14 Oct 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: affliction, all things are possible to him that believes, ambassadors for Christ, an issue of blood, answer my prayers, beautiful, before God honesty is a wise course, belief in Jesus, betrayed, bow down, celebrations, compassion, confess to Jesus, disciples, dr robert h schuller, duty, embrace a faith, faith, faithless generation, fasting, festivities, go about the Lord's business, go in peace, gospel truth, have compassion, help, help thou mine unbelief, help us, honesty, Hour of Power Devotional, hurt, I believe, I believe in god, if thou canst believe, inner turmoil, Jairus, Jewish law, long and late, LOVE, mark, motives of our hearts, of the utmost importance, outward actions, plague, power, power of faith, prayer, rejected, reservoir of spiritual power, restoration, seizures, smile, spirit, spiritual power, stand strong in belief in Jesus, strong and courageous, strong faith and belief, Thanksgiving Day, thanskgiving must be ongoing, the fountain of her blood dried up, thy faith hath made thee whole, to be right with Jesus, touched His garment, trust, unclean, virtue, who touched my clothes, words and actions
Mark 9:23. Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
Well well my Canadian Friends and Neighbours, the party done now! Thanksgiving Day is over now, although the practice of thanksgiving must be an ongoing movement. I hope we all had a good time, we didn’t over do it, and the Lord was pleased with our devotions.
I didn’t do much myself, just had a quiet day, since we had our small family festivities on Sunday. And furthermore, the weather in my area didn’t lend itself to any raucous celebrations –cloudy and unfriendly – although I know that didn’t stop a whole lot of others from being raucous and rambunctious. (smile)
I surely hope that we didn’t give Lucifer and his evil compadres any space for advancement in our souls, but most importantly, for those of you who sang our Monday Morning battle Hymn so boisterously yesterday morning, knowing that you did not have to go to work, I certainly hope that you all have the wherewithal to go out and labour this Tuesday morning after the festivities. (smile) Yuh know it always catches up to us.
Now let’s take a gander at our Bit. ‘Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.’
It deals with faith and belief, and today we’re going to look at situations of faith, of people coming to Jesus for help through some kind of inbred faith, some of which astonished even Jesus.
But before we get into the scriptures, let’s hear a word on the subject from Gramps Schuller – Dr. Robert H. Schuller – from his Hour of Power Devotional.
It’s titled ‘FAITH’ and it says: ‘Lord, I believe in the sun, even when it is behind the clouds; in the seed, even when it lies unsprouted under the ground; in faith, even when I have been betrayed; in LOVE, even when I have been rejected; in hope, even when I have been hurt; in God, even when you do not answer my prayers. Amen.’
Yes Friends, that’s what it means to have faith! Even when things aren’t going your way, you still stand strong in your belief in Jesus.
Now let’s look at the particular situation which occasioned our Bit from Jesus. A sorrowful father had brought his young son to the disciples for healing. The lad was infected by a dumb (mute) spirit, which caused him to have crazy, dangerous seizures, but the disciples couldn’t heal him. (Mark 9:17-18)
Jesus’ response was: ‘O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I suffer (bear with) you? Bring him unto me.’ (Mark 9:19)
And as the Lord would have it, the youngster had a seizure as soon as they brought him before Jesus. ‘And he (Jesus) asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child (from childhood). And oftimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us and help us.’ (Mark 9:21-22)
That’s when Jesus repeated the words of our Bit: ‘If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.’ (Mark 9:23-24)
Yes my people, in some form and fashion, deep down the father believed, that’s why he brought his son to the disciples in the first place.
The scholars; describe it thus: ‘9:24. He had a certain faith; but it was confession of his undeniable inner turmoil and doubt that marked his faltering faith as truly authentic, if imperfect, trust. Before God honesty is a wise course.’
That last sentence is gospel truth my brethren! If we are anything less than totally honest with God, we’re simply wasting our time, for remember He reads the motives of our hearts, not our outward actions.
Jesus healed the lad right there and then. He had no choice, since the father had backed Him into a corner with his declaration of apparently sincere though confused and troubled faith.
But later on, in private, when the disciples asked Jesus why they couldn’t cast out the spirit, He answered them: ‘This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.’ (Mark 9:29)
And the scholars have an interesting comment on that verse: ‘9:29. While some manuscripts omit fasting, it seems crucial to the context. Jesus does not seem to have resorted to prayer in the course of this healing. Perhaps he refers to a life-style of prevailing prayer that yields a reservoir of spiritual power for just such a crisis as this.’
Who knows Friends? But to influence spiritual power, prayer and fasting, in a serious and sincere manner, are of the utmost importance!
And I believe we have time for one more example of strong faith and belief. Jesus was on His way to raise the daughter of a Jewish ruler Jairus, when this situation occurred.
‘And a certain woman, which had an issue (a flow) of blood twelve years, and had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered (no better), but rather grew worse, When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press (crowd) behind, and touched his garment. For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.’
(Scholars note: Popular belief had it that a person’s dignity and power extend to what he wears.) ‘And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague (affliction). And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue (power) had gone out of him, turned him about in the press (crowd), and said, Who touched my clothes?
And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague (affliction).’ (Mark 5: 25-34)
Oh my people, what a great story! But back in those times it was a very dangerous game that the woman played.
Listen to the scholars explain: ‘5:33. The woman would be fearful of a rebuke, since her bleeding rendered her “unclean” according to Jewish law. She ought not to have been mixing in the crowd, nor reaching out purposely to touch a man. That she owned up openly indicates that her interest lay not only in physical health: she wanted to be right with Jesus Himself. Her faith, not the grasp of her hand, brought restoration to her.’
Yes Friends, that’s the power of faith! So today, while we go about the Lord’s business, please let us embrace a faith as strong and as courageous as the folks we’ve read about, and let’s allow it come out, to show in all our words and actions, because that’s our duty as ambassadors for Christ. Much LOVE!
…like the woman with the issue of blood…let’s bow down and confess to Jesus…so that we can be made right with Him…
P.S. Oh Friends, it’s long and late, but it’s beautiful! (smile) Much LOVE!
07 Oct 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a man sharpens the countenance of his friend, a man with many friends comes to ruin, a perverse man sows strife, adversity, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, anxiety, beating him down emotionally, bless them that curse you, blessings, call on god for help, Calvary, come unto me, encouragement, fear, forgiveness, friend, friends, friendships, God makes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, God sends rain on the just and the unjust, God's wrath was kindled, gospel truth, gossip, gossip destroys friendships, greater love hath no man, grief, Healer, Helper, how good is our God, I am meek (gentle) in heart, I will give you rest, iron sharpens iron, Jesus is our be all and end all, Job, keep our focus on god, LOVE, Love your enemies, make a positive difference, mercies, my burden is light, my yoke is easy, offer burnt offerings, one more day, praise God, pray for them which use you, prayed for his friends, praying for others, redeem, repent, servants, serve God dilgently, sins, sons of the Father, sorrow, stand strong in Christ, strife, take my yoke upon you, that a man lay down his life for his friends, the Good Book, the great invitation, the poor is hated by his neightbour, the rich have many friends, wealth makes many friends, words of comfort, worry, you shall find rest unto your souls
John 15:13. Greater LOVE hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
One more day Friends, one more day! Wow! We’ve been granted life anew for another day, so let’s use it wisely please. Let’s use it like the present God desires it to be, with all the new mercies, blessings, forgiveness and LOVE that He’s showering down on us.
Let’s keep our focus on God: praise and serve Him diligently and sincerely, and do the works He desires of us. He has given us all we need to accomplish the tasks on our task sheets, so there should be no serious problems involved.
But if perchance, one does crop up, we have the freedom, or rather we’re expected to call on Him for assistance, which He’ll never refuse, once we’re sincere. For as Jesus says in His Great Invitation: ‘Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of (from) me; for I am meek (gentle) and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ (Matt.11:28-30)
So my fellow believers, with those words of comfort and encouragement bubbling in our souls, let’s not allow anything or anyone to cause us anxiety, fear or worry today. Let’s stand strong in the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour, and try our very best to make a positive difference in this crazy, troubled world in which we now live.
That’s what Jesus desires of us! And remember that He is indeed our be all and end all! He is our Healer, our Helper, our Redeemer and our Friend! What more can we ask eh? Nothing really.
So let’s look at our Bit: ‘Greater LOVE hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’
And it’s worth repeating and remembering that after He spoke those purposeful words, He went out and died for us at Calvary… as Friends, not servants.
And we’ll continue looking at the interplay of ‘friends and friendships’ as found in the Good Book. Then there was Job and his supposed friends. They ostensibly came to comfort him in his sorrow and grief, but unfortunately ended up beating him down emotionally, claiming that his hidden sins had caused his disastrous experience.
And God’s wrath was kindled against them, because they had not spoken rightly of Him as His servant Job had done, and He commanded them to repent and offer burnt offerings. (Job 42:7-9)
But hear this: ‘And the Lord turned (restored) the captivity (losses) of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.’ (Job 42:10)
Yes my people, the Lord turned Job’s adversity around when he prayed for his friends, and also worked some serious miracles on his behalf, blessing him with twice as much as he had lost. Oh how good our God is to us!
That brings us to this rather important point; the importance of praying for others, even when they’ve done us wrong. I know that’s sometimes pretty hard to do, but it’s required of believers.
Jesus said it loud and clear: ‘But I say unto you, LOVE your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully (spitefully) use you, and persecute you; That ye may be children (sons) of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust.’ (Matt.5:44-45)
So if you ought to pray for your enemies, it’s logical to assume that you ought to pray for your friends and fellow believers too. (smile)
Now let’s look at some wisdom of Cousin Sol, re ‘friends and friendships’ as divined in Proverbs. He declares first of all that: ‘The poor is hated even of (by) his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends (the LOVERS of the rich are many).’ (Prov.14:20)
And isn’t that the gospel truth! The scholars explain it thus: ’14:20-21. Social standing is improved with riches, but the good neighbour will have concern for all, regardless of their status.’ That’s how it ought to be, but sadly in this topsy-turvy world of ours, we still look down on the poor and up at the rich.
And here’s a fitting companion to that Proverb. ‘Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour (friend).’ (Prov.19:4)
And we see that everyday. Many of us have also experienced it. When times are good and we are rolling in plenty, we have plenty supposed friends around us, but as soon as the good times stop flowing, they all disappear.
Now listen to these Proverbs. ‘A froward (perverse) man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief (the best of) friends.’ (Prov.16:28) Or as the scholars say: ’16:28. Gossip destroys friendships.’ That we all know and have experienced too.
Here is a companion to that one. ‘He that covereth a transgression seeketh LOVE; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very (the best of) friends.’ (Prov.17:9) More reflections on gossip.
Then we have this bit of wisdom. ‘A man that hath friends must show himself friendly (may come to ruin): and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.’ (Prov.18:24)
The scholars explain that this way: ’18:24. A man that hath friends must show himself friendly may also be translated, “A man of many friends comes to ruin.” In other words, a man must not spread himself too thin among many superficial relationships. Far better it is to have genuine friends who become like family and LOVE at all times. (17:17).’
And isn’t that the gospel, gospel truth my people! It surely is!
And we’ll close with this priceless gem of wisdom from Cousin Sol. ‘Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.’ (Prov.27:17)
Mama Mia! Wisdom from heaven Friends!
The scholars explain it thus: ’27:17. As the proper tool shapes and sharpens iron for its desired use, so a man sharpens his friend morally and intellectually by their personal friendship.’
Now that’s the kind of friends we need to have and need to be! Friends, who encourage, comfort, exhort, educate and uplift each other in as many walks of life as possible.
So let’s go out today and be that kind of friend nuh mih people. It could only make our world a better place for our children and us. Much LOVE!
…the fewer the friends…the less possibility of strife and troublesome friendships…
06 Oct 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a man after God's heart, as a man speaks to his friend, aura of love, chutzpah, dignity, enemy's taunts, enthusiasm, face to face, faithfulness, friends, friendship, further God's glorious kingdom, glory hallelujah, golden calf, Gordon Lightfoot, gospel truth, greater love hath no man, holy spirit, humble servants, idol of worship, impatience, integrity, invincible, Israelites, Jesus Christ, jobs, Joshua, leave all the consequences to Him, lies, LOVE, Monday Morniing Battle Hymn, Moses, obey God, omnipotent, passion of Jesus, pillar of cloud, rainy days and Mondays, rejuvenation of spirit, renewed vitality, serve a useful purpose, spirit of the living god, spiritual armour, spirituality, steadfast faith, stubbornness, tabernacle, Ten Commandments, TGIM! Thank God it's Monday!, than to lay down his life for his friends, the Good Book, the Lord spake unto Moses, trust, truth, ungodly world, wiles, wisdom, worthwhile inroads
John 15:13. Greater LOVE hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Oh Friends, like the world renowned Canadian balladeer, Gordon Lightfoot says in his old song: ‘Rainy days and Mondays always get me down.’ And it looks like we’re going to have a rainy day Monday today.
But you know what? We don’t have to let those rainy day Mondays, or any other kind of days, get us down, because we have the omnipotent Spirit of the Living God, and the unbridled passion of Jesus living within us, and they can certainly drive away every fear and care! And that’s the gospel truth my people, as so many of us can testify to!
So when you get up this morning and come face to face with the gloomy, rainy, chilly weather, please don’t get too upset. It’s just one of those days where the sailing might not be as smooth as you like, but remember Jesus is in the boat with you, and if things get really bad, He will rise and calm the storm.
Consequently, on this rainy October morn, let’s all say a loud and cheerful, ‘TGIM! Thank God it’s Monday, and we’re alive to tell the tale!’ (smile) Now before anybody starts chirping and calling me crazy, let’s sing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn with plenty chutzpah, so that the dark clouds hanging over our spirits will disappear.
All together now: ‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together.
We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies.
But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your incredible aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle.
Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’
Wow Friends! That was particularly good for such a rainy, miserable Monday! (smile) That means our faith is getting stronger with each passing day. Glory Hallelujah! And now with our motors running smoothly, let’s get out and show the enemy what’s what, in Jesus’ name.
All the while not forgetting those momentous words that Jesus spoke in our Bit: ‘Greater LOVE hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’
And today we’ll continue looking at Bible verses re friends and friendship, beginning with a couple more Friends of God. Here’s what the Good Book says about Moses, after the Israelites, in their impatience and stubbornness had made the golden calf as an idol of worship, (Ex.32) while Moses was up the mountain getting the Ten Commandments.
The Lord commanded him to move the tabernacle from out of the camp, calling it the Tabernacle of the congregation. ‘And it came to pass, that everyone which sought the Lord went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp.
And it came to pass, when Moses went out into the tabernacle, that all the people rose up, and stood every man at his tent door, and looked after Moses, until he was gone into the tabernacle.
And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses. And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door.
And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.’ (Ex.33:7-11)
Yes my brethren, the Lord spoke to Moses face to face like a friend, with trust, dignity, faithfulness and integrity! Those are the qualities inherent in true friends. Do we possess those qualities, and do those we consider our friends, possess them? That’s of the utmost importance in these crucial and critical times. Therefore we need to be very careful who we let into our inner sanctuary.
That brings us to another Friend of God, Bruh David. The Lord valued Bruh David so highly that after Saul had done wrong by usurping the priest’s duties and offering burnt offerings, (1 Sam.13:9-10) Samuel told him. ‘But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee.’ (1 Sam.13:14)
Bruh David was described as a man after God’s own heart! Wow! Can you imagine that my people? And note, at a very tender age too. As far as I’m concerned, there can be no higher accolade given to a mortal man. That’s better than being called a friend, because friends don’t always agree or see things the same way. But when you have the heart of God, it means you continually see things the way He does.
And what’s important to notice in those relationships my fellow believers, is that neither man was an angel; Moses was considered a murderer and Bruh David an adulterer, but they still found favour in God’s eyes, that means there’s hope for all of us yet. (smile)
And we’ll stop there for today… don’t want to disrupt your busy, short attention spans and schedules. (smile) So till we meet again tomorrow, the Lord willing, let’s just go out and sincerely and diligently do our best nuh, because that’s all the Lord asks of us. Much LOVE!
…as Uncle Charles (Charles Stanley) says…the best way to live life… is to simply obey God…and leave all the consequences to Him…and that’s indisputable truth…
03 Oct 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a modicum of circumspection, a wonderful God, abundantly, Amen, arrow that flieth by day, be not afraid, benefits, bring smiles to their faces, Bruh David, buckler, cast down, Creator, Creator of the universe, daily grind and common task, destruction, encouraging, enlighten their spirits, evil, foot of pride, fountain of life., freinds, Friday chant, fulness, fun-fellowship, further God's glorious kingdom, generous help, germinate, go in faith, go in love, go in peace, God is a refuge and fortress, God will be there watching, God's little Acre, gospel truth, grow, hand of the wicked, health, heartwarming, in thy light shall we see light, Jeeves, jehovah god, joyful shouts, lays waste at noonday, long life, losing sight, LOVE, LOVE of God, loving kindness, memories, overwhelming reasons, peace, pestilence, praise the Lord for His goodness, pride, protection, protective wings, provider, refuge, reinvigorating, rejuvenation of spirit, reminisce, renewed and refreshed in soul body and mind, resorative scripture, rest, reverence, righteousness., river of pleasures, rocking chairs, royal treatment, royalty, satisfied, shield, show you believe, sincere emotion, snare of the fowler, steadfast faith, sweet Tobago, TGIF! Thank God is Friday, thanks and praise, the children of men, the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob, the greatest of these is love, the party's over, the terror by night, time of their lives, totem pole, trust, unconditional LOVE, ungodly times, uplifting, upright in heart, walketh in darkness, warmed the cockles of my heart, wealth, wisdom, wisdom of living a christian life, workers of iniquity
Psalm 36:7. How excellent (precious) is thy LOVING-kindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.
Well Friends, as the old people would say, the party done now, time to get back to the daily grind and common task!
Yes, the party’s over for my brother and his wife. They flew back last night to sweet Tobago, God’s Little Acre – can’t leave that out – lucky them. (smile) They definitely had the time of their lives; coming to Canada for the first time and having so many people treat them so well.
The memories and friends they made here will no doubt enlighten their spirits and bring smiles to their faces when they reminisce in their rocking chairs. (smile) He claims that all the people they came into contact with treated them like royalty, and that royal treatment was certainly heartwarming and reinvigorating, confirming the wisdom of living a Christian life.
And on their behalf, I’d like to thank all you wonderful and godly people who showered them with such unconditional LOVE, even though many of you had never met them before. The unrestrained and lavish affection that I saw, certainly warmed the cockles of my heart. You all are true believers, not only speaking the word, but also living it.
Oh my brethren, if only we could all live that way on a consistent basis! Then Jesus would undoubtedly rank first and foremost in this ungodly world, instead of way down the totem pole, to where He‘s now been relegated.
But yuh know what Friends, today is also Friday! That means the party’s not really over, in fact the party’s just starting, as we’re greeted by joyful shouts of ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday!’
But please remember to be careful my people, for though partying is in order, we need to party with a modicum of circumspection, as Jeeves would say.
And that also involves not losing sight of our Creator and Provider; highlighting Him in ALL our doings, for as the Good Book says, it’s Him who allows us to have health, wealth, long life and LOVE! Give Him much thanks my people, for He is indeed a wonderful God!
And to help us attain to that modicum of circumspection and reverence for our mighty God, let’s chant our Friday Chant with sincere emotion. As One now, in harmony and LOVE! ‘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.’
Oh Friends, that brings us to our Bit, which comes from Psalm 36 –the steadfast LOVE of God. ‘How excellent (precious) is thy LOVING-kindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.’
And isn’t that the gospel truth my people! It surely is, as those of us who trust in the Lord and make our refuge under His most protective wings can testify to!
And Bruh David continues to lay out the overwhelming reasons to trust in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob: ‘They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness (fullness) of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.
O continue thy LOVING-kindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart. Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me (drive me away). There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.’ (Ps.36:8-12)
Oh what beautiful and restorative scripture my fellow believers! If you read that and it doesn’t bring a lift to your heart, body, soul and mind, then something’s wrong. I’ll venture to say that you’re no real believer, for those are truly uplifting and encouraging words, especially in these cruel, evil and ungodly times.
And if you didn’t believe Bruh David there, (smile) then listen to the psalmist from Psalm 91 – God is a refuge and a fortress. ‘I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler (trapper of birds), and from the noisome (perilous or deadly) pestilence.
He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust (take refuge): his truth shall be thy shield and buckler (small shield)
Thou shalt not be afraid for (of) the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth (lays waste) at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.’ (Ps.91:2-7)
Yes Friends, that’s the wonderful protection we’re assured of when we place our complete trust in Jehovah God, Creator of the universe and all therein! Please, let’s plant all those scriptures in our hearts and allow them to germinate and grow there abundantly, so that we can obtain the benefits thereof.
And now let’s close with a prayer I found amongst the papers in my Bible. Don’t know where I got it from, and like I’ve shared it before, because it has a tick on it, but it’s ever so appropriate for today, so we’ll share it again.
‘Go now in Peace – Never be afraid. God will go with you each hour of every day. Go now in faith, steadfast strong and true. Know He will guide you in all you do. Go now in LOVE, and show you believe.
Reach out to others, so all the world can see. God will be there watching from above. Go now in Peace, in Faith and in LOVE. AMEN…AMEN…AMEN…’
And all God’s people exclaimed a joyful and grateful; ‘Praise the Lord for His exceptional goodness to the children of men!’ Much LOVE my brethren!
…and now abideth Faith, Hope, LOVE, these three…but the greatest of these is…LOVE… (1 Cor. 13:13)
20 Sep 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a double-minded man is unstable, abundantly, ask in faith, awe-filled reverence towards God, blessings, brand new day, Christian maturity, commandments, Creator, dance and sing, doubting, evil and ungodly world, focusing on God, fount of wisdom, Glory Halleujah, God's praise endures for ever, God's Word, gold, gospel truth, jehovah god, Jesus came that we might have life, jump for joy, knowledge, LOVE, mercies, mortal man, ONE body in Christ, perverse things, perversity, praise and glory, praise and thanks, prudence, purpose for our lives, reading the Bible, reward for heeding wisdom, silver, the beginning of wisdom, the breath of life, the fear of the Lord, the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob, the Good Book, the living God, the Spirit of Holy God, the straight and narrow road, this is the day the Lord has made, to do evil, truth, understanding, wake up and smell the coffee, wavering, we shall rejoice and be glad in it, wisdom, wisdom is better than rubies
Psalm 111:10. The fear of the Lord (an awe-filled reverence toward the Lord) is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
Well Friends, it’s another brand new day that we’ve been privileged to see! Wow! All praise and glory that our wonderful God has not taken away the breath of life from us! And for that, we shall indeed be very thankful!
That means He still has some purpose for our lives here on planet earth, so let’s offer up all the praise and thanks we can, and as one joyful body in Christ, sincerely declare: ‘This is the day the Lord has made, we shall all rejoice and be glad in it!’
And that’s exactly how it ought to be my people, because the Lord gave us life so that we could be joyful and enjoy it. What did Jesus say? That He came that we might have life, and have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)
Therefore we ought to rejoice and give thanks each and every day that we open our eyes and discover that the awesome breath of life, the Spirit of Holy God is still flowing through our mortal bodies.
So what are we waiting for eh Friends? Let’s jump for joy, dance and sing, and give thanks and praise to our wonderful Creator for all the blessings and mercies He’s continually showering down on us!
And let’s also take our Bit to heart. ‘The fear of the Lord (an awe-filled reverence toward the Lord) is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever,’
Oh my brethren, when we do that, then we’ll know that we are on the right track, because having a sincere reverence towards Almighty God is the first step to Christian maturity, to true wisdom and understanding!
It’s a two pronged instrument my people; fear the Lord and keep His commandments, then you’ll be on the right road, the straight and narrow one, to wisdom and understanding. That’s because true wisdom and understanding emanate directly from Jehovah God! He is the fount of it all!
And how do we access that wisdom and understanding? By focusing on God and reading the Good Book! For the Bible is God’s Word to us, still fresh through all the ages. And if we read it, we will find God’s wisdom on its pages. And furthermore, please remember that ONE TRUTH from the Bible is worth more than all the wisdom of man. Glory Hallelujah!
That’s why James tells us in no uncertain terms: ‘If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not (without reproach); and it shall be given him.
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering (not doubting). For he that wavereth (doubts) is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord. A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.’ (James 1:5-8)
Now that’s the gospel truth my brethren! For whatever situation we’re facing, to come up over it wisely, we need to go to God, who is so generous, and without reproach too. But we have to do it in strong and constant faith, not in a wishy-washy, wavering, neither here nor there attitude.
And that’s why so many of us are so lost in this evil and ungodly world. We either completely refuse to go to God, and go to mortal man instead, foolishly figuring that he, who cannot control his own days, has the answers. Or we go to God without true faith and confidence.
I like how Cousin Sol declares it in chapter 8 of Proverbs – wisdom is everlasting. ‘O ye simple, understand wisdom (prudence): and ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart…. Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.’ (Prov.8:5,10-11)
Awesome truth my fellow believers! And here is the reward for heeding wisdom. ‘When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward (perverse) things; Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness; who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the forwardness (perversity) of the wicked.’ (Prov.2:10-14)
Now Friends, I’m sure that all of us would dearly LOVE to walk that upright kind of path in our lives. And we can all do it, if we embrace the living God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, with reverence and sincerity, while following His commandments as best we can, making praise and thanksgiving an essential and integral part of our existence.
And we’ll go home with these fateful words of the Preacher: ‘Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgement, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.’ (Eccl.12:13-14)
Oh Friends, those are words of absolute and indisputable truth! So let’s get our act together nuh man; let’s seek true wisdom and understanding by sincerely serving and worshipping the wonderful God of our forefathers. For there’s none else like Him; a living, faithful, generous, merciful, forgiving, ever-LOVING and omnipotent God!
So if we want to have a truly enjoyable life, then let’s wake up and smell the coffee nuh people! (smile) Hn, hn! It’s been a while since I last heard that expression. But a couple of days ago, I heard my sister-in-law use it, and it reminded me of when my grandfather Bill, would boil his coffee every morning in the orange juice tin, you’d stay down the street and smell it.
So let’s inhale that refreshing aroma this Saturday morning nuh mih breddren, and take a strong and faithful stand with and for Almighty God! Much LOVE!
…Praise ye the Lord…shout Hallelujah…I will praise the Lord with my whole heart…in the assembly of the upright…and in the congregation… (Ps.111:1)
18 Sep 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: belly and backbone, birds of the air have nests, burned his past, cast his mantle upon him, Christ is our be all and end all, concentrate on Jesus, Concentration is the secret of strength, cruel, decisive, Elijah, excellence, fit for the kingdom of heaven, focus, follow me, forsake friends and family, foxes have holes, God will always make a way for us, God will never give us more than we can bear, God's work, God-awesome truth, gospel truth, hard row to how, having a servant's heart, I will make you fishers of men, immediacy, insensitive, it is well with our souls, James, Jesus Christ, Jesus is all about excellence, Jesus is the one, John, Joshua, let the dead bury their dead, life's lesser matters, look neither to the right nor to the left, look toward jesus, LOVE, Moses, our Lord and Saviour, preach the kingdom of god, purpose, Ralph Waldo Emerson, reflecting a christ-like image, secret to a successful ministry, servant of all, sons of Zebedee, summons, tests for discipleship, the first shall be last, the Good Book, the Lordship of christ, the Old Testament, the palms of His nail-scarred hands, the prophet Elisha, the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head, tried and tested, true obedience, tunnel-like vision, without hesitation, yoke of oxen, you can't plough and look back
Luke 9:62. And Jesus said unto him, No man having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
So what’s up this Thursday morning eh my people? I hope that all is well with you. And even if your body isn’t so great, like mine (smile), it is of the utmost importance that our souls be well, be beautiful, and reflecting a strong Christ-like image.
But to do that successfully Friends, we have to keep focusing, keep concentrating on our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ! We can’t let anything else get in the way of that tunnel-like vision, where Christ is our be all and end all. In this life, whatever we are seriously about, we have to steadfastly focus and concentrate on it.
That’s why the great American poet, essayist and lecturer, Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) is reputed to have said, from our August Calendar: ‘Concentration is the secret of strength.’ And that’s no lie! For if you’re not thoroughly focused, or concentrating on any task before you, you won’t be strong enough to do it properly.
That’s why we’re also encouraging us today, to look toward Jesus… to keep our eyes, hearts and minds continually on Him, for He is the ONE who has our whole life safely cupped in the palms of His nail-scarred hands.
So, let’s look neither to the right, nor to the left, and definitely not behind us, for as Jesus so plainly says in our Bit: ‘No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.’
Oh my brethren, if Jesus says so, then it must be true, because as a holy and just God, He cannot lie!
And the scholar’s offer this explanation: ‘9:62. Fit, occurring elsewhere only in 14:35 and Hebrews 6:7, means “suitable” or “usable.” One who makes life’s lesser matters of greater priority than God’s work is of little use to Him.’
And isn’t that the God awesome truth? It certainly is! In fact, as we said above, focus and concentration apply to almost everything we do. If we don’t seriously concentrate and focus on whatever we’re doing, we’ll definitely not do a proper job.
And remember people, Jesus is all about excellence, which means that His followers have to come up good, come up high, if they truly desire to work for Him.
Now for those of us wondering when and why Jesus made such a purposeful statement, it came at a time of tests for discipleship. People wanted to follow Him, but weren’t willing to do what it takes.
Here’s what the Good Book says about it: ‘And it came to pass, that as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where (nowhere) to lay his head.
And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer (allow) me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.’ (Luke 9:57-61)
That’s when Jesus declared the words of our Bit. He wasn’t being cruel or insensitive, just making it plain that to be one of His disciples, one sometimes had to forsake friends and family and other earthly things. And if you were not willing to do so, then your service would never come up to scratch.
Just look at how quickly, without any hesitation at all, Simon Peter and his brother Andrew left their fishing business when Jesus passed by and said, to them: ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets and followed him.
And going on from thence, he saw two other brethren, James, the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.’ (Matt.4:18-22)
Wow! Poor Zebedee must surely have wondered what was going on as his sons just upped and left him for some poor, itinerant rabbi!
But as the scholars conclude: ‘The statement in verse 22, that they immediately responded to His call gives us a perfect picture of true obedience to the Lordship of Christ.’
Yes my brethren, that’s the kind of response Jesus is looking for from us. And a similar sort of thing happened to Elisha back in the Old Testament, when the prophet Elijah came a-calling.
The Good Book reports it thus: ‘So he (Elijah) departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.
And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee?
And he (Elisha) returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen (using the oxen’s equipment), and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him. (1 Kin.19:19-21)
Ah Friends, Elijah obviously wasn’t as desirous for immediacy, as was Jesus. But that didn’t mean Elisha didn’t know his purpose. For as the scholars’ tell us: ’19:19-21. Elisha did not mistake his summons. His response was decisive. He burned his past behind him.
How different are those whose profession is merely external (cf. Matt.8:18-22; Luke 9:57-62). In serving Elijah, much as Joshua had served under Moses, Elisha would learn that the secret to a successful ministry lies in having a servant’s heart (cf. Mark 9:35).’
Oh my people, there’s not much more to say, except that if we truly desire to follow Jesus, we have to be prepared to hoe some hard rows. Now it won’t always be that difficult, but there will be times when we are truly tried and tested. So it’s obvious that we must have plenty belly and backbone to work for our Lord and Saviour.
But the good news is that He will NEVER give us more than we can bear, and with whatever trials and testing He devises, He will ALWAYS make a way for us to come though it.
So don’t be fearful or anxious, though times may seem tough, for our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is the BEST employer we can ever have. And that’s the gospel truth! Much LOVE!
…if any man desire to be first…the same shall be last of all…and servant of all… (Mark 9:35)
03 Sep 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a righteous branch, all things work together for good, balance, benediction, blood of the everlasting covenant, calm, carry them in his bosom, cling to the Lord God Jehovah, clutch our faith, David, duties of a shepherd, evil, expectant trust, extinguish their lifeblood, Ezekiel, faithful and trustworthy god, feed his flock like a shepherd, female of the species, friendships, gather the lambs with his arm, gently lead those that are with young, good shepherd, good success, gospel truth, halfway home, I am your God, imagery, Israel, Israel Salanter Lipkin, Jeremiah, Jerusalem, Jesus Christ, judge, justice, leading and guiding, lifeline, Lord and Saviour, Lord jesus, LOVE, magnificent and majestic God, make you perfect, managing people, mother hen, my servant David, parenting, pastoral scene, peace, Praise the Lord, prey, promises, prosperity, protection, provision, renege, responsible, responsible reliance, righteous, righteousness., semblance of balance, spiritual development, spiritual glory, spirituality, spirituality is like a bird, surrender our lives to god, this is the day the Lord has made, to those who love God, we shall rejoice and be glad in it, Wednesday, wisdom, woe to the pastors, wonder of wonders
Isaiah 40:11. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
Ah mih people, it’s Wednesday – we halfway home! So please hang in there, faithful and steadfast, knowing that all things work together for good to all those who LOVE God and are called by Him for His purpose. (Rom.8:28) That’s a wonderful scripture to hold on to this morning my brethren.
And all God’s people joyfully declared: ‘Praise the Lord! This is the day the day Lord has made, we WILL rejoice and be glad in it!’ Way to go my fellow believers!
Now here’s an interesting quote from Israel Salanter Lipkin (1810-1883), the famous Lithuanian Rabbi and revolutionary philosopher. He says: ‘Spirituality is like a bird: if you hold on to it tightly, it chokes, and if you hold it loosely, it escapes.’
And that my people, is not only true of our spirituality, but also a number of other things in life. If we hold on to them too tightly, we extinguish their lifeblood, and if we are too lax and wishy washy with them, they just float away from us.
We constantly see it in friendships, in LOVE, in parenting children, in managing people in the workplace, in all walks of life. That means we need to exhibit some semblance of balance in our lives. Don’t hold on to things or people too tightly – read control (smile) or they are likely to rebel.
Neither should we take them too much for granted, or we’re liable to lose them too. So it’s essential that we don’t tip the scales on either side. The same thing goes for our spiritual development.
As the One More Day Devotional from which I got the quote says: ‘When we possessively clutch our faith and expect all that we demand, our spirituality is weakened. Yet if we expect nothing of it, it might seem to disappear.
Our spiritual lives are strengthened as we find that precious balance between expectant trust in our Higher Power and responsible reliance on ourselves.’
And that’s gospel truth! But the problem is trying to strike that right balance in our lives. However, it is not an impossible task if we cling to the Lord God Jehovah as our lifeline, and hold on to the many promises He has made us, none of which He has ever, or will ever renege on.
And I definitely like the promise in our Bit: ‘He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.’
Oh my brethren, what wonderful imagery, what a beautiful pastoral scene it paints; depicting Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour just gently and wisely leading and guiding us, like a good shepherd takes care of his sheep, like a mother hen takes care of her chicks, generally speaking, like the female of the species looks after the young ones in her brood.
Some of us might not know the duties of a shepherd, but it’s basically to look after his flock in all aspects of their lives; be it leading them to green and plentiful grass and wholesome water to drink, taking care of them in sickness, seeking them out when they’re lost… whatever it takes to maintain the peace, calm and prosperity of the flock.
And wonder of wonders my people, that’s exactly how our great and wonderful God looks after us when we surrender our lives, our struggles to Him!
Now let’s look at some scriptures where the Lord is referred to as our Shepherd. Jeremiah, in his prophecy of the remnant of God’s people one day triumphantly returning to Jerusalem, first decries the leaders of Israel. ‘Woe be unto the pastors (shepherds, leaders) that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the Lord.
Therefore, thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the pastors (shepherds, leaders) that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited (attended to) them: behold I will visit upon you (attend to you for) the evil of your doings, saith the Lord.’ (Jer.23:1-2)
Yes Friends, in due time the Lord will get rid of the woeful and wicked pastors and leaders who are leading His people astray and replace them with righteous and responsible ones.
And then the eventual Good Shepherd will come. ‘Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper (act wisely), and shall execute judgement and justice (justice and righteousness) in the earth (land). (Jer.23:5)
And that promise was fulfilled my people when Jesus came to earth as a man and blossomed in all His spiritual glory! Wow! What a faithful and trustworthy God we serve and worship!
And all God’s people joyfully declared: ‘Thank you Lord! We praise you and bless your holy name!’
And the prophet Ezekiel tells us thus of the Lord’s care for His flock. ‘Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle (sheep) and cattle (sheep).
And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the Lord have spoken it.’ (Ezek.34:22-24)
Yes Friends, that’s the magnificent and majestic God we worship, making everlasting plans for our protection and provision!
And we’ll close with this appropriate benediction from Hebrews. ‘Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect (complete) in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.’ (Heb.13:20-21)
Now Friends, as we go about our busy lives today, let’s hold on to all that our God has promised, so that we can have peace and good success, despite all the troubles crazily swirling around us, for that is indeed wisdom from on high! Much LOVE!
…and ye my flock…the flock of my pasture…are men…and I am your God…saith the Lord God… (Ezek.35:31)
31 Aug 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a delight, a silver platter, bridge the divide, calypso, Carnival, Christians, Colonialism, corruption, crime, decline, delight thyself in the Lord, deterioration, divided, drugs, Eric Williams, ethnic groups, follow in your footsteps, forgive me, God rested on the seventh day, gospel truth, hampered, heritage of Jacob, holy day, honourable, Independence Day, Isaiah, Jawaharlal Nehru, laid back way of life, last earthly resting place, leadership, limbo, LOVE, milestone, mother Molly, murky mire, observance of the Sabbath, pace of change, Prime Mnister, ride upon the high places, satisfied, seventh day, singing and praising the Lord, single mother, social changes, steelband, stigmatized, T&T Independence Day, tarnish your good name, technological changes, the mouth of the Lord, the Sabbath Day, the sake of Jesus, the seventh day, the world stage, turn back to almighty god, wine and roses, wisdom
Genesis 2:3. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY T&T
Oh my Friends and fellow believers, it’s Sunday – the day of our wonderful God – the day on which He rested after creating the universe! The Good Book tells it thus: ‘And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.’ (Gen.1:31)
I like how the Lord admired His handiwork and found it be very good. He took pride in what He had created, and so too should we.
‘Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them (the things He had created). And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made, and he rested from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.’ (Gen.2:1-3)
Yes my people, today is the Sabbath day for a multitude of Christians. We ought to fill it with as much rest, praise, fellowship and worship as possible. However, as this interesting and most appropriate quote of Jawaharlal Nehru (1889-1964) India’s first Prime Minister indicates, those things are getting more difficult to do with each passing day.
And the quote simply says: ‘The basic fact of today is the tremendous pace of change in human life.’
And isn’t that the gospel truth Friends. Life is changing so rapidly today that it’s difficult for many of us to keep up. From the numerous technological changes to the social ones, like almost all business places now being open on Sundays. That means more people have to work on Sundays, which obviously restricts both family and church life.
If Nehru thought life was changing fast in his time, can you imagine his reaction to the vast sea and pace of change that has taken place in the last sixty or seventy years since he reputedly made that statement? Hn! He would be totally shocked.
And talking about the pace of life and change reminds me that it’s already three years (August 31 2011) since my dear mother Molly went to be with the Lord. Three years have already passed, even though it seems like just yesterday.
Thank you Molls sugar for all the human and godly effort you put into raising me as a single mother. And I truly don’t regret one day of the time we spent together. It wasn’t always wine and roses, but I know you did your best with what you had, and even during what we considered hard times, we had it better than many others. The Lord always made a way for us to be satisfied.
I know that you are now singing and praising as heartily to the Lord in heaven as you did here on earth, and I’m trying to follow in your footsteps, though I’m nowhere near as good and godly as you were. But sonny boy is trying ‘M’ and I will do my utmost best not to tarnish your good name. (smile)
I have one apology to make here though Molls. I obviously haven’t forgotten you, but it seems that in my busy and lazy lifestyle I have forgotten to come and visit you this year at your last earthly resting place. Please forgive me for that.
I am a tad upset with the Lord for not reminding me of that before yesterday, and there were so many days I could have done so with ease. However, don’t worry, there’s still time before the weather turns cold, and I will make up for it very soon.
Now let’s turn to the second milestone in my life on August 31; that of Independence Day celebrations in my homeland of Trinidad and Tobago. I don’t remember a whole lot about that fateful day in 1962, for I was only about 14 years of age then and wasn’t too politically inclined. I do believe I spent it on holidays in Trinidad.
In hindsight though, it was possibly the most significant day in the nation’s history. Under the first Prime Minister, Dr. Eric Williams, one of the brightest and most brilliant statesmen to come out of the Caribbean, the country dragged itself up by its bootstraps out of the murky mire of Colonialism and took its rightful place on the world stage.
However, some 52 years later, poor Eric Williams must be turning over in his grave at the mess, the disastrous situation and the terribly low standards to which the once thriving and peaceful country has deteriorated. Instead of being rightly famous for its carnival, calypso, steelband, limbo and laid back life, it’s now also targeted for being riddled with crime, drugs and corruption in almost all aspects of life.
Unfortunately, the leadership since ‘the Doc’ hasn’t been as strong or as focused on the overall betterment of the people as he was, thus the severe deterioration on all fronts. No one has come to the fore strong enough or interested enough to bridge the divide between the two main ethnic groups, those of African and East Indian origin. And until that happens, the country will unfortunately remain divided, hampered and stigmatized.
Please, let’s pray for a strong leader to rise up, and for the people to wake up from their fear and lethargy and turn back to God and godly things as once was the case. That’s the only way the total decline will ever be halted.
Now let’s close with some wise words from Isaiah on the observance of the Sabbath. ‘If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:
Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places (hills) of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.’ (Is.58:13-14)
Oh my people, there it is – heavenly wisdom handed to us on a silver platter! Please let’s accept it nuh, so that our world can start being turned around. Much LOVE!
…for the sake of Jesus…our children…and their offspring down through the ages…let’s do the wise thing nuh…and turn back to Almighty God…
27 Aug 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: abide in me and I in you, accumulation of wealth, backsliding, bear much fruit, celebrity status, Christ's power, cypress, divine plan, dress for success, evil world, faith stimulates success, faithfulness, forgiveness, gentleness, glory hallelujah, goodness, gospel truth, green fir, holy spirit, hope sustains success, Hosea, I am the vine, idols, Jesus as our guiding light, Jesus as our partner, Jesus Christ, Jesus' word as our guidebook, joy, kindness, long-suffering, LOVE, love sanctifies success, meekness, mercy, mid-week Wednesday, my father glorified, our sufficency is of God, peace, power, Prayer for Success, prudent, riding shotgun, righteousness., saving grace, saviour jesus, self-control, showing by example, strength, strife, success, success as the world sees it, temperance, the fruit of the spirit, the number one ingredient for true success, the transgressors shall stumble, the warm and loving presence of jesus in our hearts, the ways of the Lord are right, true believers, ungodly times, what I am is more important than what I do, wild wild west, wisdom, wise, worthy ambassadors of Jesus, ye are the branches, ye can do nothing without me
John 15:5. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Aye Friends, is mid-week Wednesday! That means we’re halfway through the workweek. Only a couple more days to go before some freedom time…
And all God’s people prayerfully declared: ‘Glory Hallelujah! Thank You Saviour Jesus! Thank You for all you’ve done, all you’re presently doing, and all that you’ve promised to do in the future! Right now we need some more of your LOVE, mercy, saving grace and strength to keep persevering and walking worthy of You.
Please enable us to be worthy ambassadors of your kingdom as we face the evil world that surrounds us. Help us to be in it, but not of it, as You desire. This we pray in Your glorious name! Amen.‘
Now here is what we can do to help ourselves. Here is a prayer for success from Dr. Robert Schuller’s Hour of Power Devotional. I believe I’ve shared it already, but that was probably a year ago, and no prayer is ever too trite or unimportant not to be prayed again. And I believe we need this one right now.
Please pray with me: ‘As I become a success with your help, Lord, let me never forget that what I am is more important than what I do. Faith stimulates success. Hope sustains success. LOVE sanctifies success. So I cannot and I dare not succeed without your power, peace and pressure in my life, Jesus Christ. Amen.’
Yes Friends, in a nutshell, we need all those things to be successful, but remember the Number One ingredient for true success, is the warm and LOVING presence of Jesus in our hearts, souls, bodies and minds.
Regardless of what the world advocates, without Jesus as our guiding light and His Word our principal guidebook, we’ll never obtain true success.
That’s why Jesus drilled it into the disciples’ heads: ‘Now ye are clean through (because of) the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.’ (John 15:3-5)
And that’s the gospel, gospel truth my people! Without Jesus in our lives, we can’t do much at all. That’s why it’s so necessary to stay close to Him, to consult with Him through the Holy Spirit that indwells us, as to how to go forward successfully with the divine plan He has for each of our lives.
And we’re not talking about success as the world sees it, with the physical accumulation of wealth, power and celebrity status, but as Jesus sees it, with righteousness, LOVE, mercy and forgiveness, because that’s the only real, true and lasting success there is; everything else fades away eventually.
Bruh Paul describes our helplessness thus to the Corinthians. ‘Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing of ourselves: but our sufficiency is of God.’ (2 Cor.3:5)
And no truer word has ever been spoken my brethren! That’s the gospel truth in another nutshell! (smile)
And Jesus went on to warn: ‘If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto (for) you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.’ (John 15:6-8)
And we all know that the fruit Jesus is talking about here, is what Bruh Paul so vividly describes to the Galatians: ‘But the fruit of the Spirit is LOVE, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness (kindness), goodness, faith (faithfulness), Meekness, temperance (self-control); against such there is no law.’ (Gal.5:22-23)
And we shall end with some wise and choice words from Hosea when he entreats Israel to return to the Lord, as we very much need to return to Him today, in these sad, strife-filled, ungodly times.
Thus says the Lord: ‘I will heal their backsliding, I will LOVE them freely; for mine anger is turned away from him. I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots in Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.
They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine, the scent (remembrance) thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon. Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir (cypress) tree. From (In) me is thy fruit found.
Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall (stumble) there in.’ (Hos.14:4-9)
Yes Friends, the only way to bear good fruit is to have Jesus as our riding partner, have Him riding shotgun for us, as they did on the stagecoaches in the days of the wild, wild West, where a man with a big shotgun rode upfront, beside the driver as protection from marauders.
In fact, life today certainly resembles the days of the Wild West, where law and order was very difficult to keep, where everybody taught it right to do their own thing.
So my people, let’s get out there and show them what true believers are really like nuh, by living with Jesus in our hearts, and showing by example, the fruit of the Spirit that we’re successfully bearing. That’s wisdom of the highest order! Much LOVE!
…to dress for success…you must have Jesus residing in you…
26 Aug 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a star out of Jacob, All praise honour and glory to Jesus, allow your faith to fail, almighty god, awesome truth, Balaam, Bruh David, clouds of life, conquest of Christ, contemplation, Controller, Creator of the universe, dark and evil world, dominion, don't despair, don't ever despair of god's presence in your life, don't ever doubt, earthly walk of faith, Edom, encouragement, eternally grateful to Jesus, forgiving, gentle reminder, glorify your father in heaven, glory, God is right beside us, God shall tread down our enemies, God's omnipotence, God's promised never to leave nor forsake us, gospel truth, guiding, guidng light, hallmark of a true believer, happiness of Israel, helping, in the darkest hours, indisputable truth, Israel, jehovah god, Jesus Christ, judgement, justice, Let your light so shine before men, light is stronger than darkness, light of the world, living a godly and righteous life, LOVE, mea culpa, merciful, Moab, never let a cloudy day ruin your sunshine, omnipotent god, our Lord and Saviour, Psalm 60, reconciled to the Father, salt of the earth, Samuel, scepter shall rise out of Israel, selflessly sacrificed, showing our true colours through examples, surrender, that may see your good works, the light of the Sun and of the Son, the Lord preserved David, the power of the Holy spirit, through God we shall do valiantly, triumphant Tuesday, trust, tumult, wisdom, wisdom from the mouths of babes
Psalm 60:12. Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.
Oh Friends, it’s triumphant Tuesday! Meaning we have triumphed over Monday, and are setting out to do the same to Tuesday under the ever-watchful and mighty presence of our omnipotent and LOVING Deity, Jehovah God!
And all God’s children declared a loud and joyful shout: ‘All praise and glory be to Almighty God for bringing us safely through another dark night into the bright and scintillating light of His Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Everlasting thanks to the One who selflessly sacrificed His sinless life so that we could be reconciled to the Father!’
Yes my fellow believers, we shall be eternally grateful to Jesus for that! So on this triumphant Tuesday in the last week of August 2014, where it’s somewhat cloudy in my area, let’s go out and show our appreciation by living a godly and righteous life nuh, showing our true colours through examples, not merely words. A life that will bring glory to our merciful and forgiving God.
Let’s do as Jesus desires; be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. As He humbly requested: ‘Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.’ (Matt.5:16)
Yes my people, we can do no better than that, in this dark and evil world. Now here’s a gentle reminder and appropriate encouragement for a cloudy day like today. I’ve shared it before, but it’s always helpful to bear it in mind.
‘So never let a cloudy day ruin your sunshine, for even if you can’t see it, the sunshine is still there, inside of you, ready to shine when you will let it.’
What an awesome truth my brethren! Those are words from a poem of Amy Michelle Pitzele, written when she was nine years old. Wisdom indeed from the mouths of babes!
So just remember that even if there is some darkness or cloudiness in our personal lives today, and we can’t see any light, please don’t despair, because the light of both the Sun and the Son are ALWAYS with us, though the clouds of life might hide them for a brief moment.
We have to learn to see the light through the eyes of faith. And our Bit today, taken from Psalm 60, a contemplation of Bruh David when he was embattled, surrounded by foes on all sides, also reminds us of the omnipotence of our most wonderful God.
Bruh David was absolutely sure of these words when he wrote them. ‘Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.’
That’s indisputable, gospel truth my believing brethren! A truth that we should keep ALWAYS before us, as a guiding light to our earthly walk of faith and LOVE!
And in the words of the false, or wishy-washy prophet Balaam, foretelling the happiness of Israel, which he saw in a God-induced trance, though with open eyes: ‘I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners (shatter the forehead) of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth (sons of tumult).
And Edom shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly (mightily). Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion (shall rule), and shall destroy him that remaineth in the city.’ (Num.24:17-19)
And the scholars tell us: ‘Primarily these oracles (of Balaam) refer to the royal triumphs in the period of the early monarchy, but these victories prefigure the greater conquest of Christ at His first and second advents (comings).
A Star: this can be used metaphorically for a king (Rev.22:16). That a king is meant is confirmed by a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, a scepter being part of the royal insignia (Gen.49:10; Ps.45:6; Amos 1:5,8).
Shall smite the corners of Moab: The word ‘corners’ is best understood as “the head” or “skull” (Jer.48:45 and Samaritan Pentateuch). The king of Israel would conquer the neighbouring countries, Moab, Sheth (most likely Shut), Edom, Seir, Amalek, and the Kenites (vv.20-21).’
Likewise, the prophet Samuel saw it fulfilled when he wrote: ‘And David gat him (made himself) a name when he returned from smiting of (killing) the Syrians (Edomites) in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men. And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David’s servants.
And the Lord preserved David withersoever he went. And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgement and justice unto all his people.’ (2 Sam.8:13-15)
And the scholars give us an interesting note here. ‘8:13. Because in Hebrew the ‘d’ (dalet) and the ‘r’ (resh) looked very much alike, they were often mistaken for one another. Probably Edomites rather than Syrians (i.e. Edom rather than Aram) should be read here, as in 1 Chronicles 18:12 and the title of Psalm 60.’
That does seem to make sense, since in the verses following, it’s Edom and Edomites that Samuel refers to. Anyway my people, please note and deeply believe that we serve a just, upright and faithful God, in whom we can place ALL our trust, and surrender ourselves completely to Him, because He IS the Creator and Controller of the universe.
Please don’t ever doubt it and thus allow your faith to fail you, for even in the darkest hours, He is ALWAYS right beside us… even better, dwelling inside of us, guiding and helping us through the power of His Holy Spirit.
So child of God, DON’T EVER despair of God’s presence in your life, for He has promised NEVER to leave or forsake you, and He who has promised is indeed FAITHFULL!
So please walk bold and strong in the awesome power of His LOVING-kindness this fateful Tuesday morning. That’s the hallmark of a true and faithful believer! Much LOVE!
…darkness foolishly tries to overpower light…but if it ever does…it’s only for a fleeting moment…because light is stronger than darkness…and will always overpower it eventually…
P.S. Ah Friends, it was just one of those late nights that turned into a late morning. (smile) Please accept my many mea culpas. Much LOVE!
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