The Importance of Watching Our Words when Misfortune Befalls Us!

20 Nov 2025 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Job 2:10b).        ‘What? shall we receive (accept) good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive (accept) evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.’ 

Well friends, let’s give you the bad news first; (smile) it’s obvious we’re on a late late bus, and we might doing so for the next few days. And the reason for that bad news is this good news; the ole fella is in T&T! 

Yes mih bredrin, the ole fella and his family journeyed through the night, with no sleep, to come to the land of mas and kaiso! And then on landing, instead of going to our hotel, we began visiting family for breakfast, which took some time as we had not seen each other for a number of years. 

And since their time is an hour ahead of Canada’s, it means that we are operating on a shorter time period than normal. But that didn’t matter for we got to hotel in Port of Spain, booked in, had a short nap, then we were off again to check out the north coast of Trinidad, heading up to Maracas and Las Cuevas beaches, through the hilly and winding road, busy with traffic going in both directions. 

At one point because of the rain, we encountered a small landslide which knocked a big tree over the road, but we were able to pass under it, however a bus had to stop and park until the tree could be removed, and by the time we were returning the bus passed us, going its merry way rejoicing, meaning that the fallen tree had been removed. 

I had a brief dip in the salt at Las Cuevas…imagine that nuh, it’s been at least some four or five years since I’ve had the heavenly blessing of immersing my aching body in salt water, the best therapeutic remedy for aches and pains and what ever else may ail you. (smile) And that’s no lie! 

After Las Cuevas, we went back to Maracas to have some of their famous bread and shark with all different kinds of trimmings. The rest of the family had it, but I didn’t, since I’m not a fish lover, and that delicacy was never one of my favourites. 

And were we ever blessed with rain going and coming…not the heavy stuff, but enough drizzle to keep some of the many beautiful mountains clothed in fog. At one time I even thought I was back in good ole Canada by the amount of fog I was seeing. (smile) 

And coming back was just like going home after work in the big city…traffic jams. What else is new eh! The roads have been the same size for donkey’s years but the traffic has increased very significantly. 

We finally got back to the hotel around four thirty, then I had to begin sorting out my stuff, because we had no chance to do it earlier in the day. So, it’s obvious that the ole fella is tired like a dog, but I’m trying to practice what I preach; perseverance in tough times. I just could not let the day go by without some sort of information to my favourite Script-Bits Family. 

So there you have it, the good and bad news, for as Job so rightly said to his frustrated wife in his time of tribulation: ‘What? shall we receive (accept) good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive (accept) evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.’ (Job 2:10b) 

And so it ought to be with us my fellow believers. When tough times tackle us, and unceremoniously deposits us on the carpet, we must not rush to make hasty decisions and use unbecoming language, for our God knows what is happening in our lives, and has promised to help us through them if we remain in good and steadfast faith. 

Oh, it’s never really easy to undergo trials and not say anything untoward, especially about God, but if we truly believe, we have to bite our tongues and say in all sincerity in worship, like Job did after hearing the awful news  about his family and his livelihood. 

The Good Book tells us: ‘Then Job arose, and rent (tore) his mantle (robe), and shaved his head, and fell on the ground, and worshipped. And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.’ (Job 1:20-22) 

The sad part is that when many of us encounter trials and tribulation we’re quick to blame others for our misfortune, including the Lord. But that’s never the right approach, as Job so wisely and righteously shows. 

And Jesus put some icing on the cake on that in His Sermon on the Mount, when teaching about LOVING one’s enemies: ‘That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust.’ (Matt. 5:45) 

In other words, as this commentary explains: ‘ The phrase “the rain falls on the just and the unjust” means that natural events and hardships are not selective and affect everyone, regardless of their moral character. 

Jesus states that God causes the sun to rise and rain to fall on both the good and the bad to show His universal benevolence. The saying highlights that both “good” and “bad” people will face similar trials and blessings in life.’ 

And we all know that, so please, let’s try to live our faith as best we can, and admit that the Lord knows what He is doing. ‘Praise be to the Lord God Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.’ Now, let’s go home declaring (chuhhh!!!) our Wednesday Wail, letting the whole world know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus! 

As one strong and sincere voice: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. 

My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’ 

And the important thing about that last statement is that whoever endures to the end with Christ, will enjoy a future so glorious that they can never understand or imagine it. So, let’s keep that in mind and endure to the end nuh, so we can enjoy that more than glorious together! Much LOVE!

…talking tough is easy…but being tough when tough times come a calling…is a horse of an entirely different colour.

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

Today’s Scrip-Bit   31 May 2024 Philippians 4:5a

31 May 2024 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Philippians 4:5a.       Let your moderation (gentleness) be known unto all men. 

And the end of the month of May, could not fall on a better day…Friday! Thus all the glorious shouts of ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday and another summer weekend is in the offing!’ We get all worked up about our weekends, especially the summer ones, because we can get out there and go where we want, and do whatever we want without the restrictions of the winter weather. We’re free and easy! But please, let’s not go wild and behave like leggo beasts, for that’s exactly how the enemy, his satanic majesty, wants us to behave; to forget God’s warnings, His rules and regulations and just fly without any reservations. 

And once in a while, it is good to fly without reservations, although there is usually a price to pay when we do that. (smile) In the meanwhile, let’s remember these most memorable and oh so important  words of Bruh Paul to Timothy: ‘For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of LOVE, and of a sound mind.’ (2 Tim. 1:7) Now the most important aspect of that statement in this case is the ‘sound or disciplined mind.’ Yes friends, that means we have self-control, which is also a fruit of the Spirit, wherefore we don’t go around flying off the handle or making hasty decisions, and going to the extremes. 

In other words, like Jeeves says, we need a modicum of circumspection or moderation in all things. Now, what does moderation in all things mean? And we have a couple of commentaries based on the meaning the world has of it. The first says: “Everything in moderation,” goes the old line, meaning don’t binge, and don’t abstain, but do take it easy on the bad stuff. Between the two poles of asceticism and indulgence, moderation is about never giving up or fully giving in.’ 

The second one gets more philosophical. (smile) ‘According to Craiutu, Aristotle considered moderation a moral virtue and Plato, in “The Republic”, described moderation as the harmony between reason, spirit, and desire. “It’s the disposition of the soul where reason, spirit, and desire are in agreement,” says Craiutu. “It’s more than just temperance.’ And strangely enough Bruh Paul wrote about it to the Philippians: ‘Let your moderation (gentleness) be known unto all men.’ (Phil. 4:5a) Now what’s this moderation business in the Christian life you ask? Is it the same as in the world? Yes and no. 

Here are a couple more commentaries on the Christian explanation of ‘moderation.’ The first tells us: ‘Let your moderation be known unto all men. Let your gentleness be evident to all. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. In any case, Paul’s idea is that don’t be so strict and extreme about the letter of the law; be fair minded, reasonable, and gentle.’ And the second says: ‘This characteristic of the Christian (moderation) must be a conspicuous one; that is, Christians must be well-known for their gentle, kind, courteous and tolerant ways with others. Put another way, behave as Jesus would because this was one thing Jesus was known for.’ Amen! 

And that’s basically all that moderation means: behave like Jesus! And yes, you claim that’s not so easy to do, because He was the Son of God, deity, sinless and strong, but we have His power, His Holy Spirit dwelling within us, which gives us the ability to behave in a decent manner…remember the spirit of power, of LOVE, and of a sound or disciplined mind.  No, we will never be perfect, but we don’t have to behave like the world behaves. And if we’re seriously intent on behaving like Christ, let’s not forget this scripture that Bruh Paul writes 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) 

Yes my brethren, once the Lord has begun a good work in us, meaning making us like Jesus, raising us from glory to glory, He won’t stop until He takes us home, or Jesus returns. So we don’t have to be overly worried about behaving like Jesus if we’re serious about living the Christian life…which in fact is not easy, but very worthwhile. The whole thing boils down to the true state of our hearts, and how much we truly LOVE Jesus and want to serve Him the best way we can. And I believe that if we remember and meditate on these words of His, our lives will become fuller and more satisfactory. 

And it’s all about discipleship. ‘If any man will (desires to) come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.’ (Luke 9:23) Then there are these most telling words. ‘A new commandment I give unto you. That ye LOVE one another; as I have LOVED you, that ye also LOVE one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have LOVE one to another.’ (John 13:34-35) Oh my fellow saints, I do believe that if we ponder and think on those words of Jesus, we will come to a positive realization in and of our Christian walk. 

Now, let’s go to the throne of grace, through our Friday Chant, seeking help to live up to our responsibilities in these trying and troubled times. Altogether:  ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. You know it’s been rough…  because our many serious problems are escalating instead of improving. And it’s obvious we can’t fix them on our own, so Lord, we’re desperately crying out for your help. Oh heavenly Father, with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat the simmering unrest in our land. We therefore ask you Lord to give our leaders the wise guidance to handle these unexpected storms properly. 

And please help the rest of us to be responsible and to stay safe amidst all the anxiety and confusion of these ungodly times. We fervently pray too Lord that you’ll use the discontent and dissatisfaction in our land as a means of restoring faith in you. Return backsliders to your fold. Show them the error of their ways. And please introduce a new flock of believers, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion by the example, we, your faithful believers set. So that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, wake up and smell it sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’  

And I’d be seriously amiss if I didn’t point out that one of the requirements for getting divine help is setting a good Christian example. Nuff said! Much LOVE!

…a word to the wise is sufficient…

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