim’s path – it definitely wasn’t for Jesus – but with Him working mightily in us, we can be assured and confident that ALL things will be eventually worked out in our favour, because that’s exactly what He has promised to do in Romans 8:28.
And my brethren, our majestic God is above everything else, most faithful to His promises!
That’s why we can joyfully declare in our Bit, these words of the sons of Korah from Psalm 47 – God is the King of all the earth. ‘O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. For the Lord most high is terrible (awesome), he is a great King over all the earth.’
That my brethren, is indisputable, undeniable, veritable gospel truth!
And to enhance those facts, the psalmist joyfully continues: ‘He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet. He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he LOVED. Selah.’ (Ps.47:3-4)
Moreover, to corroborate those joyful proclamations, listen to Moses, as way back in the early days of Israel’s journey through the wilderness to the Promised Land, he directs them as to the blessings of obedience to the God of their fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
‘Thou shall not be affrighted at (afraid of) them: for the Lord thy God is among you, a mighty God and terrible (awesome). And the Lord thy God will put out those nations before thee by little and (by) little: thou mayest not consume (destroy) them at once, lest the beasts of the field increase upon thee.
But the Lord thy God shall deliver them unto thee, and shall destroy them with a mighty destruction, until they be destroyed. And he shall deliver their kings into thine hand, and thou shalt destroy their name from under heaven: there shall no man be able to stand before (against) thee, until thou have destroyed them.’ (Deut.7:21-24)
And as we all know Friends, those promises were all fulfilled, delivered in spades, once the Israelites served and worshipped Jehovah God sincerely. And the same promises apply to us today my people… once we too serve and worship Jehovah God sincerely.
But that’s the unfortunate crux of our problem though in this ungodly and evil day and age; not enough of us are serving and worshipping our great God, despite all the evidence that when we do so, we become peaceful and prosperous.
However, with the promises of Jesus riding high in our hearts, filling us with the spirit of evangelism, we few will continue to work diligently and sincerely to bring about His LOVE Revolution, because that’s wisdom from on high, as well as our bounden duty as His earthly ambassadors!
Now let’s go home chanting our Friday Chant- no I didn’t forget (smile) – fully embracing the wise perspective that it brings. As one now: ‘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.’
Much LOVE, my beautiful and joyful people!
and please remember…that the joy of the Lord is your strength… (Neh.8:10)
P.S. Oh Friends, certain circumstances beyond my control kept me up late last night, and consequently I didn’t arise until late this morning. But through the wonderful and mysterious workings of our great God I arose with a joyful heart, otherwise I couldn’t have written such a joyful Bit. (smile) Please excuse its tardiness. But as they say; better late than never! Much LOVE!
22 Oct 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a bear hug, a brilliant dash to the finish line, a high priest, a warm kiss, accomplish, after the order of Melchizedek, Amen, antidote, author and finisher of our faith, author of eternal salvation, be wearied and faint, believer's vocabulary, blazed the trail, bold, buckle down, but one receives the prize, called of God, catch our second wind, confidence, confident, conviction, Corinth, courageous, deflate, depress, despising the shame, different paths, discourage, discouraged, don't give up, don't think about letting go, earthly guidebook, endured such hostility of sinners, endured the cross, energetic, faith, faithful, faithful over a few things, falter, finish line, finish with style, finished the course, glorified, glory hallelujah, god, God's plan for our lives, guidance, Guide, halfway home, in full swing, incarnate son of god, Isthmian Games, Jesus Christ, lay aside every weight, lifeline, looking unto Jesus, LOVE, made perfect, maganimous and magnificent God, magnified, marathon runner, marathon-like adventure, national institution, obedience, obstruction, orignator, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, perfector, perseverance, pitfalls, power, pratfalls, promises, purpose, quit in mid-stream, radiant smile, rest assured, ruler over many things, run our race of life with plenty vim and vigour, run the race of life with excellence, run with patience, see another sunrise, sense of purpose, set down at the right hand of the throne of God, sincere words, so great a cloud of witnesses, so run that you may obtain, strength, stumble, suffered, supreme champion, thankful, the BIBLE, the joy of thy lord, the race of life, the sin which so easily ensnares us, they which run in a race run all, thou good and faithful servant, time to take stock, to run...and yet to run, trusting, victory, vigour, vim, we've won the first two rounds of the workweek battle, Wednesday, well done, winning qualities, wisdom, wisdom of Almighty God
1 Corinthians 9:24. Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run that ye may obtain.
Wednesday…oh Wednesday…you’re my ‘renewer’…my lifeline…!
Yes Friends, it’s a big Wednesday morning! That means we’re halfway home; we have won the first two rounds of the workweek battle… Glory Hallelujah!
So please don’t give up now. Don’t even think about letting go! Instead, it’s time for us to take stock, like a marathon runner, to catch our second wind, and put on a brilliant dash to the finish line that’s Friday! And all God’s people said a loud and hearty ‘Amen!’
Ah mih breddren, we need to be very thankful that we’ve been allowed to see another sunrise, because it means God’s plan for our lives isn’t over as yet. He still has a purpose for us to complete, His plan is still in full swing since we haven’t yet accomplished what He’s set forward for us to accomplish.
Therefore, we need to be trusting, faithful, energetic, courageous, bold and confident in the promises of our magnificent and magnanimous God, for there’s NO other like Him in this great universe!
As our Bit so wisely reminds us: ‘Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.’
Yes Friends, we need to run our race of life with plenty vim and vigour, so that we may obtain that awesome victory which awaits us at the end.
And the scholars give us some background info into what Bruh Paul was referring to. ‘9:24. Paul draws on a scene familiar to his Corinthian readers in order to drive home his point. The Isthmian Games were an athletic event known to all his readers.
They were held on alternate summers in the vicinity of Corinth. It was an event not to be missed by anyone of importance in all parts of Greece. As a national institution, it was as familiar to his readers as modern football to most Americans.’
Oh mih people, the race of life is never an easy one. In the first place it’s often a marathon-like adventure, spread over a long period of time, and certainly strewn with all sorts of pitfalls, pratfalls, options of different paths and untold kinds of obstruction along the way, stuff that wants to discourage, depress and deflate us and get us to quit in mid-stream.
But please remember that that awful word ‘quit,’ doesn’t exist in a believer’s vocabulary. And besides, we have the antidote for that rotten, wearisome word right at hand, as our great God and Guide has caused it be so eloquently written in our earthly Guidebook, the Bible!
‘Wherefore seeing (since) we also are compassed about with (surrounded by) so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset (ensnare) us, and let us run with patience (perseverance) the race that is set before us.
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher (originator and perfector) of our faith: who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction (hostility) of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint (discouraged) in your minds (souls).’ (Heb.12:1-3)
Yes my people, we have to buckle down now and do what is necessary to run the race of life with excellence and finish with style, as Jesus desires of us. And at those times when we falter or stumble, as we all will do, we need to look to our supreme champion, Jesus Christ, for guidance and strength, for He is also our most worthy example of successfully running this earthly race.
And as we just read, He is indeed ‘the author and finisher of our faith.’ He began our faith by running His earthly race with outstanding conviction and sense of purpose, combined with loads of perseverance and endurance. As the scholars declare: ‘He has already blazed the trail and finished the course.’
The author of Hebrews also boosts our confidence earlier on as he tells us: ‘Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; Called of God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.’ (Heb.5:8-10)
And though we will never have all the parts that He possessed, per His being the incarnate Son of God, we can nonetheless rest assured that He WILL enable us to run our race with the same winning qualities and meet us at the finish line with a radiant smile, a big bear hug, a warm kiss, and sincere words of…
‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.’ (Matt.25:21)
Now NOTHING will ever surpass that glorious moment my fellow believers!
So, starting today, right now, let’s get out there and run our race of life with power and confidence nuh, so that our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ will be magnified and glorified, as He so richly and justly deserves! That’s the wisdom of Almighty God! Much LOVE!
…to run…to run…and yet to run…even when the spirit seems to be tiring and wants to stop…by looking unto Jesus…the author and finisher of our faith…our supreme champion…
12 Oct 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a time of joy, a very present help in trouble, anger, be not dismayed, be not far from me, be not wise in thine own eyes, believers, blessed be the Lord, blessings, bolster our faith in God, Bruh David, Canadian Thanksgiving, come up over a problem, courage, depart from evil, encouragement, faith, faithfulness, faithlessness, fear the Lord, fellowship, first day of the week, for there is none to help, for trouble is near, For where two or three are gathered together in my name, forgiveness, friendship, glory hallelujah, God is our refuge and strength, grace, guidance, health to thy navel, help, Hosea, I am in the midst of them, I am thy God, I will help thee, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness, in me is thine help, Israel, Jesus Christ, joy, like a bird from a snare, marrow to thy bones, mercies, our help is in the name of the Lord, our soul is escaped, praise for deliverance, praise the Lord for His goodness, promises, prosperity, protection, psalm 46, Sabbath Day, Selah, strength, succour, Sunday, thanksgiving, the Lord God Jehovah, the LOVE of Jesus christ, Togetherness, truth, wanton, we will not fear, words of wisdom, worldly, worship
Psalm 22:11. Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.
Well hello there Friends and Neighbours, another Sunday has rolled around! As the song says: ‘We’re right back where we started from;’ Sunday, the first day of the week.
And that means fellowship, worship, a gathering of faithful believers to give thanks and praise and receive blessings, encouragement, friendship, mercy, grace, forgiveness, and all the wonderful things our great God so generously bestows on us, His marvellous children! (smile)
And all God’s children declared a loud and ecstatic’ Praise the Lord for His goodness to us, undeserving though we may be!’
Yes Friends, our great God is indeed worthy of much praise, especially on this weekend when we choose to celebrate the feast of Thanksgiving here in Canada. That means all the sanctuaries should be filled to overflowing with believers, whether there are thousands in a big, new, pretty building, or a handful under a mango or apple tree. (smile)
Remember what Jesus said: ‘For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them.’ (Matt.18:20) So the surroundings aren’t all that important, just the people and what’s in their hearts – the LOVE of Jesus! Consequently, ALL believers ought to find some means of joining with others to celebrate the Sabbath Day in the Lord’s Name!
And remember too Friends, that when we treat the Sabbath Day, the first day of the week, as it ought to be treated; with worship, praise and togetherness, then the rest of the week will unfurl so much better than if we are wanton and worldly. It’s always better to come up over a situation or a problem, than to have the situation or problem come up over you.
And the only way we can do that on a fairly consistent basis is by turning to the Lord God Jehovah for help at ALL TIMES! Why? Because as our Bit so wisely and truthfully declares: ‘Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.’ And truer words were never spoken my brethren!
So let’s continue with some scripture passages that prove our point and bolster our faith in Almighty God. And we’ll begin with these poignant words from Psalm 46 – God is our refuge and strength, from the sons of Korah. ‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present help (an abundantly available help) in trouble.
Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst (heart) of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.’ (Ps.46:1-3)
Yeh Friends, take a moment to ponder those statements nuh! What words of wisdom, truth, courage, strength and faithfulness!
Now listen to Bruh David from Psalm 124 – Praise for deliverance from enemies. ‘Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth. Our soul is escaped as a bird out of a snare of the fowlers (bird trappers): the snare is broken, and we are escaped. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.’ (Ps.124:6-8)
And isn’t that the gospel truth my people? It certainly is!
But just in case you don’t believe the psalmists, then hear the words of God Himself, as spoken through the prophet Isaiah, re the final restoration of Israel. ‘Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.’ (Is.41:10)
Oh my fellow believers, what could be more uplifting and encouraging than that eh? Nothing! When our powerful and faithful God promises something, we know for a fact that it will come to pass, for He cannot lie, and thus ALWAYS does as He says! Glory Hallelujah!
That’s why I can’t understand how, in this modern day and age, when everything is going haywire and things are topsy-turvy, we are turning away from God in anger and faithlessness, rather than running full speed into His ever-LOVING arms for protection, strength, LOVE, succour and guidance.
And just to prove that our wonderful God is not a wishy-washy, unfaithful Deity, who just talks for talk sake, listen to the prophet Hosea, as he declares the Lord’s words, when foretelling the destruction of Israel.
‘O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help. I will be thy king: where is any other that may save thee in all thy cities? And thy judges of whom thou saidst, Give me a king and princes? I gave thee a king in mine anger, and took him away in my wrath.’ (Hos.13:9-11)
Yes Friends, through the source of His mighty power, the Lord gives…and He also takes! Which man or other supposed deity can say Him nay eh? NONE WHATSOEVER!
So my people, on this Canadian Thanksgiving weekend, let’s all make it a time of joy nuh, of giving serious and sincere thanks, of being faithful, of getting together in worship, and above all, remembering that Jehovah God is the source from which all blessings, help, prosperity and all good things flow. Do have a happy Thanksgiving weekend. Much LOVE!
…be not wise in thine own eyes…fear the Lord…and depart from evil…it shall be health to thy navel (body)…and marrow (strength) to thy bones… (Prov.3:7-8)
10 Oct 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: afraid of change, all our sins and griefs to bear, almighty god, Ashley Montague, be not far from me, be paitient, Bruh David, burdened, Canadian Thanksgiving, circumspection, cry of anguish, deceitful, deceptive, deliver their soul from death, Drunk or sober mind yuh business, enthusiasm, every human being is a problem in search of a solution, everything to God in prayer, faithful, false hope, famine, fellowship, fraudulent, Friday chant, friend, friends, fun, furthering God's glorious kingdom, generous help, give you rest, giving thanks, glory hallelujah, God is never late, God shall tread down our enemies, God's glory, God's timing is perfect, Healer, help, help from trouble, Helper, hope in God's mercy, in Jesus' name, indisputable truth, jehovah god, Jesus Christ, Jesus' great invitation, just in time, keep them alive in time of famine, lean not on thine own understanding, living truth, LOVE, motives of our heart, one reason to infiltrate our godly spirits, one toehold, passion, proud, Redeemer, relaxation, renewed vitality, rest, righteous, show faith, singing praises, song of praise, stumble, TGIF! Thank God it's Friday!, thanksgiving, the eye of the Lord, the Lord is our help and shield, the weekend, them that fear him, there is none to help, through God we shall do valiantly, too proud to ask for help, trouble is near, trust, trust in the Lord with all thy heart, trusted in his holy name, truth, upright, vain is the help of man, vain thing, weary, what a friend we have in Jesus, what a privilege to carry
Psalm 22:11. Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.
Wow Friends, it’s Friday! And there was lots of jumping and jiving and shouting: ‘TGIF! Thank God It’s Friday! Glory Hallelujah! The workweek soon finish, and party time start, especially on this upcoming long weekend of Thanksgiving! Mama Mia!
What a grand ole time we’re going to have; giving thanks and singing praises to our heavenly Father, for all that’s He’s so kindly done for us this past year!’
Yes my people, this is Thanksgiving weekend in Canada and there will be mucho mucho celebrations all across this great land, from the coasts of the Atlantic on the east, across the vast Prairies in the middle, over the mighty Rocky Mountains to British Columbia on the coast of the Pacific out west!
Please remember that one caution though of Granny’s: ‘drunk or sober mind yuh business.’ In all our giving of thanks, let’s not give, or allow the loathsome enemy even one toehold, one reason to infiltrate our godly spirits and make us stumble before Almighty God.
And to keep us somewhat in remembrance of that, let’s chant our Friday Chant with sincere passion and enthusiasm, which will hopefully lead to a fair amount of circumspection. (smile) All together now: ‘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.’
Now with that caution invoked, let’s turn to an interesting quote from Ashley Montague (1905- 1999) the British / American anthropologist and humanist, born Israel Ehrenberg in London, England, but who later migrated to the U.S, became a citizen and lectured at many of its famous universities.
Ashley says that ‘Every human being is a problem in search of a solution.’ And that’s the living truth Friends!
We all need help in many areas of our lives, but oftimes we’re too proud or scared to ask for it, afraid either of the changes that will be involved, especially since change is something many of us are very wary of. Though the old way may be troublesome, we still feel more comfortable with it, because we know it, and hold the supposed new and better way suspect since it’s unknown.
On the other hand, we’re sometimes too proud to let others know that we’re hurting and need help, that we’re actually less than we seem to be. But my brethren, it’s quite all right, in fact very natural and very wise to ask for help, and to consider change if it will either help solve or completely resolve our problems.
And the best person to turn to for help is obviously Jesus Christ, our be all and end all, the great Helper, Healer, Friend and Redeemer! Remember His Great Invitation too; to come to Him when we are weary and burdened, and He will lighten our load and give us rest. (Matt.11:29-30)
And in his cry of anguish and song of praise, Psalm 22, Bruh David highlights the situation very well, when he cries out to Almighty God in our Bit: Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.’
And that is oh so true my people, for as Bruh David says later on in Psalm 60 – a prayer for help against the foe: ‘Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.’ (Ps.60:11)
That’s also indisputable truth, since man’s help is often insufficient, not forthcoming, or deceptive and deceitful! Just think about all the fraudulent acts being committed in these difficult times in the name of help!
And Bruh David ends that psalm with these thoughtful and faithful words. ‘Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.’ (Ps.60:12)
Yes Friends, in this vast and controversial universe, it is only Jehovah God that we can put our entire trust in, and know for a fact that He will help us. Bruh David did it, and we see the most excellent results he achieved, although his life was not always the most upright and righteous. But he implicitly trusted the God of his fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, whom he knew to be ALWAYS FAITHFUL!
Remember the old hymn we sung recently: ‘What a Friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry EVERYTHING to God in prayer!’ That’s the wisest move we can ever make my people!
The problem though is that with our busy lives in this busy society, we want answers and help immediately, now for now, sometimes even yesterday. But unfortunately when we go to Jesus, according to the nature of the problem, and the motives of our heart, we’ll probably not receive an immediate answer, or one that we don’t like.
But Friends, I can personally testify to the fact that if we take our problems to our Lord and Saviour, He will help us, in His own time and His own way! We just need to be patient, show the faith we’re supposed to have. And if the problem is genuine and requires immediate solving, fear not, He will do so.
That’s one thing about God’s timing, my brethren; it is perfect! He is NEVER LATE!
But the truth is, waiting patiently is not always easy, for even though I know that from personal experience, I still sometimes get anxious when His help doesn’t seem to be forthcoming in time. But NOT ONCE has He ever showed up late, ALWAYS on time! He is the supreme example of a just in time system!
And to encapsulate all that we’ve spoken of, (smile) let’s end with these true, beautiful and encouraging words from Psalm 33 – Praise to the Lord for His creation.
‘A horse is a vain thing (false hope) for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
Our soul waiteth for the Lord: he is our HELP and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.’ (Ps.33:17-22)
Yes my people, as we hope in the Lord, so will His mercy and blessings be showered down upon us! Much LOVE!
…trust in the Lord with all thine heart…and lean not unto thine own understanding… (Prov.3:5)
P.S. Oh Friends, I truly don’t know why the Bit is so late nuh, because I got up at a reasonable hour. I guess it was just my running around aimlessly, being a slow-coach, and/or trying to find the right info to use. (smile) But as always, with our great God, it works out perfectly, for His glory, every time! Much LOVE!
08 Oct 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a man of God, abusing our physical bodies, alive, best buddies, blessed, bounden duty, breakdown, bring glory to God, burning the candle at both ends, busy world, Christian, constant jammings, conventional human standards, desires of my heart, diligently, don't shoot the messenger, edifice will collapse, Elijah, enjoy, enough is enough, faith, faithfully, flour, foolish, forgave, foundation, free from the bondage of sin, friendship, from the goodness of our hearts, generosity, giving, glory hallelujah, god's great scheme of things, God's work, help, her whole livelihood, hope, Hour of Power, hugs and kisses, I'll try not to do it again, I'm sorry, inequity of resources, Jesus, Jesus smiles down on us, just flesh and bones, LOVE, mea culpa, meaningless, misfortune, misusing, mites, of their abundance, oil, omnipotent and loving god, out of her poverty, please accept my most humble apologies, please forgive me, poor widow, praise God, prosperity, put into practice, raised her son from the dead, rebelled, rebellion, rocket science, sacrificed, selfish society, selfless act, sensible, simply mortal, smile, standing steadfast and strong for Jesus, stress and strain, superficially, the Good Book, the middle of the week, the poor are getting poorer, the rich are getting richer, the word of the Lord is truth, treasury, trite, truth, Wednesday, winning the battle, wisdom, wise, worldly pursuits, worthless
1 Kings 17:24. And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in thy mouth is truth.
Aye Friends, it’s just one of those days when the old body completely rebelled. It finally said: ‘Enough is enough! You can’t have me constantly going to bed late and yet expect me to get up early! I’m not superman, just flesh and bones yuh know; a simple mortal…and a fairly old one at that! I’m not as young as I used to be, so I can’t stand the constant jammings like I used to before!’
And what could I say eh? Nothing but, ‘I’m sorry, and please accept my most humble apologies…and please forgive me, and I’ll try not to do it again. Mea culpa…mea culpa…’
And yuh know what, being the good Christian body that he is, he LOVINGLY forgave me. Glory Hallelujah! Now we’re best buddies again, with hugs and kisses all around! Oh what a wonderful friendship, just like the kind we’ve been speaking about the last few days.’ (smile)
Ah mih people, that might all sound a bit trite and foolish, but it’s loaded with truth and wisdom. We can’t keep on misusing and abusing our physical bodies without suffering its eventual rebellion and breakdown.
Unfortunately though, in this superficially busy world, too many of us are trying to light the proverbial candle at both ends simultaneously and keep it lit there for a long time. But that only brings misfortune in the end, because our bodies, as well as our minds were not made to take that kind of stress and strain on a long term basis.
And I’m sure all of us will agree that the amount of physically and mentally broken people in our society nowadays is way too high, especially amongst our young people, especially with the kind of prosperity we’re experiencing.
Although the facts and figures do show that our supposed prosperity is only superficial, like everything else around us, for actual prosperity is only going to the already rich, who are becoming richer with each passing day, while the poor are in fact becoming poorer.
Our society is suffering from a terrible inequity of resources, and until that is straightened out, things will only get worse, not better. So please, my people, let’s try to be wise and sensible where our minds and bodies are concerned nuh, since they are our basic foundation, and like all foundations, once they get too weak, the whole edifice which they support will eventually collapse.
And I have to laugh here, because that is definitely not the beginning I envisaged for today’s Bit. But I guess the Lord had a different plan in mind.
Here is what I had written while listening to some music from an Hour of Power religious programme: Oh Friends, it’s Wednesday morning, the middle of the workweek, and we’re alive… All praise to God! And even better yet, we’re winning the battle, standing steadfast and strong for Jesus! What else can one ask eh? Nothing really.
However, while listening to the music I was blessed with this great idea… And it’s not rocket science either. The way I see it, the things I want, the desires of my heart that God has put there, are basically to write words and music and to run horses…and TO HELP!
Yes Friends, HELP! That’s the most important of those four things. Why? Because regardless of how successful we are at our worldly pursuits, if we don’t HELP, then they are all worthless and meaningless in God’s great scheme of things.
Remember what Jesus came to earth to do? To HELP us, to save us from our sinful selves. And we term that most wonderful selfless act of Jesus as LOVE!
So therefore, if Jesus LOVED us so much that He wanted to HELP us and willingly sacrificed His life that we could be free from the bondage of sin, then that logically means that HELP is certainly akin to LOVE! And when you add Faith, and Hope, the most important become HELP and LOVE!
The problem though is that in our basically selfish, I, me, and mine society, the words LOVE and HELP don’t resonate with us the way they used to a generation or so ago. And to make matters even worse, there are more people desperately seeking LOVE and HELP than ever before, especially in a time of general peace.
That unfortunately makes it even more difficult since there’s less LOVE and HELP to spread round now to more people. Ah Lord eh! What a mess we’ve made of our world my fellow believers! And I know a lot of us who are expected to help, also need help in a bad way.
But yuh know what: when we give of the little we have, like Jesus noted of the poor widow who threw her last two mites into the collection plate, then our lives become even more blessed.
Here is how the Good Book recounts it: ‘And Jesus sat over against (opposite) the treasury, and beheld how people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites (small copper coins worth something like one-eight of a cent), which makes a farthing (a Roman coin).
And he (Jesus) called unto his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury. For all they did cast in of their abundance (surplus); but she of her want (out of her poverty) did cast in all that she had, even all her living (her whole livelihood).’ (Mark 12:41-44)
Oh my people, as the scholars explain: ‘12:43-44. God does not measure giving by conventional human standards.’
Yes my brethren, when we give of the little we have, our wonderful God sees the generosity of our hearts and expands our source so that we can give even more.
It’s like how He sent Elijah to the poor widow of Zarephath for food, who herself only had a little flour and little oil to make the last cake for her son and herself, then she was expecting to die after that. But she listened to Elijah’s plea instead and fixed her last bit of food for him.
And yuh see what happened? She and her household miraculously had food for many days after that. Elijah even raised her son from a death-like state. (1 Kin.17:8-23)
That finally brings us to our Bit: ‘And the woman said unto Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in thy mouth is truth.’
Yes my people, that is what is expected of us, every time we open our mouths – truth! And even more so if we are expounding on the Word of our omnipotent and LOVING God!
So please, as we diligently and faithfully go about doing God’s work today, let’s make sure that we try to HELP and LOVE others, and that every word we speak is truth, so that we can bring glory to Him, like Elijah did with the poor widow. That’s our bounden duty! Much LOVE!
…oh when we…HELP and GIVE and LOVE…from the goodness of our hearts…Jesus smiles down on us with even more blessings… Glory Hallelujah!
P.S. Sorry about the lateness and length of the Bit Friends, but all I can say is that the Lord had His special purpose for it, allowing me to write the things I’ve done. So don’t shoot the messenger, (smile) just enjoy it and put it into practice in your lives. Much LOVE!
06 Oct 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a man after God's heart, as a man speaks to his friend, aura of love, chutzpah, dignity, enemy's taunts, enthusiasm, face to face, faithfulness, friends, friendship, further God's glorious kingdom, glory hallelujah, golden calf, Gordon Lightfoot, gospel truth, greater love hath no man, holy spirit, humble servants, idol of worship, impatience, integrity, invincible, Israelites, Jesus Christ, jobs, Joshua, leave all the consequences to Him, lies, LOVE, Monday Morniing Battle Hymn, Moses, obey God, omnipotent, passion of Jesus, pillar of cloud, rainy days and Mondays, rejuvenation of spirit, renewed vitality, serve a useful purpose, spirit of the living god, spiritual armour, spirituality, steadfast faith, stubbornness, tabernacle, Ten Commandments, TGIM! Thank God it's Monday!, than to lay down his life for his friends, the Good Book, the Lord spake unto Moses, trust, truth, ungodly world, wiles, wisdom, worthwhile inroads
John 15:13. Greater LOVE hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Oh Friends, like the world renowned Canadian balladeer, Gordon Lightfoot says in his old song: ‘Rainy days and Mondays always get me down.’ And it looks like we’re going to have a rainy day Monday today.
But you know what? We don’t have to let those rainy day Mondays, or any other kind of days, get us down, because we have the omnipotent Spirit of the Living God, and the unbridled passion of Jesus living within us, and they can certainly drive away every fear and care! And that’s the gospel truth my people, as so many of us can testify to!
So when you get up this morning and come face to face with the gloomy, rainy, chilly weather, please don’t get too upset. It’s just one of those days where the sailing might not be as smooth as you like, but remember Jesus is in the boat with you, and if things get really bad, He will rise and calm the storm.
Consequently, on this rainy October morn, let’s all say a loud and cheerful, ‘TGIM! Thank God it’s Monday, and we’re alive to tell the tale!’ (smile) Now before anybody starts chirping and calling me crazy, let’s sing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn with plenty chutzpah, so that the dark clouds hanging over our spirits will disappear.
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!’
Wow Friends! That was particularly good for such a rainy, miserable Monday! (smile) That means our faith is getting stronger with each passing day. Glory Hallelujah! And now with our motors running smoothly, let’s get out and show the enemy what’s what, in Jesus’ name.
All the while not forgetting those momentous words that Jesus spoke in our Bit: ‘Greater LOVE hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’
And today we’ll continue looking at Bible verses re friends and friendship, beginning with a couple more Friends of God. Here’s what the Good Book says about Moses, after the Israelites, in their impatience and stubbornness had made the golden calf as an idol of worship, (Ex.32) while Moses was up the mountain getting the Ten Commandments.
The Lord commanded him to move the tabernacle from out of the camp, calling it the Tabernacle of the congregation. ‘And it came to pass, that everyone which sought the Lord went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp.
And it came to pass, when Moses went out into the tabernacle, that all the people rose up, and stood every man at his tent door, and looked after Moses, until he was gone into the tabernacle.
And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses. And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door.
And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.’ (Ex.33:7-11)
Yes my brethren, the Lord spoke to Moses face to face like a friend, with trust, dignity, faithfulness and integrity! Those are the qualities inherent in true friends. Do we possess those qualities, and do those we consider our friends, possess them? That’s of the utmost importance in these crucial and critical times. Therefore we need to be very careful who we let into our inner sanctuary.
That brings us to another Friend of God, Bruh David. The Lord valued Bruh David so highly that after Saul had done wrong by usurping the priest’s duties and offering burnt offerings, (1 Sam.13:9-10) Samuel told him. ‘But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee.’ (1 Sam.13:14)
Bruh David was described as a man after God’s own heart! Wow! Can you imagine that my people? And note, at a very tender age too. As far as I’m concerned, there can be no higher accolade given to a mortal man. That’s better than being called a friend, because friends don’t always agree or see things the same way. But when you have the heart of God, it means you continually see things the way He does.
And what’s important to notice in those relationships my fellow believers, is that neither man was an angel; Moses was considered a murderer and Bruh David an adulterer, but they still found favour in God’s eyes, that means there’s hope for all of us yet. (smile)
And we’ll stop there for today… don’t want to disrupt your busy, short attention spans and schedules. (smile) So till we meet again tomorrow, the Lord willing, let’s just go out and sincerely and diligently do our best nuh, because that’s all the Lord asks of us. Much LOVE!
…as Uncle Charles (Charles Stanley) says…the best way to live life… is to simply obey God…and leave all the consequences to Him…and that’s indisputable truth…
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