20 Jun 2018
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a sigh of relief, all worthwhile, all ye that labour, barbecue, believe in Jesus, better late than never, boggles the imagination, bore all of our sinse, breath of life, burdens change shoulders, Calvary, cast thy burden up the Lord, church meeting, come unto me, Daily Bread Devotionals, do justice to, doctor's appointment, early morning sleep, earthly wealth, find rest for your souls, gentle, glad to be alive, glorious future with Jesus, great invitation, hands on the plough, hardhearted, he shall sustain thee, he that believes in me, he that comes to me, heavy laden, help from God, humble, I am meek and lowly in heart, I am the bread of life, I will give you rest, learn from me, lesser invitations, LOVE, my burden is light, my yoke is easy, never hunger, never thirst, not looking back, on the cross, prayer, recovery schedule, reticence, righteousness, sacrificed, see daylight ahead, seek ye first, Sermon from the Mount, sinful man, sinless life, stubborn, take my yoke, the Beatitudes, the kingdom of God, truth, Wednesday Wail, will not be cast out, Ye cannot serve God and mammon, yearning for Friday
Matthew 11:28. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Brother! Everybody was early this Wednesday morning but me. I opened my e-mail and saw all sorts of messages there from an early hour, meanwhile I am just beginning to write the Bit at 10 o’clock. Hn, hn! But as they say, better late than never!
I just had a long day yesterday with a doctor’s appointment in the city and that usually takes up the whole day. Had to do much waiting to see her too. But she was happy with my recovery schedule. That made it all worthwhile!
Then, on my way home, I went to a church meeting and barbeque, more barbeque than meeting (smile), so by the time I did get home I was all bushed out. And the old bod doesn’t seem to recover as quickly as it used to, because this morning I had to fight it to get up.
Tell me though, why is the early morning sleep so much sweeter than that of the nighttime eh? Perhaps it’s because we know that we have to get up, but deep down we don’t want to.
Anyway, it’s Wednesday, and many of us are breathing a sigh of relief, knowing that we’ve reached the hump, the midpoint of the weekly work cycle, and we can now see some daylight ahead, while still yearning for Friday and the weekend.
And I have to share these interesting and ever so true words from one of the Daily Bread Devotionals. And it says: ‘Prayer is the place where burdens change shoulders.’
Wow people! What inescapable truth! That’s one of the reasons why we pray. But please note, it is not the only, or even the most important reason for prayer. However, when we do pray for help from Almighty God, oftimes we can feel those burdens just lifted off our shoulders. That’s why Jesus offered His Great Invitation. ‘Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.’
Oh friends, I know we recently did that scripture as our Bit too, but that’s where the Lord led me this morning. It’s as though He was saying that we are a stubborn and hardheaded people, so we need to hear the truth, the real truth, over and over again before we accept it.
But my people it’s such a wonderful truth! Why do we have to hear it over and over before we accept it eh? We don’t have to hear lesser invitations from our fellow man over and over again before we rush to accept them. So why this reticence in accepting the greatest invitation ever eh?
And that’s not all: Jesus explained why we should come to Him in prayer with our burdens. ‘Take my yoke upon you, and learn of (from) me; for I am meek and lowly in heart (gentle and humble): and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ (Matt.11:29-30)
Oh friends NO ONE else has ever ventured to offer such an exceptional invitation because they just didn’t have the ability to keep it. But Jesus did, and still does have that ability to take our burdens and give rest to our souls. If He bore ALL of our sins on the cross, why can’t He bear our lesser burdens too eh? No reason whatsoever!
And hear Him (Jesus) later on, reinforce those words to a crowd of unbelieving Jews nuh. ‘I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise (certainly not) cast out.’ (John 6:35-37)
And why would He cast us out, if He first invited us to come to Him eh? That makes no sense whatsoever! But friends, we first have to believe in Jesus and the role He came to earth to play, and believe strongly, so that we are able to surrender our all to Him.
He doesn’t want just the parts of our lives that we are prepared to give Him, but EVERYTHING; our whole lives! From the simplest aspect to the most important Jesus wants to be involved in, otherwise He can’t do justice to His invitation.
That’s why Jesus highlighted in the Beatitudes, in His Sermon from the Mount that you cannot serve two masters at the same time: ‘Ye cannot serve God and mammon (earthly wealth).’ (Matt.6:25) ‘But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.’ (Matt.6:33)
So friends, I don’t know what else to say to make us consider putting ALL our trust in Jesus Christ, the ONE who sacrificed His sinless life on the Cross at Calvary, took ALL of our sins on His shoulders, so that we could be set free from ALL of our sinful baggage, for ALL time.
But here are the words of a sinful man just like us, Bruh David, who even before Jesus came to earth wisely advised. ‘Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer (permit) the righteous to be moved (shaken).’ (Ps.55:22) And we do know how Bruh David lived up to that wisdom and was very successful in life. Maybe his staunch and faithful example might sway us this Wednesday morning. (smile)
Now for those of us who sincerely believe, let’s go home declaring our Wednesday Wail, letting the world know of our position in Jesus Christ. Let’s wail mih breddren, in strong voice, with sincere hearts: ‘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 as always, that glorious future ahead, just boggles the human imagination! Much LOVE!
…if you can’t accept God’s invitation without worry…whose then will you accept…man’s…
14 Jun 2018
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a sheep before shearers, afflicted, as a lamb to the slaughter, atonement, charitable organizations, Christ's sacrifice, church, come unto me, compassionate heart, complaint, courage, creativity, curse, Daily Bread Devotionals, damage, disasters, do God's will, down and out, dumb, electricity, faithful believers, floods, Florida Keys, for the sake of another, generously, give, give God thanks, given unto you, giving up, glory hallelujah, God's economics, good measure, government, great invitation, greatest sacrifice, greedy, heavy laden, hoard, humility, hurricanes, I will give you rest, in a positive manner, labour, measured to you again, money, motivates us, nature of man, needy, negative circumstances, negative stuff, negative word, no one understands like Jesus, opened not his mouth, oppressed, personally testify, pressed down, Puerto Rico, running over, sacrifice, sacrifice ourselves for others, same measure you mete, self-control, self-discipline, selfish, shaken together, share with others, stingily, succour, sunny days, supposed neighbours, talents, the living truth, the Love of Christ, thunderstorm, Thursday's Blessings, time, tornadoes, trailer parks, trials, tribulations, trying conditions, urgent, volcanoes, wildfires, windstorm, wisdom
Isaiah 53:7. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
‘Sunny days are here again! Glory Hallelujah!’ Yeh friends, it’s sunny and beautiful once again, although yesterday did turn out nicely, except that in the afternoon a mild thunderstorm swept through the area leaving a devastating windstorm in its wake.
Ah Lord eh! The thunderstorm wasn’t bad, but the wind provoked the region all evening, late into the night, blowing down stuff and causing a fair amount of damage. Thankfully my property didn’t seem to suffer any damage this time, as the last windstorm we had blew down a part of my fence.
And if that’s the extent of our disasters, then let us give God much thanks and plenty glory yes, because so many others are undergoing much worse disasters, like floods, volcanoes and wildfires, and the tornado and hurricane seasons will soon be upon us in full force, so we have a lot of negative stuff to look forward to.
And I was just reading that a lot of people in Puerto Rico and the Florida Keys are still living in very trying conditions, without electricity, in rundown trailer parks etc, nine months after the last hurricane devastated their areas. How sad is that eh friends? Where is the government…and the church…and we, the supposed neighbours… and the many charitable organizations that are constantly collecting money from us eh?
I don’t know the answers nuh friends, but I do know that in the LOVE of Christ, our fellow men and women should not be living in such trying conditions through no fault of their own. And to help alleviate our concerns, I have two seminal quotes from the Daily Bread Devotionals. The first says ‘No one understands like Jesus.’
And isn’t that the living truth my people! Nobody understands our trials and tribulations like Jesus because He experienced them too in His earthly sojourn. So in times when our small, finite understanding fails us, He is the One we need to go to and just lay all our burdens before Him.
Remember what He said in His Great Invitation: ‘Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.’ (Matt.11:28) And He was not joking my brethren, but being very serious. There’s no other Being in man’s history who has ever made such a declaration! That’s because no other has ever had the parts to fulfill it. But Jesus does my people.
So whenever we’re down and out and don’t know what to do, please turn to Him, that’s the wisest thing to do, and He will give you succour. I can personally testify to that. He might not drive away the negative circumstances, but He will certainly give you the wherewithal to bear them in a positive manner. And sometimes that’s all we really need if we are true and faithful believers.
And the second quote is: ‘Christ’s sacrifice of Himself, motivates us to sacrifice ourselves for others.’ Or at least it ought to. Unfortunately though in too many cases it does not. In fact, the word ‘sacrifice’ is not one that’s used much in our everyday lives. Some people don’t even know it, or know what it means.
And for our information, here is how the dictionary defines it. ‘Sacrifice: Giving up of thing for the sake of another that is higher or more urgent, thing thus given up, loss thus entailed.’ Yeh friends, it means giving up something, losing something for somebody else’s sake, because their need is more urgent than ours.
And what’s the greatest sacrifice ever made on the face of this earth? That of Jesus giving up His sinless, holy life for our sinful, disgusting one, so that atonement could be made for our sorrowful, sinful state. The Good Book declares: ‘He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.’
Yeh friends, that’s how Jesus died on our behalf; without a word of murmur or complaint. So why is it so difficult for us to give up much simpler stuff for others eh? Why are we so greedy and like to hoard stuff for ourselves, even when we sometimes have no use for them?
I guess that’s the natural nature of man, especially in today’s selfish and greedy world, and the LOVE and sacrifice of Jesus have not yet truly infiltrated our hearts and souls so that we can become more like Him, generous to a fault. But we LOVE to get, to receive. Oh brother do we ever!
But please remember these immortal words of Jesus: ‘Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give unto your bosom (pocket). For with the same measure that you mete (use to give) withal it shall be measured to you again.’ (Luke 6:38)
Yeh friends, that means if you give stingily, you will be given back stingily. However if you give generously, you will receive generously. That’s just the law of God’s economics. So please let us start giving generously nuh, of our time, talents and money, so that we can receive generously from God and man too. It’s only wisdom friends.
Now let’s go home declaring our Thursday Blessings, that the Lord has so generously bestowed on us, although we don’t deserve many of them. But that’s the kind of God He is! So all together now: ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance!
I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline! I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment! I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life!
I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and everyday! Amen!’
Now please note that the Lord didn’t give us all of that to hoard for ourselves, but to go out and share with the less fortunate. So let’s do His will on that nuh, so that He can bless us even more. Much LOVE!
…it is so much better…to give than to receive…but we must also learn how to receive…in humility…
10 Jun 2018
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a crown of glory, a dream dies, a heart of wisdom, a thousand ages, a thousand years, a watch in the night, all ye that labour, an evening gone, an ever-rolling stream, an ornament of grace, as yesterday, before the hills in order stood, bondage, come unto me, disobedience, dwelling place, dwelt secure, Egypt, endless years, fellowship, find rest in Jesus, flash in the pan, flourishes in the morning, formed the earth, from everlasting to everlasting, give thanks, glory, God's laws, grace, heavy laden, honour, hope for years to come, I will give you rest, in all generations, in thy sight, isaac watts, labour, like grass, lives like vapour, Moses, number our days, O God our help in ages past, our defense is sure, our eternal home, praise, promote thee, refuge, rest, shelter from the stormy blast, sorrow, sufficent is thine arm alone, Sunday, the days of our years, the great invitation, the Lord's sanctuary, the Promised Land, the rising sun, the Sabbath Day, three hours, threescore and ten, under the shadow of thy throne, understanding, waiting with open arms, wisdom, withers in the evening, worship
Psalm 90:4. For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night (three hours).
Sunday, Sunday, Sunday! The awesome day we gather in the Lord’s sanctuary to fellowship, worship and give Him mucho thanks and praise. So all roads ought to be leading to the Lord’s house today, especially when we consider what our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ said in His Great Invitation: ‘Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.’ (Matt.11:28)
Yeh friends, the Sabbath is a day to find rest in Jesus, and you can’t find it unless you go to Him sincerely seeking Him. He’s just waiting there with open arms for us to come to Him. So let’s not keep Him waiting nuh. And today, we’ll begin the proceedings with an old favourite from the pen of Isaac Watts, ‘O (Our) God, our help in ages past.’
So without further ado, let’s raise our hearts, heads and voices heavenward as we offer up praise, worship and thanksgiving to our amazing and ever-LOVING God! ‘O (Our) God, our Help in ages past, our Hope for years to come, our Shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal Home.
Under the shadow of Thy throne Thy saints have dwelt secure; sufficient is Thine arm alone, and our defense is sure. Before the hills in order stood or earth received its frame, from everlasting Thou art God, to endless years the same.
A thousand ages in Thy sight are like an ev’ning gone, short as the watch that ends the night before the rising sun.
Time, like an ever-rolling stream, bears all its sons away; they fly forgotten, as a dream dies at the op’ning day. O (Our) God, our Help in ages past, our Hope for years to come, be Thou our Guide while life shall last, and our eternal Home!’
Oh my people, what we’ve just sung is oh so true; every word of it! And they say it was based on Psalm 90, the psalm of Moses, and that seems to be also true, as Moses declares with unerring truth: ‘Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place (refuge) in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed (gave birth to) the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.’ (Ps.90:1-2)
Mama Yo! What words of indisputable truth! Before God even formed the world He was God! And since He made Israel His people, they found refuge in Him, when they were wise! And who should know better than Moses eh, since he led God’s people out of bondage from Egypt to the Promised Land, and communicated God’s laws to them during that fateful trip through the wilderness.
And as Moses continues: ‘Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men. For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night (three hours). Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up. In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up, in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.’ (Ps.90:3-6)
Yeh friends, in terms of time, one day to us is like a thousand years to God, since time has no real reckoning with Him. And as Peter corroborates in his message on living in the hope of the Lord’s coming: ‘But beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.’ (2 Pet.3:8)
Then we come back to Moses, who declares: ‘The days of our years (lives) are threescore years and ten (seventy); and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength (boast only) labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.’ (Ps.90:10)
All of that just means friends that our lives are like vapour, we exist for moment in God’s eyes then we are gone, like the grass that grows in the morning and dies in the evening. And even if we live fourscore (80) years (29,200 days) that to God is like 29,200 years. Imagine that nuh; to us 80 years is a big deal, but to Almighty God, it’s a mere flash in the pan. (smile)
The long and short of the story though friends, is that we are very finite, while God is infinite, plus He is our God and Creator and if we are smart we will hold on to His strong and mighty hand. And Moses was qualified to talk about death and all the other stuff since he saw a whole generation of Israelites perish in the wilderness for their disobedience.
Thus, when he beseeches God, we ought to listen, to pay serious attention. ‘So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom (gain a heart of wisdom)…. O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.’ (Ps.90:12,14)
And we’ll close with some immortal words of Cousin Sol. ‘Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom; and with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she hall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. She shall give to (place on) thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.’ (Prov.4:7-9)
Truer words were never spoken my brethren! So please, please, let’s seek wisdom and understanding through the Lord’s word, which leads to obedience, then we’ll be bestowed with the grace and glory we so greatly desire. Much LOVE!
…the only real wisdom that man needs…is to be obedient to his God and his Creator…everything else is foolishness…
18 Apr 2018
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a daily calling, a godly life, a tad late, after the Spirit, all ye that labour, ambassadors, be glad in it, bondage of sin, burden light, burden of sin, Christ-like, Christian life, come unto me, commitment to Christ, Daily Bread Devotional, easily approachable, easy, encourage, find peace and quiet, forgiveness, free offer, glorious future with Jesus, God's great earth, God's mercies, gospel truth, grace, graciousness, great commission, greatest hope, halfway home, hands are on the plough, heavy laden, humble, I AM, I will give you rest, I's so glad, ice, intention, joyfully declaring, life eternal, lightening burdens, live righteously, looking forward, LOVE, lowly, meek, more than conquerors, my yoke is easy, no condemnation, not looking back, nothing can separate us from God, one more day, paying the price, playoff hockey, praiseworthy, privilege, proud, reassure, representatives of Christ, rest, salvation, selfless sacrifice, set us free, sin, stuck up, supposed deity, take my yoke, the breath of life, the going gets tough, the Good Book, the great invitation, this is the day the Lord has made, trusting God, victory, walk not after the flesh, we rejoice, Wednesday Wail, world lacks
Matthew 11:29. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
One more day mih people, one more day on God’s great earth with the setta ice covering the land in my area! Chuh! It’s pure ice all around…but that doesn’t stop us from joyfully declaring, like the psalmist did: ‘This is the day the Lord has made, we WILL rejoice and be glad in it! (Ps.118:24)
A li’l bit of ice can’t stop us from enjoying God’s mercies and graciousness…No way! What does the Good Book say? NOTHING can separate us from Him and His LOVE! Because we are all more than conquerors through Him that LOVED us. (Rom.8:35,37) Glory Hallelujah my believing brethren! Christ has already given us the victory, so there’s nothing really for us to worry about, just to live a righteous and godly life in His name.
And a couple of quotes from the Daily Bread Devotional remind us of two important aspects of Christian life and character. The first is that ‘ Our greatest hope comes from trusting God.’ And secondly, ‘Commitment to Christ is a daily calling.’
Yes friends, we have no other real hope but the trust that God’s promises, mercy, grace, forgiveness and LOVE inspire in us. Without those things we’d be truly lost. But even more importantly, we need to remember that each and every day we awaken, we need to seriously recommit to Christ, His way of life, and His plans for us. That’s the only way we can keep Him fresh and vibrant in our lives.
And since yesterday we talked about going out and doing Jesus’ work as established in His Great Commission, today I thought it would be more than appropriate to look at how He hopes to accomplish His purpose; through the Great Invitation, a part of which is our Bit for today. ‘Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.’
My people, my people, what a wonderful invitation; the BEST that has ever been offered to mankind! Glory Be! No other supposed deity has ever proffered such a simple, but yet awesome and astounding invitation. That’s because Jesus is the ONLY ONE who can keep that kind of promise, and who is also seriously interested in lightening our burdens!
And that’s what we, as His disciples, ambassadors and earthly representatives need to point out to the unbelievers, so that they too can embrace His glorious free offer of salvation and life eternal. Now that’s not all that Jesus offers in His Great Invitation. Hear how He continues after out Bit. ‘Take my yoke upon you, and learn of (from) me; for I am meek (humble) and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest for your souls.’ (Matt.11:29)
Just imagine that nuh my brethren; Jesus is also inviting us to take His yoke and learn from Him, for He is humble and lowly of heart…Wow! Though He is the great God, the great I AM, Jesus is not proud and stuck up, like He could be because of all His numerous attributes and power. But no; He is very simple and easily approachable, and when we sincerely approach Him, call out to Him, then we can truly learn from Him and find peace and quiet for out souls.
And that is something which the majority of our world decidedly lacks, and which many are desperately trying find, but unfortunately are looking in all the wrong places. For our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is also the ONLY ONE who can bring true peace and rest to the human soul and spirit. And why is that so? ‘For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ (Matt.11:30)
Oh precious people of God, what a reassuring ending to Jesus invitation! And that’s gospel truth! For He has already borne our burden of sin upon the cross at Calvary and set us free from its cruel and unholy bondage by paying the enormous price with His selfless sacrifice.
And as Bruh Paul so astutely and correctly says in his missive to the church at Rome. ‘There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.’ (Rom.8:1) Glory Hallelujah!
So when we come to Him truly repentant, acknowledging our sins and also what He’s done for us, He doesn’t condemn us, but just enfolds us LOVINGLY in His warm and tender embrace and begins to teach us how to walk like Him.
And there’s also no greater privilege and praiseworthy attitude than to walk like Christ. Please remember that our heavenly Father’s most noble and consistent intention is to have all believers walk as Christ-like as possible.
And to help us do that, let’s declare our Wednesday Wail, which shows how we’re getting on with Christ. As one now: ‘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 I implore us friends, as we walk with Christ today, let’s keep a picture of that glorious future in the back of our minds, so that it can encourage and reassure us when the going gets tough, as it no doubt will at some time or other. Much LOVE!
…to Jesus…to Jesus come…when your heart is heavy…and your soul weighed down with burdens…
P.S. Sorry for the Bit being a tad late, but the playoff hockey game was too interesting not to watch it to the end, which meant a late night, and thus a late morning too. (smile) Much LOVE!
24 Jan 2017
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: and again I say rejoice, assurance, be alive, beloved of God, body of people, Christians, come unto me, compassionate, damp, disciples, downcast, drizzly weather, droopy, ever-faithful, faithful, find rest for your souls, forlorn, friend of Jesus, gentle, glorious Tuesday, glory to God, heavy laden, highways, humble, I am meek, I will give you rest, Jesus, kind, labour, learn of me, LOVE, LOVE for one another, loving, lowly in heart, merciful, miserable, my burden is light, my yoke is easy, omnipotent, on God's great earth, on our shoulders, precious people, Rejoice in the Lord, sad, self-confidence, share His love, take my yoke upon you, the great invitation, the happiest people, the Lamb's Book of Life, the SON, the whole weight of the world, this is the day the Lord has made, Tuesday Mantra, understanding, we will be glad and rejoice in it
Philippians 4:4. Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.
Aye mih beautiful Scrip-Bit friends and family! How goes it on this glorious Tuesday eh? And believe me, in my area it’s not the physical aspect of the day that’s glorious, because though it’s dry, it’s still cloudy. Steups!
We haven’t seen the sun in over a week…but we see the Son EVERYDAY! Glory to God!
Don’t know if I’ve ever experienced that kind of damp, drizzly weather over such a long period nuh, in the middle of what’s supposed to be winter. But the important thing is that it’s a glorious day to be alive on God’s great earth!
Walking with Him is so unexpected and amazing and adventurous, that just being alive presents so many awesome possibilities. Wow!
That’s why, like the psalmist did so long ago, we can also confidently declare: ‘This is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it! ‘Glory to God my believing brethren!
When I consider how faithful and LOVING, He is, my heart just overflows with LOVE for Him. Take yesterday for instance. I had to go into the city early for some blood work. The traffic was rough in some places, but not bad overall, and I got there early.
And you better believe the Lord carried me, because I parked at the front of the building and the lab is way at the back, round several twists and turns, then up on the third floor. I certainly could not have made it without His help.
Coming back out was just as bad, although I took a different route. When I finally got to the front of the building, I had to sit down for a couple of minutes and rest.
And surprisingly, getting out of Toronto was worse than getting in, with construction and road work everywhere that I travelled, and people crossing against the no-cross sign. The highways were also bad, so bad that I had to change my usual route to get home.
But as He promised, the Lord took me there safely, and brought me back home safely, though somewhat tired and aggrieved. (smile) Yes friends, just remember that our God is faithful – EVER-FAITHFUL is one of His many names!
That’s why we can do what Bruh Paul proclaims in our Bit: ‘Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.’
Yeh, precious people, if our wonderful God wasn’t faithful and kind, and LOVING, and merciful and gracious and understanding and compassionate and omnipotent, with our names written boldly in the Lamb’s Book of Life, we wouldn’t have the wherewithal to be a rejoicing body of people.
As Christians, we’re supposed to be the happiest people in the world! Hn! But you’d never believe that from the way so many of us behave sad and droopy, as though we have the whole weight of the world on our shoulders.
And that, after our Lord offered this 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 and lowly in heart (gentle and humble): and you shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ (Matt.11:28-30)
Oh friends, what’s so difficult in that to understand eh? And if you believe in Jesus at all, that should just make you break out in a big smile and have you hurrying to lay your troubles before Him!
But the problem is, I suspect, that many of us who claim to be Christians don’t truly believe in Jesus or in His many wonderful promises. Our minds may say we do, but not in our hearts, where it truly matters, else we wouldn’t be so wishy-washy and miserable and forlorn and downcast as we too often are.
Ah mih people, I’m chuckling here because that wasn’t the ‘sermon’ I had intended to write, but the Holy Spirit guided me to it. And since I’m only the messenger, an obedient one too (smile), I had to do as I was told.
Well, hopefully, there’ll be tomorrow, and I might get to preach the sermon – sorry, teach the lesson, I’ve been wanting to teach for the last two days.
Don’t worry though friends, it’s all good. The Lord is on His throne in the high heavens, and He is still in complete control of all of man’s plans and movements, so there is no need to fear.
Consequently, let’s go home declaring our Tuesday Mantra with oodles of self-confidence and assurance. As one now: ‘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 the world. Amen!’
Oh isn’t that so beautiful and encouraging! Now let’s go and put it into action, by sharing the true, true LOVE of Jesus, as He desires of us. Much LOVE!
…by this shall all men know…that ye are my disciples…if ye have LOVE …one to another… (John 13:35)
05 Oct 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a glorious future with Jesus, a name higher than any other, alive and kicking, all the earth, appreciation, blessings, call Him Lord, come unto me, comforted me, communion, dr robert h schuller, encouraged, essential, every knee shall bow, exile in Babylon, faith, feast of Tabernacles, forgave me, glorified forever, glory, gospel truth, gracious, halfway home, heavy laden, His sinless, honour, Hour of Power Devotional, I am meek, I will give you rest, intimate friend, Israel's deliverance, Jerusalem, Jesus Christ, joyous feast, labour, learn from me, life, lifted me, lonely, LOVE, loving kindness, lowly in heart, mercies, merciful Deity, millenial reign of Jesus, my burden is light, my hands are on the plough, my yoke is easy, not looking back, obedient to the Father, our Lord and Saviour, pilgrimage, pledge loyalty, praise, reconciled to God, rejoiced with me, reneges, renewed me, Selah, selflessly sacrificed, showered down on us, sing to thy name, sing unto thee, sinking, sinning, striving, struggling, succeeding, supported me, take my yoke, thanks and praise, the breath of life, the glory of God, the great invitation, the great trumpet, the holy mount of Jerusalem, trust, Wednesday Wail, What a Friend, worship, worship the Lord, worthy is the Lamb, Zechariah
Psalm 66:4. All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. Selah.
And then it was Wednesday… another glorious day to be alive and kicking! All thanks and praise be to our wonderful Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who selflessly sacrificed His sinless life so that we could be reconciled to the Father, and thus enjoy sincere communion with Him once again!
And all God’s people declared a loud and grateful ‘Praise be to Jesus the Son for being obedient to the Father’s wishes! May He be glorified forever and ever. Amen!’
And the Father did just that by making His name higher than every other name, and having every knee bow to Him and call Him Lord, to the glory of God. (Phil.2:10-11)
But you know what my fellow believers, Jesus is more than just our Lord and Saviour, He is also our best friend. Listen to this poem from Gramps Schuller’s (Dr. Robert H. Schuller) Hour of Power Devotional, titled ‘What a Friend!’ I’m sure I’ve shared it before, but as we say, once it’s nice, we can share it twice, and even thrice. (smile)
Please read with me: ‘You have never failed, Lord, to be my one, essential, intimate friend. When I was: Lonely in striving – you encouraged me. Lonely in struggling – you lifted me. Lonely in serving – you supported me. Lonely in suffering – you comforted me. Lonely in sinning – you forgave me. Lonely in sinking – you renewed me. Lonely in succeeding – you rejoiced with me. What a friend I have in Jesus! Thank you, Lord. Amen.’
And all of that is gospel truth my people! There is no better friend in the entire universe than Jesus! Please remember that so you can take ALL your concerns to Him and be received with comfort and LOVING-kindness. He will NEVER turn you away, regardless of the evil you’ve done.
Remember 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 and lowly in heart (gentle and humble): and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ (Matt.11:28-30)
Oh friends, what a marvellous invitation! Please don’t let it go to waste! Now let’s wail our Wednesday Wail, confirming our great appreciation, LOVE, trust and faith in Jesus.
Wailing: ‘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!’
Oh my fellow believers, we need to be ever thankful for the wonderful breath of life that God has blessed us with! We must also stop allowing the past to control us, but instead stay strong and steadfast in our duties and look to the beautiful future Jesus has promised us. Remember He NEVER reneges on a promise.
Consequently, with all wonderful mercies and blessings and grace that God has undeservedly showered down on us, we ought to honour Him by acclaiming our Bit. ‘All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. Selah.’
Yes friends, the Lord our God certainly deserves all the honour, praise and glory that we can give, for He is a most awesome, gracious and merciful Deity! Now hear what the prophet Zechariah has to say, re the glorious time when Zion shall reign supreme, with Jesus as the Judge.
‘And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the feast of the tabernacles.’ (Zech.14:16) Oh mih breddren, everybody will be trekking to Jerusalem to worship King Jesus! What a pilgrimage!
And the scholars offer this explanation. ’14:16-21. The feast of tabernacles is the joyous feast of ingathering, rest, and thanksgiving. Israel celebrated it when they returned from the Exile (in Babylon). (Neh.8:14-18). The millennial reign of the Messiah is the realization of the Feast of Tabernacles. No other feast will be observed because the realities they foreshadowed will have been realized.’
Ah my faithful brothers and sisters in Christ, what a time of celebration that will be! Now let’s end with Isaiah’s take on the subject of Israel’s deliverance. ‘And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt; and shall worship the Lord in the holy mount of Jerusalem.’ (Is.27:13)
Yes my fellow believers, ALL roads lead to Jerusalem, where Christ will sit on the throne of His forefather, Bruh David, and rule the world! And all God’s children gave a loud shout of ‘Glory Hallelujah! Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to enact justice in the world, now and forever more. Amen!’
So friends, yuh see what a wonderful life and time we have to look forward to when we sincerely hook up with Jesus and obediently do His bidding? Please, let’s not be foolish and pledge our loyalty to any other, for there is truly NONE like Jesus! Much LOVE!
…oh what a friend we have in Jesus…all our sins and hopes to bear…
10 Aug 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a glorious future with Jesus, a jasper, a rainbow, a sardine stone, all things are possible, all ye that labour, an emerald, an ole sinner, arthritic pains, at God's right hand, Christ is working in you, come unto me, compassionate, continue fighting, crowns, dial up a prayer, earthly pilgrimage, elders, find rest for your souls, gentle, George Nooks, glad to be alive, glory hallelujah, God is with you, God's footstool, God's throne, gracious, halfway home, heavy laden, his eyelids test, hold on to Jesus, humble, I can do all things, I love you Lord, I will give you rest, I'm not turning back, in heaven, in the midst of the storm, intercedes on our behalf, Jerusalem, Jesus Christ, John the Revelator, kind, lack of sleep, learn of me, Lord and Saviour, loving, lowly of heart, meek, my burden is light, my eyes are fixed straight ahead, my hands are on the plough, my yoke is easy, neither by heaven, obedient to God's Word, only a prayer away, piggy back on Jesus, precious people, ride out the storm, successfully navigate life, swear not at all, take my yoke upon you, thank God, the breath of life, the children of men, the difficulties of life, the great invitation, the Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord's eyes behold, the Lord's throne, the Most High God, the throne room, thrones, through Christ, to the very end, travail, trial, truth, under the weather, Wednesday Wail, white raiment, who strengthens me, wisdom, you're not alone, your morning is coming
Psalm 11:4. The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord’s throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try (test), the children of men.
Oh friends, the ole fella’s a bit under the weather this bright and blessed Wednesday morning. Some of the old arthritic pains are acting up today, and a lack of sleep isn’t helping the situation either. Hn, hn! But yuh know what, the ole fella is going to persist, he’s going to continue fighting right to the very end.
I’m going to do like George Nooks says in his song: ‘Hold on to Jesus and ride out the storm. Ride out the storm. God is with you. You may not feel Him, But you’re not alone. I know you’re hurting. But your morning is coming. So just hold on to Jesus, and ride out the storm.’
Oh what words of truth and wisdom my precious people of God! Life’s not easy to successfully navigate, but when we hold on tightly to Jesus, we’re able to ride out each and every storm that blows up in our earthly pilgrimage.
That’s the beauty of our wonderful Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! With Him beside us, we can handle anything that comes against us. As Bruh Paul so succinctly but truthfully puts it to the Ephesians: ‘I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.’ (Phil.4:13)
Yes my believing brethren, ALL things are possible when Christ is working with you! So if you’re hurting this morning, if you’re in the midst of any storm at all, I strongly advise that you get hold of Jesus, ask for His holy help, and just piggy back on Him, for He has promised to see you through all the difficulties of life.
Recently we spoke about 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 and lowly in heart (gentle and humble): and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ (Matt.11:28-30)
Ah mih people, there’s no better or greater invitation that has ever been offered in all the long history of mankind! And yuh know what? Those of us who refuse to avail ourselves of that magnificent, most encouraging and uplifting offer are definitely not wise, we’re putting ourselves through much unnecessary travail and trial.
Life will bring enough of that to us, we don’t need to bring anymore on ourselves. So please remember that whatever we’re going through this morning, Jesus is only a prayer away; call Him, and He will surely come and help you.
Now let’s declare our Wednesday Wail with much enthusiasm, sincerity and truth. Wailing: ‘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!’
Mama Mia! How reassuring and uplifting is that eh mih people! Wow! Although I’m shuffling along like an old man this morning, (smile) I am still excited to be alive! How good it feels to breathe that godly breath of life, to feel it just coursing through my aching body!
And yuh better believe, I’m certainly not looking back, because my best days are still out in front of me, they’re all mixed up with the glorious future that Christ has planned for me!
And all I can shout is ‘Glory Hallelujah! Thank You Lord for being so kind and gracious, so LOVING and compassionate to an ole sinner like me! I LOVE You Lord, and will try my best to be obedient to your word, all the days of my life! Amen!’
Yeh friends, if we’re not excited and enthusiastic to be alive, regardless of the difficulties we may be facing, then our connection to Jesus is not right. Please talk to Him, dial up a prayer to Him RIGHT NOW, and let Him help fix it.
And I’ve been so excited and rambling on so much that we barely have space and time for our Bit. ‘The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord’s throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try (test), the children of men.’ More exciting and beneficial truth this Wednesday morning my faithful brethren!
Now let’s see how many scriptures which corroborate our Bit, we can fit into the available space and time we have. And there could be no better place to begin than with Jesus as He talks about oaths. ‘But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.’ (Matt.5:34-35)
And there’s also no better place to end than with the words of John the Revelator, as he is invited to visit the throne room of the Most High God. ‘And immediately I was in the spirit: and behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight (appearance) like unto an emerald. And round about the throne were four and twenty seats (thrones): and upon the seats (thrones) I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment (robes); and they had on their heads crowns of gold.’ (Rev.4:2-4)
Yes friends, a lot of stuff is happening around the throne of God in heaven. It’s from there that our lowly earth and lives are planned and controlled. Let’s not forget either, that that’s where our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is operating from, as He sits at God’s right hand and intercedes on our behalf. Much LOVE!
…all things in the universe bow to the One who made them…He who sits upon His throne in the high heavens…
07 Aug 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a facade, abundance, adventurous, Alpha and Omega, atone, Be All, cast they burden upon the Lord, charles stanley, Christ has defeated Lucifer, circumstances, cleft for me, come unto me, comfort, death, deceit, dissident, end all, endurance, enthusiasm, exhaustion, false front, fellowship, find rest unto your souls, fleeting breath, gentle, glamorous, glamour, glorious, gloss, gold-plated, gospel truth, grace, heavy laden, hide myself in thee, humble, humble yourselves, humility, I am meek, I will give you rest, in heaven, in the Lord's presence, Jamaica Independence day, Jesus Christ, judgement throne, Land of Wood and Water, learn of me, lies, lowly in heart, Lucifer, make me pure, my burden is light, my yoke is easy, naked, on earth, perplexity, pilgrimage, praise, problems, put it into action, repository of everything, reward, right hand man, rock of ages, save from wrath, seeking to do evil, sin, sincerity, succour, Sunday, take it all to heart, take my yoke, the finish line, the First and the Last, the first day of the week, the good times, the great invitation, the journey is done, the mighty hand of God, the Sabbath, the source of our strength, the water and the blood, thy wounded side, to the cross I cling, trod him underfoot, troubles, truth, verve, walks the earth, wash me, willing to share, wisdom, worldly goods, worship, Xaymaca, ye that labour
Matthew 11:28. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Well mih people, Sunday, the first day of the week has rolled around again! And what a beautiful day it ought to be, one filled with praise and worship and fellowship celebrating the Sabbath of our great and awesome God!
So it’s only right that we begin the proceedings today with some worship in the form of the old and greatly beloved hymn, ‘Rock of Ages,’ written in 1763 by the Rev. Augustus Montague Toplady. Let’s belt it out with plenty verve, enthusiasm and sincerity nuh.
‘Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee; let the water and the blood, from thy wounded side which flowed, be of sin the double cure; save from wrath and make me pure. Not the labors of my hands can fulfill thy law’s demands; could my zeal no respite know, could my tears forever flow, all for sin could not atone; thou must save, and thou alone.
Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to the cross I cling; naked, come to thee for dress; helpless, look to thee for grace; foul, I to the fountain fly; wash me, Savior, or I die. While I draw this fleeting breath, when mine eyes shall close in death, when I soar to worlds unknown, see thee on thy judgment throne, Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee.’
Yes friends, that’s the wisest and most sensible move a human being can ever make; turning to the Rock of all ages, Jesus Christ for comfort and succour! For He is the ONLY Being who can provide ALL that we need! Other beings can provide some of this and some of that, but Jesus Christ is the repository of everything that’s needed to live life successfully, both on earth and in heaven.
NEVER forget that my brethren! Whatever we need, Jesus has it – and in abundance too, and He is also very willing to share whatever it is with those who come to Him in humility, sincerity and truth!
Otherwise, why would He extend to all mankind what we refer to today as the Great Invitation eh, which is our Bit for today? ‘Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.’
Oh my fellow believers, how wonderful is that invitation eh? No other living being in the history of mankind could ever truthfully offer such an invitation! None but our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! And that’s not even all of His wonderful invitation.
Listen to the remainder. ‘Take my yoke upon you, and learn of (from) me; for I am meek and lowly in heart (gentle and humble): and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ (Matt.11:29-30)
Tell me friends, have you ever received a better invitation than that? Certainly not! Because no one else can match it! That’s why men of God, men of strong faith like Bruh David and Peter advise us to: ‘Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer (permit) the righteous to be moved (shaken). (Ps.55:22) ‘Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.’ (1 Pet.5:6-7)
Now why would two such godly men tell us to cast all our care on Almighty God if it wasn’t true eh? But as usual, we the finite, know it all humans, refuse to do as advised. Yeh, we think that we know more and can do more than the One who created us and still provides for us. Hn!
Instead, we listen to that fool Lucifer, who has nothing that’s good or lasting to offer us. All he has going for him are lies and deceit, plus fancy, flimsy, gold-plated worldly goods set up in a false front, a facade. But yuh know what friends, behind all that gloss and glamour there’s nothing but sin, death and hell!
Oh, we all know that working for Jesus is not glamorous, but it certainly is glorious and adventurous! And besides, the same worldly goods you get from Lucifer, you can get from working for Jesus, and these last much longer than Lucifer’s flimsy, marginal stuff.
It makes me wonder though, why sensible people follow an unwise dissident like Lucifer, who had it all going for him as the Lord’s right hand man, but foolishly tried to overthrow Him, was kicked out of heaven, and now walks the earth to and fro seeking to do evil to all that he can.
Remember friends, the evil one has no real power over us, unless we allow him to. Christ has already defeated him, trod him underfoot and captured the keys to hell, death and the grave. So there’s nothing to really fear from him, unless we let the glamorous but unsustainable things of the world that he offers, trip up our minds and hearts.
Anyway, enough about Lucifer, we didn’t come here to talk about him, but about God. (smile) And by the way, let me offer my sincere apologies to my second homeland, Jamaica on the 54th anniversary of their Independence which was celebrated yesterday! Chuh! I knew of it, but yet I forgot it. I can imagine the celebrations that took place.
And though I may live all over the world, Jamaica will always have a special place in my heart. I experienced some of the roughest days of my life there, but also some of the most heart-warming and adventurous. As the old people would say, it’s there that I turned man. (smile) Happy 54th Xaymaca – the Land of Wood and water!
Now let’s end with this Benediction from Uncle Charles (Charles Stanley) adapted from his writing ‘Enter His Gates.’ ‘Yesterday’s troubles, today’s problems, and tomorrow’s circumstances are all part of the pilgrimage you’re on with God, through the good times and the bad. Someday you’ll reach the finish line, and your exhaustion and perplexity will be over.
And when that day comes, you’ll be in the Lord’s presence forever. But right here, right now, your life has meaning and purpose. Don’t ever give up. Always remember that the Lord Jesus Christ is there for you, with you even now. He alone is the source of our strength, our endurance to continue, and our reward when the journey is done.’
Gospel truth all of that my fellow believers! So please let’s take it all to heart and put it into action – right now, if not before, for it is indeed the wisdom of heaven! Much LOVE!
…Christ is our end all and be all…the first and the last…the Alpha and Omega…
02 Aug 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a cry of anguish, a penitent heart, a rough rope, a song of praise, be not far from me, Caribana, celebrations, come unto me, complaining, cry out to God, daily life, deliver my soul, drowning, Emancipation Day, emptiness, faithfulness, feeling sorry for ourselves, forsake me not, hang on, haste thee to help me, heavy laden, I will give you rest, I'll catch you, imminent danger, in full swing, Ithe beloved of god, judgement, keep not silence, last days, make haste to help me, not by sight, not even your father, O Lord my God, O Lord my salvation, One Year Book of Bible promises, penitence, please help me, prayer, righteousness, rough times, Ruth Harms Calkin, share His love, sincerity, The end of the rope, the friend of Jesus, the great invitation, the horns of the unicorn, the lion's mouth, the power of the dog, the rat race, the stress and strain, tie a knot, trust no man, truth, Tuesday Mantra, vindicate me, vindication, walk by faith, whining
Psalm 38:21-22. Forsake me not, O Lord: O my God, be not far from me. Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.
And then it was Tuesday…! Yeh friends, the celebrations and leggo beast partying of Caribana and Emancipation Day finish for another year. It’s time to get back to the rat race we term work.
And just like on a normal Monday morning, many of us are feeling tired and weary and hung over. I guess that includes me too, (smile) because I had to force myself to get up and come down to write the Bit.
Consequently, we are whining and complaining about our lot in life; meaning going to work. But my people, you know how many unfortunates out there will gladly switch places with us. Chuh!
So let’s stop feeling sorry for ourselves and just get on with our tasks. We weren’t complaining when the music was rocking and the party was in full swing though, so why do it now eh?
Anyway, here’s an interesting poem from our One Year Book of Bible Promises with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin. It reminds me so much about believers, that I just have to share it. It’s titled ‘The End of the Rope.’
And it goes like this: ‘O dear God I feel as though I am clinging To a rough, swinging rope. Beneath me there is only emptiness: My hands are bruised and bleeding: There is no possible way For me to tie a knot At the end of the rope And hang on: O God, please help me… Frightened child Just let go. I’ll catch you.’
Ah friends, doesn’t it remind you of certain times in life, when we have found ourselves in dire straits and simply could not hold on to the life rope any longer, and were thus in imminent danger of drowning or falling down the steep cliffside?
But you know what my brethren, once we are true believers in the awesome God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, we really have nothing to fear. As God says in the poem, in our frightened times, when our hands are slowly slipping from the rope, we just have to let go and He will catch us.
That’s His awesome promise. And you know that our wonderful God faithfully keeps ALL of His promises! He is definitely not like the rough and ready Scottish priest back in Tobago in the days of my youth, who apparently told his young son, standing on the back of a jeep; ‘Jump my son, jump. I’ll catch you.’
And when the trusting child jumped, the father moved away his hands and the child fell to the ground. And the father’s reputed advice to his trusting son; ‘Trust no man, not even your own father!’ Ah Lord eh! Some of the stories of our youthful days…! (smile)
And the Bible promise for that poem is also our Bit for today. ‘Forsake me not, O Lord: O my God, be not far from me. Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.’
Yes my people, that was Bruh David’s cry in his time of need and sorrow, taken from Psalm 38 – The prayer of a penitent heart. And unfortunately, in these rather rough times, these last days, many of us are feeling the stress and strain of daily life, but please do not be afraid to cry out to our mighty God for help.
If Bruh David, such a faithful man of God, could do it, so can we. And if the Lord helped him, so will He help us. We just have to keep on believing and living and walking by faith, not by sight. (2 Cor.5:8)
And please don’t think that it’s only once Bruh David cried out to the Lord for help. He cried out whenever he found himself in difficult situations, and so ought we to do, though with genuine penitence not merely crying out for crying out sake.
Let’s check out a couple more times when Bruh David cried out to the God of his forefathers for succour. Listen to him from Psalm 22 – A cry of anguish and song of praise. Note friends, how he amalgamates both emotions in one prayer.
‘But be not thou far from me, O Lord: O my strength, haste thee to help me. Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling (my precious life) from the power of the dog.
Save me from the lion’s mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns (and from the horns of the wild oxen! You have answered me.) I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.’ (Ps.22:19-22)
Ah friends, Bruh David found himself in an awful predicament, surrounded by his enemies, whom he likened to ravenous, wild beasts. And in it all he felt forsaken by God. But that did not stop him from crying out for help and also acknowledging God’s power and past help, and later on in the psalm his great faithfulness.
That’s how we ought to behave too my people: cry out, but remember His past help and acknowledge His power and faithfulness and believe.
And from Psalm 35 – A prayer for rescue from enemies, Bruh David solemnly declares: This thou hast seen, O Lord: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me. Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgement (vindication), even unto my cause, my God and my Lord. Judge (vindicate) me, O Lord my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.’ (Ps.35:22-24)
Yes friends, let us not be afraid to cry out to our omnipotent God in sincerity and truth, when the storms of life bombard us. Remember Jesus’ Great Invitation: ‘Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest…’ (Matt.11-29-30) Look up the rest for yourselves. (smile)
Now let’s go home declaring our Tuesday Mantra with sincerity and true belief. ‘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 the world. Amen’
Now with those truths filling our souls, let’s go out and share the wonderful LOVE of Jesus with the rest of the world, as He desires of us. Much LOVE!
…when the world comes against us…our God will most faithfully be there for us…
P.S. Please excuse the lateness, but the ole fella is only human too, and he got caught up in the celebrations. (smile) And the breaking up of the Bit at the top is not my fault but Outlook’s. I’ve written it properly. Much LOVE!
10 May 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a drunken man, at the foot of the cross, at their wit's end, believers in Jesus Christ, burdens, calm, calm the storms, children, come unto me, comfort, congregation, cry unto the Lord, distinction, distresses, exalt him, faithfulness, fear, find rest for your souls, forbidding alley, fruit of the Spirit, gentle, gentleness, give thanks to the Lord, goodness, He maketh the storm a calm, heavy laden, hidden lairs, hoodlums, humble, I am meek, I am the beloved of god, I can trust my friend Jesus, I don't have to hurry, I don't have to worry, I will give you rest, I'm not what I do, I'm not what I have, I'm not what people say about me, impotent man, joy, kindness, labour, laugh, learn of me, long-suffering, LOVE, loving kindness, lowly in heart, meekness, merciful God, mount up to heaven, my burden is light, my yoke is easy, no need to fear, omnipotent god, peace, peace instilling presence, Praise the Lord, reel to and fro, responsibility, rest, robert h schuller, safe haven, safe streets, self-control, serene, share His love with the world, sheltered, silent skies, stagger, stars, storm, stormy times, surpasses all understanding, take it to Jesus, take my yoke upon you, temperance, Thank You Lord, the great invitation, the heathen, the sun will outlast the storms, the waves are still, the works of the Lord, their soul is melted, troubled mind, Tuesday Mantra, vicissitudes of life, When I face a storm, wonders, worried, yellow moon, yoke
Psalm 107:29. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
So how goes it this beautiful morning eh, my fellow believers in Jesus Christ? I do hope that it is going well, but as usual, if it isn’t, then let me remind us that there’s no need to fear or be worried.
We just have to take it all to Jesus, lay it at the foot of the cross, and He will take our burdens and instead offer us His comfort and His wonderful peace that surpasses all understanding.
Remember 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 humble) 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)
Yes friends, there’s no better invitation than that in the entire world! And if we’re wise, we’ll gladly take it whenever times become overwhelming.
And if you’re in a full-blown storm this morning, then here is some more good advice from Gramps Schuller (Robert H Schuller) from our Hour of Power Devotional, to help you weather it. It’s titled ‘When I Face a Storm.’ I believe I’ve shared it before, but when it’s good, it’s always best to wheel and come again. (smile)
So please pray with me. ‘You never promised, Lord, that I would be forever sheltered from stormy times in my life. You have promised that the sun will outlast the storms. You issue the grand command from outer space and the renegade storm clouds break up, scatter, and flee like hoodlums furtively racing from the streets, back to their hidden lairs in some forbidding alley.
The bright stars come out to laugh again, like little children returning once more to safe streets for happy play. The sky clears. A huge, yellow moon sails once more calm and serene through the silent skies.
Even as you restore peace after the storm, so will you bestow a renewed calm to my troubled mind through your peace-instilling presence that is surrounding me now. Your quiet and calming spirit is flowing within me now. My fear is gone! Thank you, Lord! Amen.’
Ah mih people, let’s hope that whatever fear we were holding is now gone and the calm and peace of Jesus is now controlling our hearts, minds, bodies and souls, like He promised.
And since today is Tuesday, let’s further bolster our faith by declaring our Tuesday Mantra with lots of hope, vision and sense of purpose.
As one now: ‘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 the world. Amen’
Yes friends, that’s such an important declaration and distinction, one we need to carry with us at all times. For we are indeed God’s children, and no one can take that away from us.
But on the other hand, we also have a responsibility to behave like children of God, so that the world can see what He’s like, through the living examples of our lives. We need to have the fruit of God’s Spirit showing brightly through our godly behaviour.
And just in case we’ve forgotten what’s the fruit of the Spirit, let’s refresh our minds. ‘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)
Oh my brethren, those are the things the heathen ought to see in our lives! That’s the only way we can ever make a good and fruitful impact on them. All our words are meaningless unless and until we back them up with true action!
That brings us to our Bit, taken from Psalm 107 – God’s wonderful works to the children of men. But first let’s set the scene. ‘They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep.
For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit’s end (all their wisdom is swallowed up).
Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then they are glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.’ (Ps.107:23-30).
Yes my precious people, the same way the seafarers cry out to God in times of storms on the sea, the same way we ought to cry out to our heavenly Father when the vicissitudes of life, our ever-changing circumstances, overwhelm us. And as promised, He will calm the storms and bring us safely to the haven of His LOVE.
Oh friends, there’s none other like our great God! That’s why the psalmist so wisely advises: ‘Oh that men would praise (give thanks to) the Lord for his goodness (LOVING-kindness), and for his wonderful works to the children of men! Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.’ (Ps.107:31-32)
There’s nothing more I can say friends, except to implore us to do as the psalmist and Jesus wisely advise: before anything or anyone else, turn to your omnipotent and merciful God in times of trouble. Much LOVE!
…why turn to impotent man in times of trouble…when we have an omnipotent God to turn to…
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