Goat races in Tobago

The Importance of Christians Understanding that God, like a Potter, is Remodelling Them Every Day into the Image of Christ!

07 Apr 2026 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: a long and arduous process, amidst much pain and sorrow, arise and go down to the potter's house, as the clay is in the potter's hand, as the heavens are higher than the earth, being confident of this very thing, cast our minds forward to the end product, christianity, Christians are tough people, come to know and love christ like we do, cry out for help, don't like God's timing, Easter Tuesday, encouragement to stand the pain, enjoy the tough times, every tough step is wothwhile, everyday we're in the potter's hands, faith, faith grows stronger with each misfortune, faith only grows in tough times, feel god's presence hovering over me, from sinner to saint, Goat races in Tobago, God is always just in time, God is faithful, God is never late, god moves in mysterious ways, God will change us into the image of Christ, God will not suffer you to be tempted more than you can bear, God will provide a way for us to endure the negative situation, God's imminent rescue, God's incomparable goodness and mercy, God's main purpose, growing our faith, he which hath begun a good work in you, holy spirit, how much aggravation our faith can stand, hurry, in god's eyes, Jesus Christ, lacks spontaneity, lock stock and barrel, LOVE, make a way of escape, mercy, more flabbergasted than normal, my thoughts than your thoughts, no Sunday afternoon stroll in the park, O house of Israel, personal experience, salvation, see the Lord's hand guiding and protecting, share His love with my neighbours, share the amazing love and friendship of Christ, so are my ways higher than your ways, so are ye in mine hand, such as is common to man, testing our faith, the beautiful replica of Christ, the beloved of God, the BIBLE, the eventual rewards are incomparable, the potter made a different vessel from the same clay, the potter wrought a work on the wheels, the right time for intervention, the vessel of clay was ruined in the potter's hand, there hath no temptation taken you, to have His children resemble Jesus, tough like Jesus, tough times, tough times don't last but tough people do, trust my friend Jesus, truth, Tuesday Mantra, will perform it until the day of Jesus, wisdom, wit with bated breath, with the temptation, worry, ye may be able to bear it

Jeremiah 18:6b. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

And not because it’s Easter Tuesday and we gone back out to work means that the Easter celebrations over …Not by a long shot! For they are continuing in full swing at the Goat Races down in the seaside town of Buccoo in sweet Tobago! And oh, do I ever have some fond memories of Goat Race Tuesday‘s in Buccoo, but that was before it got so big that they built a stadium to house it.

Back then it was held in a field between some houses, and in several of those houses loud parties would be happening, while the goats and crabs ran. Yes, crabs did run in those days too! (smile) Back then it was a more inclusive and personal occasion, as opposed to the new situation of paying customers sitting down watching an event. It’s still a great time, though it lacks the spontaneity and vivacity of the earlier, less controlled era.

Ah friends, the ole fella’s lived a fairly long life, and though it’s been pretty tough many times along the way, when I look back at those tough times, I can definitely see the Lord’s hand guiding and protecting me through them. And believe me, there are still tough times today, but now I look to the Lord and cry out for help, when they come around. And He might not help me exactly when I need it, or in the way I desire, but I can always feel His presence hovering over me, waiting for the right time for His intervention.

And although I don’t like His timing, (smile) He’s never really late, but always just in time. Just before you go over the cliff, He reaches down and rescues you. Now, that’s not always easy to endure, but once you experience it a few times, your faith grows stronger with each occurrence, and you wait with bated breath amidst much pain and sorrow for His imminent rescue. (smile) And we wonder why it sometimes takes so long for Him to rescue us, when He has the power to do it right away.

But He’s the Creator and Controller and has His own reasons for His varied actions, many of which we can’t and don’t want to understand, for we will be even more flabbergasted than normal. And, as He long ago said through the prophet Isaiah: ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.’ (Is. 55:8) Now, that’s putting it in a very mannerly and decent way. (smile) But with our small and finite minds we can never hope to understand the reasons for Him doing what He does.

However, in His incomparable goodness and mercy, He does promise, as Bruh Paul writes to the Corinthians: ‘There hath no temptation taken (overtaken) you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear (endure) it.’ (1 Cor. 10:13) Now that doesn’t mean He will always recuse us, but if He doesn’t, then He will provide a way for us to endure the negative situation.

And why is that you ask? Well, it could be for several reasons, like growing our faith, for our faith doesn’t grow in good, easy times, but in rough, tough ones. And also for testing said faith; seeing how strong it is, how much aggravation it can bear up under. (smile) For remember God’s main purpose is to have us become strong and faithful like His Son Jesus Christ, which means breaking us and building us like a potter does a piece of clay.

It’s like how the Lord said to the prophet Jeremiah: ‘Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. Then I went down to the potters house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels (the Potter’s wheel). And the vessel he made (was making) of clay was marred (ruined) in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Then the word of the Lord came to me saying, O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.’ (Jer. 18:2-6)

Yes my fellow believers, we are like clay in the Lord’s hands. He created us and He can recreate us into any shape or image He desires. Although His preferred image to turn us into is that of His wonderful Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It’s like Bruh Paul wrote to the Philippians: ‘Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you, will perform (complete) it until the day of Jesus Christ.’ (Phil. 1:6) Meaning that once we come to God seeking salvation and eternal life, He will begin to change us into the image of Christ, and will do so, everyday we’re alive, or until Christ returns to earth.

So, as believers, we cannot get away from the potter’s work of God’s hands. And it’s not easy being formed or marred on the potter’s wheel, or being placed in the oven to harden, but in going though it all, we have to cast our minds forward to the end product; the beautiful, glowing replica of Christ that we will all eventually become, using it as encouragement and reassurance to stand the pain of becoming like Jesus.

And mih bredrin, I know of which I speak, not from hearsay, but from personal experience, for sometimes when I write certain stuff here, before it can even reach you, the Lord is already working it out in me. And when I eventually realize that fact, despite the painful situation I might be in, I just have to chuckle at how our great God moves in very mysterious ways.

So, as we keep saying, living for Jesus is by no means a Sunday afternoon stroll in the park, but by the same token, we can still enjoy the tough times we go through living for Him, as the eventual rewards are marvellous and incomparable. It’s as Dr. Schuller says: ‘Tough times don’t last, but tough people do.’ And we are indeed tough people, tough like our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!

Now let’s go home declaring our Tuesday Mantra, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel! As one strong and sincere voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’

Now, it behooves us to go out and share the amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!

…from sinner to saint…the process can be long and arduous…but every tough step is worthwhile…

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien

The Importance of Understanding the Brevity of Human Life, and how Quickly it can Vanish!

22 Apr 2025 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: a celebration of life, a childhood friend, accept it change it or leave it, actively rejecting ideas, affirmations, against the knowledge of God, altogether vanity, any good that i can do, any kindness I can show to any human being, apply our hearts unto wisdom, as an handbreadth, as he thinks in his heart, based on fear or doubt, Battlefield of the Mind, bringing into captivity every thought, Casting down imaginations, come to know and love him like we do, contradict the principles of faith, depart this life quickly, Easter Tuesday, Etienne de Grellet, every high thing, every man at his best state, faith, false arguments, gain a heart of wisdom, Goat races in Tobago, his heart is not with thee, holy spirit, hurry, I may know how frail I am, I shall not pass this way again, I shall pass this way but once, in god's eyes, Jesus Christ, let me do it now, let me not defer or neglect it, lock stock and barrel, LOVE, made up my days, make hay while the sun shines, make me to know mine end, mercy, mighty through God, mine age is nothing before thee, positive affirmations, prayer, pulling down of strongholds, rest in peace, salvation, share His love with my neighbour, share the amazing Love of Christ, spiritual practices, spiritual warfare, sso is he, take root in the mind, teach us to number our days, that exalteth itself, the beloved of God, the goal is, the gospel truth, the measure of my days, the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, they become actions, they become character, they become habits, though we walk in the flesh, thoughts that do do not align with God's truth, three solutions to every problem, to replace the harmful thoughts with God's truth, to the obedience of Christ, trust my friend Jesus, truth, Tuesday Mantra, watch your actions, watch your habits, watch your thoughts they become words, watch your words, we do not war after the flesh, went our separate ways, WentWorth Eccles, wisdom, worry

Psalm 90:12. So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom (gain a heart of wisdom).

And then it was Easter Tuesday! However, instead of getting ready to go down to Buccoo village in Tobago to check out the Goat Race Celebrations, (smile) I was here in Canada watching the Celebration of Life for a childhood friend, Wentworth Eccles. And that’s why the Bit is so late. Ah Wenty, mih brother, we did have some good times during our long years of friendship, beginning as children, when I would come from Tobago to holiday with you, your mother and sister in San Fernando in Trinidad. But as we grew older, we went our separate ways.

However, we reconnected when I came to Canada and began attending the Labour Day celebrations in Brooklyn, New York, where I would sometimes stay with your mother. And boy, did we ever do some good partying during those early years. And though life, family and work separated us, every so often you’d write and tell me about your job and travels. Recently though, you began sending me a daily message titled ‘Today’s Quote,’ with interesting useful quotes. The last one I got on Friday April 11was this: ‘Three (3) solutions to every problem: Accept it, Change it or leave it. In other words, Lead, follow or get out of the way. Have a GREAT day, every DAY!!!!’

So, can you imagine my consternation when I received an e-mail a few days later informing me about a Celebration of Life, the new speak for a funeral service, for Wentworth. I don’t know exactly what happened, but it seems like it was a sudden occurrence. As the priest who conducted the service reminisced; he’d spoken to him at church on the Sunday, then on the Monday he was no more! Yes friends, that’s how quickly, without any notice whatsoever, that we can depart this earthly life!

That’s why we should all pray like Moses did in Psalm 90: ‘So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom (gain a heart of wisdom).’ (Ps. 90:12) That’s also why this quote attributed to Etienne de Grellet (1772-1855), a French-American Quaker Missionary ought to ring true in all our lives. It says: ‘I shall pass this way but once; any good that I can do or any kindness I can show to any human being; let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again. I shall pass through this world but once.’

And that’s the gospel truth my brethren! We only pass this way once, and we don’t know for how long either, so it’s best that we do the good that we’ve been created to do, as soon as possible, and as much as possible. Let’s stop procrastinating and making excuses, for we don’t know when our light will dim, or even go out unexpectedly on us. That’s why Bruh David could write in Psalm 39: ‘Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am. Behold, thou hast made up my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity (vapour). Selah.’ (Ps. 39:4-5)

Yes my fellow believers; man’s life is certainly one of innate frailty; today you’re here, then gone tomorrow, like a breath of vapour. Therefore, it’s absolutely necessary to be on our p’s and q’s all the time. Like this quote from Wentworth’s missive always had at the bottom. ‘Watch Your Thoughts: They become words. Watch your words: They become actions. Watch your actions: They become habits. Watch your habits: They become character.’ And that’s more gospel truth my people! For everything begins in and with the mind and filters down to every other part of our lives.

As Cousin Sol puts it in Proverbs. ‘For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.’ (Prov. 23:7) And what does all of that mean? This commentary explains it thus: This verse is interpreted as a warning about the importance of inner thoughts and motivations, as they are reflected in outward actions. It suggests that internal mental states shape external behaviors and ultimately determine who a person becomes.’

Consequently, ‘If someone believes they are capable, successful, and worthy, they are more likely to act in ways that align with those beliefs. Conversely, if someone is plagued by negative self-talk, doubt, and fear, their actions and outcomes will likely reflect that mindset, potentially limiting their potential and opportunities.’ That’s why we talk about the battlefield of the mind, for it’s right there that all the conflicting stuff, between good and evil begins, where the devil tries to infiltrate our defenses, and then, whatever wins that battle, filters down to our words, actions and character.

Now, we cannot stop thoughts from occurring in our minds, but we can certainly get rid of them if we don’t want or need them. It’s all a part of our spiritual warfare. It’s like Bruh Paul says in Romans: ‘For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after (according to) the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (fleshly), but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) Casting down imaginations (thoughts, false arguments), and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;’ (2 Cor. 10:3;5)

And this commentary explains; ‘”Casting down imaginations” refers to the act of actively rejecting and subduing thoughts, ideas, or visions that are not in alignment with God’s truth or that are harmful. It’s a spiritual practice where individuals combat negative or false thoughts, refusing to allow them to take root and influence their thinking and actions. This involves recognizing thoughts that contradict the principles of faith, are based on fear or doubt, or are simply not beneficial. Once these thoughts are identified, they are actively rejected and not allowed to take root in the mind. This can be done through prayer, affirmations, or other spiritual practices. The goal is to replace the harmful or false thoughts with God’s truth and positive affirmations.’

And that’s a good place to end this Easter Tuesday as we mourn the loss of our dear, departed friend Wentworth Eccles. May your soul rest in peace with the Lord my brother. Now, for all of us left behind, who are trying to cast down those ‘imaginations’ and do the good we can, let’s go home declaring our Tuesday Mantra, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel.

As one strong and sincere voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’

That now behooves us to go out and share the amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!

…we don’t know the number of our days…that’s why it’s ever so important…to make hay while the sun shines…

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien

Today’s Scrip-Bit 2 April 2024 Matthew 6:12.

02 Apr 2024 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: Bible, Easter Tuesday, except a man be born again, faith, forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors, forgiveness, Goat races in Tobago, god, God so loved the world, Good Friday, hatred, he cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven, he gave his only begotten son, hurry, if ye forgive men their trespasses, in god's eyes, Jesus, Jesus Christ, LOVE, parties galore, quells the spontaneity, raucous, share His love with my neighbours, should not perish but have everlasting life, spontaneous, strife, the abundant life, the beloved of God, the exorbitant price to pay for sin, the Messiah, the ramifications of Easter, to be forgiven one needs to forgive, trust my friend Jesus, Tuesday Mantra, ungodly transgressions, whosoever believeth in him, wisdom, worry

Matthew 6:12. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

Then it was Easter Tuesday, time to get back to working for a living, therefore, most of the Easter hoopla has now been toned down. But not the celebrated Easter Tuesday Goat Races in that picturesque, seaside village of Buccoo in sweet Tobago. Ah friends, that’s gotten so big and popular now that in recent years they built a stadium to house those goat races. I remember the days when it used to be just an open field in the village betwixt some houses, with parties galore happening all around, and people standing along the side lines, shouting for their favourite goat or crab.

Obviously the event was much more raucous and spontaneous. But apparently, as things grow bigger, they need to be better handled and managed, thus the building of the stadium. However, to a certain extent that quells the natural spontaneity of the event, making it less colourful. But in some quarters, that’s called progress, (smile) and as it’s still a colourful event, we’ll see you later down in Buccoo at the Goat Races. Party Time!

Now let’s get serious about the real ramifications of this Easter weekend. On Good Friday, Christ sacrificed His sinless life on the cross of Calvary so that our sin debt could be paid in full. That was the exorbitant price required by the Father for that situation to be solved. And Christ paid it without any hard feelings, despite the gross ‘sufferation’ He was forced to endure. As Isaiah so rightly says: ‘All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.’ (Is. 53:6)

Yes my fellow believers, the Lord laid ALL of our abominable sins on the shoulders of Christ that Good Friday day two thousand years ago. Meaning He was totally weighed down with, and made responsible for our ungodly transgressions. That means we now have forgiveness of our sins. However, that doesn’t come automatically or naturally. No! As Jesus said to the Jewish Leader, Nicodemus: ‘Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, (or from above), he cannot see the kingdom of God. … Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven.’ (John 3:3, 5)

Now, that means to be forgiven of our sins and thus be able to enter in God’s kingdom we also have to do something. And what’s that, you ask? Listen to Jesus tell it. ‘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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten son of God.’ (John 3:16-18)

There you have it friends; what we need to do so that we can be saved. It’s simple and straightforward: Believe in Christ Jesus! Believe that He is the Son of God; the promised Messiah; be born again of the Holy Spirit and be baptized in water, as an outward show of our inner sincerity! That makes us saved and eligible to enter heaven. But within that new born again life there are a couple of things that are necessary to live the Christian life; the life Christ died for us to have. As He says: ‘The thief cometh not, but for (except) to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.’ (John 10:10)

So, if we believe in Jesus and live the way He desires of us, we will have an abundant life beginning right down here on earth. But before we move on to heavenly matters, (smile) there is one earthly thing we must remember and get absolutely right, and it deals with the forgiveness of sins. Christ died so that that could be achieved, that we could renew a right relationship with the Father, but there’s one codicil to it, that regarding the sins of the individual. Jesus specifies it quite plainly in His Sermon on the Mount, when teaching His disciples to pray. It’s this simple but ever so important line of what we call the Lords’ Prayer. ‘And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.’ (Matt. 6:12)

Oh my people, that is the most important thing we need to remember and do after we believe in Jesus. Otherwise, He continues: ‘For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.’ (Matt. 6:14-15) It could not get any clearer than that my brethren. Forgiveness of other’s sins against us must be meted out, if we want forgiveness from our heavenly Father. But sadly, in this strife-filled, angry and hateful world, unforgiveness is one of the major drawbacks in turning things around.

Our human selfishness is showing up ever so greatly with our refusal to forgive others the way we want the Lord to forgive us. And that’s what causing so much of the negativity in our embattled and turbulent world. Now we all know that a lot of harsh and hurting things are done each and every day to numerous people, and it’s very difficult to forgive some of those trespasses, but the fact is that we must try, through prayer and heavenly help, if we want our own sins to be forgiven and our world to therefore become a better place.

And it’s so sad to realize that much of the strife and hatred now in place began centuries ago, and some of those now involved in the negativity don’t even know what they’re really fighting and hating for. That’s how bad our inhumanity and unforgiveness has become. What more can I say eh friends, when these days, finding a country where there’s no strife or very little, is like searching for the proverbial needle in a haystack. And unfortunately, things will not get better until we begin forgetting and forgiving the sins and trespasses of our individual neighbors and those worldwide.

And if God spares life, tomorrow we’ll continue with the heavenly mattes we spoke about earlier on. (smile) But for those of us who are trying to live the abundant life in these tough circumstances, let’s go home now declaring (yesss!!!) our Tuesday Mantra, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong, lock and barrel. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’

And having said that, it now becomes our bounden duty to go out and share the amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!

…to be forgiven…one needs to forgive…

Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ

SCRIP-BITS

Pages

Categories

Archives