02 Jul 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: accomplish, anxious, awesome truth, Beauty for Ashes, blessed is he who trusts in the Lord, body of Christ, body rebelled, boss, Canada Day, celebrations, choose life, christianity, cliques, collaborate, collaboration, console those who mourn, cursed is he who trusts in man, death, deceitful intentions, decent and fulfilling life, deeds, denominations, divisions, divisive, dock pay, drive us apart, drought, explosion, forgiving, fractured, glorify God, glory hallelujah, heart departs from the Lord, Heartsongs, Jeremiah, life, long weekend, LOVE, Mattie Stepanek, merciful, muscular dystrophy, negative circumstances, no man is an island, obedient, One Body, one God, one message, one truth, peace, peacemaker, philosopher, planted by the waters, poet, Praise the Lord, predicament, quietness, religions, righteousness., risen Christ, salvation, smile, teamwork, the best of families, the garment of praise, the heart is deceitful, the Holy Trinity, the oil of joy for mourning, the planting of the Lord, the spirit of heaviness, the things of God, the things of the world, the wilderness, trees of righteousness, understanding, unity, unity is strength, upcoming death, what a life, wisdom, yielding fruit
Isaiah 61:3. To appoint unto (console) them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.
And the celebrations went on late into the night! (smile) Well they might very well have, just not at my place. In fact, there were no real celebrations in my yard yesterday. We more or less took Canada Day as a day of quietness and peace, doing stuff around the house that needed to be done. And though I did get to bed rather late, it was certainly not from celebrating.
However, when called upon to arise and get going this morning, the old body totally rebelled. I remember getting up to go to the bathroom sometime after three o’clock and telling the Lord it was way too early to get a move on, especially since I hadn’t been to bed too long before that. But the next time I opened my bleary eyes it was after six o’clock. Hn, hn!
Now I’m sure there are a few of us in that predicament on this morning after. (smile) It’s a good thing though that my boss is such an understanding, forgiving and merciful boss, and He won’t rage on me or dock my pay, as some of the earthly bosses will do to those who are late this morning, especially after what has been an extraordinary long weekend for some.
Praise the Lord! What a life eh Friends! But these things do happen, even in the best of families. (smile)
Anyway, the word from my almanac for today is ‘COLLABORATE.’ And that is a most important word in all aspects of life! For remember that since no man is an island, complete unto himself, we therefore need to collaborate with others to get things done and thus have a decent and fulfilling life.
And the quote for today comes from Mattie Stepanek – Matthew Joseph Thaddeus Stepanek (1990-2004) American poet, peacemaker and philosopher, who published six books of poetry, he called ‘Heartsongs.’
Yes I know he was only fourteen when he died, but apparently his family suffered from a rare form of muscular dystrophy, which took his life and that of three other siblings at rather tender ages. Just goes to show how much we can achieve and accomplish either when pushed by things like upcoming death, or we truly put our minds to it.
Anyway, Mattie tells us this morning that ‘Unity is strength…when there is collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved.’
Wow mih breddren! What an awesome truth! And that from a young pup too! It’s true in ALL aspects of life!
But unfortunately, nowhere is it sadly lacking and badly needed more than in the earthly body of Christ Jesus! His church is much too fractured and divisive, with way too many different religions and denominations, all purportedly teaching and celebrating the same risen Christ.
Well if we’re all talking about the same Saviour, and telling the same story, then why are there so many divisions eh? There can be only ONE truth, so there should be only ONE message! I guess it just means that people are seeing the message differently, and thus telling it in different ways.
But Friends, what a beautiful explosion of Christianity there would be in this evil and ungodly world if the true and faithful brethren in Christ would concentrate on collaborating, in getting together, rather than falling apart into small cliques and divisions! Glory Hallelujah! The world would certainly stand up and take significant notice!
Please remember that Christ’s church is supposed to be ONE BODY, just like the Holy Trinity is ONE GOD!
Sadly though, at this juncture in our history, that cannot be said of Christ’s body, when we’re fighting so terribly and frightfully amongst ourselves. How can we expect to hear good tidings of salvation under those negative circumstances eh?
How can we expect the Lord ‘To appoint unto (console) them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.’
It just isn’t realistic my people. The Lord’s seeking teamwork and unity amongst His children. How can we be truthfully called ‘trees of righteousness’ and ‘the planting of the Lord’ when we’re so disjointed and divisive eh, when we’re allowing the things of the world to drive us apart, rather than enjoining the things of God to bring us together?
The prophet Jeremiah spells it out very clearly for us. ‘Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in (the strength of) man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. For he shall be like the heath (a shrub) in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.’ (Jer.17:5-6)
Yes Friends, that’s one side of the equation. Now listen to the other half of it, then tell me which half makes more sense, which one is wiser to follow.
‘Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see (fear) when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful (anxious) in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.’ (Jer.17:7-8)
Yes Friends, those are the two options available to us, and it’s plainly stated what will happen in each. And just in case we hold deceitful intentions, please note that we can’t try to cover up our dark secrets while looking good on the outside, as we can do with men, for Jeremiah continues with the Lord’s declaration.
‘The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked (incurably sick) who can know it? I the Lord search the heart, I try (test) the reins (the mind, the most secret places), even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings (deeds).’ (Jer.17:9-10)
For sure my brethren, the Lord will judge each individual by his or her actions. So it’s up to each of us to choose the option we think best suits us. But let me add a word of wisdom here; (smile) option two wins the contest hands down!
Oh Friends, we can’t glorify our great and wonderful God by fighting amongst ourselves, so starting today, right now, let’s seriously concentrate on trusting the Most High God Jehovah nuh, and consequently live in unity and collaboration with each other, so that we can reap the blessedness that He has prepared for those who truly LOVE Him and seek to be obedient to His will.
It’s not all that difficult to do, and furthermore, it is truly the wisdom of and for the ages! Much LOVE!
…I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing…therefore choose life…that both thou and thy seed may live… (Deut.30:19)
01 Jul 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a fool's wisdom, a shower of grace, almighty god, anointed, awesome truth, Beauty for Ashes, bind up, blessings, brand new day, Canada, Canada Day, charles stanley, civic, come up higher, comfort all who mourn, common sense, consequences, console those who mourn, current state of ashes, current world order, dancing, deliverance from death, destruction, diligence, disobedience, do what's right in God's eyes, Drunk or sober mind yuh business, faith, favour, generous, give thanks, glorifying our heavenly Father, glory hallelujah, God of justice, godly responsibility, gone by the wayside, good tidings, gospel truth, Happy Birthday Canada, hard work, heal, Isaiah, Jesus, joke, joy, just and righteous nature, kind, lie, LOVE, loving, lowering our standards, meek, merciful, mercy, mourning, obedience to god, obedient to god, obey God, oil, opening of the prison, pardoned, perished, poor, praise, price to bbe paid, proclaim liberty to captives, profit, pronouncements of the Bible, prophesying, Psalm 30, put a smile on my face, righteousness., rose to glory, rule of law, sackcloth, sacrifice, salvation, silent, sing God's praises, sins, Sodom and Gomorrah, stand strong, supplication, the acceptable year of the Lord, the best big country, the BIBLE, the broken hearted, the coming of Jesus, the day of vengeance, the garment of praise, the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob, the Good Book, the Lord's glorification, the oil of joy for mourning, the planting of the Lord, the shoulders of God, the spirit of heaviness, the spirit of the Lord, the top of the heap, those who are bound, time to take stock, to preach good tidings, took away my sorrow, trees of righteousness, trust, truth, wisdom, words of wisdom
Isaiah 61:3. To appoint unto (console) them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CANADA !’
Yes Friends, today is our Birthday in this fair and blessed land! One hundred and forty seven years young are we! Young by the standards of many other counties… And we still looking good too! Glory Hallelujah!
Yes my people, as I keep on saying, Canada is the BEST BIG COUNTRY IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD! Wow! So let’s try and keep it that way nuh Friends. And please note that it didn’t get to be that way by chance, but by choice! By the rule of common sense, law, diligence, hard work and trust and faith in Almighty God!
And it will only stay that way if we continue to do what’s right in the eyes of the Lord. Unfortunately though my brethren, we’re falling behind some, because we’re lowering our standards, and that’s never a good thing, because the best of anybody or anything is usually the one with the highest all-round standards.
So let’s celebrate, but at the same time take stock of what we’re doing nuh, and try to come up higher, in both civic and godly responsibility. That’s the only way we will remain at the top of the heap!
And please, please, as we celebrate this bountiful day, let’s remember Granny’s wonderful words of wisdom: ‘Sonny boy, drunk or sober, mind yuh business!’ (smile) I know it sounds clichéd, but that’s because it’s the awesome truth!
Anyway, enough preaching, (smile), here is the chorus of one of my favourite reggae, no just favourite songs, ‘Beauty for Ashes’ by Jermain Cowan. I heard it yesterday, and it so touched my heart – it does every time I hear it – I just had to share it, because the words and sentiments are so beautiful and true.
It says: ‘Beauty for ashes, In a shower of grace. Hope for tomorrow, It’s a bright and brand new day! He took away my sorrow, Put a smile on my face; Beauty for ashes, In a shower of grace.’
Oh mih breddren, mih breddren, how true that is of our great God; He of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob!
And it’s only appropriate that we should use that wonderful promise of our wonderful Deity as our Bit on this birthday of Canada. Listen to the prophet Isaiah as he declares the good tidings of salvation to Zion, prophesying of the coming of Jesus.
‘The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek (poor); he hath sent me to bind up (heal) the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all that mourn;
To appoint unto (console) them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called the trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.’ (Is.61:1-3)
Yes my people, it’s all for the Lord’s glorification! Let’s never forget that. In all we do, we ought to be thinking about glorifying our heavenly Father, for that’s one of the purposes He made us to fulfill. And if we are obedient to Him, we will enjoy innumerable blessings!
But Friends, the operative word here is ‘obedient.’ Our God is generous, LOVING, kind, merciful and all those other wonderful things, but he desires obedience of His people in return. And that sadly is why we are now experiencing our current state of ashes.
In the last couple of generations, obedience to Almighty God has simply gone by the wayside, but yet, foolishly, we still expect Him to bless us abundantly and be oh so merciful to us. Steups! That’s a fool’s wisdom my people!
Yuh see what He did to Sodom and Gomorrah, in whose footsteps our current world order is now marching? So what else but destruction can we expect if we continue along that pathway of disobedience eh? Too many of us take the serious pronouncements of the Bible as a joke, or old time stuff that no longer applies.
But Friends, I’m here to tell us that God doesn’t joke with, or in His Word, neither does He ever change. What He says stays the same forever. He is a God of justice and righteousness first and foremost!
And there is no better example of that than His sending His only son Jesus to die as a sacrifice for our abominable sins. He could just as easily have pardoned our sins, but because of His just and righteous nature, a price had to be actually paid for it, otherwise He would have forfeited that just and righteous acclamation.
So Friends, please don’t listen to all the crap the world’s throwing at us, for our continual disobedience to God will cause a hefty and significant price to be paid at some time or other. The Good Book doesn’t lie, and there are oodles of examples of nations and societies that rose to glory on the shoulders of God, then conveniently forgot Him when they became strong, but subsequently perished as a result of their disobedience.
Now let’s go home with some pleasant and thankful words from Bruh David, from Psalm 30 – A thanksgiving for deliverance from death. ‘Lord, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled. I cried to thee, O Lord; and unto the Lord I made supplication.
What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit (grave)? Shall the dust praise thee? Shall it declare thy truth? Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me: Lord, be thou my helper. Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth (the sackcloth of my mourning), and girded me with gladness; To the end that my glory (soul) may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.’ (Ps.30:7-12)
Yes Friends, let’s go forth and stop being silent! Instead, let’s sing the Lord’s continuous praise, as we walk in continual obedience to His everlasting will. There can be no higher wisdom than that! Much LOVE!
…as Uncle Charles (Charles Stanley) likes to say…the best way to live this earthly life…is to simply obey God…and leave all the consequences to Him…and that’s gospel truth my people…
P.S. Friends, it’s long and late, but what else can you expect on this Canada Day eh? (smile). It’s good though!
23 Jun 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: aura of love, blessings, enthusiasm, eternal life, evil, faith, fellowship, forgiveness, glorious kingdom, glory hallelujah, holy spirit, humble servants, invincible, Jesus Christ, jobs, joy, lies, LOVE, mercy, Monday Morniing Battle Hymn, praise, Praise the Lord, rejuvenation of spirit, relaxation, renewed vitality, rest, salvation, spiritual armour, spirituality, St. Francis Parish, steadfast faith, trust, truth, ungodly world, wisdom
Proverbs 3:6. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct (make straight or smooth) thy paths.
Oh Friends and neighbours, the second day of summer was even better than the first yes! Glory Hallelujah!
It was also the Lord’s Day, and quite appropriately, His people, those of the parish of St. Francis were celebrating with praise, worship and thanksgiving at our annual outdoor service and picnic.
Yeh Friends, unlike the unfortunate Jews held captive in Babylon, who couldn’t sing the Lord’s songs in a strange land, we were singing the Lord’s songs on the banks of the winding Credit River, in a free and prosperous land.
Yes my brethren, on the banks of the living waters of the winding Credit River, the people of St. Francis were singing the Lord’s songs with joy and gladness, praising and thanking Him for all His goodness and mercy to us, the undeserving children of men!
And yuh know Friends, being in a physical structure worshipping Almighty God is fine, but it is somewhat restricting, in that it sort of keeps God within the walls of the edifice. However, worshipping Him outdoors is surely something special to behold and participate in!
Just imagine being present in the natural beauty of His creation, being one, under the open blue skies filled with brilliant sunshine, in the shade of the green trees, leaves dancing in concert to the riddim of the cool, gentle breeze that’s blowing, with the birds and other creatures singing their own songs of praise, and the river meandering slowly by, with nature proclaiming God’s majesty and beauty!
How could anything be better than that eh?
The praise and worship led by our own cool pastor, Fr. Jeff, were excellent. And don’t talk about the food! That too was most excellent; rich, diverse and spicy, just like the people who prepared it. The fellowship was both enticing and exciting, (smile) with fun and games for all to enjoy.
And the Lord looked down from His high heaven and saw that it was good. And He smiled and said, ‘Amen! It is good! So let it be!’
But Friends that was yesterday, and hopefully some of the joy and gladness has spilled over to today, Monday, when we have to get up and go to work….
Unfortunately though, I still heard some moans and groan when I mentioned the word Monday. (smile) So let’s join together and sing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn to get those adrenalin juices flowing nuh.
As one 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!’
Awright my brethren, that was a worthy enough rendition, so let’s go out and do the things we have to do with the Spirit of Jesus leading and guiding us. That brings us to these wise and faithful words of Cousin Sol, before, after and including our Bit
‘Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct (make smooth or straight) thy paths. 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. 3:5-8)
What wisdom my people, what awesome wisdom!
Now here are some notes on those verses from the scholars. ‘3:5-6. Three commands are given: trust, meaning “rely on, depend on”; lean not, meaning do not depend on your own native instincts; and acknowledge him, meaning have fellowship and intimacy with God in all of life. The result of such devotion is that God will make the paths straight before you.’
Oh Friends, please, I implore us to take those wise and sincere words to heart as we walk our journey of faith, today and every day, so that our paths will be directed by our Creator along smooth and straight lines. That is the wisdom of a true believer. Much LOVE!
…walk good…talk good…do good…live good…just like Jesus did…and your efforts will be richly rewarded…both here on earth…and in heaven on high…
19 Jun 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: 12 men, a legacy of true faith and good works, acclamation, accomplish His purpose, adopt Jesus' optimism, angel of the Lord, annals of history, anxiety of the Jewish leaders, apostles, christianity, council of elders, current day and age, devious ways, each and every day, eternal optimist, fear of the authorities, filled with the power of the Holy Ghost, follow in Jesus' footsteps, from the bottom of my heart, glory hallelujah, go stand and speak, god moves in mysterious ways, gonna say hello to my neighbour, good works, greet him with a smile, high heaven, Holy Spirit of Jesus, how I want my people to live, I made my resolution, impossible, improvement, incredible aftermath, indignation, jealousy, Jesus, Johnny Reid, legacy, live a decent and upright life, LOVE, low status, make changes, make sure my children know right from wrong, moving mightily in our hearts, never turn my back on those in need, obeyed, one day at a time, opened up my eyes, optimism, Pentecost, pride and wonder, prison, proselytize, proselytizing the world, Sadducees, see myself through another's eyes, serious followers of Christ, shake the hand of a stranger, simple ills of the world, simple things, sit and talk for a while, sojourn on earth, sphere of influence, teaching the people, tell someone I love them, the words of this life, today I'm going to try and change the world, true believers, true faith, truly believed, turn our troubled world around, two thousand years, uneducated, went out and did good everyday, Yes
Acts 5:20. Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
Oh Friends, oh Friends, I have a most wonderful way for us to begin our day today! I was driving out in my car yesterday evening when this song came up on the C.D player and immediately awakened me to some of the simple ills of the world that we can all fix without any problems.
I was also guided to share it again with you. It’s a song from Johnny Reid, a wonderful song of acclamation. So let’s acclaim together this Thursday morning nuh. ‘Today I’m going to try and change the world. I’m gonna take it one day at a time. I made my resolution, opened up my eyes.
Today I’m going to try and change the world. I’m going to say hello to my neighbour, gonna greet him with a smile, and shake the hand of a stranger; sit and talk to him for a while. I’m gonna tell someone I LOVE them from the bottom of my heart.
Today I’m going to try and change the world. I’m gonna make sure my children know right from wrong. Never turn my back on those who need someone. Always going to see my self through another’s eyes. Today I’m going to try and change the world. Gonna take it one day at a time. Yes, I’ve made my resolutions. I’ve opened up my eyes. Today I’m going to try and change the world.’
And Jesus, looking down from His high heaven, pumped His right hand with a clenched fist and said, ‘Yessss! That’s how I want my people to live, each and every day!’
Wow mih breddren, Wow! What a statement that would make in Jesus’ name eh, if we could just go out and do those simple things everyday! Because yuh know, that is exactly what Jesus did during His sojourn here on planet earth. He just went out and did good everyday. And that’s all we need to do to follow in His footsteps.
Oh yes my people, it’s time for the Holy Spirit of Jesus to be moving mightily in our hearts, minds, bodies and souls, like it did with the apostles and the other believers back then in the incredible aftermath of that memorable Pentecost day!
And following on from yesterday, where the multitudes were believing and coming to Jerusalem to be healed, we see the anxiety of the Jewish leaders.
Listen to the good Book tell it: ‘Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation (jealousy). And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.’ (Acts 5:17-20)
Oh Friends, it never ceases to amaze and amuse me, the way our God moves in such mysterious and devious ways to accomplish His purpose!
Now, in this current day and age, if the same scenario took place, how many of us would do what the angel said eh? I dare say, not too many, for fear of what the authorities would say and do. But the apostles back then were filled with the power of the Holy Ghost, which by the way we too are, and they immediately obeyed.
‘And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel (council of elders), and sent to the prison to have them (the apostles) brought.
But when the officers came and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told (reported), Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety (security), and the keepers standing without (outside) before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.
Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them (wondered) whereunto this would grow. Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.’ (Acts 5:21-25)
Now my people, generally speaking, the Lord isn’t asking us to go and stand up on the street corners or in the church and preach, although that might be the calling of some. All He’s asking is that we live a decent and upright life, like in our acclamation above.
We only live one day at a time, so it’s obvious we can only make changes one day at a time too. But if everyday, each one of us does a little, makes some little improvement in our lives and somebody else’s, eventually we’ll turn our troubled world around.
But it has to begin with us; the true believers, the serious followers of Christ. Each of us has to take it upon ourselves to fix what we can in our small sphere of influence. We have to adopt Jesus’ great optimism. For yes, He was, and still is the eternal optimist!
Why else would He choose 12 men, yes my brethren, 12, low of status, uneducated men to proselytize the entire world eh? 12 men simply filled with Holy Spirit of Christ!
And my people, you’ll notice that they did it! 12 men filled with only the Holy Spirit of Christ changed the entire world! Glory Hallelujah! Two thousand years later we’re still talking about them.
Please, I implore us; let them be talking about us that same way nuh, with pride and wonder, if our troubled world lasts another two thousand years.
Let’s go down in the annals of history, of Christianity, as having left a legacy of true faith and good works, so that all can declare: ‘They truly believed!’ That’s all Jesus is asking of us. Much LOVE!
…Jesus would never have given the apostles the task of proselytizing the world…if He thought it was impossible…and that goes for us too in this modern age…
18 Jun 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a brand new day, a death-blow, abundant mercies and blessings, acclamation, all should come to salvation, areas of wonder, barrier breaker, believers, blessings, break free, brought the sick into the streets, by products, carried away, christianity, come to know Jesus, Creator of the universe, destiny, discipleship, each one teach one, enlarge my vision, enthusiasm, esteemed, eventual goal, ever-LOVING God, every area of my life, evil, evildoers, evildoing, exalt Jesus, excited, expectant faith, experience god's favour, forgiving, friends, get the day up and running, glory hallelujah, God is fulfiling His purpose in my life, God's plan, hands of the apostles, healed, healing, hold their heads and bawl, hungry hope, in the offing, indisputable, Jesus Christ, Joel Osteen, joy, light, lights in a darkened world, limited mindset, lost to Beelzebub, LOVE, magnanimous, magnificence, magnified, make a difference, mass meetings, memorable time, merciful, mighty mover and shaker, mighty moving of the Holy Spirit, multitudes, mysterious ways, neck of the woods, our Lord and Saviour, peace, people being brought to christ, perilous times, positively exploit, potential, Praise the Lord, proselytize the whole world, rejuvenating the spirits, righteous, salt, salt to a tastless society, salvation, seeds of greatness, signs and wonders, Solomon's porch, talent, the Holy Spirit, the shadow of Peter, Today is my day, tormented, troubled, unclean spirits, uncontainable, unfathomable, ungodly world, uplifting Bit, upright, uproar, walk in faith, wisdom, with one accord, wonderful stuff, words and actions
Acts 5:12. And by (through) the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought (done) among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.
Oh Friends, oh Friends, excitement reigns, for it’s another brand new day of abundant mercies and blessings on the way down from heaven to us! Glory Hallelujah!
And if we’re not excited and looking forward to them with hungry hope and expectant faith, then we’re likely to miss out on a lot of good stuff that our great, wonderful, merciful, forgiving, magnanimous and ever-LOVING God has earmarked for us today! Wow!
And having said that, here is this acclamation from Bubba (Joel Osteen) that I shared with you some time ago. I had a couple of other things in mind to share, but I just happened to read Bubba’s before I began writing, and it just screamed out at me, ‘share me, share me, today is my day!’ (smile)
So here is ‘Today Is My Day.’ Let’s acclaim it together. ‘God has destined me to be a barrier breaker! He created me to be uncontainable. I have talent and potential given to me by the Creator of the universe. There are seeds of greatness inside of me. Today, I choose to break free from a limited mindset and enlarge my vision.
Today, God is taking me places that I’ve never even dreamed of before. Today, God is fulfilling His purpose and destiny in my life. Today, I will experience His favour like never before in every area of my life.’
And all God’s people declared a loud and mighty ‘Praise the Lord! Amen!’
Wow Friends! What a way to get the day up and running! It can only help by knowing that Almighty God, our Creator and Provider has unknown and eternal blessings and seeds of greatness stored in us. Now it’s up to us to positively exploit those areas of wonder and magnificence.
Oh mih people, the ole fella’s getting carried away by his own rhetoric. (smile) But how can I not get excited when so much wonderful stuff is in the offing eh?
And then having the uplifting Bit that we have today, joy and enthusiasm are just obvious and natural by-products of it all. ‘And by (through) the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought (done) among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.’
And before we go any further, here is an interesting note from the scholars’. ‘5:12. Solomon’s porch refers to the colonnaded eastern wall of the temple courtyard. The early Christians commonly gathered here for mass meetings (cf. 3:11). Few places could better accommodate the thousands.’
Oh Friends, how I wish that in these perilous times we could have such a mighty moving of the Holy Spirit amongst us, for it would bring much needed joy, peace and LOVE to our very troubled, evil and ungodly world.
Now listen as the Good Book further describes the mighty moving of the Holy Spirit at that most memorable time. ‘And of the rest durst (dared) no man join himself to them: but the people magnified (highly esteemed) them. And believers were the more (increasingly) added to the Lord; multitudes both of men and women.
Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow (fall on) some of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with (tormented by) unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.’ (Acts 5:13-16)
Oh mih breddren, what a mighty mover and shaker is our God! But can you imagine such a movement taking place today? Wow! What an uproar it would create! The evildoers would hold their heads and bawl like crazy, knowing that their evildoing was being dealt a death-blow!
And please Friends, don’t laugh, and/or think that the ole fell is going crazy – right, he’s already gone there – (smile), but that sort of stuff is happening in small pockets all over the world.
People are being brought to Christ everyday through healing and discipleship, just not on the immense scale that we would like to see, or that would make a significant difference. But the Lord is still moving in mysterious and unfathomable ways like He did in those early days of Christianity.
However, the important concern for each and every believer ought to be, what are we doing as individuals, supposed righteous and upright folks, about rejuvenating the spirits of those with whom we come into contact each and every day?
We cannot proselytize the world all at once, but if we just spread some peace and LOVE and walk in faith every day in our little neck of the woods, eventually the whole world will come to know, receive, LOVE and exalt Jesus.
And please remember, that’s His eventual goal: that ALL should come to salvation, and not even one single soul should be lost to that evil fool, Beelzebub.
Therefore Friends, in light of all that, let’s go out today, and with our godly, LOVING words and actions, be lights in a darkened world, and salt to a tasteless society, for that’s what our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ desires of us each and every day.
Let the mighty power of the Holy Spirit move mightily in us to day my people! For that is the indisputable wisdom of heaven! Much LOVE!
…if each one would teach one every day…then God’s plan for salvation would soon be completed…
12 Jun 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: always forgiving God, apostles, awesome power, be saved, benevolent, burn the candle at both ends, Caiaphas, christianity, church history, confidence, courage, crucifixion, diligently heed, don't let me quit, drama, ever-merciful, face a mountain, faithful, fear, fellow believers, find a pass through, focus, glory hallelujah, gold mine, good deed, good success, Gramps Schuller, Hallelujah, heard the word, heavenly Father, helpless man, high priest, Holy Ghost, holy spirit, illegal sect, impotent, Israel, Jewish leaders, John, keep pushing forward, LOVE, lover of drama, machinations, mind-boggling, Mountian moving prayer, mysterious movements, no other name under heaven, omnipotent, one of those days, patience, Pentecost, perception, perilous circumstances, perseverance, Peter, Peter denies Jesus, phenomenal results, positive, Positive Thinker's, possibilities, power of the Holy Ghost, praise and glory to God, Praise the Lord, praise the name of god, Provincial Election, rabbis, redemption, refilled brain, resurrection, righteousness., robert h schuller, Sadducees, salvation, self-control, Solomon's porch, stop looking back, strength to keep on striving, surrender, teaching of the resurrection, the chief cornerstone, the Good Book, the Lamb that was slain, the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the right path to truth, the stone rejected by the bulders, the workings of God's Spirit, transformation, tribulation, trust, truth, tunnel underneath, understanding, undivided attention, unmatchable, unstoppable, wake up call, wisdom, with God's help
Acts 4:8. Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel…
Oh Friends, this Provincial Election day of 2014 is turning out to be just one of those days…
One of those days when I went to bed in the wee hours of the morning – around 2 a.m – and thus was unable to answer the Lord’s early morning wake up call. Hn! And believe me, I had to come up with plenty self-control not to just roll over and go back to sleep. (smile)
The ole fella’s apparently forgetting that he’s not such a young un anymore, and can’t afford to burn the proverbial candle at both ends simultaneously, as he did in bygone days. Hn, hn! I never opened my bleary eyes until six a.m.
And as you can well imagine, half an hour later, I’m still trying to catch myself. But there’s no doubt that our most understanding and benevolent heavenly Father will soon bring me together unto myself, and unto Him, so that I can write a fairly sensible Bit. (smile)
And what better way to begin our Bit, this behind the eight-ball day, than with a rededication of the Positive Thinker’s Mountain Moving prayer from the pen of Gramps Schuller (Dr. Robert H. Schuller). So my Friends, let’s pray big and strong, faithful and positive.
‘Lord, when I face a mountain, do not let me quit! Give me the strength to keep on striving until I climb over, find a pass through, or tunnel underneath. And if my best efforts fail, give me the patience to stay and the perception to see the possibilities of turning my mountain into a gold mine with your help. Amen.’
Yeh mih people, that’s what we need to do each and every day of our earthly lives; stop looking back and instead keep on pushing forward, striving, with God’s help of course, to move the mountains in our lives, one way or the other. Why? Because it’s only through patience, perseverance and faithfulness that we’ll ever have good success.
And right now I can surely use a big dose of the Holy Spirit that was so widely noised about during Pentecost, the memorable time in our church history, which we’re currently studying.
Don’t worry though Friends, we’re getting there, slowly but surely. The tired and sleepy eyes are starting to focus, and the renewed and refilled brain is beginning to get its thoughts together. Praise the Lord! Hallelujah!
And we’ll continue from where we left off yesterday. That’s where Peter was preaching his second Pentecost sermon, this one from Solomon’s porch in the temple, after John and himself had healed a lame beggar through the power of the Holy Ghost.
And here’s how the Good Book recounts it: ‘And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, Being grieved (greatly disappointed) that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold (custody) unto the next day: for now it was eventide (evening). Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.’ (Acts 4:1-4)
Oh mih breddren, what a mighty moving sermon that must have been for so many people to come to salvation at one time! All praise and glory to God working in us through the unmatchable and unstoppable power of His Holy Spirit! Mama mia!
And the scholars share some useful info on those verses: ‘4:1. Luke gives an extended account here of the arrest and trial of Peter and John, as he does later with Paul, to demonstrate that Christianity is not an illegal sect even though continually attacked.
4:2. The annoyance to the Jewish leaders was twofold: (1) the presumption of the apostles to teach people as if they were recognized rabbis (cf. v.13); and (2) the teaching of the resurrection which was denied by these Sadducees (cf. 23:6).
4:4. Their phenomenal results may also have had something to do with their arrest. Five thousand men, plus women and children, have now turned to Christ in Jerusalem.’
But the drama of the story builds to even higher heights on the following day. For as you ought to know by now, that there is no greater dramatist and LOVER of drama, than our God Himself! (smile)
Listen to the Good Book tell it. ‘And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, and Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred (family) of the high priest were gathered together at Jerusalem. (Scholar’s note: Annas was the patriarchal, ex-high priest. His son-in-law Caiaphas held the political office (cf. Luke 3:2).
And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this? Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, If we this day be examined of (are judged for) the good deed done to the impotent (helpless) man, by what means he is made whole;
Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
This is the stone which was set at nought of (rejected by) you builders which is become the head of the corner (chief cornerstone). Neither is their salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.’ (Acts 4:5-12)
And all God’s people declared a loud and thundering: ‘Glory Hallelujah! All praise to the Lamb that was slain for our redemption!’
Yes my fellow believers, what awesome power, courage and confidence the Holy Ghost put in Peter and the other apostles for them to stand up and speak so boldly to the powerful Jewish rulers and tell them where to get off! Praise the name of our great God!
Remember that just a few weeks earlier, Peter had been denying his association with Jesus. And at His crucifixion, only John, of all the apostles had had enough manly parts, been brave enough to show his face there. All the others apparently went into hiding, for fear of tribulation befalling them through association.
And truly, we can’t really cast a whole lot of blame and aspersion on the poor, uneducated, left in the lurch men for their less than stellar behaviour, because most of us would have done exactly the same thing – we do it now for even much less perilous circumstances.
But Friends, that’s the awesome, amazing, mind-boggling transformation that the Holy Spirit can bring about in us, if we’d only let it, if we’d only surrender our entire being to the LOVING machinations and wonderful, mysterious movements of our omnipotent, ever-merciful and always forgiving God!
So today, please let’s try and pay serious attention, diligently heed the workings of God’s Spirit within us nuh. For it’s right there within us, whispering quietly, trying to get our undivided attention, so that it can lead us on the right path to truth and righteousness, which Jesus requires of, and wishes for all those who sincerely surrender their entire being, and put their whole trust in Him.
That’s the wisdom of, and for the ages! Much LOVE!
…remember…if you don’t vote…don’t pray…don’t move as the Spirit guides you…you have no right to complain when things go awry…
08 Jun 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a red letter day, a rushing mighty wind, abide, asenscion, awe, baptize with the Holy spirit, baptized with the Holy ghost, baptizing, be filled with the Spirit, be joyous, beautiful storm, breaking of bread, Christ's Resurrection, confounded, continued steadfastly, controlling influence of the Spirit, crooked generation, Day of Pentecost, defeated hell death and the grave, democratic appearence, diligence, dissipation, do Jesus' work, do not be drunk with wine, excellence, exhort, faith, Feast of the first fruits, fellowship, filled with the Holy Ghost, fire-like appendages, foregiveness, Galileans, get freindly with the Spirit of Jesus, glory hallelujah, guided aright, Holy Ghost, in the apostles' doctrine, Jerusalem, Jesus Christ, Jesus' promise, John baptized with water, lead and guide, moving like a magnet, Pentecost, permanent placing of the Spirit, Peter, Praise the Lord, prayers, promise of the Father, recharge our spiritual batteries, rechargeable battery, remarkable, remission of sins, repent, resurrection, righteousness., showered, sincerity, speak with tongues, spectacular happenings, testify, the gift of the Holy ghost, the Holy ghost power, the Holy Ghost showered en masse, three thousand souls, truth, wisdom, wonder
Acts 2:2. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
Oh Friends, it’s the Day of Pentecost! Two thousand years ago, some fifty days after Jesus’ triumphant resurrection, where He defeated, hell, death, the grave and that foolish crook Lucifer, and some ten days after His ascension, the Holy Ghost came to earth as a beautiful storm; a storm of wind, laced with fire-like appendages.
As the Good Book describes it: ‘And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord (purpose or mind) in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven (divided) tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.’ (Acts 2:1-4)
What a mighty act of our mighty God! Thus fulfilling the promise Jesus made to the disciples just before His ascension. ‘And being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.’ (Acts 1:4-5)
Oh my people, the Lord was at work back then, just like He is now. That’s why we sing: ‘The Holy Ghost power is moving just like a magnet. The Holy Ghost power is moving just like a magnet. Moving here, and moving there. The Holy Ghost power is moving just like a magnet.’
Yes my people, the Holy Ghost power is busy all over the world, moving just like a magnet. So if you have even one iota of metal, one iota of Jesus Christ in you, be careful, or rather be joyous, for it will target you. And please don’t try to resist it; instead, let it fall graciously upon you, for there’s nothing as remarkable as the Holy Ghost power in all the heaven and the earth!
Ah Friends, what a day that day of Pentecost was when the Holy Spirit was first showered down en masse on all believers! Before that it was given to special people who God needed to do great works for Him, like the prophets. But since that day in Jerusalem, each and every believer is baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit.
As you can see from verse 5 above, Jesus promised that ALL would be baptized with the Spirit, as they came to the faith. And as the scholars point out, though the first set of scriptures only said that they were ‘filled,’ (Acts 2:4) they were indeed baptized with it.
Baptizing is the permanent placement of the Spirit in us, while filling is the continuous regeneration of that power. That means we have to continually renew the controlling influence of the Spirit in our lives, like a rechargeable battery, so that it can abide strong and powerful in our beings, and thus lead and guide us successfully in all righteousness and truth.
Now that day of Pentecost we’re talking about was not the first one, but it was an annual feast day in the Jewish calendar, occurring fifty days after the Feast of the first fruits, hence the name Pentecost in Greek. (Lev.15:15-22) And though it only lasted one day, it was certainly a joyous occasion, although I doubt that any of them could have been as joyous as that one when the Holy Spirit made its democratic appearance, beginning the promise of filling all and sundry that believed.
And that first day was truly a red letter day, for when the people in Jerusalem heard about the spectacular happenings, they came to where the apostles were, ‘and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue (language or dialect), wherein we were born?’ (Acts 2:6-8)
Oh yes Friends, there were all different kinds of people from many different places living in Jerusalem at that time, but yet these poor, uneducated Galileans spoke to each one of them in their own language. Glory Hallelujah! No lesser force than the mysterious movement of the mighty Holy Spirit was involved! Some people even mockingly said that they were drunk, but Peter, in his finest hour, got up and spoke to them. Read Peter’s sermon in Acts 2:14-42.
But my people, Peter’s speech was so great that day that I have to share the end, knowing that many of you won’t check out the scripture. (smile) ‘Then Peter said unto them, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission (forgiveness) of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward (crooked) generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.’ (Acts 2:38-42)
And all God’s people declared a loud, ‘Praise the Lord! Hallelujah!’ Yes Friends, what a red letter day that was, and we still talk about today it in tones of awe and wonder!
However my people, it’s time for us to be moving on, so I’m going to exhort us, on this day of Pentecost 2014, to get downright friendly with that Spirit of Jesus that indwells us, and today recharge, refill our spiritual batteries, so that we can be guided aright and do Jesus’ work with the excellence and diligence that’s required of us. That’s a mark of true sincerity and everlasting wisdom! Much LOVE!
…and be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess (dissipation)…but be filled with the Spirit… (Eph.5:18)
06 Jun 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: all God's works are done in truth, be filled with the Spirit, Bruh David, dissipation, drunk with wine, enthusiasm, everlasting joy, fellowship, Friday chant, furthering God's glorious kingdom, generous help, giving thanks always, glorify God, glory hallelujah, God gives songs in the night, God my maker, goodness, harbinger of the weekend, heartfelt, heavenly wisdom, holy holy Lord God Almighty, holy spirit, hymns, it's all good, Jesus Christ, joy, joy and gladness, LOVE, magnify God with thanksgiving, making melody in your heart to god, mercy, praise and worship, praise is comely, Praise the Lord, praise the name of god, psalms, redeemed, Rejoice in the Lord, relaxation, renewed vitality, rest, sacrifice in songs, saviour jesus christ, sing a new song, sing unto God, singing, Song of songs, songs, songs are an integral part of worship, spiritual songs, TGIF! Thank God is Friday, thanksgiving, the Book of Life, the Lamb of God, The Lord is my strength, the ransomed of the Lord, the seven seals, the weekend soon come, the word of the Lord is right, wisdom, with my song will I praise Him
Psalm 69:30. I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.
And then it was Friday, the harbinger of the weekend! And the working people were joyful and sang with great enthusiasm: ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday, and slaving for massa done! Thank God is Friday yes! That means the weekend soon come, time to party!’
And who can really give them wrong, for after a hard week’s work, one needs to have some fun. But Friends, fun is not the most important part of the weekend, merely one of them.
Now let’s chant our Friday Chant, which will give us a better perspective on how to handle these important two days off. As one, in strong voice 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, the weekend is also a time for rest, relaxation and contemplation of God’s goodness and mercy with fellowship amongst other believers.
And then we have today’s Bit: ‘I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.’
Oh my brethren from the moment my eyes fell on it this morning I knew it was our Bit. That verse touches my heart and brings a tear to my eyes, (smile) because it’s so heartfelt, and besides that, songs are such an integral part of worshipping our magnificent and majestic God!
And as the psalmist, Bruh David, as I just discovered, tells us in the next verse: ‘This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.’ (Ps.69:31)
So Friends, we see that our God even prefers sacrifice in songs of praise and worship to that of animals. As Hebrews informs us: ‘By him (Jesus) therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name.’ (Heb.13:15)
And what better way to do that than in song? Throughout the Good Book songs are mentioned numerous times as worthy praise to God. When we check out the Psalms, most of them were written as songs, many by Bruh David, who was an especially good ‘songmeister’ and used them all the time.
Cousin Sol was also a good tunesmith. He even wrote a whole book of them – Song of Solomon or Song of Songs – bursting with LOVE for his adored.
And what I want to do today is show how very important songs were, and still are, in praising and worshipping our wonderful Most High God. Let’s delve into some of those beautiful scripture passages now.
And where else we would start eh, but with God’s own ‘songmeister’, Bruh David. (smile) Listen as he profoundly declares: ‘The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.’ (Ps.28:7)
Even to Job’s buddy, Elihu, songs were important, as he bewails: ‘But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night.’ (Job 35:10) So we see here that even God puts songs in our hearts.
Now hear the psalmist as he heartily advises us to praise the Lord for His creation. ‘Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: for praise is comely (beautiful) for the upright. Praise the Lord with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery (small lute) and an instrument of ten strings. Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise (joyous shout). For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth.’ (Ps.33:1-4)
Oh my people, how can we ignore such expressive feelings eh? No way!
Meanwhile, in his foretelling of Israel’s return to Zion, Isaiah positively declares: ‘And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.’ (Is.35:10)
And Bruh Paul will not be left out, (smile) as he provides us with these wise words. ‘And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess (dissipation); but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.’ (Eph. 5:18-20)
Now here’s the clincher; even in heaven, or should I say especially in heaven, songs are of great importance. Around God’s throne, John saw four ugly beasts, and what were they doing?
‘And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest (cease) not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.’ (Rev.4:8)
Yes Friends, even the ugly beasts were continually chanting God’s praises!
And that’s not all. When the Lamb of God took the Book of Life, what happened eh?
‘And he came and took the book (scroll) out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. And when he had taken the book, the four beasts (living creatures) and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps and golden vials (bowls) full of odours (incense) which are the prayers of the saints.
And they sung a new sung saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred (tribe), and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.’ (Rev. 5:7-10)
Yeh mih people, songs of praise and worship are oh so important in worshipping our magnificent God and Saviour Jesus Christ! Not only do they glorify Him, but they also put joy and LOVE in our hearts too.
So please, let’s keep right on singing those glorious psalms and songs of praise to Almighty God, so that we may continually glorify Him, and also keep our hearts and minds full of joy and LOVE! Oh Friends, that’s indeed heavenly wisdom! Much LOVE!
…praise Him, praise Him…Glory Hallelujah…He is LOVE…He is LOVE…
P.S. Oh Friends, please excuse the lateness of the Bit, but I was somewhat tardy in rising this morning, (smile) and then there was so much info to cull together and try to make sense of, that it took me longer than expected. But remember, it’s all good. Much LOVE!
28 May 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: Amen, ask to receive, Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, Bruh Paul, carried to the fountain, dr robert h schuller, drink from the mountain spring, enjoy the heat of the sun, Ephesians, ever-changing weather patterns, Fill Me, filled with wisdom, filling our hearts with food and gladness, forgiveness, fruitful seasons, fullness of God, generous God, give us our daily bread, glory hallelujah, goodness, grounded in love, heavenly wisdom, Hour of Power Devotional, inner growth, Jesus, John the Baptist, just, kind, know the love of christ, lead us safely along life's treacherous paths, LOVE, Luke, mercies and blessings are new every morning, mercy, Moses, my soul will be filled with your love and truth, nature of the beast, peace, praise the Lord for His goodness, prophecy fulfilled, rain from heaven, Simeon, standing steadfast in faith, thank you, the Beatitudes, the child became strong in spirit, the empty pitcher, the glory of the Lord, the Good Book, the grace of God was upon Him, the growing flower, the knowledge of god, the Lord fills the hungry soul with goodness, the Lord satisfies the longing soul, the satisfying sun, the Spirit of God, the thirsty deer, they shall be filled, this time of prayer, till the day of his manifestation, understanding, walk in faith, wisdom, wise
Luke 2:40. And the child grew, and waxed (became) strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.
Oh Friends, it’s such a joy to be able to sit on my front porch or back deck, in very little clothing, and just enjoy the heat of the sun pulsing through my arthritic body! Glory Hallelujah!
I’ve done that for the last two afternoons, and is it ever wonderful to actually feel the sun’s heat, not just see it shining brightly, while shivering from the cold that envelops us. It seems that at long last some truly summer weather might be upon us.
But please don’t get too excited and carried away Friends, for the weather people have forecasted lower temps until the weekend. I guess with the ever-changing weather patterns, that’s the new nature of the beast. Anyway, there’s not much we can do about the weather, but once we ‘re standing steadfast in faith, we will be able to deal with whatever comes our way.
Now here’s an interesting prayer from one of my favourite preachers, Gramps Schuller (Robert H. Schuller) from His Hour of Power Devotional. I think I might have shared it before, but that’s neither here nor there, because prayer is always fresh and timeless, regardless of age or how often we say and hear it.
And this prayer is titled ‘FILL ME!’ Wow! Even the title sounds good! (smile)
My people, let’s pray: ‘O Lord, like the thirsty deer which goes to drink from the mountain spring; like the growing flower which turns hungrily to the satisfying sun; like the empty pitcher which is carried to the fountain to be filled; so I come, O God, knowing that in this time of prayer my soul will be filled with your LOVE and your truth. Thank you! Amen.’
Yes my brethren, I surely hope that the Lord did fill you with His goodness, His mercy, forgiveness, peace, LOVE and whatever else you need to walk in faith with Him today. That’s why His mercies and blessings are new every morning; to give us our daily bread and lead us safely along life’s very treacherous paths.
And to show how our great and generous God fills us with what we need, let’s look at a couple scriptures, beginning with our Bit. ‘And the child grew, and waxed (became) strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.‘
Oh Friends, that’s Jesus, the Good Book’s talking about, after He was presented to the Lord at the temple and Simeon had His prophecy fulfilled. (Luke 2:21-40)
And before that, almost the same thing was said about John the Baptist. ‘And the child grew, and waxed (became) strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing (manifestation) unto Israel.’ (Luke 1:80)
The scholars note though: ‘2:40. Jesus’ progress may be compared with that of John (1:80). The former overshadows the latter from the very start.’
And that was how it should be! Our God doesn’t leave things to chance, but has a set plan for everything. We even have Jesus, in the Beatitudes talking about God filling us. ‘Blessed are they which hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.’ (Matt.5:6)
And the psalmist proudly proclaims: ‘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)
Then we have Bruh Paul preaching at Lystra, before they stoned him and left him for dead. Hn, hn! What a man was our Bruh Paul my people!
‘(God) Who in times past (past generations) suffered (allowed) all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling out hearts with food and gladness.’ (Acts 14:16-17)
Then we have him praying for the inner growth of the Ephesians. ‘That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye being rooted and grounded in LOVE, May be able to comprehend (understand) with all saints what is the breadth (width), and length, and depth, and height; And to know the LOVE of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.’ (Eph.3:17-19)
Now that was Bruh Paul’s general style; praying that his people would be filled, infused with the knowledge of God. And my brethren, there’s no doubt that our God fills us with whatever we need to walk holy and faithfully before Him.
And we’ll close with a scripture from the earliest of times, when the Lord was instructing Moses about the building of His tabernacle. This refers to the craftsmen. ‘And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, See, I have called by name Bezaleel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah:
And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship… and in the hearts of all that are wisehearted (gifted artisans) I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee.’ (Ex.31:1-3,6b)
See mih Friends, right from the beginning, God gave us the tools to do whatever He asked of us, and it hasn’t changed up to this day, and never will. That’s because He’s just that kind of God; kind, just and wise, empowering us to do His bidding, because He knows, without it we’ll fail miserably most of the time.
Therefore don’t be afraid to ask Him to fill you with whatever you need to do His will. You’ve got to ask, if you want to receive. Jesus said it. That’s means it’s heavenly wisdom. Much LOVE!
…for the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord…as the waters cover the sea… (Hab.2:14)
P.S. Please excuse the lateness, but I went to bed late, got into a good novel (smile), then some fool or crook called on the phone around two a.m, and thinking that it must be something important at that hour of the morning, I answered it, only to get an annoying beep for my troubles. Chuh! That certainly didn’t help my sleep any. But not to worry, it’s all good! Much LOVE!
24 May 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a dry morsel, a fool's wisdom, affect one's health, brother shall betray brother, brought to their knees, bulwark, children shall rise up against their parents, Cousin Sol, crooked lawyers, dysfunctional family, estranged, family, family life, family relationships, father shall betray son, fear of the Lord, feasting, fight, glorifying God's name, glory hallelujah, God chooses our family, godly family, gospel truth, hateful lives, hatred, heavenly wisdom, irascible, jealousies, LOVE, LOVE Revolution, material dreams, material riches, material wealth, negative emotions, our heavenly Father, quietness, resentments, riches, sacrifices, short tempered, signs of the end times, spiritual riches, storing up treasure in heaen, stressed, strife, strife torn world, strive, strong fortress, success in family life, success in the world, supportive, the fatted calf, the things of God, the things of the world, tight knit, treacherous times, truth, ungodly world, walk in the world, we choose our friends, wisdom
Proverbs 17:1. Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than a house full of sacrifices with strife.
Oh Friends, the ole fella’s physically tired this Saturday morning… but the brain is as quick-witted as ever! (smile) And that’s no thanks to me, but to our heavenly Father. In His vast wisdom, He’s enabling my mental faculties so that I can write a decent Bit, glorifying His Holy Name. And my humble response to that is a lusty: ‘Glory Hallelujah!’
And what do we have on tap for this glorious day eh? Well good stuff as usual. And today we’re going to talk about the family, starting with this quote attributed to Randall Jarrell (1914-1965), an American, poet, author and literary critic. Here is Randall’s observation: ‘The dark, uneasy world of family life – where the greatest can fail and the humblest succeed.’
Words of indisputable truth my brethren! For we all know supposedly great and successful people in the world in various professions and walks of life with very terrible family histories.
Success in the world doesn’t automatically transfer to success in family life, but more often than not success in family life can translate into a successful walk in the world. That’s because when a family is tight, is standing together and supporting each other, without petty resentments and jealousies, then the individuals are free to rise up without the weight of those negative emotions.
How many wealthy families are brought to their knees by poor family relationships eh? Countless numbers!
Now that doesn’t necessarily mean that poor families are always a tight knit and supportive group either. But it is possible for poor families to have very strong relationships. It just goes to show that material wealth doesn’t always mean good family ties. In fact it’s usually the opposite.
I guess a lot of that can be attributed to the fact that we choose our friends, while God chooses our family for us. Unfortunately we don’t have much choice in the situation, so we just have to put up with whom He’s given us, or, as so often happens, live estranged and hateful family lives.
No wonder, Cousin Sol in our Bit, so wisely and warily informs us: ‘Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than a house full of sacrifices (sacrificial meals or feasting) with strife.’
And that’s the living truth my people! However, in these modern times where the family is no longer the bulwark, the strong fortress of our society, strife is sadly rampant in too many of our families. The dysfunctional family seems to be more the norm today than the exception. It certainly seems as though Jesus’ statements, re signs of the end times, are coming true.
Mark puts it this way: ‘Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.’ (Mark 13:12)
Meanwhile Luke says it thus: ‘And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolk, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.’ (Luke 21:16)
Oh Friends, how true that is in this ever more strife torn world. Families are falling apart daily because of the stress and strain being put on them by this busy, ungodly world. So where are we to find help eh my people?
Cousin Sol gives us an idea: ‘Better is little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure and trouble therewith.’ (Prov.15:16) Now that’s the gospel truth! Only in strong, serious and sincere communion with Almighty God can families withstand the pressure to fight and strive against each other in these treacherous times.
As the scholars in great wisdom tell us: ’15:16. Spiritual riches are better than material riches.’
Oh Friends and fellow believers, I know that many of you don’t think so, and thus are still striving after much material wealth, but please stand back for a moment and take a look at what that is doing to your family life nuh.
If you’re constantly working that means you don’t have much time for your family, and you’re continually stressed, short-tempered and irascible. Some members of your family might even be afraid to approach you on important matters because of those negative elements. And relentlessly pursuing your material dreams will undoubtedly affect your health at some stage of the game.
And what will you have to show for it then eh? Just a few material things, but nobody to console you. As somebody once said, when our time comes to go to the other side, we don’t ask to see our possessions nuh, we ask to see people. Whichever way you cut it my brethren, seeking material gain above all else is a fool’s wisdom. Please get that buried deep in your conscience.
And all those materially wealthy people, those who built great empires at the cost of a poor family life, where are they now? Either sick and suffering and lonely somewhere, fighting with family over their possessions. Or they have passed on to the next side and left the much prized possessions for the family to fight over, and foolishly have most of it end up in the hands of greedy and crooked lawyers.
You see and hear about those kinds of stories every day, but yet still we run behind the things of the world, rather than the things of God. Let’s wake up and smell the roses nuh my people, and stop running down the inferior and destructible things of the world, and instead concentrate on storing up treasure in heaven, where moth nor rust can destroy it, nor thieves steal it.
And we’ll end with another wise saying from Cousin Sol on the subject. ‘Better is a dinner of herbs (vegetables) where LOVE is, than a stalled ox (fatted calf) and hatred therewith.’ (Prov.15:17)
That’s indeed heavenly wisdom Friends, so let’s try and attain unto it today nuh. Much LOVE!
…only through a return to godly family life…can we ever hope to fuel the LOVE Revolution…and right our wrong leaning world…
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